The Resurrection of Shadow Fox
Chapter 1- The Gathering
Greetings yall! Joe here, bringing you Chapter 1 of his latest Sonic fic! Up ahead, a new villain, some returning heroes, and the beginning of Shadow Fox's latest plot!
Enjoy everyone!
Disclaimer: I own neither Sonic nor any of Sonic Teams assets.
--
It had been six months since Eggmans empire had imploded on itself following the scientists descent into total madness. But it hadn't been long before someone tried to fill the gap left behind...
Sonic was pinned down against the cracked concrete, cold metal claws tightening their strangle-hold around his neck.
The giant mech beared down on the trapped blue hedgehog, the egg-shaped pilot grinning wickedly as he watched Sonic squirm, "I win hedgehog. Admit your defeat, and I 'may' be generous...and make your death a swift one".
Sonic snorted as much as he could, as the air was slowly cut off from his airways. If there was one thing Eggman Nega enjoyed, it was hearing his own voice.
It hadn't been long after Eggmans final defeat that Nega had appeared. Seeing an opportunity to fill the vacuum left by his dimensional counterpart, Nega had quickly managed to conquer much of Eggmans lost territory, extending across several areas of the globe and threatening the stability of the United Federation. Secretly, Sonic had been overjoyed by this new turn of events. With Eggmans permanent incapacitation, the blue hedgie had been worried he would have nothing left to do. Nega's appearance had dispelled his fears, giving him a chance to play the hero he had become so used to doing.
Nega was tough, but just like Eggan before him...he was nothing Sonic couldn't handle.
The mustachioed pilot's eyes widened as Sonic flipped backwards forcefully, the mechs claws still round his neck. The move pulled the robot forwards sharply, unbalancing it and forcing Nega to release its grip. It was a move Sonic was expecting. Emerald eyes flared as he jumped into a standing position some distance from the mech, glaring cockily at the rotund occupant residing in the transparent cabin.
The blue hedgie lunged at the mech, gaining as much speed as he could muster as he tore down the broken tarmac. Before Nega could even hope to react, Sonic jumped into the air and curled up into a ball, razor sharp quills pointed directly at the cabin. He shot straight through the centre of the mech, tearing out its heart as it collapsed on itself in a sparking heap. Sonic landed back on his feet, watching in amusement as Nega untangled himself from the smoking wreckage, uniform torn and face blackened. He glared at Sonic through cracked shades.
"You'll pay for this Sonic! I'll get you yet!"
Sonic chuckled as he watched Nega activate a device round his wrist, teleporting from the scene, "And I'll be waiting for you, Eggbelly!"
Another night, another disaster averted. Sonic didn't kid himself, he loved the day to day hero routine. Nega had started out as a possible threat, but it hadn't taken him long to descend to Eggmans level once he'd encountered the blue blur. One defeat after another was beginning to affect him in the same way it had affected his counterpart, and Sonic reveled in the fact he had such an effect on the would-be dictator. His ego needed polishing every now and again.
Surveying the damage around him, Sonic couldn't help but chuckle. "Someones got a mess to clean up!"
He dashed off at that, just in case the authorities decided it should be him doing the cleaning up.
He didn't notice the massive shape emerge over the distance, slowly approaching the city.
--
High above the clouds, the bright blue silhouette of the Tornado cut across the night sky, its body gleaming in the moonlight.
In the cockpit, Miles Tails Prower enjoyed the cool night breeze blowing across his muzzle, orange fur ruffling ticklishly. Down below, he could make out the bright neon lights of the Casino Night Zone. Beyond that was the pitch blackness of the ocean, leading out for miles and miles. Sonic had asked Tails to keep a watch over the city, just in case he fell into trouble fighting Nega's latest takeover attempt. Since he'd gotten no word from the hedgehog, Tails assumed the fight had gone in Sonics favour, and his help wouldn't be required after all.
Tails didn't mind. If anything, he was glad Sonic was taking all the hero flack. Tails had come to realize that, despite early thoughts to the contrary, he really wasn't comfortable playing the ehro. It was too much work, too much hassle. He had been disappointed when Nega had first shown up. The fox had been overjoyed when Eggmans empire had finally caved in, seeing it as a golden opportunity to put his mechanical skills to a more enjoyable use instead of fighting another would-be conquerer. Tails had enjoyed the free time the six months of breathing space had given him, indulging in his passions without the fear of having another nut-case breathing down their necks.
So much had he enjoyed it in fact, that when Nega had first shown up Tails had been unwilling to rejoin the fight despite Sonics eagerness. Whether it was maturity or simply weariness, Tails had happily resigned himself to tech support whilst Sonic did all the real work. It worked for Sonic because he got to be the hero, and Tails was surprised by the fact that he really didn't mind that anymore.
If only he'd thought like that in the first place, he thought to himself. It would have made his personal life in the last two years a whole lot easier.
Tails wasn't the only one who was happy for Sonic to take all the credit and do all the hero work. Knuckles had returned to Angel Island was he was sure that Eggman was out of the picture, resuming his role of guarding the Master Emerald. Sonic and Tails hadn't seen much of him since them, only fleeting sights every once in a while of the floating island as it made its way serenely across the sky.
And so Tails was more than a little taken aback when the clouds in front o the Tornado parted, and he was confronted by the gigantic form of Angel Island.
"Woah!" Tails yelped as the island bared down on him, quickly grabbing the controls and forcing the plane into a climb. The engine protested as the Tornado pitched upwards sharply, climbing almost vertically towards the top of the island. After several heart stopping seconds, the Tornado pitched over the island allowing Tails to pull it back from its climb and stabilize the plane.
Tails released the breath he'd been holding, looking down at the green canopy below as the Tornado flew over the island.
"Whats it doing so close to the city?" he wondered aloud, contemplating on whether he should land or not just in case Knuckles needed help.
He was in the middle of considering this, when a sudden green flash erupted up from the centre of the island, almost blinding Tails. He swung the Tornado sideways as the glow faded as quickly as it had come, plunging the island back into darkness.
"Whats going on down there?" he squinted his eyes, looking for any more sign of activity down below.
As the tiny plane continued to circle above, a low rumble began to shudder through the island...
--
Earlier...
Knuckles chest heaved as he was pinned against one of the altars stone pillars, blood dripping down into his eyes from a gash in his forehead. In front of him, the Knuckles Metallic stared at him with its unblinking eyes.
Knuckles took some comfort in the damage he had done to the metal clone, one arm reduced to a sparking stump where it had torn off by the Guardian. Its body as indented and crumpled in several places, but that hadn't slowed it down as it continued to beat on the Guardian, sapping his strength as he fought to stay on the altar. Shaking his head to clear the blood from out of his eyes, the red echidna squirmed against the hold, his arms flush against the metals chest in a desperate bid to throw it off him. He felt his grip faltering, the metallic mere seconds away from crushing him against the pillar...
"Thats enough"
Knuckles barely registered the voice before he fell flat on his face, the metallic releasing its hold immediately. His muzzle smacked painfully against the stone floor, specks of blood dripping down from the wound on his head as he breathed raggedly. His ears perked as he heard approaching footsteps, a shadow descending across his face as a pair of shoes filled his blurred vision. Knuckles lifted his head painfully, squinting as he tried to clear his vision and look upon the face of his rescuer.
It was a very familiar face, and a very familiar person that he was confronted with.
"Shadow...?"
The black hedgehog smirked down at the injured echidna, folding his arms as he watched Knuckles struggle to get to his feet.
"Don't bother getting up. I'm not staying long" he said, the smile never leaving his lips. Knuckles had never seen Shadow smile before, and it was something he was hoping he'd never see again judging by the cruel twinkle in the hedgehogs eyes.
"What are you...Why are you..." Knuckles struggled to get out, balanced on his knees as he lifted a paw up to his forehead, the white glove instantly turning crimson.
Shadow flashed his teeth. "Reclaiming whats mine"
Knuckles watched as Shadow walked over to the Master Emerald, feeling a burning desire to jump up and stop the hedgehog. But the fight had taken it out of him, and all he could do was watch as Shadow stood on top of the shimmering gem, arms outstretched.
"Don't!" Knuckles staggered to his feet, meeting the hedgehogs eyes desperately. "If you take it...the whole island will...will fall!"
The black hedgehog stared down the echidna with a look of pure disdain. "I know"
Knuckles forced himself towards the emerald, every muscle in his body protesting savagely as pain shot through him. The damaged Knuckles Metallic tensed up as the Guardian staggered towards them.
Shadow merely snorted, and stretched his arms out fully, "Chaos..."
"NO!" Knuckles bellowed.
"...Control!"
Knuckles shut his eyes as a blinding green flash erupted from the emerald, bathing the entire altar in emerald fire.
"...no" Knuckles gasped, dropping to his knees as the glow faded, and the full horror of what Shadow had done was revealed. The black hedgehog was gone, and so was the Master Emerald.
Knuckles felt the first vibrations run up his legs, his heart hammering against his chest as he staggered to his feet.
Angel Island was starting to fall from the sky.
--
Back in the Present...
Nack the Weasel eyed the monitor screen displaying an image of Angel Island, a thin smile tugging at his lips.
"Where's it gonna fall do you reckon?"
Shadow Fox clicked his teeth as he watched the floating island begin its final fall.
"The Casino Night Zone, with any luck" the albino fox purred in reply.
Nack raised his eyebrows, "I've got accounts in some of those casino's" the purple weasel removed his hat, fingering the brim as he continued watching the screen.
"Well then, we're doing you a favor" the fox shrugged absently, his eyes twinkling. "And besides, by the time we're finished you'll have more money than you could win in any casino"
A flash of emerald fire lit up the flight deck behind them. Shadow Fox swiveled his chair around, confronted by the sight of a black hedgehog standing atop the Master Emerald.
"Welcome back Shadow"
Shadow jumped down from his vantage point and approached the two, "Knuckles has been taken care of. He will not be a problem any longer"
The albino fox cracked a grin, flexing his bandaged paws. "Wonderful"
Shadow glanced sideways as something caught his eye. Sprawled in a chair on the far side of the bridge, once more dressed in his usual attire, Eggman eyed all three furries intently. The black hedgehog smirked as he thought that the once great empire builder had been reduced to the dribbling wreck in front of him. How pathetic.
The black hedgehog joined the two furries at the monitor screens, ignoring the mute Doctor, and watched intently as Angel Island plummeted from the sky.
--
Tails bumped and shook in the cockpit as the Tornado pitched down hard, grass and leaves billowing out around the plane as it slowed to a halt. Throwing off his goggles, the fox jumped down from the plane, instantly regretting it as he was throw off his feet. The entire ground was shaking violently, a dull roar drumming through his ears.
Before he had time to wonder about this, Tails was confronted by a horrifying sight.
"KNUCKLES!"
The echidna was sprawled down in the grass, blood pooling from a deep wound in his forehead. Cuts and bruises lined his body, and his gloves were stained crimson.
Thinking quickly, Tails grabbed the Guardian under his arms and dragged him back towards the plane, fighting for balance all the way. Hauling the unconscious body into the Tornado took all the might he could muster, but finally the echinda was bundled and strapped safely in his seat. Tails climbed back into the cockpit and span up the propeller, turning the Tornado round and revving it up to speed. After a few seconds of buffeting, Tails pitched the plane up, sending it soaring into the sky.
He didn't look back as a tremendous roar ripped through the night, shaking the plane and stirring the Guardian from his unconscious state. Eyes flickering open, Knuckles looked up at the back of Tails head.
"Tails...the island...is it...?"
Tails nodded.
Behind them, as the Tornado became but a speck on the horizon, Angel Island crashed down into the inky blackness of the ocean, the water swallowing it in seconds.
And all Knuckles could do, was sob.
--
Part 2 coming soon!
Joe.