Royalty by Egzod, Maestro Chives and Neoni.
Stand By Me by Ben E. King.
~~~

His approach to this would have to be delicate. The entire world's existence was at stake. His newfound promise demanded this of him. There was simply too much to-

He winded past a corner with a hiss in his Air Shoes and skidded upon coming across a vast runway. Yellow lights stretched up the sides and purple rectangles illuminated the ceiling. There was still a continuous, frustrating, blaring alarm and a distant rumble, but the blue hedgehog standing in the middle narrowed his focus.

Right. He'd have to be careful if he were to do this correctly.

"You never cease to surprise me, blue hedgehog."

He whirled around and instantly his quills were sharp. "Shadow?"

"You've managed to escape the Doctor for years. Not just him, but death itself too."

"What can I say?" He shrugged. "I die hard!"

Shadow, distantly, stood at the speedsters side. "There's definitely more to you than just looking like me. But surviving the crash of that factory is...just who are you?"

Sonic chuckled and stretched his legs. "What you see is what ya get! Just a guy who loves adventure!"

He gave a snarky grin and blasted off and with Shadow's frustration flared- he followed.

———

Rouge hurried to the dizzy echidna's side, careful of the dancing green bolts around him. "Knuckles?"

"Did it work?"

Tails looked to the vast cylinder that once held the Master Emerald. Smoke poured from the gaps between metal sheets and oil spilled onto the stairs. Upon closer examination, many green shards lay in the machine's middle. Wires sparked all around and screens either flickered, hissed or were cracked.

"Yeah. You did it."

The ceiling groaned above and a bang snapped from beyond the room.

"The place seems to be on it's last legs." Eggman informed, sweat lining his forehead.

"We'd better get outta here." Sally looked to her fighters. "And get to where Sonic and Shadow will be."

"Hold on, what about-?" Rotor started, but a crash and yelp disrupted him.

The group turned to the broken entrance where a dusty, scratched, pink hedgehog stumbled her way in. Pink sparks traced up her arms but upon dusting herself off- they were gone.

"Guys! It's-!"

"You're okay, Suga'!" Bunnie hopped to Amy and gave her a hug.

"For now, but The Arks falling apart!"

"How bad iz it out zere?" Antoine asked.

"To the point corridors are completely blocked off by scrap and rubble."

"Well, this seems to be where we part ways. I wish good luck to Shadow and Sonic!" Eggman saluted and rushed to the exit, yelping when part of the demolished cylinder was thrown to land just before him.

Mighty rolled his shoulder. "You aren't going anywhere!"

Sally shook her wrists to reveal bright blue, translucent swords. "This is it, Eggman. Your reign of tyranny is over."

Briefly, there was fear in his eyes. It made her smirk and brought her to carry herself with much more pride. But then it was gone and like a switch he had an unnaturally stretched grin.

"You're a fool, Princess. I've taken everything you have before and I'll do it again."

There was a boom, a hiss, gasps and Sally wheezed as a claw strangled her throat. Murderous red optics glared up at her and another sharp set of metal fingers lifted- sparks dancing off it. She kicked, he tightened his grip and Bunnie's stretched leg came into view.

"Ge' off 'er, you beast!"

Metal Sonic was sent rolling and Sally dropped to massage her neck. Tails and Ray cautiously approached the fractured robot for inspection.

"Sally-Girl!" Bunnie reached her side and helped her stand. "You okay?"

"No." She glanced at the sparking blue machine before returning to where Eggman once stood.

"Robotnik's gone. Snively too."

———

"So, decided to help have ya?"

Shadow noted the other's suspicion. "Your friend, Rose, talked some sense into me."

"Amy? Really?"

"Don't underestimate the power of her words."

Sonic glared ungratefully.

Shadow cleared his throat. "I learned revenge is not what Maria wanted. It was foolish of me to think so."

"Eh, don't be so hard on yourself...Faker."

He growled. "Besides, you won't be able to do this by yourself."

Sonic flicked his nose. "You sound pretty sure about that."

"I am. The Eclipse Nuke is powered by the Master Emerald now."

"Right. How much time do you think we have?"

"Five minutes- at most."

Sonic snorted, skidding. "Piece of cake."

Shadow rolled his eyes and directed the other's attention to the sight ahead. It was an incredibly vast ditch with a rounded platform far below. Atop it sat a cone shape with four pointed legs sprouting from it's bottom. Green-hued wires pulled tightly from above and lifted to the pitch black ceiling above.

"It's...smaller than I expected." Sonic rubbed his scruff.

Shadow frowned and examined the wires, then the shape of the room. "That's because it's the source. Not the entire Nuke."

"What do you mean?"

He lifted the other's head towards the ceiling. "I vaguely remember Gerald speak of his next project- after me. He wanted to build some kind of cannon powered by something like the Master Emerald- he said something strong enough. Of course, he never managed to finish it but...."

Sonic gulped. "This...would've been the cannon?"

"Seems so. The Nuke there would power the cannon. But now it's going to go off, in The Ark, and destroy whatever it can for miles around."

"So we just gotta stop it before it powers the whole place, right?"

"You need to tell your friends to leave this place."

"W-?" Sonic frowned as Shadow expertly hopped down- standing carefully at the bottom.

Pursuing the darker hedgehog, he continued. "Why?"

"The Master Emerald has already powered it. It's too far in the process to shut it down."

"There's gotta be-."

"So, we need to control it- minimise it's damage."

"You mean...set it off in The Ark?"

Shadow hummed and with two snaps removed his golden bracelets. "I don't expect you to-."

Sonic laughed and stretched his legs. "I ain't letting you have all the glory."

The Ultimate Lifeform cautiously approached the green sparking bomb as his rival opened his Comlink. The princess's voice, confused and worried, argued on the other end but eventually Sonic was at his side- nothing but a smile on his face. Curious.

"I'm going to try and cool it down. You should break the wires."

Sonic saluted. "On it, Boss."

With a bounce he was a ball. He blasted upward, Shadow pressed his hands against the burning metal and blue wind zoomed around the circular walls. Sonic's quills tensed as he ricocheted off the metal surface and cut through the first wire. Heat enveloped him as green electricity clung onto him and more continued to dance around his form as more wires were slashed.

Soon he landed and Shadow's eyes went wide upon sclera briefly showing green instead of white. Still, like vines, green currents slithered up blue limbs and circled a peach chest. Most shockingly, Sonic didn't seem to be in pain. In fact he appeared rejuvenated.

Just who was he?

"Hedgehog?"

He shook himself, but the static remained. "How's it going?"

"I-."

There was a hiss and the ground trembled.

"I...may need your assistance. Rest your hands against the nuke for a moment."

Unsure, Sonic obliged. "You know I don't have the same powers as you, right?"

Shadow merely waved to the electricity that seemed to move with the speedster. Then his Air Shoes hissed and he zoomed to the upper floor.

"Where're you going?!"

"To keep the Nuke's range at a minimum! We have a minute left at most! Give me half of that time before you set it off!"

"How?"

"Imagine you're the cannon. The wires. Deliver that electricity to the bomb and overheat it. You'll have seconds to escape. Which shouldn't be a problem as you are The Fastest Thing Alive." With a grin and flash he was gone.

"Escape to water." Sonic grumbled. "Fun."

———

"Chaos...where are they?" Amy chewed her lip.

T-minus forty seven seconds....

Beside her, Sally paced. "They'll be okay. How much time do they have, Tails?"

In the Tornado X's pilot seat, the fox looked at the ocean below. There was a vague, distant, pulsating green hue. "About half a minute?"

"The whole place is gonna be closing in on itself." Rotor stressed.

"So a challenge for an easy trek. Remember who's down there." Knuckles, with green shards on his lap, replied.

T-minus twenty eight seconds....

There was a flash and a black dot towered directly above the green hue. Flames licked at his ankles.

"That's Shadow. What's he up to?" Rouge wondered.

"Where's Sonic?" Bunnie asked.

T-minus twenty seconds....

Sweat coated his forehead and Shadow sternly pressed his teeth together. The clouds were dark and lightning snapped through the sky. His ears strained and just about picked up the alarm below. Chaos...let this work.

T-minus fourteen seconds....

Sonic should be on his way out of there now.

T-minus nine seconds....

Golden electricity zoomed up his arms and he outstretched his hands.

T-minus five seconds....

The Freedom Fighters cheered his name, he exhaled and the water rippled below.

Detonation...activated....

Shadow eyed the calm waves. Rain mixed with his sweat and the green hue brightened to a blinding amount. He gasped and the water blossomed as the explosion beneath pushed against it.

"Chaos Control!"

The Tornado X, tilted, froze. Rain paused and clouds stood still. The waves and wind stopped and the water seized in rising.

In a flash he was gone and under the water. Metal pieces were scattered for miles, unable to move. Another flash and he was, where he presumed, before The Eclipse Nuke. No blue hedgehog to be seen.

He moved to swim upward but noticed a cobalt ball above- sat against a sheet of metal.

Dizziness swept over him, but Shadow kicked his ankles inhibitor rings off and swam to the sphere. He pulled brown material from his quills and set it down, pushed the steel upward, watched it hit the surface and in the blink of an eye was back beside The Ark.

Maria had once woken him almost every night to go exploring. Gerald once spent his days tinkering away. Professors pushed Shadow to his limits- testing every aspect of him to ensure he was the Ultimate Lifeform.

Perhaps it was good The Ark would be no more. Hopefully they could all finally rest.

He closed his eyes for a moment, gathered himself and outstretched his hands.

'Chaos...Shield!'

A scorching wave of gold swam from his fingers and licked against the remainder of The Space Colony Ark. With a flash he was on the other side and conjured the same reaction- allowing both blankets to meet at the top. He grabbed the sheets edge, swam around and pulled on the other- joining them at the side of the aircraft. Shadow kicked himself away but dropped from increasing dizziness.

Would this be enough?

His legs gave out and he concluded he could only hope.

Still, as time resumed and his shield pushed against his back, he wondered if this would count in fulfilling her promise.

After all, this is what Maria wanted, right?

———

Warmth.

Pressure on his shoulder. A hand.

There was burning in his chest. Rising. Rising until-

He rolled and heaved up water, coughing and gasping. His shoulders shuddered and the hand went to rest there again.

At his side, blurry, but soon blue eyes glistened with worry. At his growl they became relieved. Was that...?

He blinked and shook his head to see a white bat not much dryer than he was.

"Rouge?" He rasped.

"Shadow. You're alright, hun."

He massaged his temple and sat back to acknowledge the beach surrounding him. A plane stood before him and colourful mobians watched in little huddles- mostly.

"Seaside City." Amy answered, crouching beside him.

"What...?"

"You guys did it!" Mighty cheered. "I-I mean...whatever you did. It worked!"

"After we found Sonic, we looked for you in the water and found you beneath some Ark debris." Sally explained, allowing N-I-C-O-L-E to help dry her off.

"You...where is he?" Shadow practically demanded and scrambled up.

"Behind tha' Tornado, Suga'." Bunnie, hand in hand with Antoine, pointed.

Immediately he hurried around the plane and stiffened. Leaning against the aircraft, Sonic squeezed the remaining water out from brown material. Scars had always adorned him it seemed, so it was hard to tell what was new and what was old.

"Never liked water."

Unsure, Shadow slowly nodded- eyes glued to the chocolate article. "It...isn't pleasant."

"How'd you do it?"

"Chaos Control allows me to briefly pause time-."

"Like you did at Knothole?" Sonic slung the item over his shoulder.

"...Yes."

"How come the nuke didn't go everywhere?"

"My Chaos Shield prevented it."

"Some nifty powers you have."

"They are...useful. But they take a lot out of me."

"Ah. Yeah. That reminds me." Sonic dug in his quills and tossed four open rings over.

Shadow snapped them on. "How'd you-?"

"Tails found 'em and gave me them."

"I see. Tell him I give my thanks."

The blue blur looked to his brother conversing with Sally prior to meeting his rival with a thumbs up.

"Why aren't you with them?"

He shrugged. "Always like a moment to myself after."

"Right." Shadow pulled on his glove and stared at brown material.

"Sonic-."

"Sal' wanted me to brief you, too. Eggman, Omega and Snively got away. Metal seems to be out the count for the time being, but we gotta go after them. I'm sure ya know but Eggman's gonna be at Robotropolis-."

"His main base of operations. I've been there."

"You have?"

"It's...unpleasant."

Shadow caught a shaky exhale and looked to see Sonic pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Well...either way we're heading out."

"Just us?"

"Sally and Rouge are gonna get Gun to help. We can't do this alone." Sonic held out his hand. "And...if you're up for it, we could do with another Freedom Fighter."

Shadow's eyes widened. "Me? I got you arrested. I planted The Eclipse Nuke in Eggman's head. I helped him bring about Angel Islands downfall. I-."

A hand on his shoulder and a kind smile.

"You saved the world, Shads. We all make mistakes sometimes- but we get the gift of having tomorrow to fix it."

"Th- Shads?"

Sonic snickered. "Well, you seem pretty honest so I don't think Fa-."

"Shads? Seriously?"

"You'll like it soon enough. C'mon." He waved and started to move, but Shadow pulled him back by the elbow.

"Hold on, Sonic."

"What-?"

The brown material was carefully taken from his shoulder and tied around his neck, making a Neckerchief.

"I...am sorry for breaking it."

With green eyes too low to see, Shadow watched the other hold it's lowest point.

"I couldn't imagine someone breaking the locket I wear, so, I sincerely apologise. Not just for the coat, but for taking your home. I won't make excuses for that."

Sonic cleared his throat. "Well...you destroyed yours for us. 'Sides Knothole's just one place out of many. The entire world is my home."

He guided Shadow to look at the colourful group. "It's the people over the place for me. And I always knew I'd be moving again sooner or later. Gotta go where Eggman goes. But the gang? Sally? Mobotropolis is her home. So, we gotta get it back."

—————

"These past few weeks have been...chaotic for all of Mobius. Sonic the Hedgehog returned only for rumours of his betrayal to take the world by storm. Now, the main consensus is our hero was set up- never working with Robotnik- sorry...." The red-haired news-woman dropped her head to read her papers. Chants and calls could be heard from behind the camera.

"Erm, Eggman. Sonic never worked with...Eggman on Prison Island. This became more true when just hours ago the mysterious floating island, Angel Island, fell. Prison Island too has became a toxic wasteland. Due to the many aircrafts spotted, with noticeable memorabilia, it's concluded Doctor Eggman was behind all this. Furthermore, these events beg the question- is Commander Towers truly fit to lead G.U.N? Is our military corrupt or simply misguided? Either way, both are a cause for concern."

She stepped from the central camera view to reveal the ocean behind her. Smoke rose in the distance and two silhouettes of fallen islands peaked through the grey fog.

"At Seaside City, reports of explosions and flashes were given. All were spotted out in the middle of the sea- with nothing around for miles. People soon gathered to the front where, reportedly, a red plane was noticed taking off into the sky once more. Having done so before, it's suspicious as to what our Freedom Fighters are up to. In addition, those all around the world witnessed the disturbing video of an unknown man enacting his 'revenge' with something he called the Eclipse Nuke. It has been hours since and still nothing, but the Freedom Fighters' red plane was spotted approximately half an hour before the video. Thus, its assumed, they have since prevented the launch and are in pursuit of Eggman."

The lady came back to central view. "Since, people rushed the front of Seaside City when an Eggman ship flew over. A red plane landed by the docks but was gone before people managed to reach it. Now, we can only hope our heroes are going after Eggman- ready to stop him once and for all. However, we must ask if G.U.N have a plan of attack? Do they know of this and if so, what are they going to do about it? We-."

The camera dipped and a man moved around to whisper into her ear- making her eyes widen and her mouth drop. Quickly, she cleared her throat and shrugged on an apologetic smile.

"Sorry. A, erm, a recent update has just came in. Smoke and fire was spotted in The Great Forest, followed by a team of G.U.N agents to explore the scene."

In the background, the crowds chanting dropped to confused whispers.

"According to their reports, vague remnants of a village was found. Unsalvageable, but they concluded from Badnik parts that Eggman was once again behind it."

Some of the crowd gasped.

"Soon after, presumably the same time as the Freedom Fighters' plane arrived here, another village was found in similar circumstances. However, singed circles dotted the ground. It's unknown what they came from but thankfully there were survivors, albeit very little. In any case-."

There was a shriek and the reporter looked past the camera and into the clouds.

"What is-?"

Her papers fell and a large silhouette peaked through the clouds above her. Red hair bounced over her face as she hurried towards the large gathering of people. More shadows descended past the clouds and quickly, many little blobs dropped from the aircrafts. Lasers poured like rain- avoiding the crowd and creating a singed line around them. The camera dropped as the man behind cried out and was followed by screams and panicked yells.

Cyan blue smothered the camera before it shut off.

—————

The Chaotix had agreed in visiting Commander Towers with Charles and Vanilla- asking for G.U.N's help. Cream had protested against going with them, wishing to help- especially after hearing about the trapped Flickies. She informed the group it wasn't just the little animals, but Chao too (many were taken from her village). Thus, in the passengers seat of the Tornado X sat Amy and Cream.

In the present, Shadow watched Rouge hop from the lower wing, briefly vanish behind stormy clouds, and twirl onto the top. She removed her Agent eye-piece with spooked eyes and moved to a muttering Sonic and Sally.

"Princess."

The chipmunk stood. "Everything okay?"

"Windmill Village has been taken over."

"Wha' was that?" Bunnie called from below.

"Just like Knothole-."

"Any survivors?" Shadow cut in, approaching with crossed arms.

"Four. Only four. They said Cyan beams were going off everywhere and when they'd disappear so would the mobians stuck there."

Sally and Sonic paled. "Chaos...."

"I didn't know Eggman still used them." Knuckles awkwardly climbed up with green shards under his left arm.

"Since Mobotropolis he hasn't." Sally shivered. "Until now."

"He's panicking." Sonic flicked his nose.

"Why do you think so?" Shadow asked.

"I'd say I know him pretty well by now. But we all know he's been itching to take Mobius completely over again. We've been able to distract him for a while, but after The Ark he knows we could stop him. So, he's going through with it. He's beginning to wipe out Mobius-."

"Starting with the villages. We were still in the process of evacuating everyone." Sally continued.

"But with him acting so quickly, he knows we're coming and he knows we're going there to stop him."

———

"Where are we, Tails?" Rotor wondered.

Tails glanced at the green hued map. "Just passing over Central City."

"Are you scared?" Cream asked.

"I'd be a fool if I wasn't."

"You calling Sonic a fool?" Amy giggled.

"He's scared- a lot more than he's willing to show." Tails bit his lip, staring at himself through the side mirror.

"He has better self-composure though. I mean, he's done this for so long. No wonder he's as brave as he is! I'd be smiling in the face of danger too if I was half as brave as him!"

"But you are." Cream tilted her head. "Much more than half."

"Th-thanks. But no one is as good as this as Sonic, trust me."

A skid made the four's ears perk up and they turned to see Sally carefully climbing towards them.

"You guys okay? What's the latest?"

"We're hanging in there." Rotor replied. "Bit...worried though. You?"

"I think we're all scared. But we're gonna have G.U.N and we have a plan. We've done this before too."

"Not to this extent though. I mean, we need to free the Flickies and the Chao, somehow help the Robians and stop Snively and Eggman for good." Tails gulped.

"We're gonna split up. Some of us will go after the Flickies and Chao-."

"I'd like to help with that." Cream offered.

Sally nodded. "And Charles has a theory on the Robotisizer. He thinks if, somehow, he can reverse it's function then he can make the Robians normal again. He's gonna mention it to Towers when they get to Station Square."

"That's...but you'd have to know the Roboticizers like a creator would know it. For one thing. And you'd need a direct connection between the two. Like...someone who survived getting Roboticised."

"Charles is the answer to both of those, Tails." Sally smirked. "We found some blueprints on it with his name on it. He confirmed he had once made them too- but wasn't proud of it. This was before the war between humans and mobians! Of course, Eggman stole the plans and the rest is history. And Charles has the same sentience and free will just like us! He's that connection and...if not, well, we know someone else who made it through something similar."

"Wh-?" Tails followed the Princess' thumb towards a blue hedgehog who jested with Knuckles.

"Although not quite the same, his DNA's imprint is on the Roboticisers. He was just...used differently."

"Huh. Just when I think Sonic's at his greatest- he always surprises me!" The fox laughed. "You've really thought through this well."

"I'm not the leader for nothing." Sally winked, stood but turned.

"Oh, I overheard you guys a little and...Tails?"

"Yeah?"

"You shouldn't compare yourself to Sonic so much, and don't belittle yourself if you come up short. You have this wonderful kindness and bravery- a type that allows you to try and understand Snively and talk to him. Me and Sonic could never be able to do something like that. And for the record, not even Sonic can be Sonic half the time."

———

"How you doin' Suga-Twan?" Bunnie looked down at the resting coyote on her lap.

"Zis wound iz not as painful anymore."

"Still, ya' could've went with tha' others. Could've been safe."

"And leave you behind? Not a chance."

Pink painted her cheeks. "Ah would've been fine...." She weakly protested.

"I know."

She found herself briefly giggling. His blue eye went wider. She had always found them...pretty. It was also amusing, recalling how he hadn't been the bravest upon first meeting him, but watching him grow to hold the courage of a true Freedom Fighter. He'd been one of the first to welcome her to Knothole, never judged her half Roboticised form, given her patience and kindness- Chaos. Enough of that.

They were hurriedly approaching Robotropolis- Sally's first home. This wasn't the time to get nostalgic. Seeing Antoine smirking made her huff and she flicked his golden hair with her metal hand.

"Shut up, Suga-Twan. Get some rest."

Nearby, Knuckles excused himself to sit with the Master Emerald shards. The Ark's nuke was prevented but knowing it was his own fists that destroyed the one thing he was destined to protect....

"You can put it back together, ya know."

He turned to see Mighty and, although bruised, grinning with Ray giving a wave.

"I know." The red guardian huffed. "But I have to be on the Alter to do so."

The armadillo hopped to sit beside his close friend. "We'll get there when this is all over. In a way, it's kinda good it's destroyed- means Eggman can't go after it."

Ray joined his other side. "We're sorry about letting him take it in the first place though...."

Knuckles shook his head. "You two have looked after it for years, when I'm not around, so there's nothing to be sorry for. And you didn't really let him. Recent...events should show you he just takes what he wants."

Mighty nudged him. "But that ends today!"
———

"Tails says we're passing over the Great Forest, Princess."

Sally scrunched up her nose and looked to her left, finding N-I-C-O-L-E. "That explains the smoke."

"There is also a storm. I doubt it's-."

"I was being dramatic, Nic'."

"Oh."

It was...endearing. Moments like those where the holo-lynx took statements far too literally. Very endearing.

"If we don't...if we fail-."

Sally rested her hand on the other's now tense shoulder. "We won't. We've had setbacks, but we always bounce back."

"You sound just like him." N-I-C-O-L-E giggled.

"He sometimes has a point. Sometimes."

"There you are!"

In perfect timing, the Princess flinched when Sonic pulled her close by her shoulder and saluted as the holo-lynx fizzled away. Sally mindlessly fiddled with his new neckerchief in response.

"Everyone up to date on the plan?"

"Yup."

"Good. We're pretty much there. And how're you doing?"

"I'm ready to get this over with. I want my kingdom back."

"We'll get it."

"Do...do you think they're watching us? Those you lived with in Knothole. The people of Mobotropolis. All those in ruined villages and cities? Our...families?"

Sonic swallowed. He shoulders felt such an unknown pressure- a terrifying force pushing him down. Eyes stared over them and whispers crept from the dark.

"Maybe they are."

"Do you think they'd be proud of what we're doing?"

"Without a doubt. I know I'm proud."

Sally gently nudged him away with a laugh. "We all know that!"

"Don't act like you hate it."

"Oh shut up and kiss me for luck."

And he did. When she could she squeezed his hands in hers and with low eyelids looked into his eyes.

"And what about you?"

"Me?"

"After this, I'll have my kingdom and you...?"

"Dunno." He shrugged. "Wherever the wind takes me."

"Oh."

Blue eyes poured surprise and hurt. He lightly pinched her cheek before stepping back.

"But let's actually get there first, okay? Don't gotta worry about stuff we may not get to yet."

Over their Comlinks, Tails informed, "Guys! Better get ready 'cause we're here!"

And as the group stood and the stormy clouds parted, Sonic whispered, "But I did promise to take you with me, remember?"

Robotropolis was a gloomy, terrifying place. Much of the EggFleet stood at a standstill over the ruinous castle, walls and prison wards. Banners of the Eggman Empire symbol rolled down walls large enough to fit them. Lights flashed across the muddy ground. Trees were nonexistent. There wasn't a bird or bug in sight. Beyond towering stone walls, the land was completely dead. The group watched in silent horror.

"It's you and me." Sonic spoke, taking Sally's hand in his. "One more time."