Mystery on the Special Zone! Sent to discover

the origin of a mysterious distress

call, Espio the Chameleon, Shadow the

Hedgehog, and his apprentice Amy

Rose are stranded on a distant

planet. There, they discover three

beings more powerful with the Force

than any Shinobi have seen before.

The Father, Athair keeps a fragile balance

between his daughter, Aurora who allies

with the light side, and his son, Feist

who drifts ever closer to the dark.

With his strength failing,

Athair asks Shadow to stay and take

his place, preserving the balance

between light and dark. But after

passing a perilous test, Shadow

refuses.

Now we find our heroes about to

depart for their journey home,

or so they think...

Espio was in the cockpit with Amy who stood up and walked through to the back. She looked over to Shadow who was sleeping. Shadow dreamt that he was in a forest back on the planet. he looked around when "Shadow. Shadow". He looked around at a small pond where he saw himself rise out of the water. The imposter smiled and walked over to him "It's true what they say. You are the Chosen One". Shadow could hear another voice over his own and he backed away cautiously, not taking his eyes off him. The imposter rose up "Join me" the imposter morphed and changed into Feist "And together we can change the balance of the universe. My friend". Shadow glared at him "You must know that I would never join the dark side willingly". Feist chuckled "How simple you make it. Light and dark as if there is one without the other. Aligned, you and I can restore balance wherever we go. We can bring peace to the universe". "By becoming a Raiju. Never!" Shadow replied defiantly. He tried to walk away but Feist appeared in front of him and was enveloped by fire "We will destroy the Raiju and the Shinobi!" his faced turn from an angry scowl to a sinister grin. He turned into his bat form and lunged at Shadow who covered his face with his arms.

Shadow woke up back on the shuttle breathing heavily. Amy came over to him "Were you having a nightmare?" "Something like that". Amy helped him up when the ship suddenly shook "If you're done napping I could use a little help here" Espio said, "I'm coming". Shadow walked towards the cockpit but then heard a gasp behind them. He turned around and saw Feist at the door of the ship holding Amy by the neck "Leaving so soon? Not without this, you won't". Shadow stayed where he was staring at Amy who struggles to try and get free but Feist then opened the doors and jumped out with her "Amy!" Shadow yelled. He ran into the cockpit "What's going on?" "Feist took Amy!" "What? Why?". Shadow got on the controls "Move. Let me fly!" he tried to follow them, but Feist transformed into the bat creature then he and Amy disappeared into the mist. Shadow couldn't see where he was going, and the ship crashed to the ground. Espio and Shadow quickly ran out of the ship "Any sign of him?" "No. But I think it's obvious where he's taken her" Espio pointed at a large tower in the distance with a glowing green orb on top. "We gotta hurry", Espio stepped in front of him "Shadow, this wasn't a mistake. He brought us here for a reason. We must not get involved. Any conflict here could have dramatic repercussions for the universe at large". Shadow pushed passed him "I don't care. He's to powerful for Amy. I won't leave her alone" "We're in the middle of something we don't truly understand. We should be wise to speak with Athair first". Shadow kept going "There's no time" "This is what he wants, to divide us". Shadow angrily turned to him "It's my fault he took her!" "You must feel how strong this part of the planet is with the dark side. Athair will know what to do". Shadow sighed "He can't help us" he continued to the tower leaving Espio behind.

Amy was shackled to the wall desperately trying to free herself "Save your strength" she looked down and saw an older black badger. "You have been left here to die. Like me. I've been here for more years than I care to remember" he looked deranged. "I'm a Shinobi. I don't give up easily", he walked up to her "A Shinobi, huh? Where is your master?" "He will come for me". He chuckled and got uncomfortably close to her face "And if he doesn't?" "He will" "What makes you so sure?" he released the shackles freeing her "Thank you" she said with a sigh of relief. He shook his head "Don't thank me. The chains are the easy part. It's what goes on in here that's hard" he pointed at his own head. He started walking around her "Don't you see, child? You are alone now. If you are to survive, you must forget your master". Amy began to feel lightheaded "I don't feel so…" the badger bit her wrist "Ah! What did you do?" she backed away. He did the same "You are mine now" his voice got deeper, Amy fell to the ground unconscious as the badger turned into Feist. Amy's fur began to darken and her body began to convulse. She then opened her eyes which were now yellow.

Espio was pacing around the ship "Shadow. Always on the move. How do i even find Athair?". He heard a noise and turned around. To his surprise Athair's monastery was now standing in front of him. Inside Athair meditated while Aurora was sitting in front of him. Feist entered "You have grown strong, my son". Feist looked away from him "Am i, Father?" "Vanity, however, is getting the better of you" "How so?" Feist asked. Athair stood up as Aurora stayed where she was "You have done what is forbidden. You've chosen the dark side and allowed it to feed your anger and desire for power". He walked with his son "By bringing the Chosen One here, you've shown me my potential. You've only yourself to blame" "Don't do this, son. Do not become what you should not. Be strong, I implore you or else I will be forced to contain you". Feist glanced at him "You look frail, father" "I'm not dead yet". Feist stopped "Well, perhaps I'm tired of waiting!" he fired beams of light at Athair which threw him out to the courtyard. "I hate you!" he transformed in a bat and flew away. Espio came up the steps of the monastery and found Athair, "Father!" Aurora ran outside to them. They checked his body, and he was still breathing. They took him inside and laid him on the floor "We will leave him to rest" "I can't wait. Your brother has taken our friend" Espio said desperately. "Then he must have his reasons" "The same reason he had to try and murder your father". She shook her head "It is not his fault. My nature is to do what is selfless, but my brother will always be to do what is selfish" "Then you must help us" Espio pleaded. "I cannot interfere with the ways of the Force. My father forbids it". She walked away but Espio followed "Your brother will flee this place and wreak havoc on the universe. You and Shadow combined have the power to stop him". She stopped and sighed "Come with me".

Aurora took him to a cave on a different part of the planet. Inside was an alter surrounded by fire. Aurora looked saddened "I can go no further. When you reach the alter, it will give you what you need" "I don't understand" Espio said confused. "He who wields the blade will be able to control my brother". Espio walked cautiously towards the alter which opened to reveal a handle. He took it and it morphed into a dagger.

Shadow reached the tower and entered a courtyard where he saw Amy standing with her back to him. "Amy!" he ran up to her but she didn't move so he stopped "Amy, it's me. You're safe now. Let's go" "Are you proud of me, Master?" she said in a strange tone. Shadow was confused "What? Of course, I'm proud of you, Snips. Now let's get out of here", she slowly raised her head "He's right. Right about everything. You must join him. He only wants what's best for the universe". She turned around with her head tilted mockingly and Shadow saw her eyes "What's wrong with you?". She rolled her eyes "Always with the criticism, Master. Never really believing in me, trusting me. Well, I don't need you anymore". Shadow cautiously walked towards her "Amy. Amy, listen to me. He's done something to you. Snap out of it. This isn't you". She sniggered "Isn't it? I feel more like myself than I ever have. He asked me to give you a message. He said if you don't join him, he will kill me" she laughed innocently. Shadow shook his head "I won't let him" his voice broke slightly, "Then you'll be the one to kill me". She ignited her lightsabers and lunged at Shadow who dodged all her attacks without igniting her lightsaber.

Espio and Aurora entered the throne room of the tower where Feist was waiting "Sister. What a pleasant surprise. And you bought a friend" he glanced a Espio. "What have you done, brother?" "Done? I have done what is right or what is wrong, depending on your point of view" he sat on the throne. She looked disgusted at him "Our father is dying. Did you do it?", he didn't look her in the eye "He is just so selfish and was taking too long to die, so I decided to move things along. Now, why are you here?". She took a step closer to him "I won't let you leave this planet", Feist stood up "You're not strong enough to keep me here" "Not alone she isn't" Espio told him. Feist chuckled "Are you referring to your friend, the Chosen One? You might want to check on him. He's a little preoccupied right now", Espio ran outside.

"I don't want to fight you, Amy!" Shadow was forced to ignite his lightsaber to stop an attack. "Snap out of it, Snips" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call me that!". He managed to push her back as Espio appeared, Amy smirked "Two Shinobi. Finally, a challenge".

Feist was watching them from inside "Can you feel it, sister? Can you feel the anger, the hate, the fury?" "Their conflict is feeding you, isn't it? I must stop them". She was about to run outside but "No!" Feist grabbed her with the Force and threw her back. She got back up and used the Force to throw Feist against the floor "Father wouldn't want us to fight, brother". Feist got back to his feet "I doubt he'd be shocked".

Shadow managed to push Amy back "Any suggestions?" he asked Espio, "Yes. We cut her free" he took out the dagger. "What is that?" "It can kill Feist", Amy suddenly growled "Where did you get that? Give it to me!" they could hear Feist's voice over Amy's. Aurora and Feist were suddenly thrown out of the tower and landed in front of them. They were then surprised to see Athair and in the courtyard. Feist smiled "So glad you could make it to our little party, Father" he fired a beam at him but Athair created a shield with his hand "You will stop this!". "You are too weak for me, old man. You mean nothing to me anymore", Athair was getting pushed back before the shield broke and he fell to the ground injured. Feist stood in front of him and continued to fire the light torturing Athair. "Shadow, now!" Espio said as he threw him the dagger, but Amy caught it in mid-air. She ran to Feist and kneeled "Everything has transpired as i have planned". Athair stared in shock before looking to Aurora "You... showed them the alter?". Espio helped Aurora up as she answered "I'm sorry, Father. I didn't know else to stop him". Feist looked down at Amy "Give it to me, child". She glanced back at Shadow who stared pleadingly at her "Amy, no!". She turned back and handed Feist the dagger "Thank you. Your usefulness has come to an end" he touched her head which caused her to fall to the ground dead. "NO!" Shadow yelled as he charged forward but Feist pushed him back with the Force. He then turned to Athair "The Shinobi have brought me the dagger, and you have brought yourself". He raised the dagger ready to kill him but "Father!" Aurora got in his way and was stabbed in the chest. She gasped in pain as Feist backed away in shock "No. NO! WHY!" he flew away.

Shadow ran to Amy's body and saw that her eyes were empty. Athair held his daughters' body and pulled out the dagger "Aurora. What have I done?". She coughed and held his hand "Don't hate him father. It is his nature". He watched the plants around them die "No. All is lost. The balance has been broken. I thought by bringing you here I... but I've destroyed everything". Shadow looked to him, there were tears in his eyes "Can you help her?" "There is no light. The evil has been unleashed, and the dark side shall consume her. There is no hope". Shadow shook his head in denial "Yes, there is. There's always hope!". "Father" Aurora said, she smiled and nodded to him. Athair caressed her face before standing between the two bodies. He gestured for Shadow to sit in front of him "Then let my daughter's last act be to breath light over your friend". Shadow placed his hands over both their heads. The two bodies hovered in the air as a light came from shadow's eyes. The bodies fell back down, Shadow looked exhausted, but he then heard a cough. He looked and saw Amy sit up. Before she got a chance to say anything he hugged her and laughed softly "Hey, Snips. It's good to see you" he helped her up and Espio happily gave her back her lightsaber "What's going on?" she asked. Athair sighed "As the balance in this world crumbles, so shall war escalate in your galaxy. As my son has descended into the dark side, so have the Raiju gained strength". Shadow stepped towards him "No. You must go. He needs your ship to leave the planet. You must leave before he can take it". "What about you?" Espio asked as Athair held his daughter "I shall mourn all that I have done and all that is yet to be".