Chapter 22: Summoning of the Shadows
The six Freedom Fighters entered the Gates of the Castle, where Sonic, Fulva, and Robotnik awaited them. Fulva greeted them by saying, "So, you return with the Shadow Emeralds. Good! Let us travel to the Dark Temple. Soon, it will be eternal night, and I will never be at anyone's mercy again!" She teleported Robotnik, the seven Freedom Fighters, and herself, to the Doors of the Dark Temple.
With the crystal key, Fulva pointed to the doors and recited:
"Great Shadows, from thee, none may hide,
Open thy temple doors, large and wide,
As the night in the sky above us fall,
May ye Shadows surround us all!"
At that, the doors opened wide. "That's all I can do for you, Freedom Fighters," sighed Fulva, "You'll need to use the Emeralds yourselves." Robotnik said, "We still have your other friends at the castle dungeon, so don't even think about betraying us!" "The last Shadow Emerald is guarded by the spirit of the Arch Druid," explained Fulva. "You'll need to take it from him before you can use the other Emeralds." Then, in a soft whisper, she said, "Please be careful." "Yes. We'd hate to have anything unfortunate befall you," snickered Robotnik, who afterward whispered to himself, "Not yet, anyway!" Fulva then said, before vanishing, "Enter the temple now, and... good luck!" The seven went inside.
Once inside, Sonic did battle with the Arch Druid to get the Purple Shadow Emerald from him. He succeeded (barely) and got the Emerald. They went into the grand hall of the Temple. Tails' Green Emerald opened the door to one of the rooms-- a room filled with shriveled vines. He placed the Green Emerald on a tree stump-shaped pedestal. Some words appeared on the Emeralds surface. He read the words aloud what was instructed for him to say:
"Shadows of Dark Mobius, on you I call
From the winter unto the fall,
May your power be in this room,
And all plant life bring shadow soon!"
At that, the words faded out. Suddenly the plants revived and vivified. Tails raced out before the plants entangled him! Then Antoine's Emerald caused him to enter a room made of soft stone and pits filled with sand. He placed his Emerald on a stone altar. The words appeared on its surface, and Antoine performed the rite inscribed on it:
"Dark Mobian Shadows, like this desert bleak,
May all, like an oasis, your shadows seek.
Like the stone and sand in the room I impart,
May your evil darken everyone's heart!"
As the words faded from the stone, the soft stone hardened and huge columns burst out of the sand pits. Antoine left the room. Soon, Amy entered a room with her Pink Shadow Emerald. The room was made of crystal, and in the farthest corner, laid a statue of a crystal raven. Amy placed the Emerald upon the statue's back. Some words formed on the surface on the Emerald, and she read them before the statue:
"Like the raven whose feathers are black,
Let the sky of this world of sunlight lack.
Shadows of Dark Mobius, hear my plea,
All I wish is the return of thee!"
Soon the words disappeared. The raven soon came to life and let out a big "SQUAWK!" and the room started to change its form. Amy decided to escape before she would be crushed. Sally then was led by the Red Shadow Emerald into another room. It was similar to the volcano she was in in the Red Megazone. She climbed and the stairway and crossed a long bridge to an island, where a pedestal lay. She placed the stone onto the pedestal. The words on the stone so far instructed her to prick her finger on something and let a drop of blood fall onto the Emerald. She uses a dagger and does so. Soon, the incantation appeared on the Emerald:
"Like my blood upon this stone,
May your wrath burn all to the core and bone.
Shadows, let your wrath draw near,
And like wildfire, light lovers sear!
She recited the incantation, and fire started to appear around the pedestal. Lava soon poured out of the holes and cracks in the walls. The bridge was almost destroyed, save one rope connecting the two islands. Then Selira (first shown in "Sally: The Arctic Quest") appeared and said, "Keep your eyes closed as you cross the rope. I will be your eyes!" Sally walked the tightrope with her eyes closed, placing faith in Selira. She made it out, allowing Lupe to enter a room with her Emerald. The room was ice cold, considering that it was all ice. A throne-like altar was atop a hill. She placed the stone in it and recited the incantation once it appeared:
"Hearts of Ice are before you now
Oh Shadows, whose darkness always flow!
May dark hearts stay frozen all days,
But light hearts melt before your ways!"
When the words vanished from the Emerald's surface, the room began to melt. Lupe raced out before she could be sunk in a watery grave. Ari places the White Shadow Emerald on a pedestal in the Grand Hall and recited the chant there:
"Though this Stone of Dark be white,
Let your presence bring forth forever night.
Dark Mobius Shadows whose breath brings fear,
May your followers know your coming is near!"
When the incantation was finished, mists appeared in the Grand Hall. Soon, a rope ladder came down from a passage way in the ceiling of the Grand Hall. Sonic climbes up into the passage. He finds himself on the roof of the Temple. There were steps leading to an altar with the full moon shining behind it. Fulva and Robotnik stood upon pillars near the altar.
Chapter 23: Opening of the Portal and Aftermath
Fulva congratulated Sonic by saying, "Good. Very good. You are not the first who has tried. But you have gotten further than the ones before you." Then she pointed to the altar and said, "Now is the time for the final step in the Summoning: The Opening of the Dimensional Gates. Prepare the Final Emerald. Soon the Shadows will return to this world, and I will never lie defenseless in my coffin again. Open the portal and free the Shadows of Dark Mobius!" Robotnik snapped, "Enough chatter! Let's just get this over with." Fulva giggled, "I think you're just jealous. Is it because Sonic turned your own weapon against you so long ago? You just resent the fact that I've gained what you've lost, don't you?"
Robotnik sighed, "I just want to begin your moment of triumph, oh great Leader of the Night." Fulva then turned to Sonic, who has placed the Stone on the Altar and said, "Very well. Let the final incantation begin." Sonic recited the final chant, all the while becoming weaker:
"Shadows of Dark Mobius, the time is here.
Enter this world, and strike all with fear.
Great Shadows, I summon thee!
I now open the portal! At last ye are free!"
Fulva cried out in triumph, "YES! The spell is complete, and the portal opens! Shadow will fill Mobius, and we will never flee the sunrise again!"
Suddenly, Robotnik pulled out a laser pistol and started taking pot shots at Sonic! One of them hit a part of the floor under Sonic! "No!," scolded Fulva, "How dare you defy me, Julian?!" She threw a green fireball at Robotnik. He then laughed, "Your attack only set me free, Fulva. Now we shall see who is the True 'Leader of the Night'!" The two then started to fight amongst themselves. Fulva then bragged, "I am still a far stronger magician than you! I am a far greater vampire than you! Do you really think your petty weapon can harm me? Think again."
Then Robotnik said, "It is not YOU I'm after, my dear Fulva. I'm after Sonic, the one you seem to care about. Want to watch him die?" Fulva cried, "NO! I WON'T LET YOU KILL HIM!" She intercepted a laser shot that knocked her into the portal. "Ha!," gloated Robotnik. "I knew she'd risk herself for the Freedom Fighters. Now Fulva will have all the Darkness she wants, and a lot more." He then turned his attention to Sonic and sneered, "Now I can gain my revenge! Now I shall give you untold suffering, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Just when Sonic felt like giving up, a fire burned inside him as he learned that Fulva truly cared for him and his friends.
In another world, Lizzar (from the first Sat AM TV episode) looked through his computer of spells and said, "Sonic is in danger. Normally business with the hedgehog I have none. Yet, see Mobius' destruction and do nothing about it, I can't." He then teleported right behind Robotnik and attacked him with a strike on the back. "A window of opportunity I provide for you, Sonic!," said Lizzar. "The most of it you must make of." Sonic then made a leap across then hit Robotnik with a Spin Dash that knocked him into the Portal. Sonic calls out to Sally about Robotnik, but Sally called out, "Sonic! Close the portal!" He tried to Sonic Spin the Emerald, but the energy field repelled him. All would have been lost, if not for the Star of Isis.
The Star of Isis flew out of Sonic's backpack, which then shattered to reveal the spirit of Julayla! She uses her magic to remove the energy field, then told Sonic, "Smash the Emerald NOW!" Sonic does so and the debris from the Emerald vaporized, and the portal was closed. Once the Freedom Fighters freed the prisoners, Julayla explained how her spirit entered the Star of Isis and how she awaited for someone to show a true sign of love, and that she would thwart the will of the Shadows. Before she left into the afterlife, Julayla resurrected Crystala, as a reward for her love and courage. The people greeted them and they spent the rest of the night there. The next day, Geoffrey's friends got the planes and brought everyone back to Mobotropolis... which takes us, dear reader(s) to the ending.
Epilog: The Happy Ending (or is it the end?)
Sonic and Sally sat together in the Palace Garden, where Sonic said, "Sal, I wanted to say this to you before, but I didn't have the courage to ask this until now." Sally asked, "Sonic, what are you saying?" "I love you, Sally!," Sonic replied, "Do you suppose you could... do you think you could... marry me?" Sally replied with a smile, "Could you have doubted, prince of my heart?" and kissed her hedgehog lover.
Two weeks later...
Sonic and Sally asked Knuckles to perform their wedding ceremony. Knuckles is honored to do so. At the Palace were all the Freedom Fighter groups (with the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters in a special aquarium) as they came to the wedding. "On this day of great joy in Mobotropolis," Knuckles said with a tear of joy in his eye, "We witness the marriage of Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn. Do you, Sonic the Hedgehog, take Princess Sally Acorn to be your wife, to love and cherish for as long as you both shall live?" Sonic said, "I do." Then Knuckles said, "And do you, Princess Sally Acorn, take Sonic the Hedgehog to be your husband, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?" Sally replied, "I do." Tails then brought up the rings. Sonic and Sally gave their rings and made their vows.
Knuckles asked, "Who gives this bride to be wed?" King Acorn answered, "Her mother and I willingly give our daughter's hand in marriage." "Who will speak for the groom?," Knuckles continued. Sonic's Uncle Chuck said, "I will. Sonic's parents and I recognize this union with glad hearts and sanctify this union."
Knuckles then said, "Then, Sonic and Sally, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The crowd cheers as the two kiss. King Acorn said, "Congratulations, children. I have a question most important to you both. Please hear me." "Yes, your highness?," asked Sonic. "Sonic," said King Acorn, "I welcome you to our family with open arms. You have helped my daughter during the times of Robotnik, and the whole world of Mobius during these last couple of years." "Thank you, sire," replied Sonic. "But I know that I will not reign, or even live, forever, and I don't want to try. Would you like to be an heir to the throne as well? I know that as king and queen, you and Sally can heal this world from all the damage Julian has done to it."
"I'm honored. What do you think, Sally?," asked Sonic. "I love this land, Sonic," said Sally. "I would love to reign and serve this land all my days." Jules said, "Son, you must follow your destiny. I do believe Mobotropolis needs you. I think you'll make a magnificent king." "Then... I accept," replied Sonic. Knuckles said, "Let us now celebrate this joyous occasion. The great evil has ended, the king and queen have returned, and there are now two heirs to the throne!"
The palace echoed with cheers of "Long live King and Queen Acorn! Long live Sonic and Sally! Long live Mobius! Hooray!"
Meanwhile, in the Dark World, the leader of the Shadows of Dark Mobius looked into his crystal ball and said, "So, they think the Great Evil is gone. Well, they are wrong. Robotnik was not the Great Evil, nor was Fulva. I, Rexnoctos, am, and will always be, the Great Evil. Hmm... Rexnoctos may be too horrifying a name for those who I may pick to be my followers. But with the hedgehog's form, I can become something less overwealming and yet retain my power. Though the Great Portal is closed now, I can find a means to reopen it. Beware Sonic, beware Princess Sally, beware Mobius! The fall of Robotnik will bring... THE RISE OF NEGAHOG!!!
Hmm, hm, hm, hm... HA, HA, HA, HA...
The End (For Now)
:)
The six Freedom Fighters entered the Gates of the Castle, where Sonic, Fulva, and Robotnik awaited them. Fulva greeted them by saying, "So, you return with the Shadow Emeralds. Good! Let us travel to the Dark Temple. Soon, it will be eternal night, and I will never be at anyone's mercy again!" She teleported Robotnik, the seven Freedom Fighters, and herself, to the Doors of the Dark Temple.
With the crystal key, Fulva pointed to the doors and recited:
"Great Shadows, from thee, none may hide,
Open thy temple doors, large and wide,
As the night in the sky above us fall,
May ye Shadows surround us all!"
At that, the doors opened wide. "That's all I can do for you, Freedom Fighters," sighed Fulva, "You'll need to use the Emeralds yourselves." Robotnik said, "We still have your other friends at the castle dungeon, so don't even think about betraying us!" "The last Shadow Emerald is guarded by the spirit of the Arch Druid," explained Fulva. "You'll need to take it from him before you can use the other Emeralds." Then, in a soft whisper, she said, "Please be careful." "Yes. We'd hate to have anything unfortunate befall you," snickered Robotnik, who afterward whispered to himself, "Not yet, anyway!" Fulva then said, before vanishing, "Enter the temple now, and... good luck!" The seven went inside.
Once inside, Sonic did battle with the Arch Druid to get the Purple Shadow Emerald from him. He succeeded (barely) and got the Emerald. They went into the grand hall of the Temple. Tails' Green Emerald opened the door to one of the rooms-- a room filled with shriveled vines. He placed the Green Emerald on a tree stump-shaped pedestal. Some words appeared on the Emeralds surface. He read the words aloud what was instructed for him to say:
"Shadows of Dark Mobius, on you I call
From the winter unto the fall,
May your power be in this room,
And all plant life bring shadow soon!"
At that, the words faded out. Suddenly the plants revived and vivified. Tails raced out before the plants entangled him! Then Antoine's Emerald caused him to enter a room made of soft stone and pits filled with sand. He placed his Emerald on a stone altar. The words appeared on its surface, and Antoine performed the rite inscribed on it:
"Dark Mobian Shadows, like this desert bleak,
May all, like an oasis, your shadows seek.
Like the stone and sand in the room I impart,
May your evil darken everyone's heart!"
As the words faded from the stone, the soft stone hardened and huge columns burst out of the sand pits. Antoine left the room. Soon, Amy entered a room with her Pink Shadow Emerald. The room was made of crystal, and in the farthest corner, laid a statue of a crystal raven. Amy placed the Emerald upon the statue's back. Some words formed on the surface on the Emerald, and she read them before the statue:
"Like the raven whose feathers are black,
Let the sky of this world of sunlight lack.
Shadows of Dark Mobius, hear my plea,
All I wish is the return of thee!"
Soon the words disappeared. The raven soon came to life and let out a big "SQUAWK!" and the room started to change its form. Amy decided to escape before she would be crushed. Sally then was led by the Red Shadow Emerald into another room. It was similar to the volcano she was in in the Red Megazone. She climbed and the stairway and crossed a long bridge to an island, where a pedestal lay. She placed the stone onto the pedestal. The words on the stone so far instructed her to prick her finger on something and let a drop of blood fall onto the Emerald. She uses a dagger and does so. Soon, the incantation appeared on the Emerald:
"Like my blood upon this stone,
May your wrath burn all to the core and bone.
Shadows, let your wrath draw near,
And like wildfire, light lovers sear!
She recited the incantation, and fire started to appear around the pedestal. Lava soon poured out of the holes and cracks in the walls. The bridge was almost destroyed, save one rope connecting the two islands. Then Selira (first shown in "Sally: The Arctic Quest") appeared and said, "Keep your eyes closed as you cross the rope. I will be your eyes!" Sally walked the tightrope with her eyes closed, placing faith in Selira. She made it out, allowing Lupe to enter a room with her Emerald. The room was ice cold, considering that it was all ice. A throne-like altar was atop a hill. She placed the stone in it and recited the incantation once it appeared:
"Hearts of Ice are before you now
Oh Shadows, whose darkness always flow!
May dark hearts stay frozen all days,
But light hearts melt before your ways!"
When the words vanished from the Emerald's surface, the room began to melt. Lupe raced out before she could be sunk in a watery grave. Ari places the White Shadow Emerald on a pedestal in the Grand Hall and recited the chant there:
"Though this Stone of Dark be white,
Let your presence bring forth forever night.
Dark Mobius Shadows whose breath brings fear,
May your followers know your coming is near!"
When the incantation was finished, mists appeared in the Grand Hall. Soon, a rope ladder came down from a passage way in the ceiling of the Grand Hall. Sonic climbes up into the passage. He finds himself on the roof of the Temple. There were steps leading to an altar with the full moon shining behind it. Fulva and Robotnik stood upon pillars near the altar.
Chapter 23: Opening of the Portal and Aftermath
Fulva congratulated Sonic by saying, "Good. Very good. You are not the first who has tried. But you have gotten further than the ones before you." Then she pointed to the altar and said, "Now is the time for the final step in the Summoning: The Opening of the Dimensional Gates. Prepare the Final Emerald. Soon the Shadows will return to this world, and I will never lie defenseless in my coffin again. Open the portal and free the Shadows of Dark Mobius!" Robotnik snapped, "Enough chatter! Let's just get this over with." Fulva giggled, "I think you're just jealous. Is it because Sonic turned your own weapon against you so long ago? You just resent the fact that I've gained what you've lost, don't you?"
Robotnik sighed, "I just want to begin your moment of triumph, oh great Leader of the Night." Fulva then turned to Sonic, who has placed the Stone on the Altar and said, "Very well. Let the final incantation begin." Sonic recited the final chant, all the while becoming weaker:
"Shadows of Dark Mobius, the time is here.
Enter this world, and strike all with fear.
Great Shadows, I summon thee!
I now open the portal! At last ye are free!"
Fulva cried out in triumph, "YES! The spell is complete, and the portal opens! Shadow will fill Mobius, and we will never flee the sunrise again!"
Suddenly, Robotnik pulled out a laser pistol and started taking pot shots at Sonic! One of them hit a part of the floor under Sonic! "No!," scolded Fulva, "How dare you defy me, Julian?!" She threw a green fireball at Robotnik. He then laughed, "Your attack only set me free, Fulva. Now we shall see who is the True 'Leader of the Night'!" The two then started to fight amongst themselves. Fulva then bragged, "I am still a far stronger magician than you! I am a far greater vampire than you! Do you really think your petty weapon can harm me? Think again."
Then Robotnik said, "It is not YOU I'm after, my dear Fulva. I'm after Sonic, the one you seem to care about. Want to watch him die?" Fulva cried, "NO! I WON'T LET YOU KILL HIM!" She intercepted a laser shot that knocked her into the portal. "Ha!," gloated Robotnik. "I knew she'd risk herself for the Freedom Fighters. Now Fulva will have all the Darkness she wants, and a lot more." He then turned his attention to Sonic and sneered, "Now I can gain my revenge! Now I shall give you untold suffering, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Just when Sonic felt like giving up, a fire burned inside him as he learned that Fulva truly cared for him and his friends.
In another world, Lizzar (from the first Sat AM TV episode) looked through his computer of spells and said, "Sonic is in danger. Normally business with the hedgehog I have none. Yet, see Mobius' destruction and do nothing about it, I can't." He then teleported right behind Robotnik and attacked him with a strike on the back. "A window of opportunity I provide for you, Sonic!," said Lizzar. "The most of it you must make of." Sonic then made a leap across then hit Robotnik with a Spin Dash that knocked him into the Portal. Sonic calls out to Sally about Robotnik, but Sally called out, "Sonic! Close the portal!" He tried to Sonic Spin the Emerald, but the energy field repelled him. All would have been lost, if not for the Star of Isis.
The Star of Isis flew out of Sonic's backpack, which then shattered to reveal the spirit of Julayla! She uses her magic to remove the energy field, then told Sonic, "Smash the Emerald NOW!" Sonic does so and the debris from the Emerald vaporized, and the portal was closed. Once the Freedom Fighters freed the prisoners, Julayla explained how her spirit entered the Star of Isis and how she awaited for someone to show a true sign of love, and that she would thwart the will of the Shadows. Before she left into the afterlife, Julayla resurrected Crystala, as a reward for her love and courage. The people greeted them and they spent the rest of the night there. The next day, Geoffrey's friends got the planes and brought everyone back to Mobotropolis... which takes us, dear reader(s) to the ending.
Epilog: The Happy Ending (or is it the end?)
Sonic and Sally sat together in the Palace Garden, where Sonic said, "Sal, I wanted to say this to you before, but I didn't have the courage to ask this until now." Sally asked, "Sonic, what are you saying?" "I love you, Sally!," Sonic replied, "Do you suppose you could... do you think you could... marry me?" Sally replied with a smile, "Could you have doubted, prince of my heart?" and kissed her hedgehog lover.
Two weeks later...
Sonic and Sally asked Knuckles to perform their wedding ceremony. Knuckles is honored to do so. At the Palace were all the Freedom Fighter groups (with the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters in a special aquarium) as they came to the wedding. "On this day of great joy in Mobotropolis," Knuckles said with a tear of joy in his eye, "We witness the marriage of Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn. Do you, Sonic the Hedgehog, take Princess Sally Acorn to be your wife, to love and cherish for as long as you both shall live?" Sonic said, "I do." Then Knuckles said, "And do you, Princess Sally Acorn, take Sonic the Hedgehog to be your husband, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?" Sally replied, "I do." Tails then brought up the rings. Sonic and Sally gave their rings and made their vows.
Knuckles asked, "Who gives this bride to be wed?" King Acorn answered, "Her mother and I willingly give our daughter's hand in marriage." "Who will speak for the groom?," Knuckles continued. Sonic's Uncle Chuck said, "I will. Sonic's parents and I recognize this union with glad hearts and sanctify this union."
Knuckles then said, "Then, Sonic and Sally, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The crowd cheers as the two kiss. King Acorn said, "Congratulations, children. I have a question most important to you both. Please hear me." "Yes, your highness?," asked Sonic. "Sonic," said King Acorn, "I welcome you to our family with open arms. You have helped my daughter during the times of Robotnik, and the whole world of Mobius during these last couple of years." "Thank you, sire," replied Sonic. "But I know that I will not reign, or even live, forever, and I don't want to try. Would you like to be an heir to the throne as well? I know that as king and queen, you and Sally can heal this world from all the damage Julian has done to it."
"I'm honored. What do you think, Sally?," asked Sonic. "I love this land, Sonic," said Sally. "I would love to reign and serve this land all my days." Jules said, "Son, you must follow your destiny. I do believe Mobotropolis needs you. I think you'll make a magnificent king." "Then... I accept," replied Sonic. Knuckles said, "Let us now celebrate this joyous occasion. The great evil has ended, the king and queen have returned, and there are now two heirs to the throne!"
The palace echoed with cheers of "Long live King and Queen Acorn! Long live Sonic and Sally! Long live Mobius! Hooray!"
Meanwhile, in the Dark World, the leader of the Shadows of Dark Mobius looked into his crystal ball and said, "So, they think the Great Evil is gone. Well, they are wrong. Robotnik was not the Great Evil, nor was Fulva. I, Rexnoctos, am, and will always be, the Great Evil. Hmm... Rexnoctos may be too horrifying a name for those who I may pick to be my followers. But with the hedgehog's form, I can become something less overwealming and yet retain my power. Though the Great Portal is closed now, I can find a means to reopen it. Beware Sonic, beware Princess Sally, beware Mobius! The fall of Robotnik will bring... THE RISE OF NEGAHOG!!!
Hmm, hm, hm, hm... HA, HA, HA, HA...
The End (For Now)
:)