Hello again! It's Az here! I had little problem with this part but here it is. And remember! I like comments (Hey, I need friends! Really!)
Ah! I was forgetting the Title 17!
In this fanfic everything is Copyright of Sega, there are some characters that I created for the need of the story, but you'll never seen other characters.

------------

Legend

'Means thought'
"Means speech"
˜ Dreams or scene of the past ˜

-------------

Thanks to

- Kati, for helping me when I was under some rocks called "Problems"
- Everyone that read my fic and reviewed it.

----------

Quote:

"But, prof… I didn't found anything more than that…"
"There are that ancient things made of paper, you know… you can find them in that building called library…"
"You mean the books?"
"Yes."

Me and my prof of graphic at the end of my examination.

----------

That's enough talk! On with the part 2 of the story!

----------

Chapter two

When the Struggle Never End

Amy sat on the stone near the waterfall looking at a couple of Chao that were looking at each other in the eyes with dare. One was a hero Chao; his skin was of a pure white with azure strip at the end of his little hands and feet, over his head a little golden halo was hovering denying the gravity's law. The other was a dark Chao; he looked like Shadow and instead of the halo he had a little spiked ball.

Meanwhile the two were fighting with the glance the other Chao were trying to calm down the two high spirited souls, but to no avail. "I think to know whom they belong to…" She looked at Iris that was sleeping on her lap, "I'm sorry for the dark Chao, his mentor died in the last battle." By now the two competitive Chao were racing side-by-side through the entire garden overwhelming everything on their path. "Wow, they're really fast!" Tails said walking toward her, he had a demoralised look on his face "I've look in the hero Garden, even in the dark and in the Kindergander, but…" He scratched his head. "He's not here, right?" She finished for him. "Yes, now I don't know where to look, I was hoping to find him here." He said looking at the now awakened Chao "Puuvuu…" She said rubbing her eyes. Amy looked down at her "Did the two marathon runners wake you up?" She nodded and looked at the two Chao; they were still running but slowly than before.

Five minutes passed but they still insisted on running, that's until they tripped upon their own feet; "Chaaaooo!" The two exclaimed in unison. The hero Chao stood up and looked at his rival "Chao!" He said pointing at him. The other responded standing up and indicating the feet of the first. They squabbled until they resumed the glare position. The two quarrellers were interrupted by something that covered them in shadow; they looked up and saw Amy kneeling down "Sorry to interrupt you, but can't you stop it? You're messing with the tranquil life of the others Chao" The white Chao looked at her, "Chao…" He apologised lowering his head; the other turned and walked away. "Why a dark and a hero Chao are in the same garden?" Tails asked perplexed. Amy shrugged "I dunno…" "Anyway, we must go, it's getting late." He said looking at the sky "OK." She said putting Iris on the ground and petting her in the head "Listen Iris, now I leave you here. I promise to be back as soon as possible. Be good and make friendship with the others!" The little Chao looked at her with sad eyes then nodded; she knew that was the time that her friend would leave the garden. Amy raised and started walking with Tails toward the Garden's entrance. When the two where gone Iris hid herself under the tall ferns that were growing near the waterfall. The hero Chao followed her and instead of walking under the same plant he seated in front of it as if waiting for the newcomer to come out of her hide; later the dark Chao joined his rival but the glare of dare didn't subsided despite the situation.

------------

In the forest the trees were swayed by the wind's fury; even if it was slightly dark the various lightning that were coming out from the black cloud lightened the sky like it was full day; the storm was worse than anyone could guess.

Amongst the trees two figures were running to avoid some black sphere that were chasing them, "Sonic… how… how is it?" Shadow asked panting "No… good, it's… stronger… than last time." He answered tiredly. By now they were fighting for about four hours and the weather didn't helped them for sure. The terrain was muddy; the rain was so hard that the trees couldn't offer much repair; the field of vision was very short because the tree tops made the undergrowth's environment darker than the upside one, and running through it caused them little, but painful cut.

In the distance a growl of rage was heard; they stopped and looked toward the sound's direction; Sonic put a hand over his eyes to stop the rain that was pouring down "The BioLizard… is a little… angry." "Yes… if this go on… we'll not survive… for another… half-hour." The noise of falling trees associated with another growl made them resume their running. Shadow looked at his companion with the corner of his eye "Any… idea?" "Maybe." "Then… spit it out!" The blue hedgehog pointed at the gloomy sky, "I'm thinking… to use the storm… to our advantage." "How?" Sonic took a long breath "Listen! If we…"

The BioLizard was very mad; the two hedgehogs had managed to make her lose their trace; she let out a frustrated growl so powerful that it was heard clearly over the rain and thunder's noise. In response to it, two yell of war rose from the near tree tops, recognising the voices she neared the yells' origin point with a low menacing growl. The beast looked into the foliage but her two enemies were not here. She was about to raise her head when she heard something fell on her back, she looked behind and saw a tired Shadow on her life support waving at her as if nothing had happened; that made her even angrier. She was about to attack with a black sphere when something else fell on her nape; "Shadow! Hurry! I… I can't… resist for long!" In fact Sonic was having difficulty to hold the grasp because the BioLizard was shaking forcefully her long neck to try to take the blue hedgehog off of her head.

Meanwhile the two of them were fighting, Shadow was trying to raise towards the sky a broken pipe that was coming out of the life support, "Come…on! Give…up!" He pulled harder "I… SAID... GIVE… UP! ARRGHH!" With this last effort the pipe finally gave in. Shadow lost the equilibrium; he fell backwards on the BioLizard's tail and he was launched about fifty feet away and landed on some wet bushes. He rose up weakly and looked at the scene. The two were in the middle of a clearing made by the struggle and Sonic was still clinging onto the beast's head; the tube was about fifteen feet in the air, it glistened with the lightening of the still raging storm and now the rain was becoming harder. He ran near the struggle enough to be heard from his friend and cupped the hands on his mouth "SONIC! YOU CAN LET GO!" He shouted.

The other hedgehog looked at him then jumped down from the mad BioLizard; he landed few feet from Shadow, the look on his face was of pure exhaustion "Now…" He said looking at the beast "We must only hope for the best." The black hedgehog nodded and looked at the BioLizard, she was trying to rip off the pipe from the life support but her anatomy made her effort useless. "Sonic… We must take advantage of this situation…" Then looked at him "Can you run?" Sonic nodded "Can manage, beside I don't want be here when my plan start… if start…" then started running expending his last energies. Shadow glanced again at the BioLizard 'I fear that this is only the beginning.' A lightening crossed the sky illuminating everything 'I hope that this plan will give us enough time to recover.' Then he turned and began running as fast as his tired legs could carry him.

-------------

In the hotel lobby an orange fox with two tails and a pink hedgehog were talking to each other. "Tails, where do you think he could be?" "I don't know, Amy. I don't know." He said looking out of the glass door, the storm was still on and nobody was on the streets. "Listen Amy, I must go, it's really late. See you next time." He turned to leave but Amy stopped him putting a hand on his shoulder "Tails, if Sonic is at your workshop, can you phone me?" He smiled "Sure!" And stepped out of the hotel "Whoa! Look at the weather!" And ran toward the train station.

Amy watched Tails disappear into the rain, "Sonic…" She whispered to herself. "Miss Rose? It's everything alright?" The hotelkeeper asked preoccupied. She looked at him "Don't worry. I'm OK." "Should I call a taxi?" "Yes, please."

-----------

Tails jumped out in the wooden platform of the Mystic Ruin's train station; it was nearly 20.15 and it was dark; though the rain stopped while ago, the storm was not gone because in the sky the lightening were still raging. He was starting to descend the stairs when a very far away explosion followed by a cry filled the air. Tails felt himself uneasy and decided to run at home at once; whatever it was, it was scary.

He arrived at the doorstep of his home and took out his keys from a secret little hollow under the battered carpet. He unlocked the door and was getting ready to enter when something caught his attention. The fox pricked up his ears to listen; it was faint, the only thing that he could understand was something that sounded like "ais". He listened harder and looked around; something in the darkness was moving towards his house.

Tails was struck with fear mixed with curiosity; he waited for it to come nearer and when another lightening crossed the sky he discovered with surprise that the two black shape were none other than Sonic immediately followed by Shadow. He rushed to them and when he was near enough to see the two distinctively he gasped; they were covered in small cut, not serious but painful. "Sonic? What happened? Where have you been? How did you get these cuts?" He asked worriedly then looked at Shadow "And how he survived at the fall?" Sonic raised a hand "Tails, I'll explain everything tomorrow, I promise. But now, can you help us? We're a little messy." With that statement the two hedgehogs walked slowly toward Tails' house. The fox was astounded; he had never seen his friend like this 'They must gone through something very dangerous.'

"Sonic, Shadow, this may sting." Said Tails coming out of the bathroom holding a pack of cotton in one hand and a bottle of disinfectant in the other "It doesn't matter, I'm to tired to wince." Sonic said looking blankly out of the window; by now the storm had passed away, but the moon and the stars were still covered by the clouds and this made the outside environment very dark. He was sitting in a bench with the arms folded on the table; Shadow was on the opposite side in the same position but with the head leaned on his arms and fast asleep. "So, Sonic. What happened to you two?" The fox asked handing him a piece of cotton impregnated with disinfectant "We had a big fight and were already tired from the last. The cuts were made by the leaves; you know that if you run fast through them, they become like metal blades." The blue hedgehog said cleaning his cuts; they were small and superficial so not much blood was lost.

When he was done he handed the dirty cotton to his friend, leaned his head upon his arms and closed his eyes; "And why you were running?" Tails asked curiously throwing it away "To strong…" The fox took some new white cotton from the pack "Who?" He was to late; Sonic, like Shadow, was sleeping on the table. He shook his head and walked towards his other guest waking him and giving him the little tool. The black hedgehog took it and started swabbing his wounds; Tails seated near him and looked at his sleeping friend on the other side of the table "Shadow… Sonic told me that you two had a hard fight. But what did you were fighting?" He asked him "The BioLizard…" "Ehh?" The fox exclaimed alarmed "She survived? How?" Now he was really confused; he was very surprised to see Shadow alive but this news was really unpleasant. "Don't worry, tomorrow everything will be explained." Tails sighed "OK. I'll wait tomorrow." A couple of minutes passed in silences until Tails broke it raising from the bench "Anyway, where can I put you two for the night?" Shadow put the red cotton on the table and looked at the now cleaned cuts on his arms "I can sleep everywhere, even on the floor." The fox looked at him "Don't even think about it!" Then looked around "He-he…" He looked again at the black hedgehog "Shadow, do you like couches?" "What do you mean?" Tails pointed at his couch; it was in the corner opposite the door and was L shaped "Better than the floor, right?" Shadow nodded; finally he was getting some serious sleep. Tails trotted into his room and meanwhile he was searching for extra blankets and pillows, Shadow went round the table and shook the other hedgehog "Sonic, wake up! We have better place where we can sleep." "Uh?" "The couch, Sonic. The couch."

-------------

When the next morning Tails woke, it was nearly 8.00; he wore his sneakers and walked in the living room. Shadow and Sonic were still sleeping deeply; the expression on their face was a very peaceful one. Tails walked toward the couch to wake them and slapped a hand over his forehead "I don't believe it! It wasn't enough for them to resemble each other in the look and in the technique!" He said folding his arms. Between the base of the couch and the mobile that was holding up the TV, there and here scattered on the floor, were laying two pair of sneakers. The fox sighed and kneeled beside his blue friend "Sonic, wake up!" There was no sign of movement from the hedgehog; he scratched his muzzle and shook him lightly "Oh, please! Wake up!" The only response that Sonic gave him was a hum of annoyance. "Ok… you win." He raised and walked into the little kitchen "Let see what are the today's news."

---------------

In the Pyramid Base Eggman was reading a text that was scrolling on a screen; "Ho-ho!" He exclaimed surprised "So my grandfather's experiment wasn't only the Project Shadow!" He turned to face two identical robot; the only thing that distinguished them was the colour. "Metal Sonic! Metal Shadow! Bring me the first Chaos Emeralds that you can find!" They nodded and walked out of the control room. "They will be back soon. The Emerald Radar that I've installed in them is more powerful than the one that I gave to Rouge." Eggman looked at the screen again "This time Sonic will not interfere with my plans." In the base's corridors an evil laugher rumbled for several minutes.

-------------

˜ The little Shadow was running through the metal corridors to catch up with a blonde girl. She was dressing a light blue dress that was nearly touching the floor; it's frills and the shoes were of a teal colour; in her head a headband of the same colour was holding her long hairs "Maria! Wait!" The girl stopped walking and turned around to face him "Shadow. What is it?" The tone of her voice was kind; music to Shadow's hears. "Maria, he's still alive! I'm sure!" Maria sighed and kneeled in front of him "Listen, my dear Shadow. I know that you were really attached to him, but you must understand that he's gone and will never return." She caressed his cheek and kissed him on the forehead "Maria, I know that a week ago he disappeared whit six emeralds after an explosion, but I feel that he's alive." He walked to the nearest window that was facing the Earth and put his little paws on the thick glass "Down here… but alive." Maria put a hand on his shoulder; he turned around with unshed tears in the eyes "Maria, I… I miss him so much." And started sobbing; She hugged him "I know. I know. I miss him too." ˜

Shadow woke with a little yelp of confusion and started looking around disoriented 'Oh, yes. Now I remember…' He sat upright and rubbed his eyes 'What was that? Maybe a memory that wants to return? If so, who I missed back then?' "Oh! You're awake!" Tails said walking into Shadow's view "Sleep well?" He asked picking up the remote control "Yes…" He responded still sleepy. The fox pressed a button an the TV started speaking "Taiiiilsss… turn off the TV. Please." Sonic said pleading "Sorry, but you must see this!" The blue hedgehog seated up "OK, what is it?" "Look." On the screen of the TV a journalist was speaking; at his back a building was burning and some fire-fighters were trying to control the arson. "This morning the National Bank was attacked by two robots. The eyewitnesses declare that their shape was like the one of Sonic The Hedgehog. The authority think that it's another plan of DR. Eggman because the only thing that was robbed was a Chaos Emerald." "So, Eggman strike again?" Sonic asked picking up his shoe that was near the couch. Tails turned off the TV and looked at him "That's what I was trying to tell you when we were at the space airport, but you vanished before I got the chance to talk to you…" "How did you knew that he was up to something?" "Before we left the ARK I saw him pick up something small, maybe a box containing a CD." "OK, call the others… beside we have some explanation to make." He said looking at Shadow.

------------------

Maybe now you are full of question but for the answers you must wait for the next chapter:
"Reunion of the gang"

Az