Cold-hearted Metal

Chapter 21

Amy started to pant as her battle against Zero continued. After blocking his last punch, Zero backed away from Amy. Amy lowered her Piko Piko Hammer, but still maintained her guard.

"You're pretty fast, aren't you?" Zero said. "I'm quite surprised that you kept up with me."

Amy kept quiet and tightened her grip on her hammer. Then Zero raised his arms, getting ready to attack her again.

"I hope that you can keep up with this."

Zero started to rotate his arms as they extended, reaching almost the length of the room. An electric current surrounded zero's arms. Amy tried to dodge his arms by running around the room in a circle, but one of Zero's arms was gaining on her. Just as it was about to catch up to her, Amy performed her double jump move and headed towards Zero. She then attacked him with a golf swing from her hammer. Zero was thrown high towards a wall, and just as he bounced off, Amy quickly pursued Zero and gave him another blow. Zero was sent hitting the ground. Amy then gracefully landed across the room. Zero slowly got back up and turned to face her.

"You're fighting a lot better than the last time we've met." Zero said to her. "Why is that? You're nothing but a weak child."

"Is that so?" Amy said. She shot an evilish grin at Zero. "Well, you could say that I'm a fast learner."

"Then I guess you weren't fast enough to learn this trick."

Amy got confused. Before she had time to react, her arms were caught unexpectedly by Zero's arms, and she was then hung on the wall. Zero's arms were still connected to him by a long extension cord. Amy struggled to brake free, but Zero immediately charged at her with a Paralyze Dagger coming from his chest. Amy screamed in pain as she was being electrocuted. Zero then retracted his arms, releasing Amy from his grip.

Amy fell flat on her stomach. She had never felt that kind of pain before. Amy had trouble standing back up but when she finally did, Zero was dashing towards her and delivered another blow. Amy was pushed back to the wall again as she felt something pierce her chest. Amy's face had shown only shock and fear. Her body quivered as she saw a sharp drill in her chest that came from Zero. When Zero took out the drill, Amy slowly fell to her knees, letting go of her Piko Piko Hammer, and clutching her shoulders. Drips of blood were staining her red dress and coat, as it was also slowly forming a puddle on the ground.

"It saddens me," Zero said to her. "You were quite an admirable foe. I will leave you to your death. Farewell, Amy Rose."

Zero then exited the room. Amy didn't know what to think. She felt colder within every passing moment as she lay on the ground. Amy desperately tried to cry out for help, but she barely had the strength to speak. She breathed heavily as a few words came out of her mouth.

"Please...someone...help me..."

Amy's Piko Piko Hammer lay beside her. As soon as Amy's words were said, her hammer suddenly glowed with a familiar radiant, warm light. As it shun brighter, the hammer changed from yellow and red to green and red. It also grew larger in size. After the Piko Piko Hammer transformed, it began to generate an enormous amount of energy. At the same time, the hammer had also began to pulse. The energy that was being gathered had formed a path of light that led outside of the room.

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Walking in the depths of the base was none other than Shadow. He had been investigating parts of the base, when he suddenly had a chill down his spine. He could sense something, an aura of some kind. Shadow turned around and immediately saw a stream of light coming his way. He braced himself as it came closer to him. But when he came into contact with it, Shadow could see a vision that made his fur stand on end.

Shadow saw Amy lying on the ground in a small puddle of blood. He saw how she was gasping for air; the way she was curled up as if she was freezing. That image then disappeared.

Shadow had the same feeling he had when he was at the park. He was stunned. Then that stream of light caught his attention. He didn't know why, but he instinctively felt like he was supposed to follow it. Without another second to waste, Shadow dashed violently along that path of light.

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Suddenly things seemed to get very cold and dark for Amy. Feeling tired and weak, Amy slowly closed her eyes as she gradually began to lose both consciousness and hope.

Then the door opened from across the room. Shadow entered the room, shocked at the sight in front of him. He quickly ran to Amy's side, kneeling down and gently and carefully holding her body in his arms.

"Amy," he said. "Amy, wake up."

Amy blinked and slowly opened her eyes. She could see Shadow's face close to her head. Amy gave him a soft smile.

"...Shadow..." her gentle voice seemed more like a faint whisper. "I'm sorry..."

'Sorry?' Shadow thought. 'Sorry for what?'

He saw Amy closing her eyes, and she started to breathe harder than before. Shadow held her tighter, closer to his chest. Some drips of blood were staining his white fur. Shadow continued to stare at Amy's face. She looked so frail and unhappy. It's been so long since Shadow had ever felt a feeling of sadness and loss. He gently placed his hand on the back of Amy's head, and slightly pushing it to the side of his head.

"Amy," he whispered in her ear. "Don't give up on me. I...I can't lose you now."

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The Egg Arachnid fell to the ground as the last of its legs were destroyed. Tails had finally defeated Eggman's contraption.

"That little brat destroyed my Egg Arachnid!" Eggman said. His Hover Egg then separated from the Egg Arachnid and backed a few feet away. Tails took a couple of steps forward.

"You're leaving so soon, Eggman?" Tails said to him, getting his Energy Ball ready.

Eggman snuck something from behind him and threw it at the wall across from him. Tails turned around to see what it was.

"I'd be more worried about what will happen in the next 15 minutes, boy."

Tails then noticed what Eggman threw on the wall was a dynamite pack. He looked at Eggman's direction and saw that he was no longer there. He escaped. Tails took another glance at the dynamite pack; it said that it was set to explode in 15 minutes.

"I've got to find Sonic and the others before the whole place blows up."

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Sonic had a couple of scratches around his body. He had been fighting with Metal Sonic as if they were just doing an easy exercise. Metal Sonic also had some scratch marks around him. Both of them stood apart from each other.

Then there was a beeping sound coming from Metal Sonic's body.

"Metal Sonic, where are you?" It was Eggman's voice. "Hurry and get back right now before this whole place blows up with you in it!"

"Blows up!?!" Sonic yelled.

Metal Sonic then backed away from Sonic and dashed out into another area, leaving Sonic behind. Sonic looked around to find another exit.

"I've got to find Tails and the others, and get them out of here, fast!"

TO BE CONTINUED