"Getting a little close are we?" Knuckles nearly jumped to his feet and Sally shot up. Shadow was standing a few feet away with his arms crossed. Shadow chuckled to himself on how easily he had snuck up on them, "What would Sonic and Juile-su say?"

Knuckles stood up, "I wasn't doing anything out of line. We were just talking."

Sally brushed the grass off her fur, "And Sonic at the moment hasn't the right to say much."

Shadow shrugged, "I really don't care. I just want to make sure that we are fighting Robotnik. Not each other!"

Knuckles rolled his arms, "Sally needed someone to talk to, so I listened. If you'll excuse me, I think I will go check on The Master Emerald." Shadow nodded and stepped aside to let Knuckles pass. As he walked by, Shadow dropped down and tripped him with his leg. Shadow jumped back in front of Sally. Knuckles stood up, "What was that for?"

"Who are you?" Shadow crossed his arms and glared at the echidna, "I know your not Knuckles!"

"Please! Your delusional!"

"Am I? Or are you just a lying coward in a echidna fur?" Shadow chuckled, "I'm willing to bet your nothing more than one of Robotnik's toys."

"You Over Bearing Rat!" Knuckles shot forward and threw a punch.

Shadow blocked it with his fist, "Your not Knuckles!" Shadow cracked his knuckles, "If you were really Knuckles, that punch should have broken my hand."

Knuckles stepped back, "How did you know?"

"I saw Knuckles gliding toward the forest on my way over here." Shadow cracked his neck, "And I saw the flashes of blue energy that shot from you hand."

Knuckles clenched his fists, "You think your so smart. But your nothing compared to me." He shimmered with dark energy and turned into a black hedgehog, "In my time, I was the one that killed you."

"Perhaps! So can you do anything else other than changing your form?"

"Sure!" The hedgehog turned and ran off at full speed.

Shadow sighed, "Typical assassin! Can't fight face to face."

Sally stood up, "I can't believe he fooled me!"

Shadow pulled a small radio from his shoe, "Don't feel bad! His form was perfect. Just be lucky he can't copy powers." Shadow activated his radio, "Better catch him before he causes any real harm."

Speed laid against a tree with Leda curled up next to him. The two had enjoyed the beautiful day and had decided to stop for a rest. Leda had opted to let her dreadlocks flow free and to ware a simple dress. Speed had left his gear back at his ship and slipped on the black and blue sneakers he had gotten from Sonic so long ago. Leda had her head on his shoulder and was close to falling asleep. Speed simply enjoyed the shade from the tree and the warmth of her body. He cursed to himself as the small radio attached to his shoe started to beep. He carefully pulled it free and listened to it. He sighed and gently moved Leda over so he could stand up. The echidna yawn, "Something wrong?"

Speed stretched his arm, "No! Just thought we could use some ice cream. Be back in a minute." He ran off. Leda shrugged and laid in the grass.

Vega ran across the park as fast as he could, "Damn that hedgehog! A few more minutes and she would have been mine." He looked back to see Shadow in pursuit. He was using his hover shoes and was actually managing to keep up, "Fool! You can't catch me." Vega turned and yelled as a green arm appeared in front of him. His head smashed into it and he fell down. Vega pushed himself up, "Who do you think you are?" He looked up, "Oh crap!" Speed was standing over him.

Shadow came up and stopped, "Nice move!"

"Thanks!" Speed grabbed the hedgehog by the shoulders and forced him to his feet, as Shadow pulled the hedgehog's blaster free and tossed it to the ground.

"So! Are you going to tell us who you are, or should I have Speed use you as a punching bag?"

Vega gulped slightly, "I am always pleased to cooperate with two intelligent mammals. I'm sure we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement." Vega slapped his palms together and blasted Shadow and Speed back with an explosion of blue energy, "Or I will ditch you chumps and strike again another time." He vanished in a burst of blue light.

Speed helped Shadow to his feet, "Who was that guy?"

"A shape shifter I think!" Shadow brushed himself off, "I'm not sure who he is working for."

"Should we delay our plans?"

"No! Now we know that he is here. He won't get another opportunity to cause trouble. The echidnas should be able to handle him for now." Shadow turned to leave, "The day is almost over. Don't waste it! We won't have another for awhile."

"Right!"

Sonic woke up and rubbed his eyes, "What hit me?" He was still on the observation deck. He stood up and shook his head, "Where did Vega get too?" He walked to the edge and clung onto the metal railing, "Are Shadow and the others really trying to out shine me?" Sonic turned around and leaned against the rail, "Sally!" He sighed and sat down, "Why does my head feel so jumbled?"

"Your confused!"

Sonic turned to see a tall robed figure, "Guardian!"

Lazar's former guardian bowed, "I sensed your confusion and offer a solution to your problems."

"What?"

"Go to the island of time and seek out The Time Stones. There you will find the answers to your questions. But be careful, sometimes the answers are worst than just having the question."

Sonic laughed and looked at the sky, "What do I have to lose?" He turned back to The Guardian, but he was gone. The blue hedgehog stood up, "Well it beats staying here."

Nightfall descended onto island slowly, but when the sky had turned dark and the moon shone, the time for goodbyes began. Speed kissed his wife one final time as he covered her up. They had spent the final hours of the day at the apartment he had gotten for her. The echidna was fast asleep and Speed hated himself for leaving when she was asleep. Sonia stood at the doorway. Speed walked to her, "Please take care of her."

"I will!"

"Thanks!" Speed left the apartment and found Shadow waiting for him at his car, "Ready!"

Shadow nodded, "I know this is difficult, but it will be for the best." Shadow sat in the passenger seat.

Speed slid into the driver side, "How did Rouge take it?"

"I don't know! I haven't seen her all day."

Speed started the car, "Suit yourself. Lets get moving!"

Tails woke up to the sound of an airplane propeller. He jumped out of bed, "The Tornado!" He ran to his workshop's hanger and saw the bi plane fly out of and into the sky. Sonic was at the controls. "SONIC!" Tails started to fly after him, but gave up as the plane reached the shield.

Sonic called shield control and was surprised to see both The Eclipse and The Hunter fly behind him. A section of the shield opened and all three ships flew away from the island. Sonic flipped on his radio, "Where you guys going?"

"Need some time to sort things." Speed voice came over the radio.

Sonic nodded, "Same here. See you later!" Sonic turned and flew north as Speed and Shadow flew south.

"YOU WHERE DISCOVERED!" Robotnik's eyes glowed intensely as he talked to Vega over the com unit.

"It was that bastard Shadow!"

"I don't care if he was the Easter Bunny! You failed me."

"Please my lord! I can still do my job." Vega's usually calm voice had grown shaky, "I have set the hedgehogs against each other. All three of them have left the island."

"Really?" Robotnik rubbed his chin, "Why would they leave?" Robotnik cut the communication, "Let him sweat awhile." Robotnik stood up and walked to his command consol, "I can't shake the feeling that something is coming. Something big!"