Chapter 5: The Journey Begins

The next day, I was ready for the journey I would take. I told Rouge to tell the crusaders that they can come. After we all got ready to go, my chaos emerald led us to a place out of town. We left the two other emeralds behind for safe keeping, but also for Sonic to find. We got on the Pony Express to a place called Canterlot which is the capital of Equestria. On our way there we saw changes in the scenery. There were now loops like the ones back home and many other features that were from home...

Home...I didn't consider anything to be my home. I've always called Mobius the place I lived. I've never had a real home. Except the Ark. The only place where I felt like I was home was on the Space Colony Ark...with Maria. Maria...my only true friend...gone...to save me...to save everyone...she had to, she had no choice...she was always there for me, and I was always there for her. Until that day, the day they came...they came because they were worried and confused, they tried to kill me. Then Maria helped me escape...but I wanted to protect her...is this why I must protect these people, these ponies, these worlds? Is this why Luna told me to make friends? Is this why I was sent here? These questions might never be answered.

Anyway, we got off the train to find ponies everywhere. I used chaos control to get us away from everyone. The chaos emerald led us to a place where there were statues everywhere. The crusaders said this was the World Famous Canterlot Sculpture Garden. Rouge spotted the emerald near a statue that looked like a creature made up of different creatures. On the bottom it read "Discord, Spirit of all thing chaos. This Dragonaquis was defeated by the elements of harmony because of his chaotic crimes." We were lucky not to bring the other two emeralds along. Together they could've released him.

"I'll hold it for a while." Scootaloo said.

"No, I'll hold it." said Applebloom.

"I called it actually." exclaimed Sweetiebell. They were fighting over the chaos emerald. They continued to fight, and the more they fought the more cracks I could see in the Discord Statue.

"Girls, STOP!" I shouted but it was too late. The Dragonaquis gradually emulated from its stone form. By the time it was released there stood Discord, laughing triumphantly.

"Ah, free once again, and I thank you crusaders for setting me free." said Discord as he stretched. He snapped his fingers a few times and as he did some unexpected features started to form. The clouds turned pink and started to pour chocolate rain on us. "And who might you be?" He pointed at me and Rouge.

"I'm Shadow the Hedgehog, and what have you done to the weather?" I asked.

"Oh, did I do that? Well, I must say that is it a fine work of art don't you think?" he joked. I gave a face saying that this wasn't funny. "Well, somepony doesn't have a sense of humor."

"I'm not a pony, I'm a hedgehog." I said irritated.

"You didn't have to say it twice. I know who and what you are, but what I don't know is what you're doing here." Discord questioned.

"We were sent here by a man named Dr. Robotnick who used chaos energy to teleport us here." Rouge explained.

"Chaotic energy hmm, and I guess that's what these are for." Discord pointed at my chaos emerald. I jerked it away from him. "I'll tell you what. I'm willing to strike a deal with you. I want your chaos emerald, and you can have anything you like." He stared into my eyes. The last thing I saw was multi-colored circles that shrunk down to his pupils. I started to drift into a trance. Then something knocked me over and I snapped back to reality. The Crusaders were standing where I once was.

"You'll never get his emerald!" shouted Applebloom.

"Oh, and what makes you say that?" Discord grabbed the emerald we found.

"Now, If you'll excuse me. I have some 'Chaos' to reek." And with a snap of his fingers he was gone.

"Shadow, are you alright?" Rouge asked.

I got up and said "I'm fine."

"What happened?"

"Discord tried to trick me, that's what." I explained.

"We've got to go after him." Scootaloo exclaimed.

"No, Sonic can take care of it." I said hoping I was right. "Besides, we've got to go find the Dr."

"Why?" Rouge asked.

"There's no telling what he might do next, and we need more information to get through this journey. I may not like it, but I've got to keep you close and safe. The Dr. might not be the best solution, but what other choice do we have? I know Sonic and his friends are also looking for the emeralds, and we already have information about Equestria, and I can't take any of you home now that there's danger everywhere. Finding the Dr. is the only solution right now." I explained. They all agreed. We headed back to the Pony Express carefully, and it also stopped raining. Sonic must've beaten Discord already. I stared into my chaos emerald to see if I could find where the Dr. was hiding. It pointed toward a desert in the distance. Why would the Dr. go there? It was nearly nightfall and everyone was getting tired. I figured I should sleep too. I needed Luna's help.