Chapter 3

Miles away from the desert the river stretched and widened soon it let out into a lake the water was much calmer. Suddenly a gloved hand burst through the water and grabbed hold of a floating log. Shadow pulled himself up and took a big breath of air. He looked around and realized he was in the middle of a lake.

"At least we got far enough from Metal Sonic"

Shadow suddenly realized Sonic wasn't beside him he looked around and saw the blue hedgehog passed out just barely laying on a smaller log. Shadow started swimming towards him. Sonic's body suddenly fell off the log and sunk into the water. Shadow quickly dove down hoping to grab Sonic before he sunk to far down. A couple of seconds passed when Shadow burst through the water holding Sonic on his back with one arm. He swam to shore and put Sonic on the ground Shadow shook him hard.

"Come on wake up it's not going to end here"

Shadow let go when Sonic slowly opened his eyes he then coughed up some water.

"uhhh Where are we?"

"On the shore of a lake far away from you robot copy" said Shadow.

Sonic slowly sat up and looked around and then glared at Shadow.

"Next time let me know that your plan is to get blasted off the cliff and into the river".

Shadow stood up.

"There is a reason for all that" He then stretched his hand out to Sonic.

Sonic took his hand and Shadow helped pull him to his feet. Sonic then winced in pain. He looked down and saw the deep cut on his right leg from the battle.

"Can you walk?" asked Shadow.

"A think so".

Sonic took three steps forward in till a wave of pain shot up through his leg. He started to fall sideways but Shadow ran up and caught him.

"Come on ill help you".

Sonic nodded and put his arm around him while Shadow was holding him up off the injured leg. The two of them walked off.

"Thanks again for the save Shadow".

Shadow didn't look at him but smiled.

They kept on walking and soon turned a corner of the shore and ahead of them was a small villa.

Sonic whistled.

"Wow I wonder who owns that place"

Shadow looked at him and smirked.

"The person who saved you from drowning"

Sonic looked at him in surprise.

"Since when do you own a villa by a lake?"

"Does it really matter?" asked Shadow looking back at the house.

Sonic just sighed and dropped the conversation. They soon walked into the villa and Shadow helped Sonic to the couch.
"Whew thanks man but it's going to take some time to heal"

Shadow grinned and put his hand on the wound.
"Ow what are you doing!" said Sonic his voice in pain.

Shadow's hand began to glow green and after a couple of seconds he removed his hand and the cut was all healed.

"There now stop complaining…oh and get ready to fall asleep" Sonic looked at him with a confused look.

"What do you mean fall...?" He then passed out on the couch snoring softly.

…..

Sonic slowly opened his eyes and sat up. He looked around and was trying to find out where he was. Then he remembered the battle and falling into the lake and coming to Shadow's villa. Sonic got up and walked to the kitchen and got a glass of water.

"I see you're awake"

Sonic turned around and saw Shadow walking to the TV and turning it on.

"Yeah how long was I out?" asked the speedy hedgehog.

"You slept all evening and through the night" said Shadow as he flipped to the news channel. The two hedgehogs then saw that Eggman was on the news making an announcement.

"Metal Sonic might have been more machine then mobion but he still had a living soul a soul that certainly didn't deserve this".

The screen then showed Metal Sonic cut up into shreds lying in a small crater in the ground.

"He came to me months ago apologizing for the wrong he has done over the years and asked for a second chance and mindful of my own past and his enormous penitential for good I granted him both".

Sonic and Shadow looked at each other then back at the screen.

"In the short time he had left Metal Sonic worked hard to protect this country from terrorist threats" Eggman looked down and then looked up with a stern face.

"Then yesterday evening Metal Sonic was murdered by a freak who used his own ability to settle a personal score. In violation of the law that binds us all a hedgehog that goes by the name Sonic"

Sonic walked over and stood next to Shadow who had sat down on the couch.

"Does he really think anybody's going to believe that?"

The screen then showed Sonic meeting with Eggman in the dessert.

"I met with Sonic to try and enlist him in the government effort to try and stop the meteor" The screen showed Eggman reaching out his hand to shake with Sonic.

"He of all mobions should have been eager to help" The screen then showed Sonic pulling Eggman down.

"But instead he lost his temper Metal Sonic stepped in to protect me and this is what Sonic did to him"

The screen showed Sonic grabbing the robot and smashing him on the ground and kicking him. Eggman stood there silent for a moment.

"I know many of you will find it difficult to believe that Sonic could do something like this" Sonic glared at the screen.

"I shared that skepticism in till some of my top agents reminded me that Sonic likes to take risks and loves the thrill of danger but I saw in Sonic's eyes fear and doubt I believe Sonic has given up hope that we can stop the meteor and is going to take matters in to his own hands even if it means losing lives he is a danger to us all now and himself as well"

Sonic clenched his hands into a fist.

"In accordance to that I'm announcing a bounty on him"

Sonic and Shadow were shocked by this as the doctor said it.

"In the amount of one billion dollars"

(In the President's office)

Eggman was surrounded by a camera and video crew that were filming him live for the news.

"It pains me to do this but as our planet is in great peril we can't afford to be distracted by one hedgehogs growing rationality thank you and good day".

Eggman stood there as people took pictures of him and as they packed up their filming equipment. Soon bodyguards led them out of the room and shut the door. Eggman slowly sat down at his desk he had a huge smile on his face not a smile of happiness but of victory.

"They're all fools he said softly".

There was suddenly a knock at the door.

"Come in" said Eggman.

The door opened and Rouge stepped in.

Mr. President can I talk to you?" she asked "It's really important".

Dr Eggman nodded his head and Rouge closed the door and walked up in till she was not far from his desk.

"He didn't do it"

"Oh really" said Eggman leaning back in his seat.

"It's just not in him" said Rouge.

Eggman smiled.

"Do me a favorer" he stood up and walked over to her "think back to couple of years ago could you have ever imagined that I would be president today did you'd think it was in me?"

Rouge cocked her head to the side while looking at him.

"Then if I could change that much couldn't he?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

Rouge stared at him and then sadly looked at the floor and not seeing Eggman smile evilly.

(Back at the villa)

"Growing irrationality!" Sonic said angrily pacing back and forth in front of Shadow who was still sitting on the couch.

"Who does he think?"

"Are you afraid that they can't stop the meteor and doubt we can save the world?" asked the red and black hedgehog.

Sonic turned towards him.

"No of course not I'm not afraid of that giant rock and I know we can save the world not to mention me killing Metal Sonic is just ridicules I can prove that I didn't do it"

"How?" asked Shadow raising an eyebrow in question.

"You were with me the entire time…"

Shadow just gave him a stern look.

"Oh" said Sonic rubbing the back of his head and looked away.

Shadow stood up.

"We can worry about that later right now you and I have a meteor to stop"

"Umm we" said Sonic looking back at Shadow.

"You can't do this all by yourself"

Sonic smiled and they did a fist bump.

"Ok Shadow let's do it".