Crossing the Rubicon

8-24-09 Edit: Well, after thinking it over, I've decided to go back and redo this story. It's got lots of potential, but too many OCs. I'd been on FFN for more than a year when I started this, so I can't believe I did that. At least I can go back and fix it. So proceed with caution, it'll be a somewhat bumpy ride until I get done. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the horrible first edition.

Disclaimer: Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, Miles "Tails" Prower, the Chaos Emeralds, and anything else belonging to Sega that I forgot to list belongs to, well, Sega.

About 60 B.C. in ancient Rome, Julius Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River, declaring war on Pompey and the Senate by that act. Since then "crossing the Rubicon" refers to making a fateful choice from which there is no turning back

The town was burning when Sonic arrived. He stopped for a moment, shocked. How did this happen? Then he noticed something. A black hedgehog. It looked like- Yes, it was Shadow. Sonic was sure that Shadow would help him save as many people as he could. And the Guardian Unit of Nations was landing helicopters nearby, sending soldiers to help the citizens.

As Sonic watched though, Shadow pulled out his gun and shot a person who was fleeing the city.

"Shadow!" Sonic's cry was half scream. What was Shadow doing?

Shadow ignored the blue hedgehog's cry and continued shooting the inhabitants of the town.

The soldiers stopped behind Sonic. "What is he doing?" One of them asked. Sonic barely heard him. Shadow was a hero; he would never shoot people in cold blood- would he?

"Stop!" Sonic raced towards Shadow, but he was to late: Shadow warped away.

Sonic stopped and looked around. Shadow didn't reappear; he was gone. "How could you do this?" He whispered. "How could you?"

Shadow stretched and yawned, then slipped his feet into his hover shoes and headed downstairs. He headed downstairs, stopped in the kitchen to get a glass of juice, and then headed out side.

Shadow liked living on the shores of the lake. There was no one out here beside one family, and they lived on the other side of the lake.

Suddenly his reverie was broke by the drone of helicopters over head.

He looked up and saw at least fifteen G.U.N. helicopters hovering overhead.

"Shadow the Hedgehog," A soldier said through a bullhorn. "You are under arrest…"

Shadow summoned his Chaos Emerald and warped away, not waiting to hear the rest of the sentence.

Shadow reappeared on Green Hill a moment later, and was surprised to see Sonic there. But what was even more surprising was the look of pure hatred on Sonic's face.

"Sonic, what's wrong?" Shadow asked.

"What's wrong?" Sonic repeated. "What's wrong? How could you?" The venom in Sonic's voice was obvious. "How could you stand there in cold blood and shoot those people down?"

He advanced threateningly.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Shadow said as he took a step back.

Sonic raced forward and kicked Shadow in the stomach, winding him. As Shadow slumped to the ground, unable to catch his breath, Sonic spun around and hit him with a Sonic Wind, knocking him back down the hill.

As Sonic came towards him again, Shadow grabbed his Chaos Emerald and gasped, "Chaos Control."

The scene shifted and changed, and Shadow was standing in the Guardian Unit of Nations building.

The commander was waiting for him, along with a group of G.U.N. soldiers. "Shadow, I believe you have some explaining to do. Why did you attack the citizens of the town Defell last night?"

Shadow gave him an exasperated look. "Why don't you people believe me when I say I have no idea what you are talking about?"

"Sonic and some of the Guardian Unit of Nations soldiers saw you there, attacking the populace. I want to know why." The commander continued.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Shadow insisted. "I was at home last night."

A soldier who Shadow didn't recognize stepped forward. "Shadow the Hedgehog; I have orders to place you under arrest."

Shadow turned and ran.

The commander turned to his soldiers. "Don't let him get away."

Shadow raced down the hall, hearing the soldier's footsteps behind him, when suddenly he came to a dead stop, finding more soldiers standing in front of him.

"Shadow the hedgehog, you are under arrest." One of them repeated. "Surrender immediately." As he stood there, more soldiers came up behind him, effectively blocking any conventional methods of escape.

"There's no way you can get out."

To Be Continued…

T.A.R.N.S.: So there you have it.. The historical note at the top was modified from World History for Christian Schools, copyright 1999 Bob Jones University Press.

Nyoshi: Please review the story and tell us what you thought.

Edit: Well, there's the first chapter. I hope it's an improvement.