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Shadow The Hedgehog 2: Part 2 - Chapter 11

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Chapter 11

It Was…


The Freedom Fighters were still stuck in the Egg Vineyard. Many have tried to break free of the technological prison, but none prevailed. It felt especially worse for Shadow. For the past few days, he had been forced to watch as Maria had suffered because of Eggman. Seeing her cry herself to slumber and not be able to comfort her brought tears to his eyes as well. Most nights, he couldn't find the ease to sleep at all.

It was early Christmas morning, and Shadow's eyes were closed. He had just barely began to fall asleep. Suddenly, he heard a voice he never heard before. "Shadow..."

"Huh? Wha...? Who said that?" He looked around to see if Sonic or Chris or somebody was up. But everyone he saw was asleep. "Hm... Must be hearing things..."

But he spoke too soon. "Shadow..." the voice repeated.

The coal hedgehog looked around again. "Who's there?" he asked. "And how do you know I'm Shadow? Do you work for Makuta?"

Rather suddenly, it seemed as though a light shown around him. A light so bright it made him lose sight of everything around him. Yet this light was not painful to the eye at all, rather it was pleasant. "Shadow..." the voice said a third time.

He didn't need to ask a third time. He knew the answer. "You... You're..."

"Yes. I am He for whom you are fighting."

Shadow was awe-struck, present before the Great Spirit. He didn't know what to say or do. Granted his actions were to be held to a minimum. Before he spoke up, he bowed his head in reverance.

"Spirit..." he began, "we need your help. Our world is falling apart. Makuta has one of the Rings, his Dark Hunters are destroying the planet, and we haven't found your True Power. Please, you have to do something."

He said, "I did... I created you. And though you may not understand it now, your role in the ongoing battle is more important than you can possibly imagine."

The Great Spirit was right about one thing on Shadow's part. "I don't understand."

"Trust me. Your destiny is near. Remember who you are. Remember the vows you have made." Then, the Great Spirit left him, and the light subsided.

"Shadow, just give up," Knuckles moaned as he woke up. "If you're having trouble, we can't get out," he added, oblivious of what had happened.

All of a sudden, the large screen over the way out turned on. The bright light woke everybody in the prison up with a shock. The old man himself appeared. "Citizens of Earth, this is Doctor Eggman coming to you live from my glorious battle station, the Dark Egg!"


Near his cousin's room, Eggman waited down at the hallway. A Dark Hunter involuntarily held a camera in its claws as they were recording it for the world to see.

"Today is a big day for my magnificent Empire. The next generation will be crowned queen and take over my life's work." He then turned up to his cousin's room. "Maria! It's time!"

The yellow hedgehog was still in her room, her eyes wide open. She was still having trouble processing the horrid truth she had recovered.

"Maria!" Eggman called out again, and the door was open. "Ah, there she is, ladies and gentlemen. Maria Robotnik, reincarnated relative of mine and heiress to the throne. Anything you'd like to say to the public, my dear?"

She mumbled something to herself. It was silent but barely audible.

He could barely hear. "What was that?" She then muttered something else so silently, it caused him to growl. He turned to the camera, slightly nervous. "Camera shy… Come on now, Maria. Whatever that was, say it aloud for the world to hear!"

Without hesitation, she did as told. "You killed me that day fifty years ago. Didn't you?"

Eggman froze, his eyes wide. 'How did she…?'

"Happy now, cousin? Or should I even call you that?"

The old man, acting fast, tried to turn her direction away from the subject. "Anyway, it is time for you to take your rightful place on the throne. We haven't any time to–"

"Don't cover it up, Ivo! I have enough evidence to support my claim. Now, tell the truth!"

"What are you talking about?" He took her hand. "Come along, now. So much to do, so little time…"

Maria yanked her arm free of his. "Tell me the truth, Doctor Eggman! NOW!"

As her demand echoed through the Dark Egg, the elder doctor glared at her. "Fine." Then he started to explain.

"After one of my older setbacks, I hid myself in an abandoned G.U.N. laboratory. There, I stumbled upon our grandfather's logbook, which I discovered had valuable information the government was trying to hide… Space Colony ARK, the Eclipse Cannon, Project: Shadow, prototype time travel, really creepy stuff. The crazy thing was they were all made before I was even born. I then had the brilliant idea to use Grandpa Gerald's legacy as the foundation for the Eggman Empire."

What he didn't realize was that Makuta's minion was broadcasting the whole thing.

"In order to better my chance of success, I had to get rid of something from the past. Of course, I couldn't just take anything… this 'something' had to be special… irreplaceable. It had to be so important to Shadow that if he was in the right state of mind, he would turn against the world that feared him. The only 'something' that special… is you."

The yellow hedgehog was furious. She thought the G.U.N. had killed her by accident. It was intentional, and what was worse… it was her own family. Or at least he was her family. She angrily shoved him away.

"Maria!"

"I cannot believe I'm a slave for such a selfish brat!" she stated. "I always believed there was good in everyone, but boy… you proved me wrong!"

"You don't like that? Well, there's more," he continued. "According to history, Gerald was driven mad by your 'untimely demise.' He swore vengeance on humanity and reprogrammed his life's work to carry out his last wish, right?"

Maria hesitated to answer. She knew he would not have mentioned that unless… "What did you do to him?"

"Me? I did nothing at all," he protested with a grin. "…unless posing as him to cover my tracks counts as doing something to him. Does it?"

"You mean you killed Grandfather too?!"

"Actually, no. He died of his illness the day before, I can honestly say that."

"Wait a second…" Maria realized something. "That was you on Shadow's birthday, not Grandfather!" she shrugged. "What you did was unforgivable."

"Don't lecture me, young woman!" he rebutted. "Your so-called friends are still in my prison, so if you want to see them fried to death–"

"I'm still taking the throne," she said suddenly. "And don't say so-called."

"Really?" he asked, amazed.

"I'm doing it for my friends and family, the Freedom Fighters, and the world… but not for you. We're not cousins, and you'll never be a Robotnik."

Eggman snuffed. "Fair enough..."


Speaking of the Freedom Fighters, they were in shock as they realized the horrid truth. They began discussing among themselves.

"That's it. He's going down."

"Gee, I knew Egghead was evil, but this isn't like him."

"I never thought he'd stoop to such a level!"

"What if he tries this on someone else?!"

"Once I break out, boy, is he gonna get a load from me!"

"But you heard what Eggman said. We're never getting out."

"Think again!" shouted a childish voice. Suddenly, the glass chamber holding the G.U.N. agent burst open. He looked up after falling to the floor. There, in front of him, three bodies stood. It was Decoe, Bocoe and Bokkun.

"What the…?" Shadow thought. "Don't you three work for…?"

"We're on the good guy side now. We're here to rescue you." They came across the floor to reach the control panel.

But before they could, Metal Shadow dropped down in front of them. "You wish to free them. This unit must destroy you." He stood ready to fight.

The three stood scared. None of them wanted to fight such a powerful robot. Decoe and Bocoe glanced at each other. "Loser fights him?" asked one, and the other agreed.

"Rock, doughnut, Thursday, shoot!" And they hold their hands out at one another.

"I win! Doughnuts are half-price on Thursday!"

"No! The doughnut store's closed on Thursday!"

Metal Shadow stood in confusion. He processed the data he had collected and tried to evaluate it as best as possible. "This game… it does not make sense!"

As Metal Shadow waited for them, Rouge flew in from behind. She began to active the console and smiled in thanks to the three for distracting the enemy robot.

"Rock, doughnut, Thursday, shoot!" Decoe and Bocoe tried again.

"Rock smashes Thursday!" Bocoe declared.

"You cannot use Thursday. Thursday is not an object." Metal Shadow uttered.

"Ooh, nice move," the other commented. "But you forgot about Leap Year."

Logical Reasoning irrelevent… Game illogical. Too illogical! Fatal Error!" Metal Shadow smoked, and he sparked, and he suddenly collapsed from overheating.

As they continued to release the captives, Shadow asked the obvious question. "But how did you know where we were?"

"It wasn't easy, but Rouge helped us." Bokkun told them.

As they continued, Rouge looked somewhat ashamed before Shadow. "I'm sorry this happened," she told him. "You were right. I was jealous. But this wasn't what I wanted. Can you please forgive me?"

"I already have." Shadow was pleased. It seemed to him that the Great Spirit was smiling on him. But now was not the time to think so. He still had work to do. "You guys head to the G.U.N.," Shadow instructed. "I'm going for Maria."

The coal hedgehog was about to head out for her when Sonic stopped him. "And commit suicide in the process? I don't think so," he stated.

"Go back to base with the others, Sonic. That's an order."

"What is this to you? Playtime?" he asked. "So you can be the Ultimate Lifeform again?"

"No!"

"Then what? What is it?"

"I'm not... strong enough to-!"

"Strong enough? And this will make you stronger?!"

"Yes. Wait! No!"

"Is that what this is?! Some sort of work out?!"

"I can't lose her again!" Shouted the military agent. Seeing the shock on their faces, he quickly calmed down. "Do any of you know what it's like to watch someone you love die right in front of you, and you can't help them at all?" he asked. "Losing Maria completely broke my heart… made me realize I had a heart for that matter. Watching her suffer the past few weeks brought it all back, and… I'm not strong enough to lose her again." He looked as though he were about to cry, but he held back. "Look, I'm going. There's no reason to stop me, so…"

"Who said I was gonna stop you?" Sonic asked.

Shadow nearly jumped. "W-What?"

"I'm coming with you." Sonic added. "She's my sister and my friend."

"He's right," Sally stated, "We're all brothers and sisters in arms, Shadow. Whatever happens, we're there for each other and for you."

The ebony crimson hedgehog was not sure what to say. He was pleased to have been given friends like these. He smiled in thanks. It was going to be a good day after all.

"Then it's settled." Sally turned to everyone. "The fate of this planet hangs in the balance. Eggman has gone too far this time. Today, in the name of freedom, we take the battle to them!"

All the prisoners shouted in agreement. They would join them and end the war once and for all.

'Hang on Maria… We're coming…' Shadow thought to himself and crossed his arms.

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