Heh heh, Here we go again! And now for the answer on chapter 6!

Chapter 7: Shadow the Hedgehog

"We should head back and tell Tails. No telling when whoever did that will be back." Sonic said, crossing his arms as he stared at the rubble just a few feet away from both him and Ratchet.

"No!" Ratchet protested. "We should go fine whoever did this to us in the first place!"

"Sorry pal." Sonic shook his head. "No way, you don't know your way around our world that good yet and you both are already in hot water with Central City and Gun. We are heading back together."

"But--"

"Now."

Ratchet's ears fell. "Alright fine." he muttered.

"Someone triggered a landslide, huh?" Tails put a hand to his chin. "Well...it can't be Gun...they would have just come out into the opened and tried to capture Ratchet, rather than flee the scene like that."

"My bets on Eggman." Sonic said flatly. "After all Ratchet's officially earn a reputation with him. Eggman would like to get rid of him just as much as he would with the rest of us."

"True...but I think Eggman would have come out and tried again to do away with you two. A landslide does not seem like something he'd do to begin with anyway."

Sonic and Tails had been going on like this for quiet awhile now. Ratchet and Clank had been eagerly waiting to find out on their own, but so far Sonic had not let them have a chance to get away. Despite the arguing Sonic had also been keeping an eye on the two.

"Either way I think it's safe to say that whoever did it will be back. Ratchet? Clank? You guys should just stay put in the workshop for now. Let Sonic and us scoop out Green Hill tomorrow and try to find out what happened." Tails finally announced.

"What!? Thats not fair!" Ratchet snapped. "I thought I was part of the team? I have just as much right to go. Danger or no danger!"

"Ratchet..." Clank sighed.

"You both know I can take care of myself!" Ratchet continued. "Eggman's robots are a piece of cake to deal with, and I'm sure I can handle a few Gun soldiers! What worser threats could their be?"

"Listen." Sonic said, walking over to Ratchet. "There are worser things. You have not been around to face even half of what we've dealt with in the past. And its not a good idea to take advantage of Gun OR Dr. Eggman." Ratchet frowned, backing off.

Sonic's anger went away in a instant, as he smile again. "Just leave it to us. We'll check it out tomorrow, kay?"

"Okay..." Ratchet sighed.

That night...

Ratchet had just now started to climb out of the window of the workshop. Being careful not to wake Tails who was sleeping peacefully a few rooms down. He had just gotten his head through the frame when he heard Clank call out to him.

"Where do you think your going?" he asked.

Ratchet was startled by this and jumped, hitting his head on the top frame of the window. "OW! Where do you think I'm going? To prove myself once and for all!"

"Ratchet if you insist on going," Clank said crossing his robotic arms, Ratchet glared back preparing for the worst. "Then your going to take me with you!" Clank finished.

Ratchet rolled his eyes. "Fine." he grinned. "Let's get going."

The two did not take Blue Bell. In case something were to happen they did not want to risk breaking it. That and it might make enough noise to wake Tails and stop them on there way out.

Luckily the bridge to Green Hill from Central City was not to far away from Tails home and they got there in no time at all.

It was a fairly cold night in Green Hill, and the only sounds that could be heard was the wind brushing with the grass and the sounds of crickets from the distance.

Ratchet put his hands behind his head. "Well this should be a snap." he said. Though even he had his share of concern. "Let's head for the landslide."

"Agreed." Clank nodded.

It took awhile to get there on foot. Without Blue Bell, which went very fast and got them their in about no less then thirty seconds, on foot it took about ten or fifteen minutes. Ratchet sighed. Not that he was tired but he had that strange feeling again. The feeling that he was being watched.

"I'm getting those bad vibes again...." Ratchet's voice sounded worried.

Clank was not sure what he was talking about and could only come to one conclusion. "Maybe you're just feeling bad for coming out here without the others permission."

"What?! I am not!" Ratchet snapped. Clank only sighed and walked a few paces ahead of Ratchet.

"I'm telling you were not going to find anyone out here tonight anyway." Clank finally said. "Whoever did it is thinking were home sleeping. They'll come back tomorrow."

"I at least want to make sure!" Ratchet made a huff. "Besides....you no what they say: 'The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime'--" Ratchet made a dead stop. The moon was shinning just above him for a second, then a shadowy figure stepped in front of the moons light, just right above Ratchet and on top of the landslide.

Ratchet and Clank both looked up. It might have been due to the night but there stood a black and red hedgehog, with matching red eyes and white, red, yellow, and black shoes. There also happened to be a ring on each of his wrists. Also know as a Power Ring.

"Is that Sonic?" Clank said unsure, starting to approach, but Ratchet held him back.

"No. He's not." Ratchet glared up at the stranger, taking out his Blaster.

"Heh! I guess you're not as dumb as I thought!" the dark hedgehog chuckled. "But who's the REAL criminal?"

Ratchet was not sure what he meant, and could only stare back confused. Seeing the look on Ratchet's face made the dark Hedgehog's grin grow bigger. "I've been watching you for QUITE awhile now. Ratchet and Clank, right? The 'things' that fell from the sky?"

"Who you calling a 'Thing'?!" Ratchet barked. "Just who are you?!"

"What else should I call an outsider like you?" the black hedgehog asked in a un-sympathetic tone. "And the names Shadow. Shadow the Hedgehog."

'Shadow huh?' Clank thought to himself.

"Tell me..." Shadow spoke up. "What purpose do you have collecting the Chaos Emeralds?"

"And why should I tell you?" Ratchet said bravely.

At that moment Shadow jumped from the landslide and broke into a dash. Ratchet tried to hit him by firing his Blaster but Shadow moved to quick. Shadow ran up and behind Ratchet and gave him a hard kick in the back of his head sending Ratchet crashing face first into the dirt.

"Ratchet!" Clank yelped.

"I'm asking you, cause unless you've got a death wish, you better tell me." Shadow frowned.

Ratchet raised his head up, struggling to get back to his feet. "Wh-why you!"

"Heh, listen. I don't want to fight you, Ratchet. But I will if I have to." Shadow paused before continuing. "I need to know where you stand. As a ally or an enemy."

Ratchet shakily got back to his feet. "Not that it's any of your problem." Ratchet glared. "But I need all the Chaos Emeralds to get back home to my galaxy! Their are others waiting for my return, and I'll do anything to see them again."

"As I thought..." Shadow closed his eyes.

"What do you--" Ratchet began, but then at lighting fast speed, Shadow ran forward and grabbed Ratchet by the neck and pulled him into the air. As Ratchet began to make a choking sound and started to gag Shadow gave him a toss and sent him crashing onto his back.

"Anything huh?" Shadow spat. "You just don't realize just how much power is in even one of these Chaos Emeralds!" With that said Shadow took out a green Chaos Emerald and showed it it Ratchet. "To use them for your own selfish reasons will prove your undoing, fool!"

"I..." Ratchet was not sure how to reply to that. To tired to react with R.Y.N.O and his Blaster fell out of his hands when he fell and was lying a few feet away. And as much as Clank wanted to fight he knew he was no match for Shadow in his present form.

"I wonder..."Shadow continued, seeing Ratchet was not about to say anything else.

"How strong is your heart? If your greedy enough to use the Chaos Emeralds to go back home...what would they transform you into to match your true self?"

"My true self..?" Ratchet muttered.

"Yes. Would you become something good? Or bad? Take Eggman for example...If he or Gun got ahold of all seven Chaos Emeralds, the monster deep within there hearts would awaken. And bring nothing but Chaos to the galaxy. Only the pure of heart should be trusted to use such power. Sorry, but I don't think you have what it takes."

"How dare you!" Clank snapped, approaching Shadow.

"C-Clank! Stay away!" Ratchet yelled. Clank did not listen and stood in front of Ratchet. Shadow arched a brow, looking at Clank with interest.

"How can you just judge us so?" Clank asked Shadow. "We come from another galaxy, ergo we are heros from there. If we have to we shall prove we are not as you seem to think. And it is wrong to judge someone on a first impression!"

"Humph! I guess we'll see about that." Shadow smiled. "I shall leave you now. But know this..." Shadow's face grew dark. "If you guys do manage to get ahold of all the Chaos Emeralds, watch your back. I'll be watching you. Make the wrong move and I'll come and hunt you down."

Ratchet watched as Shadow turned to leave. Before going Shadow turned his head and looked back at the two.

"By the way...I caused the landslide. I wanted to test your strength. See what you could do. You have got a lot to learn." Shadow look up at the sky and held out the green Emerald into the air. "Chaos Control!" he shouted and was gone in a flash of light!

Even long after Shadow was gone, Ratchet lied on the ground. Still in pain hurting not so much as on the outside but on the inside. He had been thinking hard about what Shadow had said. As bad as he had put it....a lot of what he said did make a little since. What would the Chaos Emeralds change him into? Would it truly be filled with nothing but greed? Just how just how much did he know about his true self?

"Ratchet..?" Clank called, sitting next to his friend. "Please talk to me Ratchet. Are you okay?"

Ratchet said nothing just continued to stare up into the sky. Watching all the stars twinkle in the dark sky. The moon shining down on him. Far off footsteps could soon be heard coming there way. Clank got up to see who it was, while Ratchet did not even bother to look up.

"You don't listen do you?" came the sound of Sonic's voice, as he stopped just a few feet in front of Ratchet and Clank. "Heh, you remind me of myself. Ratchet you OK, pal?" Sonic had a smile on his face as he looked at the two.

"No..." Ratchet said simply. "Sorry..."

Sonic shook his head. "Ah, don't worry about it. I can't even tell you guys how many times I've went off on my own when I was not suppose to. Makes life more exciting that way. Just try to remember we are here to help you okay? You're both not alone."

"How did you know we were out here?" Clank asked.

"Heh I know how angry Ratchet was when Tails told him not to come out here. So I came back over to his house tonight. When I found out you two were not in your beds I knew I'd find you here." Sonic walked over and extended out his hand for Ratchet to grab and pull him to his feet.

"Thanks..." Ratchet grunted still hurting a little.

"No problem. Lets go back. I can already guess you figured out who cause all this." Sonic smiled. Then slowly but carefully, Sonic guided Ratchet and Clank back to the city, with no ill will towards the two. Just only thinking about taking care of his new dear friends.

Ah Another end to another chapter....My head hurts...

RR!

And I'll see you all soon! ~ Trinity