Chapter 3: Deadly Reflection-Part 1

Robotnik's War Room: Years Later

Ever since Sonic joined the freedom fighters, the war against Robotnik has raged out of control. Six years of that blue hedgehog terrorizing his city, thwarting his schemes, and giving the mad doctor a nasty headache every time he saw him. Despite the setbacks, Robotnik wouldn't just throw it all away. No, given how overwhelming Sonic's power stood on their own, he gave the freedom fighters a hell of a fight. He even learned a few things about his enemies he otherwise wouldn't have if he'd never become so invested in destroying them now. In one of their skirmishes, Robotnik managed to briefly knock the hedgehog into a small, minuscule lake. Nothing about it was worthy to mention, other than it gave Sonic one nasty freakout. Like oil and water, the two did not stick properly. The blue blur couldn't swim. This one weakness dictated the next master plan the doctor had, but that project was missing a few vital pieces. In the meantime, he needed another plan to stall the freedom fighter's advances while his search parties scoured the planet.

"Snively…" Robotnik's mouth hissed with impatience. His fingers jerked erratically, and his eyes traced the small man's every movement until his miniature body was about an arm's length away. "It's time to release him." Snively's heart sank as he immediately knew that Robotnik was serious. Dead serious.

Snively stuttered his words as his voice was stricken with fear. "B-b-but s-sir! The regulator isn't ready yet. It only has enough charge for a few months. Do you need a reminder of what happened last time he was awake without one?" Robotnik glared at Snively, his eyes almost saying: Did you really just ask that? "Of course, you would remember. How could I think you didn't?" Snively nervously tried to save himself with sheepish words.

Robotnik gloomed at his metal hand. He remembered a time long ago when it wasn't just a cold, unfeeling, and rigid extension. Had everything gone to plan, he wouldn't even have this thing. But considering what he caught when he lost it, the sacrifice was worth it. "Leave that lapse to me. Even without the regulator, we still have enough leverage to keep him in line for now." Robotnik opened a new tab on the main computer's monitor. After filling out an extensive form layered with access codes and passwords, all that remained to be done was a simple clearance from two higher-ups. Snively jittered around the computer's hand scanner, eventually placing his hand on it to give the first half of the clearance. As Robotnik reached forward for the other scanner, even his hand hesitated to commit. He knew if he didn't play his cards right, this act would be the end of him. But with the freedom fighters impeding on his city every day, his empire would soon be ashes if he pulled back now.

Without any more delay, Robotnik slammed his hand on the scanner, giving the proper clearance for the computer. A small box appears in the corner of the screen, running through a series of codes and routines. Eventually, the line of code ceases as it settles on one final line: 'Preparations Complete. Unlocking Capsule.'

Robotnik's Fortress: Living Quarters

Thunder crashed outside. For but a moment, there was enough light for her to see as she haphazardly shuffled down the hall. She averted her eyes from the 'decorations' and 'ornaments' sloppily sprinkled without a purpose. The liveliness of the hall and rooms was just to mimic what used to be. There was no soul behind that vase. There was no heart in that painting. They were probably all left over from the old kingdom, to which she remembered very little about. The pink hedgehog dusted down the tables, wiped the windows, and tidied the carpets. She often wondered who this was even for. For all that she knew, she was the only living person who walked through here. Why did they even keep her around? Isn't this too much effort for someone they could just roboticize? All the other servants were converted long ago. What made her special?

Just as she was about to lose herself in her own sanity, she heard a voice beyond these walls. Something out there was humming beautifully. The whimsical tune from a woman's voice drew her closer down the hall. Has someone always been here? The pink hedgehog thought to herself. She worked here her whole life, and even then, there were many places she had never explored, mostly because she wasn't allowed to. Soon enough, she was able to hear where the humming was coming from. It was just behind this door, one that was decorated far differently from the rest of the adornments. The frame was carved by hand, and the paint around the priceless panel actually looked to be cared for. Even the handle was made from luxurious brass.

As the pink hedgehog leaned in closer to the door, listening intently, the voice suddenly stopped, like it knew that someone was near. She quickly and quietly tried to back away from the door, discomfited that she interrupted the lovely voice. "No, please don't be ashamed." The voice spoke out to her as she stopped dead in her tracks. "Why don't you come in? The door's unlocked." The pink hedgehog looked around, seeing if anyone was watching. She placed her hand on the handle, marveling at its texture and detail upon her hand. As she timidly walked through, her eyes were met with beauty beyond her mind. There were multiple rooms, each built in unique and eventful ways. There was a dining room, a master bedroom, a garden, and so much more to be in awe of. "Isn't it stunning?" The pink hedgehog followed to voice to an elderly woman with fading blonde hair, sitting in a robust wheelchair.

"Wow…" The hedgehog said, continuing to take in the wonders of the room's design. "This is your room?" The elderly woman nodded in response. She extended her hand to her side, gesturing at the chair opposite of her.

"Come and take a seat. You look exhausted." The pink hedgehog skittishly moved to the chair, taking a seat on its otherworldly cushions. They were so soft that the hedgehog nearly gasped. As she sat, the woman poured a cup of tea from a nearby kettle and pushed it across the wooden table for the hedgehog to sip on. "Now, dear, what's your name?"

"Amy," The hedgehog said. "Amy Rose."

"What a wonderful name." The elderly woman smiled. Her smile was incredibly distinct, as there was no hollowness or bleakness behind it. But there still was something hidden there. A feeling of emptiness. Subtle, but present. "Did my little melody catch your ear?" Amy avoided eye contact, somewhat embarrassed to admit it. "There's nothing to be reserved about. I'm actually glad that someone came by to listen. It's felt like years since anyone bothered to."

"Well, it was a beautiful voice."

"Oh, you don't have to say that!"

"It was! Everything here is beautiful. I'm afraid if I leave, I might think that this was all a dream."

"Don't be so glum." The woman said. As she sipped some of her tea, her index finger uneasily drummed against the cup. "Could you perhaps tell me what it's like out there?"

Amy set her cup down, fully engaging with the woman without distraction. "You don't know?" The elderly woman's lips fluttered as her face drifted down, blankly looking at the table.

"I lived in this room for a long time, you see. I don't mind it too much. There's always something to do or look at. Other than the view, the aesthetics beat out where I used to live. But it feels like a whole world was made for me here. Made to keep me in."

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" As Amy asked that question, the door leading to the hallway burst open. A squad of Swatbots funnel in as Snively follows close behind. He glares at Amy with disgust, twitching his eye at the sight of her.

"What are you doing here? This is off-limits to a cleaner like you." Snively snaps his fingers, which orders one of the Swatbots to take hold of Amy, dragging her out of the chair and tossing her out of the room. "If I find you here again, roboticizing you will be a mercy." Snively slams the door, shutting out Amy from the pocketed paradise. "He's been awakened again." Snively directed his attention to the woman. She inaudibly gasps as she recoils back into her wheelchair.

"He is?" Suddenly, unseen anger starts to fill her body, as her hands clenched tightly against the wheelchair. "You won't be able to control him. Not for long."

"We'll see. For now, he will do just fine disposing of a pest."

Robotropolis

Another night, another warehouse that needed to be destroyed. A band of freedom fighters had snuck into the city, led by an unsanctioned team that aimed to take out factories and storage houses vital to Swatbot production. This small team comprised four fighters: a cheetah, a hawk, a gorilla, and a badger. As the badger eagerly placed the last explosive charge on the vacant factory, the rest started to clear the area, with the gorilla carrying a wooden crate as they left. "You sure that's a good idea bringing that along?" The hawk poked at the gorilla's side as concern dwells in his expression. "I thought we were supposed to lay low."

"We are laying low," The gorilla keenly responded. "Might as we get something in return as we leave. I'm sure Rotor will be pleased once we bring this scrap back."

"Now, now," The cheetah spoke up. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still have one final step to this mission." The cheetah placed his arms behind his back as he turned to the badger, who was avidly awaiting the cheetah's command. "You know the drill. Let's get the party started."

"Yes, boss!" The badger shuffled through her bag until she found the detonator, which was carelessly put together with crossed wires and exposed chips. But it didn't matter how sloppily made it was. As long as it worked, the badger didn't care. As she eased her thumb closer to the trigger, the four of them were captivated by a sudden boom in the air. It was a distinct sound, one eerily similar to the one that follows Sonic when he breaks the sound barrier.

"Is that who I think it is?" The hawk quivered as he hid behind the gorilla. "How did he find out about our operation?"

"We don't know anything, yet. Stand guard. If it is Sonic, I'm sure he'll understand what we're doing here." The cheetah tried to reassure his team, standing in front of all of them. The air suddenly died down as the sonic boom faded into nothing. It was like standing in an empty chamber, devoid of substance and life. The lights of the city were like eyes staring down at them, watching the same way a predator does when it's stalking its prey. The silence surrounding them caused their hair to stand, as if something was already there with them, waiting for the moment to strike.

Out of the blue, an intense gust of wind blew right through them as they held their ground. The cheetah covered his face with his arms as he braced the strong airs, barely holding himself up. The winds felt like a thousand blades of grass hitting him repeatedly. He couldn't manage to open his eyes unless he was willing to go blind. All he could hear in the moment was a deafening boom as the fierce wind clogged his ears until it eventually died down like the rest of the city. The cheetah lightly lowered his arms and opened his eyes as everything seemed to be normal. That is until he heard a blood-curdling scream behind him, which he recognized as the hawk's. "She's gone!" The cheetah turned around as he saw the hawk and the gorilla frozen with fear. His eyes too were met with shock as he realized what was wrong: the badger was missing.

"What happened?" The cheetah fleetly lost his composure.

"I don't know, boss." The gorilla replied, still eyeing where the badger once was. "She was just here."

Before any of them could react, a dash of reddish-orange lightning emerged from the darkness, blitzing the Gorilla. The gorilla held his ground as the shrouded figure clashed against him in a contest of strength. The gorilla was already being overwhelmed as the force being exerted by this figure was unlike anything he had ever faced. But before he could retaliate, the figure swiftly swept his legs and kicked him forward into the warehouse. As the gorilla crashed through the windows, the shrouded figure raised its gloved hand, holding the detonator for the explosives. "No…" The cheetah pleaded as he looked back and forth between the figure and his friend trapped inside the warehouse. "Don't!" But it was already too late, as their aggressor pulled back on the trigger. Without a moment's loss, the warehouse was engulfed in flames, and so was the gorilla. The hawk fell to his knees as he watched in horror. He couldn't even whimper out a single word. As the figure menacingly approached the hawk, the cheetah quickly stood between them. "Get out of here! Warn the others! I can hold him back."

"But–"

"That's an order!" The hawk springs to his feet as soon as he was interrupted. He frantically scurried away in an attempt to escape, leaving the cheetah and the shrouded figure alone. "Guess it's just you and me." The figure stood unamused as it watched the cheetah equip a pair of metal claws around his hands. The cheetah spread his arms, trying to bait the figure into attacking him. However, they had different plans. Another trail of fire-red lightning leaves the figure as it zooms past the cheetah and back. Within the blink of an eye, the shrouded figure was holding the fleeing hawk by his neck. The bird struggled and squirmed to break free from their grasp, but it was ultimately futile. He started to cry uncontrollably as the air was choked out from him. With one last look, the hawk tearfully turned to the cheetah.

"I'm sorry…" As those words left him, so did his life, as the figure crushed his neck effortlessly. The cheetah stood frozen in place, his spirit completely shattered by the loss of his friends. The once vibrant light in his eyes had dimmed to a haunting hollow gaze, reflecting the deep sorrow that consumed him. His sleek, golden fur seemed to lose its luster as he let his limbs hang limply at his sides. Everything he set out to do was for nothing, All that he awaited now was for the figure to take his life as well. His drained body slouched, accepting whatever the shrouded figure had planned. But just as quickly as it began, the figure turned its back on him, departing the shallow grave that was his will, and leaving him to wallow.

Knothole

"Sonic! What are you doing?" A distant voice echoed from below the sleeping hedgehog, who comfortably laid in a straw hammock strapped between two trees high above. The soft wind swayed the hedgehog side to side as his blissful smile absorbed the sun. "Sonic, get down from there!" His ears twitched as they picked up the hollering voice. Sensing that his slumber was being disturbed, Sonic's body turned on its side and away from the edge. "Oh, for crying out loud!" Just as Sonic got snug within the velvety fibers, a small rock bounced off the bark of the tree that hovered above his head. The sudden noise jolted Sonic's nerves as he sprang from the hammock, spooked as his body uncontrollably flailed in the air. As he descended, his body just barely missed the hammock, causing him to tumble through countless branches before smacking his chest and face against the hardened dirt. "Are you awake?" The voice, much clearer now, spoke directly in front of him.

Sonic lifted his head to see Sally standing vexingly above him. She coyishly tilted her head as a slight smirk developed. "I am now." Sonic groaned as he shakingly lifted himself from the ground. "So, what's so important that you felt the need to shatter my entire skeleton?"

"Sonic, you weren't in Robotropolis last night, were you?"

Sonic raised an eyebrow as he unconvincingly answered, "Yes…?"

"And as far as you know, you're an only child?"

"What does this have to do with anything?"

Sally sighed as she started to walk away, visibly troubled. "Come with me."

Later, inside Rotor's workshop, a single table was cleared of its toolboxes and blueprints as a person sat on top, wrapped in a silky blanket. It was the cheetah, staring blankly forward and past the four others who were surrounding him. Sonic, Sally, and Bunnie watched from a distance while Rotor shined a tiny flashlight to dilate the cheetah's eyes. "Oh my stars! What happened to poor Linus?" Bunnie asked as her hands covered her mouth in shock.

"He and his team were ambushed last night. He's the only one who made it back. He said the person who attacked them was fast," Sally turned to Sonic. "Just as fast as you."

Sonic was immediately taken aback. "Are we sure about that?"

"I saw it with my own eyes," Linus murmured from across the room, prompting Rotor to back away from his examination. "Before it came, there was a bang in the sky. We thought it might've been you. We've only ever seen you do that." The cheetah gripped hard against the sides of the blanket as his eyes began to tremble. "But it was unlike anything I'd ever seen. I can't even describe it. It was there one second and… I'm sorry. I can't remember much else."

Rotor returned to Linus' side, patting him on the back as he helped him to his feet. "There, there. Let's get you some rest." Rotor helped escort the cheetah out of the workshop, leaving the other three to ponder what was said.

"How is this even possible?" Sally spoke out loud to herself. "Did Robotnik create a machine that replicates your speed?"

"If so, we need to take it out before anyone else goes into that city." Sonic proposed.

"How do we do that?" Bunnie asked. "Shouldn't we try to learn a little more about what it is we're facing before we go all cowboy on it?"

"Sonic's right," Sally spoke up. "If this thing is allowed to live, then we'll have to halt most of our upcoming operations. We can't slow down now, not when we've gotten so much momentum over these past few years." Sally clenched her hand as determination ran through her veins. She wasn't just desperate to end this war, she was adamant about it. "It'll send a message to Robotnik that no matter what he throws at us, we won't back down without a fight."

"Sally, we don't have to prove anything to him. We should just be level-headed about this and form a plan. First, we need to find this thing."

"I'm sure if we go back in it'll pop its ugly head around." Sonic cracks his knuckles in excitement. "Leave the rest to me. I'll show it who's faster."

Robotropolis

They had to make sure that their diversion was big enough to attract Robotnik's new toy. What better way to do that than the old reliable: devastating a few factories and power plants and stealing some equipment? So far, things have been running smoothly, as Sally and Bunnie race across a towering bridge at the edge of the city. They even managed to steal a Swatbot truck to outrun the impending forces that retaliated their efforts. Sally continued to drive down the road as Bunnie kicked open the rear door. A couple of drones dive in and sink their claws into the back of the truck, to which Bunnie reaches forward with her robot arm and yanks one of their tendrils clean off. She then used the flexible tendril as a whip to knock the drones off the back with ease. "It still hasn't shown up yet!" Bunnie tossed the tendril with force onto the street, knocking down pursuing Swatbot that either crashed into the pavement or tripped off the side of the bridge.

Meanwhile, Sonic observed the action from on top of the bridge's pillar. He was crouched low, holding his forearm tightly as his fingers started to twitch with anticipation. For the first time in a while, he was nervous. He wasn't sure how to put it, but it felt like the doctor was getting serious this time. Whatever this new creation was of his defied the hedgehog's expectations. He thought his speed to be impossible to replicate, and here he was, waiting for the grand unveiling of it. His uneasiness caused him to pace back and forth across the pillar, repeatedly tapping his index finger against his arm.

Then, the moment of truth came. A sonic boom, just as Linus described, emitted from the heart of the city. The echoes of its roar nearly shook the supports of the bridge as Sonic narrowed his eyes. In an instant, a trail of red lightning soared below him as it darted through the bridge and to the truck Sally and Bunnie were in. "Oh no you don't!" Sonic took a deep breath as he leaned down and placed his hand on the ground. His legs started to build up speed, going so fast as to form a red cyclone as he peels out. Just as he gained enough speed, he dashed down the bridge's cable, tailing the red blur ahead of him. As he hits the road, his speed propels him, facilitating the effort needed to boost past the Swatbots and drones. All that was left in his way was that imposter. Each step he took was harder than the last, as he became desperate to catch up. However, he noticed something wrong: he wasn't gaining at all. In fact, he was being left in the dust. "You're not getting away!" Sonic then decided it was time for one of his new moves. As he moved forward, he noticed a slight decline in the bridge, perfect for what he had planned.

As he is about to head down the decline, he quickly leaps into the air and curls into a ball, spinning rapidly in the air as he's about to hit the street. As he does, the momentum generated in the air shoots him forward, finally giving him enough speed to keep up. The lighting on the bridge was dim, but Sonic was still able to make out a few notable features of the shrouded figure. It seemed that its speed was mostly coming from a small thrust of flame, emanating solely from the bottom of its red-framed shoes. It further reinforced the thought that this thing was entirely mechanical. But as Sonic was about to reach the blur, something caught his attention as the figure's head glanced back at him. He saw a pair of scarlet eyes locking with his, filled with disdain and exasperation. Before Sonic could even react, the blur cut across the bridge, tripping up Sonic as it scaled up the beam, facing down on the blue hedgehog as he fumbled to his feet. Sonic slowed down to a halt as he trained his head up to the top of the hardened bridge, where there was enough light to finally see.

"What the!?" Sonic gasped as his face was flooded with perplexity. He wasn't just looking into a mirror–he was looking at his dark reflection. It was another hedgehog, coated in slick, black quills with crimson accents around his head. Cuffed around his wrists and ankles were golden rings, brightly reflecting the light off its glossy surface. The hedgehog stared daggers right at Sonic, as he dismissively grunted.

"So you're what the doctor is all worked up about? Can't say I see why." He spoke with a low and stern voice as he crossed his arms.

"What–who are you?" Sonic found it hard to gather his words. Not only was he astonished that someone else was as fast as him, but he was also stunned that it was another hedgehog.

"I am Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Lifeform." Shadow paused to look past Sonic and noticed the truck Sally and Bunnie were in, safely reaching the other side of the bridge. But he wasn't concerned about them, as he grinded down the bridge's railing, making his way to meet Sonic on leveled ground. "I admire how resourceful you bunch are. But you were foolish to think you could fight me by yourself."

"Well, that was the plan."

"Oh, you thought you were drawing me out?" Shadow lightly chuckled, mildly amused at Sonic's heroics. "Ridiculous. The doctor has tasked me to eliminate you. Am I right to assume that the sole survivor of my attack last night informed you of my capabilities?" Sonic's heart sank as he pieced together what Shadow was implying. He used Linus as bait to attract Sonic here. He played right into his hand. "Let me show you just how little he knew." Just as Sonic readied himself for a fight, Shadow was instantly gone from his vision, vanishing into thin air as Sonic widened his eyes. Before he could even process what had happened, Shadow appeared in front of Sonic, kneeing the blue blur directly in his gut. Sonic fell back as all the air in his lungs were knocked out. His legs started to shake as he tried to focus on where Shadow was. But as before, Shadow was already two steps ahead. The ebony hedgehog dashed behind him, delivering a devastating kick to the back of Sonic's head. "This is just pathetic. You're about as helpless as Robotnik is."

"Then why are you helping him?"

"You wouldn't understand." Shadow speeds forward, then slides violently across the ground, forming a wall of sparks as his shoe's thrusters kick up fire and heat. Sonic just barely dodges out of the way as he leaps to the side. But as Sonic thought he was safe, Shadow quickly pivoted back, rounding his leg through Sonic's ankles. Shadow follows up as he blasts Sonic into the air, meeting him up there as he unleashes a barrage of punches, finished off by an overhead swing that causes Sonic to be hit off the bridge and into the raging river below. Sonic sank like a rock as he started to panic, fruitlessly paddling to the surface, only to be dragged back down and carried away into the abyss.

At the other end of the bridge, Sally bursts out of the truck's door, rushing to the side of the bridge in horror as she witnesses Sonic disappearing beneath the cold veil of water. "Sonic!" Sally tries to vault over the side in a vain attempt to go after him, but Bunnie intervenes just before she jumps.

"Sally, don't!"

"Let go of me! We have to go after him!"

"You won't survive if you do!"

Shadow heard the commotion as he nonchalantly glanced at them. His eyes rest with uncertainty as he turns his back to them, determining that it was pointless to go after them. He did what he was ordered to: Destroy Sonic the Hedgehog.

To be continued…

Next up: Deadly Reflection-Part 2