Disclaimer: I no own Sonic! Sega and now Nintendo owns him! I own nothing! Probably not even Nightmare! Sega can have him, if they'll put him in a new game! I'd pay to play that! On with the story!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~*~ Pyramid Cave Airspace ~*~
The wind blows in the dusty deserts near Pyramid Cave. However, such wind is manipulated by the movement of helicopter blades. Two pairs of such blades were occupying the area that day. One was just taking off, escorting the heroic hedgehog to prison for interrogation. The other was currently chasing after genius and world-renowned crackpot Dr. Eggman. Looking back, the doctor growls to himself.
"I knew this was going to happen! If only I had my Egg Walker, I could blast them out of the sky! No matter."
Reaching into the interior of the cockpit, Eggman pulls out a strange-looking sphere.
"I'll just blast them myself!"
With expert aerialistic skill, he swoops his Flying Egg Machine under, and then above, the helicopter. In the pilot's confusion, he hovers above the blades.
"This will finish you!"
With that, he tosses the sphere towards the blades, taking that oppurtunity to high-tail it out of the vicinity. Flying off as quickly as possible, he doesn't notice the shocked looks on the pilot's face permanently etched there as the chopper goes up in a fiery ball, hurdling towards the sandy earth below them. Dr. Eggman grins, and takes off away from his base once more.
The Darkness Factor
Chapter 3: Confrontations and Interrogations
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy Rose, clad in her nursing skirt and shirt, patches up the final injuries of Tails the fox.
"There! You're all set!"
"Thanks Amy!" Tails interjects. "I feel much better now!"
Amy smiles at this. "No problem, Tails! I'm worried about Sonic, though....shouldn't he be back by now?"
"Hey, you're right! He never takes this long to beat Eggman! I'm going to find out what's going on!" Tails stands up, and slightly limps out the door, and towards the garage. Opening the door swiftly, he climbs into the pilot's seat of the Cyclone 2. Flipping a switch, he brings the machine to life. A light on the control panel flickers as he pulls it out into the yard.
"Tails! Wait for me!" Amy yells as she runs towards the device.
"Amy! You stay here! It's too dangerous! I've got to find out what happened to Sonic! You stay by the radio, and i'll call you when I know anything!"
"But-" Amy would have finished the sentence, but Tails had already pushed the button.
"Tornado....Transformation!!"
Tails grips the chair tightly as the Cyclone changes forms, from a car-like form to a plane-like one. Lifting into the air on his orange and blue chariot, Miles "Tails" Prower takes off towards his destination: Eggman's base, inside the Pyramid Cave.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
"Nightmare." Shadow stands there in curiosity, seeing this Nightmare's picture on Tails' computer earlier.
"Glad you know my name. Too bad it'll be the last name you'll ever hear!" Without hesitation, Nightmare proceeds to dash towards Shadow in a spinning attack. Shadow, lacking the Chaos Emerald to use Chaos Control, has no choice but to fight. Jumping high into the air, he counters Nightmare's attack with a spin of his own, cancelling them both out. While Nightmare's stunned from this, Shadow does a Spinning Aerial attack, crashing down on the newest life form's head, knocking him to the ground, barely chipping the surface. Shadow, for the first time in his life, seems shocked.
"Impossible. You're supposed to be dead!"
"I'm not just a hedgehog, you know. I am your superior." Nightmare takes this oppurtunity to slam straight into Shadow, knocking him back against the pyramid. "And you should treat me as your superior."
Shadow shakes it off, glaring at Nightmare. "Then prove it."
Nightmare leaps into the air and spirals downwards, catching Shadow off guard, but only enough to split his shoulder open. Bits of wire and artificial blood appear from the gash. Unfortunately, he made Shadow mad. And that's never good. This is proven as Shadow then runs circles around Nightmare as he watches on, unsure of his plan. Suddenly, Shadow bashes into him, sending the evil hedgehog reeling. Of course, Shadow isn't finished yet. He quickly runs after the flying hedgehog, and sends him flying in the other direction. He continues this game of 1 player tennis until Nightmare finally falls to the ground, dizzy and disoriented. Ultimately, Nightmare stands up, fighting to remain standing.
"This....this is not over yet...."
And so, Nightmare pulls off Eggman's secret addition to Project Nightmare. Shadow just stands there, eyes wide, as Nightmare fires off his incendiary weapon of choice. The last thing Shadow could see before it all went dark again, was a black hedgehog laughing above him, and a glint of orange in the distant sky.
~*~ G.U.N. Military Base ~*~
The helicopter, which only a few moments before was exiting a vast terrain, now lands on a helipad upon a new, and supposedly deserted, island. As the door opens, four men in combat uniforms and holding upgraded laser rifles similar to an M-16 walk out, surrounding a blue, handcuffed hedgehog with a forlorn look on his face. They escort him inside of an intricate yet very expansive military base, the guards using eye clearance to open the door. Once inside, they carry the hedgehog to a door, marked "Interrogation And Extrication". Once inside, they slap him down into the chair, and lock the door to the room as they depart. Confused, Sonic looks around.
"Hey, where'd the party go?"
"What do you know about Project Shadow?" came a booming voice from the loudspeakers in the corners of the room.
"I don't know anything! I'm just a hedgehog!"
The voice did not seem impressed. Rather, angry. "You're the hedgehog that destroyed our military base before, aren't you?"
Before Sonic could reply, several men with those same suits and rifles burst in.
"It looks like you've got no way out this time. Now, answer us truthfully, or face the consequences! WHAT do you know about Project Shadow??!"
The cool blue hero gulped, and stood up in his chair proudly. "I. Know. Nothing."
If he could have seen the voice's face, he could have sworn that it was grinning just then.
"As you wish. Take care of him."
Sonic watches as the guards stand in front of him, and take aim.
"....it's over."
Before they could reply, however, another voice came over the loudspeaker, this time sounding more feminine.
"Release him."
The guards look a little surprised.
"What are you waiting for? Release him!!"
Fearing their jobs and their lives, they untie him, remove the handcuffs, and open the door. Before walking out, Sonic asks one question.
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
The voice simply replies, "By orders of the President."
That was all the answer the hedgehog needed, as he was led outside to a helicopter which was to take him home, whispering to the air.
"Thank you, Rouge."
~*~ Somewhere in the Desert ~*~
Eggman continues his quest away from the base.
"This is ridiculous! Running from my own work! Besides, the Chaos Emeralds are still inside! I HAVE to go back!"
Turning back, Dr. Julius Eggman treks back towards his creation.
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy sulks in her chair next to a specially-built radio, crying her eyes out.
"*Sniff* I miss everyone....Tails....Shadow....and....and...."
She bursts into tears once more, crying for a good minute. The only thing able to disturb it was the sound of a chopper slowly descending on the house, and a certain blue hedgehog in the doorway, walking over to her.
"Amy....why are you crying?"
"SONIC!!!" At the sound of his voice, Amy practically pounces him, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay!!!"
Sonic urks, but smiles slightly and runs his hand down her hair. "I'm fine. Where's Tails?"
"*Sniff* He went back to Eggman's base to see why you hadn't come back yet. NowHE'S gone!"
Sonic slaps his head. "Tails! Amy, i'll be right back! You stay here, and wait in case he comes back!"
Sonic then bursts out the door in his typical hurricane style of running. Amy sighs, sits down again, and sobs quietly.
"Sonic....Tails.....please be okay....."
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
Shadow had blacked out for nearly 30 minutes. Standing up groggily, he grabs his head.
"Nightmare. Such a strong being. But, how? I am the ultimate life form! I cannot be beaten!"
Unfortunately, what Shadow didn't notice was the blur of a black sphere leaping from the roof and colliding with his stomach, knocking them both through the wall, and many subsequent walls behind them.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Core ~*~
After blasting a wide radius of Egg Bots, Tails and his Cyclone find their way to the center of the base. Tapping a few buttons on the slightly charred control panel, the kitsune finds himself staring at an opening bookshelf, revealing all 7 Chaos Emeralds. Tails gasps, and thinks to himself.
"Eggman! He must have kept the Emeralds after we escaped from the ARK! That sneaky..."
Tails didn't have time to finish his thoughts, however, as two midnight-colored figures come blasting through the nearby wall, causing the roof to cave. Tails made his way out the back way quickly, being followed by a single black hedgehog.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
Once outside, Tails picks up a reciever and radios Amy as rapidly as he can.
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy quietly sobs to herself, worried sick about both Sonic and Tails, when the radio begins to beep. Snapping out of her crying state, she quickly picks up the reciever and answers. "Hello? Tails? Is that you?"
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
"Amy! It's Tails! The pyramid collapsed! I'm okay, but there's no sign of Sonic! I think Shadow was attacked by Nightmare, but he followed me out!"
Looking at the grinning black hedgehog, he gulps.
"Amy!! It's not Shadow!!! AAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Radio static.
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy drops the radio and gasps.
"That's IT! I have to help them! They're doing their best, so I have to help out, too!"
Grabbing her bow from her pocket and placing it in her hair, she runs out into the streets, trying to get there in time, taking the most direct route she knows.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Core ~*~
Sonic blazes onto the scene, knocking debris aside as he stops himself. The first thing to grab his attention is the Chaos Emeralds arranged in a heptagon shape on a wall. The second thing to grab his attention was the slight movement of some rubble. Walking over to it, he uncovers it to find a very badly beaten Shadow.
"....Shadow? Are you all right?"
Shadow opens his eyes, his voice even hoarser than usual, things blurring themselves in his eyes. "S....Sonic.....how could this happen....? I'm the ultimate....*COUGH COUGH* life form....I fell to Earth, and I wasn't even damaged....why am I in such.....bad shape..."
"Sssh.....save your strength, buddy...." Sonic pushes aside the rest of the rubble.
"Sonic....listen.....Nightmare....he's....he's almost.....unbeatable....." Noticing the Emeralds behind Sonic, he thinks. "The Emeralds.....you must....use their power....it may be the only way.....please.....do it.....for the world...."
That said, Shadow blacks out, into his second death, and an unrepairable body.
"Shadow?.....Shadow????......SHADOW!!!!!!!!"
Sonic beats on Shadow's chest, gripping his head tightly. Suddenly, he hears Tails scream from outside. The Blue Wonder has had enough. He grabs the Chaos Emeralds from the wall, and lifts them into the air. As they swirl around, he reaches his arm skyward, the energy surrounding him. As a golden light envelops his body, he emerges from it all, glowing a bright yellow color. Feeling the energy inside of him, he charges towards the back of the pyramid.
*Ring Countdown Activated*
50...
Sonic blasts through the final walls of the pyramid, making his way outside. Noticing Tails on the ground in a heap, his Cyclone totally trashed, blood emerging from Tails' mouth, he darts at Nightmare, knocking him into the air very violently.
40...
Nightmare barely has time to recover before Sonic slams into the black hedgehog numerous times, from the left, then the right, then above, then below, then left again, then right again.
30...
Nightmare tries to retaliate by spinning towards Super Sonic, but it proves fruitless as he is knocked higher into the atmosphere. Sonic grabs Nightmare's arm, and tosses him downwards very quickly, following him every foot of the drop, hovering right above him.
20...
Nightmare crashes through the ground with a sickening thud, several parts cracking, wires and oil spilling all over the place.
10...
Super Sonic collides with Nightmare, totally destroying his form. Pieces of the evil 'hog are scattered across the landscape, as Sonic stands above it all, triumphant.
0.
*Ring Countdown Deactivated*
Super Sonic loses every bit of power, and transforms back into the blue Sonic we all know and love. Running over to Tails, he lifts his head off of the ground. "Tails! Are you okay??!?!"
Tails slowly gets to his feet with the aid of Sonic, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Yeah! Thank you for saving me! Nightmare caught me by surprise! I've been looking all over for you! We thought you were in there when the roof collapsed!"
"Hey, what can I say? I die hard!" Sonic gives a grin and a "V" sign. Tails sighs, and laughs silently.
"Anyways, we'd better get back. I bet Amy's worried about us. Especially you, Sonic."
"You're not going ANYWHERE!"
The two turn around to see Eggman flying above them, sphere-like object in hand. "You killed Nightmare!?!? By using MY Chaos Emeralds?!?!! THAT'S IT!!! I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU!!!"
Of course, this would have worked, had Amy not destroyed the Flying Egg Machine beneath the mad scientist's feet with her Storming Heart. Eggman falls to the ground, grenade flying way off into the distance.
"Blast. Beaten by a little girl. I. Let. My. Guard. Down." Eggman takes this oppurtunity to faceplant in the sand, out cold.
"Amy! Where did you come from? I thought I told you to stay there!" Sonic scolded.
"I know, Sonic! But I was really worried about you both! Tails was attacked when he radioed me, and I thought you were already....gone...."
She rushes into Sonic's arms sobbing, the blue hedgehog just holding her there gently for a few minutes.
"Shhh....there, now....it's all right.....we're all fine! Cheer up a little!"
Amy looks up at her hero, and smiles through her tears. "You're right....thank you..."
Tails interrupts the two, holding a glowing bag and limping out of the inside of the temple. "Let's get out of here before Eggman wakes up and realizes we just switched the real Emeralds with my fake ones!"
"Good idea!" Sonic adds, as he grabs hold of Amy, and dashes off towards home, as Tails simply flies the whole way, somehow keeping up. Sonic looks back momentarily before the pyramid is out of sight, and nods his head in respect. "Sayonara.....Shadow the Hedgehog."
-End Part 3
Author's Notes: Woo! Fun, huh? A little OOC, I admit, but I tried! Epilogue's coming soon, so don't lose faith in me yet! See you soon! Don't forget to read and review!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~*~ Pyramid Cave Airspace ~*~
The wind blows in the dusty deserts near Pyramid Cave. However, such wind is manipulated by the movement of helicopter blades. Two pairs of such blades were occupying the area that day. One was just taking off, escorting the heroic hedgehog to prison for interrogation. The other was currently chasing after genius and world-renowned crackpot Dr. Eggman. Looking back, the doctor growls to himself.
"I knew this was going to happen! If only I had my Egg Walker, I could blast them out of the sky! No matter."
Reaching into the interior of the cockpit, Eggman pulls out a strange-looking sphere.
"I'll just blast them myself!"
With expert aerialistic skill, he swoops his Flying Egg Machine under, and then above, the helicopter. In the pilot's confusion, he hovers above the blades.
"This will finish you!"
With that, he tosses the sphere towards the blades, taking that oppurtunity to high-tail it out of the vicinity. Flying off as quickly as possible, he doesn't notice the shocked looks on the pilot's face permanently etched there as the chopper goes up in a fiery ball, hurdling towards the sandy earth below them. Dr. Eggman grins, and takes off away from his base once more.
The Darkness Factor
Chapter 3: Confrontations and Interrogations
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy Rose, clad in her nursing skirt and shirt, patches up the final injuries of Tails the fox.
"There! You're all set!"
"Thanks Amy!" Tails interjects. "I feel much better now!"
Amy smiles at this. "No problem, Tails! I'm worried about Sonic, though....shouldn't he be back by now?"
"Hey, you're right! He never takes this long to beat Eggman! I'm going to find out what's going on!" Tails stands up, and slightly limps out the door, and towards the garage. Opening the door swiftly, he climbs into the pilot's seat of the Cyclone 2. Flipping a switch, he brings the machine to life. A light on the control panel flickers as he pulls it out into the yard.
"Tails! Wait for me!" Amy yells as she runs towards the device.
"Amy! You stay here! It's too dangerous! I've got to find out what happened to Sonic! You stay by the radio, and i'll call you when I know anything!"
"But-" Amy would have finished the sentence, but Tails had already pushed the button.
"Tornado....Transformation!!"
Tails grips the chair tightly as the Cyclone changes forms, from a car-like form to a plane-like one. Lifting into the air on his orange and blue chariot, Miles "Tails" Prower takes off towards his destination: Eggman's base, inside the Pyramid Cave.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
"Nightmare." Shadow stands there in curiosity, seeing this Nightmare's picture on Tails' computer earlier.
"Glad you know my name. Too bad it'll be the last name you'll ever hear!" Without hesitation, Nightmare proceeds to dash towards Shadow in a spinning attack. Shadow, lacking the Chaos Emerald to use Chaos Control, has no choice but to fight. Jumping high into the air, he counters Nightmare's attack with a spin of his own, cancelling them both out. While Nightmare's stunned from this, Shadow does a Spinning Aerial attack, crashing down on the newest life form's head, knocking him to the ground, barely chipping the surface. Shadow, for the first time in his life, seems shocked.
"Impossible. You're supposed to be dead!"
"I'm not just a hedgehog, you know. I am your superior." Nightmare takes this oppurtunity to slam straight into Shadow, knocking him back against the pyramid. "And you should treat me as your superior."
Shadow shakes it off, glaring at Nightmare. "Then prove it."
Nightmare leaps into the air and spirals downwards, catching Shadow off guard, but only enough to split his shoulder open. Bits of wire and artificial blood appear from the gash. Unfortunately, he made Shadow mad. And that's never good. This is proven as Shadow then runs circles around Nightmare as he watches on, unsure of his plan. Suddenly, Shadow bashes into him, sending the evil hedgehog reeling. Of course, Shadow isn't finished yet. He quickly runs after the flying hedgehog, and sends him flying in the other direction. He continues this game of 1 player tennis until Nightmare finally falls to the ground, dizzy and disoriented. Ultimately, Nightmare stands up, fighting to remain standing.
"This....this is not over yet...."
And so, Nightmare pulls off Eggman's secret addition to Project Nightmare. Shadow just stands there, eyes wide, as Nightmare fires off his incendiary weapon of choice. The last thing Shadow could see before it all went dark again, was a black hedgehog laughing above him, and a glint of orange in the distant sky.
~*~ G.U.N. Military Base ~*~
The helicopter, which only a few moments before was exiting a vast terrain, now lands on a helipad upon a new, and supposedly deserted, island. As the door opens, four men in combat uniforms and holding upgraded laser rifles similar to an M-16 walk out, surrounding a blue, handcuffed hedgehog with a forlorn look on his face. They escort him inside of an intricate yet very expansive military base, the guards using eye clearance to open the door. Once inside, they carry the hedgehog to a door, marked "Interrogation And Extrication". Once inside, they slap him down into the chair, and lock the door to the room as they depart. Confused, Sonic looks around.
"Hey, where'd the party go?"
"What do you know about Project Shadow?" came a booming voice from the loudspeakers in the corners of the room.
"I don't know anything! I'm just a hedgehog!"
The voice did not seem impressed. Rather, angry. "You're the hedgehog that destroyed our military base before, aren't you?"
Before Sonic could reply, several men with those same suits and rifles burst in.
"It looks like you've got no way out this time. Now, answer us truthfully, or face the consequences! WHAT do you know about Project Shadow??!"
The cool blue hero gulped, and stood up in his chair proudly. "I. Know. Nothing."
If he could have seen the voice's face, he could have sworn that it was grinning just then.
"As you wish. Take care of him."
Sonic watches as the guards stand in front of him, and take aim.
"....it's over."
Before they could reply, however, another voice came over the loudspeaker, this time sounding more feminine.
"Release him."
The guards look a little surprised.
"What are you waiting for? Release him!!"
Fearing their jobs and their lives, they untie him, remove the handcuffs, and open the door. Before walking out, Sonic asks one question.
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
The voice simply replies, "By orders of the President."
That was all the answer the hedgehog needed, as he was led outside to a helicopter which was to take him home, whispering to the air.
"Thank you, Rouge."
~*~ Somewhere in the Desert ~*~
Eggman continues his quest away from the base.
"This is ridiculous! Running from my own work! Besides, the Chaos Emeralds are still inside! I HAVE to go back!"
Turning back, Dr. Julius Eggman treks back towards his creation.
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy sulks in her chair next to a specially-built radio, crying her eyes out.
"*Sniff* I miss everyone....Tails....Shadow....and....and...."
She bursts into tears once more, crying for a good minute. The only thing able to disturb it was the sound of a chopper slowly descending on the house, and a certain blue hedgehog in the doorway, walking over to her.
"Amy....why are you crying?"
"SONIC!!!" At the sound of his voice, Amy practically pounces him, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay!!!"
Sonic urks, but smiles slightly and runs his hand down her hair. "I'm fine. Where's Tails?"
"*Sniff* He went back to Eggman's base to see why you hadn't come back yet. NowHE'S gone!"
Sonic slaps his head. "Tails! Amy, i'll be right back! You stay here, and wait in case he comes back!"
Sonic then bursts out the door in his typical hurricane style of running. Amy sighs, sits down again, and sobs quietly.
"Sonic....Tails.....please be okay....."
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
Shadow had blacked out for nearly 30 minutes. Standing up groggily, he grabs his head.
"Nightmare. Such a strong being. But, how? I am the ultimate life form! I cannot be beaten!"
Unfortunately, what Shadow didn't notice was the blur of a black sphere leaping from the roof and colliding with his stomach, knocking them both through the wall, and many subsequent walls behind them.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Core ~*~
After blasting a wide radius of Egg Bots, Tails and his Cyclone find their way to the center of the base. Tapping a few buttons on the slightly charred control panel, the kitsune finds himself staring at an opening bookshelf, revealing all 7 Chaos Emeralds. Tails gasps, and thinks to himself.
"Eggman! He must have kept the Emeralds after we escaped from the ARK! That sneaky..."
Tails didn't have time to finish his thoughts, however, as two midnight-colored figures come blasting through the nearby wall, causing the roof to cave. Tails made his way out the back way quickly, being followed by a single black hedgehog.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
Once outside, Tails picks up a reciever and radios Amy as rapidly as he can.
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy quietly sobs to herself, worried sick about both Sonic and Tails, when the radio begins to beep. Snapping out of her crying state, she quickly picks up the reciever and answers. "Hello? Tails? Is that you?"
~*~ Pyramid Cave Rear Entrance ~*~
"Amy! It's Tails! The pyramid collapsed! I'm okay, but there's no sign of Sonic! I think Shadow was attacked by Nightmare, but he followed me out!"
Looking at the grinning black hedgehog, he gulps.
"Amy!! It's not Shadow!!! AAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Radio static.
~*~ Sonic and Tails' House ~*~
Amy drops the radio and gasps.
"That's IT! I have to help them! They're doing their best, so I have to help out, too!"
Grabbing her bow from her pocket and placing it in her hair, she runs out into the streets, trying to get there in time, taking the most direct route she knows.
~*~ Pyramid Cave Core ~*~
Sonic blazes onto the scene, knocking debris aside as he stops himself. The first thing to grab his attention is the Chaos Emeralds arranged in a heptagon shape on a wall. The second thing to grab his attention was the slight movement of some rubble. Walking over to it, he uncovers it to find a very badly beaten Shadow.
"....Shadow? Are you all right?"
Shadow opens his eyes, his voice even hoarser than usual, things blurring themselves in his eyes. "S....Sonic.....how could this happen....? I'm the ultimate....*COUGH COUGH* life form....I fell to Earth, and I wasn't even damaged....why am I in such.....bad shape..."
"Sssh.....save your strength, buddy...." Sonic pushes aside the rest of the rubble.
"Sonic....listen.....Nightmare....he's....he's almost.....unbeatable....." Noticing the Emeralds behind Sonic, he thinks. "The Emeralds.....you must....use their power....it may be the only way.....please.....do it.....for the world...."
That said, Shadow blacks out, into his second death, and an unrepairable body.
"Shadow?.....Shadow????......SHADOW!!!!!!!!"
Sonic beats on Shadow's chest, gripping his head tightly. Suddenly, he hears Tails scream from outside. The Blue Wonder has had enough. He grabs the Chaos Emeralds from the wall, and lifts them into the air. As they swirl around, he reaches his arm skyward, the energy surrounding him. As a golden light envelops his body, he emerges from it all, glowing a bright yellow color. Feeling the energy inside of him, he charges towards the back of the pyramid.
*Ring Countdown Activated*
50...
Sonic blasts through the final walls of the pyramid, making his way outside. Noticing Tails on the ground in a heap, his Cyclone totally trashed, blood emerging from Tails' mouth, he darts at Nightmare, knocking him into the air very violently.
40...
Nightmare barely has time to recover before Sonic slams into the black hedgehog numerous times, from the left, then the right, then above, then below, then left again, then right again.
30...
Nightmare tries to retaliate by spinning towards Super Sonic, but it proves fruitless as he is knocked higher into the atmosphere. Sonic grabs Nightmare's arm, and tosses him downwards very quickly, following him every foot of the drop, hovering right above him.
20...
Nightmare crashes through the ground with a sickening thud, several parts cracking, wires and oil spilling all over the place.
10...
Super Sonic collides with Nightmare, totally destroying his form. Pieces of the evil 'hog are scattered across the landscape, as Sonic stands above it all, triumphant.
0.
*Ring Countdown Deactivated*
Super Sonic loses every bit of power, and transforms back into the blue Sonic we all know and love. Running over to Tails, he lifts his head off of the ground. "Tails! Are you okay??!?!"
Tails slowly gets to his feet with the aid of Sonic, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Yeah! Thank you for saving me! Nightmare caught me by surprise! I've been looking all over for you! We thought you were in there when the roof collapsed!"
"Hey, what can I say? I die hard!" Sonic gives a grin and a "V" sign. Tails sighs, and laughs silently.
"Anyways, we'd better get back. I bet Amy's worried about us. Especially you, Sonic."
"You're not going ANYWHERE!"
The two turn around to see Eggman flying above them, sphere-like object in hand. "You killed Nightmare!?!? By using MY Chaos Emeralds?!?!! THAT'S IT!!! I'M GOING TO DESTROY YOU!!!"
Of course, this would have worked, had Amy not destroyed the Flying Egg Machine beneath the mad scientist's feet with her Storming Heart. Eggman falls to the ground, grenade flying way off into the distance.
"Blast. Beaten by a little girl. I. Let. My. Guard. Down." Eggman takes this oppurtunity to faceplant in the sand, out cold.
"Amy! Where did you come from? I thought I told you to stay there!" Sonic scolded.
"I know, Sonic! But I was really worried about you both! Tails was attacked when he radioed me, and I thought you were already....gone...."
She rushes into Sonic's arms sobbing, the blue hedgehog just holding her there gently for a few minutes.
"Shhh....there, now....it's all right.....we're all fine! Cheer up a little!"
Amy looks up at her hero, and smiles through her tears. "You're right....thank you..."
Tails interrupts the two, holding a glowing bag and limping out of the inside of the temple. "Let's get out of here before Eggman wakes up and realizes we just switched the real Emeralds with my fake ones!"
"Good idea!" Sonic adds, as he grabs hold of Amy, and dashes off towards home, as Tails simply flies the whole way, somehow keeping up. Sonic looks back momentarily before the pyramid is out of sight, and nods his head in respect. "Sayonara.....Shadow the Hedgehog."
-End Part 3
Author's Notes: Woo! Fun, huh? A little OOC, I admit, but I tried! Epilogue's coming soon, so don't lose faith in me yet! See you soon! Don't forget to read and review!
