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XIV - How to Control Chaos (and Influence People)

Sonic looked at him with confusion.

"Why didn't I what?"

"Why didn't you use Chaos Control to light the fire?"

"What?" Sonic spluttered, "I can do a lot of things, but I can't magic up fire by snapping my fingers." Shadow fixed him with a puzzled look.

"Sonic," he said, genuine confusion in his voice, "we had known each other less than a week before you used Chaos Control. You learnt how to do it after watching me do it once, and you were using a fake Emerald."

"That's not the same. That was a life or death situation, and I didn't feel so great afterwards."

Shadow paused for a moment, staring into the deep glow of the flames. When he turned back to look at Sonic, his face was heavy with concern.

"Why are you afraid of your own abilities?" he said, "you let that doppelganger frighten you with your own skills, and now you're scared of what you could do with Chaos energy." Sonic felt defensive, he thought Shadow was trying to push his buttons again. He wasn't afraid, he never got scared – well, except for his crippling hydrophobia, or when his friends were in danger, or some smug copy of him uses his own powers against him. Sonic dismissed the thoughts; he didn't get scared, he wouldn't let himself.

"I can't be afraid of something I can't even do."

Shadow turned back to the fire, staring intently with fierce eyes. Here we go, thought Sonic, here comes the insult, the backhanded compliment. Why do I even-

"Would you like me to show you?" said Shadow, looking up at Sonic with a calm smile almost as warm as the flames themselves. Sonic's inner monologue came to a screeching halt.

"S-show me what?" he asked tentatively.

Shadow raised his hand with his palm facing upwards. Closing his eyes he seemed to slip into a meditative trance. A crimson glow surrounded his hand once more, this time small points of bright red, like tiny fireflies hovered playfully above it.

Sonic stared with fascination as Shadow gently adjusted his fingers, a look of intense internal concentration on his face. The points of light began to coalesce above his palm, forming an orb of pure scarlet that gently span in place. Moving his fingers like he was caressing the finest silk, the orb began to change. Shadow's face became even more intense, before relaxing. He opened his eyes.

Sonic's jaw dropped open. Floating above Shadow's hand was a butterfly made from shining crimson light. It softly fluttered its wings, looking like it was a living, breathing being made from pure energy. With a wave of Shadow's hand the butterfly flew away, floating high up to the ceiling. Sonic traced its movement carefully, studying its every delicate flutter and twist, before it dissipated into crimson dust.

"Whoa! That was incredible!" cried Sonic, "How in the world..?"

"To control that which by definition cannot be controlled," said Shadow, "that was my purpose, once. Black Doom & GUN thought Chaos Energy could only be used as a weapon, but Maria..." he began to trail off, looking down at the floor.

"Go on, Shadow," Sonic said.

"Maria taught me to think differently. To think about peace, and nature, and..." he looked directly into Sonic's eyes, "love." Sonic's heart skipped a beat.

"She showed me how to use my imagination," Shadow continued, "how the ultimate weapon of death could be used to create things of great beauty."

"Like a... gun that shoots flowers!" Sonic said, beaming. He was proud of that analogy.