Age of Darkness

Chapter VIII

Glimmer of Hope

The Biolizard was a great ordeal. Things did not go as planned. Biolizard literally scared me to death when she messed things up! Since she did, I decided to consider our fight as an event that that does not go together with this story. It is too scary for this rating! If you really wish to see it, look for the story Hairball.

Three of us were standing before the Master Emerald. Biolizard vanished leaving me utterly stunned. "Did that thing just Chaos Control!?" I stared at the platform where she was, and Eggman's voice spoke out from the walls. "Sonic! Shadow! Bad news!" "What is it?" Sonic asked as his eyes widened. "The Biolizard has attached itself to the colony. It is determined to steer the colony to the planet." "What! Knuckles cancelled the Crystals! How could it move the colony?" I asked. "Bio has its own energy source, a powerful one. It is using it to move the colony. And gravity is helping it." Sonic looked at me. "We have no time to waste!"

We had five minutes to stop the colony from crashing into the planet. By the time you finished in the bathroom, the world would be gone! Time to go. Sonic and I started to focus on the Chaos Crystals. For some reason that I could not place at that time, I felt at peace. I was glad to fulfill the promise, but that was not why I felt peaceful. Why do I feel different? I do not get it.

I had no time to muse on the subject for we both used Chaos Control to get out of the colony after we heard what happened and transformed. I was outside in the vacuum of space with Sonic nearby. Since his eyes were red after he transformed, we looked more alike than ever before. Oh well. The colony was huge, and we were at the tip of the nose with the beast. The Earth was very large now. Sonic and I were on fire. A golden light enveloped both of us, and we both had shining golden fur. "Shadow, look!" Sonic pointed at the Biolizard, and on its neck was a large swell. "Let's attack that! Ready?" I nodded with a smirk. Sonic rushed forward and smashed into the swell. The beast twisted in pain. Wait! I thought there was no air in space! How can I here Sonic? It is telepathy, Shadow! We are both Super, and now we can hear each other. I was surprised by hearing Sonic's thoughts. Two golden hedgehogs are fighting to save the world.

A second boil appeared on the monster. "It is my turn!" I charged forward and smashed into the boil. Pus was spilled on my fur. Eww! The pus boiled away because I was in Super form. Cool! Go Sonic! Sonic complied. Shadow, we need to take turns. If we do not, we both will run out of energy and die. I realized his statement was true. I flew closer to the beast and was ready to strike it on the head, but then Bio looked at me and shot a large ball of energy at me. If I get hit, I will lose energy. I dove to avoid it, but I still had to strike the blister. Bio has pimples? When did amphibians get pimples!? I thought jokingly. Shadow, lizard is a reptile. I know. Biolizard is actually a salamander. It has no scales. It has slimy skin. It was a salamander originally. I waited for Sonic to harass the beast.

Earth was getting closer by the second. Whoa! We are falling pretty fast! Hurry up and attack it. As I neared the beast again, it shot three energy balls at me. Oh no! One of the projectiles hit me, causing me to lose energy. I flew in again and struck the hateful thing. Be careful, Sonic. The Biolizard is fighting back! I warned. I stayed near Sonic just in case. Biolizard fired again, and it was heading right for Sonic. I dashed in front of him and took the hit. Shadow! What the heck are you doing!? Sonic, I am low on energy. I did not fully recover from the first fight. I might not make it... Don't say that! We will get through this! I crashed into the beast again, and the beast looked tired. No Sonic. I started with half of the energy you have. I could feel myself getting weaker by the second...

Sonic hit the beast one last time, and it fell off the colony, diving into the atmosphere. Ready, Sonic? Ready! Both of us looked at the colony and shouted two words. "Chaos Control!" The colony flickered green, and it was restored to orbit. I sighed. Sonic, you do not have enough energy left to get home, I realized. Yes I do! We can both go home! His face cringed as I shook my head. "Sonic, I am the cause of all of this suffering. I have kept my promise, there is no reason to stay. I do not belong here, I never have." I pulled one of my bracelets off and put it in the hands of my temporary twin and sent him to the colony with the last bit of my energy... Sonic said one thing as I was returning him to the colony. "Shadow! Don't leave!" He was gone. The last bit of my energy was spent. My fur turned black and I was falling. The atmosphere started to burn my body hurting me immensely!

Maria. This is the promise you wanted, right? This is my promise I made to you. Now that it is kept, I can finally rest in peace... I closed my eyes and awaited my death. My fur was burning off of my skin. I was in agony once again. Pain left my body as my life slipped away...

I appeared in a blue sky filled with puffy clouds. I was not burning. I felt no pain."Shadow?" Said a gentle voice. MARIA! I will see you again! My heart lifted as I heard her. "No, Shadow." I was stunned. WHAT! BUT I COMPLETED YOUR PROMISE! "No, Shadow. Go back. These people love you. That is why you feel peaceful." I thought it was you! My eyes watered. "No, silly! It is them. They love you." After she repeated that word, I broke out in sobs. They... love me? I asked again. "Yes Shadow. They love you. If you die, they will miss you so much." Maria! I miss you so much! "I can wait for you, Shadow. Time is nothing in Heaven. It is down there. They will miss you. They love you Shadow! Sonic! Knuckles! Tails! Amy! Rouge! All of them love you!" I felt hot tears leave my ruby eyes. Why? Maria appeared before me. I gasped in shock. "Because you love them. You are a hero. You died not only to keep your promise. You died because you love them. Now, go back. Go back, Shadow. Live. Laugh. Love. God wants you to have a good life. Your life has been filled with death, not life. It is filled with grief, not laughter. It is filled to the brim with hate, not love." I teared up more and smiled for the first time in years. I realized that I really do love them. "I will, Maria..."

The End