Chapter Five: ARK
"I need answers, Esimed. I need to know who you are. I need to know who your master is, exactly," Shadow stated. The robotic hallway was silent for a minute.
Esimed broke the silence, "Very well. I hope you are ready for the unexpected." A soft gray light appeared a few feet in front of Shadow. Shadow watched as the light quickly formed the figure of a hedgehog, and from the light Esimed emerged, taking a few steps towards Shadow. He was a gray hedgehog with spikes just like Shadow's spikes. He had patches of silver fur in a manner similar to Shadow's patches of red. His white eyes were unseeable save for their black outlines.
"You're... just like me," Shadow said.
"I am more than you, Shadow. You are the lesser being of Project: Shadow now. I am the most powerful version of 'The Ultimate Life-form.' I have been created to bring about the demise of this world called Earth, hence the name given to me by my master," Esimed explained.
"Then... you're my..." Shadow began, shocked at this piece of information.
"You are my brother. The time has come, Shadow. My master's plans have changed. We can no longer use the beings of Earth to carry out the plans. Together, we have the power to destroy it ourselves, through the marvelous technology of our home - ARK," Esimed continued.
"Destroy the Earth? I will not aide you in any way to do so. I would be breaking my promise to Maria, and I will NEVER deny fulfilling her wishes," Shadow replied.
"And I the same for my own master," Esimed said quickly. After a pause he continued, "Did you know... it was my master who kept bringing you back to life?"
"Your master?" Shadow questioned. "Bringing me back to life?" he added.
"Well, not exactly bringing you back to life, since you were never actually dead. Come here," Esimed motioned before walking down the hallway. Shadow followed closely behind and the two hedgehogs arrived in a large room with a dozen long glass cylinders. Esimed pointed at one of the cylinders and the computer system that connected to it.
"See this? This is your recovery system. Yet another of the great Gerald Robotnik's creations. This was also a creation within Project: Shadow. When the project first began, the doctor was reluctant to lead it. A governmental organization known as GUN funded the project - a project for Gerald and his team of scientists. This project's main goal was based upon inmortalilty. More specifically, finding a way to bring to anyone the gift of inmortality.
"Well, Gerald thought such an objective was not admirable, but that changed when Gerald's granddaughter became sick of an incurable disease known as NIDS, and was bound to die in the not-too-distant future. That made Project: Shadow much more personal to him, and he never stopped working on it. He rarely slept or ate. His granddaughter meant everything to him. He couldn't stand the thought of losing her. So, after a few months the prototype to 'The Ultimate Life-form' dubbed 'The Biolizard' was finished. The creature had immense powers but was not as immortal as GUN had hoped.
"Eventually the entire project was shut down by GUN, but Gerald had other plans. Within a week ARK was evacuated entirely except for Gerald and his granddaughter. By the end of that week Gerald had set everything up. The new version of 'The Ultimate Life-form' was complete and designed to carry out his plans for the world. This of course, was yourself, Shadow. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the recovery system you see here, but he had several other secret undertakings ready for operation. So you and Gerald's granddaughter headed for the escape pod Gerald left for you two, but Maria is shot down by a GUN troop Gerald had not seen. Meanwhile, Gerald is captured by another GUN troop that stormed into the ARK. He is taken to Prison Island to aide GUN in Project: Shadow, and you are captured. As Gerald was forced to work for GUN, he set out to have revenge upon GUN and the world for the death of his granddaughter. Several years pass and he too was executed.
"But not even the grave halted his works. Many years later, Gerald's own grandson Ivo Robotnik is used to continue his plans. Through a diary, Ivo finds you deep within Prison Island. Your mind had been designed to carry out Gerald's revenge. Ivo finds all seven Chaos Emeralds as planned, and the Eclipse Cannon is set to destroy the Earth. After that failed, the ARK was triggered to crash into the planet and bring Earth's destruction. The Biolizard was also released to ensure that the plan would not fail. But because of your foolishness, it did. For some reason, you decided to NOT carry out the doctor's plans, and sacrificed yourself to save the Earth. Answer me this, Shadow. Why?" Esimed stated.
"Why? Because I was fulfilling my promise to Maria. I'm sorry Esimed, but I do believe you are aiding the wrong person. Gerald Robotnik became a madman after Maria's death," Shadow said. Esimed was silent for a moment, as if he was deep in thought.
"Follow me. You will need to see this," Esimed said before walking out the room and down another hallway. Shadow followed him and the two reached a small room. It was a room full of computers, screens dotted with information, and panels with many flat buttons. It was a bright room, and in the center stood a tall metallic chair, the back of it facing the two hedgehogs.
"Hello, Shadow," stated a light, cheery voice. Shadow recognized the sweet voice at once as the chair began to turn around so the owner of the voice could face them.
"Maria?" Shadow broke out, astonished to see her sitting a few feet in front of him, alive and well. It really did look like Maria, but was it possible?
"Shadow... it is so good to see you again," Maria said with a bright glow about her cheerful face. It was Maria, without a doubt! She was just how Shadow remembered her. However, instead of the normal clothes she used to wear she had on a blue ARK jumpsuit used by scientists 50 years ago.
"Oh, Maria!" Shadow let out, tears running down his face as he ran up to her. The two embraced, both overjoyed to see each other again.
"Oh, Maria," Shadow repeated, still crying, "This is a miracle! I never thought I'd see you again... Not a day has passed that I haven't thought of you!"
"And I with you, Shadow," Maria replied. "But there hasn't been many days we have been alive these past 50 years, have there?" It was true, Shadow saw. It looked as if Maria hadn't aged a day. Esimed walked up to the two.
"You see, Shadow, a few months ago, the Biolizard wasn't the only thing that was reactivated. The recovery system received the immense power it needed when the Biolizard was released. It was at that point fully operational. When Maria was shot 50 years ago, she didn't just lie there forever. The operational portion of the recovery system teleported her to one of these stasis tubes, away from GUN's clutches. And when the rest of the recovery system became operational a few months ago, she was brought to full health," Esimed explained. Shadow was still amazed at the fact that Maria was alive. The very idea was overwhelming, but there she sat with the same curious look on her face Shadow knew so well.
Esimed began speaking once again. "When you fell to the Earth's atmosphere, Shadow, you were teleported to the ARK via the recovery system as well. You were quickly healed and sent back to the Earth to continue to carry out Gerald's wishes, which you didn't I note. And when you died again fighting Ivo Robotnik at Rendion, the recovery system teleported you from beneath the rubble and healed you once again, in the stasis tube I showed you." Shadow walked over to Esimed.
"Speaking of which," Shadow began, "What are both you and Maria doing here on the ARK?" Shadow turned to Maria. "Maria, I must let you know this. That hedgehog has been causing destruction on the Earth recently. Many have died because of him."
"Oh, I know that, Shadow," Maria replied with a smile, shocking Shadow once again.
"Then... then why? What?" Shadow stared at Maria, then back at Esimed.
"Maria is the one who created me, Shadow," Esimed stated plainly. "Maria is my master." Shadow couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"No... Maria, you didn't really create that monster, did you?" Shadow asked, terrified at the thought.
"I did indeed, Shadow. How is my grandfather's work to continue otherwise?" Maria asked earnestly.
"But... but surely you don't condone his actions, do you??" Shadow questioned.
"I am the one behind recent events, Shadow," Maria stated. "When the recovery system healed and awoke me a few months ago, I went through my grandfather's diary. He only wished to help the world, and in return for his genius, the world destroys everything of his. Destruction is all the world cares for, Shadow. They destroyed all he had worked so hard for tens of years. They had years of painstaking research destroyed. Everything Gerald cared for was destroyed. When he heard that I had been shot, he thought I was killed. He didn't believe his recovery system would have worked yet. He thought I too was destroyed, and he had cared so much about me. He didn't sleep or eat for days when my condition weakened. He was the most determined being there ever was. And in his mind, I too was destroyed by the world. You too, what he had worked so hard on in that last urgent week, was taken by the world to never be heard from again - destroyed. And in the end, even Gerald himself was destroyed.
"The world only wants destruction, Shadow. So we three will give it to them," Maria concluded. Shadow couldn't believe it. He could only stare in disbelief. The smile on Maria's face was not a smile of joy or happiness. Esimed broke the deafening silence.
"We had wanted Gerald's only other living relative, Ivo, to join us as well. But being a man of Earth, we could only use him. And even then he failed us. We gave him the technology to create many massive robots and three flying fortresses in a short period of time. We gave him the chance to aide us in the destruction of the world, and he blew it. And then there's Sonic the Hedgehog. How annoying that disgrace of a hedgehog is. Unfortunately, our revenge to him for his past hinderances wasn't fulfilled to the extent we would have wished. The ARK's systems sent Ivo the stone tablets giving him the information to let out the God of Destruction, but Sonic had to stop the world from receiving its long-due destruction. Then Sonic had to stop the Eclipse Cannon from destroying the Earth. And now he and his friends had to mess things up once more, and he escaped us with minimal torment and devastation. Well, it's time for us to forget Ivo and Sonic. Time for us to destroy the entire planet and everyone on it. Time for you to return to us, Shadow, and fulfill destiny," Esimed said. Everything Shadow was hearing was just too much for him. How could Maria be the one behind all this? It was completely absurd to think that she, of all people, would be the one pulling the strings, and bringing about the destruction of the Earth.
"And we had wanted Shadow to carry out Gerald's revenge," Maria said. "Why did you not do so, Shadow? What happened when you were released by my cousin?" she asked.
"You... you just wanted me to make the inhabitants... of the Earth... you wanted me to give them a chance... to be happy," Shadow quivered, terribly distressed.
"Yes, I did not know the nature of the world at that time. I'm surprised you remembered the times we spent together so well, Shadow. We weren't together very long," Maria said.
"When Ivo Robotnik released me, I thought you had wanted revenge... and then I thought otherwise. But now, it seems that is true..." Shadow stated, shocked at his own words.
"And it is time to do so. I have at last completed Gerald's device that will enable us to destroy the world. It requires immense amounts of power, but the combined energies within you and your brother are enough to set off the reaction," Maria explained.
"No reason for us to wait any longer," Esimed stated. "Come, Shadow. No longer shall we live off the past. It is time for us to act."
"I... I," Shadow tried to respond, still unable to comprehend all that was happening.
"Shadow, did you know there are three types of beings?" Esimed asked. "There are those who make things happen like Maria and I, those who witness things happening like Ivo and Sonic, and those who wonder what happened like the rest of the world. The time has come, Shadow. Time for us to carry out what the great mind Gerald has set before us. Time for you to join your long-lost Maria, and your new-found brother. Time for you to become who you truly are." Shadow closed his eyes. It was all too much. There was now a being just like him - a brother. He was with Maria once more. He was with his family. He was home. He had a clear purpose.
"This isn't right," Shadow cried. "This... this can't be..." Shadow looked into the white eyes of Esimed. They were hallow and cold. The blank, empty eyes shined dimly. Shadow turned to Maria, and looked into her eyes. They were the same eyes Shadow had seen 50 years ago. But the warmth was gone. The gleaming blue eyes he had once known were now fiery and filled with hatred. They were not the loving eyes Shadow now missed severely. Shadow made his decision. The Maria he knew was gone. Esimed was not his brother, but a stolen piece of himself. A piece that must be eliminated.
"I will NOT help you destroy the Earth in any way!" Shadow exclaimed. Maria and Esimed instantly became displeased.
"I didn't want it to be this way, Shadow," Maria stated. "But you leave me no choice. Knock him out, Esimed." Shadow backed away from the two as Esimed began walking towards him. Before Esimed could attack though, a flash of colorful light appeared in the other end of the room.
"It's 'Chaos Control'..." Esimed said, amazed to see the array of lights appearing. From within the lights fell Sonic holding a blue Chaos Emerald.
"You didn't think you'd get all the fun here, did you Shadow?" Sonic joked.
"You!" Esimed pointed towards a confused Sonic.
"What in the world are you?" Sonic asked.
"This changes nothing!" Maria yelled before turning to Esimed. "Esimed, kill Sonic and bring Shadow to me," she ordered before teleporting herself from the room.
"As you command," Esimed whispered.
"Sonic, this is the holder of the voice that has spoken to us. Maria's the one giving him the orders. We have to stop them from destroying the Earth," Shadow quickly explained. Sonic didn't understand it all but got ready to take down Esimed anyways. Esimed jumped over to the chair Maria was at.
"A simple hedgehog and the prototype of myself. Not very fair for the two of you I must admit," Esimed stated plainly. Shadow had already lunged for Esimed, but Esimed spinned the chair he stood on in an instant and knocked Shadow aside. At that very moment Sonic yelled 'Chaos Control,' but at the same time Esimed launched a burst of red energy around himself, throwing Sonic against the wall and making him drop the Chaos Emerald. Esimed and injured Shadow lunged for it at the same time. Shadow grabbed it and sliced the nearby Esimed across his right arm with the sharp end of the emerald. Esimed let out a burst of red energy and the wound was instantly healed. Sonic got up and spin dashed towards Esimed as Shadow used Chaos Control to appear behind Esimed. Esimed reached out and amazingly grabbed the time-warping Shadow's arm and swung him into Sonic. Esimed grabbed the Chaos Emerald as it was in mid-air and looked down upon the injured Sonic and unconscious Shadow. Esimed lifted up the Chaos Emerald, and it blew up into millions of minute pieces that burned to ash in mid-air.
"Chaos Emeralds," Esimed laughed. "Such little power they possess, compared to the power I can capacitate." Sonic forced himself up to keep fighting. Esimed grinned, white eyes gleaming, and let out a massive burst of blinding red energy at Sonic. The burst both weakened Sonic and blew a hole in several walls behind him. The hole now led to outer space, which began sucking out everything within the room. Esimed, still grinning, pressed a button on his black shoes and they magnetized to the metallic floor. Esimed grabbed Shadow as he began to drag across the floor, and Sonic grabbed onto the side of the broken wall to keep himself from flying through the next few rooms and out into space.
"Good-bye, Sonic the Hedgehog. Consider yourself lucky. You had a perfect life while you were alive, you don't have to witness the destruction of the planet, and now you get a quick death," Esimed said before teleporting away with Shadow. Sonic continued to hang on as it grew harder to do so. It suddenly began growing difficult to breathe. The air was running out, and he had little strength left within him.
"If only I had that Chaos Emerald!" Sonic yelled within his head. "Could this really be the end? No way... not the end. I can't die... Not now. The world's counting on me. I can't let everyone down!" Sonic thought. "I can get out of this! I'm the world's fastest hedgehog... Time to take off!" Sonic let go of the wall and began running with all his might as he struggled for air. Immense pain filled Sonic- his legs felt as if they'd implode any second. As he ran as quickly as he could, space continued to pull him back. He wasn't even running in place. He was working his hardest and he was being pulled backwards still. A light appeared down the tunnel the hole of the room's walls created. It was a ball of light, and from it Tikal appeared. Sonic continued to run, trying to reach her at the end of the tunnel.
Tikal spoke, "I know you can make it. Keep running, and you will escape the room. Stay on course. Keep going straight and you will make it." Sonic hung on to these words and continued to push himself forward. Drops of sweat flew from his head and out into space. He kept going. He hadn't failed before. He wasn't going to let himself fail this time. And he was going to live through it all. He kept running. Tikal grew closer. He had to keep going.
"GET OUT NOW!" Sonic's mind screamed as Sonic mustered his last burst of energy to speed out of the airless rooms and reach the doorway out of them. The doorway closed behind him and Sonic gasped for air. He had made it through. It was perhaps the most strenuous minute of his life, but he had lived. Tikal appeared in front of Sonic as he sat down against the metallic wall, still breathing heavily. She held out the blue Chaos Emerald that Esimed had destroyed.
"He did not have the power to end the existance of this Chaos Emerald," Tikal explained, handing it to Sonic, who wearily grabbed it. "You will need to hurry if the world is to live on, just as you and that Chaos Emerald have. I am afraid my time is over though. My spirit has been separated from the Master Emerald too long now. I must enter the next realm of my existence. I can not help you anymore, but you will find your strength within yourself. You have the will to survive, just like that Chaos Emerald. Power is enriched from the heart, you know," Tikal ended before vanishing in the blink of an eye. Sonic knew he had to get going. It was strenuous work, but he forced himself up and slowly trudged down the hallway. Sonic stopped himself and stared into the Chaos Emerald, seeing his own reflection in several angles.
"I need to get to that gray hedgehog NOW," Sonic decided. He closed his eyes and focused his mind on reaching him.
"Chaos Control," Sonic whispered before vanishing in a flash of light. He reappeared in a spacious room with a few computers and some devices Sonic did not recognize. Maria and Esimed were at the front of the room next to Shadow, who was connected to a flat bench.
"You came back!" Esimed fumed, white eyes glaring. He was wearing some kind of green suit that several long tubes connected to. These tubes ran a few meters and were connected to a small container with a vibrating blue liquid inside. Wires from several computer systems attached to Esimed's suit and the container of liquid.
"What... are you... doing to him?" Sonic let out between breaths, still weary from his running.
"Shadow wouldn't cooperate, so we have to resort to using the liquid-based lifeform," Maria explained casually before turning to Esimed. "Don't worry, Esimed. He's in no state to fight."
Shadow, who had gained consciousness since Sonic was gone, broke in, "I don't see how using Chaos will help you, Maria." Sonic looked back at the container, and realized that inside was no ordinary liquid - it really was Chaos.
"But, how'd you get him? He was just down on Earth fighting Eggman," Sonic let out.
"Esimed had the Master Emerald bugged so I could transport the liquid-based lifeform in the event that I would need it," Maria explained.
"But why use Chaos? What are you doing to Esimed?" Shadow asked again.
"Esimed alone does not have enough power to start up the Eyes. You and Esimed together may have been enough, but I wouldn't dare force you to do anything against your will, Shadow. So, I'm resorting to Chaosempiternity, the TRUE Ultimate Life-form. Using the best of both worlds: ancient mysticism and modern technology, I shall combine the two entities known as Esimed and Chaos. The new being will have the energy to power the Eyes and bring the world's destruction," Maria grinned at her own genius.
"And now the time has come," she continued, "The Earth ends now," she added as she turned around to press the button to begin the procedure of combining Esimed and Chaos.
"NOW SONIC!" Shadow yelled.
"Chaos Control!" Sonic let out. But nothing happened. "Chaos Control!" he repeated. Maria turned around. She tilted her head and smirked slyly.
"Only the negative power of the Chaos Emeralds can work in this room," Maria explained plainly, as if it was common knowledge.
"Only one way to go then," Sonic muttered before spin-dashing straight for the container that held Chaos inside. Sonic bounced right off the yellow energy barrier that protected Chaos as Maria pressed the final button. It happened quickly. The container emptied instantly. Monitors displayed the statistics of the procedure. A series of computer noises filled the room. Shadow and an aching Sonic watched in amazement as liquid began forming around Esimed, creating a gooey shell around his entire body. The entire room grew silent. The chatter of the computers ceased. No sound escaped Sonic, Shadow, or Maria as they watched. No noise left Esimed as he appeared to be yelling in intense pain. The room began growing dimmer. The light of the room was being sucked away by the transforming being in the room. Esimed's eyes turned a ghastly yellow. The room began shaking madly for a moment and it all ended. The process was completed.
Maria broke the terrible silence. "Chaosempiternity, you shall now rid the universe of that blue menace," she said while pointing towards Sonic, who was at this point forcing himself to stand back up. The Chaos-covered hedgehog stared its yellow eyes upon Sonic.
"I'm going to do more than just kill you, Sonic," the being stated in a terrifying, growling voice within Sonic's mind. "You will not even be able to wish you were never alive." Chaosempiternity's arms stretched out several feet and connected to Sonic's eyes seamlessly. In a split-second intense energies were being poured straight into Sonic all at once. The pain was unbearable. Sonic couldn't think. He couldn't move. He could only be one with the suffering that was being poured straight through his mind and body. The feeling of everything bad that could ever happen was surging through Sonic all at once. Half a second passed and he wanted everything to end. In this moment of insanity, Sonic realized the status of time within the room. Ever since he had yelled "Chaos Control," the room itself had entered Chaos Control. Everyone and everything within the room was in a state of time that went at an incredibly slow speed. Sonic broke the Chaos Control and in an instant of fleeting madness flung the emerald directly for Chaosempiternity. The reaction was mayhem - the entire room burst in blinding light. When the light cleared Shadow and a fallen Sonic saw that both Chaosempiternity and Maria were gone. Shadow looked around as far as his head could allow, still being connected to the bench. Sonic was out cold. Shadow turned his head further, seeing the computer monitors. Someone had used the teleportation device during that instant the room was filled with the blinding light. He had to act quickly - it may already be too late. Shadow knew the Chaos Emerald couldn't be far from him.
"Chaos Control!" he said. Shadow vanished from the bench in a flash of light, and reappeared in another room with the Chaos Emerald in his hand. Shadow looked behind him to see Maria was at a computer console. She was shocked to see him there, and quickly began pressing a series of buttons.
"Chaos Con-"
"Stop Shadow!" Maria yelled before Shadow could finish. "DON'T DO IT! You're too late anyways," she said, putting her right index finger directly above a small green button. "That one burst of energy Chaosempiternity released was enough to power all of ARK and everything within it for thousands of years to come. That includes the Eyes of ARK - a weapon of such incredible energy, that they will wipe out all life upon that miserable planet in one swift action. With the press of this little green button, the entire Earth will be eliminated... in the blink of an eye!" she quickly explained.
"Don't do it, Maria... Please don't..." Shadow begged.
"Ha! You're weaker than I thought, Shadow. Oh, and don't think that you can stop me with force. The instant you say 'Chaos Control' is the instant the planet is eliminated. Not even Chaos Control is fast enough to stop me from pressing down a millimeter," she grinned.
"Then why don't you just press it?" Shadow sobbed at the sight of Maria's actions.
"I will in due time," Maria muttered back.
"You know this isn't the real you, Maria... I know you. I lived with you. You were everything to me! You were my example... You were loving and good-natured. You wouldn't harm anyone... You know this isn't who you really are, Maria. I know there's still a part of you that is curious about that planet below us. You don't want to destroy it. It's not too late to be yourself again," Shadow said.
"How little you know, Shadow. You were given memories that were supposed to block out our past. You were supposed to continue Gerald's work for the world," Maria explained.
"I passed those fake memories, Maria. I may not know all the details of my existence, but I know who I am. And I know who you are. And I know, you would never wish for the destruction of an entire world, or the destruction of a single living creature," Shadow replied. Maria looked like she was going to reply, but no words escaped her.
"Maria, whatever it is you do, I want you to know I love you. You will always be family to me," Shadow stated. Maria looked intently at Shadow, then back at the button her finger rested above. She then turned her head to look out a window to see a portion of the Earth. She looked back at Shadow's saddened face.
"I..." Maria began, but there was suddenly an explosion and the wall behind Maria blew open. Space was already sucking everything within the room out.
"Chaos Control!" Shadow yelled and time slowed down. A shocked Maria was in mid-air and slowly flying back into space. A wall of energy began forming in front of Maria as she was taken into space.
"NO MARIA!" Shadow screamed as he ran for her. With the wall of energy in the way Shadow yelled "Chaos Control!" and swiped for Maria. She was out of range. Space was still sucking Shadow out farther - he knew it was too late... A tear left Shadow before he Chaos Controlled himself back within the ARK. Back in normal time, Shadow watched from behind the energy field.
He had lost Maria again.
He couldn't stop himself from crying. It was overwhelming. The picture of him and Maria together again rested within his mind. He had never thought it possible before this day, and now it was impossible once again. Shadow felt entirely empty inside as he continued to stare out into space - Maria long gone from his view. The door to the room opened as Shadow continued to stare out in silence.
A few minutes later Shadow asked, "What happened?" He knew that Sonic was in the room, but he didn't turn to face him.
"That hedgehog with Chaos combined with him... he was put into a room full of tubes. He was in stasis, and I couldn't let him come back. So... I did what I had to. Then, on the computer screens, I saw that you and Maria were in another room..." Sonic explained quietly. Silence followed for what seemed an eternity to Sonic.
"And... you... did... what you... had... to," Shadow finished for Sonic between sobs, his voice crackling.
"Yeah... I'm... I'm sorry Shadow," Sonic said sadly. He suddenly felt terrible for his decisions, but backed himself up, "But the world was counting on me. I couldn't let them destroy it." Shadow continued crying.
"It's... it's okay... I... under... understand," Shadow sniffed. Shadow looked back at Sonic, tears still running down his cheeks. Shadow rolled the blue Chaos Emerald to Sonic.
"Use it... to... go... to Earth...with... with your..." Shadow said before turning back away from Sonic, and began staring back into space again. "With your friends," Shadow ended. Sonic slowly picked up the emerald.
"Are you... staying here?" Sonic asked.
"For... now. I'll be... all... right," Shadow began before turning to Sonic and wailing in sadness. After a few minutes of this he regained his breath. "JUST GO!" he yelled, his face completely wet. Sonic stared sadly at Shadow, who began wailing again.
"Chaos Control," Sonic sighed before vanishing. Shadow was completely alone, and his wailings grew louder, echoing through ARK's cold empty halls.
In the midst of his anguish, Shadow let out, tears still streaming, "Don't... worry... Maria! I... I-I... I WILL... I WILL... be... with you... again... and nothing... NOTHING! ... Nothing will... stop... us. Not... even... SONIC! ... Sonic... I will... return... and... I'll... give... Earth... the chance... to be... happy... even me... and Maria... I... will return... to you... Sonic..."
The End?