Okay, Shadow+Twilight won the poll...barely. Seven to Five. As for Pinkie Pie, well Sonic has a "little brother" in Tails, so why can't Shadow have a "little sister"? However, the newest music poll is tied between "S" and "N"-with one vote each. Be sure to check out the music last chapter and vote!
The reason I like putting polls up is to get the opinion of the viewing pubic, to include them! This story has (currently) 32 likes and 41 favorites. Well as Pinkie Pie once said: "Enough chit-chat, Time is candy", so let us move on!
After Knuckles had moved the Master Emerald (and subsequently locking every entryway to the Hidden Palace Zone), Applejack, Rarity, and Knuckles had returned by the carriage to their careers-Rarity's boutique in Ponyville and Knuckles and Applejack returning to Sweet Apple Acres. However, the others (which included Scootaloo, Princess Luna, and the remaining team) was left to explore Angel Island and make changes to it to prevent anypony from getting seriously hurt. This process took a couple weeks to accomplish-as not everypony could move at Rainbow Dash and Sonic's speed.
Meals were set up at camps three times a day, and Sonic kept using a Chaos Emerald's power on Scootaloo's food without her knowledge, and her wings had finally grown to the size they were supposed to be by the time they were finished on the Island.
There were plenty of changes in the tropical forest itself-as Eggman had left sharp, metal spikes protruding from the ground that ha to be covered up. Spike's sharp eyesight and motion sensors made seeking out areas that needed alterations easier, Rainbow Dash, Tails, and Fluttershy could get an aerial view of the Island (though Tails had to hold Fluttershy's hands to encourage her to fly), Pinkie Pie could randomly appear in areas they had missed. Shadow could teleport-along with Twilight-using Chaos Control, and Sonic led the exploration across the island in place of Knuckles, since he had run across most of the island himself. Princess Luna destroyed the Spikes or covered it using created walkways or ramps by using her magic.
There was also a problem of the spin-dash tubes, as the only ones who could spin-dash were Sonic, Tails, Shadow, Knuckles, and Spike. They were blasted out by Twilight and Luna and replaced by large tunnels. Spike would occasionally glance at Ponyville before shaking his head and continuing on.
Hydrocity Zone was closed off by magically-created blockades lowered in place by Rainbow Dash and Tails. With most of it being underwater and with as many spikes it was covered in, it just couldn't be explored safely by ordinary ponies. Marble Garden Zone was where Rainbow Dash and Sonic had their own adventure-running off to explore while an earthquake sealed it off from everyone else. Luckily enough, those two regrouped with the others in the Carnival Night Zone.
Although neither of them said anything, Rainbow Dash and Sonic became closer-as she carried Sonic before he fell to his death as the ground beneath his feet and for hundreds of miles ahead of him suddenly collapsed during an earthquake. He had quickly thanked her and the two set their feet (and hooves) firmly on the ground of Carnival Night Zone before the others arrived.
Carnival Night Zone...THAT was a place everypony had to literally drag Pinkie Pie from. More ramps and walkways were created to cover multiple spikes, and Pinkie Pie had taken it on herself to set up vendor locations for carrot dogs, cotton candy, etc. Needless to say, it was would be a popular area for ponies to visit.
IceCap Zone was a winter wonderland year-round, and Sonic got a chance to show off his snowboarding skills. There had to be many arctic-air vents that could freeze somepony solid blocked off and destroyed. There were also many moving platforms that threatened to crush anyone on it-those were destroyed by Luna, Twilight, and Shadow and replaced by stairs or supported tunnels. The pathway to the Launch Base Zone ruins were also closed off-though the only true pathways to it were through spin-dash tunnels.
Mushroom Hill Zone had a spot filled with spikes cleared out and flattened for the stadium that would go there. Spike pits were filled in and tunnels were created in their place. Knuckles' earlier statement came to their mind as they saw mushrooms-bouncing slightly in the wind-towering above their heads. It was humbling to see a normally small fungus so large. It was day three in week two at this point.
"Geez, good thing Rarity isn't here right now. She'd be complaining about how long this trip is taking." Twilight said, and Spike glared at her slightly at her comment about his crush. Yet, he did not say anything-as he knew deep down it was true. Flying Battery Zone was sealed of until they could explore it better-as that thing according to Sonic was filled with traps. Sandopolis Zone had the spikes covered in magically created rocks that smashed over them. The infamous temple....was sealed off as Tails huddled in front of it before Fluttershy returned the favor he did earlier by comforting him. She had found the two-tailed fox easy to talk to, and he did not pressure her into talking about things she wasn't comfortable about.
Instead, he had checked out the differences between animals on his old planet and Equestria. Tails had searched over book after book for anyway home, and had broken down and actually shed some tears when he found out Eggman's statement-that they were forever trapped there-was true. After a day, he had returned to his upbeat personality-much to Fluttershy's shock-an had continued his works. There were talks about aircraft he was creating with the princesses to make a way for ponies other than pegasi to defend themselves from airborne threats.
Tails, although generally braver than Fluttershy, had an almost debilitating fear of lightning and ghosts-the lightning most likely reminding his subconscious mind of the attack that took his parent's lives minutes after he was born.
After an hour delay where Tails gathered his courage to move on-where they found another entryway to the Lava Reef Zone outside of the Temple-in Red Mountain. It took Sonic's quick reactions, Shadows Chaos Powers, AND Luna and Twilight's magical prowess to enter the Lava Reef Zone, so it was safe to assume that nothing other that the beings who knew it and dragons would be able to get to it. Since the Sky Sanctuary Zone was mostly inaccessible others outside of flying an the Hidden Palace Zone (which was locked to anyone not of the same blood as Knuckles' Tribe), they did not bother with the Sky Sanctuary Zone other than a "no flying" spell over the area.
When the got to the Lava Reef Zone however....Spike's lone organic eye widened and his jaw dropped and he actually started drooling. Many lava pools had hardened and cooled off enough to walk on, so they got rid of the spikes and platforms-replacing them with stairways and bridges. Spike however, was rooted to the spot, his eyes taking in the sight of the thousands of gems in the Zone and the thousands more developing.
"I think I'm in dragon heaven." Spike said, stepping in a not-yet-hardened magma pool and grabbing a few gems to munch on. Shadow's eyebrow rose at this sight-Spike sitting up to his chest in hot lava eating gems.
"Good thing his metal was made with dragon scales." Sonic said, tapping his foot as the rest of the group finished up fixing the area.
"Spike...." Twilight said, her tone low and warning.
"What? this is the first time I have gotten to truly relax ever since my body became mostly metal!" Spike said.
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By the time they returned, it had been three weeks since Nightmare Night, and they had made a pathway through the tropical forest through Carnival Night Zone to where the stadium would be in the Mushroom Hill Zone. They were instantly greeted by Applejack, Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, and Rarity, who told them about their "adventures" and what they learned about friendship during their time on Angel Island. From the incident between Rarity and Sweetie Bell and the Sisterhooves Social to the time Applebloom with a rare plant which gave her the (now extinct disease) Cutie Pox.
In return, they told them about the sights around Angel Island, and the group talked until the sunset. Princess Luna raised the moon and then gave her goodbyes as she left to return to Canterlot Castle and talk with her sister.
Spike talked to Rarity about the gems in the Lava Reef Zone and she-much to his surprise-actually turned them down. She had quoted that it'd "too bothersome" to get them herself, and that it "wouldn't be fair on him" to have Spike get them for her by flying there and doing all the work.
So for now, Spike had his own personal getaway on Angel Island.
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Metal Sonic's red eyes glanced over the forest his hideout was located.
"You were not what I expected to obtain, but until I obtain a few dragons, you will do nicely." He said in a gruff, metallic tone as another metallic figure approached, his red eyes gleaming in the shadows.
"Metal Griffin!"
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The next morning had an unusual wake-up call, as Spike awoke by belching out a letter from his green flames. Shadow caught it and his eyes skimmed over it.
"Message for you from Celestia." Shadow said, handing Twilight the letter.
To my faithful student,
It was nice for Knuckles the Echidna-Guardian of Angel Island-to give his permission to have the summer Equestrian Games on his island. While it was worrying about all of the modifications that had to be done, it should be safe now if we provide security. While I would love to just send a normal letter checking in, I'm afraid this letter has to be about business. While searches have not uncovered the whereabouts of Metal Sonic-and I must admit that it is a very crafty opponent-searches have discovered a changeling plot against Equestria. The leader herself-Queen Chrysalis-is planning to disguise herself as the bride in an upcoming wedding later on this year and lower the barrier around Canterlot to let the changelings in. The wedding happens to be between the Captain of the Royal Guard-and your older brother-Shining Armor and Princess Cadence Mi Amore Cadenza. Until the threat is dealt with, I am sending Princess Cadence to stay with you until the wedding. Luckily she had already set up all the details about the wedding. The reason I am having her stay with you instead of in Canterlot is a few reasons actually. One:you have a personal history with her and-unless I'm mistaken-have a secret greeting between you two. Two: Spike's abilities listed by Tails have a few that would allow him to detect imposters. Finally, Three: your guest-from what I heard from reports from Ponyville-Shadow has combat experience and would be effective at protecting her.
She will be arriving soon after this letter does, and I thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Your mentor, Princess Celestia.
Right after she finished reading this, there was a rapid knocking at the door. Setting the letter down, she gulped and moved to the door....never knowing that this would affect Shadow's and her own life forever.