Love, Immortal Soup and World Domination

Chapter 5

A Tiger of Honour and Courage

Shadow whipped around and sure enough, emerging from the shadows was none other then Chase Young.

The good monk gone bad.

Chase had changed a lot. He wore armour, his hair was jagged and his face was pale. His eyes……were scary. But they were the exact replica of Shadow's red tiger ones so no worries on the dark tiger's behalf.

But then, another two people appeared. Hikara and a certain Heylin witch that Shadow knew well. Wuya.

Hikara's face lit up as she saw Shadow and she dashed forward latching onto his furry neck.

"Shadow!" she cried. So she knew it was him.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" Shadow let a small smile make its way onto his furry muzzle.

"Why hello Hikara funny seeing you here. How did you know it was me?" Hikara looked at him and shrugged. "Dunno. I just……knew." Shadow nodded at her "fair enough." Though the tiger knew Hikara had used her power without knowing it.

Chase came forward with a serious look in his eyes. "I believe you have something I want" he said solemnly holding out a gloved hand. Shadow looked at it and grinned fully knowing what he wanted but he wasn't going to get it now was he?

"I'm afraid I have no clue as to what you speak of Chase Young" he told him, sarcasm dripping from the words.

Chase growled. "I'm afraid you do not understand tiger I-"

"Oh I understand Chase" Shadow interrupted. "But do you?"

Chase frowned at him. "You will give me the shen-gong-wu cat." Shadow's grin shrunk to a playful smirk. "Really?" he asked.

Shadow's head lowered at him.

Hikara's eyes dashed from one to the other not sure how this was going to go.

Suddenly, Chase dived forward at Shadow. The dark tiger simply widened his eyes but not in shock but amusement.

In a flash of green light both the tiger and Hikara disappeared. Chase was left grabbing thin air and he fell head first into the deep, murky water.

Shadow and Hikara appeared on the other side of the pond beside Omi and Dojo. Omi, having been suddenly frightened by the tiger's appearance, grabbed Dojo and leaped from his side back to where Shadow had once been standing.

Chase's head then appeared from the depths as it shot up out of the water. He spat out the disgusting water and shot daggers at Shadow. In return, Shadow grinned but Hikara looked at the tiger.

"Maybe you should give Chase the shen-gong-wu Shadow."

Shadow looked at the girl still grinning "I'm afraid I cannot do that Hikara. This shen-gong-wu is rightly mine." Hikara's expression changed to one of confusion but Shadow looked away.

Then, the worst happened. Right in that second as Chase looked at him from the water, Omi glared at him, Wuya tightened her fists angered and Hikara just starred at him, a familiar voice called out.

"Jewel of Death!"

Shadow's eyes became faded, white saucers as he was hurled forward across everyone's heads.

He collided death-threateningly with the bark of a huge tree. Shadow's cat form slid to the ground and with a 'thud' he landed heavily on the cold ground. All looked at him with shocked expressions. Chase waddled over to the edge of the pond and climbed up on the bank. He rushed over to Shadow and examined him. Checking if the tiger was breathing Chase then looked over to Wuya and Hikara.

"It's alright" he told them "he's unconscious and has a few minor injuries but he'll be fine." Hikara ran around the pond and fell down beside Shadow rubbing his head and ears affectionately. Normally,

Shadow would have purred at the petting but right now he was unable to even move.

Omi was the first to remember how Shadow how got hurt in the first place. He narrowed his eyes and looked up to see where the voice had come from.

Chase left Hikara and Shadow and jumped up onto the rock Omi was on. He followed his gaze and his mouth dropped open when he saw 'it.'

"Hannibal Roy Bean" he hissed through, sharp, gritted teeth.

He was right. Up, sitting on his bird called Ying-Ying Hannibal Roy Bean grinned down at him. "Well, well Chase Young" he began. "Fancy meeting you here now don't stop me from taking what is mine."

Chase smirked at him. "What's yours? Ha. I believe the shen-gong-wu belongs to me Hannibal." The bean frowned.

He lifted up his tiny arm. "Morlin Morpher!" he yelled and instantly he jumped off the tree onto the ground the size of Chase.

This didn't stop Chase from grinning though. "You think you can fight me bean?" he hissed.

However, unknown to Chase Hannibal held something fatal behind his back and Hannibal knew Chase had no hope of defeating him. Now, that Shadow was out of the picture…….permanently

What he held behind his back was the only thing to ever harm Shadow…….. The Sword of Light.

"I know I can beat you Chase. It'll be a snap." The Heylin bean hissed back at Chase.

Hikara watched all of this from her seat beside Shadow. It had occurred to her that this……bean had used a special shen-gong-wu to render Shadow unconscious but it terrified her. The bean had said 'Shadow of Death.' He had said death.

As she watched Chase and Hannibal about to face off she didn't notice Shadow coming to.

His slit eyes fluttered open and slowly he accessed the situation. He had heard Hannibal Roy Beans Voice and then he remembered whirling through the air until hitting something hard.

It was then everything went black.

He glanced around though everything was hazy. His vision was clouded but he could make out Chase Young and a rather large version of Roy Bean. But then his eyes widened in horror upon realisation.

He sensed it.

This was bad.

Hannibal had it.

That blasted bean had The Sword of Light! Chase stood no chance! That Sword was lethal! It was Dashi's own sword for God's sake! The only thing that could kill Shadow! One tip from that thing and Chase would be doomed.

Shadow flared up in anger. Just how had he found it!? The dark hedgehog with one mighty push of energy heaved his body silently from the muddy floor. Every bone in his body creaked. What had Hannibal done to him? But what really worried him, besides the Sword of Light, was that his vision was becoming worse and worse.

In one last pulse of energy Shadow leaped over Hikara who screeched in fright and horror.

He darted past Wuya at lighting speed.

His body was ready to give out but he wasn't about to leave Chase die at the hands of Dashi's sword.

That sword was meant for him and no one else.

He saw Hannibal reveal the Sword and raise its shimmering, glowing white blade high into the air.

He dashed past Chase who froze on seeing both the sword and Shadow.

Baring his teeth, Shadow let out a deafening roar leaping into the air.

He fell down towards a mortified Hannibal Roy Bean his claws prepared to rip out his flesh.

But at the same time, out of the corner of his eye, Shadow saw his own demise coming in the form of a blade.

They both inched closer and closer.

Shadow could here Hikara screaming at him and Omi yelling.

Chase's eyes were opened in ultimate shock.

Wuya brought her hands to her mouth as Shadow lashed down on the Heylin Bean.

Roy cried out as Shadow's razor claws sank into his red flesh but still, he brought the blade down.

Chase's senses came whirling back and he dashed forward……..

But he was too late.

The blade slashed down on Shadow and the tiger was flung away until he hit the ground and rolled a few feet before stopping. Blood oozed from the scar on his side. It was a glowing, white scar that covered half his body.

Chase growled in petrifying fury and snatched Hannibal up by his neck. With infuriated and amazing strength Chase through up the mega-sized bean and brought his foot up to connect with the beans ass. Hannibal roared as he was kicked at least 100 miles away by an angry, legendary Heylin warrior.

Getting Chase angry was the last thing ANYONE would want to do. Did Hannibal not know that?

Then, all was silent. Both Omi and Dojo ran over to Shadow and immediately Dojo checked the cat's pulse. Dojo brought his head up slowly as the others all rushed over to him. Chase kneeled down beside the cat.

Dojo turned to all of them "he's not breathing."

Hikara fell to her knee s in front of Shadow and brought her hand up to the feline's muzzle.

"Shadow……no." she whispered.

Chase bent down and carefully placed one finger on Shadow's large, white scar. Once he did, however, Shadow's body jolted up and the tiger began to struggle up. He lashed out at everyone but Chase held him down placing a hand over the scar.

Hikara abruptly slapped it back "Stop it!" she commanded, tears welling up in eyes. Chase was taken totally aback.

"Can't you see you're hurting him!? Stop it Chase!"

Chase couldn't say anything. No one, no one in his life had ever spoken to him like that. Hikara wrapped her arms around the tiger's furry neck and began weeping into the tiger's fur.

All watched in misery at the sight before them. Chase being the closest placed a reassuring hand on Hikara's back and surprisingly she didn't slap it away.

A flash of lighting lit up the night sky and then thunder sounded off. In a second it began mildering from the heavens until everyone was soaking wet.

But still, Hikara wept.

After an hour, it was still raining; it was obvious that the tiger had given his life for Chase. No one knew why.

No one except Wuya.

She knew that if Chase were even tipped by that sword he would have died.

The dark tiger was a respectful and honourable warrior during his 1500 years of life and was always a noble one. He had turned evil yes, but Wuya knew that Shadow, deep in his heart, was just like Dashi. Never giving up and always did the right thing no matter what side he was on. Shadow had changed after Dashi's death. He was a great warrior, from birth, until death.

Wuya silently thanked Shadow for his courage and honour. She knew Shadow would live on as a great legend among all.

At this time Hikara was silent with her head buried in Shadow's fur. Chase sat there with her all the way his hair plastered on his face from the rain.

Finally, she raised her head and peered at Chase who looked at her with calm eyes.

Hikara knew now she had mistaken Chase. He looked evil but deep down he was good. Hikara knew it for certain.

Feeling tears well up in her eyes again Hikara wrapped her arms around Chase and nuzzled into him. Chase's mouth nearly fell off his face as she buried her head into his chest.

Her sobs were clearly heard and her weeping was too.

It was a bitter night for her and Chase knew she needed somebody right now. He guessed that Shadow was always there for her when she felt like this but now he wasn't so Chase decided to take over.

Slowly he wrapped his arms around Hikara's shivered form pulling her gently into him. Still Hikara wept. Shadow must have been everything to her.

Then, the impossible happened.

The black and red tiger was consumed in a green light as it shrank into a smaller form. It was a jagged shape and everyone marvelled at the scene. Even Hikara who had wept continuously for over an hour lifted her head to see. As the light dimmed a solid black shape lay motionlessly on the ground.

But then, it rolled over moaning.

Hikara pulled away from Chase. She leapt down grabbing Shadow's head and levered him up into her lap.

"Shadow?"

Shadow's eyes slowly fluttered open and he stared up at Hikara.

"Hikara?" he questioned hoarsely.

He wasn't able to talk right now. The Sword of Light had nearly killed him.

"Is Chase alright?" he asked her. Hikara looked at Chase who bent over and looked at the dark hedgehog's red, slit eyes.

Shadow smirked "Good."

The dark hedgehog let his head roll sideways until he was looking away.

"Then, if you don't mind I would like to sleep……."

All was silent.

Hikara shook Shadow.

"Shadow?" she muttered. "Shadow!"

Chase placed a hand on her shoulder. "Leave him sleep Hikara. We'll bring him back to my fortress." Hikara looked up at Chase with big, warm, blue eyes but she nodded in agreement.

Hikara let Chase pick up Shadow and carry him.

Surprisingly, Omi and Dojo ran off peacefully leaving the Heylin Group there alone.

Chase carried Shadow bridal-style to avoid hurting him.

The scar on the hedgehog's side faced outwards.

The three walked back slowly to Chase's mountain citadel. Shadow slept peacefully against Chase's chest and Chase knew he needed to have the scar tended to immediately.

Chase silently thanked Shadow for saving him. He felt sweat dripping down his temples as he recalled to moment when Hannibal revealed the sword and then Shadow rushed out in front of him running towards the bean. If it weren't for Shadow Chase would be dead right now.

He had heard of that sword before. The Sword of Light. It was a blade that could move at unspeakable speeds and could destroy anything.

One tip from it would be fatal.

Chase had also heard of its sister blade. The Sword of Darkness. Yet he had no idea where it was or who it belonged to. Its past was a mystery to everyone……..or so he thought.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

When they reached Chase's fortress they were met with three young monks running their way screaming. They flew past Chase, Wuya and Hikara with inhuman speed.

Then, Hikara noticed Chase's jungle cats approaching. They stopped in front of their master and bowed respectfully. Chase nodded to them and they turned around and headed back up the mountain trail. Chase followed them and so did Hikara and Wuya.

Hikara, however, lagged slowly behind everyone as her arm started to hurt again. She grasped her skin and grimaced at the pain. Mentally cursing her life Hikara trudged on after Chase and Wuya trying to ignore the pain. A good bath when she got in would do her good.

But, unbeknownst to all, a pair of glowing, green eyes watched them all from high above.

Karitz grunted a breath of powerful, green flames as he took off into the swirling dark clouds. His long, dragon body twisted and twirled with skill in the air.

It was only a matter of time before Shadow would be weak enough to kill. The hedgehog had escaped the demon once; he wasn't going to do it again.

All he needed to do was wait for one more day and then………

………………The Heylin Eclipse would arrive……………….

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Whoa. I am extremely proud of myself for writing this but it's a bit short. It was originally part of chapter four but I felt it was too long so I separated it in two.

Just who is Karitz? And why is he after Shadow? Ahh! Yeah! I am dying to write the chapter on the Heylin Eclipse! Anyway, what do you think? Try and guess who Karitz is in a review!!!! And, if anyone has anything they want to see in the story tell me! And I might put it in!