IMPORTANT: All credits go to the Sonic Team who originally blessed us with a courageous, kind hearted, friendly, blue hedgehog. Only the main plot of the story is mine.

NOTE: No sexual scenes. Romantic relationship between Amy Rose and Sonic the Hedgehog. Rouge and Knuckles may never admit their true feelings for each other. No other relationships are mentioned in this story, but one of the main characters will have unrequited feelings for Amy...

SECOND NOTE: Any edits, comments email me or private message me (Email mentioned in profile).

Thanks for showing interest! Enjoy!

IN PROGRESS...

Sonic the Hedgehog

Rising Darkness

- Hidden Darkness -

Chapter Two: The Destruction of Power

Angel Island was home to Knuckles, the last known member of the Echidna clans. Located in the sky, this island was an ideal sanctuary and a wonderful place to kick back and relax. Which is what the red headed echidna had been doing before he realized that the Master Emerald was in danger. The Master Emerald looked like all the other Chaos Emeralds, except it was a whole lot larger than a normal emerald and was of more significance.

This special gem had a deep green hue, but with more dimension. Besides its multi dimensional design, the Master Emerald was the power source of Angel Island. If the emerald's powers would be compromised, the island would inevitably fall into the sea. That is why Angel Island consisted of four inhospitable regions, made by the four natural elements: fire, water, wind and earth.

The fire region consisted of many hidden and unhidden volcanoes that were always active. In this particular area, there was a limited source of water and a significant amount of fiery, hot, molten lava. This place looked like could fit the very description of Hell, minus the Devil and his demonic armies and the damned. Only a small body of water, a puddle, offered any traveler moisture and relief from the boiling temperature that seemed to reach escalating degrees with every volcanic eruption.

Besides the lava reef, there was a watery region that consisted mainly of ice. In fact, this was the same exact place that Sonic and Shadow had previously defeated the ice snake. The truth to this snow beast was that it never actually died. Like a fearful, ugly counterpart to the Phoenix, the ice behemoth rose from its death as a new and stronger creature. Readying itself for another encounter with the two only living beings that have ever thwarted it. But that monster would have to wait another time for another showdown with the hedgehogs.

Now the third natural element was wind. The third region lacked wind, except for a dry breeze that would swiftly push its way through the arid desert land. This desert had sand dunes and the tombs of some of the greatest members of the echidna clans. It is legend that their spirits still guard the land and will relentlessly pursue an uninvited guest until they could no longer threaten the peace of Angel Island.

The last half of the windy region was only air. Just air. Only creatures that were given natural flight, could travel around that area. Not even the courageous, and seemingly able to do anything, Sonic the Hedgehog, or his second rate rival, Shadow the Hedgehog, ever travelled through that area, since the air was filled with noxious fumes that only threatened aircraft.

The last region was earth. In fact, this was the only region that Knuckles was fully familiar with. He knew that this was the region that connected all four of those regions together. This was also the only region that was fully inhabitable by all creatures that were ever created. This was where the Sanctuary ruins were located, And also home to a beach, that was hidden within a vast overabundance of rainforest trees and undergrowth. There was no threat to be found in that area, except the guardian of the Emeralds, which was Knuckles current occupation.

Now the Master Emerald was heavily guarded. A sacred item in Knuckles possession, he would fight to kill to protect it from ever falling into the wrong hands or anybody's hands for that matter. Keeper of the chaos emeralds, Knuckles constantly watched over them, unless Sonic or Dr. Eggman ever got a hold of any of the Seven Chaos Emeralds.

Not as powerful as the Master Emerald, but still powerful enough to pose a threat to the well being of Angel Island should the bearer of all Seven intend to harm or harness the power of the Master Emerald. Knuckles the Echidna trailed through the ruins of the Sanctuary on Angel Island, trying to disregard his fears.

He sat down on an ancient stone throne emblazoned with the emblem of his proud and once powerful clan. The emblem was of the Master Emerald enraptured by bright, dazzling light, layered in gold and silver with beautiful tiny rubies inlaid all around. He settled down a little with prideful assurance that the Emerald was in the right hands of a guardian with perfect stealth, excellent reflexes, and a determination to grind any enemy who threatened the peace of his beloved home and his prized treasure.

And he was soon lost in thought, mainly replaying his previous conversation with Rouge, that pesky yet beautiful bat. Woah! Where were these thoughts coming from? Sure he felt like he was drowning in the sea green of her eyes and her voice was like a song sung by angels and the birds of the air.

But did he really have those feelings? Could he really feel that way? Nah, the mundanity of love was only for those who did not have more important matters to attend to, like guarding a mystical powerful emerald. But then again, Rouge was always on his mind and he always did blush when she teased him, his face getting red hot. One day. He decided with an air of mild excitement. I will tell her how I-but then to his disappointment and annoyance his thoughts were cut off when he heard a whooshing sound, and was soon occupied by the task at hand

"That could only be chaos control." he grunted. "I wonder what Sonic is up to."

All of a sudden an area next to the shell shocked echidna began to warp. A certain space in the air beginning to tear open. Knuckles peered cautiously into the tear and was shocked to see a strange sight. Sonic was getting battered and beaten by Silver. For the first time ever, the poor blue hedgehog was losing.

Suddenly Knuckles heard a low, rugged voice: "Chaos Control." and his whole body began to slow down with time. He watched with wide open eyes as the tear in the air sealed back up and the blue and silver hedgehog were no longer able to be seen.

"What the heck is going on?" he snarled as he struggled to break free of the chaos hold that kept him frozen along with time. "What's going on?"

"Calm down, Knuckles." said the same rugged voice that had called the command that caused Knuckles to fall victim to time freeze. "Chaos Control."

Someone appeared in front of the angry echidna, two chaos emeralds spiraling around him. The warp in the air dissolving.

A month ago...

He ran a finger across his rather large nose in an imitation of his ultimate nemesis. His eyes twinkling behind his glasses, he pulled a lever and watched as darkness clashed with artificial light.

"Artificial light is the weakest form of light and darkness can easily overtake it, but it is enough to sustain your life." Dr. Eggman explained to the dark rush of power that filled the LED bulb. "Now you will be able to regain power and send this world into utter chaos! The Eggman Empire will finally come to be and nothing can stop me! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

A whirring sound of machine cogs grinding against one another, retaining the spark of light filtering from the bulb and a chaos emerald. "Well I guess it is not entirely artificial." Eggman mused. "I do need to give you a charge of chaos light so you can accomplish my goal and finally achieve the revenge you have long been seeking."

"Eggman?" a detached voice inquired. "Is it time?

"Not just yet, my friend." said Eggman as he clasped his hands together in glee. "You need some time to regain your strength and locate those pesky hedgehogs." Then he pressed a button that released the darkness, now charged with false light and chaos light, so that it landed with a rush in front of its new master.

The darkness began to take a form, the form of a hedgehog. It extended a hand out to Eggman and the genius and mad scientist placed an aqua blue chaos emerald into his clawed hand. It turned towards Eggman, a gleam in its green eyes.

"Shadow the Hedgehog." it snarled and raised its clawed hand to the sky, emerald in hand. "

"When can I see him?" And with a cold smile it added, "I have a little something for him, something he will die for."

"Shadow?" Knuckles said in shock. "What are you doing?"

Shadow merely chuckled a low dark laugh. "Calm down my friend. I just need to get something real quick and then you can continue your usual duties. Or maybe you won't." he smiled, a cold smile. And to Knuckles' astonishment, Shadow ascended the steps leading to the Master Emerald. With a curious tilt of his head, the red and black hedgehog reached to touch the gleaming green gem.

"Don't you dare!" Knuckles snarled, attempting to slam his knuckles together, but he had been put in slow motion, so that the two knuckles never joined, before he flew across the grassy land as Shadow gave a careless wave of his hand. "H-h-how did you d-d-do that?" Knuckles stammered in amazement. Never in his life had Knuckles experienced Shadow's powers so strong. It was as if he had psychokinetic powers like Silver the Hedgehog.

"Calm down." Shadow hissed and before Knuckles could utter a sound of protestation, Shadow placed his hands gently on the gleaming surface of the Emerald. "Aaaaargh!" He exclaimed and then something that sent chills down Knuckles spines happened, as the power of the Emerald rushed into the screaming Shadow and the Emerald's glow began to dull out.

"I can feel it." hissed Shadow. "The power. Soon I can fulfill my destiny. My vow. My revenge. Ssssoon." Shadow's voice had changed so that it sounded like someone else's, someone familiar.

"What the-" began Knuckles, but then.

"Ssssilence fool." and the echidna was launched into the air and thrown into a pillar. The impact caused the cracked pillar to shiver slightly.

"I need to concentrate..." Shadow's normal rugged voice returned and with an evil smile he added. "You won't be needing this." The Emerald began to splinter into a million shards to Knuckles disdain and horror.

Amy Rose paced the oakwood floor of her living room. She sadly gazed over the pony wall at the rectangular table centered in the dining room that was adjacent to her living room. The table was covered in a red heart shaped table cloth adorned with little roses at the edges. On top of the table cloth were two pink rose shaped plates. Amy had spent nearly all day fixing up Sonic's favorite meal: hot dogs.

Sure this kind of food was more for game day rather than a romantic date, but still Amy just knew the steak that she had once fantasized serving her love interest would not be so enthusiastically eaten. The hot dogs were decorated with ketchup and mustard. However the hot dogs and the buns had long gone cold. The ice cream that Amy had dolloped into two pink bowls, with roses and hearts painted on them, was a melted mess and flowing onto the table cloth.

"Aaargh!" Amy cried out. "Where is he?!" Then she began to sob. She walked over to the dining room, took out her piko piko hammer and slammed it down on the table. Everything went crashing around the place and scattered messily upon the floor. Staining the pink, fuzzy carpet.

"He always does this!" Amy screamed in frustration. "And I thought he loved me." Tears fell down Amy's eyes as she wiped her ice cream, ketchup and mustard stained hammer on her dress.

Then she walked away, out the front door. Letting it slam so hard that the split table finally collapsed. Just like her heart did when she realized she had been stood up. Just like Sonic did as Silver threw him into a couple trashcans back in the alley. Just as Angel Island collapsed into the sea.

Meanwhile...

"The Master Emerald!" Knuckles exclaimed and attempted to rush over to it but to no avail. He was still in slow motion.

Shadow laughed derisively. "Nice try, Echidna. But you can never break my hold on you. Have a nice day. I got to go check on my favorite hedgehog. Oh wait, that's me." And he vanished. No warp or tear in the air, no ability to see where he was headed. He had just disappeared.

The Master Emerald, Knuckles thought dejectedly. It's powers are in him... And Knuckles continued his run to the sacred pyramid where the Emerald's shattered pieces remained. Knuckles kneeled and closed his eyes in concentration as he scooped up nearly every piece of his prized possession. "Let's see if this works." he mumbled to himself as he laid the pieces back on the floor. He took out the little ruby chaos emerald, he had been fiddling with earlier. He raised the emerald and watched it soar into the air above his head.

"Power of the emerald. The ruby chaos emerald. Your power source has fallen, but I am the guardian of the Master Emerald. I am the server. I have the power to give back to the Emerald. To restore its power." he stood up, and lifted up his arms to the sky. "Now hear me! Reawaken the Master Emerald! Give back the power! Reestablish its power to save the Island! Hear me!" he roared.

The earth began to shake as lightning flashed and struck the seven pillars around the sacred pyramid. The pillars began to send lasers of the lightning so that it attached to the pyramid. Electrocuting both the Emerald shards and Knuckles. The Emerald shards began to pulse with light and the light grew stronger. Knuckles picked one up and said.

"Rejoin, you shards. Rejoin and become one." The other pieces rose up and began to reassemble, soon the Emerald was standing before the joyous echidna, but there was a piece missing.

Knuckles looked down and watched as the shard in his hand twitched to be free and join the Emerald. He let it go and watched as it filled the chink in the Emerald. Then something went wrong. The Emerald's power began to die and as it did Knuckles heard a detached voice, Shadow's voice, but not really Shadow's usual rugged voice, it was the hissing cruel voice that sounded so familiar but could not be placed, say. "It is hopeless.

As long as the Emerald's powers are in me, it will not work. But still the Chaos Emeralds work and they will lead to the downfall of my enemies and anyone who gets in my way." And the voice faded.

"Thanks Shadow." Knuckles smiled wistfully. "Now I can rescue Sonic." and he looked at the ruby red emerald still rotating in the air. "Do me a favor will you?" Knuckles asked the emerald.