"What do you think it's like on Earth, Shadow?" Maria asked me.

"The professor told me that his life's work was dedicated to those that live there. He said that it was his goal to make everyone happy there, through the power of science." I replied.

"Shadow…"

"I just don't understand anything anymore." I told her. "I often wonder why I exist, what my purpose is. Maybe, if go down there, I will finally get the answers. Maybe…"

"Something up, Shadow?" I snapped out of my memories as Rouge entered.

I had been going over the events that had occurred a long time ago. I was talking to Maria, the only person who had understood me. Maria and I had lived up on the space colony ARK our entire lives. Until that fateful day…

"You know," Rouge began again, after I neglected to answer her question. We were within the ARK now, staring out at the Earth below, like I used to do with Maria. "That was so different, coming from you." I stared at her, puzzled for a moment. "You know, rescuing me and all."

I shed a faint smile. "I didn't come to save you. It was for the emeralds." I replied, not sure weather that was true or not.

"Yeah, I'm sure. You just picked me up 'cause I happened to be there." Rouge smiled. "Anyway, thanks."

"Ahem!" The Eggman came in through the electronic door. "It's about time we show the world our power! Everything is set."

"Are you sure? We only have six of the Chaos Emeralds," Rouge commented.

"That's more than enough for a demonstration." I said, walking past the Eggman. "Let's get going!"

After we had the camera ready, we began recording. This live broadcast was going to be aired throughout that planet, all TV sets and radio frequencies would pick it up.

"People of Earth! Lend me your ears!" Eggman begun. "My name is Dr. Ivo Robotnik, recognized as Dr. Eggman, the soon-to-be ruler of Eggman Empire! Bwa ha ha ha! Take a look outside and witness my power!" Eggman finished. The Eclipse canon had started and destroyed the bottom part of the ARK. That part was useless anyways, it just hid the ARK.

The canon then fired a light blue beam out towards the moon, creating a small crater. Even that would have been a significant feat, but no. Gerald's canon could do much more than that. After several more seconds, the beam created a larger crater that soon became a massive hole. The rest of the landscape began crumbling away, and finally, half of the moon shattered to float within the abyss of space.

I could imagine the shock and terror going on within the Earth. It felt so good to have finally gotten my revenge, but I was far from finished. The humans had much more suffering to feel. We left each screen with timer of twenty four hours. That would be when the canon could fire again.

"That was pretty impressive," Rouge commented, as she aproached me and Eggman in the control room. Eggman was stomping the ground in frustation. I couldn't blame him. "What's up?" Rouge asked, concerned.

"The canon will take too long to charge," I replied, mostly to Eggman. "You'll need the power of all seven Chaos Emeralds to unleash the canon's full potential.

"Did something happen?" Rouge tried again.

"Our threay fell on deaf ears." I said, mournfully. "They're running around screaming, but still have no idea who we are."

"What about you, bat-girl?" Eggman said, suddenly. "You're supposed to be holding up your end of the bargain! Where's my emerald?"

"Look at this." Rouge handed him a newspaper with… that fox boy I had seen earlier.

He has the emerald? I thought, as I silently read the article. Eggman read it aloud.

"Staion Square honored the hero, Miles "Tails" Prower for stopping a missle attack. After a ceremony, he was given the city's prized possesion: aChaos Emerald!" Eggman seemed a bit more pleased. "Well, this makes things a whole lot easier! You and Shadow go back to Earth immediately. I want that emerald!"

"Did you get that?" Rouge said, to me.

"Soon enough, Maria," I whispered to myself. I was close to fulfilling my promise, at last. I then began to head over to the teleporter Eggman had installed.