A/N: Hey, guys! just wanted to let you know that this chapter is a little shorter. Yeah . . . that's all, thanks!

Beauty comes in all different sizes, shapes, and forms. One could only imagine the sight of a giant underground ravine left in an abandoned cavern, with crystal formations embedded in the walls and a single river flowing from a waterfall on one side to what seemed to be an eternal tunnel. At least, these were the things that Rouge and Shadow had ever imagined.

"Of all the missions I've been on," Rouge mumbled, "I don't think I've ever seen anything like this."

Shadow said nothing, but instead immediately began contemplating a way out. He noticed a tiny beam of light at the end of the ravine, and wondered if that would be a potential escape route. Rouge, on the other hand, continued to gawk at the rock formations and stalactites hanging from the high cave ceiling.

"I'll bet there's entire diamond mines waiting to be discovered in this place," she sighed, lost in thought, "I'd have every single jewel left in the world, and just from this! I'll mention you two when I'm rich," she said, "and maybe I'll put in a good word for G.U.N, too."

"Mystic Cave contains much mysterious greenery and abandoned mine shafts," Omega said, hoping to inform Rouge, "all traces of precious and semi-precious jewels and crystals have been eliminated due to excessive mining in the past century. Mining facilities have therefore been shut down and are no longer in use."

Rouge shot a glare at the robot.

"Way to ruin the illusion, pal," she huffed, attempting to return to her happy thoughts, "I mean, there could be some hope, right?"

"Negative. All mines were deserted years ago."

The bat scowled.

"Fine. Thank you for crushing my dreams, Omega."

"I apologize; I tell you nothing but the truth."

Shadow didn't feel like getting involved in the exchange between his teammates. It went without saying that Rouge would have brought up something about jewels; that part was too obvious. Although the hedgehog couldn't help but crack the tiniest grin when Omega shot down her aspirations so quickly and innocently. Once the two had gone silent, Shadow pointed in the direction of the light he'd seen.

"Do you see that little beam of light coming in, Rouge?" he asked, "I think we should head over there."

Rouge squinted and, upon seeing what Shadow was talking about, nodded.

"Yeah, I see it. I suppose we have no other choice but to go that way," she replied. "Come on, Omega."

"Proceed with caution," Omega said, "many of the mine shafts are riddled with parasitic insects and other such creatures."

Shadow and Rouge nodded their thanks for the information and the team moved towards the light, sidling along the rocky path and carefully watching their steps as they crossed over an old and probably rotting wooden bridge. Surprisingly, it held all three members as they safely walked across.

"You'd think the bridge would've completely collapsed," Shadow commented before the ropes that held the bridge together snapped loudly and the entire structure fell against the opposite side of the chasm.

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Rouge remarked sarcastically in reply. Shadow only grunted and led the team to where the light was coming in. They sidled a little more and cautiously stepped into the little chamber where a single beam of light came in from the ceiling. After staring at it for a moment, Rouge was the first to speak. "Well?"

Shadow examined the cave's ceiling, right as the light disappeared.

"Wha-" he protested, "It was right here!"

"Great. You're already losing your mind," Rouge said, "now we'll just have to die in this deathtrap."

"I am perfectly sane," Shadow responded, although he was even beginning to doubt himself, "Omega, didn't you see that little light, too?"

"I can confirm that there was a light there, Shadow," the robot said in reply, "however, it has vanished."

Rouge pursed her lips.

"Now what?" she demanded, becoming annoyed.

Frustrated, Shadow turned his gaze to the ground.

"Guess we'll just have to look for another way out," he answered, his voice cold with bitterness. "I vote we go that way."

Rouge looked where Shadow was pointing. A line of still-burning torches lit up another tunnel that was lined with wooden planks, much like the bridge.

"Hey, uh, genius," she scoffed, folding her arms, "did you see what the bridge in there is made of?"

"Yes. This one is being supported by a layer of stone underneath it, so we don't have to worry about it falling. Besides, there must be a way out if someone built a shaft here."

Before Rouge could open her mouth, Shadow and Omega had already disappeared into the man-made mine tunnel. She looked at the ravine behind her, then back at her teammates, and sighed heavily.

"Wait up," she called into the tunnel.

It was another long, snaky tunnel. There were twists and turns and even spots without lighting, save for Omega's eyes. Every now and then, the team would come across a dead end or four-way intersections.

"We've been this way before," Shadow mumbled to himself, "I know it."

"Can we just sit and reconsider our lives at the moment?" Rouge asked, slumping to the ground. "It ain't easy to walk in these shoes, you know."

"Not yet," Shadow replied, "We're getting out of here. We're close, I know we are."

"You've said that at least ten times in the past hour!" she protested, "Come on, just one little break, please?"

"I won't stand for any more of your whining," Shadow snapped, irritable. "You've done enough of that."

"And I'll do it more," she snapped back, "or, I'll just sit right here and not move. You guys go ahead and I'll be taking a nap."

Shadow bit back another comment. He looked forward into the abyss of a tunnel, and then back at Rouge. Snarling, he sat down with her and silently tried to figure out some sort of escape. He was determined to find a way out of the tunnel, because he knew Rouge would do nothing but complain.

The minute he broke out of his daydreaming, Shadow found Rouge curled up next to him, sound asleep. Her back was turned to face him, and her body rose and fell with each slow breath. Omega stood beside her, completely motionless.

Shadow noticed a bruise that nearly crossed the entirety of her uncovered back. One wing was bent slightly, but didn't look quite as injured as her back. Shadow often forgot that she didn't heal from wounds as quickly as he did. And now he couldn't help but feel a little bad for her. Just a little. After all, she wasn't immortal like he was.

Shadow's eyes slowly started to droop. The hedgehog checked his watch, because there was no other way to tell what time of the day it was. 10:30 PM. Shadow rubbed his aching head with his fingers.

Crap, we really have been in here for hours, he thought. The hedgehog stretched out his arms and legs, and laid himself down on the stony floor.

"Omega, go into sleep mode," he quietly called, "we're calling it a day."

The robot nodded and Shadow watched his eyes go out faintly and listened as he made a tiny whistling sound as he powered down. Still lost in thought, Shadow felt himself drifting off and finally shut his eyes, surrendering to the fatigue.

Shadow woke with a start from a strange dream. He dreamt that he was alone in a prison cell, after his teammates had both been taken away from him, almost in the same way Maria had. In the dream, he couldn't speak or shout as he watched a bullet pierce Rouge's skin right in the back of her head. And yet another soldier had completely dismantled Omega, and was throwing his parts into a furnace. Though it was a disturbing dream, Shadow managed to shake it off and recover.

Rouge had gotten up first and was rifling through Omega's tiny storage compartment. Omega did nothing to protest or to stop her.

"Rouge . . ." the hedgehog sighed, "what is going on?"

"I'm trying to find food," she replied bluntly, "I'm freaking starving."

Shadow hadn't thought of that. He didn't get hungry easily. Rouge just kept rummaging through the compartment to dig around for something that she could eat.

"Who packed two full boxes of Twinkies?!" she demanded, "I don't want just sugar! That's gross!"

Shadow didn't dare admit the answer to that question, although the look in his eyes made it quite obvious.

"Honestly, all I'm asking for is something to help me stay thin," the bat mumbled to herself, "didn't we pack celery or something?"

"You want to eat celery at nine in the morning?"

"I want to eat something that isn't made of sugar and chemicals!"

Shadow decided not to press the matter any further and watched as Rouge started pulling thins out of the compartment.

"Ah-ha!" she shouted triumphantly, "Found a little salad! I knew it was in here somewhere!"

After thanking Omega and closing up his storage compartment, Rouge sat herself down and began gnawing at the lettuce and whatever else was in the salad. Shadow listened to his stomach rumble . . . just a little bit. He was tempted to grab a Twinkie, but elected against it. He could hold out for a little longer.

"We have to continue," Shadow remarked, "this place is bound to have an exit."

"Omega," Rouge suddenly chimed with her mouth full, "can you find a way outta here?"

"Negative," the robot replied, "I'm afraid my GPS mapping system has been erased since the shutdown following Eggman's attack."

"Hm. Well, it was worth a try, anyway," Rouge muttered. "Lemme finish this and then we can get going."

Shadow grunted his ok and let Rouge finish her salad. He decided that, at this point, there wouldn't be a way to try and figure out a way out without just going through the maze and seeing where they'd end up. Once Rouge had finished her healthy breakfast, the Team went off once again into the dark tunnels.