Salrose Desert- Basement
Celestial struggled, trying to pull Shadow's hand from her neck. Both of her hands were wrapped around his, attempting to allow a breath to return. It was doing no good though, Shadow's grip only getting tighter, his icy gaze staying on the flailing hedgird.
Endigo was lost at what to do. He really didn't think he could take on a being who was known as the ultimate life form. Doing all he could think of, he asked, "Shadow, what are you doing to her?"
Without looking from Celestial, he replied, "This creature was created with the sole purpose of destroying me. If you think that I am going to let her down, you're crazy."
"Come on, Shadow. Celestial wouldn't hurt you." suddenly, the hedgird's foot swung loose, her talon burying itself into Shadow's side. The black hedgehog's grip loosened, giving Celeste a chance to head butt him back, sending him through the regeneration tube. Shadow landed hard, covered by a rain of glass from the tube. Endigo was a bit surprised. "Okay, she wouldn't hurt you unprovoked."
Shadow tried to get to his feet, but he found that he wasn't completely regenerated. He was breathing heavily, trying to lift his head enough to see more than his opponent's feet. "Stay back, you dirty puppet."
"What did you say?" she replied, her eyes becoming slits.
"You heard me. You're nothing but a puppet of GUN, and nothing more. And if you think I'll be killed by a filthy creation like you, then-" before he could finish, Celestial had shot across the basement, driving her talons into his chest, pushing him into the ground. She stood on him, a dark look on her face.
"Don't you dare call me that. I know what I was created for, and who I was created by, but I do NOT, in any way, work with those GUN bastards."
"Celestial, maybe you should let him up now." Endigo said, trying to reason with her. "It probably isn't a good idea to be going at it with this guy. He is pretty powerful."
"And I was created to kill him." blood was beginning to pool up around her talons. She stared down at Shadow darkly. "Apologize, you worthless hedgehog."
"What the hell are you doing!" Funk shouted angrily. The fox and hedgird looked up the stairway to see the dark blue echidna, supported by a pair of crutches. His gaze was fiery, enraged by what he was seeing. "Celestial, get off of him, now!"
Reluctantly, she pulled her talons out of Shadow's chest, his body rising off the ground slightly as she did. She them lowered back to the ground next to him, staying completely, and a bit creepily, quiet.
"What the heck were you thinking, you imbecile!" Funk continued shouting, as he started down the stairs. "I really don't see what you hoped to accomplish by beating up Shadow, but there's no good in it!"
"Lighten up, Funk." Endigo broke in, stepping up to the echidna as he reached ground level. "Shadow charged at her first. She was only defending herself."
"Whatever." Funk fumed, but calming a little. However, he then mumbled under his breath, "Bio engineered freak."
Unfortunately, Celestial heard this. She walked straight up to Funk, stared him in the eyes for a second, then punched him hard in the jaw, sending him to the ground. "Bye, Endigo." she made her way up the stairs, then out of the house, taking off and flying away fast once she was outside. As she did, tears started to stream down her face.
Back in the basement, Funk had struggled to his feet, his crutches in hand. He looked to Endigo, who shook his head. "Good job, Funk." the fox picked up the now unconscious Shadow and took him to the guest room, leaving the blue echidna to himself.
To be continued…