A/N: Hey, guys! This is the last chapter of Flip Side. Hooray!

So, so, SO sorry for the mix up with chapter 10. I've done that once before...and I feel so embarrassed! X(

In any case, please enjoy the last chapter!

Sonic strode casually into Eggmanland's main tower, with Tails and Shadow trailing him. He had spotted Tikal and Knuckles coming in for a landing shortly after they arrived in the dark city, so he walked into the massive tower without hesitation.

"Honey, we're home!" he sang in a cocky voice, racing over to punch the elevator button so he could head to the top floor, where Eggman was likely at. Meanwhile, Tails supported Shadow on his shoulder. The black hedgehog was finding it difficult to move, and, much to his horror, the goopy-like substance had begun eating away at his shoulder and was spreading to his breast and neck.

"You OK, Shadow?" Tails asked. Shadow wordlessly nodded and looked up to gaze at Sonic.

As the blue hedgehog was waiting for the elevator, he saw a shadow run across the room from the corner of his eyes. Alarmed, he spun around in the direction of the shadow and saw that it was in fact Eggman.

"Hey, Egghead," Sonic joked. Tails and Shadow stepped out of the way as Tikal and Knuckles entered the door behind them.

Eggman had a wide smile planted on his face when he saw 3 emeralds in Sonic's arms. "Excellent…and I presume 4 more are with Knuckles and Tikal…?"

"Yeah," Knuckles said, grabbing the genius' attention. Each echidna held two emeralds in their arms.

"Excellent…"

Tails frowned whenever he saw Eggman's expression. "Hey…what's going on, Eggman? What's with the face?"

The doctor suddenly burst out into an evil cackle before 8 robots rushed in and grabbed everyone else in the room, causing them to drop their emeralds.

"Idiots!" Eggman spat. "You honestly think I want to heal Shadow of this disease?! I was able to control Chaos, and I'll be able to control Shadow as well! You fools think you can stop me?"

Sonic growled as he squirmed under the robot's grip. "You're wrong! You couldn't control Chaos, he turned on you at the end!"

Eggman snickered. "Oh, did he?" he asked, and, as if on cue, two robots came out from the shadows and dumped the tied up figures of Chaos and Espio on the floor. Espio grunted and squinted up at all his friends.

"Shadow…" he breathed weakly. "Listen…you don't…" but before he could finish the sentence, the chameleon passed out.

"What? Don't what?!" Shadow demanded desperately. "Who's with you? Sonic, do you know him?"

Sonic was about to shake his head when Tikal gasped. "Ch-Chaos?!" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

The white and blue hedgehog lifted his head weakly and smiled. "Tikal!" he said in a relieved tone. "Thank goodness I found you! I wasn't able to tell you how to reverse the process before you left…"

"You mean mine?" Shadow said. "You know how? Were…were you the Chaos creature?"

"Enough!" Eggman pressed a button on a remote control which ordered the robots to squeeze tighter on the heroes. The fat scientist bent down to pick up the fallen emeralds. "Look, all I have to do is keep you little fools here until Shadow fully transforms! And when that happens, all I have to do is feed him the Chaos Emeralds and I'll create another Perfect Chaos!"

"…no…"

Shadow lowered his head and shut his eyes tightly. He had to focus! He could get out of here. Gathering all the chaos energy running through his veins, although it burned his tentacle like crazy, the black hedgehog started glowing.

Chaos smirked. "Keep going Shadow! You can do this!"

With all his might, Shadow's arms began glowing a greenish-purple color. Finally, with one last push, the two robots holding onto him exploded. Shadow landed on the ground neatly before standing up tall.

Much to his surprise and Chaos' delight, his arm had all but returned to normal. He had an arm again, but it was still glowing green. "So, that's what Espio was trying to tell me," he smirked. "I didn't need the Chaos Emeralds to reverse the process. I just needed the power inside me!"

Then, with all his anger directed towards, Eggman, Shadow leapt up into a ball and charged into the villain, sending him flying. With the Chaos Emeralds scattered on the ground again, he felt them float around his body and super charge him.

Sonic's emerald eyes glowed. "Looks like he gets to have all the fun on my birthday."

Within seconds, Shadow had transformed into Hyper Shadow. All the robots around him disintegrate by the sheer power that was built up inside the hedgehog. Finally, with one last blast, Hyper Shadow blasted a hole in the wall where Eggman should have been.

Instead, the doctor decided to retreat up the elevator.

Shadow was about to chase him when Sonic called after him. "Wait, Shadow!" he called, running up to his rival.

"Let it go. We'll get him next time."

Shadow sighed and slowly began to revert back to his normal state. Tails, Knuckles, Tikal and Chaos all gathered around him, smiling.

"So…that had to be the weirdest birthday I've ever had," Sonic joked with a playful smile. Chaos grinned back.

"I still remember what you did for me that day, when I was still a monster," he said. "And I thank you. Now Tikal and I can live in peace with the Chao in the Chao garden."

Shadow looked down at his gloved hands, grateful he had them again. "Well, it looks like Professor Gerald meant for me to be a weapon," he sighed. "It seems I've found my true purpose."

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back and saw Sonic's face. "Even if that's what you were built to be, you're not a weapon, Shad," he replied. "You're just…you. Live life like you mean it."

Tails checked his watch and noticed for the first time how late it was. "Whoa…Sonic, we'd better get home. It's getting pretty late."

Knuckles picked the still-passed out Espio off the ground. "I think we had better go back to the Angel Island, so we can get Espio back home," he agreed.

Shadow was still facing the elevator where Eggman had escaped. Sonic dared a peek back at him, and smiled. "Happy birthday, faker," he said before walking back home.

Later that night, Shadow was seated on top of one of Eggmanland's buildings. He watched the moon with his crimson eyes.

It's official. I hate birthdays. He thought with a sigh.

Then, looking down at his glove, he noticed a piece of paper sticking out of it. Curious, he pulled it out and read the sloppy handwriting scrawled across it in a hurry.

You're invited to…

Sonic Hedgehog's 19th birthday!

June 23rd, 2010.

Location and Time TBA

Then, at the very bottom in a personal note, it read:

Hey, faker. I'm giving you this invitation a year in advanced.

Why don't you show up?

Sonic

Shadow smirked and tucked the paper back in his glove.

So, not too terrible for a story written on a whim, right? Please review and give me your final thoughts!