Chapter 13 The Flaw in the Plan

Shadow sighed deeply as he stepped onto the city streets of Westopolis.

"Why?" Shadow said sorrowfully.

I can't believe I'm doing this. He thought as he shook his head.

Shadow had followed the path to the city, and as he anticipated, it was wrecked. It had been evacuated, and was much too silent for such a large city. Shadow looked around and saw a few G.U.N soldiers (obviously the bravest of them) wondering the streets to find Maria. Shadow couldn't believe she had done this.

But it isn't really her. The Will Breaker is controlling her. Killing her should just be like killing him, right? He thought trying to cheer himself up, but it obviously didn't work.

Suddenly Shadow noticed a large green burst of energy in the sky. He followed the light until he found Maria standing on a large pile scrap metal holding her sword that now emitted a sickly green aura. She wasn't very appealing, and it filled Shadow with sadness to see her in such a way. Her hair was extremely messy, and seemed to stick out everywhere, her dress was torn in several places, and blood stained her gloves. Shadow stepped forward to find that he almost stepped on a dead soldier. He tried his best to think that Maria hadn't killed these people, but technically she had.

"Why are you here, Shadow? I hope you aren't going to try and stop me from destroying this pitiful race." Maria said as if she couldn't care less for Shadow.

"Y-you would never say that... please, Maria, come with me... I can help you." Shadow said as tears formed in his eyes.

"Help me? I don't need your help." She said disgusted.

"Maria, you love the humans... you made me promise to protect them! I don't want to fight you. I only want to help you realize what you are doing!" Shadow said torn and frustrated.

"All the easier for me. I won't hesitate to kill you." Maria said harshly as she shrugged her shoulders.

The words bit at Shadow's heart. He couldn't believe Maria would say something like that to him.

"I have to." Shadow said to himself. He walked calmly up to Maria, and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at Shadow, obviously very shocked.

"Maria... please. Do you remember when you asked me if I liked you more than a friend?" Shadow said as the tears ran down his face.

"No!" Maria said angrily as she quickly drew her sword and swung it at Shadow's neck.

He didn't take his eyes off of Maria as he grabbed her arm, and threw her to the ground. Maria grunted as she hit the ground. Shadow looked down at his hands in disbelief.

What has driven me to harm her? Shadow thought to himself.

Suddenly Shadow remembered his promise he made to Maria all those years ago to do whatever it takes to help and protect the humans.

Allowing her to live breaks that promise! Maria would want me to do whatever it takes to defend this planet she loved so much even if it meant killing her! I can't hold anything back! Shadow thought, surprised that the will to fight her came to him so easily.

Shadow realized that if he wanted to keep his promise to Maria he would have to kill her. He knew Maria would want it to be. Green flames suddenly erupted around Maria. Apparently she wasn't very happy. Maria unleashed the flurry of fire in a large blast around her. The fire ravaged the buildings, but fortunately Shadow used chaos control to teleport himself to the top of a building. Maria looked up to see Shadow on the ledge. Green energy surrounded her, and with a large burst of rage she charged up the side of the building. Shadow saw that she was closing in on him very quickly and used chaos spear to try to knock her off the side of the building. Maria swiftly side stepped, and uppercut Shadow. He flew through the air before landing hard on the roof of an apartment complex. Maria jumped over to him, and kicked him in the stomach. Shadow grimaced, and watched as Maria began to unsheathe her sword. Shadow swept her feet out from under her, causing Maria to lose her footing. Maria fell backward, and reached for her sword that she had dropped, but before she could reach it Shadow had grabbed it, and swung right at her. Maria dodged Shadow's attacks before she kicked him in the chest, causing him to drop the sword. Despite the many aches in Shadow's body and heart, he still managed to keep fighting Maria. Maria somehow spawned a green chain, and swung it at Shadow. He ducked, but for some reason the chain locked in on his chest. It didn't hurt when the chain struck Shadow, but he began feeling as if his chest were on fire, almost as if the chain were trying to mentally rip him to shreds. The pain was maddening, but Shadow managed to grab the chain, and snap it in two.

If Will Breaker had fought like she is right now I would have been in trouble. Shadow thought before he realized that he was in quite a bit of trouble right now.

Shadow breathed deeply as he fell to his knees. He felt extremely weak as if his will to fight had been drained from him. A bitter cold chill shot up his spine. His vision became blurry. suddenly the world faded around him, and he saw the Will Breaker standing next to him. Shadow began to speak, but he realized he couldn't. The Will Breaker sighed.

"It is a pity you have to die... you had so much potential." He said frowning.

Shadow was so angry with Will Breaker he began glowing red about to use chaos blast.

"Strange... my plan didn't work. My plans never seem to turn out the way I intended them... Why do I feel... No, it can't be!" Will Breaker hissed in horror as he realized something terrible that Shadow hoped would help in his fight.

Shadow was going to ask him what he meant, but before he could the world reappeared around him. Shadow was so enraged that he didn't notice Maria standing in front of him before he unleashed his chaos blast. The force sent Maria flying off the building, and down to the street eight stories below. Maria quickly reacted, and jabbed her sword into the side of the building at the last second, But it failed to soften her fall. Maria slammed into the ground and did not stir. Shadow couldn't believe what he had done. When he got down off of the building he was relieved to see she was still alive but barely.

"Shadow..." Maria beckoned for him to come closer.

She was obviously back to her normal self. Shadow did not understand how the Will Breaker had lost his hold over Maria, but he was not interested in knowing how. Shadow was simply overjoyed to see that he had lost it. He knelt down, and began helping Maria up to her knees.

"I'm so sorry." Shadow told her as he began to sob.

"Sorry? For what? I'm the one who should be sorry... I can't believe I killed all those people." Maria said weakly as she covered her face with her hands.

"It's not your fault, Maria. You weren't the one who killed those people. It was... well, you know who." Shadow said trying to cheer her up.

Maria sighed.

"Shadow, I was only able to regain control of myself by suppressing the Will Breaker. Unfortunately, he will regain control of me soon." Maria said sorrowfully.

"Don't worry, Maria. I can find a way to contain him and then we won't have to fight anymore!" Shadow said as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

Maria began to cry and shook her head.

"I wish it were so, Shadow, but I'm afraid you can't do that. It is like a second nature to me." Maria said sadly.

Shadow covered his face in a futile attempt to hold back his tears.

"Then, Maria, I'm sorry. With all my heart I do not wish to but I know I must. I... I have to kill you!" Shadow barely managed to say.

Maria hugged Shadow.

"It's okay. I'm proud of you for killing me so you could keep your promise to me, and save all these people. It means a lot to me." She said happily in an attempt to cheer him up.

"Maria, no, you should be very angry with me! You should try and stop me, please!" Shadow begged as tears streamed down his face.

"Shadow I could never be angry with you. You are perfect, Shadow. There's nothing in the world that could cause me to hate you and you know that." Maria said smiling as she wiped away the tears from his eyes.

Shadow suddenly realized that he should answer the question Maria asked him before she died.

"Maria... do you remember when you asked me if I loved you or not?" Shadow asked trying to smile.

"Yes!" Maria said brightly.

"Well... I do. I do love you, Maria! I love you more than I have ever loved anyone or anything else!" Shadow said choked.

Maria's expression lighted, and she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Shadow. I love you too with all of my heart and strength. That means so much to me... more than you know." Maria said as tears ran down her face.

"I only wish it didn't h-have to end this w-way." Shadow said sobbing.

"I don't care, Shadow. I'm perfectly fine with dying to save everyone at your hands. Knowing that you loved me is all I need." Maria said crying, trying to make him feel better.

There was a long moment of silence. Shadow stayed on his knees in Maria's embrace before Maria finally asked, "Does it hurt... dying?" Shadow was silent for a moment. He couldn't believe he was about to kill her. "I-I'll make it quick. I promise." He managed to say. Shadow calmly lifted his hand into the air to kill Maria. She didn't say a word. Suddenly Shadow felt Maria tense in his embrace, and he sensed an unnatural cold everywhere as if it were draining the life out of everything. There was a bright green flash of light that blinded him. When Shadow opened his eyes he saw a very frustrated and confused Mobian hedgehog standing in the intersection staring with great despise at Shadow, but it wasn't any ordinary Mobian. Shadow realized that the Will Breaker had finally revealed himself. The Will Breaker was a very strange and unique looking Mobian. He had green fur as well as green eyes. He wore green, steel plated armor; however, Shadow noticed a large scar that ran down his left leg like a serpent. He also wore a crown as if to signify that he was the king of some order, but Shadow couldn't imagine who would willingly serve under his rule. To Shadow, he really didn't look very intimidating. If anything the Will Breaker looked very old and worn as if he had been through much toil and hardship in his life. Even his voice did not sound as dark and terrible as it had. His voice was simply normal for someone of his age and stature.

"I suppose you two deserve to know everything." He said gravely.

ALL SEGA CHARACTERS ARE COPYRIGHT

BY SEGA EXCEPT MARIA THE HEDGEHOG AND WILL BREAKER

I wonder how you guys liked the big battle. It saddens me that I'm on the last chapter, but it has gone along really well. I don't want to spoil anything, but I must say I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot.