Just so you all know, I am completely screwing the update deadline. I can't keep a constant, exact schedule now that I am on school-time. Don't worry, for I will still update frequently. Just not as much, okay? At least twice a week. Okay now, Chapter 16. Oi, I got to sixteen chapters! I am so…HAPPY! Yay.
Energy. Energy strong enough to destroy countless worlds once tapped into, that was what was flowing through Shadow's system. Of course, his plans for today did not include the destruction of anything. Well, nothing too important, that is.
"It's good to be back," Super Shadow muttered, his eyes focusing on Ciel. "Too bad that my target this time has to be you."
"Don't lie to yourself," His winged brother replied, smirking. "You just like having power, no matter what you use it on. Then again, most people are like that."
"You shall eat those words," The Super Hedgehog growled, rushing forward. Ciel instantly flew out of the line of fire, but that did not discourage Shadow.
"Ignore him," Gemini ordered, flying next to Shadow in his own Super form. "He is just trying to anger you. If you let it get to you, you know what will happen."
"I don't need to be reminded of what I can and can't do," Shadow retorted. Ciel wasn't too far away from him. All he needed to do was catch up, and then he could put an end to this mess. The golden-silver colored hedgehog grinned as he picked up the pace.
"Something isn't right with this," Gemini thought to himself. "I'm can sense something odd with his energy patterns. I wonder what it-" The magician was cut off from his thoughts as a sudden spasm of pain streaked throughout his body. Against his will, he let out a short scream. Shadow didn't even look back at his brother, still focused on the task at hand. The crimson aura that had begun to surround Shadow meant only one thing: Something was definitely wrong.
Down below, it was evident also that something was wrong. Sonic had already gotten the rest of the gang outside, but Rouge and Tikal had remained behind. Both of them had troubled looks on their faces, gazing at the three brothers zipping around the room.
"You were right again Tikal," Rouge admitted. "Something is wrong with Shadow and Gemini. What do you suppose it is?"
"I…am not sure," Tikal replied, closing her eyes. "For Gemini, I think that the Chaos Energy is reacting to the Dark Energy inside of him. As for Shadow, I think that he has somehow been upset enough for the Chaos Emerald's energy to send him into a frenzy. How, I do not know." Rouge thought about this for a second before opening her mouth again to speak. A theory had formed in the thief's mind about the predicament.
"Tikal, does the soul have any effect on the people when they use them?" The white bat asked. "Like, affecting their Super forms?"
"Of course it does!" The orange echidna exclaimed. "The soul houses your true heart and emotions! Without it, there would be nothing to life! The Chaos Emeralds react to our emotions."
"Well then, I think I may know what's wrong," Rouge said quietly. "This is just a guess, but I think that Shadow's Copysoul is different in his Super Form. And the few times he has activated his Super form, it's been around creatures that are mainly evil. Biolizard and Black Doom, just to name a few. And the Black Arm's Queen." (A/N: The Queen will appear in that prequel I mentioned last chapter) Rouge nodded her head towards the furious hedgehog in the air, his aura now evident to anyone watching.
"If that is true, then we must stop this at all costs!" Tikal declared. "Come Rouge, I need to retrieve the Master Emerald from my cousin."
"Knucklehead brought it with him?" Rouge asked in surprise. Tikal didn't answer, instead running off to locate Knuckles. With one look back at the fighting hedgehogs, the batgirl followed behind.
Back in the air, Super Shadow continued pursuing Ciel. Shadow flew faster and faster, the bright red aura brightening as he flew. He didn't know where his anger was coming from exactly; he could blame it on a lot of things. Like what he had found out about his past, or the fact that he had been deceived by Eggman. Either way, the Super hedgehog didn't care. He just wanted to quit this game of chase, and proceed to the fight.
"Now now, Shadow," Ciel taunted, "You should not let your temper run off with you like that. You would not want to do something you might regret, would you?"
"The only thing I'll regret is if I can't shut you up!" Shadow yelled in reply, bursting his speed fast enough to catch up with the non-super hedgehog. In his fury, Shadow began to pummel his fists into Ciel, but the wounds closed up as soon as he had applied them. This only caused the frenzied hedgehog's anger to rise, his punches becoming faster as Ciel's regeneration slowed.
"I believe now would be the time for me to finish you off," Shadow was now pure red, Chaos Energy practically oozing off his fingers. "This is the end for you! Chaos-"
"Oh no you don't!" Shadow was cut off by suddenly being attacked by Gemini. The magician was panting, due to the sharp pain that still resided in his body. Shadow growled.
"What was that for?" He demanded to know. "I could have destroyed him!"
"Bastard, that wasn't part of the plan!" Gemini retorted through gritted teeth. "Have you lost your mind?"
"I believe our brother has lost it," Ciel agreed. "Only a mad person would attack so mercilessly. Either that, or a monster." The winged hedgehog grinned at the crimson hedgehog's reaction.
"I am not A MONSTER!" Shadow howled in outrage. "You dare say those words! CHAOS BLAST!" The red aura glowed brightly with energy, expanding into a giant explosion. It seemed that Shadow's fury had won.
Cliffhanger! Will Shadow's Chaos Blast send the whole place to Kingdom Come, or will a miracle happen? You'll just have to wait and see!
