Chapter 12
Rouge stepped forward, flames now radiating in her jade eyes. "You free him right now! You're outnumbered!"
The Commander smirked. "Well, that may be the case but since I have 003, I'm sure no one would be foolish enough to try anything."
Sonic growled. "You don't know what you're dealing with! Didn't you hear that Shadow almost destroyed this entire planet…twice?"
The Commander looked at the blue speed demon. "That won't be an issue, now that he is under my control!"
Inside Memory Machine
Burning…
My entire body was burning…
My vision became foggy…
The smell of burned flesh…
The pain…the excruciating pain
"Maria," I whispered. "This is what you wanted right? This is my promise I made to you…"
I fell…fell from Ark after defeating the monstrosity that dared challenge my worth as the ultimate life.
It was vanquished, with some help from my counter part…
The deed had been done, my life's purpose had been fulfilled…I had no more reasons to live.
The fur singed from the ferocious heat of the atmosphere. This was it…my demise; the ultimate life form will be no more.
My face cringed up as the heat intensified. "Maria, I will be with you soon…"
Those words left my dry lips in what I thought to be my last statement as a living creature.
I closed my eyes and smiled, awaiting and welcoming death.
I suddenly felt cold metallic arms wrap themselves securely around my damaged and now defenseless body.
Wait…this is wrong…it isn't suppose to happen.
I had eluded death once again.
Outside
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Everyone in the group snapped their heads in the direction of the scream that just echoed through the room. The dark hedgehog currently trapped within his own memories had let out that horrific scream of pain.
Amber stepped forward and walked up to the Commander, her eyes flaring with anger. "What are you doing to him?" She hissed while grabbing the Commander by the collar.
The Commander smirked. "I'm exploiting his only weakness; his memories!"
Sonic's eyes widened. "Oh no," He turned to Knuckles. "We have to get him out of there, NOW!"
Knuckles nodded nervously and dashed to the small bubble alongside the blue hero.
Sonic and the red echidna came to a halt in front of the bubble containing the screaming Shadow. Sonic turned to Knuckles, wearing a look of anxiety. "Do you think you can break it?"
Knuckles nodded unsurely. "Yeah, I think so."
The echidna readied himself before the bubble and drew his right fist back. With a loud battle cry, the echidna slammed his spiked fist against the bubble. Seconds passed like hours as everyone in the room remained totally still. The bubble did not show any signs of breaking.
Knuckles drew his fist back. "Damn, I can't do it!"
Sonic growled in frustration when a thought hit him. He still had the Chaos Emeralds!
The blue hedgehog smiled as he pulled the seven mystical gems towards his body, which began to glow a bright yellow. The emeralds levitated off the arms of the hedgehog and encircled him as they too began glowing their respective colors.
Sonic closed his eyes as the energy of the emeralds flowed through him. He could feel his powers rising greatly. Then, in a burst of light, the emeralds emitted a loud boom as Sonic's fur erupted to a beautiful gold.
The hedgehog opened his eyes to reveal them to no be a bloody red. But there was something different about the hedgehog this time. His Super form seemed stronger than it did before, and Knuckles and Amber were sensing this change.
The golden female hedgehog released the Commander, who fell to the ground, and stared at Sonic. "There's something different about him, he's stronger!"
Knuckles nodded. "Yeah, I felt an increased energy as well."
"Sonic?" Amber asked. "What happened to you?"
The golden Super hedgehog looked over his shoulder and smiled. "I guess you can say I gained some experience over the usage of the emeralds."
Knuckles snapped his fingers. "Of course, the repeated use of the emeralds transferred more and more Chaos energy into your body and now you're stronger every time you use them!"
Sonic smiled again. "I guess you could say that."
"Um," Rouge interrupted. "Aren't…WE FORGETTING SOMETHING?" She screamed while pointing at Shadow.
Sonic nodded and looked back to the dark hedgehog's location, raising his right arm. "Super Sonic Wind!"
A giant golden gust of Chaos energy was summoned from the Super hedgehog's hand and flew straight at the capsule containing Shadow, impacting with a loud boom, followed by a giant cloud of smoke.
Everyone waited in anticipation as the cloud of smoke cleared. The capsule was still containing Shadow, but there was a large black hole in the spot where the attack had made impact.
Sonic growled as he raised his hand to summon another attack when Amber stepped next to him. The female smiled as her fur burst to a very heavy gold, and her peaceful yellow eyes were replaced by fierce red ones.
Amber also raised her hand and pointed it at the capsule. Before either could release the attack however, Knuckles, Amy, and Rouge stepped next to the two, also stretching out their arms towards the capsule.
With multiple glows, each began summoning their respective attack. In unison, all members of the group drew their hands back, multiple lights emitting from their hands. Then, as if rehearsed, they all shot their arms out and released their attacks.
"Super Sonic Wind!"
"Chaos Beam!"
"Thunder Arrow!"
"Pink Tornado!"
"Black Wave!"
The attacks all shot out at incredible speeds and hit the capsule dead-on, shaking the entire room and summoning a cloud of smoke.
It cleared after a few seconds to reveal the badly damaged capsule containing Shadow. Multiple holes dotted its mechanical body, huge burns marks consumed it, and there was practically only half of it left. That, however, was enough to transmit one more memory, the one that would push Shadow beyond the point of sanity…
Shadow followed his gaze and saw he was looking at Rouge. "No…" Shadow immediately tried to dash for Rouge to protect her when Eclipse beat him to her. Rouge didn't even have time to scream as Eclipse lifted her with his left claw and elevated himself far enough so the rest didn't reach him.
Shadow looked totally despaired and Eclipse loved every second of it. Shadow watched in horror as Eclipse held Rouge in his tight grip. 'No! It can't be!' Shadow thought. It was all just like his nightmare.
"THIS IS WHY YOU WILL NEVER BE A TRUE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM SHADOW" Eclipse bellowed at the horrified Shadow. With these words, the beast took one of his claws and stuck it forcefully into the white bat's stomach.
Blood erupted from the wound as well as the bat's mouth as Shadow watched on in horror. The beast let go off the bat with a smirk plastered on his face. A primal scream echoed through the sky. Shadow then realized that it was his own. "ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUGE!"
Rouge landed on the ground with a heavy thud as the entire group was silent. Blood continued to pour out of the bat's stomach as she lay completely motionless. Amy, Amber, Sonic, and Knuckles all immediately ran over to her to check while the dark hedgehog known by the name of Shadow just stood there with his red eyes wide in disbelief and his right hand outstretched
Shadow's face slowly contorted, as he unconsciously clenched his gloved hands into tight balls. Sweat ran down his face and a gray aura of chaotic energy was surrounding him.
With the Others
Rouge gasped as she put a hand to her mouth. "What's happening to him?" She asked fearfully.
Sonic's wide red eyes turned into slits as he gathered another attack. "I can't let this happen."
Amy took a knee in front of her fallen friend and rolled Rouge over on her back to look at her face. The bat's eyes were closed and dry blood mixed with sweat and tears covered her face. The normal rising and falling of the stomach had ceased and it was easy to reach the inevitable conclusion.
Everyone else waited in anticipation as a few tears trickled down Amber's cheek. Finally, Amy turned to the rest of the group and whispered almost silently. "She's dead…"
Even though a good few yards away, Shadow's sensitive ears picked up the pink hedgehog's words. He slowly lowered his right hand down to his side as he clenched both of his fists. A dull white energy started to surround the black hedgehog. Shadow's eyes widened in anger and sorrow.
Amy and the others, who were by now weeping for their fallen friend, felt a strange gust of wind. They all looked back to see Shadow standing there, his fists were clenched and a white energy surrounded him.
Eclipse smirked while observing Shadow. "HMM, I WONDER WHAT HE'S GONNA DO NOW? NOW THAT I PUT THAT BAT OUT OF COMISSION!"
The dull white energy surrounding Shadow burst to a much brighter tone as the unnatural wind around him also picked up. The dark hedgehog had already closed his eyes and his face was contorted.
Amber, though frightened at this sudden phenomenon, stepped forth. "Shadow?" She asked quietly.
Suddenly, Shadow's eyes shot wide open to reveal his pupils completely gone. Amy put her hand over her mouth and gasped. "What's…happening to him?"
Shadow's body tensed up even more as the energy surrounding him got brighter and brighter. His eyes were still pupil-less and he was now facing the ground. His lips were curved up to reveal his bared white teeth. The dark hedgehog's head seemed to be shaking slightly.
Amber took another step towards her brother. "Shadow?" Still, no response. "Shadow please!" Once again, Shadow was silent. "ANSWER ME!" Amber yelled.
Mimicking a machine, Shadow's head shot up as his completely white eyes seemed focused on her. Amber took a step back but stopped retreating when she heard Shadow's voice.
"Rouge…"
Amber looked back at the dead bat behind her. All of a sudden, there was a bright burst of light as Amber looked back towards her brother. Even in his original state, he was hovering slightly as he brought his arms to his sides, fists still clenched. He looked to be in some what of a power up position.
"Shadow?" Sonic asked.
"ROOOOOUUUUUUGE!" Then, another flash of light blinded the group. Everyone's hands shot up out of instinct. Through their split fingers now covering their eyes however, they witnessed everything.
In the blinding light, Shadow's black quills started to waver and stand on end. The black hedgehog closed his eyes again to hide their pupil-less state. Finally, something inside of Shadow sparked as he felt his true power, his true form, being released.
Then, in less than a second, Shadow threw his entire body back. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The gray energy around Shadow suddenly burst to a midnight black as his eyes shot wide open. Just like his Mega form transformation, they were completely white.
Sonic's attack withered away as he backed up slowly, along with everyone else. Amber stood her ground and quivered slightly. "No, he's transforming."
A machine…
Built for war…
Useless…
Heartless…
Without a soul…
Unable to protect her…
It will happen again…
You cannot stop it…
Maria…
Amber…
Rouge…
Can't…protect…
The darkness…you cannot escape it…
It will consume you…
You will slaughter them…
Darkness…
Hate…
Power…
Chaos.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Wires ripped under the pressure of the energies that Shadow was giving off as the hedgehog levitated off the seat, his eyes shinning an unnatural black. The dark hedgehog clenched his fists as a dark outline of energy surrounded him. Black crackles of pure energy danced across his body as the entire room began to shake. The dark hedgehog's teeth clenched with such force, they were on the point of cracking.
This was it...Shadow's darkest form.
Sonic's eyes widened as he yelled to the others. "TAKE COVER!"
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAST!"
A huge black inferno of energy shot out of Shadow's body, consuming everything, metal and organic alike. The entire base was consumed by the black light, obliterating everything and anything. Metal and equipment was flung into the air before gravity took its effect and brought it back down into the devilish black light. No screams were heard, only the loud sound of the attack, along with the sound of Shadow's new, demented laugh.
The last thing seen before the light consumed it all was the new Commander's horror stricken face, finally realizing that he had pushed Shadwo beyond his sanity, and it would cost him his life.
G.U.N. was no more.
The light cleared to reveal the inconceivable damage the dark one had done. There was hardly anything left. The entire underground base had been wiped out, along with all who resided within.
All that was left was a huge crater with some piles of metal. The ground was also void of any technology, only covered in fine rusty sand.
Through the miniature Armageddon, a small golden ball of Chaos energy shone through all the metal and dirt.
Amber breathed out heavily as she lowered her hands along with Sonic, causing the shield they had put up in last minute to disappear.
The still super powered hedgehogs turned to the others, who were completely unharmed. Sonic smiled out of relief when a loud crashing sound snapped him back to attention. The hero directed his gaze to a small black crater covered in a pile of metal.
Suddenly, multiple black lights shone through the cracks in the metallic dome as they were sent flying into the air, coming down on various spots, digging into the dirt.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Standing before them was a hedgehog, one which they had never seen. His fur was completely black along with his malicious looking eyes. In fact, the only color besides black that was on his body was his white chest fur, his tan muzzle, and the whites of his eyes His mouth was turned into an angry snarl as he gazed at the small group.
His quills stood totally vertical, pointing towards the harsh sun that was beating down on all of them and they slowly wavered in unison with the dark energy he emitted.
A deep black flame of pure energy surrounded the hedgehog, and with his white gloves clenched by his sides, it looked like he was ready for a battle.
On his feet were the shoes everyone recognized, red and white hover shoes, as they all came to the same conclusion.
Shadow had transformed into his Chaos form...the fate of the planet would be now decided...
