Chapter 9: A Side Effect

Shadow was on guard the moment they set foot in the mountains. An ambush could happen at any moment in the mountains. With the ring in their possession, and monsters waking up all over the place, Shadow didn't think it was too paranoid of him.

They walked up the pass, knowing that it was very dangerous here. A few minutes later, the wind picked up and snow started to fall. Suddenly a massive storm started as thunder and lightning filled the air. The mix wasn't something Shadow enjoyed. He looked at Sonic, unsure of what to think.

"You know what's causing this?" Shadow asked, despite not directing the question at Sonic. "That can't be a normal weather mix."

Sonic shook his head and looked at Gandalf for an answer.

Gandalf was looking into the raging storm. A frown had come to his face at the sight. "No. This isn't normal," he said. "It's Sauron."

As they walked, a flash of lightning struck the side of the mountain, bringing down some snow.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Legolas yelled.

The group moved away from the mountainside, far enough so the snow didn't fall on their heads. Shadow looked up at the sky, half expecting a blot of lightning to aim right at them. The storm continued, and a massive blizzard started. They fellowship had to cover their faces as they walked so not to get blinded by snow. A few minutes later, they heard a noise and looked behind them to see Orcs coming after them.

Shadow was unimpressed. With the storm, he was sure it would be hard to kill them. Aragorn drew his sword as they kept moving. With any luck, the storm would keep the Orcs a safe distance away. The Orcs continued to follow them but were then stopped by the storm. Gandalf, Sonic and the others hurried along the path but stopped at once as another bolt of lightning hit the rock above them, smashing down upon the road and blocking their path.

Sonic heard a noise and looked behind him. "Orcs!" He shouted. "They're coming out of the mountain!"

The group looked behind them. Aragorn and Legolas prepared for the Orcs as they advanced. Everyone drew their swords and waited. A few seconds later, Orcs ran down the cliff, attacking. Before long, Gandalf and the others were surrounded. They attacked the Orcs, slaying a few. The others had armor on and were hard to kill. Shadow tried to find a weak point in the defenses they could exploit.

He summoned a Chaos Spear and threw it at the armor, aiming to take it off. Sonic was doing homing attacks, trying to do the same thing. The attacks wore through the armor, and soon they had naked Orcs to deal with. After that, the Orcs were dead much sooner than expected. Aragorn put his sword away, as did Legolas. Sonic and Shadow sighed and looked at each other.

"We must continue on," Gandalf said. "But this path is blocked so we must find another way."

Shadow didn't like where this was going. "Is there another way around the mountain?" he asked.

Gandalf thought about it. "We could go through the Mines; that would lead us nearer to Mount Gundabad."

Aragorn and Legolas looked at him.

"Are you sure about that? Is there no other way?" Sonic asked him.

"That is the fastest way," Gandalf said.

Sonic sighed and nodded. "Very well," he said. "Let us go through the Mines of Moria."

It took them a while to reach the entrance to the mines. When they did, they were forced to take a break due to the door being shut tight. Meanwhile, Shadow was beginning to feel ill. His shoulder throbbed in pain as he stumbled. Sonic looked at him in concern.

"Are you okay, Shads?"

"Don't feel so good," Shadow said. He sat on the ground, panting. Looking at his shoulder didn't help matters. The pain only seemed to intensify. "I thought he healed this."

Sonic kneeled beside him. "Elrond did say there's going to be a side effect. Maybe it's kicking in now?"

Sweat beaded on Shadow's face as he clutched his shoulder. "A side effect to make me sick?" he asked. Everything started to faze in and out of focus as he felt light-headed. The pain was unbearable.

Suddenly, he started to feel faint and fell to the ground as a black light surrounded him, and he felt himself transform. When the light faded, a Ringwraith stood in Shadow's place. Everyone, including Sonic, gasped and backed away. Shadow looked at his hands before turning his gaze to Sonic. The ring dangling around Sonic's neck didn't seem to have any pull on him at all. He tried to speak then.

"What happened?"

"S...Shadow? Is that you?" Sonic asked fearfully, looking at the Nazgul before him. He already was beginning to feel the ring calling to him.

"Yes," he said. He took a step toward Sonic.

Sonic's eyes widened in fear as he grasped the ring around his neck, struggling to put in on. "Shadow...y...you've...turned into a Ringwraith!"

Shadow looked down at the rest of his body. He supposed he was lucky the others hadn't attacked him yet. The new body felt weird as well. No way he could do anything like this. Shadow looked back up at Sonic. Sonic continued to struggle with the ring, and then finally put it on his finger. When he did, he vanished, but could see Shadow in his Ringwraith form more clearly; it was as if Shadow was a ghost. Shadow suddenly felt the ring calling to him as well.

Shadow's gaze focused on the ring around Sonic's finger. A voice was calling to him, commanding him to take the ring from Sonic. Shadow stepped forward, approaching Sonic. The ringbearer's eyes widened and he stepped back as the Ringwraith approached him. The others may not have been able to see Sonic, but they could still see the Ringwraith that used to be Shadow. Aragorn drew his sword with the intent to stop him.

Sonic stumbled backwards as Shadow came closer, bearing down on him as a sword materialized in his hand. Sonic pulled the ring off his finer, reappearing in front of everyone, gasping for breath.

"Shadow..." He said.

Shadow paused when he heard Sonic's voice, sword raised in the air. Every fiber of this form wanted him to plunge the sword into Sonic's body. Sonic didn't want him to. Understandable, but it still gave him incentive to pause. Shadow looked down at the other before moving his arm. He lowered the sword, looking around at everyone. Fear was in their faces, and Aragorn's sword was drawn as well.

Shadow knew he had to change back. If he didn't, he would hurt Sonic. After saying he'd protect him, he couldn't let that happen. But the commands from the ring was something he was having difficulty ignoring. Instead of staying around, Shadow turned and hurried away. Who cares how he looked then?

The Ringwraith screeched and ran away. Sonic gasped and jumped up, running after him. "Shadow, wait! SHADOW!"

Shadow ignored Sonic's shouts. He should've known Sonic would go after him. At this speed, Sonic was bound to catch him.

Sonic ran after Shadow and eventually caught up to him. "Shadow, please don't leave. We need you...I need you."

Shadow looked at Sonic. "I don't want to hurt you," he said. He had no idea if Sonic could understand him or not.

"I know you don't," Sonic said. "Can you change back? Please?"

Shadow shook his head. "I don't know how."

Sonic frowned and sighed, wondering how that would be possible. Shadow absently stroked Sonic's arm as he thought. If he could keep control of himself, he could return.

"Maybe Gandalf knows something," he said.

"Let's go see him, then," Sonic said.

The Ringwraith nodded, and went back. Everyone looked at him suspiciously as Shadow walked up to Gandalf.

"I need a way to change back," he said.

Gandalf nodded and thought about it, stroking his beard.

"There may be something at Dol Guldur. We need to pass through these mines first."

Shadow nodded. He was good at resisting things. And he could count on the others to do something if he lost control.

Sonic looked at the Ringwraith, "Try not to lose control, please."

Shadow nodded. He sighed and followed the fellowship into the Mines of Moria, wondering what dangers lay ahead.