Welcome back dear internet. I have been busy preparing another chapter for you all, so with out further delay: I bring you the next chapter in which our antagonist shall be introduced.

Chapter Two

The ebony hedgehog studied his quarry.
His mission had been to kill Sonic the hedgehog, but he got to kill Sonic, and this other Black hedgehog. Could this day get better?

On the ground, Shadow's eyes slowly opened to no more then a crack. He had a plan. This hedgehog would have to walk here to get what he figured was his prize: The Chaos Emerald. As he had suspected, this is what his foe did. As his hand brushed the jewel Shadow struck him with a Chaos spear, knocking him back a few meters. He followed up the attack by flipping around and blasting fire from his shoes into his enemy's face.

The black hedgehog quickly got up and began shooting spears at shadow. With a grunt, Shadow spun around and ran toward the on coming projectiles. "Chaos control" Shadow said, creating a shield around him. On impact, the projectiles exploded, tossing bright sparks into the air.

Shadow held up his two emeralds. "Chaos blast!" He yelled. a field of Chaos energy formed, advancing on the Ebony hedgehog. it's lips stretched into a smirk.

"Two victims, two emeralds" he muttered "I am pleased"

As the field approached him, he raised his gloved hand. The field began to shrink and enter his body, filling him with traces of Shadows energy. from his other hand a orange-black crystal appeared.

The Black Hedgehog looked up from his new found treasure. Shadow was gone. the first thing that came to his head was that Shadow had fled. Dr. Robotnick had warned him that those who linger with Sonic the Hedgehog pride themselves in running from conflicts. But this one: no. This one didn't seem the type to run. And he (for now) could use chaos control. he must have-

Shadow slipped out of the Chaos zone behind hind his adversary. Chaos blade he thought. a clear diamond-clear blade formed in his hand, sparkling with chaos energy. Shadow lunged at The Black hedgehog.

The hedgehog glanced behind him to see Shadow coming at him with the sword. Just as he had expected, Shadow had teleported. The hedgehog rolled into a spindash and rolled under the blade and around Shadow.

"Pathetic" He spat "Chaos control!"

his green emerald shown, followed by the Orange crystal. after a moment, Shadow's Blade reduced to dust.

"Great trick" Shadow said "Chaos spear!" Usually a spear of Chaos energy would form.

But not this time. this time nothing happened.

"What magic is this?" Shadow asked, stunned.

Again and again, Shadow tried to attack him with chaos control, but every time, it failed.

"My turn" the black hedgehog said said. Chaos blast! he thought. another field of Chaos energy formed heading toward Shadow.

Shadow tried desperately to use his two chaos emeralds to shield himself, but couldn't.

He didn't know how, but this stranger had taken away his ability to use the Chaos Emeralds.

If Shadow didn't have Chaos Control what did he have? Air shoes? No amount of speed could compare it's self to the ability of the Chaos Emeralds. Even Sonic had to use Chaos Control when the situation demanded.

Holding the gems in his hand, Shadow felt nothing. As if they rejected his very touch.

He looked up to see the field just inches away. this battle it seemed, he would not survive.

The green jewel reflected in the purple eyes of Knuckles the Echidna.

He was sitting on the second step down from the master emerald alter.

this was his life. Guarding the master emerald had been his job from childhood, as it was his father's, and his father's father's for centuries. It was his family's duty. Inherited to them four Milena beforehand.

Knuckles never complained. He had learned the importance of the Master Emerald and it's part in maintaining the balance of the seven Chaos Emerald.

He one day would teach his own child the lessons of the Master Emerald, and they would continue his work when he was gone. It was the circle of the echidna.

He had never stopped to wonder why. he just knew this was the way it was, so why did it matter?

But as of late he had began to question why his family was charged with guarding the Master Emerald. and did he really want to bind in own child to such a fate?

Granted, he did go on adventures with Sonic the hedgehog. On those occasions, he shrunk the Emerald to pocket-size and left the alter.

He glanced at the master emerald. Did it have the answers? Could it tell him?

Knuckles hesitated, and then rose to approach the glowing green gem.

"Great Master Emerald" He said, kneeling "I have served you faithfully for all my life, and now I come to you with a request. I must know why my kin was chosen to guard you all these milenia?"

he emerald began glowing. Knuckles closed his eyes, concentrating on the Master emerald's telepathic words

you know why. your father explained it

"With all due respect great emerald, my father told me what I was supposed to do" Knuckles replied

You request the truth?

"Yes, great Emerald"

The truth will no doubt destroy you.

"I've faced worse then information as you well know" Knuckles said pridefully

Then I will guide you the next thing Knuckles "heard" in his mind wasn't as much a sound, but a sight.

He saw a tall pointed mountain. Knuckles knew he had seen that mountain, he just wasn't sure where. "Where is this place great Emerald?" Knuckles asked

The knowing will come. with that, the emerald returned o it's usual "vague-glow".

"Alright" Knuckles said "Let's see" He sat and began pondering the vision. guessing by the sky, it was in the North. but there are a lot of mountains on Earth.

Knuckles decided that the Master emerald's vision was permission to take it away from the shrine.

But where did he need to go? That mountain could be any where. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Tail's tails spinning fast enough to lift and propel him through the air.

Knuckles turned around to see Tails flying quickly to the shrine.

"What is it Tails?" Knuckles asked as Tails landed

"It's Sonic and Shadow" Tails replied "Some other Hedgehog was fighting them. Sonic's already down and Shadow is just barely holding out. Rouge is already on her way, and I thought I should get as much help as possible"

Knuckles shrugged "I'm no big fan of Shadow's, but I recognize when I'm needed" He said as he walked over to the master emerald. he put his hand under it, shrinking it to fit in his gloved hand before tucking it in his fur. "Let's go"

Shadow looked at the oncoming Chaos Blast. Just as it was going to collide with Shadow, Sonic jumped up and ran to Shadow, Grabbed him and one of the Chaos emeralds while shouting: "Chaos control!" the two were drawn into the chaos zone.

"Sonic, he can shut off Chaos control!" Shadow said.

"I'll take the chances" Sonic said. the two slipped out of the Chaos zone behind the Black hedgehog.

Sonic rolled into a spindash, tripping the Black hedgehog "Who are you and what do you want? Sonic asked. The Black Hedgehog smiled

"I am Black Ray, the perfected Shadow clone. I was sent to kill you, Sonic the hedgehog"

Sonic frowned "then I don' have to feel bad for this." Sonic grabbed Black Ray by the arms and ran several feet before attempting to through him. Before Black Ray could be tossed, he through his feet on the ground and flipped Sonic.

"I have Shadow's strength!" Black Ray said. "What do you have? Your feet?" Sonic rolled himself into a spindash and began toward Black Ray. with a smirk, Black Ray ran out of the way, and through a Chaos spear at Sonic as he stood up. "And I have that as well"

"Chaos Spear" Black Ray said

"Chaos Spear!" Sonic Called back.

The two Spheres collided in mid air, exploding in Red and Green sparks. Sonic looked into the eyes of Black Ray. he could swear in that instant, his eyes were taken by a stronger shade of red.

Black Ray smiled wider. "Your control of chaos is mediocre" Black Ray said, spreading his arms wide. "I'm wide open, can your chaos control pierce me?"

"No! Sonic, don't!" Shadow yelled, but it was too late.

"Chaos sphere!" Sonic cried. a Red sphere flew from his hand and toward The Black hedgehog.

Black Ray watched the spear make it's way to him, and then grabbed it, and absorbing his energy into himself. "Chaos control" He said. his emerald began to glow as a orange-blue crystal appeared in his hand.

Sonic felt his stomach flip, and then: nothing. he shrugged it off.

"Chaos blast!" Black Ray said.

Sonic waited until the field was on him before calling "Chaos control" teleporting in front of Black Ray

"Where's the fancy jewel from?"

Black Ray looked at his crystal in horror. "Why didn't that work?"

amiss this distraction, Black Ray didn't notice Sonic coming at him in a spindash, knocking him back several yards. Black Ray got up and stared at Sonic. His eyes were now a bright fire red.

"You will die" Black Ray ran to Sonic, grabbed him by the throat and slammed him to the ground several times. "Chaos blast!" he called hitting Sonic and Shadow, knocking them both out. "Chaos spear" He said again, repeatedly hitting Sonic.

Black Ray bent down, picked up the two Chaos emerald, and continued beating Sonic.

"There they are- oh no!"

Knuckles looked down to where Tails was indicating. Sonic was being brutally beaten by Chaos attacks and Shadow was unconscious.

"Through me down there!" Knuckles said. "sure thing" Tails replied.

Tails flipped in mid-air and tossed Knuckles toward Black Ray.

Knuckles spread his Body out, and clenched his fist.

in the middle of beating Sonic with Spears, Black Ray didn't notice Knuckles descending toward him. but it was brought to his attention When he was hit by Knuckles and knocked several feet back.

"Is that enough for you?" Knuckles called to Black Ray "Or do you want a REAL pounding?"

While Knuckles dealt with Black Ray, Tails flew down to Shadow and shook him awake.

"Chaos spear!" Shadow yelled, startled, but nothing happened.

"Miles, it's you. Where's Sonic?" Shadow groaned.

"He's over there. it-" Tails' spirits dropped "It doesn't look too good."

Tails helped Shadow up and rushed to Sonic's side. Shadow walked behind Tails, looking over his shoulder at Sonic. he was breathing, but just barely.

Shadow then turned to Black Ray. he was looking at Knuckles, neither one moving. There was something different about Black Ray. his attitude seemed to have changed. he wore a terrible pained expresion.

"What are you going to do?" Knuckles asked Black Ray. Black Ray stared back for a moment and then spoke.

"I don't know" He held up his three Chaos emeralds. "Chaos control"

And Black Ray was gone.

"You let him escape!" Shadow shouted. Knuckle's expression changed from confused to out raged.

"IT WASN'T MY FAULT! HE USED CHAOS CONTROL!" he screamed

"Please Knuckles. do contain yourself, we aren't animals"

Sonic slowly woke up.

"Sonic! Are you alright?" Tails asked. "I'm fine buddy" Sonic said with a thumbs up.

He attempted to stand, but could not.

"Don't try to get back up" Tails said, feeling Sonic's ribs.

"You've got seven broken ribs, what looks like a concussion, and possibly several internal bleeds. we have to get you to a hospital" Tails said. Sonic's eyes widened.

"No, no hospital. I won't go to any hospital." Sonic said, startled. "You went to Medical School Tails! you can, I don't know, something" Tails smiled. I have some... things to check out"

"what kind of things?" Sonic asked, interested. Tails shrugged "I'll tell you if it works out. but as far as health, I do have an idea" Sonic began shaking his head.

"No, no, no no! I'm not going, you can't make me!"

Tails smiled.

Knuckles and Tails carried Sonic slowly to the small ranch house across the yard.

Sonic was dreading every step. Shadow had run off to "Contemplate my next move" He had said.

meanwhile, Tails and Knuckles were stuck with dragging Sonic, kicking and screaming, to this location.

Amy Rose, a pink hedgehog who was in love with Sonic and quite enhusiastic about it (To the point of stalking Sonic), came running out of the Ranch house.

"Sonic! What did you let happen to My Sonic?" Amy asked, terrified

"He lost a fight" Tails explained

"I won it" Knuckles added with a grin.

"Sonic? Lose a fight?" Amy asked surprised

"We need you to take care of him why he heals. just a couple weeks, please"

"For My Sonic? of course!" Amy said.

Sonic groaned.

"And Amy, listen. No making any moves. Sonic is sick and weak, and really doesn't need any more to worry about" Tails said

"So, Sonic might say yes if I-"

"No" Tails interrupted "Make a move, and I will tell him"

"You couldn't do that!" Amy said angrily

"Watch me" Tails replied.

"Tell me what?" Sonic asked "What do you have to tell?"

"Nothing. unless she does any thing."

"Fine" Amy conceded

Tails and Knuckles brought Sonic in and laid him on a couch.

Tails left on an important errand, and Knuckles left to find the mountain from the Master Emerald's vision.

And Black Ray, he would return to Egg Man's base and undergo torture for his failure to kill Sonic the hedgehog.

There you have it. please review and let me know if the action styled writing is to be used in the future, and how I can improve it. "flame" if you like, I except constructive criticism.