Chapter 17
"So, this is it, huh?" Knuckles asked as his voice boomed throughout a large hollow room.
Chenoa flew in circles, "Yes, the chamber is straight down that hall." She flew down the hall until she got to a large gold platted door with the symbol of a dragon on it and some ancient writing.
Knuckles looked at the large door and placed a knuckle on it, "So, this is where they keep that jewel?"
Tarosamo nodded as he looked at the ancient writing, "They who enter shall perish as the light touches thy and the beast be awaken?"
Knuckles rolled his eyes, "Typical how nothing seems to go off easy. How do we enter?"
The other echidna shrugged as he read on, "To enter thy sacred chamber, the beast must look the opposite way?"
"What does that mean?" Knuckles asked, crossing his arms.
Tarosamo thought for a moment, "Maybe..." He placed his head on the 3-D head of the dragon, finding it to be slightly loose. He twisted it slowly until it was turned upside down. A click was heard as the gold platted door slid open. Tarosamo and Knuckles took a step back as the door fully opened. They glanced at each other and then slowly waked into a dark, eerie room. A slight mysterious melodious hum could be heard throughout the room, they paid it no mind as they proceed to enter with caution.
Chenoa flew over their heads, "Be careful, a great beast slumbers within this chamber."
Knuckles sighed, "Tell us something we don't know."
Before anyone else could say anything, they spotted something in the center of the room. It was Joya de la Luz in all its glory. A white beam of light shone on it from the ceiling. The jewel itself was a bright white color as it magnificently glimmers in the light.
Knuckles was amazed, "So, that's the jewel we've been searching for?"
Tarosamo smirked, "I believe so, Knuckles." They took a step forward until a loud screeching sound was heard. Covering their ears they looked around for the source of the noise. In the dark room, they could see large glaring red eyes.
"What the...what is that?!" Knuckles asked, readying his self into a fighting position.
Chenoa flew down to the ground, "That is Volcano, the guardian of the Light Jewel."
"Volcano? What kind of name is that?" Knuckles asked, looking at the bright deadly eyes of the beast.
"It was said that Volcano a raised from the pit of a deadly volcano a millennia ago. An ancient race sealed him away long ago inside this very chamber to protect the jewel you see before you." Chenoa explained, "And now, he has awakened."
Suddenly, the beast whole body could be seen and he was made completely out of melted lava (like Hornrista, I have a weird fascination with fire, don't ask...). It was at least 100 (or maybe more so) feet long, from head to its long and deadly tail. Hot roaring flames sprouted everywhere on its body, glowing malicious. It roared and hot flames flew from its mouth, nearly scorching the two echidnas and the bird.
Knuckles growled, "How can we defeat this thing if we can't even touch it?!"
Tarosamo thought for a moment again, "Knuckles, I want you to grab that jewel. Chenoa, show Knuckles the way to the Underworld." He ordered them. "I'll keep this beast busy."
Knuckles looked at Tarosamo as if he was crazy, "What? You'll be killed! You can't defeat it by yourself!"
Tarosamo shook his head, "I can handle it, you have to go and save Rouge before it is too late, now, Chenoa! Take him there!" Tarosamo turned back to the beast, drawing his long sword.
Chenoa flew over to the jewel, "Knuckles, quick!"
Knuckles took one last look at Tarosamo before running to the jewel, he lifted it up. The power automatically started to surge through his entire being, creating a shockwave within himself. "What's...happening?" The jewel started to glow a blinding white, engulfing the red echidna.
"The jewel's power is your own now. With this power, you can travel in and out of the Underworld. This jewel has chosen you to be its carrier. The power you now process will rival that of Sameo's own power. Be careful, echidna." Chenoa said as she flew in circles around Knuckles creating a whirlwind of light. Knuckles covered his eyes as the brightness of the light became too intense. He still held into the jewel as his body started to feel disoriented. Then a burst of light flashed through the entire room and Knuckles was gone.
"Whoa! What was that?" Sonic exclaimed as he witness the bright light that illuminated a little further away from where his group stood.
Tails flew into the air, "Maybe they found the jewel! Come on, guys!" He quickly flew off into the direction where the bright radiance came from.
Sonic grab a hold of Amy and quickly zoom after the flying fox. Kevana nodded her head in thought as she leaped into the trees, tree hoping behind them, keeping speed.
Tarosamo was knocked against a wall, still clutching his sword. He grunted, picking himself up. Volcano roared, forming a large beam of fire from its mouth, and shooting it at Tarosamo. Tarosamo growled, finding that he couldn't move quickly enough. He stabbed his sword into the ground, creating a barrier. The flames surrounded him, but the power of his sword protected him from harm. Once the flames dissolved, he allowed the shield to dropped, panting heavily. That shield alone took a lot out of him.
Volcano flew up into the air, spinning around slightly before diving back down to Tarosamo. The echidna, as fast his he could, jumped out of the way, causing the beast to crash into the ground. It smacked its fiery tail at Tarosamo, hitting him. The echidna let out a gruesome yelled as the flames eat at him. He was knocked into a wall, covered in sweat and blood. He was too weak to get up now, he sighed in defeat.
The beast turned around, growling at the echidna, showing off its large fangs. It crept closer to Tarosamo, ready to fest upon its powerful meal. Tarosamo looked up through half close eyelids, and smirked, 'Looks like my time has finally arrived...how ironic.'
Knuckles reopened his eyes to find himself inside of a large, dark, and deadly room. The smell of death filled his nostrils, as he looked around, "Is this...Sameo's lair?" He looked at the glowing jewel he held in his arms and tuck it away someone on his person (It's that subspace pocket again, I'm telling you, it do wonders!). He wandered around the dark room in search of something. Maybe Sameo, maybe Rouge, all he knew was that he needed to find something, or someone. He took out the jewel to have another look at it.
He then traveled around, noticing the freakish designs drawn on the walls. They were of many different things, demons fighting demons, dragons, the fiery pit of hell, but there was one that caught the echidna's attention that stood out from all else. Curiously, he traveled over to that particular drawing and ran a hand across it. It was a picture of a...goddess; it seems, with devilish like wings. Her back was arched and her hair flowed in waves. But what really caught his attention was the man that held his sword down at her. In fact, it wasn't a man, but a...echidna. His eyes were emotionless as he stared down at the beautiful creature with wings, his sword pointed downwards at her throat. He also took note of the sword, which oddly enough look like his own...He glanced down at the sword he rarely use, wondering why he has it in the first place.
"Ah, lovely drawing, is it not?" A cold, dark voice said from behind him. Knuckles spun around to see Sameo smirking at him with the dark jewel around his neck. The jewel of light started to pulsate, sending off another ray of light.
"What?" Knuckles asked confused as he held the pulsating jewel.
The same thing started to happen with the dark jewel, glowing off a black light. Sameo smirked, "It seems that the two brothers would like to be reunited, Knuckles the Echidna. Hand over the jewel."
Knuckles growled, "No." He said simply and firmly.
Sameo shrugged, "Why must you do things the hard way? If you want give it to me, than you leave me with no choice but to take it by force!"
Knuckles growled as he once again tucked the jewel away, "I like to see you try, demon!"
"Oh, I will, but first, how about saying a few final words to that lovely bat-girl?" Sameo smirked at the expression on Knuckles face. Sameo snapped his long scaly fingers. Rouge then appeared in the room.
"Rouge!" Knuckles yelled to her.
Rouge opened her eyes to see the red echidna, "Knuckles!"
Sameo rolled his eyes, "I believe that we all already know each other by now." He smirked, "You, sweetheart, are going to witness the death of your boyfriend, but you won't have long to mope as you will soon join him."
Rouge growled, "You monster! Have you no heart?"
Sameo looked at her incredulous, "I'm a demon, of course I have no heart!" He growled as he threw Rouge towards a wall and automatically skeleton like arms grabbed her and tightly held her to the wall as she struggle to break free.
"Rouge!" Knuckles yelled again, ready to run toward her.
"AH!" Rouge yelled in pain as the claws of the skeleton hand broke through her flesh.
Sameo smirked, "The harder you struggle, the deeper those claws dig, princess."
Knuckles glared at the dragon, rage burning within the depths of his purple orbs, "Release her, now." He said as calmly as he could, ready to rip Sameo limp from limp.
Sameo chuckled, "Hand over the jewel, and I may consider, echidna."
Before Knuckles could reply a bright light flew into the room, forming into a small white ball made of light. It circled around Knuckles as he looked on confused, and then it begins to speak to him, as if telepathically (almost like Tikal), 'Knuckles, you must not give Sameo the Jewel. If he held procession of both jewels, your world, as we know, will be doom.'
Knuckles looked at the blinding light confused, "Chenoa? If I don't give him the jewel, he'll kill Rouge!"
The light stopped circling him and stared directing into his face, causing the echidna to lightly shield his eyes, 'You must fight. I have faith in you. Rouge has faith in you. Do you?' And with that said, the light flew towards the ceiling, disappearing. The jewel once again found its place in his hands.
Sameo laughed, "Taking advice from a ball of light? I would of thought better of you, echidna."
Knuckles narrowed his eyes at Sameo. He was ready. He was going to show this demon what he's made of; he'll destroyer Sameo, and come out as the victor. But he knew this battle wasn't going to be easy. He took one last glimpse at the bat hanging on the wall, and his blood started to boil. He turned to Sameo, and smirked, a new air of confidence surrounded him, and the demon lord was a little taken back by the new array in attitude.
Sameo laughed again, "You can't handle me, echidna!"
Both jewels, at the same time, blazed a brilliant bright light; one white, the other black. The two glows then burst at each other, pushing the holders back slightly. As the lights touch it created a large shockwave, pushing pass the other. The wind around them picked up heavily, blowing many things around, brushing against the three figures within the room.
Then all was silent as the two glared each other down, Sameo smirked, as did Knuckles, and with a yell, they charged full force at the other.
My, what's gonna happen next? The final showdown is about to go underway!
"So, this is it, huh?" Knuckles asked as his voice boomed throughout a large hollow room.
Chenoa flew in circles, "Yes, the chamber is straight down that hall." She flew down the hall until she got to a large gold platted door with the symbol of a dragon on it and some ancient writing.
Knuckles looked at the large door and placed a knuckle on it, "So, this is where they keep that jewel?"
Tarosamo nodded as he looked at the ancient writing, "They who enter shall perish as the light touches thy and the beast be awaken?"
Knuckles rolled his eyes, "Typical how nothing seems to go off easy. How do we enter?"
The other echidna shrugged as he read on, "To enter thy sacred chamber, the beast must look the opposite way?"
"What does that mean?" Knuckles asked, crossing his arms.
Tarosamo thought for a moment, "Maybe..." He placed his head on the 3-D head of the dragon, finding it to be slightly loose. He twisted it slowly until it was turned upside down. A click was heard as the gold platted door slid open. Tarosamo and Knuckles took a step back as the door fully opened. They glanced at each other and then slowly waked into a dark, eerie room. A slight mysterious melodious hum could be heard throughout the room, they paid it no mind as they proceed to enter with caution.
Chenoa flew over their heads, "Be careful, a great beast slumbers within this chamber."
Knuckles sighed, "Tell us something we don't know."
Before anyone else could say anything, they spotted something in the center of the room. It was Joya de la Luz in all its glory. A white beam of light shone on it from the ceiling. The jewel itself was a bright white color as it magnificently glimmers in the light.
Knuckles was amazed, "So, that's the jewel we've been searching for?"
Tarosamo smirked, "I believe so, Knuckles." They took a step forward until a loud screeching sound was heard. Covering their ears they looked around for the source of the noise. In the dark room, they could see large glaring red eyes.
"What the...what is that?!" Knuckles asked, readying his self into a fighting position.
Chenoa flew down to the ground, "That is Volcano, the guardian of the Light Jewel."
"Volcano? What kind of name is that?" Knuckles asked, looking at the bright deadly eyes of the beast.
"It was said that Volcano a raised from the pit of a deadly volcano a millennia ago. An ancient race sealed him away long ago inside this very chamber to protect the jewel you see before you." Chenoa explained, "And now, he has awakened."
Suddenly, the beast whole body could be seen and he was made completely out of melted lava (like Hornrista, I have a weird fascination with fire, don't ask...). It was at least 100 (or maybe more so) feet long, from head to its long and deadly tail. Hot roaring flames sprouted everywhere on its body, glowing malicious. It roared and hot flames flew from its mouth, nearly scorching the two echidnas and the bird.
Knuckles growled, "How can we defeat this thing if we can't even touch it?!"
Tarosamo thought for a moment again, "Knuckles, I want you to grab that jewel. Chenoa, show Knuckles the way to the Underworld." He ordered them. "I'll keep this beast busy."
Knuckles looked at Tarosamo as if he was crazy, "What? You'll be killed! You can't defeat it by yourself!"
Tarosamo shook his head, "I can handle it, you have to go and save Rouge before it is too late, now, Chenoa! Take him there!" Tarosamo turned back to the beast, drawing his long sword.
Chenoa flew over to the jewel, "Knuckles, quick!"
Knuckles took one last look at Tarosamo before running to the jewel, he lifted it up. The power automatically started to surge through his entire being, creating a shockwave within himself. "What's...happening?" The jewel started to glow a blinding white, engulfing the red echidna.
"The jewel's power is your own now. With this power, you can travel in and out of the Underworld. This jewel has chosen you to be its carrier. The power you now process will rival that of Sameo's own power. Be careful, echidna." Chenoa said as she flew in circles around Knuckles creating a whirlwind of light. Knuckles covered his eyes as the brightness of the light became too intense. He still held into the jewel as his body started to feel disoriented. Then a burst of light flashed through the entire room and Knuckles was gone.
"Whoa! What was that?" Sonic exclaimed as he witness the bright light that illuminated a little further away from where his group stood.
Tails flew into the air, "Maybe they found the jewel! Come on, guys!" He quickly flew off into the direction where the bright radiance came from.
Sonic grab a hold of Amy and quickly zoom after the flying fox. Kevana nodded her head in thought as she leaped into the trees, tree hoping behind them, keeping speed.
Tarosamo was knocked against a wall, still clutching his sword. He grunted, picking himself up. Volcano roared, forming a large beam of fire from its mouth, and shooting it at Tarosamo. Tarosamo growled, finding that he couldn't move quickly enough. He stabbed his sword into the ground, creating a barrier. The flames surrounded him, but the power of his sword protected him from harm. Once the flames dissolved, he allowed the shield to dropped, panting heavily. That shield alone took a lot out of him.
Volcano flew up into the air, spinning around slightly before diving back down to Tarosamo. The echidna, as fast his he could, jumped out of the way, causing the beast to crash into the ground. It smacked its fiery tail at Tarosamo, hitting him. The echidna let out a gruesome yelled as the flames eat at him. He was knocked into a wall, covered in sweat and blood. He was too weak to get up now, he sighed in defeat.
The beast turned around, growling at the echidna, showing off its large fangs. It crept closer to Tarosamo, ready to fest upon its powerful meal. Tarosamo looked up through half close eyelids, and smirked, 'Looks like my time has finally arrived...how ironic.'
Knuckles reopened his eyes to find himself inside of a large, dark, and deadly room. The smell of death filled his nostrils, as he looked around, "Is this...Sameo's lair?" He looked at the glowing jewel he held in his arms and tuck it away someone on his person (It's that subspace pocket again, I'm telling you, it do wonders!). He wandered around the dark room in search of something. Maybe Sameo, maybe Rouge, all he knew was that he needed to find something, or someone. He took out the jewel to have another look at it.
He then traveled around, noticing the freakish designs drawn on the walls. They were of many different things, demons fighting demons, dragons, the fiery pit of hell, but there was one that caught the echidna's attention that stood out from all else. Curiously, he traveled over to that particular drawing and ran a hand across it. It was a picture of a...goddess; it seems, with devilish like wings. Her back was arched and her hair flowed in waves. But what really caught his attention was the man that held his sword down at her. In fact, it wasn't a man, but a...echidna. His eyes were emotionless as he stared down at the beautiful creature with wings, his sword pointed downwards at her throat. He also took note of the sword, which oddly enough look like his own...He glanced down at the sword he rarely use, wondering why he has it in the first place.
"Ah, lovely drawing, is it not?" A cold, dark voice said from behind him. Knuckles spun around to see Sameo smirking at him with the dark jewel around his neck. The jewel of light started to pulsate, sending off another ray of light.
"What?" Knuckles asked confused as he held the pulsating jewel.
The same thing started to happen with the dark jewel, glowing off a black light. Sameo smirked, "It seems that the two brothers would like to be reunited, Knuckles the Echidna. Hand over the jewel."
Knuckles growled, "No." He said simply and firmly.
Sameo shrugged, "Why must you do things the hard way? If you want give it to me, than you leave me with no choice but to take it by force!"
Knuckles growled as he once again tucked the jewel away, "I like to see you try, demon!"
"Oh, I will, but first, how about saying a few final words to that lovely bat-girl?" Sameo smirked at the expression on Knuckles face. Sameo snapped his long scaly fingers. Rouge then appeared in the room.
"Rouge!" Knuckles yelled to her.
Rouge opened her eyes to see the red echidna, "Knuckles!"
Sameo rolled his eyes, "I believe that we all already know each other by now." He smirked, "You, sweetheart, are going to witness the death of your boyfriend, but you won't have long to mope as you will soon join him."
Rouge growled, "You monster! Have you no heart?"
Sameo looked at her incredulous, "I'm a demon, of course I have no heart!" He growled as he threw Rouge towards a wall and automatically skeleton like arms grabbed her and tightly held her to the wall as she struggle to break free.
"Rouge!" Knuckles yelled again, ready to run toward her.
"AH!" Rouge yelled in pain as the claws of the skeleton hand broke through her flesh.
Sameo smirked, "The harder you struggle, the deeper those claws dig, princess."
Knuckles glared at the dragon, rage burning within the depths of his purple orbs, "Release her, now." He said as calmly as he could, ready to rip Sameo limp from limp.
Sameo chuckled, "Hand over the jewel, and I may consider, echidna."
Before Knuckles could reply a bright light flew into the room, forming into a small white ball made of light. It circled around Knuckles as he looked on confused, and then it begins to speak to him, as if telepathically (almost like Tikal), 'Knuckles, you must not give Sameo the Jewel. If he held procession of both jewels, your world, as we know, will be doom.'
Knuckles looked at the blinding light confused, "Chenoa? If I don't give him the jewel, he'll kill Rouge!"
The light stopped circling him and stared directing into his face, causing the echidna to lightly shield his eyes, 'You must fight. I have faith in you. Rouge has faith in you. Do you?' And with that said, the light flew towards the ceiling, disappearing. The jewel once again found its place in his hands.
Sameo laughed, "Taking advice from a ball of light? I would of thought better of you, echidna."
Knuckles narrowed his eyes at Sameo. He was ready. He was going to show this demon what he's made of; he'll destroyer Sameo, and come out as the victor. But he knew this battle wasn't going to be easy. He took one last glimpse at the bat hanging on the wall, and his blood started to boil. He turned to Sameo, and smirked, a new air of confidence surrounded him, and the demon lord was a little taken back by the new array in attitude.
Sameo laughed again, "You can't handle me, echidna!"
Both jewels, at the same time, blazed a brilliant bright light; one white, the other black. The two glows then burst at each other, pushing the holders back slightly. As the lights touch it created a large shockwave, pushing pass the other. The wind around them picked up heavily, blowing many things around, brushing against the three figures within the room.
Then all was silent as the two glared each other down, Sameo smirked, as did Knuckles, and with a yell, they charged full force at the other.
My, what's gonna happen next? The final showdown is about to go underway!