It's all led up to this...The final round starts now!

Chapter 10: Truth

"That's not true!" came from inside the forest. Shadow turned to see a familiar form heading towards them. He closed his eyes in exasperation. Not Tails again…

The young fox dashed into the clearing, a computer printout held tightly in his hand. "Rowan, you've been tricked!" he stated. "I did some research on the Darkraisers in this time, and their idea of making the world a better place is having them tell everyone what to do!"

"In addition, they're not in an alliance with the Chaos Knights, they're hunting them! They set up that academy to locate the next generation of Knights and kill them! My guess is, Shadow tried to wipe you guys out when he found out what you were doing."

Rowan stared straight at Ivy. "Is this true?" she asked, astonishment and revulsion evident in her voice.

Ivy's face was hard. "Yes," she finally growled.

"What fox boy here says is correct. Wolves are the superior race on this planet! We have a right to rule!" Ivy roared.

"Victory was within our grasp! The Knights were almost completely defeated! Then you came along," she glared hatefully at Shadow, "and ruined everything!

"We were forced to flee with a couple of stolen Weapons of Chaos and live in isolation! But that ends now!"

She roughly threw Rowan to the side. "I don't need a hostage, I can take you on myself," she snarled.

Ivy raised her axe high and charged at Shadow.

She began a series of thrusts and jabs, hoping to catch Shadow off guard. With his gun lying discarded several feet away, Shadow had no choice but to defend himself.

Shadow dodged every slice and thrust, knowing what would happen if the deadly blade came anywhere near him. Ivy continued her assault, pushing Shadow backwards.

Shadow glanced behind him, perspiration on his face. She's driving me toward the Altar of Emerald. If I'm forced there, I'll be pinned down. I have to reach my gun, but she's so fast with that axe that it's all I can do to defend myself.

Ivy pressed forward, her fangs bared in a feral smile. Shadow felt himself tire. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up.

xxx

Rowan lay on her side in the dirt, completely still. All I know…All I worked for… All my dreams… Lies, all of it. I was marked for death the moment I walked through the doors of the academy. Elm, Ivy, Oak, Sequoia, Maple, Birch, Ebony…the council deceived me for ten years. Now I don't even know who I am.

She glanced at her bow a few feet away from her. Suddenly, realization hit.

I am no tool of the Darkraisers. I am Rowan Blackwood, a Chaos Knight. It is my duty to fight the Darkraisers, no matter what they have done to me. With fire in her eyes, Rowan scrambled to her feet.

xxx

Shadow continued his defense against Ivy's onslaught, sweat pouring down his face. Ivy grinned evilly at him. "You're tiring. It won't be long now, Shadow…" she murmured between thrusts.

Shadow felt his back touch rock. He looked up and found himself pressed against the altar.

Ivy had a look of sinister triumph as she raised the axe again. "Nowhere to run," she grinned.

She swung the axe hard, only to have Shadow reach forward and grip the blade tightly. A look of annoyance crossed Ivy's face. "You're only delaying the inevitable, you know," she growled as she concentrated on bringing the axe down.

"Ivy!" a voice roared out. Both combatants stopped and turned towards the source of the voice.

Rowan was standing a few feet away from them, an arrow notched on her bow. "Guess what? I dropped one," she grinned.

She released the arrow, which buried itself halfway in Ivy's neck. Immediately, Shadow delivered a spinning kick that sent her a couple feet away from the altar.

"Game over, Ivy," said Rowan.

The explosion lit up the night sky in a blazing wall of flame. Shadow collapsed against the side of the altar, exhausted. Did Rowan just save me?

Okay, hands up if you were surprised by the way it ended. I know I was :P NEXT TIME: Now that Ivy's gone, what's next for Shadow...and Rowan?