Disclaimer: I own none of these people. There Sega's. Except the Mangabot itself. Okay, I think thats it.

Chapter 5: Stubborn and full of surprises

"So... is this good news, or bad news?" Sonic gave a worried look to Knuckles, then Tails

"Well, he saved all our lives on the A.R.K" Knuckles replied

"So did Eggman."

"Good point, but Eggman was saving his own hind. Shadow actually changed."

"You know this how?"

"Amy claims after she preached to him he said something about promises and Maria and started acting good."

"Has Amy been on drugs or something."

"Do tic-tacs count?" Tails asked.

"You're really stupid today, did you know that?" Tails went slightly embarrassed for some reason. Knuckles rolled his eyes. He didn't have time for this. He walked off as Tails and Sonic got engaged in a conversation about how accurate Tails IQ test was. Knuckles got about ten steps away when he saw something. Out of the corner of his eye something had moved very fast. Knuckles looked to see nothing. Knuckles continued to walk. He knew only a small amount of animals could have moved that fast, Sonic, for example. Knuckles had easily come to a conclusion on who it was. It was none of his concern. If he was after anyone, it would be Sonic, heck, Knuckles would be surprised if he actually knew he exists. Knuckles looked back at Sonic, who seemed to be doing a gesture which translated into 'Tails, you're a little twit.' Knuckles smiled.

"Good luck sonic."

Shadow Stood watching Sonic and Tails. He was as still as the rocks beneath him. This was Maria's murderer. Odd. This hedgehog did not strike Shadow as the leader of an assault of such brutefulness. Shadow shook his head, he can't question such things, all he knew was he killed Maria, he must die. Shadow shook his head again. If he let his anger take control he would be too enraged to fight properly. Shadow looked back down at Sonic. Pathetic faker, wait, did he just think faker? Shadow suddenly was struck by memory. Green, forest, bomb? Shadow remembered words,

"You're comparing yourself to me? Ha! Your not even good enough to be my fake." Had he said that? Shadow dismissed the memory. Shadow looked back at the blue hedgehog hitting a fox with a two by four. It was time to revenge Maria.

Metal Sonic walked around a small room. On the walls there were pictures of everyone Metal Sonic had ever met. On each picture a word was scribbled on with a red marker. 'Speed' on Sonic's, 'Mechanics' on Tails, 'Continues flight' on Charmy's, 'Stealth' on Espio's and so on. In the middle was a machine. Not Eggman's machine mind, his machine. Metal Sonic stuck a picture of shadow on a space on the wall. He picked up his marker and wrote 'Chaos Control' on the picture. Metal Sonic glanced around the room. After this was over he would no longer be Metal Sonic. He would be more than Sonic.

"Metal! Where have you gone?" Eggman's voice bellowed from the control room. Metal Sonic floated out of the room, sealing the door on the way. Metal Sonic found Eggman intently watching a monitor. Eggman turned as Metal Sonic approached. Eggman was in good humours. "Ah, my plan is soon to come to its finishing stages. As Shadow and Sonic fight, you and a returning lackey of mine shall steal the Chaos Emeralds." Eggman smiled manically. Metal Sonic hooked himself to a computer. On the screen came the words 'What do you want them for this time? Haven't you learned to leave them alone yet?' Eggman continued to smile "Metal, Metal, Metal. I need not worry about Sonic getting them and turning super. Not even Super Sonic can defeat the Mangabot." Metal Sonic looked sceptical. 'Who is this old lackey joining me?' Eggman read the screen and pointed upward. Metal Sonic looked upward to see a bat hanging above them

"Hay sugar, looks like were partnering up." Rouge flied down onto the ground, looking over Metal Sonic. "He could pass for Sonic if you changed his eyes, and nose." Rouge noted. Metal Sonic Looked from Rouge, to Eggman, to Rouge. He rolled his eyes, and made words manifest on the screen. 'If I'm to work with her can you do just one thing for me?'

" What?" Eggman replied. On the screen appeared the words 'Give me a voice box to tell her to shut up with' Eggman laughed. Rouge was unsure how to reply, not that it mattered as the monitor would have interrupted her anyway

"Doctor, I'm going to kill the hedgehog now" Rouge looked at the monitor. Shadow was right outside a G.U.N base. Well, this will make her job easier. Rouge slipped out of view and pulled out here Mobile phone. With it she text a message reading 'Ultimate life, outside G.U.N base.' Then, as quietly as she left, she remerged. Everyone's attention was on Shadow, so no one saw her sneak off. Rouge smiled, won't be long now.

"You come out with such idiotic things, I mean what the heck was that 'We all did it TOGETHER' statement?" Sonic had abandoned the two by four and was now engaged in a fist fight with Tails.

"Well, at least I don't reputably sprout phrases from 1980!" Tails argued back.

"Well, Miles, I..." Sonic stopped. Tails looked in the direction Sonic's face was staring and moved away. Sonic prepared himself for what could possibly come next. Shadow stood several feet in front of him. For a minute no one talked, no one moved. Then Shadow broke the silence

"Sonic the Hedgehog, leader of G.U.N's A.R.K attack." Sonic was taken aback.

"I've never worked for G.U.N. Shadow don't..." Sonic didn't get time to finish his sentence

"LIAR! You killed Maria!" Shadow's voice filled with hatred and anger. Sonic turned to Tails.

"Who's Maria?" Sonic was then suddenly hit by Shadow. Shadow pounded Sonic like he was a punching bag. There wasn't a seconds hesitation for Sonic to strike in. Tails rushed to Sonic's rescue, only to be kicked and sent flying. Shadow hit Sonic with a uppercut, jumped and whacked him down to earth again. Sonic landed on his head. He picked himself up, only to be sent down to the floor by Shadow. Shadow picked up Sonic, chucked him upwards and started to charge a spindash. Sonic fell on the turning black ball which was Shadow and was repeatedly hit by his black spikes. Sonic Managed to jump away from Shadow. Sonic landed, he was breathing heavily. He was ridden with blood. Sonic tried to talk sense into Shadow. "Shadow! Don't you remember me? The A.R.K crashing? the Bio-lizard?" Shadow stopped, Bio-lizard? Shadow had another flash of Memory, two yellow hedgehogs were killing a giant brown thing on the nose of the A.R.K. One looked like... like Shadow. The Hedgehog said something

"I must destroy all the evil the professor made." What dose that mean? Sonic stared at Shadow. He had suddenly stopped and started glancing randomly around. Shadow came back to the present, stick to the plan Shadow told himself. Shadow looked at Sonic, who was finding it hard not to fall under his own weight. Shadow smiled.

"Sonic Spikes, Spikes Sonic." Shadow pulled the red Chaos emerald from somewhere and before Sonic could do anything Shadow shouted "Chaos Control!!", but instead of transporting himself, Sonic was covered in a green glow. In three seconds Sonic disappeared and reappeared above many spikes. Shadow walked off victorious. He took out a small mobile and said into it "Mission, complete."