The Key To Everything

By Shadow7104 And The Chuckinator

Chapter 1: Preperations

The sound of footsteps were in the strangely quiet castle as a figure in a black cloak raced down the empty hallways as voices echoed throughout the place.

"You! Stop!"

"You two go that way! Cut him off!"

"This is GUN! Stop unless you want to be arrested!"

The eyes of the cloaked figured widened as he paused there for a second, trying to decide where to go. Once realizing what the last male voice had yelled, his eyes hardened as a slight growl escaped his throat. The cloaked figure immediately returned his pace as he listened for clues about the whereabouts of the followers. He slipped through a large wooden door that could only be noticed if you knew how to look for it for that entire wall was wood. The excuse used is that the Royal family wanted to keep some details of what was originally on the ground before the castle was created, but in reality it was because of something that could destroy everything they know and love. Or that it could destroy an entire race… and maybe with a few adjustments... the entire planet.

But only if they had the key.

The cloaked figure leaned quietly against the door as he listened for the sound of retreating footsteps and yells toward the other side of the castle. A light relieved sigh left the figure's mouth as his attention turned away from the door and down into the hall. He walked slowly down the surprisingly long hallway as he looked around, for there were many other things in this hall too. For instance as he walked down the hallway, there was a statue for every royal that has helped protect this secret as it was "destroyed" right after it was created.

At least that's what they told the public- but somehow, now GUN had found out about it and are planning to use it on Doctor Eggman, unaware that it is,in fact, very unstable.

And that is why the weapon must remain hidden. Just as the key.

All four parts of it.

Soon, he had past all of the statues as he slowly walked up some stairs to a room filled with all kind of treasure- the "emergency" treasure, but the figure was unfazed for that. What he came for was in the middle of the room on a small pedestal. he slowly walked up to the machine, which was about the size of a handgun, and put the weapon under his cloak. He turned to the left and walked over to 9 tiles- equally length and size- and pressed into them as if it were a number pad on a keyboard.

"437253," he muttered under his breath as he pressed the specific tiles. When he let go of the last tile, a soft rumbling was heard as a small door opened as the gold and jewels that were on the ground on top of it were moved and a small staircase appeared leading out and the pedestal that held the weapon had disappeared into the floor. The figure smirked as he prepared to leave, but before he left, he held up his right wrist and took something off and quickly snapped it in two, giving off light yellow sparks, and tossed the two pieces into a nearby pile as he began to exit with the staircase. When it was clear that the cloaked figure was down, the doors closed and the pile of gold reappeared on top of the hidden door as a banging was heard. The sound of smashed doors was soon heard in the room as soldiers poured into the treasury room with guns high.

Sadly for them though, the figure and the weapon were already long gone. As the soldiers looked around for any clue of the weapon, a slight glimmer came off the two objects that did not go unnoticed by a certain GUN agent as she walked up to the two pieces and gasped as a familiar name was edge into the two sides.

Shadow the Hedgehog.

One Week Earlier

"Oh come on, Sonic!" Tails the Fox complained as his older brother ran around his Workshop, grabbing different things, putting them into a small backpack. "Why can't I ever go with you on these trips to your family?! I'm your little brother! I think it's time you introduce me to them, don't you think?!"

Sonic sighed. "I will, Tails, I will- but it'll have to be another time. I know you want to meet them -and I want you to also- but something came up and with how crazy my family's village is with it's entrances, Shadow's making me escort him in there for "official GUN business with the royal family."

"But you're just a commoner."

"Well, yeah, but Shadow just needs to get in, the rest is whatever he needs to do. I'm not having any business with it." he said, as he folded over the top flap of the backpack and put it on his back, hanging on by his right shoulder. "Hey, I'll be back in two weeks, tops. With how much I like to take my runs, you should be ok for that little while I'm gone." He turned ready to head out the door and said. Amy will come over and visit every once in a while, and if something happens where you need me; you can always call my communicator and I'll be here in a jif." He gave a light smile as Tails returned one as he smiled.

"You're right."

"Yep, and I'll see ya in two weeks, lil' buddy." Then he was out the front door in a blur.

He stopped at Tails' bottom step and looked back at the Workshop as he sighed sadly.

"You told me yourself; you can't tell him about who your family really is for his safety." a new darker voice hit his ears.

"Yeah," he spat, "I did, but I do hate lying to him, and this isn't helping!"

"Well," the voice responded as he stepped into the hedgehog's view. "The faster we get there, the faster you get back to him."

Sonic scoffed. "Whatever. Let's just go already, Shadow. It's already bad enough I have to get you in and then I have to deal with my family." He groaned. "This is gonna be a long two weeks."