At The End Of The Tunnel

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At The End Of The Tunnel

Co-Written By Harley Quinn hyenaholic and Froggy22651

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Harley: Froggy pretty much wrote this chapter. I just supplied the guy who would narrate it. I honestly don’t understand much of it myself, but hey, who honestly understood the plots linking Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes?

Shadow: I’ll tell you this now; I didn’t! Come on, I fell to my death – am I alive or am I dead? And why the hell did aliens kidnap me last time?

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Chapter Seventeen: The Ultimate Plot Device

“CHAOS CONTROL!!!!!”

James blinked and looked around, still on his knees, "W-where are we?"

Shadow looked over at him, "We're out of that damn cave. I told you it was dangerous..."

James nodded, “Well, I was trying to get out... but... What the FUCK was that thing doing in my head?!"

"That was a malignant spirit known as Darkness,” answered Shadow, “He was trying to drive you insane so that he could take control of your mind."

James rubbed his head, trying unsuccessfully to drive the images from his mind forever, "That.... thing... is what the cultists worship, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Shadow prodded Breech with his foot, "Looks like he succeeded with your girlfriend here."

“She’s not my girlfriend!” James crawled over to Breech and gently placed his paws on her shoulders, shaking her gently, "Breech? Breech, are you with me?"

Breech’s eyes snapped open, and she screamed.

James jumped back in surprise, "What the... Breech, snap out of it! It’s me, James!"

Breech slowly stopped screaming, "Oh... oh god..." she barely seemed coherent, but she managed to focus on James, "Oh, James!"

Then she did the most surprising thing - she grabbed his head and brought him forward to kiss her.

James' eyes widened in shock as their lips met. His mind froze and he barely knew how to react, so instead, he fell back on instinct and emotion. His eyes closed as he returned the kiss, and he gently wrapped his arms around her. He was vaguely aware of Shadow sniggering behind him.

He didn’t care.

Breech was the one who broke the kiss, "I was so scared!" she gasped, "I thought..." she stopped, unwilling to continue.

James continued to hold her, doing his best to comfort her, "It’s alright... it’s over now..." he whispered.

Finally Breech spoke again, "I thought someone was... hurting... me..."

"It was fake,” James insisted, “That thing must have gotten inside our minds..."

"I could feel it happening," Breech whispered, holding James tightly, "It wasn’t fake... it wasn’t a nightmare at all... It knew what would make me most scared."

James shivered and softly nuzzled her, hoping that it would do some good, "I know... it knew my fears and my guilts...." James looked up at Shadow, "Thank you for saving us. I owe you one."

Shadow just shrugged, "Darkness wants a body. If I'd left you guys in there, he'd have taken one of you eventually, and he'd have been able to rise to power again."

"Darkness? Rise to power? Again? I've never heard of him...'

"Well, it was about 10,000 years ago when it happened last," Shadow explained, "Now he's got four Chaos Emeralds, I’ve got one, and there are two more to find. I feel that job is mine. Don't get in my way."

With that, Shadow vanished in a green flare of Chaos light.

James shook his head and continued holding Breech, "Strange guy..."

Breech curled up closer to James, not saying anything, burying her face in his chest. He sighed and hugged her tightly to him. He felt lightheaded, confused and horrified by the invasion of their minds, yet the kiss still lingered on his lips. He rubbed his hands up and down Breech’s back, trying to comfort her, "It’s alright... It’s over, and I'm here..."

"It's bad enough... getting those nightmares when I'm asleep," Breech whispered, "Now I have to be getting them when I'm awake too?" She stood up, nervously, "I... I don't want to talk about them any more," she finished.

James released her and stood up as well, brushing sand out of his fur. He nodded, "I understand."

Breech hugged James again, "I'm sorry..." she managed, not entirely sure what she was apologizing for. Her tail wrapped around his absentmindedly, and she began to purr.

James hugged her back and nuzzled her neck, "It’s ok..."

He rubbed his tail against hers, smiling slightly at the sound of her purring. He always had loved that sound. He found that he was enjoying this contact between them... it was something he had not felt in a long time, and something he was realizing that he had missed dearly.

"I..." Breech seemed uncertain, "I may not be good at showing it, but I am grateful... for everything... Everything you've done for me."

"I'd do it all again," James said quietly.

Breech felt her heart stop in her mouth, but she didn’t stop embracing James. Rather, her paws entwined in his fur and she started to rub up against him gently.

"Ahem," a voice spoke behind them.

James immediately released Breech, pulled away, drew his sword, spun around, and pointed it at the source of the voice. He was more than a little jumpy at that point.

"No need for weapons," said the rat whom had spoken, "You couldn't hurt me anyway."

James slowly sheathed his sword, "...I've seen you before. You were the guy who let us in."

The rodent smirked, "True, true... Bridget is a very dear friend of mine, from a long time back. Special, in a curious sort of way."

James raised an eyebrow, "Sure... so how did you just happen to be a guard in the cultist encampment?"

"Fanatic cultists are always looking for new members... I just volunteered so that I'd be here. Right time, right place."

"For what?"

"For you."

James backed up slightly, closer to Breech, and watched the rat. Short and ugly, yes. And the appalling stench of tar hit like a brick wall. James was about to think how odd that was when he noticed the cheap cigar the rat was smoking.

His eyes were red, too. Not blood red like the dark hedgehog’s eyes had been, but… firey. His boots were a very dark blue, as were his gloves. But the rims of his gloves and his socks were sunshine yellow. And there was the amulet. Large, garish, and without a doubt, important.

Breech tugged on James' arm, "Gus isn't like normal people... he's different..."

James nodded slowly, keeping that in mind. He couldn’t help but wonder how Breech and Gus could ever have met. It didn’t seem possible to just meet someone like Gus in the street.

Gus smiled, "Yes, nothing happens by accident. If it does, it shouldn't have happened."

James frowned, "Alright. Then why has this happened, Gus?"

"If 'this' is meant by the cult's activities, then it is happening because... well, it's a rather long story..."

“Oh, I like long stories,” said James, firmly.

Gus just laughed, cleared his throat, sat, and crossed his legs.

“The creature you discovered is no demon, but rather, he was once a brave and noble human warrior born at the dawn of civilization. He discovered the Chaos Emeralds, and the method to manipulate their power, and his empire grew. But as with many forms of power, it corrupted him.

“Transformed by obsession and greed, through the power of the Chaos Emeralds he became a horrifyingly powerful creature, almost godlike. His corruption limited him to the use of only the emeralds’ dark side, but that was enough to allow him to conquer almost the entire world, casting it into an age of darkness that would last for over a thousand years.

“Ruling without mercy or remorse, it seemed that his power was absolute, but all things have a weakness. His weakness was the Master, which held power equal to the Seven Servers, yet that power was its exact opposite. For many years he hunted for it, to crush it and with it, any chance of defeat, without success.

“It was a lowly palace slave, a blue hedgehog with unnatural speed, who learned his weakness. He escaped from imprisonment, and joined the search. He discovered the Master Emerald, and using its power, he freed his fellow slaves and formed a successful rebellion that overthrew Darkness’ empire.

“The only obstacle left was Darkness himself. Drawing upon the light side of the emeralds, the hedgehog engaged Darkness in single combat and ultimately proved the victor. He enshrined the Emeralds, stripped Darkness of his ability to use them, and imprisoned him deep under the earth, his only companion his hatred. Balance was restored.

“The Echidna Empire, the one Kingdom not enslaved by Darkness’ reign, was the first to rise again. In their eternal search for greater power, they sought out the Emeralds for themselves. I know that through their greed and rashness they enraged the guardian of the Emeralds, the dark god Chaos.

“The ensuing destruction left their civilization in ruins, the emeralds scattered once again. The Floating Island rose, and Darkness was freed from his subterranean prison. Stripped of his ability to directly use the emeralds, Darkness vowed to find another way to manipulate their power and once again control the planet.

“But he would not again gain power for almost 10,000 years, until technology had sufficiently advanced, and he controlled politics behind the scenes through his organization, GUN. He manipulated the planet’s greatest scientist into researching the emeralds’ effects on organic life through using his sorcerous powers to strike his granddaughter with a terrible illness. The scientist began research into immortality, and the result was Project Shadow.

“Darkness saw to it that the ARK was attacked, thusly creating his plot to destroy the world. It was a test for what he hoped would be the Ultimate Lifeform. Everything was going to plan… until a hero of the age appeared, the reincarnation of his ancient nemesis.”

“Darkness manipulated Project Shadow’s rage, convincing him to join his side as his apprentice. Shadow was directed to steal the Chaos and Master emeralds, which he did. GUN invaded Earth, Darkness transferred his spirit to a new, more powerful body, a clone of Project Shadow, and proceeded to defeat Sonic and again take his place as ruler of the world.

“But Shadow learned the truth about Darkness’ actions, and turned on his master. When the battle was over, Shadow was triumphant, and Darkness was mortally wounded. His final, bitter act was to crash ARK into the Earth, wiping out civilization as it was then known, and casting it into a dark age.

“It is now almost 10,000 years later, and Darkness has regained enough power to influence minds once more. He has formed a cult of mindless fanatics to carry out his bidding. They have been instructed to uncover the remains of ARK, acquire necessary technologies from Robotnik, locate the seven chaos emeralds, and to prepare the world for his inevitable return…

"And the world is coming to an end AGAIN," finished Gus.

"...That has to be one of the craziest stories I've ever heard," protested James.

"I know," Gus turned to Breech, "What do you think, dear?"

Breech scratched her head, "It's crazy, but I trust you."

James shook his head, trying to absorb what he had just heard, "So... some ancient dark lord has come back from the dead to try to take over Mobius for the third time."

"Bingo!" Gus chuckled, "The remaining emeralds must be found."

James nodded, "Two more... we have to find and keep them away from Darkness at all costs."

"Yes," Gus nodded, "And don't ask me where they are. My knowledge of such things is limited, but not by choice, I assure you."

James sighed in frustration, "Wonderful..."

"Don't worry, doubtless others will be searching for them also. That will make them rather easier to find,” said Gus, "Your new master is already searching for them."

James glared, "If you are referring to Julian, he is not my master."

The short rat tugged on James' dogtags, "Could've fooled me," he chuckled.

James slapped Gus's hand away and growled.

"Heh... touchy one, aren't ya?" Gus smirked, "The Project Shadow will also be an ally of yours in times of need - if you can locate him again."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Now, I've got to be going," Gus smiled thinly, "Do look after my little girl, Prower - she's vitally important in more ways than one! Oh, and Bridget, dear-" he tossed her a staff, the staff she’d left behind her in Darkness’ cave, “Catch!”

Breech stared at the staff, as Gus turned and rapidly disappeared into the distance, a lot faster than the speed of his walking should have dictated.

"Don't worry... she's in good paws," James turned back towards Breech, "So, according to your buddy Gus, we need to find those emeralds. Robotnik is searching for them. He might know where they are. Is there any way we could tap into his database and find out?"

Breech's expression became a wide grin, "Sure... I'm a pretty reasonable hacker myself."

James smiled, "Excellent."

"Of course, I can only get the info if it's in there," Breech added

"There's only one way to find out. Let's get back to the train. Hopefully, Cur will have the sense to do the same..."

Breech smiled without humor, "I wouldn't be surprised if he's been there all this time."

James couldn't help but chuckle.

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Chapter Seventeen Over

Harley: Okay, not very long. But at least it's up on time. Read and review, otherwise you get a boot up your ass.