Um, sorry for the wait everybody. I'll try to update faster, especially since the really interesting parts of this story are finally coming up.

But for now, here's another chapter!

Disclaimer: Does not own Sonic

Claimer: Does own Raven and takes credit for the Fount of Light (Anybody remember that thing?)

The next time Shadow opened his eyes, he discovered he was in a different place than he'd been last time. For one thing, there wasn't a roof here. There were only two things in his line of vision in this new location: a short pillar with a broken top, and something giving off a strange greenish glow.

At least shifting his head to look around better didn't hurt as much as it had last time. But it was definitely a surprise to see what was making that glow - a huge Emerald. Shadow recognized it instantly, despite only having seen it once before. It was the Master Emerald.

Logically, that meant that this was the Master Emerald's shrine. Which meant that Shadow was currently located on Angel Island. And judging from the voices which he could also hear coming from somewhere, the others were here as well.
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"What do you mean, you can't find the other five? I thought you could track the energy of the Chaos Emeralds anywhere on the planet, Tails," Knuckles' voice inquired.

"That's the problem," came Tails' voice, "Either Raven isn't on the planet…or he knows how to shield his Emeralds so that we can't find him. I hope Sonic has more luck on this than I'm having."

"I just hope Shadow wakes up soon," Knuckles said, "He obviously knows the most about this Raven character. I know he'll heal faster in close proximity to the Master Emerald, but…"

"You worry too much sometimes, Red," Sonic's voice suddenly cut in.

"Sonic, you're back! Did you get it?"

"Somebody beat me to it," Sonic replied, "Sorry, Tails. So that makes five Chaos Emeralds for Raven and two Chaos Emeralds for us. And we have the Master Emerald as well, so I guess it'll be good for something."

Shadow mentally chuckled - physically chuckling hurt too much still - as Sonic's last statement ended with an irritated growl from the echidna and a startled yelp from the blue hedgehog.
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"I was only kidding! Don't bust a gasket on me, Red!"

While they laughed, Shadow suddenly felt a prickling sensation of alarm creeping down his spine. It took a moment for him to figure out what he was being alarmed by, but when full realization hit him he scrambled to get up as quickly as he could, pain or no pain.

And there was a lot of pain. Stubbornness being another well-known trait of any Ultimate Life Form, Shadow pulled himself upright by holding onto the nearest pillar.

'Damn, my leg is still broken,' he grumbled as the limb in question refused to hold his weight.
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Undeterred, he half-limped, half-dragged himself to the stairs. After all, if he was stubborn enough to walk on a broken leg, there was no way Raven was going to give up going after the Chaos Emeralds the others were holding onto. And some instinct was screaming that the Master Emerald was NOT a safe place to be near right now.

Before Shadow could get a warning out, a large flash of light appeared in the sky, heralding the arrival of Raven to Angel Island. He landed practically daintily on the ground, four Chaos Emeralds hitting the grass with muffled 'thump' noises behind him.
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Tossing the fifth onto the pile, Raven eyed the resistance facing him with visible amusement.

"I do wonder…what in the world made you think that THIS was a good place to hide from me?" he smirked.

"Raven! You're not getting our Chaos Emeralds without a fight," Knuckles growled, "And this time, you have to do your own dirty work!"

"Ah, yes, I'd forgotten all about that last encounter with you pesky little nuisances…so where, oh where, has my dearest younger Brother gone off to now, hmm? Didn't he die?"

"Of course he didn't die," Tails said.

"Oh well, I only asked as a formality anyway. It's not like I actually CARE what happened to him. I did waste perfectly good time and electronics on him, but only because he's family…but enough about that! He's gone, that's great, now give me the Emeralds and I might consider letting you three live."

'I guess there are some things which never change,' Shadow sighed mentally.

Especially since he had decided to give his brother a last chance, the cruel words managed to strike the black hedgehog deeply. But unlike the last time Raven had said such things to his face, Shadow was fifty years older and wiser in the ways of the world. Instead of paralyzing him into inaction, the pain spurred him on.

Of course, the words did still hurt.

As did the large wave of chaos energy that Raven suddenly lashed out at them with. Shadow painfully rolled down and off the side of the stairs as the others were also knocked for a loop. The white hedgehog was quick to snatch the last two Chaos Emeralds when they rolled his way.
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"Oh no, he's got the Emeralds!"

Shadow managed to get himself upright again in time to hear something that was the most disturbing thing yet. Raven, holding one Chaos Emerald in each hand, giggled. Combined with the huge grin now on his face, the white hedgehog looked like he'd lost the rest of his marbles now.

Sonic and the others even relaxed their guards slightly, no doubt taking the expression for some sort of sign of weakness, but Shadow knew better - Raven had been wearing this same expression on that horrible day, back on the ARK…