Phantom Girls

It's Over!: Episode 3

Tikal, Cream, and Cheese had joined Rouge and Amy at the top of the small hill. The four girls looked out over the massive black portal with an uneasy feeling within them. After much hesitation, Tikal felt it was time to go into the mysterious portal and face whatever challenge Tyra had waiting for them.

"This is it girls," the echidna said to her friends. "no holding back."

"Are you sure it's a portal?" Rouge asked just to be on the safe side.

"Yes but Tyra can do whatever she wishes with this portal and if she decides to bring her ancestors to life… then all will be lost."

Amy had swallowed hard and grabbed onto Cream's hand. The young girl stood close to the pink hedgehog trying to hide her fear. Rouge then took to the air and held out her hand towards Tikal.

"We better get moving." she announced. "I'm sure Tyra is waiting for us inside of that thing."

Tikal grabbed onto the bat's hand and the two flew directly over the center of the portal.

"Amy, Cream! Just follow us inside and stay close!" Tikal shouted back to the younger girls.

Immediately Cream began to fly using her large ears and lifted Amy up off the ground. Cheese followed the two out over the portal and the three watched as Rouge and Tikal dropped down into the blue and black whole and disappeared. Cream was hesitant to follow but Amy encouraged her to go on.

"Come on Cream! We can do this! I'll be right by you the entire time." the pink hedgehog shouted up to her friend.

Cream nodded her head and grabbed onto Cheese. The rabbit's ears stopped flapping and the two girls dropped down into the portal and disappeared. A deafening wind rushed around the two girls as they fell through an unsettling darkness. Cream pulled Cheese close to her as Amy held onto the young girl's hand with their hearts racing at the uncertainty of where they would land. Finally a dim blue light could be seen below them giving the girls a feeling of relief in them.

After a frightening few seconds of freefalling, Amy, Cream and Cheese fell through the blue light and into a large stone room lit by torches. Somehow the girls' descent was being slowed by some odd power that gave them a blue aura. When Amy and Cream reached the floor, Rouge and Tikal were waiting for them. Tikal smiled at Cream who was able to stay calm the entire fall. Rouge finally urged the girls to continue on their journey to Tyra.

A pair of large black and blue doors had opened up at one end of the room. Apparently Tyra was expecting the girls to come. The Phantom Girls rushed through the doors and down the long corridor. Though courage and determination was all that could be seen on the outside, inside each girl were sea of feelings and doubts of the final battle.

Rouge had never thought that their little adventure would have come to this point. Just a few weeks ago it all seemed so simple and easy when Tyra first came into the city. But now… the three girls were off fighting for the city and possibly the safety of the world itself. Rouge had always been the leader of the three… but now she felt like a true leader of her friends. She was able to instill them with confidence just by her show of determination. She was also the first to lead the girls into battle against the villainous feline. Of course all of this could not have been achieved without the help of Tikal. Rouge had taken a liking to the girl's calm and quiet ways and hoped that the echidna would always be around on any other adventures the girls would endure.

Deep inside of Amy was perhaps a new appreciation of life and how much more it can offer besides shopping sprees and cute boys. Her renewed fighting skill with her hammer had opened up a rare passion within the hedgehog to seek adventure just for the love of it and not because of a certain blue hedgehog. She had become stronger and much more of a risk taker in battle, never being afraid to take a hit or two and falling. Amy had also grown to looking after Cream like she had always done… but now she had decided to take the young rabbit under her wing as friend, sister, and a student.

"Maybe we'll be like Sonic and Tails one day. Saving the world and doing it on our own. Sonic will definitely like that and I won't have to be asking him for help all the time…"

It was a daring thought for Amy… but it wasn't impossible. One day she knew that she and Cream would be off on their own, and their true strength would be tested when that day would arrive.

Last but certainly not least at this point was Cream and her closest friend, Cheese. The adorable duo were always downsized because of their weak appearance. However, through their battles with Tyra, they had finally gained a sense of appreciation and belonging among their friends. Cream had especially felt she had grown the most among her friends. She could remember the days when she would follow her older friends just because she didn't want to be alone. Now the rabbit was willing to go along with the girls because she knew that she could take care of herself with or without them around. Her newfound freedom and independence was Cream's first step in growing up and Cheese would always be by her side through it all.

Some time later the girls had finally arrived at the chamber where Tyra waited for them. They approached the gothic style door with stone gargoyles at its sides and waited patiently for the door to open. No words were spoken or even whispered among the girls. They were ready for the final battle and wanted to rid the world of Tyra once and for all. After a few tense seconds, the doors slowly swung open and the Phantom Girls entered into the chamber. The circular room was ominously decorated and lit by large torches hanging on the pillars around the room.

In the center of the open area stood Tyra dressed in her usual black and white outfit but now holding a long staff in her right hand. The Crystal Fire rested at the top of the staff and the feline tapped the weapon against the stone floor closing the double doors.

"I'm so glad all of you could make it to my new home. Like the decorations? Did it all myself." an air of arrogance could be heard in the feline's voice.

"Kind of lousy if you ask me." Amy blurted out. "I could beat a few suggestions into your head if you'd like me to."

By the pink hedgehog had drawn out her hammer and was in a fighting stance. Tyra glared at the girl and adverted her attention towards Rouge. Each of them growled under their breath but Rouge broke the silence.

"This will be the last time we fight Tyra! We'll take back the Crystal Fire and make sure you get a good long rest so you won't have to bother us again." the leader spoke stepping out.

"Yeah, yeah. It's pretty obvious at the point." Tyra twirled around her staff and got into her fighting stance. "So are you ready?"

Rouge looked over her right shoulder to see Amy who was already waiting to fight. The bat looked over her left shoulder at Cream and Tikal who nodded their heads in confirmation. Rouge finally went back to Tyra and got into her fighting stance.

"Just say the word…" she replied in a cool manner.

Tyra smirked. "Ready… fight!"