Chapter 18: Prelude to the Emerald Hunt
Soon, Sonic, Sally, King Acorn, Knuckles, Melody, Barby Koala, and Walt found themselves chained to one of the walls. Then Fulva appeared, carrying a Flame Whip. As she scourged them, Fulva scolded, "How dare you?! You break into my home, steal my boy, killed my servant Crystala, then come to kill ME?! After all the good I've done for you... some friends you are! I should leave you here to die! I should let the rats chew your bones! Give me one good reason why I should let you live!" Sally, despite the pain, managed to say, "Julian brought us here! He set us up!" "Julian...," thought Fulva. "Yes, that does sound like him. He cannot defy my orders or harm me directly. I am his vampire master, after all. Putting me at risk just to get at you sounds just like him." She scourged them again and shouted, "But it was NOT Julian who took Timothy! Why should I show you any mercy?" Sonic said, "First, I'd like to know how you know Robuttnik so much!" Fulva explained, "He came to me about the Year 3203. This was long before he even heard of Chaos Emeralds. He was seeking the 'Dark Secrets of Power', which are power secrets learned by followers of the Shadows of Dark Mobius passed down from generation to generation. One of these secrets was in Noctoterra, kept by the 'Leader of the Night'. Julian sought this 'Leader of the Night.' At that time, he did not know that the Leader of the Night was a woman, in other words, me.
"He lost a battle with one of my monsters and served me until 3219, because I got bored with his complaining. So I let him leave. But before he left, and it was night time at the time, I BIT him! Then he knew from that day forth that if he were to die, he would again serve me as an undead." Melody said, in spite of her pain, "Well, what do you want us for?" Fulva stopped flailing them to explain: "When Sonic here destroyed Robotnik, I had to reassemble his body in my ritual chamber. When Julian related to how he was destroyed, I became interested in you Freedom Fighters. I figured that you could be useful in what I plan to do. That is why I brought you here. Does that satisfy your curiosity? Then satisfy mine by telling me why you were in my room!"
King Acorn told Fulva, "Timothy was not your child! He was the son of the mayor. And we did not kill Crystala-- She gave her life willingly." Sonic said, "Besides, we were only trying to get out of the dungeon!" "Trying to get out of the dungeon, were you?," sneered Fulva. "Just happened to catch a glimpse of a helpless undead, huh? Funny place to find an escape route, wasn't it?" Fulva thought for a moment. Then she told them, "I have decided that I still have a task for you-- alive! If you work with me, you may be able to leave Noctoterra without being bitten! I need the six hidded Shadow Emeralds that are hidden across Mobius.
"You will help me, won't you? Or must I use drastic measures to ensure your obedience?" Sally told them that she and her friends will do anything, just that Fulva would spare their lives and let them go! "Very well," said Fulva, "But I will keep most of your friends, including the hedgehog, in the dungeons, since I do not completely trust you." She released Sally, Tails, Amy, Ari, Lupe, and Antoine. Then Fulva told them, "Find the Emeralds ere five nights pass, lest ye and thy friends suffer. Now go, and hurry! I do not want you to suffer, after all." Soon, they found themselves outside the town gates.
Chapter 19: Locating the Shadow Emeralds
Sally leads the team to Silver Comet's cave. Once there, they are greeted by Frostara, Snowmaar, Iceflare, and the Kantrell sisters, as well as Silver Comet himself. "Welcome," said SC, "I sensed that you were taken into the castle last night. I had a vision about the quest you are about to take. I have learned that six of them are scattered throughout Mobius, and the seventh is inside the Dark Temple." Frostara said, "There is also an eighth gem: The crystal key. Your Felicia Fulva must have this piece. How else could you have gotten out of the Temple when you first came here?!" SC continued, "At any rate, I shall send you to the six megazones, where the Shadow Emeralds await you. Who will seek the Green Shadow Emerald?" Tails took the challenge. SC teleported him to the Green Megazone. He then asked who'd find the Yellow Emerald, and Antoine took the challenge.
Soon, Amy went after the Pink Shadow Emerald, Sally went to find the Red Shadow Emerald, Lupe sought after the Blue Shadow Emerald, and Ari had gone to seek the White Shadow Emerald.
Chapter 20: The First Three Shadow Emeralds
Tails flew the Green Megazone to seek the Green Shadow Emerald. He first traved through a Tidal Forest Zone, with the water flowing in and out and pirahnas jumping out and trying to nip him in the heels. Barely escaping the bite, Tails flew into a Swamp Zone. The denizens looked like poor excuses for Sonic and Tails clones, but they had powerful lightsabers and were powered by black diamonds in their chests. With a good kick, he caused a tree limb to fall on them. The droids fell faced first and the diamonds shattered, shorting out the droids.
But as Tails approached the Green Shadow Emerald, Sleuth ambushed him. "I'll take this Emerald!," sneered the dog traitor. "NOOO!," cried Tails, "I need that to save my friends!" Sleuth scoffed, "You should have thought of that before sending me to the Devil's Gulag, kid!" and grabbed the Emerald. But the Emerald teleported the dog to another land. Tails touches the Emerald, but suffered no ill effects. He picked it up, and teleported back to the cave of Silver Comet.
Antoine traveled the deserts of the Yellow Megazone, braving the heat in search of the Shadow Emerald there. He soon entered a house that was actually a place called "The Big Zone". Using his sword to fend off giant ants, he made his way to a giant's bedroom. The door on the room read "Tiny" on it, which was a pathetic pun. He entered and snuck into the giant's toy chest, being careful not to awaken the sleeping giant baby. On one of the dolls was the Yellow Shadow Emerald on the doll's belt. He took the Emerald and teleported out.
Amy traveled the Greco Style Pink Megazone, where she wandered the Greek Ruins Zone until she approached the Crystal Lake Zone. She found and rowed a boat until she was ambushed by a giant cyclops. "Who are you?!," she cried. "I am Blinky!," said the cyclops. Despite Amy's giggling, the cyclops roared, "What do you want?," Amy shivered and said, "I j-j-just need the Pink Shadow Emerald!" Blinky replied, "You can have it! It never does anything to me!" As soon as he gave it to her, Amy vanished out of the megazone.
Chapter 21: Three More Emeralds
In the Red Megazone, Sally traveled a tropical island and met a magical cockatoo. "Squawk!," said the bird. "Hi! I'm Crackers!" Sally, trying her best not to laugh, introduced herself. "Awwk! A princess!," said Crackers. "There hasn't been a princess in these parts since Princess Crystal dropped off the Red Shadow Emerald so many centuries ago. I know of this, since the tale has been passed down through generations. Awwk! whistle That's the truth!" "Where is the Red Shadow Emerald?," asked Sally. "In the volcano!," replied Crackers. "I'll take you there, if you want!"
Once inside, Crackers told her, "Once Crystal placed the Emerald on that Island, she obviously forgot to cut the last rope when she was destroying the bridge. Awwk!" "I'll improvise," replied Sally. It is fortunate that Sally is a superb gymnast. She had to walk the tightrope across the lava moat to the Island. She made it! She took the Emerald and was teleported out of the volcano... and out of the Megazone!
Lupe traveled the Blue Megazone and was greeted by a flying swordfish. "Hop onto my back!," said the swordfish, "The Haunted Lake Zone is too dangerous to swim in!" Once on his back, Lupe introduced herself and told of her mission, the swordfish said, "You're mad! The Loch Spectroa monster will never let you near, unless... we work together!" They flew until the monster reared its horrid head. The swordfish spat some fireballs at the beast's largest horn, and the Blue Shadow Emerald was uncovered. Lupe jumped and grabbed the Emerald, and she was teleported back to Silver Comet's cave.
Ari, in the White Megazone, braved the chill until he neared an Arctic Cave Zone. Once inside, he met the Arctic Freedom Fighters, who, as Gunther explained, were pulled into the zone by the Emerald's magic. As he neared the Emerald, a Snow Monster rose from the snowy floor of the cave. As the monster stomped its foot down, an icicle fell behind him. In a desperate move, Ari picked up the icicle and tossed it, piercing the monster and allowed him passage to the Shadow Emerald. The Arctic Freedom Fighters were transported to the North, while Ari returned to Silver Comet's cave, and just in time-- it was about nightfall!
Soon, Sonic, Sally, King Acorn, Knuckles, Melody, Barby Koala, and Walt found themselves chained to one of the walls. Then Fulva appeared, carrying a Flame Whip. As she scourged them, Fulva scolded, "How dare you?! You break into my home, steal my boy, killed my servant Crystala, then come to kill ME?! After all the good I've done for you... some friends you are! I should leave you here to die! I should let the rats chew your bones! Give me one good reason why I should let you live!" Sally, despite the pain, managed to say, "Julian brought us here! He set us up!" "Julian...," thought Fulva. "Yes, that does sound like him. He cannot defy my orders or harm me directly. I am his vampire master, after all. Putting me at risk just to get at you sounds just like him." She scourged them again and shouted, "But it was NOT Julian who took Timothy! Why should I show you any mercy?" Sonic said, "First, I'd like to know how you know Robuttnik so much!" Fulva explained, "He came to me about the Year 3203. This was long before he even heard of Chaos Emeralds. He was seeking the 'Dark Secrets of Power', which are power secrets learned by followers of the Shadows of Dark Mobius passed down from generation to generation. One of these secrets was in Noctoterra, kept by the 'Leader of the Night'. Julian sought this 'Leader of the Night.' At that time, he did not know that the Leader of the Night was a woman, in other words, me.
"He lost a battle with one of my monsters and served me until 3219, because I got bored with his complaining. So I let him leave. But before he left, and it was night time at the time, I BIT him! Then he knew from that day forth that if he were to die, he would again serve me as an undead." Melody said, in spite of her pain, "Well, what do you want us for?" Fulva stopped flailing them to explain: "When Sonic here destroyed Robotnik, I had to reassemble his body in my ritual chamber. When Julian related to how he was destroyed, I became interested in you Freedom Fighters. I figured that you could be useful in what I plan to do. That is why I brought you here. Does that satisfy your curiosity? Then satisfy mine by telling me why you were in my room!"
King Acorn told Fulva, "Timothy was not your child! He was the son of the mayor. And we did not kill Crystala-- She gave her life willingly." Sonic said, "Besides, we were only trying to get out of the dungeon!" "Trying to get out of the dungeon, were you?," sneered Fulva. "Just happened to catch a glimpse of a helpless undead, huh? Funny place to find an escape route, wasn't it?" Fulva thought for a moment. Then she told them, "I have decided that I still have a task for you-- alive! If you work with me, you may be able to leave Noctoterra without being bitten! I need the six hidded Shadow Emeralds that are hidden across Mobius.
"You will help me, won't you? Or must I use drastic measures to ensure your obedience?" Sally told them that she and her friends will do anything, just that Fulva would spare their lives and let them go! "Very well," said Fulva, "But I will keep most of your friends, including the hedgehog, in the dungeons, since I do not completely trust you." She released Sally, Tails, Amy, Ari, Lupe, and Antoine. Then Fulva told them, "Find the Emeralds ere five nights pass, lest ye and thy friends suffer. Now go, and hurry! I do not want you to suffer, after all." Soon, they found themselves outside the town gates.
Chapter 19: Locating the Shadow Emeralds
Sally leads the team to Silver Comet's cave. Once there, they are greeted by Frostara, Snowmaar, Iceflare, and the Kantrell sisters, as well as Silver Comet himself. "Welcome," said SC, "I sensed that you were taken into the castle last night. I had a vision about the quest you are about to take. I have learned that six of them are scattered throughout Mobius, and the seventh is inside the Dark Temple." Frostara said, "There is also an eighth gem: The crystal key. Your Felicia Fulva must have this piece. How else could you have gotten out of the Temple when you first came here?!" SC continued, "At any rate, I shall send you to the six megazones, where the Shadow Emeralds await you. Who will seek the Green Shadow Emerald?" Tails took the challenge. SC teleported him to the Green Megazone. He then asked who'd find the Yellow Emerald, and Antoine took the challenge.
Soon, Amy went after the Pink Shadow Emerald, Sally went to find the Red Shadow Emerald, Lupe sought after the Blue Shadow Emerald, and Ari had gone to seek the White Shadow Emerald.
Chapter 20: The First Three Shadow Emeralds
Tails flew the Green Megazone to seek the Green Shadow Emerald. He first traved through a Tidal Forest Zone, with the water flowing in and out and pirahnas jumping out and trying to nip him in the heels. Barely escaping the bite, Tails flew into a Swamp Zone. The denizens looked like poor excuses for Sonic and Tails clones, but they had powerful lightsabers and were powered by black diamonds in their chests. With a good kick, he caused a tree limb to fall on them. The droids fell faced first and the diamonds shattered, shorting out the droids.
But as Tails approached the Green Shadow Emerald, Sleuth ambushed him. "I'll take this Emerald!," sneered the dog traitor. "NOOO!," cried Tails, "I need that to save my friends!" Sleuth scoffed, "You should have thought of that before sending me to the Devil's Gulag, kid!" and grabbed the Emerald. But the Emerald teleported the dog to another land. Tails touches the Emerald, but suffered no ill effects. He picked it up, and teleported back to the cave of Silver Comet.
Antoine traveled the deserts of the Yellow Megazone, braving the heat in search of the Shadow Emerald there. He soon entered a house that was actually a place called "The Big Zone". Using his sword to fend off giant ants, he made his way to a giant's bedroom. The door on the room read "Tiny" on it, which was a pathetic pun. He entered and snuck into the giant's toy chest, being careful not to awaken the sleeping giant baby. On one of the dolls was the Yellow Shadow Emerald on the doll's belt. He took the Emerald and teleported out.
Amy traveled the Greco Style Pink Megazone, where she wandered the Greek Ruins Zone until she approached the Crystal Lake Zone. She found and rowed a boat until she was ambushed by a giant cyclops. "Who are you?!," she cried. "I am Blinky!," said the cyclops. Despite Amy's giggling, the cyclops roared, "What do you want?," Amy shivered and said, "I j-j-just need the Pink Shadow Emerald!" Blinky replied, "You can have it! It never does anything to me!" As soon as he gave it to her, Amy vanished out of the megazone.
Chapter 21: Three More Emeralds
In the Red Megazone, Sally traveled a tropical island and met a magical cockatoo. "Squawk!," said the bird. "Hi! I'm Crackers!" Sally, trying her best not to laugh, introduced herself. "Awwk! A princess!," said Crackers. "There hasn't been a princess in these parts since Princess Crystal dropped off the Red Shadow Emerald so many centuries ago. I know of this, since the tale has been passed down through generations. Awwk! whistle That's the truth!" "Where is the Red Shadow Emerald?," asked Sally. "In the volcano!," replied Crackers. "I'll take you there, if you want!"
Once inside, Crackers told her, "Once Crystal placed the Emerald on that Island, she obviously forgot to cut the last rope when she was destroying the bridge. Awwk!" "I'll improvise," replied Sally. It is fortunate that Sally is a superb gymnast. She had to walk the tightrope across the lava moat to the Island. She made it! She took the Emerald and was teleported out of the volcano... and out of the Megazone!
Lupe traveled the Blue Megazone and was greeted by a flying swordfish. "Hop onto my back!," said the swordfish, "The Haunted Lake Zone is too dangerous to swim in!" Once on his back, Lupe introduced herself and told of her mission, the swordfish said, "You're mad! The Loch Spectroa monster will never let you near, unless... we work together!" They flew until the monster reared its horrid head. The swordfish spat some fireballs at the beast's largest horn, and the Blue Shadow Emerald was uncovered. Lupe jumped and grabbed the Emerald, and she was teleported back to Silver Comet's cave.
Ari, in the White Megazone, braved the chill until he neared an Arctic Cave Zone. Once inside, he met the Arctic Freedom Fighters, who, as Gunther explained, were pulled into the zone by the Emerald's magic. As he neared the Emerald, a Snow Monster rose from the snowy floor of the cave. As the monster stomped its foot down, an icicle fell behind him. In a desperate move, Ari picked up the icicle and tossed it, piercing the monster and allowed him passage to the Shadow Emerald. The Arctic Freedom Fighters were transported to the North, while Ari returned to Silver Comet's cave, and just in time-- it was about nightfall!