7-Colosseum Highway

Luigi and Shadow ran through the forest side by side.

Shadow knew where to find Eggman. He may not be able to find him here, but he was almost certain where he could have gone to. Now that the white hedgehog was out of the way, they needn't to make too much of a haste. He knew he had to help the green plumber get back home, but first things first. He needed to find Eggman first, THEN he could help the plumber out.

Luigi followed the hedgehog. The hedgehog claimed he knew a shortcut to get to where the doctor was. Does he know what he's doing?…There was nothing to protest about. He knew he had to go home, he wanted to, but he just couldn't, not without Yoshi…or Mario or Peach who he's yet seen alive so far. If he were to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, it certainly wouldn't be without Mario, Peach and Yoshi. Soon, they both came to a small cave, which the entrance seemed to be blocked by a rock of some sort.

Luigi cocked a brow. "Here?"

Shadow just let out a small chuckle, before putting up a hand. Luigi kept his expression as he tilted his head to the side, now confused. Shadow then took a step back.

"Stand back, I have something interesting to show you."

As Luigi tried to step out of the way, he suddenly tripped and fell flat on his stomach. The big boulder blocking the cave suddenly rolled out of the way on its own, now making the cave passable. Luigi picked himself up and looked at the now open path. Shadow just stared.

"Hmm…you've already found it."

Luigi looked at him. "Okay…So how was that interesting? Don't most secret paths open like that?"

"Why are you being so negative about it?" Shadow asked. "Of course most secret

paths open like that."

"I know that. And FYI, I am not negative!" Luigi argued. "I happen to be a very positive person thank you! You're the one who's usually negative!"

"What? I can't be positive and optimistic?…" Shadow walked over towards the cave. "So…you coming or what?"

"OF COURSE I have to come!" Luigi snapped. "You promised to bring me home, didn't you?"

"I know," Shadow mumbled as he looked another way. "But let's look for Eggman first, then I can take you home." He then walked into the cave, with Luigi following him.

As soon as they both entered, the rock immediately rolled back into its original spot. Luigi's head whipped around when the rock made a loud crash once it went back to blocking the cave. He calmed down and looked at the road ahead of him, the cave was extremely dark, so dark that he couldn't see anything, not even the black hedgehog he was with.

Luigi slowly crept around with both hands out, just so if he felt anything, he would know to avoid it. He could try to look for Shadow, but it would be difficult since his fur camouflages with the darkness. But he could try to call him.

"S-Shadow?" his voice shook. Yet he was too worried that anything could pop out and get him. So he was trying to stay cautious of his surroundings. He started moving his hands around, trying to see if he felt anything. He felt nothing, nothing but air, but he did hear a sudden noise.

"Shadow?" no response…

He heard it again, though it sounded like something, or someone, was trying to strike a match. Luigi froze, and then looked around, trying to indicate where the sound was coming from.

"Hello?" he called. He still didn't get a response. He heard the same noise again, a little louder this time. That's when he learned where the sound was coming from.

Luigi flinched, freezing where he was. He then remembered the knife Yoshi had gave him back at Bowser's Castle. Luigi reached in his pocket and drew the knife. He held it out with both hands, pointing towards where the sound was, before slowly walking towards it. He was trembling, but he still had his knife ready. Suddenly, fire was lit and someone with a torch had whipped around almost instantly to face the green plumber. Luigi screamed as he fell flat on his back.

"Shh!" he heard someone hiss.

That voice, it sounded so familiar. Luigi looked up at the person holding the torch. It was Shadow, who was staring back at the green plumber.

Shadow got onto one knee. "You alright?"

"No," Luigi sat up. "Thanks for scaring me."

Shadow stood up. "Come on, let's not waste time here." he turned around and started to walk. The plumber just grumbled to himself while he felt around for the knife he dropped and stood on his feet.

He followed the hedgehog three feet behind. "Why does it have to be so dark?" he mumbled to himself.

"Afraid of the dark are we?" Shadow said it in a curious yet mocking tone.

Luigi shivered. "It's so spooky, I mean what if some sort of monster jumps out and grabs us? What if a spider crawls onto me? I can't see anything. I can't tell what's going on. Wouldn't that make you worried too?"

Not answering Luigi's questions, Shadow just said, "So the little plumber hates the dark?"

"I'm not little." Luigi said sharply.

Shadow ignored him. "What will our little scared plumber do now? He is worried about a monster capturing him. He is worried about a spider biting him. He can't even make out what's going on." he shook his head. "Poor, poor plumber."

"I'm just gonna give you a fair warning and tell you that I have a knife in my hand."

"Ooh…" Shadow said sarcastically, pretending to be shocked. "The plumber is angry and wants to stab me."

"I wasn't really," Luigi said, then thought, I am thinking about it….

They soon came to the end of the tunnel, another boulder blocking the exit. Shadow handed Luigi the torch and went over to the rock to give it a push. The rock rolled, but sideways, the hedgehog just shrugged it off and walked forth, Luigi followed as he blew out the torch and tossed it aside for light had spilled into the cave.

They exited the cave and the rock rolled back to its original place. Shadow and Luigi walked on the stone path up that inclined, for they were on a hill. Once they reached the top, they were able to see a huge statue of a man in roman armor and armed with a sword and shield.

"This is Colosseum Highway." The plumber heard Shadow said. Luigi looked up into the sky, which was mixed with a light orange, pink and purple. "Getting late, isn't it?" Luigi looked over to the hedgehog who gazed into the sky.

"Should we look for a place to camp and spend the night?" the green plumber asked.

Shadow looked ahead. "I really think we should find Eggman first."

Luigi placed his hands on his hips. "And there you go, talking about this Eggman dude. I wanna know, why is it so important for you to find him?"

Shadow sighed as he closed him eyes. "Why must you know?"

"Because you're so focused on finding this guy. And I just want to know why. Why is that important?"

Getting a little irritated, Shadow just said, "I just need to see him."

Pressing on, Luigi said again, "Why?"

"Because! That's why!" the black hedgehog snapped. "Why do you insist on pestering me about it?"

"Because you won't tell me anything." Luigi said, looking hurt. Then his gaze switched to the ground. "But I guess it's not my business, is it?"

"No," Shadow sighed as he looked in a different direction. "Look, let's just get going. I'd like to find him as soon as possible."

"Of course." the plumber walked ahead, slightly picking up his head. Shadow was going to call him back, but decided not to waste any more time and followed.

They were walking through the fields of Colosseum Highway, Peach and Knuckles were deep into conversation.

"Relax Knuckles, we got Eggman didn't we?" Peach said. She held a fist up as she said, "We all gave him a good what for, didn't we?" she giggled as she put her hand to her sound. "How tomboyish of me! I didn't sound very ladylike at all just then. I apologize." she smirked to herself. "Oh Knuckles, what will you ever do with me?"

"I don't know," he muttered. Something wasn't right, Knuckles thought. He knew something was missing. It felt very obvious, which why it bothered him so much. Then it came to him. "The Master Emerald!"

Peach looked at him. "What?"

"We didn't get the Master Emerald back! The Master-" he paused. "Now we've got to find him all over again!"

"Don't worry Knuckles. We'll catch him again, I can feel it alright."

Knuckles ignored her at the moment as he mumbled to himself. "I've had him and cold of gotten the card back too…"

"So you've let the doctor get away? Hmph, you're useless…" Knuckles picked his head up as soon as he heard that voice, then a glare formed on his face.

"What'd you say?" The echidna exclaimed. "Don't mess with me, Shadow, I'm not in the mood! I might take it out on you, got it?"

Shadow rolled his eyes. "Whatever Knuckles…"

Peach glared at the black hedgehog. "Leave him alone, guy."

Shadow's gaze flicked to her. "And who might you be?" before Peach could answer, the hedgehog's eyes dismissed her. "Not like it matters. I have more important things to worry about than some petty wannabe princess of a chick."

Now angry, Peach pushed Knuckles aside and stepped up to the black hedgehog. "You have, like, a major attitude. Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" she folded her arms and rolled her eyes at him. "But seriously, what's your problem?"

"You think you're cute." an obviously annoyed Shadow stated flatly.

Peach mockingly smiled. "I do, actually. Thanks for noticing." Before the hedgehog could say anything else, he was knocked aside by a green plumber.

"Peach!" Luigi shouted as he ran tower her.

Peach beamed. "Luigi! You're okay!" she pulled him into a tight embrace.

"So there's more of you?" Knuckles asked as he smirked.

Peach nodded. "Knuckles, this is Luigi. Luigi, Knuckles."

"You guys done or what?" Shadow cut in rudely.

Luigi glared at him. "Hey, I thought she was dead."

"Too bad she wasn't," ignoring Peach's heated glare, he said to Knuckles. "I've got some business with the doctor. And it does not include you."

"Then let's see who can catch him first." Knuckles challenged. "What do you say?"

"I say you're on." the black hedgehog gladly accepted the challenge. "You and little miss princess cutie versus me and Luigi."

"I have a name." Peach added heatedly. "It's Peach, use it."

"Whatever you say, dog." Shadow replied. "Be good and stay with your master, okay?" he winked at Knuckles, then turned around and took off.

Luigi was red and was damp with sweat. "Don't worry, I'll talk to him." he then ran to catch up with Shadow.

Peach's face was red as well. "He is very rude. When I get my hands on him, I'll see to it that I'll get him good." she looked at the red echidna. "Let's beat him to Eggman. And when we meet, we'll get him good."

Knuckles smirked. "Sounds good to me." Peach smiled. "Okay, let's do this!"

"See any signs of that Silver?" Mario asked, behind both Sonic and Tails who were catching up.

"Silver?" Tails asked. "Who's that Sonic?"

"Someone who Mario and I are supposed to be racing." the blue hedgehog froze. "Wait…why are we walking then?" Sonic immediately broke into a sprint. Tails and Mario exchanged quick glances before running after the hedgehog.

So what's going on? Why are you so anxious of seeing this Silver person?" Tails asked Mario.

"Because," Mario said. "I have some unfinished business to settle with him." then he said, or more likely muttered, "He has a what for coming for him." and Tails saw the plumber's fist clench.

While they ran through the ruins of Colosseum Highway, Mario was deep into thought. He thought back to when he first met Sonic. Then he thought about their journey through the forest, and then how they met Bowser and Eggman, and Peach and Knuckles. The battle with the Egg Turtle came to mind as well, and then, heh, Peach's kiss. And it all came down with finding Yoshi, with Silver. His eyes narrowed as he thought of the white hedgehog, then remembered what the he said to him.

Whatever you do, just don't get in the way.

This floated around in his head for a few minutes, then the plumber shook it off. He knew he was definitely going to get that hedgehog once they see him, and he knew he wasn't getting in the way of anything.

"How much farther?" it was more of a whine on Yoshi's part.

"Keep walking, little mad dino." the white hedgehog, who was a few feet ahead of him, called back to him."

Yoshi just stopped walking. "Come on!" he cried as he stomped his right foot. "Can't we just rest for a little bit? I'm tired!"

"I though Yoshis don't get tired easily."

"We did a lot of things today, I'm just so pooped out I don't know what to do."

"Well if we stop to rest, it'll be too dark later." Yoshi looked at a nearby boulder, which had ancient symbols carved onto it. "We'll be there soon, alright? Just bear with it, and we may get through this a lot quicker than you think."

Yoshi released a sigh. "Whatever you say, hedgehog."