Chapter 2: Arrowhead

Shadow painfully lowered himself onto the ground. "Aaargh…" he grimaced as he lay down on the forest floor.

I can't believe this! Rowan Blackwood, if that is her name, was the most experienced archer I've ever seen! How can I fight a warrior that powerful? I dodged most of her attacks, and yet I'm still worn out! She left nothing that could have been used to trace her!

Shadow rolled onto his side and slowly stood up. His eyes fell on the hundreds of arrows stuck in the grass, the branches, and the leaves. Well, almost nothing.

Tails was humming to himself as he screwed in a bolt on his new improved Tornado 4. Heh..Wait until Sonic sees this! With the extra mode I added, it's even more powerful than before!

He frowned as he heard the doorbell ring. Tails pulled himself out from under the Tornado 4 and walked to the door. Strange...Sonic's already here, and I'm not expecting any other visitors.

Tails opened the door. Shadow stood there, beaten and bloodied, with a group of arrows held in his hand. "Tails…I need you to tell me everything you can about these…"

Shadow's eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed on Tails' doorstep. Horrified, Tails bent down. "Shadow?...SHADOW!!!!!"

"YOU LET HIM GO?!!!!!" the hologram of the silver and black wolf roared. Rowan glared at the wolf. "He exhausted my stamina, I'd used up most of my arrows, oh, and by the way, HE ALMOST KILLED ME!" Rowan's voice had risen to a yell.

"I've never faced someone who could withstand the Bow of Chaos' power for so long! He dodged every arrow I sent at him! I was fighting with everything I had and it wasn't enough, so I thought it best to retreat!" Rowan was panting by now.

The wolf stroked his chin. "Hmm. You did the right thing, I suppose. That hedgehog did bring down 30 of our number at one time."

Rowan cocked her head at him. "Are you sure you sent me to a time period where he hasn't faced any of us before?" He noticed my presence the instant I came within 30 meters of him."

The wolf narrowed his eyes at her. "Of course I did. I built the time machine, I know it the best. There are no flaws in its internal infrastructure."

Rowan frowned and looked away. "I'll have to upgrade my arrows."

The wolf smiled evilly. "Yes… Stage 2 should be enough to catch him off guard. Go to work immediately."

The hologram winked out. Rowan started to work on her arrows, smirking to herself. "You may think you've won this time, but I have yet to show you the true power of the Bow of Chaos! Shadow the Hedgehog, you will die by my hand!"

Shadow's eyes flickered open. Sonic the Hedgehog was staring into his face. "W..What are you doing here, Faker?" Shadow said weakly. "He seems normal, Tails!" Sonic yelled over his shoulder.

Shadow rolled his eyes and struggled to sit up. "Ugh… How long was I out?" "Three hours," Sonic answered.

"You gave Tails quite a scare. He called me as soon as you keeled over. He's been analyzing those arrows you had with you."

Just then, Tails walked in. "Well?" Sonic asked him.

Tails held up an arrow for all to see. "It's definitely powered by Chaos energy, no doubt about that. But I've never seen an arrow made like this before.

"It appears to have a metal casing inside, possibly to contain the Chaos energy. What's more," Tails looked grim, "they're upgradeable."

Shadow sank back onto the couch. "So what does that mean?" Tails looked directly at him. "Don't you see? When modified correctly, these arrows can burst into flames, divide, melt on contact, and at their highest power, unleash an explosion equivalent to your Chaos Blast."

Shadow's eyes widened. "This… this is catastrophic."

"Shadow, where'd you get these arrows, anyway?" Sonic asked suddenly.

Shadow sighed heavily. "A female archer tried to kill me." Tails' and Sonic's jaws dropped. "She was shooting off arrows like she was firing a machine gun… it was all I could do to dodge and escape to tell the tale."

Tails and Sonic exchanged worried looks. "Shadow.. if she modifies her arrows and comes after you again…" Tails let it hang.

Shadow stood up, wincing slightly. "Then I'll just have to be ready."

Sonic helped Shadow back on the couch. "Uh-uh. No way, buddy. You're not going up against her again in your condition. I'll take care of her for you. Don't you worry."

Shadow stared intently at Sonic. "Don't you get it? It's me she's after. She'll just make you a Sonic pincushion and come after me. I don't want anyone else's death on my hands." Shadow's eyes misted up, remembering the Ark… and Maria.

"Shadow… help me…" Her words still rang in his mind. Shadow stood up again. "I have no choice. She'll destroy everything in her path to get to me. I won't let that happen." Determination burned in Shadow's eyes.

Sonic and Tails faced Shadow for a long time. Finally, Sonic spoke. "Well, I can see there's no talking you out of this. Good luck, buddy."

Tails wheeled on Sonic, dumbstruck. "WHAT? You're going to let him go? He's injured! He can't stop her!"

Sonic laid a hand on Tails' shoulder. "Tails… There's nothing we can do. Shadow won't let us help him. This is between him and that archer."

Tails whirled and ran back to his workshop. "Tails!" Sonic called after him.

Tails ignored him. He returned to the Tornado 4 and determinedly resumed modifications. I don't care what Sonic says! I'm going to help Shadow whether he likes it or not!