Shame on me for not updating! I know! I know! But I've been so busy this past week. (My doggy had EIGHT puppies and it's been chaos here) So for the patience, I'm updating this really long chapter. Enjoy and PLZ R&R!

Chapter 4: Fight and Discover

In a dense forest....

Knuckles and Sonic stood on the banks of the deep lake holding onto the radar as Tails, who was now in the lake underwater, searched for a chaos Emerald. A few moments later Tails surfaced and in his hand was a sparkling yellow/gold colored gem.

"Found It!" Tails breathed proudly as he surfaced for air. Sonic smiled and Knuckles smirked.

"Good job buddy!" Sonic went to help Tails out of the water, being careful not to fall in himself.

"That makes number 5." Knuckles says. "That leaves 2 more. I only hope that we haven't been beat to them yet." He added as Tails handed the emerald to Sonic.

"We're so close though. And even if that guy manages to get the last 2 emeralds, he'll still be no match for us!" Tails stated.

"We don't know what he's capable of so—our best bet is to get to those Emeralds before he does." Sonic says. He turns to the Echidna. "Speaking of which," he starts, "Do you think it's safe to be here with us instead of guarding the Master Emerald Knuckles?" Sonic asked.

"Well, the Master Emerald is safe where it is...though I do think I have been away for long enough." Knuckles seem to ponder what Sonic said.

"We can find the other two. You make sure that guy doesn't get his sticky hands on the Master Emerald or we're all done for." Sonic suggested. Knuckles nodded.

"That sounds like a good idea. I will catch up to you two later."

Meanwhile...

Shadow sauntered around the Shrine allowing himself to get lost in the large structure. This place was like none he had ever been in or seen before. Beautiful tapestries covered the walls. There were many doors and hanging between the tapestries were large jagged looking crystals that glowed with a mesmerizing light. –This place is large.- Shadow kept on walking noticing that the area had changed slightly. This part of the shrine had a more modern technology look to it. There were large computer screens that was covered in strange characters that he'd never seen before. Moments later Nimbus left her room, her mind set on how hungry she was and upon leaving her room, she spotted the black hedgehog she had saved earlier. Shadow looked at the fennec-bat.

"You're up!" Nimbus says slightly surprised.

"Who are you?" Shadow asked. Never had he seen such a furry.

"I'm Nimbus. I was the one who saved you." She replied. "Your name is Shadow right?" Shadow nodded.

"What is this place? The girl...Emblem...she told me this was a shrine." Shadow again looked around at the more modernized area. Nimbus went into details about how this was all her doing and how Roxanne and Emblem had allowed her to do so, but before Nimbus could go on, another voice cut them off.

"Roxanne!" Nimbus saw the Echidna come into view. Roxanne sauntered up to the two tightening the head-band that was around her head.

"'Mornin' Nimbus." She paused and looked at Shadow but he seemed to ignore her, being more focused on the computers in the area. "Hey Hedgehog!" Roxanne called. Shadow whipped around with his red eyes narrowing.

"My name is Shadow." He snapped somewhat harshly. –Ok I asked for that.- Roxanne seem to think playfully.

"Excuse me..." she says. "Shadow," Roxanne corrected her "mistake" and then continued. "Can you fight?" Roxanne inquired curiously. Shadow gave her a questioning look.

"What kind of question is that?" he asked slightly insulted for some reason.

"You got me all wrong," Roxanne paused popping her knuckles. "I need a sparring partner and since Emblem has disappeared on me, that leaves you and me...If you're a match that is." Roxanne explained coyly. Shadow crossed his arms and Roxanne expected that he would reply with a negative or dull comment.

"...Lead the way." Shadow replied. Roxanne nodded them turned to Nimbus

"Anyone's looking for me, tell them I'm in the lower chambers training." She instructed the fennec-bat Nimbus. She nodded. "Oh and save something to eat." Roxanne added.

"Okay, bye Shadow....Bye Rox!" she disappears down the hallway. Roxanne turned back to Shadow. "Well, let's go." Roxanne says....

In the City....

Shades sighed lightly. He was on his way to the shrine and to see Roxanne-Li today. On his way out of the city, Emblem caught his eye. She too seemed to be leaving the city.

"Hey Emblem!" Shades called. "Emblem!" Emblem stopped in her tracks spotting the Echidna. A light smile crossed her face.

"Hi Shades! How are you?" Emblem waited for Shades to catch up to her.

"I'm fine. I was heading to the shrine to see Rox-Li. Is she there?" the two began walking.

"She should be." Emblem replied. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you." Emblem added. –Oh if Rox could hear me now...She'd have my HEAD.- Emblem thought. Roxanne loved Emblem like a sister but Emblem's constant matchmaking-tricks she pulls on the independent her bothers the echidna to no end. Shades seemed to brighten at the statement. The two walked out of the city toward the secluded shrine talking about different thing—some about the old time—some about what has recently happened—but everything seemed to include Roxanne.....

Back at the Shrine...

Roxanne had led Shadow through countless twists and turns until they finally they came to a what looked like a dead end. She turned around and faced Shadow. Shadow looked at the wall which seemed to be covered in tiles and the tiles were covered in the same characters.

"We will be training here." Roxanne glanced at the gem that was hanging from around his neck. She turned back to the wall resting her hand on one of tile. It glowed and all of the sudden, the wall rotated revealing a large and spacious area.

Back in Station Square....

In an apartment that overlooked the city, Amy sat alone thinking to herself. –I hope you're okay Sonic.- Something like this seem to plague her. Something dangerous always seemed to threaten she and Sonic when they think things had finally died down.

–It never fails. I finally have my Sonic and something like this happened.- She sighs. It had been two days since the attack at Tails' workshop and the two, along with Knuckles went on their search for the seven Chaos Emeralds. –I wish there was something I could do to help.-

Back at the Shrine....

She was fast, strong, determined, and always concentrated. She spun around and was ready to elbow him but he blocked it with his own arm and followed up with a kick that was caught and then used against him as Roxanne used the same move she had on used others, tripping and then pinning. Shadow got it worse than others had. The Echidna kicked at his ribs but missed. Shadow seemed to disappear briefly reappearing as he pushed her down. The hedgehog leaned hard to keep the Echidna down. –She's stronger than she looks.- Shadow commented to himself but his distracted thoughts were all she need to get free of his grip.

"You are Strong Shadow....and fast." Roxanne noted as she dropped back into a fighting stance. –But that alone won't beat me.-

"Yes and I also have many other tricks up my sleeve." Shadow took the Emerald from around his neck holding it above his head. At that moment, Roxanne lunged at him, ready again to go at it with the black hedgehog but at that moment, something unexpected happened.....

Nimbus headed toward Roxanne's Chambers with some food for she and Shadow to eat. when a bright light blinded her...

Shadow dodged the Echidna' aggressive assault causing her at one point in their sparring match to hit one of the tiles on one wall. At that moment, another wall rotated and in the corner of the room stood a large fiery colored gem that glowed with the same aggression as Roxanne's assault. At that moment, it glowed brightly as did the Emerald that hung from Shadow's neck. Roxanne gasped.

"Chaos Control!!" Shadow shouted. He expected to disappear on the Echidna leaving her stunned but nothing happened. Instead, the Emerald began glowing releasing powerful static energy that seemed to fight against the static energy of the Chaos Ruby.

"What is this? What's going on?" Shadow asked looking down at the emerald.

"Your gem seems to be reacting to my Ruby? What is that gem?" the glow began to brighten and before anything else was said, Shadow and Roxanne-Li disappeared.

Outside the Shrine...

The shrine came to view for Shades and Emblem. Shades sighed.

"It'll be good to get out of this heat. I'm already tired." Shades commented. Emblem nodded in agreement and before Emblem could reply was, a flash of bright light coming from the an area of the shrine caught both of their eyes.

"What's that Emblem?"

"I don't know but I don't think it's good." She takes off toward the shrine with Shades close behind her....

That's it for now. Now that things are a little bit calmer now, I'll try to be more consistent with my chapter updates. Goodnight PPL! PLZ R&R

P.S: I'm STILL open to suggestions.