The Shadow Meme

"In Jungian psychology, the shadow or "shadow aspect" is a part of the unconscious mind consisting of repressed weaknesses, shortcomings, and instincts."

Everyone has another side to them that they keep hidden away, feelings they bottle up to save face or avoid conflict, or even because they themselves don't realize how strong those feelings are. But what if those feelings take a life of their own...?

Perhaps it's your best friend, a close family member, a hated enemy, or maybe it's just a complete stranger. No matter who it is, they are different now, possessing creepy yellow eyes, a distorted voice, and a disconcerting aura. Take care in what you let the real one say to the Shadow, though, because there are three little words that will set them off into an unstoppable rage and knock the real self out...

How to:
Step 1: Post as your character with their name and canon
Step 2: Others respond stumbling onto your character
Step 3: WHOOPS. Character A is actually their Shadow or Other Self!
Step 4: Play out the encounter! Will you start an epic boss fight? Have a pleasant chat? Or maybe just flat out ignore them? Run wild!

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I want people to rely on me so that I can rely on them. Or rely on them so that they can rely on me. [A dark chuckle.] However you look at it, I can't do anything without them. All I can do is sit and dream about the future, of things that will never happen because I'm too scared to reach out.

[Before long, more footsteps thud in the background, and someone else pops up--

The real Tails.]

What the-- who are you? You don't look like the other me... [Not like the double he knows...]

I think that should be obvious... I'm you.

That's--

[Before she can talk more, she sees the real Tails show up and relaxes. Looks like from the scarf that it's the older one and the same Tails this shadow seems to come from. She turns back to the shadow.]

There's nothing wrong with needing to rely on others. Friends rely and support each other, and there isn't anything to fear with reaching your hoof out.

[Wait foxes don't have hooves. It's either paws or hands. Is it paws?]

[The Shadow lets out another laugh.] Ah, friendship. To survive, I need them. That's how it's always been.

[The real Tails stares down his Shadow.] That might have been true a long time ago... but it's not anymore.

Ha! Hahahaha! Oh, don't kid yourself. Or myself. We're just as weak and reliant on others as we used to be when we first met him. All because we're scared that someone will see us as disposable and toss us aside like garbage. That's what you think, don't deny it. You're wary of every single one of them.

N-No... that's not true...

Oh, please. I never know when another world might decide to swallow me up. So, better make the most of the moment and get all of these new friends! Anything to patch up the constantly-emptying void in my heart. Seven years. Seven years of this. And you still refuse to face the truth. To face me.

You're just spouting lies! You can't be... you're not me!

[The Shadow erupts into laughter, getting louder and louder...]

Yes... YES... fill me up with the power that I desire! Your refusal to accept what's plain as day... we haven't changed at all, have we!?

[Suddenly, the real Tails falls over, unconscious, while the Shadow begins to morph.]

I am a Shadow... the true self!

[Coco had tried to say something in the conversation but she couldn't get a word in. She

She has no idea if her powers will even do anything but she has to try. She raises her hoof in the air, the Pinky Catch opening up.]

Pretty Cure Metamorphose!

[After her transformation is done, she quickly stomps the ground to make part of the earth move to create a barrier to protect the real Tails. She steps forward protectively.]

I won't let you hurt your other self!

Hahahaha-- hurt me? [The Shadow shakes his head, still slowly morphing.] What purpose would I have in doing that? If either of us dies, the other does too! We're one and the same, after all.

[He grows into a large nine-tailed fox monster, and roars.]

You, like the others, did much to help me find my footing. Now I can prove once and for all that I'm strong enough to be on my own!

Edited 2020-07-07 07:29 (UTC)

[As much as she would like to give the shadow the benefit of a doubt, she didn't wanna chance the shadow might be lying. After all, other shadows when they went berserk tried to kill their other self.

Or so she's been told.

Still, she keeps her ground and will keep up the barrier for now. She will protect Tails no matter what.]

You don't need to be alone, Tails. Being on your own will only lead to suffering.

[It was a blatant lie, of course - a ruse to both attempt to get Coco to lift the shield, and to also make her think twice about facing the Shadow.]

Ha! Being with others has led to suffering too. I was only a burden to Sonic when I chose to follow after him in my earlier years. Disposable, except when I could help get him places he couldn't go before. And then, when I finally was asked to do something for him, being counted on for the first time, it was only after I'd had him condemned to death.

[The tails rise up, each glowing a different color.]

[Different colors? She wonders if they mean different elemental attacks. Either way, there's another stomp and several vines pop up not only around her from the ground, but some pop up under the shadow in an attempt to grab it and hold it down.

She does her best to try to hold on. She has the other vines to counterattack with in case this doesn't work.]

I'm sure Sonic doesn't view you that way at all. And I'm also sure he doesn't hold your mistake against you.

Edited 2020-07-08 01:59 (UTC)

I am a shadow... the true self.

The Shadow Meme

italics are the Shadow speaking while Real Tails is conscious

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