After ARK

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this fiction save the idea of the story. While I am sure others have come up with the same basic idea, this is my take on it. All other things are the property of Sega.

Prologue: Words Exchanged

Ark Station

Let it be said Dr. Eggman Robotnik was not one for introspection. He rarely ever considered himself in any light save that of being an undeniable genius, something that was completely true…and missing so much of his personality. Yes, he was smart, in fact he had an IQ of over 300, but that wasn't a quality most people associated with him. They saw him as arrogant, cruel, evil, and sometimes just plain crazy. But he cared not for what the lesser people thought of him. After all, he was the Great Dr. Robotnik. Why should he care what the common people thought of him? They were beneath him. He spent less time worrying about the flaws that other people saw than the flaws he saw in himself. And yet…

"As a boy I admired my grandfather. I began my journey into science to emulate him. He was a genius of unparalleled greatness. Yet…did he really mean to destroy us all?"

Robotnik meant what he said. He had gone into robotics in part due to his name, but mostly to surpass his grandfather. He had known that the old man had worked in genetics, and he wanted to be better with his robots, proving the superiority of machines over organics. But now…

"I don't know. He didn't seem all there in the videos. I suspect that losing Maria changed him. What I do know is that after today, he will only be remembered as a villain, whether or not that is fair." Tails, the two tailed fox, spoke with the earnest and sadness that only a kid could. Eggman still couldn't believe that he had lost to the little fox, but that was beside the point.

"You are right Tails." Eggman paused, gazing out at the planet below them. It seemed so big, so beautiful, and yet oddly insignificant. It was as if trying to rule the world was a small thing, not even worthy of mention.

He had begun his road into robotics to best his grandfather. His attempts at ruling the world were a part of this. If he could conquer the world with his robots, something his grandfather hadn't even tried to do with his creatures, than surely he was better. Surely he had proved himself superior. And yet that blue hedgehog kept getting in the way.

So was nature truly better than machine? Or was it just because he was playing catch up, with nature having a huge lead that he would never reach? Then again, perhaps it didn't matter. His grandfather wanted to help the world, not rule it. His work into Shadow the Hedgehog had been to cure Maria, to allow her to walk in the world. If he was to beat his grandfather, it wouldn't be that way.

There was something else to consider. He wanted to beat his grandfather to prove his superiority, not just to himself, but to everyone. However, even if he managed to achieve his goals, to create Eggman Empire, it was likely that he would be remembered in an unfavorable light. "Eggman Robotnik the Tyrant", not "Eggman Robotnik the Genius". That was not his goal.

"My grandfather wanted to protect this world; he wanted to make it a better place. Shadow has done this magnificently, preventing the ARK from destroying the world at the cost of his own life. I always wanted to do better, so I guess I have something new to work on." The pattering of feet on metal was heard as several figures turned to face him.

"Are you saying what I think you are saying Butnik?" The voice was full of surprise, and suspicion. 'A reasonable thing' the bald genius thought.

"Yes you annoying hedgehog. I am turning a new leaf. Instead of making the ultimate robot to destroy you, I will be making the ultimate robot to defend this world. I already have several ideas, all of them pure genius. But I will need help. Your help specifically, Tails."

The fox in question gasped slightly in surprise. "Me?" Tails managed to squeak out, bringing a gloved covered hand to his face.

"Yes, you. You are an inventor, and a very good one at that. You managed to best me in my field with your Tornado walker, something I had thought impossible. I think you would make a good partner, and it would help placate people and show that yes, I am turning a new leaf. We can work here, in the ARK, where my grandfather worked fifty years ago. Are you really going to turn down the chance to work with the Great Dr. Robotnik?"

The fox shook his head indecisively, looking around the room. "I want to do it, but I don't know…what do you guys think?"

"Heh. It doesn't matter to me, so long as you don't go after my Master Emerald. Though I think you should do it." Knuckles was as short and concise as ever. He clutched his precious Master Emerald in his hands; eyes darting about as if someone was about to steal it.

"This sounds great. Do it Tails; if you do I will be able to spend even more time with my Sonic, since he won't be chasing after Eggman!" Amy on the other hand was positively thrilled with the idea. 'More time with Sonic means better memories, faster wedding, and then…' Her eyes glazed over, hearts appearing inside them. Everyone took a step back; the grin she was now sporting was utterly terrifying.

"Sure, go ahead. GUN will probably want me to keep an eye on you, but it should be fine." Rouge looked more interested in her fingernails than the events that were happening in front of her. "Maybe I will pay a visit to Angle Island later."

"Why you, stay away from the Master Emerald, thief!" Rouge simply laughed at the furious stare the Echidna was sending her way.

"Who ever said anything about stealing the Master Emerald? Maybe I wanted to see a certain red Echidna." She then winked at Knuckles, and strutted out of the room, humming to herself in a melodious tone.

"Don't say things like that!" Knuckles roared at the door. Hefting the Master Emerald, he quickly ran after her. What he planned to do, no one knew. Heck, he probably didn't know what he was going to do.

"So Sonic, what do you think?" The blue hedgehog faced his pseudo younger brother, a smile still on his face from Rouge's antics and Knuckles's reaction.

"Well, everyone seems to think you should give it a shot," his eyes darted nervously at Amy, who still had hearts in her eyes, "so, yah, go for it." He then faced the egg-shaped genius. "You better take good care of him though. Don't make me make you regret this."

Eggman nodded once. "I won't, you have nothing to worry about it. Nothing will go wrong, especially since you won't be against me this time. Remember, I am a genius."

Sonic flashed a grin, and gave Eggman a thumb up. "Alright Eggman, I will trust you on this." He then lowered his hand. "Come on, let's go."

The group slowly walked out of the observation room. Sonic, oddly enough, was the last to leave. The usually speedy hedgehog stared out at the planet he had just saved with Shadow not twenty minutes ago. He flashed the world a two fingered salute. "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog." Sonic then turned and walked out of the room. The door hissed shut with a final clank. All was silent on the observatory, Shadow's favorite place on the station.

Unknown to everyone, the black hedgehog was not dead yet. He was in a coma, lying on a field. For three days he laid there, undisturbed by the world. On the fourth, a storm broke over the plain, filling the field with water. Shadow the Hedgehog was carried by the torrent of water to a river, one which flowed mightily across the continent.

It was lucky for the black hedgehog that he was created to be lighter than water. Otherwise he would have drowned that fourth night, a rather ironic death for such a creature. Instead he was shoved by the water into a swamp. It was there that he was found.

"Hey Froggy, what is this?" A large, purple cat pulled out the waterlogged hedgehog. "Looks like someone was hurt. Come Froggy, we have to help this guy. It is time to get back to the cabin." With that the large cat hoisted the hedgehog up, and began to carry the hedgehog to his small and simple cabin.

"Don't you worry; Froggy and I will take good care of you." The slow speaking cat gently placed the black hedgehog on his spare bed. "Come on Froggy, we have to catch more fish for our guest." With that the cat stepped out again, and began to fish once more with his ever present rod.

In another part of the world, a robot was pounding relentlessly against a door. It was already weakened from his arsenal being fired into it, but he still hadn't worked through the door yet. The door had been designed to keep him in, and the robot was unwilling to spend the rest of his ammunition on the door, regardless of how big of an explosion it would have made. He needed to get out, to fulfill his purpose. He needed to kill the hedgehogs, Sonic and Shadow, as well as his creator for locking him in here. Time was on his side, eventually he would smash his way through.

In the dim light, five symbols were made visible on his shoulders: E-123 on the left, and the omega symbol on the right.

In yet another part of the world, a chaos emerald had deposited itself next to an inert robot. Nothing changed for a full week, until a storm hit the area, and lightning struck the emerald. The blood red emerald redirected the energy into the yellow plated, blue eyed robot which was humanoid shaped. The robot awoke for the first time in over 4000 years. It regarded the emerald, and then absorbed it.

There was only two directives in its process now. Find the other chaos emeralds, and find the strongest to link to. The robot limped slowly, looking for someone with power.

And far from the orbit of the planet Earth, a black comet was coming ever closer.