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!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Had a guest review inform me that the following chapters are the same:

Chapter Three: Puzzling Discoveries

Chapter Four: It is Time

I unfortunately I am unable to locate the similarities between these chapters.

I would appreciate if someone, maybe the kind visitor, were to inform me where these two chapters are the same.

Thanks for your review.

Have a good one!

- MC Productions 737

IN PROGRESS...

Sonic the Hedgehog

Rising Darkness

- Hidden Darkness -

Chapter Three: Puzzling Discoveries

Shadow walked through a forest with blackened, charred trees, whose barren, gnarled limbs hung low like arms, reaching out to strangle the ebony, scarlet striped, hedgehog. The scene was dismal as the evening gloom hung about the burnt forest, and a cold, frosty wind whistled through the copper colored leaves.

The fog of nightfall and the pale moonlight, that barely filtered through the dense clouds, only added to the dark mood that was setting in. The twisted and broken down trees creaked and groaned as Shadow, feeling a sudden sense of apprehension, cautiously and slowly walked on. He heard the hooting of an owl, a ghostly sound that sent an involuntary shiver down his back.

The Ultimate Life Form was usually not one who could be scared so easily, but with his current predicament and the mood of the area he was traveling through, he could not help but feel a growing sense of dread. He nearly jumped out of his skin and gave a shout, as suddenly, a loud screeching sound and the flapping of wings from a raven, having been disturbed by the crunching of his feet on the dead, dry leaves, leapt at him, in angry aggression.

"Really?" He scolded himself. "You are scared of a common raven?" He continued walking on, running his hand along the scarred and snarled trees as he did.

"What next?" He mocked himself. "Going to run in fright of a tiny rabbit?" He scoffed and proceeded his cautious and vigil walk through the burned down forest.

Eventually, he arrived at his final destination. Carved, by natural design, into the side of the tall mountain terrain, that separated the forests from other geographical biomes, was a cave. The gaping mouth of the cave was an unwelcome invitation, but Shadow knew that it was the answers to all the questions he had.

So he slipped into the cave entrance, hoping he would find Eggman. He crawled through the narrow passageway, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the overhanging stalactites, and scraping his hands and knees in the stalagmites.

He finally reached the end to the claustrophobic inducing entryway and jumped down, into a much wider and taller caveway. He walked a few more miles before he hit a frad end, at least that would be what it seemed like to the less observant and expectant person.

To Shadow, however, this was obviously where Eggman's secret base would be hidden. After all, Eggman was creepy enough to find this place, the burned forest and dark caved, a wonderful place to work on his evil schemes.

"So much for secret." Shadow muttered with a small smile as he gazed at the words carved on the far wall that read:

KEEP OUT! NOT SECRET BASE!

"I thought the same thing too."

Shadow whirled around. Nobody was there.

"Who are you and what do you want?" snarled the startled the hedgehog as his quills stood on end and he readied himself for a fight.

"Relax, Shads." said a rather beaten up hedgehog as he emerged from the shadows.

The poor guy seemed to have been badly beaten that he appeared to be broken. He had a sort of limp and the normal eager movement in his steps was gone, but he still seemed to walk proudly as if he had come from a raging battle and had won a great victory. Both eyes were bruised, but only one was swollen shut. His normally envied styled spines were all out of place. The only thing that remained was his amused smile that seemed to never leave his face.

Oh no. Shadow thought as he shook his head in disbelief. "How did you know I would be here? And what the heck happened to you."

"You didn't expect me to be completely helpless in the situation you left me in." Sonic replied with a small sideways smile. "I mean it took a lot for him to give in, but he eventually did. By force that is." Sonic added and his grin grew wider as Shadow's scowl deepened.

"Who?" Shadow asked.

"You know who." Sonic rolled his eyes. "You seriously aren't going to deny your unfair and false accusation right?"

Before Shadow could even express his confusion, he was punched in the face by a rather pissed off Sonic, who had seemed to have appeared right in front of the black, red striped hedgehog.

A couple hours ago...

While Shadow ambushed Knuckles and stole the Master Emerald's powers, Sonic was about ready to give up. He felt like every part of his body was numb and dead. His mouth had gone dry and his head hurt from the heavy impact he kept taking as Silver mercilessly slammed him against the alley walls, dumpsters, and a series of almost demolished, glass items. Too many to describe in detail, but enough that the blue hedgehog was all cut up and bleeding.

Sonic limped towards Silver, the normal determination and hope gone from his electric green eyes. He gave a series of coughs and cleared his throat, but only a gurgling sound was all Sonic could make. Sonic dropped to his knees, coughing and sputtering, blood dripping from his mouth, the taste of it bitter on his tongue.

After a series of more coughs, sputters, and blood dripping to the cracked alley pavement floor, Sonic got off the ground, rubbing his sore shoulder, continued limping towards the stunned and guilty telekinetic hedgehog.

"Why don't you just end it now?" he asked his silver rival, he practically pled it but his pride, which had remained unbroken, prevented Silver from detecting Sonic's desperation.

"I-I- c-c-ca-can't." Silver stammered and then stared at his hands in dismay and he really hurting one of his closest friends?

Sure Shadow had said that the being that stood weakly in front of him wasn't Sonic, but did that justify it? Was Shadow even telling the truth? Or was he the real monster?

"Do it." Sonic begged, his resolve finally shattering like the glass he had smashed into multiple times as he had been in Silver's psychokinetic clutches. "Just do it. Anything is better than this. I do not want you to keep hurting me. Just end it..."

And then it happened.

A week ago...

The aqua chaos emerald was nestled in his clawed hand as he spied on the unsuspecting black hedgehog.

He saw his enemy's ruby red eyes reflect the setting sunlight, making them appear to be an amber gold. The waves crashed back and forth along the sandy coast. Soon the sky darkened as the sun surrendered to nighttime. The stars strewn about the sky glistened against the surface of the dark waters, like beautiful diamonds that shone so bright in contrast to the dark blue and indigo color of the night sky.

The pale moon reflected against the ocean as the bioluminescence resurfaced for another night of fun and feasting. The glowing of their tiny, microscopic bodies added to the spectacular scenery of that fine evening. This was his sanctuary. It wasn't just the beauty and serenity that lured him to the beach every sunset and moonrise.

It was also the fact that Sonic hated the water, therefore he loathed the beach. Shadow would not have to worry about that pesky blue spineball. Little did he know that it would have been better to have had Sonic's company as he was unknowingly being spied on. Spied on by someone with cruel intentions. Deadly intentions.

The moonlight gleamed against his green eyes. Hatred filled his heart. His mind whirred with revenge. He was bent on handing out his retribution. He reached out a clawed hand, mere inches from his hapless nemesis, he could almost taste the deliciousness of victory and ending his rival's life.

"Sssoon." hissed he as he watched Shadow swimming in the dark body of water, unaware to the present danger and the fact that someone who he had believed was long gone had returned.

"Ssssoon we will meet again." His enemy coldly vowed as he laughed silently and mirthlessly to himself.

A red light began to flicker in between the two stalemated hedgehogs. And the light got brighter and brighter. Blinding the two.

"What now?!" exclaimed Sonic as he curled his hands into fists, his previous disposition of hopelessness seemed to dissipate as he became more and more frustrated with the new display that had unexpectedly unfolded before his eyes.

"Who's there!" shouted Silver readying himself for an attack. But suddenly the light died down and revolving between the two was a chaos emerald. A ruby chaos emerald.

Knuckles. Sonic thought to himself and then he made a dive for the emerald. However Silver was way ahead of him. Using his psychokinetic abilities to bring the emerald into the palm of his open hand.

"Look here," Silver said. "I don't know who you really are and I don't want to end up hurting you if you really are Sonic. But-"

"Let's be real here." said a gruff voice. "We all know you don't really mean that. You can't justify harming an innocent person. Now give me back my emerald." His purple gaze fixed on Silver, preparing to dodge an attack from the telekinetic hedgehog.

"You." Silver said in disbelief. "How?"

"Look," Knuckles smiled. "Why don't I answer that lovely question after I teach you a lesson!" He slammed his knuckles together and launched himself into the air for an assault.

"I don't think so!" And Knuckles was thrown into a heap of moldering garbage.

Sonic took advantage of the opportunity and spun attacked the unsuspecting Silver.

"Aaaagh!" Silver cried out as he slammed into the alley wall. "You will pay for that!"

"Shut up!" yelled Knuckles as his fist connected with Silver's face. Suddenly both Sonic and the echidna were captured in a blue glow.

"I-it's n-no u-use." gasped Silver as he raised both his outstretched arms to the sky.

"Haaaaa!" and his two opponents flew through the air and landed on a pile of black garbage bags.

"I had just about enough of this." Sonic complained, as he glanced at the fuming echidna that had fallen onto his lap.

"So have I." Knuckles growled as he leaped out of Sonic's lap and dusted himself off.

"Teamwork?" Sonic asked as he held out his hand for the redhead to take.

"Let's." Agreed Knuckles as he grabbed the blue hedgehog's hand and launched both of them into the air.

Shadow staggered back, completely taken aback by Sonic's random and unexplained assault.

"What was that for!" he snarled as he rubbed his cheek with his hand, knowing that a bruise would form soon after.

"For this!" shouted Sonic, indicating his present appearance, as he placed a ruby red chaos emerald into a pouch that was carelessly slung over one shoulder. "You think you can just fake it away, but you can't, you faker." Sonic shook his quills and wiped the dirt off his face, only making himself look messier than before. He them examined his arms and legs, checking for bruises, scratches, and cuts. Ignoring Shadow's protestations and denials, but the azure hedgehog finally came to attention when:

"How dare you falsely accuse me, I d-" but the ebony hedgehog was interrupted when his azure rival yelled.

"How dare I accuse YOU." Sonic aggressively advanced towards his rival, malice clearly written over his face, his normal amused smile changed into a frown.

His electric green eyes seemed to be made up of the components of lightning and seemed to flash with every contemptuous thought. He balled his hands into fists, continuing his advancement towards his ebony rival.

"Now see here, Sonic," Shadow said as he stepped back, bumping against one of the ice cold stone walls of the cave. "I did not accuse you of anything."

"Oh really!" shouted Sonic, his cheeks taking on a pinkish hue as he swung a fist at Shadow. The ebony hedgehog, having foreseen the attack, grabbed Sonic's fist right before it met his face.

"Sonic, you gotta calm down. I seriously, honestly do not know what the heck you are angry about. Can you please ex-"

But Shadow's words were cut off as Sonic socked him in the stomach with his free hand. Taking advantage of his rival as he clutched his stomach and gasped to catch the breath that was stolen from him, the azure hedgehog began speed punching his opponent, just as one might do to a punching bag.

"That is enough!" Shadow fumed angrily as he jumped over Sonic. "I didn't come here to fight, I want answers!"

"From who?" Sonic said with a small frown as he crossed his arms, stubbornly clinging to the anger that seemed to flow through his veins, like hot, molten lava.

"Eggman." seethed Shadow. "I have a feeling he is behind all this."

"All what?" Sonic tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for an answer.

"Your current penchant for hurting me!" the ebony hedgehog exclaimed as he began to walk away.

"Hey, we aren't done here!" And the azure hedgehog tackled down his retreating rival.

"We are now! Chaos Con-" However Sonic was not about to just let his rival leave without an explanation or apology or having his just desserts.

Sonic knocked the green chaos emerald from Shadow's outstretched hand and rolled over the ebony hedgehog, attempting to make a grab for the emerald. But Shadow, expecting no easy fight, tackled Sonic, pulling him back, before rushing over to pick up the emerald that rolled along the cave floor.

Sonic jumped to his feet and body slammed Shadow to the ground, smashing his face into the floor, then the azure hedgehog bent down and scooped the emerald off the floor. However, Shadow was not going to give up that easily, he swung his leg, knocking Sonic's feet right from under him, sending the emerald flying from his hands.

"Just stop, Sonic." growled Shadow, as he stepped over Sonic, sprawled on the floor and a little stunned from hitting his head on a hefty stalagmite that grew from the ground. "Before you get hurt. Again.."

"Wow." Was all the azure hedgehog said as he got back to his feet, dusting off dust. Then he lunged at Shadow, catching his ebony rival by surprise. Shadow was now attempting to get Sonic off his back, as Sonic clung to him and attempted to snatch the emerald from Shadow's hand.

"Let's stop now." Shadow fumed, finally managing to shake Sonic off his shoulders, but not before Sonic managed to knock the emerald from the Ultimate Life Form's hands. Sonic dove between Shadow's legs, caught the emeralds, rolled out of his rival's reach, and felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Gee, Shadow." Sonic said as he got up from the ground, the emerald in his tight grip, his usual taunting grin beginning to make its reappearance. "Since when do you run from a fight?

"Give it back!"

Here, catch!" And Sonic threw the emerald, as he would a baseball. It flew through the air and Shadow ran like mad to get it, but Sonic was too fast for him, as his azure rival bolted and caught the prized jewel.

"Too slow." Yawned he, as he launched the emerald back into the air, watching it bounce back and forth from stalactite to stalagmite, finally kneeling down and scooping it back up.

"No reflexes, Shads?" And it was in the air once again.

"Ugh!" Shadow shouted as he slammed Sonic against the cave wall. "Enough. I have no time for these games."

"Batter up!" Sonic called as he eased his way from between the cave wall and the pissed off Shadow. He broke off a stalagmite and threw the emerald into the air, swinging the rock formation like a bat. The emerald shot through the air and into the far end of the cave.

"Home run!" Sonic yelled in Shadow's ear and sped off to get the emerald.

"Okay. I am done playing games." he fumed as he fixed his striped spines back into place.

Catch!" And Shadow attempted to catch the gem that sailed over his head, but it continued to fall into the inky, black shadows of the deeper recesses of the cave.

As Shadow raced over to get it, previously having stuffed Sonic into the narrow passageway that led to the cave entryway, he tripped and stumbled. Inches from where he knew the emerald would fall. He got to his feet and lunged forward, but from the darkness, a gloved hand emerged, catching the emerald before he could.

"Why hello, Shadow." said a voice from the shadows of the cave. "We need to have a little talk. Sonic, you, and I."

"Hello, Shads." Sonic laughed, having managed to squeeze out of the passageway and now waving tauntingly at the ebony, scarlet striped, hedgehog. Sonic then with a broad smile, waved towards the darkness, and proceeded to walk over.

Shadow now knew that he was not going to have to face off with just the spineball, but with someone else as well.