When your Rival Distracts You....
Normally, Shadow is very much a “head straight for your goal by any means” kinda guy. Once he’s got a mission to complete, nothing can stop him.
Nothing except Sonic, of course.
In SA2, Shadow is vehement on grabbing the emerald and getting out of there as fast as possible. He’s got a very important wish to deliver! He can’t spend time on these fools!
But Sonic makes him stop in his tracks. He takes the time to flex on this bastard, to introduce himself, something very special to him because of how much Shadow values identity, all because of this fucking guy.
Again, Shadow is so focused on fighting Sonic that he forgets about the fact that the island is going to explode. He could have handled it much faster or ran away from the situation, but he didn’t. His newfound rival was too important I suppose
Sonic X’s version of this is funnier since Rouge contacts him mid-battle instead of afterwards. Shadow coldly rejects saving her, since clearly he’s got much more important things going on!!! (not to mention their…. sounds of exertion can be heard through the communicator)
Sonic distracts him yet again….. despite his amnesia, that hedgehog affects him enough to keep his mind occupied while he chases after the doctor.
The sole reason Shadow defects to the aliens side during the dark ending of the pure hero route is because of Sonic. Shadow’s goal of figuring out who he is, of finally determining his fate all on his own, gets entirely sidetracked, just because he couldn’t stand Sonic’s irritating, smug little-
The ONE time Shadow doesn’t get distracted by Sonic is in Rivals 2. Good job Shadow!!! you did it!!!!!!!
of course, this is the exception, not the rule.
Wowie…. in Free Riders, he came along with Rouge to get the cash prize, but of course he’s interested in more important things
Obsessed…..
Shadow goes from completely focused on stopping Eggman, not caring about the race in the slightest, to getting so caught up in his race against Sonic that he couldn’t care less about figuring out Dodonpa’s identity and conncection with Eggman.
The descent from “I’ve got to find out what Eggman is up to!” to “IT AIN’T OVER.” is gold. Love those hedgehogs
Shadow does this with no other character. Sonic is the only one in the games that has the ability to get Shadow sidetracked so easily that he forgets about everything else.
Just rival things 💖