Sonic the Hedgehog-06 x Male Aeon Reader

Dealing With Mephiles

Shadow finally comes back after reliving the Solaris Project with Silver, and Rouge was standing right in front of him when he came out of the vortex.

Rouge: You're back sooner than I expected. [Waves] Omega is still in pursuit of Mephiles. So, where's the kid? What did you find 10 years ago?

Shadow: [Walks away] I need you to access G.U.N.'s database. Specifically, find out what materials the Scepter of Darkness was made from.

Rouge: Sure. [Still looking for answers] But you haven't answered my question yet!

Shadow: [Turns to her] I found the means to seal Mephiles.

Shadow walks away to assist E-123 Omega with Mephiles, with Rouge following after him. By now, Silver was off dealing with his own issues with the future and Sonic and Aeon were off dealing with Eggman, but now it was Shadow's turn to be the hero.

E-123 Omega fires at Mephiles, causing him to stagger back a bit.

Mephiles: [Grunts] This only proves you were created to stop Shadow, the Ultimate Life Form. [Omega retracts] Don't tell me you didn't know. You may have been programmed by humanity, but what you did to Shadow in the future, that was your...

E-123 Omega switches to rapid fire mode and sends a barrage of bullets to Mephiles, who falls to the ground. The shadowy figure, however, lets out a maniacal laugh before disappearing. Shadow, Rouge and Topaz arrive to aid Omega, but when they get there Mephiles was gone.

Rouge: [Confused] What just happened?

Topaz: I'm as confused as you, Rouge.

Omega: Shadow. [Turns to him; reveals shocking truth] The one that defeats and seals you in the future... is me.

It was all true. Shadow was made to defend the humans, but one day the world would see him as an enemy. It was just like the time when Maria sent him down to Earth, and she paid the price for Dr. Gerald Robotnik's evil misdeeds.

Rouge: [Shocked] It's... It's so unfair! [Defends him] Shadow's always here to defend the world! [Shadow looks away] Despite that...

Topaz: E-123 Omega, you can't be serious about this, can you?

Omega: [Brief silence; points towards Shadow] Eventually, when something, or someone is seen as too powerful... It is seen as a threat. And then the world becomes its enemy.

Rouge: [Shadow walks away; stops him] Shadow... [Closes eyes] Even if you believe everyone in the world will be against you, know that I'll always remain by your side. [Turns away] Remember that.

Topaz: [Sheds a tear] Rouge...

Shadow: [Turns to her; nods] I will.

Shadow walks away from Rouge, Omega and Topaz, but he couldn't lie to himself any longer. Maria had wanted him to befriend the human race, but when he was awoken he was mislead to believe they betrayed him. But since teaming up with Rouge and Omega, he had found true friends. Friends who would never leave his side. No matter what. The next location was to Dusty Desert, where Mephiles was going for another Chaos Emerald. Team Dark made their way there and looked at the horizon.

Rouge: [Points to the ruins] Mephiles appears to have headed for those ruins. He's probably looking for the Chaos Emerald that's supposed to be there.

Shadow: [Nods] There's no doubt in my mind. His movement shows he's seeking any Chaos Emerald he can find. Supposedly, he needs one in order to join with Iblis again.

Omega: I will seal him before that. [Clutches fist]

Team Dark nod to one another and head over to the ruins, ending Mephiles' chances of joining with Iblis once and for all.

Shadow, Rouge and E-123 Omega make their way through the ruins and into a large room, where Mephiles is seen hovering over a set of stairs with his back turned.

Shadow: Mephiles!

Mephiles: [Turns to them] I was expecting you sooner. As you must know, you're already too late.

He was holding the yellow Chaos Emerald in hand, which meant trouble for Team Dark.

Mephiles: But there's still time for you to change your mind. Join me, Shadow. Let us teach this world a lesson, and rewrite the future.

Shadow: Don't try to deceive me.

Mephiles: [Shocked] What?

Shadow: You have no desire for revenge. You only crave destruction. Your only lust is to fuel Iblis until there is nothing left of time itself.

Mephiles: It's a pity, Shadow The Hedgehog. [Yellow Emerald hovers into air] Truly a shame that you wish to go against me!

The power of the Chaos Emerald sends Team Dark back, but Shadow and E-123 Omega use their engines to land softly on the ground and Rouge flaps her wings, lowering her descent. The ground then changes from solid concrete to a dark shadowed floor, controlled personally by Mephiles.

Mephiles' form begins to dissolve and disappears, allowing Shadow the opportunity to seal him into the Scepter of Darkness. The black and red hedgehog pulls out the artifact and begins the process, but something wasn't adding up. Shadow, Rouge and E-123 Omega were shocked to see the Scepter of Darkness destroy itself.

Rouge: It's destroyed!

Mephiles: [Reforms himself] The "I" of now absorbed your power through your shadow in the past. What may have worked 10 years ago, no longer does!

Mephiles uses his power to send a huge wave towards Team Dark, staggering them a bit and making the ground crack all around them. Shadow, Rouge and E-123 Omega get sent back and land hard on the ground, feeling the full force of Mephiles' power.

Mephiles: [Lowers to floor; summons shadows around them] You must realize now that you cannot hope to stop me with your limited power.

Shadow: [Stands up] So you say...

Mephiles: It's futile. The world will betray you. Why fight at all? Why risk your life for those who will persecute you later?

Shadow: [Rouge and Omega join him; removes Inhibitor Rings] If the world chooses to become my enemy, I will fight like I always have!

Shadow's Inhibitor Rings drop to the ground and as in an instant, Team Dark charges through the army of Mephiles' shadows, showing the full power of a well combined team. It was true that the world would betray Shadow later on, but until that day comes, he'll protect them. He'll fight for them. For Maria.