Authors Note: We have had and epic beginning with unanswered questions. Whats wrong with Shadow, Where is Rouge right now? Finally and most importantly, what happened to Knuckles's Chili Dog? Most will soon be revealed.

Disclaimer: Sega owns The following Characters: Shadow, Knuckles, Amy, Tails, Rouge, Sonic. Anyone else is mine Unless I say so. So the disclaimer will appear only when another Sega owned character arrives. Enjoy the next chapter!


Between Light and Shadow

The jet roared with tremendous force as it rocketed upward. Sonic could barely hang on. He clung with all his strength.
"Shadow, your not getting the Master Emerald!"
"Thats what you think," Shadow said, half to himself and half to Sonic, "We'll have to put you on the ground!" Shadow leaped out of the cockpit, walked to the nose and leaped as high as he could. He landed on the Island and dashed to the Emerald.
"That is not a good thing, AAAAAAHHHH!!!!" Sonic screamed as he plummeted on the out of control jet. Suddenly, Tails, Amy and Knuckles came on Tails' palne.
"Sonic, quick jump!" Knuckles yelled as Tails' plane flew overhead.
"I was never really good with heights!" Sonic whined.
"Jump or die, tick tock." Knuckles said.
"Here goes nothing, course if I miss I'll be splattered into nothing." Sonic whimpered as he leaped from the plummeting jet onto Tails' plane.
"Glad you could fly by." Knuckles joked.
"Hahaha, Yeah and you just think you'll glide through everything." Sonic retorted.
"Hate to remind you, but SHADOW IS STEALING THE EMERALD!" Amy screamed.
"Yeah, Tails, HIT THE GAS!" Knuckles yelled.

"Now the Emerald is mine." Shadow said as he walked along the shrine floor. He arrived at the pedestal to discover that the emerald was gone!
"Expecting something Shadow?" said a voice in the darkness of the dense forest.
"Rouge!"
Rouge floated in with the emerald lightly in her arms, "Yeah and now I will merge with the emerald and become all powerful." Rouge grinned.
"Not so fast Shadow!" Sonic yelled as he came dashing in and tripped and kicked Shadow.
"Hey blue boy, I don't even have the emerald, Rogue has got it!
"Rouge?" Sonic said confused.
"Yes! She wants to do what I want to do!" Shadow hissed.
"Well, stand back and watch the fireworks then." Rouge said as if she was bored, "Watch the creation of your end!"
The Master Emerald glowed brightly and Rouge Threw it into the air.
"NO!" Sonic and Shadow said simotaneously. They both leaped into the air, reaching for the crystal. Rouge flew up trying to block the way. All three collided into the crystal.Knuckles, Amy and Tails arrived just in time to witness the collision.
"Sonic you idiot! With your previous encounter with the crystal, you could destroy it! You've got to much power resonating from it! Tails, Amy, run for it! I'll stay here and help Sonic!
"Alright Knux, but stay safe cause I'm sure they'll go out with a bang." Tails said as he grabbed Amy and started off towards the plane.
A large explosion occured from the crystal and more smaller explosions occured shortly after. Sonic, Shadow and Rouge were battling fiercly for possesion of the Emerald. Sonic and Shadow were moving lightning fast and wouldn't stop. Rouge was first to notice that something was happening to them.
"Stop!" She yelled as the explosions became more violent. Green smoke billowed as Shadow and Sonic sopped fighting and raced towards Rouge.
"Lets stop figthing and save our butts!" Rouge said as she started running from the crystal. Suddenly a green light shot out and hit Rouge. She was vaporized and her particles were sucked into the crystal.
"Sonic, lets split before were dust." Shadow said as he and Sonic sped off. The same green light shot out and got Sonic.
"Shad...Sh...Shadow!" Sonic cried as he was sucked into the crystal.
"Bye blue boy." Shadow said as he continued running. A green beam went shooting to reach Shadow. Shadow dodged and kept running out of the thick smoke. 40 feet, 30, 20, 15, 5. 5 feet to go. Shadow leaped out of the smoke just as a beam came flying at him. It hit Shadow and he was sucked in to.

Knuckles looked into the smoke as it began to clear. Sonic, Rouge or even Shadow wasn't there. Knuckles' heart sank to the bottom. Knuckles looked at the emerald, so tranquil and peaceful, as if nothing had happened. "Why, what was wrong?" Knuckles pleaded, "What in Mobius's name was wrong!? ANSWER ME!" Knuckles cried and pleaded at the loss of his friend. Tails and Amy came up behind him and could only stare. They had never seen Knuckles like this. Amy burried her face in Tails. Tails could only gape at the loss of his friend. His best friend. He had the chance to help, and he didn't.

"SONNNNNIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCC!"

Shadow awoke to the sound of a faint tinkling. He looked around. He found himself floating in a green void. Shadow walked over to the tinkling noise. He discovered a fountain of sparkles. Suddenly a voice struck his mind.
"Shadow, I have long awaited you," the voice said, "You have been asleep for many days."
"Whoever you are, what the heck are you doing in my head!" Shadow screamed.
"I am merely helping you realize that you are lost. I am the essence of the Master Emerald. Shadow, be aware that a great war is coming, and you and the others who have arrived, Sonic and Rouge, have a great part in this war.
"I thought Robotnic was dead?" Shadow said with puzzlement.
"This is not the between Man and Machine. This is between Light and Shadow. I will give you time to think." the voice said with a stern command.
"What have Sonic and Rouge choosed to do?"
"You misunderstand Shadow. This is not something you choose to do, this is something you must do."
"What happens if good loses? What happens if evil loses?'
"Evil is fighting for dominance, Good is fighting for balance." the voice echoed.
"Okay. Now get me out of here." Shadow said.
"I cannot. The war is fought inside the Emerald. I will transport you to Rouge and Sonic."
"Fine. One more question first." Shadow said with a hint of confusement.
"Yes."
"I've heard that Sonic once transformed into Super Sonic by possesing all the Chaos Emeralds. If Rouge, me and Sonic are inside, could me and Rouge gain the phenominal power Sonic once had?"
"I am certain you will." There was a flash of vibrant light and Shadow was gone.