Well, here I am with a new chapter.
Knuckles stood near the edge of the water before turning around to leave.
"I'm heading back to the Master Emerald. If Sonic tries to take it, I'll be ready."
He then flew off, and Tikal sighed before looking towards the gleaming ocean as the moonlight shone onto the water.
XXXXXX
Knuckles pondered to himself as Sonic disappeared into the water.
"Tikal... He looked familiar." He said, looking back at her.
"..."
He sighed. "You know the vaults below the Master Emerald on Angel Island?" He asked.
She nodded slowly. "Yes..."
She teleported herself and Knuckles to Angel Island, going to the vault.
Six paintings were on the wall. Knuckles looked at them.
The first painting showed a creature with two large white horns being crowned.
"...That's the only thing I don't see Sonic with at the moment."
Tikal nodded. "I would explain, but... Now is not the time. We need to find Sonic and extract that gem."
The echidna nodded. "Do you think he's going to go after the Master Emerald?"
"...He may if he gets fully corrupted. Be careful if he tries to take it. He might use his actual powers."
"..."
XXXXXX
Shadow rushed through Station Square, teleporting to Mystic Ruins.
The ebony hedgehog walked to Tails' workshop in silence, observing the outside. He turned the knob on the doors, with it oddly opening as it wasn't locked.
He walked inside, looking around the house.
He heard a sound upstairs, and he walked up into the second level.
The sound only grew louder, and it turned out to be heartbroken sobs.
Shadow cringed, not used to hearing this type of crying. "Ugh..."
He approached the door to where the crying was located.
He opened the door quietly, looking inside to see Sonic, his hands buried into his face as his wings covered most of his body.
"...Faker." Shadow said quietly, staring at the blue blur with a frown.
"...I found you..."
"What happened to you?" He continued, frown intensifying as he glanced at the sobbing hedgehog.
"What the fuck happened to you?! You're pathetic!"
His sobs only continued, growing more saddened. "...Leave me alone..." He cried out, a hand grasping a black sword beside him.
Shadow was quiet, walking closer to the hedgehog. "...Talk to me, f-faker..."
He looked down...Why would he feel sympathy for his rival?
Oddly enough, the corruption didn't alter Shadow's last sentence.
The creature whimpered quietly, noting that Shadow hadn't insulted him on the last sentence.
He thought between his cries, about Tails. How he let him down once again...
How... His life was taken... by... a...
His eyes widened, the sorrow inside of him being replaced by pure rage.
He stood up, lips curling into a growl.
Shadow got into a fighting position, Chaos Energy gathering against his hands.
"Stop, Faker!"
"Ha... Throwing a tantrum, are we?"
Sonic turned around, responding with an ear-piercing roar. He ran at Shadow, ready to tear him apart.
The Ultimate Lifeform dodged quickly, sending the monster into the wall, he turned around, grabbing Shadow.
The ebony gasped before teleporting, appearing outside the workshop. He looked up, seeing Sonic leap out of the ceiling, landing on his feet.
He snarled, the two... Hedgehogs were face to face.
A free battleground, anything could happen...
"Listen, Faker..." Shadow said to the enraged hero.
Sonic growled, staring at Shadow silently...
"Who are you?"
The hedgehog dismissed the question, charging towards Shadow with a feral roar.
He tried to slash Shadow as claws ripped out of his fingertips. The ebony teleported via Chaos Control, kicking him in the back of the head.
Sonic snarled, grasping his head in pain as he fell back. He flew upwards, charging towards the Ultimate Lifeform.
The ebony hedgehog leaped out of the way, grabbing Sonic's tail. He swung him around and let go, the monster being thrown into the ground by the force.
He got up, blood dribbling from his muzzle as he growled. Shadow walked towards him, still maintaining his distance as Chaos Energy formed around him.
"Answer my question." He said, irritated. "Stop hiding. Clearly that crystal is doing something to you, and for you to grow accustomed to it immediately is clearly suspicious."
Sonic didn't respond, wiping his mouth. "That's none of your business, Shadow," He said with a snarl, "But if you want to know so badly, learn some history. I should be in one of those damn books." And with that, he spread his wings, ready to take off.
"Chaos Spear!" Shadow shouted, shooting several of the said weapons into Sonic. He screeched, falling wings bleeding as he turned around. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" He roared, charging towards Shadow as he summoned the same sword he attacked Knuckles with.
"What the-" Shadow said before being cut off, dodging a sword swipe to his chest. Sonic growled, turning around as the blade glowed. The ebony hedgehog teleported behind the hedgehog, ready to strike.
Suddenly, Sonic stabbed backward.
The sword plunged into Shadow's chest as he screamed. Blood sprayed onto the floor as Sonic removed his sword, facing the hedgehog as he sank to his knees, coughing up blood onto the ground.
He grinned mercilessly, licking the blood off of the sword as he stared at his wounded rival.
"Look at you. Bleeding out on the floor." Sonic said, still staring creepily at the hedgehog. His grin only grew wider as Shadow glared at him in anger and pain. He grasped his chest, continuing to spit blood.
"F-fuck you..." Shadow growled, his glove starting to become red. He fell onto the floor collapsing. His breathing started to slow as he glared at Sonic.
The monster kneeled down, a maniacal grin now noticeable on his muzzle. He held out a clawed hand, a green aura growing around it as Shadow felt him take an... energy from his body.
He winced and clenched his teeth as Sonic finished, standing back up as his wings grew bigger, claws sharpening as his fur grew longer and into an even darker shade of blue. "You won't be needing this anymore." The creature said, preparing to leave but stopping himself.
"...Actually, I might as well end your life humanely." He said, turning back around. "Thanks for the energy, Shadow. After you're gone I'll save this world from its own destruction. I don't like killing mobians, but it'll be better than bleeding out."
The Ultimate Lifeform glared, looking at him weakly.
"This will hurt for just a second..." He growled, raising his sword.
Just as he was about to decapitate Shadow, he felt a hard punch to the face. He roared, spitting out a tooth as his head throbbed with pain.
Knuckles rushed by, picking up Shadow as Tikal appeared in a light aura. Sonic roared, charging towards Tikal as a fight ensued.
The echidna set Shadow down, healing the gash in his chest with Chaos Energy. "What the hell happened?!" Knuckles shouted at him, standing up.
"He got me, that's all," Shadow said, scowling. He looked towards the fighting mobians, taking aim at Sonic.
"Chaos Spear!" He shouted.
Nothing happened.
"What...?" The hedgehog said in confusion.
"...CHAOS SPEAR!" He said, frustrated.
Nothing.
"No... He... He couldn't have..."
Knuckles looked at Shadow. "Try taking off your inhibitors..."
He nodded slowly, removing them from his wrists.
Nothing.
Shadow's eyes widened in rage, clenching his fists. He charged towards Sonic, running at far faster speeds than normal. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, YOU BASTARD!" He screamed, leaping and preparing a devastating punch.
Sonic stole his Chaos powers.