Chapter Fifty-Three
Me: We're on the final stretch…I'm quite sure that there will be no more than seventeen chapters (not including the epilogue) before the story is finished…then I'll start on the sequel.
Tahra: How about some dirt on the sequel? What will it be about?
Me: When I'm finished, the epilogue to this story will give some setup to lead into it.
Sonic: Oh boy! I can't wait to see what threats we'll get to crush.
Me: Oh no…it won't be you. Let's just leave it at that. Oh, and yay for 200 reviews!
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"That…is one…huge…bird!" Charmy and Mikael exclaimed simultaneously when they saw Ziz gliding toward the group. The group was atop a high mountain overlooking Westopolis, and the bird, for reasons unknown, was nesting just outside the city limits. The great bird, resembling an eagle with a crane's head, was a beauty to behold…its body was colored like a rainbow, and a glittering rainbow trail seemed to follow it wherever it went. It screeched as it winged over the group, and everyone had to cover their ears from the noise. The bird circled them, and began to speak telepathically with Zeipha.
"You have called me here, hawk, and I shall lend my aid to you and your cause. I sense that the other three have been awakened as well; therefore we can combine our powers to assail the gates of the Meteor Parasite's realm. The four heroes have nearly finished their training…and now the time has come to take the fight to the enemy's turf. Be strong, all of you, and return to the ruined jewel of the hedgehog realm, where the four shall appear."
With that, Ziz started away. A great feeling of relief swept over the group. They had spent almost a year searching for these three beasts, and now it was over. But now the question was about how they would get back. Armeil said he couldn't warp everyone back to Sylvania, even with Naylet's help. After a moment of thought, Zeipha got an idea. Silently she called back to Ziz, who had just went over the horizon. The immense bird returned, and again circled the group.
"Is there something more I can do, hawk?"
"Yes…we are far from where we need to go, and have no means of getting there fast. Can you take us to Sylvania on your back? Surely a bird of your great size should have no trouble carrying us, even on the wing."
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt. But I cannot bring you in sight of the city. Geddon's forces will spot me, and surely they have the means to destroy me. Please pardon my self-preserving intents."
"I'd do the same thing if I was in your situation."
Ziz flew off a good distance, and landed befor striding across the landscape, and stopped right next to the group. It could now be seen that its eye color was slowly shifting between the colors of the rainbow.
"Everyone should get cozy in my feathers. It will take me at least an hour or two until we reach your destination."
Everyone began to hop onto the bird's back, and immediately noticed that they did not slip into its plumage. Rather, it formed into soft, comfortable indentations. Mikael immediately snuggled up next to Vahtri, and was asleep soon after Ziz took off. The others sit back and watched the world pass below them. The sun was beginning to set, and it seemed that a bit of the sinister darkness that was hanging above them had dispersed.
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"The year is almost up, students," Akuma said to the four hedgehogs on the final day of their training. "I have watched each of you grow in overall power exponentially. You have, in this time, mastered techniques that most warriors spend lifetimes perfecting…you have exceeded your predecessors vastly, and have even given me a few scares."
"Uh, thanks?" Shadow said hesitantly.
"Now a new task is at hand for you…the time has come to use the skills you have learned, and use them to utterly crush the demons that hold the world in their fiendish clutches, and then defeat the one who cursed me and his depraved master."
"It's about time…" Sonic said, shaking a fist eagerly. "I have a score to settle with a certain mad scientist…I guess you can handle the pervert angel…right, Tahra?"
"Yeah…they'll all pay for what they've done."
A few moments later, the white doorway that had been sealed a year earlier opened up, and eagerly the four passed through the doorway, and reappeared in the same room where they had descended to the Sacred Arms chamber the year before. Akuma followed them, much to their surprise, but their attention was soon turned to a fetid stench. Tahra uneasily poked her head into the next room, and was horrified by the sight of the skeleton of her grandmother, still clothed, but was covered in dust and mold, and still reeking of death. Her hair had grown more since she had died, since it continues for several days after the body passes away.
"Depressing…" Shadow mumbled, turning away from the corpse. Sonic just stood there staring, jaw hanging open and head shaking. Amy cringed at the sight of this, and Tahra was at the edge of tears, but kept them down. Quickly she ran past the skeleton of her grandmother and burst out the crumbling house…right into the middle of a city of steel and smoke…Eggman's city. Knowing that she could be seen, she retreated into the house.
"Guys…getting out of Sylvania is going to be harder than before…I think the mad doctor has been busy. I don't want to run into any robots now."
"I'd say now would be a good time to use Chaos Control." Shadow suggested. Tahra realized the simplicity of the solution, and jabbed herself on the head with her index finger a few times. Akuma found this amusing.
"I'll let you four go," Akuma said. "As for me, I'll do you one more favor…as to what it is, I'll keep secret. You'll know what it is when it happens."
"Thanks, but now we gotta find our friends. We haven't seen them in a while! Let's go, guys!" The four hedgehogs got in a circle and linked hands.
"Chaos…Control!"
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The four hedgehogs reappeared on the ridge where they first beheld the city. Just as they did, Shadow noticed the great rainbow bird passing overhead. It began to circle them, slowly descending as it did. They started to hear the joyful cries of their friends calling from atop the bird.
"That must be them…and that's gotta be Ziz…" Amy commented. "I've never seen a bird quite so big…or so pretty." Ziz soon came to a stop near them, and there was an exchange of greetings, including a loving hug between Tahra and Mikael, in addition to snippets of plan discussion, while Ziz took off back to its nest to wait for the appointed time.
Something did not go unnoticed by the four hedgehogs…Rouge was not with the others.
"What happened to Rouge, guys?" Shadow asked with concern.
"She got kidnapped by some blue hedgehog in black carrying a big axe," Vector replied. "He KO'd all six of the ex-Seraphim in one shot. Nack's been a mess ever since. Don't bother talking to him."
Tahra suddenly seemed to piece together the image of the one who had kidnapped Rouge. There was one final detail she was missing.
"Vector…did that axe have the picture of a hedgehog's head on it?"
"I think so…"
"Haishin...I had a feeling in my gut that he would turn to the path of evil. In the language of the ancient peoples, his name translates to 'betrayal'. It's probably me he wants."
"Was he an old boyfriend or something?" Sonic asked with a bit of jealousy in his tone.
"We came close, but I felt I was too young. Apparently he hates me for turning him down. When I said he was an okay guy…it was before that happened. Now I can only guess we'll have to fight each other in the near future."
"If it comes to that, so be it," Naylet said. "You said that you were going after those four creeps that are sucking this world dry, right?"
"Yeah…that includes Doctor Eggman," Sonic replied with a nod. "I have a score with him I've been meaning to settle for years now…"
"Hey, Sonic, let Tails and I tag along with you, for old times' sake," Knuckles suggested. "Even if you're super-powerful and all, you don't know what ol' Egghead can throw at us." Sonic nodded.
"Then that must mean you're going after the dark part of me, Tahra. I'll go with you. I know his every weakness, and you'd be better off with me than without. Nack…I'm sure that pervert Leawdak knows where Rouge is…how about you come with us?"
"I'm game!" Nack replied.
"I'll go alone against Ragozine," Amy said as she started to leave. "I don't want to put anyone in danger."
"As do I…" Shadow said. "I wish every one of you the best of luck…I guess. Goodbye all…sorry we had to leave so soon." The four hedgehogs, two with allies in tow, took off toward their respective destinations. The final stage of this epic adventure had begun, and there was no telling what dark things awaited them.
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Me: Let me take a moment to interrupt to give you the lowdown on the next few chapters. There will be some sections that will be intentionally cut, especially parts of Tahra's trip through Leawdak's lair, since it will detail M-rated (or even 18+) things. I'll post them on my Deviant Art account if I decide to write them at all. For now, our focus turned to Shadow…
Shadow: All right! Time to take on Black Doom!
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Space Colony ARK, Shadow said to himself as he slowly began to walk through the chamber where he warped in. He saw the tube where Maria had jettisoned him over fifty years ago. He expected a flashback…but nothing. His mind was clear and resolute.
As he entered the hallway, the sound of grunting and footsteps became apparent. He summoned Masamune to his hand, and readied himself for combat. Two Black Arms grunts noticed him and immediately opened fire. Shadow rapidly deflected their shots with his sword, his arm swinging it at high speeds. Meanwhile, he advanced on the two aliens and cut them in half with one fast horizontal slash. The stench of their organs annoyed Shadow, but he kept moving.
Around the next corner came four more, three bat-like Black Arms and a large one. Shadow launched a few Chaos Spears to destroy the smaller ones before dicing the large one into cubes. Before he could even catch his breath, more were after him.
I can't keep fighting them in these cramped passages…I need to find a larger chamber.
Shadow quickly began using short-range Chaos Controls to avoid enemy fire, and soon lost them. In his haste Shadow found a large metal door he had seen before, but only once…another flashback came to him.
"Doctor, what's behind this door?" Shadow asked innocently as he followed Dr. Gerald and Dr. Ullundara down the hall. He was fully grown, but his mind was still like that of a child, curious about everything, and always asking questions.
"I'm sorry, Shadow…" Ullundara answered, "But you aren't allowed to see the room inside. When the time comes, you will see. For now, we can't let you see what's inside." With that, the door opened to reveal another, and closed behind them. With a sigh, Shadow started to walk away. He was in the mood to play with Maria anyway…
Shadow clenched his grip around Masamune. It was time to see what final secret the staff of the ARK had kept secret from him. With a few quick slashes, Shadow cut the six-inch-thick steel door to pieces, and did the same to the other door. He walked into the room, and flicked on a light switch. The lights flickered to life and began to hum as they glowed, and the sound of bubbling came from two tubes. Shadow noticed nine tubes, seven of them on the circular wall of the room. The tube facing Shadow was empty. But the last tube was the mystery. He walked around, and took a look at the tube. His heart literally stopped short, then started racing as he stumbled back toward the wall in horror.
Floating in the tube was a pink hedgehog that looked distressingly similar to Amy. The only difference was that her hair was far longer, and the fur was a darker shade than that of his beloved. But it was enough to make Shadow ask himself a dire question: was the Amy he deeply cared about…was she a clone of this lifeless hedgehog? He refused to believe it…Amy was naturally born, he was sure of it. Even if she was a clone,Amy was stillher own person. Besides, thishedgehog was never alive. It was just alump of flesh that looked like his girlfriend.This realization calmed Shadow down, but soon he was interrupted by a familiar laugh.
"I see you found the off-limits area, Shadow…"
"Black Doom…you decided to face me, instead of hiding behind your minions. I'm surprised." The demonic alien ignored this snide comment, and continued to see if he could demoralize Shadow.
"What do you think about the one you care about being nothing but a clone? This chamber was where Maria would have sacrificed her humanity to save her own life…in the body of the hedgehog in that pod. The power of the Chaos Emeralds could have saved her, you know."
Shadow chuckled. "Maria doesn't matter now. She is gone from my mind, as will you!" He readied Masamune and rushed at Black Doom. The alien prepared to counterattack, but Shadow dodged at the last second and delivered a powerful slash to his enemy's flank. Black Doom moaned in pain, and warped away.
"Don't think you can escape me, Black Doom," Shadow roared to no one. "I will hunt you through this entire space station, and when I catch you, I'll make you PAY!" The black hedgehog went Super and began his hunt for the Black Arms leader…
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Shadow: It's on like Donkey Kong!
Me: I'm so excited! I can't wait to see how you'll beat him…oh, wait…I decide how.
Shadow: Make it exciting, and make it so Black Doom gets destroyed utterly!
Me: Can do, Shads…can do!
