Metal was still out, after the beating he took he shut down, Sonic was angered because they would have to wait to find out who was behind this. Tails walked into Sonic's room, smiling he said," Come on Sonic we have to go, Eggman was barely alive when I found him, he manage to say that Luigi and Bowser were involved in this somehow."

Sonic sprung up from his bed, racing out the door he waited inpatiently for Tails and Knuckles, his foot had made a deep gouge in the ground by the time they came out, Tails slanted his eyes and said," Was it really that hard to just wait, come on lets go." Holding up a strange device a portal opened up in front of them, they all jumped in, along with another figure.

Sonic walked out of the large gate, Tails and Knuckles appeared after and met him at the stair case, the portal was made underneath the Mushroom Kingdom. Sonic smiled and said, "Well Mario is going to get to see he favorite kind of person, me!" Tails shook his head as they walked up the steps, the area seemed colder than usual and Sonic shivered after half way up.

Knuckles pounds the wall and shouts," Why is it so damn cold down here!" Tails quickly tried to calm him down before he did something stupid, Knuckles was already preparing to rampage if it continued, the door way out was right ahead and Knuckles instantly tackled through it. A few Toad guards were surprised when he tumbled through, but after seeing him smiled and said, "Hello Knuckles what brings you here?"

Knuckles rubs his head and says," not just me, Sonic and Tails have come to, we need to talk to Mario and Peach, fetch them would ya?" The guards quickly left, Knuckles, Sonic and Tails waited patiently, finally the two appeared from one of the doors way off, Mario smiled and said," hello Sonic what brings a you here?"

Sonic remembering the things at stakes quickly got serious again, he said," Mario we got word that Bowser and Luigi are both in with some evil force that is after the Chaos Emeralds, do you know what's going on, Shadow is missing and the being took him, Metal was freaked out about it as well and was scared."

Mario looked at Peach both looked worried, Mario said," Well we don't know much actually, but something did happen yesterday at Bowser's kingdom, a series of missiles fired but they were fired in a distress pattern, do you think there is a connection?" Tails scratched his chin, after a moment of thinking he said," Well if someone was trying to get help, Bowser is with this guy so if someone went against him then that would be the first place they would be put, maybe Shadow is there?"

Mario nodded his head and said," Yes and if that is a the case then we can get Luigi and the others as well, I'm sure your friend is still fine." Sonic nods his head and they quickly leave the front of the castle they notice that the sun was shimmering off of an object moving towards the same direction, as they approach they could see what it was, Metal Sonic.

He was holding his busted shoulder as he dragged himself on the ground, it wasn't until they reached the end of the town when he was noticeable. Suddenly a cloud of smoke appeared and a hedgehog was standing in front of him, Metal backed away quickly but stood where he was, a low chuckle rose through the air as he spoke," Poor Metal, I do hope that you are carrying the Emeralds with you, it would be a shame to trash you along the ground to know your efforts were for nothing, so do you have them?"

Metal slowly nodded his head as he revealed the Chaos Emeralds, the being chuckled again and said," Good Metal, you have proven yourself a worthy "partner" hand them over would you?" Metal followed the order without delay and handed them over. Sonic shouted from behind cover," Metal don't do it!" Mephiles snatched the emeralds, holding his hand out Metal was engulfed in the purple beam.

Metal was no longer blue, he was a dark grey, his body was fixed up and he was larger then before, a large spike on both shoulders, smiling the being said," Now Metal, go and defeat them, and afterwards come and meet me at Bowser's castle, we shall begin Phase 2 very shortly, enjoy the new energy while you can!" The being faded and left the heroes to face his pawn.

Metal turned around, facing them they could get a better picture of him, his eyes were pitch black, the gears and wiring in his system clicked and sprung around, energy began to form in his right hand. Sonic backed away along with the others, Metal stepped closer as the energy became more unstable in his hand, Tails side stepped away from the group.

Sonic stopped moving and prepared for battle, Metal followed quickly and prepared, Mario jumped in to help Sonic, Sonic nodded towards him. Metal fired a blast of purple energy, the two dodged the attack but the energy sent a shockwave as it exploded, both Mario and Sonic flew forward, Metal rushed at them and socked Mario in his gut and upper cutted Sonic.

Sonic slid against the ground as Mario bellowed over in pain, Metal reared his foot back and sent a powerful kick against Mario's skull, Mario flew back and crashed through a nearby building. Sonic ran and slammed into Metal sending him back, rushing again he spun into him and slammed Metal into a wall, jumping back he waited for Metal's next move.

Mario quickly recovered and got back in, Metal lunged out but both Mario and Sonic rushed him, the colliding forces sent a large wave of energy pushing back the other people around who were not fighting. Sonic kicked Metal in the stomach but was struck against the head, Mario sent a shattering elbow jab to Metal's leg.

Metal slid back and hit the ground, slowly trying to stand his right leg was twisted and sparks were shooting out of the busted wiring, Sonic turned and ran around several buildings, finally after about a minute he rushed Metal his speed art it's top, he rammed his fist straight into Metal's chest. A loud cracking noise echoed as Metal fell to the ground, oil slowly flowing from the opening in his chest.

Electricity shot around his whole body as he slowly crawled, Mario ran forward and kicked him in the side, Metal tumbled several times before landing on his back, the large wound in his chest now visible. Reaching his hand there, he drew his hand back from the wound and noticed the oil, he tipped his head back and lay there still.

A purple flash occurred after he layed back, his body shrinking back to normal, his color returning to it's blue, a low groan escaped from his wiring, he placed a hand over the hole as he tried to stand, unfortunately for the broken leg and wound in his chest he fell back to the ground unable to move, turning head he merely gazed at Tails, his eyes full of sorrow, Tails quickly raced over, he would never turn down someone in need that was how he was, even if the others might be mad.

Tails pulled out a small kit that he brang with him, Sonic approached and bent down to Tails' side, he asked, "So what are you doing?" Tails half glared at him and said," I am helping him, you saw that guy he took control of Metal Sonic with that purple energy, plus we still need Metal to find out who that was." Sonic nodded his head and allowed Tails to continue.

After sealing up the wound and patching his leg in a metal wiring cast, Tails helped Metal Sonic up, the two approached the group, Metal still had sorrow and concern in his eyes, Sonic walks over, pointing at him he says," Alright we are going to ask you what we want to know and you will answer, is that understood?"

Metal nodded his head slowly, his body still very weak, Sonic continued," Alright first things first, what happened to Shadow and why did you lie to us?" Metal close his eyes, after a little while he replied," I am sorry for lying to you about my true goal but the being would never have told me were Shadow was if I didn't do his bidding, I tried to gain more of his trust so I could find Shadow, and I told you that the being took Shadow that much was true."

Sonic nodded his head, after thinking he asked," Alright we have avoided this question enough, who is that being?" Before Metal answered someone snatched him from Tails, Luigi stood with Metal in his hands, turning he nodded his head, Bowser jumped from a nearby building, a large sack on his back, Luigi rushed over to him and handed Metal over, turning to face the heroes he said, "Go Bowser I will a deal with them for now, you need to get those things back."

Bowser nodded his head and snatched Metal, jumping into hi vehicle he flew off to his palace. Luigi turned to face the others, the heroes glaring at him, he just held a blank face, Mario shouts," Why would you join a this dark being, you have always been a hero Luigi, why would you do this?" Luigi snorted at his question, he answered," Like you don't know, I have always, always been I your shadow, Toadsworth made that absolutely clear when I took his life from him, after that day my power has grown thanks to the dark being that you will never have the pleasure of meeting, but I don't have to even try to fight you, In fact I am going to walk to bowser's castle and you won't be able to touch me!"

Mario glared and shouts," And why is that Luigi!" Luigi smiled, holding out a power star he said," Because none of you can match the power of the stars, I'm just glad these stars don't run out like the other one I used last time, so goodbye!" Grasping the star tightly, a strange glow appeared around him, turning around he began to walk away turning he said," And there is no more Luigi, I am Mr. L!"

Hopping off he disappeared quickly, Mario and the others quickly chasing after, they knew exactly where he was headed, and whether he wanted to see them or not the would fight him at Bowser's castle, smiling Sonic says," So your brother is a villains now, does that mean Knuckles can beat the stuffing out of him?" Mario shrugged and said, "I guess so." Knuckles grinned evilly.

Mephiles shook his head at Silver. The three were now sleeping in the cell, he said," To think Silver, you used to be a threat, it seems that the only thing you are now is a prisoner, sleep tight, your going to need your rest for tomorrow, as will every other being in this land, I almost feel sorrow for them….. but all is how it should be, maybe after this my soul will have happiness…."

Mephiles turned and slowly floated up the stairs, suddenly a voice stopped him," So that's why your so md, you don't have any happiness?" Turning his head he noticed that Bowser Jr. was no longer sleeping he was standing, floating back down he approached the child, he said," Yes it is true, I have no happiness in my life, and you should be asleep why are you awake?"

Junior shrugged and said," I have never been one for sleeping, papa could only get me to sleep after a fight, that usually puts me right to sleep, but what are you planning, and why are you so miserable?" Mephiles smiled and said," It wouldn't help to talk about it, the reason I have so much misery is because of the light, because people have happiness, I have always been alone in this world and seeing so much love and warmth it caused me to go farther into seclusion, after a while I decided that no one could be happy and that the only way for me to be happy was if those who have love suffer like me, my plan is very complicated, if you are good until tomorrow you will be able to see the plan."

He floated way and went back up the stairs, turning he noticed the child already asleep, he said," Good night Junior….." He closed the door behind him, turning around he noticed the grinning face of Bowser on his back was a large sack and, Metal Sonic. His eyes widened he asked," what happened to Metal?" Bowser shrugged and said," They beat him, so Luigi told me to come here and that he would stay fight them."

Mephiles' eyes turned white as he shouted," And you just left him there to fight the heroes, you will go back right now and make sure he isn't captured, I need him for phase 2, now get going!" Bowser dropped the two objects in his hand and took off out the door, smiling Mephiles walked over to Metal, tilting his head up he asked, So what did you tell them?"

Metal coughed out a bit of oil since he was still damaged, he said," Only that you took Shadow and that I was trying to get the Chaos Emeralds for you, they tried to get me to tell who you were but Bowser and Luigi got me first." Mephiles nodded his head, placing him down he picked up the back and placed it in the ground.

Mephiles sat on the throne, by any time now the heroes would arrive, whether they had Luigi or not, pulling his hood over his head he waited patiently for them, a small smile across his face, everything was going as he planned it would, the next thing was either Luigi would come or the heroes would have him with them as they arrived, either way he would know the next moves before I was even made.