When they appeared in Angel Island, the first sight they had was the shrine without the Emerald, Knuckles felt a deep pain in the stomach and kneeled, his eyes were set on the empty void that the Emerald left-Can't believe it's gone-Shadow put his hand on the guardian's shoulder and gave him a sweet look, Knuckles stood up and looked at the hedgehog straight in the eyes, then he nodded and they started to walk towards the shrine when suddenly Shadow's communicator rang.
-This is Shadow, what's the matter?-
-Shadow! The emerald! Someone stole it from us before we could reach Angel Island!
-WHAT?!-Shadow screamed at the top of his lungs, he knew Knuckles would go mad.
-WHAT DID HE JUST SAID?!-yelled the echidna, he felt how his blood started to boil.
-Please, let me finish-said calmly the captain in the communicator-We've located the Emerald, it's in Eggman's base. We already called your Mobious friends so they can join in a rescue mission…
-You did what?!-now Shadow was the one angry as hell, a year had passed since he fell from outer space without anyone noticing. There was a purpose for that.
-Go and find the Emerald, rescue it from Eggman's hands and please, be safe-with that the captain ended the call.
As soon as the call ended, Knuckles hit a wall of the temple, crashing the marble, he stood with his fist still making contact with it, and his eyes shut, shaking in anger. Shadow knew the guardian would think that it was his entire fault, because it was…for the first time he didn't know what to do.
-Knuckles I...-
-Shut up-he interrupted-let's go to Eggman's base, we'll discuss this later.
-Shadow nodded and chaos controlled them to the base. When they arrived, all the others were there…Sonic, Tails, Amy and Rouge. Shadow growled when he saw them, he knew they would make a big fuss of his appearance. He whispered to Knuckles-I think this is enough punishment for me…-Knuckles looked at him and smiled, but quickly the "big fuss" started.
Everyone saw Shadow standing in front of them, and naturally they acted like they had just seen a ghost.
-Oh my God Shadow you're alive!-Screamed Sonic as loud as he could.
-You're smart Sonic…-said Shadow, his face motionless.
-It's been in Mobius a year from now-Said Rouge, with her arms on her waist, looking at him in a way that she made clear she was willing to piss him off.
-What!? How come you didn't tell us?!-Amy screamed sadly.
I was busy trying to avoid you all-he said with his arms folded.
-That's so rude of you! We were devastated! And you Rouge, if you did know, why you didn't tell us?-Amy was losing it now…she showed her pikko pikko hammer to the bat.
-Hey, hey calm down!-said Rouge-the knucklehead is as guilty as I am, Shadow was living in his island when I first saw him-Rouge winked at the echidna.
-He was where?! Knuckles! Why didn't you tell us!? How much did Shadow live in the island with you!?-Tails asked, joining the madness.
-Guys do you remember the Emerald?! Could we please focus on what's important?! Then you can bitch out as much as you want!
Knuckles was right, they finally got serious and entered Eggman's base, dodging robots, punching them if necessary or just for the fun of it. Deep inside Knuckles knew that something was odd; the robots they were fighting weren't as powerful as the ones Dr. Ivo sent to the island a few months ago, if he really wanted someone to back off he would had sent those.
-Shadow-he said-something is not right, this is way too easy…
-I know, I was thinking about it too-responded the hedgehog.
-Would you like to share your thoughts to all of us?-said Rouge-Whispering in a reunion is kind of rude don't you think?-She smirked.
-Well, we just think that this is way too easy. I have a bad feeling about this-answered the guardian.
Finally they reached a big door; it was open, like it was inviting them to enter-Talking about bad feelings-said Sonic-you guys are right, the Doctor is up to no good, he knew we would come.
Suddenly they heard a strident sound and they put on guard, Eggman descended from up the ceiling and laughed-Well, well, I was expecting you sooner, but that's ok, I'm not in a hurry to end all of you…
Shut up, Egghead, where's my emerald!?-Screamed Knuckles, menacing him with his fist.
Well, Knuckles, since you left it alone I thought it was ok for me to have it-he smirked, Knuckles growled in anger. The doctor then opened another gate, with a thick crystal and besides it there was the emerald, inserted in some machine like thing, it was huge with a drill on it.
-What the hell is that?!-Said Sonic, then he looked at the doctor and smirked-Another attempt to conquer Mobius huh? You already know how this is gonna end, why bother? You should find a hobby or something.
Eggman laughed-Well, we'll see about that!-then he shouted-Robots! Attack!
Knuckles opened his eyes wide, there they were, the robots that damaged him really badly the last time.
Shadow growled-I'm here by your side, everything is going to be ok.
-Shut up, I don't need your assistance hedgehog-with that said Knuckles ran towards the robots, as everyone else, Shadow shook his head in annoyance-stubborn fucker-and ran too.
After a while, they destroyed all the robots, but they felt so tired, those weren't easy to defeat.
-Give up Egghead! It's over!-said Sonic.
-Actually Sonic, this is just the warm up-he smirked and pressed another button, what they saw made them drop their jaws open.
Shadow's eyes couldn't believe it, the thing that he made a big fuss about, the one that made him run (chaos control) to Angel Island was standing in front of him. And now, he was tired, as everyone else.
-Damn you Eggman!-he shouted to the Doctor-Sure you've learned through the years!-he growled and clenched his fist.
Knuckles looked at the invention confused-Can't be…Metal Knuckles?-he growled-We've defeated this guy before…
This one's different-said Shadow-this was the invention I saw, this was the reason I wanted to secure the emerald. The doctor has been studying you a lot; he sees you as his biggest threat since you're the main guardian of his most powerful power source…Knuckles you need to leave now…
-I'm not leaving without the emerald!-He screamed-now help me defeat this piece of shit!
-How come you know so much Shadow?!-Said Tails.
-I'm a G. U. N. agent-he responded. Tails eyes were as big as his eyelids would let them-a G. U. N. age…!
-Seriously can we leave the Q&A section for later?! Invite him a coffee or something-Interrupted Knuckles. Shadow arched an eyebrow.
-You're right-said Tails-let's destroy this thing!-Tails flied on the X-tornado and the others ran towards metal Knuckles, but he seemed to be only interested in attacking the echidna. Knuckles dodged his rival's punches, but it was getting harder as time passed.
-He seems to calculate my every move-he yelled, still trying to dodge his attacks.
-I bet he's programmed to do so-replied Tails, hitting another of Eggman's robots which were set as a merely distraction to the others, so they couldn't help Knuckles.
-What should we do?-asked Amy, moving her hammer to scare away the robots from her.
-I'll help Knuckles; you guys continue destroying this things!-yelled Sonic, as he ran towards the echidna.
-Your metal isn't as handsome as mine-he joked.
-Well, I want mine to be destroyed as yours-knuckles replied, as they both fought against him. Metal Knuckles hit sonic and he flew up in the air, but tails managed to catch him. Knuckles was on his own in that moment and Metal Knuckles knew that, it was his chance, Shadow glanced at them and ran when he saw what was about to happen. Metal Knuckles held both of his hands together and some kind of energy started to form between them, Shadow knew what it was, Knuckles froze when he saw it, standing still, as he was lost in the light between Metal Knuckles' hands.
-WATCH OUT!-Shadow screamed, as he pushed Knuckles aside receiving the whole impact, which threw him far away hitting the hard soil.
-SHADOW!-Knuckles screamed, he felt the rage running through his veins, he glanced at Metal Knuckles, who was weak because of all the energy he spend on that failed attack-You….you are going to pay for this!-he started to punch him and kick him like crazy, you could see the rage through his eyes. Metal Knuckles was unable to dodge his attacks because of his lack of energy and with a last hit he finally destroyed him, all Eggman's robots felt to the ground because they were somehow connected to the Metal's source. When Knuckles defeated his metallic counterpart he glanced to Eggman-You're next!-he yelled, running towards him. Eggman saw this and flew away a few meters as fast as he could.
-You fools! I'll destroy this base within 40 seconds; you'll never be able to escape! Muahahaha-with that he left, the base had all the doors shut.
-What are we gonna do? We're trapped!-Rouge said-and Shadow, the only one who can take us away from here is…
-No he's not-Tails said, touching the hedgehog's wrist. Knuckles lifted Shadow and kicked the door, destroying it-Let's go!-he yelled, running towards the exit with Shadow in his arms.
Finally they escaped from the base in time; it exploded as Dr. Ivo said, leaving nothing than ruins. Knuckles stopped for a second and saw that the explosion shattered the emerald, he just growled and then turned his sight to see Shadow, who was still unconscious in Knuckle's arms, he figured that he'll worry about the fragments later and held him close to his body shaking the hedgehog a little-Shadz, wake up…-he mumbled, but there was no answer, he felt a deep pain in his stomach, as he was about to throw up.
-We need to take him to a hospital!-Tails yelled in despair.
-I'll do it!-quickly responded Sonic, taking Shadow away from Knuckle's arms so fast that Knuckles almost didn't notice, and disappeared before he could say anything. The guardian just sighted and ran after the hedgehog and everyone followed.
-He's still alive, but his pulse is really weak. We need to assist him immediately-the doctor said, a bunch of people came and took Shadow in a gurney as fast as they could; Sonic looked how the nurses took Shadow away and felt a deep sadness inside him-Shadow…get well buddy-he mumbled.
When the other ones arrived they saw Shadow thru a window, he was in a hospital room, resting in a bed, and his body connected to a lot of machines-Only one of you can go inside and see him-the nurse said. Everyone stared at each other, trying to figure out who would it be.
-Knuckles should go-Rouge said-go ahead, handsome-she winked at him. Knuckles nodded and walked into the room, leaving everyone except her confused.
-Did we miss something?-asked Amy
-They're best friends-Rouge replied shrugging her shoulders. Don't ask me how, but that's what I know, I've seen Shadow call him almost every day when we were in G. U. N.'s headquarters or Knuckles calling him. They are really close.
-Now that you mention it-Amy said-they appeared together when we first saw Shadow, and the way Knuckles lost it when Metal Knuckles hit Shadow, and how Shadow sacrificed himself so Knuckles wouldn't receive the impact….
Rouge put her hand in her chin, thinking-You don't think they…
-What?-Amy asked.
-Nothing, I'm talking nonsense-Rouge smirked and turned her sight at Shadow's window-Hope he'll be ok, go Knuckles, make him recover soon-she thought.
tbc