Here's the next chapter u guys! My GCSE exams start today so i may not be updating as much as before but that doesn't mean I'll stop writing completely! Hell no! lol Just be patient with me and I'll deliver

Chapter 19

28 minutes left

The gang were sitting in the shelter, along with Amy and the other residents of the Underground Resistance. Ray had horrible pains in his side and bruising was beginning to appear. He lay on his back with his head on Amy's knees. She held an ice cold cloth to her son's injury.

Everyone was gathered around in a circle, waiting for Sonic to explain himself.

"Come on then Sonic." Shadow said. "Make it quick."
"Alright…I guess there was a little advantage to me being locked up." Sonic began. "I managed to learn about Eggman's "Emergency Weapon". He called it the Egg-Destroyer 3000."

Everyone blinked.

"One of the time's I tried to escape I got lost and found myself in Eggman's surveillance room. There was where I found the plans for this robot. Its controlling system is in the head. There's an inbuilt compartment for the chaos emeralds built in there. From this compartment, the power of the emeralds can be absorbed and maintained." Sonic continued.

"Was there anything else you found out about it?" Tails asked.

"Well I remember glancing at something else about the emeralds, before being caught. Once the robot has completely absorbed the power of the emeralds, it can "spit them out" in a way. Like Chaos did all of those years back."

"They'll be left as powerless rocks…then there's nothing we can do to stop it!" Knuckles said hopelessly.

"Not quite." Tails said. "We could still use the emeralds against Eggman. Remember when we fought Chaos? He used the emerald's power but then Sonic could transform into Super Sonic-"

Shadow and Ray looked a little confused, as they'd never been around when the battle against Chaos was fought.

"Chaos?" Shadow asked.
"Super Sonic…?" Ray said quietly.

Tails sighed.

"It's a long story…" he said
"Super Sonic is like a more powerful version of me." Sonic explained. "Shadow can do it too."
"Yes. The power of the emeralds goes into our bodies and we transform into a more powerful being." Shadow said to his son.

"That's what we'll do then! It's the only way." Tails said.
"But we'll have to wait until all of the chaos emerald's energy is absorbed." Shadow said.
"He's right. Who knows what damage that thing could do in the meantime? It already pounded Ray." said Sonic.

"We'll have to take that chance" Tails answered. "Besides, maybe 30 minutes is enough time it takes for the emerald's power to take in."

…

15 minutes remaining

Tails decided to stay in the shelter, as he knew he wasn't a fighter and would just get in the way. Knuckles and Sonic stepped up the ladder and out of the shelter. Shadow waited behind.

"Please be careful Shadow!" Amy pleaded worryingly.
"I will Amy. Don't worry." Shadow replied.

Ray reached out a hand to his father's.

"Can you… help me up?" he said, a little breathlessly.
"Are you sure you want to fight? The bruise looks painful."
"It is but I wanna help. I have to! That doctor's put us in misery for long enough."

Shadow smiled, admiring Ray's attitude. He took Ray's hand and pulled him up. Ray winced a little but tried his best to hide the pain.

The two hedgehogs climbed up the ladder and out onto the seemingly abandoned terrain. Shadow put his arm around Ray to give support but Ray shook him off.

"I'm fine Dad, really I am!" Ray said.
"If you're sure…" Shadow said and walked a little ahead.

Ray could feel that his breathing was rusty and his chest hurt a little but he wanted to help so badly that he was willing to fight regardless of his pain. Ray rubbed his chest a little before catching up with Shadow. They met up with Sonic and Knuckles.

"Ok seeing as we have some time to kill, we may as well use it wisely." Sonic whispered. "As soon as we see the emeralds we have to try and collect them as fast as we can! Then we can meet up somewhere out of sight from that Egg Head."

"He'll need to be distracted if we're gonna hide." Knuckles pointed out.
"We'll see when the time comes." Shadow replied. "It's more interesting that way!"

…

2 minutes remaining

Sonic Knuckles Ray and Shadow left the Underground Resistance and were walking through the forest, toward the ruins of Station Square. Ray had fallen behind a little, as he was trying to control his breathing a little better. Just then he tripped a little on something, almost falling over. He looked and saw what appeared to be a black rock. He picked it up and examined it.

Shadow stopped and looked behind him.

"Ray?" he called.
"I've found something!" Ray answered.

Shadow began to walk toward Ray when, all of a sudden a giant robotic foot stomped down in the way of Shadow's path. Shadow jumped and fell backward. Sonic and Knuckles gasped. Ray fell back and landed on his bruise, causing him to wheeze painfully.

A malicious laugh echoed in the air around them.

"I'm glad I found you rodents! I was getting awfully bored!" Eggman yelled.

Ray began to feel a little dizzy with the pain in his side. He shook his head, trying to forget it. He looked at the empty gem in his hand.

"This must be one of those chaos emeralds…" he thought.

…

Knuckles and Sonic ran to Shadow. Sonic helped him up.

"Shadow, Ray has one of the emeralds!" Knuckles whispered sharply. "Sonic and I will distract Eggman. You see if Ray's OK and find the other emeralds."

"Give us some kind of signal when you find them too." Sonic added.

Shadow nodded and quickly jumped over the large foot. Sonic and Knuckles began their distractions.

"Yo Eggman! I've been practicing since you last saw me!" Sonic yelled out. "Bet your crappy laser gun can't hit me!"

Eggman snarled and immediately, the robot began firing at Sonic. Knuckles leapt out of the way.

It became obvious that Sonic had practiced on regaining his running ability. He twirled and jumped, avoiding the fire with ease. He was just like his old self again.