Chapter 28
"So let me get this straight, the next time we get into battle, you plan to keep the Swatbots at bay while I challenge Dark Sonic to a race where we will continue racing until her Chaos Emerald runs out?" Sophia said in the conference room with everyone,
"It might actually work, if her Emerald runs out, she should go back to Saya." TK said excitedly,
"What if her Chaos Emerald doesn't run out of energy?" Sophia asked,
"We won't know until we try," Caroline said,
"Okay then, what about me? There's a chance my Chaos Emerald will run out of energy before hers." Sophia said,
"Tikal and I have been trying to figure out how to extend the Chaos Emeralds energy." Kolt said,
"I need some time to think about this…" Sophia said standing up.
"We won't go through with this plan unless you are confident in it." Elias said as Sophia gives him a nod and leaves the room.
"Why isn't she excited about this idea? We could get Saya back." TK asked,
"I think she's afraid of getting her hopes up." Brandy said,
"Shadow could still be in her head…" Kolt said remembering earlier last week when their souls were unaligned,
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked,
"She tries not to be like him, but it's also a part of who she is. One thing I remember about Shadow was he knew that sometimes hard decisions needed to be made. Even if it wasn't one others would be fond of." He said,
"What do you think is going through her mind?" Sally asked,
"I hate to say it… But she might be thinking of a worst-case scenario. If this doesn't work she'll have to fight Dark Sonic on her own…" He paused as he looks at the others, he didn't want to say something that might scare them.
"Sophia isn't Shadow!" TK said standing up angrily, "She wouldn't do that!"
"TK, calm down he's just saying…" Brandy started to say,
"Saying what? That She'll kill Sonic?" TK said as a chill covered the entire room,
"I…I don't think she'd go that far… but she'll definitely hurt her if she has to…" Kolt said looking away feeling bad for even bringing it up. TK lets out a huff and quickly leaves the room,
"TK!" Caroline called out about to follow after her as both Brandy and Kolt stop her,
"Give her time," Brandy said, "This is hard for her."
"I think you all should take some time to think about this plan." Elias said, as they nod. The three of them leave walking towards the kitchen as Caroline remembers the crystal, she got for Kolt when they went to the Farmers Market.
"I'll be right back, meet you in the kitchen." She said leaving Kolt and Brandy alone.
"How have you been holding up? You seem pretty calm." Kolt asked,
"I'm concerned, but I think their idea could actually work. But I'm also worried about Sophia... Like you said, she's internalizing worst case scenario and it's causing her to doubt herself." Brandy said,
"How do you think we can help?" he asked,
"By having confidence that this plan works." She said as Caroline runs back up to them,
"You two alright?" Caroline asked,
"Yeah, just trying to figure out how we can convince Sophia." Kolt said as Caroline hands him the crystal.
"I saw it at the Farmers market and thought you would like it. Though I'm not sure what type of crystal it is." Caroline said,
"It's a green Quarts, it's known for its healing properties. Like absorbing…" He pauses and thinks for a moment realizing something, "Caroline, you're a genius!" He said picking her up by the waist and spinning her with a bright smile.
"Uh… I am?" She looks at Brandy confused as he puts her down.
"Go find Sophia and tell her to meet me in the alter room." Kolt said running off.
"That was weird…" Brandy said,
"Let's go look for Sophia," She said, as they split up to go look for her.
Dark Sonic was within the dream fighting back against Saya. She was trying to take her off guard again. "That trick's not going to work twice you little brat!" Dark Sonic said as they held each other at bay.
"I'm still distracting you aren't I? That's still a win in my book," Saya said with a grin, she might not be able to get control of her body, but she had to at least try and make it more difficult for Dark Sonic.
"Chaos you're annoying!" She glared,
"And I'll continue to be annoying until you give me my body back!" Saya said as Dark Sonic stops blocking her making Saya lunge forward taking her off guard.
"This is my body now!" Dark Sonic knees Saya in the stomach before knocking her to the ground and pinning her there. "Now stop fighting!" the darkness beneath them quickly restrains Saya before she could push Dark Sonic off of her.
"No!" Saya struggled, "I'll never stop fighting! My friends will…!" Dark Sonic covers her mouth.
"That's enough of that." She hissed. Her eyes glowed brighter and changed to hypnotic spirals as a red glow outlined Saya's eyes, "Now just relax," her tone changed becoming more calm. Saya tried to fight it but the moving spirals of Dark Sonic's eyes were mesmerizing. "There's no reason for us to fight." Dark Sonic moves her hand away,
"No reason… to fight…" Saya stops struggling enthralled my Dark Sonic as the dark tendrils holding her start pulling her under as she sinks further into the darkness.
"Good, now go back to sleep." Dark Sonic smiles as she watched Saya completely disappear within the darkness.
Dark Sonic wakes up and knocks on the glass getting Eggman's attention. He releases her from the chamber as she climbs out, "Finally awake I see, feeling better?" He asked,
"Much better," She said stretching her legs, "I think I finally shut her up... At least for a little while,"
"Good, because I have a job for you." He said turning to his monitor,
"Is it beating up the Freedom Fighters again?" She said,
"Not exactly, but that will probably happen." He shows a building on the screen of a museum, "There's a scroll in here that I need."
"A scroll? What for?" Dark Sonic asked,
"Research, none of your concern." He said as she shrugs,
"Whatever,"
"Take a few bots with you in case the Freedom Fighters do show up." He said pressing some buttons and her bracelet beeps as he finishes,
"What, don't think I can take them?" She said sounding insulted,
"I know you can take them. But your priority is the scroll," He said.
"Fine, one moldy old scroll coming up!" Dark Sonic said leaving,
Caroline finds Sophia sitting on the rooftop looking out over the horizon. Sophia was deep in thought thinking about what would happen if their plan didn't work and she'd be alone to fight Dark Sonic by herself. Her thoughts begin to spiral as Caroline walks up to her and puts her hand on Sophia's shoulder,
"I knew I'd find you up here." She said with a smile,
"Am I that predictable?" Sophia asked,
"A little bit, C'mon, apparently Kolt wants to show you something in the Alter room. He seemed really excited." Caroline said holding out her hand to Sophia,
"Alright," She said taking her hand and standing up, following her to the Alter room. Kolt was standing next to the Master Emerald waiting,
"Glad you could join us." Kolt said with a teasing grin, "I've found a solution to your running out of Chaos energy concern." He holds up a palm sized clear quartz. "Tikal?" He called out, she appears, and he hands her the crystal. "Crystals are known to absorb energies; we can store Chaos energy within the Quarts and when you are ready to refill your Chaos Emerald, just touch the crystal to the Emerald and it will absorb the energy." Tikal places the Clear Quartz on top of the Master Emerald and begins to chant. The Quartz changes to a green color identical to the Master Emerald.
"This… Might work…" Sophia said starting to believe that they might actually have a chance of making this happen. Even if depleting Dark Sonic's Chaos Emerald doesn't turn her back to normal she would still be weakened enough to incapacitate her long enough to drag her back to HQ.
"Sophia, I know you can bring her back." Kolt said as she looks up at him,
"How can you be sure?" Sophia looked away doubting herself.
"Because if anyone is able to pull Sonic back, it's her rival." Kolt said with a thumbs up. The alarms start to sound as they all look at one another. Kolt grabs the Chaos charged Quartz and holds it out to Sophia. "You can do this!" He said not breaking eye contact. She grabs the Crystal and gives him a light smile before they all run and meet TK and Brandy in the computer room.
"Dark Sonic is attempting to break into the museum," Elias said, "It doesn't seem like Robotnik is with her."
"Why a museum?" Caroline asked,
"We're not sure but whatever the reason, she needs to be stopped." Elias said as they all look at Sophia wondering if she had made a decision. She looks down at the Crystal in her hand.
"Then let's stop her once and for all." Sophia said as they all smile. Sally walks up to her and hands her a small tracking device and a different earpiece.
"The minute you start racing we'll be tracking your every move." She said, as Sophia nods to her putting in the earpiece.
"Can I say it for good luck?" TK looked as Sophia as she lets out a sigh,
"Only because I haven't had to hear it for a while," She said as they all transform.
"Alright team! Let's do it to it!" Tails said cheerfully as they run to the Twin Tornado and head towards the museum. Tails lands the plane as Dark Sonic climbs out of the hole made in the museum wall holding a scroll in her hand.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to show up. I was beginning to think I was going to get out of here without any trouble" Dark Sonic said jumping over some rubble and standing in front of them. "Ready for another beating?" She grinned,
"Says the one who ran with her tail between her legs last time." Shadow said taking Dark Sonic by surprise,
"Oh! Shads got some spunk today!" She laughs, raising her hand ready to tell the Swatbots to attack.
"Got a lot more than that." Shadow walked up close to Dark Sonic getting right in her face, "I have a proposition for you."
"I'm listening," Dark Sonic said looking intrigued,
"We have a challenge, just you and me. Winner takes all." Shadow said,
"What's the challenge?" She asked,
"What we do best, we race." Shadow said as for a split-second Dark Sonic's eyes flicker to a green color again before going back to red.
"A race huh? What's the prize?" Dark Sonic said sounding excited,
"I win, you give me the scroll,"
"And if I win, I kill one of your friends." Dark Sonic said putting the scroll inside her vest as the rest of them flinch for a moment.
"Do you accept? Faker." Shadow taunted,
"You're on!" Her eyes turn green again, "What's the finish line?"
"It's an endurance race, around the country. First one back here wins." Shadow said,
"Sounds good to me," Her eyes go back to red, "Let's do this." She said as they both line up.
"Cream, could you count us down?" Shadow asked,
"S…Sure! On your marks, get set, GO!" She yelled as Shadow and Dark Sonic run off out of site. The rest of them look at the Swatbots just standing there.
"Well at least we have something to pass the time." Knuckles said punching his fists together as they attack the robots.
Shadow and Dark Sonic were already miles away from the city keeping up with one another. She knew this was going to take a while, possibly two hours with them at their top speed to get to the other side of the country and that was when Shadow predicted Dark Sonic's Emerald would run out. She just had to keep her distracted long enough for Dark Sonic to not realize her Chaos Emerald is running out of energy.
The first hour and a half passes without any issues, neither of them had broken a sweat and they were still neck and neck trying to get ahead of one another.
"Feeling tired yet?" Dark Sonic teased,
"You wish," Shadow said as she glances at Dark Sonic's Emerald and it was diming faster than she expected racing at top speed bust be burning the Chaos Emeralds energy faster. Dark Sonic looks down to see what she was glancing at and Shadow knew she had to keep her distracted. "Do you remember what you told me before you died?" She asked as Dark Sonic turns back towards Shadow, her eyes flickering long enough for her to forget about her Emerald.
"I told you to be the fastest thing alive for me…" Her eyes change back to red, "But I'm back, so that's no longer necessary." She said trying to trip her.
"Hey!" Shadow dodges,
"What? You thought I'd play fair?" She laughs,
"Enough talk faker! Let your speed do the talking," Shadow taunted back and again her eyes flickered. She knew Saya was trying to fight, she was sure of it.
Back at the museum the others were picking up the pieces of now scrap metal Swatbots from their fight.
"Do you think it'll work?" Tails asked starting to have second thought now worried that Shadow might get hurt or that She might have to hurt Sonic. Knuckles walks up next to her and places his hand on her shoulder.
"Shadow can do this," He said giving her a thumbs up.
"But we should still head after them just in case she does needs backup." Blaze said,
"And to bring them home." Cream said with a smile, they all climb into the Twin Tornado and fly off in the direction that Shadow and Dark Sonic went.
They get close to the other side of the country when Shadow notices her own Emerald was getting dim. She quickly grabs the Crystal from her pocket and presses it against her Chaos Emerald hiding it from Dark Sonic. The Crystal changes back to its clear color as the Chaos Emerald glows brightly again.
"Looking a little tired Sonic. You can always quit now." Shadow said egging her on,
"Not a chance!" Dark Sonic said, Shadow looks down at her Chaos Emerald again… any second now… "There's no way I'm going to let a faker beat…" In a blue flash Dark Sonic transforms back into Saya. She trips and begins to fall to the ground at full speed.
"Chaos Control!" She stops time long enough to run in front of her and catch her before she crashes into something. They both crash into the ground as Shadow held Saya tightly. "Saya? Saya!" She yelled, Saya hadn't moved but then quickly opens her eyes and gasps for air like she couldn't breathe.
"Sh… Shadow?" Saya moves her hand to her head, as she begins to realize she has control of her body.
"It worked!" Shadow said with tears in her eyes as Saya sits up. "I can't believe it worked!" Saya notices the metal bracelet and quickly remembers what it does. She attempts to pull off the bracelet quickly beginning to panic realizing she was running out of time. Saya turns to Shadow who was still in shock that their plan worked as she grabs her by the shoulders.
"Where's your tracking device?" Saya asked snapping Shadow out of it,
"What?" Shadow asked confused,
"Your tracking device, I know Sally wouldn't let you leave without one. Where is it?" Saya said shaking Shadow.
"Here…" Shadow pulls the tracking device out of her pocket and holds it out to her. Saya swipes it from her hand, throws it in her mouth and swallows it. "Did you just eat my tracking device?" She looked very confused as Saya hugs her tightly taking her off guard for a second before she hugs her back. She didn't want to let go of the hug feeling at peace knowing her friend was back.
"Thank you for not giving up on me." Saya pulled back from the hug, "Now try not to panic, I know you'll find me." She said with a calm smile as she hears the bracelet start to beep,
"Find you?" Shadow looked confused, "But you're right…" In a flash Saya disappeared right from her arms, "No…No!" she screamed, realizing that Saya was trying to remove the bracelet. It must have had a return function. She raged as she knew Robotnik was one step ahead of them once again.
"Shadow? Shadow can you hear me?" Sally reached out over the headset, "Shadow is everything alright?"
"I lost her… I had her, she was in my arms and then…" She starts running back towards Freedom HQ wiping the tears away from her face,
"What do you mean?" Sally asked,
"It worked Sally, everything worked perfectly… But again, Robotnik was two steps ahead of us." Shadow said trying to run faster.
"Where are you?" She asked,
"I'm a little over an hour out." Shadow said as she sees the Twin Tornado fly above her, "Make that a few minutes." She uses Chaos Control to teleport onto the Twin Tornado.
"It didn't work?" Kolt asked looking defeated,
"No it did." Shadow said,
"Then where's Saya?" Brandy asked,
"I'll explain back at HQ." She said as TK turns the Tornado around and they get back to Freedom HQ where Elias and Sally were waiting in the Hagar bay.
"Okay Shadow, what happened?" Elias asked as she transforms back. They all walk together to the computer room.
"Everything went according to plan; her Chaos Emerald ran out and she turned back into Saya. But apparently Eggman thought this might happen, remember the bracelet Brandy and Caroline told us about?"
"Yeah, she commented that it was how Eggman kept track of her." Brandy said,
"It started to beep right before she vanished," Sophia said,
"There must have been a teleportation device inside." TK said,
"That's what I thought, but there's something else." Sophia said,
"What is it?" Caroline asked,
"Saya ate my tracking device." Sophia said as Sally looks shocked as she runs over to one of the computers.
"That's what happened!" She said typing on the computer, "I was tracking your movements when you started racing but then your signal disappeared,"
"Saya knew she didn't have much time; she must have planned this for a while." Brandy said,
"She was fighting from the inside the whole time." Caroline said,
"Got it!" Sally said, "The signal is coming from the Mountains east of the city."
"Take the time to let your Chaos Emeralds fully charge. Saya gave us this opportunity to strike while Robotnik is off guard and we won't waste this chance." Elias said.
"This time for sure, we'll get her back." Kolt said, as Sophia hands the Clear Quartz back to Kolt.
"Eggman might have outmaneuvered us this time but now we have the upper hand!" TK said,
"Let's go visit Robotnik." Sophia said,