Chapter 6! I'll be taking a little break after this, since the next chapter will be a long one and I have other things going on.
On a side note, I have plans for another Zelda crossover story: with Disney/Pixar's "Inside Out". I have some ideas floating around for the story, and I would like to know which idea(s) will work best. I have a poll set up on my profile showing my ideas so far. Feel free to take the time to vote on my ideas or offer me any suggestions you may have.
All that aside, let's get on with the story! As always, be sure to leave a review.
Chapter 6: Link vs. Shadow
"I can't say that I have heard of you, Shadow," Link said to the dark hedgehog, "But how do you know my name?"
"Dr. Eggman informed me about Sonic being with a young swordsman named Link on a hunt for the Chaos Emeralds," Shadow answered. "Surely he was referring to you."
"Dr. Eggman?" Link asked. He remembered Sonic mentioning that name to him. "But how does he know me?"
"Come now," Shadow mused. "Do you think you and that faker Sonic are the only ones working together? Speaking of which, I see he's not with you."
"He... refused to go into this temple with me this time," Link blatantly said.
Shadow huffed. "How typical," he said. "That faker isn't one to work with others. But never mind him for now; you should be more concerned about why I'm here. They sent me here to find the Chaos Emerald hidden in this temple."
"Not unless I find it first!" Link declared.
Shadow smirked. "I'm afraid you're too late for that," he said. He reached behind his back and pulled out a shiny, deep-blue emerald.
Link stared at the emerald. Shadow had already beaten him to it. "What does Eggman plan to do with that?" he questioned.
"That doesn't matter to you," Shadow said. "You seem to really want this emerald. So I am willing to give it to you if..."
Link reached for his sword, ready to pull it out.
Shadow made an evil look. "...you defeat me! And since Sonic's not here to help you, we are evenly matched."
Link swiftly drew his sword. "Alright," Link said in determination. "I accept your challenge!"
Shadow chuckled. "Don't challenge me lightly."
Ultimate Life Form: Shadow
Link lunged at Shadow while swinging his sword. Shadow immediately slid to the side, causing Link to miss. Link swung at him again, only to miss again. Shadow was simply moving too fast.
"How pathetic!" Shadow taunted. He gripped the emerald in his left hand, and a glowing spear materialized in his right hand. He thrust the spear at Link while shouting, "Chaos Spear!"
Link rolled out of the way, avoiding the spear. How did he do that? he wondered. He tried to attack Shadow again.
Shadow held the emerald up high and shouted "Chaos Control!" He instantly vanished. Link didn't know how he missed him that time. Before he could process what just happened, Shadow reappeared behind Link and swiftly kicked the back of his head, knocking Link to the ground.
Link got back up and rubbed the back of his head. He let out an "ouch."
Shadow laughed maniacally. "I told you, don't challenge me lightly!" Then, he held his arms up and started building up energy. A giant red orb was forming in his hands. "CHAOS..."
Wait! Link thought. 'Chaos'? Of course! He's using the Chaos Emerald!
"BLAST!" Shadow finished. He launched the orb directly at Link. Link, thinking fast, rolled out of harm's way. He reached into his pouched and pulled out his clawshot; a glove with a gripping claw attached to a chain. Link pulled the trigger and launched the claw at Shadow. Before Shadow could react, the claw gripped around his torso. The chain retracted, pulling Shadow over to Link. Link quickly put the clawshot away and swung his sword at Shadow. This time he really hit him.
Shadow let out a pained grunt, covering his chest with his free hand. The sword slash had cut off some of the fur on his chest and probably left a gash there as well. He looked up at Link. "Impressive," he admitted. "You managed to hit me." He straightened up and moved his hand away from his chest. "But let's see if you can do it again!" He slid backwards and created more glowing spears. He threw three Chaos Spears at once.
Link blocked each spear with his shield. Link launched his clawshot at Shadow again, but this time Shadow used Chaos Control and vanished. He reappeared behind Link and kicked him again.
"Thought you could pull that trick on me again, did you?" he mused. "I'm much smarter than that!"
Link decided to change his strategy. He aimed the clawshot at Shadow and launched it again. Before the claw grabbed him, Shadow used Chaos Control again and vanished. Link immediately retracted the claw and swiftly turned around while swinging his sword. Just as Link predicted, Shadow had appeared right behind him and was about to kick him again. Link struck him with his sword, much to Shadow's dismay.
Shadow fell to the floor. He covered his right arm with his left hand. He grunted in pain. "Enough," he declared. "You have clearly outwitted me!"
"Indeed," Link said. "You were using the emerald, weren't you?"
Shadow stood up. "You are strong," Shadow admitted. "You are stronger and more clever than any person I've ever known. You have proven your strength to me enough. The Chaos Emerald is yours." Shadow tossed the emerald at Link, with Link catching it.
The portal to the exit appeared behind Shadow. "I'll let you go this time," Shadow vowed to Link, "but next time we meet, there will be no mercy!" He stepped into the portal and disappeared.
Link gazed at the blue emerald in his hand. He had to show this to Sonic at once.
Sonic saw Link appear by the lakeshore after a brief flash of light. He walked up to him. "Well?" Sonic asked, intrigued. "How did it go?"
Link told Sonic everything that had happened inside the Water Temple. Sonic wasn't the least bit surprised when Link mentioned having trouble fighting badniks. What did surprise him, however, was when Link mentioned fighting Shadow.
"Shadow's here, too?" he said, thinking out loud.
"I take it that you know him?" Link asked.
"I do," Sonic answered. "It's a bit of a long story, but to put it simple he was a creation of Eggman's grandfather, and now he works for Dr. Eggman."
Link looked around. "Where's Tails?" he asked.
Sonic lowered his head in shame. "He left. He was pretty upset when I pushed him away earlier."
Link looked at the blue hedgehog in sympathy. "Sorry to hear that. I'm sure he'll turn up again." Then, Link remembered something important. "By the way, I found something you might want to see," he said as he reached into his pouch. He pulled out the blue Chaos Emerald and showed it to Sonic.
"Another emerald!" Sonic said in delight. "Now we only have four left to find!" His cheering faded when Link spoke to him.
"Sonic?"
"Yeah?"
Link hung his head down. "I'm... I'm sorry that I left you behind. Without you, I realized that... that I can't do this quest alone."
"It's okay, Link," Sonic responded. "I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry for acting the way I did. I only thought about myself. And I learned that traveling with a friend is more fun than traveling alone."
"Maybe Navi and Tails were right," Link said. "We need to work together if we are to complete this quest. We need each other."
Just then, Navi popped up. "So..." she piped, "does this mean that you two will get along now?"
Link and Sonic both nodded at the little fairy.
"Then maybe my work here is done," Navi said. She flew over by Link. "You'll be fine on your own, right?"
"Of course," Link smiled.
Link couldn't tell, but Navi smiled. "Take care of yourself," she piped. She softly kissed Link's cheek.
"Navi?" Sonic added. "If you find Tails, tell him I'm sorry for what happened earlier."
"I will!" Navi squeaked. With that, she flew away until she was completely out of sight.
Link looked back down at Sonic and held his hand out in front of him. "Friends?"
Sonic looked up at Link and smiled. He grabbed Link's hand and shook it.
"Friends!"
And so, we have reached the end of the first story arc. Link and Sonic have now learned to work as a team, three of the seven Chaos Emeralds have been found, and the mystery of the merging worlds continues to be unanswered. The adventure is just beginning!
Stay tuned for Chapter 7, where the second story arc will begin!