A/N: Oh, Man. Ohhh, Man. How long now? Hmmm...1 Year, 6 months. Think i might have lost track of time? Ok. I remember moving, and then i lost track of time...Ok. I'm going to be consistent this time. For is one benefit of bieng gone for a year and a half. My writing has gotten better. I hope.

A ghastly, chilled wind draped across the scarred battlefield, making the hollow holy ground that much more eerie. Trees, Rocks and other debris dotted the soil, strewn in a chaotic manner. Stone idols lay impaled through tree trunks, and on one in particular, an incarnate of insanity lay in a drunken stupor, laughing an hiccuping with a friend. It was Sonic the Hedgehog, and a pile of bottles, emptied of thier amber spirits laid in a slovenly pile at his feet. not fifteen feet away from him stood a cloaked figure, draping hood and smoth fabric spilling over its meager figure. Kunai, Chains, Smoke bombs and metal straps were twisted across the cape, making it gleam in the dim gray light. The two were making a deal of sorts, though the cloaked one was having to put his side in laymans terms, on account of Sonic's drunken stupor.

"Sho, allz yer' tellin' me, ish that i gots to gib you one night wif' Rogue, an' you can promish me Tails's head? Fer serious?" Sonic said, pausing every once in a while to lauugh like a buffoon. The Enigma nodded, and the dim flash of teeth in a grin could be seen through his dark, enveloping hood. "That is correct, if that is what you wish." The figure muttered in a low, gruff voice.

"Sho whuddya' waitin' fer'? An in invatation? Juss remember, imma' need dat Chee-os emm'rald. Sho brinng it back, er no deal!" Sonic said, trying his best to look serious. The cloaked figure turned to leave, but had a bit of hesitation. "Ok...But remember, Sonic the Hedgehog, i get her alone." Sonic gave the figure a puzzled look. "Hmmm? Oh! i getcha! Its ok, lovurrboi'! You'se gets her all to yerself." The figure nodded, before turning around and throwing one of the smoke bombs on the ground. A torrent of black smoke fizzled in a flash, and when it cleared he was gone. Sonic made a rude gesture towards the smoke, muttering something under his breath. "Ahh, flashy sunnofabi-" Sadly, he lost his balance and fell of the stone idol. Strongest creature on this planet, indeed.

...And to think, 14 days ago this had been The Mystic Ruins.

A series of yellow bolts of white hot energy dotted the walls behind Shadow. He stared wide eyed, slowly turning and looking at the piercing rays that almost shot through him. He turned back to Tails, terror still engraved on his face. "Ok...Lets try this again. Only this time, try not to make me into a Shadow-kabob." Tails laughed nervously, sweating profusely. he had been here two weeks, and while he had learned to materialize his energy, he really couldn't do anything else with it, he couln't even aim it. Shadow lorded over him while he crouched at his feet, much like Sensei and Pupil. It was Ironic, Shadow standing so tall when he was so...broken.

14 days...14 days since the world went to hell...

Ever since Sonic's rampage, things have began affecting everyone. With the chaos energy bieng used so frivolously, as well as the chaos emeralds bieng used without The Master Emerald to regulate them, the world has been lashing out at its inhabbitants. The mystic Ruins has been decked with Tornados, tearing the once holy ground into a scar on the landscape. The Green Hill Zone had been burned completely to a crisp by a chain of infernos. Amity park had been decked with flash floods. The World was not at peace, that was for sure. It made Tails job that much more important. In an insane coincedence, or maybe fate, it had been exactly 14 days since Shadow and Tails arrived back from Nothingspace.

The night gave way to a crackle of energy, burning through the sky ike a supernova. Dimensions themselves parted as two figures dropped from the sky, down to the earth from thier short stay in nonexistance. The two were bleeding profusely, the crude Chaos Control shearing of parts of thier flesh, like a self-inflicted stigmata. A light drizzle fell from the clouds down to them, as if it was an apology by God. Tails fell down on his knees, nose in the dirt. he tried to be tough, to be a 'Grown-Up'. But it was hard. He needed a break but life isn't that convienient. Between bieng beaten by Sonic, leaving, staying at Amy's, bieng beaten half to death, finding an old friend shattered, and now this...

He couldn't help himself. Between the pure rain and the tainted blood came salted tears, welling and pouring over Tails Navy eyes. Shadow looked down to tails,a t first with a look of impatience and frustration, but his look softened when he saw what Tails was really doing. He was pouring his heart and soul into the soil. He put his hand on Tails shoulder, and he immediately stood up, embarresed to be seen like that in front of his friend. Tails tried to pull himself together. He looked up towards the sky, trying to survey the area. "Wh-Where are we?" He said, a hint of a whine deep down in his vocal cords. Shadow bent doown and ran his fingers through the earth, which turned out to be burning sierra sand, and let it run through his hands like an hourglass. "Im thinking its Wild Canyon..." Shadow said in a low, pained voice.."Which is good, because i know an abandoned little hovel we can rest owners won't be coming back, God rest thier souls."

Tails nodded and they started walking north. It hadn't been long before curosity got the best of him, and he had to ask. "Who'se abandoned house is it, Shadow?" Shadow had a bit of an odd laugh, and muttered something under his breath, and kept walking. Tails stopped, and it took him a little bit to register what he said. He immediately felt a pang of remorse and chased after Shadow, following at his heels.

"Do you remember Team Chaotix?"

"So...do you still...y'know...love him?"

"I...never loved him...It was kind of my first crush...In a long line of crushes...One was special though..."

"Which one, Ames?"

"I don't really want to talk about it, Cream..."

The two girls were walking down the foggy, depressing streets of Station Square. Most people stayed in their homes, scared to leave because of the impending disaster. T.V's littered the windows, each with a different Reporter reporting a new distaster, and a bunch of religious nuts stood chanting 'Apocalypse Now!'

They didn't let it bother them. they had thier own jobs to do, and Amy was a strong Girl. Cream had grown up since The group had been together last. She was eighteen, and it showed. Amy was 22, but they still remained friends, despite Amy now bieng a responsible adult.

"So...Why are you posting up more posters? You've done it before, it didn't work Ames."

"Cream...Theres something i didn't tell you. I saw Tails, a couple of weeks ago..."

A horrid silence followed, the kind of silence that ate at your brain with eaxch non-passing second...

Cream lowered her head. "Why...didn't you tell me, Ames?" She asked, the rest of the world freezing in time, life qwas quite literally passing them by.

"I remeber...way back when, When Tails and Sonic didn't come home after the Race. You didn't think anyone heard you crying upstairs in your room? Wishing you could have told him?"

Cream began to choke of the tears welling up. She never wanted to relive that horrid time, she had tried all she could to put it out of her mind. But no matter how many Boyfriends she had, no matter how many flings, they all had the face of Tails when she closed her eyes. It was infuriating, she was a strong woman now, and yet some 15 year-old kid had her crying like a baby.

Tch. Thats love, or what she knew of it.

"Y-Yeah..."

"...I kinda felt the same way too. And i bet you felt just as weak..."

"About Sonic?"

"No..."

"Oh..." Cream said, not wantin to push it any farther. She felt like she wanted to get out of here, like crying here would like homocide.

"I didn't want to put that kind of burden on you when he leaves...again..."

"You're wrong..."

"What?" Amy said, maybe not wanting to hear her.

"I said you're wrong! If you ever, ever, ever find him again, and not tell me, I'll...I'll...I'll Never Speak to you again! Y-You hear me!" Cream said, all the tears welling in her throat bubbling out and pouring over, until she just snapped. She had to run away, and leave Amy standing there, feeling horrible.

Damn it, Sonic...If you knew the pain you'd caused...

A leather covered Vixen stood on the buildings, watching the emotions flare below. A Half smile filled with fangs plastered on her face.

"Amy, Amy Amy...Sonic will be pretty happy with you as his possesion...and i'm pretty sure you'll learn to love him in time.."

"The house looks like a battlefield..." Tails said in amazement. Yellow energy spears liked the walls, burn marks and impaled walls covered the once peaceful shack. The sensei and disciple were sitting, reviewing the day. The dead of night around them was suffocating, almost ensnaring. Shadow grunted in response, tired from training the inquisitive young fox. "Shadow...are you ok?"

Shadows ears perked up. Tails repeated himself. "Shadow...Are you ok?". Shadows eyes became twitchy, and scoured the broken home. Tails again had to repeat himself. "Sha-"

"Shut the fuck up!" Shadow seethed. Tails immediately drew back, Shadow was rarely this hostile towards him. Shadow stood up, hobblng on his one good leg. "Tails, get up. We have company." Tails' eyes widened. "Who...is it?"

The roof cracked open, splintering wood and concrete rained down on them. in a flash, A cloaked figure landed on Shadows head, crouching down. A Blazing Green stare pinpointed Tails. There was a slight pause, where the world stood still. Then, in a flash, the figure pushed off Shadow, Kunai drawn in its left hand, Rocketing towards Tails. Three seconds before the cold steel of the kunai was driven into his thraot, Tails nervously sputtered out a "C-Chaos Control!"

In a flash of green energy, Tails appeared next to Shadow, helping him up. The cloaked figure stood up, enigmatically. "Who the hell are you!" Tails screeched at the intruder. "Sonic Sent me." Was all the intruder muttered, before going for another strike. Tails had no choice but to push his broken friend out of the way, landing him roughly on the floor. The cloaked figure swung his kunai rpeatedly, Tails barely sidestepping it every time. The cloaked figure caught Tails with the back of the kunai, digging the steel into Tails cheek. Tails backed off, rubbing his cheek. He jumped into the air, scraping the roof. His fist came down, and the intruder easily stepped to the side, and swung the kunai, catching him in the ribcage. Tails barely had time to dodge another strike.

Tails and the cloaked intruder were on the opposite sides of the room. Blood slung itself in a rimson spray on the ground, making Tails wince. "So who the fuck are you?"

The cloaked man laughed very lowly, muttering almost. In a flash, He threw down a flash grenade, trying to take advantage of an opening in Tails' defense.

Unfortunately, Tails saw the attaxck coming. He went down in a sweeping kick, tripping up the intruder. He flipped a Kunai off the intruders belt. Tails' tackled the intruder, trying to drive it into The intruders throat.

The intruder laughed, and blocked Tails' drive with one hand. He was apparently very skilled in battle. His flipped out another Kunai and with his free hand drove it into Tails' Shoulder. There was a horrid scream as Tails' felt the wide metal sink into his mucles, scraping the bone. Tails instantly retreated to the other side of the room. The cloaked figure stood up, Laughing at Tails' inexperience. But Tails was not the only one in the room. Shadow snapped up behind the figure, trying to drive a punch into the Intruders head, but the Intruder heard him and tried to sidestep him. The Result? The intruders cloak fell in a messy black pile, ripped from former battles.

Shadows eyes were nearly popping out of his cranium. His brain tried to make him speak, but no words came out.

"E...Espio!"

Espio nodded sullenly. He hadn't wish on bieng found out, It only made this harder. He once called Shadow a friend, a close one at that. But he had his reasonns and he must be strong. Espio laughed a little under his breath, slowly but surely laughing harder and harder. His laughter roared, as Tails and Shadow stood too shocked to move. Espio suddenly lashed out, throwing a fist at Shadow. It collided with collosal force, making Shadow stagger back. He swung another, and then another, each punch rattling Shadow to his bones. Espio's attention suddenly turned to Tails, as Shadow fell backwards, blood seeping from his nose and mouth.

"I remember you..." Tails said, still glaring daggers at the Chameleon. "You're that stupid Ninja from Eggman's ship, right?" Espio nodded, flipping out and twirling another Kunai."My, personal attacks? I consider myself to be quite intelligent, Fox Boy."

Tails seethed, Hate dripping from his voice."I'll show you who's a Boy!" He rushed forward, Fists ready. Espio flipped up and drove his foot downwards, meeting Tails in the face. Tails flipped back and hit a wall, And barely sidestepped a punch from Espio. Tails ran back to the oipposite side of the room, blood slowly dripping from his forehead.

"Damnit..." Tails muttered, as Espio rushed at him. Tails did a sliding kick and caught Espio in the chest, pushing him back a little. Tails snapped up and fired three punches, each punishing blow cracking against Espio's skull.

The two backed against the opposite sides of the room, again. Shadow tried to get a sneak attack, by jumping Espio. Espio saw the attack coming, easily. He gabbed Shadows fist and pulled Shadow in front of him. He pulled his kunai and put it to Shadows throat.

"Espio...What have you...What have you become?" Shadow choked out, feeling the edge of his throat.

"Heh...Your Executioner." Espio said, and in a flash he pulled the kunai back, slicing deep into Shadow's Throat. Shadow stood lifelessly, dangling like a soulless mannequinn. His blood flowed on the floor, in a torrent of crimson. Shadow fell, his pupils dialating and his voice cracking.

Tails stood, voice robbed by face was drained of blood, and his knees gave out on him.

"Sh-Shadow..."

Espio couldn't help but let out an uproarisly sick laughter.

"Shadow!"

A/N:So this chapter was a bit shorter than the rest, but at least its something. expect an update very soon, because i have the rest of the scene planned out. So everythings coming together to make a post-apocalyptic world. So see you in a little bit, readers.