A black figure stood above Emerald City, his beam like red eyes, casting a slight hew in the night sky, sighing he takes in the cold around him as he shakes off the snow on his shoulders, turning his head, he glances to the sky, his eyes lightening slightly as a small smile appears, the night had been so peaceful not like all the nights of unrest he had, had for so long.
The peace however was not long lasting, his guard slept up slightly and it took only this moment of looseness for him to regret his choice, a black arrow pierced his flesh as he barely escaped the fatal attack, he ripped the projectile loose as rage boiled in his eyes, his eyes drifted to the snow white figure who was stationed on the tower of a building.
The white figure however moved quickly so he had to catch up quickly to not allow the assailant to escape, as he approached he noticed the strange trail of blue mist coming off of the figure, his mind still clouded with anger showed he was not ready to think properly as he lunged the distance towards his attacker knocking both him and the other being off of the building.
As they both hit the ground he was quick to hold the snow white figure down, pressing them into the ground, struggling slightly to keep the white figure down he growled as he said," You're not going anywhere until you understand who you're dealing with, I am not some normal weak agent of G.U.N. I am Shadow, the Ultimate Life form and I will not go down so easily!"
Shadow then noticed the strange effect that the person was now spreading onto him; ice was beginning to crawl along his arm slowly freezing his limbs. Shadow quickly pulled his arms shattering from the ice and releasing the assailant, hopping up the assailant quickly withdrew a thin circular disk with sharp barbs along the edge.
The Assailant said, its voice cloaked within the mask," And I am afraid you do not understand the circumstances which have brought us to such a discouraging fight, however I will not be insulted as such, being the top class ranked bounty hunter, I am Snow the elite bounty hunter, I have been hired to eliminate the fast hedgehog who has been seen assisting G.U.N. However it has seem you are merely a distraction for the real one, where is Sonic the Hedgehog!"
Shadow clutched his fists angrily as his entire body began to shake, his eyes leered downwards as he snarled slightly, as he looked back up fire seemed to burn through him as he said clenching his teeth," There are only two things I can't stand in this world, Sonic the Hedgehog, and those who would dare to suggest him better than me!"
Shadow instantly rushed forward, his total speed taking the assailant off guard as his fist made direct contact with the mask on Snow's face, Snow was sent flying back before slamming into a wall, stumbling out at first Snow quickly tossed the disk out, Shadow easily dodged it as he tried to strike again, the assailant flipped over him with quick agility before the blade seemed to fling back at him by the motion of Snow's hand.
Shadow quickly rolled out of the way before it hit him, Snow taking the advantage in order to strike him, Shadow, only knocked back; quickly struck back again, Snow barely dodged the attack however tripped slightly on the last step, Shadow almost immediately taking advantage of this as he swiped the feet out from under Snow, before Snow completely fell over Shadow struck the side of his head sending Snow crashing into the pavement below them.
Snow tumbled a few times before gripping the ground with his hand and pulling back up to his feet, Shadow smirked as he rushed out again, hoping to finish the fight, Snow quickly brought the disk blade back and swung it forward at Shadow, again Shadow dodged the disk blade, however he was slow to react to the second one thrown, unaware of its existence, he tumbled to the ground as he clutched his arm where blood began to run from the gash along it.
Snow struck out and knocked him to the ground, he skidded a few meters before slamming into a wall, he stood back up, reacting much faster as the two disk blades slammed into the walls next to him. Shadow once again stood his ground, shrugging his shoulder off he glared down his opponent again, Snow huffed before saying," How much will it take to kill you off, I do not have time for this!"
Shadow and Snow both rushed forward and collided one on one, Shadow being stronger was able to force Snow back, Seeing the difference in strength Shadow elbowed Snow and quickly brought his knee up as he met his stomach, Snow tumbled a few feet before stabilizing on the ground, Shadow quickly rushed around Snow, his speed obviously outmatching that of Snow as he struck out and hit the armored Hedgehog who was able to block several as it continued.
Snow finally able to catch a glimpse of the hedgehog struck out and managed to drop kick him across the stomach, Shadow surprised by the hedgehogs quick movements slowly stood back up, there was only a few number of people who could catch his speed or even match it, however he did not know this hedgehog nor was he eager to know the hedgehog.
Wiping blood from his mouth Shadow closes his eyes for a few moments, Snow Taking the opportunity and pulled the disk blades back. Shadows eyes snapped open as the blades made their way to him, his left leg was cut deep by the second one as the first missed him, Shadow realized there were now three blades spiraling around him, his eyes darted to each as he tried to avoid them, escaping the small engagement he was in, he made his way to Snow.
Snow however was not eager for him to attack again, the blades became faster as shadow dodged the three blades that continued to circle around trying to cut him apart, flipping over the first two, he stepped atop of the third one, waited for the first ones as he landed and sped forward towards Snow, who was trying to strike him with the blades. Sending the other two around, Snow tried to corner Shadow as he almost reached him.
Shadow seeing this quickly boosted forward narrowly dodging the two as they began circling around, the first one behind him still trailing him, Snow again sent the other two around, Shadow however already reached Snow, before getting struck, Snow dodged the attack as Shadow flipped around him, Snow quickly remembering the two blades that were approaching Shadow, snatched both as they almost hit him, Snow said sarcastically," Never seen someone try that before."
Shadow said coldly," then you've never seen this before!" Snow quickly spun around towards Shadow, only to see the third and final blade which seemed to have been tossed at a high speed. Snow reared back trying to dodge, the blade slashing across the mask cutting entirely through before grazing around Snow's head.
Snow fell to the ground as Shadow appeared from his dash, walking closer he noticed the split mask which must have meant his plan worked. Snow stood back up slowly and backed away slowly, however Shadow was done with this fight and he struck Snow across the face, the mask was sent flying in two directions as Snow fell to the ground.
Shadows eyes opened slightly in surprise, as the figure lying there was a female hedgehog, he glanced down to his arm and leg as he said," Who would of thought she could have done this to the ultimate life form, no way in hell will I let it happen though…." Snow coughed as she shivered slightly, this Shadow almost chuckled too, the thought of someone named Snow who is barely tolerable of the stuff.
Shadow could see the small amount of blood that was dripping from her mouth, scratching the back of his head he says," Damn it all, why couldn't it have been Sonic, he would have dealt with this so much better than I would have….. I suppose I will have to take her to one of my bases for now, maybe I will get something out of her if I am uhhh….. Nice."
Shadow bent down and picked her up bridal style before taking off towards the northern part of the city, two shimmering blue eyes appeared as the two chunks of the mask were picked up, the being disappearing into the shadows as quickly as it had appeared. As Shadow made his way through the city, he once again took notice of the moon above them, it was so peaceful out, something he wished his mind and heart could one day have, he however knew this was far from reality.
Shadow entered a large estate manor, upon entering he was greeted by several people, each one someone he had saved from the control and destruction of Doctor Eggman, the first was Metal Sonic, the first robot that Eggman had introduced him too when he was working for him, a machine that was capable of replicating Sonic's speed and abilities, however it was Sonic's emotions and feelings that were truly what allowed him his victory.
The other three were Charmy, Vector, and Espio, with the docks being destroyed and there not being much of a place to stay, Shadow allowed them to stay, seeing that each had a trait that could benefit the team. Shadow set the girl down on the couch within the living room as the four approached, Charmy pokes her and asks," can I play next Shadow, please it looks fun!"
Shadow glares slightly at him, the bee may have had a hive that was missing a few honey combs but that didn't make him any less annoying, Shadow says," No, I need to ask this girl what she was doing attacking me and why she wants Sonic." Vector says while bumping Shadow with his elbow," well look at you Shadow, never thought you would go on the market and try to get a girlfriend."
Shadows eye twitched as he said," Vector I am going to hurt you, I have told you before, I do not need anyone by my side, especially this brat who thinks she can take on whoever and beat them, why would I like someone like that!?" Espio says while leaning against the wall," Maybe because that is how you are Shadow, it's a common interest that a certain behavior and action can draw affections even from someone as…. Different as you."
Shadow breaths out slightly, at least there was one brain among them that knew how to act civilized and appeal to everyone's interests, Vector appearing in his face says," So you do like her then do you, well don't worry buddy we got this, the Team Chaotix Romance Department will get to the bottom of her heart for you!"
Metal whacked him across the head before saying," Enough already Vector, Shadow mind explaining why you have brung this feminine hedgehog to our base?" Shadow begins to explain to them what occurred during his watch on that night, as his story is complete Vector crossed his arms as he thinks, after a short time he says," so she is some bounty hunter for hire, it seems she is here for Sonic, only she got the wrong hedgehog, but that doesn't tell us who sent her and why?"
Charmy says," What about the large red man that Sonic fights all the time?" Espio shakes his head before saying," No I am afraid not Charmy, Eggman wouldn't have a reason to hire some bounty hunter for that kind of job, he is a do-it-hands-on kind of villain, so he wouldn't need the assistance of a bounty hunter, what do you think Metal?"
Metal Sonic shakes his head as he says," there is no record of bounty hunter use in any of the known territories, there has not been much bounty hunter use in some time if records are correct, this is not a villain or being that record has word of, I believe it is a new threat." Shadow nods his head as he says," Yes that much is true, but I know very little on the subject, G.U.N. has heard word of an attack on many different countries around the land, each linking to some strange water based destructive force, however all the records appear to have the same or similar reappearing figure, a dark figure who appears in shadows and is never seen in the light, only that every time he appears destruction follows afterwards….."
The room sat quiet as they began to register the info Shadow displayed Espio glances to Metal and says," I suppose if it weren't terribly illogical, Eggman could be behind some of these attacks on the cities, it is like Eggman to destroy towns and entire cities for his own goal." Metal nods as he replies," That is true, but if what we have heard is true, this shadowy figure is behind these attacks, Eggman would not stay behind shadows if this were his plan, he would grab center stage and reveal himself as quickly as possible, he is in a sense, an attention hog, a shadow figure does not in any way describe Eggman." Shadow nods his head, Espio says," true…. So then who could it be…."