Chapter seven
Sonic was driving Amy crazy with all his pacing. She'd tripped him several times only to have him
get back up and pace some more. " SONIC SIT STILL!" Sonic flinched. " Uh, sorry Amy. I'm just
worried about Shadow. That's all. Where'd he go anyway?" "The Mystic Ruins. " Sonic was
thinking about running off when he was grabbed firmly by the back of the shirt he'd been forced to
wear. " Don't even think about it Sonic. You show up there and either Daemon or Shadow will kill
you. " " Why? " " It's a death match. Last one standing or last one alive wins. Daemon told Shadow
that if anyone came to watch Robotnik would instantly know the location of Knothole. So, you're
staying put." Knuckles sat with his hand pressed against the Master Emerald. It kept pulsing and
flashing brightly. The pulsing felt almost like a fast heart beat. " Tikal? " The orange echidna
appeared beside Knuckles. " What is it that troubles you gaurdian? " " The Master Emerald is
pulsing, like a heart beat. " " Yes gaurdian, the Master Emerald watches the heart beats of Shadow.
The Master Emerald says he can not fail or all will be lost. It's powers of restraint will be used for
evil. " Knuckles looked anxiously at the horizon, the sun was slowly rising. The last several clashes
had cost Shadow and Daemon greatly. They both looked ready to pass out where they stood. Each
knew what the other was thinking, one more hit and I've won. Neither of them was prepared for the
blue streak that came out of nowhere. " Sonic! " Shadow yelled indignantly. Daemon pushed the call
button. " Master's come-ing." Daemon taunted in a low tone. " Damn you Sonic. Can't you ever
listen? " Sonic looked at his old best friend shocked. " Shadow, Amy told me. . . We've fought this
guy together before. We can do it again. " Sonic built up confidence as he spoke. " Yes, we did fight
him together once, and once was enough! You didn't listen to me then and you got sent ten years
into the future. Stay out of the way. " Shadow commanded as he backfisted Sonic just hard enough
to knock him to the ground. Soon an all to familiar laughing was heard. " Whoohohoho! " The laugh
made everyone present cringe. " Shadow Strike! " Shadow yelled before he disappeared. He jumped
seemingly out of the ground right under Daemon, all colors of Chaos Energy swirling around him.
Daemon got multiple hits before he had sense enough to repel the Chaos Energy. Shadow jumped
back a few feet and Sonic's eyes widened seeing the red stain under Shadow's feet growing. Daemon
choked out a few unintelligable words, spat out blood and fell to the ground. As he lay there
fighting for breath he muttered, " You'll get yours Shadow. " Robotnik had came on the scene in time
to see Shadow backfist Sonic. He let out his completely annoying laugh again. Shadow turned his
entire focus to Robotnik. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Daemon starting to get up. " He's
healing that fast! " Robotnik revealed a gun on the front of his newest flying machine. Shadow
searched the front of it looking for weaknesses. When he couldn't find any in the front he started to
circle the machine. Sonic laid a hand on his shoulder. " You take that Daemon guy. I'll take the ol'
Buttnik. " " Watch out ! " Shadow yelled, pushing Sonic roughly to the ground. Sonic rolled to
lessen the impact. When he stopped rolling he looked back at Shadow. Shadow was pulling a
needle-like object out of his arm. " You...Idiot! He has all new weapons now! " Shadow turned into a
black streak and circled Robotnik's machine. Shadow stopped where he'd started from. Robotnik was
turning his machine, trying to find Shadow. When the rear of the machine was facing him Shadow
darted forward and rearranged some connections. ' Switch intake with exhaust. . . I hope this works. '
Shadow jumped clear of the machine. When he landed he felt dizzy. Whatever was in the dart that
hit him was starting to take effect. Shadow swayed and Daemon stood and fired a blast of pure
negative Chaos Energy through Shadow's back. Shadow's face held a look of pain as he fell forward.
Daemon ran to attack Shadow. He was stopped dead in his tracks when Shadow rolled over and
kicked his left knee hard enough to break it. Daemon fell to the ground and Shadow pulled his knife
away from him. After a short struggle Shadow slid the knife across Daemon's throat and watched as
he fell still. Sonic meanwhile, was dodging Robotnik's attacks.