Shadow moved quicker than Sonic remembered and he ducked under Sonic's fist. He curled into a ball and smashed into Sonic's chest. Sonic hit the roof hard. Before the others could react, Speed blasted forward and connected a strong punch to Knuckles's face. Knuckles hit the edge of the roof and fell over. Only by slamming his sharp spurs into the side of the building did he manage not to hit the pavement. Rouge backed away, unsure about what to do, "What is wrong with you two?"

Speed grabbed her neck and tossed her skyward, "Our father wants your souls!"

Shadow leapt up and came up behind the bat, "And we will beat them out of you." Shadow slammed both of his fists into the back of her neck. As she was about to hit the roof, Speed shot forward and punched her. She flew across the roof and hit it hard. Shadow landed next to Speed as Sonic stood up. Shadow held out his palm toward Rouge, "Witness your future!" Black energy shot from his palm and hit Rouge. She cried out as a transparent version of her was pulled from her body and entered Shadow's palm. It transformed into a marble sized purple sphere. Rouge laid on the ground, unmoving. Shadow smiled and placed it in his armor, "One soul down!"

Speed glanced at Sonic, "And two to go!"

Knuckles pulled himself onto the roof, "That is it!" He ran at the pair, "Gloves are off!"

Leda watched the fight from an orb that Luxor had provided. She hated to see former friends fight. Ragen appeared behind her, "Disapprove of the fight?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin as she spun around, "Don't sneak into my room!"

Ragen bowed slightly, "My apologizes! But the master wishes for you to become like you husband."

"What?"

Black lightning shot from his eyes and into Leda's, "Soon you will see the will of our master."

Shadow flipped Knuckles down as Sonic leapt into the fry. Before Sonic could even reach Shadow, Speed curled into a ball and smacked him away. Sonic landed on his feet and Speed uncurled and closed the distance. Sonic tried dodging, but Speed was quicker and slammed his foot into Sonic's gut. Before the hedgehog could recover, Speed grabbed his head and smashed against the roof. Knuckles moved to help his friend, but Shadow tripped him. Knuckles landed on the ground and rolled to his feet. Shadow disappeared and reappeared behind the echidna and grabbed his shoulders. He slammed his feet into his back and fell back. He tossed Knuckles across the roof. His hand flashed with black energy, "Dark Chaos Spear!" Black energy bolts shot from his fist and blasted Knuckles down. Shadow and Speed stood over the downed heroes. "I had hoped they would put up a better fight."

Speed rolled his shoulders, "Just goes to show how good we are." He placed his foot onto Sonic's chest, "Got a camera?"

"Why? Want a shot of your ass getting kicked." Sonic's eyes opened and he grabbed Speed's foot. He pulled the hedgehog down and curled into a ball. Speed tried to stand, but Sonic revved up and smashed into Speed. Speed soared across the building and he slammed into a roof top door. It caved under the impact and he fell down the stairs. Sonic stood up, "Just you and me fake!"

Shadow smiled, "Time to find out who truly is the fake."

Leda woke up and found herself in a bedroom. She shook as she realized she was in her old room. She heard yelling from the living room down stairs, "No! Not here!" She curled into a ball in the far corner of the room. Her father was fighting with her mother. Her younger self had been gone for about a week. Just about now was when Speed had saved her from her would be rapist. In a couple of days, he would bring her back. The room around her filled with transparent images of her father molesting her. Leda tried to cover her eyes, but the sounds and images followed her.

Shadow and Sonic turned into blurs and clashed on the rooftop. Knuckles managed to hobble over to the fallen bat. He pulled her clear of the fight. He sat on the roof and watch the two hedgehogs clash. Shadow had hoped that the improvements he had gained from Luxor would outclass Sonic. But he was pleasantly surprised that Sonic was still up and fighting. An easy win would have tarnished his enjoyment. Punches and kicks were exchanged for a few moments, but then the two split apart. Both curled into a ball and smashed into each other. Over and over again the slammed into each other. A loud banging sound filled the rooftop. After about twenty impacts, Sonic fell down. He was brused and his quills were messed up. Shadow was on one knee and breathing hard, "Not bad! You're definitely worth being called my copy."

"Oh goodie!" Sonic pushed himself up, "And I thought this fight had a meaning!"

"It does! I will defeat you and take your soul to my father."

"Gerald!"

"No!" Shadow lunged at Sonic, "My true creator!"

"Shut up!" Knuckles had managed to jump up and smash his fist into Shadow's face. Shadow hit the roof and rolled away. Knuckles struggled to stand, "You thought I was out."

Speed erupted from the roof under them and knocked Sonic and Knuckles down. He landed next to Shadow, "And you thought I was out."

Shadow stood up and wiped some blood from his mouth, "It is time we got serious." Both hedgehogs leapt into the air and transformed into orbs of black light. The combined into one, Fusion!"

"Oh crap!" Sonic scrambled to his feet as the orb exploded.

A dark green hedgehog stood in front of him. His eyes glowing with black energy. He looked at the sharp spurs on his knuckles, "The name is Dusk!" He chuckled, "Any chance you thought you had just went out the window!" His voice was a dark version of Shadows. He held his palms apart and a black orb formed in-between them, "Time for a trip to The Nightmare Realm!" He threw the orb and it hit Sonic. A black vortex appeared in front of Sonic and he was sucked in. Knuckles gulped as the fused hedgehog glared at him, "Your next!" He raised his palms up, but then suddenly defused. Shadow looked at Speed with confusion, "What is wrong?" Speed vanished in a burst of black light. Shadow looked at Knuckles, cursed, and vanished.

Leda tried to turn away, but Regen held her fast. The scene had changed to her father slapping her down after her return. As the echidna pinned her down and started to rip her clothes off, Speed in his Sperk guise smashed through the living room window and pulled the echidna off. He hit him hard in the gut and tossed his to the floor. He bent down to Leda and spoke to her. Leda's father stood up behind Speed and pulled a knife from his pocket. Before Speed could react, Leda pulled his blaster from his holster and shot her father in the chest. Regen made Leda watch her father die, "So it was you who shot him. And to think all this time, Speed took the fall for that one."

Leda was in tears, "I just wanted it to stop." Regen laughed, but then vanished. Leda looked around and the area around her turned black.

Leda fell to the floor and looked up. Regen was lying on the floor with a smoking hole in his back. Speed was standing at the door way with his blaster in hand. He ran over and pulled Leda to her feet, "Come on!"

"Where are we going?"

"Anywhere but here!"

Speed and Leda made their way to the teleportation pad. Luxor was waiting for them, "Leaving my son!"

"Stow it! Regen was operating on your orders." Speed point his gun at him, "I told you that if I didn't like what was going on here, I would leave!"

Luxor sighed, "I understand your feelings."

"Shut up! Move or be moved!" Speed's arm wavered. The power up he had gotten had passed.

Luxor shrugged, "I see!" He waved his hand and black needles of energy appeared, "This girl has tainted your mind! I will kill her for you!" The needles shot toward Leda. Speed wasted no effort and blocked the attack. The needles impaled him in the back. "Fool!"

Leda held Speed up as he fell forward, "Speed!"

"Sorry! I broke my promise!"

"What is he babbling about?" Luxor was very annoyed, but curious.

Leda hugged Speed hard, "When we decided to become an item, I made him promise to outlive me. Even if it was only for one day. I didn't want to be alone."

Luxor sighed, "How truly pathetic! I guess I gave him too much credit." Luxor pointed at Leda's head, "Don't fret! You will be with his shortly." As he was about to fire an energy bolt, both Leda and Speed vanished, "What?"

Shadow walked up and bowed, "I couldn't let you destroy my brother's wife."

Luxor managed a small smile, "Very well! I will let her live."

"Thank you, father!"

Sally walked through the Knothole Park. She rubbed her swollen belly, "How am I going to tell Sonic?"

She nearly jumped ten feet in the air as Leda appeared with Speed in a burst of light. Leda collapsed under the weight of Speed, "Please help me!"

Sonic woke up and found himself in a grassy field. The grass was gray and the sky was black. Sonic stood up and looked around the dark landscape, "I'm going to be late for dinner!"

Leda passed out on the floor next to Speed's bed. She had cried herself out cold. Doctor Quack had just given her the news. Speed had died!