"Come on, we have to get there before something happens to Shadow and Silver." Sonic said. He, Blaze and the three robots slowed a bit so that Tails could catch up.

"I'm sorry Sonic, I'm just not as fast as you." Tails stumbled and fell to the ground wheezing.

"You're giving it you're all Tails, but we need to help Shadow and Silver. You take a rest and we'll go ahead." Sonic suggested.

"Okay Sonic, I'll catch up later."

"Don't look so disappointed pal, it's probably better this way." Sonic and the others raced off, leaving Tails behind.

"Be careful Sonic," Tails whispered, "that green you is dangerous."

"You guys keepin' up?" Sonic yelled over the roar of the robots' rockets.

"You don't have to shout!" Blaze complained.

"Sorry, but these robots are loud."

"Don't blame us, it's the way Eggman built us." Said the Metal Shadow.

"Wow! They talk?" Blaze exclaimed.

"I guess so." Sonic muttered with a distant look in his eyes.

"Hey, Sonic, you okay?" Blaze asked.

"Huh, wha? Oh, yeah, I'm okay. I was just wondering, what if we can't beat Scourge. He's a hundred times more powerful than me. What will happen to us, to Mobius, to all the Zones, to- never mind. What am I thinking? That'll never happen, 'cause I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, and we're gonna win!"

Shadow and Silver were beginning to tire. Not only physically but, they were losing all hope of winning. They were trying to keep their hopes up by talking like this was any old fight. But the subject wasn't too happy.

"Silver, I don't think we can keep this up much longer."

"Don't think like that. Sonic and Knuckles will get here soon. Then we'll kick his can."

"I'm not so sure any more. We'll be wiped by the time they get here. And if we can't beat him, what chance do they have?"

"Hm, I guess you're right. Well, it was fun while it lasted. Nice knowing you."

"Nah ah ah. I said we'd get wiped. I didn't say we'd die."

"I hope not."

"You guys need a hand?" Knuckles ran up with a grin.

"Knuckles, great!" Silver relaxed and eased up his guard. Scourge got a blow in to his head, knocking Silver out.

"Damn, Knuckles, where's Sonic?" Shadow asked.

"Sonic, what are you talking about?"

"Sonic told us he was going to fetch you. Ugh!" Scourge kicked Shadow into a large boulder smashing it. "A little help!"

"Right." Knuckles launched an aggressive attack against Scourge. "By the way I haven't seen Sonic." He said as Shadow crawled out of the rubble and resumed the fight.

"That's strange. H-" Scourge gave Shadow a blow to the face but Knuckles retaliated by knocking him across the battleground.

"Ugh. What happened?" Silver asked, rubbing his head.

"Ah, Silver, you're awake." Knuckles said. "Give us a hand?"

"I just got knocked unconscious!"

"So?"

"Just give me a minute" Silver sighed as Scourge came flying back into the fray.