Chapter 3

Shadow looks at the tracker. He's amazed at how close he might be to the next piece. He looks around in all directions but all he can see are rolling hills of flowers and grass. He walks away from the motorcycle and begins to search on his hands and knees.

Many minutes pass, his body is uncomfortable from all this kneeling and a grimace creeps across his face. Soon the tracker begins to beep, he realizes the emerald piece must be right under him so he begins to dig with his hands. His gloves now covered in dirt, his brow dripping in sweat from the summer sun, the green glow of the emerald shard peeking through.

With a deep sigh of relief Shadow picks up the shard. The familiar flash was now almost comforting and Shadow had gotten use to it now. He looked around... small patches of grass had begun to reach from the scorched soil. Tikal watches the clouds roll by when Shadow approaches and taps her on the shoulder. Tikal turns and says:

"You're back. It's been a while since you were here. Hopefully this time you won't be interrupted."

"This time we should be okay."

"So who was that Maria you were talking about earlier?"

"She was a little girl who loved me very much, I helped take care of her. One day I was going to cure her sickness and we could finally be able to see Earth together."

"What happened Shadow?"

"One day, there were soldiers who boarded our space station. They destroyed everything... They even... killed Maria!"

"That's terrible. It must have been awful to be so alone for so long."

"I know, that's why when I saw you here... alone, I couldn't just leave you here."

"That's so nice of you. I wish I could do something for you."

Tikal hugs Shadow. The two of them look deep into each others eyes and suddenly, a second flash of light appears! Shadow is left holding the piece of the emerald, alone on the hillside. He weeps one sob and a single tear rolls down his cheek. Then he takes a deep breath.

A new look of fierce determination is worn on Shadow's face. He looks toward the horizon and as he returns to his bike he puts the emerald shard in the secret compartment and rides into the afternoon sun. Hours later and Shadow is worried by the lack of signal from the tracker. He takes the next exit to another gas station but before he can make it he runs out of gas!

Stranded on a highway near a cliff above the ocean Shadow looks with a sense of dread out over the horizon to the sun setting over the shining seas. At first he thinks of running to the next gas station but he is hesitant to leave his bike alone out on the highway. A sense of defeat creeps into Shadow's mind, he might not find the last piece of the Master Emerald. He may never Tikal again.

Running on the highway towards Shadow, he can see a red figure in the distance and he is coming in fast. Shadow, ready to stop anyone in his way runs towards the red figure who he now recognizes as Knuckles.

Knuckles throws a hard punch but Shadow jumps over it with ease and lands behind him! Then as Knuckles turns around he is met with a Chaos Spear to the chest. Shadow launches a homing attack and connects with a massive impact! Knuckles, fed up with the interruption to his mission reveals the seven Chaos Emeralds and becomes Hyper Knuckles!

Shadow, too far away to use the power of Super Shadow is left to fight as his normal self. Dodging left and right Shadow can barely keep away from the onslaught of Hyper Knuckles. Knuckles shouts:

"Enough of this crap! Give me my emerald pieces and stay out of my way!"

"I have my own reasons for wanting those pieces too!"

"I DON'T CARE!"

Then Shadow launches a homing attack, he is punched in mid air and flung upwards! As he falls Knuckles throws a massive hook punch sending Shadow spiralling through the air. Shadow's body bounces off the ground like a stone skipped over water. Standing up Shadow is dizzy but he is able to see Hyper Knuckles coming fast.

In a moment of desperation Shadow runs around Knuckles with his back to the cliff. Hoping to dodge an attack and let knuckles fall he taunts his opponent:

"Is that *cough* all you've got?"

"Don't make me laugh Shadow."

"Come on! Let's finish this!"

Shadow sees Knuckles charging at him and while getting ready to jump is too slow to avoid a punch that sends him tumbling over the cliff. He can feel the wind rush by as he plummets towards the rocks below! Landing with mind-blowing impact Shadow begins coughing up blood. He can feel his body growing cold.

As Shadow's vision fades he can hear a voice... it's Tikal:

"Shadow... it's you... come here."

"Tikal?..."

Shadow wakes up to find himself in Tikal's arms, sore and tired. Although he has no emerald with him he knows him and Tikal can finally be together.

The End