The Resurrection of Shadow Fox

Chapter 4- Sky Chase

Greetings yall! Joe here, bringing you Chapter 4 of his newest Sonic fic! Coming up- our mysterious new character from last chapter reveals himself, Sonic comes face to face with his old foe once more and a dogfight ensues over the skies of Soleanna! All feedback is welcome, as always!

Enjoy everyone!

Disclaimer: I own neither Sonic nor any of Sonic Team or Sega Japans assets.

--

Somewhere in Soleanna...

Ivory furred hands curled into fists as he eyed the two drenched furry's from his vantage point, ignoring the downpour that plastered his quills down.

"Nows my chance," he muttered, gazing at the blue form in particular. "One way or another, I'll find out what you know"

He crouched down, knees bent, preparing to jump down to his target, every muscle tensed in readiness. His sensitive ears picked up the continuing conversation below.

"You gotta give it credit. They don't call it the City of Water for nothing"

"Don't remind me. I'm damp enough as it is"

His ears perked as another sound caught his attention, as his eyes continued to follow his target. A low whining squeak, getting closer with each passing second...

A massive explosion threw him from the ledge, flinging him backwards as a wave of heat blasted his face and upper body. His head impacted the floor with a dull crack, his vision exploding into shards as a wave of wooziness enveloped his entire frame.

"Damn" he whispered, as he slipped into unconsciousness.

"I was so close..."

--

Sonic had to admit, in the seconds he found himself in mid-air from the explosion that tore through the haze, he could always rely on thing.

And that was Eggman to make a grand entrance.

The blue hedgie fought back a yelp as his backside impacted the wet concrete, drenching fur that had until that point had just been damp. In the corner of his eye he saw an orange body sprawled in a heap, already attempting to struggle back upright as the first crimson flames lit up the night. He felt relief that Tails was okay, which quickly turned to alarm as he was confronted by a metallic monstrosity that took even him by surprise. Emerging from the flaming debris, black smoke curling round him like a demon unleashed from Hell, was Eggman. His body was housed inside black battle armour that left only his head exposed, the sound of metal grinding as it stood to full height, towering over the blue and orange forms.

"Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, aye Sonic?" a grating voice echoed from the battle suit containing the rotund scientist, his lips unmoving and curled in a vicious smirk as the mecha took a step forwards, flattening the puddle strewn tarmac underfoot.

"Eggman" emerald eyes flickered in anger, his image distorted in the goliaths reflective casing. Despite himself he took a slight stagger backwards, overwhelmed by what had suddenly confronted him. Eggman didn't seem to care about the thick drops of rain running down his face, his blue rimmed shades trained only at Sonic.

"How do you like the modifications?" the voice continued, even as the scientists grin remained frozen. "Some of my finest work, I just had to show it off"

The hedgehog attempted to regain his bravado, not wanting to show weakness in front of the enemy he thought finished for good. "Nice threads, Egghead. But I bet underneath all that panelling is the same old flab mountain I've whooped a hundred times before" he flashed a trademark smirk, which would previously have earned him a snarl from the good Doctor.

Instead, the madman continued grinning, his eyes blazing with a hatred that took even Sonic by surprise. The blue hedgie could see nothing behind those eyes but intense blackness.

"Your appearance has changed since last we met Sonic" the grated reply. "And yet, your arrogance is unchanged"

Behind him, Sonic felt Tails's presence.

"How you holding up bud?" he asked without turning his head, not wanting to take his eyes off Eggman for a second.

"Sonic..." Tails whispered, his voice threatening to crack. "I...I know that voice"

Eggmans head snapped in Tails's direction, saliva flicking from the corners of his mouth.

"Ah, and there he is. The little sidekick, as always. Another thing that time has failed to change"

"All right, enough talk!" Sonic pointed at his armour plated foe. "Whoever that is doing the voice, I want some answers before I have to beat them out of you!"

The giant fingers on the battle-suit flexed, glistening in the harsh light of the flickering flames that continued to lick up from the fallen debris.

"My dull blue boy," it purred, in stark contrast to the twisted features of the Doctor. "I would really like to see you try"

"I'll take that as a challenge!" Sonic gritted his teeth, feeling the adrenaline start to kick in as the rain beat down that much harder.

Without another spoken word, Eggman lunged forward, a heavy fist aimed directly at the small blue form. In a flash, Sonic dodged the assault, hearing the tarmac splinter as it took the blow in his stead. In the same instant, Tails span up his namesakes and darted aside, hovering several feet up as he watched the mech spin round to confront the hedgehog again.

"You were unwise in provoking him, Sonic" the battle suit flexed its talons, pistons tensing as the hedgehog stood his ground. "I couldn't bare the idea of leaving my old partner in such degrading circumstances, but he is quite a handful. He's quite mad now Sonic, and he'll never stop pursuing you"

"Just like old times then" Sonic sneered as the right arm of the battle-suit lunged at him, dodging the razor sharp blow even as the shock-wave knocked him slightly off balance on landing.

"I'll grind you into powder, you insufferable rat!" it growled, slicing its other arm in an uppercut that would have taken the head off Sonics shoulders had he not ducked a split moment before.

"I've been called worse things" Sonic grabbed onto one of the metal fingers, using it as purchase as he jumped into the air, his foot meeting dead-centre in the suits chest and sending it teetering backwards, a trainer shaped imprint now dented into the shell. The smile finally fell from Eggmans face, replaced with a snarl as drool continued to dribble down his chin.

Tails hovered overhead, anticipating the battle-suits next attack and quickly diving in front of it, diverting Eggmans attention as another shot from Sonic span it around, arms raised in a desperate attempt to strike the blue one with no success as cobalt dodged each flailed assault with ease, openly mocking his attempts.

"Enough!" black soulless eyes targeted suddenly on Tails, bringing one of its gigantic fists towards it as one of the fingers fell away, revealing what looked like the barrel of a weapon. At the same time, a panel on the 'sleeve' slid away, an ominous white light shimmering from the black depths as something rose from inside the suits arm. Sonics breath caught in his throat as he realized what it was.

A Chaos Emerald emerged from the battle suits arm, its shining surface glistening off its black armoury. Light grey in colour almost to the point of being white, simply staring at it caused the blue hedgehogs eyes to squint. Still hovering above, Tails's eyes continued to focus on the barrel shaped implement trained on him like a gun, its black iris as souless and empty as the Doctors own. He didn't dare move for fear of what Eggman would do, even if his face was as ever trained on Sonic.

"If I wanted to, I could shoot your precious little kit from the sky" the grin returned. "You have any idea what a beam of Chaos energy to the chest feels like?"

Sonic held back the growl forming in the back of his throat, wanting nothing more that to wipe the smile from Eggmans face as painfully as possible. But as long as Tails was at threat he didn't dare move, drops of water dripping from his quills and down his back.

"Thats more like it, my cobalt friend. Time has clearly not altered your priorities"

Sonic became aware of a low vibration running up his legs, growing stronger with every passing second. Apparently now at ease with the hedgehogs compliance, the battle suits arm lowered a fraction, though Tails continued to eye it warily, the moisture in his tails making it harder to keep afloat. His pointed ears however quickly swiveled in the direction of a new sound baring down on them...

A shadow fell over them, as a massive shape appeared overhead, shaking the windows of nearby buildings as it settled overhead. Sonics jaw dropped on its own accord at the sight of the gigantic flying fortress, purple energy conduits pulsing along its entire length. Sonic hadn't seen its like since the Egg Carrier so very long ago.

"What in Gods name...?"

A grating laugh caused him to once again stare at Eggman, the burning Chaos Emerald lighting up his face despite the intense shadow.

"And you thought I was finished" the oily voice berated him. "You know nothing!"

Tails's mind went into overdrive, the voice so familiar to him and yet no matter how much he tried he just couldn't place it. Whoever it was it caused a shiver to pass down his spine, something in the back of his mind telling him to be afraid of that voice.

So very afraid.

A spotlight descended on them from the ship overhead, the brightness intense and blinding both furry's temporarily. The battle-suits arm lowered completely, allowing Tails the opportunity to lower himself back to the floor, his twin appendages instantly dropping in exhaustion as he backed away towards Sonics side. The blue hedgie wore an expression of intense frustration, no wanting to give Eggman the satisfaction of besting him now that the kit was safely out of harms way.

Eggmans eyes burned intensely as his lip curling smile seemed to grow even wider, the battle-suit bathed in the glow of the spotlight as a low humming noise began to emit and blue energy coils curled round it. Sonic knew instantly what it was.

"No you don't!" with a growl of repressed anger, Sonic tore towards the battle-suit, his hackles raised as he aimed directly for the Chaos Emerald still poking from the mechs arm before Eggman had a chance of teleporting away. In a flash of cobalt, the hedgehog impacted the black metal fist first.

The impact was so massive, it tore a chunk of the suits arm away in a shower of sparks, twisted metal tearing through the air as the mech stumbled backwards. The Chaos Emerald was flung skyward, a mere speck of light as it disappeared from view. Tails looked frantically for any sign of Sonic, a sudden breeze behind him alerting him to the blue ones presence.

Eggman could do nothing as the battle-suit was enveloped in blue light, disappearing from view even as the mech continued to stagger on one leg. A second after the finished teleport, the blinding spotlight faded away, leaving the pair alone in the sudden darkness.

Tails rounded on the blue one "What were you playing at, Sonic? You could have killed yourself!"

Sonic pouted his lower lip "You know I hate Eggman having the last word, besides I couldn't let him leave with a Chaos Emerald could I?"

"Which you failed to grab, so if you had been killed it would have been for nothing!"

Sonic lay a hand on the kits shoulder "If I'd been killed"

A roar of engines alerting the two heroes to the ships continued presence above them, and already it was pulling away slowly across the sky.

"Tornado?" Tails muttered the question he already knew the answer to.

"You betcha" Sonics grip on the fox's shoulder tightened. "Come on!"

In a burst of blue and orange, the two heroes took off, towards where they'd left the Tornado.

The chase was on!

--

On a deserted rooftop...

Damp white fingers twitched reflexively, even if their owner was unconscious. Drawn towards a pleasant warmth that tickled the very tips of his gloved hand.

They came into contact with something smooth and warm to the touch, sliding over the glass-like surface before gripping tightly around it.

As the rain finally stopped falling, Silver the hedgehog gripped the object in his hand tightly.

Through the gaps in his fingers, the Chaos Emerald pulsed.

--

In the skies above...

Climbing height with every second that passed, the Death Carrier cut across the sky. Thick clouds parted as the arrow shaped nose tore through them remorselessly, engines roaring to sustain its flight as the darkened spires of Soleanna blurred below it.

Behind it, a tiny speck of blue bared down on it.

On the flight deck, Shadow the Hedgehog's eyes watched the small blip on the radar indicating the approaching plane, betraying as usual no hint of emotion.

"We have pursuers on our stern" he looked over at the other occupants of the massive space, the roar of the ships engines reduced to a dull rumble. Two Metal Knuckles stood to attention at the entrance door, their shimmering eyes staring at nothing in particular. Nack walked past them and up to the black ones shoulder, jabbing his finger at the steadily approaching blip.

"They want a dog fight, we'll give 'em one! This thing got any heavy guns?"

"Plenty" the reply came, causing the weasel to turn to face the albino fox. "But where's the fun in that?"

Shadow Fox reclined back in his chair, a smile playing across his lips at the snipers frown.

"As you said Nack... if they want a dog fight," he flashed his fangs. "Then we'll most certainly deliver"

Crimson eyes narrowed as the black hedgehog felt the ship accelerate. "Death Carrier systems online. Power readings at 99 percent. Weapons primed and ready"

He cast an eye back at the approaching dot on the radar screen.

"...Faker"

--

Tails was grateful for the goggles protecting his eyes from the harsh wind whipping through the cockpit, pitching the Tornado forwards as the black hulk of the Death Carrier grew steadily larger. Behind him, gripping on for dear life to the planes tail, Sonic squinted against the biting chill.

Pulling down on the throttle, Tails pulled the Tornado into a climb, the little plane accelerating up towards the top of the Death Carrier. Already the engine was at maximum output, struggling to keep up with the fortress as it cut through the sky like a scythe. The propeller roared as Tails leveled the Tornado out, the Death Carriers hull now horizontal with the planes landing gear. Sonic shifted his position, now holding onto the tail one-handed.

"Hold it steady, Tails" he spoke up above the engines roaring, quills in disarray as the wind buffeted the little plane.

Suddenly, the purple glow illuminating the Death Carriers body intensified, energy conduits quickly reaching blinding levels causing Sonics eyes to water. Tails squinted behind his goggles as the entire fortress was engulfed in the purple glare.

"What are they playing at?" the fox snarled, one eye now closed to combat the searing light.

"I don't know," Sonic replied. "But keep on them. Don't let them out of your sight!"

A flash of white light engulfed the Tornado completely, blinding Tails completely and causing him to fumble with the controls. The plane pitched violently, almost throwing Sonic off as he scrambled for grip. Behind his eyelids, the kit felt the glow decrease, and cautiously opened one eye a fraction.

"Its gone!"

Sonic snapped his head up, his entire body having previously been flat against the planes body. "What?"

"The ship!" Tails stammered, unable to comprehend what had just happened. "Its disappeared!"

In front of the Tornado, where just moments ago had been the gigantic fortress, was nothing but star-studded sky. Tails leaned over the side of the cockpit, looking down below the plane in a desperate attempt to relocate their opponent, but there were only rolling fields. They'd left Soleanna behind a while ago.

"Sonic..." Tails started, lifting his head back up to confront the blue hedgie.

"Yeah?"

The kit gulped heavily "I know where it is"

Sonics heart skipped a beat as he realized something.

Tails was looking past him, behind the Tornado.

With a flash, the Death Carrier reared up on the tiny plane. Reacting without thinking, Tails pitched the Tornado sideways, desperate to escape the giant bearing down on them. Twisting against the wind, the planes wings scraped the front of the fortress, ripping it off completely and sending it into a downward cartwheel.

"Sonic! Hold on!" Tails pleaded, his knuckles white from gripping the throttle as tightly as he could, dizzy to the point of nausea as the plane span towards the ground.

And Sonic could only hold on, eyes clenched shut...

--

Back in Soleanna...

Silver was drifting, his body nonreactive. All he could do way lie on his back...and dream.

He was back home, before all this had happened. He could feel the breeze on his muzzle, quills twitching as he sat cross-legged, eyes looking ahead but at nothing in particular.

He felt a presence behind him, his ear twitching but the rest of him unresponsive. He sensed the other sit down beside him, feeling the soft heat on his arm. He sighed softly, but not enough that he was unheard.

"I thought I'd find you here" the newcomer spoke, getting nothing but another ear twitch back. "Your still considering it, aren't you?"

He didn't answer, but he felt his bottom lip twitch, vision blur as his eyes suddenly felt hot and prickly. His hands wrung themselves together, as he tried to hold-off the inevitable tears.

Soft arms descended around his shoulders, pulling him closer to the one he was trying to ignore, white fur connecting with dark as he was held tightly in a warm embrace.

He couldn't help it, the tears were already flowing. He leaned into the hug and held back the sobs now desperate to escape his throat.

"I...I don't want to, but..." his voice was heavy with tears, every word accompanied by a sob. "I...have to..."

"Shh," strong arms started to rock him gently, a warm hand petting down his quills. "Its okay"

"No its not" he sniffed, calmed by the petting even though the tears continued. "That why...I have to do it"

"Its a big responsibility for just one person" a single finger stroked his cheek, picking up stray tears along the way. "Especially one so reluctant"

The smaller cuddled into the embrace, now reduced to just the occasional sniffle. "You know why I can't take you...even if I want to"

"I know," the other sighed, fingers now stroking over white furred ear tips. "But still...why on your own?"

One last sniff, and he reluctantly pulled away from the hug, facing his carer eye to eye. "Cos I'm the only one who can stop it, even if it hurts. I'm the only one who can stop...you"

Now it was the others turn to tear up, even as he embraced the younger one tightly to his chest. "That's why I'm so worried. Promise me you'll be okay, Silver?"

"Silver...?"

..."Silver?"

--

Silver the Hedgehog snapped awake, instantly regretting it as a stab of pain racked his head. He reached a hand back to rub it, fingers feeling over a large lump that throbbed under his touch.

"Ow" he whimpered, shaking his head softly to try to relieve some of the pain. His brow creased as a sudden warmth spread up his arm, looking down and starting at what he had gripped in his other hand.

"What the...?" he gasped at the shimmering white gem clutched in his palm, his reflection glistening on its surface. "No way!" he grinned, now ignoring the irritating throb.

Things were starting to look up for him.

--

Eggmans whiskers drooped as he watched the pacing figure in front of him.

"You lost it? Is that what I'm to presume?" Shadow Fox's eye twitched, fingers twitching at his sides. "You...lost...the Control Emerald?"

The dribbling doctor said nothing, the powers of speech one of the many things now lost to him.

The albino fox got right up into Eggman's face, eyes blazing as his hands grabbed the rotund human by the lapels.

"For your sake," his voice dropped to a blood chilling whisper. "You'd better hope we find it again"

--

Somewhere on the Outskirts...

Knuckles drew the wet cloth across his glove again, examining how deep the crimson liquid had soaked through.

He hadn't wanted to hurt her, but when the red mist descended he was rarely capable of controlling his actions. Sonic had found that out on numerous occasions from the echidna, but even the blues ones gift for irritation had failed to rile up the Guardian as much as he had been in that cell alone with Rouge.

At least he'd had the decency to let her live, despite not giving him the information he'd wanted.

Throwing the sodden clot aside, the red echidna stood up and allowed his thoughts to turn back to the question at hand.

Where was Shadow?

That was the quandary he intended to answer, and God help the black hedgehog when he found him. Because even without Rouges help, he still had a way of tracking down his prey.

Bouncing the red Chaos Emerald in his palm, Knuckles allowed a thin smile to cross his face.

He wasn't beaten yet.

--

Wow, long chapter this one! Hope you all enjoy it, and stay tuned for Part 5!

Joe.