Knuckles stood near the alter of his home, Angel Island. There he stayed, guarding the Master Emerald. After all this time, he was home. Even if home wasn't on his own planet. For whatever reason, Knuckles couldn't figure out what they were still here on earth, even after that Chaos Control some time ago. But, he guessed it didn't really matter. This was still his home, his island, his responsibility. Knuckles sat down for awhile, pondering on all of this when he heard the Master Emerald shift, then shatter.
"Oh no...!" Knuckles thought, heading up the steps to find a light blue monster with emerald green eyes. "What have you done..." Knuckles said as he walked towards the monster. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Knuckles roared as he charged forward, swinging his fists. But the creature turned into a pure liquid state and Knuckles passed harmlessly through it as it disappeared into the jungle. But Knuckles had bigger concerns. The Master Emerald had been shattered and the shards were flung in several directions as his floating Island home fell.
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"BABOOM!"
"Eh, huh? What?" A big purple cat asked, waking up from his nap. He looked around, seeing the smoking crater as a frog jumped after an odd violet light. "W-wait for me Froggy!" The cat yelled, chasing his frog down. They came up to the crater and saw the source of the light, a Chaos Emerald. "What's that?" He asked, picking the stone up. "Sure is pretty..." The cat was in awe of the gem as his frog turned to the trees oozing out a strange blue liquid.
The frog went over, curious as to what the substance was when it shot forward, into the frogs mouth.
"Huh, what's wrong buddy?" The big cat asked his once hyper frog, now laying still. Suddenly, the frog grew a tail out of his back end, much to the cats confusion. Froggy turned, facing his friend and shot up, stealing the Chaos Emerald. "W-WAIT! Come back!" The cat said, getting up.
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Maria sat on the window sill, a black T-shirt with blue jeans as she stared into the distance. It had been what, six months already since Chaos Control. She looked around, still remembering when everybody had to hide up here, but that was five months ago. Tails was busy with his workshop, Amy was getting her own place in Station Square despite just turning 15, and Shadow...Shadow just left. No goodbyes, no note...nothing. She thought they put the events from her parents anniversary behind them...guess he wasn't completely over it. And her parents...well...
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Maria flashed back two months ago, sitting down with her parents.
"Honey...you know we love you, right?" Lindsey asked and Maria nodded, confused.
"Listen, your mom and I..." Nelson spoke up awkwardly. "We've decided to...take a break...from seeing each other for awhile."
That hit Maria between the eyes. "Wh-what?" What did they mean take a break from seeing each other? They hardly saw each other as is!
"Maria?" Lindsey asked. "Honey, are you-"
"I'm fine mom." Maria cut her off, getting up. "See you guys in a few months I guess." Maria muttered as she left for her room, sitting in her bed. Where did things just take a turn?
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"Maria, Breakfast!" Ella called out, snapping Maria out of it.
"Coming Ella!" Maria responded. She shook her head, trying to keep positive. "So what if they're not talking anymore? I have a new family. A better one." She thought bitterly. She went down the stairs greeting her grandfather, Ella, Cream, and Cheese. She sat down, wolfing the food Ella made.
"My goodness, somebody must be hungry." Ella commented and Maria chuckled a little.
"Sorry Ella. But you know waffles and eggs are my favorite." Maria responded.
Ella smiled at that. Of course she knew what Maria's favorite breakfast was. She's known Maria most of the girls life. Today just...seemed a good day to make it.
"Would you like some toast, Ms. Cream?" Tanaka asked.
"Yes please! and some for Cheese to." Cream responded and her Chao wasted little time going into the toast. Maria smiled at that, then noticed her grandfather staring.
"Maria..." Chuck asked. "How would you like to come with me to the Mystic Ruins? I've got a new air craft I've been meaning to test out at Tails's workshop."
Maria was about to jump at the chance but caught herself. "Actually, me and Cream are heading into the city. Isn't that right Cream?"
"Oh, yes it is!" Cream exclaimed. Maria picked up her backpack, saying she needed to get going to school. Everyone said their goodbye's as Maria left the house, looking to the sky and wondering where Shadow was.
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In the middle of the desert, Shadow stood in the center of large stones. He turned his back, firing a Chaos Spear through one rock before he launched a Chaos Flare at another. He quickly turned, focusing on a location before he flashed a blue color, appearing behind a third rock as he shot a volley of Chaos Needles into it.
Shadow flexed his hands, opening and closing them. "Well...that's that. Time to get back to the city..." He thought, figuring trouble would be waiting for him.
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Amy sat in the window sill of her apartment in station square sipping tea, her T.V having news covering what happened six months ago. "I thought having my own place would be better, but it's no fun being alone. Nobody to talk to..." Amy thought as she sighed, setting her tea down. "It was great...having all my friends around. Every day was like a new adventure. Even when Shadow was being a self righteous jerk, he always made us feel safe." Amy said and smiled, before frowning. "Then he went and just disappeared without a trace! He couldn't even leave a note!" She said angry. She huffed out, calming herself down as she closed the winow, the news catching her attention.
"The authorities are still unaware of the location of the terrorist known as Dr. Robotnik, who seemingly dropped off the face of the earth after his battle with Shadow the Hedgehog." The reporter stated.
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Elsewhere, a series of familiar shapes sat in the dark when suddenly, their eyes lit up red. A door opened in front of them as a line of four Shadow replicas stood still.
"Destroy them." Robotnik stated, the three robots raising their left arms showing different weapons on each of them.
The first one lit up with orange highlights on its spiked quills with a grenade launcher for a left arm, firing a grenade and destroying the Shadow replica.
The second one lit up with green highlights with a mini rocket launcher, firing a rocket as it blew the target up.
The third had blue highlights with a round and thick left arm with something like pincers coming from the front, firing several bullets and tearing its target apart.
The lights came on to reveal they all looked like Shadow, with a silvery chrome color instead of black. Robotnik walked over, laughing to himself.
"Excellent. These should be able to finally stop that irritating rodent from getting in my way." Robotnik stated to nobody in particular. He turned back to the control console, looking at the Red Chaos Emerald in his possession. "Let's start some Chaos why don't we? GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
From the ocean rose a massive battle ship, massive engines on the back holding several rocket engines, a giant rectangular panels on each side ending with spikes, the underside jutting out a bit, black steel with a rust red highlights about the ship. "The Carrier"
Robotnik typed in a few commands as the panels on the side went out, turing downward and raising up as the engines and piece that jutted out slightly descended, becoming an attack mode.
"Hehehehe, BLAST OFF!" Robotnik stated as he moved a lever forward, the engines igniting as the ship shot forward.
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Maria's day was...uneventful. School was still a bore as ever, if not worse. She walked through the city with Cream and Cheese when something caught Maria's eye.
"Cream, is that a...?" Maria asked as they went to a jewelry store and Cream gasped.
"It is..." She stated. What they saw on display was a glowing yellow gem, a familiar shape about it. "A chaos Emerald..."
Maria thought fast. They needed that gem, or somebody else would take it. She didn't think twice before she bought the gemstone. It's not like she was going to miss the money, she had plenty. Not that she just threw the money around, but she certainly wasn't a heavy spender. She and Cream walked along, Cream holding the gem.
"It's so pretty..." Cream stated.
Maria lightly laughed, forgetting just how young Cream actually was at times. "We should get that home, maybe Grandpa can get it to Tails or something." Maria suggested as Cream nodded.
As they were walking, a frog came hopping through and slammed into Cheese, knocking the two out. Cream ran up, nudging Cheese to try and wake him up when they noticed the abnormality of the frog.
"Why does this one have a tail?" Maria thought when she heard a voice.
"FROGGY!" a giant purple cat came running up, but tripped over himself and fell right on top of Cream and Maria, the frog coming to and quickly hopping away. "Froggy, wait up! Ohhhhhh" The cat groaned disappointed. That's when he noticed he was laying on top of other people. He got up when Cream tilted her head and gasped.
"Mr. Big! Is that you?!" Cream asked.
"Oh, hey Cream!" The cat asked.
Maria was shocked. Another Mobian? Now? And he seemed to have a history with Cream and Cheese. Maria introduced herself, asking if the frog was his. Mr. Big confirmed and asked if the two of them could help. Considering they had nothing better to do, they agreed. However, they didn't think it would take them into the late evening.
"We've been out here looking for hours...maybe we should try again in the morning." Maria suggested when a bush beside them moved, oozing out a strange blue liquid. "What the heck is that?"
"That looks like the same stuff Froggy swallowed before he grew a tail and ran!" Mr. Big stated as the group backed up, the liquid forming a somewhat human shape with two spines flowing out of the back of it's head.
"Is this another Mobian?" Maria asked.
"Not one that I know..." Cream stated a little uneasy. The creature turned to Cream, fixated on the box the Chaos Emerald was inside. It reached out and the three bolted...that was a mistake.
The creature roared angrily as it started to give chase, smashing anything in it's path, attracting a lot of attention from the police.
"FIRE, FIRE!" An officer yelled, a line of police firing their guns. But the bullets hit the monster, then fell doing nothing but making it angrier. It ran forward, smashing the police cars as the people retreated. Maria however felt a strange twist in her knee as she fell, the monster right on top of her as it raised a hand, preparing to strike. Maria braced herself for the attack.
"RRAAH!" Was heard before a gust of wing blew past, slamming into the monster and launching it back. "I see a brain in there so I suggest you use it." Maria looked up and saw...
"SHADOW!?" She asked. Shadow turned his head to acknowledge her, then turned back to face the creature. Shadow ran forward, spin dashing the creature back and bounced off, skidding the monster back.
"What the-" Shadow thought as his hands sparked a green flame that died out almost immediately. However, that pause was all that was needed and the monster ran forward, smacking Shadow away.
Maria stood back up, looking around and noticed a steel pipe laying down, broken by the monsters rampage. She picked it up, going behind the monster. "BACK OFF!" She yelled and brought the pipe down. But as she made the hit, it was rebounded. Maria backed up, shaking her hands as the monster turned to face her.
"No!" Shadow yelled, running forward and grabbing Maria away as the monster brought its claw down.
"Stay here." Shadow said flatly as he set Maria down, turning and revving up a spin dash. He shot forward, slamming through the creatures head as it fell in a puddle, retreating into a sewer cover. The group kept their distance, but took a look.
Suddenly, the box Cream was holding was snatched up by a small red claw coming from none other than Robotnik.
"I hope you've enjoyed your little vacation because I'm rested and ready to rumble!" Robotnik announced. "So, I see you and Chaos got off on the wrong foot, so how about another round?" Robotnik mocked as he threw the box and the Emerald landed in the now reforming puddle.
"Chaos" stood back up, but was now slightly taller with a skeletal arm in the right side, a shining yellow light in the hand area.
"Wait, Chaos!" Shadow asked.
"Oh, that's right Shadow. This thing is made entirely of Chaos Energy! And with each emerald, he gets stronger!" Robotnik announced. "When I have all seven Chaos Emeralds, he'll be unstoppable! NOW GET HIM CHAOS!" Robotnik ordered. Shadow backed everyone up when he heard another voice.
"NOT SO FAST!" Knuckles came charging in, knocking the hand away. "Robotnik! What have you DONE!" Knuckles cried out. "Why would you DARE do this!"
"Knuckles, what's going on?" Shadow asked.
"The Master Emerald is destroyed, and it released Chaos!" Knuckles briefly explained. Shadow was about to question that When Robotnik cut in.
"Ah uh-uh Knuckles! No spoiling secrets!" Robotnik stated, holding a Red Chaos Emerald as he tossed it. Chaos caught the Emerald, growing a little bit more as another skeletal arm formed on the left arm, with a red glow in its hand.
Knuckles and Shadow jumped back as an attack came, smashing the ground. Shadow landed and immediately shot forward in a spin dash, but was blocked by an electric field around Chaos's body. Knuckles went in for a punch, but was rejected away. Chaos raised its right arm and shot a beam of concentrated water. Shadow reacted fast, pulling Knuckles away as the blast left a gash in the concrete.
"Knuckles, what are we dealing with here and how do we stop it?" Shadow asked.
"We have to hit it till it falls. As for what it is, later." Knuckles explained. Chaos turned to face them as it shot another beam, busting through the building Shadow and Knuckles were on. The two nodded at each other and separated.
Shadow went at it from the front, dodging the water and he held Chaos's attention and Knuckles came from up top and slammed into Chaos. Shadow ran up a building, sure that Knuckles would finish it but as he looked down, he saw that electric filed around Chaos again. Shadow growled a little, spin dashing downward as he slammed into Chaos, trying to break through. However, he had a weird feeling as Chaos roared, standing up when Shadow was knocked back. Looking up, he saw Chaos kneeling before it stood back up.
"With only two Emeralds, you two don't stand a chance! Just imagine what he'll be like with all seven!" Robotnik taunted.
"Shadow, listen carefully." Knuckles stated, and Shadow looked at him. "There's a slight "cooldown" when he does the electric field. We have to hit him then." Knuckles explained and Shadow nodded, bolting away as Knuckles went in for the attack. He baited the electric field as Shadow built up speed throughout the city, lighting it up with his yellow blur. Knuckles jumped away at the last second when Shadow slammed through Chaos, complete with a sonic boom. This time, Chaos collapsed in another puddle. He didn't get back up.
"RRRRR, You were lucky this time, but that won't last forever!" Robotnik threatened as he took Chaos and flew away. Shadow wobbled a bit as Knuckles caught him.
"Knuckles...what was that thing?" Shadow asked.
"We'll talk later." Knuckles stated, nodding towards Cream. Shadow understood as Cream came up excited.
"Shadow! You're back!" She yelled, hugging Shadow.
Not expecting that, Shadow faltered a bit before putting a hand on Creams head. "Sorry. I had some...business to take care of." Shadow vaguely stated. He gave a slightly irritated look towards Big, then looked at Maria.
Maria wasn't sure what to think. He'd been gone for 5 months and no explanation? The two looked at each other and Shadow nodded. Maria wanted answers. But judging from the way he needed help from Knuckles beforehand, he probably wasn't in much shape right now. But she would get them.
Shadow looked to the sky, wondering what was going on. He felt weak during what should have been an easy fight. Maria was ticked at him, but wasn't pressing for answers right now. He was grateful, but he knew he'd need to spill at some point. She deserved that much.
"Chaos...what was he? And what about my powers?" Shadow thought.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Maria stated. Shadow nodded his agreement. They won this fight, but the war has just begun.