.:Chapter 14:.

Demon!

"Shadow. Shadow wake up . . . Shadow!"

Shadow woke with a start, sweat streaking down his forehead, his eyes fraught with terror and anguish.

"Maria . . . " he breathed in a trembling voice. "No . . . Maria . . . "

Slowly his heart stopped pounding as he remembered where he was. Khare knelt before him, gazing at him quietly.

"You were dreaming," she said finally. "dreaming of Maria . . . You kept screaming her name . . . and about the promise you made her . . . "

The black hedgehog groaned and rubbed his head. "Only a nightmare I relive every time I sleep . . . when I do sleep."

There was an attempt to sound hard, but Shadow could not hide the horror trapped within his crimson eyes.

"Are you all right?" Khare asked.

Shadow looked at her as though the answer were obvious. Then suddenly he lowered his head miserably. "I can't take it . . . constantly seeing her death over and over again . . . feeling that same agony . . . of falling with no one there to catch me . . . will it never cease?"

Sympathy clenched Khare's heart once more. "Have you ever tried to fight it?"

He only nodded slowly. "Long, long ago . . . but it just won't quit . . . It's no use . . . life will always be a doom to me now . . . Do you know why immortality isn't meant to be? Because no matter what, we could never live on endlessly . . . eventually we will all have seen enough, and just want to turn our backs. The only reason I do live on now, besides the fact that I cannot die, is to fulfill the promise I made to Maria."

Kim tried to remember the exact words Shadow had spoken about Maria's last wish. "For all people on the planet . . . give them a chance . . . "

"That's right . . . " Shadow nodded, swallowing hard.

" . . . But fighting on Naugus's side doesn't give anyone a chance," the girl said suddenly. "He's out to destroy this whole planet."

"He's out to destroy all who stand in his path." Shadow retorted.

"Which is basically the whole of Mobius."

"What does it matter?" he inquired. "They've done nothing for me . . . The only one who has is Naugus. He'll give her back to me."

"Why does it matter?" Khare asked incredulously. "Because it's what Maria wanted, that's why. Didn't you just say that was the reason who had the strength to live on?"

"If the whole of this planet is fighting to stop Maria from coming back to me, no. If you people wish to fight that, then I shall fight back with everything I've got. And you all've yet to see my true power."

Khare sighed. "If only you could see how blind you are Shadow . . . "

Again the dark hedgehog turned suspicious eyes upon her. He found himself asking again and again why it was she even cared to discuss such things . . . about what was right and what was wrong, about how to relieve his pain and give Maria what she wished for. "Why do you give me pity?" he asked. "I don't understand . . . what gives you reason to pity me? What is it you want?"
"You can pity someone without wanting something, Shadow . . . All I'm trying to do is help."

He turned his head away sadly. "You're only wasting your time then."

"Am I?" she asked. "Or do you not want anyone to help you?"
Shadow fell silent for a moment. Then he answered simply, "Only those who can do something for me."

Khare's eyes narrowed. "So that's it? You only want something when it benefits you?"

"That's the reason we make deals."

"Shadow, have you fogotten what love is?"

"We've been through this already, don't taunt me!" he answered sharply. "And it doesn't matter . . . love just dies in the end too . . ."

"Love never dies as long as you believe in it. And you don't believe in it anymore . . . do you?"

Shadow could only narrow his hard eyes into slits and curl his lip, but he could find no words to speak. Again he was defeated by this girl's words.

Suddenly, and without any warning at all, he turned and dashed right out of the chamber, disappearing into the white world beyond.

"Shadow!" Khare called after him. But he was gone.

Sadly she shook her head.

"Will nothing help him?"

"Only certain things can, dear girl. But precious few."

Kimberly jumped at the sound of Naugus's voice. Whirling around, she suddenly found herself face-to-face with the dark wizard himself, his red eyes blazing into hers.

"What did you say?" she asked, trying not to show fear as she gazed into eyes that knew nothing but evil.

"You asked if nothing could help him," Naugus repeated. "And I said that only certain things can, but precious few. There is one thing that can help bring him back, and he's been saying it all along."

"You mean bringing Maria back . . . " she replied, now beginning to glare at him.

"That's right," Naugus smirked, and then he chuckled sinisterly. "Such a pity the poor fool will be let down again, eh?"

All of a sudden Khare rounded on Naugus, facing him fearlessly and coldly. "I knew it . . . You good-for-nothing betrayer . . . Why is it you've targeted him?"

"Because he plays such a key part in my plan, my dear," came Naugus's swift reply. "Not simply because of his power, but because of the psychology involved. Have I not told you how intricate this plan is?"

"Psychology?" Khare asked, tilting her head and pricking her ears. "What do you mean?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets," said Naugus. "And besides, what does it mean to you what I do to Shadow? He's one of the 'bad guys' remember?"

"He's not bad," answered Khare. "Deep down he's good--I can see it. The only reason he's cold and emotionless is because of his past. And for Mobius's sake he's suffered enough!"

Naugus perked a brow at her and laughed. "You certainly do have a soft spot for him, don't you? No, my dear, no one can truly suffer enough. Not until they're dead."

"But Shadow cannot die . . ."

"Exactly. And that makes it all the more pleasurable."

"You're disgusting!"

"Why thank you, my dear," grinned the wizard. "Come now, there's no use trying to hide your emotions, Khare. I can sense everything you think and feel. Tell me, what are your true wishes?"

"I'll tell you what my true wishes are," she retorted. "I wish for you to leave Shadow alone! I'm not going to let him be hurt again . . . He's not like you and Kaligarr. He's not evil and cruel."

"Why? Because he lost his dearest friend and because no one else has ever loved him? Oh boohoo . . . " Naugus put his hand over his eyes in mock sorrow. "Poor fool. He has no idea how his need for love and compassion blinds him!"

"No!" Khare cried suddenly, her golden eyes blazing like the light of a thousand stars. "You faceless coward! You attack those who are weak and vulnerable! If you were a real villain, you'd face those who could fight back!"

"That's how the game of war is played, dear girl. Take your opponents down and show no mercy."

"I'm warning you, Naugus!" Khare snarled, her ears pinning flat against her head. "Don't you dare hurt Shadow!"

"Tell me, Khare, why shouldn't I? Just answer that question."

Khare tossed her head and tried to stand strong before Naugus, but he had pinned her. It wouldn't matter what she said anyway, for the wizard could tell what went through her head, sense her every thought.

Finally she dropped her gaze and sighed. " . . . Because I care about him . . . No one's ever shown him care of love . . . And he's been through too much. Why can't you just let him go?"

Naugus scratched his chin, a cunning glitter coming into his red eyes. "Well . . . perhaps I could . . . for a price."

"A price?" Khare asked, furrowing her brows at him. "What price?"

"How about making a deal?" Naugus asked with a sly smile. "If you agree, I'll let Shadow go and he'll be free of harm."

The girl leered at him suspiciously. "For what?"

"For your power, Khare," came his answering hiss. "You possess far greater powers within you than you can ever know, just as Shadow said. Your psychic powers can aid me greatly."

"I can't trust you!" she snorted. "How do I know you won't just go behind my back and hurt him anyway? Tell him there's no bringing Maria back and make him your slave! What kind of fool do you take me for?"

"Fine, go ahead," shrugged Naugus. "I can't stop you. But Shadow is mine. Oh, yes, and if you allow me to use Shadow for his power, he will not be the only one to suffer."

Suddenly Ixis Naugus turned to the wall of ice behind him, and waved his hand through the air. Seconds later an image appeared and Khare gasped. There, before her, was Trau and Cyan. Cyan was lying on her side with a deathly ill paleness to her skin, her eyes closed wearily and her breathing shallow. Meanwhile Trau's eyes suddenly ignited into flames and she abruptly turned on the Freedom Fighters in the distance, and seconds later the entire picture exploded into fire. Khare's eyes went wide.

"If you say no," Naugus growled. "You'll never see your friends again--including Shadow. But if you cooperate, none of them will he harmed. I need them alive. So you have two choices, my dear. Either give yourself to me . . . or the ones you love must suffer. What'll it be?"

Suddenly all the courage that had been in Khare's eyes previously shattered into helplessness. Sadly she gazed at the ice pictures again, and then thought of Shadow, Trau and Cyan . . . She didn't want to trust Naugus at all, but she couldn't let her friends pay. It was either her or them.

"You'll have to promise me one thing," she said lowly, hanging her head in despair.

"Certainly. What is it you demand?"

"Do not do anything to harm my friends behind my back. And I mean promise, Naugus. Promise or there will be consequences." Somewhere within the nearby shadows a spectral pair of golden eyes flickered . . .

Naugus nodded slowly, though there was a glimmer of cunning cloaked beneath his promising assurance--one Khare could not see in her desperation. "Your friends shall be completely safe. Now, do we have a deal, my dear?"

There was a slight hesitation in Khare's eyes. Her mind was racing, trying to find some other way to work around this . . . . to keep both her friends and herself safe . . . but there seemed to be no way out. She couldn't outsmart Naugus . . . not when he was aware of everything in her head, of everything in Sanctuary and beyond. It was no use . . . he had trapped her. She had to do the right thing, by the oath of the Freedom Fighters.

At last she turned her eyes back to up Naugus, and held her hand out.

"Very well."

"Excellent!" Naugus grinned, his eyes turning to pinpoints of fire. "You've made a very wise choice, Khare! So now the deal is sealed!"

Suddenly he clutched her hand in his, and instantly a white light surrounded Khare, and she abruptly fell to her knees. Slowly the light and color drained from her eyes, and her violet skin became ghostly pale. Suddenly everything--all her conscious thought, all her memories, all her very emotions--completely disappeared. It was if they had vanished into thin air. Naugus's evil laughter soon filled the ice chamber, and when the energy surrounding Khare finally subsided, no longer was she the loyal friend and follower of the Freedom Fighters, a true living soul who could feel and care and love . . . but an emotionless slave . . .

"Now, Khare!" Naugus exclaimed gleefully. "I can take down the third and final component of my master plan! Come, we attack now!"

Suddenly two blazing, leering orbs of gold pierced the darkness of the chamber, hungry, dangerous, deadly.

"It's impossible, Sonic," Uncle Chuck shook his head. "We'll never be able to escape the Void . . . it's spreading too fast, and even if we did manage to get to the mouth of the Void, its pull would be too great to escape without your speed."

"Unc, we gotta do something and now," Sonic argued. "She's getting worse, can't you see?"

Again Cyan had had a fever, and though it wasn't quite as high as the first time, it was still severe enough to put her into a delirium. She lay sleeping close to where the group had gathered, Dulcy's great tail curled about her to help keep her warm. Luckily the medicine had put her fever down, but the illness was progressing nevertheless. When she was awake, Cyan hardly had the strength to lift her head. Her eyes had been clouded and blank, and her skin was so pallid and gray that she could almost blend in with the snow around her.

"It's like you said, Unc," Sonic went on desperately. "She'll die! We've got to get her and the others out of here. Let me go after Naugus. I can catch him, Chuck!"

"All on your own, Sonic?" his uncle asked, looking hard at him. "Knowing Naugus he'll have tons of surprises waiting for you . . . especially when his magic is combined with the Chaos Emeralds."

"I've taken him down before, and I can do it again. I'm not gonna put anyone in danger anymore, Unc. And I'm not gonna let Jess die . . ."

"If you're going, them I'm going too," Trau said suddenly. "He's hurt one of my friends, and now the other one's possibly dying because of him. I won't let him get away with it!"

"And I'll fight by your side too," Nihara added. "Any enemy of the Freedom Fighters is an enemy of mine."

"And you can count me in too," said Knuckles. "I'm not gonna just sit here and let Naugus destroy the Floating Island and the planet Mobius."

"Very well," Sonic answered. "You can come with me, but we have to get Cyan and everyone else out. We need to help the people outside of the Void, and we need to save as much as the Freedom Fighters as possible."

"But there's still the question of how to get out of the Void," said Rotor. "Uncle Chuck is right. Without a very high speed to propel us out of the Void's pull, we'll never get out."

"The distance will be too great for you to get us out and then go back, Sonic," Dulcy added. ". . . And even then we couldn't outrun it the way it's spreading."

"Is there no hope?" Antoine groaned miserably.

The Freedom Fighters sighed in frustration and hung their heads.

"I told you the answer is obvious . . . " said Uncle Chuck lowly.

The others looked at him.

"Chaos Control. Think about it. If we just recreate the link between Mobius and Earth, and successfully send Jessica back, it's like none of this ever happened. It'll be outside the Void, and her illness should recover instantly, because it's not of her world."

"We can't send her back!" Sonic cried.

"Sonic, it's the only way!" his uncle pleaded. "I'm sorry, but there just no other answer . . . we can't outrun the Void, and if we keep her here any longer she'll die! We have to send her back!"

"Send me back?"

Suddenly everyone turned at Cyan's feeble voice. The girl was looking at them with bewildered, sickly eyes, shaking.

"No . . . no . . . I can't . . . "

"Cy, take it easy," said Sonic.

But Cyan's eyes had gone wide with her very greatest fear, and she was shaking her head slowly. "No . . . I'll never . . . I'll never go back . . . Never!"

Sonic and the others gathered round her to calm her down, but she trembled uncontrollably and pulled away.

"You can't make me go back!" she cried hysterically. "I won't! I can't! I'll die!"

"No one's making you go back," Sonic assured her, squeezing her hand.

Cyan pressed her head against his shoulder. "I'd rather die than go back . . . I'd rather be sick . . . I'd rather die! Please don't send me back . . . My world his here . . . I belong here! This world has made all my dreams come true . . . I can't leave it . . . I can never leave it! I have everything that I've ever wished for . . . I'll never wish for anything again if I can stay where I belong! Please! Please!"

She held onto Sonic as though her life depended on it, and there wasn't a Freedom Fighter there who didn't feel a terrible sense of hopelessness. It seemed everywhere they turned only led to a dead end. Were they truly trapped?

Suddenly, somewhere within the surrounding forests, a dark shape drifted through the trees swiftly. Snow fell from the treetops, and soon an air of foreboding descended upon the woodland.

Trau suddenly looked up.

"What is it?" Knuckles asked her.

" . . . Listen . . . " was all she said.

For a second he listened silently, then he replied, "I don't hear anything . . ."

"Exactly. Even the wind seems to have stopped . . . can't you feel the change in the air?"

Now everyone had overhead the conversation, and they had all fell silent. Indeed the air felt different . . . heavier, darker . . . and words seemed to whisper through the eerie silence.

"There is no escape . . . Today I shall take the final power, and then the Freedom Fighters shall finally fall!"

Sonic looked around warily, for danger was near. Beside him Cyan shook nervously. The others huddled close to one another, unsure of where to look for the threat that lingered so frightfully close . . .

Less than fifty yards away, there was a striking darkness against the snow, and two bloodthirsty eyes peering out from the trees . . . A great black beast lay crouched within the shadows, his muscles coiled, his claws clenching the ground beneath him. Despite his massive size, he made not a sound as he flexed the gigantic muscles in his shoulders and flicked his long, forked tail back and forth. And then, suddenly, he rose and surged forward with startling speed, going faster and faster!

Suddenly Sonic jumped to his feet and yelled, "Look out!"

Right at that very moment the black demon sprung from the trees with a thunderous roar that shattered the silence. The Freedom Fighters recoiled in horror as the beast landed barely six feet away, the impact of his landing sending the snow flying in a great plume about the pitch blackness of his fur. And when they looked into the red eyes of the demon before them, they gasped in astonishment.

"Vren!"

At the mention of his name Vren curled his lips to reveal the fearsome set of teeth, the huge fangs dripping venom as he snarled.

"That's Vren?" Trau asked.

"That's what Vren used to be . . ." said Sonic.

"What exactly is Vren?" Knuckles asked.

"A demon, my friend," came Naugus's voice suddenly. "One of the most powerful demons in the universe."

The group whirled around to find Naugus standing on the opposite side of the camp, Kaligarr, Shadow, and Khare at his side.

"Naugus!" Sonic growled, his eyes flaming. "What did you do to him?"

"Why, I've improved him, Quickster. Honestly, did you really think a big, white fluffy puppy would suit my purposes? No, I thought it was time to return him to his true self!"

"You idiot!" Trau snarled suddenly. "How many more do you plan to corrupt! First Kim, and now Vren! Are you responsible for making Cy sick too!"

When Naugus saw Trau before him, he smirked devilishly. "The one who wields the ultimate power of destruction . . . Yes, I guess you could say that the girl has fallen deathly ill because of me."

Suddenly Sonic's blood turned to fire. "You . . . "

"But you see," Naugus went on fearlessly. "As she grows weaker, I grow stronger. Like I said before, my friends, to truly return, I'll need a life force. Well, even you all can guess who I've chosen for that task."

Like a stroke of lightning Sonic was tearing across the snow after Naugus, pure, unbridled fury glowing in his eyes. But Naugus only smirked and disappeared, only to reappear behind him while Kaligarr and Vren growled in challenge.

"What's the matter, hedgehog? Can you feel the anger welling within you?"

"I wouldn't exactly call it anger," Trau snarled, her fangs bared. "More like may the Chaos Emeralds have mercy on your soul . . ."

Naugus cackled. "Is that so? Well, let's see how you like this. Remember your friend called Kimberly? Well, now, just like Vren, she has become one of us."

Everyone turned to Khare who was standing beside Shadow, glaring hatefully at them all, her eyes totally blank of all emotion except for disdain.

"Kim?" Cyan asked fearfully.

"No, no," said Naugus, shaking his finger. "No longer is she Kim, but one of my faithful minions. Khare, let's give them a little demonstration. Summon the emeralds."

Khare quickly raised her arms, and then threw them back, and within a matter of seconds, the seven sacred gems and their master appeared before her.

"No, Kim!" Cyan gasped.

"The emeralds!" Sonic suddenly wheeled around and tried to reach the stones, but all of a sudden Vren and Kaligarr barred his path, and a furious wall of energy abruptly shot up around the Chaos Emeralds, forming an impenetrable forcefield.

"Ah, ah, ah," Naugus was simply eating up their mounting fury and confusion. "The Chaos Emeralds are mine now, and only do my bidding." Suddenly he laughed maniacally, and the wind suddenly picked up again, roaring past them in a raging storm. "You are lost, Freedom Fighters! Today I shall take the ultimate power, and use it to totally conquer this world! And then I'll be completely unstoppable!"

Sonic tossed his head in fury, and Trau suddenly found herself trembling with rage. Her eyes almost seemed to glow . . .

"You've taken my friends . . . Taken the ones I loved, and hurt them!"

The gusts of wind intensified as she raised her voice, and the skies above grew darker.

"Yes," Naugus hissed, his eyes fixed on her alone. "Let the anger possess you, let it fill your heart and soul!"

Something terrible was happening . . . Trau's eyes seemed to turn to living fire, and the Chaos Emeralds suddenly began to glow intensely, revolving around the Master Emerald slowly at first, but then rapidly picking up speed.

The Freedom Fighters backed away fearfully.

"Trau, what's wrong?" Knuckles asked, but she suddenly couldn't hear him.

She couldn't hear anything around her, nor could she see anything--she only saw Naugus, and the bubbling rage within her threatened to explode. Slowly a red energy began to flicker around her, and Sonic's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

"She's harnessing the power of the emeralds . . . "

"What?" Knuckles asked, and he turned to the stones that were now glowing and spinning so fast that they had become mere blurs against the giant Master Emerald. Even the Master Emerald itself was glowing now, and its brightness only continued to intensify.

Cyan suddenly pulled herself back with what little strength she had, her eyes filling with utter terror. "Oh no . . . "

Naugus only laughed as he watched the fear spread through the Freedom Fighters, and the energy around Trau turn from red to a blinding silver.

"Yes! Yes! Absorb the power! Let your fury engulf you!"

In response to his commands, the red markings on Trau's body suddenly turned silver as well, and she trembled as the furious power of the emeralds fused with her already surging anger. All sense of control had long left her eyes as they too turned to an eerie, brighter-than-sunlight silver, and the most hellacious look crossed her countenance as the energy suddenly flared up all around her. Her shaking fists clenched at her sides, and suddenly she rose into the air, all the while the winds blowing harder and faster, the emeralds glowing brighter. Her dreads grew long, falling well past her feet, and all of a sudden there came an enormous explosion of energy as she abruptly plunged straight at Naugus, her face contorted in the purest form a wrath and hatred that ever existed.

Instantly the Freedom Fighters scattered in terror. The wind speed from both the storm and Trau's charging plummet nearly pinned them all to the ground. Sonic rushed over to Cy's side and shouted above the roaring gale, "Get down!"

Dulcy curled herself around the Freedom Fighters to help shelter them from the winds, and desperately they clung on so as not to be blown away. The only one who remained in the open was Knuckles, who was petrified by Trau's ghastly change.

He stood rigid, his eyes wide with horror. He could only watch silently as Trau came flying toward the ground with breakneck speed, the energy about her flaming like silver fire.

"Knuckles!" Sonic yelled furiously. "Get down now!"

But it was too late. A fraction of a second later a massive explosion nearly threw the Guardian off of his feet, and the white world that had surrounded the Freedom Fighters before was suddenly stained red. Sonic and the others ducked down to avoid the flying debris and the wind as it surged past faster than one hundred miles per hour. Knuckles dug his fists into the snow to hang on, the gales, flying snow and hot energy stinging at his eyes. Amid the chaos, however, he managed to get a glimpse of the cloud of smoke and fire that now blazed before them despite the cold.

For a moment neither Trau nor Naugus could be seen, but suddenly Trau tore through the billowing smoke, looking left and right with bared fangs, a deadly threat in her eyes.

"Trau . . ." he gasped.

Suddenly Naugus cackled and reappeared a few feet away from the fire. "I'm afraid not even your incredible Hyper form can harm me, Trau. Not while I'm still in my spectral state."

With a blood-curdling snarl Trau rounded on him, her eyes locking onto the target, and then, like a bullet, she flung herself forward. Again Naugus disappeared and then reappeared, laughing insanely. And all the while Trau's fury mounted. Immediately she spun around and charged at him again, this time hurling an orb of blue energy straight at him. But once more Naugus was unharmed.

"Temper, temper," he smirked as he looked straight at the demon before him. "It's a pity all that glorious energy is wasted on an enemy who cannot be destroyed. But what happens if we use a little telekinesis?"

All of a sudden Khare appeared at his side, her eyes glowing through the winds. And then, a voice spoke inside Trau's head . . .

"You've waited so long for something you cannot have . . ."

For a brief second Trau paused, her eyes widening.

"What's he doing to her?" Knuckles asked, trying to see through the thickening gales that were whirling around them.

"Just like your pathetic friend there," and Naugus suddenly turned his gaze toward Cyan. "You've both been fooled. You've won nothing. You and the Guardian could never be together. There are others, Trau, who will just steal him from you."

"NO!" Trau suddenly shrieked, and the energy surrounding her abruptly exploded, whirling around her like a raging firestorm.

Viciously she hurled herself at Naugus and tore madly with her fists, but it was no use. Her attacks merely went straight through the sorcerer.

Trau's blood boiled when Naugus's laughter reached her ears.

"Ah, does that infuriate you? Well, how about I show you those things which you fear the most!"

Cyan had seen many looks of ferocity and pure, living hatred in her past. She had seen the eyes of her closest friends erupt into flames, and the wrathful blaze of Super Sonic's eyes that could burn a hole straight through someone's soul . . . but never had she seen such a look of raw, vehement rage that had come into Trau's eyes just then. It was indescribable . . . and it was so powerful that even she felt a painful twinge in her heart. Trau looked as if a blade of agony, horror, and intense hatred had pierced her very being, as if something inside her had suddenly come crashing down with a cataclysmic force that sent the emerald energy around her blasting in every direction . . . Suddenly the nearby trees were flattened to the ground as an enormous shockwave slashed across the land, booming like thunder when it slammed into the mountains. The earth itself seemed to tremble with hurt and rage . . . Cyan remembered gawking up at the friend who she now barely recognized, so wrecked with anguish and ferocity was she . . . she remembered for a second feeling all the breath leave her lungs as a terrible pain filled her as well. What had Naugus done to them? What had he done to her dearest friends? There was Khare, with no look of pity, no look of recognition or care in her eyes as she stood at Naugus's side like a slave. And there was Trau, who was suffering a form of torture that one could never even begin to describe. Then, all so fast, the world before Cyan and the other Freedom Fighters became a flaming hell.

The air itself seemed to turn to fire . . . mountains crumbled and explosions filled the skies with smoke and ash. The air that had before been nearly forty below suddenly heated to an unbearable intensity. Chaos and pandemonium erupted among the Freedom Fighters. Everything was moving so quick, but it all seemed to be a slow-motion blur to Cyan. She remembered seeing everyone around her suddenly scatter, or fall to the ground in flames . . . Then Sonic and Knuckles were rushing forward, shouting something she couldn't hear above the deafening roar of whirling energy and wind, and then, the air grew so hot and the sounds so loud that suddenly everything went black. The very last thing Cyan remembered seeing was a ball of energy hurtling toward them all. Then silence.

"Marvelous! I couldn't have dreamed of a better victory! Oh, I expected a victory, but never did I imagine I could pummel those Freedom Fighters so well! Isn't it marvelous, Shadow?"

Naugus stood before a wall of ice, smiling triumphantly as he saw what great damage Trau's energy eruption had caused across the Floating Island. Nearly the entire forest in the valley of the Emerald Mountains was leveled, and the Freedom Fighters, much to Naugus's pleasure, had been forced to retreat. The intensity of Trau's fierce attack had just been too much. Several had been seriously injured, and it was a miracle how they had managed to survive. Sonic had tried to counterattack by harnessing the Chaos Emeralds' power, but it was blocked--the energy couldn't reach him. Furiously he had ordered his comrades to get out of the death trap that raged around them, and only his speed and courage helped them all out alive. Poor Knuckles was dumbfounded and deeply troubled. Cyan was out cold and had suffered minor burns. And Sonic was enraged. Khare had been taken, Trau had been taken, Cyan, the one he loved more than anyone and whom he had just confessed that to was dying before his eyes, and the Freedom Fighters had suffered horrific blow in this war against evil. And all of this only served to feed Naugus's elation.

Meanwhile Shadow gazed at the pictures in disbelief and shock. Never had he seen such incredible destruction before . . . Nor so much fury. But there was thing suspicious about the whole ordeal . . . as pictures replayed the incident, he noticed that he was there the whole time, yet he had no recollection of anything that happened in the battle. Even stranger was the way Khare was acting . . . For he saw her too in the battle, and he would have thought that she'd immediately fight for her friends. But the girl did nothing. Nothing but stand there and watch . . . and help.

"It is impressive, sir," he said quietly. "but there's one thing I don't understand. Why is it that I have no memory of this battle, and all other incidents where we comfront the Freedom Fighters? And why is it that Khare basically has no emotion in the fight . . . I would have expected her to help her friends instead of us."

Naugus perked an eyebrow at him and shrugged. "Perhaps certain emotions trigger your mental black-outs. And as for the girl . . . well, perhaps she's just realized that darkness is where she truly belongs?"

Shadow shook his head. "That's awfully suspicious to me, sir. It seems highly unlikely that I'd just happen to have a black-out every time I come face-to-face with my enemies, and even stranger that Khare is acting odd."

The sorcerer turned slowly on Shadow, looking down on him coldly. "What is it you're saying, Shadow?"

"I'm saying that things are starting to look a little fishy," Shadow replied fearlessly, realizing as he looked back on the past experiences just how suspcious everything was. Suddenly he leered up at Naugus. "Tell me the truth, sir, have you had anything to do with these 'black-outs?'"

"I'm sure I do not know what you're talking about."

"And they didn't really start until I began working for you . . . " Shadow went on, all the while the glare on his face intensifying. "And that last black-out . . . it lasted just long enough for us to get to the battle, fight it, and then return. And Kaligarr--" suddenly he gasped. ". . . has hypnosis powers . . . "

All of sudden, faster than even Naugus could blink, Shadow was lunging straight at the wizard like a stroke of black lightning. The dark hedgehog tore right through Naugus, and if the sorcerer had had a bit more life force in him, he could have suffered a terrible hit. Shadow rounded on him furiously, his red eyes flaming, his teeth bared and ears flat.

"You tricked me!" he snarled. "You've had me hypnotised! Contained! I should have known . . . The girl told me all along--"

"Well, well, Shadow, you really do have the mind of a real life form," Naugus sneered suddenly. "not like some experiment created in a laboratory! I was beginning to wonder how long it'd take you to figure it out."

"You dare!" Shadow hissed. "You dare cross the path of the Ultimate Life Form!"

"Just because you have the ability to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds, and that elusive power called Chaos Control, doesn't mean you are truly ultimate, Shadow. No . . . before this is over, I shall be the ultimate life form here. I have harnessed total power of the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald, the psychic powers of Khare, the destructive wrath of Trau, and now I am gaining the life force of the very girl who helped make all this nonsense about Earth humans and Mobian creatures come together! My powers will destroy them once and for all!"

"You can't fight the Freedom Fighters without me," said Shadow. "I help keep control over the Chaos Emeralds, and Chaos Control is valuable to you too."

"Ha! I have Trau to harness all the emerald power I need. And as for Chaos Control, you forget my friend, that in Sanctuary I can teleport as I please. I no longer have to fear turning to crystal whenever I wish to comfront my enemies."

"Then why have you asked me to work with you in the first place!" Shadow cried.

"Because you helped me get the emeralds in the first place. But not only that--because of you, you miserable fool, I have Khare under my control."

"What?"

"That's right, Shadow. Khare decided that she didn't want to see you hurt when I told her there'd be no Maria, so she made a little deal with me."

The conniving glint in Naugus's eyes made Shadow tremble with rage.

"You! What have you done to her!"

"Oh . . . rid her of all emotion, free will?" Naugus shrugged innocently. "Nothing major."

Shadow could hardly believe what he was hearing. All along Khare had been right . . . He had been betrayed and hurt after all. Oh, why hadn't he listened to her?

"You'll pay, Naugus, you traitor! You'll pay!"

"Will I?" Naugus asked, cutting Shadow off. "And what do you plan to do? You can't defeat me, fool! You may have extraordinary power, but you will be no match against my magic now."

The sorcerer's red eyes blazed in challenge at Shadow, daring him to stand and fight. Desperately Shadow wanted to accept that challenge, and put this betrayer in his place. He wanted revenge! But Naugus was right . . . he was just too powerful, no matter what Shadow did. It would be unwise to fight him now . . . no . . . he would need reinforcements.

Suddenly Shadow whirled around and dashed off.

"That's right, Shadow!" Naugus called after him. "Run to those Freedom Fighters! They'll never accept you, and even if they did, your powers combined would never be enough to stop me!" He watched as Shadow disappeared amongst the wind and snow, and slowly a knowing smile crept across his face. "And have fun getting past the hellions."

Shadow made his way cautiously toward the eight legendary emeralds in the center of the great ice chamber ahead. He would need a Chaos Emerald to Chaos Control to the Freedom Fighters. Blending in with the surrounding shadows, the black hedgehog moved swiftly, quietly. On either side of the room where the containment chambers of Khare and Trau. He couldn't afford to attract their attention, for they had been set to attack anyone who drew too close to the emeralds.

He knew Kaligarr wouldn't be a problem, for shortly after arriving the griffin had taken one of his long rests. Shadow had slipped past him outside of the chambers without any difficulty. Kaligarr was still helping Naugus to hold Trau in check, but since he had assistance now when holding victims under his hypnosis, he could rest and still keep them under control at the same time. It was Khare who Shadow believed he'd have to worry about, for now she was under Naugus's spell and didn't need to be restrained.

Stealthily he crept along the right wall of the room. Just ahead was the giant Master Emerald, surrounded by the seven Chaos Emeralds. The Chaos Emeralds were spinning slowly around their controller, glowing brilliantly. Their power was being evenly distributed between Naugus and Trau, but since their full capacity wasn't in use, Shadow would have no trouble calling one of them. Inch by inch he advanced forward, untill he was less than seven feet away from the gems.

Somewhere in the darkness two deadly silver eyes were leering down upon the great chamber below. They were focused, unmoving, like the eyes of a predator. The only time they did move was when they followed the movements of their prey . . . Suddenly a set of gleaming fangs flashed through the blackness.

Shadow was now just beside the emeralds and was about to take one. For a second he paused and looked around, his every sense alert for danger. When he didn't sense anything, he reached for the red Chaos Emerald that was now nearing him, moving very slowly. He kept expecting something to leap out at him from the shadows, but one second passed without incident, and then another, then another . . . Then his fingers were upon the hot surface of the emerald.

The dark hedgehog opened his eyes in amazement. It couldn't have been that easy . . . but here he was, standing a foot away from the emeralds, and taking one of them without even being detected. Shadow didn't want to question the incredible luck he had. Quickly he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, calling the emerald's energy to him.

Then suddenly his body went rigid. He wasn't alone . . . He sensed a new presence suddenly, and frantically he looked up to see where the enemy was coming from. He saw no one, but he could feel them closing in on him with frightning speed. Then, suddenly, the emeralds before him began to flash, faster and faster until they glowed so furiously that Shadow had to shield his eyes. He didn't know who, but someone was rushing at him, and instantly he spun around to face the threat.

Then it came! Seemingly out of nowhere, a silver-and-black monster dashed out from the darkness and slammed into Shadow with such terrible force that he was sent crashing into the wall of ice, dropping the emerald he had stolen. For a brief moment he lay there stunned, but once he realized the emerald was gone, he shook his head vigorously and looked up to find the red stone just ahead of him . . . at the foot of the glowing figure who attacked him. Trau!

Immediately he flipped to his feet to face the unexpected opponent. Trau snarled furiously and without a second's warning drew her fist back and swung at Shadow. Quickly he swung aside, and Trau struck the wall behind him so hard that a huge portion of it collapsed. Seeing the emerald at her feet, Shadow made a mad dash toward it, summoning his greatest speed an agility. But Trau's wrath was not to be denied! With a lightning-quick reflex that only the Chaos Emeralds could enable, she twisted around and grabbed Shadow by the neck in a deadly-tight grip. Gasping for breath, Shadow fought to break free, but Trau's hold was like iron. With barely any effort at all, Trau swung Shadow upright and hurled him across the chamber.

The impact took the very breath from Shadow, but desperately he clambered to his feet, knowing that it would only take Trau a split second or less to reach him. He wasn't quick enough . . . Trau was upon him in a flash of black and silver, and viciously she mauled him, tearing at him with fists and teeth. Emerald energy made Trau's blows over a thousand times stronger than they normally were, and Shadow feared he would lose consciousness if he suffered a hit to the head.

Suddenly, with a great heave, Shadow hauled himself to his feet and whipped past Trau, making another dive for the emerald. But faster than light, Trau intercepted him and before even he could blink, she flipped him over her shoulder and embedded him into the hard ground. Again she mauled him with a hellish wrath, gouging at his eyes and ripping at his skin till he was bruised and bleeding all over. Madly Shadow fought her, kicking and swinging back at her with all his might, but his blows didn't even affect this monstrous demon! Shadow could only rely on his speed to escape Trau's fury.

He endured the horrible beating for a good five minutes. Had he been any mortal, Trau would have killed him within seconds, if even. Shadow was in great pain, but he refused to give up. Finally he saw a chance to move past Trau! She swung with her left arm, but merely clipped Shadow's head, and although the blow was painful, it allowed him room to escape. Mustering his last reserve of strength, he dove forward and rolled past Trau. One more time he reached for the emerald, but one more time was rammed by Trau and sent sprawling on the ground. No one would get away with stealing her power source!

It was no use . . . Trau was just too strong, too fast for him to outwit. He would have to try something else to escape . . . Otherwise he would suffer greatly.

Suddenly getting an idea, Shadow moved for the red emerald again. Trau snarled in rage and barred his path. Then, just as abruptly, Shadow whirled around and lunged for the other six Chaos Emeralds, hardly taking any time to think or breathe. He could spare not a fraction of a second--Trau was already pursuing him with terrifying speed, and soon would have him! Exhausted and beaten, Shadow stumbled forward clumsily, and felt for sure he'd miss. But then, somehow, his hand fell upon one of the emeralds. Shadow didn't waste a second--in a hysterical desperation he fought to find enough breath to call upon Chaos Control.

Then he saw the black-and-silver streak that was Trau flying toward him, and out of instinct he flinched, bracing himself for the agonizing blow that would come . . . But the seconds passed, and remarkably, no blow came. Slowly, nervously, Shadow peered up, and what he found surprised him. Trau was barely a foot away from him, but she had stopped dead in her tracks. She only glared at him coldly, a low snarl rumbling within her throat.

Shadow was suspicious . . . why had she stopped attacking him? He had a Chaos Emerald--the very sources of her incredible power. Yet there she stood, eerily silent, eerily still. Painfully slowly, he gripped the emerald tighter, hardly daring to breathe. Still Trau didn't move. His eyes locked on her, Shadow inhaled, preparing to give the Chaos Emerald the command. Trau was still as stone. Shadow didn't understand what was going on--why the bloody battle between them had so suddenly ceased . . . but he couldn't allow her to resume. With his remaining strength he spoke to the emerald . . .

"Chaos Control . . . "

Instantly the emerald flashed, and Shadow vanished into thin air.

The very moment Shadow disappeared, a malevolent grin spread across Trau's face, and she turned to the great hole in the wall where she had struck through the thick ice. There two demonic red eyes glared back at her.

"Find him," she hissed. "And bring the emerald to me."

Swiftly Vren swung around on his hindquarters and galloped off into forests beyond . . .