Our Pasts entwine,and is different from out future14
Cryptic didn't move and his wings went rigid.Shadow continued to look at him,his dark eyes staring into Crytpic's pitiful soul.
"You...don't know me.I'm not this Blade you speak of"Cryptic said finally.
"Bull shit.I can see it within your eyes,your aura screams your relationship with Rouge.So your her little brother that disappeared.Odd...she doesn't seem to want to open her eyes and see who you really are".
"Trust me Shadow...she'll never open her eyes to see who I am...then again...she'll never open her eyes period".
"Why ...why is that?"
"Pitiful creature,such is the ultimate lifeform.Only a few ways to kill you.I figure breaking your heart is the most fun.My dearly beloved sister...is dead,completely.I broke her neck before I came after you.Don't believe me...how bout an instant replay?"Cryptic smiled as the room became blurry and reappeared as Sonic's empire.He was holding Amy,and Shadow saw himself unconsious,then he saw Rouge,her eyes blueish white and her jaws snapping at Cryptic.Her instincts had run wild,so this was why there was a vampiric mark on Sonic.Sonya was atop the stairs and then Sonic got rid of her.Shadow looked at himself,the one lying upon the ground.He then looked up to see Cryptic snap Rouge's neck in half and clearly heard the large crack,and she went limp.Her eyes fixed open,and crumpled into a heap upon the floor.Then everything disappeared and Eggman's dungeon came back into focus.Shadow's eyes were wide open and he was staring at the floor,his entire body shaking.His heart was off rythem,its steady beat kept speeding up and slowing down.Cryptic laughed and left the cell,he didn't want to stay,but Eggman might want to see this.Shadow opened his mouth to help him breathe,when did it become so hard to stop shaking?And was the dungeon always this cold?He lifted up a chained hand to his heart,it was as though it were dancing,speeding up at certian times,then slowing down so much it felt as though it were to stop at any moment.
"Its...its not true...no its not true...it can't be!Heh heh heh heh...no...its all a lie..."crimson streams rolled down his cheek as he laughed insanely.He completely forgot he was shaking uncontrollably.But now his chest was beginning to hurt as his heart thudded harder and harder.He didn't realize that Eggman was there,just laughing at him,he couldn't hear him.Shadow lifted up his head and tried to look out,but all he saw was darkness.The only thing he could hear was the laughter that came from him.Then he suddenly stopped as fire eruption took place inside him,a large 'crack' echoed down the silent halls of Eggman's empire.Shadow still had his hand on his chest,and he pressed down hard to feel his heart,but it wasn't beating.It had stopped,so then why was he still there...but then he realized,he wasn't.The darkness he was in proved he wasn't there,especially when he looked upon the empty eyes of his former self.
Sonic stared at the door,then quickly closed it.Checking on Amy,she was starting to rouse.She didn't look to lively,but she was moving.
"Amy...are you alright?"Sonic put his hand on her shoulder.
"I am fine..."she said alot like Sonya,hypnotic like.Sonic sighed,then looked for Rouge,then ran as fast as sound.His hands trmebled,afraid she might jump and attack him again.
"Rouge?...Rouge?"he gently picked her up,and her head lolled to the side.Sonic used his hand to make her face him,and looked upon her unusual blank eyes.
"Oh my god...Rouge...please...get up!Please...your the only one who can help me...you couldn't have died...please...Rouge!"Sonic tried to shake her a bit,but she still looked the same.
"Sonic...Rouge is gone,her soul has departed...and if my sense are correct from our bonds...so has Shadow's"Amy spoke,her voice coming back to her.She walked up to Sonic and looked at Rouge,before closing the bat's eyes with her fingers.Tikal and Espio were atop the stairs now,both their mouths agap and eyes wide.
"W...What do you mean...the General's dead?Commander...this cannot be true!...Rouge can bring him...bring him back right?"Tikal asked,racing down the stairs.
"Only if she can bring back herself"Sonic said quietly.Tikal put a hand over her mouth,as she tried to get Rouge to stand.
"But I thought she was dead already"Espio jumped off the stairs and landed next to them.
"Only to a certain extent"Amy replied.
"But why would Shadow be dead?" Espio asked Amy.
"Something tells me he knew about her passing and...yeah.I'm really sorry that he will not be here.He was a brother to me"Amy sighed.
"Just when I thought I found a best friend I had to be a jerk"Sonic shoulders heaved.Tikal kept her mouth shut,Shadow for her was like a father.
"It wasn't your fault Sonic,your mind was poisoned.Well...the least we could do is give her a proper burial".
At sunset the cermony took place,and so did one for Shadow since he was not coming back.Most of his army didn't understand just like Tikal,the others didn't even know or half care he was gone.It just left them open for another attack.Tikal wasn't ready to take over the army,so Amy was now in charge of them all.She found it alot harder than to be expected.Amy made sure though that Rouge looked her best,even in death.One thing was for certain,everyone knew that Shadow had died in Eggman's hands,and he was going to pay.
"The least Eggman could do is give us Shadow's body for recreational purposes"Sonic growled.
"Don't count on it,he'll wait for the perfect timing to use that body against us"Amy whispered.
"What do you mean?"
"Obviously,his sorceror can bend the rules about bringing back the dead,and I'm sure Eggman has a few soldiers who he doesn't care about sacrificing to bring back the ultimate lifeform with no will of his own"she closed her eyes.
"Its my fault".
"Don't say that".
Eggman lifted Shadow's lifeless hand,then let it fall.He laughed at the sight of him,finally revenge was his.
"Ha ha!Finally Shadow,you have fallen because of me!I am truely the greatest lifeform upon this planet,not you!"
"Don't count the eggs before their hatched"Cryptic said from the hallway.
"And why do you say that?"Eggman folded his arms.
"I'm the one to bring him back,what if I don't want to?Or perhaps,what if I can't?What if his soul is to valuable in the underworld that the petty soldiers your offer are not enough?"
"Then we'll trade something else.Trust me Cryptic,I have plenty of goods for getting things I want"Eggman turned back to his lifeless prize and pulled one of the blades from its sheath.He then used it to cut one of Shadow's quills from his skin,then gave it to Cryptic.It was required for the spell to work.Eggman smiled and looked back at Shadow's eyes,then shivered.The look Shadow was giving Eggman,even in death,gave him the chills.He closed the eyes then walked away.
"...whats not to say...that I make him work under your control Eggman?"Cryptic spoke silently to himself.He walked back to his room,and sat in a sorcerory circle and began to meditate.He opened his eyes and called forth something in a different language.A demon arose from the ground,decideing to take the shape as a monstrous cat.Its ears curled into horns and it's tail swished back and forth.
"And what is it that you want?"its voice was deep,and demon wings fluttered behind it.
"I require the soul of the ultimate lifeform,Shadow"Cryptic spoke clearly,no longer afraid of these demon dealings.The demon breathed in.
"And what is it you have to offer?" Cryptic threw five bottles with white liquid smoke at his feet.The demon picked it up and examined it closely.
"These souls,for Shadow's?No deal...these are to weak.We'll talk when you get someone's soul who has the same 'heart'. Good bye"the demon disappeared.Cryptic hit the floor hard,making it crack.He waited a few minutes then left the circle of his protection.If you left it to early,you had no control over the demons,and they would kill you.
"Its not enough,we need someone elses,with the same 'heart' " Cryptic said to Eggman.
"No problem...one with the same 'heart' lives also within Sonic's empire.In fact...she's pink".
Cryptic sat beneath the canopy of leaves.He waited after the cermony of his sister's death to end.Once they were all inside he set out,but the new grave made him stop.He looked at the fresh mound and went to one knee.
"Forgive me,big sister.I had no choice...I lost my soul long ago.Tell mother and father,I miss them"his eyes turned a normal sea of blue,and a tear escaped him.He wiped it away and the cold whispering took place in his mind that he was nothing but a murderer,a traitor.His eyes turned back to their normal ice blue,he would never be that sweet little brother again.He raised his hand to his heart then put it down upon her grave.He then stood up and began towards the entrance of the empire.He slammed the door open,and every eye was upon him.He didn't know why he thought the entire army would be off to their rooms,instead they were all in the throne room,right where he had just arrived.
"What are YOU doing here?"Amy asked,brandishing her mallet.The army advance,weapons branded.
"I've come to speak to you,Amelia"Cryptic replied with a sly smile.
"I'm listening"she raised her mallet threateningly.Sonic was at her side,sword at the ready.All enchidna's were mixed in within the armies.
"Impressive,you might just actually break the defensive line...Sonic...how do you feel that your one of the reasons your friends are dead?Out of two reasons,your the first one,just tell me,how does that make you feel?"Cryptic flashed his fangs at him.Sonic growled and gripped his sword tighter.
"Heh...odd isn't it?That evil mind of yours always plotting to get rid of Rouge and Shadow...then it turned to Amelia.Thinking she was against you as well,you turned down every friendship,relationship,just to be with your beloved sister.You even thought about trading in Amelia's soul to replace Sonya's...it takes a soul with the same 'heart'.And Amelia,your very lucky,and unlucky at once"Cryptic used his vampiric speed and leaped onto Amy,before holting her upwards to the ceiling.Her mallet dropped to the floor,cracking the stone.Everyone went into riot,trying to get to Cryptic as he flew out the door,Amelia struggling within his hold.
"Your going to fall if you continue that"Cryptic hissed and tighted his hold,making it difficult for her to breathe.
Amy was thrown into a dark dungeon.She turned to growl at Cryptic but he had disappeared for the moment.She stood to get her bearings,and she heard chains across the floor as she moved.She looked down to see chains upon the floor,streaming to a wall.She followed it as though she were blind,for it was so dark.On her hands and knees she stumbled across something solid and pulled her hand back quickly.Why wasn't it attacking her?She reached out slowly and felt again,it was a hand,and it was cold.
"Oh...god...where am I?"she feared the answer as she used her hand to see if the arm was attached to something or in something's mouth.She moved up to the shoulder and cut her palm,it was sharp there.She looked closely,metal spikes stuck out.She avoided them and reached the neck,passed over the face and moved her hand behind the head.More sharpness,but she was careful to not get cut.She pulled her hand back slowly,and wrapped her arms around her legs,then began to cry.A faint light erupted above her,and Eggman walked into the path.
"Poor poor girl,better not look up".Of course only hearing that,made Amy look up to clarify exactly what it was that was in front of her.And her gut feeling was right,it was Shadow.More tears filled her eyes and she put her face into her hands.Cryptic came in and made Eggman remove himself.Cryptic then picked up the crying Amy and sat within the protection circle,before calling forth the same demon.
"You think you have found the proper soul?"it asked mockingly.
"Of course"Cryptic answered,flashing his fangs and Amy stopped crying.
'I...I'm going to die'she thought non chantly.
"I require the soul of Shadow the Hedgehog,ultimate lifeform,here in exchange is a soul with the same 'heart'.Give the soul to me for the exchange!"Cryptic raised a knife and periced it through Amy's heart.Her eyes widend,and went blank as white mist came from her mouth.The demon took the spirit and went into deep trance,calling forth Shadow's soul.
"How's it going?"Eggman asked,opening the door.The demon hissed and disappeared,and Cryptic's eyes widend.
"YOU IDIOT!DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE JUST DONE?!"
"Ummm...no not really no".
"THAT WAS OUR ONE CHANCE TO GET HIS SOUL BACK.AMELIA'S DEAD,THE DEMON HAS HER SOUL,AND WILL NOT GIVE US SHADOW'S SOUL!YOU IDIOT!There is no other person able to trade now!"Crytpic screetched at Eggman and teleported else where in a puff of smoke,and Amy crumpled into a heap.
Sonic could feel it within his heart,that Amy was gone.He fell to his knees in the middle of a dirt field,he left everyone else behind.He screamed into the merciless sky,as the stars were just starting to show.His hands dug into his quills,ignoring the pain that his quills caused him.
"Why the long face?"someone offered him a hand to help him up.It was claded in armor,and very delicate.
"W...who are you?"Sonic looked at the hand suspiciously.The hand grabbed his shoulder and proped him up.It was a girl,a blue hedgehog,with emerald green eyes.
"I am one who lives within your heart,my dear boy.My,you have grown.Your father and I are so proud, at what your doing".
"M...mom?"
"What is it you require my dear?"she smiled sweetly.
"The souls of my friends to return to them and for them to come back to me...but your not God...I don't even think your here,you could just be a figment of my imagination because my mind finally cracked".The woman hit him hard,and Sonic actually felt pain.
"What would you give for their return?"her eyes turned to a dark red,and horns sprouted from atop her head.
"What do you want?What am I to give a demon in return for my firends?"Sonic blinked,and sighed.
"Then you will make a deal with me,you know I am a demon,and that I can take many shapes.I will take a small part of your soul,you won't even realize its missing.But...you must bring my King Eggman's soul within the end of this year.Meaning,you have five months,that should be plenty of time"the demon smiled sweetly.
"You promise?Only a little bit?What will this do to me?"
"It will cause you to feel more hatred towards Eggman,and argue a bit with yourself,but thats it".
"...I'll take it"Sonic's eyes hardend.The demon smiled and a blast of light hit Sonic,blinding him for a moment,as he peered into the dark havens of the underworld,spiraling into darkness until he found what he was looking for and yanked it free.
"What will this do to my friends?!"he yelled into the darkness.
"Even I do not know"
A/N:Amy got ot experience what Sonic went through when he was blind and found his sister,so its only fair she did the same since Shadow is like a brother,make sense doesn't it? (ever one goes ooooooooooooooh,now I get it!).And just what perhaps do you think is going to happen?Will the demon be true or go back on her word?I know cliff hanger,but it helps me to get the next chapter up and running.Like it?This wasn't meant to be funny,and also meant for you to not to take sides for Cryptic,I wanted you to be unsure if he should die,did I succeed?Please review.
