A/N: Yay! is finally up and running again! I couldn't log in since forever, and I was practically smashing my computer on the wall to make them hurry up (poor computer... it wasn't it's fault...) Anyways, here's the next chapter!
Character Ages
Sonic: 23
Amy: 20
Tails: 16
Cream: 14
Eggman: Unknown
Metal Sonic: Unknown
Knuckles: 24
Rouge: 26
Shadow: Older than I'll ever live to be...
Vector: 28
Espio: 24
Charmy: 14
Disclaimer: Do people actually even read this? Oh well. Sonic belongs to The Sonic Team! But I keep Shadow! (gets pelted by things from angry fangirls). Ok! Just kidding... (sniff)
"Black Shield…"
"What!"
Was it his own voice that said that? Sonic couldn't tell anymore. It was so hard to tell anything apart. All his sense seemed to have been driven away from his body. He couldn't feel Amy's soft fur on his. Where was she? Was he himself even alive?
As the bright light slowly faded, he felt the cold hardness of the metal floor become sharper and harder. When did he end up on the ground?
Slowly, ignoring the protest of his bloody arm, he pushed himself up.
His eyes widened when they met something that he thought would be impossible.
"No way…"
A huge trench in the middle of the room showed the destruction caused by the attack. Almost nothing that was in its' way was left standing. Computers were smashed, wires snapped. Glass from the lights, and machine parts, were littered on the ground, and the ceiling had blown off. The sky had taken a dark and murky colour, and thunder was starting to roar overhead.
But Sonic paid little attention to any of this.
"Metal…" he whispered in shock.
The metal creature was still standing. Yes, he was still alive. A black protective energy shield flickered around him, and the Master Emerald glowed brightly in his hands.
Sonic groaned into the silence. "T-talk about… persistent…" he managed to utter out.
A broke him out of his shock. "Sonic…"
"Amy!" For a second, that name made him forget all about Metal Sonic. The dirt beside him was starting to shift and move. Frantically, he pulled away at the litter on top, quickly uncovering a shivering, pink form. Gently, he helped her up.
"Is that…" Amy winced a bit as she shakily tried to stand up on her two legs. "Metal…"
"Oh… don't tell me…"
They looked up as Tails, Cream, Shadow, Knuckles, Rouge, and the Chaotix Team made their way through the ruins towards them. Cream pointed weakly to the robot still surrounded by the Black Shield. "Please tell me that's not…"
"Metal Sonic?" answered Tails. "He looks alive… but just barely."
Cautiously, they approached the robot holding the Master Emerald.
"Heheheh…"
Sonic held out an arm, signaling them to stop.
"What's so funny?" he demanded, suspicious.
Metal Sonic continued to chuckle to himself, not seeming to hear Sonic. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed out loud. It was a frightening sound to hear. His laugh toiled through the silent air, causing shivers to run up and down the heroes and heroines's spines. Lightening and thunder started to clash above him, and laughing, shadowy figures danced along the walls.
Slowly, the drunken laughter quieted down, though he continued to snicker. Almost admiringly, he held out the Master Emerald, gazing at it intensely.
"This Emerald…" he twirled it around, it's soft, green light reflecting in his eyes. "It's truly a marvelous object, is it not?"
No one moved a muscle as the seemingly crazed robot continued talking.
"Who knew that the Master Emerald, which is supposed to be created to stop the wars, to stop the strife that was caused by the Chaos Emeralds, would posses so much darkness within it? Enough to protect me from all your attacks?"
Knuckles blinked. "Darkness?" he asked. "The Master Emerald is the purest thing that there is! How dare you say that it possesses darkness!"
Metal Sonic lowered his gaze. He met Knuckles's glare, looking at it evenly. "Echidna, don't you know that there is no such thing as purity?" He shifted his gaze to Sonic's. "Our friend here is a fine example of that."
Sonic's eyes flashed. A bright, green fire seemed to have lit within it. "Why you…" He tried to run to Metal, only to have Shadow and Amy hold him back. "Let me go!" he shouted, struggling against his friends' hold on him.
The robot laughed cruelly again. "You see…" he said, pointing to the hedgehog who was still struggling. "That's how Dr. Robotnik controlled him."
Sonic froze. Despite himself, he felt himself want to know how he had been controlled. He couldn't even feel his friends holding him anymore. All he could sense was his copy's voice.
"Who would've guessed?" The robot sneered down at them, his eyes gleaming with hatred. "Even the great Sonic, protector of the world, would posses such a strong evil inside him?"
'No…' Amy gaped at Metal. 'Sonic possessing evil?'
'No… not Sonic… not him!'
"You see," he continued, "Ivo Robotnik found a powerful spell that one of the echidna tribes had secretly created. No one else knew about it. Anyone found trying to leak information was instantly killed."
Now it was Knuckles's turn to be shocked. He was so sure that he had known everything about the Emerald - all it's secrets, it's history, it's powers. But now…
Metal Sonic interrupted his thoughts. "This particular tribe hated the idea of having a Master Emerald. They loved the powerful Chaos Emeralds, the energy they had, the potential power that they could unlock. So, when that Master Emerald was to be in their care, they cast that spell on it that could be used anytime one wished. And guess what it was?" He didn't even pause to give them thought. "When the Master Emeralds and the Chaos Emeralds are put together, the spell is chanted. Then, this spell could be used on someone to release their inner "monster" by releasing the negative Chaos energy into one's body. They will start wanting blood, yearning for blood, needing blood. Not only that, but they are supplied with an unlimited amount of power."
The story settled itself in everyone, shocking them all into silence. 'That was… exactly how I felt when I was…' Sonic couldn't finish the thought, but now he knew how he was being used.
"But how were you able to control Sonic when you didn't have all the Emeralds?" Tails, the first to overcome the shock, asked.
"Oh, that? That was easy." Metal seemed to be enjoying the fact that he had them all stunned by his news. "The doctor managed to turn the dark Chaos Energy into fluid form, even though the risks were high that he would fail and maybe even kill himself. He's only done it a few times, which is why he got Sonic to steal the Master Emerald for him."
"I went around collecting the Chaos Emeralds, preparing for this day."
"Preparing for the chance…"
"… To kill you all."
Thunder rumbled, accompanying this proclamation. Near silence followed, the air thick with the feeling of horror.
"Glad to see you all alive."
Sonic's head shot up. 'Eggman.'
There he was, stomping in from the shadows in his Egg Walker. And what was that with him?
"The Chaos Emeralds!" exclaimed Knuckles.
Sure enough, the 6 jewels floated around him in a protective circle, the colours shimmering in the air.
"Metal, I said to greet them, not kill them!" The doctor looked with almost light amusement down at the scene; like this was a game show he was watching.
He turned to Shadow. "Enough chit-chat; I won't beat around the bush. Give me the Chaos Emerald," he said, bluntly.
Shadow was a bit taken aback by this demand, though he didn't show it. "No," he answered back, simply.
Eggman just stared a few more moments. "I guess…" he sighed loudly over the thunder. "… You leave me with no choice…" He pressed a button on his dash board.
The Chaos Emeralds flashed. They released beams of energy that shot into the sky. The mixed and twirled together, until none of the colours were visible, and all you could see was a bright, white light.
The light seemed to curve down. Before anyone could shout a warning, or even run, the light shot itself at Amy Rose.
Amy screamed. The light was wracking itself through her body. It wasn't killing her, but it threw her nerves over the edge. It was like someone was dangling her over a pit, threatening to drop her at any moment. Her veins were on fire, her heart pumping so hard it was like it was going to blow from her chest. She tried to breathe, but it was like the light tried to force itself down her throat, burning that as well. A roaring sound blocked the cries of her friends as they were blown back by the power of the Chaos Emeralds.
"Amy! No!" Sonic tried to reach out to her, but the white energy shocked him, throwing him back. "Amy! Amy!" He couldn't do anything! He felt so useless as he watched Amy scream, his heart screaming for her as well. Blindly, he tried to spin dash through the light, only to be thrown back again into the floor, cutting himself on the fallen debris. Again and again, he tried to plunge into the white energy, only to be thrown back again and again, Amy's pained screams tearing at him from the inside out.
Tails grabbed his best friend's gloved hand as he, again, tried to save Amy. "Sonic! Stop! It's not going to work!"
Sonic angrily wrenched his arm away. "If it was Cream in there, you wouldn't stop either, would you?"
Before Tails could answer back, they heard a voice say quietly, yet clearly, "Stop."
Eggman didn't stop what he was doing to Amy, but he turned his attention to Shadow.
"I… I'll give you the Chaos Emerald," said Shadow. "But you must let Amy go. Now."
Robotnik smiled widely. "I knew you would comply… but that's not all I want."
"Eggman! Just let Amy go!" Sonic couldn't believe how he sounded. He was actually pleading to the evil doctor.
But, this was Amy.
This was the one that he truly loved.
"I will," replied the doctor.
"But you, Sonic, must come with me."
Silence followed, only interrupted by the clashing of thunder and Amy's desperate screams. His friends stared at him, watching as he decided on a nearly impossible choice.
Boom
Without conveying any emotion. Sonic nodded.
Dr. Robotnik smirked. Pressing another button on his board, Amy was dropped unceremoniously on the floor, where she landed, half-unconscious. Before Sonic could even run to her, however, the Chaos energy redirected itself at Sonic.
It didn't touch him though. The bright light separated itself into six colours. They swirled around him, creating a sort of barrier that blocked Sonic from the outside world. He couldn't hear anything but complete silence. He couldn't see anything either, just colours. Sonic didn't dare try to break out. He was afraid that Dr. Eggman might try to kill Amy if he did, but with all his heart and soul, he hoped she was okay.
Meanwhile, on the outside, Robotnik had his hands out towards Shadow.
"The Chaos Emerald, if you will."
Shadow had no choice. He couldn't Chaos Control them out ('That doctor will just find us again.'), nor could he attack them, fearing that Sonic might get killed. So, slowly, deliberately slowly, he walked over to the scientist, and placed the Emerald at his feet, walking back without ever taking his eyes off him.
The egg-shaped doctor extended a metal claw in his vehicle. It grabbed the yellow Emerald, and it floated around him with the others.
"Fools!" he laughed evilly. "I now have the final Emerald! And you probably know what that means…"
"No! I won't let you!"
Amy, though weak, was still alive. Even though her fur was disheveled, and her dress was beyond repair, she still tried to get up. Cream ran to her side, supporting her as she got up. "Give back Sonic!" she demanded, her voice hoarse from screaming.
Dr. Robotnik laughed. "Do you honestly think that I'll give him back just because you've asked?"
Eyes flaming, she tore herself away from Cream. No one tried to stop her as she ran towards the Egg Walker, hammer drawn.
Metal Sonic jumped in front of the machine, just as Amy reached them. "Black Shield!"
Amy was thrown back on impact, her hammer flying out of her hands as she skidded backwards on the floor. She started to cough, and a bitter, red liquid flew out of her mouth.
Rouge flew the short distance from her to Amy. "Amy, you've got to pull yourself together! You can't just recklessly charge at him!"
She ignored the white bat who was now pulling her up. With blood still running down her face, she faced Metal.
"Doesn't it shame you?" she asked, panting.
The robot was surprised at this sudden change in attitude. "Shame me? I have nothing to be ashamed about!" he boasted. "I am the perfect creature."
Amy's eyes saddened, almost with pity. "The perfect creature? Then why are you helping him?" she nodded towards the doctor behind him. "Why do you so willingly throw yourself in front of him? It's not like he appreciates you. You're just his servant, his slave to do his bidding."
The robot curled his mouth into an amused smile. "Do you really think I'm doing this for recognition?"
Amy blinked. "Well than, what are you doing this for?"
His smile grew even wider. "Look at that prison over there. You see the one that holds your friend? He's about to die. And when he does, no one will be stronger than I. No one! No one at all!" He laughed again, though this time, the thunder was so loud, it was muffled by the raging skies. "I will be the master of every living thing!
Amy wasn't fazed. On the contrary, she seemed to soften even more with pity. "Metal… don't you remember that you've tried that-"
"Silence!" This time, it was Dr. Robotnik who had shouted that. 'They don't need to know that I've erased that part of his memory,' he thought silently to himself. "Metal, give me the Master Emerald."
Complying, the huge Emerald that Metal Sonic had hefted so easily for all this time, was laid down before him.
All the Emeralds started to pulse together in time. Sonic's prison was brought nearer, as if pulled by an invisible force. The Chaos Emeralds left Eggman to surround it, and the Master Emerald floated above it.
"No! Stop, please!" Amy felt her tears fall, but the two evil ones didn't pay any heed to her pleas.
"Stop this!" Knuckles tired to fly in and interrupt this ceremony, but he was blown back as if an invisible barrier protected it.
Ignoring them, Eggman pressed another button on his dashboard, and a hologram popped up before him. It was the image of ancient writing encrypted on a stone tablet.
The sky roared louder than ever. Lightening illuminated the scene, and the first drops of rain began to fall.
Dr. Robotnik took a deep breath, and then began to chant.
'What's happening out there?' Sonic thought to himself. He hadn't moved an inch since he had been captured. He couldn't if he tried. Whenever he tried to move, something would zap him slightly, like a warning. He didn't want to move either, fearing for Amy's safety.
'Oh, she's not going to be safe, as long as you are alive.'
Sonic felt his breathing hitch. 'Not you…'
The voice inside him laughed maniacally. 'I'm finally being freed. You cannot banish me this time, Sonic…'
Almost faintly, a strong, steady chanting reached Sonic's ears.
'No… get out! Get out!'
'I will be with you as long as you live. And as long as I'm here, you will feed me and my desires…'
The chanting continued to grow louder and louder. Unbearably louder.
'Leave me alone! Leave me and my friends alone!'
'Leave your friends, hmm? Then you won't mind if I kill... your love?'
Sonic almost stopped fighting for consciousness in his fear. 'I… I don't have alove…'
The voice almost seemed to shout over the chanting. It echoed in his head, bouncing around in his mind. 'Sonic, I am you. I am a part of you. Do you think I won't know something as simple as who you deeply care for?'
Sonic couldn't even reply this time. He felt the same sensation he did before as he started to lose himself.
He was falling…
Falling…
But this time, he knew that he might never stop falling.
'Amy… I love you…'
'I'm… I'm sorry…'
A/N: (Wearing a flame-proof suit) Ok, I know you guys are gonna hate me for this... (braces self) But... the next chapter might take a little longer to write, since I want it to be one of the highlights in my story (gulps as people draw out bazookas and starts writing flames). (Whimpers) Plz forgive me?
Anonymous Reviewers:
Sofia: Thnx for reading and reviewing almost all my chapters! I appreciate the support!
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