Chapter 14
The evening began to draw on and Shadow was walking slowly back toward Amy's house. As he approached it, he saw Sonic sitting on the cool grass by the front door. He had a few bandages around various parts of his chest and his bruises were going down.
"You alright there, Shadow?" Sonic called as he saw Shadow walking toward him.
Shadow sat down beside Sonic and sighed.
"Yeah. Tired, I guess." He replied.
"I can imagine, after all you've done today. I owe you big, Shadow. I'd always dream of somehow escaping that god forsaken place…A figure would come and lead me away. But then I'd wake up and realise the truth. Then today I wake up from the same dream and find that it's coming true!" Sonic said.
Shadow smiled.
"It's OK Sonic. I had to do something to help. The people around here had lost all hope…But now…"
Shadow sighed again.
"I just...I justfeel that sense of loss, like back in the past. I let that Egg Head take my son. Who knows what he's going through?"
"Don't put yourself down, Shadow." Sonic said. "You never lost hope for me so don't let the same happen to Ray."
Shadow nodded. There was a pause. After a while Sonic spoke again.
"Tell me Shadow. How did you get in this situation? The last thing I remember of you was the beach party 15 years ago. Then…nothing."
"Well we were fighting Eggman, remember? But he knocked you out and was gonna send you through time. But…I stepped in front of you and got sent here instead of you. I think he must have captured you after I disappeared." Shadow explained.
Sonic blinked.
"You…you took the hit for me?" he said.
Shadow looked down and shut his eyes, waiting for an onslaught of jokes.
"Ha! I knew you had a soft centre in there somewhere!" Sonic said. "I owe you a lot more now! Thanks Shadow."
Shadow looked up again.
"Don't mention it." He said.
…
Ray was stood emotionless in the middle of Eggman's control room. Eggman was sat in his big chair, holding the hedgehog's wrist watch. He was facing Ray his shadow overloomed him.
"Go to the central power room. You'll know when you are needed. Remember when you see the hedgehog I told you about, make sure he doesn't get to the emeralds! You understand?" Eggman boomed.
"Yes sir..." Ray answered blankly and began to walk to the room where he'd been discovered.
...
The following morning, Shadow was stood just by the front door talking to Amy.
"I promise you, Amy. We'll get Ray back." Shadow was saying.
Amy trusted Shadow more than anything but she couldn't help but cry. Shadow put his hands to her face and wiped away the tears with his fingers.
"I trust you Shadow." Amy said.
Shadow smiled.
Tails was making the final preparations for the trip. Sandy was tugging at his tails trying to get his attention. He'd gathered his old piloting gear. Knuckles looked a little confused.
"I thought we were going by foot?" he said.
"Nah. I know a much quicker way." Tails said.
He led Knuckles Shadow and Amy (and Sandy who followed quickly after them) out into the forest. He brought out a remote from a bag, which he carried around his shoulder. He pressed a button and, as if from no where the sound of a large door, like a garage door, could be heard creaking as it opened.
The gang looked around and then spotted it. Off in the distance, in a high cliff toward the left, a platform was emerging from the cliff's wall. Everyone gasped as they saw a small plane emerging with the platform.
"You didn't think I'd stop working on the Tornado, do you?" Tails said, smiling with pride.
"How come you didn't tell anyone about this?" Amy asked.
"Well, I couldn't risk it getting to Eggman, even if it meant not telling my closest friends." Tails replied.
He pressed another button on the remote and the plane's engine began to whir. It was electronically launched from the platform. Everyone bent their heads back as the watched the plane flying toward them. The plane landed just next to Tails, with a safe bump.
Tails threw his stuff in the front seat.
"We'll get there a lot quicker by air than by foot." He said.
"Why didn't you suggest it before then?" Shadow asked.
"Because! I knew that you and Ray would get there in no time. I mean, you do both have the gift of speed. But this time you'd have me and Knuckles dragging you behind. Plus, she needs the flight."
Shadow turned to Sonic.
"You aren't coming?" he asked the blue hedgehog.
Sonic picked up Sandy.
"I'd drag you behind. I still don't know how to run properly. Plus…"
He shuddered.
"Just thinking about what that place was like…" he said quietly.
"Don't worry Sonic. You can stay here and look after things." Tails said.
"Daddy!" Sandy cried, holding out her arms toward Tails.
Tails walked over to her and held her hand.
"Don't cry sweetie. Uncle Sonic's gonna look after you. Then I'll be back here in no time, OK?" he said comfortingly.
"And Way Way too?" Sandy said amongst her tears.
"Yes, Ray Ray too." Tails replied.
He kissed Sandy on the forehead.
Shadow went to Amy and kissed her forehead too.
"I'll be back soon. I promise." he said.
Amy nodded.
Knuckles jumped into the back seat of the plane.
"Come on you guys! We've got to get to the Master Emerald now!" he said impatiently.
"OK OK!" Tails said and jumped into the pilot seat.
Shadow let go of Amy's hand and leapt onto the top of the plane's wings.
As the engine whirred and the propeller span, Sonic Amy and Sandy waved goodbye. They watched as the plane left the ground and sped off into the air.
"Good luck you guys." Sonic thought. "I feel guilty for leaving you like this but…well let's say that place leaves a mark on you."