A bright light surrounded him and when he opened his eyes he was in a world that was half dark and half-light. He looked around confused but then wasted no time as he proceeded forward looking for Melody. He reached a gate which was broken on the dark side, but made of gold on the light side. He touched the lock and it opened. He proceeded inside and there he saw a two colored hedgehog. He was black and red on the left side, but white and blue on the right side.

"Lancelot, knight of the lake, you have come here in search of the crystal princess. But to prove you are worthy to save her soul you must first pass three tests of mine. First shall be the test of valor," the hedgehog spoke with a deep loud voice that was so powerful it made Lancelot cower a little. "In this test, you will defeat enemies of the dark, and retrieve a crystal on the other side before the time is up. When you are ready proceed to the side of dark and begin."

Lancelot wasted no time. He hurried over to the line and took a step in. As soon as his foot touched the ground, he saw the crystal on the pedestal about 30 feet away. He took another step forward, when a knight of the underworld appeared and began to attack him. Lancelot quickly drew his sword and slayed the dark knight. With each one he slayed 3 more would appear. But he kept moving towards the crystal. The crystal was his main goal and he could not be stopped by these pitiful knights. He was just as the crystal when an underworld giant appeared, blocking his way of the crystal. It was nothing but armor and in its hand was a large axe. Lancelot gripped his sword and unleashed his full power. He teleported all around the beast and attacked its weak points. Soon the giant was slain as it fell to the ground. Lancelot lunged forward and grabbed the crystal in his hand.

When he grabbed the crystal, he was back in the side of light with the black and white hedgehog. "Very good, now hand me the crystal." Lancelot handed him the crystal, and when he did, he noticed that it was the shape of a half a heart. "Now the next test shall be a test of intelligence. You must memorize the warp portals and get to the other side of the light realm and retrieve another crystal. When ready go to the side of light and begin."

Lancelot walked over to the side of light and when he took his step in three portals appeared in front of him. He wasted no time and jumped through the middle one. This brought him to the dark side and there were two portals. He took the one of the right and he ended back in the start position. He jumped through the middle one again and this time through the one on the left. This time he was up on a tree. He looked around and there were three warp holes. He jumped through the one of the right and then he saw he was in a world of nothing but the color purple. There was one last warp hole, he walked through it and there was the crystal.

When he grabbed it, he was transported to a new place. There were two large doors and there stood the black and white hedgehog. He gave him the last piece of the crystal and when the hedgehog put them together it made a heart. "Now the last test is the test of love. Inside these doors there will be two choices. You must make the decision that means the most to you."

Lancelot walked to the door and the black and white hedgehog placed the crystal heart in a hole that was on the door. The two doors opened up and Lancelot walked into the white room. He looked around the enormous area and then he saw Melody standing in the far left corner. "Melody!" He yelled and proceeded to run toward her.

"Lancelot, you came for me," Lancelot stopped dead in his tracks and he lost his breath. The voice that he heard from behind him was soft, tender and angelic. He slowly turned around afraid to believe his ears. There in the far right corner was the queen he had loved so dear, all those years ago.

"Guinevere!" Lancelot yelled in surprise as he dashed over to her. He fell down on his knees at her feet and clung to her dress. "Oh Guinevere, it is you! I missed you so much!"

"Lancelot, I have missed you as well. I never wanted to go, I loved you and I wanted to be with you." She grabbed his hands and pulled him from his feet. He looked up at her blue deep eyes. He was finally reunited with his lost love, who did in turn love him back. He wanted to take her away and take her back with him and let them live together…forever? Suddenly, his smile turned to a frown.

"Why chose to love a human? They die off every day." Melody's voice echoed in his mind. He wanted to live with a love forever, and he knew she couldn't. He looked back up into her blue eyes and the only face he saw was Melody's. He pulled away from the deceased queen and shook his head. He walked over to Melody, who was frowning, who was lifeless, and who was cold. He placed one hand on her hip, and lifted her chin up with a single finger.

"You are what is most important to me," he kissed her softly as he closed his eyes. There was a bright flash; Lancelot shielded his eyes from the light as he held tight to Melody. The light soon faded away and he opened his eyes, he was out of the room and Melody was no longer in his arms.

"You have chosen to love one who is ruling her own kingdom. One who lives now and not from your past. To let go of one's past is a great success in life, and you have done it. You have proven yourself Sir Lancelot, and with that I bestow upon you the soul crystal." He removed a crystal necklace from behind his back and handed it to Lancelot. "Inside this small crystal is Melody's soul. Take it to her and restore the power to this kingdom."

"How does it work?" Lancelot wanted to know that way he did not do it wrong.

"Place the crystal in her right hand. Close her hands and place them over her chest. Then you must say these words exact, strong is the soul inside me, strong is the soul inside you. Come back to this world dear princess, and save this kingdom too. Then she will awake and take back this kingdom. Now go brave knight!" A strong wind hit Lancelot and blew him back away from the black and white hedgehog.


AUTHORS NOTE: yay he got the crystal, but still the dark king is stronger than ever. will he be stopped by true love? or will the crystals power be returned?