"Hey guys, it looks like our dear old Master is too chicken to fight himself!" Sonic shouted. "He has to send his son in for him! Ha! Looks like someone is scared of being defeated!"

Snickers were audible from the Chiefs deep in the crowd.

Shadow laughed at Sonic. "As if my father would waste his time and energy on the likes of you!" the ebony werehog announced. "Don't you recall why we are here? Don't you remember who won the fight against your beloved Chief?"

Masters cheered on Shadow from all places in the crowd. Unlike the Chiefs, they wouldn't be punished by helping their fighter.

"Oh Shadow, you haven't been here for very long so let me tell you what's common knowledge." Sonic launched his extendable arm at Shadow's face, knocking the Master back a few feet. "I am way stronger than my dad."

This time there were more cheers from the Chiefs, most of which didn't care if they would be punished later. If Sonic defeated his crimson eyed counterpart, chances were Master would step in. Many, if not all, of the Chiefs believed Sonic would kill them both if given the chance. That's what they were counting on.

Shadow straightened his head and cracked his neck. "If you're strength is superior to what your father's was, than he was weaker than I observed." Shadow returned a punch of his own to Sonic, but aimed for the gut. Sonic was hit, but used that to his advantage. The dark blue knight grabbed Shadow's arm and flung him toward the other side of the circle that seemed to be made in the excitement of a fight. In the process of this action, Sonic manage to knock down quite a few of the cheering Masters.

Sonic released his enemy. After a quick second Shadow was up again and charged full speed at Sonic. Once he was about 10 feet away, Shadow gave a burst of speed and sliced his claws through Sonic.

Sonic stepped back and fell. "Well that isn't even deep enough to scar. Come on, I need some kind of mark showing how good my skills are!"

"No you don't, they're worth nothing from a filthy Master like him!" Someone in the crowd yelled. Sonic glanced over his shoulder and smiled at his cousin. Maybe he and Sonia would get along once this was all done.

Sonic got up and the fight raged on. Fist flew, claw pierced, and the crowd's cheers were growing with a gradual crescendo as the time passed.

Amy stopped cheering as her eye passed over the forest. She saw smoke, and it was coming from the heart of the village. She hoped someone would here her yells. "FIRE! There's a fire in the village!"