-Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog-
Part: II
Shadow had no time to grimace. His companion was descending through the blackness of space quickly. Without regard for his own fatigue, he dove toward the sinking cobalt hedgehog. Hastily grasping the creature from under his arms, gently hoisting him up. Sonic had fainted, as much to be expected. Not many can survive being drained of the very power that allowed you to live. Sonic had done well to grip onto his life long enough...
"Shadow..." Sonic's weary voice cracked through the silence as pain and adrenaline rushed through his veins suddenly. "Where is the Biolizard? What happened to everyone on Mobius? What about the Space Colony-"
"Sonic, do me a favor and shut the hell up."
Shadow was exhausted, not needing the sapphire hedgehog's curiosity to tire him further. The Colony was still diving toward the planet at a rapid speed as Shadow and Sonic appeared on a small asteroid orbiting the Ark. Shadow gave a low, irritated growl. There was no way he could create a Chaos Control blast strong enough to warp the whole Colony to a different location. And the fact that Sonic was out of strength didn't improve the situation much.
"Shadow, I've got an idea." Sonic's voice came as low grumble in his throat.
"Great, This should be entertaining."
"I'm serious!" Sonic snapped.
"Alright what?" Dare I ask?
"What if you transferred some of your Chaos Energy to me? Not a lot, just enough so that we can perform the Chaos Control and fly back to the Air-Lock Chamber on the Ark?"
"Ridiculous." Shadow stated flatly.
"Why's it ridiculous?" Sonic snarled.
"Because you idiot, I USED MOST OF MY POWER FIGHTING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE!"
Sonic's emerald gaze fell downward as the truthful words spilled out of Shadow's mouth.
"I barley have enough power to stay in Super-form. It's imaginative to even think I have enough strength for you and me."
"It was just a thought..." Sonic whispered.
"Yeah?" Shadow replied in an icy cold tone Sonic had not heard him use since they first met. "Well keep your thoughts to yourself while I try to get us out of this."
"Rouge, where are they?" Knuckles asked trying not to voice his anxiety.
"I don't know, Shadow cut us off a while ago. But we should still be able to able to at least see them!" The feminine bat stated angrily as she paced the cold metallic floor of the Space Colony Control Room. Her large boots making a 'clack-clank' noise every time she took a step.
She began pounding her heels into the metal in frustration, while gritting her fangs.
"Where...
'Clack'
are...
'Clank'
those...
'Clack'
TWO MORONS?"
Where she had been abusing the ground there were large indents, evidence of her anger's handy-work. Knuckles, Tails, and Eggman looked at Rouge as if she had lost her mind.
"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" Eggman roared. "THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MY NEW SERCRET BASE!"
"Not really much of a secret base if we all, not to mention the whole planet, know where it is." Knuckles spoke dully.
Tails chuckled in enjoyment, trying to grasp some, if any, comfort from the situation.
"Sonic..." Whispered the small orange fox. "Please be alright..."
"Alright," Shadow glared at the approaching Space Colony. "GET READY SONIC!"
The hedgehog beside him, returned to his Super-Form, prepared himself for the maneuver the two had discussed earlier, when they found the power source they both required: two Chaos Emeralds, now firmly contained into both the glimmering hedgehogs palms. They were blessed enough to find the two gems as they were drifting into the deepest blacks of space.
Shadow and Sonic were both adequately charged as they raised their arms, readying themselves for the coming blast.
"No way that's getting through!" shouted Sonic as a large golden orb appeared aloft between the pair of their outstretched arms.
"Shadow..."
Maria...? Shadow spoke as he heard the faintest call of his beloved's voice, repeating the promise -the plea- over in his ears.
"I beg of you, give them a chance to be happy..."
"NOW SHADOW!"
They aimed the golden sphere at the descending Colony and fired.
"CHAOS CONTROL!"
They shouted in unison, as the amber detonator shot from their grasp and collided with the diving Ark.
With a large green gaze of light, the Space Colony erupted in a shimmering light as it dispersed in space and lowly began to retaliate in form until it was gone.
Shadow's jet shoes gave out as his last ounce of power was drained from his exhausted figure.
Maria, this is what you wanted right? This is my promise I made to you.
As Shadow began to glisten with flames he saw Maria's smiling face one last time.
How he missed that smile...
"Here I come Maria, I kept my promise... to you…"
Fire covered his platinum pelt as he burned through Mobius smoldering atmosphere. His arms, legs and unique quills began to catch the burning disease as he shot toward the land, blinded by the flames cursing his eyes.
The automatic doors to the Space Colony Ark retreated from their usual position as they departed to grant a blue hedgehog passage. Sonic stepped forth into the fray of animals staring at the cobalt creature as his S.O.A.P brand shoes rasped against the metallic floor. He outstretched his arm as he handed a small wristband to Rouge. She willingly took it, glancing the small object.
"Do you really think that the Professor created... Shadow for the purpose of carrying out his revenge on all the people on Mobius?"
She questioned, tears glittering in her sea-foam gaze.
"He was, what he was." Sonic answered, his voice full of sadness. "A brave and heroic hedgehog. He gave his life for this planet. Shadow the Hedgehog..."
"As a child, I looked up to my grandfather because I wanted to be just like him." Eggman's pained voiced came as a startlement to Tails, as he listened to his enemy intently. "But, did he really mean to destroy us?"
"I don't know." Tails gave a few words of encouragement feeling a rush a joy he stated: "All I do know is, we all did it together!"
Eggman smiled, a real smile. Not a wicked smirk or an evil grin. He gave an honest, true, smile. The fox felt the need to smile as well.
"You're right."
Knuckles walked up to Rouge as she stared at the beautiful glittering planet below them.
"So what's next for you Rouge? Off to find those jewels you love so much?"
"Nah, I think I'm going to give up this line of work. To much work for too little pay. Besides... I've got something more important then jewels that I'm thinking about right now..."
There was a long piercing silence between the two Treasure Hunters.
"It'll all work out somehow." Stated Rouge, in a last defense.
"If you say so." Knuckles smirked, as he turned his back on the white bat, heading toward Sonic and the others.
"It'll all work out somehow."
Rouge's voice rang in his ears.
"Yes it will..."
"...He created the Ultimate Life form..."
"What's the matter Sonic?" Amy questioned as she gazed at her crush with deep concern in her emerald depths.
"Oh it's nothing. Come on! Let's go home! To the planet as cool and blue as me!"
As the party started to clear out from the Control Room heading for the space shuttle, Sonic stood motionlessly, his feet stubbornly hooked to the ground. He turned his back once again and began staring out that familiar window that showed the glorious planet they would be returning to.
Sonic raised his arm and motioned a small wave of farewell.
"Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog." He turned on his heels, and sprinted toward the door. Not glancing back as he strode toward the rocket. A single tear escaped his eyes,
"Sayonara... forever…"
But forever is not eternity…
End of Ch.2