A New Dawn Chapter 22

Shattered glass, rocks, and debris were scattered about as a sonic boom erupted in the streets of Baltimare as Shadow flew towards Sonic, right hand cocked back, fist balled tightly, as he closed the gap between himself and his adversary in the blink of an eye and yelled as he unloaded his attack.

Sonic grinned as he rolled his right shoulder back, letting Shadow’s attack sail past him harmlessly and exposing his entire body for a counter-attack. Sonic fired off a punch of his own, aimed at Shadow’s unprotected jaw. However, Shadow saw his attack, blocked by raising his left elbow and letting the blow strike his forearm instead. Sonic gritted his teeth and pushed himself back away from Shadow before flying away from him. Shadow chuckled at Sonic’s quick retreat and gave chase.  Sonic ducked and weaved through the city, bouncing off walls, light poles and any other piece of the city he could find footing against. Shadow was hot on his heels, but that was the plan Sonic had put in motion as he landed against the brick wall of a deteriorating high-rise with both feet planted. The wall crumbled and caved in on itself as Sonic spring boarded backwards, rotating his body and delivering a spinning snap-kick right into a very un-expecting and startled Shadow.

As Shadow clenched his eyes shut as he felt the rest of his body flip under him and keep going due to momentum as Sonic’s shin buried itself deep into his nose as the attack landed squarely in his face. He continued on his path uncontrollably as he spun wildly and crashed into, through, and out the back end of the high-rise. Once on the other side he braked and grunted in frustration, but then realized he had lost sight of Super Sonic. His eyes darted back and forth as he scanned the city streets for any signs of him, but as the tell-tale sound of a sonic boom filled his ears, he knew it was too late to do anything but look up. Just in time to see Sonic hurtle down from the sky and drive his elbow into his forehead.

Sonic watched Shadow strike hard against the ground, the impact causing a small crater to form around the site. He hovered above him as he waited for the dust to settle, after a moment, the air cleared and he saw Shadow, hand upon his knee, starting to pick himself up, with an irritated look on his face.

“Don’t know why you’re getting back up,” Sonic taunted. “I’m just gonna put you back down in the ground.”

The earth beneath Shadow exploded from the force of his launch as he chased into the sky after Sonic and lashed out with several punches and kicks, all of which Sonic blocked and parried, serving only to annoy Shadow even further at Sonic’s lack of offense.

“C’mon on Super Sonic!” he roared as he reached and grabbed one of Sonic’s wrists tightly, forcing an opening. “I want my money’s worth!” He threw a punch through the gap in Sonic’s defense, but Sonic caught it with his free hand and held tightly. For a moment the two struggled to free themselves from each other’s grip to no avail. The air around them crackled with electricity as they brought themselves close enough that their noses were touching. Shadow’s cruel grin spread across his face as he saw Sonic grit his teeth with exertion and frustration that he couldn’t break the hold. “What’s the matter Super Sonic?” He gloated. “You didn’t think this was going to be easy did you?”

“You know for a moment there,” Sonic grinned back at him, “Yeah, I kinda did.” Then he jerked his body upwards and slammed his right knee against Shadow’s chin, forcing him to let go. Sonic, still gripping Shadow’s fist, grabbed tightly with his now free hand onto Shadow’s arm and began to spin. He whirled the two of them around so fast they were nothing more than a blur to the naked eye and dirt and dust particles began to form a funnel from the centrifugal force created by the speed that Sonic spun both hedgehogs as a high pitched whistling noise filled the air. Sonic released his grip and sent Shadow flying backwards through the city, crashing through several buildings until he was finally able to brake and regain composer. Shadow shook his head to clear his mind, just as Sonic flew in the area and took a defensive stance.

“Shadow, we don’t have to do this,” Sonic said not dropping his guard but pleading to his friend, trying to reach the Shadow that had risked his life to save him. “Let me help you, these people on this planet, these ponies, they know magic, maybe they can help you Shadow. You can’t let this Discord guy control you!”

“You’re really hyped up on this whole ‘I need to save the day’ thing aren’t you?” Shadow said with a laugh. “Look at you, even now, with all the death and violence I've caused, your here trying to give me one more chance. You really are pathetic! What makes you think you can help me?!”

“Princess Luna told me that Discord is manipulating you! I know this isn’t the real you! The Shadow I kne-“

“THE SHADOW YOU KNEW IS DEAD!!” he roared and a burst of energy rippled from him, the shockwave knocking Super Sonic backwards and off guard. “You think everything is fixable with a big group hug don’t you? That friendship will save the day! Well how’s that working out for you? How’s Sally doing? Have you heard from Mina and Blaze lately? Oh that’s right, last I heard, they were busying having their flesh seared from the bones right in front of you!”

“Shadow!!” Sonic yelled as his fist balled tightly in anger.

“Oh that’s right,” Shadow sneered. “That was a little too close to home wasn’t it? Wouldn’t want to remind you of that high point of your career would we?  Can’t say I blame you, who would want to remember that day, losing all those friends, ditching the ones you have left in some god-forsaken zone, never to be seen again.”

Sonic closed as eyes as tears streamed down his face, his fists clenched so tightly they shook. His molars ground together as he seethed deep breaths that sent spit flying out between his clenched teeth. “Shadow…I’m telling you…you better shut your mouth or I’ll-“

“Or you’ll what Sonic? Give me one more chance? The guy who let Robotnik slip through his fingers more times than I can count? The guy who let all his friends down and let a raving lunatic burn down his home and take over the planet? You’re not in any position give out second chances here.” Shadow’s sadistic grin was burning a hole through Sonic, driving his anger to new heights. “Tell you what Sonic, how about I give you one more chance? One more chance to do what you do best Sonic, fail at life. Fail to finish the job, fail to save the day, and by the looks of things…”  Shadow turned and Sonic followed his gaze.  Sonic’s eyes went wide as he saw that he was looking at the cadre of ponies and Foxtrot as they moved and tended to an injured Celestia.  “Fail to save your friends.”

“NO!” Sonic screamed. “YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HURT THEM! YOU CAN’T!”

“Oh really? Why can’t I?”

Sonic breathed in a deep long breath, “When I’m done Shadow, you’re not going to be able to hurt anyone…ever again.”

Shadow faced him once again, and leaned his face to him and pointed to an exposed cheek. “One more chance Sonic…free shot…right here.”

Sonic roared and a flew at him, a sonic boom in his wake as his loosed a strong right-handed haymaker that thundered into Shadow’s jaw and sent him flying.  Sonic pursued him, overtook him, and once past him, broke hard and U-turned to deliver a flying side thrust to the back of Shadow’s head. Sonic quickly grabbed on to Shadow throat and waist and with a sonic boom, launched the both of them to the ground. Sonic yelled as he cocked his right knee back, jerked Shadow down with all his might and fired his knee into his spine just as they collided on the ground.

Shadow grunted in pain as his body arched unnaturally backwards from Sonic delivering the devastating back-breaker over his knee.  His body ricocheted up slightly from the impact and Sonic pulled his knee back, raised both hands over his head, locking his fingers together in a double ax fist and slamming down as hard as his could into Shadow’s sternum. The blow sent Shadow crashing into the concrete, shattering it underneath him.
Sonic flew high into the air, and with purpose burning in his eyes he rolled into a spin dash. After a moment of revving himself up to speed, he shot back to the ground with a sonic boom and struck hard into a grounded Shadow. He continued downwards burrowing into shadow and forcing him deep into the earth and out of view.

After what felt like minutes Sonic re-emerged from the ground and gazed down at the hole that he had created when he drilled into Shadow. The concrete and rock that formed the walls of the hole had melted into a burning magma from the heat generated by the friction of the super spin dash. Sonic breathed hard and fast from rage and exertion as he shook his head at the hole he created.

“Why Shadow? Why did it have to be like this?” he said in a mournful tone as he turned away from the hole and began to walk away. The he felt his quills stand on end as he heard Shadow’s malicious laughter fill the air around him.

The ground underneath him erupted as Shadow burst from it, grabbing Sonic by his ankle as he began to fly through the city with Sonic dragging behind him. He rounded a corner, swinging Sonic into the side of building and yanking him through the entire length of it before swooping inches above the ground letting sonic drag and bounce along the pavement. He rolled into a mid-air spin dash of his own, still holding onto Sonic’s ankle, slamming him face first into the street again and again at blistering speeds as he zipped through the city. Finally finishing by throwing Sonic at break neck speeds into the base of a nearby skyscraper. Super Sonic bounced of the concrete wall with a sickening crack only to be caught by the throat by the iron grip of Shadow, he flew them high into the air and before driving Sonic into the ground with a with a choke slam. Shadow then dropped to his knees, both legs straddling Sonic and he began to deliver thunderous punch after thunderous punch at lightning speeds. In the blink of an eye striking him over fifty times, his laughter filled the air as he mercilessly beat him for what felt like minutes. He finally rose up and stood over a wounded Super Sonic, raising his right foot, “Eat Boot!” He cackled as he slammed his heel right into the face of the downed hedgehog, ceasing all of his movements. Taking a moment to savor the moment of his victory, Shadow began to turn his attention to other matters. “Now…time to send some ponies to the glue factory,” he said with his cruel grin on his face as he began to stalk his new quarry.

Sonic dug his fist into the ground grinding small rocks to dust in his tightened grip as he began to blink to reassess the situation. His body burned with pain and his head ached like a thunderstorm was raging between his ears. He had never experienced pain before as Super Sonic, at least not in this magnitude, it was mostly just a minor annoyance. Shadow was strong, real strong, Sonic had hit him hard, he had held back because he still didn’t want to kill him, but it was like Shadow didn’t feel anything at all. As the hedgehog slowly got to his feet, a sudden horrible thought ran through his mind. Where was Shadow!? Sonic took to the air and began to search frantically for him and felt his heart skip a beat as he saw him walking through the city streets not one hundred feet from the ponies. They had taken shelter in a partially destroyed building, but the building was exposed due to destroyed wall and now Spitfire faced him with her sword in hand as she began to draw a line between her and Shadow. Luna and Foxtrot at her side with horn aglow and weapon drawn. Sonic saw Shadow raise his arm back and grip tightly forming a Chaos Spear. Sonic balled his fists and gritted his teeth.

“Time to speed this up!”







“In here,” Spitfire called out as she spied a standing building that still had its support structure intact, it was missing a wall, but that would make it easy to carry the Princess in, besides it wasn’t load bearing. Once they got her inside and set her down they all set about trying to make her comfortable. The managed to scrounge some blankets for her to lay on and keep her body warm as Rainbow Dash tried to apply as much as her air rescue medical knowledge to help her monarch.

Luna kept her distance, hurt by her sister’s words, but ever since she had touched down in the burning city, she saw what had truly happened. Discord hadn’t needed her help, he had tricked her into abandoning her people. Abandoning her sister, and he had used her own desire for the admiration of her subjects to do it. As the Princess of the night gazed on her suffering sister she felt as if she had done the deed herself.

Spitfire posted by the wall opening and scouted for signs of Shadow. As everyone else tried assist Princess in one way or the other, the sounds of Sonic and Shadow’s battle filled the night sky. The booms rocked buildings foundation scaring Fluttershy into a submissive position as she covered her head with her hooves.

“Oh my, this is awful, the Princess is hurt, and Sonic is all alone out there! What are we gonna do?! What if he can’t stop him?! What can we do against a monster like that?! He’ll find us and, and,” She blubbered uncontrollably.

“Sonic’s not gonna lose!” Rainbow Dash shouted looking up from Celestia’s wounds.

Foxtrot kneeled down next to Fluttershy and put his paw on her shoulder causing her to stop crying for a moment and look up at him.

“Hey, listen, Sonic just carried all of us, in an airship, over the ocean, faster than the speed of sound. I’m sure he’s got this. Plus Spitfire’s here. The Captain of the Wonderbolts, not to mention you got Princess Luna, the elements of Harmony and Tank McTankerton over there,” he said as he nodded to Big Mac. “You’re gonna be fine, besides, anybody that thinks he’s gonna hurt you, has got to get through me,” he said with a smile as he flourished his blade bringing a small smile to Fluttershy’s face and unbeknownst to both of them, a furrowed brow to Big Mac’s countenance.

“You really mean that Foxtrot?” Spitfire said with an approving tone. “Not gonna lie, Equestria could always use a good soldier.”

Foxtrots eyes scanned the room and made contact with everyone in it before meeting eyes with Spitfire, “Captain, if Equestria was filled with but a handful of ponies such as these, than I would gladly lay my life down for her.”

Spitfire smiled back at him and returned her gaze to beyond the wall as she grabbed her sword, “Good to know, turns out Equestria needs that good soldier right about now.”

Luna perked up at this announcement and made her way to the wall were they spied a glowing hedgehog slowly stalking his way to them.  She looked at her sister and then made her way outside.

Princess!” Spitfire tried to warn her but knew that there was little they could do at this point. She sighed and took in a deep breath before looking at Foxtrot, “Well, this is probably a really bad idea…Let’s rock!” She shouted out as she rushed out in front of Luna prepared to defend her Princess against Shadow as they moved to meet him head on.

Foxtrot gulped hard, not entirely prepared to live up to his promise so soon, but he felt Fluttershy’s hoof on his shoulder and she gave him a nervous but reassuring look. He swallowed hard again and looked at Big Mac. “Look after them,” he asked.  Then with three quick, fast, breaths he psyched himself up. “ALRIGHT! LET’S DO THIS!!” he roared as he charged out and took position on Spitfire’s other side so the three of them formed a tight wedge with Spitfire at the fore. “C’MON!!” He screamed out to Shadow. “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? BRING IT ON!!!!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Spitfire shouted over to him. “Easy killer, let’s not be too hasty, let’s think this one out.”

“He’s a super powered being with unfathomable powers and abilities that single handedly defeated my sister who’s hell-bent on the destruction of our entire world.” Luna said dryly.

Spitfire cocked an eyebrow at Luna before realizing the futility of the situation, “Death and glory then? Suits me. Hear that pup? You feel like making a last stand?”

Foxtrot, who was still amped up and rearing for the fight, responded by letting out a loud howl that echoed through the night.

Spitfire smirked at this display of instinctual fury as she placed the tip of her sword on the ground and dragged it across the ground, sending sparks flying as she carved out a line in the ground daring Shadow to attack.







Shadow heard the Sonic boom just as he began to throw the Chaos Spear, but before he could release, Sonic’s elbow slammed into the base of his skull jerking his aim and missing the three targets that had stood before him. Before he could react, he was struck several times from multiple angles and knew Sonic had stepped his game up. Shadow quickly adjusted to the speed that Sonic was moving just as his Spear struck the wall of the building that housed the ponies.

Time came to a virtual standstill at this speed, dust kicked up by their movements hung suspended in mid-air. The explosion from the Spear appeared as a fireball that ceased expansion and its billowing fire was frozen in time.  The sparks from Spitfire’s sword glowed brightly but remained motionless as if not affected by gravity as they floated above the ground.  There was no sound, moving at speeds this fast, sound was unable to make any travel and so the two super hogs battled in a preternatural silence that haunted their struggle.

The battle was fierce, they punched and kicked at each other, they blocked and parried each other, but not one of them gave an inch. However Sonic was at a disadvantage, at these speeds, especially with Shadows power, any damage done to his allies would be catastrophic and Shadow knew this. As they battled Shadow maneuvered them closer to Spitfire and when he saw his opening he struck out at her with a right cross, but Sonic dove in the way and absorbed the blow, opening himself up to subsequent follow up strikes, however the Wonderbolt Captain had narrowly avoided a high speed death that she wouldn’t have even seen coming. Sonic managed to grab onto Shadow and throw him into the ground. However, it placed him closer to the building. Shadow scrambled to his feet and ran into it and quickly found the perfect target.  

Rainbow Dash was stuck frozen in the high-speed time dilation, she was bent over the Princess but her head was craned to the outside to see what was going outside. Her magenta eyes those still burned with the light of hope that Sonic would be able to save them. Shadow sneered at the thought that and relished in the idea that he was about to put that light out permanently as he cocked his fist back.

Sonic raced after Shadow, he was faster him, he always had been and when he saw what he was about do, he proved it again. Utilizing his amazing speed, moved just fast enough to reach past the left side of Shadow and catch the fist that he threw at Rainbow Dash and hold him there slowing their fight back to natural speeds.








Rainbow Dash craned her head to look outside at the sound of multiple sonic booms erupting just out the building. Then the wall above her exploded causing her to cringe and then a strong gust filled the room. When she opened her eyes she saw Sonic’s gloved hand struggling to hold back Shadow’s fist centimeters from her face. The two super powered hedgehog’s presence dominated the room as they struggled to outmuscle one another. Then with a smirk, Shadow spun into Sonic and drove his left elbow into his temple sending Sonic flying though another wall back out into the street. He took a moment to address the quivering mares in the room.  “Be right back,” He smiled. Then he pursued Sonic to inflict more pain.

“Wha, what just happened?” Applejack mumbled in disbelief.

“So...So fast…” Rainbow Dash said awestruck.

“Girls…I think, Sonic might need our help,” Twilight resolved. “I think if we used the Elements of Har-“

“Wait!” Celestia interrupted, drawing everyone’s attention. Even Spitfire, Luna and Foxtrot came back in to hear her. “Twilight, you can’t use magic, it will make him…” She gasped for breath; her wounds had taken a great toll on her.

“Princess, you need to take it easy,” Twilight tried to comfort her.

“Twilight you must listen, you need to use the Elements, but not the way you’re used to, You need to imbue the one of the Elements with the power of all six. Unlock its true power. This will give that pony the power to stop him! But it mustn’t be you or Rarity; he’ll steal your power as he did mine!”

“But how?”

“You already know…” Then the Sun Goddess closed her eyes as exhaustion took her.

Twilight looked at her friends as if to ask who but she didn’t have too.

“I’ll do it,” Spitfire stepped forward. “I’ll fight.”

Twilight nodded, Spitfire battle prowess and experience would make her the best choice.

“No,” Luna interrupted, “It must be a bearer of one of the elements. I’m sorry Champion, I wish it weren’t so; your blade is sorely needed in this fray. But this is the way it must be.”

“I’ll fight,” Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “Sonic stayed by me when my wing was broken, he was a friend to me and fought by my side when I was lost in strange land, far from the shores of Equestria. Now he’s here, far from his home, fighting for a world he doesn’t belong too, fighting for us! I won’t let him fight alone!”

There was no questioning her loyalty, no arguing with it, just silent agreement as her five friends surrounded her and Twilight began to use her magic to focus the power of the elements on Rainbow Dash. Spitfire scowled silently to herself and kicked at the ground before turning away.

The Elements all began to glow and then emit beams of colored light aimed at Rainbow Dash. The cyan Pegasus felt power begin to flow through her, similar to the way it had when Sonic sent the energy through the cabin just far more intense and not at all fleeting, she didn’t even realize she was floating in the air. A bright light began to fill the room that radiated from Rainbow Dash, the cyan Pegasus felt unbelievable power course through her. She was overcome with the feeling that something amazing was happening to her. With a deep breath she closed her eyes and the bright light flooded the room.








Shadow watched Sonic slowly picked himself up from the rubble; he had just thrown him through another wall and was casually gliding over to him on his hover skates. He allowed Sonic to walk out into the street and steady himself, after all this fight was far more enjoyable than what the pony Princess had to offer. He could hit Sonic way harder, and the hedgehog wouldn’t break as easy as the she did. He was sure Discord was bored and probably wanted him blow up another city, but that mismatched freak could wait, Shadow hadn’t been entirely fond of his convoluted plan and how much of it he hid from him, but he wouldn’t let that bother him. He was going to thoroughly enjoy this.

Sonic lunged at him and Shadow shot forward to engage him. Shadow threw a left cross that Sonic dodged and jabbed at Shadow with right; hit him in the face and following it up with two punches to his gut. Shadow recovered, and landed an uppercut which send Sonic staggering backwards and followed it up with spinning snap kick to Sonic’s temple which sent him flying and crashing into the street onto his back.

With a sinister smile on his face shadow charged, leaped into the air and plummeted strait down feet first looking to plant both of his heels into Sonic’s stomach, at least, that was what he planned to do before he was violently interrupted.

Rainbow Dash charged headlong into Shadow, leaping over Sonic as she drove her head squarely into Shadow’s chest and sent him flying off into the distance.

Sonic was unable to get up as he gasped at the sight of the pegasus before him. Rainbow Dash’s cyan coat was now a brilliant pure white that seemed to almost give off a soft white glow. Her rainbow mane and tail still retained their prismatic colors but now flowed like a flame that billowed in the wind. Here wings were larger and when extended she almost had an angelic look about her. Her cutie mark was now a grey storm cloud, instead of white one. Her soft magenta eyes now bared the hue of a deep ruby red that looked Super Sonic’s and burned with the same sense of determination. The Element of Loyalty adorned her neck proudly.

“Need a hoof?” She said confidently as she extended her hoof to him. He took it and pulled himself up with her help, before dusting himself off. Once he registered what had happened he flashed his trademark smile.

“Nice to see you made it to the party, so what do you call yourself?”

“I dunno, what do you call yourself?”

“Super Sonic.”

She cocked her eyebrow and offered him a smile, “Doesn’t sound very original.”

“You can’t beat a classic,” He smirked.

She nodded begrudgingly, “I suppose your right. Well then, Super Sonic, I guess you can call me Super Rainbow Dash.”

“Now who isn’t being original?”

She shrugged, “You can’t beat a classic.”

Super Sonic chuckled, before looking her up and down, Super Rainbow Dash spun around before offering a side profile with a flick of her mane. “You like?”

“Very nice,” Sonic approved as he raised his fist.

“Thanks, you’re not half bad yourself.” She said as she hoof bumped him.

“Oh isn’t that cute,” Shadow yelled down to them. He had recovered and now hovered in the air high above them. “You know if I wasn’t thinking about how I’m going to kill both of you and how painful your deaths are going to be, I’d probably throw up.”

“It’s two to one jerk face, we’re the ones who are gonna be putting the hurt on around here! Not you!” Rainbow Dash snapped back as she and Sonic readied themselves for the fight.

“That’s an interesting statement,” Shadow chided. “Considering it's coming from a talking pony that’s about five minutes away from being turned into glue and dog food.”

Rainbow Dash scowled at the insult. “Okay Sonic, what’s the plan?”

“Light him up like a Christmas tree,” he snarled.

“Like a wha?”

“Never mind, we’re gonna hit him really hard, then were going do it some more. You ready?”

“Are you kidding me?” She said with smirk as she pounded the ground, emitting rainbow arcs of electricity as she did. “I was born ready!”