Chapter 8: Fight to be Yourself

In the warehouse, everyone try their best to fight Eclipse and his Dark Arms, but it's proven to be a bigger challenge than they thought. The rivals from both sides are getting tired out, but the group of friends are about to past out.

"This is getting us nowhere, we need to stop him," Pinkie says.

"But how? He's too strong, and I can barely hold my diamonds for very long," Rarity says.

Twilight is able to get her force field up, but continues to struggle, and says, "I don't think I can hold this up for much longer. How are Amy and Rouge?"

"Not good, they are gravely injured. Eclipse really hurt them," Rarity says.

Pinkie sighs, "What else can happen."

Suddenly, a blast hits the forcefield and lead a crack on it.

"I wish you hadn't said that," Twilight says.

The sonic waves continue to be hitting the forcefield and continues to leave cracks on to it. Eclipse is using one of the Dark Arms' power like a loudspeaker.

"If you meeblings humans think you can defeat me, then think again," Eclipse says.

Eclipse continues to fire his soundwaves at the crew and is going to shatter Twilight's force field. Both of the Shadows and their friends manage to sneak inside. They manage to look at what is happening from their hiding place.

"Alright, Eclipse has the gang pinned down, and we need to stop them before This gets out of hand," Sonic says.

"I don't think it was in hand to begin with. We need to distract Eclipse and his Dark Arms long enough to get the others out of the building and find Sunset," Shadow says.

"How are going to do that without him trying blast us?" Knuckles asks.

Rainbow looks around and asks, "Um, are you our Shadow or the one from Mobius?"

"I'm the one from Mobius. Why?" Mobius Shadow asks.

"Then where did our Shadow go?" Rainbow replies.

Everyone look around to see the Shadow from Canterlot is gone.

"Where did the sugarcube gone off to?" Applejack asks.

Everyone look around to find Shadow, but is nowhere to be found. Rainbow looks and gaps.

"Um guys, I think I know where he is," Rainbow says, pointing ahead.

The others turn their heads to see Shadow sneaking behind some of the boxes close to Eclipse.

"What is he think he's doing?" Applejack asks.

"He's either going to attack Eclipse from behind or try to get Sunset from wherever she is," Rainbow says.

"He's just as stubborn as our Shadow," Sonic mutters.

Shadow continues to sneak behind the boxes and looks to see the stairs. Shadow begins to think on a plan to stop this.

"I need to find a way to get Eclipse to let his guard down, and get the others time to escape. I also need to find Sunset before Eclipse use her for this experiment," Shadow says.

"Excuse me, Mr. shadow," A calm voice says.

Shadow turns his head to see Cream and Cheese.

"Um hey, you're uh Cream right?" Shadow asks.

"Yes. I wanted to tell you that I found Sunset and she's safe now. She's alright, but a little tired," Cream says.

Shadow says, "Thanks. Now all we need to do is deal with the alien and his little friends."

Suddenly, something hits the crate sending the three back and fall to the ground. Shadow rubs his head and look to see Cream and Cheese on the ground, but are still awake.

"Are you alright?" Shadow asks.

"I think so," Cream says.

"I knew keeping you under control isn't going to last long," A voice speaks.

The three turn to see Eclipse with one of the Dark arms that is in a form of a blue laser hand.

Shadow stands up, "Alright Eclipse, I just about had it with you giving us problems. I'm going to end this. Unless you want to make this easy and give up now."

"And save us for your counterpart and his minions. You can see that I'm not inclined to help," Eclipse says.

"Well, it looks like I'll help you back off," Shadow says.

Shadow spin dashes and hits the alien at the face and makes him falls down. Then Shadow lands on the ground.

"I know I can't use my Chaos Control with you around, but that doesn't mean I can't use my other attacks," Shadow says.

Pinkie mutters to the girls, "That's smart."

Shadow then begins to spin attack and hit Eclipse again. Eclipse looks around to see the Dark Arms are very tired and don't have a lot of energy, so he has to do this himself. When Shadow spin dashes to Eclipse, the alien counter attack and kicks him like a ball. Shadow then stops spinning and decides to fight with fists. Shadow and Eclipse soon begin to fight each other with brute force.

Walking to the area, Sunset is feeling a bit better and is able to walk on her feet. Fluttershy decides to help her out. The others look to see Sunset and Fluttershy.

Pinkie happily says, "Sunset!"

"You're okay," Twilight says.

"Yes, but she's still feeling a little tired," Fluttershy says.

Rainbow, Applejack, Cream, Cheese, Sonic, Mobius Shadow and the others head toward to where Sunset and Fluttershy are who join with Twilight and the others.

"How you feeling, Sunset?" Sonic asks.

"Feeling a bit tired. I'm just glad to be out of that tube," Sunset says.

Tails turns to the battle to see Shadow and Eclipse are still going at it with fists and kicks. Everyone are stunned to see what is happening.

"Should we do something?" Tails asks.

"Yeah. We can't let our Shadow beat Eclipse by himself," Rainbow says.

Mobius Shadow says, "Actually, I think I have no choice."

"Huh?" Everyone reply looking confused.

"Like I said before, the Shadow here is going to have to fight his own battles. As much as I want to destroy Eclipse, in this world, is ultimately this Shadow's battle and his alone," Mobius Shadow says.

The Mobians are stunned to hear this.

"Wow Shadow, that's something we never expect to hear. You backing down from a battle to give someone else a chance to fight," Sonic replies.

"I know it sounds hard to believe, but it's true. The Shadow that's been living here has to fight his own battles. We'll see what he should do whether he defeats Eclipse or not," Mobius Shadow says.

Sunset speaks up, "He's right. Besides, I know Shadow can do this. Maybe this can show us who Shadow wants to be and how he wants this to be done."

"If you say so," Applejack says.

"Let's just watch and see what happens," Knuckles says.

Everyone decide to stay behind Twilight's force field and watch what might happen. Truth be told, Sunset is still worried about Shadow, especially after what Eclipse has done to him and her. She wonders what Shadow plans to do if he defeats Eclipse.

Shadow continues to fight Eclipse. Shadow shows punches and kicks at every chance he gets. Eclipse always counter attack him. They both land on the ground and take deep breath from the fight.

Shadow gets up, "You give up."

"Not ever close, Shadow," Eclipse says.

He then focus his energy, "I am going to finish you and your friends once and for all!"

Just then Eclipse grows big and his body changes to a stronger shape. The girls gasp in shock to see Eclipse has taken a brand new form. To Shadow and Rouge, it's very familiar.

"What is that?" Rainbow asks.

"It's Eclipse's other form. He nearly tear Omega and Shadow apart with that form. You don't need to worry because Eclipse can't hold that form for too tong," Rouge says.

"Yeah, but how long it will take before Eclipse tries to turn Shadow into a pancake?" Pinkie asks.

"That I don't know," Rouge says.

"Looks like we'll just have to wait until that form can wear off," Twilight says.

Everyone continue to watch as they see Shadow is standing face to face with Eclipse who is now in his new form. Shadow isn't afraid and decide to spin dash first. Eclipse manages to punch him, and sends him back. Shadow manages to land on his feet and jumps in the air, and gives him a kick to the face. However, Eclipse counter attack by smacking Shadow into a few crate boxes.

"Shadow! Sunset screams.

Shadow manages to get out of the box and now seems to have a glowing red gem in his hand.

"What is that?" Fluttershy asks.

"It looks like one of those Chaos Emeralds you guys have," Rarity says.

"Well it looks like the tables are turned into his favor," Rouge says.

"Why you say that?" Sunset asks.

"The Chaos Emerald will help Shadow give him extra power," Sonic says.

Shadow looks at the emerald and remembers what the other Shadow and the Mobians say about it. About it can increase his chaos energy.

"Let's see if this works," Shadow says.

Then shouts, "Chaos Control!"

The energy from the Chaos Emerald manages to stop Eclipse in his tracks. Shadow manages to throw multiple punches at him. Shadow clutches the gem and his other fist. His fist then begins to admit a strange flame aura.

Then Shadow shouts, "Chaos blast!"

He punches Eclipse so hard that he crashes into a large pile of old crates. Many of the boxes and materials end up hitting the old metal beams and skeletons of the warehouse. Some of them begin to break apart. Shadow steps forward to see the skin Eclipse has is split open and he looks like he is going to past out. Shadow wonders what he should do now.

Suddenly, one of the skeleton has broken off, and many of the platforms of the roof begins to break off. Everyone gasp in shock and became frightened.

"What's going on?!" Amy asks.

"The battle mast have caused the support beams to break off! The building is going to fall apart," Tails says.

"We might not make it out in time," Knuckles says.

Twilight turns to Rarity, "Rarity we need create a powerful forcefield."

"Right," Rarity says.

Then Twilight says, "We need you all inside the force field."

"Shadow! You need to hurry! The building is falling apart!" Rainbow says.

Shadow nods his head and about to leave, but then hears strange sad noises. He turns his head to see the Dark Arms weak and tired, and tries to reach Eclipse who is still down from the fight. Shadow may not remember while being controlled, but somehow… remembers how much the Dark Arms means to Eclipse and how much they mean to him. This make Shadow remember how much Maira and Sunset means to him and vise versa. Shadow remembers what Sunset says about him being himself.

Shadow says, "I know what I need to do."

Shadow hurries, and grabs the four Dark Arms and runs to the shield. Twilight opens the shield and let him in. Then Shadow places them down. Then he hurries out.

"What in the hay Shadow is doing?" Applejack asks.

Sunset answers, "I think Shadow is doing what he thinks is right."

Shadow hurries to the crate and looks to see Eclipse is paralyzed from the attack, and can barely keep his eyes open. Shadow grabs Eclipse by the arm, and carries him to the shield. Once he's inside, Twilight and Rarity create a protective shield around everyone.

Shadow uses the emeralds, and shouts, "Chaos Shield!"

That creates another force field over the other two. Just then, the building comes crumbling down to the ground with everyone trapped inside. When the building falls over, debris and smoke spread all over the place. When the smoke clears, the building has crashed to the ground. In the middle of the fallen building is the force field that is still standing and everyone is trapped inside.

"That was too close," Sonic says.

Eclipse manages to open his eyes a little and look around to see the building has fallen. What's more he's in a protective shield with the Dark Arms, and Shadow is still holding on to him.

Confused and tired, Eclipse asks, "You saved us? But… why?"

"Just think it's the right thing to do. Maybe the other Shadow think I'm crazy, but I'm not like you or him. I just did what I think it's right, even if it means saving you and your siblings," Shadow says.

Eclipse is rather surprised about it, but decides to simply let it go. The little Dark Arms surround the two and show smiles on their faces.

After leaving the building and gathering the emeralds from the fallen buildings, it's time for the Mobians to head back home. They manage to get rid of the plants that have grow around down, so the energy from the planet won't be drained. Of course, Mobius Shadow and Rouge has Eclipse and the Dark Arms placed in a cage so they won't cause any trouble.

"I guess it's time for all of us to go," Amy says.

"It's too bad, I wish you can stay a little longer. I like to know where you got your outfits," Rarity says.

"I'm sure we'll see you all again someday," Amy says.

Shadow walks over to Rouge and the other Shadow, "You'll look after him, won't you?"

"Of course we will. Of course, Shadow and I find it skeptic that you actually want Eclipse and Shadow to live after what he did," Rouge says.

Mobius Shadow asks, "Are you sure you want us to do this for them?"

"Yes. I kind of learn there are some that deserve a second chance. It might be hard, but maybe you all can get through to him. I have a feeling he'll be making a few apologies. Even though, there are some damages that are hard to heal for both sides," Shadow says.

Mobis Shadow says, "No promises, but we'll try."

"I know what we only been friends for a short amount of time, but we're all going to miss you so much," Sunset says.

Knuckles then activates the chaos emeralds, and says, "Time for us to go."

Shadow and the Mane Seven step back.

"I guess this is goodbye," Twilight says.

Everyone wave and say goodbye.

"Thanks for everything," Sonic says.

In a flash of light, everyone from Mobius are gone. Everything is back to normal.

Sunset hugs Shadow, "Shadow, I'm so proud of you. You not only defeat Eclipse, but also saved us and them as well."

"Sunset, do you think Eclipse will change? I know it took you awhile to change, but I wonder if he will?" Shadow asks.

"Maybe so. From what I can tell. You kind of manage to get through to him. Maybe someday we'll be able to see them again, and maybe Eclipse will come back in better terms. You just have to wait and see," Sunset says.

Shadow nods his head and gives Sunset a hug. Sunset gives him a hug back. After the embrace, Sunset and Shadow follow their friends back to Canterlot City to have a relaxing day. Shadow manages to learn so much about friendship and most of all, he learns more about himself and to be himself, no matter what happens.