One year earlier
"Sonic we need to hurry the warp gate won't last long!" Tails yelled out as he moved around feverously adjusting dials and instruments. His work shop was buzzing with energy and the noise created by a tear in the fabric of the universe was deafening. A rippling immaterial window leading to another world was suspended between two tesla coils by wild arcs of lighting. "It's now or never!" the two tailed fox struggled to scream out over the racket.
"Okay, Amy you're up first," the blue hedgehog said. "Jump through, and we'll be right behind you okay?"
The pink hedgehog he addressed was a nervous wreck. There was fear radiating from ever part of her. "Sonic, are you sure this will work?"
"Eggman doesn't know that there was one last portal to Fliki Island, not only that but it we needed all 7 chaos emeralds to power it, and it's still super unstable. We're going though, taking the emeralds with us, and destroying the machine. He won't be able reach that zone or us ever, okay?" Sonic reassured her.
"Okay, I'm just so scared" She stammered out. "I can't stop thinking about the others!"
Sonic gave her a hug, long and tight, released her and kissed her on the forehead. "Me too kiddo, me too. Now go, I'll be right behind Shadow okay!"
She nodded, but didn't once look away from his eyes as she backed into the portal and disappeared from sight.
Sonic swallowed hard, "alright Tails your next,"
The two tailed fox reluctantly moved away from the instrument panel, and looked at Sonic, "Is this really happening? Did he really win Sonic?"
"It's gonna be alright, see you on the other side okay?" Sonic said without acknowledging the question.
"Right," Tails took the hint, the last fight had taken a toll on all them. Some things were best left unsaid. He struggled to find words to say. "I suppose this is just the start of our next adventure right?"
Sonic hugged him tight, "That's right, buddy. 'Cept this time you'll be the hero okay, you're nobody's sidekick."
"Alright Sonic," Tails responded with renewed vigor at Sonic's words. "Let's go then." He turned and faced the portal and hopped in.
"Knuckles, you're up!"
"Right," Knuckles headed for the portal, but was interrupted by sonic placing his hand on his shoulder. "Sonic?" He asked, turning to look at him.
"Take care of them for me okay?"
"What do you mean?! Aren't' you…" Knuckles eyes went wide, but the staring into Sonic's eyes, he saw no room for protest, and he understood what hedgehog was going to do. What Sonic needed to do. He nodded agreeing to the request. "You were my greatest friend; I want you to know that." He moved to the portal again. "See ya around Blue."
"Take care of yourself Red." Sonic called out to him right before he passed through.
It was just Shadow and himself now. The machine wailed in protest to keeping the portal open. They looked at each other for a moment, saying volumes without saying a word.
"I suppose," Shadow said breaking the tension, "I should go."
"Yeah, once you take the seven emeralds out Tails said you'll have about 5 minutes to set the bomb and then jump through."
"You sure want to leave them with me?"
"I can't risk him getting them. He's taken enough; he's not getting them too."
"Humph, Tails said the bomb will be big, so you better get going too."
"Yeah…"
"Always the hero huh? Off to spit in the devil's eye one last time?"
"Something like that."
There was one more hanging silence, followed by Shadow reaching to grab the first emerald from its location in the machine.
"Goodbye Sonic."
Sonic turned and made his way for the secret pathway back to the surface of the Green Hill. As he climbed up the ladder he thought it fitting that it all began here, and now this is where it would end. Once he reached the top he lifted up hatch to nightmarish sight. The once lush green forests of Green Hill were burning. The smoke almost choked him as he peered around. Everything was bathed in an orange hue as embers swirled around him and tongues of fire lapped at everything from the ground to the tallest tree.
There came a terrific explosion from beneath him, the sound shaking him to his very soul. He was alone now.
Sonic opened his eyes, before him was the city of Robotropolis. He had been replaying the events in his mind ever since he left Green Hill. It was now he realized he was wrong. He wasn't alone. There was one more person he had to say goodbye to. His hands balled into tight fists, his teeth clenched. It hadn't been two full days since his defeat at the hands of the Egg Beater. Sonic's heart raced, if his friends had been there, they would plans and schemes to sneak in and get the drop on him. That was then however, today it was just him, and today there would be no sneaking. Today he was going knock on his front door.
Sonic swallowed hard one last time, and began his march to the city. He couldn't fathom why, but for the first time in his life, he didn't feel like running. As he walked steady and without fear gun turrets spun themselves and trained lasers on him and robot sentries aimed weapons, yet not a shot was fired. Spotlights thundered on and illuminated him for the world to see, but onward he went. As he approached the entrance the great doors to Robotropolis groaned and strained but opened wide for him. He entered and standing before him out in the open of an expansive courtyard stood his quarry. The tall rotund Doctor stood with his back to him. His red coat seemed to almost glow among the dreariness of his city. The only thing standing between the Doctor and the hedgehog was Metal Sonic, his greatest creation.
"Welcome Sonic," The Doctor bellowed in jovial tone. "What brings you to my little city?"
Silence.
"No jokes, my, my you must be pretty upset about me killing all your friends," He said, his voice filled with malice as he turned around to face him. "I will admit you're tenacious, coming hear so soon after your defeat, I'd figured you'd lick your wounds a tad longer than you did."
Sonic's fists were still clenched tightly, he moved into and aggressive position preparing to sprint forward.
"So, revenge is it? Very well, kill him."
Metal Sonic took off instantaneously, a stream of fire from his high powered turbine was left in his wake. Sonic erupted from his stance into a high speed dash to match his speed. As the gap closed, Sonic vaulted into a handspring, followed by a round off, to a triple backflip that ended in downward spinning kick. Metal raised an arm and blocked it, and countered having his body spin around, pivoting at the neck to strike at him with back of his metal fist. Sonic somersaulted back to avoid it, then again and again as his robot double advanced forward. Sonic dropped and swept at his legs with another spin kick which Metal boosted himself into the air to avoid. Sonic saw his opening and sprang into the air, rolled into a ball and struck him hard with a homing attack, which knocked both of them higher into the air and Metal Sonic off balance. Sonic then broke out of the spin attack and spun radially like a hurricane to add momentum to a brutal haymaker that sent the robot hurtling to the ground. Sonic than blasted into another homing attack downward, propelling himself at breakneck speed. Just before he connected, he rolled out of a ball and into a hard flying side thrust kick, drilling the robot about a foot into the ground at the abdomen, the impact sending chunks of cement flying. He then jumped back and repeated the attack except this time landing with both feet on either side of Metal with his fist driving his face into the pavement. Standing up and dusting himself off Sonic stepped over the downed robot and advanced on the Doctor.
"I didn't come to play with Metal Sonic, just you and me Ivo." Sonic said, cracking his knuckles.
"I really don't think so Sonic," The Doctor commented. As he did Sonic felt cold steel wrap around his left leg. He turned to find that Metal had clawed out of the hole he had put him in and gripped him tightly. "Well, at least Metal doesn't think so." He chortled.
Sonic heard his machine engine whir with power than felt an inhuman jerk on his leg as metal yanked and hurled him across the courtyard far away from the doctor. Regaining his balance he flipped over and managed to land on his feet slowing to a halt after sliding a few feet. He looked up to see him flip out of the ground and rocket towards him with an extended fist, he was moving much faster than before, but Sonic managed to raise his arms to block. He felt the slightest touch on his forearms and a saw the quick fading of a fleeting after-image before hearing the familiar sound of a sonic boom from behind him and feeling his back explode with pain. The force from the attack sent him flying, he regained composure and managed to flip and turn mid-air and land on his feet only to see metal sonic standing rigidly, his fist still extended from the attack. Sonic wasn't sure how he got behind him, but a smile crossed his face.
"Alright Metal, you wanna go fast, let's go fast." Sonic yelled as he began run in place faster and faster until he was in a full blown figure eight dash only being held back by his hand which was firmly pressed on the ground in front of him. He allowed his feet to slip against the ground so rapidly he began to char the earth beneath him like a sports car during a burnout. "Let's Go!"
Sonic gunned for him; a sonic boom left in his wake, Metal Sonic did likewise. They clashed back and forth only slowing down enough for regular sight for moments at a time as they struck one another. Sonic booms exploded all over the room from the two of them. They traded blows back and forth, neither giving ground to the other, eventually locking themselves in a high powered shoving match. They met in the middle of the courtyard head to head trying to out muscle one another. Metal Sonic's main thrust rockets roared away driving him on, but no ground could be given. Sonic figure eight dash sent chunks of dirt and clouds of smoke and dust into the air; however he too could not force his foe back.
"It's like things haven't changed between you and me." Sonic shouted out above the commotion of their struggle. Metal Sonic's cold eyes stared back into Sonic's; sometimes it felt like he peered into his soul. "My fight is with your master stand aside," Sonic pleaded with him, he wasn't sure why, but he had always felt connection to Metal, and whatever that connection was he tried to appeal to it.
No answer.
"You're just as stubborn as me, I'll give you that. Plus you're also the handsomest robot Eggman has ever made, however…" Sonic rolled backwards onto his spines letting Metal fly over him, planting both feet in his stomach and kicking upwards causing the direction of his rockets to force him into the ground. The force that struck him as he ricocheted off the pavement sent him into the air and his rockets flung him off course, buying Sonic precious time. "My beef is with the boss!" Sonic quickly flipped back onto his feet and raced towards the Doctor.
As soon as Eggman saw him toss Metal aside and begin to charge him he snapped his fingers and held both of his arms out. Immediately robotic arms rose from the ground and began attaching a metal exoskeleton that locked into his outfit. Once locked in the various pieces expanded, connected and transformed in a battle suit to fully protected him. Right before it was cover his head Sonic was able strike him with a homing attack. The strike sent him reeling as Sonic swore he saw a splash of blood as the suit consumed him, however he recovered quickly. "Persistent, didn't think you'd be in such a rush to die, but I'm a generous host rodent. I'll give you what you seek!" Eggman let off a salvo or rockets at him. Two dozen heat-seeking missiles screamed at Sonic, each one he was barely able to dodge, but distracting him enough to allow Eggman to close the distance between them strike him with an explosive right cross that Sonic flying before smashing into a wall, and falling to the ground. He started to get up, but before he could recover entirely, Eggman began to speak once more.
"Oh yes, Sonic one more thing," She chuckled as he pressed a button that rose a large green object from the ground. Sonic shook his head hard to clear it and then realized with horror what rose out the ground. The gigantic Master Emerald sat before him, glowing with unimaginable power. Metal Sonic effortless hovered over to it, and landed softly on top of it. "GET A LOAD OF THIS!" Eggman screamed out as wild ropes of green energy snaked from the rock and infused into Metal Sonic. Then with blinding flash, Metal's appearance had been altered, he now sported a brilliant golden shade instead of a deep Metallic blue.
"Aww man," Sonic groaned. "This just isn't my day…" then loud screaming, whistling noise filled his ears and he felt his stomach burst with pain as his Metal Sonic drove his hardened steel knee into his gut. The attack sent him flying back into a wall, as he body bounced hard against it. Sonic's head went numb from pain. Metal caught him by the throat before he landed and choke slammed him back into the wall. He then dragged him upward through the wall flying high into the air before hurtling back to the earth, flinging Sonic to the ground before he himself landed. The impact with the ground rocked Sonic's entire body with agony. Metal sonic casual landed down next to Sonic. He reached down and gripped Sonic by the scruff of his neck and hoisted him eye level.
"Hmm…is that all?" the Doctor said condescendingly. "It seems I've won Sonic, now it's time to put you in your place. Metal, stand aside."
The grip on Sonic's neck relaxed and the blue hedgehog fell to the ground. Metal hovered off to the side while the Doctor moved next to the downed hero. "After all these years, I Doctor Ivo Robotnik have bested you! The great hero of Moebius finally ends up where he belongs," He raised his right leg high. "Under my heel!"
Sonic winced, ready to meet his end, except it never came, instead a large crash was heard and Eggman was sent flying back. Sonic turned and looked behind to see what had stuck him. His eyes widened at what he saw.
Shadow hovered above him, the air crackling with energy around him; he had used the power of the emeralds to achieve his super form. He quickly scooped up Sonic and moved over to the Master Emerald.
"Sorry Doctor," Shadow called out with a smirk, "I deny you your prize."
"What the," Eggman sputtered out, "KILL HIM!"
But it was too late; Shadow began to absorb energy from the Master Emerald just as Metal had done, fueling his super form even more.
"Chaos…" Energy rippled around him and time seemed to slow down as he spoke the word. "CONTROL!" then with a flash of light, he and Sonic were gone.
Dr. Robotnik was flabbergasted… "Find him," He whispered. "Find him. Find him! FIND HIM!" He screamed.
"Scanning… target acquired." Metal Sonic announced.
"Well don't just stand there you pile of scrap, kill him!" The Doctor ordered. "Do you hear me Metal? Hunt him down and KILL HIM!"
Before Robotnik could even finish his order Metal Sonic had spooled up his turbine, took the sky and set off after them making use of his super form for as long as he would be able to sustain it. Robotnik watched him go until he could no longer distinguish Metal from the other stars in the sky.
When the light subsided, Sonic felt himself hit the ground. He was a too hurt to move, his whole body ached. Even so he knew the feel of soft grass when he felt it. As his vision cleared he saw a beautiful blue sky above him with trees blowing in a gentle breeze. He heard labored breathing next to him. He struggled to turn but was terrified at the sight that he saw.
Shadow lay next to him the seven chaos emeralds strewn about next to him, the vibrant color diminished to a weak glow deep within. Shadow was growing more and more pale as he struggled to breath.
"Shadow…" Sonic managed to speak out. He felt sick to his stomach and dizzy. It was all he could do just to remain conscious. "Shadow, what happened, where are we?"
Were…Gahhh!" He shrieked out in pain. "We're far away from Moebius, light-years away. I found an inhabitable world as far from it as I could before I-AHH!"
"Shadow! I told you to leave!"
"You saved my life once Sonic, gave me a future, gave me hope. This is my gift to you, forget about Moebius. Forget about Robotnik, about everything…"
"Shadow I,"
"Shut up Sonic, I don't have a lot of Errrghh!" Shadow's voice grew weaker "I expended far too much of the Emeralds…"
Before Shadow could finish Sonic's vision went black as he passed out from his injuries.