Sonic watched Shadow carefully, and then the dark hedgehog leapt out of know where and struck him across the face. Sonic reeled back and put a hand to his face. Here was blood coming from his mouth. In a low growl he retaliated, launching himself at Shadow's form. Entangled, they fell to the ground in a mess of spikes, fists, and flying blood. Shadow flipped Sonic away with a firm shove to his stomach with his feet. Sonic rolled on his back and stood back up on his feet. Shadow was bleeding from his right hand. Sonic pulled one of Shadow's spines from his shoulder. This could go on a while.
Sonic stop! Tails cried, watching the battle. Chains that kept him from helping bound him. The guardian next to him struggled against the bonds to no avail. Sonic was fighting a losing battle.
Argh! Sonic shot forward and used all his body force to slam into Shadow, sending them both into the wall. Pain rocked through Shadows shoulder as he cried out in surprise. He had not been expecting Sonic to use an attack that would injure himself as well. Everything was on the line here, and Sonic must know it. As Shadow pushed Sonic away he noticed that Sonic had scraped his forehead in the act. Stumbling back Sonic readied himself. Shadow kicked upward in a powerful strike that landed on Sonic's chin. The force was so powerful that it sent him backward though the air and to the ground a few feet away. Sonic lay there for a moment before pushing himself up.
Shadow! Stop this! Rouge screamed from behind the cage bars. She gripped them and tried to pull them free. Metal didn't fall easily.
Yes. Lets end this. Shadow sneered. Sonic rolled his eyes.
You'll lose.
Shadow shot past Sonic, punching him. Before Sonic hit the floor, Shadow grabbed him and pulled him back up to punch him again. This time he let Sonic fall and even pushed him some. Sonic didn't want to stand up again. He'd just get beat down.
He was beyond tired at that point and the metal floor was even warmer than he would have thought.
Wait…it wasn't warm. It was the blood…
Pouring…
Sonic wiped his face with the back of his hand as he slowly stood. He was bleeding heavily. He quietly wondered if it would stop…
Faker.
Slowly Sonic turned and watched Shadow out of one good eye and a blacked one. Shadow was standing fine but Sonic still saw it. He had tried to mask it but Sonic had saw…and now he would win.
Shadow ran to throw at him again, and Sonic stood his ground.
SONIC! Amy screamed, pulling forward from the robots dead grasp. She couldn't free herself…
Shadow raced forward, and as he was about to strike Sonic reached out and grabbed in a lightning strike. Shadow was moving too fast to stop and he paid severely for it.
Sonic felt the arm give way into cracking and watched as the shoulder blade on the dark hedgehog shattered. The muscle spasm was all to fast and then he let go, satisfied with his work. Shadow fell to one knee just past his opponent.
He used his left hand to grasp his right shoulder. Torn between agony and fear, Shadow stared at his adversary with anger in his eyes. Sonic backed off.
I can't fight you. He said. I'm leaving.
Yeah. Over my dead body!
Shadow did the unexpected rising up and slamming into Sonic. Sonic was thrown to the floor, as the back of his head cracked against the metal floor. Shadow winced and gripped his shoulder once again, right arm hanging limp. And then to the motionless hedgehog that lay at his feet he said…
Or yours.
Feat spread awkwardly apart, half dead. Shadow gave into the pain, slowly falling apart. After his victory he would be paying. Dearly. Panting hard, he fell to his knees slumping forward. His energy was gone.
Internal bleeding had a way of doing that to you. The light in his eyes flickered for an instant as he fell forward a few feet from Sonic.
There would be no struggling now…not ever…
SONIC!!! Amy cried out in agony. Twisting her wrist she managed to get free for an instant running forward. A robot shot its arm out and grasped her form.
LET ME GO!!! She continued, struggling with all her might. Nothing was working. She reached out with one hand desperately, blinded by tears. PLEASE! I HAVE TO HELP THEM!!!
EGGMAN! Knuckles yelled, pulling against the chains with more force than Tails would have thought possible. Nothing availed, and where the chains were tightly wrapped, flesh ripped. Blood…
Rouge sat on the floor slowly, sliding away from the bars.
Shadow was…dead?
SONIC! Tails yelled, pulling forward. WAKE UP!!!
Watching the hedgehog's prone form lay beaten. Blood from his head…draining…
Nothing.
Not any assurance to the team that he was alive.
Not a heartbeat.
Ha ha ha ha!
Laughter erupted in the large arena. Echoing off the walls and into your head. He laughed. Mercilessly he laughed.
Tails didn't find it funny. He was sure that the scowling guardian next to him wasn't amused either.
Eggman… Amy sobbed, sinking down to the floor. Why…?
Because I could. He hissed. He was full of glee. Like he had won.
Shadow… Rouge whispered to herself. Staring down at his form.
Broken…
You haven't won yet Eggman! Tails yelled, glancing at Amy. Anger was welling up.
There was a metallic clanking as the arena doors opened. All eyes went there.
Even Eggman's.
This is unexpected. He said.
What? Knuckles asked.
Doctor…
A form appeared.
I play my wild card.
Shadow stood there.
Now.
Shadow! Rouge screamed, jumping up and grabbing the bars of the cage.
Shadow… Eggman said it a little less excited than Rouge had been.
What had happened?
What? Tails asked rhetorically as he looked at Knuckles. The guardian shrugged.
His eyes darted to the black hedgehog that was laying facedown on the floor by Sonic, bleeding, and then this new one. The new one with no scars, whatsoever. No broken arm. No fatigue.
Identical. Absolute.
Shadow.
Well then… He said, pressing a button on the console.
I play mine.
All the panels slid open on the walls surrounding the arena. Robots poured out and into the space.
Now. Eggman finished. Shadow grinned.
As if that was the cue, all the robots rushed forward toward the programmed target. Shadow leapt into the air, and a robot swung its brick like arm at him. Before it hit he warped to behind it.
The robot was no more, but a pile of scrap.
He feigned to the right and jumped. He warped. Strike. Warp. Strike.
Argh!
A harsh laser strike to the back sent him reeling forward. A robot went to hit the injured hedgehog, but Shadow wasn't down yet. They still had to count.
He's a robot! Amy exclaimed between sobs.
She was right.
You could see the components through his back, where the fur was burned away. The gears and wires that were the soul of the robot.
Still he moved as Shadow did. Raced, fought, breathed…
It was Shadow.
Shadow! LOOK OUT! Rouge screamed suddenly. A robot plowed into him from behind, where he had a blind spot. There was no escape, and no mercy as he was thrown to the floor in a wreck. As the attacker approached, another robot closer to him scooped the form up and held it around the neck.
Rouge didn't know if you could choke a robot, but Shadow did seem to have some difficulty. His hands were pulling against the robot's claws.
Heh heh. Eggman chuckled. I win.
No. Rouge whispered, gripping the cage bars in anger.
Hand over the emeralds if you want to see him live. He laughed. Otherwise his life is mine.
Rouge knew that he knew they had an emerald. He didn't know which one.
If you guess who has it we'll hand it over. But first let Shadow go. She yelled.
He shook his head.
I grow tired of your games. He sighed.
She watched as the robot squeezed a little tighter. Shadow shook his head. Rouge nodded.
We decline. She said, folding her arms.
What?! Tails asked. What does she mean?
Rouge! Knuckles yelled.
Disbelief poured into Amy head continually. She could only fear.
Fine. Eggman sneered.
KILL HIM! He roared, motioning wildly to the robot with his captive. Rouge watched as Shadow went limp, and the eyes faded as an awful snapping noise occurred.
While everyone watched Shadow's death, Rouge was watching Shadow's flesh form.
As the robot's eyes went out, his real eyes opened a slit, searching, and then fell back closed.
Only Rouge knew. Shadow wouldn't die as a robot. Ever.
Now give me the EMERALD! He screamed, holding a hand out to the bat.
No.
No?
Here's the deal, Rouge said, looking defiant. We take the emerald, and we leave with Shadow and Sonic's bodies. They need proper burial. Then we give you the emerald.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Tails stare was steady on Eggman. Knuckles watched Rouge. She was up to something.
No. I want the emerald. He growled. I'll keep one body until I get the emerald.
Fine. Rouge said, shaking his open hand. Deal.
The cage opened and Rouge hopped out to the main floor. The chains loosened from around Tails and Knuckles, and the robot let Amy go.
What are you doing?! Tails hissed running forward.
Rouge winked. I'll explain later.
Sonic! Amy cried, leaning over his body. Knuckles raced over to look as well. Assess the damage. Tails also leaned over their friend.
Rouge went to Shadow. She leaned over to look like she was checking his wounds.
I got this one. She whispered into his ear. His eyes fully closed, and he relaxed.
Help me get Shadow. She said, pulling on his arms.
Why Shadow? What reason? Tails asked.
He's conscious. She whispered again. Knuckles was up in a flash and helping her support him. Tails also got up and helped them.
Why do we have to leave Sonic? Amy asked, torn at this decision.
We'll be back. And we won't leave without him. Knuckles assured the pink hedgehog. She nodded tearfully and approached the group.
Lets go home. Tails announced.
That's when it hit the team.
They'd be going without Sonic.
How is he?
He's still asleep.
Knuckles leaned against the same railing that Rouge was.
How did you know that he was still alive? He asked suddenly.
He's done it before. Warping his consciousness between the leftover clones of him. I watched carefully. She answered, looking down. How was Sonic's condition?
Concussion, sever bleeding, among other things… Knuckles began. But he was alive.
How do you know that? She returned.
His heart was still beating.
I see. She said quietly, looking to the floor. Nodding to herself, she stared into space. Knuckles got up and left, walking toward Amy's hut. She had been there since they had arrived back. Lightly knocking on the door, it opened a crack.
Hello Mr. Knuckles. Came the soft voice.
Hello Cream. He said, in a gentle tone. She smiled faintly and opened the door for him. He entered and she closed the door behind him.
Amy's been planning this whole time. She won't take a rest or sleep. Cream continued. Cheese flew by with some bandages, and out the window.
Cheese has been taking thing to Rouge. She frowned. Tails is busy.
Knuckles could see that Cream was depressed due to the nature of the current events. He knelt down on one knee.
It'll be okay. Sonic's fine. He assured her. She jumped into his arms in true rabbit style.
Then how come he's not here with us? She cried, tears running down her cheeks.
He'll be back soon. I know that. He said quietly, trying to be of comfort.
I want to help you. She whispered in his ear. I want to get Sonic back here, so Amy won't be sad.
She pushed away from his shoulder and looked him in the face.
Tails said something is wrong…and that we'll need everyone to stop it.
His body shouldn't have taken on that much damage in such a short time. It was a mystery to the madman. Something just wasn't right.
Do another scan. He said.