Cringe. Cringe. Horrible chapter this one. I could barely read it it was so horrid. My jokes were something only kids like eight years old would like. Actually considering my only reviewer back then was 9 years old I guess I was doing well with my audience. This chapter would have turned many people off from reading this in the old days. But now it is back and better than ever. I was going to take two chapters and combine them but I thought of a way to make this chapter longer so the next one can also be lengthened rather than shortened like the first time.. There just was now enough stuff for only one chapter.

Chapter 3

The Metal Harbor had not changed that much since the last time Sonic had been there. The only big difference was that there were lots of GUN robots and lots of Eggman robots walking around. There were also more rockets and they were much more advanced rockets. The whole group was going to a huge one in the center.

Sonic was walking a little ahead of everyone. He had tried running earlier but after having needed to be pulled out of the water five times he decided that speed was not the best idea after all. He looked around again. "What are all the robots doing right now." He asked Rouge.

"They are still trying to repair all the damage that was done when Eggman, Shadow, and I blew up the island. And they are also trying to get that huge rocket ready for us so we can get to the ARK."

"Wow. They are still trying to recuperate from all of the damage?" Sonic asked very surprised.

"Wow Sonic. A four syllable word! Impressive." Rouge chuckled a little as both Amy and Sonic glared at her. "To answer your actual question, the bomb did do a huge amount of damage. The main reason though that they are taking so long is that they are just really busy lately especially after the Black Doom incident."

"Oh, that makes sense." Sonic said.

"And now we are back to Sonic's usual way of talking. Single syllable." Rouge said sighing.

Sonic started to glare at her again this time starting to get irritated at her. Amy then went to his defense. "Why does it matter how many syllables he uses when he speaks? Who cares. No one thats who. So stop making fun of him. Please Rouge?" Amy asked.

"Fine. Fine. I just to rile you up a bit. It helped pass the time though, did it not?" They looked at he curiously. "We are here already." She said pointing at the large rocket ship.

The rocket ship was nothing special. The only thing that made it any different from other rockets was that it had a large capacity for people since there were now 9 people riding it. It also had a system so that gravity affected them like it would on Earth's surface.

Soon the rocket departed with everyone okay and it started to make its way to the ARK. Rouge made her way into one of the rooms and Amy followed her. Vector and Charmy started to play some games on the computer. Espio layed on one of the walls and fell asleep instantly. Cream and Tails started to explore the different rooms of the rocket. Emerl started to analyze his surroundings and started to copy different traits from the people around him. Sonic just started to look out one of the windows at the Earth and the stars silently.

"Hey Rouge?" Amy asked as they were getting on. "Where did GUN get the technology to alter gravity and stuff? I have seen many occasions of it in different places. Where did they think of it from?"

"They got it from the black aliens when Black Doom first came to the ARK. I was told by someone that he 'did not want anyone floating around besides him' so he told the scientists how to do it."

"Wow you're really knowledgeable. I'm impressed." Amy said.

"Well somebody has got to be since Sonic barely thinks about things Knuckles is slightly dumb and gullible, and Shadow is arrogant and gets to focused on one thing at a time."

"Why do you keep insulting Sonic? Normally you two are at least polite to each other and maybe not friendly but this is just weird. Did he do something that made you angry?"

"No. I get this way when I am worried. I just am a little scared of whatever Eggman may be working on. I just does not seem like him to do something on this grand of a scale. I feel like there is something else going on and I do not like it in the least. And I was not insulting him when I said that he does not think. In a way it is a good trait. Very optimistic. He believes everything will turn out right and he will fight to make sure of that. He also had complete faith in everyone and believes that together we can do anything. That is admirable."

"Oh. I understand. You should have just said that. Okay thanks Rouge." Amy said and then left the room.

Meanwhile Vector had just accidentely woken Espio by throwing a stick of gum at him.

"Sorry Espio. I had no idea that you were actually truly asleep. Normally you are still partially awake even when we are in the office. What is the difference here from there?" Vector asked.

"Here I can sleep without worrying that someone will attack while I sleep. If they are sneaky enough I might not notice them. Here no one can get in here without setting off an alert bell. Also, I trust everyone in here extremely well so I have no reason to suspect someone in here already."

"Wow are you really Espio. It took ages to gain your trust before. That is another change." Charmy said flying around him.

Espio smiled. "I think that being around Sonic has changed me. All of these changes are due to him." Charmy and Vector looked at each other for a minute and then nodded.

"Yea I can understand that." Charmy said.

Meanwhile Amy went to look in on Sonic. He was still staring at the Earth and was quiet. She decided that he looked like something was troubling him so she asked him what was wrong.

Sonic sighed slightly. "It's this whole business with Eggman. He said that he was going to try to be peaceful for a while but he obviously has changed his mind. Why can't he just stop? What is it that makes destruction so appealing to him. I just worry all the time."

"About what Sonic?" Amy asked a little worried she had never seen Sonic like this.

"I fear that one day he is going to go to far and actually kill someone. And then it will be my fault."

"Why will it be yours?" Amy asked.

"Because I have constantly let him of easily. If someone is hurt then everyone will turn on me. I can't imagine being with you all but I fear it might happen." Sonic said sadly as a small tear rolled down his face. He brushed it away like it was nothing but Amy say it.

"Sonic?"

"What Amy?"

"You are a hero. You take the burden of the world on your shoulders. You need to share that with all of us. It is too much for one man or hedgehog or whatever to bear alone. The world has complete faith in you. The world can still be happy because you live. So please don't be sad. We will stand with you whenever you need us. Is that okay with you?"

Sonic was silent for a moment and then he turned around and gave Amy a huge hug. She turned purple for a second and then hugged him back. "Thanks Amy. You have helped me regain belief in myself. Thank you so much. I feel ready now to fight once again." He then let go and walked into another room. Amy stood there stunned for a moment and then sat down with a big smile.

Another hour later and the rocket made it to the ARK. When they started to move towards the doorway it opened by itself and Shadow walked out.

"Oh hey Shadow. Do you know what is going on?" Sonic asked surprised that he was out there.

"Yes I am aware of it. However all I know is that Eggman is up to something again. That is all. Will you fill me in on the details?" Shadow asked.

So the group explained what the problem was. Shadow was quiet for awhile but eventually looked up. "I will help with this. I need more "good guy" experience anyways."

"There is more to it than that isn't there Shadow." Rouge asked looking at him suspiciously.

Shadow smiled at her. "Yes that is true. I have been reading some articles about other things that occurred on the ARK."

"Mr. Shadow. Is this to learn about Ms. Maria that you talk about sometimes." Cream asked.

"Yes it is." Shadow said matter of factly.

"But I thought you said you put your past behind you." Cream asked. Everyone gasped when she said that.

"Unfortunately or maybe fortunately my past seems to keep catching up to me." Shadow said smiling.

"What do you mean Shadow?" Emerl asked. Since he did not know almost anything about his past as gizoid he was always interested in other people's pasts histories.

"Well, when checking the records on different events in the medical room I found some information pertaining to Maria that did not make sense if I have remembered the events that happened here properly."

"Why were you looking at the medical records anyways Shadow." Rouge asked with an eyebrow raised. "What type of information were you looking to learn about?" She asked shrewdly.

"I was trying to find where I could find some painkillers because I had a headache. However like many things on Earth people have to make things way to complicated. If I wanted to find anything to cure horrible diseases or for limb amputation or anything like that I would have been fine. But I could not find something simple like Motrin. Why do people have to make things so hard to do something supremely easy like that?" Shadow asked.

Rouge who had a refrigerator, oven, and microwave that had internet decided not to make a comeback.

"Anyways I found some records talking about a procedure done on Maria to improve her lungs using some of my genes. The document was dated five days after the attack on the ARK!" Shadow said.

"Huh. But didn't that girl Maria die when the ARK was attacked. I saw footage talking about it when we went into the ARK's computer room." Vector said.

"I thought she did but I guess I was wrong. Maybe she somehow survived being shot. I don't know. But I wish to find out. The only person who I think can give me answers is Eggman. So I will help out with fighting him and threaten him to find out what happened afterward." Shadow said.

Suddenly a large noise came from one of the computer screens. Slowly Eggman's face appeared on the machine.

He looked like he did normally but there was a malice in his eyes that usually was not here. He looked around at the group.

"Well I thought that I would only be reaching Shadow but it seems that you fools are more observant than I thought. Actually it was probably just the fox that noticed it." Eggman said.

"What is it you want Eggman?" Tails asked his eyebrows narrowing as he looked at Eggman.

"Speak of the devil. I think my demands are pretty obvious. Control over the planet and all of your deaths. That is all."

"Out of curiosity, what if we promised to never bother you again. Would that change anything?" Espio said.

"Ah the cold blooded one speaks at last. Why don't you join me Espio. Someone with your skills would be useful. Why do you care about this pathetic group anyways. I know you have been asked by the government multiple times to join their FBI or other organizations."

Vector and Charmy looked up surprised by this piece of information. Espio glared at Eggman again. "Answer me."

"Unless you agreed to work with me and did certain things to prove your loyalty then I want you dead. I especially wish to see Sonic in front of me crushed and destroyed as he watches all that he has worked for falling apart. To see that his justice means nothing in this world. To see that only strength rules. To watch as time passes on when I am justice and those that go against me are the unjust ones. To listen to the people yelling about a hedgehog in the past that tried to thwart the amazing leader of the world. Then you will understand that you are nothing!" Eggman shouted.

Sonic started to grip his fists together tightly and started to shake. Amy looked at him sadly not knowing what to do. She was not even sure if he was scared, sad, or angry. He would not even look at her.

"So Sonic. No comebacks?" Eggman asked smirking.

Slowly Sonic raised his head. A fire of passion kindled by hundreds of emotions burned in his eyes. He pointed his finger at Eggman and smiled smugly. "If I was alone maybe I would be worried. But with all of my friends surrounding me I feel fine. You wish to torture me you say? Well you have get through all of us first." He finished and stepped forward glaring at Eggman.

Eggman was stunned for a moment but then smiled. It was a mirthless smile but a smile nonetheless. "I might even say that I will look forward to this after all. But you will die no matter what." After saying that the computer screen turned off.

"Shadow do you have any chaos emeralds?" Sonic asked turning to him.

"Yes. I still have the green one. I am guessing that our next stop is Angel Island correct?"

"Yep."

"Then lets go." Everyone crowded around Shadow. "CHAOS CONTROL!!!!!!!!!"

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Finished yay!!!

No real notes here. Please review. Even if you are rereading please review. I want any feedback. Especially comparisons to original.