This is a fanfiction, and as such, most of the characters in the story are not mine. Most characters are © Sega, and are not used with permission.

Chapter 1: The Nightmare Returns

{Go home, for you will destroy us all…}

It was late in the evening, and for the last four days there was one phrase that echoed through Shadow's being. He was hoping that he heard it wrong, that she didn't just say he would destroy everything; but no, the phrase stuck with him so securely, he couldn't have mistaken it.

{She said "for", that's the word she used. She didn't say "or", it was definitely "for". Why would should say that?}

Shadow had been totally distracted by the declaration. The word "for" made it so fatalistic, like he had no choice but to destroy everything, that is was only a matter of time before he would. "Or" would have been so much nicer, it was conditional, it could be prevented, but not "for".

"You're still not going to tell me what's on your mind, are you?"

Shadow looked behind him to see Rouge there. He didn't need to look, he knew the whole time that Rouge was there, she always seems to be, but he looked anyway. Without answering, he turned his head back; that would be his answer.

Rouge moved behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, avoiding his spikes. "You're going to tear yourself apart over this, if you keep this up."

"That's probably better than what might happen."

Rouge didn't have an answer for that, until Shadow would tell her more, there was little she or anyone could do. But that wouldn't stop her from trying.

"Come on, it's getting late, and I think I know what can cheer you up."

"It hasn't worked the last few nights. Why would it work now?"

"I've got a few things I'd like to try."

* * *

It was early in the morning and Shadow was asleep in his tree house. For most of the night, he was constantly slipping in and out of a very light sleep, waking up at least five or six times through the night.

Behind him he could hear the light breathing of Rouge. She was a caring friend, and a great lover, but her gentleness nor her ferocity were enough to calm the waters; he remained in constant conflict with Tikal's revelation. He so wanted to see her again, to get her to explain herself.

"Shadow."

Shadow looked above him to see a figure standing above him.

"You?!"

Despite the darkness, Tikal's figure seemed to glow in the night, making her easily visible. She stood silently, not moving the slightest in response to Shadow.

"What are you doing here?"

"I have come for you."

"This had better be to explain what you said to me; I've been going up the walls over it."

"I'll show you."

Tikal handed Shadow his gloves and sneakers as he got up from the matting on the floor that he called a bed. The ruckus had alerted Rouge and she slowly awoke.

"Shadow, what's going… Ack!" Rouge brought her arms around to make sure the sheets where tightly wrapped around her. "Who the Hell are you and what are you doing in our bedroom?!"

"We have much to discuss. He is coming with me."

Rouge was getting angry now. "No way, not without me you don't!"

Rouge reached over for her clothes on the floor next to her, but before she could put even her underwear on, the room was flooded in a bright orange light and when it disappeared, Shadow and Tikal were gone.

* * *

Down below, Bunnie had been arguing with herself for the last few hours, and came to a decision; with a strong conviction, she started to climb the ladder to Shadow's home.

"That does it. Rouge or no Rouge, Shadow will be mine tonight. I'll just march in there, rip off mah clothes, and take him right here and now. And if she is there, she'll get a taste of mah foot if she tries anythin'. And I'll show him such a time, he'll never even want to see that tramp again."

Just before the rabbit reached the last rung, the door above shot a brilliant orange glow into the darkness, almost blinding her enough to knock her to the ground below. Shaking it off, she stormed into the wooden structure.

"What happened in here?"

"Tikal happened." Rouge was facing away from the door, putting her clothes on. Her panties were already on and she was putting on her black suit. "She came in here and teleported Shadow away. Wait a minute, what are you doing up here?"

"I saw that flash and came to see what's up."

"That flash from only two seconds ago, I guess rabbits really can jump."

"And what were you doing up here?"

"I think that's pretty obvious."

* * *

Far away from Knothole, Shadow had little choice but to follow the echidna as they walked that darkened streets in a strange land. Although he didn't really know where he was, he could have guessed, and guessed correctly.

"So, this is where you come from is it?"

"Yes."

Shadow was relatively complacent about what was happening, but he still wanted Tikal to say something. "Are there a lot of you here?"

"Yes."

"Are they all echidnas?"

"Yes."

Shadow nodded rather excessively, but he really didn't care what the answer was. "You don't say much, do you?"

"No. I find that when I talk too much, I tend to say things that create trouble."

"You don't say." Shadow spoke in a sarcastic tone, but Tikal seemed to ignore it, like she was a robot that merely parroted answers when asked.

"You are wondering why I told you that you would destroy everything."

"That was sort of on my mind."

"You will find out in due time, so have a little patience."

"I've waited four days already, a few hours more won't hurt, I suppose."

Tikal led him to the center of the village, where there stood a larger building, more like a temple than anything. The pair went inside.

* * *

Shadow eventually found himself entering a large chamber in the edifice; a meeting hall by the looks of it, and his guess was proven true upon entering. Inside was a gathering of dozens of Echidnas. Around the outer rim, most of the echidnas were seated as spectators, not to be involved in the proceedings to take place. Shadow glanced around, the number must have been at least fifty, but out of them, he only recognized one; the red devil that came very close to putting an end to him.

In the center was a large empty area with two tables, a small one with two empty chairs, and the other was large and shaped in a semi circle lined up to the arc of the room. Sitting at that table were seven echidnas, each of them appearing to be older than the other. Tikal bowed to them as she approached the other table.

The elder at the center of the long table spoke. "Shadow, I presume. Please have a seat. I know that this must seem a bit much for you, but there is no need to fear."

Shadow was a bit skittish. "I wouldn't say 'fear' was the correct word." He sat down.

"No, I suppose not." The elder stroked his beard. "Despite its appearance, this is not a trial or inquiry of any kind, rather it is a meeting."

Shadow tried to hide his detestment of the situation by acting polite, but his true feelings were not totally hidden in his voice. "Begging your pardon, but I have heard of such things being called 'meetings' and the like, yet being nothing but a sinister mockery of a 'trial'."

The elder spoke in a calm voice, almost ignorant of Shadow's harsh tone. "I understand, but this is a unique situation. You know why one of our own sought you out earlier; to retrieve a magical gem called a 'Chaos Emerald'."

"Yes, and I still have yet to find the proper location to lodge a complaint regarding that particular event."

"But you are different. You are the first outsider to come to this island in over 100 years, for something that Tikal had accidentally revealed to you a few nights before."

"She said that I would destroy everything."

From the audience, there were a few gasps, obviously from people who were not totally aware of what Tikal had said to him.

"Yes. That is why we needed to bring you here. Tikal has a most unique power; she can sense things that go beyond the normal senses, even beyond thought. We have resided here for many years, and her vision was that you would bring this to an end."

"That seems odd. If I am to destroy this place, why would you bring me here? Wouldn't it make more sense to keep me away?"

"The very reason we bring you here. And that is the exact logic behind Knuckles' attack. He wanted to kill you, to stop you, but such thing is foolhardy. We want you here to stop you from destroying us. There is an expression down below; 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'."

"What, you mean I'm a prisoner here?!"

"In a sense of the word, unfortunate as it is."

"You can't keep me here! I have things to do; I'm in the middle of a war. Plus I've got a girlfriend who I'd like to get back to screwing!"

The elder seemed a little offset by Shadow's scolding, then turned to Tikal.

"He is referring to 'mating'."

"I don't care what expression you want to use, but I don't like being in the sack with a girl and being dragged off!" Shadow turned his attention from Tikal and back to the elders, specifically the middle one who was the only one who spoke. "If you're so worried, why not send me back and you leave!"

"We are leaving, but you'll be coming with us."

"No! You can't just take off with me here!"

"If it would please you, we can retrieve your girlfriend and you can mate with her here. This is a very peaceful place, and I'm sure you'll like it."

"Peaceful?! I don't care if this place is Nirvana, Heaven, and Elysium all rolled into one, you just can't go picking up people against their will!"

"It has already been decided."

"By you?! You overglorified, senile, old bastard, what would you know about being kidnapped and having some allegedly higher force telling you what to do?!"

"We must protect the sanctity of our home, even if it means some inconvenience to you."

"Protect it? Hell, up until now I had no reason to want to destroy it!"

"I would not joke about such things."

"I'm not joking. If you want to protect this land, might I suggest that you send me back where I'm needed."

"You are asking to return to a war zone. We know all about your battle with Dr. Robotnik, and we cannot allow you to return. If you are defeated, then he might gain the Chaos Control power that you now possess. You must remain here where that power cannot be utilized."

"Not be used? Don't you get it; the whole point of power is to be used! You sit up here on your asses, collecting these powers for no purpose other than to prevent them from getting out! I get the whole keeping them out of reach of evil bit, but there is so much that can be done with them, and all you do is lock the safe from anyone who might have a good enough use for it!"

"This power is far too great to be understood by someone like you."

"I think it's too powerful to be understood by you old man!"

For the first time, the elder showed anger, but not just a bit of fury, he snapped. "How dare you?! This meeting is over! I suggest you take heart to our offer and not cause any trouble! Now be gone!"

Tikal stood up just before Shadow was able to leap to his feet. He was about ready to storm over to the other table and give the elder a really large piece of his mind when the priestess grabbed his arm. Her grip was strong, a lot stronger than Shadow would have imagined capable from the silent girl. A look into her steely eyes was enough to calm him down.

"Come, we'll find a place for you to rest."

To be continued