The landscape was a blur of beiges and greens as the desert gave way to forest. Miles covered in seconds by pounding feet moving at a relentless pace. Though the forest was teeming with animals that squeaked and squealed as the hedgehog made his way through, the only thing that the hedgehog could hear was a high ringing tone along with the same words. He's dead, Sonic. He's dead. He's dead. Dead. Dead. DEAD.

Eyes blurred in tears, his vision seemed to shrink and fade. It was a wonder that he didn't fall but years of running through similar environments as well as bustling cities seemed to give him a natural instinct in avoiding basic obstacles. Even so he couldn't miss it when his blurred view gave way to a sudden expanse of blue. His age old fear seemed to take a hold of him and that point. Feet skidded in the sand desperately trying to get purchase. He stopped though not enough to avoid the sea entirely. His feet caused a small wave as they entered the surf. He stumbled backwards away from the water, sitting heavily on the sand, chest heaving as he finally started to take note of his surroundings.

Surely it was some kind of cosmos joke that the direction he had ran had led him to this place. Above the sea, hanging serenely was Angel Island, home of the Master Emerald and its guardian. Sonic stared up at it ears flattening against his head. Home to the guardian no more. The image of Knuckles hand flopping to the floor and his body surrounded by their friends immediately took over his thought.

Sonic pulled his legs in laying his arms over them in a protective cocoon as he began to cry. He'd failed again. The promise he had long since made to himself since… the promise that he would ensure that everyone made it back safely from every battle. And now Knuckles was gone. One of the strongest in Sonic's band of fellow fighters. How could this have happened? Why hadn't Sonic thought when that beam crashed down towards him that Knuckles might have been in danger? Why hadn't he ran to Knuckles when Eggman's mech had self destructed? Or maybe it was one of the fallen tentacles that had done the deed. In any case, once again Sonic had been complacent in his responsibilities and his friend had paid the price.

He felt a wave of rage and disgust rise within him. His disgust was at himself, but his rage had a more obvious source to point itself at. Eggman. If that maniac hadn't been up to another of his plots, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe it was time to put the doctor down for good…just like he'd had to before. Energy seemed to flare up and spark within Sonic removing whatever fatigue sat in his limbs. His wet eyes narrowed and fists clenched. Yes. The good doctor would pay for this.

"Seems like the oh so noble Sonic does have a dark side."

Sonic whirled his head. Flashing green eyes collided with red. Shadow stood not five metres from him. Arms casually crossed over his tufted chest. He looked down at Sonic with a smug superiority. Sonic stood up fluidly to face the ebony hedgehog he didn't bother to wipe his face.

"Don't know how you could be such an arse at a time like this, Shadow. Clearly your dear professor forgot to put in your emotion chip when he built you."

Shadow's eyes narrowed at him head tilting down to face him fully. "Don't confuse my control over my emotions for a lack of them. Besides I'm not the one plotting the death of someone."

Sonic laughed coldly taking a step forward. The atmosphere seemed to suddenly chill despite the clear weather. Chaos energy flickered and sparked around the blue hedgehog. Sensing a change in the other, Shadow slowly uncrossed his arms and kept them near his sides, right foot slid slightly backwards to give him a better stance to defend himself. "Really fucking rich coming from someone who once plotted to destroy the entire world. Twice in fact."

"You know why that was and why I wouldn't do it now."

Sonic scoffed. "So it's okay for you to potentially kill millions over one girl but not for my to avenge my friend by getting rid of Eggman?"

Shadow looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

The thickened atmosphere got heavier. Sonic's fur flickered darkly as energy ran through him. His anger growing at the callousness of the hedgehog before him and the fact he was clearly uncaring about what had happened just moments before. "Eggman and his stupid plots are the reason Knuckles is dead! If Eggman didn't exist, Knuckles would still be alive! He still be trying to protect his stupid rock! He'd still be trying to break my legs! He'd still be fawning over that damn bat! Eggman stole that from him. He stole Knuckles from us! And I've had enough of these games." His voice dropped in pitch as he spoke. "I'm going to put an end to it, like I should have done before."

Sonic failed to miss the shaking head of Shadow who looked on flabbergasted. It took a moment after Sonic finished his tirade for him to collect his response.

"Knuckles isn't dead, you moron."

Sonic looked up in surprise. "What?"

Shadow recrossed his arms, closing his eyes as he turned his head away. "Knuckles is alive. Unconscious, has some cuts and bruises but he is alive."

The words hung in the air before hitting home. The crackling energy around the hedgehog seemed to dissipate along with the leaden air. Fatigue seemed to crash into Sonic again. Legs shaking before he sank onto his knees. "Huh, he's alive." A small chuckle sound which soon became full fledged laughter. But tears resumed their march down his cheeks throughout, as if he couldn't control the emotional triggers for happiness and sorrow anymore.

Shadow watched the blue hedgehog from under hooded eyes warily. He had never seen the other so…unhinged. The blue hedgehog usually maintained an air of care-free, fun-loving, confidence (though to Shadow it came off more as arrogance). He always seemed to be upbeat and forever looked to the good in people. To some degree, Shadow could admire him for that; he himself struggled to trust anyone and even those who had found their way into his walls such as Omega and Rouge were still apt to be held at an arms length. Sonic, on the other hand, attracted troves of immediate friends and followers who basked in his presence. What Shadow had seen just moments ago jarred his view on the blue hero. He never would have thought he would hear Sonic planning to kill anyone, not even Eggman.

Sonic's hysteria seemed to fade as his laughter ceased. He rapidly wiped his eyes and smiled. "Damn that Knuckles, made me worry over nothing." He pushed himself up wobbly and brushed the sand off his fur. His usual carefree demeanour resurfacing as if nothing had happened. "We should head back, Shads. I need to check if that idiot has any brain cells left. I'm sorry for anything I said. I wasn't…exactly thinking straight."

Sonic started to walk past Shadow, whose eyes followed him. "So that's it then?"

Sonic halted briefly looked at the dark hedgehog. "So what's it?"

"You're not going to explain why you acted like a homicidal maniac?"

"Pot-kettle."

Shadow's ears twitched in annoyance and he scowled. "As much as I'd hate to say it, that approach seems in keeping with my character according to you and the rest of those idiots. It doesn't fit with yours though, Faker. So tell me," he leaned in slightly towards the other ear and his voice dropped to a whisper, "what makes a self proclaimed hero seek to kill someone?"

Sonic tensed briefly and he turned to face Shadow. A strained smile on his face. "Don't think we're close enough friends to warrant me telling you that, Shadow."

The two stare each other down for an indeterminable time before Shadow sighs and breaks the eye contact closing his eyes. "Fine, Faker. Keep your secrets." He reaches into his quills and pulls out two Chaos Emeralds, the blue and red tossing the blue one at Sonic. Sonic catches it reflexively looking down at it briefly before Shadow's voice causes his ears to twitch back in his direction. Shadow begins walking always from him. "I will warn you though, whatever it is that caused this…'episode' of yours isn't going to just go away. It'll eat at you until it destroys who you are." He stops and casts a single eye back at Sonic. "I think we can both agree I speak with some experience on the matter." At that movement the ebony hedgehog gripped the emerald in his hand and disappeared having activated Chaos Control. There was a slight breeze as the air raced to fill the space that had been previously occupied by the black hedgehog, sand and sparse beach grass being pulled in it's wake.

Sonic scowled at the spot where his doppelgänger had been. "Don't you worry, Shadow, I've dealt with this for years and that's not going to change anytime soon." As he gripped the blue emerald in his hand and disappeared, the idyllic beach resumed its peaceful state in the glorious weather. But at the furthest edge of the horizon just within sight a gathering of dark clouds bloomed indicating that a change would soon be afoot.

x x x

Eggman slammed his fist into the console. Once again he had been foiled in his plans by Sonic and his idiotic companions. And he had even lost the Chaos Emeralds. His face seethed in red rage just thinking how easily his mech had been torn apart. He could only hope that the blasted hedgehog had been caught up in the blast but he doubted it. That rodent seemed to have the universe's allocation of luck. He had been surprised when the hedgehog and his friends hadn't pursued him aboard but hopefully the distance had proved too much for them.

He collapsed back into his seat, hand wiping over his face in exhaustion. He hadn't slept well in weeks. A repetitive dream seem to have taken a hold of him serving to wake him up at random moments in the night. The dream was of another world, similar to this but primarily made up of machines and robotics. Quite the heaven for the doctor but along with the dream cam an insistent voice. That voice had driven him to wake up and work towards his goal. Though he wasn't too sure what that was in this case. He had felt compelled to gather the emeralds and take them to the Mystic Ruins along with a machine whose design seemed to appear from nowhere in his head. He still had the machine, but without the emeralds lacked the means to finish the task.

A dawning realisation creeped up on him then. He leant forward tapping manically at the keyboard drawing up some old schematics. This could work and would save him from having to regather the emeralds from the pests. It would still take some time as he would have to gather the ideal materials but it would be much quicker than fighting over the limited emeralds.

He chuckled to himself. Mood rising in as he lay back in his seat.

"Hoohoohoo. Yes, this will do nicely. Computer set a course for the nearest diamond mine range and prepare some drill bots. We're entering the jewellery business."

The ship responded with a series of clicks and beeps as the ship altered it's current course towards a distant mountain range.