Shadow the Hedgehog 2: Part 2 - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The End of All Things

When the dark storm ended, Maria stood and looked around. Everywhere but a small area around her feet had been scorched, and darkness fell upon the earth. It was as though a great explosion had occurred.

What struck her hardest was what happened to those around her. Almost all of the Kendov had been turned to stone. And if that wasn't enough, all mortals she saw: Sonic, Chris, her family and friends... everybody had transformed. They were all now monstrous Dark Hunters.

They looked up to see Lucifer hovering above what looked like a statue. "This body lacks its full potential, but that will change when I acquire the Spirit Stones and conquer all." he hissed.

"You really are the great evil!" Maria uttered. "Lucifer, this isn't fair!"

"FAIR?!" roared Lucifer. "I'll tell you what's unfair: I was once the most powerful, the most beautiful, the most superior being of all the Great Spirit's creation. Many saw me as the image of perfection. And then, He made you in His 'likeness.' Mortals, the flawed creation! And I was to bow down to you?!"

Maria was able to piece it all together from there.

"My gratitude for breaking Ekimu's hold on me. Since you have freed me, I shall spare you this once. But be warned: next time we encounter, I'll show no mercy." With that said, he and his corrupted minions disappeared.

Maria was puzzled. "Ekimu? Who's Ekimu?"

Just then, the elder son of Mata Nui then rose behind her, and he approached the figure Lucifer was once over. Upon a quick look, he fell to his knees, ready to weep. "Zeymah... bolog frolaaz. Forgive me, Takanuva. I have failed you, and I have failed father."

"Failed?" Maria asked. "Isn't this what you wanted, Makuta?"

"Woman of light, please spare me this... My name is not truly Makuta. It is Ekimu." Then, he explained. "The great evil came to our realm many millennia ago. His goal was to obtain the power of the Spirit Stones and take all as his own. I heard of his plan through the Great Spirit, thus I followed him to conquer him. My actions were selfless, but my hopes were foolish. I took him into my own body that day, hoping to tame him. But he took control over me, and I became the very beast I sought to destroy... I became Makuta."

"So you were possessed all this time? For hundreds of years?"

"Yes. Centuries upon centuries, I was forced to carry out what I sought to prevent. What hurts most was the curse I cast upon my father. I only wish I could see him once more, and express my remorse."

The blonde hedgehog was truly touched by Ekimu's words. She didn't need to question if he was lying or not. Speaking in a somewhat motherly tone, she places a hand on his shoulder. "Ekimu... its okay. What happened was against your own will. I think... I think your father already forgave you," she told him. "There's still time... come on. We need to stop him."

"We can't," said Ekimu. "He has gained physical form. He grows strong as he obtains Spirit Stones. He will destroy all."

Unmoved by his negativity, she showed both of the Spirit Rings. "Not if we destroy him first."

The Kendov sighed. He quickly took the ring off his finger and placed it on her's.

"Hey! What're you doing?"

"It is your destiny to destroy the Great Evil, not mine. Nis brud nii voth hi, nuz vis hiif hi. I cannot carry this burden with you... but I can take you where he has gone."

Maria nodded. "I understand."

Ekimu then began to muster up what energy he had left over from holding Lucifer in. Through it, he conjured a portal that would take them to where Lucifer was. Maria instantly jumped through.

On the other side, Maria opened her eyes and looked around. It looked like she was back on the planet of Mata Nui, but it was much different. Islands were on fire, crystal cities were brought to ruin, and darkness shrouded the land.

Suddenly a voice shrieked from from behind. She turned around fast, and she saw what looked like a blue hedgehog. But it was much different. It had one large eye instead of two, scales instead of fur, and four legs like that of a crab. Maria gasped. It was Sonic, now a Dark Hunter. "Bolog aaz, mal lir!" The heartless monster then lunged at the blonde hedgehog.

Maria quickly dodged. "Sonic! Stop!" she shouted. "It's me! Your sister!"

"Ausul saraan!"

"I know you're in there! I don't want to fight you. You have to fight it!"

"Kren Sos Aal!"

"Sonic, please!"

But before she could say any more, Dark Hunter Sonic quickly grabbed her by the neck. "Faaz! Paak! Dinok!"

Maria grabbed his hand with her hands, trying to be free from the tight grasp, but to no avail. She couldn't scream for help. She had so little breath, her face almost turned purple...

Just then, a blast flew to Sonic. It stunned him and he dropped Maria to the ground. She turned to see Ekimu, who had jumped in shortly after. The two looked to see many other of her corrupted friends and family.

"I will help you past these few. Save your power for the enemy," the last Kendov instructed.

"But... but these are my friends..." Maria said, nervously.

"They are Dark Hunters, who feel no pain and show no remorse. They don't think, feel, or live freely... and they can't be restored without defeating their master."

"Alright... I understand... just please don't kill them."

"My sentiments precisely."

And so began a new battle. The hand that unwillingly created these monsters was now fighting against them. Maria shot her arrows as warning shots at the beasts. While they were clearly outnumbered, the two miraculously outmatched the monsters. At last, they reached their destination: the castle of Mata Nui.

"I'll hold them off. Go, fulfill your destiny."

"Be careful, Ekimu." The winged hedgehog charged into the castle. As she made her way to the main chamber, the doors closed behind her.

Before long, Maria had made it to the main chamber. It had changed from when she was on Mata Nui last. The walls were jagged and dark. The pedestal that held the Spirit Rings was destroyed. And on the floor was the image of a pentagon within a star.

While it didn't show on her face, the hedgehog was scared. But she had to forge on. She was the last light of hope for the universe. "I know you're here," she shouted. "Come out of the darkness."

A reply came thereafter. "I am the darkness... the darkness that consumes the souls of the fallen. Now, this is your final warning: run away, or perish."

"I am through running," she replied as she held out her bow, ready to fight. "The universe will be freed this day!"

Lucifer grinned in a corruptive way. "The woman of light, now so bold. But without the man of darkness, you are just Maria." As he was speaking, the king of Oblivion came into sight. To Maria's surprise, he had become larger after absorbing some of the planet's energy. What he said next only made her feel worse. "You failed to save your friends, your family, your world… you didn't even warn them. Perhaps for your final failure, a simple challenge against me?" he offered. "Win, and I will surrender. When you lose, I will have those Rings."

"I will not fail!"

"Come to me, chosen protector! Come, fulfill your destiny!"

Maria started charging her Chaos powers, white lightning bouncing off the golden aura. Super Maria was soon ready. Lucifer also started charging his own powers, black lightning sparking off himself. The two rushed at each other, moving quicker than anything could follow. The beginning shockwave was so strong that it shattered the palace they were within.

Punches, kicks, and powerful shots were expertly blocked by both warriors, the crashing echoing like thunder across the horizon. The battle outside had come to a stand still as every Dark Hunter watched.

"You stole their free will... their souls! They couldn't stop you! But I will!" Using the power of the Spirit Stones, Maria had lifted two of the islands telepathically. She tossed them around in an attempt to sandwich the enemy.

But Lucifer held out his hands, and the islands were demolished before they touched him. "My turn, then?" Using his power, he reached out for the power of the planet, and some of the energy from within was extracted. That energy was then thrown at the hedgehog girl. Maria quickly jumped away. "Still running, mortal?" he laughed.

With every energy blast from the Spirit Stones tossed at her, the former human jumped, ducked and dodged. All the while, she was reminded of her nightmare from a few nights before. It was coming true.

Maria then called upon the Spirit Rings herself. She began assailing Lucifer with everything she thought of. But the enemy was able to redirect the fire around him. Suddenly he spun in place, transforming into a large red tornado. "No, no, no!" Maria shouted as he was sucked in. She tried vigorously to escape, and she quickly thought of an idea. Going in the direction the tornado spun, she caused one hard flap and flew out of the tornado, far from its reach. Lucifer stopped spinning and leaped over to where she was. He tried to crush the winged hedgehog. But she dodged easily by flying further out.

As she flew back toward Lucifer, he pounded against the ground, causing rock to burst out. But Maria either dodged them or blasted her way through with her Chaos Arrows. As soon as they close enough, they both fired a large blast toward each other. As they collided, a large explosion flew across the land, sending the battle to a brief pause.

For a moment, the opposing fighters stood and stared. They were both exhausted. Lucifer then broke the silence. "It would seem we've reached an impasse... alright, Maria. I'll make you a deal." He stretched his arm out and pulled it up.

In the center of the remains of the palace, crystal broke apart, and something appeared from within. A lifeless figure was chained to a stone cross. Maria was shocked. It was Shadow's body.

"Give me the Rings, and I will let you save your equal."

The temptation was greatly strong. Maria knew she needed Shadow to fulfill the prophecy. However, she knew better than to give him the source to the greatest known power in the universe. How it came to be remained a mystery, but as she thought of what to do, it seemed that she sensed something coming their way. Something large and strong, but was it friend or foe? She sensed that it seemed to be... seeking Lucifer. She saw this to an advantage.

"Enough stalling, child," uttered Lucifer. "I demand an answer at once!"

Suddenly, a large, metal fist punched Lucifer with enough force to knock him down. There stood a large humanoid robot. Up where the head should be, there was a small human being within.

"Eggman?!" Maria yelled, completely stunned by the sudden turn of events. "But... why?"

"Because... nobody deceives Dr. Eggman unless I dismantle them first!" he yelled as he made his next move. Two large cannons like Gatling guns appeared in place of the robot's hands. But Lucifer managed to grab them and rip them off. "No! You good-for-nothing traitor!"

"I am your master, Robotnik, and I will do with you as I please!" Lucifer then grabbed the head of the robot and yanked it off. He now held Eggman in his Egg Mobile. "But you've worn out your usefulness!" He tossed his held item into the air.

"WHY ME...?!" Eggman shouted as he disappeared from sight.

As he had turned back, Lucifer saw that Maria had arrived at Shadow's body and broke the chains. "Checkmate, Lucifer." She held her hands over the lifeless body. "Chaos Restore!" Her body glowed over Shadow's.

But nothing happened.

"What...? Chaos Restore! CHAOS RESTORE!" Still nothing.

Lucifer grinned. "He's dead."

"Wh... what do you mean?"

"He isn't merely wounded, Maria. He's dead. The mortal's soul cannot be returned to the body it left. It is forbidden... by Him," he explained as he pointed up. Then he used his power to restrain her.

Maria tried to break free. But she had used up too much power trying to save Shadow.

Lucifer then approached her, and reached for each hand. "That was so foolish of you..." He slid the Spirit Rings off her fingers, then placed them on his own.

The absorbed energy coursed within him as he transformed again. Within a few tens of seconds, lo and behold, the creature became as large as a mountain. There before Maria stood a large firey red dragon with seven heads. Upon all of the heads were a total of ten horns, its claws were large enough to crush some of the large islands nearby, and its wings like a hurricane ready to strike… no monster, living or fictional, had ever been so fearsome.

Regardless of the multiple heads, a single voice came from the beast. "I will have my revenge on the Great Spirit," Lucifer said. "You shall die now, knowing your efforts were in vain. And my corruption shall spread into the souls of all mortals. And all that is good shall be gone from the universe forever!" The seven heads looked down upon the winged hedgehog. "My gratitude for bringing this about, Maria. Before I dispose of you, I shall grant you any one final request within reason."

The hedgehog girl looked down at Shadow, and then back at Lucifer. "Just one last goodbye… That's all I ask," she said, tearing up.

The master of darkness shrugged. "So be it."

She looked back down at the lifeless Shadow and kneeled down. "Shadow… I'm so sorry," she began. "You treated me the same whether I was human or hedgehog. You were always there when I needed you. But when you needed me most, I wasn't… And now… This is all my fault." She picked up his head and placed it on her lap. Then she closed her eyes, leaned down, and she gave him a small, yet passionate kiss on the lip. When she pulled away, she whispered, "You're my hero, Shadow… and I will always love you…"

Lucifer grinned evilly. "Isn't that just precious… Now, accept your doom." From his mouths, surges of dark energy accumulated, ready to strike at and finish her. Within seconds, the dark power flew from them toward her and Shadow. Maria held the lifeless black hedgehog close to her body and closed her eyes. She knew that only a miracle could save her now…

…and that was exactly what she got.

"WHAT?!" Lucifer shouted in surprise.

The hedgehog girl looked up. Around the two was some form of shield, and it had reflected the dark power. When the Chaos energy was depleted from around them, the shield retracted into Shadow and he began to glow a bright light. He then started to float into the air by the mysterious force.

Both Maria and Lucifer watched in wonder. Neither knew what was going on. Once Shadow's lifeless body was raised high enough into the air, a great energy filled the body, and out of it came a bright, blinding light.

When the light settled, Lucifer looked back at the source. "Impossible…"

What the two of them were staring at was a Mobian hedgehog that looked similar to the ebony and crimson one. Its fur was white as snow with gold markings instead of red. Even its eyes were a bright gold. Out from its back came not two, but four wings. It wore gold-lined armor with a matching shield on its right arm and a sword in its left hand. It looked at blonde one and smiled. "Thank you, Maria…"

The creature that she was staring at was indeed her beloved Shadow the Hedgehog, now Archangel Shadow!