Sorry about the crap in chapter 7. I accidentally put on "Track Changes" during one of the previous chapters, and even when you switch it off the conversion to htm always re-adds what you deleted, even when it doesn't appear on your word screen.
So I've started a brand new word file and I'll try uploading the doc. Stupid word.
News wise not much has happened. Still in between art projects and making my blog fancier.
Have a look at The Sonic Writers Guild. Posts have stopped there over the last few days. Come on we all have advice to share and theories to discuss. Glad to see it third popular though, under "Favourite couples" (Groan!) and "Sonic fan characters" (Actually it's very good).
Levels in this chapter: Lost Impact - Final Haunt.
All Copyright info in first chapter
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Shadow the Hedgehog: A Rogue's Adventure
by Master hunter
Chapter 8 - Heroes Rise Again
"Come on Shadow", I heard a familiar voice say
"Maria? Is this another memory", I said softly. I opened my eyes to see Maria standing in front of me.
"Come on Shadow, Grandfather's experiments have escaped and are terrorising ARK. We have to stop them", said Maria
She led the way and soon we came across a GUN soldier being attacked by a floating blob of water. If you could call it that, the water had a bright blue glow and seemed to stick to a metal head.
"There! It's an Artificial Chaos Creature and it's attacking one of the soldiers", said Maria, "We have to do something"
Without hesitating I smashed the creature's metallic head and saw it split into smaller versions of itself. I smashed each one of them up and returned to the ground soaked as the liquid exploded.
"Thank you", said the Soldier, "I owe you my life"
"Good job Shadow. I'm so proud of you", said Maria.
This must've been a memory before the attack on ARK. The Soldiers seemed to be friendly and more concerned on the experiments. Seeing one of them reminded me of what they actually were. The Professor had researched ancient echidna civilisation and had discovered information about a creature made up of pure chaos. It was a beast made of a watery like liquid that used to guard the Master Emerald. Gerald wanted so badly to create his own version and that thing was the result. Sadly there were more of them out there.
"Shadow we have to hurry. There are still plenty around ARK", said Maria.
I nodded and proceeded to destroy every single one of them we could find. I thought back then that we had destroyed them all but obviously either more was made or we missed a couple. They still haunt ARK to this day. It didn't feel right that the soldiers didn't attack us but I guess we were all on the same side that day.
I pulled Maria into Gerald's main lab. It was the safest place in all of ARK and my primary concern was her safety. Maria hugged me and thanked me for all I had done. I had saved some many lives from Gerald's Experiments and it suddenly hit me. The Soldiers didn't attack ARK because of me; no it was because of this.
They feared Gerald's experiments, which included me. From their point of view I guess they must've seen it as controlling an out of hand situation in case it spread. I could sort of understand that though it was no excuse to what they did. Suddenly there was a Flash and I was pulling Maria down a corridor.
Sirens were blaring; loud noises and flashing red lights filled the corridors. Maria had her hand over her chest. My god she was bleeding and the soldiers were still chasing us. She was dying but I knew if I could get her to the escape pod room maybe, just maybe, I could save her.
I brought her to the escape pod room and she let go of my hand. She collapsed on the control console and I skidded to a halt. She pressed a button and trapped me inside a pod. She had struggled so much, fought so bravely, I didn't want her to give up now.
"MARIA!" I shouted.
"Shadow it's too late for me", she said coughing, "thought I want you to do something for me. Those people down there on Earth. They deserve the right to be happy to live for their dreams. Please protect them, let them live in peace. Shadow I know you can do this, that's the reason you were brought into this world".
"MARIA!" I shouted even louder and banged the glass as hard as I could.
"Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog", she said.
I screamed out her name as she pulled the lever and send the pod I was to Earth. I closed my eyes and began to cry. That's how it happened and even though I knew it was coming I still wished I could've done something.
She died for me, for the world. I opened my eyes to find myself on my knees in the middle of the escape pod room. I could see exactly where she had died, there was even still some dried on bloodstains.
I got back up on my feet and felt more determined that I had ever been.
"Oh Maria, how could I have forgotten. I'm sorry. I will fulfil your promise", I said
"Do you see now why I didn't just tell you?" asked a familiar voice behind me.
I turned to find Sonic standing in the doorway.
"You have to discover that for yourself. I remember clearly what you were like before you fully remembered that memory. You were hell bent on revenge you almost helped Eggman take over the world. That single memory, the one of Maria's Wish drives you to be a hero and you had to discover it all over again. It wouldn't have been the same if I just told you", said Sonic.
I stopped to think about what he had said. He was right. When the memory ended with her being shot I thought about nothing but getting my revenge. Now though I had an overwhelming urge to fulfil her plea. I actually felt like myself again. I actually felt happy.
"Thank you Sonic", I said softly
"Er what was that? The Ultimate lifeform thanking me the faker?" said Sonic smiling.
"Ok don't make such a big deal it or I'll rip off you head", I said.
Sonic just started to laugh and for some reason so did I.
"But on a more serious note Shadow there is something threatening Earth right now", said Sonic as he stopped laughing.
Sonic pointed out of the huge window at the Black Comet. This was the first time I saw it from the outside. It was huge and had a very deep red tail. Sort of reminded me of one of my spikes.
It was time to end this once and for all. Time to stop Black Doom and save the world. It's what Maria would've wanted. But then I remembered what I promised Black Doom at the start of this Adventure.
"I have a problem. I promised Black Doom I would collect all Seven Chaos Emeralds", he said.
"I know. But According to Rouge you wanted to collect them all for yourself, to decide how best to use them", said Sonic
"That sounds right but I'd rather get all seven before I confront him", I said.
"Well here's where it gets interesting. We've found out where the last Emerald actually is", said Sonic, "In Black Doom's hand"
Well that took me by surprise, but he was right that made things far more interesting. It was time. Either I give him my six or I take his seventh. Either way it was all going to happen on the Black Comet.
"Ok Sonic, grab hold", I said.
"Now you're talking buddy", said Sonic.
Sonic placed his hand on mine and I warped us both inside the Black Comet for the final showdown.
The awful reddish purple liquid that once filled the comet was gone, which meant I no longer needed to use those floating saucers. We ventured through the twisting corridors, dropping down large drops and kept following a projection of Black Doom. Doom's Eye pleaded with me to raise the comets shields but I was having none of it.
Doom sent out his strongest troops to try and stop us but they were no match for me let alone both of us. The Dark Abyss below reminded us of our fate if we missed a platform or fell off the small ones we had to use. We were even attacked by huge gun ships.
None of it could stop us and soon we were in Doom's main chamber staring the Alien right in his face.
"Finally we've reached the end of this little game. Now to take out the last boss and claim our prize", said Sonic.
"So Shadow I suppose you've come to stop me", said Doom.
"I'm here to find the truth. You have the seventh emerald, hand it over to me so I can decide the fate of these gems", I said.
"What? How did you? I don't understand Shadow, you promised me the Seven Chaos Emeralds", said Doom.
"But I also promised Maria I would protect the Earth. You held back on me Doom, I knew it. The most important part of that event, missed out for your own greed", I said.
"But I will protect the Earth, you have my word", said Doom.
"Don't listen to him Shadow, they want to invade Earth not protect it", said Sonic.
"You going to listen to that blue rat or do you want to find the truth", said Doom.
I took a moment to think and decided that taking the seventh emerald from Doom directly was the best course of action. I jumped up at his head and prepared to kick him. He disappeared before I could connect with my kick, reappearing behind us.
"Very well Shadow. I made you I can break you as well", said Doom.
That comment was a surprise but I had no time to take it in. Doom fired a couple of fireballs at us. I wasn't quite sure how he was doing it; perhaps it had something to do with the Emeralds. Sonic tried a direct attack but was blown to the other side of the room by a meteor or some kind.
Doom's attacks were rapid and deadly. I needed to find his weakness and exploit it. I had a feeling it was his head but he didn't stay long enough for me to get a good enough hit. By the time I caught up with him he had fired his attack and was preparing to disappear.
"Give up Shadow. I'm too strong for you", said Doom.
"Nonsense. I am the Ultimate Lifeform, let me show you why!" I said.
I noticed a red crate around the side of the arena. These crates had held alien weapons before and a gun might give me an edge. I smashed open the crate and grabbed the alien laser weapon. I waited for him to reappear and fired as many bullets as I could at his head.
Doom had to block most of the attack but some got through, grazing the two horn-like spikes that stuck out from his head. Doom responded by attacking more frequently and moving around faster. He came up from behind me and smashed me off the raised platform I was standing on with a few meteors.
The attack hurt quite a lot but it wasn't enough to stop me fighting.
"Here Shadow use this", said Sonic
Sonic threw me a GUN assault rifle. I picked it up and waited for the right moment to strike.
"Shadow I'll distract Doom, you finish him off", said Sonic.
I nodded and Sonic proceeded to jump at Doom's head. He made contact, enough to make Doom really mad. Doom focused his attacks on Sonic. What a fool he left himself open to attack.
I fired every bullet directly at his head and forced him to block again. The bullets from the gun hurt him bad though and he fell to the floor clutching his face. The rifle was now empty but Doom was clearly defeated. I grabbed the seventh emerald and made all seven circle around me.
"What are you going to do now Shadow?" asked Doom.
"I have ultimate power now. Only a fool would challenge me when I have all seven emeralds. I will do what is best for the world. That is what Maria wanted", I said.
"And what is best for the world Shadow? You are nothing more than a weapon, you know nothing. I will tell you the real truth only if you hand over the emeralds", said Doom.
I was caught up in two minds here. On one hand I had the power to get rid of the Black Arms once and for all and keep the planet safe, on the other I wanted to know the truth. Doom had mentioned something about making me. Something that the Commander had backed up. He gave me his word he knew how to protect the people and I'm guessing allow his race to live in peace. I was intrigued.
"Ok Doom, here's the deal. You tell me EVERYTHING you know, and I do mean EVERYTHING and I will hand over the emeralds as promised. As you know I keep my word, I fulfil my promises", I said.
"Very well. I suppose you have earned the truth", said Black Doom.