Shard VS. Macheeta

**Shard VS Macheeta** is the fourth episode of the spinoff series Shard's Journey.

## Characters:

* Shard the Hedgehog
* NICOLE
* Vector the Crocodile
* Espio the Chameleon
* Charmy Bee
* Saffron Bee
* Sonic the Hedgehog (Mentioned, seen in photograph)
* Sally Acorn (Mentioned, seen in photograph)
* Manic the Hedgehog (Not named, seen in photograph)
* Sonia the Hedgehog (Not named, seen in photograph)
* Mina Mongoose (Not named, seen in photograph)
* Miles "Tails" Prower (Mentioned)
* Queen Aleena Hedgehog/Bernadette Hedgehog (Mentioned)
* Amadeus Prower (First non-flashback appearance)
* Rosemary Prower (First physical appearance)
* Merlin Prower (First mentioned)
* Chaos (Mentioned, seen in photograph)
* E-02 Heavy the Robot
* Doctor Eggman (Voice only)
* E-15 Macheeta (First appearance)

## Plot

The episode begins with the Chaotix searching for clues on where Shard could potentially be. Espio wonders why Shard wants to stay hidden and Saffron suggests that Shard may be upset to use his powers. She explains that NICOLE told her that Shard fears he's become nothing more than a machine, yet he's been keeping Badniks from entering Station Square for the past six months and hasn't told anyone. She also states that Shard wanted to give the Freedom Fighters a break from fighting Eggman, to which Vector replies that fighting Eggman is why the Freedom Fighters exist at all. Saffron also admits that NICOLE told her that Shard doesn't feel like a hero, but, he did give up his happiness to help innocents have theirs, which is the makings of a great hero. Heavy suggests they find proof that Shard is a hero and Vector finds a newspaper. On it, the newspaper reveals that Sonic, Sally, and Team Music had battled against Chaos last night and Vector notes that Shard would be a massive help against Chaos as he is more powerful than even Aleena and they need to find Shard quickly. Espio then feels a gust of wind rush by the group, but, Vector just shrugs it off, saying human weather reports are poorly documented. Unknown to the Chaotix, a cheetah robot is spying on them.

Meanwhile, NICOLE is looking for Shard on her own, when she notices some police officers looking at, according to them, the third murder sighting that week.

Double meanwhile, Shard is still feeling like an outcast and walking around the outskirts of the city. His mind wanders back to NICOLE and how he'll wait a bit longer to join her. He comes across a cottage on the edge of the forest and sees two Mobian foxes: Amadeus and Rosemary Prower. They recognize Shard as one of Aleena's royal guard members, joining at merely age 13. Shard tells them he doesn't remember that, in fact, he can't remember anything before he was made a Robian. He tells them that they bare resemblance to Tails and they confirm that he's their son and his real name is Miles. Shard tells them he met him over six months ago. Amadeus reaches down to shake Shard's hand, but, realizes it felt cold and firm. Shard hesitantly pulls away and Amadeus is confused, saying it wasn't a bad thing. Rosemary hears Badniks and before Amadeus can fight, Shard transforms into his Robian form and quickly dispels the Buzz Bombers. He starts to leave, thinking that the Prowers wouldn't want to see him in his roboticized state, but, Amadeus tells Shard that they had been Robians once, too. Shard listens and finds out that the Prowers were taken by aliens called the Bem which turned them back to normal. Amadeus also explains that he and Rosemary understand that Shard feels scared of what he's become and what he could do. The Prowers tell Shard they can help him learn restraint and he reverts back to his Mobian form.

While that's going on, NICOLE manages to regroup with the Chaotix and worry that they still haven't found Shard. NICOLE then explains that she gave Shard time to mourn his friend Silver Tooth, who he had no choice to destroy after he was exposed to the moonlight. NICOLE notes she saw Shard crying and Charmy realizes it must have hurt Shard more than Silver Tooth. NICOLE also notes seeing Shard in pain felt like pain to her and Saffron and Vector assure they'll help both of them.

Back at the Prowers' cottage, Shard is meditating while the foxes observe how quiet he is, noting it would help him focus. Shard gets out of his stance and tells Amadeus and Rosemary he feels refreshed.

Outside, NICOLE and the Chaotix see the cheetah robot, Heavy realizing it's E-15 Macheeta and NICOLE making a force field out of nanites. Macheeta tries to force them to lower the force field and when they refuse, Macheeta tries to use something to hurt their eardrums. Heavy tells NICOLE to make the force field soundproof, to which she does just in time. She levitates herself and the Chaotix to safety and Eggman orders Macheeta to find Shard, much to the robot's annoyance. NICOLE manages to land herself and the Chaotix in the forest and upon realizing that Macheeta has gone somewhere else, Heavy scans the area to find him. He realizes he's in another part of the forest and the group take off.

While that's happening, Shard is gently holding a Flicky and Amadeus is praising him for his progression. The Flicky happily flies away, but, shortly after, poor Shard is in agony as Eggman's voice is echoing in his head. Amadeus realizes that it's a control transmitter and he and Rosemary quickly bang on some pots, pans, and a washboard. After breaking free, Shard tells the Prowers that there's an E-Series robot nearby and he quickly sets to work tackling Macheeta out of the cottage. Just as the fight breaks out, NICOLE and the Chaotix arrive. Shard transforms and Macheeta gets up while turning his hand into a flame thrower. He threatens to burn the forest, but, Shard starts leading Macheeta to a quarry. Macheeta tries setting Shard on fire, but, he dodges out of the way and charges at the robot, with NICOLE watching him from a distance.

Back at the cottage, the Chaotix are fixing up the door and they learn the pair of foxes are indeed the Prowers and Tails' parents. Espio tells them that Tails has been doing very well in their absence. Amadeus suspects his brother will find Tails before he and Rosemary do.

Down at the quarry, Macheeta and Shard are still battling and Shard plugs up Macheeta's flame thrower. As a last resort, Macheeta uses his power scream to make Shard block his ears. He tries to roll a boulder toward Macheeta, but, he moves his hands to do so and the noise is too much for him to handle. NICOLE rushes to Shard's side, insulating her ears and signs for him to mute his audio sensors. NICOLE gently tells him she'll support him throughout the battle, that she's talking to him through his internal radio so no one else can hear her, and that Shard has to trust her. Macheeta ends his power scream and that is when NICOLE rips his speaker out of his mouth, then signals for Shard to finish off Macheeta. Using his Cyber End technique, Macheeta exploded and Shard looked over at NICOLE. He tells her he can't return yet as he hasn't learned restraint. Shard then dashes over to the Prowers' cottage. NICOLE then realizes she's hungry and starts to think of a way she could still be with Shard.

NICOLE teleports back to the Chaotix who were still with the Prowers and they offer NICOLE some donuts which Rosemary has made quite a lot of. Shard returns a few moments later and Vector explains to Shard they know why he's staying with them. NICOLE asks if she could stay with them for a while as well, to which Rosemary agrees. Upon realizing that the Chaotix had at least found Shard, their work was done and NICOLE allows them to return home. Shard asks NICOLE why she's staying and she admits that she can't return back to the Thorndyke Mansion empty handed. Shard decides to recharge for a bit while NICOLE tells Amadeus that she does have strong feelings for Shard, though one thing holding her back is her age. Rosemary then tells her that as long as both parties were adults, then there wouldn't be much of a problem with them entering a relationship, as she was nine years younger than Amadeus and NICOLE herself was classified as an adult Mobian due to her programming. The episode ends with NICOLE reflecting on the Prowers' words.

## Trivia

* Like with the other episodes of Shard's Journey, this takes place around the same time as the Adventure saga, more specifically, after the events of Episode 27 and when Episode 28 barely kicked off.