Nothin much to say this chapter, except sorry for the delay, and I hope you all like it!
Shadow and Amy entered the terrible Fire Swamp.
But you know, it really wasn't any worse than any other dark, dismal, damp, dangerous swamp infested with monsters.
"Hmm, it's not bad here." Said Shadow. Amy gave him a confused look. "Well I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely." Amy still looked at him. "Let's just get going."
They did, but before they had even taken two steps there was a popping noise, followed by a flame jumping up out of the ground.
The flame caught the bottom of Amy's dress on fire, and Shadow immediately sat her down and swatted at the flames until they were out.
"Well, that was an adventure, wasn't it?" He said. "Singed a bit, were you?"
Amy shook her head in response. "What about you?"
"I'm fine, but my gloves are a little worse for wear."
Amy smiled as cheerfully as she could as Shadow helped her back up.
The two began walking again.
Shadow heard the popping sound again and easily moved Amy out of the way of another spurt of flame.
"One thing I will say," Said Shadow. "This place certainly keeps you on your toes." Shadow gently led Amy through an even darker portion of the swamp. "This will be nothing but a happy memory soon." He encouraged. "Because the Dread Pirate Chaos' ship "Revenge" is anchored near the other side of the swamp. And I, as you know, am Chaos."
"But how can that be?" Amy asked. "Chaos has been marauding for 20 years, and you only left 5 years ago."
"I'm often surprised at life's little quirks myself." Shadow heard another popping sound and stopped to move Amy out of the way of another flame. "You see, what I said about me saying please was true. It intrigued Chaos, as did my descriptions of your beauty."
Shadow noticed some vines ahead and began cutting them away with his katana, all the while he kept talking. "Finally, Chaos made a decision. He said 'alright Shadow, I've never had a valet, so you can try it for tonight. But I'll most likely kill you in the morning.' He said that for three years. 'Goodnight Shadow. Good work today. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.' It was a fine time for me. I learned to fight, fence, anything anyone would teach me. Eventually, Chaos and I became friends. And then it happened…"
"What? Go on." Said Amy.
Shadow picked Amy up and carried her over a pond of swam water. "Well, Chaos had gotten so rich, that he wanted to retire. So he took me into his cabin and told me his secret. 'I am not the Dread Pirate Chaos.' He said. 'My name is Jak. I inherited this ship from the previous Dread Pirate Chaos, just as you will inherit it from me. The man I inherited it from wasn't the real Chaos either. His name was Sly. The real Chaos had been retired 15 years and living like a king in Destiny Islands.' Then Jak explained that the name was the most important thing for inspiring fear. No-one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Shadow… or would they? Anyway, we sailed ashore, took on an entirely new crew, and he stayed aboard for awhile as first mate, all the while calling me Chaos. Once the crew believed, he left the ship, and I've been Chaos ever since. But now that we're together I'll retire and hand the name to someone else." Shadow put Amy down once they were away from the pond and they walked side by side again. "Is it all clear now?"
"Uh…" Amy was about to respond, but suddenly she was sucked down into a sandy patch in the ground.
Shadow immediately cut a vine to use as rope and plunged in after her.
All was quiet. There was no telling if they were alive or dead.
Another moment passed. A large Chao-like creature walked by. But still no sign of them.
Suddenly, Shadow's hand came out of the sand and grabbed onto the vine. Shadow pulled himself and Amy out and the two hedgehogs gasped for breath.
Once they were safely away from the aptly named lightning sand, Shadow held Amy close to keep her from shivering.
"We'll never succeed." Amy cried. "We may as well die here."
"No." Shadow replied. "No, we've already succeeded." Shadow helped Amy up and the two walked together once again. "I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One: the Flame Spurts. There's a popping noise before each, so we can easily avoid those. Two: Lightning Sand. No problem, you were clever enough to discover what that looks like so we can avoid that too."
"But Shadow, what about the K.D.C.O.U.S.'s?"
"The Killer Dark Chao of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."
But no sooner did Shadow say that then he was attacked by one of the giant creatures. Amy screamed as the creature pinned Shadow down.
Shadow growled as the over-sized evil chao bit into his arm. He punched the monster in the face, sending it flying.
Shadow tried to get his sword, which was knocked away by the K.D.C.O.U.S., but heard Amy scream "Shadow!" and turned to see the beast attacking her.
Shadow grabbed the Chao by its wing and wrestled it to the ground. It rolled on top of him and bit into his shoulder, this time actually causing Shadow the Hedgehog to scream.
All seemed lost for Shadow, but then he heard the popping sound.
Shadow rolled with the Killer Chao to the spot where he heard the popping, making sure the monster was in the right spot.
A jet of flame shot up right where the K.D.C.O.U.S. was laying, causing it to catch on fire. Shadow took this opportunity to jump away.
Shadow, seeing the creature charred, weak, and on the brink of death, picked up his sword and stabbed the evil Chao and put it out of its misery.
Shadow sighed and turned to Amy. It was over.
The two hedgehogs continued through the swamp, the rest of the trip comparatively uneventful.
Finally, they reached the end of the Fire Swamp.
"We did it." Said Amy, obviously relieved.
"Yeah," Shadow replied, then smiled. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
The two walked into the open air, grateful to be out of danger.
But their happiness was short lived, for who should ride up but Antoine and his men.
"Surrender." Antoine demanded.
"You mean you wish to surrender to me?" Shadow asked, in that cocky attitude we all love him for. "Very well, I accept."
"I give you full marks for bravery…" Antoine continued. "Don't make yourself a fool."
"Ah, but how will you catch us? We know the secrets of the Fire Swamp, and can live there quite happily for some time. So anytime you feel like dying, feel free to drop in."
Amy looked around and noticed an archer hidden nearby.
"I tell you once again," Said Antoine. "Give yourself up!"
"It will not happen!" Shadow replied defiantly.
Amy saw the archer load his crossbow and aim it at Shadow.
"For the last time," Antoine shouted. "Surrender!"
"Death first!" Shadow shouted back.
"Will you promise not to hurt him?" Amy shouted, surprising both Antoine and Shadow.
"What was that?" Antoine asked.
"What was that?" Shadow asked, turning to Amy.
"If we surrender, and I return with you," Amy replied. "Will you promise not to hurt this hedgehog?"
"May I live a thousand years and never hunt again." Antoine vowed, though he had a sly look on his face.
"He is a sailor on the pirate ship 'Revenge', promise you'll return him there safely."
"I swear it will be done."
Amy turned to Shadow and they looked into each-other's eyes.
Meanwhile, Antoine turned to Metal and whispered to him, "Once we are out of sight, take him back to Westopolis and throw him in the pit of despair."
"I swear it will be done." Metal replied, with a cruel smile.
Back with Amy and Shadow, she saw from the questioning look on his face that he didn't understand what she was doing.
"I thought you were dead once, and it almost destroyed me…" She explained. "I couldn't bear to lose you again… not when I could save you."
Shadow was speechless.
Amy tried to speak again, but Antoine lifted her up onto his horse and rode away with her.
Meanwhile, Metal's warriors brought Shadow over to where the metal hedgehog sat on his horse.
"Come Sir," He said. "We must get you to your ship."
"We are hedgehogs of action." Shadow replied, glaring at Metal. "Lies do not become us."
"Well said." Metal agreed calmly, as his warriors began tying up Shadow.
As his hands were being tied, Shadow happened to notice Metal's left claw.
Sure enough, he saw six fingers.
Shadow smiled.
"What is it?" Metal asked.
"You have six fingers on your left hand." Shadow replied. "Someone was looking for you."
Metal drew his sword and clubbed Shadow in the head… hard.
Shadow fell to the ground and everything went black.