Chapter 13: The Return Of A Friend, Fall Of Another
A spear shaped energy accompanied by blue energy rushed toward the Black Aliens. The Black Oaks expected to block the attacks easily, but were easily overpowered by the two energies. The spear went through many of them awhile the blue energy sliced through them. Black Shadow used his staff to redirect the two energies into the ground and air. He laughed, but it was a uneasy laugh partly because most of his soldiers were destroyed without much effort from the two hedgehogs. Black Shadow turned toward the hedgehogs who were still charging toward the Black Arms…
"The Sonic Wind is something I haven't used for awhile", Sonic said.
"I think you're a little rusty, Sonic", Shadow said still looking at Black Shadow.
"Is that so?", Sonic responded.
"Enough! Take this!", Black Shadow yelled as he shot a Chaos Spear at the two hedgehogs.
"…How pathetic", Shadow said rushing ahead.
Shadow easily swiped the attack away like it was nothing. Black Shadow looked shocked at what just happened and then responded with more Chaos Spears. The two hedgehogs smiled and then began to swipe the attacks left and right. The two seemed to easily overpower Black Shadow, except it seemed like he didn't want to admit defeat…
"Black Arm Elites, Charge!", he yelled pointing at the two hedgehogs who were now several feet from him.
"Chaos Control!", Shadow and Sonic yelled as the Black Arm Elites began to charge at them.
The two hedgehogs disappeared and then began to smack the Elites around like rag dolls. Everyone on the red ship and Black Shadow watched the Elites get crushed by the two hedgehog rivals who couldn't even be seen. Soon after most of the Black Arms were on the ground, a Chaos Spear was launched that completely destroyed the aliens. It was quiet until finally Shadow and Sonic finally reappeared…
"…That…was…tight!", Sonic said giving the thumbs up to Shadow.
"Perfect as always…", Shadow said crossing his arms.
"Damn…", Black Shadow said.
Sonic soon noticed that the shield was closing, "Come on, Shadow, let's kick his butt and get inside!"
"You're right…", Shadow said, "Black Shadow! If you don't want to get hurt, then stay out of our way!"
Black Shadow looked down and began to shake, "…No…no…I can't lose! I won't let my father down! I will prove that I'm the superior son!"
"Black Shadow…", Shadow whispered.
"That's really sad…", Sonic said, "…Black Doom is just using him…I doubt he even cares about him"
Black Shadow looked up, "I WILL CRUSH YOU HERE! CHAOS...BLAST!".
He crossed his arms and then released the energy. It began to expand at a very quick rate expecting to destroy the two hedgehogs. Shadow looked down and shook his head, he then yelled, "Sonic! Get inside, I'll follow!".
At first Sonic didn't respond, but he then realized what Shadow was going to do. He yelled for Chaos Control and disappeared,reappearing behindBlack Shadow. Shadow looked at his desperate brother and then sighed. He began to charge his Chaos Spear and rushed at the large Chaos Blast. He punched at the explosion and completely disabled the attack, he then rushed at Black Shadow…who didn't even try to stop Shadow. Shadow closed his eyes and then slammed his fist into his brother's gut, soon after a large blast of energy went through him, Black Shadow stepped back fora moment andlooked at Shadow, hethen fell backwards onto his back…
Shadow stood straight up and closed his eyes and then turned toward Sonic and, as expected after the fighting is over, Rouge who just got through the opening of the shield. As he was about to run, Black Shadow spoke up to his "little" brother…
"…I now know why…he thought you were…the superior child…", he said, "…you were the perfect fighter…the one who could use…the powers of the…Chaos Emeralds…"
"You shouldn't have tried to make him respect you…", Shadow said, "…he doesn't care about anyone but himself".
Black Shadow laughed, "…Listen…head into the comet…and find Elle…you should find her in the main chamber…do you remember where it is?"
"…Yeah", Shadow responded.
"Good…listen, don't underestimate the size of the comet…it's still large for just a small section of the Black Comet", Black Shadow said.
Shadow closed his eyes and then said, "Rest well…brother".
"…Very well…", Black Shadow said…he then stopped breathing.
Shadow stood there for a moment and then looked up, "…You continue to take lives Black Doom! Even your eldest son!".
"Shadow! Quick, get inside!", Sonic yelled from inside the shield.
Shadow turned toward him and rushed toward the opening. He rushed forward with his Chaos Control, but it looked like he wouldn't make it, he then rolled into a ball to narrowly make it inside the shield. He crashed into a wall and flipped into the air and finally landed on his feet. Shadow looked at Sonic and noticed that his blue aura began to fade, so did his…
"Show off…", Sonic said grinning.
"…I should say the same thing about you, Sonic", Shadow said.
Rouge rolled her eyes and then said, "Come on! We need to find Elle and stop the Black Arms!"
Shadow turned toward the tunnel and then said, "You two should find the power sources for all the shields awhile I find Elle".
Sonic looked at Rouge and then back to Shadow, "Sorry, Shadow, but you need to help…"
"Elle comes first…", Shadow said frowning.
"Alright then, but we'll take out the power sources along the way", Sonic said.
Shadow immediately turned around and responded, "Very well, let's move!"
Shadow ran forward being followed by Sonic and Rouge, "I think he's having too much fun…"
"Maybe…", Rouge said as she flew after the dark hedgehog…
The three finally made it out of the hallway and rushed into a large room. In the room there was a organized force of normal Black Arm soldiers being led by the Elites. The room was also filled with large tentacles, though they moved slower than last time…makes since a large cannon destroyed most of the comet. Shadow looked around and noticed that there were no Black Oaks around, "good…", he thought. Shadow motioned for Sonic and Rouge to follow him around a large rock formation to avoid being spotted, the twoagreed and began to follow the Shadow, but just then a large blast of energy came toward them forcing them to jump back.
"What the Hell?", Shadow yelled.
"Look!", Rouge yelled pointing up.
The Shadow and Soniclooked up and saw a hedgehog glowing with a red aura. Shadow immediately recognized the hedgehog that he created through his anger, except it was in a solid form this time.
"…Black Doom knew you would defeat Black Shadow…", it said.
"Great…now there're two Shadows…", Rouge said.
Sonic smiled, "…Looks like he wants to play…"
"Leave him to me…", Shadow said.
The Black Arms finally noticed what was happening and then turned toward the intruders. Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge got into fighting position and prepared for the worst. The hedgehog jumped down in front of the Black Arm soldiers and then pointed at the hedgehogs and the bat. He then ordered the soldiers to attack them, the soldiers charged forward with whatever weapon they had to kill their targets. Shadow and Sonic looked at each other and grinned, the two then ran forward avoiding the soldier's, strangely pathetic, shots and then started to beat them down. Shadow immediately grabbed the weapons and began to shoot at his foes, Sonic responded with his usual spin attacks on the Black Arms, and Rouge attacked with her powerful kicks. It didn't take long to defeat at least three quarters of the soldiers…
"Way to easy!", Sonic said shaking his head as he landed on the ground after a successful attack.
"I think they're annoying", Rouge said with a cold tone as she landed on the ground.
"…Pathetic is more like it", Shadow said still holding onto a gun.
Sonic looked at Shadow and then said, "Well…you WERE using a gun, Shadow"
Shadow looked at the gun and then said, "I'm just saving my strength for the main bastard, Sonic"
"…You two hedgehogs…are idiots…", Shadow's double said.
Rouge laughed, "…Anything to say, Shadow? Sonic?"
Sonic walked forward, "Yeah…bring it on!"
"Hold it, Sonic!", Shadow immediately said, "I said I'll take him, you two need to destroy the power source to the shield!".
"Damn…you're right", Sonic said smiling, "but how do we know that this FAKER won't attack us?"
"I can care less about you, Sonic…", the hedgehog calmly said, "Right now, I'll like to kill Shadow".
Sonic looked insulted, but he smiled and turned to Rouge who flew into the air. Sonic followed her down a hallway to the left, leaving Shadow to face his double. The two hedgehogs stared at each other and then walked around in a circle, still keeping their eyes on each other. The two stopped and then raced toward each other, the two colliding with their fists.
"…So…you're my TRUE anger, right?", Shadow asked.
"…Yes…",Shadow's double responded.
"And…supposedly…you're stronger than me, right?"
"…I am…"
"Prove it…"
"…Very well…"
Shadow's double immediately grabbed Shadow's wrist with his other hand and then pulled him toward him, he thenkicked Shadow in the gut. As Shadow responded to the pain, his double did a roundhouse kick into Shadow's face which caused him to fly backwards toward the large rock formation. The otherdouble then rushed forward and got ready to slam his fist into Shadow's face again, but Shadow narrowly avoided the fist and then responded with his own kick that connected with his double's face. The hedgehog flew backwards and hit the ground face first. He didn't move for a moment until he slowly got up…
"…You're very skilled…but I'm more superior…", Shadow's double said.
"…You don't seem to be my anger at all", Shadow said with a amused tone in his voice, "…you're too calm to be anger"
"…You created me with your anger…all I have is your strength…", the hedgehog answered.
Shadow closed his eyes and smiled, "…My anger is no longer something I need. I have a new power that isn't fueled by hate…and it's more powerful".
"…Is that so? What is it?…"
"The power that comes from a good soul, despite the darkness in my heart…the power that matches well with Sonic the Hedgehog", Shadow then pointed to his double, "You are nowhere near the strength me and Sonic possess!"
"…Enough…just die…", Shadow's double then raised his hand to attack with his Chaos Spear. As the hedgehog focused energy, Shadow stood there and smiled, he then got ready for his chance. Shadow's double was finally ready to launch his attack, he got ready to throw it, when all of a sudden he felt a hand holding on to his wrist. The hedgehog noticed that Shadow was no longer in front of him now, he finally turned to face the real Shadow behind him.
"Not very impressive…", Shadow said.
"…This can't be…", his double said with wide opened eyes.
"Let me show you the true power of Chaos Spear", Shadow said with his hand raised at his double.
Shadow's double broke free from Shadow's grip and then jumped backwards to stay out of Shadow's range, but had no chance to avoid it as Shadow soon disappeared from his position. The fake Shadow looked around for the other hedgehog awhile walking backwards. He looked left and right until he finally bumped into something. He turned to see Shadow crouch down and ready for an uppercut. Shadow rose from his crouch quickly and slammed his fist into his double's face, as the hedgehog flew into the air Shadow shot his Chaos Spear into his double, forcing him across the room into the wall with a added explosion upon contact with the wall.
Shadow turned the other direction, "…Careless and too confident"
"Impressive…very impressive", said a voice.
"What?", Shadow said responding to the voice.
Shadow turned around toward the middle of the room and saw a large hologram image of Black Doom. He frowned and then walked toward it.
"Alright...where's Elle?", Shadow asked.
"Very impatient, Shadow", Black Doom said, "but I doubt you will reach Elle…because you are going to die soon…"
"Is that so?", Shadow asked crossing his arms, "How?"
"Like THIS!", Black Doom yelled, "RISE MY CHILDERN!"
Almost immediately Shadow became surrounded as Black Oaks, Black Arm Elites, and simple Black Arm soldiers appeared. Shadow looked around, he had a feeling that Black Doom didn't expect him to die here, instead he wanted to somehow weaken Shadow when he finally reached him. Shadow closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them as he charged his Chaos Spear.
"…Always trying ways to piss me off, right Black Doom?", Shadow said.
"…Should I join?", Shadow's double asked as he appeared again.
"No…return to me!", Black Doom said.
"…Very well…", the double said.
Shadow watched his double disappear and then turned to the hologram.
"…Finish him!", Black Doom ordered his soldiers.
The soldiers began to walk toward their target, just then a voice rangout yelling, "No way, pal!". Shadow turned toward the source of the voice and smiled as Sonic jumped and rolled into a ball, slamming into many of the Black Oaks and Elites. Soon Rouge joined in as well using her Screw Kick to defeat many of the Elites. Both Sonic and Rouge landed beside Shadow ready for a fight.
"What about-?", Shadow began toask when suddenly a explosion was heard. The room began to shake, which caused the Black Arms to become disorganized as the normal soldiers scattered. The rumbling stopped and all became quiet. The Black Arms again focused on Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge and once again began their attack. As they got closer a barrage of missiles appeared and exploded upon contact with the creatures, destroying most of them. The three heroes turned to the entrance of the room and saw Knuckles standing there with his arms crossed.
"I brought some friends…", Knuckles said.
Suddenly, Tails and the Chaotix appeared along side the Egg Pawns and G.U.N robots.
"This should be fun…", Sonic said.
"ATTACK!", Knuckles yelled running forward leading the charge. The Black Arms easily became overpowered by the Egg Pawns, G.U.N robots, and Sonic's friends. As the two forces clashed, Knuckles fought his way toward Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge.
"Are you going to find Elle?", Knuckles asked.
"Could you hold the aliens off?", Shadow asked.
"No problem", Knuckles answered.
Shadow nodded and then turned toward the large door behind them and ran inside. Sonic and Rouge immediately joined him heading toward themain chamber of the comet. The three could still hear the sounds of battle as their allies continued to fight. The hall was getting darker as they got deeper, the tentacles in the hall barely moved as well. The three finally reached a large blue door, Shadow, not even going to wait for it to open, charged the door and broke through it.
"These doors open on their own, Shadow…", Rouge said with a angry look on her face.
"Your point?", Shadow asked from the other side of the door.
"Come on, Rouge", Sonic spoke up, "He wants to save Elle, and waiting for such slow doors to open is not his style"
"Are you sure you're not talking about yourself, Sonic?", Rouge asked amused.
"Lets go", Shadow's voice rang out to Sonic and Rouge.
Sonic and Rouge entered through the opening and stopped behind Shadow, who was looking around the room that was filled with tentacles much more active than the others in the hallway or the large room. Shadow looked around until his eyes caught sight of a little girl with tentacles wrapped around her. The girl looked weaken and had a odd ball of light floating in front of her, it looked like it was being forcefully removed from her…
"ELLE!", Shadow yelled.
"S-shadow…", Elle said faintly
"Come on, Shadow!", Sonic said getting ready for a run.
"…There was another voice when Elle spoke", Shadow said joining Sonic toward Elle, "…A voice that is very familiar".
The two rushed to get to Elle, but were forcefully stopped by a barrier.
"What the hell?", Shadow said putting his hands on the barrier.
"I had a feeling Black Doom was going to have Elle well protected…", Rouge said finally getting close to Shadow and Sonic.
"…Very smart…miss Rouge…", a voice said.
Suddenly Shadow's double appeared within the barrier in front of Elle. He looked ready to protect the girl if Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge managed to somehow break through the barrier.
"Great…it's the TRUE faker", Sonic said frowning.
"Shouldn't be to hard to break through this", Shadow said knocking on the barrier.
"…You may harm the girl, Shadow", a cold voice said.
Black Doom soon appeared within the barrier…well not all of him…
"You can't be serious…", Shadow said smiling.
Sonic started to chuckle, "I guess the hologram showed him like he was before Shadow kicked his butt"
"How the Mighty have fallen…", Rouge said floating in the air.
"ENOUGH!", Black Doom yelled, "I'll have my revenge against Shadow, but first I must wait for the proper moment…so I think I should take this time to reveal something to Shadow…something important…"
Shadow frowned, "Like what?"
Black Doom turned to Elle and then back to Shadow, "You haven't taken a guess yet have you, Shadow?"
"Guess? What the hell are you talking about, Black Doom?", Shadow asked.
"S-shadow…it's me…", Elle said though a second voice could be heard.
Shadow's eyes widened, "It can't be…"
Sonic stared at Shadow and then at Black Doom, "What's going on?"
"You wouldn't understand, Sonic, but little Elle…is harboring", Black Doom said closing his two remaining eyes, "Maria Robotnik within her own body…"
Sonic stepped back awhile Rouge floated down, "How is that possible?"
"BULL SHIT, BLACK DOOM!", Shadow suddenly yelled, "Maria…is gone…", Shadow said closing his eyes.
"That is what most people thought…but Maria had survived because of us", Black Doom said.
"…You saved Maria?", Shadow asked looking back up at Black Doom.
"…Yes", Black Doom answered, "Fifty years ago…Maria was shot on board the Space Colony Ark, the Black Comet was still within a reachable distance to the Ark, I ordered my Elites to take her body to the Black Comet…"
Shadow noticed a tear drop from Elle's eyes, he believed Elle felt guilty from hiding this secret. Shadow looked at Black Doom and then said, "You should have left her alone…"
"We believed we could recreate her…we thought that bringing her back to life with our own technology would give you a reason to help us during our invasion, Shadow", Black Doom said, "The only problem is that she somehow escaped and found her way toward the Earth…where she took refuge inside a little girl with her spirit".
"Spirit?", Shadow looked confused, "How could-?"
"You and Maria created a powerful bond on board the Ark that it was like she developed a psychic bond…", Black Doom interrupted Shadow, "…that bond would later be strengthened when we recreated her, even developing even more powers such as the ability to bond herself with someone else's mind despite the fact she had no experience using it…this would save little Elle's life during the first invasion"
"Shadow…", Elle said, "You…must hate…me…right?"
Shadow looked at Elle, "No…I don't hate you…it seems you didn't even know…"
"You would be surprised at what Maria had done during your little adventure, Shadow", Black Doom said floating closer to Elle.
Sonic stepped forward, "Trying to blame everything on Maria now, Black Doom?"
Black Doom shook his head, "…Maria may have a powerful mind, but she cannot control even herself when she became one with Elle, perhaps a side effect from our technology..."
"Huh?", Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge said with raised eyebrows.
"I couldn't control what I did eventhough I knew what was happening", Maria voice came from Elle.
"Shadow, do you remember when you and Elle first arrived in Central City?", Black Doom asked.
"Yeah, one of the soldiers was being controlled by…", Shadow stopped with his eyes wide open and he then looked angrily at Black Doom, "Are you saying that Maria controlled the soldier, and made himdestroy the main computer?".
"Yes…Maria had controlled the soldier…not only that, she also took control of Mrs. Rabbit at the Mystic Ruins, even causing you all to believe that a very intelligent Black Arm was controlling her", Black Doom said, "Very interesting...controlling someone to attack yourself"
"Maria was even the cause of the dreams Elle received, right?", Shadow said.
"Yes…", Black Doom answered.
Shadow looked down on the ground, Rouge went up to Shadow and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Wait, Shadow", Black Doom said, "I have more to tell…because of your bond with Maria, you two are connected...I believe you remember your enraged power back at the Mystic Ruins, caused by little Elle? Maria's memory ensured that you two were still connected..."
Shadow looked back at Black Doom, "You're boring me to death, Black Doom! I going to save both Maria AND Elle!"
Shadow walked up to the barrier and then pulled back his arm to get ready to punch it. Shadow closed his eyes and then with all of his might, he slammed his fist into the barrier. Shadow struggled at first to break through, but he soon believed that he would break through the barrier. Black Doom just laughed and then put his left hand over Maria's spirit that was losing it's grip on Elle. Shadow immediately began to force more strength into the barrier as he soon began to crack it.
"…Damn it! Maria has almost be completely separated from Elle!", Shadow yelled.
Sonic rushed forward and then rolled into a ball, "Come on, Rouge!"
Rouge jumped into the air and then began to spin into the barrier. The three began to cause more cracks into the barrier, but that didn't worry Shadow's double or Black Doom. Shadow, Sonic, and Rouge with all of their might finally broke through, but they were too late. Black Doom lifted Maria's spirit from in front of Elle. He immediately disappeared along with Shadow's double.
"ELLE!", Shadow yelled running up to her.
"S-sha…dow", Elle faintly said as she lowered her head.
Shadow rushed toward her as all the tentacles finally let go of Elle. She fell to the ground as Shadow got to her. He picked her up and rested her head on his hand.
"Elle…please don't die…", Shadow said as a tear fell.
She didn't respond…
Sonic and Rouge closed their eyes as Black Doom appeared behind them with Maria's spirit and Shadow's double.
Shadow hugged Elle, "Please…don't…die"
"ELLE!", Shadow yelled as Black Doom laughed…
Chapter 13 finished. I don't want to say anything really...so...HAVE A NICE DAY!