Chapter 16

Shadow re-appeared with the rest of the group in a flash of light.

"Shadow, what are you doing?" Sonic asked who was now standing on his own again.

"Quick, there's no time, where are the Chaos Emeralds?"

"But why do you want them Shadow? Aren't you already Hyper?" Knuckles asked.

The dark hedgehog nodded his head.

"Yes, but I need to become even more powerful."

"You can't, Hyper mode is the farthest we've ever gone before." Sonic retorted.

Shadow smirked.

"Yes, the farthest YOU have ever gone before."

Sonic's eyes widened.

"Y-You mean. There is a level beyond Hyper?"

Shadow nodded his head.

"But how do you know?" Rouge asked.

Shadow closed his eyes.

"I don't."

"But Shadow you can't. What if your body can't handle it?"

"I am the ultimate life form, I can do anything."

"But we don't know that for sure yet." Tails cut in.

Shadow shot him an icy glare that frightened the little fox.

"I AM the ultimate life form."

Rouge was surprised at Shadow's sudden aggressive behavior.

"Shadow"-

Shadow snapped to her.

"I need the Emeralds. NOW!"

With Amber

Amber reeled her arm back and made a hard impact on Eclipse's monstrous face. The evil hedgehog did not budge an inch or even show signs of pain. Amber's eyes widened.

"How?"

Eclipse then shot out his tail and wrapped it around Amber. The hedgehog did not react in time and was caught as enormous pressure was put on her body.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"HAHAHAHAHA! THAT'S RIGHT! SCREAM LITTLE GIRL! NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU NOW!

Eclipse continued to add pressure as Amber released another horrific scream.

With Shadow

Shadow's sensitive ears picked up the sound of Amber's high-pitched scream. His eyes widened.

"AMBER!"

He whirled back towards Sonic.

"Give me the Emeralds!"

Sonic was too confused to respond. Shadow growled and teleported over to him. In one swift move, the Hyper hedgehog lifted the injured Sonic up by the neck and held him high in the air.

"I will not repeat myself!" Shadow hissed.

Sonic's response was a mere cough as Shadow's tight grip was fastened harder around his neck.

"Shadow Stop!" Rouge yelled.

"Not until he gives me the Emeralds!"

Sonic pointed a weary finger towards a spot on the wet ground, about twenty feet away.

Shadow released his tight grip on Sonic as the blue hedgehog fell to the ground gasping for air.

Shadow flew to the spot and saw the Emeralds, back in their original state. He smirked and raised his hands. The emeralds lifted off of the ground and made a circle around Shadow's body.

The silver hedgehog closed his eyes and tightened his fists as the emeralds began to spin. Energy crackled around Shadow's body and an ice blue light shone from it. The emeralds accelerated and formed a rainbow-colored circle.

With Amber

Amber was still in Eclipse's icy grip when his and her eyes shot open.

"WHAT IS THAT ENORMOUS ENERGY?"

Amber smiled.

"Shadow."

With Shadow

Shadow's face contorted as his eyes shot open, along with his fists. There was a giant blue explosion. Everyone covered their faces as the light nearly blinded them. The light subsided and everyone lowered their hands. What floated in front of them made their mouths drop.

There, floating in a small crater created by pure energy, was the transformed Shadow. A light blue energy now surrounded his body. His silver fur was replaced by an icy blue. The crimson stripes on his body were now much lighter, almost orange. His ruby-red eyes were the same color as his icy fur. The quills on his head and spikes on his back still pointed to the sky. Dark blue energy bolts crackled over his body. Sonic, who had recovered from Shadow's assault, was the first to speak.

"Shadow, is that you?"

The icy blue hedgehog nodded.

"What are you now?" Knuckles asked.

The hedgehog thought for a moment before answering.

"I am Ultra Shadow!"