Chapter 12: Black Shadow's Challenge

Shadow finally got out of Chaos Control and dropped to the ground. He looked around, he was near the Glyphic Canyon alright, he remembers when Black Doom sent him here. He looked around for a moment and then noticed some G.U.N soldiers taking cover behind a large pillar. Shadow ran toward them and then jumped over them. He immediately came face to face with some normal Black Arm soldiers, he grinned and then yelled "Chaos Spear" to easily dispatch them.

Energy began to form in Shadow's hand. He finally launched the attack toward the Black Arm soldiers who began to run away. The attack went through many of them and then finally slammed into the ground which caused a huge explosion. All over, Shadow could see the soldiers lose limbs and heads scattering everywhere. "I won't leave the soldiers to fight alone", Shadow thought.

He landed on the ground crouching and then finally got up. He once again looked around and noticed his Chaos Spear crushed the large force of Black Arms. He crossed his arms and said, "Easier than I thought". Shadow turned to the G.U.N soldiers, who were now aiming their guns at him. Shadow raised his right hand and yelled, "Where is Sonic The Hedgehog?". A G.U.N soldier lowered his weapon and pointed toward a cliff and said, "Head toward the cliff, the hedgehog is down the long path", Shadow nodded and then said, "Thank you".

The black hedgehog rushed toward the cliff. He jumped on the pillars that still remained and jumped with all his might over the cliff. He continued on the path and noticed the rows of G.U.N soldiers and Egg Pawns. Most of them were injured, Shadow couldn't bare to look at these soldiers. "War is Hell itself", he whispered. The soldiers looked like they were suffering, they didn't bother to look at Shadow. Some G.U.N soldiers looked at Shadow like they didn't want him there, he didn't care, all he wanted to do is stop the Black Arms from destroying them...and saving Elle.

Shadow continued to run for about two minutes down the path of the canyon, which looked like a desert, the whole time he saw soldiers preparing for battle or who are just injured. He finally saw a large ship with a familiar symbol, "The Doctor?", Shadow said. Shadow rushed toward it and noticed a opening. Shadow rushed past the Egg Pawns stationed there and went down a hallway. He finally reached a door and immediately stopped.

He went to the door and opened it, inside was Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, and Eggman. They turned to Shadow and each one smiled. Sonic walked toward Shadow and said, "What took you, slowpoke?".

"Needed to find something out about a fallen friend", Shadow responded.

Rouge finally noticed and then asked, "Where's Elle?".

Shadow crossed his arms and turned the other direction, "The…Black Arms have her".

"WHAT?", Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, and Eggman said at the same time.

Shadow turned back toward his allies and noticed that Sonic was smiling. He seemed to know what the teen hedgehog was thinking. "A new challenge…am I right, Sonic?", Shadow asked the blue hedgehog.

"Lets do this!", Sonic said turning to Tails.

Tails nodded and turned to Eggman, who are still staring at Shadow, "We need to find a way to get past the shield the Black Arms have put up".

Eggman shook his head and agreed, "The question is…how?".

"What shield?", Shadow said confused.

Eggman turned around and pressed a button that turned on a monitor. He pointed at the screen and made a circle and said, "This area is being protected by a shield, only much stronger than the ones used for their air ships".

"Like before…not even Chaos Control can get past it", Sonic added in.

"Should we crash something into the shield?", Shadow asked in mocking tone.

Tails responded, "Eggman doesn't want to try…even if we did, the blast won't break it".

Rouge walked toward the monitor and then said, "But there are areas where the shield isn't protecting to much…"

Shadow turned toward the door, "Very well…we'll attack those areas then".

"Easier said than done, Shadow", Knuckles said with a frown.

Sonic turned to Eggman, "Which areas are weakest, Eggman?"

Eggman pointed to several points, "These are the weakest, but the weakest point is in the Western section of the Canyon…with the most strongest Black Oaks"

Shadow closed his eyes, "The exact spot Black Doom would want us to attack"

Shadow didn't notice it, but everyone else's eyes widened. Knuckles walked up to Shadow and yelled, "Black Doom is ALIVE?"

Shadow opened his eyes and frowned, ignoring Knuckles, "It was my mistake…I will save her even if I have to do it myself".

Sonic shook his head, "Shadow…don't think you are going to be doing this on your own, we're helping".

Shadow looked at Sonic, "If you die…I'm not telling Amy".

"Sure thing", Sonic answered.

Rouge was becoming impatient, "Well Shadow?"

"Well what?", Shadow asked confused.

"You said Black Doom wants us to attack a certain point, right?", Rouge said.

"Yes, Black Doom has somehow found a way to confuse the Doctor, he wants us to attack the point with the Black Oaks", Shadow said walking up to the monitor and pointing to the area.

"So he's making it harder on us", Knuckles said.

"It's more of a challenge…he knows I'll try to save Elle, but why he would willingly invite me is beyond me", Shadow said.

"Well that's rude, we weren't invited", Sonic said causing Rouge and Tails to chuckle, but Knuckles and Eggman frowned.

"Sonic, stop with-", Knuckles began to say before being interrupted by Shadow who said, "You're right, that is rude, I think we need to go and kick him in the ass".

Knuckles and Eggman were speechless, but Sonic, Rouge, and Tails laughed. Shadow smiled and then said, "We know where to go, we need a plan to make sure we succeed".

Eggman shook his head and then said, "I have an idea…"

Everyone else nodded and crowed around…they knew it was likely going to take a miracle to succeed…

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Main Chamber of Black Comet…

Nothing mechanical…nothing anything that the humans would have was in the room. The room was rather small, but the objects that were in the room with the girl towered over her. It had a odd odor as well, but not something that will cause someone to feel like vomiting. The room wasn't brightly lid, but it was possible to see what was in front of you. The girl was still struggling, but she knew she couldn't escape because of the tentacles holding on to her arms, legs, and her waist, even her long black hair was held tight by the smaller tentacles...

"Shadow…please", Elle thought.

Immediately the large blue door opened and in came Black Doom…or what was left of his body. The once powerful Black Doom had only his left arm and half of what remained of his right. He now only had two completely functional eyes, his third eye was shattered. He only had his right horn on his head, the other is gone. His torso is also smaller, but something like that may happen since he fought against the powerful Super Shadow.

Elle tilled her head, "I was hoping Shadow could have finished you".

"You really have been influenced by Shadow, it shows by the way you act, you little brat", Black Doom said, "But then again, it wasn't just Shadow that changed you…"

"What do you mean by that…?", Elle asked.

"Well…"

"Father!"

Black Doom turned slightly toward the door and in came Black Shadow with some Black Arm soldiers.

"Must you interrupt me?", Black Doom asked.

"I'm sorry Father, but Shadow has finally arrived! What are your orders?", Black Shadow asked.

"…Go and stop him, fool…", Black Doom said.

The Black Arm bowed and left the room along with the common soldiers. Black Doom shook his head and said, "How foolish…"

"You don't expect him to win, do you?", Elle asked.

"No…"

"So you're just sending him to his death!", Elle yelled.

"…I never liked that fool, unlike Shadow, he can't even perform Chaos Control with ease. He is a failed attempt…", Black Doom said.

"Heartless…"

Black Doom floated toward Elle, "I'm not the only one who is heartless…I mean, I'm not the one harboring a secret from a good friend…"

Elle became frustrated, "What do you mean by that? I don't even know what you mean!"

"You will know…but for now, it's time to released the energy"

"Huh?", Elle said raising a eyebrow.

"When we separate this 'energy' from you…death will come upon you…", Black Doom said.

Elle just froze for a moment and then yelled, "I'M GOING TO DIE!"

Black Doom just laughed, "Yes…but for now…we'll have to wait…at this very moment the tentaclesholding to you are trying to open the wayto the 'energy', it shouldn't be long…"

"What about me?", said a voice.

Black Doom turned and faced Shadow's anger, it just stood there waiting for a command.

"I'm sure Shadow and Sonic will try to get to Elle…you will have your chance at them…"

"Alright…", the hedgehog said.

The hedgehog turned and left the room. Black Doom turned to Elle, "Perhaps I should tell you the truth now…"

"…Okay…", Elle said.

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Above ground…

Shadow stood on the ship with his arms crossed with Sonic at his side, Shadow sighed and said, "This plan is quite idiotic".

"It's the only plan that seemed like it could succeed", Sonic said grinning, "Besides would you've gone with Knuckles' plan?"

Shadow shook his head, "Hell no…"

"At least I came up with a plan", Knuckles said through Shadow's communicator.

"He got you there, Shadow…", Rouge's voice came up.

"Pay attention! It's best that Sonic and Shadow are focused!", Dr. Eggman's spoke up.

The small red ship was getting closer to the shield, it was going to be difficult to out fight the Black Oaks, but Shadow and Sonic knew this time they were both at full strength. Though the two hedgehogs were ready, they both had a strange feeling as theydiscovered that no Black Arm soldiers were shooting at them. It was like Black Doom has allowing them to pass without problems till they reached their destination. They soon caught sight of their opponents, the large Black Oaks stood with clubs, ready to crush their enemies. Shadow and Sonic grinned and then said, "Are you guys ready?"

Everyone soon answered, "READY!"

Shadow and Sonic both jumped down, both going into spins toward the giants.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?", Tails asked Eggman, "I mean, shouldn't we tell the G.U.N Commander?".

"I don't know why, but I'm sure Shadow doesn't want us to", Eggman answered, "The G.U.N soldiers have to keep the Black Arms in the Canyon…it's possible that Shadow knows that moving the soldiers away from their positions would give the aliens a chance to escape the canyon".

Tails nodded and looked out toward Sonic and Shadow and then whispered, "Good luck…"

The two hedgehogs slammed into the first two giants and forced them back. The hedgehogs landed and watched the two Black Oaks that they attacked get back up. The others also began to walk toward the two heroes…

"Doesn't look good…", Sonic said.

"We should get the Doctor's plan started", Shadow said.

The two were about to run forward when a large blast of energy flowed toward them. They both immediately jumped back and avoided the blast. The two Black Oaks in front weren't so lucky. Shadow looked up and then frowned, there on top of a large rock formation was his brother, Black Shadow. Behind him was about seven Black Arm Elites with their Retractors.

"Haven't seen him since the attack on the G.U.N Fortress", Sonic said.

"You fools die here!", Black Shadow yelled, "You two won't be alive to witness the return of the Black Arms!"

"Where's Elle?", Shadow asked focusing on the Black Arm.

"Why ask? When you die, she will be joining you…", Black Shadow said.

"What?", Shadow yelled, "You bastards are going to harm a little girl?"

"No…we won't harm her. Instead, she has something that lies within her…something when taken away, will kill her…", Black Shadow said.

"Never! I won't let that happen!", Shadow yelled.

"Shadow look!", Rouge interrupted flying from the ship toward the two hedgehogs.

Shadow looked at Rouge and followed her finger…toward a opening in the shield!

"Whoa…the shield's opened", Sonic said smiling.

"I guess we won't be needing Rouge…", Shadow said smiling as well.

"Funny…", Rouge said floating down besides Shadow and also smiling.

Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge noticed that Black Shadow didn't care, it's like he felt like he was going to kill them here. "He's too confident…", Shadow said.

"All we need to do is get past him", Sonic said.

"He won't give up that easily", Shadow said, "We need to fight him!".

"Alright, you guys do that", Rouge said walking away.

"Great…", Sonic said.

Shadow smiled, but then closed his eyes. He could still feel the power of the Chaos Emeralds...somewhere. He remembered that he and Sonic were able to use their power when they fought last time, even if they weren't in contact with them. "Sonic! I can still feel the Chaos Emerald's power!", Shadow suddenly spoke up.

"…We can use their power, right?", Sonic asked.

Black Shadow took out his staff and then shook his head, "You fools think you can use the powers better than me? Never! I'll show you their true power!".

Just then a red aura appeared around Black Shadow. Shadow and Sonic just smiled and then blue auras surrounded them. Black Shadow shook his head then ordered the Black Oaks to charge along side the Black Arm Elites. Shadow held out his hand and energy began to appear. He turned to Sonic and noticed the same thing for him.

"Ready, Shadow?", Sonic asked.

"Once again with your stupid questions, Sonic", Shadow said smiling.

"CHARGE!", Black Shadow yelled.

"CHAOS SPEAR! SONIC WIND!", Shadow and Sonic yelled running up to their foes…

Chapter 12, that was fun. Anyways, a short battle in the beginning of the next chapter and more of the Black Comet. Anyways, as always, HAVE A NICE DAY!