Shadow X

Treasure Island

It had been weeks since the Gemerl disaster happened. Shadow and crew sat in Maria's living room, Shadow snoozing on the couch as a news report played, telling everyone of a boat known as the "Seahawk" went missing in a heavy fog. Shadow twitched his ear, cracking his eyes open as he listened in to helicopters trying to find the missing boat. 

Maria thought for a moment. "Maybe the ship hit something when it went into the fog?" Maria suggested, wincing as her wrist had a spiked pain. She looked at her hand, the wrist wrapped in a brace. She flexed her fingers a bit, making them open and close.

Chuck shook his head. "A ship like that would have instruments that would make it navigate safely through fog. I'm thinking there's something else going on."

"Like what?" Shadow asked.

"Well..." Chuck started. "Other strange things have been happening in that area. Maybe we should take the yacht and have a look." He suggested.

Shadow nodded, looking at Maria. "Are you up for a small adventure?" Maria looked at him shocked, motioning her hand a little bit. "Should be a simple "Search and Rescue" mission. Nothing serious." Shadow gave off a small smile, and Maria returned it. He looked outside to see Rouge, and his face went serious again. Taking a step outside, the two took off into town to make sure they weren't followed.

When they were far enough away, Shadow asked what was on his mind. "Rouge, what do you want?"

Rouge gave a mock gasp. "What? A girl can't just say hi?"

Shadow crossed his arms. "She can, but you're not here for that. Now answer my question." 

"You'll never get a girl if you keep that attitude." Rouge replied. Shadow turned to leave. "It's about the Sea Hawk." She stated, getting Shadow's attention. "It holds classified government intel, and we want to make sure it doesn't get into the wrong hands. I heard about your little trip, and I want to bring someone else along." She stated, bringing out a picture. "This is Doctor Cadberry, an archeologist that claims to know the area."  Shadow thought for a moment. He knew Rouge was telling the truth, but there had to be another motive. There was always another motive. Rouge faltered for a moment. "It's Topaz, my partner. She was on the boat."

"Understood." Shadow stated, walking away and leaving it at that.

.

The next day, the group was off and headed out to sea with Knuckles tagging along and Tails bringing the X Tornado. Dr. Cadberry told them about the island of Maracia, the ancient people who were an advance race at the time but were destroyed by a volcano. Shadow kept an uneasy face through the whole thing, not liking being on top of water. The trip continued through the day and night and half the next day when they spotted the island dead ahead, exactly where it should be. They got to the shore, meeting up with the crew of Sea Hawk as Rouge talked with Topaz when the Chaos Emeralds Shadow had started to react to something.

"Tails?" Shadow asked as Tails nodded. 

"I know. There's a Chaos Emerald around here..." Tails confirmed. He got in the X Tornado as Maria hopped in the back, Shadow Rouge and Knuckles deciding to stay on the outside. Tails flew around, heading over the Volcano as the Chaos Emeralds started to glow.

"Figures..." Shadow thought to himself as Tails brought the Tornado down. The group inspected a hallway, Rouge taking the lead as she had better eyesight. Maria wanted to come along, but Shadow insisted she stay behind on this one, maybe help Tails find another way through. 

"The hallway is sealed off from here..." She stated, showing the way forward. 

Shadow nodded, spin dashing the rocks when the roof started to rumble. 

"If you don't stop you'll bury us!" Knuckles warned, forcing Shadow to back off. Rouge inspected the wall, finding another way through. 

They walked along the narrow path, Rouge continuing to lead the way when they came across a mass of water. Knuckles forged ahead, trying to locate another way through. However, he came up saying they'd have to swim. 

"Let's try finding a different route." Shadow suggested but Knuckles grabbed his arm.

"Oh no you don't. The bat can rot in this cave for all I care but you're coming with me!" Knuckles told Shadow as he dragged the hedgehog underwater. Rouge followed quickly, not letting herself just take that insult. 

They made it to the other side, Shadow coughing and giving Knuckles a dirty look. However, it changed when a light showed through. He burst out, looking around as he saw massive ancient ruins and the X Tornado flying by. Shadow landed on the side of the plane, asking how they managed it and Tails explained he gunned his way down, careful not to collapse the volcano. 

The group landed, Tails taking video when suddenly the ground shook and rumbled. Tails got a call on his radio, stating the Volcano had just had a small spike in activity. Shadow nodded, grabbing the Violet Chaos Emerald and taking off, determined to find the one inside this place. 

He searched the far areas when he saw it, a green light that pulsed slightly. Shadow jumped at the Emerald, snatching it away when the two Emeralds in his hands started to glow and react to each other. The ground rumbled more as Tails radioed Shadow in stating the Volcano was growing in activity. "Understood Tails. I'll be back soon!" Shadow stated, bolting off to find everyone else. However, when he reached them the earth began to steam, the ground splitting apart as the roof began to fall. Tails warned everyone else to leave the island as everyone loaded up. Shadow got on top of the X Tornado as Tails dodged away from the debris, going for the opening he made when a huge chunk of the ceiling fell.

"Now's as good a time as any!" Shadow thought, summoning the Green Chaos Emerald and flipping it in the air. "Chaos...CONTROL!" He shouted, catching the Emerald in front of him. A bright light surrounded the X Tornado as everybody closed their eyes, looking away. When they opened their eyes, they had made it to the exit just in the nick of time, Tails shooting out as he turned to see the Volcano erupt.

Knuckles looked at Shadow. "How'd you do that?" He asked.

Shadow tossed the Emerald in his hand up in the air, catching it as it fell down. "A move I learned after we fought Chaos. It allows me to make a smaller scale Chaos Control and stop time temporarily. Though, only with a Chaos Emerald in hand." Shadow explained as Tails headed for the Yacht. Everyone talked about the day, Tails showing all the video footage he gathered as Shadow looked at the now sinking island.

.

"Are you sure? Check it again." A woman stated, looking at a monitor.

"I'm sure about it Ma'am. We're in serious trouble." A man stated. "Time is...well, coming to an end. And there's only one way to stop it."