Crystallis' Secret - a MAT2K1 special
Chapter 9 - Secret Revealed
By Ashura Hedgehog

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"ATTACK!" Ashura shouted as the the eight capible of fighting went on the
offencive while Mike and Crystallis took cover.

"You think you can win, hedgehog? Face it! YOU'RE FINISHED!" Razla yelled.
He swung his massive tail at the group, slamming into Angel and Yugi and sendin
them flying into a wall. "See?"

"That was your first, and LAST MISTAKE!" Merc shouted. "NOVA BOMB!" He
launched the ki attack into Razla's face and when the smoke cleared, no visable
injury was shown on him. "What the hell? That's impossible!"

"Heh....you're a fool to believe that I can be killed by such a miniscule
attack!" Razla said. His eyes glowing, the monster fired a massive optic blast at
Merc, barely giving the warrior time to defend himself before the blast hit. The
impact sent him flying across the sky and into a wall, where he made a indenture of
himself.

"Ow...." Merc muttered.

"HA! For ones considered to be the best, you're nothing but second rate!"
Razla taunted.

[We'll see about that!] Metal Sonic said. [Attack Mimicing System activated.
Subject: Vegeta: Attack:...] Metal held out his right hand [GALIC GUN!] A burst of
pink energy soared from Metal's hand and into Razla's face. As the monster reeled
from the attack, Metal went into the offencive, slashing at Razla.

"RRRRARGH! FREAK OF NATURE!" Razla shouted, slapping Metal away, only to
have Dr. Gero latch on to the beast and begin draining his life energy.

"Heheheheh.....you think you can stop us? You're wrong!" Gero said. Razla
looked back, then fell on his back, crushing Gero with his massive body. That
allowed Vegeta, Seiyuka and Ashura to fire at Razla.

"Got 'em!" Ashura said.

"Yeah, but, he's still ticking!" Vegeta said. All of a sudden, Razla shot out
from the ground, grabbing the Saiyans, slamming them together, then tossing them
at Ashura. They hit a wall and slid down it.

"BWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FOOLS! You thought you can beat me!" Razla said.

"Oh, my! Ashura and the others are down!" Crystallis said.

"Man, this would be a good time for someone to help them!" Mike said.

"Well, which one of you would like to die first?" Razla asked.

"How about NO ONE!" A voice called out.

"Hrhn....who's there?" Razla said, looking up. All of a sudden, a rock
slammed into Razla's face. "RAAARGH! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"Up here, vugly!" the voice said. Razla looked up to see someone the group
thought they would never see again.

"SONIC!" they called out. The hedgehog grinned, went into a Sonic Spin and
slammed into the monster.

"Well, I see you guys didn't want to wait for me!" Sonic said.

"But....but, you and the others left! You flat out abandoned us!" Ashura
said.

"No, we didn't!" Sonic said. "We went to clobber Trunks over his stupid
moaning and groaning over Seiyuka when Crow mentioned that. When we came back and
saw that you guys left, we clobbered Crow as well!"

"Really?" Ashura said.

"See for yourself!" Sonic said, pointing to an opening, where the others were
coming out of. There was Crow and Trunks, covered in bandages. Crow looked like he
had seen better days. "We would NEVER abandon you, dude!" Ashura smiled at his
pal.

"Thanks. Now, let's get rid of this pest once and for all!" Ashura said. One
by one, the others began standing up, shaking the cobwebs out of their heads and
taking up battle poses.

"This ends here and now!" Merc said.

"I'd like to see you try!" Razla said. That was responded by a hail of ki
blasts, a Juraian energy ball and a Sonic Spin to the chest. "GAH! You're nothing
but pests! DIE!" Razla released a massive energy blast from his mouth, scattering
the heros.

"Nice try, but not good enough!" TOM said, converting his arms into buster
guns and firing them at Razla. The beast swatted them away, allowing Amy Rose to
smack Razla on the foot with her hammer. As he hopped around in pain, Sonic slammed
into him, causing him to topple over.

"ALRIGHT! Way to go!" Sonic said. Amy giggled at her accomplishment.

"It ain't over yet!" Razla said, getting up. From his hand, a major energy
ball was forming faster than Sonic. Before he could throw it, a sliver streak
went through Razla's arm, cutting it off. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHGG
GGHHHHHHH! Who dares?!" As his arm reformed, Razla looked at the thing that had
cut off his arm. "A sword?! Could it have been the Future Saiyan?!"

"Wrong, freakazoid!" a female voice said. Once again the group turned around
to see....

[SARA RUNNER?! BUT, YOU'RE DEAD!] Metal shouted.

"Thank Washu." she said, walking towards the group. "She happened to find
my body and revived me!"

"But, don't you remember anything about what happened?" Seiyuka said.

"She made sure that was taken away." another voice said. Following Sara was
Sabian! "All she remembers is her stabbing herself. Doesn't even remember why,
though."

"But, that doesn't get you off the hook, Seiyuka!" Trunks said.

"Oh, SHUT UP!" Seiyuka shouted.

"I guess we gotta be more thankful to Miss Washu then." Ayeka said.

"Well, it looks like your friends have given me a chance to fight back!"
Razla said, energy sparking off him. "NOW, YOU'LL DIE AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU DO!"

"Shut it, now!" Yugi said, firing a massive blast at Razla. He swatted it
away, but was hit by a second attack.

"I'LL KILL YOU! YOU HEAR ME?! KILLLLLL YOUUUUUUUU!" Razla shouted, releasing
the energy to knock the group away. Then, he began gathering energy in his mouth.
"DEATH TO THE HEART OF THE TEAM! DEATH TO THE GUARDIAN MAIDEN!"

"CRYSTALLIS! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Vegeta shouted to the hedgehog. But, she
was frozen in fear. All she could do was crouch and cower.

"I gotta save her!" Ashura shouted. Flying in front of Crystallis, he pulled
out his Twin Buster Gun and pointed it at Razla just as he released the massive
blast. Ashura fired, hoping to deflect the shot. Ashura's shot was absorbed into
the blast and kept going towards the two. As a last resort, the hedgehog flung his
arms out as the blast slammed into him. As it engulfed him, parts of the armor were
torn off him as the main blast slammed into his chest. The hit caused him to fly
over Crystallis and onto the ground. Razla dropped to his knees, and started
panting.

"I'm....drained....and I missed...." he said.

"Ashura....?" Crystallis called as smoke began to disappear. "Ashura, are you
alright?" Then, she saw Ashura, laying on the ground, a massive hole in his
chest. "ASHURA! NO!" She ran to his body, tears forming in her eyes. "Ashura,
answer me!" She slightly picked up his body and saw his eyes barely open.

"Crysty,....you okay?" he asked.

"Ashura, why?" she asked "Why did you do that?"

"Because....I didn't want you to......die. Crystallis Michelle Hedgehog....,
I love you....." Ashura said. "Please....be strong....."

"Ashura! Don't die on me! I need you!" Crystallis called out to him. "WE need
you!"

"I'm sorry......but, my time's up......" Ashura said. He coughed a few times,
blood coming out. ".....see ya....." With one last breath, Ashura closed his eyes,
a small smile on his face before he passed on.

"Ashura? Ashura?! ASHURA!" Crystallis called out, shaking the hedgehog. "No,
don't go! Please, Ashura! Don't leave me!" No answer. She began crying as she
brought his head to hers, hugging him. "Ashuraaaa......" As the group looked on,
some of them began crying.

"Ashura, why?" Merc said, wiping his eyes clear of tears.

"No, not you, too." Tom said.

"Why did you hafta play hero now?" Seiyuka said.

"That hedgehog.....he saved her life.....why?" Razla asked to himself. "I
was aiming for her to release the last gem....." Just then, as Crystallis continued
cradling Ashura's lifeless body, their bodies began glowing pink. At the same time,
those who held the Guardian Gems began glowing. Merc glowed red; Sonic, blue;
Metal, dark blue; Seiyuka, green; Ayeka, purple; and Vegeta, gray.

"What's going on?!" Sonic said, in shock.

[This does not compute!] Metal said.

"I don't like this one bit!" Ayeka said.

"Vegeta, what's going on?!" Seiyuka said.

"I don't....ARRRGH!" Vegeta began before all six disappeared in a flash of
light and reappeared as shafts of light surrounding the two hedgehogs. Between the
shafts, the others could see Crystallis and Ashura disappear.

"Where did they go?!" Sasami asked.

"I dunno!" Gero said. Soon, a pink shaft joined the other six as they began
spinning very fast.

"MERC! Oh, no! What if this is one of Razla's deals?" Angel said.

"It's not me!" Razla said, just as bewildered as the others. "I can't do that
at all!" Soon, lightning began sparking from the large shaft.

"Guys, I don't like this at all!" Crow said, cowering behind Mike.

"Wait! I see something in the light!" Yugi said.

In the light, the group saw the outline of the first gem finder, Merc.
Covering his body was the armor of the Maverick Hunter known as Zero. Instead of
his katana or the Z-Saber, a mysterious spirit blade formed on the top of his right
hand. Next was Sonic, who first became Super Sonic, then had his bottom quills
turned down like Ashura's. Then, came Metal Sonic, who began getting armor pieces
all over his body, making him part-Metal, part-Sabian and part Vile mk. II. Next
was Ayeka, who was the least-changed, as all that surrounded her was an energy
aura. Next was both Seiyuka and Vegeta, who just had their hair extended down to
their knees. Then, it was both Ashura and Crystallis. Crystallis was in her
"birthday suit", while Ashura still had pieces of his armor on him. The pieces of
the Wing ZERO armor's wings turned angelic and covered Ashura's lifeless body.
Then, various items began forming on Crystallis. Vegeta's jumpsuit and battle
armor, Sonic's SOAP shoes, Metal's arms, Seiyuka and Merc's swords, and Ayeka's
tiara (which formed into a bracelete on Crystallis' left hand) appeared on her.
Then, the light disappeared, allowing the eight out.

"Are you guys alright?!" Mike said.

"Mike Nelson, we couldn't be better!" Merc said, looking at his armor.

"LOOK AT ME, KAKKAROTTO! I'M A GREATER SUPER SAIYAN NOW!" Vegeta shouted

"Gah! What happened to my eyebrows?!" Seiyuka said, realizing the side
effect of the transformation.

"Alright! Super Sonic 2's back in action!" Sonic said.

[LOOK AT ME! I'M BETTER THAN THE REST!] Metal said.

"Oh, crud. You guys get the better looks!" Ayeka said.

"Wow....is this the Guardian Maiden mode?" Crystallis asked herself. She,
then, turned to the still covered Ashura. "Ashura...." Just then, Ashura's wings
opened, revealing that he was in the Wing ZERO Custon armor.

"Yeah, who's there?" he said. This startled the group. "Hey, can someone help
me find the 'helmet off' button?"

"Ashura! You're alive!" Merc said.

"If I don't get this off, I won't for very long!" Ashura said. Crystallis
reached over and pushed a button on the side that retracted the helmet. Ashura
looked over and saw Crystallis standing there, tears in her eyes.

"Please tell me it's you....that you're alive....." she said

"If it isn't me, then, who's in the armor?" Ashura said. The girl smiled,
then wrapped her arms around Ashura.

"You're alive! I don't believe it!" Crystallis said. Ashura returned the hug.

"Neither can I." Razla said. "All this time, I've been killing the wrong
person. Now it's payback time!"

"What do you mean, Razla?" Sasami asked.

"On this planet, the legend of the Guardian Maiden states that when a certain
person that is loved by a group is killed, the Guardian Maiden's power would be
released. For years, the people who've come here to kill me has always had a person
that was loved by all, but that person was the Guardian Maiden." Razla said. "Now,
I see the truth. And now, I can finally rid this planet of the Guardian."

"WHAT?!" Crystallis said. "You mean that woman that brought us here?!"

"The same. You see, she is not the friendly woman that she looked like. Deep
inside, she's an evil demon bent on conquering this planet." Razla said. "For
centuries on end, she's tricked groups to find the Guardian Gems and to kill me.
Using the scar that's embedded on each of the Guardian Maiden, she's had them
killed throughout their journeys, and those who make it are killed due to my poor
judgement."

"In other words, we've been had!" TOM said. Razla nodded. "Ooh, that makes my
circuits fry!"

"How about we make it up to ya!" Sonic said. "WE'LL go and take down the
Guardian. We know the truth now, so now, we can go and kick the real bad guy's
butt!"

"Thank you, Absolution crew." Razla said. "Thank you so much!"

"Well, guys, we got our mission, we've been powered up, so let's get movin'!"
Seiyuka said.

"And what makes you think WE'RE going with you?" Yugi asked. Metal responded
by shoving two blasters in the back of their heads.

[Move it. Now!] he said. With that, the three followed the group through the
opening. Before he left, Ashura turned around and faced Razla.

"Hey, Razla. Uh, you wouldn't happen to know anyone who looks EXACTLY like
you, but very evil?" Ashura asked.

"Heh. Yeah. That's my brother, Ralph. He took my name because he thought it
was more evil sounding." Razla said. Ashura grinned and began to make his way to
the others, where Crystallis was waiting.

"Ashura, I should hurt you for doing that." Crystallis said, about his
sacrifice. "I thought we would never be together again."

"Crysty, I did it to protect you, because I love you." Ashura said. "You
know very well that we don't live forever, so we have to live it the way we want
to." The hedgehog turned and looked at Crystallis in the eyes. "Crysty, this may
be the last time we see each other for real. I don't know if we'll make it through
this."

"Ashura, I know....." Crystallis said, wiping a tear that was forming.
"Promise me this, Ashura." he nodded. "Promise me that whatever happens, we go
through this together, through the fights and our deaths. Promise me at least
that."

"No problem. Besides, I see the others are doing their last will and
testiments to their pals." Ashura said. The two looked and saw the others doing
almost the same exact thing.

"Ashura...." Crystallis began to say before Ashura put a finger on her lips.

"Please, don't say anything right now." Ashura said. The leaned towards each
other, closed their eyes and kissed as long as they could. They knew it could be
their last kiss and they wanted it to last. After a few seconds, they parted and
looked towards the others, who were waiting. "Ready, guys?"

"Oh, yeah!" Sonic said.

"This is what we've been waiting for!" Tom said.

"Alright...." Ashura said, the helmet forming over his face. "In the words of
Jerrod the Lone Outlaw: IIIIIIIIIIIT'S GO TIME!"

"YEAH!" They shouted. With that, the group took off in the direction of where
the Guardian. As they left, Razla stepped out.

"Good luck, heros. I know you can do it." Razla said

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TO BE CONTINUED....
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Next Chapter:
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Their mission is clear, the target is known. Now the MAT Crew must take down the
Guardian if they are to get back home. The Guardian only has one line of defense to
the incoming onslaught: The villians of the fanfictions and movies they MSTed! Can
they get through, or will they fall before their power?

AUTHOR'S NOTES:
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Aw, man! The series is almost over! About two or three chapters to go. Trust me,
this will go down with a bang!

As always, Read and Review!
Ashura Hedgehog