The alliance of 3 separate teams' members went by unsuccessful second lap through Cryptic castle in searchs for the fifth key.
- Shadow: Hm. What a waste of time.
- Amy: Shadow, we can't just leave Cream behind! The key has got to be somewhere!
As the trio returned to the now empty Chao room, Tails points out - "Wait! Was the path to left open first time around?" - Both hedgehogs follow Tails' lead for investigation.
Ever since Charmy disappeared, Vector unsuccessfully tried to catch connection with his communicator - "Come on, Charmy, pick up!" - Espio meanwhile silently examines the area for alternative paths.
Until the ninja saw a familiar trio approaching the duo - "Shadow... Tails... and you must be Amy."
Tails was the only one who knew chameleon by name - "What are you doing here, Espio?"
As fox and chameleon exchanged their recent adventures, Amy looks at Shadow.
- Amy: I'd understand Tails encountering these jokers before. But when did you?
- Shadow: I've ran into them in the jungle island's computer room. It seems that they too were looking for some of G.U.N. data. We went into the database together, but got split up in process.
Before Amy could inquiry into more details, Vector's device screeched the sounds of explosion, steel slams and Charmy's barely comprehensible screams "Guys! (explosion) Giant Robot! (slam) ... Room is- aaaarrrggg... (something is collapsing)... (Charmy pants)... Forcefield... sorry... should've listened to you..."
The group didn't see Shadow going through another flashback
White Jungle (past)
As the black hedgehog walked through the forest his comm buzzed - "This is Rouge. I've got a small problem... I can't believe that I'm trapped inside this locked safe with a Chaos Emerald!" - Rouge sighs resigning to her fate - "I guess I won't be able to call myself a Treasure Hunter anymore."
Not even Shadow knows why did Maria's moments flashed before his eyes, pushing his instincts to do something he normally wouldn't.
Cryptic Castle (present)
Eventually the group noticed Shadow's body emitting blue aura, while keeping his blanked out stare.
- Amy: Shadow...
- Vector: You're okay out there?
Espio and Tails remain silent.
- Shadow: Troublemaker...
Barely in time the group evaded the collision with Shadow, who seemingly flew the same way, Charmy did.
Surrounded, Charmy glared at Egg Breaker lifting his mace, while Pawns on th ground and Flappers in the air aimed their guns at the kid. The bee couldn't fly away from the incoming danger.
A body with blue energy collides with giant robot and knocks it away. Egg Pawns and Flapprs meanwhile get obliterated by collision.
Charmy recognised his savior picking up and reloading enemies' guns.
With the Power of Justice now used up, Shadow came back to his senses and sees Egg Breaker getting up. Creator's hologram appears.
- Eggman: And what are you doing here, Shadow?
Shadow hid his weapon and approached the robot.
- Shadow: Doctor, please tell me. I need to know about my past. Why was I at your base, until I was released.
- Eggman: Heh. Are you still wondering who you are, Shadow? There's nothing to tell, as you have no past!
- Shadow: What?!
Charmy flies next to amnesiac - "Shadow, don't listen to him! Eggman's rotten mouth spouts nothing but lies! Let's break this thing down and get out of here!"
Mobians and robot prepare to fight.
Boss 5: Egg Breaker
Player: Shadow; Charmy
- Eggman: Ohhh, you little sneaky rodents! I'll smash you to pieces!
- Charmy: You're gonna keep barking all day, Eggy, or are you finally going to bite?!
Egg Breaker jumps while lifting up his mace - "Lights out!" - Shadow and Charmy run aside to evade the hit.
At the long distance Shadow fires bullets from the weapons he picked up throughout his adventure. Mechanical version of Eggman's laugh emerged - "Don't even think you have a slightest chance against me! My robot's forcefield is impervious!"
Breaker retaliates with the double eye laser to the heroes. Charmy flies upwards, while Shadow leaps sideways and out of instinct fires multiple bullets.
Breaker's hit body parts slightly went ablaze and Eggman growled - "You'll pay for that!"
- Shadow: I see... the doctor's Egg Breaker can't generate both offensive and defensive energy at the same time. I have to converse my arsenal until he fires that laser again. Then I'll get my chance for counterattack.
The giant robot's torso spun around emotting blue energy - "You know what they say... the more, the merrier!" - aura generates giant bombs, giving Shadow no space to jump or evade.
Charmy grabs Shadow's hands much to latters surprise - "What the-" - the bee lifts him up fast enough to escape the explosion capable enough to vaporise its victims.
- Charmy: We're in this together, Shadow, so it's time for me to pull my weight, no pun intended.
- Shadow: What are you up to?
- Charmy: I need you to curl into spindash, while I generate thunder into your body.
Understanding the plan, Shadow silently nods and follows through the process.
Next thing Egg Breaker sees above is a thunder ball landing onto it's metallic body, causing a short-circuit. With now stunned robot, Shadow unleashed his arsenal for the kill.
If for some reason Egg Breaker withstood the punishment, Shadow and Charmy kept countering the pattern and retaliating until robot explodes.
Somehow the holo program remained intact among the debris. Eggman's infuriated jumping image emerges - "No! Not my beloved creation!" - evil scientist snarled while looking at Shadow and Charmy - "Curses! I won't forget this!" - Shadow stomps on the core, cutting off the connection.
Charmy dug through Breaker's remains, while Shadow approached familiar device.
- Shadow: A teleport?!
- Charmy: According to video game magic it should be working now that the big bad robot boss is toast.
Paying no additional attention to Charmy's ramblings, Shadow steps onto the center, activating the device.
- Charmy: Aha! I found the key!
The bee flies towards device while waving his find.
- Shadow: Then this makes 5 keys.
Shadow pinpoints the destination and warps himself and Charmy away.
Spider Room; The gates.
The hedgehog and bee approach the gates, with latter inserting the key, turning it opposite of clock until the click sound.
The doors automatically open. The following sight makes Charmy's eyes widen, while Shadow tensed his closed jaw.
The dirty chao and ragged rabbit layed unconscious on the bunk. But their appearance remained recognisable to Charmy as he slightly pressed their necks.
- Charmy: They are alive, but their pulses are weak.
- Shadow: I'll take the rabbit, you take the chao.
Shadow carried out Cream in bridal style out of the chamber, while Charmy gently pressed Cheese to his own body.
- Charmy: Eww. That room smelled gross. Kid's organism couldn't handle it. No wonder they went out cold!
- Shadom: Hm.
Multiple chao sounds join the scene. Their leader spouts something on their language.
The tribe flew towards Charmy and Cheese and flew around them chanting their ritual mantra.
The body chao with red neck bowtie shined with pale golden aura for a short period of time. When it was all over, Cream's pet slowly opened his eyes and groggily said - "Chao..."
Meanwhile, the Elder Chao did gestures at the order of: Shadow; Cream; Ground.
Recognising the same Elder Chao who healed him earlier, Shadow decides to trust him for now - "Hm. Fine." - and places Cream's body down on the ground.
Slightly biggr than normal Chao pull out the bottle with light blue liquid. Recognising its shade of heal unit, Shadow follows Elder's instruction to gently grasp rabbit's lower jaw and open her mouth.
Tribal leader poured the whole botte of potion into Cream's mouth. As her organism swallowed the blue liquid, her body glowed with the same colour.
With Cream's appearance cleaned up she groggily opened her eyes. This when the remaining members of both groups warp themeselves into the scene.
The adults of Team Chaotix confront their remaining member with grimm faces. Charmy widens his eyes in fear of scolding, then quickly calms himself down
- Charmy: Guys, guys. I know my recent antics were very reckless and worrying to you. And for that I'm really sorry. I swear it won't happen again.
In uncharacteristically calm and monotone manner Vector answers - "Don't you EVER fly away from us again. Am I clear?" - Charmy silently salutes like a soldier to his superior officer.
- Espio: Tell us what happened out there.
As detectives exchanged their stories, Amy ran towards her now up and awaken friend rabbit and hugs her tight.
- Amy: Cream!
- Creamy: Amy... I'm glad to see you too, but easy with your grip...
- Amy: Oh sorry.
Cream's pet joins their conversation.
- Cheese: Chao
Shadow has approached Tails.
- Shadow: Did you find out anything new?
- Tails: The gates at the lava rails were open, but the path was blocked by some strange forcefield. So we had to look around other places again to reach you. But from what I see you two did fine.
- Shadow: The forcefield you mentioned was likely connected with the one that cut off Charmy's escape from one of the doctor's giant robots. If my suspicions turn correct it should be gone by now.
The heroes and Tribe gather up. Chao Elder's spouting is interpreted by Cream - "We are very thankful for all your help. With aliens now out of this region and evil scientist's mechanism destroyed, we can go back to our home. Good luck with your adventures and farewell!" - The tribe fly away from the Cryptic Castle.
- Amy: Shadow, thank you for helping us!
- Charmy: Hey, I deserve some recognition too! After all I was the one who found the last key!
Vector glared at his colleague for more than a little rude attitude. While Amy raised her eyebrow.
If Shadow of all people acknowledges achievement (even though it as just silent nod) it's gotta mean something.
- Amy: Right... you too Charmy.
- Tails: So what are we going to do, now?
Shadow approached Cream - "Do you have any foreign sensations in your mind or instincts?" - rabbit girl scratched her head - "Yeah I think so. This place gives me more scares than it did earlier. And I can't fight it off!" - the little girl's tone was wavering.
The team regroups
- Shadow: Cream's fighting instincts are dulled due to heal unit's side effects. She needs to be escorted out of here.
- Cream: Amy?!
- Amy: Looks like I going to have to do it.
- Vector: Me and the team will accompany you for safety's number.
- Charmy: But we still got to get our money from Eggman!
- Espio: We'll worry about that later.
Ninja chameleon pulls out a document - "Before we go, you need to see this, Shadow."
The black hedgehog finds his name on the document but the picture shown a giant brown lizzard.
The whole area darkens around Shadow as he hears Rouge's voice echoing in his mind.
"But if this picture is of the real ultimate life form named "Shadow"... then exactly who or what is standing in front of me?"
Shadow's body flared in red aura as he looked at Team Chaotix with tranquil fury, but voice slowly increasing - "You've got 90 seconds to explain why did Rouge sent you after me. Clock's ticking!"
Tails raised his weapon at Shadow, while Amy stood protectively in front of Cream and Cheese. Detectives have to clear things up fast!
- Charmy: Wasn't Rouge on your side?
- Shadow: Anybody who works for G.U.N. is my enemy! 80 seconds remain!
- Vector: Rouge personally hired us to extract information from their database at Prison Island.
- Shadow: Did G.U.N. let you through? 70 seconds!
- Espio: No they didn't. We had sneak around Prison Island as it was forbidden zone for civilians. Rouge even paid us, so we could prepare ourselves for the mission.
- Shadow: Why?
- Charmy: Your girlfriend had put her life and reputation at huge risk to help you find the truth. Even the document you have is a classified information! We don't know how, but she retrieved them somehow. This is the treason, Shadow, severely punishable!
Silently digesting the information, Shadow dispersed his raging red aura - "The only one who have done Rouge's deed is long gone. The soldiers somehow captured me and held captive at Prison Island, until Doctor found me." - The black hedgehog looked at detectives - "Alright, I believe you, for now."
The group calms down and Tails lowers his gun. Charmy breaks the ice "So... we're good?" - Ignoring the question Shadow approached Amy.
- Shadow: Despite knowing all off this, do you still believe humans deserve the chance?
- Amy: Shadow, I speak for everyone when I say that on your place I'd want to punish G.U.N. too. Just please, try to understand, the whole planet must not suffer because of goverment's actions.
Shadow turns away from the group and walks to the teleporter - "The doctor is yet to answer why I've been held at his base two years ago. And I will get the answers." - Tails joins him - "I'll go with you, Shadow, the Chaos Emerald is still out there."
- Vector: Then it's settled! The rest of us will escort, Cream to safety!
- Cream: Thank you mr. Vector. And you two (Shadow and Tails) stay save.
Shadow nods - "Same to you." - and warps himself with Tails for the gates while silently reflecting - "I'm one step closer to getting the truth from the doctor. I will not let anything interfere with my plans."
AN: Phew, had I saved my progress more often I'd release this chapter earlier without writing the scenes from the beginning.
Merry Christmas everybody! If you'll have some questions about this story feel free to ask them on reviews or PM. Happy Holiday.