"Shadow…" a wicked, dark, feminine voice spoke to him.
He stirred. Surprisingly, he couldn't feel anything. It was like he was…numb--even after all that pain that had ensued only moments before.
"Shadow…get up…" that same voice hissed.
Once again, he stirred. Hesitantly, he opened his amber eyes, only to see a tall woman draped in dark violet and ebony garments stand towering above him. Despite her haunting aura, she was beautiful. Her face was smooth, her deep blue eyes lovely; everything about her was divine. She had straight ebony hair that seemed to outline her face, even though it ended well beneath her shoulders. Shadow couldn't deny it. She was beautiful, but in a dark way.
"They say you are the Ultimate Life form…" she spat. "If you are so, then you should know to obey your superiors."
Superiors?! What was this stranger talking about?! He got up—which surprised himself, since he felt weak—and stood firmly, with his crimson eyes set on hers.
"Who says that you are my superior?" he retorted.
The woman seemed amused by his question. "Do you not know where you are?" she asked, as if mocking him. When he gave no response, she stretched out an arm, pointing to the world around him.
Shadow, for the first time, took notice of his surroundings. Words cannot describe what he saw. It was a horrible, heart-wrenching, soul-sucking sight that even the bravest of souls would tremble at. Only one word came to his mind of where he was—and he dared not say it.
The woman chuckled, as if reading his thoughts. "At least you are taking it better than the others who have arrived here…"
But at that moment, not being able to bear the sight any longer, Shadow turned to his right, and for the first time in his life, vomited.
The woman didn't seem phased by the action. She merely watched until his body shook from not being able to bring up anything more.
When he was done, he turned to look at her, his arms still wrapped around his stomach, and still slightly shaking.
"Get used to doing that, Shadow…" she said flatly. "It won't be the last."
The ebony hedgehog refused to show any emotion, but he was terrified. What could be worse than what he saw already?
Everything he had heard about this place was terribly wrong. The real deal was worse—WAY worse. I dare not say what poor Shadow saw, dear reader, but let me tell you this:
It is a sight reserved for the wicked.
"Water…" Shadow whispered, the heat beginning to get to him. "Is there any water…?"
The woman shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not…that's another thing you're going to have to get used to. But even if there was, I'm not sure your body could keep the liquid down. There are much worse things to see."
This time, Shadow couldn't contain his emotions. He fell down to his knees. "NO!" he cried, hot tears falling down his cheeks for the first time in a long time. They seemed to burn the very fur they touched, and evaporated before they even left his jawbone. "This can't be happening! I can't be here! I can't!"
The woman glared at him sternly. Okay…so he wasn't taking this as well as she thought. "You are, Shadow. Accept it. There's no way you can change it. You were ignorant enough to not renew your life—and now you will pay the consequences."
"NO!" Shadow felt desperate. "Please!" He let his clenched fist bang against the scorching ground beneath him, ignoring the burns his hand received from the contact. "I wanted to wake up! Dang it—I WANTED TO WAKE UP! I DIDN'T WANT THIS! I WANTED TO CHANGE!"
"…Shadow?"
Shadow gasped, hardly believing what his ears heard. No…she couldn't be here, too…
"Maria…" the black and red hedgehog turned his head to see his old friend there. What he saw tore his heart into pieces.
She was completely battered and burned—in horrible condition. Her blonde hair was matted and uncombed—nothing like the beautiful silkiness it contained when she was alive. Her clothes were tattered and burnt at some edges as well—in fact, her whole left sleeve was burnt off. And yet, despite the marks this horrid place had left on her, she still looked beautiful.
She smiled weakly, as if it pained her to tug her lips upward. "Shadow…it's wonderful to see you again…"
"Young girl—get back to your place! Why have you left your punishment?" the tall woman barked.
Maria's eyes turned to her, the beautiful oceanic blue filling with fear. "I…I was told to come here…they said I was needed for something…"
Her voice was honest—like Shadow had known it to be. But the woman's eyes widened at her words, and she at once turned to the ebony hedgehog at her feet. "You have found favor in His eyes…" she spat at him.
"Wh-what…?" Shadow whispered, confused. What was going on?
Maria's blue eyes showed a small ray of hope. "So they were right…He is what they say He is…"
The woman turned to Maria. "Shut up!" she yelled, her voice roaring loudly.
Maria shrunk back in fear, her eyes clouding over again into a dull blue.
"What…? Who's 'He'?" Shadow asked, his voice sounding hoarse.
The woman then turned to Shadow, the same rotten hatred in her eyes. "Interesting that you should ask…" she said evenly, but her voice was firm and filled with distaste. "After all, you have met His son."
Shadow's mind filled with memories. "The boy…" he whispered.
"Yes…" she hissed, almost growling. "That would be him."
"Oh, Shadow…" Maria whispered, her voice trembling. Shadow turned to face his childhood friend. It looked like she was crying, but no tears fell. However, there was no mistaking the happiness in her voice. "You have been blessed so much…"
As Shadow stood up, he saw the woman beginning to shake with rage. "I hate Him…" she kept muttering over and over.
"Maria…what is she talking about? What's going on?" the Ultimate life form turned to his friend.
Maria opened her mouth to reply, but the woman cut in, shrieking with rage, "GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!"
Shadow at once turned around, and both he and Maria stared at the woman fearfully, as she continued her blood-curling cries. After she was done ranting, she leaned down, chest heaving with each hot breath. Her deep blue eyes were filled with a hate Shadow thought didn't exist. "I never…EVER…want to see your face again, you Beloved! NEVER! NOW GET OUT!"
Shadow took a step back in fear, not knowing what to do. Luckily, Maria did. She took a hold of his wrist in a gentle but firm grasp, and began to run away.
"Come, Shadow!" she said. "I will explain what's happening later—just keep running!"
Shadow didn't nod or anything, but he complied. His mind was elsewhere, like what did that woman mean when she called him 'Beloved'? Who was the little boy's father—and why does that woman hate him so much? The rage that had radiated from her…it was immense! Shadow couldn't believe the way her voice had sounded when she told them to get out. It…it was…he couldn't describe it!
And to tell the truth, Shadow never wanted to see that woman again, either…
………………………………..
"Amy! Amy, we're here!" Cream yelled, bounding into the living room.
"Chao, chao!" Cheese cried, following his friend.
Sonic followed them. "Are you sure they're here, Cream?" he asked.
The rabbit nodded. "Amy said they'd be here…she called me and told me."
"Then why isn't anyone—"
"Cream? Is that you?" a voice asked, and rushed footsteps became louder as a pink hedgehog came running into the room. "Oh, Cream! You won't believe what happened!" With that, she grabbed the young rabbit, pulling her into her arms and sobbing, not even noticing her blue hero.
Sonic stayed silent, not minding that he wasn't noticed.
"Why? What happened, Amy?" Cream asked kindly.
"Chao, chao…" Cheese flew right beside them.
"Oh, Cream…" Amy's shoulders shook violently as she sobbed uncontrollably. "It's Shadow…he's…he's…"
Sonic paled. No…
Cream seemed to get the same message. Her baby blue eyes began to water. "He's…dead?"
Amy nodded, still sobbing. "Oh, Cream…Tikal's such a mess right now…everything's ruined…"
Cream began to cry as well. She tried to stay strong for her friend, but the news was too much for the 6-year-old. To her, Shadow was someone who just needed a friend. And he got that with them—all of them. He seemed so much happier when everyone was around. But now, he was gone…
Sonic couldn't believe it. The great Shadow the Hedgehog…dead… It didn't seem like it could be true. That ebony hedgehog was the Ultimate life form—or so he claimed—and it seemed like nothing could even keep him pinned for more than 5 seconds. But death had finally claimed his soul…
He was a great guy… he thought sadly. His mind recalled their fights, their name-callings…
He closed his eyes.
And it was at that time, Amy looked up. She gasped. "Sonic…?"
His eyes reopened as he looked up. A sad smirk crossed his face. "Yeah…it's me, Ames…"
"Oh, Sonic!" With that, she got up and raced over to him, embracing the blue hedgehog in her arms. "I knew you could do it! I knew you weren't gone completely! Oh Cream…thank you so much!"
Cream smiled sorrowfully. "You're welcome, Amy."
Sonic let out a sad chuckle. "Amy…I don't think now's the time to celebrate…"
The pink hedgehog sighed. "Yeah…I guess you're right…" She loosened her hold, sniffing a couple of times.
"Well, come on…" she said finally. "I'll show him to you…"
……………………………..
"We just came here to talk!" Tails exclaimed desperately.
Metal Sonic let a resonating dark laugh come from him. "Just to talk…? What kind of fools are you? I will never listen to mortals who are weaker than me…"
Knuckles gritted his teeth, tensing up. "We are not weaker! We can defeat you!"
There seemed to be a certain gleam in Metal Sonic's eye as the echidna said that. It was almost…pleased? "Then show me."
"No!" Tails' eyes widened. "No! It's a trap! Don't do it!"
"Uh…I agree with the kid!" Vector piped up. "I'm not gettin' good vibes…"
"Ya whimps!" Charmy mocked. "Fight 'im!"
Another dark chuckle from Metal Sonic. "Your bee friend speaks wisely. You are merely cowards unless you pit your strengths against mine."
Rouge narrowed her eyes. "No. Fox-boy is right. You're up to something, Metal. It's as plain as day."
Espio then squinted his eyes, as if synchronizing the enemy, before finally standing to full height. "The others are right."
"What?!" Knuckles then stood up as well, confused. What were they talking about…?
A long silence ensued as Metal scowled. "Fine…if you do not wish to combat, then we will talk."
He then turned and sat down in the chair he had been sitting in only moments earlier, resting his hands on the arm rests, and looking regal. The robot held himself with some sort of cruel dignity.
"But I must comment, this is an unexpected visit. I have not known you all for just coming to chat with your nemesises…" Metal Sonic spoke, regaining his upper hand.
"You mean nemesies?" Charmy asked.
Metal's head snapped towards the flying bee. "What?"
"Isn't that how nemesis is used in plural form?" Charmy replied.
"No…it's nemesises," Metal Sonic corrected.
"You sure?" Charmy inquired. "It's not nemesies?"
"No."
"Nemisi?"
"NO!" Metal Sonic shouted. He raised his arm, a small plasma cannon coming from it, and aimed it at Charmy. "Just shut up, you insolent insect!"
"Wow…what a tongue-twister…I should try saying that five times fast!" Charmy grinned, then begun to do it. "Insolentinsectinsolentinsectinsolentinsectinsolack—"
"SHUT UP!" With that, Metal Sonic fired his gun at Charmy, who quickly flew out of the way with a quick, 'Yikes!'
"Hey! What happened to the talking?" Vector quickly demanded. He didn't like it when one of his teammates was threatened…even if they were annoying.
"Things change…" Metal Sonic turned, aiming his cannon at the others. "Hurry with your questions. Or else."
The group quickly exchanged nervous glances. Then, they pushed young Tails forward. The fox stumbled to the front, looking up with nervous baby blue eyes. Metal Sonic only glared back with cold red eyes. Tails cleared his throat. Better get this done with fast…
"What exactly did you poison Shadow with?"
Metal Sonic gave the best smirk he managed. "A chemical I created to do what the old Doctor couldn't do—kill Sonic the Hedgehog."
"So…you mean to say, that you were originally planning to get Sonic poisoned," Tails reasoned.
"Yes, you stupid twerp. It's what I was created for. Now continue or else I will blow up your friends," Metal urged, aiming the cannon dangerously at the people behind the fox.
Tails took a deep breath, calming himself and keeping his cool—a technique he had learned from Sonic. The hedgehog had said it would help him to appear confident, so then his adversary would see he wasn't just a kid--he was a hero. And hero's mean business. "So…that means you were also planning that Shadow be the one to become insane."
"Yes. But things got switched around, as you can guess," the robot replied.
"I see…" Tails nodded thoughtfully. "I have but a few more questions."
Metal Sonic made a growling sound. "Out with it."
Tails didn't need to be told twice. "Being the highly intelligent 'bot you are…you knew that it would be unwise to not have a cure for the poison, correct? In case the worst of the worst happened."
The adversary smirked. "The worst of the worst could never happen. I am a robot, the poison would have no affect on me."
"But you still had to have made a cure," Tails pressed.
"Correct. I did make a cure…" Metal grinned. "But the funny thing is, dear fox: the only way for the cure to work…"
Everyone seemed to lean in a little bit as the robot's voice drifted off. Tension-filled silence covered them as they all held their breaths to hear what their enemy had to say.
"…is for the victim to be dead."