...can anybody explain the name of the chapter? hehehhehe.
I don't understand why the anonymous reviewer needed to be anonymous to review. I won't throttle you for posting a comment on what you think about the story. I need the criticism, honey. In no way, shape or form will I ever attack someone because they criticize my story. It's their opinion, and I take it into consideration as I write a new chapter or look at the older ones in hopes of improving them.
Anyways, just wanted to get that out :D
Also, I'm one week late and I'm very sorry. The Dark Sonic Act is just so damn difficult to do :( Updating will pick up now, as will the Sonadow fluffiness.
[Sonic's Mindscape]
The mental landscape shuddered ominously as the opposite forces collided in a resounding explosion that send shards of golden plates flying across the air. Spires of obsidian misery exploded left and right. The two opponent charged at each other again and again, the cobalt creature's green eyes filled with determination as white orbs filled with malice glimmered from the shadows.
The fight was vicious; neither of the hedgehogs held back. More than once Sonic tried to disembowel his other half with a deadly spindash, and each time the creature would laugh and nimbly leap aside, avoiding the projectile covered in razor sharp spines with a ease so familiar to the young hero. This was a battle, true, but at its bare essential the two halves were simply trying to maul each other until one of them died or admitted defeat.
As stubborn as they were, the later option was slim, and both knew that there would be only one outcome to this after the events that just transpired.
Sonic let out a bellowing war cry as he burst through a cloud of dust and slammed into his darker self at top speed. The momentum sent the two of them sprawling across the decayed platform, the sharp, cracked tiles of gold digging into their unprotected flesh. The hedgehogs fell into a ball of black and blue, snarling and growling as powerful kicks, swift punches and vicious bites filled with fangs were dealt upon the flesh of the other. Sharp nails dug deeply into their skin, leaving long red marks as they drew copious amounts of blood.
Dark laughed as his lighter half managed to sink his knee into his stomach; the creature was uncaring of the bruise that blossomed on his taunt torso as he wrapped his hands around a cobalt neck and held on tightly as the other struggled, emerald eyes widening slightly as the lack of air. Fawn arms rose and grasped the wrists of their enemy, desperate to dislodge the death grip the ebony male had on his vulnerable neck.
The other's strength was terrifying, but unfortunately for Dark, he had forgotten something. While his hands were occupied trying to choke the life out of the young hero, Sonic's weren't. As such, the enraged azure speedster decided to take advantage of the monster's brief lapse in judgement by stabbing his fingers into the other's left eye.
The black hedgehog howled in agony at the spiteful act, hands flying up to protect his remaining eye only for the said hands to flare with pain as the Blue Blur raised his upper torso up and brutally slammed his forehead against the other's makeshift barrier, breaking several of Dark's fingers with the sheer strength of the move. This sent the blinded male tumbling off the sapphire hybrid, to which a slightly dazed Sonic used to get back on his feet.
For once in his life, Dark was faced with true pain. It made the beast furious.
"YoU'rE GoING to pAy fOR thAt!" The ebony speedster howled as he searched for the other with his remaining eye. Black claws gleamed under the light of the broken golden floor as they stabbed towards Sonic who couldn't dodge well it time and managed to tear a small chunk off his shoulder.
The hero however was well acquitted with pain, unlike his counterpart, and merely hissed in discomfort as he circled around the other, his sore throat an ominous reminder of his opponent's monstrous strength. In a way, this was like fighting Shadow. Knuckles was extremely strong, even more than the black and red hedgehog, but Ogilvie was more relatable to the Ultimate Lifeform due to his combination of brute strength and incredible speed.
I have to play smart and dodge well. Sonic thought with a frown as he watched the other swipe at the air wildly with his talons in the hope of gutting him with the serrated razors. He remembered all of his fights against Shadow well enough, and hoped that the knowledge would prove to be useful. While his rival matched him in speed, the azure's reflexes were far greater, not to mention he was more smaller and more nimble than the bio-engineered hedgehog. His ability to confuse and disorient his opponents with quick speed and a sharp tongue was what often won his matches against Shadow -if the black hedgehog didn't manage to pin him down before the cobalt hero could tire him down.
Dark was just as strong as the Ultimate Lifeform, and just as fast...but unlike the ebony male, his movements weren't refined. Wild, uncoordinated, and worse of all unpredictable. Staying in range of those flailing clawed hands clad in black miasma was a death sentence.
"GeT baCK HErE, BitCh!" Sonic watched in silence as the single, crazed white eye darted around, struggling to find him as the pain left Dark unfocused. The creature was hitting the air around him like a rabid animal, desperate to inflict pain upon the young hybrid. His left eye had been burst open, crystal clear liquid and thick rotting blood flowing out from within the empty, hollow socket. The sight painted a nightmarish picture for the Blue Blur, one who would surely haunt him for years.
The blue hero stepped around his brethren, careful to stay clear of the thing's razor sharp claws. Unfortunately, Sonic forgot that like any normal being on the planet, he made noise when he walked. The broken platform beneath his feet cracked under the light weight of his body, gaining the attention of his opponent.
The twitch of a single black ear was his only warning as Dark suddenly appeared right in front of him, hateful pale eye zeroed on the cobalt hedgehog. Sonic dove aside just in time as Dark's hands began glowing brighter with Negative Chaos, enhancing the already monstrous strength of the other. The black being rushed after him with a bloodthirsty grin gracing his pale lips.
The cerulean speedster mimicked his enemy's forming technique, fawn limbs alight with different shades of carmine as he spun around gracefully and met his counterpart head on. Dark was unable -or too stubborn- to redirect his charge and was met with a fistful of Neutral Chaos to the face.
Sonic wouldn't deny that the resounding crunch was satisfying.
The punch to the stomach he received for his troubles however was a completely different story.
Gasping for air, the cobalt hedgehog tumbled to the ground; he barely rolled away as Dark tried to stab him with his claws. Scrambling to his feet, he ran away from the partially blinded monster. The young hero struggled to ignore the urge to throw up. The last thing he needed was the bastard coming after him again.
How the hell did he get back up so quickly...?! The flailing Chaos-clad fists grazed his back as he turned around and leaped away from danger. Sonic curled in midair before suddenly changing his trajectory, slamming into Dark's chest and sending the ebony male sliding back with a startled cry of anger. The Blue Blur did not wait for the other to retaliate however, landing on his feet and spinning around, dealing a devastating kick to the beast's face.
I need to find a way to end him. Now. Sonic breathed harshly through his nose as he backed away, struggling to get oxygen back in his lungs. His stomach felt as if it was on fire. That punch had been more damaging than he had thought. Dark's strength was monumental. Just his luck. I'm not made for long battles. Well, not unless he continuously used Twilight's Chaos, but with the revelation of why he was created, he didn't think it was a good idea to try now. Especially with the wyrm being trapped beneath the active Seal.
Wait.
Twilight.
Emerald eyes made sure of the location of their owner's opponent before shifting upwards, to the bigger platform that sat precariously between two thick, twisting spires. The Crimson Flame lay upon the decayed floor. A wing had been freed from the active Seal, and the ruby jaws were clamp shut upon a thick chain of shimmering symbols, hopelessly chewing at the powerful runes as if it expected them to suddenly shatter despite the hundreds of years it had repeated the fruitless action over and over again.
"WheRe ARe yOu?" He looked at the shrieking Dark, wincing as the other stomped on the platform in frustration like a rampaging elephant. The structure shook under the power of the creature, delicate golden plates breaking off around the edges of the construct before falling into the abyss below.
If he timed it correctly...
The idea he was having was suicidal and relied on good timing, but meh. He had gone up against Eggman's most powerful robots with less baked plans than this one. Sonic lost count of all the times he had given Tails a heart attack with his carelessness. He distinctively remembered being buried alive by the remains of a gigantic battle machine once and when Knuckles dug him out, the echidna had stared him in the eye before punching him across the face, nearly breaking his neck in the progress. The bastard then threw him over his shoulder and hurried towards the hospital, ignoring Tails' disapproving glare.
His nose still itched at the memory.
Distraction was the key. I have to keep him completely focused on me. Sonic's eyes narrowed as he lunged forwards at his opponent, quickly dropping low and swiping a slender leg beneath the darker male. Dark Sonic collapsed with a startled cry of rage, one that quickly turned into grunt as the Blue Blur slammed his elbow down onto the creature's stomach with as much strength as he could muster, knocking the air out of him. Before the ebony demon could lash out however, the azure hedgehog scrambled away, not wanting to be caught the beast's monstrous strength.
The last thing Sonic was expecting was for the other to laugh.
"HaHa! I kNEw iT!" Dark laid there in the crater he had made, crackling like a madman despite the blood rushing down his face from his hollow orbit. "I blOoDy weLL KNew It!" He turned his head towards the cobalt hero, their gaze connecting together, insane white with startled emerald. Sonic backtracked away from the fallen being, surprised by both his counterpart's words and the wide, bloodied grin the beast was giving him.
"What do you mean by that?" The young hissed as he eyed the monster he had created.
"It'S qUITe siMPLe, yoU FOol." Dark's smirk widened, a expression that was unsettling and nightmarish with the paleness of his skin and the blood caking his obsidian fur. "HoW AggRESsive yOu haVe BECoMe..." A single hand rose, sharp claws digging into the hollow eyeball. "SuCH PAiN YoU iNfliCTed uPOn mE..." Sonic recoiled at the sight, but his opponent merely smiled as he trailed his fingers against the edges of the torn eye. "We aREN't vERy difFEreNt, AREn't wE? ThE Gaia iNstiNCts rUN STroNg wItHIn yOU. EvEn iF YoU trIED tO HIdE iT."
"Like hell! I'm far from a psychopath!"
"Are YOu?" Dark replied with a loud crackle. "YOU mAde ME, diDN'T you?" The thing shrugged nonchalantly. "It'S gOTta meAN SOmethINg." At the comment Sonic let out a frustrated snarl.
"I'm nothing like you."
"MaYBe yOu're riGHt." The creature gave him a sickening smile, pearly teeth clad red with blood. "I'm bETTer." Dark was suddenly in front of him, fist connecting with Sonic's face with a resounding crunch. The blue hedgehog was sent tumbling across the decayed platform, barely able to dodge the set of sharp claws that tried to tear him to ribbons. He ran away, a blur of obsidian trailing after the speedster, struggling to follow him with it's missing eye.
"Can't much better!" The azure hero mocked his opponent with a sing song voice. "After all, you can't even catch up to me!" The threatening hiss and the Negative Chaos gathering around Dark was enough of a answer. Gathering carmine Chaos around his forearms, Sonic dove towards his counterpart, who did the same.
The explosion caused upon contact of the two opponent snapped the platform they were standing on in half; while Dark had a advantage with the higher amount of Chaos he possessed, the feral and untameable nature of Neutral Chaos won the battle. Momentarily free of its owner's will due to the surprise of the lack of floor beneath him, the crimson energy lunged towards the black miasma, swallowing the glowing mass before turning it's attention to the ebony male with the pale eye.
Dark Sonic tried to get away, but the volatile Chaos managed to catch his left arm before he could fully dodge the ruby mist, and Sonic could only watch with surprised eyes as, with a nauseous snap, the creature's forearm was torn away and dissolved by the malignant Chaos. Dark landed on his back against one of the broken spires, growling lowly as he struggled to rise. Sable fumes came from the stump that had once been an arm, and it's owner was snarling as he tried to stand, frame flickering as the energy that made him up became unstable.
The sight was revolting for Sonic, who landed a few feet away from his counterpart with an unreadable expression on his face. The hero felt conflicted, torn between helping the monster of putting him out of his misery.
(He knew there was only one outcome for this. The creature wasn't even real. He shouldn't be feeling bad for it.)
It had to be eliminated.
"You know..." Sonic breathed out softly as he watched the other try to stop the coal-shaded mist from leaking out of his missing forearm. Dark merely glared, his death stare promising unending agony upon the cobalt hybrid. "...you're right, in a weird twisted sense." The fiend's glare deepened. "There are many things that makes us similar."
"LikE WhaT?!" The ebony monster snapped as he eyed his bloody stump, irritated and in agony. The white eye turned back to his less injured counterpart, giving the exhausted blue hedgehog a vicious glower.
"For starters," Sonic began with a light smile, ignoring what the creature said with a tired grin that soon became smug for the entity's liking. "...I also sometimes forget how many people I'm fighting against." He laughed as the creature's fallen stance stiffened. "It kind of bites you in the ass when you least expect it, don't you think?"
A pale eye widened as Dark struggled to rise from his fallen position, but by then it was too late.
Sonic took a step back and, a fraction of a second later, a ruby red fist the size of a small building mercilessly slammed down on the ebony hedgehog, reducing the foul creature into a bloody smear.
xxxxxxxx
[Mobius, Main G.U.N. Base]
"Shadow!"
Later on, when she was safe and recovering from her injuries at a hospital, Rouge would refuse to admit she had cried out in exhausted relief as a familiar black hedgehog came into view. The Ultimate had used Chaos Control to teleport himself to the surface of Angel Island; he was using his hover shoes to fly down the side of the floating isle, carmine orbs darting around scanning their surroundings in search of their owner's injured companion.
Now the Ultimate Lifeform had found her, he noticed with anger that the female bat looked even worse than she had sounded. Her injured leg was not battered. It had been ruthlessly crushed, black and blue bruises littering the torn appendage and the upper half of her boot was missing, shredded to ribbons when it's owner had been attacked. Bone could be seen within the mess of broken flesh. The rest of her body didn't look better off. Her wings lay limp against her back, bleeding heavily from multiple lacerations. She was in no condition to fly. Her face was as white as her fur, with the bat's veins sticking out due to the pallor of her skin.
Shadow knew he had to get her medical attention. Now.
Carefully maneuvering himself closer to the old root she had taken refuge on, the black and red hedgehog took care to not burn the said vegetation with the fire of his shoes. "Stay still." The ebony warrior commanded as Rouge squirmed slightly, the winds digging their icy claws into her exposed flesh.
The jewel thief hissed as the Black Arm hybrid began to lift her off the withered root. As careful as Shadow was trying to be, the slightest movements caught her nerves on fire. "Easier said than done." The bat hissed as her leg screamed in agony. It took a considerable amount of effort for Rouge to stifle the howl of pain, bitting the inside of her cheek in a effort to not cry out.
"If you weren't so reckless you wouldn't be in pain." Shadow muttered as he cradled the winged mobian with care. "Why the hell didn't you try to escape, stupid woman?"
"Not my fault." Rouge mumbled against his chest fur. "He came out of nowhere. Fucking stupid egoistical hedgehogs and their fucking impossible speed." She nuzzled against the pale fur decorating his torso and purred. "My, now I know why Sonic loves hugging you. You're the ultimate pillow."
Shadow pointedly ignored the jab at his strange relationship with the Blue Blur -not to mention the cringe-worthy pun (he blamed the blood lost for that, because there was no way Rouge would say something as stupid...hopefully) Choosing instead to pull out his Chaos Emerald, the ebony male tightened his hold over his bleeding companion. With a soft mutter of Chaos Control, the black and red hedgehog and his friend were whisked away, appearing in a brilliant flash of light in front of the closest GUN base.
"I need a medic!" In any other situation, the Ultimate Lifeform would have been amused by the way the nearby humans scattered at the sound of his voice, panicking as they noticed the blood staining his figure and the quivering creature in his arms.
Now, however, it only served to irritate him. He barked out his need for medical experts once more, this time with a bit more venom in his voice. This time the white-clad humans came running -with a stretcher. Shadow was surprised that they knew how to use one. He deposited his charge onto the transportable white bed, wincing as the pale sheet was quickly painted red by Rouge's blood.
With his friend in the -mostly- capable hands of the humans, Shadow turned around to leave, but found himself unable. He was prevented from doing so by a blood-stained hand suddenly grasping onto his left wrist with surprising strength. Shadow turned around and was greeted with the sight of his companion clinging onto his arm as if her life depended on it, ignoring the three humans who were struggling to get her back on the stretcher. No matter how much the sapiens tried to get her to let go, the injured female stubbornly refused to relinquish her hold.
She was stating up at him, aquamarine eyes glassy and unfocused, but still retaining a hard glint. "E-Emerald...he has to be after the Emerald." Rouge managed to wheeze out, struggling to speak as her body began shutting down. "Knuckles..."
Her hold began to slacken and Shadow immediately grasped her by the arms as she collapsed from blood lost. He handed the unconscious bat over back to the humans with a warning glare that promised unending agony if they didn't take care of her before turning around and pulling a familiar carmine stone out of his quills.
"Chaos Control!"
It looked like he had an echidna to save.
xxxxxxxx
[Sonic's Mindscape]
"I didn't think you would go with overkill."
Go fuck Shadow. The winged titan growled, disgruntled. It shook its paw like a cat that had accidentally grazed water with its claws, sneering as the obsidian substance sticking to it's talons began sliding down it's hide, staining it a viscous ebony black. Sonic barely twitched at the hissed insult. The cobalt hedgehog was too tired for that -not to mention it wasn't the first time the Twilight Manacle mocked him like this. He had it coming.
"Aren't you rude today." Sonic quipped as he sauntered over to the creature's side, wincing slightly as he watched his grumpy tenant shake it's stained paw in a effort to get rid of the glimmering slime that had once been Dark Sonic. As happy as he was that his body was safe and his own once more, the young hero felt a bit of guilt at the sight of his opponent's remains. "And liquefying him under your fat behind isn't exactly a dignified death." Well, at least it had been quick. The bastard probably noticed the giant fist coming at him at the last moment. Good riddance.
The Twilight Manacle merely grumbled at his sly response. The ruby jaws slowly opened and a familiar cracking sound was heard as Neutral Chaos began surging from the being's throat in the form of mist-like fire, coating the contaminated hand. Sonic watched with interest as his companion began to burn off the remains of his darker mirror, making sure that none of the rotting matter was left behind. The last thing they needed was for the tumor to harvest their Chaos energy and grow back.
With the task complete, Twilight let it's paw fall back down and closed it's mouth with a soft click. The creature turned its head towards the young blue hedgehog at it's side, who was ridiculously tiny next to it's true form. Sonic stood there, a expecting look gracing his features.
This is where the Crimson Flame hesitated. It was one thing fighting together against a common enemy, it was another living together after what the dark creature had revealed.
"I don't blame you, you know." Pale eyes blinked owlishly. Looking down, the great beast noticed how Sonic was looking over his mindscape thoughtfully. What? Had it heard the blue hedgehog correctly?
How can you do that? The Manacle hissed softly as it lowered a hand, gently petting the cobalt hero with the sharp claws. Sonic stumbled as the gigantic hand pressed closer to his body, but instead of pushing the creature away he merely lay against the ruby palm, content with the familiarity of the act. The wyrm scooped him up with ease and raised him to eye level, so green could greet pale gold. You're going to die. I don't know how, I don't know when, but it will happen. Because of me. The entity let out a quiet trill. You have friends. You have Shadow. You will lose them because of my selfishness.
"It's simple enough." The azure youth replied with a soft mutter. "You worked with GUN to create me. I don't blame you -I can only imagine what you're going through. You need others to survive. You were once a free being, now you're just a shell of your past self." Sonic turned towards to his companion, and gave the winged giant one of the most beautiful and sincere smiles the immortal entity had ever seen.
"The fact is, I don't blame you for wanting to be free. In fact, I'm happy that you went through all this trouble to make me. I wouldn't have met all my friends, and who knows how many times Eggman managed to blow up both himself and Mobius?" Sonic then did something unexpected. He giggled, leaning down and gently petting the smooth hand he was laying on. "I thank you for the time you gave me, even if it is borrowed."
Twilight wondered how many times would the child take it's voice away.
I don't understand how you can say that. The beast lowered its head to the hedgehog's eye level. In all of my years, I've never encountered someone as forgiving as you. The giant's wings lowered slightly. You are truly the most beautiful being I have ever encountered.
"Just do one thing for me." Sonic said with quiet voice.
What is it?
"Protect them." Once again, the emerald eyes were meeting it's own, painfully bright and magnificent in their intensity. "Protect Mobius in my place. Don't let the Gaias win."
Wise words...when the Seal breaks, I'll honour your request. Twilight agreed with a small nod, letting it's snout brush against the minuscule hedgehog. Sonic leaned into the touch, jade eyes sliding shut as he savored the comforting gesture. But I think you'll live long enough to encounter your parents.
"Might as well go out with a bang."
Huh. The creature hummed. You do realize that requires more training, don't you?
The horrified look the cobalt hedgehog gave the wyrm was a satisfying sight.
xxxxxxxxx
[Mobius, Angel Island]
"Get offa me!"
"Geez, you sound as if I'm about to rape you."
Knuckles couldn't help but choke at the creature's ridiculous words.
Was the damn thing taunting him?! The echidna snarled and shrieked in fury, redoubling his efforts to escape -only to become as still as a statue as he felt a sharp claw graze the right side of his neck. It was a light pressure, one the scarlet warrior wouldn't have registered had he not been as trained as he was. It seemed innocent enough, a mere caress poised over one of his major arteries, but Knuckles understood the meaning hidden within the small touch.
One move, and the claw would sink into his flesh.
Brute force was out the window, then. As much as he disliked his current vulnerability, the Guardian wasn't stupid enough to risk getting decapitated.
"What do you want?" Knuckles grunted out as he glowered at the being sitting atop of him. He could hear a faint ruffling, a shift in the air, not unlike when Rouge opened her wings.
"That's your question?" The thing tutted with amusement clear in it's voice. "My, how pathetic. You see..." The claw dug into his fur, more present than ever. Knuckles barely restrained himself from flinching -and potentially stabbing himself with the sudden movement. "...its kind of obvious. Nobody wastes hours of flying just to admire the sights. No." The creature laughed. "We're here to take big, green and bright home."
Wait.
We?!
The sudden shift in the air startled him out of his thoughts. Glancing around, the carmine echidna was left gaping as a wilder, more feral version of Super Sonic landed atop of the stairs of the Shrine, whirlwind ruby eyes glimmering with amusement. The creature smiled down at him, entertained by the irritated scowl on the red male's face.
"The female has been taken care of." The beast with the golden fur intoned with a rumble, sharp-toothed grin broadening. "Are you going to finish him, or can I have the little shit? I didn't even get time to have fun with the bitch." The red eyes narrowed, and the sadistic smirk turned into a scowl. "The whore didn't even scream well."
Knuckles' eyes widened.
She...?
Oh Chaos.
Rouge.
He suddenly started thrashing around like a madman, uncaring of his captor's irate hiss and the talon digging threateningly into his neck. He managed to wiggle an arm free, but it was swiftly caught by his opponent's clawed hand. Sharp nail dug into his wrist as they pinned the offending limb down onto the marble floor, cracking the stone lightly in the process.
"Stop it already! What are you, a bull?!" Dryagan hissed as he struggled to rein in the mortal. Dammit, this wasn't easy. He felt glad that the echidnas weren't as much of a widespread race as they had been. The plan would have gone to shit if Angel Island was still populated...
"I think I broke him." His idiotic partner commented with a lopsided grin as he eyed his companion's current problem with an amused look. "Pity. It only took a few words and he's done." Almost to empathize the immortal's point, Knuckles let out a bellowing roar and managed to free his left arm free before stabbing his spiky fist into the winged being's side. Dark blood burst from the grievous wound as Dryagan fell back with a grunt, clutching his injured abdomen.
Ignoring his fallen foe Knuckles lunged forwards, bloodied fist aiming for the golden hedgehog's face with all of the strength he could muster. Fleetway merely smiled at the desperate, enraged mobian before stepping aside at the last moment, letting the carmine echidna rush past him before lifting an hand and dealing a soul-crushing punch to the back of his neck, sending the male sliding across the stone floor.
Knuckles let out a rumbled growl as he rose to his knees, but the crimson warrior didn't get too far as a clawed foot stepped on his back, brutally pinning him back down with enough strength to crack the marble beneath him. The Guardian, stunted by the sudden pain, couldn't move quickly enough to prevent a hand from stabbing into his shoulder, piercing the skin and tearing the flesh beneath.
He fell over to his side with a agonized cry but Fleetway held onto the wounded shoulder with a cruel smile and pleased expression.
"You still have some spirit. I like it!" The golden immortal commented with a happy crackle. He dug his claws dealer into the mobian's flesh, and Knuckles bared his teeth in a effort to keep the agonized scream from escaping his lips.
"Fuck you." The mammal breathed out with a low grunt as he failed beneath the pale-furred being.
"That would be a disturbing sight." A fourth person suddenly intoned from the stairs of the Shrine. Fleetway turned his head just in time to see a red and black blur slam into his chest, knocking him off the echidna.
The immortal righted himself in mid air before he could eat the floor, but that didn't save him from the Chaos-reinforced fist colliding with his face. The creature fell against one of the altar's pillars, whirling ruby eyes wide and dazed.
Shadow stood over his newest victim with a feral grin lighting his features, ruby red energy crackling around his fists. Had he used the normal variant of his attack, the Ultimate Lifeform knew this Super look-a-like wouldn't have been this injured. The carmine energy churned and boiled around his fingers, wild and un-tamable, and more than once he struggled to keep it from spreading to the rest of his body. the occasionally burning sensation that came from his hands warned him of what could happen if he dared to let the volatile Chaos run wild.
"Shadow...? What are you doing here?!"
"Saving your ass." Knuckles let out a protesting croak, to which Shadow cut him off. "No need to thank me. Rouge forced me to come here." The echidna's mouth gaped at the revelation that the bat was alive. "I'll rather be at home right now, but she can be very convincing."
"Huh." In any other situation, the ebony hedgehog would have found the echidna's lackluster answer to be amusing.
Dryagan cursed lowly under his breath as he nursed his side, watching the newcomer with wary eyes. The idiot just had to take his time. If he had killed the echidna immediately, they would be halfway to their homeworld by now.
I knew I should have picked Uwak. This asshole doesn't know what he's doing...
Stretching out his wings, the young immortal quickly darted towards the hybrid with the intent to pluck the ebony male's heart out of his chest. Shadow ducked under the blackened talons before punching him in the stomach as he flew over head. Dryagan quickly righted himself but Knuckles was upon him like a shark upon fresh meat, spikes digging into the creature's right wing and tearing a hole in the thin membrane.
Dryagan spiralled to the ground with eyes full of pain, struggling to land standing as his injured limb trailed behind him, smearing blood across the marble floor. He was then forced to dodge as Shadow tried to tear his head off with a Chaos Spear. "Fleetway! Stop fucking messing around and help me for Chaos' sake!"
A blur of yellow collided against a certain black and red hedgehog, blood spurting as Fleetway tore a strip of fur and skin out of his upper shoulder. Knuckles was quick to come to the startled Ultimate Lifeform's defence with a spiked fist to the immortal's head, sending him tumbling off the obsidian hybrid.
Shadow hissed as he slowly rose from the floor, ebony fur matted from the humidity. His wounds stung, but not enough to hinder his movements.
...wait. Humidity?
Carmine orbs flickered downwards to the marble floor, widening slightly as they noticed something the Ultimate Lifeform had completely overlooked during the fight. The floor was soaked with water, the thin droplets of blood that came from his injured chest turning into scarlet mist as they mixed with the clear substance.
Even stranger was the fact that the water wasn't falling off the edges of the shrine. It stayed there, independent of the laws of physics.
"What's the matter, mutt?!" Dryagan hissed as he glared at the ebony speedster, wings flexing behind him in a instinctive threat display despite the gaping hole in one of them. Sapphire eyes followed the ebony hedgehog's line of sight and settled on the stone floor. The slight widening of the azure eyes told Shadow that the creature had noticed the strange phenomenon as well.
His sensitive skin picked up how the air was becoming more and more humid, and the fur at the back of Shadow's head rose as his eyes scanned the shrine in search of the source of the mysterious water.
The GUN agent didn't have to look too far.
The Master Emerald crackled and burned with primitive power, a scorching heat coming off the ruby hide of the gem. The tattered remains of the green coloration flailed weakly around the base of the giant gem, slowly being devoured by the imposing scarlet. Water was coming out of the carmine jewel, gently pouring out through means unknown and gathering around the base of the massive stone, ignorant of the laws of physics as it spun in a tight circle around the Master Emerald's tip.
The water suddenly surged forwards, a tendril of water bursting forth towards Dryagan at unimaginable speed. The halfbreed didn't dodge quickly enough and was sent sprawling across the marble floor with a pained cry, his already injured wing flaying against the stone ground, broken and useless. Fleetway let out a irate growl as he stood next to his partner, uncaring of the younger's grievous wounds.
They watched in awe as the column of water rose towards the skies, weightless and ephemeral. A pair of jade eyes burst forth from the geyser, sinister and menacing. The water shifted around the twin emerald orbs, forming a pair of jagged maws just as two thin arms stretched out, grasping the edges of the now fully scarlet Master Emerald as it lifted itself higher, slowly taking form.
Finally free from it's confines, Chaos roared, the Water God's cry of defiance echoing from miles around.
Well, that wraps this up. Dark is no more :( I enjoyed the character. Oh well. I might use him in another story.
IMPORTANT: I think some explaining is required here XD Dark Sonic first started as Sonic's accumulation of his Gaia instincts. As a child Sonic was quite open to his instincts (as seen in the flashback) but often enough the humans and mobians around him combined with his own chaotic Chaos (best pun ever) left him quite unstable. When the Immortals tried to get him to the Gaias, he somehow fell into a nearby river in a attempt to escape his surrogate mother's killer.
The trauma of the night caused a complete separation between the new, past-less Sonic and the older, darker Ogilvie. These negative thoughts and restrained instincts ended up creating a completely new personality based on Sonic's younger self. It only grew stronger by feeding on the surrounding Chaos and the Emeralds Sonic encountered during his adventures, briefly surfacing during the Metarex War before taking a bigger role once Sonic and the Twilight Manacle found each other -quite unwillingly on Sonic's part at first.
Hmm... I find it funny that nobody said anything about the last flashback of the other chapter. Guess it was too obvious or really nobody noticed. Oh well.
PAIRINGS POOL:
Amy x Scourge 4
Amy x Fleetway
Tails x Cosmo
Tails x Cream 4
Tails x Fleetway 5
Knuckles x Rouge 3
Knuckles x Julie-Su 1
Tell me if I missed any votes. Sometimes it's hard to keep a track of everything.
NOTE: Votes ends in two chapters. It seems like TailsxCream and TailsxFleetway are fighting for the winning spot. Don't worry, if the Fleet wins, Ill still be planning the TailsxCream on the non-Sonadow version.
Timeline from oldest to recent:
-Twilight's creation (presumably through the newly formed, untamed Chaos Energy adopting a conscience and form with the help of the primitive lifeforms around it and their emotions)
-Creation of the Master Emerald.
-Arrival of the Immortals.
-Massacre of Hell and Paradise (I really need better names, help)
-Fight between the Gaias and the Manacle, finished by the sealing of the Twilight Manacle. Creation of the Chaos Emeralds.
-Portals are hidden.
-A group of demons remain on Mobius, soon leaving to space in a effort of finding a new place to live. They become the Black Arms, adopting a hierarchy similar to the Immortals, with Black Doom's predecessor as the first resident 'Gaia'.
(Long time skip)
-Beginning of plans to create a counteract for the Seal.
(85 years ago) Creation of the ARK.
(82 years ago) Gaia blood has been given to GUN.
(80 years ago) Ogilvie's fetus slowly begin forming within a test tube.
(54 years ago) The Black Arms return, collaborate with Gerald Robotnick to create Shadow.
(53 years ago) Ogilvie's fetus is almost ready to be introduced into a womb.
(53 years ago) Shadow is created. The Black Arms stay on Mobius by order of Dark Gaia.
(50 years ago) GUN, tired of waiting for Ogilvie to be created, take interest to Shadow. The events of the ARK massacre occur when they fear that Shadow can't be controlled by them.
(32 years ago) Ogilvie is placed in the womb of Bernadette. He is born nearly a year later.
(23 years ago) The Black Arms raid Bernadette's home in a effort to get Ogilvie to the Gaias. Bernadette is killed by an unknown, Ogilvie is tossed into a river and is thought to be dead. The Black Arms flee to space in hopes of escaping the fury of the Gaias.
(23 years ago) Ogilvie is found by Queen Aleena during a walk at the beach. Due to his unnatural speed, she names him Sonic. Queen Aleena was a young mother at the time, so when she introduces her twins to the nation, she presents Sonic as the third prince. Since he ages slower than a regular mobian, he is considered the youngest in appearance.
(18 years ago) Eggman tries to take over Aleena's kingdom as . The triplets are sent into hiding.
(15 years ago) Eggman is defeated. Sonic leaves after him, not wanting anyone else to suffer in the madman's hands.
(8 years ago) Sonic meets Tails on Christmas Island after his plane is damaged by Eggman and in need of repairs.
(7 years ago) Events of Sonic and Knuckles.
(6 years ago) Sonic X occurs.
(4 years ago) Shadow returns from space and obtains a job at GUN with the help of Rouge.
(1 year ago) Sonic 06'
(Less than one month ago) Black Arms arrive.
For those who say that the ARK is way to old and wouldn't be possible to create in it's time, I counter that with the fact this is Mobius, not Earth. Ergo, the technology doesn't develop in the same way as it does in the real world. They have hover boards for Arceus' sake.
I want one. I'll probably break my spine within two minutes of using a hover board, but I want one anyways.
The rest of the timeline is as in the games. I may straighten it out later on, don't worry. If you have any questions, post a review or send me a message. I'll be glad to answer all of your questions.