Ch.4: Happy Birthday Rouge

Tomorrow afternoon came sooner than expected, and everyone hand gathered in the park to throw Rouge's surprise party. The sun was only a few hours away from setting in the horizion.

A table had been set up with cake, ice cream, and presents. Most of the Sonic gang had already arrived to celebrate. Their was just one member missing, Knuckles the Echidna.

"Geez" said Sonic " that guy takes forever to get to a party,"

"You don't think he forgot again do you?" asked Amy.

"I hope not" said Tails " we reminded him twice before we started setting up,"

"Here he comes," said Cream, pointing to the sky.

Everyone looked to where the rabbit was pointing, and saw Knuckles gliding in with a mysterious hedgehog hanging onto his back.

"Hey ya Knuckles" said Sonic, running up to his old friend " glad you could make it. Whose this?"

"This is Dusk" said Knuckles, pointing to the hedgehog " he kind of crash landed on my island one day,"

"He looks just like Shadow" Tails analyzed " except a few minor differences,"

"Hmph" said Sonic " I can't when Shadow gets here with Rouge and sees this. They're going to flip. Did you find Rouge a cool birthday present Knux?"

"Oh, I'll think she'll like it," said Knuckles with a grin.

Suddenly Shadow teleported in with Rouge, and everyone ran to great them. When Knuckles pulled out the sparkling white diamond and gave it to Rouge, the bat's grin lit up like a christmas tree. She was about to award Knuckles gift with a kiss, when Shadow suddenly charged and attacked Dusk.

Everyone was confused by the sudden brutal assualt. However, Shadow did not relent.

He had recgonized a face that he had become know to fear. The face of a dark reflection that carried no heart or soul. The face of Mephiles the Dark!

Mephiles though, was unaware of his true nature, and therefore was confused when his hedgehog who almost looked like his doubleganger, decided to attack him. Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge were yelling for Shadow to stop, but the black hedgehog's sights were set to kill.

Before Shadow could finish what he had set off to do, a blinding powerful punch hit him in the side, sending him flying off Mephiles a.k.a. Dusk.

Stunned, Shadow turned to see who dared to attack him. His red eyes widened in surprise when he saw that his attacker had been none other than Knuckles. The red echidna was growling at Shadow fiercely. His voilet gaze was alit with fire, and his fangs bared showing he meant business.

Shadow was shocked, but not impressed. Getting up to his feet Shadow glared at Knuckles.

"Get out of the way!" said Shadow.

"Not until you give a good reason for knocking over my friend," said Knuckles, raising his fists.

"Friend?" said Shadow, angrily pointing to Dusk " that guy is no one's friend! This is Mephiles the Dark, destroyer of time and space!"

"What?" said Sonic and the others confused.

"The last time he appeared" said Shadow " Mephiles was on the verge of destroying all reality. Me, Sonic, and Silver had to put a stop to him. Want to the reason we look so much alike? He swallowed my shadow! I don't know how Mephiles survived after we destroyed Solaris, but I'm not taking any chance,"

With that said, Shadow charged towards Mephiles again, but was stopped in his tracks by Knuckles. Anger was still alit in Knuckles eyes.

"Leave...Dusk...Alone," said Knuckles slowly, emphazising each word as his voilet eyes stared into Shadow's red orbs.

"Make me," said Shadow.

And with that, Shadow and Knuckles started to brawl.