CHAPTER ONE: MASTER AND DISCIPLE

"State your purpose for releasing me from my slumber," uttered the specimen with a hostile voice.

"I only wished to find out if you had a life or not, as the tag on your arm implied," chuckled an amused Shadow.

"I must find something out, first. Show me your power, being!"

"My name is not being!" he cried as a whirlwind surrounded him. "It's Shadow!"

"Very well, SHADOW. Show me your ultimate power!"

"So, you want to see my true power? Be warned, though. It is not my fault if I accidentally destroy you, heheh." Shadow's hands grew even greener, and his fur began to stand upright.

"This is my ultimate power. It cannot be contained once it is unleashed. Take a good look, as it may be your last!" His black fur began to change colors into yellow fur. "You will regret the day you crossed Shadow the Hedgehog, and forced him to reveal his true power!"

The specimen did no more than chuckle. "True power? You lie. Your power output levels are at 49.7! You are holding back. Release your inner power, and don't be afraid of blowing this whole colony to bits. There is nothing worthwhile here."

"Worthwhile! My love died here! I will not demolish this place! You shall perish here and now!" cried Shadow. "You make me sick, you…you…"

"Please. Call me dARKn355."

Shadow's fist glowed green, and he charged towards dARKn355 with a fist out, ready to strike. "As I was saying, you shall taste my ultimate power firsthand! You need not read my power output levels, for I have no need to unleash my final power. Why not just sample my current power? Now learn this: those who cross me and try to see my power will die." He struck dARKn355. "Now you will die, dARKn355!"

"Hah! I think the name dARK suits me better." He dodged the strike swiftly, then counter attacked.

Shadow gripped his arm and slung him forward.

"Hmph!"

dARK then took flight with the two dark purple bat wings on his back.

"Tsk tsk! You forget that I can fly! I am much more superior than you, bio-genetic trash!" He cried.

"You think? Chaos control!" Everything froze in its place, and did not budge. Everything but Shadow.

"Take this!" Shadow shot a few blasts of energy, glowing green. It was his Chaos power.

Unable to avoid the blasts, dARK was forced to take the hits. Once time began to pass again, he screamed in agony.

"AGHHH! Very well, then. I shall go all out on you! Power output level, 150!" dARK also began to glow. "Now it is a battle between the weak warrior who withholds his might, and a fierce battler who cares not if he destroys the environment around him!"

He raced towards Shadow, and Shadow did the same. They both ended up shooting each other. Both were blown backwards, and they hit the walls.

"U-uhh… nice shot…" sighed dARK. He seemed very badly hurt and in pain.

"You as well. So tell me… even if my power output is at only 49... who is the stronger specimen?" asked a curious Shadow.

"…You are." admitted dARK. He closed his eyes for a moment, then said, "Yes. You have more strength, even if you are holding back. Your average body power, 15.87, triumphs greatly over what is to be my 32.6543.

"Well, dARK. What is your goal in life?" Shadow asked, calmly.

"…objective: help mankind…" dARK responded monotonously.

"Who is your creator?"

"…creator: Dr. Nicholas Robotnik, Born July 18th, Died January 23rd. Father of Ivor Robotnik and son of Gerald Robotnik."

"Ah. So Nicholas wanted to follow in Gerald's footsteps…" Shadow muttered to himself.

"It seems that in order to keep the peace, I must have more power… and I am hoping you can grant that to me. Do you accept this offer to train me and hone my skills?"

Shadow thought for a moment.

"Yes."