I'm rush-posting this story to get it out of the way.

A new enemy; Dark Hedgehog, had arisen from Shadow's past to destroy the future, a task Shadow was originally assigned for. Sonic and the gang had to overcome this new threat, with a new weapon, the Elemental Emeralds. Upon stopping him, the emeralds were put away safely, hopefully, to never be needed again. Sadly, Shadow appeared to be dead. But what did Shadow do? Why was he abandoning them yet again? And what will he find... all I can tell you, is the story... a story that will explain all... a story, called...

The Rise and Fall of

Shadow the Hedgehog

Shadow stared down at the group as they left the island, the wind blowing in his face. "I'm sorry... but I have to figure some things out... until next time." He turned and walked away. "I have to find out the truth... who am I... I guess I should start looking in the crash site of the ARK." As he reached the end of the island, he jumped off. Landing on the Mainland, he set out for the restricted area, which lay just beyond the hill. When he reached the site, it was deserted, and had been for about a year. He walked past the "DO NOT CROSS" tape, and began searching for the entrance. After circling the site several times, he decided to make his own entrance. All the computers were still fully operational, despite the fact that they were outdated and dusty. He entered the core and began hacking the mainframe. "Now, if I can just reach the security files... done." He clicked "open," and began watching a security tape dating several years ago, 1 year before Eggman reactivated him.

The tape was recorded here in the core, back then everything was shiny. Some kind of official was talking. "Dr. Gerald Robotnik, the ARK has been officially ordered shut down. I know how much your life's work means to you... but the government feels that these tests shouldn't continue, especially after... well, you know, the subject that escaped." Shadow sat still watching, knowing that the "subject" was Dark Hedgehog. "I mean, that took a lot of money to cover up..." Gerald interrupted him.

"Shut up! If the government doesn't want my precious experiment..." The official began to shout to match Gerald.

"Sir, they're not pinning this all on one experiment!" Gerald still yelled.

"I said shut up! I know why they want to shut me down! They're afraid of 'Project Shadow,' if they want fear, they can have fear!" The official then made his mistake.

"Gerald, you can't be seriously thinking about releasing... it into the wild!" This infuriated Gerald.

"HOW DARE YOU CALL HIM IT?" Gerald was now breathing very hard as he messed with his computer. "No, I will not release him, my grandson; Eggman shall do that for me. I'll leave clues, he's a smart lad, he'll figure it out! Maria, go deactivate Shadow, now!" Maria stood up, glad to be able to leave earshot of the argument. The camera now changed and started to follow her. She walked into Shadow's living quarters. Shadow woke up in curiosity.

"Maria, what are doing here?" Maria's voice was soft.

"I'm sorry Shadow... my father wants me to deactivate you..." Shadow looked down.

"I understand." Maria went over and hugged him.

"My father wants you to destroy the world..." Now Maria was beginning to look down, but quickly looked up, hoping to reassure him. "But I want you to promise me something." Shadow replied, except with emotion, something Shadow no longer has.

"Anything Maria." Her voice began to lift.

"I want you to give the people of Earth a chance to be happy, give them a chance to live, not to fear." Shadow looked back up.

"I promise you, Maria." With that, she gestured him into his capsule. Once inside, she waved goodbye, and pressed the deactivation switch. Then the video cut off onto an automated one.

"Shadow, I know you're listening!" It was Dr. Gerald Robotnik. "Don't forget your purpose, you are the ultimate life form, use your skills, harness your full power, I've been watching you... you have been disobeying my orders! Now, prove yourself to me that it was not a mistake to not help Dark Hedgehog defeat you!" Shadow looked at the screen in disbelief, disregarding everything he was hearing. But that suddenly changed when he heard the next line. "Activate, Project Omen." Shadow's eyes instantly flickered red. He stood up, and looked half way down still staring at the screen.

"Dr. Gerald Robotnik, I promise you... REVENGE!" Shadow instantly left as the man on the screen began to laugh out loud.

Shadow was walking with his head held low. Not looking in any direction other than straight ahead. "I need an army." Shadow's voice was now monotoned and flat, a classic 'I'm better than everyone else and for that reason I'm bored' tone. "I'll just take Eggman's" Shadow jumped up to Emerald Island, his powers seemed to have tripled. Then he took the fake emerald that lay at his grave. "Chaos Control!" Shadow appeared at Island 1. "So..." Shadow was looking around, he then yelled out. "EGGMANNNNNN!" The whole island could here him. He suddenly noticed a security droid that had noticed him as well. It flew over to a rock and disappeared. Shadow followed and destroyed the artificial rock revealing a long tunnel that led into a small storage room. He went through the door and was immediately attacked by a robot. Shadow jumped over it as it charged underneath him. As Shadow landed, he made a small dash maneuver of his own. While not moving a muscle, his body seemed to become transparent as he came into contact with the robot, destroying the little resistance that was once there. He soon saw the security droid again as it opened to reveal a screen. It turned on, and Eggman soon became visible.

"You, you're still alive, what do want!" Shadow smiled at his successful surprise.

"I have a proposition for you." Eggman had a funny feeling about this 'proposition.'

"What kind of a proposition are you... proposing?" Shadow started off slow.

"Well, you give me your army, and I make you 2nd in command." Eggman laughed at this.

"2nd in command? Why do you need MY army anyway?" Shadow tilted his head.

"Eggman, Eggman, Eggman, do you think I'd take away your army for some petty little scheme? I know how to take over this world, and I'm going to do just that. Dr. Gerald Robotnik will have his revenge for shutting down ARK." Eggman was now serious.

"And just what made you decide you wanted to do that?" Shadow destroyed the security droid. Eggman stared at the staticky screen, when all of the sudden, to his left came Shadow, startling him.

"What the-" Shadow gave him no time to speak.

"I have decided that it's high time I prove myself." Now Eggman was confused.

"Prove yourself to who?" Shadow knew of Eggman's ignorance, but decided to play around.

"Why, Dr. Gerald Robotnik of course." Eggman was now getting fed up with the conversation.

"My great grandfather is dead!" Shadow smiled and shook his head.

"Poor Eggman, lost in his world of failure. The good doctor is very much alive... and I don't think he would like it if you refused to give me what I need." Eggman didn't believe a word of it, but he had a plan, a long yet rewarding plan.

"Fine... I'll give my army's allegiance to you, but if you show any signs of failure, I'm pulling the plug!" Shadow suddenly looked serious.

"I was created for perfection, and so it is perfection that I shall create."

Shadow stood at the front of the main hall, Eggman's army sitting quietly in front of him. "Listen up, as of right now, you are under MY control, YOU, will NEVER, leave that position. YOU, are my slave, my tools, my ladder to world domination. Here in 2nd command, is Eggman, Colonel Eggman; I am General Shadow... and you, ARE MY ARMY! WELCOME, TO PROJECT, OMEN!" The hall became filled with conversation as everyone began whispering to one another. "Colonel Eggman, get them ready for training, I want them to be given ranks. They are: Private, Corporal, Officer, and I have 'special plans' for our two Commanding Officers. Well? Get to it!" Eggman jumped back at Shadow's sudden raise of voice.

"Yes General Shadow, I shall begin immediately." Shadow said his last words for the hour as he turned and walked to his private quarters.

"It's high time the Omen Army was issued."

Eggman began training the recruits. Many of them were well played out, however there were a few nuts and bolts. "Good, good. You there, come here." He was pointing to Scratch, one of his first creations. "You will make a fine Officer. You two, over there, you will be Corporals, the rest of you, you are all Privates." He looked around at the faces of the first batch of trainees. "Congratulations, you have become the first ever, to enter the Omen Army!" When Eggman returned, he was greeted by Shadow.

"So, how did they do?" Eggman was very confident.

"The first batch was good, one Officer, two Corporals, and 3 Privates." Shadow nodded as he looked around.

"Good... however, we shall not see progress without a leader." Eggman looked puzzled.

"Sir?" Shadow pulled out a piece of paper.

"Here, I've devised a list of objects needed for, Project Alias." Eggman looked the list over.

"It will take a week to acquire these items. And who knows how long to actually build them." Shadow nodded.

"Then so be it, just get it done." Eggman hesitated, careful not to anger him.

"How are we going to get the Master Emerald?" Shadow waved his hand at Eggman.

"Just leave that to me. Oh, and Colonel, don't screw this up... remember, an omen is never forgiving."

A flash of light could be seen a mile away as Shadow appeared in the Emerald Plains. He looked around, Knuckles was nowhere to be seen, which wasn't exactly a good thing. Shadow walked slowly and quietly towards the Master Emerald. "Ah hah! Got you now!" Knuckles came flying from Shadow's left. The awkward angle made it impossible for Knuckles to identify him. Shadow jumped, sped towards the emerald, and turned in mid-air to fire a small Chaos Spear to knock Knuckles out. Shadow grabbed the Master Emerald, and left. When Knuckles awoke, he had no memory of those few minutes worth of events.