Howdy Ho Peeps. Yes, it's Theos here. I've shut and locked the doors and windows to prevent that psychotic Pyro from taking over the fic again!! Honestly, he's have everyone burst into flames! Anyway, hope you're enjoying the story so far. And without any further ado, we proudly present Chapter 5...
Chapter 5: A Painful Realisation
Rouge's eyelids fluttered before they fully opened, revealing a white light which made her instantly closed her eyes again. After a couple of seconds, the sapphire eyes opened again. This time, the bright light seemed to be fading. A dull ache at the back of her head suddenly provided an explanation.
"Ow, I must have banged my head bloody hard" she muttered as she lifted a hand to her aching head. As soon as she felt the bump beneath her hair, a floodgate opened and memories flew back to the front of her mind.
Shadow...
Mecha Shadow...
Minigun...
Rouge jumped, as the truth sank in. She hadn't been hit by Mecha's minigun blast. How did she avoid it? And how did she bang her head? A familiar voice shocked her out of her daydream.
"It's a damn good job I don't need an emerald for Chaos Control". Rouge's head snapped up at a familiar black hedgehog. Shadow looked none the worse for wear, even smirking as Rouge slowly climbed to her feet.
"What happened? Where's Mecha?" Shadow's smirk was replaced by 'the frown' and a finger jumped to his lips, indicating Rouge to be quiet. Doing so, she heard a mechanical whirring somewhere within the warehouse.
"When that walking trashcan warmed up his cannon again, I used Chaos Control to get us both out of the way." Whispered Shadow, who was now peering round a stack of crates looking for their new enemy. "However, doing it in such a hurry ended up with us landing on the ground from a bit of a height." Shadow's arm nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that"
Rouge said nothing, instead peering round the opposite side of the crates, looking down another wooden-flanked corridor. Nothing. No gunshots, no blazing LED eyes, no mechanical beast stalking towards them. A hand grabbed her wrist, nearly making her scream. Another clamped on her mouth, a familiar white glove preventing such a scream. Shadow span her round to face him.
"He's coming this way. Run and hide" Shadow turned away from her, fists clenched. Rouge grabbed his arm.
"You can't be serious. He'll tear you apart." Rouge felt like she was nearly begging him. "Let me fight with you."
"No" said Shadow flatly. "It's me he wants. I couldn't let him harm you..." Rouge waited with baited breath for the end of the sentence. "...you're my best friend". Rouge looked into the ruby eyes of her partner and saw conviction in what he was saying, but also annoyance, as if he wanted to say something else...
Rouge blinked, then started to back away, holding a small pistol that she kept for when her main firearm was empty or, as in this case, missing. Before she disappeared round a stack of oil drums, she looked back at Shadow. Catching his attention, she silently mouthed two words.
"Be careful"
And with that, Rouge disappeared into the inky darkness of the warehouse, leaving the Ultimate Lifeform alone to face his ultimate challenge. Shadow removed his black jacket, cracked his knuckles and loosed up his shoulders...
...just as Mecha Shadow stepped round the corner. Standing at nearly twice the height of Shadow, Mecha seemed unstoppable. Shadow just smirked.
"So Eggman sent you to do his dirty work hmm" he chuckled, showing no fear to the robotic doppelganger. "You don't know who you're messing with. I'm Shadow the Hedgehog, anti-hero of Mobius and the Ultimate MotherFing Lifeform, biatch" Shadow raised his fists into a boxing stance. "Come on, tin can. Show me what you..."
He was cut off as a huge metal fist connected with his head, sending him flying sideways. Crashing through two crates and bouncing off a third, Shadow came to rest face down on the ground, with the robotic assassin approaching him. Spitting blood, Shadow pushed himself to one knee. His eyes seemed to blaze with fury as a very painful realisation hit him. This was going to be a fight like nothing he'd ever faced before. It scared the shit out of him. And yet, he couldn't keep the grin from spreading across his face.
The black and red hedgehog stood, extended an arm towards his metallic opponent and motioned with his hand.
"Just bring it"
Oh yeah, the Ultimate Lifeform is warmed up and spoiling for a fight! A fight i sexactly what we'll see in the next chapter.
Off stage A fight? Fin' A Dude!!
You know the score folks. Read and Review. See y'all next time. -Theos (& Pyro)
