Chapter Five – Escape

Sonic swore very loudly, and Shadow growled intensely. Rusty and Zephyr just looked at each other. They frowned.

"Who?" They asked together. But Sonic just swam over and rounded on them. He roared.

"I think General Zellick jib at flooding the world, was no joke. If he can't find the Magic to do it, which he won't, then he'll uncover enough treasure to pay a certain cold blooded evil tyrant on the surface, we both know, to do it for him. Eggman had recently built an underwater base, and I think I now know what it's for. That part of Seaside Island where the base, was right on top of the part of the planet where the crust was particularly thin. Hot springs and heat vents are common place. I'm certain he's running the base in the thermal energy generated there. Tails used to study the area for that reason, when he was younger so he remembered, when we found it. If Eggman was to drill down, at the right place, at the right time, then he could cause potentially destruction everywhere, including flooding." He stammered. But Shadow growled.

"But that doesn't make sense. Eggman wants to rule the world, not destroy it." He spat, but Sonic just smirked.

"I think that for enough treasure, he'd practically do anything." He sniggered, but Shadow wasn't convinced. He growled.

"No. He's a Robotnik, and they favour their own skins more then anything else." He hissed, and the smirked. "I don't think Eggman was telling the General the real truth of what exactly that base can do. The more treasure he can get out of the Merhogs, the better. He had absolutely no intension in destroying the world, least of all flooding it." He heaved. "But it does explain where the Merhogs got their breathing apparatus's from. It's Eggman tech." He smirked, suspecting it would be relatively easy to break. But Sonic just giggled.

"Oh, why am I not surprised." He sniggered, but Rusty just stared at the Ultimate Lifeform. He frowned.

"How do you know all this?" He asked, genuinely curious. Shadow heaved. These Aquahogs were surprisingly accepting of him, despite everything. He sighed.

"I used to work for him." He spat. "Until I realised my error in judgement." He admitted. But then Sonic just stared, looking at Shadow, as an absolutely brainwave hit him. He beamed at him.

"Hey, do you fancy double crossing Eggman?" He sniggered. Shadow smirked, his interest immediately peaking. Anything to get one up over that Human. His eyes glowed with the evil thought of it. He curled his lip, his smirk broadening.

"What did you have in mind?"

Shadow, Rusty and Zephyr, having left the city, were all now hiding behind some boulders, very close to the mine. Shadow looked at his new comrades. They were smaller then Sonic, but equally as savvy. They seemed to hang in his every word. He liked them. They were trusting, especially of their Prince, but not gullible. Shadow would have the fully earn their respect. He smirked, he approved. That was how it should be. He dispraised lackeys as much as the soppy good guy. Which he believed Sonic was, but not anymore. Here in the ocean, against all the dangers, the Blue Blur was showing himself to be the natural born leader he was. A royal. Not the stupid ponce he was on land. His friends walking all over him.

Shadow frowned. Well, considering he was hiding, to act the fool was an ingenious way of doing it. Even he knew nothing, and suspected absolutely nobody on the island did. He was impressed. That took skill, as he realised that Sonic was actually far more intelligent then he'd given him credit. This plan, they were following now, he seriously approved. It had hints of seriously being one of his own, but in order to succeed, they had to get the Aquahogs out.

Sonic had suspected, and Shadow had to agreed, that there were far more Merhogs then he could take own alone. They were an similar size and muscle then Shadow, but with tails, and better balance, the Merhogs had a slight advantage over the Ultimate Lifeform in the water. But with Shadows Super-Speed and Super-Strength, it did level out, but Merhogs had numbers, potentially overwhelming him. But one-on-one, because of the Merhog's breathing apparatus, he had the advantage. Thanks to Sonic. He heaved, running his hand over the gills on his neck, feeling them move in the water, giving him the precious, life giving oxygen, he so desperately needed. He then felt his chest. It was stable, but felt extremely strange, unmoving. His lungs had completely collapsed, entirely deflated, and now lying perfectly dormant in his chest. He felt no pain, and it was weird to be breathing without them. But everything was still working, and Shadow suspected, that when he returned to the surface, his lungs would reinflate and work normally again. He now had an ability like no other. To go anywhere on land and in the water. It was incredible, now liking this underwater living very much. He sighed, as Rusty looked over to him, somewhat rather cuddly with him. He smiled.

"Still getting used to them. Your gifts of Breath." He grinned. Shadow stared and nodded, moving away slightly.

"They are both strange and fascinating." He replied, honestly. There was no reason to lie. Rusty giggled.

"Then cherish them. You must be extremely highly favoured with the Prince to receive such a gift of royal Magic from him, even if now there's none left." He smirked, but then he growled, rounding on the Ultimate Lifeform. "Make sure you earn them." He spat. Shadow just smirked in return, as they watching the working mine. He hissed.

"I have every intension to." He sneered. He was so incredibly grateful, but he still had a debt to pay. Sonic saving his life the first time, was just trickery, but the second, that was bill he desperately wanted off his chest. Then Rusty looked at his legs. He frowned.

"The surface. What's it like?" He pondered. But Zephyr just smacked him in the arm. He growled.

"Rusty." He grilled, then turned to Shadow, raising his hands. "My deepest apologies. Anything to do with the surface and Land Dwellers was normally completely forbidden. Sorry, but my friend should have known better." He hissed, rounding in the crimson Aquahog again. But Shadow smirked. To have such a outright ban seemed very harsh, but considering that Aquahogs would drown up there, it was understandable. He looked at Rusty, and at the deep curiosity he had of him. Shadow heaved. He'd never had that before. Someone show completely genuine interest in him, without any prerequisite knowledge or prejudice. It was refreshing, but now, it would have to wait.

While they were talking they had been slowly sneaking into the mine. The place was crawling with Merhogs. Various soldiers, guards, and sargents. With Shadow leading, they made it through the mine dodging them all, until finally they were right at the back. They found them.

The Aquahogs.

Small and dainty compared to the Merhogs, but they were all in a bad way. Chained tightly to the sea floor by their tails, and violently whipped into submission. Shadow saw and growled. He fully understood pain and torture more then most, but do so on someone entirely innocent, and it was very clear to see that none of these Aquahogs had done anything wrong, went against his principles. Yes, he had them. Pain caused to pain deserved, as far was he was concerned, even if just pure annoyance was a reason. It was still a reason.

The Aquahogs cried, desperate to please their captors, to avoid punishment. It was a sorry sight, and downright wrong, even to Shadow. This temper flared, but they were forced to dodge out of sight, just as he noticed something.

An enormous Merhog, twice Shadow's size, swam past, with two adsorbates either side of him, looking extremely huffed. He was a deep Chestnut brown, with the quills on his head fused so much, he now had horns. He had a dark tan muzzle and belly, and his chestnut brown arms lead down to gloveless, heavily webbed hands, showing dark grey claws on the end of his fingers. His large blood red eyes surveyed the area, behind a large breathing apparatus. He had deep muscles and his chest and arms, and a black belt and sash across his torso, fastened with a gold buckle. His body then tapered to a relatively short point, with two large fins, creating a fluke, for a tail. He was most dissatisfied. He roared in anger.

"What do you mean you still can't find them?" He spat. The Merhog next to him whimpered.

"General Zellick, we have searched the entire area. Every cave, every gulley. The females are nowhere to be found." He stammered. But the General was extremely put out. He growled.

"Then search again. They have to be here somewhere. We have all the males, They're here." He hissed, indicating to the side of him. "So the females mustn't be far away. Wives don't just abandon their husbands." He leered. "Now go." He spat, and the two Merhogs either of him immediately vanished, as he slowing continued his way along the path. Shadow growled again, but then suddenly frowned, as he heard very quiet but intense giggling form his two comrades. Rusty grinned under his breath.

"But Aquahogs don't marry." He whispered, but then Zephyr just smiled.

"Except the Royals." He sniggered, to even more giggling. Shadow, now even more confused, turned to them and frowned.

"But where are your girls?" He asked. Every Aquahog ahead of him was indeed, male, including the two next to him. Rusty was about to say, but Zephyr immediately stopped him. He smiled.

"They're safe, and right now, that's all you need to know." He grinned, but then he growled. "Look, help us get all the boys out, and we promise you, the girls will follow." He nodded, of which Rusty immediately agreed. "Trust us, please. We were asked to trust you." He spat. Shadow stared. That was indeed true, so he nodded, still somewhat confused. It was obvious that both himself and the Merhogs seemed to be missing out some trick that both Rusty, Zephyr and even Sonic himself, seemed to be in on. But quite simply, they were Aquahogs and he wasn't. Whatever it was, it was working, keeping their girls safe. But as Shadow stared at the captured Aquahogs, a quick headcount blew his brain.

"But there are only about four hundred here?" He gasped. For a city as big as Aquila, he had been expecting significantly more. But Rusty heaved.

"Ever since we got captured, we haven't bred. Well, everyone except Zephyr. He was just too fast a swimmer, and managed to get me out later, no eggs have been laid in years. Any and all eggs, from before, are either adults by now or dead. The nursery caves are all empty. Once we get Aquila back or find a new home, trust me, there will be babies everywhere. Aquahogs are prolific breeders, can lay large quantities of eggs if needed. There are more then enough adults to easily bounce the population back." He sniggered, but Shadow just huffed in frustration.

"But you need females to order to breed." He spat. But Rusty giggled again.

"Don't worry, they'll show." He winked, cuddling up to Shadow again, but he stopped and heaved. A new home? With Sonic's explanation of what could potentially happen, Aquila might not survive. But as the Prince said, and he was exactly right, the Aquahogs were a people, not a place, and with the Magic tying them to Aquila gone, until a new female-born royal arrived, they now had a opportunity to move on. But to where? Leaving Aquila had always been unthinkable, but now, the Aquahogs might not have the choice, if they wanted to survive. But Zephyr, the most traveled of the Aquahog, had an idea of where they could go. It was closer to the surface, but far more hidden, and well away from sharks. Plus with the Merhogs gone, all dead, it would be relatively safe for them.

To Sonic's utter amazement, he actually knew where it was, and yes, it was indeed a good place to set up a new home. It wasn't actually far from Seaside Island. So it was decided to take the Aquahogs there and see if it was suitable. But as Shadow knew only too well, especially with what he was planning, Aquila definitely wasn't going to survive.

Shadow heaved. They weren't going to tell him about the females, and in the end, he decided to drop it. He didn't understand, but left it. Now they had found the Aquahogs, all they had to do was wait for the signal.

Sonic had been left behind in the city. His job was to cause an almighty distraction, pulling all or, if not most of the Merhogs back to Aquila, leaving the mine empty. Then Shadow and the others, then could get the Aquahogs out and then away. Through the shark invested waters and safety. With the impending battle, Aquila was just not going to make it. Better to get out. Find somewhere new. Sonic sighed, hovering upright in the water. A distraction. He smirked. He know exactly what. Something loud, like a Sonic Boom. But he looked down at his tail, and growled. How was he going to do that with this thing? He roared in frustration again. What he wouldn't give for his legs back right now. But he heaved, resigning to the fact that he was now stuck like this. He stared at his tail, flexing it. He could open and close the prongs, making it spread out wide or close in tight. This gave him immense control over it, especially in steering, and suddenly, he had an idea.

He could produce his name sake, down here in the deep ocean, he just had to think laterally. He immediately took to the water, and swam directly upwards, right out of Devils Canyon. Shark infested waters were all around the canyon, including above. He clocked them, gentle drifting over his head, and was careful not to cause attention. He didn't,

and temporarily looked back down. The circular edge of the city, with the broken citadel could just about be seen. He sniffed. His idea to abandon Aquila hadn't gone down well, especially with Rusty and Zephyr. He wasn't surprised. But there was nothing left, and if Shadow mission was successful, they the city would be destroyed.

He heaved. He was putting a huge amount of faith and trust in Shadow. The entire plan rested on him. Sonic wasn't happy about it, but he couldn't get Eggman himself. He was now permanently water bound. He was desperate for the Ultimate Lifeform not to let him down, but that wasn't guaranteed. He prayed, hoping he was doing the right thing. But Aquila could live again with his seeds. He agreed with Zephyr on that aspect. He carried his mother's Magic for years, there was a chance, that there might be enough left in his blood, that he couldn't cast, to pass into a potentially daughter, leaving her to do the rest. Maybe it's wasn't completely rid of his system after all. But it was indeed a long shot.

Therefore in retrospect, the location of Aquila was completely irrelevant. With Magic, the city would thrive wherever it was. Now the Magic was at it's weakest, time to move to somewhere new. In the end, both Shadow and the Aquahogs agreed with him. He heaved, not knowing how Aquila was going to react to what he was about to do. He gulped.

'Forgive me.' He thought, pleading to the city. But Aquahogs were a people, not a place, and believed Aquila would raise again, somewhere new. Suddenly, dived down straight back down to the city. Kicking his almighty tail hard, beating it extremely against the water, he shot downwards, in the direction of the water pressure. Faster and faster, the ocean floor rose up towards him, as he closed up his tail and curled up into a ball, super-spinning, thankfully something he was still able to. Then timing it, absolutely beautifully, he very painfully, opened his tail, in the enormous spin. It stopped him instantly, forcing him off in new direction. He was inches from the ocean floor. The result shockwave sent physically ripples though the water and the sound, almost knocked Sonic off his swim path.

It was so loud, that Sonic screamed holding his ears, not remembering them being so huge. It was as though an enormous bomb had exploded right in the heart of the city, and unfortunately, the citadel just couldn't handle the shockwaves, completely collapsing and disintegrated as a result. Sonic went to ground, as the entire city violently shook, further houses collapsing, until finally all was still.

He looked up. All was quiet, and now looking worse then ever. He gulped, but pulled himself together. The Aquahogs weren't staying. It now didn't matter what happened. He swam to hide under a wall. Time to wait, the calm before the storm.

Rusty and Zephyr looked at each other. The mine was still crawling with Merhogs. The crimson Aquahog shrugged.

"What kind of signal are we waiting for?" He asked, but Shadow just sniggered, realising that the Aquahog didn't know their precious Prince very well. He smirked.

"You'll see." He hissed, getting himself into position, ready to strike. He heard the highly subtle roar in the distance, but even he was completely taken aback by the sheer loudness of the resulting barrier breakage. Even he swore, despite the fact that he was expecting it, but it caused outright panic at the mine. Shadow smirked, as he saw General Zellick immediately leave with almost all of the Merhog troupe. Heading straight for the city. Sonic was on his own out there, but Shadow knew from experience, if anyone could keep them at bay until he got back, he could. He certainly had the speed. Only a handful were left to guard the Aquahog, who were now so frightened then that they all huddled in balls against rocks.

Zephyr and Rusty also panicked, the signal was extremely loud, and desperately wondering how it was done but quickly regained their composure as Shadow ran into battle. He went for the nearest Merhog and racing up behind him, he jumped, and fisting his hand, he threw it back, and then thrusted it forwards right in the back of the Merhog's neck. His breathing device, wrapped around his nose and mouth, with tubing tight into his cheeks to a super efficient, but tiny, with a highly advanced liquid oxygen tank at the back of the neck.

Shadow wasn't going to stand on ceremony with the Merhogs. He wanted them dead and quickly. Up to now, the Aquahogs had showed him nothing but kindness, and the Merhogs, anything but, especially to their fellow Water Hedgehogs. He had no intension of fighting them in unarmed combat. It was just simpler to remove the breathing devices and get them gone as quickly as possible. It was brutal, as it would instantly kill, but as Shadow growled, he seen enough.

The air tank exploded and shattered immediately on impact of Shadow's fist, and the Merhog was desperately gasping for air, as the tubing fell away from his cheeks and Shadow, whirling around him, pulled the rest of the mask off. He screamed, as the lungs instantly collapsed with the intense water pressure, and without any other means of breathing, he died in seconds.

It was horrifying, but to Shadow, it was just business, as it took out one Merhog after the other until there was just himself and Aquahogs left, all of whom were absolutely terrified. Zephyr and Rusty was doing their best to talk their comrades down, and as Shadow began freeing them from their chains, his Super-Strength snapping their metallic binds like twigs, they were finally believing. Eventually, everyone was free, and immediately gathered together in a very tight shoal, spherical in shape and to Shadow, surprisingly small, considering it contained many hundreds of Aquahogs.

Suddenly, the shoal moved very quickly away from the mine, but to Shadow surprise, not back the city. He didn't immediately follow, but Zephyr and Rusty came back for him. Rusty smiled, utterly delighted his kind was free.

"Hey, come with us. We can get out of Devil's Canyon at the other end of the gorge. It's more dangerous, with hydrothermal vents everywhere, and it's further to shore though the sharks, but if we stick together, we should make it through. Right now, the general consensus is to take that rather the Merhogs." He heaved, calling the Ultimate Lifeform with his hand. Suddenly, he heard voices behind him, and immediately agreed with the Aquahogs, and ran after them into the darkness.

It was indeed more dangerous. Running through the gorge was incredibly hazardous, and Shadow got burned several times, but the Aquahogs swimming in their tight shoal, were fast, and promptly left Shadow behind. But further voices, in the distance back towards the mines, showed some Merhogs had returned and were now in hot pursuit. Shadow swore. Sticking around wasn't an option, nor part of the plan, and as the found the sheer cliff of the very edge of the gorge, climbing it was painfully slow. It was frustrating, Shadow unable to get enough grip on the wall, he tried to activate his Super-Speed and run up it. It was just too slippy.

Suddenly, he wasn't alone as the shoal of Aquahogs were back and hovering beautifully next to him, the spherical wall of bodies circling around one another, their flat, circular tails kicking franticly. Suddenly, a head pop out of the shoal, directly level with Shadow, making him jump. It was pearly white, with a pink nose. Zephyr giggled.

"Hi, do you needed a lift?" He sniggered. But Shadow just stared, still clinging to the cliff face. He blinked.

"What?" He asked, absolutely stunned. But Zephyr just grinned.

"Aquahogs aren't strong enough to carry much of anything alone. As a species, we build for speed, not strength. But, working together, we can carry almost anything. Do you trust us?" He smiled, of which Shadow just stared. The Aquahogs had put their faith in him, they were now asking the same in returned. He immediately nodded, of which Zephyr giggled. "Then get in." He smirked, then indicating with his hand towards him. "Jump, we will catch you." He beamed. Shadow heaved. That was a leap of faith but the further voices beneath him, changed his mind. He gulped, leaping for his new friends, as the shoal immediately opened up and grabbed him, swallowing him completely on the inside.

The shoal struggled to maintain it's stability as the Aquahogs found Shadow significantly heavier then they had anticipated, but after a few minutes, it settled. Shadow, was now in utter darkness, felt around. One foot on on the back of one Aquahog, the other, on another, and both his arms had been grabbed by two further Aquahogs, one either side. It was extremely snug in here, as though the Aquahogs were all cuddling right up to him. He could feel the intense currents of the shoal moving all round him, maintaining the sphere, and suddenly, felt changes in water pressure, he realised something. The Merhogs were gone. He heaved.

"Hey, we're moving upwards." He gasped, but suddenly, a voice at the side of him spoke. It was Zephyr. He nodded.

"We're moving out of Devil's Canyon, it won't be long before we're left the Merhogs behind. But now the sharks." He gulped, with a deep pause. "We are going to loose some souls, in order to get through." He heaved. But Shadow growled, his eyes focused ahead of him.

"Not today." He spat, but then someone squeezed his other hand. Rusty gulped.

"What?" He stammered but Shadow smiled, as he concentrated hard. His eyes may have been useless in this darkness but he could still see. He iris' began to glow a deep crimson red, as he activated his extra-sensory perception, his E.S.P. as far as it would go. He gritted his teeth and suddenly, the world around the shoal exploding he could sense everything, including, most importantly, the sharks.

Unfortunately, the light from his glowing eyes caused absolute panic. Shadow roared.

"I have the ability to 'see' beyond the shoal. I can guide you through the sharks. Please trust me." He begged, fearing the panic would break the entire shoal. Suddenly, he immediately got calm, with both Zephyr and Rusty clinging onto him particularly hard. Shadow felt their fear, but for the first time, he didn't enjoy it. He liked these Aquahogs. A lot. They were trusting, but not gullibly, and willing to take leaps of faiths where no other creatures would, especially with the Ultimate Lifeform. They had trusted him first, and to Shadow, that meant a lot. It also meant he was getting them to safety. He grabbed his comrades back. Zephyr smirked.

"Right, we're doing this." He giggled, causing Shadow to raise an eyebrow. He sounded a awful lot like Sonic then. The cocky attitude very similar. The Albino smiled. "To go left, push on me. To go right, push on Rusty. To go up, yank us forwards, down, pull us back. We'll guide the shoal accordingly." He stammered. Shadow nodded. This was going to take some serious teamwork, but ultimately, he had the control, which he approved. But he had just promised to get everyone though the shark invested waters alive. He sighed, and concentrated, and finally, as they swan though the water, the sharks came for them

Up, down, left and right, Shadow steered the shoal, the Aquahogs surprisingly responsive. Regardless, it was hard work, and he had several close calls, as the sharks came for them in all directions. They charged at them, threatening to break up the shoal, and even Shadow had to punch through the shoal at several sharks, but the Aquahogs regrouped very quickly. Shadow got the impression that they had done this before. Shadow used the mass movement of the shoal to confuse the sharks. Finally, they made it through the waters, with nothing more then cuts and bruises. Soon, the waters began to brighten up as they made it to shallower seas, but still relatively deep, and until finally they stopped, next to an enormous spire, that was so tall, that punctured the surface creating treacherous rocks and rapids, creating a ridge. Around the spire, the current whirls, extremely strong, so much so that they would easily drown, seriously injure or kill anyone caught in them.

The shoal gently set down Shadow and short distance away, and immediately piled on top of him, for a hug, especially Rusty who cuddled his deeply. But Shadow, extremely uncomfortable, not enjoying the tactility at all, growled very harshly, causing everyone to instantly let off of him. All of the Aquahogs just gathered around him, ears back, looking somewhat somber, heads down, saddened to have offended him, as though frightened. Shadow gulped. He didn't mean to upset them, feeling incredibly guilty. Suddenly, they began to leave, silently swimming around the edge of the tall tower, Satan's Spire, and vanishing into the sea mist. With one last look of both thanks and fear from both Zephyr and Rusty, before Shadow could do anything, they too disappeared with the rest of their kind.

He suddenly ran after them, running around the edge of the tapering tower, unable to get close because of the huge currents, but everyone was gone. He desperately looked around. Nothing. There were numerous caves and shoals of fish in the area, and Aquahogs were known to be illusive, so they were save here.

Or he hoped.

Further guilt plagued him, and he hated it. But now alone, there was nothing more he could do. With the sunlight now finally penetrating through the water, Shadow could now see the shores of land, in the very far distance. He heaved, Truthfully, he didn't want to go, he was beginning to really like it down here. But he had a job to do.