A/N: When chapters are long because so much happens. Sigh. I'm so sorry.
Chapter 14: Live and Learn
Sonic and the kids clutched onto their hearts and took deep breaths as they attempted to recover from their near-death experience. Tails had been the original pilot of the shuttle that brought them to the ARK, but after sensing the Master Emerald's energy, a certain somebody got a little...excited.
It was now an unspoken rule between the three that the echidna hybrid would never be allowed to take control of a vehicle ever again.
"Well, that was a thing!" Sonic huffed after being the first to calm down.
"Where did he even go?" Amy looked around for the redhead, only to find him nowhere in sight.
"I guess he bailed." Tails pursed his lips.
"Idiot." The blue teen rolled his eyes.
"That just means we have to move on without him." The pink Mobian shrugged before cringing in disgust. "Ugh, this place is so dusty! It's like it's been deserted!"
"Well, it was shut down fifty years ago because of some sort of accident. The first Bernoulli spherical space colony, called ARK," He announced proudly before observing his surroundings and becoming disheartened. "This used to be the most advanced research center of its kind, but now that I look at it…"
"Yeah, it looks like crap. I know you couldn't bring yourself to say it, so I said it for you."
"Thanks, Amy."
Sonic chuckled at the conversation between his two siblings before sighing gently as reality came back to him. If only every part of the adventure could be as fun as the last couple of hours. "There's not much time left before that weapon fires again, so we better get moving."
"Right." Tails began pressing buttons on his tablet. "Wow, that cannon was designed to be impenetrable from outside attacks." Sonic and Amy both got onto the Cyclone and peered at the screen from over his shoulder, examining the map that was displayed. "It's defense shields are super strong, so our best bet would be to find some way to destroy it from the inside." The blond pulled a dull gem out of his satchel.
"Wait, what happened to your emerald?" Amy stared at him confused while he handed it to her.
"It looks real, right? The actual yellow Emerald is stored within the Cyclone. This is a fake one I created after doing some research on the real one. It has the same wavelength and properties, but isn't as powerful. It's designed to reverse the energy field inside the Chaos Emeralds and blow up. It's so realistic that even a machine can't tell which is which. " After inspecting it, the pink hybrid gave the gem back to her little brother who then handed it to Sonic. "I'll find the power supply and destroy it while you find the control room, okay?"
"Yeah, okay, so let me get this straight. We're gonna switch the Emeralds when the machine stops, right?" Tails nodded as he gave the other a handheld transceiver. "Alright, sounds good to me!" Sonic ruffled his younger brother's hair before jumping off the Cyclone and slipping the device into his pants pocket. "Amy, you stay here and stay safe, ok?"
The preteen huffed as she pushed herself off, a bit annoyed she wasn't a part of the plan. "Ugh, you two! You guys always leave me behind and have all the fun!" She crossed her arms as she watched the boys leave, a scowl on her face. The blue teen turned around and shrugged, but his expression wasn't sympathetic at all.
There was no way she would just sit around and let boredom be the death of her. The moment that door closed behind the boys, she would go off and explore the colony.
oOo
The white-haired bat moved stealthily as she trailed after the echidna hybrid. What exactly was he doing? Why wasn't he with the others?
Oh.
She smirked as he found a shard of the Master Emerald in one of her hiding spots. So, it seems as though her idea to lure him did work. She felt that it was about time to reveal herself to the unsuspecting redhead.
She landed on the ground gracefully, her heels making a satisfying click that alerted the other of her presence. The redhead turned, tensely, before furrowing his brows.
"Rouge? What the hell? What are you doing here?"
"Hello, love." She waved innocently. "I'm glad to find you locating my shards with ease. Perhaps I should've made it a little more challenging, though?"
"Your shards?"
She placed a hand on her hip. "You know what I mean. When they're under my care, I will refer to them as mine. I think I should keep one for being such a great caretaker. I'm not sure if the doctor is even aware that I brought them here."
"What are you talking about? You were the one that stole them?"
The bat raised her hands defensively. "I didn't steal them, surprisingly. Let's just say that they are all part of my plan."
"Your plan?" He narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here? Why are you helping Eggman? I thought you worked for GUN?"
"That's confidential, you on the other hand..." She crossed her arms confidently. "You're here because you want the rest of the pieces. Would you have come had I not taken them?" Her eyes noticed the way his indigo averted their gaze. "I believe that gem of yours may become important in stopping all of this."
"So...you're conspiring against Eggman?"
"Of course, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to hand them over to you."
"Why?"
The bat smirked. "I have a cover I need to keep and the doctor expects me to take you down. So, be a dear and let me stall you, just for the sake of appearances."
"What? We don't have time for this, just give me the ones you're hiding."
"You must understand that I haven't completed my mission yet. I'm not going down unless you fight me for them. I've worked too hard to get here, I won't risk losing Eggman's trust when I've already gotten this far."
"Rouge, this is important! I'm not going to fight you-"
She chuckled as she got into an offensive position. "Then at least take the time to entertain me."
She made the first move by running towards him, gaining momentum before she slid on the ground on one knee while her other leg was extended, aimed right towards his ankle. He was knocked off balance, landing straight onto his side at an angle where his head was hung over the side of the metal beam. He wearily stared into the lava as he got up and tightened his grip on the bag on his back as she gracefully pivoted behind him and stood with a grin. He growled, then jumped onto his legs and rushed to grab her, only for her to quickly avoid him with a backflip. It continued with the echidna repeatedly trying to get a hold on his crush while she narrowly avoided his advances. Their little game of tag droned on until she decided she was bored, and gave up.
She was tired, and he was tired. Their gasps for air was enough to let them both know that. She decided she had stalled for long enough. Her aqua eyes glanced at him appreciatively while he glared at her.
"Stop fooling around and give me those shards!" He ordered.
She sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll get them." She turned on her heel, not at all suspecting that the narrow piece of metal would be worn down after a small, playful encounter. As she stode on, a part of the rail collapsed, much too quickly for her to process what was happening. Her wings weren't even fully opened by the time she felt the intense heat barely brush against the underside of her foot. The pit of molten rock was too close to her.
She snapped out of her shock when she felt warm hands grab onto hers. Her eyes darted upwards and saw Knuckles holding onto the bar with one hand as his other held onto her strongly. He heaved himself up and then lifted her up onto a stable part of the rail.
"What just-?" She was confused. "But we were only messing around!"
"This space colony is definitely showing it's age. It hasn't had a good maintenance check in years."
'Right," she nodded. "It was silly of me to not expect that. With all the research I put in, I should've known better." Her lip curled into a frown, disappointed in her carelessness. She wasn't the girl she used to be, she was smarter than that. Spending too much time with her peers was starting to affect her.
"It's fine, don't beat yourself up over it."
She brushed away her thoughts and smirked at him. "I should say thanks, but I already feel as though I've softened up too much recently."
"You can just, you know, get me the shards. That'll work."
"Of course! We have the same priorities, maybe that's why I like you so much. You understand me." She let out a small laugh.
"W-what-!" She flew off while he was flustered, returning a few minutes later with the rest of the pieces in her arms. She landed on the platform and extended her elbows. "Here you go, the last of them."
"Now I can say 'you're welcome'."
She stifled a smirk as she put her hands behind her back, watching as the echidna opened his bag and put all the pieces together by concentrating on its energy. The pieces levitated before fixing themselves like a puzzle, moving on their own magically by some strange force their species would never be able to fully comprehend. The Master Emerald was restored, and Rouge felt herself become overwhelmed by its beauty.
Knuckles kicked his bag off the rail, letting it fall into lava as he heaved the Emerald onto his back. He looked at the bat hybrid. "I guess I'll see you soon."
She smirked as she walked towards him, leaning over to plant a quick peck on his cheek. She couldn't help herself, she was still a teenage girl at her core. As she backed away, her eyes noticed the way he tensed while his bronzed face became a bright red. She placed a hand on her hip and sent him a wink. "We should get going." She watched as he regained his composure and shakily nod, before quickly retreating with the emerald.
That confrontation couldn't have gone any better.
oOo
"Energy readings from two different Emeralds? Did they really think the could trick me by using a fake?" Eggman scowled.
Shadow turned to leave, only to be stopped by the Doctor himself.
"Wait, I should be the one to tell them the end is near, not you. It's time for me to make my claim as the ultimate genius!" He passed the other while in his Mobile. "Should something happen to me, I'm counting on you to finish the job." He walked into a teleporter that would take him to the ARK. "It's now or never!"
The darker Mobian furrowed his brows before following after.
oOo
"Ugh, I hate boys! They think they can do all the cool stuff! Well, guess what? I deserve to do some cool stuff too!" Amy ranted to herself as she couldn't find anyone else to listen to her. "Totally unfair! Why, when I see them, I'm going to-Ah!" She spun around as she paced, only to find Eggman watching her with a malignant gleam in his eyes. "Doctor Eggman?"
"Well, young lady, if you value your life then tell me where those half-rodents went off to!"
oOo
Sonic entered the control room and walked up to the cannon. "Okay, Tails, I'm here."
"Alright, now insert the Emerald into-"
"Tails, tell Sonic to meet you back at the research facility! Now!"
"Eggman?" The blue teen narrowed his eyes. "Hey, tell him to stop butting in!"
"Sonic! This is bad! Eggman has Amy held hostage!"
"What!?"
The call went silent, and the Mobian stared at the gem in his hands for a moment. He felt his grip around it tighten, and he glowered.
Would that egghead stop complicating things for a second to realize what he was doing?
oOo
The blue Mobian sauntered into the room and was instantly met with Tails, Eggman, and a guilt-ridden Amy.
"Alright, Sonic. Let's take care of business, shall we?" The Doctor began, straight to the point, for once. "Hand over the Chaos Emerald slowly and then we'll talk about your girlfriend, that is, if you truly care for her."
He frowned, placing a hand on his hip as he tossed the Emerald and caught it several times. Why was he always assumed to be in a relationship with someone? If it wasn't Knuckles, then it was Amy. Whatever.
'If I hand this fake Emerald over, that should kill two birds with one stone, right?' He pursed his lips to make it look like he was actually considering the proposition. He shot a glance towards Tails, who was subtly nodding at him, before redirecting his attention to Eggman.
"Put the Emerald down right there and back off."
"Here?"
"No, in the center of the room, you brat!"
"Oh, okay, I got you." The teen smirked. "My, you've turned into quite the villain, Doctor." He teased as he moved forward. Before he realized what happened, he was encased in glass. He blinked in surprise before banging on the glass with his fists, only to freeze when it didn't vibrate under his force in the slightest. "What?"
"You fools actually thought you could trick me with that fake Emerald?" He could barely make out the Doctor's voice, alerting him that there was no way he could break through this material without more space to pick up speed.
"Huh? So how did you know that was the fake one?" Tails exclaimed in a panicked voice, as he previously believed his plan was foolproof
"Tails-!"
"Because you just told me, fox-boy."
The blond gawked, completely dumbfounded, while Sonic let out a small sigh as he rubbed his temple. Whatever, he couldn't blame the kid. He was just an eight-year-old, despite his intellectual brain.
"Now, have fun in space! You know, before you explode into smithereens!" Eggman laughed.
'Does he actually plan to kill me?'
The blue teen gave his younger brother an earnest look. "I'm counting on you, Tails. And Amy? You take care of yourself."
"Wait, what? What are you talking about? No!" His little sister looked horrified as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
"Farewell, Sonic the Hedgehog!"
Eggman pressed a button on his Mobile and he was instantly launched from the ARK into space. Amy ran to the window with Tails right behind her in his Cyclone.
"Sonic!" She yelled.
Within seconds, the capsule exploded.
"Farewell, Sonic, my admirable adversary." Eggman sighed while looking away.
For some reason, killing off the Mobian pest didn't seem as exciting as he hoped it would be.
oOo
"The same properties and wavelengths...I wonder…" The blue Mobian closed his eyes and focused on nothing but the gem in his hands. He thought about the time a certain hedgehog was able to teleport by saying two words.
He opened his eyes, his grip on the gem was firm. "Chaos Contr-"
oOo
Shadow watched as the capsule exploded. He closed his eyes and bit his lip, immediately feeling his stomach churn painfully.
No...No!
He felt his fist make contact with the indestructible glass as he clenched his jaw.
Stop feeling like this! He was in the way of your goal. Stop caring about him!
But, I can't.
No matter. It's not about what you want, it's all about her. Only her. Nobody else. With him out of the picture, you can focus on you sole purpose for existing.
Sonic's smiles meant nothing. His laughter meant nothing. His beautiful emerald eyes meant nothing.
"I will help you, even if I have to risk my life for it."
He cursed under his breath as his eyes began to sting. That fool, he should've just taken his advice and left the city while he had the chance. He had so much potential in controlling Chaos Energy, he had a family to protect, friends that loved him. Only an idiot would try saving someone who didn't need to be saved.
Yet, no matter how much he tried to console himself, he couldn't understand why his heart felt as though it were a fragile piece of glass that dropped and shattered into pieces.
He glared at Mobius, his eyes filled with intense contempt. Whatever, nothing mattered anyways. He composed himself, fists clenched as he headed towards the room's exit.
Soon enough, everyone would be dead. Yes, Sonic was gone, but now the whole planet would go with him. If she couldn't be happy, and thereby him, then neither could the world. That thought alone was enough to satisfy his desire for revenge.
Everything was going the way it was meant to.
oOo
"Now onto the real business." Eggman aimed a gun at Amy, watching as she glared at him with complete disgust while tears glistened on her cheeks. "Give me the real Emerald and I will let you both go."
"Sonic...you…" Tails murmured to himself as he was in a daze. The pink hybrid glanced at him unsurely, worried that perhaps the boy lost his mind. "He wants me to do something for him...for the first time ever...I won't let him down! I can't! I won't give up!"
A series of rockets were fired at the Doctor.
Amy yelped as explosives began going off from both sides, small pieces of debris stinging her arms as she covered her face. She ran through the dark smoke that blinded her to find any means of cover.
oOo
"Okay, why am I feeling some strange energy here- holy shit!" Knuckles flinched as a white light appeared before him. It dispelled as quickly as it appeared, and he examined the scene before him.
When did Sonic get here? Why was he unconscious?
"Hey, Sonic!" The redhead immediately put down the Emerald and rushed to his younger brother's side to check up on him.
The blue teen's eyes fluttered, his body moved slightly before Knuckles raised his upper half off the ground.
"Wow, I'm actually alive? I wasn't even sure if I could pull that one off..."
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Sonic began, slowly beginning to support himself. "Eggman put me in a capsule and shot me into space where it would explode, but I used Chaos Control using a fake Emerald."
"Wait...what happened?"
The hedgehog Mobian sighed, standing up slowly while his brother held on to him to make sure he didn't fall. "It's a lot to explain, it's one of those things where you just had to be there."
The echidna raised a brow. "...Uh, okay."
"Hey, I'm worried about Tails and Amy. Can you please find them and help them? I don't like the idea of them being alone with Eggman."
"Sure thing."
Sonic gazed at the fake Emerald in his hands. "I got it!" His eyes widened. "Before the cannon fires, I'll slam dunk this baby in there!" He winked at his brother. "Thanks for the help, but I need to get going!"
The red Mobian frowned as he watched the other run off. Only that kid would be able to go from completely unconscious to fully energized in a span of a couple of seconds. He huffed as he stalked back to the Master Emerald. Whatever, he had to find the kids.
oOo
"I did it, Sonic. I actually did it…" Tails muttered to himself between pants. Amy was clutching onto her chest as she tried to calm her breathing. She was sure that she had a couple of nasty bruises and small scrapes over her skin from that skirmish, not to mention the fact that her dress was partially covered in ashes. She never wanted to be in between a mecha fight ever again. Ever.
The blond jumped as he heard his transceiver go off. He blinked, only just realizing he had accidently turned it on near the end of his confrontation with Eggman. Timidly, his fingers began fumbling around with the radio, not sure of why it suddenly reacted. He wondered if it had been damaged during the fight, since the only person who could contact him was-
"Awesome job, Tails! I knew you could do it!"
"S-Sonic!" He exclaimed with relief as tears threatened to spill from the corners of his eyes.
He was so overjoyed he didn't even realize the conniving doctor reach for the yellow Emerald that had unknowingly fallen out of his Cyclone…
oOo
"They say that when you collect all seven Emeralds, a miracle happens. So if I have six, what does that mean?" Rouge pressed a finger against her cheek. "I suppose it means that six Emeralds are all mine, and perhaps, that in itself is a miracle." She smiled warmly at the glowing gems inside the Eclipse Cannon.
"I don't think so."
She turned with a frown only to see the darker Mobian walking towards her with a glower marring his handsome face. "Shadow."
"So, that was your plan from the very beginning? Or was it a direct order from the President? Now I know what you are. You're a government spy." Shadow hissed at her; there was malice in his eyes...and hurt? Did he feel betrayed by her?
She was able to hide her surprise with an artificial smirk. "Ah, I see you did your homework. Too bad it meant you had to invade my privacy rather than do calc, but it is how it is."
"Shut up, as if you're one to talk."
"Well, it seems to me that you're being moody because things aren't going your way. Is that it? I suppose since my job here is done, I'll just take what's mine and leave."
"You pathetic, selfish creature!"
"Woah, excuse me, but look who's talking." The bat hybrid raised her chin up as she cocked her head to the side, eyes squinting with suspicion. "So, what about you?" She pressed a button on her transmitter so that a hologram appeared. "I've downloaded these files. They're all research on a project called 'The Ultimate Lifeform.' However, if these pictures are truly of the Ultimate Lifeform, the one they call Shadow...then exactly who, or what, is standing in front of me?"
"Shadow!" The other Mobian took his transceiver out of his black jacket and brought it close to his face. "It's Doctor Eggman. I have found all seven Chaos Emeralds! Hurry, there is someone trying to get to the Eclipse Cannon. There's not much time before it fires again! Can you get over there?"
He hung up and gave Rouge a threatening look. "I'll spare your life as long as you leave the Emeralds as they are."
She was taken aback. "Are you serious? Do you actually believe that you're the real Shadow?"
"No doubt."
"But even your old memories...they might not be real. You realize that, don't you?"
"Even if they aren't real, it's all that I have. Especially now." He paused, suddenly feeling a very heavy weight in his heart. "And I will fulfill my promise to Maria, that's the only thing left for me."
She watched as he left, feeling sympathetic towards the Mobian hybrid. She knew he couldn't see it, but she definitely could. The other was only trying to do what he felt was right, yet he seemed conflicted on whether or not it was the right thing to do.
oOo
"You never cease to surprise me, Sonic. I had thought you exploded in space."
He whipped his head around to see Shadow advancing towards him with a look that made him seem as though he was torn between relief and anger. Though his face was stoic, his emotions were evident in his crimson irises. The blue Mobian supposed that it was those eyes that allowed him to keep seeing the good in the other, even when the rest of him said otherwise.
He smirked as he began walking. "You know, what can I say? I die hard."
"It certainly has proven to be so..."
"You know, you actually saved me…" He noticed the way the other slightly raised his brow. He waved the hand that held the fake Emerald as a clue.
"I see, so you used Chaos Control. But...how? That's impossible. There's no way you could've done that with a fake." The two Mobians began jogging down the long hallway that was the interior of the cannon, only to increase their speed into a run. "I don't understand you at all. What the hell are you? Nobody but me should be capable of being a Rank S, yet here you are!"
"Well, what you see is what you get. Just a guy that loves adventure!"
Shadow scowled. "I can't let you interfere with my plans. As long as I incapacitate you, you'll no longer pose as a problem. Sorry to say, but your adventuring days are coming to an end."
They reached their full speed.
oOo
"Damn, that Shadow! He's messing up the Eclipse Cannon!" Eggman cursed as he noticed the mechanism was becoming badly damaged, most likely due to a certain fight happening within. Did that Mobian not know what he was doing? He needed to stop with those Chaos attacks!
"Shadow, you fool! You just hit the gun battery!" He finished typing into the computer; the cannon in its current state would have to do. He couldn't risk waiting another second.
"With this last Emerald, so begins the Era of my Empire…" The Doctor grinned nefariously as he inserted the yellow Chaos Emerald into the weapon's control.
He laughed maniacally as the septet glowed brightly and strode back to the computer with his head held high to hit the activation button.
His laughter came to an abrupt stop when the power turned off and the Emeralds dulled.
The multiple screens shown on the monitor turned on at once, showing 00:27:53:00. A tape of a man resembling himself appeared, with his head hung down while he was strapped to a chair by metal chains.
"Grandfather?"
"The countdown marking my revenge on this planet has begun," the recording began. "In just a few minutes, humanity will be destroyed! Space Colony ARK will hurdle through the atmosphere and crash into this planet with cataclysmic force!"
oOo
"Shadow? What's going on?" Sonic asked the other, watching as the darker Mobian pushed his upper body off the ground. It was dark, yet the small flames in the malfunctioning area were able to illuminate the other for him, so long as he was in close proximity. The ARK seemed to tremble under his hands and knees, but he desperately hoped that it was just his imagination playing tricks on him.
Shadow frowned. "It's begun." He answered as he stood up and wiped dust off his slim military jacket. "I didn't want it to end this way, but there's no hope anymore...I warned you, yet your tenacity brought you here...now I'll have to suffer too..." The blue teen was surprised to see those crimson eyes reveal so much sorrow as fire reflected in them just before he turned away and disappeared into the dark.
"Hey, wait!" Sonic sprung to his legs. He almost regretted shutting down the power, wishing he could see where the other had run off to. All he wanted to do was resolve everything. To help the other. There still had to be a chance. The adventure wasn't over yet, contrary to what Shadow said, there was still hope. He'd prove it to him.
He ran off, deciding to search for his family first.
oOo
Knuckles was leaning against the Master Emerald as he watched the monitor in the room display a recording of Gerald Robotnik. He and Amy turned to hear what the old man had to say as Tails was bewildered over how his tablet had also been hacked.
"If mine was hacked, then perhaps every electronic on Mobius is showing this too!"
Amy's eyes darted towards the glowing green numbers on the corner of the screen. Surely this was fake, right? She felt the ARK tremble and she instinctively clutched onto Knuckles' vest. To say she afraid was an understatement.
"Do you guys know what's happening?" Sonic asked as he entered the room and stood beside his older brother, eyes focused on the screen.
Rouge then followed after him, looking hopeless. "It's all over for us."
"What do you mean?" The pink hybrid asked her worriedly.
The bat Mobian glanced at her solemnly. "My boss...The President...he sent me a message saying that the Space Colony ARK was approaching Mobius at an incredible velocity. It will most likely...impact the planet." Her lips formed a thin line as her eyes darted towards the large window beside the group of teenagers.
"This is a death sentence for all the inhabitants of Mobius. If my calculations are correct, the Space Colony ARK will impact the planet in twenty-seven minutes, twenty-three seconds. All of you will be destroyed, including your beloved home."
The teens all exchanged a glance with each other. Amy let go of Knuckles' vest and held onto the blue Mobian's arm.
"I plan to give you a taste of my revenge once all the seven Chaos Emeralds are collected." The recording continued. "Once I initiate this program, it cannot be disabled. All of you ungrateful humans, who took everything away from me...will feel my loss, and despair!"
Sonic's eyes widened as he recognized the man. Grandpa Robotnik. So his suspicions had been confirmed. He remembered the photograph that Eggman and Shadow had shown him, the one where he was beside his granddaughter. She had been shot and killed at a young age, hadn't she?
Was that what the man meant by loss? Was that what this was all about?
The recording began to repeat on an endless cycle.
"Shit, this vibration is getting worse," Knuckles looked at Rouge, who merely bit her lip anxiously.
"Ah, yes, Professor Gerald Robotnik. One of the greatest scientific minds in the world, and my grandfather!" Eggman announced as he joined his ex-students.
"You!" Knuckles exclaimed. "Stop this! Don't you know what you're doing?"
"I wouldn't even have come here had I known my grandfather's intentions from the start."
"So, he got you too?" Sonic smirked, glad to know that his old teacher had his own plans thrown back into his face.
The Doctor frowned at the blue hybrid before sighing. "You're a very persistent Mobian, you know. Still alive, huh?"
"You better believe it!"
Reaching out of his pocket, Eggman flipped to a page and handed Rouge a tattered journal that the blue Mobian instantly recognized. "It belonged to my grandfather. Read it aloud."
The bat nodded. "Why did this happen? What went wrong? I had planned everything so perfectly, yet it all fell apart in my hands. I only wanted to benefit mankind, to help our species progress to its former glory, but then the military landed on the ARK. They were set on destroying the research I dedicated my entire life to. My space colony program was shut down that day. I believe GUN was trying to prevent the prototype from falling into the wrong hands. All my colleagues, their families, my granddaughter Maria, I hope you're all safe…. Today, I learned that the ARK was terminated under the premise that there had been an accident, yet I know that they were just afraid of what I could accomplish. I saw Maria's name among the deceased, she who I created all of this for to cure her disease. To think that my creation was what ended her life prematurely, rendered everything that I worked for meaningless. I no longer had a purpose, I failed her. The intense realization of so much blood on my hands, especially that of my innocent Maria, pushed me to insanity. All I could think about was avenging her, to bring pain to those that ruined her chance to live a normal life. These thoughts consumed me, so much that at times I forgot to eat and sleep. My only goal was to end those who wronged her. With this new purpose, I was to complete my project: Shadow. It's mind was perfect, pure- designed with an overwhelming desire to carry out my will...I will leave it all to him. If you wish, you may release and awaken it, for he carries the power to fill the world with destruction…"
Sonic glanced at the Doctor. "I don't remember seeing that in there."
"You were probably too busy looking at the pictures of the pretty murals, correct?" The teen pouted, but didn't respond as it was completely accurate. "Right now the core of the cannon is highly reactive and explosive, most likely due to the Chaos Emeralds overpowering it. If the ARK impacts the planet, it'll shatter into pieces."
"We have to stop it!" Tails exclaimed.
"The ARK's position may have shifted due to the Emerald's energy; in other words, we must stop the energy."
"How would we do that?"
Rouge paused, glancing at Knuckles with a knowing glint in her eyes. "Can't your Emerald stop the energy?" She pointed to the gem beside him.
"Hey, you're right!"
"Well, you better hurry, Knuckles!" The fox hybrid panicked. "The reaction of the Chaos Emeralds is moving toward the cannon's core! We might be too late!"
"There's still the possibility that there's time left." Eggman interjected. "I'm sure if we pull together, we might find a shortcut that'll lead us to the core."
"Well, just leave that to me." Sonic grinned. "They don't call me the World's Fastest for nothing!"
oOo
Amy meandered through the halls of the ARK, feeling very annoyed that once again, everybody had left her on her own. What, did they not think she was good enough to fight? She continued her stride, passing an open door before pausing.
Did she just see…? No way.
She backed up and noticed the tan Mobian with black and red streaked hair staring out the wide window nostalgically. She became uneasy, not sure if she wanted to approach the intimidating hedgehog hybrid. She bit her lip, she had to do something to help. Sonic believed there was good in him...so she did too!
She walked towards him. "Shadow, please help us! We need you!" Her hands were clasped together as she pleaded.
He shrugged. "It's all going according to plan...this is what she wanted...this was my purpose…besides, there's no way to save anyone, not when you're all here."
The preteen stared at him anxiously. "Shadow, I know there's a lot of bad things in the world. Trust me, I've seen it with my own eyes. People can be cruel and selfish, but...there's a lot of good in the world too. There are people out there that are so kind and loving, that they seem to outweigh all the bad…like Sonic. I've never met someone who's been through so much and still smiles and gives because they're so selfless. He doesn't like to talk about his past at all, we all know that he's had it rough, yet he always does his best to make all of our lives the best they can be. People like him, they deserve a happily ever after, don't you think?" She noticed the way his eyes seemed to soften for a moment before hardening. "And I think...you deserve happiness too." He turned towards her, completely baffled. "You did all this for her, right? You care a lot for your friends. There are people on that planet that you haven't met that are kind like you and Sonic, and even your friend. Don't you think that they all deserve to be happy too? You should help them! Please, Shadow, I beg of you! Give them all a chance!"
He blinked; suddenly he saw Maria lying on the floor, her hand covering her bullet wound as she stared at him with teary eyes, a small smile trying to hide her pain.
"...Shadow...I beg of you...please, do it for me...for a better future…"
"Maria!"
"The people on that planet, please...give them a chance...to be happy." Her grip on her wound got tighter as her lovely blue dress was becoming soaked in blood. "That's the reason you were brought into this world...Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog…"
Amy noticed the tear dripping down Shadow's cheek and bit the inside of her cheek. "That's what I promised her...I must keep that promise."
"Shadow?" She asked softly, making sure the other was alright.
"I must go. I have to keep my promise to Maria-" he looked at her and nodded his head. "-And you. I'll make him happy...thank you."
She watched as he ran out of the room, her hand over her heart. A small smile grew on her face as she felt proud of herself for being able to help her big brother in the end.
oOo
"The core...it looks just like the Master Emerald's altar!"
"Yeah, it does, Knux...it was probably designed similarly so that it could harness the power of the Emeralds. I'm pretty sure grandpa Robotnik had an obsession with the Ancient Echidnas, especially with all those Chaos monsters we saw."
The redhead chuckled as he nodded, before tensing as he sensed a lot of negative Chaos Energy. "Hey, watch out-"
Suddenly a large, lizard beast appeared in the center of the room. Easily seventeen meters high with robotic implants, the two brothers seemed like nothing in comparison.
"This must be that prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform!" Sonic turned to Knuckles with a worried expression after hearing the other's outburst.
"Leave this one to me," He whipped his head around to see Shadow advancing towards the Biolizard.
"You-you're helping us now?" The blue teen couldn't help the smile growing on his face.
The other hedgehog hybrid faced him and nodded. "I'll take care of this while you run to get the Emeralds!"
They ran up the steps as Shadow charged towards the creature. The blue teen watched anxiously as his older brother placed the gem in the center and extended his arms towards it, leaving his hands pressed against the warm, smooth surface.
Knuckles focused hard on the raw power of the Master Emerald. His eyes were closed so he could feel the energy radiating through his palms; it burned, but he had to endure. He was the only one who could.
"The servers are the seven chaos. Chaos is power; power is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos...Only you can do this, stop the Chaos Emeralds!"
The Master Emerald became enveloped in a blinding light, which shortly receded and resulted in the Chaos Emeralds to dim and fall from their pedestals.
The Biolizard shrieked, and both brothers craned their heads to see if Shadow was alright.
It shrieked once again before vanishing before their eyes.
"Is it gone?" Knuckles asked.
"Damn, it used Chaos Control!" Shadow cursed as he jumped to the spot beside Sonic.
The ARK began to tremble tremendously.
"What the hell? We stopped the Emeralds! Why are we still crashing?" The echidna exclaimed, facing his younger brother who looked just as confused as he was.
"The prototype is still alive!" Eggman announced through an intercom. "It attached itself to the outside of the Space Colony and is pulling us towards the planet!"
Sonic reached down and picked up the red Emerald before exchanging a glance with Knuckles. After a hesitant nod, he locked his gaze on Shadow.
"I can't do this alone…"
The other bent down and picked up the green Emerald. "You won't have to." He replied softly.
Both hedgehog Mobians extended their occupied hands and watched the Emeralds brighten in color as they lifted into the air by some strange force. The others brightened as well, and levitated off the ground before encircling them.
The two closed their eyes, feeling the power of Chaos surge through them. Sonic was engulfed in a bright light that replaced his clothing with a golden chestplate and a traditional echidna skirt he remembered from his fight with the God of Destruction. He opened his red eyes to see Shadow staring right back at him; though the other was still in his normal attire, his black hair was a pale gold, and he glowed beautifully.
He smiled warmly at the other, and was content to see the other smile back.
"Let's end this, once and for all."
oOo
"That large red object is actually the Space Colony ARK glowing as it enters our atmosphere." The news reporter, Scarlet Garcia, glanced over her shoulder before returning her gaze to the camera. "For fifty years, the existence of the ARK was kept a secret. During our investigation, we uncovered a conspiracy within our intelligence services that now threatens the survival of our planet. Our only hope lies in the hands of two Mobians...one of which being our hero from the Chaos Crisis, Sonic the Hedgehog. They can be seen as those two bright yellow lights flying around the ARK. The fate of our lives rests with them."
"Cream, are you sure you want to watch this?" Blaze asked the young rabbit Mobian sitting beside her.
"Yes, I have to make sure Sonic and Shadow are okay!"
The feline glanced at the TV, unsure if it was alright for the kids to watch something so...nerve wracking.
"Blaze, it's alright." Cosmo rested her hand on her arm, the lavender haired Mobian turned to face her. "Sonic and Shadow are strong. They'll protect us."
Silver nodded. "Yeah, and I see no point in staying in the dorms any longer. I say we go out there and give them a nice welcome back!"
Cream and Cosmo nodded, immediately springing to their feet and following the other towards the door.
"W-wait," Blaze ordered softly. She watched as her friend opened the door while giving her an impatient look. She sighed heavily before getting up. 'Might as well.'
She quickly glanced at the TV, then closed her eyes to take a deep breath.
They would be fine.
oOo
"You wait here and gather your strength! I'll take over for you!"
"But Shadow! I'm fine!"
"This is only your second time reaching your true power, I don't want you to overdo it and kill yourself! I won't be able to save you like last time!"
Sonic smiled, feeling touched that the other was concerned for his well-being. "It's alright if I die," he admitted softly. "If I can save the world, save my family, then I'll be okay with accepting it when the time comes."
Shadow stared at him, completely aghast. How could he say something like that? Amy was right, the other was willing to give his all for others...he deserved to be happy.
"You're staying here until you recover from that last hit, do you understand?"
"Alright, alright. But when you're tired switch with me, okay?"
He nodded, then flew towards the Finalhazard to find an opening for an attack.
Sonic took in a few breaths and tried focusing on the Chaos Energy within him. He had to focus on that energy and try not to use it all at once; he needed to focus on endurance and strength. He looked up and watched as Shadow flew straight into the prototype's life support system. The creature was weakened.
"Shadow!" He called out to the other Mobian. "His defenses are down! We can stop him right in his tracks!"
Shadow looked over his shoulder to see where the teen was before using Chaos Control to teleport beside him.
"We'll push him back when he gets close to us. We need to hold our ground." Sonic nodded in response, but tensed when he felt Shadow's hand on his wrist. He turned his head, curiously, only to see other frowning while his free hand reached to caress his cheek with his thumb. His bare torso was twisted slightly uncomfortably, yet he felt no desire to move away from the the darker Mobian's grasp. Angry ruby eyes held him still.
"Don't ever say that it'd be okay if you died!" He snapped, with so much pent-up emotion that Sonic found himself stunned. "You mean so much to this world! You bring it happiness...just as she wanted it. You bring me happiness…."
He tensed, feeling warm lips plant on his in a simple kiss. Simple, yet somehow it seemed to carry all the love and adoration in the world. Shadow pulled away from the dazed teenager, his eyes now gentle and the hand on the other's wrist slid down and entwined their fingers. The hand resting on his cheek slowly retracted, and tan lips stretched into a sweet, genuine smile.
"She would've loved you too."
Their heads both turned as they watched the Finalhazard draw nearer. The younger Mobian returned his attention to Shadow, his lips slowly curling upwards as he grew out of his surprise. "When this is over...we'll be much closer, right?"
The other hedgehog nodded in agreement, understanding the subtle implication. He let go backed away from Sonic to get into position beside him.
The golden teen extended his arms in front of him, focusing much of the Chaos Energy in his hands. He could feel the heat burn his palms, but he had to deal with it. For everyone. "This is is for you!" He exclaimed towards the Finalhazard.
Shadow did the same, extending his arms with a determined look on his face. As the ARK came closer to them, they could feel the force against them grow stronger.
He winced as he heard Sonic grunt in pain.
"Shadow, those people need you!"
His fists clenched, and he felt more power be drawn into him. He used the strength of the Chaos Energy to push his inhibitor rings off of him. No restraint, no limits. He would protect this world, and he would protect Sonic. Power engulfed him, it was all he could feel.
"I'm Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform!" He glared at the Finalhazard before him. "You ready, Sonic?"
The teen glanced at him quickly. "Yes!" He brought one arm close to his chest and clenched his fist as his other continued to push back against the ARK. He was going to use all the remaining Chaos Energy in one powerful attack. The Chaos Energy moved throughout his being and encircled him. He had one chance to make this work.
Shadow raised an arm and aimed it at the ARK. "Chaos-"
"-Control!" He extended his arm, releasing all the energy he managed to focus into it.
A bright, golden beam headed straight towards the Finalhazard, blinding everyone, including the two super Mobians. The beast could be heard screaming, and Sonic only hoped that he could hold on for just a moment longer.
"You need to go!"
He turned his head toward the voice, completely surprised, feeling a pair of solid objects touch his palm, which he instinctively clasped.
"Shado-" He coughed, feeling a fist ram into his gut, painfully. His eyes widened, and his vision turned black. What was happening? Why…
He felt his body floating away before passing out.
Shadow watched as Sonic drifted away into a safer area; the force of his punch should've been enough to keep him moving until he made it close to his family. The teen couldn't risk using the little bit of Chaos Energy left...but he could.
The ARK was back in it's orbit, all that was left was to completely destroy the prototype. With one last burst of energy, he charged towards the severely weakened bio-monster and braced himself for what was to come after.
oOo
The group of teens all watched as Sonic entered the room; the blue Mobian was thankful that his family caught sight of him and opened a hatch so he could get into the space colony safely.
"Sonic!" Amy and Tails exclaimed as they ran towards him and embraced him.
"Glad you made it alright!" Knuckles smiled as he walked towards his younger brother and slung around the other's shoulder. The teen grinned, glad he could be with his family once again.
"Ahem," Rouge coughed awkwardly into her fist. "I'm sorry, but...have you seen Shadow?"
Sonic paused, and gave his family a serious look they immediately understood. The kids backed away from him, biting their lips, and his older brother removed his arm as he shot her a sympathetic glance. Amy felt her eyes get teary as she watched her the blue teen move towards the bat hybrid.
He extended his arm towards her and unclasped his hand. She blinked in shock.
Shadow's inhibitor ring.
She picked it up, and glanced at him unsurely.
"He'd want you to have it. You were his closest friend."
"...And he was mine," she smiled at him. "I appreciate this."
He nodded, watching as Knuckles moved closer to her.
"You know, we're here for you too. If you need anything." The redhead informed her.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you guys. You all helped me complete my mission." She laughed gently. "I suppose I can ask my boss for a small vacation. I think I need one after these last few months, wouldn't you agree?"
Knuckles grinned. "Yeah, you do. Treasure hunting?"
"Hmmm, maybe, but I have other things on my mind right now. Things that are better than just jewels."
"Where'd Eggman go?" Sonic asked Tails.
The blond shrugged. "He probably left while we were all focused on you and Shadow."
He chuckled. "Well, good for him. We're all too tired to go after him, plus he did help us in the end. We'll catch him one day, little bud!"
The boy grinned, his bright blue eyes squinting with happiness as his big brother was safe.
Amy opened her mouth to speak, but paused, her brows narrowing as she cautiously thought through her words. "Sonic? Are you alright?"
"Huh? Of course I am."
"No, I meant…" Her voice softened. "Are you alright with what happened? To Shadow."
He gave her an uneasy smile. "It's hard, Ames, when you lose someone, but I'm fine! I promise. We just have to keep moving forward, is all. We'll remember him as he was, though. A hero." She gave him a doubtful look. "I'm fine," he insisted with a wider smile. "Now, let's all go home, okay?"
The group nodded, and exited the room. Sonic purposely walked slower than the others, stopping at the doorway and looking back with his head over his shoulder. Out the window he could see the expanse of space; the place where he last saw the darker Mobian.
He subconsciously placed a hand over his wrist, the one where a golden bracelet was concealed by his glove. A sad smile graced his lips as his eyes began to sting.
"Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."
A/N: And that concludes CCF!
...
Just kidding. There's still a lot to delve into. I will upload the next chapter this upcoming week and then take my break. More info on that next chapter.
Once again, the girls are the ones that save the world. Rouge lured Knuckles by taking the Master Emerald and Amy reminded Shadow of his inner feelings. You go girls.
Yes, I did combine the SA2 fight scene with the one in the series finale of Sonic X. Because why not? It adds romance.
See ya next time when these losers gotta go back to school and a certain someone has to cope with loss.