Okay you guys, I think I need to clarify what's going on here. Clearly some of you are so stupified that you can't think of what to write in reviews (I'm hoping...)

1. Eclipse is the bad guy. (Remember him? Nasty gooey creature of doom?)

2. The Fount of Light is a self-aware dimension, currently existing as a copy of the ARK from fifty-plus years ago

3. Little Shadow was originally a replaying memory, but is now a living creature in his own right (sort of). Little Shadow's mind is the mind of the Fount of Light, getting a closer look at the mere mortals.

I'm not giving anything else away yet. Not even if you ask me very nicely and shower me with reviews. Doesn't mean I'll turn down those reviews, though...

Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic

Claimer: I own Raven, Eclipse, and the Fount of Light

-

"You're the Fount of Light?" Knuckles repeated, incredulous.

"Did I stutter?" Younger Shadow snapped.

"Hmph," the echidna grumbled, glowering at the entirely-unimpressed hedgehog facing them, "So, you expect me to believe that the Master Emerald's power comes from you?"

"Hah!" Younger Shadow spat, "Shows what you know, Guardian."

Hearing his title sneered like that made Knuckles' hackles rise, but before he could do anything Younger Shadow continued speaking.

"Chaos is chaos. It doesn't come from anything, it just is. And I have a much better right to call that then you do, what with me existing within that power."

"I think I understand," Tails piped up, "But why does that mean you won't let us help our friends?"

"Oh, you can go help them fight," Younger Shadow shrugged, "I'm not stopping you. But if I step in and give you an unfair advantage…what would it prove?"

"Unfair -!"

"So, as far as you're concerned, this battle is just an example of good versus evil?" Tails continued, trying to understand.

"Not really," Younger Shadow replied, "Its more complicated than that. By learning how your minds operate, I can come closer to understanding what my own purpose is in existence. And dangerous situations require accelerating thought processes, therefore…"

"Is this really a good time for a philosophical debate?" Knuckles demanded.

"For you people? I'd imagine not," Younger Shadow answered with a thin smile.

The collision of Sonic and Raven with the platform floor right next to them emphasized his point. Shadow, on the other hand, was aimed a little higher and slammed head-first into the invisible barrier surrounding Younger Shadow and the control pillar.

"Oh no!" Tails gasped, jumping a gap in the platform to reach the fallen hedgehogs, "Are you guys all right?"

"Ugh…why are all Ultimate Life Forms so damn heavy?" Sonic groaned, shifting himself out from underneath Raven.

Raven said nothing in reply to remark, in fact he didn't really seem to register the presence of others at all. Shadow looked like he had a few choice remarks he wanted to use, but the fact that he was suddenly too dizzy to stand up prevented him from using them.

"Sonic!" Tails scolded - his only concern for the moment the well-being of his friends, "That's not nice at all! Plus its not like you have any right to talk."

"Hey, I actually run!" the blue hedgehog protested, "That means I get more exercise! Unlike some people who just skate around…"

And from Younger Shadow, there came the sound of laughter. He seemed very amused by the goings-on that occurred in this gap in the fighting.

"Even when facing difficulties, you think of such little things," Younger Shadow mentioned after he stopped laughing, "It is that which makes me prefer your victory here, I think."

"Okay," Sonic replied, not understanding exactly what was going on but not really caring by now either, "Its nice to know somebody's rooting for our side!"

"And we need all the support we can get," Knuckles said, "Raven's leg is busted, so is my arm, and I think Shadow has a concussion."

-

He was supporting the black Ultimate Life Form as he spoke, so the others knew it was probably - not to mention unfortunately - true.

"Your foe is approaching," Younger Shadow mentioned, turning everyone's attention back to the large, gooey black creature currently invading their space.

"You no longer present even the slightest bit of amusement," the monster told them seriously, "I would eat you now…"

"But what?" Sonic immediately challenged, "Worried you might choke on one of us and finally die?"

"Hardly," the monster sneered, "But no, blue simpleton. I have had a thought."

"Really? Did it hurt?"

Tails hastily stifled a giggled behind his hands as the monster hissed in irritation at the offending hedgehog. Even though this situation looked so bad that it couldn't possibly get any worse…to be on the safe side, it would be better not to make things worse.

The monster's white-glowing eyes narrowed, but instead of dishing out the instant death of the annoying blue hedgehog, it continued speaking as if it hadn't been so rudely interrupted.

"Once you petty fools are out of my way -" said the monster - "This 'Fount of Light' shall be a most useful tool. But what good is such a tool if I have no one to test its capabilities on, hmm yes?"

"This 'tool', as you so call it," Tails surprised himself by saying, "Isn't yours to take."

"I see," purred the monster, "So, you will defeat me all by yourself, little fox cub? And then you will take the powers of this realm for yourself. I wondered why you weren't amongst the ones fighting me…"

"That's not true!" Tails protested.

"Maybe not," the monster conceded with a shrug, "You are, after all, young and stupid. But there are others here who would use this power as they wished…"

"NO one's using the power of this place," Knuckles snapped, "Not Tails, not us, and especially not you, Eclipse."

The last word caught the monster off-guard. It studied the echidna for a moment, and then shrugged again.

"Whatever pathetic designation you wish to use for me is no concern of mine. Your concern should be more towards what is about to happen…"

Much to everyone's alarm, they noticed that the control pillar was suddenly surrounded by a sea of writhing blackness. Eclipse's talking and shrugging had been a diversion, while he moved to take the controls by force from all sides at once.