Shadow X

Metal Vs. Mettle

"GET DO-" Shadow yelled but was cut off , Maria getting down just in time before something tore through their cart and ripped Shadow away. She stared off into the distance, looking for where they'd end up as she saw Shadow dragged into the clouds before he fell, hitting the water. She started to panic before she saw a flash of blue, seeing him enter the power plant nearby. She left as the ride ended, determined to try and help Shadow.

.

Shadow ran after his metal duplicate, the two slamming into each other. Try as he might, Shadow simply couldn't out muscle his opponent when suddenly Metals Shadow's eyes started to glow, forming an odd red aura in the chest. Shadow realized to late as an odd beam shot out and hit his point blank, slamming Shadow into one of the metal silos. As Shadow as getting up, Metal flew at him and smashed him through the silo and and up through the roof, carrying Shadow by the leg as Metal turned and threw Shadow down. 

But Shadow was getting irritated. Using Chaos Snap, he teleported in a blue flash, landing safely on the ground as he summoned several Chaos Needles, firing them away. Metal flew straight into them, dodging most but a few did hit. But they weren't enough, just as Shadow planned. Shadow jumped at the last second as Metal shot its hand out, the sharp fingers getting caught in the concrete. Moving around behind, Shadow jumped and kicked Metal in the back of the head sending his robotic double forward. Moving forward, Shadow was about to collide in a spin dash when Metal brought out an odd black energy field surrounded the bot, sending Shadow back. 

"Not bad Shadow, but not good enough." Robotnik stated through Metal Shadow. The two ran for each other again, locking up when Shadow started to glow red. "Not so fast!" Metal shot up with an odd yellow electricity that flung Shadow back. 

"What the...?" Shadow asked, shaking his head as Metal shot forward. Reacting fast, Shadow rolled back a little, bringing his leg up kicking Metal in the chin and forcing it up. Metal kept going, it's momentum impossible to stop so suddenly as it smashed through the pillars, causing them to collapse on top of it. Shadow nodded a bit, but the rubble moved and Metal came out with barely a scratch.

"GAHAHAHAHA! Did you honestly think that would work?" Metal asked.

Shadow grunted, the two going at each other. Shadow fired a Chaos Spear on his way as MEtal avoided it but Shadow saw the dodge coming, activating his shoes as he jumped and slamed Metal down an axe kick. Shadow landed, his hands reaching for his Inhibitor rings.

"I'll end this no-AAAARRRRHHHG!" Shadow screamed in pain as Metal stood before him, its claws buried into shadow side as blood leaked out. Shadow looked down in shock, feeling himself fading. Metal brought it's leg up, kicking shadow away hard. Shadow went back, bouncing off the ground as he stopped on his back. He held his open wound, knowing he needed time to heal that one. Time he didn't have. Metal was already with him, picking him up by the throat with claws poised to strike again.

"Any last words, rodent?" Metal asked. Shadow struggled with the hand around his neck before his blood loss caused him to faint. "I didn't think so." 

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"

*SMACK*

A steel pole with a bit of concrete cracked Metal on the side of the head, causing the robot to drop Shadow. Turning to see Maria holding the weapon, Robotnik growled. "You again? I guess this saves me the trouble." Metal stated as Maria took another swig, but Metal caught it in hand, crushing the metal in its hand effortlessly. 

Maria looked at her now broken weapon, then threw it at Metal and ran. However, Metal was going to have fun with this one. Metal shot forward, cutting Maria off and shoulder ramming her side. Maria fell but got back up breathing heavy and wincing. She put her hands up, not willing to go down without a fight. Metal laughed at her, getting into an stance of its own. Metal shot a claw out as Maria dodged, the claws ripping through her clothes and cutting a bit of skin open. She winced but stayed up, her side aching. She threw a punch with her right hand, hitting Metal on the head as she reeled back from the pain, her hand disjointed in several places. Metal laughed as it slammed a palm into her sternum causing her to go back a bit as she landed. She gasped for air, barely getting up as her hand felt a cold metal box. Though she was barely standing and breathing heavy, a risky idea formed in her head as she covered the box behind her back.

"Did you really just punch solid metal plating with your bare hands?" Robotnik asked, stalking up to her mockingly. "You really are dumber than you look." Robotnik insulted, then gave her once over. "I'll give you this, I thought that last hit would have put you down. Guess only using 10% striking force was to easy. I promise, you won't stay standing this next one." Metal got the claws ready. "Any last words?"

Maria spit out blood, then gave a weak and tired smile. "How's that arm feel?" She asked. Robotnik roared as Metal went forward, its claws ready to kill. But Maria timed it just right, moving out of the way as the claws nicked her, but slammed into the power box she was hiding. Metal started to spark up as electricity ran through the body, sparks leaping out of the joints and chest piece when a pop was heard, sending Metal Shadow back as it's eyes shut off. Maria sighed a relief, collapsing on her back as she kept her right hand close as she felt it throbbing. She lifted her shirt up a bit to see her side swollen where it was in pain, figuring her hand wasn't the only thing that was broken. As she was concentrating on that, she didn't notice the nearing danger. 

Metal got up, sparks occasionally popping out as it took steps towards Maria. Maria looked up and saw Metal Shadow nearing her, and felt herself shatter. This was it, she did everything she could. But it wasn't enough. She was going to die. Metal raised its claw for the killing blow as Maria waited for the end.

"BACK OFF!" Shadow roared as a red Chaotic Spear sliced through Metal's chest when Shadow appeared just behind in a flash, grabbing the robot and flipping it over tearing off the head as the robot disintegrated from the raw energy coming from Shadow. Shadow powered down, putting his rings back on and heading to Maria as she fell back.

"Maria...stay with me..." Maria heard Shadow say as everything started to fade away. Her last moments felt Shadow picking her up and the wind on her face.