In an overgrown forest a G.U.N aircraft landed next to what looked like a medieval castle except it was partially converted into an technologically advanced base with the symbol of the Eggman Empire on the wall. The aircraft doors opened and out walked team dark. The three stared at the structure "Omega, can you tell how old it is?" Shadow asked. Omega scanned the metal "The structure has been abandoned for a year. Possibly during the Dark Gaia incident" "That would fit with others he abandoned around that time" Shadow replied. Rouge looked suspicious "What about the castle? I didn't know there were any out here" "I can find no records of it in the historical data". Shadow stepped closer and examined parts of the castle wall that wasn't covered. It looked like it had been overgrown for plant life for centuries before Eggman uncovered it. Although something was strange. If the castle has been abandoned for over a year why has it not started to get overgrown again. The plant life directly around the castle seemed to be dead. Rouge shrugged "Well, it's the best place they could have gone. And who knows, there might be something valuable inside" Shadow rolled his eyes but knew she was right. They opened the main doors to the castle and entered the hall "Hello? Anybody?" Shadow asked but no answer.
The room was illuminated by red emergency lighting. There were signs of the old architecture and art from the castle but it was overrun by the newly built base. In middle of the room was a strange looking control console that was chaotically wired into the walls. The console didn't look like anything Eggman would have built. It looked like it was sloppily put together from other pieces of machinery. Rouge and Shadow both worked on the console. Rouge pulled a lever and the whole room powered up giving them proper lighting. Omega looked around the room "There's a great amount of energy going through this castle". Shadow checked the console "Yeah. There's more power going through this base than any of the completed ones we've seen" "Well, if stuff's on it means there's people here, right?" Rouge said. She then looked up "Do you smell that?" "Yeah, someone's cooking. Maybe they are here". He flipped a switch and a door on their right opened. The three cautiously went through into another large room. To their surprise one of the walls was a fireplace. Unlike the rest of the room it had no sign of being converted, no machinery, nothing. It was completely normal with a very old clock on top and the strangest part was that the fire was still going "That's a good sign" Rouge said. Omega tilted his head "This does not compute. What reason would Eggman have to leave this undisturbed?" "Maybe he's got some class in him after all" Rouge joked. Shadow examined it and was very confused "This is in perfect condition. There's no sign of decay or age". He leaned down and looked through the fire "There's another room through there". Rouge crossed her arms "Can't be. This wall goes back out to the front of the castle" "Hello" Shadow said. Rouge glanced at him and then "Hello" a curious high pitched voice said. Rouge and Omega leaned down and on the other side of the fire was a very young cat child with grey fur and wearing a very old fashioned looking nightgown. Shadow made sure Rouge and Omega didn't get too close. He didn't want to scare her "What's your name?" "Reinette". Shadow nodded "That's a very nice name. Can you tell me where you are at the moment, Reinette?" "My bedroom" she said very confused, "And where is your bedroom? Where do you live?".
She smiled "Emerald Hill of course". Shadow and Rouge glanced at one another. Reinette looked at Omega and giggled before looking back to Shadow "Forgive me, sir. But you and your wife have a very strange knight". Rouge chuckled "Oh, no, honey. We're not married" "She prefers echidnas" Omega added. She raised her eyebrows and looked back to the child "I'm Rouge. And yes, this is our knight… Sir Omega". Omega seemed irritated by that but kept silent. Reinette nodded "And… What're you doing in my fireplace?" "Uh, Government work. Can you tell me what year it is?" Shadow asked. She smirked "Of course I can! 1727". Shadow nodded "Ah, okay. Well, thank you for the help. Goodnight" "Goodnight, sir". Rouge waved at the girl before standing up with the others "You know when we got put on a missing persons assignment I thought 'Cool. This should be simple". Shadow crossed his arms "Omega, was Eggman maybe working on some sort of time travel?" "Negative. Not with anything in this base. No signature from the Time Stones. None of the fuel the Silver one used. This should not be possible in the present day". Shadow tried to think "This is probably where the power's going though" "And it's not just time. It's space. Emerald Hill's no where near here" Rouge added. Shadow leaned down and examined the right side of the fireplace but found no sign of a teleporter or anything. He then spotted a small lever. He pulled it and the fireplace started to spin "Shadow!" Rouge yelled. Shadow was taken around the other side of the wall. He was now in the bedroom in the dead of night as the clocks started ticking very loudly. He saw Reinette sleeping in her bed. He looked around and then went over to the window, outside was a 18th century city covered in snow. He glanced up at the mountains in the background which were unchanged from how they looked in the present day Emerald Hill. Shadow heard a gasped and realised Reinette was awake "It's okay. Don't scream" he said softly. She sat up and stared at him. Shadow calmly stepped forward "It's me. Look". He slowly swiped his arm forward and threw a small chaos spear which ignited a candle giving them light. Reinette got to see his face properly. Shadow raised his hands non threateningly "Remember. I was in the fireplace" "But… That was weeks ago. Months" "What?" he stepped closer and Reinette made a scared sound before looking away. Shadow noticed she was shaking "Oh, I'm sorry".
He kneeled down and tried to think "Here". He took out the green Chaos Emerald. Reinette looked back and she was immediately entranced by the glow of the emerald. Shadow tossed the emerald to her and she caught it. She held it close to her face examining it "Is this a Chaos Emerald?" "You know about them?" "I've always wanted to see one for real". Shadow stood back up "Well, you know how much power they have. So, if you have that I definitely can't hurt you". She looked back up at him, she was a lot less scared now "What're you doing here?" "I just need information. Won't take long". He walks back over to the fireplace "You said a month, right?" "Yes" "Maybe it's not perfect. A loose connection. Have you seen anyone else but me?". Reinette tried to think "I… don't think so". Shadow was getting annoyed by how loud that ticking sound was, he wondered how this child is able to sleep at all. He got to his feet "Alright. Sorry for disturbing you, kid. I needed to make…". He realised the clock on the fireplace was broken. And from how it looked someone smashed it "Reinette, stay there". She looked up from the emerald and saw what he was looking at "What? It's just a broken clock" "Because…". He started surveying the room "If it's broken…". He made sure there wasn't any other clocks in the room "What's that?". Reinette finally noticed the ticking and started looking around. Shadow slowly moved to the middle of the room "That's too loud to be a clock" "Did it break it?". Shadow started looking around where it might be hiding "Makes sense. If you're something that ticks and you had to hide the first thing you would do is break the clock. It's easy to notice two things ticking…".
He realised and slowly turned back to Reinette and looked at her bed "You'd wonder if you were really alone". He cautiously stepped to the side of the bed "Stay right there in the middle. Don't put anything over the edge" "What is it?" her voice trembled. Shadow kneeled down and pointed to the emerald and then tapped his chest "Hold that close. It'll keep you safe". Reinette curled up on the bed holding the emerald close. Shadow looked under the bed and saw a strange shape in the dark. He reached out trying to touch it when something suddenly swiped out at him. Shadow backed away and when he looked back under he saw a pair of feet out the other side of the bed. Shadow slowly got back up. Reinette was staring at him but Shadow wasn't looking at her "Reinette, don't look round". On the other side of the bed was a Metal Knuckles robot. Except there was something wrong with its face. It wasn't metal like the rest of the body. The black screen of it's eyes were instead white, the iris was red with a black outline and a green pupil. Unlike the usual metal duplicates it had a mouth that was in the shape of a terrifying grin. He could see the inside of it's mouth which was filled with razor sharp black teeth. Shadow got to his feet "You stay right there" he warned the Metal. He then realised it wasn't looking at him but Reinette. Shadow pointed at her but didn't take his eyes off of the Metal "Her? You blew a hole in space time to watch a child. What could she possibly have?" he for once sounded angry. Reinette's voice trembled "I-I don't understand. It wants me?". She looked over her shoulder at the Metal "You want me?". The Metal Knuckles tilted his head making a strange snapping sound "Not yet. You are incomplete" it said with two voices. One of the deep voice the Metal Robots usually have and the other was a high-pitched manic voice. Shadow narrowed his eyes "Incomplete? What does that mean?". It didn't say anything. Shadow moved to the foot of the bed "You can answer her you can answer me. What do you mean, incomplete?". The Metal Knuckles started stiffly moving around the bed towards Shadow while creating unsettling sounds. It extended out its arm, a panel opened at the front and a blade came out which Shadow showed no fear to. Reinette gasped "Sir, be careful!". Shadow glanced at her "It's just a nightmare, kid. It's alright".
The Metal swung its arm but Shadow backed away and led it back to the fireplace. The Metal tried again to hit him and missed trapping its blade in part of the fireplace. Shadow quickly pulled the lever causing the fireplace to spin again. He gave Reinette a quick nod making her smile. Back in the castle Rouge and Omega saw Shadow and the metal appear. Shadow got out of the way "Omega!". Omega fired a rocket breaking the Metal Knuckles into different parts. Rouge stepped next to Shadow "Where'd he come from?" "Here. It was after the kid". Rouge smirked "What and you couldn't take it out. Needed Omega to do it?" she said mockingly. The two approached the remains and kneeled down examining the pieces "I couldn't leave a damaged robot in the 18th century". He picked up the head and saw that the face was back to normal without the mouth and the strange eyes. Omega stepped forward "Eggman's designs are getting worse. This unit lacks a power core". Shadow nodded and showed them the inside of the head showing intricate gears "Clockwork. This runs on clockwork". Rouge checked the other parts. It was all clockwork, nothing else "Maybe it's been stripped out. Used to help generate the power they need". She kept looking around trying to find something else but couldn't "This doesn't make sense. This thing was moving but there's no sign of an AI system or a voice unit? You can't make that with clockwork". Suddenly the small piece she was holding flew out of her hand. A spherical ghost appeared in the middle of the debris and it laughed. Shadow and Rouge backed away "Boos!". The rest of the pieces moved as well and assembled back together around the Boo forming the Metal Knuckles allowing him to possess it. The Metal Knuckles laughed manically before phasing through the floor out of sight. Shadow stared at where it was last seen "Omega, stay here! Rouge, come on". He ran back to the fireplace confusing Rouge "Where are we going?" "They were after the kid. There might be more. Omega stay here and disable any that you see". He sternly pointed at him "Don't go looking for them!".
Once Rouge got next to him Shadow pulled the lever spinning it around. Omega looked around the room for only a split second before immediately arming his machine guns and heading deeper into the castle. Shadow and Rouge arrived in the room except it was now morning. There was no sign of Reinette and a lot of stuff around the room was different now "Reinette? Are you okay?". Rouge looked around the room and smirked "Wow. This place is nice". She walked over to a golden harp and admired it when "Hmm-hmm". Shadow and Rouge both turned to the door where a Cat about their age was standing staring at them. Shadow stepped "Hello. We're just here to see if Reinette was okay. This is still her room, isn't it?". They heard a voice outside "Reinette, we are ready to go". Reinette smiled "Go to the carriage, mother. I will join you there". She looked between the two of them "It is customary, I think, to have an imaginary friend only during one's childhood. You are both to be congratulated on your persistence". Shadow struggled to find something to say. Reinette walked up in front of Rouge "It's been even longer since I've seen you, Miss Rouge". Rouge was smiling "You're the girl…". She chuckled "Goodness. You've grown" "And you do not appear to have aged a single day. Tremendously impolite of you" "Right… sorry". Reinette looked over to Shadow "Loose connection, was it?". Shadow slowly nodded "Yes. We should probably go. Two strangers in your house isn't going to look good". Reinette frowned "Strange? How can you be a stranger to me? I've known you since I was seven years old". Shadow couldn't think of a reply to that. Reinette's face suddenly beamed "Speaking of which". She walked over to a drawer and opened it. She took something in her hands and walked over to Shadow "You left this on your last visit". She opened her hands revealing the green Chaos Emerald. Shadow stared down at it "You kept it". He took the emerald smiling that he hasn't lost it "Tha…".
Reinette suddenly touched his face with her hand. Rouge subtly moved closer and leaned in watching them curiously. Shadow looked up confused "What're you… doing?". Rouge rolled her eyes but started smiling amused. Reinette narrowed her eyes "Well, you seem to be flesh and blood at any rate. But this is absurd. Reason tells me you cannot be real". She finally took her hand off of Shadow's face. He slowly shook his head "I think we're proof you shouldn't listen to reason". Rouge narrowed her eyes watching them both with a fascinated look on her face. Reinette heard a voice "Reinette? Your mother grows impatient". Reinette sighed in frustration "A moment!". She looks back to Shadow "So many questions. So little time". She suddenly pulled him into a kiss and moved him against the wall of the fireplace. Rouge gave a slight chuckle and mouthed "Whoa". They heard the voice again "Reinette Elara the Cat!". Upon hearing him Reinette quickly ended the kiss and ran out of the room. Shadow was still against the wall but was immediately thinking of something. A walrus in a suit walked into the room and saw the two of them. It finally clicked for Shadow "Elara. Emerald Hill" he didn't seem to be acknowledging what just happened. Rouge looked back at him "What?" "Reinette Elara the Cat. The mistress of King Louis XV. The uncrowned Queen of Emerald Hill. That's why they're after her". Rouge beamed with happiness before walking up right in the face of the confused walrus "Wait, is that true? Queen of Emerald Hill? Mistress?". She looked back to Shadow "And you just…". She had an uncontrollable laugh. Shadow got ready to turn the fireplace "Rouge, come on. We have a lead". Rouge kept laughing as she ran up to the fireplace. The confused walrus was finally able to speak "Who the hell are you two!?". Rouge had to wipe a tear from her eye "Rouge". She pointed at Shadow "He's Shadow. And he just kissed the King's girlfriend". Her laugh started up again as they turned back into the castle. They both turned to see that Omega was gone. Shadow didn't look surprised "Everytime. I tell him and he doesn't listen" "I'll go find him" Rouge replied. Shadow nodded "Alright. I'm gonna see if I can find anything". Rouge left the room as Shadow walked over to the console. He tried to find out if there were any other of these time windows. He couldn't get a specific number but the power was going through the whole castle and not just that room so there has to be more. He'll have to find another one. He heard a noise in the next room "Rouge?". He ran in only to find a group of Chao. They all saw him and got excited "Chao! Chao!".
Omega had his guns ready as he patrolled the halls of the castle when he spotted what looked to be a camera moving on the wall. Omega got closer, the camera turned to him and Omega saw that inside was an eye. He heard a noise behind him and quickly turned ready to shoot but it was Rouge. She mockingly raised her hands "Whoa, easy, Tex!". Omega slowly lowered his gun "Apologies". Rouge then noticed the camera as well "Is that…?" "It's organic. Not fake" Omega answered. Rouge got closer and her ears twitched "Do you hear that". Omega looked around "Negative". Rouge kneeled down at part of a wall. She found a part that was cut out and replaced with a metal panel. She opened a hatch on the panel and immediately a clear pumping sound could be heard. Omega and Rouge both looked inside and saw a red moving object wired into the machinery. Rouge was for once looking shocked "Omega... is that organic?" "Affirmative. What is it?" "It's a heart".
Shadow walked through another hall looking very irritated "Rouge? Omega?" he said half-heartedly. The Chao were all flying behind him speaking loudly. Shadow rolled his eyes and turned around stopping the Chao "Will you stop following me? I'm not your mother" "Chao!". Shadow kept walking until finding a clean white door in perfect condition "Is this yours?". He opened the door revealing a sunny garden. The Chao all happily flew through the door and out of sight. Shadow stepped through expecting to find a different time period from before but then saw Reinette across the garden speaking to a chipmunk. The two laughed "Oh, Katherine, you are too wicked". Shadow quickly hid behind a stone fence and listened "Speaking of wicked, I hear Madame de Chateauroux is ill and close to death" "Oh, yes, I am devastated" Reinette said before laughing. Katherine laughed "Oh, yes, I am inconsolable. The King will, therefore, be requiring a new mistress. You love the King, of course" "He is the king and I love him with all my heart. And I look forward to meeting him" the two laughed again.
Omega and Rouge were heading back to the main hall when they found a glass window revealing a fancy old time room. Omega scanned the outline "It's another time displacement". Two people entered including a fox in a very fancy suit. He looked directly at them and Rouge realised "I think this is a mirror. And look at him. Who's he" "King of Emerald Hill" Shadow answered moving next to them. The frog servant brought the King his coat. Rouge smirked "You find anything" "With how much power is going through this castle there must be a lot of these" "And?". Shadow sighed "I thought they might be after historical figures but I've checked five of these now. All of them are focused on her". He pointed at the door as Reinette entered the room and curtsied to the King "I don't know how it's this accurate. Forcing these doors open should be completely random". Omega thought of something "The Boos might be using themselves as conduits. If they were alive in this time period they could use that to narrow it down to those decades. Eggman theorised it could work but capturing Boos is close to impossible" "Why her though? What did you say she was?" Rouge asked Shadow. He crossed his arms "Reinette Elara the Cat. One of the most accomplished woman who ever lived". Rouge slowly smiled "Oh, you know when I was in Emerald Hill once. I think I stole something that belonged to her". She noticed Shadow looking at her "What? I'm not going to tell her. So anyway, did you say she was the queen?". Shadow shook his head "No, he's already got a queen. She's got plans on being his mistress" "Oh, good for her" "I think this might be the night they met. The night of the ball. In no time flat she'll get herself established as his official mistress, with her own rooms at the palace and titles".
Rouge was now staring at him impressed. He shrugged "It's hard to skip school when you live on a space station". Reinette came up to the mirror and made sure she looked proper. Rouge chuckled "The Queen must have loved her" "I think she did. They got along very well". Omega turned his head "I don't understand. I thought you organics preferred their mates to be loyal". Rouge shrugged "Ancient History, Sweetie. It's practically a different planet. Right, Shadow… Shadow?". Shadow was staring at a broken clock at the back of the room. Reinette heard loud ticking and turned to see a strange dressed figure with it's back to her "How long have you been standing their?". It didn't respond "Show yourself!". It turned around revealing it to be a Metal Amy with the same ghostly grin as the Boo "Omega, stun! We need it intact!". The three turned the mirror and walked through and Omega fired a small disc which hit the Metal. It sent an electric current that paralysed the body. Shadow slowly approached it. Reinette stared at him before noticing Omega. She gasped "Sir, Omega. It's been too long". Rouge gave Omega a look from behind Reinette. He slowly bowed "Milady". The Metal Amy started twitching "What's it doing?" Rouge asked. Shadow got closer "It's trying to regain control over the Metal" "Then what?" "Try and kill us all". It tried to swipe at Shadow but it barely moved "Who are you?" he asked it. It didn't answer so Shadow turned to Reinette "I need you to tell it". Her eyes shifted fearfully "Why should it listen to me?" "It did when you were a child. Remember?". She slowly moved in front of Shadow and put on a brave face "Answer his question. Answer any and all questions put to you". Metal Amy lowered its arms and tilted it's head "Of course, Milady". Shadow stepped forward "How did you build all that machinery?" "Possessing it allowed us to learn it. With what was left behind our purpose can be completed". Shadow narrowed his eyes "And what is that?" "To complete the castle" "How did you create the energy for the Time windows. You don't have enough equipment". The Metal Amy laughed "We needed parts". Shadow thought he should ask "Over 20 people have gone missing on the outskirts of the forest. Do you have anything to do with that?" "We needed the parts" "That's not what I asked. Did you take them?".
The Metal Amy tilted its head confused "We needed the parts" "I am asking where…". He stopped and his eyes widened "You needed the parts so you used people" "Illogical. That would be insufficient" Omega said. Rouge gulped "We saw it though. We found a camera with an eye in it. And there was a heart wired into machinery". Shadow sighed "What did you say the hall smelled like". Rouge realised "Cooking". Shadow turned back to Metal Amy "Okay. What does any of this have to do with finishing the castle. Opening Time windows. Why?" "One more part is required" it's head creaked as it looked at Reinette who flinched. Shadow looked back at her "Then why haven't you taken it?" "She is incomplete" "So you're plan is just to wait until she's done?". Rouge stepped forward "Why her? Why do you need to kill her" "We do this for her" the Metal Amy answered. This angered Reinette "For me? You think I want this?" "For you" "Get out of here! Now!". Shadow tried to stop her but the Metal Amy phased through the floor "It'll head back to the castle. Rouge, Omega, head back and disable any you can find. I don't think the Boos can leave the bodies" "What're you going to do?" "I'm gonna find out what they want. Go". Omega run back through the mirror. Rouge followed, stopped and looked between Reinette and Shadow. She smirked "Good luck" she said jokingly before she ran back through. Shadow walked back over to Reinette "I need you to trust me" "Of course I do" "I think I know a way to find out what they want". He took out the Chaos Emerald. He held it out "Put your hand on it. I haven't worked this out fully but it'll be enough". Reinette held the Emerald and they both closed their eyes. Her face twitched "Fireplace man. You are inside my mind".
Rouge and Omega were patrolling the halls "So, what do you think?". Omega glanced at her "What?" "Shadow and her" "What about them?". Rouge rolled her eyes "The guys as miserable as they come and yet he gets a king's girlfriend" "And?". Rouge sighed "Omega, we really need to teach you about relationships" "I understand them enough to be irritated by your tedious flirting on the echidna". As he looked back at her, a Metal Blaze phased through the wall "Omega!". It opened its fist revealing an instrument that shocked Omega disabling him. Before Rouge could attack it a Metal Silver phased through the floor under her and injected a syringe into her leg knocking her out.
Reinette and Shadow were still searching "You are in my memories. You walk among them" "If there's something you don't want me to see imagine a door. I'll go past it". Reinette smiled mischievously and Shadow gave a surprised sigh "You should probably close… That's a lot of doors… Wait, how old are you" "So impertinent a question, so early in conversation. How promising". Shadow concentrated "No. They've been scanning your brain. Your 19 right now and that's not old enough". Reinette gasped and Shadow made sure she kept holding onto the Emerald "Sorry. Old memories sometimes come back. I haven't practiced this enough". Reinette mouth opened "So lonely" "It'll pass. Stay with me". Reinette looked sad "Oh, Shadow. The loss of a sister. The betrayal of a father. So lonely. So very, very alone". Shadow looked confused "Sister? You don't have a sister. You…". His eyes opened wide "When did you start calling me Shadow?" "So lonely. How can you bear it?". Shadow took the emerald and stepped away from her "How did you do that?" "A door once opened may be stepped through in either direction". She stepped closer to him "Oh, Shadow. My lonely Shadow". She smiled "Dance with me". Shadow was thrown out of his shock "What?" "Dance with me. Maria taught you when you were younger". Shadow shook his head "This is the night you dance with the King" "Then first I shall make him jealous" "I can't". She stared at him sympathetically "You care about the others so much. Why do you shut them out?" "What did you see?". She got closer and took his hand "I saw you, Ultimate Life Form, needing a dance". She started leading him out of the room. He glanced back at the mirror hoping that somehow Rouge and Omega knew to come back and save him but no such luck.
Rouge started to wake up and found herself strapped to an operating table. She looked up, a Metal Espio was staring at her. She looked around the room. There were 12 Metals in total. Silver, Blaze, Team Sonic, Team Dark minus Omega, Team Rose and the Chaotix minus Vector. Rouge then spotted Omega paralysed on a table as a Metal Cream removed his right arm "Reduce me to a head. I will still destroy you all" he said. The Metal Rouge approached the real Rouge who rolled her eyes "I hate knockoffs" "You are compatible" "Well, we got another one out there. And trust me he's too fast for you to catch". The Metal Espio put a blade to her throat but she didn't flinch. She still stared at her doppleganger "Oh, trying to scare me. Trust me, when we're done there won't be anything left to…". She started hearing singing "I could have danced all night and still have begged for more". Shadow strides in with a tie wrapped around his head, sunglasses and holding a glass of wine. He danced across the room "I could have spread my wings… Rouge, we should go to Emerald Hill after this. Big adventure. They know how to party" "He's finally gone insane" Omega said. Rouge raised her eyebrows "Where have you been?" "Well, I invented the chilli dog a couple of centuries earlier". He went over to the console where the Metal Shadow was "Oh, look at you. You're my favourite". He put his arm around him "Not like the others. Especially the faker" he gestured to the Metal Sonic. Shadow laughed "Do you know what their waiting for with Reinette? Her age. You see her fame begins when she's 21 years old. The year she is declared the official mistress of the King. And then is when her brain will be compatible to plug into the main computer. Gaia knows why they want to do that" "We are doing it for her" Metal Shadow said.
Shadow laughed and knocked on its head "For her. If you believe that you probably believe this is real wine". He poured it over the Metal Shadow paralysing it. Shadow immediately went back to his cold demeanour "Rogue Badnik oil. Found it in Eggman's store". The other Metals started approaching him but he quickly flipped a switch on the console locking their joints. The bodies kept twitching as the Boos tried to force them to move. Shadow released Rouge and they helped Omega to his feet "We'll repair your arm later, Omega" "I do not require it". Shadow ran back to the console as Rouge watched him "Can I just say that was the worst drunk acting I've ever seen". Shadow raised his head "Drunk? I was pretending to be Sonic". Rouge raised her eyebrows before laughing. Shadow stared at the console "The windows aren't closing". Rouge went to the other side of the console and checked a screen "A message came in from the Metal Vector. It must be out there overriding the controls". They both tried to work when the Metal Shadow suddenly stood up straight. It laughed as the oil started pouring out of its mouth. The lever on the console turned back on its own and all the other Metals moved as well. Team Dark formed a circle "You may already be dead but those bodies won't last long against us" Rouge said. Another message was received and the Metal Knuckled looked upwards "She is complete". They all phase through the floor disappearing.
Reinette was alone in a room looking out a window at the night sky when she heard footsteps. She then noticed a ticking sound and quickly looked at a clock on the wall which was still working. She sighed in relief when "Reinette". She looked to the door and saw Rouge with a solemn face. Reinette smiled anyway and hugged her "Rouge, it's good to see you". Rouge forced a smile and hugged her back before sitting with her "I've come to warn you. They'll be here in two years" "Two years?" "Some time when you're 21. We don't know when exactly. But around then. I'm sorry. It's hard to explain". Reinette didn't understand "Just explain what you can" "There isn't time" "You said we had two years". Rouge sighed "I only have two minutes". Reinette took her hand "Rouge, please". Rouge sighed and tried to think "There's a castle where I come from. And it's full of… you. Different bits of your life, in different rooms" "In different rooms?". Rouge nodded "Yes. In one room you could be 25. In another 70. That's how we've been meeting you. That's the only way I can put it". Reinette needed a moment trying to process this strange concept "There is a castle in your world where the days of my life are pressed together, like the chapters of a book, so that you three may step from one to the other without increase of age while I must always take the slower path?". Rouge nodded "I'm sorry" "So, what can be done when these creatures return" "We have a plan. We need you to keep them talking. You won't be able to stop them but they still might respond to you".
Reinette nodded listening intently "Until Shadow can get there" "He's coming then?" "He promises". Reinette looked down "But he cannot make his promises in person" "He'll be there when you need him" "That seems to be the way it's always been". Rouge looked sympathetic "I'm sorry. You should know this wasn't supposed to happen. These things are messing with time. None of this should have happened". Reinette looked up at her and smiled "Not supposed to happen?" "Rouge! Rouge?" they hear Omega yelling. They both run into the next room where Omega was waiting next to a tapestry "We found the correct displacement". Reinette saw Omega missing his right arm "Sir… Omega?". She looked into his body seeing machinery and then looked at the tapestry. Rouge saw what she was about to do "No, don't. It won't…". Reinette went through the tapestry and found herself in the hall of the castle with machinery covering the walls. She looked back at Rouge and Omega "So, this is your world?". They started to hear screaming "What was that" "Shadow and I opened an audio link" Omega answered. Reinette looked around "Those screams. Is that my future". Rouge guiltily nodded "Yeah. I'm sorry" "Then I must take the slower path". They then heard a voice "Are you there? Can you hear me? I need you now. You promised" "That's my voice" Reinette said glassy eyed. Omega looked back the way he came "Rouge, we have to get back" "Wait". She approached Reinette "Are you okay?" "No. I'm very afraid". She put a hand on Rouge's shoulder and another on Omega's "You said this wasn't supposed to happen. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I would face a world of demons for you three angels". She took a breath, composed herself and went back through the tapestry to her own time.
Two years later a party was taking place in the palace. The Metal's were rounding up the party members in a large golden ballroom. Reinette was in her new room speaking into her fireplace as the King stood over her "We must go! No one is coming to help us". They both heard a ticking sound and turned to see the Metal Knuckles with Metal Silver and Vector behind him. Reinette's mind took her back to seeing him as a child as it spoke "You are complete. You will come".
Shadow and Omega were in the castle dining room with a window in front of them that showed a top down view of the ballroom. Rouge ran in "I can't unlock it" "They knew we were coming. They've blocked us out" "Well, why don't we just smash through it?". Shadow paused looking troubled by something before hearing Reinette "Could everyone just calm down! Please!". They look through the window and saw her standing at the centre of the ballroom as everyone watched her "Such a commotion, such a distressing noise. Kindly remember that this is Emerald Hill and this is the Royal Court". She fearlessly turned to the Metal Knuckles "I have made my decision. And my decision is no. I shall not be going with you today. I have seen your world and I have no desire to set foot there again". The Metal Knuckles tilted its head "We do not require your feet". Metal Charmy and Tails force her to kneel and they put blades to her neck but she remains stone faced. She watches Metal Knuckles approach her with a blade coming out of his hand "You think I fear you, but I do not fear you even now. You are merely the nightmare of my childhood. The monster from under my bed. And if my nightmares can return to plague me, then rest assured, others can return". As she said that a sound could be heard. Like something revving up. It got louder making the Metals all then looked upwards towards a high mirror on the wall. There was a loud crash and Shadow suddenly spin dashed through the mirror breaking it before landing on the ground. All the guests screamed in confusion except an amazed Reinette who certainly wasn't expecting that. Shadow surprisingly smirked "Milady". The King was looking between Shadow and the mirror "What the hell is going on?". Reinette snapped out of her surprise and gestured to the King "This is my lover, the King of Emerald Hill". Shadow respectfully nodded to him and then gestured to himself "Ultimate Lifeform". He then walked over to the Metal Knuckles who raised its blade but Shadow didn't look worried "Don't bother. It's over for both of us". He looked up to the broken mirror but behind it was just a normal wall.
Rouge and Omega were staring at the broken window which now just showed the outside. Omega looked to Rouge "What now? How is he getting back?". Rouge didn't say anything and just continued to stare at the window. Omega looked between them "Rouge, how is he getting back?".
The Metals all frowned as Shadow confronted Metal Knuckles "They're all gone. No way back. You have no purpose among the living. Accept that". The Boos all tried to think of something before disappearing from the Metals which all immediately self-destructed by disintegrating. Shadow helped Reinette to her feet "Are you alright?" "What happened to them?" "The castle doesn't exist. They had no reason to hold on".
Later that night Shadow stood alone at a window with a glass of wine. Reinette joined him with her own glass "This time in the world must be so simple compared to yours. The one I saw in your mind" "I've been around. Ever since looking down from the Ark I said I see it all". Reinette looked out "I've often wished to explore the world beyond Emerald Hill". She noticed Shadow staring blankly out at the field. She frowned "In saving me, you trapped yourself. Did you know that would happen", he nodded. Reinette smiled "And yet still you came". Shadow forced a smile "Of course I did" "There were many doors between my world and you. Can you not use one of those?". Shadow shook his head regrettably "No, I had to make sure there was no way for them to get back. Rouge programed a shockwave to go through the castle when the mirror broke. It severed all the links. There'll be a few more broken mirrors and torn tapestries around here". He awkwardly stuttered "I'll-I'll pay for any damages". Reinette laughed and Shadow realised something "Actually, I don't have any rings. I'm gonna need to get a job". Reinette frowned "So here you are. My lonely angel. Stuck on the slow path with me". Shadow nodded "Yeah. Here's to the slow path" he raises his glass and they clink before drinking "It's a pity. I think I would have enjoyed the slow path" she said sadly. Shadow shrugged "Well, I'm not going anywhere" "Oh, aren't you?". She put her glass down "Take my hand". Shadow did, Reinette looked very sad but led him out of the room.
She took him into her bedroom and they stared at the fireplace in the wall "It's not a copy, it is the original. I had it moved here and was exact in every detail". Shadow realised "Your fireplace". He got closer "When did you do this" "Many years ago. In the hope that a door once opened may some day open again. It appears undamaged. Do you think it will still work?". Shadow didn't want to get his hopes up "You would have broken the bond with the castle when you moved it. It would have been offline when the shockwave came, that's what saved it". His eyes narrowed as an idea raced through his head "But… It's still intact. I just need a link". He realised and took out his Chaos Emerald. He stepped closer and the Emerald glowed brighter making him grin. Reinette noticed "What?" her voice trembled, "It's still linked to the other six. I can power it from both sides". He found the hidden lever and looked back at Reinette "Wish me luck". Her eyes watered "No", Shadow pulled the lever as she said it and they watched each other as he disappeared. Back in the castle Shadow was about to go back to the main hall to let Rouge and Omega know he was okay but then kneeled down at the fire "Reinette?". She kneeled down and smiled seeing him, "Do you want to see more of my world" "More than anything". Shadow smiled pleasantly "Pack a bag". She looked excited "Am I going somewhere?" "Get a map. Pick anywhere" she got up and ran away. Shadow then headed into the main hall where Rouge and Omega were still waiting. Rouge then noticed him. She kept looking between him and the broken window. She started to laugh and ran up and hugged him. Shadow was a lot cheerier than usual and hugged her back "How long was I gone".
Rouge snapped out of her surprise and let him go "Five hours. I wasn't going to let you leave that Emerald in the past" she said unconvincingly. Shadow rolled his eyes and looked to Omega who stared at him "I… missed you" "You too. I'll be right back. Wait here". Shadow ran back into the room with the fireplace "Reinette? Are you there?". He turned the fireplace around bringing him into the palace again except it was dark. He sighed realising he must be late again "Reinette?". He went through the palace into a large room where the man he recognised as the King was standing at a window "Hello" "You just missed her". The King turned and was surprised by Shadow "Dear Gaia. She was right. She said you never looked a day older. So many years since I last saw you but not a day of it on your face". Shadow's eyes widened "Years? How long ago?". The King looked away and walked towards a drawer. He took out a letter "She spoke of you many times. She often wished you would visit again. You know how woman are". Shadow started to realise how many years it's been as the King handed him the letter. They hear a carriage outside and the King goes back to the window "And there she goes". He watched a funeral carriage leave the palace "Leaving for the last time. Only 30 years old when she died". Shadow joined him at the window and silently watched. The King shook his head "Too young. Illness took her in the end". He reminisced "She always did work too hard". He looked back at Shadow "What did she say?". Shadow looked at the letter but then held it at his side. The King nodded "Of course. Quite right". Shadow with a stone faced expression walked away.
Rouge and Omega waited when they saw Shadow come in. They noticed his expression and where able to understand something happened. Rouge crossed her arms and looked away upset. After a moment she looked back at Shadow "Why did they think they had to kill her?". Shadow casually shrugged and walked to the console "I don't know. They've been dead for centuries. Whatever was left of their minds were probably just confused". He started pressing buttons "Without them I can close all the windows without any trouble". Rouge and Omega both stared at him "Are you okay?". Shadow looked up from the console with a blank face "I'm always okay" he got back to work. Rouge kept watching him "It's just if you-". Omega grabbed her shoulder but kept his eyes on Shadow "Rouge, I require assistance to repair my arm on the aircraft". Rouge paused and slowly nodded "Yeah. Sure, Omega". They both slowly left through the main doors leaving Shadow on his own. Once they were gone Shadow took out the letter and opened it. He read it "My dear Shadow. The path has never seemed more slow and yet I fear I am nearing its end. Reason tells me that you and I are unlikely to meet again but I think I shall not listen to reason. I have seen the world inside your head and know that all things are possible. Hurry though, my love. My days grow shorter now, and I am so very weak. Gaia's speed, my lonely angel". Shadow kept his blank expression and closed the letter. He turned back to the console and flipped a switch. He looked over to the next room where the light from the fireplace started to fade before finally going dark. Shadow kept the letter and went through the main doors of the castle. He closed them on the way out. As it closed on the inside a picture was revealed on the door of Reinette. Underneath it was a plaque saying "To our families most accomplished member. We hope to carry on her memory". Outside Shadow boarded the aircraft which took off and left Reinette Elara Castle behind.