Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to sonic and SEGA.
Chapter 1- Chaos control
Bright light surrounded me as earths atmosphere tried to crush my body, the power of the chaos emeralds the only thing between total oblivion and me. Beside me a golden being zoomed upwards with me, sonic the hedgehog, my nemesis turned ally glowed with a golden light as we shot up towards the space colony ARK as my former home plummeted towards earth. 'Maria its time to keep that promise'
"No way is that getting through!" yelled sonic beside me, his eyes burned with a crimson glow like mine, I could see the determination and power behind those eyes and I knew we could do this.
"Ready Sonic?" as I prepared to use chaos control at a level I never imagined before. He nodded and we both prepared to do the impossible, move a space station the size of a city back into earths orbit. We were surrounded by a red haze as the super heated molecules of earths atmosphere surrounded us, the dead biolizard had already melted and now its bones were little more then ashes. I prepared to use the chaos control when suddenly a feeling of light headiness over took me, I tried to shake it off but soon I became short of breath and I felt...cold. 'Oh god!' My super form was fading!. I gave the final attack against the biolizard; I didn't have time to replenish my rings! I looked up at the ARK; I needed to get inside or ill die out here. 'But sonic' He couldn't do this alone, at least not survive it.
"Do it for me shadow". "Maria" I whispered. I had no choice; this was my purpose, my destiny!. Ill keep my promise to Maria, it was her dying wish and I never broke a promise to her!. The ball of energy grew. The chaos control was forming...just a little more. My power was nearly gone, my body was freezing and it was becoming harder to breath.
The ARK was almost on top of us... just a few more seconds.
"Its ready!" shouted sonic. My eyes focused on the approaching ARK...for you Maria. "CHAOS CONTROL!!" I watched as a firework show of immense proportions erupted around the ark, the yellow, red and blue were still the same but...there! Green light surrounded the ARK and with a glaring flash the ARK disappeared. Only to reappear safely back in earths orbit. I smiled even as all the air left me and the silver light began to fade, I smiled because the earth was safe...I kept my promise to her...to you Maria.
"Shadow we did it!" said sonic as he turned towards me, the smile dyed on his lips as he saw me already plummeting towards earth.
"Shadow!" he raced after me grabbing my arm and the fire bracelet I wore there as he tried to pull me free of the earths orbit.
"Let me go sonic" I said to him, his eyes found mine; the pain and sadness surprised me...why did he cry for me?
"NO! Your going to live shadow, you just saved the world...you haven't even had the celebrating party yet! You can't die till you see that!"
I smiled, "Ive done all I needed to do faker, im happy now". 'Ill see you soon Maria'.
He growled and tried to pull me back to ARK, I noticed the golden light was fading; he would lose his super form too.
The crazy hedgehog would die if he didn't go now!. Giving a sigh I punched upwards watching as sonic was knocked away from me, my bracelet in his hand.
"Go back to them sonic, they need their hero" I said as I watched him fade away as I fell into darkness. I closed my eyes ready to die, the heat wasn't so bad now, and I welcomed my coming death. 'Shadow!!'
'What?' I looked around trying to find who spoke; it wasn't Sonics voice it sounded like.
'Maria!' I gasped as the ghostly form of Maria formed in front of me, how could she be here. She simmered in the air like she was just a fading ripple on water, two bright white wings came from her back and I was in awe at the sight.
Maria was an angel? "Shadow you mustn't give up!" "Maria?" "I wanted you to live shadow, please don't die now when at last you have the chance to live your life without walls to cage you!" "But I wanted to be with you" Her blue eyes softened and a smile graced her lips, "I know shadow but now is not your time, you must escape and live shadow. Someone needs your help, and without it they will suffer a fate worse then death" "But im in space, how can I survive the fall with my super form almost gone?" I was desperate now, I didn't want to die, Maria said there was something else I had to do and I always believed her.
"Well lets call this a miracle shall we" she said with a coy giggle, and then pulled a chaos emerald from behind her back. I knew what this was, "The fake emerald!" She gave it to me and leaning forward gave me a kiss on my head like she used to when I was young and still scared of the world.
"Sayonara shadow the hedgehog," She said before disappearing. I gripped the fake emerald tightly in my hands, if that faker...sonic could pull this of then the 'ultimate life form' should have no problems! I cleared my mind and felt for the power within me, I knew I could do this but with the fake emerald I wasn't sure I could control where I would warp. ' As long as im not in space it'll be perfect...maybe Hawaii?' I prepared myself and said the two words that would change my life.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"CHAOS CONTROL!!"
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Sonic gasped as he tried to get his breathing under control, how had Sleet and Dingoe got that nightmarish robot?
"Come out sonic! Give yourself up and Dr Robotnik promises you he will let you live!" yelled Sleet from somewhere in the streets. 'Only as a mindless slave' thought Sonic. He started to make a run out of the dark alley he was hiding in, hoping he could outrun Sleet and Dingoe and that ferocious robot that they had. A metal arm ending in a fist with barbed claws cut his run short. Sonic was thrown back into the alley as the robots clothesline knocked all the air from him, he took a moment to regain his breath and barely jumped aside as the robot slammed a powerful fist into the ground where Sonics head had just been. Backing out of the alley he started in terror at the red glowing eyes that followed him. The metal being stepped into the light, sonic couldn't help but feel sick at the dark mockery this robot made of him. It resembled a hedgehog, or more likely him. Bright metallic paint and a light frame gave it Sonics look at a distance but up close you saw the wicked claws, metal body and red glowing eyes and you saw that this was not the kind-hearted hedgehog sonic. Metal sonic was its name, and it was made for one purpose, to kill him.
"Having fun hedgehog?" Sonic turned to see Dingoe fire a net at him, he reacted quickly and sliced through the net but the metal sonic was right behind him laying him low with a vicious swipe of its claws.
"Aahhh!" sonic screamed as the metal monster slammed its claws into his stomach pinning him in place in indestructible steel. The wound was not mortal, deep enough to hurt like hell and hold sonic in place but not enough to pierce his organs or arteries.
"METAL! I said capture the hedgehog not skewer him! Release him immediately!" ordered Sleet. The robot glared at the wolf and with a growl pulled his claw free letting sonic fall to his knees in agony. Sleet walked up to the downed hedgehog smirking at him.
"After all this time you're at my mercy sonic, all this humiliation you've put me and Dingoe through and at last I can have my revenge" He kneeled down and whispered in the hedgehog's ears, "Im tempted to forget about Robotniks orders and let Metal have you, he could make it last hours even day if he wanted. The slowest death with the most pain, would you have that rather then robotocised?" The robots clawed twitched and a look of hunger came into his ruby eyes.
"Do what you want Sleet ill never give you Sonia or Manic!" said sonic, hate blazing in his eyes. Sleets eyes narrowed before he stood up again, "We will see hedgehog" He hauled Sonic to his feet and slapped some cuffs on hands and feet then began dragging him towards their vehicle. Sonic looked round at all the people around him, the mobians were shocked that their hero had been captured, some looked like they might help but a warning glare from metal sonic promised death to any that tried. He searched the crowd but couldn't find the warm eyes of his siblings hiding in the crowd. He lowered his head and hoped that Sonia and Manic could save him later.
A Blazing Light Erupting Just A Few Meters Above The Street Stopped Them, the bright wormhole blinded all who saw it and even Metal had to cover his sensors. The light faded and a Black hedgehog fell to the ground, he laid there blinking before shrieking in joy. "Nothing Is Impossible For The Ultimate Life Form!" He jumped up and shook the dust off his fur muttering to himself. Sleet looked quite annoyed by this.
"Who the hell are you!" The black hedgehog half turned and studied Sleet for a moment before turning back and cleaning his shoes.
"I asked you a question and you better answer before I have you arrested hedgehog!"
"MY NAME IS SHADOW, and if you don't shut up you will be dead in the next five minutes mongrel" he said coldly. Sleet was shocked, but his anger swiftly returned, "How dare you threaten a soldier of the great Dr Robotnik, Swat bots kill him!" Two Swat bots that had been guarding Sleets hover truck turned towards Shadow and fired their lasers. Shadow remained where he was, effortlessly dodging every shot; he had a bored expression on his face. The Swat bots stopped firing and closed the distance; one launched its fist at shadow, prepared to pummel him.
The fist was easily grabbed and held by shadow and to Sonics and everyone's amazement crushed by shadows hand. The black hedgehog grinned before lifting the robot with one hand before smashing it into the other robot destroying them both. He turned towards Sleet and for the first time noticed Sonic.
Sonic was frozen by those powerful ruby eyes, they had a true predators look and Sonic really felt like prey at the moment, a shiver went down his spine but he was not sure why.
"Sonic? Who are these dogs and why do they have you in chains?" shadow asked crossing his arms. Sonic wasn't sure what to say, "I-I was caught...by metal" he said jerking his thump at said robot that was looking as pissed as a robot could be. Shadow threw his head back and laughed, "The great sonic the hedgehog was caught by two mongrels and something off of scrap heap challenge! Oh this is too good!".
"I was taken by surprise!" said sonic wondering why he was arguing or even talking to this strange hedgehog. Shadow smirked, "So you really are a cheap fake compared to me, id never get caught by those losers" "Im not a fake! And why are you talking like you know me, ive never met you!" Shadow blinked and looked at sonic more closely. Now he knew sonic was shorter then him but a full foot? When did that happen?. And his build was different, his muscles were less developed and he had a very youthful look to his face.
"How old are you?" asked Shadow. Sonic blushed, "What kinda question is that to ask to a stranger!"
"Answer the question hedgehog!" "Fifthteen!" Shadow blinked and looked around some more. A sonic that was sixteen and had a completely different personality to his sonic. Two weird dogs that said they worked for Eggman. A city covered in pollution, he could smell the fear in the place. And all the robots suggested that Eggman was in power.
"Well fuck me..." whispered shadow. "Ok enough of this sitcom! Metal eliminate that annoying hedgehog," ordered Sleet. "With pleasure" metal hissed. The robot soared at Shadow who swiftly dodged to the side and then jumped high into the air and performed a homing attack. The attack hit a surprised metal but the robot was on his feet and slashing at the living hedgehog with fury. 'How can he change direction and defy gravity like that?' wondered sonic. Shadow countered most but one slashed his arm and a look of fury crossed his face. Jumping back he pulled a yellow jewel from his quills, he winked at sonic.
"Watch the ultimate in action" He twirled the jewel before grasping it hard, "Chaos control!" He moved faster then even Sonics or metals eyesight could track, hundreds of blows rained on Metal in under a second, in just three seconds the robot was reduced to a pile of scrap. The near invisible blur that was shadow powered towards Sleet and Dingoe, they had a moment to scream before they were laid out unconscious on the street floor. Sonic blinked before he felt a presence behind him and a voice in his ear.
"So faker are you impressed or still as stubborn as your older counter part is?" Sonic jumped and on instinct lashed out with a fist that was easily caught by shadow, he stood frozen as the dark hedgehog easily held him and stared into his eyes. He gulped down the lump in his throat and fought the blush that was coming; he pulled back and glared at the shadow.
"I don't know who you are...well I know your name but not why you're here, but if you're an enemy or try to hurt the resistance then you'll have to get by me first and I wont go down as easily as those bozos!" he shouted pointing at Sleet and Dingoe still unconscious on the floor. Shadow watched amused as sonic went into a defensive position as best he could with chains and a look of determination crossed his face.
'Looks cute when he's mad'. What the hell? Why did I think that? He shook his head and advanced on sonic, the young hedgehog shook a bit clearly afraid but unwilling to back down or show obvious fear. Shadow pulled a laser free from Sleets comatose body and pointed it at sonic. 'Is this the end? Goodbye Sonia, goodbye Manic I love you guys' thought sonic as he closed his eyes. The bang and crackle of the laser sounded and Sonic flinched...but felt no pain. 'Guess dying isn't so bad'.
"Sonic you can open your eyes", Sonic did and saw shadow stealing a belt pouch from a snoring Dingoe and placing the gun inside. Sonic looked down and saw his chains had been shot free, he pulled them off and stretched groaning as his still bruised body both hated and loved the feeling. He opened his eyes and saw those ruby eyes staring at him intently again; he blushed and began to rub his limbs to get the blood flowing again. He heard sirens and knew that Robotniks forces would be here soon, shadow had also heard it but he was waiting with curiosity, he should be running not staying here that freaky hedgehog!, He ran to shadow and grabbed his hand trying to pull him away from the coming danger. Shadow lashed out and pulled sonic round with his arm locked painfully behind his back. Sonic winced but realised it must be an instinct for shadow.
"Shadow we need to leave now before more Swat bots turn up"
"Im not afraid of them"
"Well I am afraid of overwhelming numbers so can you let me go so we can get to safety!" Shadow released him but made no move to follow sonic. Sonic watched him begin to walk away into the shadows, he was leaving him?, Good that hedgehogs just a creep anyway!, Sonic wanted to leave but something made him want the dark hedgehog to stay, he didn't know why he said the next words but he did anyway.
"Come with me", Shadow half turned and eyed the younger hedgehog curiously.
"We have food, um...Chilli dogs and...and warm beds so if you need to rest after your...entrance!" he stuttered.
"And we can tell you about this world and stuff! But Sonia may get you to do the dishes as she's so lazy", Shadow raised an eyebrow.
"Please. At least for a while" said sonic. Shadow wondered what he should do. On a logical hand he needed rest and sustenance so crashing with sonic would be good. On the other more emotional hand the blue hedgehog was driving him crazy! The cuteness he had and shy strength, this sonic was far more interesting then the arrogant childish sonic from his world although he had grudgingly found him to be somewhat of a friend during the biolizard and the events afterwards. But this sonic, he wanted to... do...things to him, things he and Maria had read and giggled about, (well she giggled I just blushed) all these strange feelings were growing just at looking at the pleading face of the hedgehog and he couldn't stand it anymore.
'Resistance is futile' Shadow sighed, "Lead the way sonic" Sonic grinned and ran off motioning for shadow to follow him, he ran giddily for a reason that was easily explained. 'He's coming with me!' But as to why he felt this way was a bit more difficult to explain. So involved in his thoughts he realised he had reached top speed almost breaking the sound barrier in his haste to get home. 'Shadow I must have left him behind!' He stopped and turned round, he couldn't see shadow and he was just about to run back and find him when that familiar deep sexy voice, (SEXY?) called him.
"Sonic why did you stop?", Behind him was shadow with a confused look on his face, sonic head looked back and forth between shadow and the empty street.
"How?" Shadow smirked, "Your not the only one who can break the sound barrier" Sonic was too shocked to answer.
Shadow moved aside and motioned sonic to move forward, "Lead on sonic" Sonic nodded and began to run, first at a slow speed, (for him anyway) and rapidly gaining speed. Shadow still kept shoulder to shoulder to him. 'Lets see if he can keep up!' Sonic pushed himself harder and was rewarded when he suddenly went deaf and the land blurred round him signalling he was faster then sound. He twisted his head round and gaped at what he saw. Shadow was still shoulder-to-shoulder with him and was smiling.
"How?" mouthed sonic and shadow gave a soft smile and mouthed "Later". The two continued to run way beyond the outskirts of Robomotropolis and into the countryside towards sonic and his siblings' hidden base. All the way sonic though had he found his equal at last?, And shadow though something far simpler and less innocent then the younger hedgehogs thoughts. 'He's got a nice butt' Grinning he followed the blue blur which although being his sonic was so different. 'Thank you Maria, for letting me meet him'…
Sleet wondered for a moment why he was upside down when he woke up, had he and Dingoe got drunk again? If so why weren't they dressed in women's clothing?, The answer came to him when he saw two psychotic eyes staring hatefully at him. Dr Robotnik. "You let the hedgehog escape!" he roared. "It wasn't my fault!" said Sleet desperate to save his own skin. "Its always your fault! The hedgehog was in your grasp, I even let you use the experimental Metal sonic to help the capture!" He snarled and pulled Sleet closer till they were face to face, his rancid breath assailing his nostrils. "And you fucked it up again!!" He threw Sleet from him and turned towards a terrified Dingoe. "And you do you have something to say before I have you skinned and gutted?" "It was the black hedgehog!" Dingoe squeaked in fear. "Black hedgehog?" asked Robotnik more interested. "His name was shadow and he single handily beat our swat bots and metal!" said Sleet picking himself of the floor. Robotnik considered this before crossing over to the pile of rubble that used to be his creation metal sonic, rummaging around he pulled metals memory core from his broken head. He turned and fixed the two canines with an icy glare. "If you lied and this record shows that it was your clumsiness and not this 'shadow' that allowed the hedgehog to escape, then I will personally robotocise you" he said shaking metals hardware at them. He climbed back into his egg carrier and turned towards his team of swat bots, "Keep them under arrest until further notice" He then blasted off leaving Sleet and Dingoe to gape in horror as the swat bots cuffed them and beat them into unconsciousness. Robotnik considered what the two fools had to say, he knew that sonic was uncannily resourceful but even his archenemy could not defeat metal sonic. 'So how could this 'shadow' do it?' If Shadow did indeed exist then I need to eliminate him immediately, no one will stop me from having that hedgehog screaming in pain and all of mobius under my iron rule!...
Chapter 2- Meet The Family
Shadow rejoiced as he and sonic raced through the countryside of mobius, He enjoyed the chance to run at supersonic speeds and the fact that the blue blur next to him was Racing side by side with him made it more enjoyable. Before on Earth and the ARK he had considered sonic an enemy and had only been focused on killing the cocky hedgehog. But now running at just under the speed of sound with the Blue hedgehog laughing and performing tricks to show off, he couldn't be happier. They swiftly came to a large forest, despite the pollution the trees stood tall and firm and stretched for miles in either direction.
"Great forest" said sonic happily. They entered the forest following an overgrown pathway before stopping at a large river flowing across the path. He grinned as sonic bounced across some boulders of the river, doing a triple somersault and landing on the other side.
"HA! Can you beat that shadow?" he said grinning in delight. His breath was coming in pants and a sheen of sweat was over his body, his green eyes glinted with excitement and his full-blown smile had Shadows knees nearly shaking. 'Ok I really need to get these hormones under control, I don't think sonic would appreciate me jumping him in the middle of the woods!' Shaking his head clear of the image he smirked at the fellow hedgehog.
"Nothing is too hard for the ultimate life form! Now watch and learn blue" He eyed the three large boulders on the river before jumping high into the air, he bounced of the first performing a small somersault as he did. Reaching the second he landed upside down grasping the rock with one hand and using his own momentum launched himself at the last rock performing a 360 somersault while twisting on a 90-degree axis. Finally on the last he bounced as high into the air as could going twice as high as sonic did before using a chaos control to appear at the top of a large oak tree behind sonic. He raced down the trunk before coming to a skidding halt next to sonic causing a small dust cloud around them. Once sonic had stopped coughing he glared at the grinning shadow.
"Well?" asked shadow mischievously. "You cheated! You used that, chaos what's-it!?"
Shadows grin widened, "You asked if I could do better and I did, it's not my fault if you can't handle me having an advantage" Sonic glared some more before giving a shrug and walking off, he turned his head round and smirked at the confused shadow.
"Your right its not my fault that you need the chaos control to win, I shouldn't be mocking a 'handicapped' person" Shadow gaped at him before his ruby eyes narrowed to slits, "The ultimate life form needs nothing to beat a fake hedgehog!" Sonic grinned and blew a raspberry at him, shadow flipped.
"Your dead!" he shrieked lunging for sonic. Sonic laughed and ran for it giving one last parting shot at the enraged shadow.
"Better get out that emerald shadow, you wont be able to catch me otherwise faker!" Shadow snarled and shot towards an already running sonic, he quickly reached top speed but he and sonic were roughly equal in speed so he couldn't catch up. Sonic laughed and did a back wards somersault throwing another raspberry at him before twisting round and running again. Sonic grinned as he heard shadows howl of anger.
'Shouldn't I be scared?' He saw how quickly shadow had trashed Mecha who sonic himself couldn't beat so no doubt shadow could easily kill him. 'Yet I don't fear him?' He wondered why he felt this way; he just knew that shadow would never really hurt him even though they'd only known each other a few hours. He saw a fork in the path through the woods and took the right one towards the hideout where Sonia and Manic where. Shadow knowing he couldn't outrun sonic decided on a different plan. Ignoring the path sonic had taken he went into the undergrowth and began to jump from tree to tree keeping above Sonics line of site. He smirked when sonic began to slow down looking over his shoulder. 'He cant see me, good time for some payback' sai d whit an evil grin 'Where'd he go?' thought sonic. He stopped and watched the path ready to run if shadow appeared. Nothing. Did I leave him behind? Is he lost in the forest trying to find me? Starting to grow very concerned sonic began to shout out for shadow.
"SHADOW!! CAN YOU HEAR ME! WHERE ARE YOU!?" His shouts were stopped when something grabbed him and lifted him kicking and near screaming into the air.
"Payback time blue!" said that familiar deep voice sexy and lusty whispering in his ear. He was thrown over shadows shoulder and held in place as shadow began to run as fast as he could.
"Shadow put me down!" "If you insist!" He pulled out the emerald and shouted out chaos control, sonic was dazed by the flash of bright light and felt queasy by the sudden vertigo. He felt wind blowing over his quills forcefully and wondered where the ground was. 'WAIT A SECOND!' He and shadow were now falling free-fall about a mile in the air, sonic screamed and clutched tighter to shadow.
"Now ill let you go" Sonic turned fear filled eyes towards shadows as the dark hedgehog grinned and let go of sonic. A scream tore from Sonics lips and he instinctively curled up into a ball hoping he might survive if he bounced off the ground. He felt arms wrap round him before there was another flash of light and that queasy feeling then the wind stopped rushing by his ears.
"Sonic you can uncurl now" Shadow wondered if maybe he had gone a bit too far, sonic was currently rolled up into a ball in shadows arms and trembling violently. Shadow sighed and held sonic against him rocking him a bit and murmuring words of comfort. The trembling ceased and sonic finally uncurled; shadow let him down as sonic swayed getting his bearings.
"Sonic you ok?" Sonic stood stock still before swinging round and landing a mean right hook at shadows cheek. Shadows face had a very comical look of surprise on it as his cheek rapidly bruised.
"Don't you ever scare me like that shadow!" shouted sonic angrily. Shadow blinked as sonic huffed and began to walk off along the path; shadow stood still a moment before rubbing his cheek and hurrying to catch sonic.
"Sonic it was only a joke, I didn't mean to scare you" Sonic didn't answer.
"Sonic you weren't in any danger I wouldn't have hurt you...im sorry" shadow said hanging his head. 'Great I finally make a friend in this fucked up world and now ive scared him off, nice one shadow!'
"No im sorry shadow" Shadow looked up to see sonic looking at the floor highly embarrassed.
"I didn't mean to snap at you its just...its just I got scared ok and I lashed out" he said remorsefully. Shadow blinked and gave a soft smile, "naw its ok sonic, I guess I just took it too far" "Yeah but your still a faker so it's ok" said sonic smiling. Shadows smile dropped at the speed of light.
"What do you mean faker? I catched you!"
"You couldn't beat me in a straight race so you had to cheat, its ok shadow I know you just had to win and I don't blame you for cheating" Shadow just grit his teeth as sonic laughed and grabbed his hand pulling him along.
"Come on oh 'ultimate life form' ill show you Sonia and Manic, lets see you deal with them!" Shadow was still a bit peeved but didn't bother to argue; besides sonic was holding his hand and he liked the warmth too much to complain.
Sonic didn't notice as he saw a burnt out barn overflowing with plants. Shadow looked round and couldn't help the scoff he made, "some hideout sonic" Sonic glared and pulled shadow along with him deeper inside the demolished building, moving to the stone chimney that still stood he smirked at shadow before moving aside one of the bricks. He pulled a lever under the brick and the floor suddenly opened underneath them. Shadow gave a cry of surprise as they fell into some kind of chute and began to roll down it. Sonic laughed all the way as they zoomed round the numerous bends and loops going deeper into the earth. Finally they both shot out of the chute into a large tank filled with cushions and sheets, (it was Manics idea) and came to a stop. Shadow and sonic were both quite dizzy so just lay together on the cushions catching their breath. 'God what a ride...lets do that again!' thought shadow. He turned to sonic who was lying next to him and watched as sonic smiled breathlessly. 'Wait a sec! Sonic and me in a bed...sorta, he's laying there spread-eagled and breathless...hmm nice thoughts...god damn get your mind out of the gutter shadow!! Sonic picked himself up and winced as the stomach wound began to feel really painful, why'd it start acting up now?.
"Sonic what's wrong?" shadow said getting up and placing a hand on Sonics shoulder. Sonics hands were covering his stomach wound and wouldn't move them, he gave a fake laugh, "Im just a bit dizzy, im fine really" Shadow frowned and pulled Sonics hands away despite his protests, he gasps when he sees the deep cuts on his stomach that are slowly oozing blood.
"Sonic! Why didn't you tell me about these?" 'Damn how stupid can you get shadow, you should have been checking him for injuries but nooo you had to stare at his face and ass!' thought shadow.
"They didn't hurt earlier, and I didn't want to bother you," said sonic quietly. Shadow was shocked, he was injured and he cared more about bothering me?
"You're a idiot sonic, a cute idiot but still an idiot," he said smiling. Sonic blushed but couldn't help but stare at shadows ruby eyes. 'Did he say im cute? And why does that sound nice coming from him?' Shadow pulled a sheet (where the hell did they get all this material?) from the pile and began to tear it into strips of cloth. He knelt down in front of sonic trying not to blush as he came at eye level of Sonics stomach. 'Just gonna bandage him, nothing else going on here, nope definitely not thinking of kissing that soft fur and then going lower to...damn I need a cold shower' I began to gently bandage the wounds feeling a growing hatred for that damn robot that did this to my sonic. ' If he weren't already dead id kill him three times over...maybe I should go back in time and do it?' He noticed that sonic was shaking and looked up at the bright red blush on Sonics face, Shadow also blushed and tied off the bandage and stood up looking at the shy hedgehog.
"So feeling better" "Yes thanks," said sonic nervously. 'Dammit sonic why'd you have to start blushing like mad when he kneeled in front of you, I don't want to frighten him off' Sonic blinked; wait why does that matter so much? 'Why do I feel this way for him? Why does his touch make my skin burn so nicely? Am i...falling for him',
"Sonic?" He turned towards shadow and shook his head and climbed out of the tank surprised and thankful when shadow helped him out.
"Im surprised Sonia or Manic haven't come to meet me, maybe you scared them off?" said sonic throwing a mock glare at shadow.
"What can I say im a scary guy" said shadow smugly. Sonic smiled and gave shadow a playful nudge and began to lead him into the base. The metal corridor was filled with pipes; wires and other junk as the left the secret entrance. Sonic came to a think metal door and began to enter a password into the pass lock next to the door.
"This place used to be an old bomb shelter but it was buried when the building above was bombed by Robotnik" sonic said.
He unlocked the door and lead shadow through, "Me and the others found it by accident when I fell down that pipe we came through, and afterwards we modified the place and made it our base" Shadow entered what appeared to be some kind of living room; it was hexagonal in shape and had four doors as well as the one he just came through. A huge wide screen TV was on one wall with two old couches that looked like they come from a tip (Probably have) some tables, lamps and other assorted junk. There was a small kitchen area with a bar and cooking equipment.
"So what do you think?" asked sonic.
"Its homey I guess"
"Needs a bit of a clean but we weren't expecting company," said sonic embarrassed.
"Naw its ok" said shadow admiring the huge TV. 'Why couldn't we get one of these in ARK? Cheap ass Gerald' he thought.
"Ill be back in a sec I just wanna see if Sonia and Manic are here so...make yourself comfortable" said sonic. He saw shadow relaxing on one of the couches with the remote to the TV in hand.
"Take your time I aint going anywhere" shadow grinned, 'sweet this has cable!' Sonic smiled and began to leave the room hearing shadow cackling on the couch. 'He must have been deprived as a child' Shadow relaxed on the couch as he began to flick through the channels. 'Boring...boring...boring...!!... SICK!...boring...maybe cable isn't so good after all' Shadow sighed and lay back on the couch groaning as his muscles finally began to unknot for the first time in over 10 hours.
"God I love this couch" he mumbled.
"Hope so because you wont be enjoying it much longer" said a soft feminine voice. Shadows eyes shot open to see a young female hedgehog staring at him. She was just a few inches shorter then him, she wore green trousers and a white shirt with a red cape. Her fur was a deep purple with long soft quills and light purple eyes. And she was pointing a keyboard at him.
Shadow raised an eyebrow, "You know for a moment there I actually though I might be in danger but unless your planning to whack me over the head with that I aint got no worries"
The female hedgehog grinned, "This baby packs more of a punch then that" She rapidly pressed a few keys creating a harmonious sound quite pleasing to shadows ears. That is until a blast of energy shot from the keyboard and knocked him into the nearest wall. Rising slowly rage shining in his eyes shadow shook the dust of his fur before glaring at the smirking hedgehog.
"Im only going to say it once, give up and I wont kill you" he said darkly.
"Im not scared of you, bring it you freaky hedgehog," she taunted. Shadow roared and charged the female, twisting to the side he dodged the first shot then jumped into the air avoiding the second. He performed his homing attack but the female was fast and jumped to the side, rolling with the jump she began to fire from the hip as she ran to the other side of the room. Snarling shadow ran after her, dodging the blast he tried to cut her off by running along the nearest wall, she looked surprised but quickly changed her firing angle. Getting close shadow sprang from the wall performing his homing attack and this time connecting. The keyboard and the female were thrown in different directions and to shadows surprise the keyboard disappeared to be replaced by some gold medallion. The female sprang to her feet and swung a roundhouse kick at shadow, he grabbed her foot but she twisted round and slammed her other foot into his head knocking them both to the floor. They both recovered quickly and shadow launched a right hook at her head, the female ducked underneath and swung upwards into shadows jaw. 'Fuck that hurt!!' Shadow swung with the blow doing a back flip and smacking his feet into her face as he landed on his feet. The female got back to her feet wiping the blood from her lip; they began to circle each other looking for an opening.
"Your pretty good female" said shadow gaining a grudging respect for this girl's martial skill.
"The names Sonia and im only just getting warmed up!" She charged him again and a flurry of punches were directed at shadow which he blocked easily, he grabbed her arm and threw her over his shoulders to slam her into the ground, she hit the floor hard but sprang up swinging her foot round giving him a large bruise on the other side of his cheek. He spinned with the blow and did his own roundhouse which she ducked under but expecting that he launched a fist out giving a glancing blow to her shoulder. He tried to give her a left hook but she grabbed his arm and twisted round hard forcing his elbow out at hear breaking point. Before he could react she punched her palm into his over-extended elbow. A loud snap rang round the room as shadows arm broke. To his credit Shadow did not scream, but his eyes were wide with pain and his teeth were gritted hard. Using brute strength he slammed his shoulder into Sonia knocking her aside then grasping her with his good arm head-butted her hard. While she was dazed he bodily lifted her with his remaining arm and threw her across the room. Shadows eyes blurred as the pain in his arm continued, normally it would have already healed but the break being at an unnatural angle was preventing him regenerating. He went into a defensive stance as Sonia picked herself up, murder was in her eyes. "Bring it on!"
"Sonia! Manic! Where are you guys!?" Sonic had been wandering the base for a few minutes now and had been unable to find anyone, had something happened to his brother and sister? He had checked the sleeping quarters and the games room, the garage was empty too although his hover van was there so Manic and Sonia couldn't have gone far. He continued into the base and decided to check out the armoury.
'Maybe Manics trying to shoot the rats again?' he chuckled at the memory, Entering the armoury he looked around the various lockers, racks of body armour and scrap metal in the room. Most of the weaponry had been stolen from the many swat-bots that the siblings had destroyed; they kept the weapons here for any freedom fighter that needed them. His musings were cut short when a gloved hand wrapped round his mouth and pulled him into the shadows. He gave a muffled cry of surprise and began to struggle fiercely kicking his foes feet.
"Yo Bro calm down before you do something permanent!" Sonic was released and turned towards the familiar voice. The bright green hedgehog with the 'punk' gear he wore and the long head spikes stepped out of the shadows grinning at his brother.
"So still as crazed as ever, you didn't get your normal truckload of chilli dogs this morning or something?" he asked teasingly.
"Manic!" sonic laughed pulling his brother into a tight hug.
"Yo easy there bro im still recovering, some psycho tried to crush my foot you know"
"Where were you Manic? Why are you and Sonia hiding in the base?"
Manics face turned serious, "We heard about Mecha sonic Bro and what he did to you" his look turned darker when he eyed the bandages on Sonics stomach.
"Me and Sonia were gonna bust in Ro-butts base and get you out until we saw that the black hedgehog had kidnapped you" Sonics confusion increased ten-fold, why'd they think shadow kidnapped him?
"Don't worry sonic, continued Manic a gleam in his eyes, Sonia's pretty pissed and she's probably already kicked the shit out that Bastard!" Sonic eyes widened in horror before he dashed out of the room running as fast as he could back towards the living room. 'Oh god please Sonia don't hurt him!' Shadow wished he had used the Chaos control as soon as this fight started. The surprisingly strong Sonia was currently holding him in a chokehold, his own Supernatural strength and endurance was the only thing stopping the enraged female from snapping his neck.
"No-body fucks with my brother and gets away with it!" hissed Sonia.
"I haven't done anything to Sonic!" said shadow angrily and a bit desperate.
"Liar! We saw you chasing him in the forest and when you dropped him in the air with that strange power, if sonic had been killed your death would be twice as painful!" she raged at him.
"We were playing! I wasn't really gonna hurt him!" said shadow still feeling remorseful about that. A snarl was his answer as sonic grabbed his broken arm and gave another vicious twist to the already broken bones.
"ARRRGGHHH!" shadow screamed, he collapsed to his knees and went into a clumsy spindash to knock Sonia off. It worked and the female hedgehog was off but she just kicked the kneeling shadow hard sending him head over heels in a crumpled heap on the floor. 'Is this it? Killed by some PMSing bitch who happens to be Sonics sister...hell no!' He quickly scanned the room and spotted the emerald lying next to the couch were it fell from his pack after being shot. I could use Sleets gun, but sonic would never forgive me for killing his sister. 'Damn morals' Sonia walked over to her medallion and transformed it back into her keyboard just as shadow grasped the fake emerald. She turned round and focused the end on a smirking shadow.
"CHAOS CONTROL!" Nothing happened. Shadow stared at the emerald, why didn't it work?
"Games up blackie" said Sonia as she fired. Shadow watched in slow motion as she moved her fingers to press the keys to send hot laser death towards him.
"Sonia stop!" Sonic zoomed into the room, papers and light material blowing in the wind of his speed, he tackled Sonia sending her shot wide and shadow sighed in relief. Sonia threw sonic off her and glared at her blue brother.
"What the hell are you doing sonic! I nearly had him"
"He's my friend Sonia, he saved me from metal and in return you try to kill him!" said sonic incensed. Shadow had managed to stand up and threw a smirk at Sonia, then blew a raspberry at her.
"Your dead!" snarled Sonia but sonic quickly pulled her back.
"Sonia leave him alone he's a friend!" Sonic quickly zoomed to shadow and helped steady the dark hedgehog.
"You ok?" asked sonic, he could see the numerous bruises, cuts and bleeding, as well as shadows broken arm. He shot an angry glare at Sonia.
"Takes more then this to put the ultimate life form down" smirked shadow.
"Some ultimate life form you are to get your ass kicked so easily," said Sonia cattily. Shadow glared at the purple hedgehog, "lets she you take on a skyscraper sized lizard with lots of freaky lasers in outer space, and stay on your feet for the next 10 hours" Sonia and sonic looked confused at this but sonic quickly helped shadow sit on the couch that wasn't smoking.
"Sonic I need this arm to be reset"
"I know, ill be back in a flash with the medical kit," said sonic turning to leave. Shadows arm shot out and pulled sonic closer, Sonia tensed but sonic waved her off,
"I need it to be set now before it heals at this angle" Sonic was very confused now, bones took weeks even months to heal, they had plenty of time to set it.
"But I need to get painkillers and bandages...um needles and iodine I think" Shadow shook his head, "I heal fast Sonic, please snap the bone back into alignment or it'll have to be broken again to fix it" Sonic nodded and placed his hands against shadows arm where he could feel the bone pressing against the skin. His hands trembled, could he do this right. A slim gloved hand covered his and he looked up into Sonia's eyes.
"Sonic let me do it" Sonic nodded gratefully and Sonia took his position.
Shadow watched the female suspiciously, "Hope your not planning on finishing what you started, because I want to wait at least until tomorrow for our rematch" Sonia smirked and grasping shadows arm snapped the bone back into place, shadows eyes widened in pain and his hands grasped the couch hard enough to crush it. Sonia raised an eyebrow while sonic quickly began to bandage the panting dark hedgehog. Sonic quickly bandaged the wounds aware of shadows eyes on him, he finished and smiled at shadow.
"All done! Feeling a bit better?"
Shadow swallowed, "been better faker"
Sonic shook his head, "Why do you always call me that?"
"Because that's what you call me sonic...im your...shadow" he said before passing out from exhaustion. Sonic blinked in confusion, what did he mean I called him faker? As a matter of fact the whole 'how the hell does he know me?' question was starting to bug me.
"So gonna explain this?" asked Sonia.
"Do I have to?" sonic whined. Sonia folded her arms.
Sonic sighed, "After sleet and Dingoe caught me shadow just appeared in thin air, he saved me from them, his powers have something to do with that chaos control he keeps using" Sonic picked up the yellow gem that shadow dropped and studied it intently.
"He held this and said the words and for some reason he's able to move faster then even me...maybe he can slow time with it?" Sonia took the jewel from sonic and stared at it before her eyes widened.
"This is a chaos emerald!" she exclaimed.
"What's that?"
"The chaos emeralds are these seven mythical jewels that contain vast powers that can perform miracles, they are said to be able to warp space and time," she explained.
"Warp space and time!" repeated sonic beginning to understand. Sonic turned the jewel over and frowned at all the chips and scratches on the jewels surface.
"But the emeralds are supposed to be indestructible...so why is this one falling apart?"
"Maybe it's a fake" shrugged sonic.
"Maybe...probably! That's why shadows chaos control didn't work...just before I shot him" Sonic glared at her and Sonia gave a sheepish smile.
"So someone gonna tell me what the hells going on?" They turned to see Manic walking into the room in an armoured bodysuit way too big for him and a large laser rifle.
Sonia smirked, "Hoping to have some fun with that?"
Manic frowned, "Whys that hedgehog asleep on our couch and not dead or in a cell?"
"He's a friend Manic he saved my life and I wont let you two hurt him again!" said sonic standing protectively over shadow.
Manic held his arms up warding his angry brother off, "hey hold your sneakers man I didn't mean to bother you bro but could someone fill me in please?"
Sonia patted his shoulder and sat him down, "It's a long story Manic so listen up" Sonic listened to Sonia fill Manic in on what had happened but he was more focused on shadow...how peaceful he looked asleep. 'He's beautiful' Sonic blushed and hoped Shadow couldn't read minds, doubtful but anything was possible with the dark hedgehog. Chewing his lower lip he gently reached out and began to stroke the older hedgehogs black and red tipped quills. 'So soft...so silky' Shadow murmured and rubbed against the gentle touch, sonic was transfixed by shadows slightly pouting lips.
"Want some time alone sonic?" He blushed and turned towards his grinning brother.
"I was just checking to see if he had any head wounds," said Sonic hotly. Manic nodded but his grin showed he didn't believe a word sonic said. Sonia just raised an eyebrow and shooed Manic.
"Go put that gear back in the armoury manic your beginning to stink the place up"
"But I wanna she my little bro throw a few more love sick eyes at tall, dark and psycho over there!" protested Manic. Sonic ignored them and pulling a blanket from under the couch laid it over shadow and smiled at the peaceful form.
"Sweet dreams shadow" he whispered. He gave the dark hedgehog another longing glance before walking off to talk to his siblings about shadows hopefully long-term stay. Shadow lay still for a moment more before cracking one eye open and watching the blue hedgehog walk out of the room.
"I will Sonic, I most definitely will...and Manic better not call me Psychotic again" He nestled down into the comfortable couch and had his first peaceful sleep in over 50 years….