A/N: right back to the story papayas hope you like it R+R. this chapter features Ratchet and Clank!

C3: The Ghost of Chaos Present

The clock chimed 1 o'clock. Shadow woke up and looked around, for Maria had warned him that this would all be explained later tonight. He spotted Chaos in the corner of the room (A/N: the blue creature thing that Tikal goes round with if you didn't know).

"I am the ghost of Chaos present" Chaos said

"Are you going to explain what the ghost of Chaos past showed me?" Shadow asked.

"That shall be later, Shadow, for now I must show you more" Shadow got up and followed Chaos present and yet again there was a flash of bright white light. Shadow found he was infront of Signo's house, well, sort of because if you have read Who's Signo you'll know that Signo's house is underground.

"Who are you and how come you're outside my house?" Signo asked the lombax.

"I'm Ratchet and this is Clank," He answered pointing at his robot friend "I have a vague idea why we're here though"

"Why then?" Signo asked

"Because Dr. Nefarious is here"

"Sounds like the kinda guy to team up team up with Eggman" Signo suggested

"He'll team up with anyone if he can- anyway the point is he hates organic life" Ratchet began, but Clank butted in and finished the sentence for him.

"And wants to turn the whole universe into robots"

"Really? And I suppose he also spies on you to see what you're doing?" Signo asked and Ratchet nodded. "Then do you honestly think it is safe to discuss him out here? No, I don't think so- you should come inside" Signo said and guided Ratchet into the underground house.

The ghost of Chaos present and Shadow followed them into the house by floating through the wall. While Shadow pondered over whether what he was being shown was true or not.

"Who is this?" Shadow (who was sat down on the sofa watching TV) asked.

"This is Ratchet and this is Clank, Shadow" Signo introduced them. "Ratchet and Clank, this is my brother Shadow the hedgehog, I'm a hedgehog as well before you ask," she added just as Ratchet opened his mouth to speak.

"What is he doing here?" Shadow snapped.

"I could ask you the same thing you know" Signo said, annoyed that Shadow was being so rude, but what more could she expect?

"Signo" Shadow sighed.

"He's after a guy called Dr. Nefarious who I think has teamed up with Eggman. This Nefarious guy wants to turn all organic life into robots" Signo explained "I was thinking, maybe we could team up and go after them?" she added.

"That's a great id…………" Ratchet started

"NO WAY!" Shadow said, not allowing Ratchet to finish

"Oh, why not Shad? Sonic gets all the fun of beating up Eggman and we just sit here and watch! Please Shadow please! Signo begged.

Shadow sighed then answered her "Just this once then, Signo"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Signo yelled happily, jumping on the sofa and giving Shadow a huge hug.

"Gerrof!" Shadow shouted. Signo jumped back up and ran into her bedroom. Shadow gave Ratchet an evil glare as if to warn him not to go anywhere near his little sister.

"I've always been protective of Signo" Shadow laughed to himself as he watched himself glare at 'Ratchet'.

Signo returned holding a rather large gun.

"What the hell is that for?" Shadow shouted.

"It's yours! I got it as a present for you. It's an auto change gun, it can change into any gun you want it to with just a voice command; apart from a flamethrower, but if you don't like it……" Signo said.

Ratchet stared at it in awe "Where did you get that?" he said, still staring at the gun.

"I didn't GET it anywhere, I made it" Signo answered, glad to hear he thought her craftsmanship was a good as a professional's creation.

"Wow" Ratchet said, still gawping at it.

"That is quite a creation isn't it Ratchet" Clank agreed,

"Thanks Signo, it's really nice but I think I'll just stick with normal guns" Shadow sighed.

" Oh" Signo said "Ratchet? Do you want it? I love my flamethrower to bits so, I couldn't use this gun – besides I have my ninja bar as well," she added, sounding a little upset.

"Thanks! This thing is great!" Ratchet exclaimed staring at the gun Signo had just put in his hands.

"We best get on with finding Nefarious and Eggman, but we'll need some inside information first" Clank informed them. Just then the phone rang and Signo went to answer it. When she came back she had a smile on her face.

"We can get inside information" She grinned "If we go to the AEMB"

"No way am I going to the Annual Evil Maniacs Ball ever again!" Shadow yelled.

"I refuse to go to any ball" Clank objected

"Go put on a tux, Ratchet" Signo ordered.

"How did you know the AEMB was on tonight?" Shadow questioned.

"Because Rouge just asked me if I wanted to crash it"

"Oh"

Signo walked into her bedroom and found Ratchet getting changed. She blinked then walked straight out and slammed the door shut. Then she turned red. Shadow laughed loudly and Signo went even redder.

Shadow began to laugh just as there was another flash of bright white light. He looked up and saw himself sat next to Clank watching a screen and listening to what sounded like Signo and Ratchet. Shadow walked up to the screen and touched it. He then found himself in a large ballroom. The AEMB.

A mad scientist walked up to Signo. "You're one of Professor Gerald Robotnik's aren't you?" he croaked. Signo nodded – gritting her teeth. "You must be Signo, I bet you felt a little over-Shadow-ed by your brother? Ha! Over-Shadow-ed" the guy laughed. "Nice little boy you got there" he added. Signo had begun to walk off but turned around when he said this. "I hope you soon hear the patter of tiny evil feet!" he said.

"WHAT!" Signo and Ratchet yelled.

"WHAT! With HIM!" Shadow yelled. Clenching his fists and punching the scientist in the face. Then he remembered no one could hear, see or feel him.

Signo withdrew her ninja bar; hit the guy as hard on the head, grabbed Ratchet's hand and stomping off. "NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR EVIL COUPLES DANCE! PLEASE NOTE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PARTNER YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!" the announcer announced.

"Oh for god's sake!" Signo said.

"We have to dance don't we?" Ratchet asked. Signo nodded. "Ok. Come on then" he added. Signo was stunned to hear that Ratchet didn't mind dancing with her.

Shadow noticed something. For a very rare occasion Signo didn't have her quills in a ponytail. She had them down. And she was wearing an extra low cut white tank top that left her stomach on show and an extra extra short white miniskirt.

"If Ratchet tries anything……" Shadow muttered.

"Come, Shadow" Chaos present ushered him away. There was another flash of light and Shadow saw himself and Signo bolted to two tables.

"This is it Shadow, I'll miss you" Signo whimpered.

"Nothing's going to happen, don't worry" Shadow told his sister. Eggman walked into the room, brandishing a knife and grinning ear to ear.

"Finally I have the terrible twosome" Eggman cackled.

"Sicko" Signo said and then she spat at him. Eggman moved out of the way and then slid his finger down the knife.

"Quite sharp, this- but I suppose you'll soon see" he laughed and the plunged the knife into Signo's chest. She screamed in agony.

"SIGNO!" Shadow bawled. He broke the brackets that bolted him to the table and went over to the dying Signo. "No, you can't die" Shadow whispered.

"Sorry Shad" Signo croaked as she coughed up a little blood "I love you loads" she whispered as her eyes closed.

"NO! No, no, no, no, no!" Shadow yelled. "I-will-kill-you-Eggman!" He panted, his anger rising. The door burst open and Ratchet and Clank emerged. Ratchet looked at Signo's body then at just how angry Shadow was.

"He didn't" Ratchet whispered in disbelief.

"Don't show me any more" Shadow ordered, he had already witnessed Maria's death and now he had watched Signo die as well.

The ghost of Chaos present nodded. "I am not to show you anymore anyway". It went dark.

"This isn't the present, though, I can't be happening now" Shadow objected.

"Tomorrow is the day of the Chaos. This is what will happen in the present" the ghost of Chaos present told Shadow.

There was another white flash of light and Shadow was back in bed.

A/N: who else that means anything to Shadow can die now? Why is Shadow being showed this? What does it mean? Will it ever be explained? The next chapter is the ghost of Chaos future, what will Shadow be shown then? Please R+R