Metal Sonic looked at the computer screen. “Master, there seems to be intruders approaching the entrance to the base.”

“Hmm, must be Sonic’s meddling friends. Well, they’re too late to stop me now.” Eggman watched on as Metal Sonic began to leave. “Wait, Metal. There’s no need to get rid of them. Let them inside so they can be the first to witness my cannon’s power.”

“Very well, master.”

“Hahahahahaha! Victory is so close, I can almost taste it.”

-------------------------

Meanwhile, at the entrance to Eggman’s base.

“It’s no good,” said Tails, tugging on the door. “The door’s locked.”

“Looks like I’ll have to find the keys again,” said Knuckles.

“That won’t be necessary this time,” said Shadow. He turned to Sonic. “Hand me the Chaos Emerald.”

Sonic did and Shadow Chaos Controlled inside the base. A few clicks were heard as the door to the entrance was opened. As the crew move on, Tails turned back to see Sonic and Amy standing there.

“Aren’t you guys coming?” he asked them.

“We better not,” Sonic replied. “If Eggman finds out we’re alive, then he’ll definitely know that one of the emeralds is fake. But don’t worry, we’ll be there to help out.”

Tails nodded and walked off with the rest of the group.

-----------------------------

As the rest of the group was walking toward the center of Eggman’s base, Rouge kept having a weird feeling inside. Knuckles was the first one to notice this.

“What’s the matter Rouge?” Knuckles asked her.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” Rouge said.

“What is?”

“That we haven’t encountered any of Eggman’s robots or Metal Sonic.”

“Not only that, but none of his robotic cameras are flying around,” Shadow added.

“It‘s almost as if Dr. Eggman was expecting us,” said Tails.

----------------------

As they entered inside the center of the base, they noticed that no one was around.

“I’ve got a funny feeling about this,” said Knuckles.

“Bwahahahaha! Welcome. I knew you would come to avenge Sonic,” said Eggman as he and Metal appeared in his Egg Globe.

“You won’t get away with this, Eggman!” Tails shouted.

“Oh, but I have, fox boy. Thanks to Sonic and Shadow’s help, I was able to get all seven Chaos Emeralds. Now, I can use my ultimate weapon.” Eggman took hold of a white sheet. “Behold! My Egglipse Cannon.” Eggman removed the sheet to expose the exact Eclipse Cannon from the ARK. The only difference was that Eggman’s face was painted on it.

“I don’t know who to feel sorry for,” said Rouge. “You for putting “Egg” on all of your inventions, or the cannon for your ugly face on it.”

“You’ll pay for that insult soon enough, bat girl.” Eggman hovered over to the controls. “Once I press this button, your lives will be doomed.”

“Yeah,” said Knuckles, “but doesn’t he know that one of the Chaos Emeralds is fa…”

Rouge elbowed him in the stomach. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt us.”

“Say sayonara to your freedom.”

Eggman pressed the button as the Chaos Emeralds started to glow. As the cannon was about to fire, it started to go haywire. Eggman banged at the side of the cannon.

“Bah! What’s wrong with this hunk of junk!?” he shouted.

“You just don’t get, do you, egghead?” asked voice.

“That voice! It can’t be!” Indeed it was. Behind the crew stood Sonic and Amy. “Sonic? You’re alive? But that’s impossible!”

“Without the Chaos Emerald it would’ve been impossible.”

“But how? I have all seven Chaos Emeralds.”

“Look again, eggbutt.”

Dr. Eggman looked at the cannon again to see one of the Chaos Emeralds explode. “No! One of them was a fake! My plans are ruined!” Eggman looked around. “Where’s Metal?”

“Oh, you mean that tin can? He’s right here,” said Sonic as he tossed a damaged Metal Sonic to Eggman.

“Metal? What happened to you?”

Amy hid her Piko Piko Hammer behind her back as she happily smiled. One would think that Eggman would be furious, but instead, he was laughing manically.

“Looks like the doctor’s finally snapped,” said Rouge.

“You fools! If only you knew. Sure, you saved the world this time, but you failed to save yourself,” said Eggman.

“What do you mean?” Sonic asked.

“I’ve made another change to my cannon in case of such an occasion. Now that it’s highly explosive, anything that comes in contact with it will cause it to react. That’s why I installed a dynamite pack inside it. It’s set to blow up in exactly…one minute.” Eggman used a claw to pick up Metal Sonic. “And it starts…now! Think you can escape, hedgehog?”

Eggman laughed evilly as he floated away.

“We have to do something before it blows up!” Tails shouted.

“Leave this one to me,” said Shadow as he approached the cannon.

“Shadow, what are you doing?” Sonic asked.

“I’ll get the rest of the Chaos Emeralds while you make your escape.”

“Are you crazy!? You’ll get caught in the explosion!”

“That won’t happen. I still have the Chaos Emerald that you gave me, so I’ll be able to get outta here if I don’t get them all out in time.”

“Then, let’s go. Amy, you can ride on my back.”

Amy hopped on Sonic’s back as he sped off. Tails flew while Knuckles and Rouge glided after them, leaving Shadow behind.

With 50 seconds left, Shadow began. He easily took the red, yellow, and green Chaos Emeralds from the slots. He had to twist the light blue Chaos Emerald to remove it from its slot. The silver Chaos Emerald fell to the ground as Shadow touched it and picked it up. The purple Chaos Emerald was the hardest to remove. Shadow pulled on it a little harder, but it wouldn’t budge. Finally, he gave all his might as he pulled the Chaos Emerald from its slot.

“I finally got all of them.” Shadow looked at the timer. He was expecting it to have 30 seconds left on it, but it had 5 seconds instead. “That last one must’ve trigger the timer. I’ve got to move fast.” The emeralds started to glow as Shadow closed his eyes. “Chaos Control!” Shadow disappeared from the base with only a second to spare.

---------------------------

Eggman’s base exploded as the crew made it to a safe distance away from it. They looked back as the base was engulfed in flames.

“Shadow’s still back in there!” Amy shouted.

“Don’t worry, Amy,” said Sonic. “I’m sure he’s just fine.” Then he looked at Knuckles who was looking around. “What’s wrong with you, Knux?”

“I’m feeling some strange energy,” he replied.

Suddenly, a bright flash appeared as Shadow appeared in front of the crew.

“Shadow! You made it!” Amy shouted with happiness.

“And not a moment too soon,” Shadow said.

“Were you able to retrieve all seven Chaos Emeralds?” asked Tails.

“I’ve got them right here.”

“Great. Then give them to Tails,” said Sonic.

“I will…on one condition.”

“What?”

“That you admit that I’m the ultimate and you’re the faker.”

“No way! I’ll never admit to that!”

“Then I guess I’ll just take them with me.”

“Alright, fine. You’re the ultimate and I’m the faker.”

Shadow cupped his ear. “I’m sorry. Could you say that again a little louder?”

“You’re the ultimate and I’m the faker! Happy now?”

“Very. Here you go Tails.” Shadow handed Tails the seven Chaos Emeralds.

“Well, I’ve had enough adventure for one day,” Knuckles yawned while stretching. “If you would excuse me, there’s a Master Emerald that I have to go back to protect.”

“And I’ll make sure that you won’t do anything stubborn while guarding it,” said Rouge.

Sonic shook his head as Knuckles and Rouge glided off. “Those two are something else.” Then he turned to Shadow. “What are you gonna do now, Shad?”

“I’ll do just like any other person, live my own life now since G.U.N.’s off my back.” Shadow turned to Amy. “I’ll be leaving your apartment as soon as I get back. Nothing personal.”

“I understand,” Amy said. “I can’t wait to get back home.”

“Then I’ll get the Tornado ready,” said Tails.

-----------------------------

From a far distance to where they were at, Dr. Eggman sat in his Egg Globe as he watched the Tornado take flight.

“You may have won this round, Sonic, but the war between us is far from over. You haven’t seen the last of Dr. Eggman.”

Then he floated away into the sunset.

The End.