Stranded! Espio the Chameleon, Shadow the

Hedgehog, and his apprentice Amy

Rose are caught in the middle of

a treacherous battle between good

and evil.

The scales now tip toward the dark

side. Our three warriors must guard

against attack as they plan their

escape. A great weight has been

placed on Shadow's shoulders, for

it is now that he must face who he

really is….

Shadow and Espio were standing in the door of the shuttle while the rain poured on them "I'm getting a little tired of how unreliable the weather is here" "Some might say that's part of the appeal" Shadow replied. Espio smiled and turned to him "You did well, Shadow. How do you feel?", he sighed "I'm not sure we're doing the right thing by leaving. Feist is consumed by the dark side". "And if we stay, we may be used to the dark side's advantage". Amy stuck her head out of a hatch wearing goggles "Well, you want the bad news or the really bad news?". Espio shrugged "Well, the first one sounds like it has a hint of optimism" "We've got two cracked shilo pins, a busted power convertor, the engines need to dump debris and the backup vents need charging. I think it can be done but I have no guarantee she'll hold together once we leave the atmosphere". Espio nodded "We'll take our chances. Better than staying here". He then saw Shadow carrying an Extreme Gear board "Where are you going?" "To see Athair. I'm not convinced that Feist will be contained without our help. I think we should make a stand". "Shadow" Espio said making him stop "If I don't get the Athair's blessing to leave, it'll haunt me forever" he got on the board and speeded off.

Athair was inside a tomb sitting beside Aurora's body, he put the dagger in her hands "Forgive me, daughter. I am an old fool who believed he could control the future. And it cost me my children. Sleep well, Aurora" he moved a stone slab over her grave. "Sleep free" he exited the tomb and closed the circular door "You should have left by now" he turned to face Shadow. "Our ship needs repairs" "Don't underestimate my son. He will seek your ship to escape our isolation and sow terror through the universe. And he will use you to do it". Shadow walked up to him "What will you do now that he's given himself over to the dark side?". Athair sighed "It is my actions that have unleashed great danger on the universe. I must kill him" sadness came over his face. "But he's too powerful for you alone" "Perhaps. But perhaps not. The Force will decide". They walked together "I can help you" "The choice is no longer yours to make. Both our destinies are clouded. This place is strong with the Force. Darkness has no hold here. Go. Ask and you will know what to do". He pointed towards a gorge, Shadow nodded and headed that way.

He entered the gorge and a glowing shape formed in front of him "You have grown strong and powerful, just as I imagined". He was shocked as the shape became someone familiar "Master Maria?" "Do you believe you are the Chosen One?". Shadow sighed and looked to the ground "How can I know?" "I can tell you what I believe. I believe you will bring balance to the Force, that you will face your demons and save the universe". Shadow looked helpless "I don't know what to do. Should I leave or should I stay and kill Feist", she looked at him sympathetically "Neither. Look deeper. You will find another way, Shadow". Shadow sighed "I don't understand" "Not far from here there is a place which is strong in the dark side of the Force. You must go there". "And kill Feist?" Shadow asked, "Remember your training, Shadow. Trust your instincts" she disappeared. she started to disappear "Master! Master!".

Espio entered the cockpit with a drink. He looked down into the maintenance hatch and saw Amy sleeping. He smiled "Might i suggest less sleeping and a little more work". Amy woke up "Oh, sorry, Master Espio" "Here, this should help" he handed her the drink. He stood back up "We need to change plans. You must focus on the firing drives. Disengage them". This confused Amy "But I almost finished putting this junk heap back together and now-" "Just do as I say. We don't have much time" "Well, you're the boss". Espio took an Extreme Gear board and exited the ship when he saw Athair "Where's Shadow?" he asked fearlessly. "He came to me for guidance, but at the crossroad, only he can choose. The Force will be his guide now". Espio stepped closer to him "I don't like this. What have you done?" "I have done nothing. I am merely letting the will of the Force take shape. Shadow has been sent to the Well of the Dark Side". Espio threw his board to the ground "He's gone to confront your son, hasn't he?" "Deep within this planet exists a place where all that is dark is channelled. You cannot interfere". Espio stepped on the board "The way I see it, if we were not supposed to interfere, Amy and I wouldn't be here in the first place". He turned to Amy who was at the door "Look after the ship. I'm going to find Shadow" he raced off.

Shadow entered a large pit which took him to a large cavern full of lava. He landed on a small rock island above the lave which had a strange symbol on it. He looked around when "Welcome" he turned around and saw Feist. "I believe there has been a misunderstanding. We really don't have to be enemies", Shadow glared at him "You murdered your sister. Now the Force is out of balance". Shadow took out his lightsaber, but Feist pulled it out of his hand and smirked "There is no use for such crude implements here. I have a gift for you". Shadow angrily stepped closer to him "I've had enough of your tricks" "Oh, but you'll like this one. I promise. What if I could show you the future?". He backed away as Shadow began seeing shapes form in front of him "No" he closed his eyes, but he could still see them "No. Stop it" he begged. "Know yourself. Know what you will become!".

A mist began to form around Shadow as he could now hear screaming "No. I won't look" he didn't have a choice. "I can feel your anger" he saw Mephiles firing a beam of light at an unknown victim. He then saw himself holding a lightsaber in front of a terrified Marine the Racoon. "Shadow, please" Tikal begged him as she backed away in fear. "You were my brother, Shadow!" Espio was attacking him with a lightsaber, he looked heartbroken. Razor's body lied on the ground dead with a look of betrayal etched onto his face. "You will be a powerful Raiju", he saw a planet being destroyed "I HATE YOU!" that was his own voice. Shadow fell to his knees "No. No. No. NO!" the head of a furless hedgehog with piercing yellow eyes appeared behind him. The mist cleared and Feist walked up to Shadow who covered his face with his hands "I will do such terrible things" his voice broke as he said it. Feist pretended to be sympathetic "Yes. But it doesn't have to be that way. The choice is still yours to make". Shadow stood up "How?" "The future, by it's nature can be changed. Join me, and together we will destroy this hedgehog you see in your visions. Then we shall end war, corruption, and suffering throughout galaxy and we shall bring peace" he handed Shadow back his lightsaber.

Later Espio entered the Well and saw Shadow's board on the rock platform. He landed on it and saw Shadow appear "Shadow, are you alright?". Shadow's eyes were now yellow "There has been a change of plan". He threw the board into the lava "Sorry. You will not understand what I have to do to end the Clone War". Espio was about to say something but was suddenly hit by a beam from behind. He fell to the ground "Shadow, why?", Shadow ignored him and stepped on his board. He then remembered something from his vision, there was someone Shadow cared about deeply, someone who doesn't exist yet, who Espio guarded for most of his life. He glanced at his master "Thank you" he said, touched by what his master will do. Shadow then left which made Feist grin at Espio "He is mine now" he turned into a bat and flew away laughing.

Amy was still trying to fix the ship when his commlink activated "Amy, come in, please. Can you hear me?" "Yes, Master. Any success with Shadow?" she asked. There was a pause "No, quite the opposite" "Master, what're you saying?" "Shadow is being controlled by Feist. Do not engage him. Listen very carefully. You have to disable the ship before he gets there". Amy sighed "I just finished fixing the ship" "Amy, we can't let Feist or Shadow leave the planet", she reluctantly nodded "Yes Master". She then heard a noise outside. She quickly took something out of the engine before leaping onto the ceiling before Shadow entered the ship. Once he walked past her, she jumped down and ran out of the ship. She got on the Extreme Gear board and raced away. She looked behind her and saw Shadow run back out the ship watching her. She thought he'd be angry she took the power converter.

Espio was climbing up the wall of the pit when Amy flew up next to him smiling "You're doing pretty good" "What took you so long?". He jumped on the board and Amy handed her the power convertor "I did what you said. The shuttle's going nowhere without that" "Good. That gives us time to rescue Shadow" they flew out of the pit.

Shadow walked out of the shuttle where Feist was waiting "I can't make contact with anybody. I don't think anyone can hear the signal". Feist didn't seem bothered "My father still has hold over this realm. But I will be able to draw any ship here soon" "If I know my old Master he to will try to stop us. Together with your father they could be a threat". Feist nodded "I can turn the tide in our favour. Stay here" he flew away in hi bat form. Shadow waited and not long after Athair appeared "What did he show you?" "I've seen what I become; I can't let it happen". Athair glared at him disapprovingly "And for this, you join him? Your destiny can change just as quickly as the love in one's heart can fade. Nothing is set in stone". Tears began to form in Shadow's eyes "But I will cause so much pain" "If there is to be balance, then what you have seen must be forgotten". Athair touched his forehead causing Shadow to fall to the ground unconscious.

Feist entered the tomb and opened Aurora's grave. He kneeled down and affectionately touched her face "So cold. It's ironic, Aurora. You were the only one I truly loved" he took the dagger form her. He solemnly lowered his head before closing the grave.

Shadow woke up in the monastery courtyard with no memory of what happened. He sat up and saw Athair kneeling next to him "What happened" "My son broke the laws of time and showed you what you should never have seen. I have erased it for your own good". "Master!" he looked up and saw Amy and Espio arrive on the board. "Are you alright?" Espio asked as Shadow stood up "I think so. We have to stop Feist once and for all". Athair stood up "We have little time. You will have one chance. You know what you must do" "How quaint. My own personal send off". Feist flew down to them, Athair turned to him "I ask you one last time. Don't leave, my son" "You have no power to keep me, old man. You must understand by now this planet is not my destiny" he said with obvious contempt. "Please, I beg you. Restrain yourself and stay", he looked away from his father "I can't". Athair face dropped "Then I'm sorry. I love you, son" "Do you?". Shadow tried to attack him, but Feist grabbed his throat and threw him backwards. Amy and Espio tried to attack but he easily threw them forward with the Force. Taking advantage of the distraction Athair took the dagger from Feist's belt. Feist chuckled "What? Are you going to kill me now?", Athair stared at him "I held hope that you could resist the dark side. I see now there is no going back" Athair raised the dagger with the tip pointing at his own chest.

Feist realized what he was about to do "Father?". Athair stabbed himself in the stomach shocking Feist. "No! What have you done? It didn't have to be this way!" he held his dying father. Athair breathed heavily "Yes, my child, it did. You and I are tied together, and your strength runs through me. This way, I take your power". Feist sobbed "Please, don't die" "I always knew there was good in you" Athair hugged his son and he hugged back. Shadow came up behind him and stabbed him in the back with his lightsaber. Feist stared at his father "And so you have betrayed me, Father. I…" he dies in his father's arms who respectfully lowered his body to the ground. Shadow kneeled down "It's done" "And now I die" Athair said weakly "But I know the role you will pay" "And what is that" "You are the Chosen One. You have brought balance to this world. Stay on this path, and you will do it again for the galaxy. But beware your… heart" he fell to the ground. A light suddenly enveloped the planet and our heroes.

They all woke up in the shuttle cockpit in space, a hologram of Fang appeared "General Shadow, come in". Shadow smiled "We read you, Fang. Can you hear me?" "Yes, sir. Standing by. We were worried. You were off the scopes for a moment there". Shadow chuckled "A moment? We've been gone more than a moment, Fang". Fang looked confused "Sir, I don't understand", Shadow glanced at Amy and Espio "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. We're coming in now" they flew towards a Republic cruiser.