THE NEED 2 SPEED

Shadow: The Path That Lead Us Here

Who are you? What is that one word that sums up who you are, what you can do?

My name is Shadow, and that word for me is 'speed'.

Or it used to be.

Some time ago, I was freed from my decades-long sleep in suspended animation. The man who freed me, deep within the confines of G.U.N. HQ, was Dr. Robotnik. As the grandson of the man who created me I assumed, correctly, he woke me for the same reasons I was created.

Knowledge, power, destruction.

The planet Earth had stolen everything important to me, and to my creator. So I granted his grandson what he wanted in the same manner that was first intended. I led this man to the knowledge of the A.R.K., the power of the Chaos Emeralds, and the destruction they together caused.

I had done my duty. I did what I was created for, and had nothing else to live for. Yet since I awoke, I had encountered a small band of rivals multiple times. Why did they resist us? Why did they risk their lives for a world that hated them, that saw them as freaks? I watched on the A.R.K's familiar monitors as they joined forces with the man who awoke me, and the third of our team, Rouge.

I wondered about all this as they frantically attempted to stop the destruction that was of their own hands. But why should I try to help them? Why should I save these petty fools?

Then Amy, the pink hedgehog girl came and pleaded with me to join them. I asked her why should I? Why should I care for a world full of people that scrambled over and destroyed one another?

"Because every life is precious. EVERYONE is worth fighting for."

Words I had heard before. Not from my rival, not from the professor, from her.

She was. She was someone worth fighting for. She thought I was too, as she sacrificed herself to save me all those years ago.

A tragedy I had wanted to correct for years. And here was my chance.

To hell with Robotnik, to hell with the world. I wanted to save them for her. To please her as she looked down form heaven.

I ran with all my strength to the heart of the A.R.K., knowing my rival, and my greatest challenge were waiting.

Sure enough, Sonic stood facing down the Biolizard, the professor's ultimate creation, built to guard the Chaos Emerald Chamber, to ensure that the professor's last, twisted wish came true.

Sonic was hunched over and breathing heavily, it was obvious the security systems had worn him down, and he was the only other one there fast enough to stand a chance against the Biolizard.

So I stepped forward. I would stop my fellow creation while the others steadied our rapidly decaying orbit.

It was terrible, having to battle this thing that was, in some sense, my brother. The last link between my life of decades past and today's world. It was no match for my speed, and I crashed through the life- support system on it's back. It shreiked in agony, and vanished in a brilliant flash.

And I was alone. The abomination was never what I called a friend, but now everything, EVERYTHING I knew of my past life was dead or destroyed. The last of which by my own hand.

I dashed onward, and caught up to the others in time to see Knuckles' Master Emerald call down the Chaos Emeralds and thereby disarm the reactor. Despite this, we felt the station continue to plummet. The Biolizard had moved to the outside of the A.R.K., and was pulling it downward.

I cursed silently, despite my best efforts, I had failed. I could not fulfill my promise to Maria. The Earth and the people on it would be obliterated, due in part from my actions.

'Why?' I asked myself. 'Why am I so powerless? I am the ultimate life form! The pinnacle of all science, evolution, creation! I need more, I need more power!'

I closed my eyes, determined not to let these creatures I didn't know see my tears.

'Maria,' I pleaded, 'I am sorry. I cannot do this alone. Please, help me Maria!'

In my mind's eye, I felt a distant warmth in the bleakness of my pain and despair. A light, that hung like a rope in front of me, ringing with familiarity, comfort and hope. I reached out for it, and I grabbed it.

It was like grabbing lightning. Energy and power suddenly surged through me, like a dam of strength had burst. It was infinately painful, and it took every ounce of resolve to keep myself from being swallowed up in the cascade of force.

But it was wonderful.

My muscles throbbed with potential and I could see, no, feel the engergies of all living things, like streams that flowed through everything.

Glowing with seemingly infinite power, Sonic and I stepped out into the space.

I quickly found that by mere thought, I could "sail" these life streams at incredible speeds. Between Sonic and I, the Finalhazard had no chance of survival.

Sonic seemed used to this power, but he seemed sad that I could do it.

With the Finalhazard destroyed, Sonic and I channeled our power and used my technique.

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

The A.R.K. was restored to it's former orbit, and Sonic flew up to rejoin his friends.

What about me? No one on the station was waiting for me. The only one who was waiting for me was doing so on the other side.

So I decided to fall, and go to her.

But Shadow, a voice seemed to whisper. Why join her in death, when with this power you can have her join you in life?

As it spoke, it became so. I was back in the past, trapped in that terrible escape pod.

"Live Shadow," It was Maria, it was REALLY her. "I want you to live."

"I want you to too..."

With my "Super" power, I crashed through the glass. I tore through the A.R.K., chaos controlling every G.U.N. soldier I encountered back to Earth, and crushing any robot that stood in my way.

I WOULD correct that wrong. I would not be robbed of all I cared for this time. Not again...

In a matter of seconds, it was as it was supposed to be. The professor, Maria and I.

Seeing no option left short of destroying Earth, which Maria would never allow, we left the Solar System. The A.R.K. took off for unknown worlds.

Years passed. We were all so happy. We explored the universe, and saw things no human or hedgehog had ever seen before. Maria would stare longingly out a view-port now and then, obviously remembering the world she had left behind, but I always managed to cheer her up.

At some point, the professor passed on, but managed to integrate his mind into the A.R.K.'s computers beforehand, so despite his mortality, we remained under his caring vigil.

But it seems that Fate wasn't done with me yet.

One day we were happily eating breakfast when something, some terrible sense of fear, dread and hatred came over me. I leapt up from the table and flew about the A.R.K., desperately searching for whatever caused this sensation.

I checked, double-checked and triple-checked every single chamber I could think of. I always found nothing, but the intensity of the feelings grew every second. I quickly realized with terror that I had left Maria alone for who knows how long.

A distant alarm sounded, and suddenly every defensive system in the station activated, and I found myself periodically attacked by the armaments meant to protect us. I soared back to her as fast as I could. She was still in the mess hall, but had been backed into a corner by a shadow. A figure, without an exact form. A swirling mass of negative energy, it seemed to radiate a sense of evil.

I hurled myself at the strange foe, but a security cannon managed to strike me down at the last moment. In a rage, I destroyed it.

Still transformed after all these years, it hadn't hurt me, but it was enough to knock me off my feet.

Which might've been worse.

For as I regained my focus and was distracted, the figure had changed. It grew a more stable outline. It looked vaguely like me, but it's right arm was large and misshapen. And it glowed with a furious aura.

The form attacked, and we were locked in combat. I was furious to discover it was just as fast, and just as powerful as I was.

We traded blows for some time, then the monstrous right arm slammed onto my face.

It burned, yet my face suddenly felt cold, like it's life was being pulled away. The chill of weakness spread like a plague through my body. I thrashed madly, striking wild blows against my foe, but his grip only intensified.

As I lost strength and spiraled towards death, I heard a voice.

"Shadow! Stop this! We fought too hard for you to destroy it all now!"

"Son... ic...?"

The darkness of unconsciousness began to slowly creep in, and for a brief moment I saw multicolored crystal fingers over my eyes, and between them a vaguely familiar blue hedgehog.

The figure unleashes a mighty roar of furious agony, and his grip loosens.

With my little remaining power, I thrash my way out of my grip and soar away to regroup.

I look at the figure to determine what caused it's painful cry.

"Ma... ri... a..."

She's jammed a knife into the creature's back. Anyone could see the fear, terror and determination in her face. But I knew her better than anyone.

She was sad.

Her bringing pain to this thing tore her up inside. For some reason she cared about this thing that was trying to kill us.

Her compassion was not shared however.

Our foe seemed to move in slow-motion, and I charged ahead as fast as I could in my weakened state. I watched as it turned to face Maria, her resolve unwavering.

"MARIA! RUN!" I screamed, but she just stood facing it. I moved as fast as I could, but the room seemed to stretch, them moving three feet for every one I crossed. "MARIA!"

The right hand that had nearly claimed my life snapped up to her throat and lifted her off the ground.

And she did nothing. Just hung there limply with tears in her eyes.

I crashed into him like a freight train, and knocked us both away from her as her body fell to the floor.

"DAMN YOU!" I cried as I attacked the thing. "YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED HER!

Again the right hand clamped onto my face.

"No, I didn't"

I froze in confusion, had it heard me, did it speak to me?

"Give in," It said. "There's no time to explain. You have carried your burden too long..."

I glanced to the side at Maria's crumpled form. "I'm sorry. I failed you. I'll see you soon..." I whispered. Just before it all went black two words rang out loud and clear:

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

--------------------

That was two years ago.

I woke up on Earth. It was nothing more than a horrible vision. A lie that the Chaos Emerald's power fed my brain while my empowered body went into a rampage.

Sonic risked his own sanity at the hands of the chaos to save me. To save this world he cared so much about.

According to Knuckles, Rouge and Tails, I had all but destroyed G.U.N., killed Dr. Robotnik, and attempted to destroy the world. Sonic was able to stop me by somehow fusing with the Chaos Emeralds, but at a terrible cost.

Overcome for a moment in a berserker rage, he tried to kill Amy. She had attacked him to save me from being totally absorbed. She was alive, and awake, but remained catatonic to this day. Not attempting to eat, speak, hell even acknowledge the world around her.

To make matters worse, Sonic had vanished off the face of the Earth. Someone that was now twice as powerful as I had been, tormented by who knows what kind of horrors, and to whom I owe my life, for what it's worth.

Tails has helped rebuild G.U.N. in return for access to Dr. Robotnik's files about Sonic, Super Sonic and the emeralds. Diligently searching for some answers as to what happened to his friend, and how to help him.

Moving around, even today, is like first moving after a long sleep. My entire body aches and is sluggish, despite my best attempts of training.

Plus, it seems whatever "gift" I had that had allowed me to use the energies of the Chaos Emeralds was gone now.

I've never told anyone about my strange visions. The only one who'd understand is gone...

Little did I know that today, the second anniversary of our battle, would see his return...

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A/N: Whew, it's been a long time coming, but the sequel to "Need for Speed" is here! Don't worry all you comedy buffs, I'll continue working on "Knuckles Goes Looking for Love" as well, but I gotta tell you, comedy (well GOOD comedy at least) is MUCH harder than drama. Obviously, since this is the SEQUEL to "Need for Speed" you kinda have to read that fic to have ANY idea what's going on. Most likely, if you're reading this you already have, so you know I start off kinda slow, but it will pick up quickly. Thank you for reading, please review as well.