Chapter 1: Promise of the past
Darren couldn't take it anymore, he screamed. The figure paused and cocked it's head as the child's screams echoed around the deserted corridors. Some of Perfect Chaos' lieutenants heard though and started to head towards the source.
The fog was starting to part, "W... Who are you?" Asked Sally. Backed up against the wall, Darren behind her, trembling. The fog parted to reveal a hedgehog who looked like he was fifteen, he was black, a black you could lose yourself in forever, he had red highlights on his stripes and near his wrists and ankles, he wore white gloves with black cuffs and two golden rings on each of his wrists, on his feet he wore black, red, and white shoes with things that would not have looked out of place on a miniature rocket. He bent on one knee and closed his eyes, saying as if reciting from memory, "As you are the first one to so kindly wake me kind mistress, I will follow your orders until you release me." Sally's eyes widened. She moved towards him, turning her back on the exit to the corridor in the process, Darren followed her like a frightened puppy. "Who... Who are you?" She asked, slightly shaky, but determined, Shadow's crimson eyes met her violet ones, "I am Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate life form created on Space colony ARK by Professor Gerald Robotnik." Sally's eyes widened. "Really?" Suddenly an all too metallic voice said, "Surrender prisoners or be annihilated." Sally raised her hands over her head, "Shadow ru..." But Shadow wasn't there, suddenly the sound of a small explosion was heard behind them and bits of metal flew by them, curious, they turned around, the robot had a large hole in it's chest, and Shadow was standing above it, staring down at it and smirking slightly. "I... Thank you." Shadow shrugged. "Where to?" He took the emerald out of it's slot and grabbed Sally's wrist, "Umm... could you take us to Station Square?" Shadow nodded, "If you don't want to leave your buddy behind you should grab onto him." So Sally latched onto Darren and Shadow raised the emerald. "CHAOS CONTROL!" They were gone in a flash of red light.
They re-appeared. On top of a building. Which was good, seeing as the ground wasn't visible because of the water that covered it, flowing gently. Shadow looked at the ground with interest. "That happened fifty-one years ago." Said Sally. "When Sonic the Hedgehog couldn't beat Perfect Chaos, he now instills terror everywhere." Shadow looked at the sad, hopeless look on her face. "Isn't there a way it could be changed?" Sally looked at him, "Well, first, you have to know what happened, I'll tell you the short way, Sonic's energy was drained out of him and then he broke on of his legs when he fell out of Perfect Chaos, he died from shock and pain, the painkillers couldn't even block it out. And since then, Perfect Chaos has ruled." Shadow seemed thoughtful, "It would be possible to change the past." He said slowly. Darren caught on, "You could change the past?" Shadow nodded slowly. Sally looked like someone had offered her a perfect world. "You would do that?" "For you." Shadow said. "What do we need?" Gone was the helpless look, to be replaced by fiery determination. Shadow smiled, "We would require all the Chaos Emeralds." Darren punched the air. "Fantastic!" "But..." The two boys turned to look at Sally, "We might not be born, and... we would never meet Shadow if we were." This brought silence, then Shadow said, "Do you want people to be happy?" Sally nodded, "Here." Shadow put a hand under her chin and brought her eyes up to be level with his. "Then don't cry, you're doing something to make the world a better place to be. And I'll remember, I'll remember you, even if you cease to exist." Sally smiled a watery smile and wiped her eyes, "Thank you Shadow." He nodded. "How many chaos emeralds are there?" "Seven, but since we have one we only need to get six." Darren looked excited. "Okay!"