Chapter 6:
"The next emerald is some were down there," Tails said.
"Water," Sonic groaned. "Why does it have to be water?"
"Don't worry Sonic," Amy reassured. "I'll protect you."
Sonic just groaned as Tails landed on the outskirts of the Water Palace. They made their way through the Palace, taking out any egg bots they came across. Sonic, of course, was trying to avoid getting wet whenever possible and complained when he did.
"I forgot how much I hated this place," he grumbled as they used a jet of water to get onto a higher platform.
They soon came to an arena with a large circler pool. Eggman was already there, floating over the middle of the pool.
"I see you've finally arrived Sonic, but you're to late once again," Eggman greeted, displaying light blue chaos emerald. "Egg Squid, take care of this rodent and his pesky friends."
Eggman began flying away.
"Don't think I'll let you walk away with the emerald," Sonic said, jumping toward the Egg mobile. But before he could reach, a robotic tentacle came out of the pool and smacked him away.
The water churned as a giant robotic squid emerged; its many tentacles ready to strike the heroes. The tentacles made a lunge at Tails and Amy. Tails dodged it easily and Amy used her hammer to bat the tentacles away. The squid hesitated for a moment, but then attacked all the heroes, trying to trap one of them.
"I'm not making much damage," Knuckles commented as he punched the tentacles away.
"I'm sure the main body is the weak point," Tails replied. "But there are bound to be defenses to prevent me from flying to it."
"And It's too far to jump to," Sonic agreed, hoping over another tentacle. "And I don't feel like a swim."
"Don't worry Sonic," Amy replied, smiling. "If anything happens, I'll be happy to do mouth to mouth."
Sonic turned to make a retort, when he saw another tentacle sneaking up on Amy.
"Amy!" Sonic shouted, running over to her. "Watch out!"
Sonic pushed Amy out of the way the way, so he got grabbed instead.
"Sonic!" Amy said in surprise. "Let him go you over grown fish!"
Amy swung her hammer as hard as she could, but it only made the robot squid angrier. She then got grabbed herself.
"Don't worry," Tails said, flying toward the two struggling to escape. "I'll save you!"
Tails weaved between the robot's flailing limbs. He was a few seconds away from reaching Sonic, when a tentacle came from behind and grabbed him. Knuckles, now the only one still on the ground, was fighting furiously, but it was obvious he was getting tired. The sheer number of attacks eventually overwhelmed him and he too was grabbed. With all its opponents in its clutches, the squid began lowering back into the water.
"It's going to drown us!" Tails said in realization.
"Not if I can help," Sonic replied, as he struggled.
Sonic twisted and turned, and was able to get one arm free, but Sonic knew it wasn't enough. The water was rapidly approaching and there was no way he could free in time. It seemed hopeless.
"No," Sonic said, pushing back such thoughts. "I will not let it end like this!"
Sonic began to fell power rise in his body. On instinct, Sonic raised his hand toward the squid. Bolts of green energy shot out of his hand and hit the squid, completely destroying it. The tentacles went limp and dropped into the water, but not it's former captives. Tails caught Sonic and Knuckles grabbed Amy. They all land softly on the solid ground.
"Sonic," Knuckles turned to the hedgehog in shock. "Did you just use Chaos Spear?"
"Chaos Spear?" Amy asked, confused. "Isn't that one of Shadow's moves."
"Yeah it is Amy," answered Tails. "Only he is able to manipulate chaos in that fashion."
"Then how did Sonic use it?" Amy asked.
"That's what I'd like to know," said Knuckles. They all looked at Sonic, who was staring at his own hand in shock.
"I-I don't know how I did," Sonic replied. "I wasn't even using the emerald. I just… felt power grow and inside me… and I acted on instinct."
"First the hearing and know this," Tails listed, worried. "Sonic… What's happening to you?"
"I don't know," Sonic whispered.
"You could have avoided this if you had just listened to me," Purity said.
Sonic jumped, for voice hadn't come from inside his head. He looked up and saw Purity standing between him and his friends.
"Purity," Sonic growled.
"Purity?" Knuckles asked, confused at Sonic's sudden change in attitude. "Who's Purity?"
"How can you miss…" Sonic stopped as he realized something. They can't see her!
"Of course they can't," Purity replied. "And it's only because you've reached the next stage that you can see me easily now."
The next stage? Sonic asked in his mind, not wanting to freak the others out more by talking to someone they couldn't see.
"Your chaos sense has increased drastically," Purity said. "You can now use chaos energy in ways you never have before and your chaos attacks will be much stronger. All this proves what I've said… You cannot escape your destiny."
The future isn't set in stone. I will change my fate. Sonic insisted. Leave me! I will not leave my friends.
"I will leave for now," Purity said as she began to fade. "But you must accept your destiny soon… while there's still time."
As Sonic watched Purity fade, he realized the others were trying to talk to him.
"What's going on Sonic!" Tails demanded. "What aren't you telling us?"
"It doesn't mater right now," Sonic said, avoiding the questions. "There's another chaos emerald on it's way here."
"What are you…" Knuckles stopped as he too felt the emerald approaching. "You're right. But how did you know?"
Sonic didn't answer, but stood silently and stared at the direction the chaos emerald was coming from.
A few minutes later, Shadow came to a stop in front of the group.
"Hey Shadow," Sonic greeted arrogantly. "Long time no see faker."
"Humph," Shadow responded.
"Shadow, what are you doing here?" Knuckles asked surprised. "Is Rouge with you?"
"You miss your girlfriend Knuckles?" Sonic teased, causing the echidna to blush.
"Shut your mouth hedgehog," Knuckles growled. "Or I'll close it for you."
"So why are you here Shadow?" Tails asked.
"I was running nearby when I felt a strange energy," Shadow replied. "It seems to have gone now."
"Could he be talking about when Sonic used Chaos Spear?" Amy asked.
"What!" Shadow said in surprised, turning to Sonic. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know," Sonic replied, shuffling a little under everyone's stares. "It just happened."
"He said he didn't even use his chaos emerald," Knuckles added. "I don't understand how it could be down without the chaos emerald."
"Maybe, he tapped into it subconsciously," Tails suggested.
"Maybe," Knuckles said.
While Knuckles, Tails, and Amy discussed possible theories, Shadow studied his blue counterpart intently, much to Sonic's discomfort.
Now that I look at him… Shadow thought to himself. He does seem to be giving off a chaotic energy. Similar to the one I had sensed earlier, but not nearly as powerful. What's going on?
"I know you all would like to keep talking about how strange things are," Sonic said, getting everyone's attention, "But we still have emeralds to find and an Eggman to crack."
"Don't bother looking for more emeralds," Shadow said. "I got a report from GUN that Eggman already has the others."
"Than we just go strait for the big battle," Sonic concluded.