Free Will

Shadow and Metal flew down and landed. Metal began to talk.

"Ok then, this is where you begin to lose. Oh yeah, and don't stretch this fight out. When you're put down, stay down."

"We'll see who goes down first!"

Shadow flew and threw a left hook. Metal jumped up and began kicking at Shadow's head. Shadow dodged them as he jumped back. He then jumped towards Metal and kicked him in the face. Metal quickly did a back flip and upper-cut Shadow with his tail. Shadow flew back and landed on his feet, losing balance a bit. They looked at each other.

"Man!" Shadow thought. "That little tail whip did more damage than I thought. I gotta watch out for that."

Charmy, Vector and Rouge kept talking to each other as the aliens became impatient. Rouge and Vector stepped up.

"We're going to fight." Vector said. "The bee stays out, and so do you two." Doom laughed.

"You fools, no matter how many rules you make to your advantage, we will not be defeated. I'm not a person to follow rules, but I suppose it could be a good use of time. Until then, I will let my army loose on this planet, so that it will be conquered when this is over."

"No!" Rouge yelled. "Leave the planet alone!"

"Silence! I will do as I please." As soon as Black Doom raised his hand, a humongous black cloud formed a distance behind them. The sky turned red as a bunch of aliens fell from the huge hole.

"Ixuma, I want them dead! And make it quick!"

"Yes sir!"

Rouge and Vector ran towards Ixuma. They both attacked while Ixuma blocked their attacks, breaking a few sweats. They both went behind him and threw a punch. Ixuma ducked and kicked Vector in the chin. He then grabbed Rouge by the neck and punched her. He flew into the sky with them following.

"Fools. Attacking without a plan. I'll teach them."

Ixuma flew down towards them with his arms out. He got them in each arm and slammed them into the ground. Charmy became surprised.

"Vector! Rouge!"

Ixuma jumped back as Vector and Rouge slowly got up.

"This isn't working! Rouge, do you have any strategies we could work with?" Rouge wiped her face.

"Yeah, but it takes a lot out of me. Just give me some time to charge my Screw Attack and I'll leave a permanent mark in that freak."

"Screw Attack? You haven't made any new techniques during the last two years?"

"Just trust me! It's different this time. Keep him busy until I'm ready." Vector had a doubtful look on his face, but prepared himself for the alien.

Shadow flew at Metal and threw a series of punches and kicks. Metal dodged them all and flew around as Shadow followed and attacked. Metal grabbed his leg with his tail and flew towards the ground. As soon as he was about to throw him into the dirt, Shadow grabbed Metal's tail and kicked him in the back. Metal was sent so fast towards the ground, his tail detached from his body. Metal hit the ground and yelled as his tail melted in Shadow's hands.

"You fool! You'll pay for that!"

Metal regenerated his tail, flew up and started attacking Shadow. He struggled to block Metal's fast attacks. Shadow threw a punch, but Metal moved and kicked him away. He appeared in Shadow's path and punched him towards the ground. Before he even hit it, Metal kneed Shadow in the back and slapped him towards the ground again with his tail. Metal grabbed Shadow by the neck and threw him. As Shadow was soaring, Metal appeared under him.

"What's wrong. You were doing great earl-"

Shadow threw his elbow into Metal's face. He pinned him to the ground and started punching Metal in the gut and face. He jumped up and kicked Metal in the chin. Metal slid against the ground and jumped up. They stood across from each other.

"WHY AREN'T YOU TIRING OUT?"

Shadow flew towards Metal into a boulder. He threw a punch, but Metal disappeared. He reappeared and kicked Shadow across his face. He kneed Shadow in the back of his head with his left knee, then in the face with his right. He then slapped him with his tail and kicked him, sending him into another rock. When the dust cleared, Shadow was still lying on the ground.

Vector ran towards Ixuma and threw a punch. Ixuma blocked it and began dodging and blocking Vector's attacks. Rouge began powering up, her boots beginning to glow. Ixuma used a small chance to hit Vector, and once he did, he continued attacking. He kicked Vector and sent him into a mountain. Vector flew up and charged an energy attack from his mouth.

"You weakling. You couldn't even land a hit on me and yet you plan on wasting your energy? Let me show you what you're up against."

Vector fired the beam from his mouth. Ixuma stood straight up and put his hand out. The beam hit his hand and caused a huge explosion, but when the dust cleared, he still stood undamaged at all. He looked at his hand.

"I'm surprised. That burned." He looked up at Vector.

"Time to fry!"

Ixuma threw a blast directly at Vector. Vector put his arms up to block it, but it wasn't enough. There was a flash of light as it made impact. Vector fell towards the ground, badly burned.

"Vector!" Charmy screamed.

As soon as Vector hit the ground, Ixuma flew up to him and put his foot on his chest, crushing him.

"Say good-bye to your friends, earthling!"

Vector continued screaming in pain. Rouge finally finished charging.

"Ok, now I can let him have it." Rouge jumped and began spinning. She suddenly became a small purple tornado with a sharp point. She headed for Ixuma.

"Take this!" Charmy yelled. Vector turned his head a bit and saw Charmy heading towards them.

"Charmy, no! Stay back!"

Charmy head-butted Ixuma in the back of his head. Ixuma stumbled a bit as Rouge flew straight past him. Vector became mad.

"Ch-Charmy! I said not to… interfere! You made Rouge miss!" Charmy looked down.

"I'm…sorry." They suddenly heard Rouge yell.

"Hey! I can't stop spinning until I hit something! Keep that creep still!" Vector slowly got up.

"Charmy, STAY BACK!"

Vector ran towards Ixuma. Ixuma punched Vector in the gut. Vector fell to the ground as Ixuma faced Rouge, who was heading towards him.

"I DARE you to come towards me." He put his hands out to stop Rouge when Vector suddenly grabbed him from behind.

"Hey! Let go of me!" Ixuma yelled as he struggled to get free. Vector bit Ixuma on his shoulder, weakening Ixuma's struggle. Rouge was heading straight for him.

"Vector! Move out of the way before I hit you BOTH!" Vector smiled.

"Do it."

"WHAT?" Charmy yelled.

"If I let go even a split second before impact, he'll dodge it. It's…the only way."

"Fool! You'd sacrifice yourself just to stop ME? What a waste!" Vector chuckled a bit.

"Not to stop you, you bastard, for the planet. Rouge, now!"

Rouge screwed herself straight into Ixuma's stomach and came out of Vector's back. Charmy screamed as they both hit the ground, blood pouring out of their bodies. Charmy ran to Vector as Rouge stopped spinning in mid-air.

"Vector, why?"

"Don't worry, kid. I'll live a little while longer. If Espio comes back in time to stop these beings,he can take me to Tails' lab to get healed."

"No, I'll take you now." Vector groaned.

"No. Rouge needs you. Help her. Espio will be here soon. I promise."

Tails was on the computer, but he was typing slowly, tired from all of the work. A screen came up that quickly caught his attention.

"Finally! It's ready!"

Tails hit the enter button. Suddenly, the tank Sonic was trapped in began to release the water that was still inside. Sonic was taking a nap when he heard water leaking. He opened his eyes and noticed the water draining, along with everything beginning to move back to normal speed.

"He must have done it. I'm gonna be free!"

Steam began to build up to weaken the barrier that kept Sonic prisoner. Sonic looked at Tails, eager to get out when he suddenly saw an alien jump in the window. The alien knocked Tails into his computer and began charging a blast.

"Tails, no! Stupid barrier, open up!"

The steam stopped building up. As soon as a red light flashed around the room along with a loud siren, Sonic knew it was time.

"I'm free!" He quickly put his hand out and shot a blast through the barrier, destroying the alien that was in its path. Tails looked at the chamber.

"Sonic?" He looked as a figure walked out of the chamber. It walked up to Tails and put its hand out.

"You alright?" Tails smiled and began to cry.

"Sonic!" Tails jumped up and hugged Sonic.

"Sonic, I missed you so much! Everyone missed you!" Tails suddenly became surprised. "Everyone…"

"What? What's wrong?" Tails sadly looked at Sonic.

"Everyone's mad at you. Because of you, Metal's been wreaking havoc everywhere! He's absorbed Chaos and the emeralds, and now he's invincible!"

"What?" Sonic became angry.

"Where is he now?" Tails shrugged.

"I don't know." Sonic sat down in anger.

"When I get my hands on him-"

"It doesn't matter, anyway." Sonic looked at Tails, confused.

"What do you mean?" Tails sighed.

"I mean, I heard that you didn't get ANY training done. Everyone's been getting stronger while you were in that tank. They've gotten a LOT stronger than you, but they still couldn't win. You have no chance." Sonic smiled.

"But that's the thing. I DO have a chance! I've been training in that tank for the LONGEST time, but I've reached levels I never thought existed! I'll show Metal!" Tails smiled.

"I knew you'd be ready somehow!"

Shadow slowly got up in pain, trying to ignore it. He panted and panted as he thought what he could try next.

"Ok, he knows about my Chaos Spear. So that's considered useless," Shadow thought to himself. He continued panting until he finally got an idea.

"That it! Time to pull out the big gun! I just hope it destroys him for good."