Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ One chance ❯ The battle ( Chapter 5 )

Electricity crackled in a small section of the 

Knothole royal gardens.

 A black hole-like object appeared and Manic and Shadow fell out of the hole, landing on a soft patch of grass.

 Manic slowly got to his feet and looked around. “It worked!” He exclaimed. He looked around at the brightly colored flowers, blue skies, and green grass.

 Some birds flew over their heads while singing and butterflies.

 The whole garden smelled like roses.

 “It’s like heaven.” Manic said.

 Shadow nudged Manic. “Let’s go.” He said as he led Manic down the walkway. “You can sightsee when we defeat Robotnik.”

 As Manic and Shadow were leaving the park, they saw the past version of their family and Maria, heading to the park with a stroller.

 Shadow dragged Manic over to them.

 Past Shadow stepped in front of his family and Maria. His rings and eyes glowing for a second. He raised an eyebrow. “What is going on?”

 “Gerald and Ivo Robotnik are planning a coup.” Shadow said.

 Maria shook her head in disbelief. “They’d never do that.”

 “If they hadn’t, then explain why there’s two of us.” Shadow said, motioning between himself and his past self. “And two Manics.”

 Aleena looked at Manic, then to the stroller.  “Then where is the other Sonic and Sonia?” She asked. “Or me?”

 “Or me?” Maria asked.

 Manic bit his lip.

 “They’re dead?” Past Shadow asked.

 Manic nodded. “Maria died getting Ma, us, and uncle Chuck to safety.” He replied. “Ma died in a base raid. Sonic and Sonia died after we broke you out of the stasis chamber Robotnik had you imprisoned in.”

 Aleena hugged Manic. “I’m so sorry.”

 Maria looked at the two Shadows. “Clearly I’m not dreaming,” She said. “I still can’t understand why.”

 “What do you need us to do?” Past Shadow asked.

 Manic let go of Aleena. “We have to overthrow the Robotniks now.” He replied. “Take them out while they don't have their fortress shielded with a heavy force field. Once that thing goes up, they launch the air strikes that nearly wiped us off the map.”

 “We’ll explain on the way to the palace.” Shadow said.

 Past Shadow led Shadow, Manic, and Argus to Uncle Chuck’s lab. 

 Uncle Chuck furrowed his brow. “I’m afraid to ask.”

 “Long story short, they’re from the future.” Past Shadow said. “We have to stop the Robotniks.”

 “How are we gonna do that?” Argus asked.

 “He doesn’t have working robots yet.” Shadow said. “We quietly evacuate the castle, then Manic and I will blow up the castle with some Chaos Emeralds. Do you still have the most powerful ones, Uncle Chuck?”

 Uncle Chuck knelt down and pulled a large crate out from under his desk.

 Shadow picked up the crate and set it on the desk. He opened the lid, revealing seven multi-colored Chaos Emeralds and a large green Chaos Emerald.

 Past Shadow shook his head. “You can’t leave those for the Robotniks to find them.” 

 “To avoid creating some kind of cataclysmic paradox, we have to die in the explosion too.” Shadow said. 

 Aleena looked at Manic. “I-”

 “It won’t affect past me or Dad.” Manic said. “It’s either this or none of us will be around. I think we were fighting a losing war.”

 Uncle Chuck nodded. “From my studies on earth tech, I believe he may be right.” 

 Aleena took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Okay. Then let’s do this.”

 “Evacuate the palace.” Shadow said, gathering the emeralds. “We’ll handle things.”

 Everyone but Shadow and Manic started to leave the room.

 Manic caught Aleena’s arm. “Ma?” He asked. “I’m sure Sonic will meet Princess Sally, but please make sure I meet Jade Erizo and Sonia meets Knuckles the Echidna. Please?”

 “Of course.” Aleena replied. She hugged Manic, then walked away.

 Shadow and Manic headed to the Robotniks’ workshop.

 Manic looked at Shadow, who was glowing light yellow and eyes were glowing red. “Why are you glowing?”

 Shadow looked down, seeing his glowing arms, the emeralds lit up, and that he was floating slightly off of the ground. “The emeralds apparently.”

  Manic and touched them and started glowing silver. His eyes glowed purple and he started floating as well. “I think we can take them without blowing up the palace.”

 “We have to stick to the plan.” Shadow said as the emeralds buried themselves in his spines.

 Manic pointed out two drone robots. “We must’ve created a paradox.”

 Shadow’s rings started glowing as well. He fired a blast of crackling electricity at the robots.

 Manic grabbed one and slammed it into the wall.

 Ivo Robotnik stepped out into the hallway and did a double take at the two glowing hedgehogs. His jaw dropped. “Shadow?”

 Shadow grabbed another robot and threw it at Ivo.

 Ivo ran back into the room and slammed the door shut.

 Shadow and Manic flew into the room, bursting through the door.

 Gerald fell out of his chair while Ivo got ready two of the swatbots that were in the workshop.

 Shadow blasted the two robots.

 Manic finished them off by throwing the robots out.

 Ivo and Gerald drew their laser guns.

 Shadow and Manic dodged them easily until the guns ran out of power.

 Gerald looked at Ivo. “Get the regular guns.”

 Ivo hurried to a nearby safe.

 Shadow exchanged glances with Manic, then nodded.

 Shadow shook the Chaos emeralds out of his spines, then hurried to collect them as they fell to the ground.

 “This is for what you’re planning to do to Mobius.” Manic said, his super form flickering. “Yeah, we know about the coup you’re planning.”

 Shadow, his super form just starting to fade, gathered the emeralds and threw them into the air.

 “But, hey, thanks for curing me of pneumonia.” Manic said. “I do appreciate it, but it doesn’t make up for trying to commit genocide.”

 Ivo furrowed his brow. “You-”

 Shadow fired a blast with the rings at the Chaos emeralds.

 The palace exploded.

  Aleena and Maria saw the explosion from the cabin and hung their heads. 

 “At least Mobius will be safe.” Maria said.

 Uncle Chuck came in. “Shadow and Argus are going to inspect the damage.”

 Aleena picked up little Manic. “It’s okay, baby.” She said softly. “At least you might have an easier life.”

 Manic chirped and smiled at Aleena.

 Shadow walked in. “The Robotniks are defeated.”

 Aleena hugged Shadow. “What happened to the other versions of you and Manic?”

 “It was strange.” Shadow said. “Their bodies disappeared right in front of me and Argus.”

 Aleena looked at little Manic, who was sleeping peacefully in his crib between his siblings. 

 “That happened a little over an hour ago.” Shadow said. “He’ll be fine.”

 “I know.” Aleena replied. “I think I’ll still be paranoid for a while.”

 Shadow nodded. “I think so too.”