The Echidna Guard were all in the room that contained the Mobius Ring.
Unknown to the rest of the Echidna on the island, the Echidna Guard were
fighting to save the Empire from an apparent secret invasion from within.
Three Drakon Prosecutors, the Drakon's main line of protection as well as attack, stood in front of the Mobius Ring. Their staffs were alight with raw energy as they fired randomly at the Echidna assembled. This would have been easier if it wasn't for the fact that a Drakon Sentinel was in the center of the room fighting the Echidna in hand to hand combat.
Drakon Sentinels were normally bigger than Drakon Prosecutors, and where normally sent in as the first wave, destroying all defenses and thinning out the ranks of the enemy. This Sentinel was effectively doing just that.
The Drakon were more technologically advanced than the Echidna, even though the Echidna did have some technology. The Echidna however had not perfected technological weapons to use when fighting. Not to the standards that the Drakon had.
The Echidna fought with swords, metal hammers and spears. Whilst the Drakon had energy staffs. Where the Echidna's technology did strive though was in their defenses, such as their Guardian Robots. They worked with or without a pilot and where capable of shooting very power and devastating energy blasts.
An Echidna, called Imarac, dived out of the way of an energy blast from the Drakon and into the safety that loomed behind Guardian and Robot. His dark scarlet dreadlocks flopping over his face as he landed clumsily.
Imarac was the leader of the Echidna Guard, a group of eighteen collected warriors who where the best at what they did. He enjoyed leading the Guard, and he intended to stay leading them for quite sometime. So as he peered out from behind Robot he did so very carefully.
"This doesn't look good." He said.
"It does not." Responded Robot, lifting a hand and firing at the Drakon. He watched as his blasts were deflected into away and into a wall. "The Drakon have impressive defensive skills. Estimation for when they will be defeated is unattainable."
Imarac sighed. "I knew I should have stayed in bed today," he muttered. He looked up ahead where the stronger members of the Echidna Guard where taking on the Drakon Sentinel in hand-to-hand combat. Surprisingly they where holding their own.
It was a sound idea, fighting the Sentinel like that, made them harder to hit by the remaining Prosecutors, out of general risk of the Sentinel being hit as well. The Echidna could also use their speed against the giant Drakon, as it was no doubt finding it hard to maneuver in such a tight space. This also stopped it from using its powerful attacks as it ran the risk of hitting the Prosecutors.
He smiled to himself as he got up and ran over to where the rest of the other Echidna Guard were, a little further back. They had managed to get their hands on some grenades and were occasionally throwing them at the Prosecutors.
"Any words on are reinforcements?" Imarac said to Eading, another member of the Echidna Guard.
The young Echidnas grip tightened around his two handed sword. His fur wasn't as dark a shade of scarlet as Imarac's, but it was close. The young Echidna however, had his dreadlocks tide up and they flopped down one side of his head. "Not a word, boss. Looks like were on are own. It's strange though. When the messenger returned he said that he was lucky that he had found someone. The Palace was more or less empty." Eading said.
Imarac was also worried about this. Where was the Royal Family? This would have to be found out later. Right now, he had enough problems of his own.
A blast sizzled past his head and collided with the wall opposite, into a shower of sparks.
Imarac turned to look at the wall, and then turned back to Eading. Eading simply grinned. "Wicked, eh?" Eading said.
Imarac got up and moved over to the other members of his Guard.
Amass, a member of a race of Bee's from the Special Zone, looked up at Imarac as he ran over. "Hi Boss." The small Bee said. "Fancy seeing you in a place like this. What gives?"
Imarac crouched down beside the Bee and sighed. For some reason all members of the Hive were either very enthusiastic and annoying, or miserable old crones. And as he crouched next to Amass, he wondered if he would want to hit the miserable old crone type as much as he wanted to hit Amass. "No time for funnies, kid. Where's Sheila?"
"There's always time for jokes, Boss." Amass began, but stopped when he saw Imarac's expression. "The lovely Sheila is there, Boss. With Carmine, Udible and Decei." Amass said, pointing just behind him.
Imarac looked in the direction the Bee had pointed and saw Sheila. He smiled.
Imarac and Sheila had a complicated history, and for many years, neither of them wanted to admit to the feelings they had for each other. But eventually they did, and they had become an item, but they couldn't have chosen a time that was worse than now.
The Great War of the Worlds, between the Echidna and the Drakon Empire, had caused them to push their feelings for each other to the side so that they could concentrate on the priorities of the Empire.
That was fine and dandy, for about the first five seconds. Since then it had become even more unbearable almost everyday.
Imarac crouched down next to Sheila still smiling. He was fighting every instinct that he had that was simply telling him to kiss her right here and now.
"How's the fight going, darling?" He said instead.
Sheila sighed. "Bad. Got loads of casualties everywhere. The Drakon have taken down a third of the Echidna Guard, and we haven't even taken one of them down. Their technology is far superior to ours. We need a miracle to win this."
Imarac also sighed. "I knew you was going to say that. But there ain't nothing else we can do." He looked up at the three Drakon. "Except pray!"
* * * *
Back within the walls of Megopolis City, Tikal stood in her chambers, completely surrounded by a faint pink smoke. She had managed to get back here in record time, thanks to the help of some Echidna and their Guardian Robots. Now she had to do something that had never been done before.
It was true that the members of her family had always been able to see into the future, but she was different. It was as if all the power from all the generations before her had stopped in her.
She knew that this meant that after her, no other Echidna from her bloodline would posses the powers that both she and her father possessed. But what she found out was that this also meant that she could do things no one before her could have ever dreamed of doing.
Whereas her father could see the future, she had the power to travel to it. And that is what she was doing now.
Tikal stood with her eyes closed, as she completed a very delicate pattern in the air with her staff. She then began a second one, leaving pink smoke trailing in the air.
He knows that we are condemned. Tikal thought to herself. But yet he does nothing to change the future.
Her staff swirled around and stopped an inch from the floor. She then turned it in her hands and brought it around her backwards.
How can we not at least try to change the future. She thought. We can't just sit around, like some fat fool wondering how it will all end.
She moved her staff upwards, and then brought it back down causing the pink smoke to increase in brightness.
I'll show you, father. We can change the future. Why else could we see it? Tikal again thought.
She forced her staff out in front of her and it illuminated the room in a blinding pink glow.
"I'm sorry, father. I have to try." She almost whispered. "Wish me luck."
The light intensified, and then stopped. It then disappeared. Tikal was gone.
* * * *
King Pochamac stepped backwards as he stared into the green eyes of Chaos, God of Destruction. The Echidna that had followed him up stood in shocked silence. Even Giser, who had no mouth, gave the impression that his jaw was hanging open.
Chaos stood not that much taller than the Echidna. He had two alumnus bulbous green eyes that seemed to radiate more power than the Echidna had ever seen. His head pointed at the top, looking like a tube of sorts, and he had two tendrils that protruded from the back of his head and down across his back.
His hands and feet were all out of proportion, and he only had two fingers and toes to them.
Chaos looked up into the air. He had been inside the Shrine for a long time, he could tell this instantly, and there was something different about the world now.
He could sense six new sources of power close by. They called out to him. The power they contained far surpassed his own. With them he could become a true God! They had to be his. But first, he'd have to deal with the creatures that stood before him.
His head turned to the Echidna. Though he had no mouth, he spoke. "You creature's are Echidna, are you not?"
The King swallowed. "We are."
The God of Destruction stood there for a long while, seeming to role this over and over in his ancient brain. He had spent eternity up here, sworn to protect the Chao that inhabited the sanctuary. But now, after so long, he had a reason to venture down from his prison. The new energy called to him. He had to have it.
Chaos raised a hand towards the Echidna. "Then you shall die as Echidna!" With that a jet stream of water shot out of Chaos' hand.
* * * *
Meanwhile, more than half a mile away on another part of Angel Island known as the Sandopolis Zone, there was an explosion.
Rock flew through the air in all directions. Dust formed clouds as it stretched outwards. The echo of the blast bounced from cliff to cliff, before eventually fading away.
As the dust began to settle, Prince Brightstarr walked up to the new opening into the Sacred Emerald mine.
"Well, there's a way in now." He said jokingly. "All right everyone, I want you all to be on your guard. Though the cave-in's did happen a while back, some Drakon may still be alive within the caverns. And if they are feel free to end their miserable lives." Brightstarr then walked in. "Lets go!"
All the Echidna assembled took a firm grip of their weapons and followed him inside.
* * * *
Some of the Echidna Guard had managed to regroup outside the chamber that contained the Mobius Ring. Guardian and Robot were the only two still inside fighting the Drakon, along with the remaining Guardian Robots, and the rest of the Echidna Guard who where still battling the Drakon Sentinel.
Imarac stood in front of the Echidna Guard assembled outside. "Look, those Prosecutors are to strong for us, and we all know that. Look how long they have held us off for. Us! Were the Echidna Guard!" Imarac sighed. "We need to take back the Mobius Ring, and we need to do it now."
Amass smiled. "Lets just storm them. We all know that they can't move as quick as us, and they wont be able to fight us as effectively in hand-to- hand combat. We'd have the advantage."
"For about a couple of seconds. Then they'd kill us." Udible said, her voice was cold, without emotion.
"I could use magic." Decei said. She was a member of a race of Cats that had been drawn into the war between the Drakon and the Echidna. Like all of her particular tribe, she could use magic as a means of attack as well as defense. "It could give us an advantage."
"It wouldn't work." Said Imarac, sighing. "The Drakon Prosecutors are immune to most kinds of magic. We'd have to be shore what your using will actually work."
"We can't just stand here." Eading said frustrated. He pointed his sword at the Chamber containing the Drakon. "They're in there with the Mobius Ring, the Gods know what they're trying to do. We have to fight them now!"
"Your right." Imarac said to Eading. "We are the Echidna Guard, the first and last hope for the Empire against all enemies. We swore to die for the Empire and if it comes to it, then that's what I'm ready to do." Imarac looked at the rest of the Guard. "Do any of you feel the same."
But before any of them could reply there was a giant explosion from inside. They all ran in to see a room full of dust and rubble. Then something stood up amongst the smoke. It was a Guardian Robot.
Imarac looked to the side of the room to see Robot, as well as a few of the other Guardian Robots, were had all been knocked back and were severely damaged. Guardian was standing next to Robot. He then turned and came over to Imarac.
"Robot is damaged." Guardian said simply. "My systems are effectively working."
Imarac nodded. "What happened in here?"
"A Guardian Robot blasted its way through the ceiling. Damage was caused to Robot as we were caught off guard." Guardian said.
Amass came up beside Imarac. "Sir, look!" He said pointing at the Guardian Robot, as the smoke began to clear. "Its opening up."
Imarac turned to look. The Guardian Robot was opening up. Imarac watched to see who had come to their aid. As the top opened Imarac saw a very familiar white fur. "Dr Zachary!?!"
But before the Dr could say anything the Drakon came up beside him. "Zachary. Behind you!" Imarac shouted.
Zachary turned in his seat to see the Drakon. He then sighed, as he showed them his medallion. One Prosecutor took out something and began to scan the device around the old Echidna's neck. The Drakon then nodded. One Prosecutor went and activated the Mobius Ring, allowing the other Prosecutor, as well as the Sentinel, to go through. The Drakon standing next to Zachary pointed to the doorway that had just opened up, and then walked over to it.
Imarac and the Guard stood there, not completely understanding what was going on. "Zachary. What is going on?"
The old white Echidna smiled halfheartedly. "Its simple really. If I come with them now, they will spare your lives."
"What?" Said Eading. "Why would you want to go with them?"
Zachary lowered his head and groaned. As he raised it back up his face had changed. Evil burned in his eyes. "You know what? I don't need to explain anything to you. Just remember this as the last one of you is left dying in this war. You died in vain." Before any one could say anything, Zachary pulled the top of his Guardian Robot down, and then fired at the Guard at full power.
The Guard flew backwards, knocked unconscious by the blast. Zachary turned and walked over to the Mobius Ring, and stepped through. The last Prosecutor followed him through and the Mobius Ring shrank and vanished.
* * * *
Chaos fired another water jet stream, scattering Echidna like grains of sand. Some Echidna turned and ran, others fell off the top of the Sanctuary. Some even jumped off!
King Pochamac, Braven, Yin and Giser, however, still stood in front of the ancient and ageless creature. It fired at some fleeing Echidna, then slowly turned back to them.
"You do not fear me?" It said, turning its head on its side.
"Actually, I'm petrified." Pochamac said, holding his staff.
"But still you stand there." Chaos said. "You could easily run."
"You would only shoot us in the back." Yin rallied. "We will not run and hide. We will fight you if we have to."
Chaos stood there for a long time just staring at creatures in front of him. If he had a mouth to do so, he would have smiled. "At the creation of this planet I was sentenced to guard the Chao and this Sanctuary. The time has elapsed. My sentence is done." Chaos raised a hand. "Now I will have some fun."
"You want some fun?" Giser said, looking beyond Chaos.
"I want you to surprise me." Chaos said.
Giser turned to Pochamac, and then they both turned back to Chaos. "Sorry." Said Giser. "I don't do surprises."
Chaos held his hand steady, not saying a word.
Pochamac smiled and looked behind Chaos. "But he does."
"What-?" Chaos muttered, as he began to turn around. But was then tackled to the ground by Devil. Chaos flew backwards down the stairs, shouting old and ancient curses as he went.
Devil spread his wings and landed next to Giser. "Am I late?" He said, smiling.
Giser smiled. "Just slightly." He then turned as suddenly a bright green glow began to radiate from the Shrines surface. A hole appeared and out of it ascended the biggest emerald any of them had ever seen.
"The Master Emerald." Pochamac said, completely captivated by its awe.
Giser walked forward and picked it up. The Master Emerald was about the same size as a fully grown Echidna, but surprisingly weighed almost nothing.
Giser turned and immediately his face filled with fear again. Devil turned and saw Chaos glaring at them with his glowing green eyes.
"Heretics!" He shouted. "You will put the Master Emerald back where you found it or I will kill you all where you stand."
"We cannot do that. We need this Emerald for are-!"
"Silence!" Chaos bellowed. "If you will not give it back. Then I will take it."
Chaos ran at Giser, but Braven stepped into his path. Holding out both his hands, Braven fired a stream of fire at the God of Destruction, which exploded on impact.
Smoke rose up as Braven stepped back a little, and then turned to face Pochamac.
Suddenly a hand emerged from the smoke and smacked him to the floor. As Yin rushed to his side, Chaos stepped forward out of the smoke. "Give me the Master Emerald." He growled.
Yin got up and unsheathed her Jade Sword. Taking a swing at Chaos, she was taken by surprise as the God of Destruction caught the blade in his palm.
Pulling her sword from her grasp, Chaos flung it over the side of the Shrine and punched Yin in her chest, leaving her gasping for air.
He then looked at Giser, who still held the Master Emerald, and ran at him. Raising his hand he swung it at Giser. Not completely knowing what he was doing, Giser stepped backwards and thrusted the Master Emerald forwards, causing Chaos' hand to plunge into the Master Emerald, instantly causing a discharge in power.
The discharge knocked Giser backwards. He landed on his arse and watched as Chaos screamed in rage. The Master Emerald was overpowering him. But then everything went into reverse. The Master Emerald began to suck all available energy into itself. Chaos struggled to break free as he felt himself being drained of his power.
He looked at Giser. "You will pay for this!" He roared. You will all pay!"
Then the Master Emerald began to glow a bright emerald green. Giser watched as Chaos' eyes suddenly went dim and stopped glowing. They looked empty. Dead. Then Chaos was sucked inside the Master Emerald.
Almost instantly the hole in the Master Emerald healed itself. The Master Emerald then grew in size, becoming even bigger. Finally, it slumped to the ground.
Giser sat there bewildered. Suddenly cheers of celebration went up through out the zone as the Echidna that had survived crawled out of there little holes. Chaos had been beaten. The Master Emerald now belonged to the Echidna.
Three Drakon Prosecutors, the Drakon's main line of protection as well as attack, stood in front of the Mobius Ring. Their staffs were alight with raw energy as they fired randomly at the Echidna assembled. This would have been easier if it wasn't for the fact that a Drakon Sentinel was in the center of the room fighting the Echidna in hand to hand combat.
Drakon Sentinels were normally bigger than Drakon Prosecutors, and where normally sent in as the first wave, destroying all defenses and thinning out the ranks of the enemy. This Sentinel was effectively doing just that.
The Drakon were more technologically advanced than the Echidna, even though the Echidna did have some technology. The Echidna however had not perfected technological weapons to use when fighting. Not to the standards that the Drakon had.
The Echidna fought with swords, metal hammers and spears. Whilst the Drakon had energy staffs. Where the Echidna's technology did strive though was in their defenses, such as their Guardian Robots. They worked with or without a pilot and where capable of shooting very power and devastating energy blasts.
An Echidna, called Imarac, dived out of the way of an energy blast from the Drakon and into the safety that loomed behind Guardian and Robot. His dark scarlet dreadlocks flopping over his face as he landed clumsily.
Imarac was the leader of the Echidna Guard, a group of eighteen collected warriors who where the best at what they did. He enjoyed leading the Guard, and he intended to stay leading them for quite sometime. So as he peered out from behind Robot he did so very carefully.
"This doesn't look good." He said.
"It does not." Responded Robot, lifting a hand and firing at the Drakon. He watched as his blasts were deflected into away and into a wall. "The Drakon have impressive defensive skills. Estimation for when they will be defeated is unattainable."
Imarac sighed. "I knew I should have stayed in bed today," he muttered. He looked up ahead where the stronger members of the Echidna Guard where taking on the Drakon Sentinel in hand-to-hand combat. Surprisingly they where holding their own.
It was a sound idea, fighting the Sentinel like that, made them harder to hit by the remaining Prosecutors, out of general risk of the Sentinel being hit as well. The Echidna could also use their speed against the giant Drakon, as it was no doubt finding it hard to maneuver in such a tight space. This also stopped it from using its powerful attacks as it ran the risk of hitting the Prosecutors.
He smiled to himself as he got up and ran over to where the rest of the other Echidna Guard were, a little further back. They had managed to get their hands on some grenades and were occasionally throwing them at the Prosecutors.
"Any words on are reinforcements?" Imarac said to Eading, another member of the Echidna Guard.
The young Echidnas grip tightened around his two handed sword. His fur wasn't as dark a shade of scarlet as Imarac's, but it was close. The young Echidna however, had his dreadlocks tide up and they flopped down one side of his head. "Not a word, boss. Looks like were on are own. It's strange though. When the messenger returned he said that he was lucky that he had found someone. The Palace was more or less empty." Eading said.
Imarac was also worried about this. Where was the Royal Family? This would have to be found out later. Right now, he had enough problems of his own.
A blast sizzled past his head and collided with the wall opposite, into a shower of sparks.
Imarac turned to look at the wall, and then turned back to Eading. Eading simply grinned. "Wicked, eh?" Eading said.
Imarac got up and moved over to the other members of his Guard.
Amass, a member of a race of Bee's from the Special Zone, looked up at Imarac as he ran over. "Hi Boss." The small Bee said. "Fancy seeing you in a place like this. What gives?"
Imarac crouched down beside the Bee and sighed. For some reason all members of the Hive were either very enthusiastic and annoying, or miserable old crones. And as he crouched next to Amass, he wondered if he would want to hit the miserable old crone type as much as he wanted to hit Amass. "No time for funnies, kid. Where's Sheila?"
"There's always time for jokes, Boss." Amass began, but stopped when he saw Imarac's expression. "The lovely Sheila is there, Boss. With Carmine, Udible and Decei." Amass said, pointing just behind him.
Imarac looked in the direction the Bee had pointed and saw Sheila. He smiled.
Imarac and Sheila had a complicated history, and for many years, neither of them wanted to admit to the feelings they had for each other. But eventually they did, and they had become an item, but they couldn't have chosen a time that was worse than now.
The Great War of the Worlds, between the Echidna and the Drakon Empire, had caused them to push their feelings for each other to the side so that they could concentrate on the priorities of the Empire.
That was fine and dandy, for about the first five seconds. Since then it had become even more unbearable almost everyday.
Imarac crouched down next to Sheila still smiling. He was fighting every instinct that he had that was simply telling him to kiss her right here and now.
"How's the fight going, darling?" He said instead.
Sheila sighed. "Bad. Got loads of casualties everywhere. The Drakon have taken down a third of the Echidna Guard, and we haven't even taken one of them down. Their technology is far superior to ours. We need a miracle to win this."
Imarac also sighed. "I knew you was going to say that. But there ain't nothing else we can do." He looked up at the three Drakon. "Except pray!"
* * * *
Back within the walls of Megopolis City, Tikal stood in her chambers, completely surrounded by a faint pink smoke. She had managed to get back here in record time, thanks to the help of some Echidna and their Guardian Robots. Now she had to do something that had never been done before.
It was true that the members of her family had always been able to see into the future, but she was different. It was as if all the power from all the generations before her had stopped in her.
She knew that this meant that after her, no other Echidna from her bloodline would posses the powers that both she and her father possessed. But what she found out was that this also meant that she could do things no one before her could have ever dreamed of doing.
Whereas her father could see the future, she had the power to travel to it. And that is what she was doing now.
Tikal stood with her eyes closed, as she completed a very delicate pattern in the air with her staff. She then began a second one, leaving pink smoke trailing in the air.
He knows that we are condemned. Tikal thought to herself. But yet he does nothing to change the future.
Her staff swirled around and stopped an inch from the floor. She then turned it in her hands and brought it around her backwards.
How can we not at least try to change the future. She thought. We can't just sit around, like some fat fool wondering how it will all end.
She moved her staff upwards, and then brought it back down causing the pink smoke to increase in brightness.
I'll show you, father. We can change the future. Why else could we see it? Tikal again thought.
She forced her staff out in front of her and it illuminated the room in a blinding pink glow.
"I'm sorry, father. I have to try." She almost whispered. "Wish me luck."
The light intensified, and then stopped. It then disappeared. Tikal was gone.
* * * *
King Pochamac stepped backwards as he stared into the green eyes of Chaos, God of Destruction. The Echidna that had followed him up stood in shocked silence. Even Giser, who had no mouth, gave the impression that his jaw was hanging open.
Chaos stood not that much taller than the Echidna. He had two alumnus bulbous green eyes that seemed to radiate more power than the Echidna had ever seen. His head pointed at the top, looking like a tube of sorts, and he had two tendrils that protruded from the back of his head and down across his back.
His hands and feet were all out of proportion, and he only had two fingers and toes to them.
Chaos looked up into the air. He had been inside the Shrine for a long time, he could tell this instantly, and there was something different about the world now.
He could sense six new sources of power close by. They called out to him. The power they contained far surpassed his own. With them he could become a true God! They had to be his. But first, he'd have to deal with the creatures that stood before him.
His head turned to the Echidna. Though he had no mouth, he spoke. "You creature's are Echidna, are you not?"
The King swallowed. "We are."
The God of Destruction stood there for a long while, seeming to role this over and over in his ancient brain. He had spent eternity up here, sworn to protect the Chao that inhabited the sanctuary. But now, after so long, he had a reason to venture down from his prison. The new energy called to him. He had to have it.
Chaos raised a hand towards the Echidna. "Then you shall die as Echidna!" With that a jet stream of water shot out of Chaos' hand.
* * * *
Meanwhile, more than half a mile away on another part of Angel Island known as the Sandopolis Zone, there was an explosion.
Rock flew through the air in all directions. Dust formed clouds as it stretched outwards. The echo of the blast bounced from cliff to cliff, before eventually fading away.
As the dust began to settle, Prince Brightstarr walked up to the new opening into the Sacred Emerald mine.
"Well, there's a way in now." He said jokingly. "All right everyone, I want you all to be on your guard. Though the cave-in's did happen a while back, some Drakon may still be alive within the caverns. And if they are feel free to end their miserable lives." Brightstarr then walked in. "Lets go!"
All the Echidna assembled took a firm grip of their weapons and followed him inside.
* * * *
Some of the Echidna Guard had managed to regroup outside the chamber that contained the Mobius Ring. Guardian and Robot were the only two still inside fighting the Drakon, along with the remaining Guardian Robots, and the rest of the Echidna Guard who where still battling the Drakon Sentinel.
Imarac stood in front of the Echidna Guard assembled outside. "Look, those Prosecutors are to strong for us, and we all know that. Look how long they have held us off for. Us! Were the Echidna Guard!" Imarac sighed. "We need to take back the Mobius Ring, and we need to do it now."
Amass smiled. "Lets just storm them. We all know that they can't move as quick as us, and they wont be able to fight us as effectively in hand-to- hand combat. We'd have the advantage."
"For about a couple of seconds. Then they'd kill us." Udible said, her voice was cold, without emotion.
"I could use magic." Decei said. She was a member of a race of Cats that had been drawn into the war between the Drakon and the Echidna. Like all of her particular tribe, she could use magic as a means of attack as well as defense. "It could give us an advantage."
"It wouldn't work." Said Imarac, sighing. "The Drakon Prosecutors are immune to most kinds of magic. We'd have to be shore what your using will actually work."
"We can't just stand here." Eading said frustrated. He pointed his sword at the Chamber containing the Drakon. "They're in there with the Mobius Ring, the Gods know what they're trying to do. We have to fight them now!"
"Your right." Imarac said to Eading. "We are the Echidna Guard, the first and last hope for the Empire against all enemies. We swore to die for the Empire and if it comes to it, then that's what I'm ready to do." Imarac looked at the rest of the Guard. "Do any of you feel the same."
But before any of them could reply there was a giant explosion from inside. They all ran in to see a room full of dust and rubble. Then something stood up amongst the smoke. It was a Guardian Robot.
Imarac looked to the side of the room to see Robot, as well as a few of the other Guardian Robots, were had all been knocked back and were severely damaged. Guardian was standing next to Robot. He then turned and came over to Imarac.
"Robot is damaged." Guardian said simply. "My systems are effectively working."
Imarac nodded. "What happened in here?"
"A Guardian Robot blasted its way through the ceiling. Damage was caused to Robot as we were caught off guard." Guardian said.
Amass came up beside Imarac. "Sir, look!" He said pointing at the Guardian Robot, as the smoke began to clear. "Its opening up."
Imarac turned to look. The Guardian Robot was opening up. Imarac watched to see who had come to their aid. As the top opened Imarac saw a very familiar white fur. "Dr Zachary!?!"
But before the Dr could say anything the Drakon came up beside him. "Zachary. Behind you!" Imarac shouted.
Zachary turned in his seat to see the Drakon. He then sighed, as he showed them his medallion. One Prosecutor took out something and began to scan the device around the old Echidna's neck. The Drakon then nodded. One Prosecutor went and activated the Mobius Ring, allowing the other Prosecutor, as well as the Sentinel, to go through. The Drakon standing next to Zachary pointed to the doorway that had just opened up, and then walked over to it.
Imarac and the Guard stood there, not completely understanding what was going on. "Zachary. What is going on?"
The old white Echidna smiled halfheartedly. "Its simple really. If I come with them now, they will spare your lives."
"What?" Said Eading. "Why would you want to go with them?"
Zachary lowered his head and groaned. As he raised it back up his face had changed. Evil burned in his eyes. "You know what? I don't need to explain anything to you. Just remember this as the last one of you is left dying in this war. You died in vain." Before any one could say anything, Zachary pulled the top of his Guardian Robot down, and then fired at the Guard at full power.
The Guard flew backwards, knocked unconscious by the blast. Zachary turned and walked over to the Mobius Ring, and stepped through. The last Prosecutor followed him through and the Mobius Ring shrank and vanished.
* * * *
Chaos fired another water jet stream, scattering Echidna like grains of sand. Some Echidna turned and ran, others fell off the top of the Sanctuary. Some even jumped off!
King Pochamac, Braven, Yin and Giser, however, still stood in front of the ancient and ageless creature. It fired at some fleeing Echidna, then slowly turned back to them.
"You do not fear me?" It said, turning its head on its side.
"Actually, I'm petrified." Pochamac said, holding his staff.
"But still you stand there." Chaos said. "You could easily run."
"You would only shoot us in the back." Yin rallied. "We will not run and hide. We will fight you if we have to."
Chaos stood there for a long time just staring at creatures in front of him. If he had a mouth to do so, he would have smiled. "At the creation of this planet I was sentenced to guard the Chao and this Sanctuary. The time has elapsed. My sentence is done." Chaos raised a hand. "Now I will have some fun."
"You want some fun?" Giser said, looking beyond Chaos.
"I want you to surprise me." Chaos said.
Giser turned to Pochamac, and then they both turned back to Chaos. "Sorry." Said Giser. "I don't do surprises."
Chaos held his hand steady, not saying a word.
Pochamac smiled and looked behind Chaos. "But he does."
"What-?" Chaos muttered, as he began to turn around. But was then tackled to the ground by Devil. Chaos flew backwards down the stairs, shouting old and ancient curses as he went.
Devil spread his wings and landed next to Giser. "Am I late?" He said, smiling.
Giser smiled. "Just slightly." He then turned as suddenly a bright green glow began to radiate from the Shrines surface. A hole appeared and out of it ascended the biggest emerald any of them had ever seen.
"The Master Emerald." Pochamac said, completely captivated by its awe.
Giser walked forward and picked it up. The Master Emerald was about the same size as a fully grown Echidna, but surprisingly weighed almost nothing.
Giser turned and immediately his face filled with fear again. Devil turned and saw Chaos glaring at them with his glowing green eyes.
"Heretics!" He shouted. "You will put the Master Emerald back where you found it or I will kill you all where you stand."
"We cannot do that. We need this Emerald for are-!"
"Silence!" Chaos bellowed. "If you will not give it back. Then I will take it."
Chaos ran at Giser, but Braven stepped into his path. Holding out both his hands, Braven fired a stream of fire at the God of Destruction, which exploded on impact.
Smoke rose up as Braven stepped back a little, and then turned to face Pochamac.
Suddenly a hand emerged from the smoke and smacked him to the floor. As Yin rushed to his side, Chaos stepped forward out of the smoke. "Give me the Master Emerald." He growled.
Yin got up and unsheathed her Jade Sword. Taking a swing at Chaos, she was taken by surprise as the God of Destruction caught the blade in his palm.
Pulling her sword from her grasp, Chaos flung it over the side of the Shrine and punched Yin in her chest, leaving her gasping for air.
He then looked at Giser, who still held the Master Emerald, and ran at him. Raising his hand he swung it at Giser. Not completely knowing what he was doing, Giser stepped backwards and thrusted the Master Emerald forwards, causing Chaos' hand to plunge into the Master Emerald, instantly causing a discharge in power.
The discharge knocked Giser backwards. He landed on his arse and watched as Chaos screamed in rage. The Master Emerald was overpowering him. But then everything went into reverse. The Master Emerald began to suck all available energy into itself. Chaos struggled to break free as he felt himself being drained of his power.
He looked at Giser. "You will pay for this!" He roared. You will all pay!"
Then the Master Emerald began to glow a bright emerald green. Giser watched as Chaos' eyes suddenly went dim and stopped glowing. They looked empty. Dead. Then Chaos was sucked inside the Master Emerald.
Almost instantly the hole in the Master Emerald healed itself. The Master Emerald then grew in size, becoming even bigger. Finally, it slumped to the ground.
Giser sat there bewildered. Suddenly cheers of celebration went up through out the zone as the Echidna that had survived crawled out of there little holes. Chaos had been beaten. The Master Emerald now belonged to the Echidna.