Chapter 8:
"Sonic?" Shadow asked in shock. "You're alive?"
"Hardly," Sonic said, walking down the temple steps. "Although the emeralds have given me temporary form, It isn't as cool or as handsome as my real body."
Sonic came to a stop in front of Shadow. The two seemed to be trying to stare each other down, when Sonic broke into a grin. The blue hedgehog threw his arms around his black counter part, startling Shadow with a warm embrace. Sonic soon pulled away.
"It's great to see you again Shads," Sonic said happily. "Even if you sill haven't learned to smile."
Sonic ran around the room several times before stopping again.
'I've really missed that," Sonic said. "It just isn't the same being a ghost."
Sonic looked at the others, who were still staring at him in shock.
"What?" He asked innocently.
"Never seen someone come from the dead before?"
The others numbly shook their heads.
"Well now you have," Sonic replied. "And I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you. I wasn't quite myself. Let me make it up to you."
He walked over to Gem and placed his hand on her shoulder. A light spread from his hand to her wing. When the light faded, Sonic removed his hand and the bandage on Gem's wing fell off.
"My wing is healed," Gem said in astonishment and joy. "Thank you."
"It's the least I could do for injuring you in the first place," Sonic replied. "I hardly ever hurt anyone."
"But you did pull some awesome pranks and scared the pants off of that old cat," Skyler complimented.
"I know right," Sonic agreed. "I did have a lot of fun."
"So Sonic," Shadow said. "How did you end up like this?"
"When heart stop, I could feel myself slipping away." Sonic explained. "But I knew that whoever had killed me would be trying to come here, so I used my connection with the emeralds as an anchor to this world."
"How did you know that your killer was trying to come here?" Darren asked.
"The emeralds could sense the killer's intent, but not the killer." Sonic replied. "They told me and gave me the energy I needed to stay in this world. I made sure no one could find this place by scaring off any visitors. Unfortunately, as time went on, my memories began to fade as well as my purpose for being here. I became only my core personality with the vaguest sense of what I was supposed to do. Sorry for the trouble I caused you."
"It's alright Mr. Sonic," Cinnamon said. "It must have been hard to be by yourself for all these years."
"You have no idea," Sonic agreed.
"So what's so special about this place?" Skyler asked. "Beside the chaos emeralds I mean."
"I had the chaos emeralds brought here incase I ever needed them again," Sonic explained. "But you're right about them being the only thing special in this room. The true secret is this…"
Sonic held out his hand before the temple and the alter began to glow brightly. The alter opened and a small golden box came out. The box floated down from the temple and landed in Sonic's hand. Sonic turned back; holding the box in both hands, and faced the others, who were in shock again.
"This box holds the biggest secret of the chaos," Sonic continued. "The Ancient Walkers themselves trusted me with this secret and it is how I was finally able to defeat Eggman once and for all."
"And what is this secret?" Skyler asked.
"It id the knowledge of total and absolute control over the chaos emeralds," Sonic informed. "And with this knowledge I became this…"
Sonic snapped his fingers and the wall behind the temple lit up. On the wall was another tapestry. It displayed a picture of Sonic, but he looked different. He was pure white and was surrounded by a blue and golden aura. Everyone could almost feel power radiating from the tapestry, though it was only fabric.
"That is so cool," Skyler said.
"No kidding," Darren agreed.
"Guess I can't call you "Faker" any more," Shadow said.
"That's true but then you wouldn't be Shadow if you admitted I was better than you," Sonic said. "Anyway, I called this form Perfect Sonic.(See the Picture) I could do practically anything and could last as long as I needed, but I only used it for a short time. This isn't the only use this knowledge and if it feel into the wrong hands…. You can see why I had to stay behind to protect this place from whoever killed me."
"So what are you going to do with it?" Samantha asked.
"That's why I brought you here," Sonic answered before turning to Skyler, holding out the box. "It is time for me to entrust the protection of this secret to my bloodline."
"Me?" Skyler said, both astonished and proud to be chosen.
"Some people get all the luck," Darren mumbled enviously.
"I can't believe that jerk gets the honor," Randy growled.
"It makes sense if you think about it," Rachel whispered back.
"Yes you," Sonic said, kneeling down and putting one hand on Skyler shoulder. "You are the most like me for a reason. You'll carry on my legacy. I know his is a lot to put on your shoulders, but I know you'll do fine."
"If your sure," Skyler replied.
"I'm sure." Sonic said with a smile.
"Alright," Skyler said, taking the box from Sonic. He tried to open it, but the lid didn't budge. "It won't open."
"Of course not," Sonic replied, chuckling a little. "This knowledge doesn't come lightly. The box can only be open by the chosen person and only when the time is right. I don't know when this knowledge will be needed, so you must protect it until it is."
"I will Sonic," Skyler replied. "Thank you grandfather."
"I know you'll do well," Sonic said standing up. "And now I'm afraid it's time for you to go."
"Do we have to grandfather?" Samantha asked.
"You must, for I have completed my task and neither I nor the emeralds are needed here anymore," Sonic replied, his golden aura dimming. "It is time for the emeralds to once again scatter and become part of the world. And without their power, the castle will not be able to stand. I'll hold it together as long as I can, but you must go… NOW!"
"I'm getting out of here!" Randy said, dragging Rachel with him. "We are not getting buried."
"He's right we have to go," Gem said.
"Let's go sister," Jake said.
"Alright," Cinnamon agreed. The two of them left, followed by Gem.
"Come on Skyler," Samantha said, tugging on his arm. "We need to go!"
"She's right sugar," Isabella agreed. "We have to get out of here."
"But…" Skyler protested, still looking at Sonic as he began to fade.
"It's time to go," Darren said, grabbing Skyler's other arm. Reluctantly, Skyler went with the others, leaving Shadow alone with Sonic. Shadow looked at his fading counterpart.
"It's was nice to see you again," Shadow grudgingly admitted.
"You too Faker," Sonic said. "And don't run from you're memories. You caused so much trouble when you didn't remember things properly."
"Whatever," Shadow said, turning away. "Goodbye… Sonic."
Shadow began running up the corridor, Sonic watching him go.
"So long Shadow," Sonic said. He closed his eyes as his body completely disappeared. The emeralds glowed brightly and rose from their columns. With one final flash of light, the emeralds flew from the castle and scattered across the globe.
Shadow ran through the passageway, rocks beginning to fall behind him. He caught up with the others at the top of the stairs. The castle was shaking badly now, causing things to fall from the tables. They all sprinted through the door and got out just as the castle collapsed.
A/N: Almost done. Just one chapter left.
