Crystallis' Secret - A MAT2K1 Special
Chapter 8: A Team Divided
By Ashura Hedgehog

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"Why? Why did this happen?" Ashura asked himself as the group walked through
a field. The past day has been nothing but strainous on the hedgehog. Earlier, he
had to fight his best friend, Seiyuka, who had went insane thanks to the gem she
found. When Sabian arrived and stopped her rampage, he left a few hours later,
seeing as there was no need for him anymore. This was followed by over half of the
crew, who thought there was no need to stay here now that they had their abilities
back. Only one person stayed with Ashura and his friends: Mike Nelson.

"Hey, Mike. Thanks for sticking with us." Merc said.

"No problem, Merc." Mike said. "I mean, it would be boring without you guys
around." This made Ashura crack a small smile. Mike took notice of that. "Well, at
least he sees me as useful."

"Poor Ashura." Angel said. "He's taking this whole thing very hard."

"Who wouldn't?" Crystallis said. "I mean, it was him that has held us
together, like it or not."

"Yeah, but, this is too much." Seiyuka said. "I'm afraid he'll do something
crazy again."

"He does, and I'm kicking his ass, dead or not." Merc said. Ashura cracked
another smile. Crystallis looked at Ashura with pity in her eyes.

'Oh, Ashura.' Crystallis thought. 'I can't imagine how much pain this has
caused on you.' As she looked at him, a small tear ran down her cheek. 'Ashura,
please cheer up. You're making me cry....'

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" A voice called out. The group turned to see someone
they though they wouldn't see again.

"Ryujin!" Crystallis said. Indeed it was the hedgehog that attempted to marry
Amy a few days back. "What do you want here?!"

"I want Amy and the hedgehogs who defeated me and my brother." Ryujin said.

"Amy and Sonic are gone. And you can kill me for killing your brother."
Ashura said, advancing towards Ryujin. This confused the royal hedgehog.

"What is wrong with you?" Ryujin said. "Where's your defiance? Your fighting
spirit I saw when you took on my brother?"

"Gone. I have no more." Ashura said. Ryujin blinked some more. "My friends
either abandoned me or died. I can't go on."

"Ashura, have you gone NUTS?!" Mike said.

"No, Mike, I have not. I've seen the truth." Ashura said. "Sure, I have
friends like Kacee, Jerrod and others. But, the gang, they were my family. The
family I never had. And now that they're gone, I have no spirit, no strength to go
on. It's best to have my life ended now."

"Oh, no. We're not going through this again." Seiyuka said. She walked over
to Ashura, lifted him to her height and started slapping him. "ASHURA! GET IT
THROUGH YOUR DAMN SKULL! YOU'RE NOT LEAVING US! YOU'RE NOT LEAVING CRYSTALLIS! I'D
BE DAMNED TO SEE ANYONE ELSE HURT!" As she kept on slapping Ashura, Ryujin walked
towards Crystallis.

"You're looking for those gems, like the one my brother used to have, right?"
he asked. She nodded. "If you wish, I can take you to a place I know where a gem
might be."

"You will?" Crystallis said. Ryujin nodded. She smiled. "Thank you!"

"First, you want to kill us. Now, you want to help us. What gives?" Merc said

"It's unfair to go on with life alone, a family shattered. I wanted to kill
myself after learning he killed my brother." Ryujin said. "Besides, you guys are
heading into major hostile territory and without your massive power, you're going
into a suicide zone."

"Wow....I dunno what to say." Angel said. "Hey, Seiyuka. When your done
slapping sense into Ashy-boy, let's move it. The hedgehog's helpin' us."

"Really?" Seiyuka said. "Wow." She stopped slapping Ashura, who, at that
time, was spinning his eyes around. "Oops. Sorry."

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In no time, the group was on their way. As Merc, Mike, Angel and Seiyuka
followed behind, Ryujin allowed Ashura and Crystallis into one of their carrages.

"Crysty, remind me WHY we are doing this anymore?" Ashura said, looking out
the window. Crystallis sighed.

"We're doing this for me, remember. I'm supposed to be this "Guardian Maiden"
person." Crystallis said. She scooted over to Ashura and placed a hand on his leg
and patted it. "I'm sorry, Ashura, about everything that happened. I wish there was
a way to prevent it." Ashura looked over to Crystallis.

"I guess it couldn't be helped. Especially with Crow around." Ashura said
"I'm just glad you didn't leave."

"I'd never leave you, Ashura. I love ya, remember?" Crystallis said. "I would
die before I leave your side." Ashura smiled at that.

"Oh, Crysty...." he said, grinning. He playfully punched her chin. "You know
how to cheer me up."

"Everyone, we have arrived." Ryujin said. Ashura and Crystallis stepped out
of the carrage as Mike, Merc, Angel and Seiyuka joined them. They looked at the
volcano-filled area.

"Hot stuff!" Mike said. "Very hot stuff....."

"No kidding, human." Ryujin said. "Every few months, the volcanos here erupt,
covering the area with lava. They drain out back into the caverns deep inside.
Luckly, the time is still months away."

"Thank goodness." Merc said. "You still gonna join us?"

"Why not?" Ryujin said. "I mean, without my help, the creatures that live
here are very vicious."

"Cool." Merc said, grinning.

"Don't mind him." Angel said. "C'mon. Let's move it!" With that, the army
moved into the area.

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"Masssssssssster...." A monster hissed at his master. It was a red devil-like
creature with a forked tounge and devil horns. "The hedgehog army hasssssssssss
arrived. And it ssssssseems they have help."

"Well, who are they?" He said.

"There'sssssss a red hedgehog, a purple hedgehog, and four humanssssssss."
the monster said.

"The humans, is one of them a red headed male with a blonde-haired woman?"
the master asked.

"Yesssssssssss." the monster hissed. "The other humans are a purple and red
haired female and a dirt blonde-haired man."

"I don't reconise the man, but the others...." the master said. "Let the
humans and the two hedgehogs here, but get rid of the others." The creature bowed
and left. Then the master began thinking. "Well, well....I can't believe it! Merc
and his little buddies have arrived! Well, I think it's time for me to reunite with
them!"

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Outside, the group walked across the mountain range, until a group of the
monsters appeared.

"Alright! Target practice!" Merc said, powering up. Seiyuka did the same and
joined Merc in the fight. Angel unleashed her wings and joined the three soon
after. After he got Crystallis and Mike out of the way, Ashura activated his armor
and began his assault. While the army was attempting valiantly to stop the
creatures, they began failing in their duty, falling to their might.

"What the....?" Ashura shouted as he saw a number of creatures carrying
Crystallis and Mike away. He flew down to them and began beating them off until a
monster slugged him over the head with a rock. Soon after, Merc and the others fell
to the creatures and were carried to their lair.

"NO!" Ryujin shouted. He lept over the creatures and raced after the heros.
"There's no way I'll let them get away! I swear on that!"

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Inside the lair, the six were dropped off near the throne of the creature's
master. Ashura began to come to as he saw the others look around.

"Ow, my head. Jeeze, that hurt!" Ashura said, rubbing the spot where he was
clobbered.

"Oh, my! Ashura, you're bleeding!" Crystallis said, seeing that there was
blood on his robotic glove. Ashura looked at his glove and freaked out.

"My servants! Get something to patch up the hedgehog's wound!" The master
called out. In no time, they came back with some bandages and patched up the
hedgehog's head wound.

"Wow...uh, thank you." Ashura said, trying to shake off his lightheadedness.

"Who are you?" Mike said.

"I'm pretty sure the others my reconise me...." the master said. "Or at least
my voice." Seiyuka was the first to reconise it and she lept up and went into a
fighting pose.

"I'm in NO mood to fight you. But, even raise your power level, and I swear
I'll kill you......VEGETA!" she said. The group looked at the man as he stepped
down. Indeed it was the Saiyan prince, right down to the pointy hair. Around his
neck was a gray gem. "AAH! It's one of the gems!"

"What? This?" Vegeta said, looking at the gem. "The creatures here called it
their greatest treasure!"

"Well, we need it!" Merc said. "Y'see...."

"Wait." Vegeta said, interrupting Merc. "Where are the others?"

"Do you really want to know?" Ashura said, standing up. "It was all Jim's
fault. He sent the tape that seperated us! Sara's dead, Sabian went back to his
universe, and, thanks to your OWN SON, everyone else left and returned to the
Absolution."

"You're kidding me...." Vegeta said. "There's no way that could of happened."

"Well, it did!" Merc said. "All because of that tape!"

"I can see I'm gonna hafta beat some sense into my son once I get out of
here." Vegeta said. "Those stupid monsters won't let me leave!"

"Well, I can help you leave." A voice said. Everyone turned to see Ryujin
standing there. "Follow me."

"Do we have a choice?" Mike said.

"Apparently not." Angel said. With that, the seven followed the hedgehog
through the tunnels. Unfortunantly, one of the creatures saw them make their way to
the exit.

"No one leavessssssssssss.....no one." With that, he hopped over to a horn he
had set up and blew it, alerting the creatures of the escape.

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"What in the....?" Seiyuka said, as they heard the alarm. "What's going on?!"

"We've been spotted!" Vegeta said "And me without my powers!"

"Au contrare, Veggie!" Merc said. "That gem should have restored your powers.
Try it!" Vegeta looked at his gem, then his hand. All of a sudden, a small burst of
ki energy shot out of it. The Saiyan Prince grinned and turned to see the
approaching monsters.

"YOU CANNOT LEAVE! YOU MUSSSSSSSSST SSSSSSSSSSTAY!" They hissed as they
approached.

"The sleeper has awaken! Time for me to do what I do best: PROVE THAT I AM
THE STRONGEST!" Vegeta shouted as he powered up to Super Saiyan 2 mode. Seiyuka
followed suit. As the two Saiyans began their assault, Merc and Angel joining them,
Ashura pulled out both his Deathscythe Hell scythe and the buster gun and gave them
to Mike and Crystallis.

"Ashura! What are you doing?!" Mike said, holding the buster gun.

"You guys need SOME protection getting out of here!" Ashura said. "Don't
worry, I'll be fine!"

"Good luck, Ashura." Crystallis said, kissing Ashura on the cheek before the
two made their escape.

"I'll need it." Ashura said, grabbing his Wing ZERO's sword from its
compartment inside it's shield and activated it.

"YOU CANNOT ESSSSSSSSSSSSCAPE!" the creatures shouted.

"Oh, SHUT UP!" Angel said, decapitating one of them with her sword. "Jeeze,
these things repeat themselves more than Mojo Jojo!"

"Tell me about it!" Merc said. He fired a barrage of ki blasts at a group of
creatures, destroying them.

"It feels so good to do something so bad!" Vegeta said, smirking as he
effortlessly blew away another batch of creatures.

"I would love to blow away your son.....with a ki blast to the man sack!"
Seiyuka muttered.

"DEATH TO THE UNDERDWELLERS!" Ryujin shouted, hacking and slashing at the
creatures. He was the more unlucky one of the bunch as he was covered from head to
toe with scratches, scars and bruses.

"There's too many of them!" Ashura said, using his armor's machine guns to
hold off as many creatures as he could.

"Hedgehog, get your friends out of here. I'll get rid of them myself!"

"WHAT?! You can't! I won't let you!" Ashura said.

"Look, my kingdom is in shambles! You and the one called Sonic destroyed by
defeating me and my brother and it's time I joined my brother in the afterlife."
Ryujin said.

"Are you sure about this?" Ashura said. Ryujin nodded. "Okay, if you say so."
Ashura turned to the others. "GUYS! WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!"

"WHAT?! We certainly shall NOT leave!" Vegeta said.

"Look, let Ryujin handle this! He knows what he's doing!" Ashura said.

"I hope you're right...." Seiyuka said. With that, the five began going in
the direction Crystallis and Mike went, picking them up as they did.

"Ashura, what's going on?!" Crystallis asked.

"Your royal spinyness' gonna take care of the creatures!" Ashura said.

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"C'MON! COME AND GET ME!" Ryujin shouted as he lead the creatures to a lava
pool. 'I just hope this works.' He pulled out a gernade he found from a defeated
army and stopped at the edge of the pool.

"You have defied usssssssssss." A creature said. "For that, you mussssssst
die!"

"If I die, I'll take you with me!" Ryujin said. The creatures jumped him
and took him down into the pool. Before they hit him, the hedgehog pulled the pin
to the gernade and just as they hit the pool, it exploded, causing the lava to
launch up and into the caverns. This also caused a chain reaction with the other
volcanos, causing a series of erruptions. Luckly, the group was far enough away
from the volcanos to not be hurt by it.

"Woah! I thought Ryujin said they wouldn't errupt for another few months!"
Mike said.

"I guess he thought wrong." Vegeta said. "That or he purposely lied to us so
his little plan would work."

"It must have, 'cause I can't sense any of the creatures anymore....or
Ryujin." Merc said.

"Neither can I." Seiyuka said.

"He was a true hero 'til the end." Ashura said. "He fought until he could
fight no more. And that's what we should do!"

"Yeah! Remember that phrase 'What does not kill you, makes you stronger'?
Look what we went through! We suffered setbacks, deaths, and the disbandment of the
team, and we're going strong!" Crystallis said.

"We got a mission to do. So let's finish it!" Seiyuka said. "Then, I'm gonna
give that damn hentai-penguin a piece of my mind!"

"Then let's move it!" Merc said. As he said, the six gems began glowing,
covering the group and teleporting them somewhere else. Unknowingly, it also
happened to Yugi, Gero, and Metal Sonic.

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"What the hell?!" Mike said, looking around at their surroundings. It
appeared they were in hell.

"This is scary! REAL SCARY!" Crystallis said, clutching to Ashura.

[My database can't indentify where we are.] Metal said. The heros looked in
surprise at the three villians.

"How did you get here?!" Vegeta said.

"We could ask you the same thing!" Gero said. "And where are the others?"

"Gone." Ashura said. "Don't ask why."

"SILENCE!" a voice said. The ten looked in horror as they saw the shiloette
of a mysterious creature. "So, you have collected six of the seven Guardian Gems,
have you not?"

"Yeah, thanks to Vegeta, Seiyuka and Metal." Merc said.

"Well, I can see you are ready for your final challenge." the creature said.
"I have watched you since your arrival and I know from what I saw that you will
lose. Your numbers have dramatically dwindlled thanks to a thing you call 'a tape'.
Now, it's time to face the creature you seek to destroy. Prepare....." he stepped
out of the shadows revealing his red, scaley body, black armor and demonic wings.
"...TO FACE RAZLA! PREPARE TO DIE, MORTALS!"

"This is it." Ashura said. "This is all the travelling and fighting has lead
us to. Now, IT'S GO TIME! LET'S TAKE HIM DOWN!"

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TO BE CONTINUED....
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Next Chapter:
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This is it! The battle you've been waiting for! It's ten against the monster as
the remaining MAT crew and the three foes take on Razla in an all-out attack on the
creature! Can they take him down and complete their mission or will they fall
thanks to the seperation? The answer may shock you.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:
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STILL no Author's Notes! Just watch out for Chapter 9!

As Always, Read and Review
Ashura Hedgehog