Final chapter (excluding the epilogue)! I really hope you've enjoyed reading and if the end isn't very good I'm sorry. :/ Either way, I enjoyed writing this so thank you.


"When you said accompanying, I didn't think you meant actually piloting." Sonic says, hands gripping the shoulder straps that hold him to his seat. Shadow is opposite him, turning his Chaos emerald in his hands.

Handia laughs, flicking some switches above her head. "I can hardly sit around and watch, Sonic. This is our universe at stake."

They're almost at the destination set to meet Robotnik. Stars shine brightly outside and little pieces of space debris float past slowly. Shadow has managed to find a large gun which he's propped against his seat. It's more a confidence boost than for actually using but it's loaded and ready.

Robotnik's ship comes into view suddenly like he's removed a shield from it. It's massive, towering over the little jet they're in. Painted black, it's barely visible but pinpricks of light shine from the windows. A large ramp descends from the ship to the surface of the asteroid just as Handia lands the ship.

"Good luck." She says as Shadow straps the gun on his back and Sonic tightens his trainers. Shadow tosses Sonic his emerald; he doesn't want too much power if he has to take the Void emerald.

"Put your hands behind your head." Shadow mutters, pointing his gun at Sonic. "Start walking."

Sonic does as he's asked and walks slowly down the ramp. The surface of the asteroid is dusty and grey, huge craters litter it's surface.

Robotnik is standing at the end of his bridge, hands behind his back, patiently waiting. "My my, what do we have here?" He asks like he feels he knows the answer.

"I want a trade. You take him but let me join your team." Shadow shoves Sonic down onto his knees. Sonic makes a mental note to punch Shadow if they get out of this alive.

Robotnik strokes his moustache, beady eyes examining the pair as if he can detect lies by looking at them. "Alright. Welcome to the team, Shadow. Take him aboard."

"No!" Sonic yells, leaping to his feet and spin dashing at Robotnik. He bounces back off before he even touches the man, landing heavy and skidding along the dusty surface.

"Oh, Sonic. It's sweet you think you can so simply hurt me. I have the power of a thousand worlds in the palm of my hand." Robotnik pulls the void emerald from his pocket and holds it out.

Time seems to slow down as Shadow leaps forward to grab the emerald. Sonic starts his run up to keep Robotnik distracted as Shadow's hands close round the emerald, pulling it from Robotnik's grip. The black hedgehog rolls away across the ground, emerald tucked against his chest.

Robotnik roars as Sonic flies up into the air and spin-dashes into him. Robotnik falls backwards into the dust, not moving but still alive. He skids over to Shadow's side, pulling Robotnik closer to keep an eye on him while checking Shadow.

This doesn't go unnoticed as thousands of robots fly out now open portholes in the side of the ship and surround Sonic and Shadow.

Sonic tries his hardest to defend Shadow who lays on the dust, jerking with his eyes rolled back in his head. The Void Emerald in his hand seems to be growing a red streak inside. The first twenty robots Sonic spin dashes into pieces and he uses a Chaos blast to blow up about one hundred robot's further back but they keep coming.

A laser beam hits him in the chest and he drops to his knees with a groan. He doesn't see Shadow get to his feet and nor does he see the darkness in his friend's eyes but he hears the explosions and ripping apart of metal as Shadow uses the Void Emerald to destroy the robots before them and Robotnik's ship which separates into panels of metal.

Sonic turns and has to look up as Shadow is floating at least a metre off the ground, red eyes turned black and the Void emerald in his hand.

"This power does not belong to one man." The worlds come out of Shadow's mouth and are in his voice but they do not belong to him. "The means to destroy do not rest on the shoulders of one. This was never a war; this was the beginning of events that would have unfurled without help." Shadow's eyes open and they are pure black. "This emerald is not power; the power is created by the darkness within."

Robotnik's ship explodes behind them into pieces no bigger than the hedgehogs themselves as Shadow drops to the ground.

"Shadow?" Sonic is on his knees by the other hedgehog almost instantly. "Shadow?" He shakes Shadow's shoulders but gets no response. Shadow's eyes are wide open, the colour returning to them as the Void emerald drops out of his hands and lies discarded on ground.

Sonic puts his hand over Shadow's heart but can't feel anything. Shadow isn't even breathing.

"Oh come on. Don't do this to me, Shadow. You can't die on me now. We still have to have a rematch, remember?" Sonic begs, gripping Shadow's shoulders so tightly that it hurts his hands. "Please." He adds as a broken whisper.

Nothing happens but instead of crying, Sonic channels his emotions into rage. He gets to his feet and picks up the Void Emerald, turning it over in his hands.

Dark energy courses through his veins at the very touch of it, swirls of blue appearing among the black in the emerald. The blue twists with the strings of red before separating, forcing their way out of the emerald and shattering it into pieces.

The shards hit the surface and lay still, dust spiralling around them like mini tornados. Sonic stares at the remains of the Void emerald, hands shaking with the energy still inside him.

He just destroyed the emerald. The positive energy inside of him and inside of Shadow broke the emerald apart. They won.

"My emerald!" Robotnik calls out in anguish, voice croaky and one hand stretched out to reach the shards. Sonic kicks them away, out of Robotnik's reach, although he picks up on, storing it in his quills as a 'souvenir'.

"The emerald is the least of your concern right now." Sonic advances towards the man, hands balled into fists. "You have destroyed two planets and wiped out three other civilisations when they refused to agree with you. There may be no justice for what you've done but I guarantee I won't forgive you for this." He threatens, towering over Robotnik who tries to shuffle back on his knees and elbows, unable to meet Sonic's gaze.

A loud burst of spluttering and coughing grabs Sonic's attention suddenly and he turns, intimidation lost in surprise as Shadow claws at the ground, eyes still closed but breathing.

"Shadow!" Sonic skids over, level with his friend as he supports him to hold him upright. "Take it easy. Just breathe."

"Oh right. Because I'm totally not going to breathe." Shadow rolls his eyes, punctuating his sentences with coughs.

Sonic starts to laugh, mostly with shock, holding onto Shadow's shoulders again. "I thought you were dead."

"Oh, I was." Shadow answers and Sonic's laughter stops abruptly. "I was until some idiot broke the Void emerald and brought me back to life."

"Okay. That makes no sense, Shadow." Sonic frowns, confused. Shadow reaches up and removes Sonic's hands from his shoulders.

"It absorbed all my humanity and my life too because of the raw energy I used." Shadow explains before stopping. "You didn't kiss me did you?"

"Ew! What? No!" Sonic leaps back a little, surprised at the question. He sits on the ground, hands behind his back and knees brought up to his chest.

"Good. Now, can we get off this asteroid?" Shadow asks and Sonic nods.

"Good plan."


Thanks for reading, everyone! You're all awesome.

Reviews, follows and favourites are awesome too and just make me love you guys even more.

Libs ~MusicLoveandMagic~