(A/N: Give credit to an artist WolfFang012 from Quotev and Wattpad for a beautiful fanart of Y/N and Shadow! Doesn't it look cute? I think so!)

The Crimson Egg flies through an asteroid field. Rouge is bathing, with Bokkun floating nearby. Rouge is holding a glass of juice.

"Hey! I ordered freshly-squeezed orange juice."

"Be quiet! Who cares as long as it's made of fruit?" Bokkun growled.

"Bokkun."

Rouge holds up the locket as assurance for a blackmail over him.

"I'll make another one."

Bokkun sweatdrops and takes the glass from her.

"By the way, did the Doctor find the next Chaos Emerald?" Rouge asked.

Bokkun doesn't answer.

"Don't play dumb! He entered this asteroid field because he detected a Chaos Emerald, right?"

"I don't know!"

He starts to leave, but Rouge grabs him.

"Let me go, you stupid devil ogre!"

"Stop fighting and answer me!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the other side of the ship, Y/N woke up and look around to find herself in a rather familiar place that's not from Typhoon. She sat up and groaned to feel a pain on her stomach. Y/N looked down to see her stomach all bandaged up.

"You're awake."

Y/N turned and was shocked to see Shadow again who's sitting on the chair beside her.

"S-Shadow! What are you doing here?"

"You're in Crimson Egg again. This is the second time I brought you here. You need to stop getting reckless at times."

Y/N blushed in embarrassment.

"You know I can't help it. But thanks for saving me. Did you do this?"

She gestured to her covered stomach.

"I did. With the help of Rouge. You pretty much worry her."

Y/N couldn't help but smile. Shadow blush a little.

"I brough you here because I have some questions."

"Questions?"

"Those flashes I've been having... I think I'm starting to remember you bit by bit."

This made her look at him with hope.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I remember you singing so beautifully like an angel." Shadow said, moving closer to her.

"My singing is that good?" Y/N asked, backing away a little and blushing.

"You even told me some things that made me somehow know who I am... And you... are vital to me."

Shadow's and Y/N's face were inches apart as they look like they were about to kiss when an explosion rocks the ship interrupting their moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the cockpit

"We're being attacked from 10 o'clock!" Decoe exclaimed.

"Detecting multiple heat sources up ahead! There must be spaceships fighting!" Bocoe exclaimed.

"Is it Sonic again? They're always getting in my way."

Eggman sees hundreds of flashes in the distance.

"What's that?"

He quickly learns that it is a group of pilots fighting off a group of Metarex swarmers. Y/N silently head inside the cockpit to watch over the battle while listening. Y/N had to stay put much to her displeasure as Shadow had told her to stay here and rest and let her stomach heal. She knew that he was right as she reluctantly did what she was told even though she wanted to help.

"You know, it's rude to eavesdrop on someone, cutie~"

Y/N turned and almost screamed to see Rouge who had gotten out of bath.

"Geez... You scared me for a sec."

"Aw, aren't you happy to see me?"

"I am and a little upset over the fact that you dropped me when I refuse to give you the Emeralds." Y/N deadpanned, making Rouge wince. "But... It's alright. I should thank you and Shadow for taking care of me."

Rouge smirked.

"Glad I could help, cutie."

"Still going on with that nickname, I see."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In space, a human man named Leon is one of the resistance fighters. Several of his side's craft get shot down.

"The warships are comin' at us from everywhere!" Leon shouted.

Another craft is shot down.

"We're way outnumbered!" One of the pilot said over the radio.

A group of Metarex swarmers appear behind Leon.

"We can't turn back. It's too late!"

Another human pilot, a girl named Molly, shoots down three Metarex ships.

"I'll distract the satellite ships. You aim for the fortress and give it everything you've got!"

She flies through a thick swarm of Metarex ships.

"Roger!"

The group flies toward the flagship, which is being run by Metarex General Pale Bayleaf. The battleship opens fire. Its lasers destroy several more resistance craft and even it the Crimson Egg. Decoe and Bocoe begin to panic.

"Something tells me it is not Sonic!"

"This is someone a whole lot crankier!"

"Quit quivering, you clanking clods! We'll call on our secret weapon!" Eggman ordered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadow is standing outside the Crimson Egg.

"Oh, Shadow? It seems we're in a bit of a pickle. See what you can do." Eggman said over the radio.

Shadow's eyes narrow, and he zips around, destroying Metarex ships left and right. One of them is about to shoot down Molly's craft, but Shadow destroys it. Shadow and Molly make eye contact before the black hedgehog flies away. Molly is shocked at what she saw.

"Could that be Black Wind...?"

"Molly! You okay?" Leon called over the radio.

"Who was that guy? He came out of nowhere!" Pilot asked.

"What's next?" Another Pilot asked.

"Let's follow him! We may not be the only resistance out here! C'mon!"

Molly and some other fighters fly back toward Pale Bayleaf's battleship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It appears that our enemies are more resourceful than we thought. That's enough for now." Pale Bayleaf said who's in his battleship.

"Yes, sir." Metarex Trooper said.

"Retreat immediately. We'll be watching and when they least expect it, we'll strike again, and this time, we'll destroy them."

A red gleam appears in his eye.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadow returns to the outside of the ship. Molly appears on Eggman's viewscreen.

"We are very grateful to you."

"Think nothing of it. Those Metarex can certainly be a nuisance with a capital N." Eggman said.

Decoe and Bocoe admire Molly.

"She's cute."

"I'm jealous that they get to have her as their leader!"

"Totally! We have to work our tails off for a selfish boss everyday!"

A random one ton Eggman weight falls on them to silence them. Shadow sees a planet with huge Grand Canyon-esque cracks running through it. Y/N looks at Molly as if she reminded her of Maria she once saw.

"This is Cascade, our home planet. My friends and I are the only ones living here now." Molly said.

The Crimson Egg and Molly's fleet descend toward the ruined, barren, rocky surface of Cascade, Molly's home planet.

"They've arranged a welcome reception for you at the base. I'm sure they'd be greatly honored if you come. We'll see you there."

Eggman grins. A blip appears on the radar.

"I'd be happy to come, now that I know there's a Chaos Emerald lying among those wretched ruins down there."

Eggman picked up the radio.

"See what you can find, Shadow."

"I'll take a look around." Shadow replied over the radio.

"Be discreet. If Y/N finds out there are Chaos Emeralds floating about, why, she's liable to--"

"What are you two talking about?"

"I'm liable to what, Egghead?"

Eggman sweatdrops when he sees Rouge and Y/N standing there. Bokkun is cowering behind Rouge.

"You're afraid I just might snatch 'em up for myself." Rouge shrugged. "How can I ever convince you I'm on the level?"

"I won't do anything stupid. I'll behave." Y/N said.

"Not..."

"Yeah. right."

Eggman picked up the radio again.

"Take Y/N and Rouge with you, but you better keep an eye on them."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Cascade, Shadow's eyes are drawn to a waterfall as a flashback hits him.

"Eggman doesn't care about you. He only wants to use you to get what he wants. Don't you see that?" Y/N confronted him.

Earlier...

"Of course I do. Shadow transported us to Space Colony ARK." Y/N said, unknowingly that Rouge set a trap.

"That's right. Shadow, wasn't that the home of your friend Maria?"

Later still...

"We all know you're just collecting 'em for Dr. Eggman. He can't be trusted." Super Y/N said, looking at him.

"Shadow!"

Shadow looks up. He, Y/N, Molly, and Rouge are now inside a makeshift headquarters in the rocks. A window looks out to the waterfall.

"Sorry, I just wanted to thank you. What you did... I mean, it was really incredible." Molly said.

"Yeah." Shadow replied.

"No, I mean it, Shadow. How did you do it? You destroyed those ships in seconds flat! My comrades and I were really impressed, and I just--"

Shadow walks away, but Molly follows. Y/N frowns at his rudeness when Molly simply wanted to thank him.

"I just want to learn more about you, like where you learn to battle like that. You were amazing!"

"Drop it, okay?"

Molly stops.

"Shadow!" Y/N exclaimed, glaring at him. "She's simply thanking you. What's gotten into you?"

"Oh no! I didn't mean to make him angry." Molly gasped.

"Don't worry, hon. He's always grumpy." Rouge said.

"For once, I agree." Y/N said with a sigh.

"Why is that?" Molly asked.

"You got me. But just 'cause he's a hero doesn't mean he's Price Charming. That strong silence just drives me batty." Rouge shrugged.

"He may come off as rude as he ever will be. But I know he has a good heart. He just doesn't wanna show it." Y/N added, looking at him.

Molly catches up with Shadow again.

"Wait. You attacked four Metarex ships like it was nothing at all! I've never seen bravery like that before. It was like the legend of Black Wind."

"Black Wind?" Y/N questioned.

"Never heard of him." Shadow said.

She nods as a shot of a hero with a billowing caps is shown.

"Long ago, there was a great hero named Black Wind. We called him that because he came ouit of the night to fight for our people and was never seen again." Molly explained. "For a moment, when I first saw you outside of my ship, I thought that maybe you were him. You're a hero!"

Shadow walks away again.

"Shadow?"

"You're wrong. I'm no hero."

"That's not true... You are a hero. Everyone on Earth has been talking about you and your bravery." Y/N frowned.

"That's right! He's just out for himself, aren't you, Shadow?" Rouge said.

Shadow stops.

"Well, you should talk. You do just about anything to get what you want."

Rouge is appalled, and Shadow turns to Y/N.

"You should also stop thinking that I'm someone that I'm not."

Even though Y/N didn't say anything, he knows that she's thinking about it. Y/N frowned deeply as he continues walking away.

"Shadow..." Y/N sighed, twirling her crystal necklace.

Molly noticed it.

"Hey, Y/N, right? What is that around your neck?"

"It's my crystal. It's a pure one that gives me power to protect everyone."

"Wow. I somehow have a crystal as well. Though it's kinda different compared to yours." she said, taking out something from her pocket.

She held out her so Y/N and Rouge could see. It is a square-shaped blue crystal.

"Whoa..." Y/N gasped.

"Well, hello." Rouge said.

All of the sudden, Y/N's crystal and Molly's crystal started to glow bright. The human and the hedgehog girl flinched in surprise until they both stopped glowing.

"What was that?"

"I have no idea. Somehow, they're connected."

"Amazing."

Meanwhile, Eggman, Decoe, and Bocoe are feasting with the other humans.

"That's right, Doctor. If you hadn't come along, who knows what could have happened?" Leon said.

"Thanks to you, the resistance lives on!"

"You're too kind. It was the least I could do for my fellow revolutionaries." Eggman grinned.

Bokkun sips his drink.

"You are a truly noble and honorable warrior, sir!"

"Mhm!" Deocoe and Bocoe nodded in agreement.

"Hear, hear!"

"Maybe now would be a good time to ask about that Chaos Emerald-- Oops!"

The hench-bots break into a sweat. Bokkun sweatdrops.

"Ahem, perhaps you're right, Decoe. I would be ticked to continue assitsting your mission, provided we find a way to, shall we say, sweeten the deal." Eggman said.

"You got it. After all, it's only fair. You've proven yourself to be a great ally, sir." Leon said.

"That's right! You deserve it!"

"We don't often find like-minded freedom fighters such as yourself. What's ours is yours, sir. Ever since our planet was destroyed, we have no need for a Chaos Emerald. Passing it on to such a worthy and brilliant man would indeed be an honor." Leon explained.

"Comrade Leon speaks for all of us, sir. A Chaos Emerald is the least we can give for our invaluable friendship. We humbly thank you."

"What's going on?"

They turn to see Molly, Shadow, Y/N, and Rouge enter the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One explanation later...

"We're giving him the Emerald. I need you to get it." Leon said to Molly.

"If you think it's best, then I suppose we should. But we hid it so long ago, I-I cant remember where."

"Let me think... You'll need to fly to Cascade where Satellite City Industrial District once was. There's a factory there with three windows at the top."

"Then what?" Rouge asked.

"It's in a safe deposit box right there on the main level."

"Okay, we'll fly there right now."

They start to leave, but Leon takes Molly's hand. Y/N stops and turns to them.

"Leon?"

"Molly... I need you to do something else. Something really important. You'll see a small locked cabinet directly above the safe deposit box. Bring me whatever files are in there."

Leon hands the key to Molly.

"I don't get it. Why would you need a bunch of dusty old files?"

"Simple. They are historical records on the Metarex invasion that just might prove useful to us."

"Sure, I'm on it!"

For some reason, Y/N got a bad feeling about this. She silently watch Leon to see any further on what was wrong with that guy. As he watches the four go, Leon's hands tighten into fists.

"I have no other choice..."

Y/N narrows her eyes in suspiciousness and walks away. Leon and Eggman exchange glances.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadow air-skates along the rugged landscape, with a Cascadian fighter flying alongside him and Y/N rocket roller skating beside him.

"You wouldn't know it, but this was once a beautiful place." Molly explained to Rouge who's in the ship with her.

"You're right, honey; I wouldn't know. I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

"There was a time when Cascade was a proud and glorious planet. But that time was so long ago. Way before the Metarex came..."

A shot of Cascade in the past is shown. It is full of futuristic buildings and flying cars.

"The galaxy had never seen a greater planet. We were the mighiest of all peoples, and with out superior intelligence and advanced technology, there was no telling how far our dominion cound extend."

The flashback ends.

"And then in the blink of an eye, all of out hopes were destroyed. Since that first attack, we have had to fight to stay alive."

"So, they've been sockin' it to you all this time, huh? What is it those Metarex want from you anyway?" Rouge asked.

"I guess all they want is to defeat us. Whatever else they wanted, they've already taken. There's nothing left anymore." Molly said.

"Well... why don't you guys just go somewhere else? Don't you ever get tired of fighting?"

"Sure we do. But they still haven't taken our hope away."

She looks down at Shadow and Y/N.

"The hope that soon, Cascade will be beautiful and alive again like it once was, and it will be. I'm sure it will! And with Shadow's and Y/N's help, I just know we'll beat them. I have a feeling Y/N can help since she showed me her beautiful power."

Rouge also looks down at Shadow and Y/N. Later, Molly, Rouge, Y/N, and Shadow walk through a canyon. A river flows nearby. Suddenly a giant fish leaps out of the water and menaces them. Molly stands in front of Shadow, Y/N, and Rouge.

"I got him!"

She fires four rounds from her pistol to get rid of the threat. The water behind her explodes with many more fish. Shadow, Y/N, and Rouge fight them.

"Come on!"

Y/N takes Molly, Shadow, and Rouge safely away from the fish.

"You might want to think about letting one of us walk ahead for a bit. You know, just for safety's sake." Shadow suggested.

"Plus, you're the only one of us who knows where this place is. It'd be silly to put you in danger." Rouge added.

"I agree with them. You might want to be more cautious to your surroundings."

"It's all right. Someone will carry on my dream."

Molly lets go of Y/N's hand.

"Come on, you three. Follow me! The factory's over here!"

She hurries onward.

"I don't like it. My radar's tellin' me there was something extra fishy about those piranhas." Rouge said.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I think you're right. That attack was an ambush if I ever saw one." Shadow said.

Rouge and Y/N watches Molly go.

"So you're saying some boob set up a booby trap, huh? Any suspects?"

"...I have my suspicions."

"I think it was Leon's doing." Y/N glared. "And I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Shadow and Rouge turned to Y/N.

"Leon? Why?"

"You feel like sharing?"

"Come on; Molly's waiting for us. I don't want her alone in there!"

Y/N hurries after Molly. Rouge huffs and she and Shadow follows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The mine is relatively undamaged after the Metarex attack. Molly opens a box containing rocks, as well as the white Chaos Emerald.

"Hello! Come to mama!"

Rouge tries to reach for it, but Shadow takes it.

"Don't forget; I got my eye on you."

"Oh, come on. We're on the same team, aren't we, Shadow?" Rouge sweatdropped.

"Sure we are."

Rouge tick marked.

"How insulting!"

"Let's see... Here it is!"

"Wait, Molly!" Y/N exclaimed.

But it was too late. Molly opens the locker, only to find a time bomb. Y/N quickly pushes Molly, Shadow, and Rouge out of the building before creating a shield around them and herself in the white ball as it immediately explodes.

"What happened?" Rouge asked after Y/N took down the shield.

"Someone deliberately put that bomb in the cabinet." Shadow said. "Who gave you the key, Molly?"

"It was Leon!" Molly gasped.

"I knew it! I knew there was something wrong with that guy! That traitor!" Y/N growled.

Molly watches the burning building.

"It can't be true. He would never! It can't be!"

Suddenly, a MRTX-1 warship flies directly over them.

"Well, lookie here." Rouge commented.

And there are many other warships with it.

"Doctor, do you read me? Doctor!" Shadow tried to call Eggman through the radio.

But there is only static.

"That double-crossing Leon!" Y/N growled, clenching her fist.

"He and his comrades have been cooking up some nast little deal, but they had to get Molly out of the way." Rouge said.

"That means he was communicating with the Metarex."

"You're wrong..."

Molly turns around.

"He'd never hurt me. Not ever! We're all a team. They'd never betray me!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leon is indeed communicating to Pale Bayleaf via video screen as Y/N had predicted.

"I must admit, when you first approached me with your request, I was quite taken aback. You and your feisty friends have been battling us for so long, I thought you would never give up. But I understand, of course. Fighting such as this can be quite exhausting, especially when one is on the losing team."

"That's right. Which is why we have all decided to join forces with you."

"And the girl? I would be quite surprised if she agrees to such an arrangement."

"She won't. But don't worry; I've sent her someplace where she won't interfere. We'll hand over Eggman as promised. Now let's get this over with already."

A laugh was heard behind Leon.

"I should think I should have a say in this diabolical deal."

He turns around to see Eggman standing in the room.

"You thought you were pretty clever, didn't you, my friend? But unfortunately, you're not clever enough."

Leon points his pistol at Eggman.

"Don't move!"

Eggman turns to Pale Bayleaf.

"And you there. You work for Dark Oak, I presume?"

"You presume correctly. However, I am but one emissary of the great master. We are many."

"Hm. Well, you and your Meta-pals may have fooled our crafty comrade here, but fooling the great Eggman won't be so easy."

"Hey! That's enough out of you!" Leon ordered.

Eggman grins. Suddenly an explosion rocks the room, creating a hole in the roof. Leon and Eggman look up to see a giant robot - and it's not affiliated with the Metarex.

"Dr. Eggman!" Decoe exclaimed.

"Our timing is impeccable!" Bocoe exclaimed.

The robot is Eggman's E-3000.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Molly climbs back into her ship and buckles up.

"Molly!"

"Please wait!"

She looks up to see Shadow, Y/N, and Rouge.

"If you go back now, you'll be killed." Shadow said.

She loosens her grip on the control stick a little.

"If your comrades are planning to surrender to the Metarex, what are you going to do?" Rouge asked.

She re-tightens her grip with all she has.

"Don't be foolish, Molly. Now isn't the time to go and get revenge on that Leon guy. It's way too dangerous."

"Molly, please come with us! At least we're on your side! Think about your life, your future, and everything you've been missing out on!" Y/N pleaded for her to stay.

She doesn't want her to have the same fate as Maria.

"I'll change their minds!" Molly declared.

The hatch closes, and she starts to lift off into the air.

"Molly! Wait!" Y/N shouted.

Molly takes off into space.

"You can't convince them. They rigged that trap. They knew what they were doing."

The Chaos Emerald Shadow is holding starts to glow.

"Shadow?"

Shadow looks determined.

"I'll go. If she dies, there will be no one left to carry out her dream."

Y/N walks over to him.

"Let me come with. I want to help. I have to protect her or I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her."

Shadow looks at her for a moment and nods and takes her hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The E-3000 stands by as the Crimson Egg lands nearby. Leon and his fleet are on the move.

"Hurry up! If we let Eggman get away, the Metarex will destroy every one of us!" Leon ordered.

"I've had enough of this foolishness! E-3000, have a little fun, why don't you!" Eggman ordered.

E-3000 starts grabbing fighters, including Leon's and embeds them into the ground like darts.

"Ha! Bulls-eye! A crushing defeat!"

"You can say that again!" Bocoe smiled.

Suddenly giant red beams strike down around them. The Metarex fleet is upon them, including Bayleaf's ship.

"It looks as if there has been a change of plans. You have not kept your word, my friend. So disappointing."

"Wait! I promise you Eggman and you'll have him, I swear! I just need more time!" Leon pleaded over the video.

"Unfortunately, patience is not my strong suit. You have dropped your end of the bargain. You lose."

Leon's ship is still embedded in the ground.

"No! Please!"

"Leon, what's going on?"

"What did the Metarex say?"

"Will they let us join them? Will they?!"

"I... I don't know..."

"How could you do it, Leon?!"

Suddenly, Molly swoops in. Leon looks up in surprise.

"You made a deal with them. You wanted to abandon everything we worked so hard for! What about our planet? What about the promise we made to our ancestors?"

"I've had enough!" Leo screamed.

Molly is surprised.

"We're too tired! We can't go on fighting like this forever!"

"Every day is the same thing."

"If we surrender, the fighting will be over and we'll live forever."

"Please understand, I can't go on like this anymore, Molly. I'm tired. ... You wouldn't have gone along with it! I'm sorry, but it was either us or you!" Leon tried to convince her.

Tears prick Molly's eyes, and they start to fall. It appears that dream is shattered. Shadow lands on her craft's wing.

"Don't cry, Molly!" Y/N shouted.

"Leave, Molly." Shadow said.

Her tears flow freely.

"You have a dream. You need to live so that you can fulfill it."

"Please, Molly."

The Chaos Emerald in Shadow's hand glows. Shadow leaps off her ship and, like the Black Wind of legend, easily destroys one of the MTRX-1 ships with the help of Y/N who slashes off anther ship with her powered sword from the crystal. Eggman witnesses this from the cockpit of the Crimson Egg.

"I'll show them..." Molly sobbed. "I'll keep fighting..."

Her tears flow again. She lets out a war cry as she flies directly toward Pale Bayleaf's Battleship. Shadow looks on, astonished.

"Molly!" Rouge shouted.

All alone, Molly opens fire on Bayleaf's ship. The battleship returns fire with its giant lasers. Just before the lasers are due to strike, Shadow and Y/N passes her by. They see her tear-stained face, but she is smiling. Y/N's eyes widen. The Black Wind will prevail. Her dream will live on. The lasers hit her ship, destroying it.

"Molly!" Rouge screamed.

Tears starts to spill out of Y/N as she witness Molly's death. Leon and the other pilots are astonished. Even Eggman and Pale Bayleaf are awed as the ship crashes into the ground. Molly may be dead now, but she carries an amazing legacy. Shadow and Y/N can't believe she's gone after having just met her hours before. Shadow looks up and sees that Bayleaf's fleet is leaving Cascade.

"I'm sorry, Molly... I didn't save you..." Y/N sobbed.

Shadow gritted his teeth to see her crying and he doesn't want her to be sad. He lifts Y/N's chin up to make her look up. He whips her tears away to stop her crying. Y/N looks at him as her tears stop flowing. He gave her a small smile and turned to the Metarex. In an effort to avenge Molly, Shadow removes his limiters and leaps toward the fleet. They open fire on him, but he avoids the lasers. He completely obliterates the fleet. Y/N and Rouge looks on, before looking down sadly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon, the Crimson Egg leaves Cascade. The sun sets while Y/N, Rouge, and Shadow stand on Cascade's surface, in front of a memorial pillar near a cliff. Rouge stands a distance behind Shadow and Y/N.

"Shadow, maybe Molly..." Y/N started.

A shot of Maria is shown.

"Maybe she was similiar to her."

"'Her'?" Shadow asked.

"Or maybe not." Rouge said as Y/N look down saying nothing.

"She wasn't clinging to the past. ... She wanted to see the future." Shadow said.

"She sure has..." Y/N sighed.

After a while, Shadow tosses the Chaos Emerald and something else to Y/N and leaves.

"Shadow?"

"Give that to the Doctor." he said. "You might wanna keep that for her."

No way is she going to bring the Chaos Emerald to Eggman and is going to bring it to her friends and her brother she nearly forgot back to Typhoon. Y/N looked down to see the blue crystal Molly has kept. Where did Shadow get this? He must have found it after the ship was destroyed. She held it up in wonder when all of the blue crystal glowed again and it started to change. It started to shrink and flew around Y/N who's shocked along with Rouge until it flew into Y/N's crystal necklace as the white changed to the same blue color. It then stopped glowing and turned back into the original white.

"That's new..."

"No kidding."

Y/N look back as dust blows around Shadow as she and Rouge watches him walk away.

In Crimson Egg, Eggman is also watching Shadow.

"Doctor, we are getting a message from someone. Should I connect them now?" Decoe informed.

"Quickly."

The transmission is activated to show a battered Pale Bayleaf. He is holding his own damaged head/helmet. He has survived Shadow's attack.

"Your luck is running out, Doctor."

https://youtu.be/rvqqp8vH0ok