Chapter 2: Sol Control

Author note: In response to a review and in fact as you will see in this chapter, I have tweaked the powers of the "Gems." I know very well how the GUN Drive works, but the in-game description claims he teleports to the Gem, so why not? Truthfully, I was going to use the Red Gem earlier and changed it last minute. Plus I of course know about the shoes, but in this version of the story, the shoemaker doesn't exist anymore, kind of sad, huh? Actually, I had a note about this here already, because I make the Green Gem in this chapter much cooler than it actually is, don't you wish the Green Gem did what I say it could do in this chapter?

Soon after Sonic handed the Gem over to Shadow, Sonic ran across an endless stretch of lifeless ground. Once, this used to be Frog Forest. Now the rotting remains of giant mushrooms lay across the ground and gave the area an acrid smell. The bones of giant frogs were an occasional obstacle in Sonic's path. Sonic was getting hungry, he was thinking about going to his base, where cans of food waited for him. But he ran on. He could sense the presence of yet another Sol Emerald here. Since he grabbed one, he now knew what it's energy felt like, similar to the Chaos Emeralds, but different enough where he couldn't "sense" them properly before. Knuckles had always had the ability to sense these Emeralds, but the Flames always got them first. He hoped Shadow appreciated the Gem he gave him and was now happily using Chaos Control like he used to before. A green glimmer half-buried in the ground caught Sonic's eye. This glow reminded him of Amy's eyes. Most of his friends were now gone, he had helplessly watched many of them die as they bravely tried to fight the Flames. But Amy only a month ago just disappeared. Sonic tried to find her for awhile, but gave up. Sonic now was alone, occasionally meeting up with and helping Rouge and Shadow, he was one of their last remaining allies. Sonic knew in his heart people were always afraid of Shadow, even the GUN agency that employed him. They just needed the slightest excuse. But now he knew the new Emeralds could be used too, hope returned to his heart. Sonic bent over and picked up the beautiful Green Sol Emerald.

"Yes!"

Sonic immediately threw the Gem, but nothing happened.

"What's wrong with this one?" said Sonic in a very confused voice.

Angry, Sonic picked it up again, this time spinning around before he was about to throw it. But suddenly he found himself kicking up a violent Tornado. This was much more powerful than his ordinary Tornado move. Soon a spinning blue cyclone was ripping a path through the barren ground. Sonic could only stand there in shock.

"Well, I guess each Sol Emerald does something different!"

--

Back in the Base, Rouge continued to stare at the beautiful Sky Sol Emerald that was in the puzzled Shadow's hand. Rouge thought of the obvious solution.

"Why don't you just say "Sol Control!" That rhymes and everything!"

Shadow gave Rouge a weird look that said "Who cares if it rhymes? And I was about to try that anyway…" Shadow concentrating greatly thought of reappearing next to Rouge.

"Sol Control!"

The hedgehog and bat stared intently at the Emerald, waiting to see if even a flicker of new power would come from the Gem. Nothing. An already weary Shadow just sat the Gem on a nearby table and laid down on the couch, closing his eyes. It was always so boring here, there was nothing to do except clean the place and keep their precious plant collection watered and the light above them on with generator power. That is why he and Rouge were usually out and about, keeping tabs on each other with wrist communicators so Rouge could bring him back.

After 15 minutes had passed, Rouge quietly walked over to the sleeping Shadow. She did this sometimes, and thought his reaction was quite funny and sad at the same time. Rouge rubbed the sleeping hedgehog's shoulders. Still in his sleep he seemed to relax. There was so much tension that would build up in his muscles, she knew doing this when she got the chance would help so much. But of course, she liked massaging Shadow, she just wish he would agree to it when he was awake, or agree to anything else even remotely intimate she even slightly hinted at. If she said anything too strong, he would even turn around and run away like Sonic did from Amy. (Think end of Shadow's story in Sonic Rivals, if you know about it.) But when he was sleeping, she could tell Shadow really liked to be touched, even if he didn't realize it or something. She just couldn't figure this man out.

"Do all male hedgehogs have this strange intimacy problem or something?" she said under her breath as she continued.