Chapter 13
Time seemed to stand still as Shadow's deadly gaze continued to burn a hole into the shocked on-lookers. Everyone's eyes were completely wide, almost popping out of their heads. The black hedgehog in front of them had not moved an inch as his ebony quills wavered in unison with the black energy flame surrounding him.
Sonic gulped down a dry lump in his throat and opened his mouth to speak to the transformed Shadow. "Shadow?"
The dark hedgehog did not move a muscle, but only continued to stare at the group with that unnatural look on his face.
The Super powered Sonic stepped forward slightly. As soon as his foot landed on the dusty ground, Shadow's gaze fell directly on him as Sonic froze. Hs spoke again, trying to find any source of abnormality within his counter-part. "Shadow, are you okay?"
The midnight hedgehog once again, did not respond. Instead, his anger written face contorted again until his mouth closed, arching into a dark smirk, one which none of the heroes had ever seen before.
Amber also cautiously stepped forward towards her brother. "Shadow, please answer him."
The hedgehog directed his attention to the other Super hedgehog, his malicious smirk still remaining.
Kill…
Kill them all!
"Kill." Shadow whispered, listening to the voices inside his head.
Seek the strongest…
And kill.
Shadow did not blink or move as he whispered again. "The…strongest."
The dark hedgehog closed his ebony eyes as he searched which one of the people in front of him had the highest energy reading. Shadow suddenly reopened them and averted his attention towards Sonic. "You…"
Sonic's red eyes widened slightly. "Shadow?"
The dark one raised his arm slowly and pointed at Sonic. "You…you are the strongest on this planet!"
Sonic stepped forward slightly. "So what if I am?" He challenged.
Kill Him!
He is a threat!
Kill!
The dark hedgehog smirked as he levitated his body off the ground, dark energy waves rolling off his ebony body. "Then…you must die!"
And as soon as that last letter left his demented lips, the dark hedgehog charged straight for Sonic. The Super hedgehog took a fighting stance and tensed up his body as Shadow raised his right fist, ready to deliver a lethal blow to the opposing one.
With a loud boom and the intertwining of gold and black, the two hedgehogs met, clashing with their elbows. Sonic cringed slightly under the force behind the dash and pushed against Shadow's elbow, sending him back a little.
Shadow didn't even hesitate or show signs of pain as he charged for Sonic again, this time delivering a powerful straight punch right to his face. Blood flew out of the golden hedgehog's mouth as he stumbled back.
The Chaos hedgehog immediately charged for him again with a straight kick, knocking the Super hedgehog off his feet. Shadow laughed manically as he drew back his hand, gathering a bright black ball of energy.
"Dark Chaos Spear!" He bellowed, shooting the energy blast straight at Sonic.
"Chaos Arrow!"
Before the Dark Chaos Spear impacted with Sonic, a bright yellow bolt of energy knocked it away, sending it to the ground and creating a huge crater in a giant explosion. Shadow did not show any signs of shock as he turned his head slightly to see Amber, still in her Super form, floating besides Sonic, breathing heavily.
Shadow smiled wickedly as he charged for the she-hog, only to meet with a large spiked fist. Shadow stopped in mid-charge and turned his head slightly to see Knuckles planting his fist against his cheek.
Shadow smiled evilly, showing his white teeth and pulled the fist away, tossing the echidna over his back.
They do not matter…
Seek the strongest…
And kill.
Shadow redirected his attention back to Sonic, who was standing again, holding a bright golden ball of energy. "I don't know what's wrong with you Shadow, but I can't let you hurt my friends!"
Shadow smiled darkly as Sonic launched the ball of energy. Raising his hand, the dark hedgehog simply swatted the attack away, sending it high into the sky, where it disappeared.
Shadow lowered his hand again and kicked off the ground, charging for Sonic. The golden hedgehog got into a battle stance when suddenly, a snowy white bat jumped in the way. Shadow stopped charging immediately when he recognized the person Floating in a charging position, his black eyes were fixed on the bat.
What are you waiting for?
Exterminate them!
Shadow's face contorted slightly in pain as the bat spoke. "Please, Shadow! Come to your senses!"
Kill her!
Shadow shook his head. "No!"
What?
I said kill her!
Kill her now!
Shadow shook his head again, trying to clear out the demented voice that resided within his mind, while landing on the ground. "No, not her! What would it prove? She is not a threat!"
Then remove her!
Shadow stood up and smirked, gathering a small energy blast. With lighting fast speed, the hedgehog was in front of Rouge, blasting the small attack right into her stomach. Rouge's eyes widened as she bent over in pain and fell to the ground, unconscious.
Shadow smirked again as he stepped over the bat, once again directing his attention towards Sonic, who was in shock. "How could you Shadow?"
You don't need love…
You have power.
"I don't need love!" Shadow repeated.
Sonic's wide eyes narrowed. "Fine Shadow, I guess there's only one way to deal with you now!"
Shadow smirked again. "Precisely!"
With those confident words, the demented Shadow charged for Sonic again, who warped out of the way of the attack just in time. Shadow stopped and raised his head, spotting the silhouette of the hedgehog against the bright sun.
"Hmph."
Shadow kicked off the ground at lighting fast speeds, with his left hand drawn back, a black light shinning from within. Sonic also reeled his left hand back, gathering a bright yellow ball of energy.
With a cocky smirk, Sonic released the attack upon the charging Chaos Shadow. The wave of energy would have been un-dodge able for anyone else, but Shadow's new powers let him easily warp to safety just in time, reappearing right behind Sonic.
"Dark Chaos Nightmare!"
A bright black ball of energy shot from Shadow's hand, impacting with the golden hedgehog full force. Sonic didn't even have time to scream as he plunged to the ground, his backside completely scorched.
With a thud, the blue hero landed on the ground, his Super form withering away. Amy screamed and immediately ran to his side. "Sonic," She said turning him over so she could see his face.
Sonic opened his left eye half way and smiled weakly. "It's alright….I'm fine."
Amy's eyes started to well up in tears as she flung herself into her hero's arms, who patted her back. "It's alright Amy."
Sky
The dark hedgehog who had just delivered a lethal attack to his blue counter part crossed his arms. "Hmph, he was the strongest?"
He needs time to recover…
Fight the yellow hedgehog instead!
Shadow's eyes widened slightly. "Amber?" He murmured.
Yessssssss.
Shadow smiled darkly. "Very well," He said uncrossing his arms and looking down to his sister, who was nursing the still unconscious Rouge. In the blink of an eye, Shadow warped down towards Amber, who was beside Knuckles.
Both immediately jumped to their feet, putting Rouge behind them. Shadow smiled wickedly. "I am not interested in the bat."
He slowly raised his left arm and pointed a finger straight at Amber. "You, you will be my next victim!"
Knuckles stepped in front of Amber. "I don't think so Shadow!"
Shadow stared the echidna right in the eye, with his unnatural looking irises. "Come in my way and parish as well echidna."
Knuckles growled, raising his fist. "Look, I don't know what happened to you Shadow, but you won't lay a finger on Amber!"
Shadow laughed, a laugh that wasn't his own and sent shivers down everyone's spine. "I suppose you will stop me!"
"You bet your ass I will!" He shouted back and was about to engage in combat when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see Amber, wearing an expression she had never had before, sorrow. "It's alright Knuckles…I'll fight him."
Knuckles' eyes widened. "You can't be serious!"
Amber smiled slightly. "Oh, but I am." She made a small notion with her head, signaling Knuckles to look down. When he did, his eyes widened in surprise. The Chaos Emeralds were at their feet! All seven!
Knuckles looked back up and smiled while nodding, understanding the plan. Knuckles stepped out of the way, leaving Shadow gazing directly at Amber. The dark hedgehog cracked his knuckles. "Time to meet your doom, sister!"
Amber smirked in retaliation. "You sound just like Eclipse."
Shadow's black eyes widened. "What?"
Before Amber responded again, another voice echoed through the air. "Thunder Arrow!"
Shadow looked up just in time to be met with the sight of Knuckles launching an attack straight at him. Caught by surprise, the hedgehog was hit and knocked back into a small pile of rubble. The concrete flew up from the impact before coming back down, burying the dark hedgehog.
Amber sighed in relief as Knuckles stood beside her. Slowly, the Chaos Emeralds began to circle them. Before the charging process began, Amber tensed up, entering her Super form in a small golden burst.
She looked at her husband. "You ready?"
Knuckles nodded and was about to close his eyes when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he spotted none other than the badly beaten Sonic, who smiled cockily. "You weren't planning on starting without me, were ya?"
Knuckles smiled as he helped the hedgehog stand up straight. "Of course not."
Sonic gave him a thumbs up as he entered his Super form as well. It was blinking slightly, going back to blue occasionally, since most of his power had been depleted by the fact he held the form so long.
All three closed their eyes as the emeralds started spinning, endowing their powers upon the ones who used them. All the color began to drain from the emeralds as the glow the heroes were giving off got stronger and stronger.
Then, with a flash of white light, all three transformed.
Amber's fur burst to a heavy violet as she floated off the ground, her quills stood on end more than they had before.
Knuckles fur erupted to a milky white and pink as he also lifted off the ground, energy sparks dancing across his body.
Sonic's fur underwent the same change as Knuckles', bringing forth the same color and the same dance of energy sparks.
The emeralds dropped to the ground with multiple thuds as all three opened their eyes in unison. Amber's were a navy blue, Knuckles' were a light violet, and Sonic's were bloody red.
The three landed on the ground, their eyes fixed on the pile of rubble containing their new enemy, the one that had the power to destroy the world, the one they once called ally…Shadow.
Suddenly, with a loud boom, the rubble was sent flying high into the air. Out of the dust, the transformed Shadow walked out, dusting off his fur slightly. He raised his head to be greeted by Chaos Amber, Hyper Knuckles, and Hyper Sonic, all ready to engage in combat.
The males are minor…
Kill the female.
Her strength rivals yours!
Shadow smiled devilishly as he clenched his fists at his sides, bringing forth a giant flame of energy. His quills wavered violently, occasionally hitting his face. The hedgehog however, paid no attention to the minor inconvenience and had his gaze set dead on the opposing heroes.
You shall reign supreme!
Kill them all!
"So you all wish to fight?" He questioned, closing his eyes for a moment. They snapped open again as the flame of energy around him followed suite, bursting to a larger size. "Very well then, welcome to your doom!"
And with those evil words, backed up by eviler intensions, Shadow charged for the heroes.
