Chapter 4 (Shadow): The Second Emerald
The trip back to White Acropolis – 'Red' Acropolis would be more fitting now – was relatively quick. Aside from a few reptilian fire demons here and there, Shadow and Rouge somehow managed to traverse the ruins of Soleanna to the rendezvous point, all the while beating Sonic and company in terms of arrival.
It was one of the few times Shadow could smirk out of amusement. Even though Sonic and his friends chose to secure the Chaos Emerald furthest from the rendezvous point, the fact that the self-proclaimed "Fastest Thing Alive" couldn't arrive first was pure irony.
Still, the important thing was that they each got their respective Emerald. As soon as those three arrive, all of them could escape this barren wasteland of a future.
But Shadow wasn't completely satisfied by this outcome. In the time it took to acquire the Emeralds, not once had he encountered Mephiles, the one responsible for their being here. If Mephiles wanted to kill them by sending them to "Oblivion" as he called it, why not bother to make sure they died here? It didn't add up.
Perhaps he has business in the past, Shadow thought. And if that were the case, if we were obstacles to his plans, sending us here would take us out of the picture.
It certainly was a possibility, but not a likely one. It didn't solve his initial question, and if he and Rouge returned to the past, Mephiles would have accomplished nothing.
What is he after?
Whatever it was, Shadow would have to ponder on it later. Sonic and his friends were approaching.
"You guys are so slow," Rouge teased.
Knuckles snorted. "How about next time, you take the Emerald furthest from the meetup point?"
Shadow closed his eyes, slightly irritated by the exchange, yet he remained patient. The two groups have been reunited, so now the final step could be taken.
Tails interjected before Rouge and Knuckles made the situation any worse. "Did you two find anything?"
"Look." Rouge held out the Emerald for Tails and the others to behold, leading the fox boy to congratulate her. She smiled cockily. "Well now, I may not look it, but I'm a real treasure hunter. Unlike a certain echidna I know."
"What?!" Knuckles stomped towards Rouge, staring at her like an angry bull ready to charge, but he thought better of it and retreated to his group's side.
Rouge had shown what they found. Now, it was Sonic's turn.
"Have you guys discovered anything?" Shadow asked.
"Um, yeah. We found a Chaos Emerald, but…" Tails started to explain, but he trailed off. He sheepishly stated in a depressing tone, "We kind of lost it."
"Really?" Rouge responded, baffled. "You lost a Chaos Emerald?"
Even Shadow was surprised by this. If it were the doctor tricking the heroes and stealing the Chaos Emeralds, he could understand. But losing a Chaos Emerald in their possession, with no one else around? Shadow knew there was more to the story, but before he could probe further, Tails continued.
"It's a long story. But I know where to find another one. I received a signal indicating there's a Chaos Emerald here, but…well…" Tails pointed to the volcano in the distance. From the smoke rising from its crater, it seemed as though it would erupt again at any moment. As if on cue, the volcano spewed out a shower of molten rock.
"You mean we've got to go through there?"
Rouge was at a loss for words. Knuckles took the opportunity to get back at her. "If you don't like it, you can stay here."
"You've got to be kidding!"
"Let's go." Shadow commanded bluntly to prevent any further delays. The others took note of his attitude towards their situation and followed suit.
What a waste of time, Shadow bemoaned. It was bad enough Sonic and his friends 'lost' the Emerald they were after, but now they had to search inside a volcano for one? It wasn't anything he couldn't handle, yet the mere fact that this is what it came down to really was disappointing. He expected better from Sonic.
And speaking of…
"Hey Shadow."
Sonic was walking behind him when he addressed Shadow. The GUN agent turned his head in response. "What is it?"
"We didn't exactly lose the Emerald."
"I figured as much." I know you wouldn't have lost something as important as an Emerald without a fight. Our encounter at the Eclipse Cannon is proof enough.
Sonic seemed to acknowledge that fact and chuckled. "Heh, I'm sure. Anyway, we found where the Chaos Emerald was, but it was in someone else's possession. We didn't reveal ourselves, but we watched as he and two other people disappeared into the past with the Emerald."
He and two other people… Shadow contemplated on this scenario. It shouldn't be possible to go back in time with only one Emerald – there wouldn't be enough Chaos Energy to pull off the feat.
"…Is that so?" Shadow asked simply, yet behind his usual expression, a possibility occurred to him. A very concerning one.
"Y-yeah," Sonic answered, a little nervous. "But the thing is, he looked exactly like you."
"…!"
Shadow stopped walking as soon as he heard Sonic confirm his suspicions.
Mephiles…he was here! Damn it! Shadow cursed in his head. Had he and Rouge gone to Sonic's location instead, they could have caught Mephiles right then and there. And yet, it seemed that fate had other plans in store for them. However, it may not have made much of a difference. From what Sonic stated, it seems Mephiles has two accomplices. Whoever they are, it did not bode good news.
What are you after, Mephiles?
"You know him?"
Sonic interrupted his train of thought, which may be for the best. There would be time to continue investigating this matter later.
Shadow turned to Sonic and nodded. "Mephiles."
"Huh?"
"His name is Mephiles. He's the reason Rouge and I are here in the first place."
"What?" Tails overheard the two of them talking and chimed in his shock. "Why would he do that?"
Shadow shook his head. "I'm not exactly sure, but I do know this: he is able to move through time without the use of a Chaos Emerald."
"How is that possible?" Knuckles also appeared to have taken an interest in the conversation, as he asked a question immediately after Shadow's statement.
"I don't know. It's possible that, like me, he can use some Chaos Energy." Or at least a darker variation of it.
Rouge, knowing the information Shadow was relaying to Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, walked a little ahead to get a good look at the path. Having taken a couple of steps away from them, she found a problem that required Tails's assistance.
"Hey guys! We've got a problem. The path splits in two. From the looks of it, both lead into the volcano."
Rouge couldn't truly ascertain that was the case, yet both roads did appear to lead up to the mountain-sized lava fountain. "Which way do we go?"
Tails and Knuckles joined her at the fork. Once he got a look in for himself, Tails pulled out the C.E.T. and messed around with it, but it seemed he was having trouble.
"I can't get a lock due to the weather! Looks like we'll have to split up again."
Knuckles grumbled. "Great."
Rouge analyzed both paths before them. The left path was a downhill trek to the bottom of the volcano, whereas the right path almost zigzagged at their level. Either path would most definitely take them to the volcano, and without knowing where exactly the Emerald is, it didn't matter which path each team took.
So, Rouge just picked one. "Shadow and I can take the left road."
"So, Tails, Knuckles, and I get the right? Sounds good to me!" Sonic and Shadow had finally joined up with the group.
Tails nodded. "Alright then! Whoever finds the Emerald will call in so the rest of us can meet up."
Sonic turned to face Shadow and waged his finger. "Don't be late!"
Shadow walked past Sonic with indifference. "Same to you."
System Reactivation Countdown Ended. Confirmed.
Boot-Up Sequence Commencing. Confirmed.
External Access Now Permitted. Confirmed.
At the back entrance of the partially-destroyed Club Rouge, a red robot began to click and move from its sitting position. Its eyes began to glow a crimson red, and it stood up without delay.
"Start-up complete. Locating signal of GUN agent Shadow."
A series of images flashed before the robot's eyes, each image a GUN agent that was confirmed as lost or deceased. Eventually, Shadow came up and the robot locked in on his location.
He was on the move in an area near White Acropolis.
"Location confirmed. Mission: 'Shadow Support' initiated."
Once the last of the diagnostics checked out, Omega left the area in pursuit.
Shadow and Rouge raced along the narrow path downward, towards the bottom of the volcano. Overall, the path had been easy for them. Occasionally, the fiery lizard creatures would rise up from the ground or jump out of the lava flowing around them, but they were no match for Shadow and Rouge's combat skills.
Eventually, the duo found themselves facing a cavern entrance leading into the volcano. The stalactites surrounding the opening made it appear as though the volcano was a living being, ready to swallow them whole. Another eruption shook the ground and brought another shower of molten rock raining down.
The crust's energy is out of control, Shadow noted. Is it because of the Chaos Emeralds?
The Chaos Emeralds are like magnets: when they are closer to each other, they give off attractive forces. Since Shadow and Rouge possessed one of the Emeralds, it must be calling out to its sibling.
"It's erupting…" Shadow yelled. "Let's go!"
The two agents rushed inside to avoid the falling rocks. The environment grew darker as they moved away from the entrance. For a while, only the purple crystals embedded in the walls of the tunnel. After running in silence for a few minutes, an orange glow could be seen at the other end.
When the two reached the end, they found the path enclosed by lava rivers below, providing them with adequate lighting. In addition, purple torches burned along the both sides of the entrance.
Rouge frowned. "Which way do we go?"
The road before them branched off into different areas and tunnels. No doubt this volcano has had enough eruptions for the lava to make a labyrinth inside of it.
Shadow held out his hand. "Let me see the Emerald."
Rouge handed it to him, and he held it close. If the Chaos Emeralds are capable of calling out to one another, then surely sensing the energy at this range would help Shadow find the path.
"…Got it. It's this way." He pointed at a path to their right, which lead to a higher area. Rouge nodded and followed him.
Once they reached the higher level, they traveled down a series of tunnels and paths branching all over the place. Rouge almost asked if Shadow knew where they were going, but thought better of it.
We're getting closer…
Shadow continued to concentrate on the energy readings, but he stopped. He felt tremors in the ground.
Another eruption?
CRACK!
"Huh?"
Up from the ground rose an orange…no, purple worm monster. Shadow felt a difference in stats compared to the previous creatures they had encountered so far. This thing didn't have fire powers; instead, Shadow recognized the dark energy emanating from it as the same energy Mephiles utilized.
"Get out of my way, or you're toast!" Shadow growled.
The worm screeched at Shadow's threat. Its mouth began to glow with light.
"A laser attack!" Rouge warned. "Look out!"
The two rolled out of the way as the worm shot a beam of energy towards their previous position. The area became scorched with black and purple.
Suddenly, more tremors resonated all around, this time with more ferocity.
I can't let down my guard! Shadow instructed himself.
BOOM!
A portion of the ceiling directly above the worm came crashing down on the worm, crushing it into black dust. From the smoke of the debris were pieces of rumbled. However, there was something more hidden in the dust.
Shadow and Rouge glanced at each other, then slowly approached the area.
The smoke began to clear up, and the image of three heroes on top of one another came into view.
Nice entrance…
"Hi," Rouge remarked. "Dropping in?"
Knuckles, being at the bottom of the pile and in a sour mood, grumbled.
Sonic, in the middle, asked sheepishly at Shadow, "Were we late?"
Shadow raised his eyebrows, confused. He then remembered their small exchange before they parted ways and close his eyes and smirked.
Right on time, I suppose.
He offered a hand to Sonic after Rouge helped Tails off of him. Sonic took up and pulled himself up.
Knuckles, being the stubborn one, got up on his own.
"Sonic, we are not doing that again."
Shadow walked past the three as they exchanged looks at one another. "I can feel the Emerald. We're very close."
The two groups, now reunited, walked into the next room. The entire room as one giant dome with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Below their position, a giant pool of lava flowed out towards the different areas of the volcano.
This was probably the largest section of the cavern – it must have been the heart of the volcano itself.
Yet hovering above them was the other mystical gem they had been seeking: the cyan Chaos Emerald.
Rouge took off the ground and flew towards it.
"I found a Chaos Emerald!"
"DON'T TOUCH IT!"
Hidden above the heroes on a walkway, Mephiles witnessed Shadow and his party meet Iblis for the first time.
It wasn't as grand as they could have had it. Earlier, Iblis was drained from a fight with a silver hedgehog and the cat princess who once held Iblis imprisoned inside of her. Had they arrived earlier, Shadow and his team would have had a more difficult opponent to defeat.
Even so, watching the two hedgehogs fight against Iblis in a weaker form while hopping across platforms is most entertaining.
Especially Shadow.
Mephiles studied the one who graciously gave him his freedom and form with interest. After he was freed from his imprisonment, Mephiles was quick to send Shadow and his partner to this desolate paradise. Having absorbed Shadow's own shadow, Mephiles could glimpse into Shadow's past, the pain and suffering he endured.
The rage he took out on others.
Now, Mephiles could understand Shadow's conviction and determination, as well as why he sealed him long ago.
Or will seal him, to be more accurate.
An idea began to form in his head, one he had not considered after all this time.
"It may speed up the process…" Mephiles said to himself.
Once the heroes landed the final attack against Iblis, Mephiles was unfazed by Iblis's pain as the beast retreated into the lava on the other side of the cavern. Now that his other half has calmed down, Mephiles could approach him to acquire what he came here for.
And he now knew the best spot for it.
"Chaos Control!"
Shouting in unison with the Chaos Emeralds raised towards each other, Sonic and Shadow succeeded in the space-time rift ritual as a blue portal appeared before the group. One by one, everyone jumped in. First Sonic, then Tails, followed by Knuckles, and finally Rouge.
Shadow was about to jump in after them, but stopped right at the edge of the portal.
He heard him.
He felt him.
Turning his head, Shadow saw a medium orange flame flickering on the rocky ground. Right next to it, almost touching it was a black mist of smoke. Rising from the smoke was a familiar figure who, for a moment, stared straight at the flame before him. His hands were hovering over the flame, akin to a camper warming up from the cold.
The figure turned to face Shadow, acknowledging his presence. As if on cue, the flame before him burned brighter and larger than before.
Mephiles!
Shadow gazed upon his doppelganger and mulled the situation over. At any moment, the portal would close; he needed to jump through to return to his present.
But if he left now, an opportunity to confront Mephiles would be lost. And Rouge's mission was to retrieve the Scepter of Darkness and hand it over to GUN. The little wand was gone, yet if Mephiles was what they were after, then Shadow couldn't let him get away.
Especially since he was responsible for him and Rouge ending up in the future.
Shadow turned the rest of his body away from the portal and rushed towards Mephiles. The portal closed without him.
The portal opened in front of the Clocktower stationed nearest the Royal Castle in Soleanna's Castle Town.
Rouge landed gracefully on the tiled ground below. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
Salty seawater air. And the sound of tourists.
"Ah…" she exhaled. "Back at last."
At least the travel back in time was nicer that the other way around.
When the portal closed behind her, she looked up at the Clocktower for the time. It was only nine in the morning. As a precaution, Rouge checked her communicator for the date.
"Hmm. Looks like we lost one day…Shadow?"
Rouge looked around her, but found no trace of her partner, nor Sonic and his friends. While she was certain the three heroes were alright, it was Shadow she was more concerned about.
"Shadow!"
But he was nowhere to be seen. A few pedestrians began to look at her, while others were already staring from a portal opening out of thin air.
Rouge then heard the familiar chime of a Chaos Emerald. Glancing at the ground, she saw the green Emerald they had collected in the volcano. She knelt down and picked it up.
"Shadow…And he doesn't have a Chaos Emerald anymore…"
She realized what had happened immediately. Shadow would never throw away a Chaos Emerald if one presented itself – it would be like rejecting a free sample of food. She noticed at the last second before she completely entered the portal that Shadow was looking at something, but she wasn't able to see what it was.
He must have decided to stay behind to investigate. Unbelievable!
"And after all that trouble, too!"
Shadow had a knack for taking matters into his own hands; it was one of the few characteristics Rouge both admired and hated about him.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Rouge's communicator went off. Despite her situation, she answered immediately.
"Agent Rouge?"
It was Commander Tower.
"Yes, Commander?"
"About time. We were starting to grow concerned when you didn't answer for a whole day."
I'd imagine so, she thought.
"Report your status immediately. Have you retrieved the Scepter of Darkness?"
That's right! The Scepter that Mephiles was trapped in. It had shattered during Eggman's ambush. The Commander won't be too thrilled to hear that little detail. But that had to be a conversation for later.
"Well…I'll provide a full report shortly. Right now, I have a priority situation to deal with."
Rouge needed to help Shadow get home any way she could, but she preferred not to go back to that wasteland of a time.
However, she had another idea in mind.
"I need to contact E-123 Omega immediately."
Omega was waiting in the future for something. It may be a stretch, but perhaps that something was an assignment from Rouge herself.
"Understood. Sending coordinates now."
"Much obliged. Thank you."
Rouge ended her transmission and slumped her shoulders. Her plan would work, she knew that much. However…
"The Chaos Emerald…Ah!"
Before Rouge lied a large machine, humming softly albeit roughly. At the center was a diamond-shaped case of glass, engraved with a glowing hot pink hexagonal pattern. Inside the case, arms extended to the sides was…
"Shadow?!"
The black hedgehog did not respond, instead continuing an endless slumber. Rouge started to back away, but curiosity got the better of her and instead moved towards the chamber…or rather, prison. There was a plaque attached to the side:
"Containment field for the Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow. Shadow ruined this world and is being contained for the safety of humanity. DO NOT MESS WITH THIS MACHINE!"
Rouge read the plaque's contents in disbelief.
It can't be true…huh?
Her eyes noticed a final line at the bottom of the plaque; it was crudely engraved there by someone.
"'A tragic hero, still remembered fondly by those who cared.'"
Rouge had a feeling she was the one who wrote this and fell to her knees. Her hand rested on the bottom of the case.
"Shadow…"
Rouge shook her head, clearing the disturbing memory out of her head.
"There's no way Shadow would be responsible for that future. I'll prove it! But first…"
The coordinates finally came through. E-123 Omega was patrolling the Soleanna Forest at the moment.
"I have to get Shadow home."
