Chapter 14: The Shadowy Stranger

Angel Island, despite the fact that it was an island floating in the sky, it was one of the most beautiful places in Mobius. It was full of healthy plant life and even had rivers and streams. But right in the center of the island was the Shrine of the Master Emerald, where Knuckles lives. The Master Emerald was like the Chaos Emeralds, but 10 times their size. Normally Angel Island was peaceful, but something unusual was happening today. There was a huge portal behind the shrine. The Tornado landed close to the shrine of the Master Emerald. After Tails landed the Tornado, Mario, Tails, and Knuckles got out and just stared at the portal.

Knuckles- What the hell is this?! A portal appearing like this in my home?!

Tails- That definitely looks like the same portal that opened in the sky which pulled Sonic in and brought Mario here. Am I right, Mario? Mario…?

Mario was just staring at the portal and thoughts of dread came to his mind

Mario- (thinks) I don't know why, but this feels…familiar. Not just because I traveled through it, but it's like I've got a feeling in my bones. Something dangerous…and evil…but I feel like I know it from somewhere. But, why?

Tails- Hello? Earth to Mario.

Mario- Oh, sorry!

Tails- Something wrong, Mario?

Mario- I'm…I'm not sure. The vibe I'm picking up from that portal…I've got a very bad feeling about it, but I've got this feeling that I'm supposed to know it. Like I have family history with the source of this power. Now that I have this feeling, I don't know if I want to use this portal.

Knuckles- Come on! We just busted our ass' to find this to get you home and get Sonic back! Now you don't want to use this portal?!

Tails walked up to it, put his hand in it, and pulled it back out after a minute or two.

Tails- Seems safe to me. Maybe it's just the way it looks. It does look creepy. It you're nervous, Knuckles and I will go with you. We need to find Sonic in the Mushroom Kingdom, anyway.

Mario- Maybe you're right. Maybe I am a little nervous. Alright, let's get my home, the Mushroom Kingdom, and find your friend, Sonic.

Mario did his best to shake off the feeling of dread and approach the portal. Suddenly, a huge fireball was fired behind Mario, but Mario managed to dodge it. Mario, Tails, and Knuckles turned their heads to see where the fireball was launched from, and saw Dr. Eggman piloting a robot that looked like a giant 8-bit version of Fire Mario. The robot shot a fireball at Tails, getting him away from the portal. Eggman turned the robot to face Mario, Tails, and Knuckles. He also activated his background music generator to play "I am the Eggman" from Sonic Adventure 2.

Dr. Eggman- So we meet again. Tell me, what do you think of my latest creation? The Egg Plumber!

Mario- You modeled a robot after me?

Dr. Eggman- You know the old saying, fight fire with fire. In this case, quite literally. Also, sorry to break this to you, but you won't be going back to your world. I'll see to that personally.

Mario- So what's your plan? Go to my world and try to conquer it?

Dr. Eggman- No. I'm gonna destroy the portal. I don't want Sonic to come back and he can't be a pain in my ass if he's stays there. I actually like it much better with him gone. All I have to do is defeat you then destroy the portal. After that, nothing will be able stand in my way for world domination! I'll finally build the Eggman Empire and rule this world!

Mario pulled out a fire flower and turned into Fire Mario. He shot a fireball at the Egg Plumber, but the Egg Plumber shot a fireball back and it blasted right through Fire Mario's fireball and hit Fire Mario, Tails, and Knuckles. They were all knocked to the ground and Fire Mario was changed back to normal Mario. This looked bad for Mario, because he only had one fire flower left. Mario struggled to get up as the Egg Plumber moved closer. Mario looked up and saw the Egg Plumber shoot another fireball. The fireball landed where Mario was standing.

Tails- Oh no! Mario!

When the smoke cleared there was a crator in the ground, but no sign of Mario.

Dr. Eggman- That's odd. Where's the damn body?

Then a green flash appeared where the crator was and after it faded, Mario appeared. Mario was holding his chest and catching his breath. Then Mario noticed that someone was behind him. As he turned around, he saw a black hedgehog with its arms folded.

Shadow- You owe me for just saving you, plumber.

Mario- Thanks for the save, but who are you?

Shadow- I'm Shadow, Shadow the Hedgehog.

Tails and Knuckles got up and rushed to Mario and Shadow.

Knuckles- Shadow, what are you doing here?

Tails- Are you worried about Sonic too?

Shadow closed his eye and turned his head to the side keeping his arms folded across his chest.

Shadow- I couldn't care less about Sonic! I'm only helping so we can get the Chaos Emeralds back. If Sonic doesn't return, the Chaos Emeralds could be lost forever.

The Egg Plumber shot another fireball, and another green flash surrounded them before the fireball hit. The flash appeared behind the Egg Plumber and Mario, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow were unharmed.

Mario- How did you do that?

Shadow- It's called Chaos Control. I can use it to teleport from place to place. However, my ability to use it is limited without the Chaos Emeralds.

Mario pulls out his last fire flower and gets an idea.

Mario- Shadow, can you use that Chaos Control one more time?

Shadow- Yes.

Mario eats his last fire flower and turns into Fire Mario.

Fire Mario- Then I need you to use it on my fireball. I think you know where I'd like you to send it to.

Shadow have him a half grin.

Shadow- You really are like Sonic, because that's an idea I'd expect him to have.

Fire Mario fired a fully charged fireball at Shadow, but Shadow teleported it away before it hit him.

Dr. Eggman- What's going on?

Suddenly, a green flash appeared in the cockpit of the Egg Plumber and the fireball appeared.

Dr. Eggman- HOLY SHIT!

Then the Egg Plumber burst into flames from the inside and exploded. Dr. Eggman stumbled out of the wreckage, completely covered in soot and was seeing 8- bit mushrooms, fire flowers, stars, and plumbers spinning around his head. Dr. Eggman hummed the Mario Brothers' theme song with a dazed look on his face, then passed out.

(Over at the portal)

Mario, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow were standing in front of the portal. Mario still had that feeling of dread, but he brushed it off and entered. Followed by Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow.

(End of Mario's Story)