Chapter 9: Chip's Faith

Eventually they came to a big old temple. Chip stared in shock as he realized it was the Temple of Gaia. Sonic turned to Shadow and Knuckles, grinning.

"When we reach the Temple of Gaia, we will absorb the Chaos Emerald's energy that is there and grow even further!" He shouted.

The two other werehogs followed him.

Chip flew after them and noticed they were already inside the temple. "Stop! You can't do this!" He shouted.

Sonic turned around and chuckled, grinning evilly. "I wondered when you would return," Sonic said, "Give me one good reason why we shouldn't. Not that it matters what you say anymore since soon we'll be picking your bones from our fangs."

Chip hesitated. "The Temple of Gaia is sacred! You can't desecrate it! If you absorb that Chaos Emerald's energy, you'll become more evil, and I don't want that to happen!"

Sonic, Shadow and Knuckles sneered. "What you think doesn't matter anymore!" Sonic said, "You will never leave this place outside our bellies." Sonic grabbed Chip and was about to drop him down his throat. Chip stared in horror at the hole lined with fangs which would hold his death. "Any last words before you die?"

"I...I'm sorry you turned out this way, Sonic," he said. "I'll never forget you."

Sonic was about to drop him when Shadow and Knuckles spoke up. "Wait we've got a better idea." Knuckles grinned, "Let's absorb all the Chaos Energy here and then blast him with all our dark powers. Then we can make him into the biggest baddest and strongest dark god ever!"

Sonic smirked and nodded. He held Chip in his hand and turned to the Chaos Emerald, putting his other hand on it. Shadow and Knuckles did also, and the three werehogs absorbed the emerald's energy. Then Sonic suddenly took his hand off it and touched shadow and Knuckles with each hand.

"This first one is all yours!" Sonic said as he backed away from his grinning apprentices.

Shadow and Knuckles laughed and began to grow larger, crashing through the roof of the Gaia Temple. They let out proud howls and looked at Sonic, who turned to Chip.

"Now it's your turn," the werehog god said.

Chip closed his eyes in fear. The three dark werehog gods puffed out their chests as they drew in as much air as they could. Then they all let out a howl as three strong beams of dark energy blasted from their mouths and blasted chip with it all. As the dark energy blasted Chip, he screamed in unimaginable pain. Then the temple collapsed. The three gods didn't care since they were far too strong to be crushed but when the dust settled chip was nowhere to be seen. Sonic frowned and sniffed for Chip's blood. He turned to the other two with a big grin.

"He's dead," Sonic said.

"But what about the dark energy we blasted him with?" Shadow asked.

"It might not work if he's dead but unless it saved him...let's stick around for a minute to see if any other werewolf gods come out of there."

The three sniffed around checking for any signs that Chip could be alive.

"Anything?" Sonic asked.

"We can't find anything," Shadow told him. "There's no doubt in my mind that he's dead. He was weak; there's no way he could have survived."

The three dark werehog gods teleported off, howling in victory.

Meanwhile some rubble moved and Chip slowly came out. He was weak and had several broken bones but he was alive. The ice had preserved him and hidden his smell. Chip got up weakly. He looked at himself and sighed in relief that he wasn't a dark god. Chip looked around, wondering where they had gone. He had to find them fast; no doubt they were going to another continent to wreak havoc.

Chip took one step and collapsed. He then realized just how bad his body was. His heart sank. He was too weak and injured to follow them. He was cold and alone. A blizzard started to kick up. Chip shivered. He was dying. He slowly went to a tree where he curled up and waited for deaths icy hand to grab him.

Chip cried. The planet was doomed. Not only where they growing naturally but they grew stronger with each Chaos Emerald. He closed his eyes and was sure he only had minutes left. He put his hands together and prayed.

"Dear God, I know you can hear me. I ask that you help me. I must find a way to defeat Sonic, Shadow and Knuckles. If they continue down this path, they will destroy the world and reign over it as false gods. Send me a sign. I know that I am about to die, and that when I do, my spirit will go to heaven to live eternally with you. Help Tails' spirit find a way to heaven also. I ask this in your name, and in the name of your son, amen."

Chip sighed and lay down. A minute later he felt a rock fall on him. He opened his eyes and looked at it. Chip nearly fell over in surprise when he saw the picture on it. It was of a hedgehog. A mighty hedgehog that protected the world and would give his life to do what was right. The hedgehog looked up to the heavens, and the heavens gave him strength. Chip set the rock down and looked up towards the sky.

"Are you saying I can't give up no matter what?"

Chip felt a breeze and he bowed his head. "Thank you, Lord."

He felt renewed strength fill him and he got up, knowing what he had to do. Chip took one step and tripped over something. He got up and stared in shock. The Chaos Emerald was sitting at his feet. But it wasn't there before.

Chip looked at it in confusion. He picked the emerald up and suddenly it started to glow. He felt strength as the chaos emerald was absorbed into his body. He looked at himself and was disappointed that he wasn't any bigger. But he felt more powerful and he felt braver.

Chip looked up at the cloudy sky and kneeled assuming the pose from the drawing of the hedgehog.

"Lord, my God. You've saved me. Thank you," Chip said.

Suddenly a beam of sunlight poked through the clouds and shined directly onto chip. He heard a voice whisper in his head. "I will be with you always, even to the end of time."

The voice and light vanished, and Chip felt that he wasn't alone. He smiled to himself and stood up.

"I still have a chance." Chip said, "If I can get the seven Chaos Emeralds I'll grow strong enough to defeat them."

He looked around and sighed, wondering where they had gone. He had to go to the other Temples of Gaia to get the other Chaos Emeralds, but they might have already absorbed the other emeralds' energy. And what if he ran into them again? They would get really mad and kill him for sure.

"No I have to risk it! The world is counting on me!" Chip said, "I'll never give up no matter how big they get!"

He took a deep breath and ran off, knowing that they had gone to another continen