The Dark Empire

The Resistance, led by Knuckles the Echidna, had just seen everything that had happened up to this point. The tension in the air was so thick you would need a chainsaw to cut it, and that is saying a lot.

The Resistance had witnessed the Arkeyan Weapon Masters sending a phenomenally large fleet to destroy Avalon, as well as every single star and planet in its dimension. Then they killed off the entire royal family in the most gruesome and unmentionable ways possible before turning their attention to all those who dishonored them. They and their relatives were utterly wiped out by the merciless Arkeyans.

After their conquest was complete, Emperor Drake delivered an ultimatum addressed to the entire universe. He declared that the universe now belongs to the Arkeyan Weapon Masters for all eternity. All civilizations and dimensions who opposed them or refused to surrender would be absolutely destroyed, just as the Avalon royal family was.

To make matters worse The Resistance then saw that Malefor had freed the Oni Generals and sent them across the Earth to Eliminate all good Magic after Sending the Grublins to eliminate all the good chi wizards across the earth bathing the planet in Eternal Darkness but not before he unlocked the gates to free the Goblin Army and destroyed them after that and burned down all of Ireland and the United Kingdom to prevent anyone from rising against them, the Crows had eliminated all the special forces ops and killed anyone who dared to resist and the universe was covered in Darkness and that was before Malefor burned down all of North America, Europe, and Asia and. Needless to say whatever was left of Humanity was forced to toil away under the Iron rule of the Dark Empire created by Malefor and his unholy alliance consisting of Doctor Eggman, Kaos, Lord Arcanon, and Tchang Zu and Prince Froggo and anybody who dared to resist was brutally executed publicly and using the execution styles of the Arkeyan Empire before showing Infinite defeating Yuzu, Rose, Sara, and Pele the Fire Dragon before eternally torturing them just as the Arkeyan Weapon Masters of the Past Present and Future sentenced all who dishonored the Arkeyan Empire to Eternal Torture at the hands of the Entire Arkeyan Empire Past, Present and Future until the end of creation. The Forces of Darkness then went on to reveal that Tchang Zu tipped off the Arkeyan Weapon Masters to begin with which made him their client and by Arkeyan Empire Law the Arkeyans are forbidden from interfering in the affairs of their previous clients or anyone they team up with. The Resistance then saw that Shendu and all who dared to dishonor the Arkeyan Weapon Masters along with all their relatives were suffering Eternal Torture at the hands of the Arkeyan Weapon Masters Past Present and Future until the End of Creation.

When the holographic recording finished, all Resistance eyes turned to Silver for answers.

"What?" Silver was starting to get uncomfortable under all the eye contact he was receiving. "What are you looking at me for?"

"Aren't you a time traveler?" Shadow asked. "Maybe you could tell us how bad the situation will get in... about two hundred years, give or take."

Silver pressed a few buttons on the hologram projector. "It's not going to look pretty but see for yourself."

A hologram was projected. The Resistance saw that in two hundred years' time, the Darkness had completely taken hold of Earth, and all that indwelled it lost hope. Even the once proud and mighty Arkeyan Empire had finally fallen to the Darkness. It enveloped not only the Skylands, but also the entire universe as well.

In the response the rest of the resistance gathered and saw that Darkness had taken hold of the Planet for 200 years and all of creation lost hope. Even the once proud Mighty Arkeyan Empire had finally fallen thanks to the Darkness covering not just Skylands but also the Entire universe as well.

The Resistance were stunned speechless at what they had just witnessed. The Darkness would consume everything in only two hundred years. To think that it started already...

At last Tails broke the silence.

"This can't be the end... can it?"

"Of course not, Tails," Sonic responded, his trademark cocky smirk returning. "All we have to do is save the world like we always do."

Knuckles' arms were crossed, and he was looking down. "Except this time, we have a far more dangerous enemy. This time, we answer to the Arkeyan Weapon Masters and their leader, Emperor Drake.

"Having seen all that, are you really sure we should speak to the guy who ordered the destruction of thousands of civilizations?" Vector asked.

"It appears to be our only choice," Espio replied.

"Maybe not," Tails said hopefully, holding up his Miles Electric. "I just got an email from Emperor Drake. He says that all we need to do is defeat the Arkeyan Weapon Masters' former client in battle. One that's done, the Weapon Masters can step in and finish the job by eliminating all those who allied with their former client, as well as their relatives." He didn't like the prospect that they would still kill either way. "Emperor Drake even has a portal gun to lead the Skylanders with."

"So, this sounds like we'd better run like there's no tomorrow," Sonic said gravely, "or there literally won't be a tomorrow. Let's do it to it!"

"Wait," Amy halted Sonic. "What about the civilians that are forced to work for the Darkness?"

"If we defeat the Arkeyan Empire's former client," Knuckles proposed, "it will send a message to all of creation that there is still hope."

Silver nodded. "It's just like I said on the day the Rookie joined us. If we want the people to rally, then we need to show them that strength can be found in other places besides numbers."

"And if we want to win, we'll have to make our own miracle," added Espio.

"But how do we even reach their former client?" asked Vector.

"That's a tough question," replied Knuckles, "but I'm sure Tails can figure it out, hopefully on the soonish side. The people of this planet need hope, and as long as the Eggman Empire runs amok, they have given into despair.

"I'll see if I can reach their former client," Tails offered, "but I can't guarantee it will be easy."

Tails went about his work. The Resistance had no idea that the Arkeyan Empire's former client had been three steps ahead of them all this time...

Aboard Dr. Eggman's Egg Carrier, in the briefing room, Lord Arcanon was using technology and magic to discuss all that had happened recently, as well as to make sure that Earth and Avalon were still under the Iron Rule of Darkness.

Arcanon turned to Tchang Zu who was standing nearby. "Tchang Zu, give me a status report of the prisoners whom the Arkeyans have eliminated.

Tchang Zu nodded. "The prisoners in question are being eternally tortured as we speak. See for yourself."

He activated the ship's hologram projector, and Lord Arcanon could see that all those who dishonored the Arkeyan Empire were being tortured now and forever until the end of creation. Among them were Colleen, Chrissie, the Demon Sorcerers, and all their relatives dating back to the time of Saint Patrick.

Lord Arcanon nodded his approval. "Excellent. And what of the special prisoners in the maximum security compound?"

"They are suffering the worst of Eggman's wrath," Tchang Zu replied. "Infinite is doing a wonderful job beating down the Portal Master and that mouthy dragon."

The holographic scene changed to show Rose, Sara, Adinda, Yuzu, and Pele locked away in the deepest, darkest prisons known to the universe, bearing the indescribable. Yuzu and Pele the Dragon were receiving the worst of it, as were their ancestors, because they mouthed off against the Arkeyan Empire one too many times.

Lord Arcanon crossed his arms. "I can only guess that all of Avalon pretty much bows down to you at this point. But what about the human race? Are they subject to you as well?"

"Indeed, my lord," Tchang Zu answered. "They bow down only to me and the Goblins. And the best part? Nobody has the guts to speak out against us, because I am the former client of the Arkeyan Weapon Masters. Should anybody speak out against my iron rule, the crows will silence them, reminding them that they attacked after the Arkeyan Empire did."

Lord Arcanon nodded. "Which makes them think that you and the Arkeyans will attack if you dishonor them. Even if anyone proves they are brave enough to attack, then there would be no way to stop them because all Good Magic on Planet Earth has been destroyed thanks to Tarakudo and the Oni Generals."

"At least that's good news," agreed Tchang Zu, before something else crossed his mind. "But didn't you also mention that your dimensional counterpart has given you future information?"

"He has," Lord Arcanon nodded. "I shall let Doctor Ivo Robotnik, or Dr. Eggman, take the floor."

A moment later, the rotund genius walked onto the briefing stage. He cleared his throat before beginning.

"I had traveled to the second dimension to find that the Arkeyans were ruling the universe. As it turns out, that's the same dimension where the Shadow Dragons were unleashed upon the planet. Either way, Infinite and I have learned from our prior mistakes. Now we are prepared to defeat anything that dares to stop us in this dimension."

"Thanks to the information you supplied us, Doctor," Arcanon replied, "not only were we able to pick off all the Jteens that the Arkeyans missed, as well as all of Section 13, we also managed to steal the Celtic Keys, free Froggo's army, and destroy the gates. As you may know, the Jteens dishonored the Arkeyan Weapon Masters, and they and their relatives paid dearly for it. We have already seen just how mad Emperor Drake and the Arkeyan Weapon Masters can get."

"But their own bylaws prohibit them from coming after us!" Eggman chuckled. "Irony at its best. However, according to the crow spies, that still hasn't stopped them from hiring outside help to eliminate you, Tchang Zu."

"I am not worried in the slightest," Tchang Zu replied confidently. "Come what may. We'll be ready for anything."

"As long as the Resistance fails to eliminate you, then the Arkeyan Weapon Masters cannot come after us. All you need to do is sit on the throne in order to render the puny Resistance helpless. Meanwhile, to make sure they don't try anything, I'll send monster after monster to crush them."

Tchang Zu smirked. "Then I'll leave you to it."

The Forces of Darkness ended that conversation on that note, knowing full well that almost nobody could stop them now. The planet was covered in endless darkness, and rivers of blood ran across all the destroyed continents as a grave reminder to all who dared to defy the rulers of Avalon and the universe.

Author's Note: I know that this last chapter was intense but it needs to show the same level of Darkness that Sonic Forces Held. Hopefully it wasn't too intense for you the readers and I owe this to the help of my new editor. Thank you.