Chapter 14: The Rise And Fall Of Black Doom
"Am I…dead?"
No response…
"…I failed Shadow…"
"You haven't failed! You can still help him!"
"I can?"
"Yes"
"…I only cause trouble for Shadow…I'm useless"
"Don't say that…you and Shadow have bonded too! You can help Shadow!"
"How?"
"The Chaos Emeralds…"
"The Emeralds can't help! They're gone…"
"Shadow is a hedgehog who is somehow connected to the Chaos Emeralds…just like Sonic…"
"Huh?"
"It's confusing, but you'll understand in time…"
"Why tell me this? I could never help Shadow…"
"I can no longer help greatly, but you can…you can still save him…you can give him the power to put down Black Doom for good…"
"Tell me then…"
"Alright…Shadow will help too, don't worry…"
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Black Comet Main Chamber…
Black Doom laughed at the sight of Shadow and Elle. He enjoyed seeing Shadow suffer, this could be his favorite moment of Shadow…
"Will then, lets begin the moment I've been waiting for…", Black Doom said holding up Maria's spirit.
"Is that it?", Sonic spoke up, "Taking the life of a little girl without any-"
"What do you expect, hedgehog?", Black Doom said, "I could care less about what happens as long as my plans are carried out!"
"Dirty bastard!", Rouge yelled.
"…Elle", Shadow whispered still holding on to her.
"Why did you need Maria's spirit in the first place?", Sonic demanded.
Black Doom laughed, "The Black Comet could no longer keep itself in the air…so we need something…or someone to keep it up, and Maria was the perfect choice…"
Sonic and Rouge stared at him. "What did he mean by that?"
"You seem confused", Black Doom said, "Maria's spirit is powerful because of her bond with Shadow. She has the ability to keep it up!"
"What do you expect to do with the comet then?", Rouge asked Black Doom.
"I plan to do many things, Rouge", Black Doom said, "First, I plan to rebuild my body. Second, I will rebuild my army by using any humans stronge enough to survive the gas that will recreate them! And finally…I will take control of the universe and begin my Holy Empire!"
"Is that it?", Sonic asked, though there was no sarcasm in his voice like usual.
"…Yes, we will return to power…we may not have the Chaos Emeralds, but with this comet and the new body I will create will be enough to take over the universe!", Black Doom said.
"By taking more lives", Shadow said still holding onto Elle, "You will use war just to build your empire, Black Doom, by taking lives! You don't care who or what you harm, as long as you hold great power with a IRON FIST!"
Sonic and Rouge stepped back from Shadow, who hasn't moved yet. Black Doom stared at Shadow awhile Shadow's double remained motionless. Black Doom laughed…
"You fool! The great lords of the past has giving me the right! I am destined to rule this universe!"
"No…you're destined to die by those who will always oppose tyrants like yourself!", Shadow said opening his eyes as a blue and red aura appeared around Shadow. Unknown to him, Elle began to breath slowly…
"…Why, Shadow? You could've been by my side holding great power forever!", Black Doom said.
"To me…ruling forever would've been a curse…"
Sonic smiled, "Shadow…"
Rouge nodded, "Shadow…"
"Enough! It's time to begin!", Black Doom said as he raised his hand. Several tentacles suddenly appeared and took hold of Maria's spirit and lifted into the ceiling. After a moment, the comet began to shake making it difficult to stand…
"It's actually moving!", Rouge yelled.
Sonic coughed, "The gas is getting stronger!"
"Now for my body!", Black Doom yelled.
Shadow closed his eyes, the red and blue auras began to be replaced by another color far more intense than the other two auras. Shadow opened his eyes in confusion, he didn't know what was going on. Then the unexpected happened…
"Shadow…", Elle said.
"WHAT?", Black Doom yelled.
Shadow's double finally showed emotion as he stared at Shadow and Elle. Sonic and Rouge just stared at the young girl…
"Shadow…please don't give up…", Elle said smiling at her friend.
Shadow smiled, "Are you doing this?".
"Maria is helping too…", Elle said.
"…That's good to hear", Shadow said.
"…Impossible…", Black Doom said.
Shadow stood with Elle in his arms. She smiled at him, he did the same. As the two remained looking at each other, seven balls of light appeared around both Shadow and Elle. Sonic smiled, he knew what they were, Rouge remained confused. Black Doom was in complete shock, he couldn't believe that all this was happening.
"…It can't be…", Black Doom said.
Rouge looked around at the odd lights, "Sonic, what are they?".
Sonic turned to Rouge, "…The Seven Chaos Emeralds…"
Elle looked at the seven different colors, she couldn't believe how pretty they were. Shadow turned to Black Doom and his double.
"It's time to finish this, Black Doom…", he said.
"I won't be defeated!", Black Doom yelled as tentacles burst from the walls and attached themselves to him. Shadow closed his eyes and then put Elle down, she had trouble standing, but she finally balanced herself. She looked at Shadow…
"Sonic…listen, get Elle, Rouge, and everyone else out of here, I'm going to make sure Black Doom dies here…", Shadow said turning to Black Doom as began to mutate. Elle's eyes widened…
"Shadow! Please don't make me go!", Elle yelled, "I can help-"
Shadow turned around and put his hand on Elle's head, "I have to finish this…alone"
"No!", Elle yelled as Sonic grabbed her wrist.
"C'mon Elle! You heard, Shadow!", Sonic yelled as he pulled Elle away.
Sonic turned toward the wall and noticed a small hole, he motioned for Rouge to follow. The three went toward it and left the chamber leaving Shadow, his double, and Black Doom alone.
"Black Doom…you are about to face the true power of the force you created through your blood!", Shadow yelled as the seven lights began to spin faster and faster around him.
Shadow's double collapsed to the ground, he began to break apart…literally. Black Doom began to grow in size, he also began to grow another arm. He was becoming a form that was close to his Devil Doom form, but much uglier in Shadow's opinion.
"You will die here, Shadow!", Black Doom yelled, "The Black Comet is now bonding with me making me the true Ultimate Life Form!"
"…Ultimate Life Form is the title used for those who are immortal, not for the power they possess!", Shadow yelled, "You're nothing close to the title of Ultimate Life Form, Black Doom!"
"Silence!", Black Doom yelled, "I created you with my own BLOOD! I AM THE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM!"
Shadow lowered his head as the Emeralds power finally stopped and then collided into Shadow. A bright light followed, and there stood the planet's last hope against the Black Arms…Super Shadow. He hovered over the ground with his arms crossed, he then smiled, "The end is near…"
Black Doom continued to grow and even began to fuse Shadow's double. He laughed as he towered over Super Shadow. Super Shadow charged up his first attack, "This is for all the people you ever harmed!"
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Sonic, Rouge, and Elle ran down a hallway dodging tentacles as they burst through the walls. Sonic held onto Elle's wrist to keep her from running back to Shadow. He didn't want to keep her like this, but he felt he needed to respect Shadow's wishes.
"Listen, do you hear that?", Rouge asked theother two as theygot to a door.
It was the sound of fighting, it seems like the Black Arms were losing judging by the sounds of cheers from Knuckles and everyone else. Sonic stopped running and put his hands behind his head, causing Rouge to stop…
"What's wrong-?", Rouge began to say when see noticed that Sonic wasn't holding onto Elle, "WHERE'S ELLE?"
Sonic smiled, "…She got away…"
Rouge looked worried and then smiled. The two looked at each other and then back down the way they came. They knew where Elle was going, they knew Elle was going to bring victory, but how was their main question…
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Black Doom finally completed his transformation, which caused the roof of the room to fall apart, leaving more room for combat for the father and son. He towered over Shadow in a form similar to Devil Doom, except many tentacles had attached to him now, he also didn't have his third eye. Shadow looked at him and then smiled, "Are you trying to scare me, Black Doom?"
"Yes…but lets see if you can avoid THIS", Black Doom yelled as he swung hisfist at Shadow.
He aimed his fist at Shadow, who burst into the air easily avoiding Black Doom's attack. As he stopped in mid air, he finally shot his charged attack at Black Doom. The Chaos Spear went straight at Black Doom's face. It slammed into the creatures face and caused a explosion…silence. Shadow remained in the air focused for any surprise attack by Black Doom.
"Is…that it?", Shadow asked himself.
"No…not QUITE!", Black Doom yelled as a fist came at Shadow.
Catching Shadow by surprise, the fist smacked Shadow into the wall. Shadow slowly opened his left eye in time to see another fist come at him. Shadow flew higher to barely avoid the attack, but wasn't able to take notice of Black Doom's next attack…his own Chaos Spear. The attack crashed into Shadow and caused him to once again slam into the wall. He remained on the wall until he once again took flight…
"…Your faster…", Shadow said.
"…Yes and stronger", Black Doom said, "You can't even keep track of what's going on! You're weak!"
Shadow put his right hand on his shoulder, "Alright, I admit you're stronger, but I will stop you!"
"How to expect to stop someone who created the Ultimate Life Form!", Black Doom asked.
Shadow shook his head, "…Still blind?"
Suddenly a tentacle rushed out of the walls and grabbed Shadow's left hand. Another did the same only it grabbed his right hand, thentwo moreto both of his legs. Shadow tried to break free, but the tentacles showed surprising strength as they held onto Shadow. Black Doom took advantage of the moment by breathing hard and then releasing fire at Shadow. Shadow watched in horror as it came at him…
"Damn…", Shadow thought as the flames engulfed him.
A large fireball fell hardinto the ground…it didn't move. Black Doom watched impatiently for any signs of life. Black Doom finally raised both his hands in celebration.
"YES! THE BLACK TRAITOR IS DEAD!", he yelled.
"Now begins the chance to begin building my Empire! I will crush Sonic and his friends, then I will kill all the humans! No one on this planet will live to see the rise of the greatest Empire the universe has ever seen!"
"…Trying to cause genocide now, Black Doom?", a familiar voice asked.
Black Doom looked around and then put his focus on the fireball on the ground. A surge of power appeared that completely stopped the flames. There stood Shadow with his usual frown.
"You can't harm me when I'm in this state, Black Doom!", Shadow yelled.
Black Doom roared and then yelled, "I WILL SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL!", when he tried again with a fire attack at Shadow.
Shadow held out his hand and tried to block the attack. The heat of the flames were not the problem for Shadow, instead the force of the attack seemed tomuch for him to handle. Shadow was being forced back into the wall again, he couldn't stop it. Shadow looked at Black Doom and noticed he was launching more flames at him. "I can't…stop…them all", Shadow thought. Thinking fast, Shadow charged up a Chaos Spear and fired it through the flames in hope that it will stop them.
The energy stopped the first flame, but the others were heading toward Shadow. He jumped up into the air to avoid the first wave, thenhe was forced to dash to the left to avoid the second wave. Shadow took refuge behind a large rock formation. He stood with the rock at his back and waited, sure enough Black Doom's claws went right through the rock and barely missed Shadow. Shadow ducked and jumped away from the rock formation and yelled "Chaos Control!".
Shadow increased his speed faster than the speed of light as he rushed at Black Doom. He charged up a attack and then punched Black Doom in the spot where he was missing his third eye. The attack seemed to have a effect on the alien as he jerked his head back in pain. As Black Doom reacted to the pain, Shadow flew back and charged for a Chaos Spear. He released the attack as Black Doom removed his hands, the attackstruckinto him and caused even more pain for the monster.
"DAMN YOU, SHADOW!", he yelled, "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
Shadow frowned, "I'm barely hurting him! I need to find a way to destroy him, but how do I harm such a creature who is mostly invincible? I doubt attacking the same spot will work…"
Black Doom moved his large hands away from his third eye, "…I no longer have that major weakness, Shadow! It still pains me, but I will not die by such attacks anymore! NOW BURN TO DEATH!"
The alien leader launched another wave of flames at Shadow. He once again raised his hands in defense. He doubted that he could stop them again, so he closed his eyes. "I can't stop it…", he thought as the flames got closer. Just as the flames got closer a voice rang out to Shadow…
"SHADOW!", the voice yelled.
Shadow suddenly had a surge of power as the flames slammed into his palms and he then canceled the flame out. He did the same to the other waves as they collided with Shadow. He stood straight up and looked to the source of the voice. It was Elle who was stand a few feet from the powered up hedgehog.
"Elle?", Shadowasked in confusion.
"Shadow…we can stop him!", Elle said.
Shadow shook his head, "You shouldn't be here! You should've gotten to safety with Sonic and Rouge!"
"No…I'm needed here, Shadow", Elle said, "When I'm near you and Maria…I'm stronger…and I can make you stronger too because we three have a powerful bond!"
"Elle…"
"…Shadow"
"Enough!", Black Doom yelled, "You two are foolish! No can stop me! NOW DIE!"
He held back his head and then launched a large beam of energy at Shadow and Elle. Elle ran up to Shadow and stood in front of him. Shadow looked at Elle and knew she wouldn't leave, he smiled and then tapped Elle on the shoulder.
"Listen…hold on to me…and lend me your strength…", Shadow said.
"…Maria can make it happen", Elle said as she hugged Shadow.
Shadow smiled, "Thank you, Elle". The beam of energy got closer to Shadow and Elle, the hedgehog got ready for his and Elle's struggle to fight the beam. It finally collided with Shadow's hands and now began to force its power on the super hedgehog. Shadow struggled with the blast and he knew Elle was too. The two were now being forced back.
"…Hold on, Elle!", Shadow yelled closing his eyes.
"…Shadow…Maria!", Elle yelled.
"Shadow! Elle!", Maria yelled, "Shadow listen…you have to fight…you must stop Black Doom! I know you can finally stop him, you have to believe. Elle is with you…together with my last bit of strength, youcan stop him and give the people of the planet Earth a chance to live their dreams and their lives. You can give the people of the planet to learn the good of Project: Shadow, you can help them understand what my Grandfather wanted. You can give Elle a chance to live happily…GIVE HER A CHANCE…GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE!"
Shadow opened his eyes and then looked down at Elle as she looked up. She smiled and hugged Shadow tighter. Shadow felt his power growing for one last chance for victory. Shadow slowly forced the beam back as he made room for his last attack. A large ball of light appeared in front of Shadow's hands and it glowed…much more than any of Shadow's other powers. He knew what he must do…
"NO MORE WILL YOU HARM ANYONE, BLACK DOOM!", Shadow yelled.
"WHAT?", Black Doom yelled.
"CHAOS…WAVE!", Shadow and Elle yelled together.
The wave burst forward and completely broke through Black Doom's attack. As it got closer, all Black Doom could do was wait for it to hit…he couldn't stop it. The wave grow larger and wider as it got closer to the alien until it was able to engulf him completely. The monster yelled as thewave overwhelmed him and blasted through the Black Comet…all Shadow and Elle cared about was if Sonic and everyone else gotout in time. Shadow and Elle closed their eyes as the flash of the attack was too much…
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Outside the Black Comet…
Sonic, Tails, and everyone else watched a large wave of energy blast out of the comet. The entire comet was collapsing from the power, it was a sight to behold from the ones who saw it. Their main concern was if Shadow and Elle were able to get out, though…
"That's the end of Black Doom", Sonic said.
"What about Shadow and Elle?", Rougesaid as she turned to Sonic.
Sonic didn't answer, but Knuckles spoke up, "I'm sure they got out in time…"
Everyone shielded their eyes at this moment. Finally the flash died down…after the dust settled everyone else looked up. Sonic smiled immediately, up in the sky was Shadow holding Elle in his arms. Everyone watched a light float around Shadow and Elle.
"Thank you, Shadow…Elle", Maria's spirit said.
"Where are you going to go, Maria?", Shadow asked.
"Shouldn't you…return to your…", Elle began to ask.
"No…I no longer have a body…I think I should remain at the Space Colony Ark…", Maria's spirit suggested.
Shadow closed his eyes, "I'll never get to be with you in that state…I could never die…"
"…I know, but Iwill stay there…", Maria's spirit said.
"Why?", Elle asked.
"It seems to be the only place that I will never break apart…it's the only way...", Maria's spirit responded.
"…Will it be okay if we can visit?", Elle asked.
"Yes…", Maria's spirit answered, "but how…?"
"I can always Chaos Control…", Shadow answered.
"That's good…I need to go, I'm starting to fall apart here on the planet…goodbye Shadow…and you too little Elle", Maria's spirit said as it spun around the two and in shoot up further up in the sky.
Shadow raised one of his hands and released the Chaos Emeralds. The Emeralds circled Shadow and Elle as they began to repair themselves to their original shape. The Emeralds finally separated around the world. With this event, Shadow and Elle began to fall, but Shadow slowed their descend. The two looked down and noticed that everyone was waiting.
As they got closer, Shadow yelled, "Thanks for waiting, but I thought it wasn't your style, Sonic!"
As Shadow and Elle landed, Sonic said, "…You're right, Shadow"
"SONIC!", someone yelled.
Everyone turned and as usual, it was Amy being followed by the G.U.N Commander and Cream.
"Are the Black Arms gone?", she asked.
"Yep", Sonic answered.
Amy stopped, "You guys did it…I'm sure you did a lot, Shadow"
Shadow coughed, "…Right…"
"MR. SHADOW DID IT!", Cream yelled as she ran and tackled Shadow.
Shadow landed on his back as Cream sat on him. He wasn't angry, instead he was amused.
"…Is this what I get for being a hero?", Shadow asked Sonic.
"…Most of the time…I get chased Amy, but hey being tackled by someone actually seems fun…", Sonic said.
Cream got off of Shadow and he got up. He brushed himself off and looked at the G.U.N Commander. He smiled and so did Shadow.
"…Once again you have proved me wrong, Shadow…", the Commander said.
"…Well", Shadow said.
Tails walked forward, "…Hey…what about Elle She needs to have Legal Guardians?"
The Commander thought for a moment, "Well…we would have to find someone…and then sign papers..."
Shadow smiled, "…If she is on United Federation soil…"
Everyone looked at Shadow. It was true that Sonic and his friend's homes really didn't have a government to have such a long process of appointing Legal Guardians. Everyone else knew what Shadow was thinking.
"…Can I?", Elle asked the Commander.
"…Yes", he answered.
Sonic nodded, "Well there you have it! Come on guys, lets go and show Elle our homes!"
"Alright!", Amy, Cream, and Tails yelled.
Everyone turned toleave when they saw Eggman standing there.
"…Doctor?", Shadow said.
He looked at them and then pulled out radio, "All Egg Pawns…return to the base…", he said as he turned to leave.
"See ya, Eggman!", Sonic yelled waving.
Without turning around as he walked, he motioned his hand in the usual way and left.
Knuckles looked confused, "Today has been just plain crazy!"
Shadow closed his eyes, "…Well today wasn't Elle's kind of Birthday she wanted…"
Everyone looked at Shadow. He opened his eyes and smiled, he turned to Elle who smiled.
"How did you know?", Elle asked.
"I still remember what I read on your file…come on, lets celebrate", Shadow said.
Everyone began to follow the Commander back to the G.U.N ships. Elle started to follow, but stopped and turned to Shadow who was looking up at the sky. She walked up and held up her arm like Shadow.
"Sayonara…Maria Robotnik", the two said together as they turned to leave…
Chapter 14! Well there you have it! All is done...just one more…HAVE A NICE DAY!