Chapter 5: Meeting Mare-rith.

"This is the end!" Shadow thought. The light beam came down. There was an unexpected flash. Eggman shut his eyes and re-opened them, Shadow, along with Sonic, Knuckles and Tails, were gone.

"WHAT?" Eggman screamed.

Somewhere, at an odd shrine, Shadow and the others reappeared. Wondering were they were. And mostly, what was happening.

"Could someone, please tell me what's going on now?" Knuckles asked. "Knuckles, I'm as thumped as you are…" Shadow said.

Then, a hedgehog, much taller than any of the four stepped up to them. He looked like Shadow, but much taller. His quills, were curly and black… striped with red.

"Well… finally I got to you before Aerick." The hedgehog said. "Who's Aerick? Who are you? We're all confused, could you explain all of this before I die of heart attack?" Sonic asked. "I see… you've never heard of the legends, dwelling in your backgrounds have you?" The hedgehog asked. "What are you talking about? Who are you?" Shadow asked. "I am Mare-rith. Hedgehog guardian." He answered. "Did you teleport us with that chaos emerald in your hand?" Shadow asked. "Yes… I did. I suppose you're kin hid all of your ancestors secrets from you haven't they? I assume, you found that tomb. By the way, which one of you is Knuckles?" Mare-rith asked. "I am." Knuckles said. "I'll need to explain to you all… about an old myth… or told to be a myth… but it isn't… the story you are all about to learn is no myth, it's true…" Mare-rith said. "That thing… Dr. Eggman said. Was it true? About my body? About the cloning stuff they tied?" Shadow asked.

"I suppose I should tell you… the truth. Involving each of you… except for you there, the orange kitsune with two tails, who are you? This has nothing to do with you." Mare-rith said. "That's Tails," Sonic said, "He was taken in by my family. We are practically brothers." Sonic said. "Sonic?... what is your last name?" Mare-rith asked. "It's hedgehog." Sonic answered. "You can't fool me child, what is it really?" Mare-rith asked. "I told you, hedgehog." Sonic seemed agitated. "You are lying, tell me now, please." Mare-rith said. "It's hedgehog, you have a problem with that?" Sonic asked. "Boy, I can read your mind, quit fibbing, tell me the truth. I know your lying." Mare-rith kept on. "Okay, okay, it's actually Hedgusst. How did you know that?" Sonic asked. "I knew it… your family is the Hedgusst family." Mare-rith said. "My Uncle Chuck, he told me never to tell any one the family name… you knew him… didn't you?" Sonic asked. "Yes Sonic, I knew Sir Charles (Chuck). I knew him well. Our families have always kept a cursed secret. Including yours, Shadow. You… were cast into an infinite sleep by the echidnas-"Mare-rith was cut off. "What do the echidnas have to do with this? They, all but me are died out." Knuckles said. "Please allow me to finish. But after you were discovered Shadow, the time was right, and I've been searching for you three ever since. See, Shadow had been alive long ago. Almost 5,000 years ago. In that sleep, discovered by mankind, he never aged. At all. He was tormented and used for evil. Shadow, Maria wasn't your only family. You, happen to be my great… great… great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great… well, you get the point. You're my very old cousin. Maria is gone, and I realize after your memory was erased you only had her. But I will restore your memory. Now sit down. I must tell you all of a very long story. If you're confused, this will answer your questions. Now sit and be quiet." Mare-rith stopped.

"Long ago, there was a long war, going on. Without man's weapons and technology we have today. A very greedy echidna tribe, hunted for power. The hedgehogs, with leaders known as the royal Hedgusst family, kept the most powerful items in the world, out of wrong hands. The Master Emerald. Along with the seven Chaos Emerald. Only the royal hedgehogs had the very blood of the emeralds in them. They had books of spells. But one day, many more attackers came. So, the hedgehogs made a Royal Hedgusst Guild. It was a temple were the young hedgehogs were trained to defend their gift, the emeralds. They had books, used to learn the ways of the chaos control, you could learn many telekinetic powers with the training necessary. Those trained could use special spells and magical powers. Used to fight off enemies. One day, the most powerful leader of the echidna tribe struck against. They came with powerful weapons and armor to strike against them, to steal their emerald. Our warriors and spell casters would defend. But surprisingly lost. One of the Chaos Emeralds was stolen, along with a spell book. The echidnas read that book and used our spells against us. One day, the leader gathered all seven of them. He harnessed the energy and destroyed much of the world that day with war and destruction. The royal Hedgusst family and my own went into hiding. My very old cousin who hailed from that time, Shadow, offered to be casted into the tomb of light, for a one day, new hope eventually the echidnas died out. We figured it was no problem after that. The power of greed caused them to destroy themselves. We all figured that no one should ever know of this power. Our families and ancestors passed it down to us, and we still use that power today. Sonic, the reason you were never told was because your Uncle Chuck was afraid of Dr. Eggman getting a hold of the power. We spoke one last time before he was captured and robotisized. Ever since, I've been looking for you three. But never found you until now. One of the echidna families survived. No, I'm not speaking of Knuckles. But of Aerick, he's been looking for Knuckles, to get him to tell him of the location of the ancient power, to once again rule the world. I got to you before him thankfully. Over time, our cultures regrouped, and re-grew. Now, many of the Hedgehog and Hedgusst family own a Royal Hedgehog Guild far away hidden. I will take you there and train you, for your family always had the strange gift of the best command of Chaos Control. It naturally flows in your blood. Shadow, this is your chance for vengeance. Aerick was the secret person who reported on Professor Gerald, and got Maria killed. Sonic, this is your chance for revenge. Your family is all dead because of Aerick, telling Eggman of your families' secrets. It is because of him they are all dead. And Knuckles. It is his fault greed destroyed your tribe. He did this pain to you all. Now, about the kitsune, he may come with us if it is that necessary. All in favor of your sweet revenge, put your hand in the air, and say I. We must never let Aerick get to the Master Emerald here on Angel Island. Now who's with me?" Mare-rith asked.

Even with confused and sad looks on their faces, all four of them put their hands up and scream, "I!" Now with the truth told, it would take some time adjusting to it all. For it was developing to fast, and revenge was flowing through them… The Ancient Echidna tribe was responsible for their lives. Now, if they didn't stop it, it would cost the world's…

END CHAPTER

I know, maybe it is happening too fast, but wait. It'll all come into place.