CHAPTER 7

Prove Yourself

Shadow lay sleeping unpeacefully on the bed in the room Knuckles had put him in. The black hedgehog was dreaming about what had happened to him, only this time it was worse.

Metal Sonic was a dragon. The Metal Overlord. He was flying after Shadow and trying to grab him.

Shadow ran as fast as he was able but he could sense Metal Sonic was always a few feet behind him.

Suddenly he was grabbed up in a huge metal claw. The black hedgehog struggled but he couldn't get away.

"I've got you now, ultimate life form," the dragon robot said laughing like a maniac. "Now your power is mine!"

Shadow felt the dragon's claws go into his body. The hedgehog gasped for air as his ribs snapped. Blood came out of his mouth.

Metal Sonic's jaws opened.

THUD!

Shadow's eyes flew open. He looked around wildly. He found himself on a hard wood floor.

Where am I? he thought, pushing himself up into a sitting position. What happened?

He looked around again. He was in a bedroom. How did I get here? he wondered.

He heard a door open and looked toward it.

Amy Rose came in holding a glass of water. "Shadow, are you all right?" she asked, seeing him on the floor.

"I'm fine," he said.

She knelt down and helped him back into bed.

"Thank you," he said.

He looked around again. "Where am I and how did I get here?" he asked her.

"You're at my house," she said to the first question.

He looked at her. "Your house? How did I get here?" he asked again.

"Sonic and Knuckles brought you here after they saved you from Metal Sonic," Amy answered.

"Metal Sonic," Shadow said in a growl. "I can't believe he beat me! How did that robot get so powerful all of a sudden?"

"Sonic, Knuckles, and I figured out that he's absorbing the power of the Chaos Emeralds into his body by puncturing them," she told him. "We haven't figured out why he wants their power so much, though."

He grunted something unintelligable.

Now Amy looked directly at him. "But why would he go after you?" she asked him, her green eyes probbing. She pointed at the bandage wrapped around the black hedgehog's body. "And why would he do that to you?"

Shadow was silent for a minute. Amy was afraid he wouldn't answer her. Finaly he said. "I think it would be best if I told everyone." He stood up. "Help me get downstairs."

Amy let him rest his arm on her shoulders. With her supporting him he made his way downstairs.

"Sonic and Knuckles are in the living room," Amy said, as they went slowly down the stairs.

"Figured that..." Shadow mumbled.

When they entered the living room Sonic and Knuckles, who were sitting in chairs in opposite ends of the room, looked toward them. "Shadow," Sonic said, standing up. "It's good to see you're pkay. Umm... If you're feeling up to it we'd like to ask you a few questions about a certain incident."

"You don't have to act nervous, Sonic. I know what you mean. You want to know about my encounter with your evil twin Metal Sonic," Shadow got right to the point as Amy helped him get seated.

Sonic stared at him. Only Shadow would know what Sonic ment when the blue hedgehog spoke like that. Sonic knew what Shadow was saying too. "Get to it all ready, you blue bumpkin."

"Yeah," Sonic said. "If it doesn't bother you too much will you tell us what happened?"

Shadow sighed. "There really isn't much to tell but here I go."

"It was about ten yeasterday morning. I was still sleeping about that time when something awakened me. I heard all these noises and decided to investagate."

"When I stepped into the street I discovered the noises were coming from the a bank nearby. I headed there wondering what the sounds ment. When I arrived I saw a hole was blown through the front of the building. I stepped forward wanting to investigate but Metal Sonic attacked me."

"Suddenly he seemed to recognize me. His computer said something about me being the ultimate lifeform and having ultimate power.

"After we fought awhile he overpowered me and stabbed me with his claws. After that I blacked out. I wasn't even aware that you guys helped me out until just awhile ago."

Shadow sighed and didn't say anymore. That opened the floor for questions from the other three.

"So you have no idea why he attacked you?" Knuckles asked.

Shadow shook his head. "Not the slightest."

"Why would Metal Sonic think he could get power from your body anyway?" Sonic asked. "You don't look like a machine or a Chaos Emerald."
Shadow shook his head again. He felt himself getting more angry with every question. Angry that he had let a robot built by Eggman defeat him so easily.

"I wonder why he did it?" Amy said.

"I don't know why he did it but he's not going to get away with it," the black hedgehog said.

Amy, Sonic, and Knuckles stared at him in surprise. "What?" Sonic asked.

Shadow stood up. His fists were at his sides and they were shaking. "You heard me!" he growled, looking at them all like he wanted to smash their faces in. "I won't let that robot get away with doing this to me! If I ever see him again I'm going to challenge him and win! Nobody tries to kill me and gets away with it!"

Amy grabbed the black ehdgehog's shoulders and forced his to sit back down. He didn't swing at her. He'd never hit a girl. "Shadow, calm down," the pink hedgehog said. "You're not strong enough to fight Metal Sonic again. Don't you remember what happend yesterday?"

"I remember," Shadow said. "I remember it clearly. But I don't care. He needs to be taught a lesson."

"Cool it, Shadow," Sonic spoke up. "You're in no condition to be picking fights with that robot. I think you should let me and Knuckles take care of him."

"Yeah, right!" Shadow scoffed. "If that robot is stealing the power of the Chaos Emeralds you'll have as much a chance at beating him as I had..."

The blue hedgehog was about to retort but didn't. He suddenly remembered his own encounter with Meta Sonic. He hadn't done much better. The robot was a lot stronger than he remembered.

"Look, guys," Shadow said, standing up again. "It was real nice of you all to help me but I have to do this."

"No you don't..." Amy began.

"Yes I do," he said, looking at her.

"I bet you're only going to pick a fight with him to prove something," the pink hedgehog said instead.

Shadow's face started to turned red. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You're only going to pick a fight with him so you can re-gain your reputation," she went on. "The reputation that you're the ultimate life form and nobody can beat you more than once."
Shadow's face was flaming. It was almost as red and Knuckles. He felt weak and sat down totally embarrest.

Sonic noticed. "Looks like Amy hit something," he taunted.

"Shut up!" Shadow shouted, instantly on his feet again. "I won't stay here any longer and be made a fool of."
He started for the door. "I thank you all again for helping me but I must be going."

The three followed him.

Shadow put his hand on the door knob and looked back at them. "Stop following me," he ordered. "This doesn't concern you."
"Yes, it does," Knuckles countered. "Metal Sonic stole the power of the Master Emerald as well as the Chaos Emeralds. This involves us all."

The black hedgehog wanted to say something but couldn't think of a good retort. Instead he turned back to the door. "Whatever," he said, turning the knob. "If you want to come with me you can, but just remember Metal Sonic's mine."

"Only if you get to him first," Knuckles muttered.

"We got it!" Sonic spoke up giving Shadow a thumbs up sign and winking.

I wish he wouldn't do that all the time, Shadow thought, as he opened the door and stepped outside.

Suddenly he broke into a run.

"Shadow wait!" he heard the blue hedgehog call.

No way! the black hedgehog thought, and just kept on running.

As he ran down the street he looked all round himself and called. "Metal Sonic! Metal Sonic!" over and over.

He was going to find that robot and this time things would be different.

Just as he came onto main street he noticed a glint of metal and stopped. He knew that robot was there somewhere he just had to find it.

Metal Sonic watched Shadow from a perch on the top of a building. He'd heard the hedgehog calling his name and wondered what he wanted. Maybe he wants to fight me, the robot thought. He shouldn't bother. He'll just lose again. But then again he has the ultimate power and I must have it.

He jumped down. This should be easy.

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Shadow saw a sliver clawed hand coming down at him. He jumped out of the way and avoided being impaled. Metal Sonic landed cat like in front of him.

"I found you!" Shadow exclaimed.

The robot stood up and folded its arms. "What do you want?" it asked.

Shadow went into a fighters stance.

"So you want to fight me?" the robot laughed mockingly at the idea. "Well then get ready to lose once again."

"I don't think so," Shadow challenged, his body tensing. "This time I will win!"
Metal Sonic went into a sprint pose. "I'm going to enjoy this almost as much as I'm going to enjoy taking your power, ultimate life form."

He charged.