Chapter 8: The Brightest Day Goes Dark

Dr Eggman's Metropolis Lab, 3:00 pm.

Shadow was shocked at how bad the breach in Eggman's lab actually was. The whole place was a mess. The destroyed Egg Pawns and other robots didn't help much, but what somehow made it worse was the wrecked remains of what looked like a Death Egg Robot. There were claw marks all over the wreckage, and massive holes in its center torso. Upon closer inspection, Shadow found that something had breached it from the INSIDE.

He was surprised to find that his visit went relatively unnoticed. Until Sage appeared in the room. She was MAD.

Sage: You. Leave. Immediately.

Shadow: Sage, I'm here to help.

Sage: I require no assistance.

Shadow: Well, can you at least tell me what happened to Dr Eggman?

Sage sat in silence, shaking her head.

Sage: You would not believe me if I told you.

Shadow: I'm willing to listen. Can't you show me camera footage?

Sage: No. Camera footage is corrupted. Nothing is salvageable.

Shadow sighs.

Shadow: Then just tell me.

Sage: … Scourge.

Shadow went wide eyed at the mention of that name. It can't be.

Shadow: … What.

Sage: The attacker said his name was Scourge.

Shadow couldn't believe it. Scourge was DEAD! There was no way he was responsible… Unless… Shadow got on comms, directly contacting Dr Nightshade.

Shadow: Doctor, examine the claw marks on Eggman's face and arm! There should be plenty of DNA there!

Nightshade: I was about to call you about that, we have a positive ID; Scourge the Hedgehog.

Shadow stares ahead of himself, Sage had already left the room. Shadow had no choice but to believe it. Then things started to piece together: Scourge was responsible for the breach in the Cosmic Highway. He was about to make his way out, when the lights went out… Shadow could smell something god awful in the room.

Shadow: Sage?

Scourge: She ran to try and get help.

Shadow snapped around, seeing two glowing blue eyes staring back at him.

Shadow: How are you alive? Your execution was being recorded live, you were DEAD.

Scourge: Oh, I definitely was, but three days after I woke up good as new. Save for the smell. And shitty fur.

The lights came back on, revealing Scourge to Shadow in full. He looked like, and smelled like absolute shit. Scourge's fur was ragged and looked like he hadn't trimmed or even showered in 25 years. He also had blue stripes on his wuills, matching his eyes. His clothes were ragged and looked like he hadn't taken them off, or washed them in the same amount of time as him not showering. His gloves were ruined, and he definitely had some claws.

Shadow: Years really weren't kind to you.

Scourge: Yeah, no SHIT, asshole! And I got you and Sonic to thank for that partially!

Shadow: You really can't admit that you brought your sentence on yourself, can you?

Scourge: Doesn't matter. I'm back. And now?

Scourge laughs as he starts taking steps towards Shadow, cracking his knuckles. Shadow did the same thing.

Scourge: Now? I got some fresh meat to soften my knuckles on!

Shadow: You can try.

Shadow's eyes went from normal to having vertical slits for pupils as he entered combat mode. Both hedgehogs were covered in lightning, Scourge's green, Shadow's reddish orange. Before long, the two dashed at each other, throwing a punch and hitting each other in the face!

After recovering, Shadow instantly went into a Spin Dash, smashing into Scourge, and through several floors above before they both came out onto the streets of Metropolis. Scourge recovered and Homing Attacked Shadow, but was stoppwd dead by Shadow grabbing hold of him and redirecting Scourge to an empty section of the city. Scourge jumps at Shadow, trying to claw at him, but Shadow quickly got his shotgun out, and blasted both solid slugs into Scourge, sending him back into a wall. Scourge must have picked up some Rings, as he suffered no puncture wounds. Shadow reloaded, aiming at the green hedgehog.

Shadow: How did you come back?!

Scourge just laughed as he got up, grinning widely.

Scourge: I'll tell you right before I kill you, Shadow.

Scourge rushed at Shadow, managing to scratch the black hedgehog's chest! Shadow punched Scourge in the gut, then leapt into the air, his hand glowing with green Chaos Energy!

Shadow: CHAOS SPEAR!!

Shadow launched a Chaos Spear at Scourge, paralyzing the green hedgehog then blasting him in the head with his shotgun. Yet again, no puncture. Scourge recovered from his paralysis, then Quick-Stepped out of the way of a punch, then he BITES SHADOW'S ARM!

Shadow: AHH!!!!!

Scourge laughs and then pins Shadow down, stomping on his face, and keeping his jaws down on Shadow's arm!

Scourge: Less shee how you tashte, asshole!!!!

Scourge began twisting Shadow's arm, trying to tear it off! Shadow used his other arm to grab his holstered pistol, then he shot Scourge right in the mouth! Scourge let go, nearly choking on the bullet before Shadow used his good arm to punch Scourge in the face, knocking out a few of his teeth. As well as finally making Scourge drop the Rings he had. Or what would have been Rings, that is. Instead what he dropped were… ANARCHY BERYL?!

Scourge: SON OF A MOTHERFUCKING, BLUE FURRED WHORE!!!!

Shadow quickly reloaded his pistol, despite one of his arms being a mess, and then quickly shot Scourge right in the head. This time, the bullet punctured, killing the green hedgehog… Shadow fell to his knees, grabbing his messed up arm as his eyes returned to normal.

Shadow: Dammit…! He nearly chewed my arm off… He's never done that before…

Shadow heard laughter coming from Scourge's corpse… Scourge sprung back to his feet, the hole in his head healing! Scourge lifts an Anarchy Beryl from his pocket, and it shatters in front of Shadow!!

Shadow: What?!

Scourge: News flash! Anarchy Beryl can do more than just give me a Super form.

Shadow went wide eyed at this revelation. The Anarchy Beryl could REVIVE THE DEAD?!

Shadow: N-no way!

Scourge: Yeah way, fucko! But don't worry, I had my fill of you for today. Toodles!!

Scourge took off, but Shadow quickly fired a slug off from his shotgun, managing to hit Scourge, and puncture his abdomen. Shadow looked around for the other Anarchy Beryl the green hedgehog dropped, but couldn't find any.

Shadow: Damn…! If he bleeds out, he'll just revive…!

Shadow grunts as his vision begins to darken…

Shadow: Shit… Too much blood loss…

He quickly pressed a hidden button on one of his gloves, sending out an emergency distress beacon to the closest hospital. Before his vision went black, he saw paramedics rushing up to him.

When he came to, he was in the hospital. His arm had healed while he slept, but still felt like it was badly injured. This was one occasion that he was thankful for his Black Arms DNA.

Shadow: … Nurse…? Nurse!

Dr Nightshade was the one who entered the room.

Nightshade: Oh, you're awake.

Shadow: I need to leave right now!

Nightshade: You JUST got here, you moron!

Shadow: I know, but Scourge is out there still! I have to stop him before he goes after everyone else!

Nightshade: Wait, you met Scourge? Is that–

Shadow: YES, NOW LET ME OUT OF HERE!!

Nightshade wasted zero time. Once out, Shadow took off towards MDF GUN HQ. He had to get the news out and issue an emergency order. He had to stop Scourge. At ALL COSTS!

\\And so it begins. Leave ya thoughts!