Knuckles had made it back to his Angel Island, the final pieces of the Master Emerald in hand. He placed the last shards on the Altar as he was enveloped in a white light.
When his vision returned, Knuckles was back in the past as he saw the Shrine under siege, Tikal being the only defense with her arms stretched outward wanting to protect the Chao behind her.
"We can't do this father, it isn't right!" Tikal begged.
"Tikal, we need those Emeralds. They will bring our clan great peace!" Her father replied.
"But at what cost!?" Tikal responded, her voice trembling. "Father, you want peace but at the cost of ruling over others! It's wrong Father, and you know it! And I won't let you do this. If you want the Emeralds, you'll have to go through me." Tikal challenged.
Her father closed his eyes, a tear forming as he opened them again. "TAKE THE EMERALDS!" He roared as the rest of the warriors charged in, easily shoving Tikal to the side as they trampled through the Chao. Tikal reached up, grabbing her father's arm as she pleaded him to stop this before it's to late. But his mind was made, his heart was hardened. He ripped his arm away as he to charged to the top of the Altar and Chaos formed.
What Tikal heard next were screams of agony. A mighty storm started to brew as Tikal ran up the stairs where she saw Chaos facing the sea. The ground around her started to split apart, water spouts forming up. If this kept going, Chaos's rage would destroy the planet. So Tikal did the only thing she could think of.
"The Seven Servers...are the Seven Chaos." Tikal started to pray, reciting the chant Chaos had told her. "Chaos is Power...Power is enriched by the heart..." She stated as she glowed an emerald green when she started to float. Chaos had turned around, his eyes filled with rage as Tikal looked at him in pain. "I'm sorry my friend...But I HAVE to stop you. Forgive me..." She said as Chaos was filled with a white light, and was dragged into the Master Emerald.
.
Shadow and Maria sat on the island where they had landed. Shadow contacted Tails, stating they were alright and to meet them at Angel Island. Maria had left to wander a bit and she was glad she did. She saw an odd structure of trees, weirdly twisted together. Taking a look inside, she saw the White Chaos Emerald. She grabbed it quickly, turning to get out of the forest as she found Shadow again.
"Shadow..." She stated as she showed him the Chaos Emerald. Shadow nodded with a small smirk and nod, picking her up.
"Maria...Keep yourself close." Shadow warned as Maria got a good hold before rocketing off. She closed her eyes as they neared the water, then felt the spray of it on her face. "Maria, cover your ears!" Shadow warned as Maria kept her face close to Shadow's chest and covered her ears before feeling the Sonic Boom they just went through. And not just one, but two Sonic Booms occurred. But if she was traveling at Mach 2, then why was her skin not being peeled off right now? Maria cracked her eyes open, looking ahead when her eyes widened. Just in front of them was a yellowish dome, protecting them. But then she looked around her as the water and the world around her sped by. She couldn't help but laugh as she felt alive for the first time in...awhile. She looked down as she saw Shadow's legs moving so fast they looked more on the lines of a blur. She looked at Shadow, who wore a small smile. But the trip ended to soon as Angel Island came into view.
.
Knuckles came back to the present as he shook his head. It all made sense now. And now he had a way to stop Chaos once again. The only problem is the ancient scripts say that when he has all seven of the Chaos Emeralds, nothing could stop him. He looked back as he saw Shadow and Maria coming up and he was glad they made it. Shadow needed to know this...
As the group neared, Tails landed the X Tornado with Amy and Big hopping out. Shadow and Maria walked up, with the Chaos Emerald in Maria's hands. However, Shadow stopped in his tracks as his hands lit up in a green flame. He fell over as a giant water spout engulfed Maria, swiping the Emerald away from her. Knuckles ran up, kicking through the water as Tails rushed in, taking Maria out of the spout as it left into the ocean below. Shadow finally started to stand, his Chaos energy now under control once more.
"No..." Shadow stated as he stood. The last Chaos Emerald...was gone.
"Shadow, I'm so sorry." Maria apologized when Knuckles put a hand on her shoulder.
"It wasn't your fault." Shadow stated as a storm started brewing.
"Chaos's rage will begin soon, but I have a plan." Knuckles stated, explaining the visions he'd get from the past and how to stop Chaos. "But where to find him is unknown..." Knuckles stated.
Tails's communicator beeped. He answered it hearing Chucks voice stating a MASSIVE water line just broke in Station Square, flooding the entire city. Chuck also explained they'd be heading to higher ground. Before anybody could say anything, Shadow had bolted, heading on to face Chaos.
.
As Shadow neared Station Square, he knew this would be bad. The city was in ruins, water was EVERYWHERE, flooding the building and at the center of it all was Chaos in the form of a MASSIVE dragon like head with tendrils rising from the surface of the water. This was it, he couldn't afford to hold back. Shadow's hands caught fire in an emerald green light, but he soon turned into a blazing red inferno as Chaos Energy flowed from him. He ran across the water, making sure he didn't stop for fear of drowning. Chaos however sensed him, turning as he saw the hedgehog.
The monster roared as he formed up water spouts, sending them Shadows way. But Shadow wasn't giving in. He saw the brain on top of Chaos's head. That's where he was headed. He moved out of the way from the water spouts, as he ran along what was left of a road. However, Chaos formed a massive beam of energy and shot at Shadow. Ducking beside a building, Shadow ran along the side before skidding back into the water as he now had a clear path. Chaos brought up more spouts just under Shadow, slowing him down slightly but not stopping the hero. Shadow burst into the base of Chaos, using his momentum to fly up it's body. However, Chaos shifted into nothing but water and moved away, letting Shadow fall.
As Shadow landed, he looked up to see Chaos's eyes as they widened and Shadow fell to his knees in pain as the red flame surrounding him is sucked into Chaos.
"HOLD ON, SHADOW!" Tails yelled from the X Tornado, firing missiles at Chaos as Knuckles jumped with The Master Emerald in hand. As Knuckles landed, the Master Emerald glowed and Shadow was returned to his usual state. Though Chaos wasn't going to have it. He smacked the X Tornado out of the air and went after Knuckles and the Master Emerald. Shadow and Knuckles retreated, hiding away as Chaos could no longer sense the two. But that didn't stop him from destroying the city even more.
Shadow and Knuckles found the X Tornado, helping Tails, Amy, Big and Ma-MARIA!?
"What are you doing here? It isn't safe!" Shadow scolded Maria when she stood up.
"I'm not running away from this Shadow. You need all the help you can get!" Maria fired back, refusing to leave. Shadow rubbed his temples, sighing.
"Fine." He simply stated, muttering a few...choice words to describe the situation. "Knuckles, Why aren't I glowing right now?"
"That's because I'm not letting you." Knuckles stated. "The Master Emerald nullifies Chaos Energy. And take a guess what that monster is made of?" Knuckles stated with a smirk. They got within view of Chaos, seeing the Emeralds inside of the creature as Knuckles began a chant.
"The Seven Servers...Are the Seven Chaos...Chaos is Power, Power is enriched by the heart..." Knuckles chanted as a green aura surrounded him. "I'm sealing you back into the Master Emerald Chaos. Farewell!" Knuckles stated, but with a sad tone in his voice. However, as Chaos started to glow white, it turned to see Knuckles and the Master Emerald and fired a beam of concentrated energy. Everyone braced themselves as they were engulfed in a white light.
As Everyone opened their eyes, they were in a different part of the city. And before them stood Tikal with tears in her eyes as she fell forward, Knuckles catching her.
"I'm so sorry..." Tikal stated. "But that won't work anymore... Chaos is to powerful."
"Then how do we stop Chaos now?" Knuckles asked.
Tikal shook her head as she watched the destruction. "You won't. The Seven Chaos...along with his wrath...It's to late to stop him..."
Chaos roared as he spit out the Chaos Emeralds, the seven gems landing near the Master Emerald now dull and lifeless. Tikal picked up one of the gems. "Now he's drained the Emeralds of their power...there's no stopping him. Chaos's wrath will destroy the world."
"No...I won't let it end like this!" Shadow stated defiantly. "I won't let it end, NOT LIKE THIS!" Shadow yelled as he walked for the Master Emerald, touching it with his hands as an odd energy spike surrounded him, and the Chaos Emeralds raised up as they started to glow. Shadow hovered in the air for a short time, the Emeralds spinning around him as he flashed in a bright golden color.
"B-but I thought The Chaos Emeralds could only react to hate and rage!" Tikal stated surprised.
"There are other things stronger than anger." Knuckles stated.
Tails nodded. "Shadow will always fights to the bitter end, no matter what. And he does it for no other reason than it's what he does. That's how he's always been, and that's how he's going to beat Chaos!"
Shadow blasted into the sky, getting Chaos's attention as he rocketed towards the beast. Chaos roared as he raised a shield, but Shadow broke through it in a snap. Not willing to go down like this, Chaos brought out several tendril as they batted away, flinging Shadow back into a building where several people watched him. Shadow shot back out, firing a barrage of Chaos Flares hitting Chaos's brain.
Chaos roared in pain as it fired another beam at the Golden Hedgehog. Shadow dodged out of the way and moved in closer. But Chaos saw it coming and hit Shadow with a second full power and dead on at point blank. Shadow went flying back, going under water and through several buildings.
"Don't give up Shadow!" He heard Knuckles in his mind.
"Please, you're the only one that can save us!" Amy voiced.
"I know you can do it Shadow, I believe in you!" Tails stated.
"Shadow..." He heard Maria's voice. "We need you Shadow..."
Shadow burst out of the water, Chaos Energy exploding around him. "I AM SHADOW!" He yelled in defiance as his rings popped off. "SHADOW, THE HEDGEHOG!" At that statement, the energy around him burst into a glowing white, along with the gold on him.
Chaos roared his challenge as it sent a large tendril at Shadow, who promptly caught the tendril between his two hands, dissolving it. "Let's end this NOW!" He yelled as he flew up into the sky, before he burst straight for Chaos as a sonic boom could be seen. Chaos fired at Shadow again but Shadow didn't stop. He stayed the course, hitting the beam with everything he had as he went through it and into Chaos's mouth. Chaos Started to glow a white color and disappeared into shards of energy. Shadow landed in front of his allies, the cheers being heard as he returned to his normal color of black and red. He stumbled a bit as Knuckles came up, helping him stand when Chaos appeared in his original form.
Shadow and Knuckled groaned, ready for a fight when Chaos wasn't moving. Suddenly, several Chao surrounded him, all doing a little tune they did when they were happy.
"You neutralized the anger he felt..." Takal came up from behind them, a happy sound in her voice. "The violent and negative energy in him is gone...he's healed." She stated as she walked past, going towards Chaos as she turned, giving Shadow a once over. "And perhaps...he's not the only one that's being healed." She said, giving Shadow his inhibitor rings. Shadow stood in shock at first, then nodded as he placed the rings back on his hands. Tikal stood in front of Chaos. "Time to go home...Chaos..." She stated as the two started to float into the air, along with the Chao and they disappeared in a flash of white.
Shadow went over to the edge of a destroyed bridge. The water was gone, but the damage was done. This place would need rebuilding, but it would heal in time. Funny how time has an effect on old wounds. He sat there, watching as the sun started to set.
Maria walked up to Tails. "Tails...what do you mean? What has Shadow been fighting for?"
Tails looked at her and smiled. "Haven't you figured it out by now?" He asked. Maria thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded. She may not know Shadow as well as everyone else. But he'd always fight to see everyone through to the end. To make sure everyone gets to see tomorrow in a better condition.
Shadow turned as he faced Maria, wearing a small smirk on his face as the two nodded.
.
Elsewhere, Robotnik sat in an old lab as an odd voice echoed.
"And you're sure this will work?" The voice's robotic sound echoing.
"Yes...I'm sure." Robotnik stated, looking at another screen as it held the information he was looking for.
"Data Transfer: Complete" The screen read.
"Hehe...hehehaHAHAHAHA!" Robotnik laughed in mad delight. "Time to initiate project...SHADOW X!" Robotnik roared as a set of glowing red eyes flickered behind him, then stayed powered on.