Rob stood back a few feet as he took a really long look at the beautiful painting. Amy, Rouge and Tails decided to look around the place a little. It was a relatively simple area with only a couple doors and the one giant work of art. Rob was not all that interested in anything else but staring at this glorious painting obviously composed with the utmost care. It showed a Miran and Voziti in their beautiful and traditional ancient mobian attire but it also included what looked to be a young Ivo and Maria. How in the world did the ancients know about Ivo? Hell, how did they know about Maria? It didn't make any sense. He looked over to the paintings interpretation of himself who happened to be standing next to his Princess in a simple but elegant outfit. He was obviously very young in the picture. Roughly about eight years old or so. Ivo stood next to Voziti, he also looked to be in his mid to late teens. And of course, Maria's beautiful golden hair out shown the entire picture. She happened to be standing in the middle with a soft and elegant white dress on with a lovely hair piece. This was all so incredibly shocking and everyone in the area was silent. They all looked to Rob for answers. Something... ANYTHING. Explaining the presence of both Maria and Ivo... However, before they all could really think about it further a loud thump could be heard from one of the doors besides the painting. As soon as the group got their bearing a large machine like creature leaped out from another room and pointed some kind of firing arm at them.
"What business do you come with, Nedaće? And why have you brought these peasants with you." The robot spoke firmly and assertively as he pointed his ancient gun right at their faces.
He was a very simple robot but was apparently very intelligent. His body was covered with long strands of weeds and vines that seemed to be almost crusted onto his slick metal cover. His general form was that of an old-fashion badnik and he wasn't too keen with the situation at hand.
"We have come to locate these strong chaos signals and we..." Tails spoke desperately before being immediately cut off by a yell from the robot.
"Silence! I do not speak to followers only our leaders. What is your purpose Nedaće? Speak or I shall be forced to escort all of you back to where you once came." The machine threatened coldly as his monotone voice made his actions very clear.
"Voziti is in trouble... He needs one of these items that emits strong energy to fight artificial Voziti. He must win or everything will fall apart. Including, everything we have worked so hard to accomplish!" Rob expressed fondly as he clasped his hands together, almost begging in the process.
"Voziti? Where is Mozak?" The robot spoke in slight confusion.
"Who? I have never heard that name..." The brunet hedgehog clarified desperately as he really didn't know what he was going to do if he couldn't get the items.
The others stood silently as they all knew that this was Rob's job to handle. However, Amy placed a single hand on the brunet's shoulder and he responded with a slight nod.
"I'm afraid without him here I can only give you one of the sacred items." The machine replied matter-of-factly as he bowed his head slightly to the brunet.
"That's fine... Just something! Please... Anything to help him..." Rob exploded emotionally as tears finally started trickling down his face.
"I shall do so. Please wait here Nedaće..." The robot finished as he provided a gentle bow before walking over to the beautiful picture and pressing some kind of button on the wall.
Suddenly a chamber opened beneath the flooring and two identical pedestals rose from the ground. One was black and red and the other was green and gold. As soon as the pedestals were secure, two items came out of them. One emerald green and the other bright crimson red. They were gemlike in shape but also kind of see through, as if the middle was made of only powerful chaos energy. The ring of intense power circling around each gem seemed to be incredibly attracted to each other as they almost morphed into one single stream of energy. This caused a huge chain reaction and in a matter of seconds, the Chaos Emerald Locator beeped at an incredibly high frequency before quickly shutting off.
"That must be it... Thank you, Rob." Rouge thanked kindly as she gently rubbed his back.
The look in his eyes was astonishing. The level of exhaustion, frustration and fear was more than apparent. This was certainly one of Rouge's favorite things about him. His feelings were always expressed in full bloom. He glanced over to her and gave her a slight nod followed by a genuine smile. It's been a while he's felt any level of comfort, that's for sure.
"Anytime..." He replied forcefully as even words were becoming too much to comprehend.
The robot quickly took the red gem and handed it to the slightly loopy and dazed brunet hedgehog and place it down in his palm. It glowed with beautiful luminosity as its power brought a certain level of peace to his mind...
"This is the only one I can give to you without Mozak's permission. Now please leave this sacred place. We do not wish for history to repeat itself." The machine explained as he pointed to the nearest exit before pushing some kind of button on the front of his chest.
"History? You didn't even tell us what this was?" Amy pointed out as she finally had gained the confidence to confront this scary looking machine.
Suddenly the robot shut himself down and they were no longer able to speak with him... Everyone looked at one another frustratedly before finally giving up any attempt to get more information.
"We don't have any time to waste... Let's just leave and get this to Sonic." Tails murmured to Rob as he signaled to the rest of the crew to get going.
"Alright... I really want to know what in the world is going on, though. But I suppose this isn't a good time to learn." Rob replied as he started leading the group out of the sacred underground temple.
Sonic and Shadow had been communicating in the little room where Dr. Ivo had spoken to Sonic and Shadow had almost spilled something utterly unthinkable to the azure.
"What did you say?!" Sonic exploded as he immediately pushed his way out of the hug to look closely and Shadow's ruby eyes.
"I uh... I said nothing... Anyway. We need to talk about what were going to do." Shadow stuttered fearfully as he wasn't ready to admit his own feelings yet.
"We have a day... I want to know what you just said. Please, it will help me." The azure commanded desperately before softly kissing the top of the ebony's head.
"I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet, Sonic." He murmured back quietly before gently pushing the cobalt away from him.
"Kind of commitment?! Do you realize that I could be dead by tomorrow right? I love you, Shadow. More than anyone and all I want is a solid response. I think I deserve that much after all we have been through." Sonic expressed fondly as he tightly wrapped his arms around the ebony.
Shadows eyes glimmered a little as tears started to fall down his face. He was so tired of the emotional rollercoaster... Just so unbelievably sick or crying in front of his own rival. But he knew Sonic was right... He may not survive this and he did deserve to know Shadow's true feelings. However, what were his feelings anyway? He was happy around Sonic. He felt safe... and relatively comfortable. But... There was something about his emerald-eyed lover that always made him feel slightly afraid. The dominance in his eyes... The desire to control every aspect of him. He wasn't sure if it was another Sonic he saw or if it was just his imagination. He felt like, if he let down his defenses, Sonic would want to control him like a puppet. Why he would ever do such a thing? Shadow didn't know... But whatever the reason. He needed to confront him about it.
"I just don't understand your motivation... To be so kind to me. I understand I'm this princess that you have been searching for... But I don't think that should be a basis for unconditional love... There something else you crave and it bothers me." He admitted wholeheartedly as he pushed away from the hug to look right into those emerald irises he had almost fallen for.
There was silence as Sonic's face turned from frustrated to slightly confused as he had no idea what the other was talking about. Then he suddenly realized... That Shadow was seeing the old him. The one that did all those horrible things when he was younger... And like everyone else. Shadow was afraid of him.
"I think you're seeing a part of me that hasn't been unleashed in a very long time. It's funny, that time you fell out of the window and I bandaged you up? That was the only time I really felt he might actually come out. I was so sick of your crap that I just wanted to pin you down and show you that I'm not to be screwed with. But to be frank, after I found out who you really were... On the inside... I never felt that again. All I want to do is protect you. Now mind you, I do get jealous and when I say protective, I mean very protective. But I never want to hurt you... Why would I want to hurt someone so beautiful to me?" Sonic responded lovingly before tapping the tip of the ebony's nose playfully.
"I'm only beautiful because I'm your princess. If this entire fiasco never happened you would see me exactly how you did." Shadow replied shyly as he released a half-serious growl before rolling his eyes.
"No... That's not it at all Shadow. I love you because you act like my princess... Your real personality is who I have wanted as a partner my entire life. It's not just because I have been searching for you. I'm not that shallow ya know." The cobalt declared assuredly as he chuckled in his typical ironic manner.
"Why must you know everything I want to hear..? It's like you can read my mind or something. Which, after all that has happened, would not be a surprise in the slightest. Anyway, I can only hope that we can talk Ivo out of this... I can't bear to watch you two fight." The ebony sighed before sliding his fingers through his quills in utter frustration.
"I really tried to talk to him, Shadow. He doesn't listen to reasoning anymore. He just assumes he knows what's best, which he absolutely DOES not. I'm afraid I have no choice but to put the kid out of his misery. I saw the look in his eyes... He obviously doesn't want to be alive." Sonic whispered kindly as he gently pat the charcoal hedgehog's shoulder in an attempt to calm the rage immediately burning in his eyes.
"How the hell would you know?! Of course, he wants out... He's been trapped in a jail cell his entire life. Please Sonic, we have to come up with something! For me... I can't let a child be killed just because of some senseless scientist's utter stupidity and your selfishness." Shadow countered forcefully as he suddenly stood up and walked a foot or two away from the couch they had been sitting on.
Sonic flattened his ears in reaction to the slightly distrustful movement and reached his arm out longingly to Shadow. Just close enough that the ebony could see but far enough that he didn't look like he was forcing Shadow to touch him.
"Shadow... Please don't make this any harder on me... I need your support. I need you to help me find strength. I can't die after all this. There is nothing else I can do at this point... Please." The azure murmured tiredly as the apparent stress and exhaustion could be seen in his eyes.
There was slight silence as all Shadow could do was break down into tears. He didn't really have any idea how he was going to handle this situation and the fear in those little jade eyes made things more than emotional. He gradually took the cobalt's hand before being forcefully pulled into a very close hug. Not that Shadow minded that much. For now, all he could muster up was a slight nod as his entire face was buried into the other hedgehog's soft, pink stomach. After a few moments of soft petting, the crying stopped and eventually light breaths could be heard as he once again fell asleep. How Sonic had such an amazing super power is completely unknown but whatever the reason...
He knew it was going to come in handy... Unfortunately