Ch. 2

Shadow cruised slowly through the multiverse, searching for the DBZ universe. He soon found it, and entered through a rift. He then headed towards South City on foot. I took only a short while before he came within the city limits. He searched the city, looking for anyone suspicious or similar to him in appearance. But he found no one.

Shadow decided to rest in a nearby diner. He sat down in a booth in the back, and ordered a donut with a chocolate shake. As he waited for his order, he heard footsteps behind him.

"So you came. And you decided to eat before you found me?"

Shadow turned...and was met with his own face. But this mirror image of him had skin whiter than chalk, and flecks of red in his hair. His eyes had a look of contempt and evil.

"Who are you?"

"Are you dense?" the doppleganger said. "I'm you. And before you ask where I came from, remember how you got your powers?"

Shadow thought back, back to when he first became a Guardian. "Yeah, so?"

"As soon as you left, there was power surge. The machine made me, a clone of you..." He looked over Shadow, taking in his features. "And as I expected, not as good looking as you."

"Okay, so you're the typical evil clone, you hurt my friend, and you want to replace me, yadda yadda yadda." Shadow stood up, brought out his Subsonic Repeater, and pointed it right the clone's head. "I'd rather not have to deal with -"

The clone suddenly grabbed Shadow's weapon, a serious frown on his face. His hand started to glow a bright red, overheating the gun and causing it to short out. Then he curled his hand back into a fist, and punched Shadow straight in the face, sending him flying out of the diner.

Shadow landed roughly on the ground, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "...dafuq?"

"I wasn't done yet, asshole," the clone said, slowly walking out of the diner, it's door now gone. "I don't want to just replace you. I have every memory of YOUR life in MY head, and I hate them all. I hate how happy you are. I hate the world you live in. And most of all, I HATE all those damn cartoons you practically worship!" The clone burst into flame. "I was born as a clone of someone I don't want to be. I am your opposite, in every way. And if I have to kill you to be rid of your existence, SO BE IT!"

The clone then started throwing large fireballs in Shadow's direction. Shadow quickly got up and dodged the flaming projectiles. "Wait, if you're my clone, then why do you have fire powers?"

"That machine had more than a million combinations of powers and abilities. I got stuck with pyrokinesis." The clone conjured another fireball in his hand and gave a devious smile. "And I LIKE IT!"

Shadow barely managed to get out of the way as a large burst of flame nearly engulfed him. It scorched the ground, and bystanders jumped out of the way to avoid it, screaming in terror.

"I am your antithesis, Shadow X," The clone shouted in anger. "I...am...NEGATIVE X!"

Negative snapped his fingers, and the entire street exploded in crimson fire. Shadow couldn't dodge it, and was nearly roasted alive, his skin seared and jacket burnt to a crisp.

Negative X walked over to Shadow slumped on the ground, and pointed his fiery hand at him. "Any last words?"

Shadow rolled over on his back, and gave him a look of pure determination. "Watch your step."

Shadow immediately conjured up a rift beneath Negative, and he fell through screaming in anger as the dimensional hole slowly closed.

"Geez...I sent to him to another dimension clear across the multiverse, and I'm still rattled." Shadow tried to get up, but the pain from his burns barely let him move an inch. he felt himself passing out, but the last thing he saw was figure standing over him wearing a purple gi and a turban...