O X O – CHAPTER TEN - O X O
Dense, cold and eerie mist enshrouded the thicket to the point Shadow's fur fluffed in heightened paranoia. Shadow and Sonic walked side by side through the entangled forest. The silence of the forest life was anything but comforting.
Sonic's hand sank under the fur to sooth a twitching muscle. "Easy there, buddy. I know you're in a bad mood, but try to keep your head on your shoulders, okay?" Sonic began with a mellow smile. "You can see through this mist, but I can't so I dunno how well I can help you in here." he mumbled as he turned to the dreary thicket, a little nervous.
Shadow grunted in agreement. He found little comfort in Sonic's touches yet appreciated the gesture nonetheless. Sonic curled his fingers around Shadow's fur and climbed onto his back where it was safer.
Shadow muttered under his breath. "No matter what you see, don't get off my back."
Sonic nodded with a meek 'Okay.' Before he hugged himself closer against Shadow's pelt. Sonic found himself becoming more anxious by each passing second as they delved deeper into the darkness. Shadow was quiet. Sonic closed his eyes to keep his focus on the forest in case the pink bob of light came back.
Rewinding the clock after Shadow and Sonic's departure, back at the stone keep of Black Doom, the lord of the underworld stared down at Scourge who knelt before him in nervousness. He and his men have yet again lost track of Shadow and his blue pet as soon as they have entered the dreaded thicket.
Black Doom extended his clawed hand forward and the shape of a starfish-like creature formed in his palm. He whispered to the creature, then stroked a hand along its middle where a large yellow eye laid nestled into its purple body, before he pushed his hand forwards. The starfish darted into the air and bolted out the nearest window in a quick flight.
Black Doom turned his attention to Scourge again in disappointment. "Keep a look out for them. Put a sentry at every corner of the forest if you have to. Whatever Shadow plans to do within the Erezor's domain must be kept a secret." He demanded, tone bold and warning.
Scourge adjusted the warm cloak around his shoulders where he continued to kneel before his sire, but it did little to ward off the cold sweat which soaked his fur. "If I may ask, sir? What's so important about that guy?" he straightened himself when Doom looked at him with ire. "I mean, all due respect, sire. I don't see if this has anything to do with your goals. What if they interfere?"
Doom replied with a low jeering chuckle. "Shadow is the last of his kind. I could grant him a pack if he so desired, which could serve within my legion better than the useless slaves do." he ran thin fingers over his chin-less neck, as if stroking a beard. "His pet, however, may become a problem I could do without." he grumbled, his hands folded behind his back as he pondered. "Shadow is admirably strong and a force to be reckoned with, yet I fear my touch had not been fully implemented." Doom was no longer addressing Scourge as he walked away towards the window to look at the darkening sky. "He is still partly mortal though he does not realize it, and with enough influence he may lose his demonic form and then he would be of no use to me. I need to lure him back into my hold before that happens."
"He's... mortal?" Scourge echoed, surprised and confused.
"The demon world is forged in ways people such as yourself, Scourge, could never comprehend at its finer workings. Demons were all once mortals who sold themselves to me in desire of strength and power." He paused to chuckle, dark and eerie. "A pact with the devil, if you may say." He turned to Scourge and brightness lit his three eyes, which had Scourge coil back in alarm. "In fact, if you desire, I could give you the powers, though I doubt you'd have the same finesse as it will take you some time to master them."
He walked back and passed by Scourge towards the velvet curtains to return to his chamber. "We can dally in such pleasantries later, however. I have much to attend to and you need to fetch me the witch in the flesh." Black Doom whirled around to point a threatening finger at Scourge. "Her illusion may have been well crafted to fool a simpleton such as yourself, but she can not fool me. Bring her to me alive so I may teach her a lesson." he ordered.
Scourge bowed and hurried out of the room without a moment's hesitation.
Back at the thicket, Sonic fluttered his wary eyes at his surroundings. The forest seemed endless. Shadow marched through the bushy natural vegetation for what felt like hours…
Sonic kept hearing voices calling out for him, giggles and chortles, some pleasant and some sinister. There were touches around his skin that made him jump with startled gasps and clutched Shadow's pelt hard enough to hurt. Shadow was aggravated at Sonic's constant squirming, but Sonic had no shield from the illusions, thus Shadow took it in stride. Shadow knew they were making progress as he could see where they were headed, thanks to the golden waistbands.
Sonic continued to squirm. "How much longer?" he whined into Shadow's fur. He jumped as he saw a twisted white face scream out through the branches before disappearing.
Shadow let out an aggravated sigh of annoyance and rolled his shoulders. "Keep your eyes closed and it wouldn't be as scary." he growled. Sonic muttered something scathing under his breath, to which Shadow jostled his shoulders in punishment as Sonic seemed to have forgotten Shadow had sharp hearing.
"Alright! Alright, sheesh…" Sonic's hands clutched tighter onto Shadow's fur. "I'm sorry, it's so hard not to look when I hear voices whispering." He shuddered and his eyes darted around, searching for a hiding danger ready to pounce them. "They keep telling me you're going to take me to the deepest part of the forest and eat me."
Shadow let out a snort of laughter. "Don't be ridiculous. You're gamy and your bones would get stuck between my teeth. I wouldn't eat you if someone paid me."
Sonic puffed his cheeks. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence." He grumbled and sat more upright, some fear shoved to the back of his mind. "It's not like I'm the one who needs a bib so he won't spill fruit juice all over himself." Sonic taunted, which earned his leg a light whap with the lashing tail.
Shadow gave a low growl which vibrated across his massive ribcage, but Sonic found a bit of comfort in the sensation. "I don't usually eat with my hands, I sink my teeth into things and rip them apart, and the stuff I usually eat isn't thick with juice, either." Shadow argued, tone casual and calm. "Let's pass time with that topic since we're at it. What do you like to eat?" Shadow's ears swiveled towards Sonic.
"I think among all the things I have ever tasted through my travels, Chilidogs have got to be the best thing I've ever had." Sonic replied with a broad, bright grin. "Oh man, my mouth is watering thinking about it…" he moaned.
"Chilly... dogs?" Shadow stammered and his ears pinned down.
Sonic couldn't help but laugh. "It's not really a dog, honest! It's just called that way. Its beans and hot sauce mashed together and stuffed into a bread bun." Sonic explained. "Sometimes its a sausage with mustard, that's where it got the name, but it's not really made of dogs, don't worry." he scratched the back of Shadow's ear.
Shadow grumbled in a foreign tongue Sonic could not understand, set his gaze back to the surrounding forest and quickened his pace.
Sonic decided to toss the question back at the other. "What about you? What's your favorite food?"
Shadow's ears swiveled around further and his pace slowed again. "Considering my diet had consisted of pretty much nothing but raw or half cooked meat, I don't think I'm of the opinion to give a favorite food." he hesitated. "Although, I admit, those oranges you provided were delicious. I wouldn't mind having more when I can stomach them." He mumbled, tone small and timid.
Sonic chuckled. "Those were clementine, the sweet cousin of oranges, and the seedless type to boot. I guess that means you're into citrus, eh? I'll have to remember that." he grinned, not once stopping his scratching.
They stepped into silence soon after, the ghostly manifestations of the thicket were well ignored, Sonic was much too content to let their miasma bother him. However, he frowned when Shadow stopped walking and a low, deep rumble vibrated across the massive ribcage again.
"What's going on?" He asked and peered over Shadow's shoulder. He saw a giant golden pyramid erected within the boundaries of the forest. There was a shower of silver fountains that had pure water flowing out of each faucet. On each side there were smooth, crystal pools that seemed to go on forever, each side tinged golden in color. "Well someone likes to live humble."
"Quite." Shadow grumbled in a dry and unimpressed tone, then continued to walk into the opened door. "Looks like we're here."
Sonic dared his luck and turned around to look at the path of which they came from. The forest was but a speck of dust miles behind them. He blinked, fists rubbed his eyes then blinked at the forest again, and found it had drawn back further away from his perpetual vision. Another illusion. Sonic whirled to the pyramid again with knots twisting the pit of his stomach.
"Once we go in, there is no turning back." Shadow growled and ruffled his fur to vent a bit of his own discomfort. "Hold onto me and Never let go, no matter what happens, understood?"
"What if I need to use the toilet?" Sonic grinned, nothing like ill-placed humor to break the tension, which earned him a deadpanned stare. "What if I needed to get off at some point? I need a safe word to know it's not an illusion." Sonic mumbled in a hushed tone, his ears swirled around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on the conversation.
Shadow growled under his breath, tense and tight. "Close your eyes and never let go even if I tell you to, understood?" he insisted.
Sonic made a low whine, hugged Shadow's back tight and then nodded. Shadow made a low grunt of acknowledgment and marched forward into the Djinn's quarry. His eyes glinted when he entered the shrouded darkness past the threshold.
Shadow's unhindered eyes pierced through the shifting shapes of illusions and phantoms. He walked by patrons and waitresses, ignored the offered drinks and food, and phased right through the massive and imposing figures of supposed elephant sized guards. He could see their fogged silhouettes. He could tell they were not solid nor real. They could not harm him, and his resolve was stronger.
He walked over shiny stone-tiled floors, despite the fact he felt nothing under his paw other than dirt and pebbles. He ignored the commotion that began to stir around him. The loud click and clacks of heels started sharp and loud to his ears. The maidens were all lit ablaze without warning, their screams and howls of pain were of none concern to him.
Shadow knew if he faltered for a second he may get pulled into the illusion, and he could not afford such a mistake. The power rings encircled around his wrists thrummed, he felt their powers seep through his bones, it energized him in ways he could not describe. Their essence shattered every thread of magic from his being and showed him the reality as it was.
The Pyramid was a palace on the inside, Shadow noticed. Perfect gleaming tiles with sparkling chandeliers, smooth vases decorated with the most brilliant of flowers, trickling fountains seeping from the walls, plant pots decorated the corners, and gold with gems studded doors and windows decorated each and every entrance, each more elaborate with vines and jewelry than the other. Crackling warm fire places were placed in every which room to keep the atmosphere nice and crispy warm.
Shadow knew better. He could smell the reek of putrid death and the cold chill of frostbitten wind blow about his feet and tousle his raised fur.
He disregarded the crumbling forms of falling maidens consumed by fire and walked through a door. Shadow's focus faltered for a precious second as he came upon a room full of greenery and forest life, a private garden of sorts. The garden hosted a fair number of large, beautiful and lustrous she-hogs, all whom turned their attention to him with wide sultry smiles and keening calls, beckoning him to come join them in their little sweet haven.
Shadow tore his attention away and rocketed towards the nearest door, paying no mind to Sonic's started shout at the sudden shift of speed. Shadow braced himself and gathered his wits once he phased out of the chamber and into another.
He will not fall for the same trick twice, no. He had had enough of making a laughing stock of himself with Ebony, he was not giving the Djinn the pleasure of seeing him trip over his own feet. Shadow's anger and resolved renewed, and he marched through the barren room towards the next door.
Shadow saw it was clear he was approaching the Djinn's den at frightening speed, for the ghosts who were pleasant and inviting became more aggressive and defensive, doing whatever it took to spook or scare him into leaving. Doors slammed in his face and he walked right through them. Trapdoors opened beneath his feet and he walked right over them. Chandeliers fell on his head and made no contact. Sonic would shiver and flinch every now and then, then question if it was alright to open his eyes. Shadow answered the same. No. It wasn't safe yet for Sonic to open his eyes.
Shadow walked through a chamber uninhibited by walls or locked doors, and instead was a vast open area with blackness surrounding it. The floor looked to be coated in clear glass. Shadow paid it no mind and looked at the figure enthroned at the opposite side of the room. A purple man with various tattoos and markings sat in his throne. Next to him stood the pink woman with a crossed look on her face. She looked livid, no doubt furious Shadow had seen through each and every one of her illusions.
"You must be the one who was floundering in my forest before." Erezor murmured, amusement glinted in his dark eyes. He did not seem the least bit bothered. He sat on his throne in a casual posture, ankle over a knee, and a fist to his cheek, like a spoiled king waiting for the clumsy jester to entertain him. "Shara told me all about how you managed to escape, and assured me it wouldn't happen again." He turned his chin to manage a slight disapproving scowl at her.
Shara squared her shoulders in embarrassment and shame. She avoided eye contact and bowed her head a little with a small apology. Shadow noticed that after she straightened up her eyes were still to the floor, her expression upset.
"She was mistaken, as you can see." Shadow cut in with a jeering tone. Sonic shifted on his back and whispered if he could open his eyes yet, to which Shadow ignored. It did not look like the Djinn noticed the blue hump on Shadow's back, and Shadow preferred to keep it that way.
Shadow weighted his options. Should he attack head on and see where that would get him, or should he try to figure out a ploy to trick the Djinn into revealing his weak spot. He knew for a fact Djinn with shackles often meant they belonged to a container, usually a flask, bottle, or a lamp, therefore the Erezor Djinn might be keeping his own hidden since he wore wrist bands. Unlike Enerjak being sealed within the Master Emerald, Shadow was unable to figure out where the threads of energy linked the Erezor to his prison, assuming he had one.
The chamber room didn't have windows and the door he entered through had been shut behind him before it vanished. Shadow's eyes scanned the Djinn pair and then the throne, but there was nothing out of the ordinary in the scene.
"I have a question." Shadow began. It was best to play it casual to see how far he could go since the Djinn hadn't lunged for his throat yet. The Erezor Djinn arched a curious brow and gestured for Shadow to go ahead. Shadow felt Sonic's hands relax a bit over his fur. He assumed Sonic could hear the conversation, at the very least. "I was told the Gods of Four had been imprisoned for centuries below the earth. How was it you escaped?"
The Erezor's eyes narrowed, lips pursed in disapproval, and he uncrossed his ankle, hands gripped the armrests before he pushed himself to stand. "I was unearthed by an adventurer." a sinister smile stretched across his face. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers twice.
The ground rumbled and shuddered before a sand pit opened and a large hour glass emerged. The bottom side was full of glittering golden sand, and trapped within the upper glass casing was a terrified little fox boy with bright blue eyes. The young kit had a rag on his head with a tattered vest and, oddly enough, two tails. The child screamed for help and slammed his fists at the glass, pleading.
The pleas were loud enough for Sonic to hear and he straighten up in alarm, eyes wide and ears perked as he searched the room for the source of the cries. His head popped up from Shadow's mass of fur which caught the Erezor's attention. Shadow winced as Sonic blew his own cover and palmed his face with a free paw. He guessed it was a miracle Sonic had managed to remain hidden so far.
"I don't suppose you'd be interested in a bargain?" the Erezor Djinn chuckled and plopped back into his seat, a smug look on his face.
Shadow scowled and flopped on his seat, which caused Sonic to yelp and slide right off. "What do you have in mind?"
The Djinn shrugged a nonchalant shoulder. "Short and simple: The whelp's life in exchange for you." he pointed at Shadow.
Sonic dusted himself and then rounded Shadow to stand besides him, since there was no point in hiding any longer. His attention focused on the frightened fox, anxious that another innocent life was at stake. He took a handful of Shadow's shoulder and gave it a nervous tug. "Don't do it man. I got a bad feeling about this." He cautioned, but Shadow scoffed and disregarded the warning.
"If you manage to win, the boy is yours and you may have whatever else you want." the Djinn replied.
Shadow's tail swung behind him in a lazy wag. Whatever illusions the Djinn planned to throw would be nullified by the rings, so he could take his chances. "Depends on what you have to offer." Shadow growled, ears pinned back and curved like horns. "If I win I want the kit, your lamp, and her." he pointed at Shara.
Shara's jaw dropped, stunned and offended by the request, but the Erezor laughed. "Granted! In exchange, I want you as well as your blue friend to work under my service." he grinned wide, mischievous and dark. "Do we have a deal?"
"So as long as the fox remains unharmed, we have a deal." Shadow hid a victorious smile. The Erezor had confirmed his lamp's existence. He also noticed how these gods seemed to keep making a trend with wanting to add Sonic to their collection. Sonic however, looked at Shadow with a perplexed look, and Shadow avoided eye contact as he mulled over the situating.
Sonic made a grunt and scowled, he resisted the urge to grab one of Shadow's ears and give it a painful yank. He hated being used for a bargaining chip. "The kid I can understand. He was probably just digging around and curious." Sonic scooted closer, not wanting to let go of his safety net. He sent the fox trapped within the glass a comforting smile, which seemed to help the little boy calm down. "But why the Djinn lady?" he added, turning back to Shadow.
"I have no idea." Shadow muttered and rolled his shoulders. "It was a good idea at the time and figured I'd just roll with it."
Sonic grinned and shifted his weight on one foot. "What? Is my spontaneous attitude rubbing on you?" he teased.
Erazor smirked and waved his hand, causing the room to fade from view and instead were in the confines of a wide coliseum. Shadow was unimpressed. The Djinn snapped his fingers and a tower of sand erupted underneath Shadow, slammed him in the gut and sent him flying to land with a loud thud and yelp of pain. Sonic let out a shout of alarm as Shadow had been knocked away, and his grip on the fur was severed. Enshrouded by a sudden vortex of spinning sand Sonic was isolated and was sent to the ground with a yelp of his own.
Sonic rubbed his aching seat. "Oh man, this is so not good..." He muttered and attempted to stand. Sonic found he was unable to and his eyes widened in panic when as he saw the sand had encased his feet. He let out a sharp cry of pain as the sand around his legs hardening and tightening, it felt like his bones were being crushed.
Shadow hurried to his feet at the cries of alarm coming from Sonic, but massive bony hands burst from the earth and grabbed his ankles, they dragged him further away from the sand storm with a started puppy-yowl.
The Erazor held up a hand and chuckled, large pillars began to sprout from the sides of the arena, surrounded Shadow and blocked his reach from Sonic.
Shadow did not know if Sonic could hear him, but called out for the other regardless. "Sonic, remember everything here is a figment of your mind! Fight it! Don't let it get you!"
Sonic heard Shadow's voice distant and faded, but enough to understand. Sonic had to calm his mind and focus on what's real, not what he thought was real and isn't. He closed his eyes and drew in a long, deep breath, then trailed a hand down his legs towards the thick layer of dirt and earth encasing his ankles. There was no pain, and though solid he realized the pain was all in his head.
Sonic opened his eyes with a brightness that had the young fox boy stare in his glass prison. The fox was able to see the events play out without the illusion of either the arena or the sandstorm distorting his reality.
Sonic attempted to stand and a sting met his joints. He hissed and plopped back on his rear. For an illusion the pain felt quite real and it boggled him. He fought to clear his mind further and scanned his surroundings. He didn't know what Shadow was doing, because the fog was too dense.
Shadow was torn between smashing through the barrier to aid Sonic, or wait and see what the Erezor had in store for him. The loud click-clacks of rattling chains and a draw bridge dropping onto a cobblestone edge reached his ears, and Shadow whirled around to face his first opponent. The chains dragged over the dirt and pebble littered floor. Tired and flimsy arms swung lifeless and disjointed over the sides of the limping body that emerged. Shadow watched as the figure took form once it was out of the shadowed tunnel and into plain view.
Shadow felt his eyes widen and his jaw slack, color drained from his features and his throat went dry, his breath caught in his throat. He felt a boulder-sized block of ice plummet into the pit of his stomach.
It was a young girl no more than twenty with a battered and bruised body, her sky blue dress tattered at the hems, and her golden hair looped like a noose around her neck. She looked at him with empty eye sockets, which overflowed with thin trickles of blood that dribbled down her cheeks and dripped off her chin.
Shadow was well aware it was a trick of his imagination, yet he couldn't help the disturbed shudder that raked his spine. How had the Erezor known? This creature, this ghost, she looked so much like Maria. Her face was marred and she looked both terrified and terrifying. Shadow's heart sank at the low pained moans she released as she approached him, her mangled arms reached towards him.
Shadow resisted the urge to back away from her. Although she was in no condition to be of any harm to him, he did not want her getting too close. Then, his ears perked and swiveled when he heard the fox boy yell something from his glass prison. It was too muffled to figure out what it was even with his acute hearing. Shadow did not dare tear his eyes away from the mangled image of Maria either, in fear she would rear her true intention the moment he let his guard down.
Shadow growled in warning at the ghost which continued to wobble towards him with arms outstretched, and the mass of flesh and muscles melted off her arms like butter forgotten in the sun. Her decaying flesh hit the dirt with squelched splats, which sprinkled blood and oozed bubbling slime everywhere. The earth beneath her feet sizzled and crunched as the golden sand turned ash black, tainted into sick shades of green and purple, plagued and diseased.
Shadow cringed away from Maria's grasping hands further, his hackles raised and bristled and his mind swarmed in torn emotions of disgust and hurt.
She was as death itself wanting to claim him.
Each step he took away sent shocks of cold fear through his belly, the sounds of Maria's terror echoed through him. She was just as afraid as he was, and her blindness drove her forward. Was her goal to mime him, or to seek solace? Shadow did not know.
Shadow gathered his courage and stopped retreating. He decided to test his luck and dipped his head down for her to reach, and then remained still. He closed his eyes and trusted his instincts. Maria would never hurt him even in death.
Her skeletal fingers made contact with his scalp, cold and frosted bones slid over his skin to fork through his crown. Maria stopped moving, her features softened then twisted in confusion as if trying to remember days of old.
Meanwhile at the other side of the sandstorm, Sonic clawed at the mud encasing his ankles with growing fervor. He had grown a tad bit annoyed at the illusion. For every ounce he chipped off, double the amount coated his leg. The mud that coated his ankles had now reached his knees which made it impossible to stand. Sonic thought that for an illusion, it was doing a damn good job convincing him it was real.
Angry and wanting out of the stupid mind-game, Sonic glanced around in hope to find something to use. As he twisted and turned in frustration, the strap of his rucksack pinched a quill as it had gotten caught in the cinch. He stopped. Of course! There was bound to be something he could use in there. Without a moment's hesitation he tugged off his rucksack and rummaged through its contents.
Sonic plucked out the last bottle of lily essence. He did not like the idea of having to use it, but the situation was dire since he could no longer hear the fox in the glass prison, nor any indication of Shadow being all right. His surroundings have gone silent. All he could hear was the whistling of wind between reeds, and in the distance he could see a brazier crackling, its flame a dim glow peering between the swirling layers of sand.
Sonic rummaged again for a thick rubber band, and then strapped the rucksack over his shoulder again. Lily essence in one hand, he braced himself and used his fingers to aim the rubber band with the small vial towards the fire and wished lady luck to be by his side. The rubber band was pulled back, eyes focused despite the fog, and aim ready, Sonic let out a slow, easy breath and released it.
The bottle went flying in a wide arch and landed square into the pit of the brazier. No sooner had it hit the coal the glass shattered, and a magnificent explosion of purple and green transcending flames shot up, with the loud roar and booming thrum of an erupting volcano.
Angry screams filled the room and the fog around Sonic shattered like shards of glass, removing the pillars as well as the surrounding arena with its wake.
Shadow yelped as a singe of green flames touched his ears when Maria burst into abrupt flames. She screeched like a banshee and crumbled to the floor in a smoldering heap of dry bones and rotting flesh. Traumatized but not allowed to remain as such for long, Shadow whirled around in a near neck-breaking twist to look at Sonic, who scrambled out of his shattered earth prison.
"Sonic! What did you do?" Shadow hollered over the bellows of tormented souls pouring out of the brazier, which spewed and sputtered black smoke and sparkles of cracking coal and ash everywhere.
Sonic stammered and managed a meek, sheepish shrug.
Shadow harrumphed and shook his head, whatever Sonic had done caused the entire castle to start falling apart, the arena disbursed and the walls started falling brick by brick. The Erezor Djin and Shara came into view again as the glass walls which shrouded them from the illusion were destroyed, revealing their presence once more.
The Djinn were on high alert and the Erezor was furious. Where Shadow focused his attention on them, Sonic turned to the giant hourglass and watched as the fox screamed in terror. The rocks and bricks hailed onto his prison and the glass cracked and fractionated like the webs of a spider laden with the morning mist.
Sonic dropped to his hands and feet which had the fox falter in his panic, rendered more confused than alarmed. Sonic darted towards the hourglass and with a quick, sleek motion curled into a large blue and spiky sphere, spun in his spot with a loud whirring noise, and then rocketed forwards to zip right across the glass chamber. The fox gasped as the glass did not harm him when it shattered, and instead turned into soft sparkling sand which cushioned his landing. Sonic helped him up, and then dusted the sand away with a bright, sunny smile.
After Sonic was done showing off to the astonished fox, the Erezor Djinn tried to swat away the swarm of angry ghosts who spun around them in a cyclone. He was angry and Shara had no choice but to duck behind the throne to shield herself from what he was about to do. The Djinn let out a roar of fury and threw his hands over his head. He let out a powerful burst of magic that sent not only the spirits, but also the throne as well as Shara rocketing back and away from him.
In his bout of rage the Erezor did not notice as a twisted golden lamp was sent sailing out from underneath the cushion of his throne, hit the marble floor with a clink and then and landed on its side after a long slide.
At that moment of realization, it was as if time had stopped. The spirits stopped howling, the Erazor stood still with terror on his features, Shadow's eyes were fixated onto the lamp, and Sonic with the fox turned their attention to the item which lay strewn on the floor.
At once, the Erazor, Shadow, and Sonic bolted towards the ancient lamp in one surging wave, each scrambling to grab it before the other.
Sonic got there first with his fingers inches away from the lamp, but the Erazor sent a burst of sand up from the ground to punt him in the stomach and sent him skidding back. Shadow was on the Erezor and tackled him to the ground in a second, which left the lamp free for the picking.
"Sonic, we don't have all day!" Shadow shouted as his claws locked with the Erazor's angry fists.
The crackling magic skittered and scattered, nullified and turned harmless thanks to Shadow's threaded golden wristbands. The Erezor became more enraged when he realized he could not pull away from Shadow's mighty grip, thus he tried to shove Shadow away with brute strength.
Sonic coughed to clear his throat, spat out the sand, and then scowled at Shadow's demanding tone. He zipped towards the lamp again when Shara made her move to grab it. He sent her a flying kick which she dodged and stepped away from the lamp. Sonic took the chance of her backing off to go with his arms outstretched towards the prize, when the Erezor yelled in rebuttal, and then exploded into a large cloud of purple smoke which threw Shadow off balance to hit the floor.
The Erezor was onto Sonic in a tangled heap of arms, which sent the lamp skidding away in a twirl and spin, knocked out further away from Sonic's reach. Sonic snarled in aggravation of being towered by yet another burly thug, and planted his shoe square in the Erezor's face.
The Erezor Djinn withdrew a hand to grab Sonic's ankle and his menacing eyes bore into Sonic's gaze. Sonic felt a myriad of dark illusions swarm his consciousness, focused on the twisted images of his parents, but he hurried to reject them by sending his free foot to the Erezor's chin, knocking out a tooth in the process.
The Erezor gasped as the hit made him coil back in pain, and with his ankle free Sonic pulled in his knees, feet together, and gave the most powerful kick to the Erezor's chest which sent him flying across the dirt.
Sonic laughed, satisfied to have evened the odds and wiped his hands clean. He turned to the lamp and saw Shadow and Shara in a dance-like bout of snapping werehog teeth to a lasso trying to bind him. The two danced around the lamp, each reaching for it and being denied by the other.
Shadow had a hard time reaching for it without Shara's whip stinging his paw, and she had a hard time ensnaring it when Shadow would continue to swat her lasso away.
It was then the angry ghosts and spirits Sonic had summoned by mistake, regained their fury and with a burst of second wind, they began to circle the group, howling and screaming in agony and pain.
Sonic turned towards the lamp just in time to see Shara land a stinging lash on Shadow's snout, which had him yowling away in agony and his large paws clapped on his aching face. After rendering her much larger opponent helpless, Shara hurried towards the lamp to scoop it into her hands, a victorious grin lit her face.
Before she could call out for her comrade, she stilled with a sharp gasp of pain and her shoulders squared. His eyes shrank into pinpricks and her jaw slacked, she turned her neck with difficulty towards Sonic.
Confused and boggled Sonic took a moment to realize she was looking beyond him. He whirled around and saw the young fox with a terrified look on his face, hands clasped together and trembling but a large ring on his finger. The ring thrummed and pulsated with energy.
"By the Power of the Ring of Command, I order you to bring me the lamp!" the young fox demanded, tone bold and imposing despite the terrified look on his face.
Shadow was caught in the whirlwind of spirits and howling souls, his arms and legs entangled with the Erezor Djinn. The two were too absorbed at fending off the spirits and did not realize what had transpired until the ghosts went quiet. The Erazor Djinn hit the floor rigid and stiff as if paralyzed before trickling off into a plume of dark purple smoke, sucked back into the lamp which nestled in Sonic's hands.
The spirits' anger was sated, they all began to fade one by one as their silence became one and ambient with the return of the surrounding forest, while the palace surrounding them began to crumble and fade like ash to the wind.
The young fox watched as Shara was also pulled into the ring, and then looked at Sonic and Shadow in fear, his tails twitched with his agitation. He stammered. "Now what?"
Sonic inspected the golden item in his hands. "Good question." He murmured, tilted his head and then shook the lamp as he held it up to his ear, trying to listen to any sort of noise coming from the Djinn. "I gotta say this guy's a joke. I expected something more challenging." He scoffed.
"That is only because we came fully prepared." Shadow snatched the lamp away from Sonic and scowled. "And stop that! It's not a toy." He admonished and then inspected the lamp as well. He turned to the fox. "As for your question, I'm not sure. We may have him captive now, but there is no guarantee he would not try to mime us the moment he's allowed out of the lamp." He muttered.
"Ya know, we could pop'em out right here and now, and just ask him about the other gods." Sonic suggested.
Shadow shook his head in negative. "No. if he'd been granted powers like Enerjak, he will try to murder us as soon as he's able, so we cant extract information from him in this state, not yet, we have to find some way to pacify him first."
"What about the Master Emerald? That did it the first time, didn't it?" Sonic suggested.
Shadow frowned. "And hike all the way back to the echidna village? No. it takes too long and we can't afford wasting that much time" He grumbled and offered the lamp back to Sonic. "Put it back in the satchel, we will figure something out as soon as we relocate that wretched wench." He snarled. "This Djinn would jump at the chance to kill us if we so much as utter the word 'w-i-s-h.'"
Sonic flashed a wide, cheeky grin. "Oh wow, Shadow! That's a big word for you, isn't it? A whole four letters. I'm proud you knew how to spell." Sonic laughed at first, but his chuckle died into a weak, meek swallow of nervousness. The hardness of the look Shadow sent him, offended and furious, had Sonic realize in shame his jib had gone too far.
"That comment is so below me I'm not going to bother." Shadow made a blood-curdling snarl before he composed himself, and then turned to the young fox with an irate look.
Sonic clapped a hand on the fox's shoulder, which had the youth jump with a squeak in surprise. "Relax, we aint gonna hurt you." Sonic began with a bright and sunny smile. "I'm Sonic, and grumpy over here is Shadow." He paused to take a step back and give the kid some breathing space. "So what's your name, squirt?"
"Miles… But my friends call me Tails." he stuttered, and then cleared his throat to control himself better. He looked at the ring he wore on his ring finger. "Should I take this off?"
"I'll hang onto it for now. That was pretty bold for someone your age." Sonic offered and extended a hand for it. Tails passed it over to Sonic who opted to slide the ring on his finger instead of throwing it in his rucksack. Sonic turned to Shadow who looked to the far side of the forest which surrounded them, as if looking for something he could not see. He decided to pull the giant back to reality. "Hey Shadow, think it'll be smooth sailing from here?"
The coliseum had long since vanished from view and the ground was mere soft soil under their feet. There were tombstones and grave markers as far as the eye could see, a large basin of fire settled in the center of the graveyard which Sonic recognized as the brazier pit he had used to throw the vial. When the smoke cleared it became obvious that they were just outside the perimeter of the forest. The spirits had found peace with the Erezor's capture, which released them from their torment. He had erected his palace over their graves which were the cause of their restlessness.
Shadow harrumphed and shook his coat, got to his feet to stretch and then lowered himself to the pair. "Get on. If we're lucky the witch might find us before we find her." he grumbled, unhappy with the thought of seeking Ebony's aid a third time.
Sonic nodded and helped Tails onto Shadow's back before climbing on as well. Their journey through the wood was short and simple, all the death traps and entangled, shrouded labyrinth of groove trees and bogs disappeared. Even the mud pit where the kraken resided was gone, which meant all the dangers they had faced to reach the Erezor Djinn were an illusion as well.
The trio reached the outskirts of the forest and found they were on the safe side of the thicket. There were no slave-drivers nor monsters waiting to smite them, and the time already being dark, Shadow decided to settle for the night and look for Ebony the next morning instead.
"So where are you from?" Sonic asked Tails who was tense and anxious the whole time. "And how'd you get stuck in that hour glass?"
"I- I'm from Apatos." Tails replied, voice meek and nervous. "And it's kind of a long story, you probably don't wanna hear it." he mumbled.
"We're setting camp, I'm sure surly over there wont mind." Sonic jabbed a thumb towards Shadow who was busy hacking branches to collect firewood.
Tails hesitated for a moment, hugged his knees, and watched as Sonic created a stone circle for the fire pit. "Well, all right. I work as a carpenter at my uncle's workshop, and had been asked by customers to gather wood from the trees that grow in this region. It took a while to find the best trees, so after I collected the wood and was on my way back, I met a lady who asked to buy my lumber."
Sonic wiped his hands clean, and then sat back to listen to Tails without further distractions.
"At first I didn't want to sell, but she assured me I won't need it." He paused and released a long, sad sigh. "I gave into her offer to trade the lumber. She led me to her cabin where I unloaded the wood, and then she asked me if I could do her a favor." Tails hugged his knees a little closer, and his voice gone quieter when Shadow returned. "She asked me if I liked artifacts and I said yes, so she asked me if I was interested in another trade." He forked his fingers through his forelock to slide off the rag-hat he wore, and then stared at it in sadness. "I was an idiot and said yes without thinking, so she asked me to get her the Ring of Command."
"Was the lady a black cat by any chance?" Shadow grumbled.
Tails blinked in surprise and stared at Shadow. "Yes, but how did you- ?"
"Figures. A Trickster to a T." Shadow sneered and flashed jagged teeth. "I swear. If we didn't need her right now I'd tear her into chopped liver." He flopped with a thud and sent dust clouds around him.
Sonic chuckled and rummaged through his rucksack for the lighter. "But you gotta admit, she's good at what she does." He piled the dead leaves and set the branches on top before igniting the lighter. It took a moment for the fire to blossom, and their surroundings began to warm up compared to the chilling wind of the forest.
Shadow's body twitched and rippled, it had become uneasy and agitated since the bout with the Erezor Djinn. He and stretched out his limbs, but he felt stiff, tense, irate and uncomfortable no matter what position he took.
Sonic got up to climb onto Shadow's back, and Shadow made a grunt of surprise as Sonic's hands sank into his fur, fingers forked and curved, Sonic kneaded the muscles and scratched the skin, treating Shadow to a well deserved backrub. At first Shadow twitched and growled in irritation and hissed at Sonic to get off, but Sonic sank his fingers deeper, which hit the right nerves and turned Shadow into a massive, tail-wagging pile of puppy mush.
If there was one thing Sonic had picked up after trading forms was that Shadow loved backrubs. Sure Shadow would never admit it out loud, but Sonic aimed to please regardless.
Tails on the other hand was fascinated by Sonic's ability to tame a massive beast like Shadow. Eyes wide and curious, his fear disintegrated as he realized Shadow may not be as vicious as he first seemed.
"I wonder if we can get Ebony to explain herself if we can find her again." Sonic murmured more to himself than to Shadow.
"She had better have a good explanation after luring us to the lion's den." Shadow slurred with the fog of sleep. "She's lucky we need her or else I'd give her a well deserved thrashing." He murmured.
Sonic slowed the caresses to take handfuls of Shadow's shoulders and started kneading there instead. "You gotta admit we owe her." he chuckled.
"Yeah yeah…" Shadow waved him off and yawned, and Tails felt his spine stiffen at the sight of Shadow's maw wide, putting the massive collection of pearly white and jagged teeth on open display. "We can show her our gratitude in the morning." Shadow slurred again and his ears swiveled, Sonic's massaging was putting him to sleep.
As soon as Shadow was out like a light, Sonic took first after he had encouraged Tails to sleep next to Shadow. Tails hesitated at first, and then changed his mind as soon as he discovered how soft and cushy Shadow's pelt was. Tails was fast asleep within the first ten minutes. Sonic chuckled and busied himself with poking and prodding the fire. He was nowhere near being tired, and his companions needed rest.
Sonic murmured under his breath as the haze of sleep abandoned him. The loud chirping of happy birds and whistling morning wind greeted him to a bright new day. Sonic would admit he had almost forgotten what it felt like to sink into the lush, warm and comforting pelt of Shadow's hide.
"Sonic, I know you're awake. Get up already." a low gruff voice sent vibrations across the ribcage, which Sonic found nice and tingly. "Get up, sleepy head, we don't have all morning." Shadow grumbled a little louder.
"Nnngh, five more minutes…" Sonic whined and curled his fingers into the lush coat, his legs tucked underneath his body so he could slide himself closer against Shadow.
Shadow grumbled under his breath and rolled away in attempt of stealing away the body warmth, but was deterred to find Sonic latched onto his side. Irritated and flustered at the giant tick stuck to his hide, Shadow sat up and grabbed Sonic with both hands, plucked him off with a wince of yanked fur, and then plopped him by the campfire. Sonic whined and mumbled at being pulled away from his warm blanket, then sent Shadow a huffy scowl. Shadow ignored him and proceeded to smooth and comb his tousled fur.
"You really don't know the meaning of 'take a break', do you Shadz." Sonic drawled and rubbed the sleep dust from his eyes.
Shadow's reply was dry and sarcastic. "I'm terribly sorry I've been of inconvenience your beauty sleep, your majesty, but in case you've forgotten we have two Djinn we need to purify, and we can't wait around hoping Ebony would just up and show herself after all she'd done."
Sonic rolled his eyes and shrugged, he chose not to comment. Shadow was in a bad mood and he knew better than to instigate it further. A second later the scent of something delicious assaulted his nostril and opened the floodgates of saliva within his mouth.
Food. Good food at that. Not any food for that matter. Chilidogs!
Sonic was next to Tails who was busy tending to the fire and cooking their breakfast within a second.
Shadow blinked and arched a perplexed brow, sighed and then rolled his eyes. Sonic was incorrigible. Shadow lay to his side with his arm propped up and a fist to his cheek, he smiled somewhat humored as Tails scooped some of the gumbo he cooked into a sliced loaf of bread, an then offered it to Sonic who looked like he couldn't snatch the treat fast enough to quell his hunger.
Sonic was so absorbed into mowing down the meal, he had paid no mind to the skewed meat or the small pot provided over the fire. Neither Shadow nor Tails knew where it had come from, not until Shadow caught the familiar scent of Ebony along the cloth used to wrap the bread buns.
Tails had unwrapped the basket full of goods and found a note addressed to Shadow. Tails read it for him and Shadow was a little surprised to realize the food was a 'thank you' gift from Cosmo and her sisters, which they have asked Ebony to deliver on their behalf. It looked like Ebony had come around when Sonic fell asleep during his watch and provided them with nourishments, seeing they carried no provisions at hand. Shadow hated to admit it, but that act was enough for him to give up on thrashing her.
Shadow watched Sonic gobble down his breakfast in a rather messy manner, then lick his hands and suck on his fingers, savoring every bit of food sticking to his mouth. Shadow scrunched his snout in a display of disgust. Tails chuckled as he had gotten over the initial shock of the strange pair and their interactions.
"You said Ebony tricked you into getting the Ring of Command for her, correct?" Shadow inquired, picking up a conversation he had started with Tails before Sonic began to stir awake earlier. Tails nodded after being caught biting half-way into his bread bun. "Did she give you anything or say something before that? Anything you might consider strange?"
Tails chewed as he contemplated the answer, picking his words with care. "Yes. She said there was another witch I might want to meet once I have the ring." He began and at the expectant looks he received from Sonic and Shadow, he braced himself and swallowed his nervousness. "I think she called her Blaze the Bewitcher. The Queen of arid sands."
Shadow sighed in annoyance. "Ebony the Trickster and Blaze the Bewitcher. If that doesn't spell trouble I don't know what does." He paused, flicked an ear at Sonic who looked at him in question. Shadow managed a small grin. "Except for you, of course. You've got trouble stamped on your forehead." He taunted.
Sonic scoffed with his mouth too full to jib back, so he swallowed and cleared his throat, and then addressed Tails instead. "That name is familiar, now that you mentioned it. I think I might know her." his ears lowered when Shadow and Tails sent him questioning looks. Sonic smiled, meek and sheepish. "She, uh… I kind of ended up crossing her this one time, and got turned into a frog?" he shrugged, embarrassed. "It wasn't very pretty." He mumbled.
"You don't say…" Shadow drawled, entertained and amused.
Sonic rubbed the back of his neck at Shadow's humored tone. "I got handed over to her cousin who was pretty big, and slow, and by slow I'm not talking speed." He rolled his eyes. "He rolled over in his sleep so often, I was lucky I was covered in slime or I would have been frog-patties."
"Mucus, technically." Tails corrected.
"I like her already." Shadow laughed and ignored Sonic's flustered scowl. "Any idea where we might find her? Ebony clearly has no intention of showing her face to us again, so we need to find someone who can give us the information we need."
Sonic reached for his rucksack to grab the map. "Our best bet is to head south-east. There is a small desert town where we could ask around." He answered at first, then his fingers trailed over the map and a thoughtful look knit his brows. "Further away is my hometown." He added, more to himself than to Shadow.
Sonic glanced at Shadow, as if asking a silent question, and the dread and anxiousness were not lost to Shadow.
"We will worry about that when we get there." Shadow harrumphed. "For now we need to get the child home." He looked at Tails.
Tails smiled, grateful for Shadow's helpfulness. "Thank you. My uncle is probably worried sick about me. My town isn't too far so it shouldn't take us more than a day to get there."
"Yeah, and that way we make sure you don't cross any nasty slavers on your way, either." Sonic got up and stretched with a bright, sunny grin. It was time to continue their adventure and hope for the best.