Robotnik sat at a table, making something on it as sparks flew.
"Two weeks they've kept me trapped here...Two weeks since that rodent did...this." Robotnik stated, looking at his empty left sleeve. He finished his work, not liking it but deciding it would have to do. On the table was what looked to by a crudely made arm with three claws out the end. Two curved up while the other curved down in between, meant for gripping. Robotnik attached his new appendage, making sure that it would work. the "wrist" made a full 360, he opened and closed the "hand" part. "Watch out, rodent. I'm back." Robotnik stated darkly.
Up on the surface, people were still cleaning what was left of Robotnik's base. As one with a blueprint was walking, he looked down and saw the metal floor underneath the sand.
"Hey, I don't remember this..." He said as he bent down to touch the floor when it opened suddenly. He jumped back as out came a massive drill with two small drill on the back side. The body was a dark steel, could be mistaken for black, but had red glass on the cockpit. Suddenly, the two small drills popped out and it was revealed to be engines.
"Did you honestly believe it would be that simple?" Robotnik asked out of the speakers. He rained down bombs before flying away, wanting to send a message. He was back, and he was ready.
.
(2 hours earlier)
"Hey Shadow! We're going to the mall!" Maria exclaimed. She hobbled down the stairs in her blue shirt and white jeans, using a cane to help her. Her leg had been healing quickly enough, and Tails helped by making a robotic casing. Poles on each side of the leg to help stability, while they all connected at the knee in a joint. Maria found Shadow sitting and thinking in the living room. For the past week or so, Shadow had been acting a little...strange. He talked a lot less and went out on his own a lot more. He'd been nicer than before, but he still kept himself distanced. "Shadow?"
Shadow looked up and shook his head. "You guys go on without me."
"Oh no you don't buster." Amy barged in. "Shadow, you've been scowling long enough. It's time you at least tried to act your age again, now come on."
Shadow simply gave a blank stare before getting up. "I'm going out." He said before blasting out the door. Amy looked a bit down, as did Maria.
On the way to the mall, Maria was still wondering something as she sat in the back of the limo with Tails, Amy, Cream and Cheese. "I wonder why Shadow doesn't want to come with us..."
Tails spoke up. "Shadow...I don't think he knows how to be normal anymore. He's been fighting Eggman for so long, the concept of taking it easy might not sit right with him."
"But what happens if we get into trouble and Shadow isn't around?" Maria asked.
"I wouldn't worry about that. Shadow is pretty good at arriving just in the nick of time." Tails explained with a chuckle. "You could say he sometimes goes looking for trouble."
"I just wish he wouldn't push himself." Maria said concerned.
"Trust me, Shadow isn't pushing himself right now." Amy said stubbornly. "But why talk about dark and brooding? Are we getting close Ella?" Amy asked and Ella nodded as they came up to the mall.
As they got to the mall, everyone split into their groups. Amy, Cream, Cheese, and Ella all went to the clothes section. Amy went in the dressing room with several outfits, trying them on. But taking a good look outside the curtain, she saw everyone giving her strange looks, making her fell really...self conscious.
Maria and Tails found collectibles, but Tails started to feel nervous.
"Hey...Maria?" Tails asked, getting her attention. Maria turned to see all eyes on Tails. "I think they're staring at me...WHA-" He yelled as some kid grabbed one of his Tails and dragged him.
"Hey mom, I want this one. Think we can buy it?" The kid asked. His mother pulled him away, apologizing to Tails before telling someone else it was real and wonder if a dog trainer taught it to talk. Another mom turned to her kid, telling them to make Tails say something. Maria felt her phone vibrate and seeing a text from Ella saying to meet up at the food court.
As they were eating, Amy addressed the metaphorical elephant in the room.
"Hey guys, is it me or..." Amy asked.
"...Is everyone staring at us?" Tails finished. They looked around and sure enough, everyone was just staring at them.
"I'm scared." Cream whispered, hugging Ella. Tails asked why everyone was staring at them and Ella explained they were famous celebrities.
"People will just have to get used to you guys, that's all." Maria said with confidence.
"I'm not sure anyone will get used to us." Tails muttered when a bright flash blinded him. More flashes came from other people around them, namely reporters.
"ENOUGH!" Ella yelled, getting everyone to pause. Ella looked around ticked, then paid for a VIP room. As Everyone walked in, Tails heard people mutter things about him, Amy, Cream, and Cheese.
"They should put them in the back with the other furs." One snobby looking lady said. Tails decided to ignore it as they got their menus.
"We shouldn't get hassled in here." Maria explained...right before people came up to them.
"I saw how brave your friends were on TV, can I have their paw prints?" One lady asked. Another one grabbed Cheese say he was adorable. More and more people crammed around the table and one person had accidentally kicked Maria's leg. She let out a slight yelp and that's when Amy had enough.
"WILL YOU JUST LEAVE US ALONE!?" Amy roared out, getting everyone to back off quickly.
As they left the mall, they looked up and saw a ship and heard a voice coming from it.
"Well well, miss me?" Robotnik asked. Everyone's face paled, and Tails looked really concerned. "My base was destroyed, So I guess I'll have to build a new one right here." He said menacingly as he deployed robots with a wrecking ball hanging from a crane, connected to two reverse knee joint legs. They landed on the ground and started to knock buildings over when Robotnik looked in his camera and saw Maria with almost everyone else. "How convenient. Tell me where Shadow is, and I might let you live."
Maria was scared, that much anyone could see. But she put on a brave face, refusing to talk. Tails had his hands behind his back, fiddling with something on his wrist when one of the wreckers came up.
"Guess I'm going to have to go looking for what you know through your remains." Robotnik stated. As the wrecking ball came down, Maria and the others flinched before a strong gust of wind blew past them, tearing through the robot. Everyone looked up and saw a yellow streak rip through more of the wreckers before shooting up a building, stopping to form Shadow. His arms were crossed and his eyes intense. "Just the hog I was looking for."
"Back off Robotnik, I'm warning you." Shadow threatened.
"A warning, from you? My my, you have gotten soft without me." Robotnik mocked. "Now, let's end our little game." Robotnik hit a red button, firing 5 missiles. Shadow bolted down the building he was standing on, weaving through and around the Wreckers, causing the missiles to blow them up. Shadow ran back up the building and jumped, attempting to land on the ship but barely made it half way before falling.
Shadow landed on a building and looked up, seeing small orange hawks descend on him. They fired lasers as Shadow ran through the city, throwing a Chaos Flare in the middle and damaging two of the six. one of the lasers singed his right arm and Shadow hissed in pain but moved onward. As he ran, he jumped and turned again, firing several Chaos Needles and destroying four of the hawks. As the last one swooped by, Shadow hopped on board and thrust his hand inside the back, pulling on the spine and forcing the machine to fly up.
"That's right, get up here so I can watch you..." Robotnik put a hand on a red button. "SPLAT!" Robotnik pushed the button as the robot started beeping. Realizing what was about to happen, Shadow jumped for the ship and concentrated his Chaos Needles to a single line, giving him a make-shit handle. But he was slipping. Shadow was completely vulnerable up here and if he fell then that would be it. He looked around and saw Green Orbs around him, preparing to shoot. Shadow let go at the last possible second, falling to his apparent doom when suddenly, he was caught by the X-Tornado.
"Tails?" Shadow asked, confused on how they got here so fast. He also noticed Amy in the seat behind him and in the other cockpit sat Maria with Cream and Cheese.
"I'll explain later Shadow, just hold on!" Tails said as he shifted the levers and barrel rolled around the laser orbs. As they flew by, Shadow shot his hands open and outward, letting out more Chaos Needles and nailing his targets.
"SHOOT THEM DOWN!" Robotnik ordered as he typed away on his ship, firing at the X Tornado and hitting the city below.
"Shadow, the city!" Tails warned.
"Understood. Get us close, I've got an idea." Shadow said in a somewhat humorous way. They managed to get to the cockpit of Robotnik and Shadow stood up and crossed his arms smirking. "I thought you could shoot better than that. Guess you lost some eyesight with that arm of yours." Shadow let out, Tails deciding that would be a good time to head to the ocean.
Robotnik's face turned purple at that. "SHUT UP YOU RODENT! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU HEAR ME!? I'LL KILL YOU!" Robotnik roared his rage as he followed Tails out to the open sea. Putting in a new command on his computer, Robotnik fired a massive laser from his ship. Tails saw it coming and dodged, but not entirely.
"The Energy circut got fried!" Tails exclaimed.
"English Tails!" Shadow answered.
"In a few seconds, we're going to be dead in the water!" Tails warned as Shadow started to form a bold plan.
"Tails, fly full speed at the bridge!"
"Shadow, that's insane!"
"Just do it, trust me!" Shadow said with a nod, Tails nodding back. Putting everything the X Tornado had left, Tails rocketed towards the bridge of Robotnik's ship. Taking off his inhibitor rings, Shadow launched himself from the X Tornado, shooting through the bridge and off the ship as Tails caught him. Shadow turned to watch the ship collapse, falling into the water below as he put his inhibitor rings back on. Tails landed on a military carrier nearby and Shadow stared into the horizon.
"Robotnik's back." Shadow said darkly. Maria stood behind him, feeling the tension. Tails walked up next to Shadow.
"We'll beat him Shadow. Just like we always do." Tails stated and Shadow nodded at Tails, asking how he got the X Tornado so quickly. "With this." Tails said as he pulled his right glove back a little, showing a small watch. "It's a homing Beacon for the X Tornado. I can call it if I ever need to, but it does have a limit."
"Can you make one for Chaos Emeralds? We need to get home, if for the very least to get Robotnik off of this planet." Shadow asked.
"I don't know, but I can try." Tails said confidently. The two nodded and Maria had a long look on her face, but stashed it when she saw Amy next to her. She put on a brave face as she watched Shadow and Tails stare where Robotnik had fallen.