Grassblade
By - Madness
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A/N: ^^;; I realize that this story seems a bit cliche-ish...you know, "Master Emerald gets stolen, Sonic gets it back and kicks Robotnik's ass in the process". We-ell....not really. =P There's a twist! Why do you think Shadow's here, as well as a new character?? u_u;; Hehe...it gets *really* twisty right about...now.
And if you get confused along the way....keep reading. XD
Disclaimer: t_t dude...
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CHAPTER TWO
In truth, Kitsune wanted to speak to Knuckles because she knew who the culprit was. What she didn't know was *why* Shadow stole the emerald. He had no use for it!
Knuckles crossed his arms in front of him and narrowed his eyes at Sonic. Though they weren't enemies anymore, they still mantained a great rivalry, and Knuckles could easily say that it was all Sonic's fault. Not that Sonic couldn't prove his innocence, though.
"The Master Emerald was stolen again." Knuckles said stiffly.
Sonic shrugged. "I know already," then he laughed, "…probably before you did!"
Knuckles scowled and was about to argue with him, but Kitsune stopped him by placing a calm hand to his shoulder. "Now stop. This is serious, you guys. I don't know how long the one shard of the emerald we have will last to keep this great island from also sinking to the sea. So we have to find the Master Emerald as soon as possible."
"Yeah!" Tails clenched his fists excitedly. "But we have to find out where Robotnik is!"
Sonic laughed again. "Don't worry, you guys! I can handle it!"
"I don't think you can handle it alone," Kitsune told him truthfully, "because...I didn't see Robotnik steal the emerald."
"Okay, Kits," Knuckles sighed, "I know you didn't see him. Neither did I. We didn't see anyone stealing the emerald, but who else could it be? He's the only one who has been trying to get it for...how many times?"
"Seventeen." she said flatly.
"Yeah," Knuckles cleared his throat, "So then we..."
"But that's just it, Knux....I have to tell you that I..."
Tails interrupted her unintentionally. "We still don't know where he is!"
Kitsune sighed and looked away from them. They didn't seem to understand that she knew more than they did about the entire situation. And just as she was about to try and tell them again, the ground began to shake, just as it did on the other islands before they fell.
"Oh no...." Sonic took a few startled steps closer to the others, "I thought you said that this island was secure...!"
Kitsune stared at the ground worriedly. "I thought the shard would be fine...I gotta go check on it.!"
Sonic looked at the cat confusedly. "Why don't you have the shard with you?"
"Because it needs to stay in its proper place for the island to remain afloat. But in any case, I'll be right back!"
Sonic didn't want her to go alone. "I'll take you there a lot faster than..."
"No, I'm afraid you can't." Knuckles said abruptly, and Sonic glared at him.
"Why not!?"
Kitsune shook her head. "It's okay really...it's best if I went alone anyway, because we don't want to reveal the secrets of this island. You know...privacy. Don't take it the wrong way, Sonic." She smiled at him cheerfully before turning on her heel and running off into the woods.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Before the Emerald Was Stolen
"My dear Shadow..."
The black hedgehog opened his eyes only to see that he was still in darkness...a darkness that was difficult for him to escape from in a very long time. Still he lay there on the cold, hard ground of a room he didn't even remember entering. Everything was so strange to him. "Who is there...?"
"Your past...your present...your future."
Shadow scowled at the response. It wasn't a direct answer, and he hated it when people...or things...played stupid, pointless mind games with him. He didn't appreciate it at all. But soon, he figured...he'd get even with it. "WHAT are you?"
The voice laughed at him; that cruel, taunting laugh that made the hedgehog shiver subconsciously. "That is...what am I to become?"
"If you don't answer me, I'll kill you." He threatened, not bothering to restrain any malice in his tone. Still, the voice seemed calm, patient...and ominous. Soon he realized that the voice was very feminine sounding.
"My dear Shadow...you aren't ready to receive the truth," the voice whispered almost sensually , and soon Shadow felt a soft hand on his cheek which caressed him gently. He shivered again and tried to turn to his head to see the unknown individual, but he couldn't move under the person's hand. The voice laughed lowly. "Until then...I need for you to do me a small favor. Could you do a favor for me...?"
He smirked. "What is it I can do that you can't?"
"You have power."
"I know I do."
"I can only dream to have your kind of strength..." the person's free hand came into contact with Shadow's chest, and soon he felt the mysterious somebody's body weight on top of him. Yet he still couldn't see the personage -- a dark shadow was in her place.
"Get off of me." he ordered in an irritated fashion, but he felt the person's smirk.
"I want you to give the Master Emerald to Robotnik."
Shadow paused for a moment, then began to laugh at the foolish request. "I should've known you were working for Robotnik. There's no way in hell I'd force myself to do his dirty work, nor would I ..."
A finger closed his lips in midsentence. "I never said I worked for Robotnik. This is merely just between us, Shadow."
"Then why should I give him the Master Emerald? He's done nothing for me, and neither have you. Now get off of me!!" Shadow yelled a little more forcefully this time, but the person ignored his command and continued to speak.
"Why must you be so petulant...?" the voice paused. "Would you like me to reveal myself?"
Her fingers ran over his chest with an assuasive feeling, though the hands themselves were unusually cool. He held back yet another shiver. "I don't care."
"Oh, but I know you do...not that I'm willing to show myself right now, in any case." she said briskly, and her hands ceased from the gentle massage and promptly cupped his chin, holding it in place. "Give Robotnik the Emerald, Shadow. Take it from that foolish guardian! You have the power to do so...and even though you have no use for the emerald, this is just the beginning of what I have planned for you. And myself."
"Let go of me..."
"I think not," she cut him off, her rising anger evident in her ascending tone. "Get the emerald. Give it to Robotnik. And I know what he'll tell you...if you are caught, then kill the spying poor unfortunate. I want to know if you are caught, Shadow. I may know who it would be."
"You must mean Knuckles then."
"Or his new ally..."
"He has a partner?"
"Precisely. If she is the one to catch you....I want you to follow these rules..."
Shadow narrowed his eyes at the stranger. "I did not say I would agree with you..."
"You WILL. Or you'll face an unfortunate turn of events....more accurately, your memories. Gone. Vanished. Wiped out. Nothing more." he felt her smile at him again, this time sadistically. He knew she had this power over him for some strange reason...
He couldn't risk losing his memories...
"I will."
The woman sighed in content. "I have a good feeling that we're going to be good friends..."
Shadow closed his eyes and inwardly thought otherwise.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kitsune reached the waterfalls area in search of the emerald shard, desperately hoping and praying that it was still intact, atleast. "Under the falls...under the falls..."
The ground was still shaking, though not as violently as a short while ago. Maybe it was just a natural quake, and not for reasons being that the shard would turn up missing...
Kitsune jumped from the bridge, diving into the water. She began to swim to the largest waterfall; Once there, she swam beneath the falls and over the sharp rocks to the hidden cavern that lay in wait further ahead.
Once on dry land, she peered into the dark cavern and saw the shining of the emerald shard. "Good, so it hadn't been stolen after all!" Discreetly, she took a few steps toward the light. "I should stay here and keep an eye on it...but...Knuckles and the others have to know that Shadow was the one that stole the emerald!" It was blatantly obvious to her that she needed to tell them the news, though she wanted to kick herself for not being so insistent on telling them earlier. She sighed, annoyed.
"Damnit. I have to go back..." the weary cat thought aloud, but not before tossing her red cloak over the shard to protect it from being seen. By doing this she also revealed her clothing - a plain white top with spaghetti straps and tan khaki shorts. She turned to leave the cavern.
But someone blocked her path.
Kitsune stopped in her tracks, taking only a second to recognize the person. "....it's you...Shadow..."
He stared at her curiously for a moment, remembering those serious silver eyes of hers...now they were filled with confusion, not fear. He smirked. "Not afraid, are you? I didn't think you'd be."
"I'm not. Moreso, I'm rather baffled by your actions," she narrowed her eyes in anger, "Why steal the Master Emerald when you have no use for it? Tell me."
"I have no obligation to tell you *anything*." he told her briskly as he started to make his way toward her. "...and don't try to scream. No one will hear you way out here."
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A/N: ^^;; Teehee. R/R if you'd like. =D