Hill Top Hell Zone

"Oh Chaos it's hot!"

"We're on West Side Island now, Rouge... Chaos wouldn't be the correct deity in this place..."

"Fine then, oh Argus, it's hot... is that better?"

"Someone knows their mythology..."

Hours of walking finally revealed to them that where they stood. Despite coming from a desert, the two mobians found themselves in another hot zone. While not as incredibly hot as the weather manipulations of Dust Hill Zone, this place still had to be the hottest zone in all of West Side Island! Not to mention how the earth seemed to rumble beneath their feet.

But, man, was it so incredibly gorgeous! The grass was a wonderful green, flowers were sprouting up everywhere, and the trees stood tall to attention. As high up as they were, for miles around there was nothing but puffy white clouds. The mountains of West Side Island – Hill Top Zone – gave a sight for as far as the eye could see. Every inch of West Side Island was visible to them, though most was covered by white clouds.

Shadow glared over the mountainous cliffs, gazing down to zones passed before. There was Emerald Hill, Chemical Plant and even Casino Nights Zone. It brought a smile to Shadow's face, knowing that each and every one of those zones had been liberated by now. This zone was just another in a long list – but dwindling – list.

"Alright Rouge," Shadow said as he pulled on his glove, focusing his eyes down on the fields before him, "Let's start moving..."

His shoes suddenly flaring to life, he began skating off. Rouge shouted some words at him, while her wings began flapping. She took off at similar speeds, being perfectly capable of keeping up with the hedgehog as he ran off.

The endless clicking in the room had him slightly tensed. She was amazing at her job; damn-fine even. But he still had his mind elsewhere. Staring down to the massive map of West Side Island, the demented doctor found his eyes trailing to a specific zone. Dust Hill Zone had it's random weather finally dealt with. There were no more snowstorms, no more slicing sands; all was quite and calm.

So they actually did it. They actually collected the Chaos Emerald in that zone. Was it kinda silly of him to think they'd be killed by the sands? Well, yeah. Shadow was too great an opponent to let simple weather derail his quest. But the doctor couldn't say the day had been a total failure. With Shadow's collection of the Chaos Emerald within the zone, the dictator only needed to steal it from him later on. Preferably from Shadow's own corpse.

He couldn't help but to prod his fingers, while a low and malicious chuckle escaped from his lips. The doctor began stroking his magnificent mustache, finding it in his great grace this moment could happen. He leaned back, now knowing victory was so close in hand. Hell, he'd say victory was already within his grasps!

The purple Chaos Emerald in hand sparkled brilliantly, casting its glow over the room like a dragnet. He pulled the stone back, placing it away into a small holder which sat upon his chair. Smiling, the doctor began rubbing the front of his desk.

"Someone's happy," a woman's voice echoed, a slight giggle added in as well, "Are your brilliant plans coming together, Ivo?"

"Of course they are, Maria!" he said, so extremely optimistic about his future, "With Shadow's acquisition of the Chaos Emerald in Dust Hill Zone, it's only a matter of time before the world belongs to me! I'll start with the entire roboticization of West Side Island, then I'll retake South Island! North and East Side Islands will belong to me by the end of the month! And after..." his laughing died, as he laid back in his chair, glaring down at the map with red eyes, "The world..."

"Ivo..." Maria whispered.

Shadow and Rouge have entered Hill Top Zone.

The earth was shaking, nearly uncontrollably as the two mobians raced atop it. Shadow stared over the mountainous hills to deeper green valleys. Wonderful flowers, bluish-dirt, and tall trees mixed with the rocky crags of mountains among other things. But there had to be something beneath all the chunks of earth; something making the plates beneath their feet shift and quake constantly.

"I can feel it..." the Black Wind mumbled, continuing to skate along the hills of Hill Top at a somewhat leisurely pace.

"Can feel what?" Rouge inquired, eyebrow raised as she looked at her ally.

"The Chaos Emerald," he stated, his sense for Chaos Energies far stronger than hers, "All of these sudden plate shifts and earthquakes. It's clearly caused by the powers of an Emerald. Only..." he looked around in all directions very briefly, "Where is it?"

GGGRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUMMMBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLEEEEEE!

Shadow's eyes grew wide, as he immediately kicked up his feet. Air Shoes flaring, he caused fire to bring him to a skidding halt, less the earth swallow him whole. At the same time, Rouge's wings opened wide, bringing her to a halt as well. The earth before them split open, revealing a gash in the planet. Staring down, the resonating heat of flames brushed alongside their faces, with lava being visible far deeper in the pit.

GGGRRRRRRRUUUUUMMMMMBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLEEEE!

Shadow and Rouge stared up as the second sound triggered, watching as various rock-formations began to slide in different directions. All before them, Hill Top Zone began to slide and move around, as the plate tectonics they rested upon began to shift in various directions. As new cracks were formed, bottomless pits formed too. Other crevices gained bowls of lava deep inside, with the threat of more appearing becoming all the more apparent, as the earth continued to quake.

"This is one of those things the planet throws at you because it doesn't want you snaking around their zones," Rouge commented as she stared deeper down into Hill Top, "Now what Shadow?"

RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Shadow's eyes slid into a squint, as he stared into the lava pit before them. He noticed the lava growing in a dome shape, as it began to bubble and rise. A beast eventually rose out of the lava; something long and purple. It's neck, comprised mainly of spheres which would allow it to turn on any axis it so pleased. It's head, slender and saurian in nature, with two large eyes glaring down upon the mobians standing before it.

On the side of its neck written in bold white letters sat the name 'REXON'.

"Oh my..." Rouge said as she stared upon it, "Aren't... dinosaurs extinct though?"

"Badnik..." he growled back, staring at the mighty machine as it's jaw flared with heat.

The Badnik opened it's mouth, while the lights within began to glow. Shadow got ready, just as it fired off a beam of pure energy at him. The two mobians quickly scattered, dodging the blasts as they blurred into twin dashes of white and black. Shadow suddenly appeared at its side, charging up a Chaos Spear he lobbed at the Badnik. His strike met it's target, causing the Badnik to bounce back just a bit. When it looked back, Rouge's foot suddenly slammed upon its head. The strike caused the Badnik to fly down, while she hovered above with flapping wings.

However, Rexon was not defeated. The Badnik's head stretched back up as it looked down to its foes, Rouge and Shadow staring back as it charged up yet another attack. Rexon's eyes suddenly gleamed, as it rained down upon them another beam.

"Shadow!?" Rouge shouted as they dodged it's storm of destruction.

"You know the deal, Rouge," he answered as he zipped left and right, "Together!"

He suddenly dashed into the air, with her following close behind. Together, the two mobian's slammed into Rexon's head, their strikes causing immense damage. The dented head of the beast caused it to howl in pain, before it's head suddenly exploded. The metallic balls keeping it together also detonated as well, leaving the beast as nothing but it's hide floating in the lava.

"Well now," Rouge said as she looked at the Badnik's remaining carcass, "I don't understand how anything – be it robot or living – can stand something as hot as lava."

"It's not as bad as you think," Shadow answered as he walked up, "Have you ever been to a place called Marble Zone? It's on South Island; a zone with ruins that sit on top of lava. How it got there is anyone's guess... hm..." he smiled a bit, before it transformed back into that usual indifferent glare, "We're not done yet..."

"What are you talking about?" Rouge inquired, to which Shadow answered with a point.

She looked into said direction, where in which she saw nothing but the heads of various other Rexon's, all of which were rising out of pits of lava. There was at least one for every pit, and there had to be a ton of pits. When Rouge saw it, her eyes went wide with shock, while Shadow merely uncrossed his arms.

"This shouldn't take too long," Shadow stated as he walked forward, cracking his knuckles as he did so, "I kinda need to unleash anyway."

"Hey, hey, hey now, Shadow!" Rouge shouted as she followed, "Let's not get hasty!"

She lingered behind, her hands to herself, her eyes gazing out the window. This woman in a blue haze, who's entire body could be walked through. She was both real and unreal; a faux image of what life should be. A hologram, created merely to mimic human life, but specifically her life.

She often wondered about who she was, really. Just a digital representation of a woman named 'Maria', or was she something more? This kind of thinking process existed among all of the doctor's creations; she was know different. For some reason, certain Badniks had the funny issue of gaining souls somehow. Why did they do this, know one knows.

Sometimes, when she powers down, she dreams. She starts seeing images of and sights of place she's never seen before. Seeing space in a light no human being has ever seen. She remembers a place with cold industrial halls stretching on near endlessly. She has know idea what this place is, because it looks so unlike any base she's been in before. She also remembers seeing this mobian, who looks ever so familiar.

But she can't put her finger on who he is.

"Ah, Maria," Ivo's voice echoed as he walked up behind the fake woman, making her turn to face him, "What's wrong this evening? You rarely appear without wishing to tell me something."

"Dr. Robotnik," she responded smiling a bit, "It's just that. The Rexon unit in Hill Top Zone has recently stopped responding. I'm beginning to believe Rouge the bat and Shadow the hedgehog are the ones who have caused this."

"I see..." he stated, "How's the location process on the next Chaos Emerald going?"

"We almost have it," Maria said as she swiped her hand through the air with a victorious swing, "At this rate, Shadow the hedgehog won't matter! We'll have another Chaos Emerald before the nights over!"

"That's lovely, Maria! Simply lovely!" he said with a laugh, before walking back down the hall, "I'm am returning to the building hall. Do not bother me unless it is information pertaining to either the collection of a Chaos Emerald, or the death of Shadow the hedgehog."

"Yes, Dr. Robotnik," Maria answered, giving a courteous bow before suddenly vanishing.

Shadow and Rouge have passed Act 1.

Shadow tossed the Rexon head up and down, being leisurely in his actions as he sat on a rock formation. The quakes and tremors that plagued Hill Top Zone had come to a stop, giving them a moment of piece among all the hysteria. At this point, he thought about reciting a moment of Shakespearean quotation. But he decided against it, as he instead tossed the Badnik's head up and away.

"Ow, ow, ow," the bat grunted as she pulled her foot out of the mouth of a Rexon, "How does Robotnik make all these things? Seriously, how does he even get the money to make them!"

"A lot of Dr. Robotnik's lesser creations are a hit with humans," Shadow answered as he started walking off, "He gets money by selling them, which must be a lot considering how many Badniks he pumps out upon us mobians..."

"I've lent my talents to a lot of employers over the years, and yet of all the money I've gained, I could only afford a swanky casino in Night Babylon Zone..." the bat stated, before she thought on her statement, "Actually, that's okay by me. I have no need for an army of destruction. Huh?"

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Shadow..."

"Do you feel that?"

"A CHAOS EMERALD!" they stated in unison.

"Good, so you did feel it!" the bat stated as Shadow walked forward, arms uncrossing as he eyed the ground, "But where is it?"

"It's deeper inside of the zone," Shadow stated, eventually coming to a stop as he eyed the crevice directly before them, "Far deeper inside the zone that you may suspect..."

"Like... underground kind of deep?" the bat inquired, teal eyes growing wide.

"Yes... underground..." the hedgehog stated as he jumped inside the pit, making Rouge roll her eyes, before she too flew inside the pit.

Shadow landed in an underground cavern, barely able to see with such little visible lights. Withdrawing his Chaos Emerald, he used its light to illuminate his way. He walked into the cave before him, staring around as he used the Emeralds magnetic attraction to bring him closer to the next Emerald. Rouge eventually joined him, her teal eyes glowing as she stared through the darkness.

GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUMMMMMMBBBBLEEEEEEEE!

"Oh damn..."

Rocks began to fall upon them, while the temperature in the area suddenly jumped to great levels. The air grew thin, which choked the two mobians and caused them to cough. Shadow growled through his asphyxiation, whilst pushing forward through the cave. Rouge did likewise, though her's came with less of a growl. Staring up toward the cave's exit, an eerie glow was in the distance. Coming out the other end of the cave, Shadow nearly slipped upon the suspiciously wet ground. Gazing over the next cliff, he saw what caused the glow from before.

Lava. Pouring and bubbling lava, steadily crawling up the walls as the earthquake caused the volcano to become active. Shadow covered his nose and coughed some more, before looking up toward the volcano's ceiling. There didn't appear to be any good way of escaping, other than going back the way they came. But that was no longer a choice.

When turning around, the cave they just entered through suddenly crumbled. Rocks blocked their entrance, trapping them inside with burning hot magma slowly climbing up to claim them. Shadow stared around to the various rock formations that stood through the lava, realizing their only escape was to constantly climb up.

Well for him anyway.

"Shadow!" Rouge shouted as she flew overhead, making him watch as she pointed toward the other end of the wall, "There's an exit over there! It's our only escape."

"A little help would be nice!" he replied as he threw up his hand.

"What!? Can't you jump over that!?"

"ROUGE!"

"Ugh! Fine!"

She swooped down and grabbed his hand, hooking them together while her wings flapped. Taking to the air, she flew over the lava which constantly climbed after them. It's speed seemed to be increasing, as if it were sentient and trying to kill them. Rouge continued flapping her wings and moving higher. The lava continued to climb and destroy however, before they faced the exit they sought.

There was something sentient about it. There was something living inside that lava. Well, maybe living is kind of a stretch. But there was definitely something inside the lava, something making it rise after them. While the Chaos Emerald may have helped, this machination is what wanted them dead.

It aimed its sights on the mobians, barely showing itself. Instead, what came out of the lava was a slender silver gun, attached to a series of spheres; much like the neck of a Rexon. The gun put sights on Rouge and Shadow.

PEW!

"AUFF!?"

Her wing marred by a sudden shot which struck her with precise aim. When they were only a few yards away from the cave's exit, the two mobians crashed to the ground and tumbled. Shadow quickly recoiled after shaking his head, only to crawl over and shake Rouge who was writhing in pain.

"Rouge, Rouge! Are you okay?"

"Ah!? My wing!" she replied as she rubbed it, trying to soothe the burning pain ricocheting through her limb, "Shadow! It burns! It really, really, really burns!"

PEW! PEW! PEW! POW! POW! POW!

The small area they stood on was suddenly assaulted by laser fire, which caused rocks to fly all around them. The small explosions triggered by the laser strikes weakened the ground's structure, threatening to break under their feet. Shadow scooped Rouge up into his arms before he stood on the ground's edge, looking down to the lava, he saw the laser gun which shot at them. It quickly descended back into the magma, hiding from them. Growling, he quickly spun around and ran for the exit.

Shadow cleared the distance in one mighty jump, one he nearly missed with Rouge in his arms. Air Shoes flaring, he skated down the halls toward the exit to put as much distance between himself and the lava as he could. The burning heat in the air grew lighter as they passed, making things far more bearable. Shadow quickly escaped the caves, coming back out onto Hill Top's surface, and allowing the fresh winds to cool him down.

So wonderful.

"Ouch!? Shadow!?" Rouge cried as the two crashed into the earth.

"Huff... huff... huff..." he replied as he gasped for breath, "I didn't expect it to feel so good..." then a small smile, "Are you okay, Rouge?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she answered as she got on her knees, tending to her bruised wing, "Ah... it still hurts... OW! OW! OW! I said it still hurts!"

Shadow stared at her, eyes sliding down while his hand tended to her wings. She grew silent, only giving an audible 'EEP!' when his hand touched her bruise. She suddenly felt something warm and soothing being wrapped around her wing, making her grow slightly calm. Looking over to Shadow, she was actually quite surprised to see he was wrapping her wing in coils.

"Shadow... where'd you get that from?" she asked.

"I've had it for a while now," he answered as he finally stopped, "Believe it or not, but I tend to get hurt a bit on these adventures... it's good to have around..." his face grew somewhat hard as he looked at her, "Don't take this the wrong way. I'm helping you because you've helped me so much on this quest."

"Dammit Shadow," Rouge said, "For a change, can't you just be a good friend and say 'I'm helping you because I care for you, Rouge' or – since I know you'd never say that – 'I'm helping you because you're my friend, Rouge'. But, hey..." she gave a sweet wink at him, "At least I know you're just trying to be hard. You don't have to lie to me."

He rolled his eyes. But he did not defend himself against her statement.

"How long do you think you're wing's going to be out of commission?" he asked as they both finally stood.

"Not too long," Rouge said as she folded in her injured wing, "Surprise or not, I tend to get hit quite a bit on my adventures. This – while it hurts – is nothing for me to be afraid of..." she then walked pass the hedgehog, and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheeks, "It's a sweet gesture nonetheless..."

Shadow flinched a bit due to her statement, being frozen from the kiss as well. Such sultry antics was the norm for Rouge, but she never did that before. He rubbed his cheek, coming to the steady realization that the only woman who had kissed him before was his mother. How weird.

"Shadow! I see it!" Rouge suddenly called, causing Shadow to increase the speed in his walk.

Over the next rocky valley laid a pool of lava, and in the center of this lava pool lay a rock formation jutting out. Sitting on this formation, the light blue Chaos Emerald. It gleamed in the sunlight, despite being surrounded by burning death.

"Shadow, I can't fly," Rouge stated, "Go! Go! Warp to it and grab it!"

"Don't have to tell me twice," he said as he withdrew his green Chaos Emerald.

He was just about to warp, calling upon his amazing powers to leap over to the formation. But right before he did, he noticed something. Pulling out the lava was a tendril with a gun at the end. He saw it at just the right moment, where in which he vanished with Rouge pulled along with him.

PEW! POW!

The two landed on another rock formation in the lava bowl, where in which their eyes fell upon the lava. The laser cannon that fired at them destroyed the land formation, sending rocks flying in all directions. With that one destroyed, the lava gun descended back into the lava.

The lava began to dome an rise, sliding apart as a machine rose at the same level. A submarine looking machine, with the same silver dome as the other machines they had faced during their quest. Another Egg Mobile unit. The Egg Mobile-S, to be exact.

'S' stands for 'submarine' by the way. Created from the hardest alloy on the planet, Megatal, the Egg Mobile-S is capable of withstanding the hardest pressures of the deepest valleys. And, if you hadn't noticed, lava doesn't mean much to it as well. Despite being small, there are already plans of creating an entire fleet of Egg Mobile-S, all of which forged from Megatal.

If the good doctor can find anymore of it, that is.

"Another Egg Mobile," Shadow stated, fingers charging with Chaos Powers, "I'm getting annoyed with these drones. Chaos Spear!"

He fired it at the Egg Mobile-S, hitting it on the mark. The blast was reflected, however the machine descended into the lava. Shadow stared around the bowl fervently, waiting for the Egg Mobile-S to show itself. Instead, lava plumed from where it dove, causing it to fly sky-high. Scooping Rouge into his arms, Shadow leaped for another rock formation, dodging the lava just barely. He landed safely as the earlier rock-formation was covered in lava and flames. The Egg Mobile-S suddenly submerged, rising with its gun aimed at the two mobians.

PEW! PEW! PEW! POW! POW! POW!

Shadow dodged each shot with Rouge in his arms, though the same could not be said for the earth beneath his feet. Shattered into pieces, he leaped for another formation, while the Egg Mobile-S lowered into the lava.

"This is getting us nowhere!" Rouge stated, "Shadow! Do one of your crazy powerful things you normally do! Like Chaos Blast or... or... the Chaos Ball from earlier!"

"Not gonna happen," he replied as he looked at her, "If I do something too strong, I can offset the balance of this volcano. The lava would either kill us, or take the Emerald. I can't let either of those things happen."

"If you don't do something soon, that thing is going to kill us," Rouge stated, "And, knowing you, running is definitely out of the question!"

"You're damn right..."

Lava plumed again, as the Egg Mobile-S rose to challenge them once more. Turret aimed at the two mobians, it fired another spray of lasers their way. Growing annoyed by the situation, Shadow threw Rouge sky high. She wailed from surprised, while the Black Wind leaped up even higher than her. Curling around, his body was suddenly surrounded in a glowing yellow light, one he used to dash directly toward the Egg Mobile-S. He slammed it on the head, knocking the machine into the lava, and using it to spring back upon safe land.

"OW! Dammit Shadow, stop doing that!" the bat yelled while he turned to face the Egg Mobile-S.

He ignored her. Instead, his eyes fell down upon the Egg Mobile-S, which was beginning to rise once again. Hands woven into fists, he challenged the machine as it aimed its laser cannon his way. His body began surging with power, while the cannon's laser starting charging; something it hadn't exhibited before.

"Chaaaoooos..." the Black Wind growled as he charged his attack.

PEEERRRRRR! The Egg Mobile-S' cannon howled.

"BURST!"

He threw out his hands, causing a multicolored orb to surround his body. The Egg Mobile-S's laser struck his shield, only to be rebuffed by superior power. His counter reflected the Egg Mobile-S's beam, sending it back to the powerful machination. While the laser was surely strong enough to destroy most machines, the powerful mobian ally of megatal easily withstood the strike. The attack sure did hurt, however.

Shadow's Chaos Burst steadily died down, while he took deep breaths. The Egg Mobile-S descended back into the lava, hiding itself as it recoiled form Shadow's strike. He eyed the lava closely, wondering what to do in order to best the beast. It was made of the toughest metal known to his people, and backed by an ingenious mind who wanted him dead. Not to mention the lava which could destroy anything.

Had the lava not been there, Shadow as sure he would've destroyed the Egg Mobile-S with little to no effort.

He looked down to his wrists, wondering if he should take the risk. Around his wrists lay two rings that – when removed – easily increased his powers by an unspecified amount. The only drawback? It would drain him of any and all energy for quite some time. Was it a risk he was willing to take?

No. There was another way.

"Rouge! Toss me the blue Chaos Emerald!"

"What!? No! It's mine! I got it fair and square!"

"If you don't give it to me, Rouge, we will die!" he responded as the Egg Mobile-S rose to challenge them once more.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" the bat shouted back as she pulled out the Chaos Emerald, "Here! And give it back or else I'll make you wish it was you down in that lava!"

She used her surprisingly strong upper-body strength to throw the Emerald Shadow's way, where in which he caught it. Focusing on its powers, he caused the red and green Chaos Emeralds to fly and float around him. Breathing deeply, the hedgehog focused on the powers of the three magical stones hovering around them.

"You may be indestructible, I'll admit that," Shadow stated as he formed the strongest Chaos Spear he could thus far, "But not even you can withstand the might of three Chaos Emeralds! CHAOS SPEAR!"

With might force, he thrust his hand forward, sending a deadly beam of energy the Egg Mobile-S's way. His attack collided with the machine, triggering an explosion that destroyed the beast. Lava flew up high, where it began to rain down upon the area. Shadow was actually stunned; he didn't mean to put that much strength into his blast. He pulled back as glared at the enemy, watching as his blast continued and destroyed a good bit of the volcano's side. Lava poured through the side, causing the volcano to leak all of Hill Top Zone. The oversight in his attack caused the plates to shift once more, while the land began to crack and break beneath their feet.

"The Chaos Emerald," the Black Wind called as he looked at the stone, leaping to grasp it.

The light blue Chaos Emerald was right there, right in his grasp. He was about to grab it, to hold it, to touch it. But before he could do so, something metallic flew right past him.

DONG!

It struck his head, knocking him clear unconscious with its blow.

We need to give them a chance to be happy.

Shadow...

"Huh... m-m-mom...?"

Shadow...

"SHADOW!"

Shadow. Wake up and eat your dinner. Or else your father's going to eat it all.

And I will!

Jules! Stop being so immature!

Mffff... now this is some good cooking...

Ugh... Jules... Shadow, wake up honey. Dinner's ready. Shadow. Shadow. Yoo-hoo, Shadow deary, wake up.

Wake up, Shadow.

Wake up! Wake up!

Grandpa's got things to do with you today, Shadow!

Your father is being a dummy, Shadow!

Shadow!

Shadow!

Shadow!

Shadow!

Mom.

Maria.

Mom.

Maria.

Mom.

Maria.

Mom.

Maria.

"Mom..." the hedgehog suddenly said, pulling up with a throbbing headache.

The quick movement didn't do well for the powerful pain, shooting through his head. It was like a thousand mallets being swung at his head at the same time, and it forced him back down. He gripped his head accordingly, grunted and groaned, not paying attention to the land around him. It wasn't until a hand fell on his shoulder, did he come to terms with things around him.

It was night. There was a fire. And it appeared to be Hill Top Zone. He groaned as he rubbed his head, while that hand on his shoulder rubbed as well. He turned to the person who soothed his pain, his eyes meeting those of a teal eyed bat.

"Mom, huh?" the bat said, "Uh... Shadow, I think you're a tad bit wrong there."

"Rouge..." he said, before wincing once again.

"Hey, take it easy now. You took a pretty bad strike to the head earlier and nearly fell into lava. I think you need to rest a bit," she smiled warmly as she rubbed his head, making him turn slightly away, "Awww... poor Superman."

"Rouge... not now..." Shadow grunted, eyes closing as he looked off. Suddenly his eyes shot open, as realized something, "The Chaos Emerald! Rouge, did we get it?"

Rouge cocked her head at him, giving this face that calmed him down. But ultimately, she shook her head in a 'no' manner.

"No, Shadow, we did not," the bat answered, "I could've saved either you, or the Emerald. And – to be brutally honest – I did think about snatching the Emerald for myself. It was so beautiful. But, no, I made sure to whisk you away before that lava could kill you."

"Where did the Emerald go?"

"Is it all that hard to tell?" Rouge inquired with a slight hand gesture, "Dr. Robotnik has it. That Egg Mobile whatever swooped in out of nowhere and took it. It was the same one you destroyed, but its central unit was still intact. It just took the Emerald while I was busy saving your but."

Shadow nodded at the statement, his arms crossed as he looked away. Taking a deep breath, he found himself feeling quite belittled by the situation.

"Rouge..." he mumbled, "You should've let me die..."

"Ugh, now what are you going on about?" she asked, growing annoyed with his statement, "You are far too serious Shadow."

"With every Emerald Robotnik collects, the more powerful he becomes... I can't allow that to happen..."

"So what?" she asked, making her partner look over at her, "Shadow, Robotnik can get as many of those rocks as he wants. That doesn't mean he'll win. You said it yourself; Robotnik had almost every Emerald in South Island, save for the one you had. And what did you do? Take them back and free the island! Honestly, I think you hit your head a tad bit too much. You're being too hard on yourself..."

He crossed his arms and looked down, feeling less than powerful thanks to the situation. Honestly, this whole quest had so far proven to be ten-times harder than his last venture. Dr. Robotnik really did learn from their last bout, and despite all that training Shadow did himself, it was proving to not be enough. If not for Rouge, it was a wonder if he'd pass Emerald Hill Zone.

"Shadow..." Rouge called, "If it were me who was knocked out. And you had to choose between the Emerald or myself... who would you save then?"

He looked at her, long and hard, before looking off into the distance. Suddenly groaning, the hedgehog laid back with his arms behind his head.

"I'm not about to let someone else die thanks to my stupid vendetta against the doctor," he stated, "I don't care if it is an Emerald or anything. I'm not about to let you or anyone die..."

"You know, Shadow, what you were supposed to say was 'I'd always save you, Rouge'. Ya'know, to make a girl feel kinda needed and to make it a tad bit more personal."

"Yeah... personal..." he answered, eyes closing a bit, "Rouge..."

"Yes..."

"Thanks... for everything..."

"You bet your ass."

POP! POP! FIISSSSSHHHHHH!

"Ah-ha! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

The digital bottle of champagne in her hands fizzed with just as much digital foam to make it disturbing. On the other hand, real fizz from a champagne bottle spurted all over the desk. The two people in the area celebrated a momentous victory. Well, at least one of them.

The usually dark and dismal room was bright and lit up this evening, thanks to the small party going on beneath. After all, it's not everyday one gains one of the legendary seven Chaos Emeralds.

"Ah! The Egg Mobile-S did it's job wonderfully!" said the digital beauty as she poured herself a glass of champagne, "Such a shame it didn't kill Shadow, but the Chaos Emerald greatly makes up for it."

"Indeed Maria," the doctor replied, a smile upon his face, "I must say, this went far better than I could ever thought!"

He rose his champagne glass to clash with hers, but with her being a hologram and such, it was more a gesture than an action. Now, not only did they have the purple Chaos Emerald, but now the light blue Chaos Emerald lay within their hands. The doctor's desk held the two mystical stones of power within specifically placed containers. The two stones were shining brilliantly within their containment units, being on full display for everyone to see.

"It's a shame the Egg Mobile-S had to fall in battle," Maria stated, before taking yet another sip of her champagne.

"I wouldn't call it that much of a failure," Robotnik claimed, a smile on his face, "While it's a shame the Egg Mobile-S was destroyed, the knowledge I gained from the fight has provided me with ample information for an upgrade to the Egg Mobile!'

"An Egg Mobile-S Mark II, perhaps?" Maria asked with a giggle, barely containing her excitement.

"Indeed Maria! But enough about that," he smiled dementedly while his eyes fell upon the stones before him on the desk, "Tonight, Maria, we simply live..." he rose a finger, where in which he pressed a button on his armrest, "Tonight, we live."