Chapter 12: The next search for the chaos emeralds…

Shadow was still at the table. Mare-rith noticed he wasn't eating. "What's wrong?" Mare-rith asked. "I'm going to come out come straight out and tell you…" Shadow said. "What is it?" Mare-rith asked. "I don't really trust you anymore." Shadow said. "What, why?" Mare-rith asked. "Where were when my allies were wounded in battle? I thought you said you had a very strong connection the chaos emeralds." Shadow said. "I do, but Aerick has the ability to block that sense. I have already told you, he is much more powerful than I will ever be." Mare-rith said. "Well… how is our progress?" Tails butted in. "Very good, we have two emeralds in the first week, impressive. A blue emerald, and a red emerald, all that is left are the gray, orange, pink, yellow, and teal colored emeralds. Only five to go, use your senses as one, and the next will be no problem." Mare-rith said.

Sonic then spoke, "We've made our final decision, the next search will take place in the Mystic Ruins." Sonic said. "Very well, you may set off when you like.

Sonic and the others ate, and eventually gathered with their backpacks. Each, ready to go with supplies, and one of the guild's three emeralds, the red one, while the gray and blue stayed with the guild to train students. But they had no clue only one emerald remained, for Eggman too had three. The race was on for the last and final emerald.

All four gathered outside, ready to go. "All ready?" Sonic asked. "All ready…" Shadow answered. Each of them put their hands on the emerald. "CHAOS CONTROL!" A flash appeared, as they reappeared in the Mystic Ruins. "Well, were to now?" Sonic asked. "Use your senses, they are your most prized possession, and valuable, remember, just as Mare-rith had said, only you yourself can find it, with your senses." Tails said. Tails started to walk off, into the jungle, sat down his backpack, and took out some chips in a bag. "What is it with him? He has no powers, yet he speaks so wisely in the ways of the guild… then he goes, doing his own thing, eating his lunch." Sonic said. "He proved smarter than any of us, even Shadow." Knuckles said. "Come, let us eat, we have much to speak of the emeralds." Shadow said, each of them sat down next to Tails, in the thick jungle, it was very dim in their spot, under tangles of trees and vines.

They all took out chips, water, and sandwiches. Sonic took out a can of chili, a big one, some hot dog buns, and hot dogs. Knuckles unpacked many chips, and bean dip. Shadow unpacked all of the water.

"Aw, but the water is probably spoiled, and hot." Sonic said. "Actually, Mare-rith taught me a special spell to keep the insides of my bag frozen, and unable to react with the air outside." Shadow said. Knuckles suddenly spoke. "Sonic, are you going to share those chili dogs?" Knuckles asked. "Yeah, duh, that is why the chili can is so big." Sonic said. "It is already nearly night. We should plant camp under these thick bushes of trees and thorns. There are only a few spots in the jungle were the plants grow like this formation to create such a thick shelter." Shadow said. He saw Sonic getting out the tent. "Yeah, it is rare, almost perfect, it can fit our tent under it, we can light a fire with no worry, there is much room… but it is like being indoors, it sucks under here. We're camping out in the jungle baby! Not in some overgrown bush." Sonic was about to walk through the tightly spaced clearing, when there was a loud boom, and a white flash. But it was no explosion. It was thunder, and just like in some stupid movie, it started to poor rain. "The odds of Sonic's likings are never seemed to be on his side." Shadow said. Sonic sat the tent down, and then looked up. "Well, at least the rain won't make it through all of those plants." Sonic said. "That's right," Tails said, "It's just like a dome, the rain will go around it and down the sides, not through it." Tails said. "Just in case, we should cover the top of the bush with something." Knuckles said. "I have an extra blanket we can pin down in the shape of the dome." Sonic said. Shadow and Sonic went out of the shelter of trees, into the rain, and spread the blanket over the top. The went back in, and dried off.

"What are the odds of a group of trees and thorns growing together to form the shape of an igloo, big enough to fit us, including the camp fire, and the tent in?" Knuckles asked. "Trees always grow together if close enough, and can form any type of shelter." Tails answered. Shadow and Sonic unpacked some fire wood. "What don't you have in those bags?" Knuckles asked. "We were each supposed to carry specific items if you looked at the list Mare-rith gave us." Sonic said. "Oh… yeah…" Knuckles mumbled sarcastically.

----On the other side of the Mystic Ruins, in Eggman's glass dome----

"Aerick, are you sure about this war?" Eggman asked. "Yes, with your robots, my echidna warriors, and the power of the emeralds, we can easily win any victory." Aerick said. "Very well." Eggman said. "Wait… I sense chaotic life forms…" Aerick said. "What are chaotic life forms?" Eggman asked. "Any thing that can harness chaos energy are chaotic life forms." Aerick said. "Aren't all of your warriors chaotic life forms, they can harness chaos energy." Eggman said. "Yes, although these are much more powerful than my men… and I sense different types of technique, tactical power… and different chaos aura… There are three of these life forms, and one standing by their side, but is not a chaotic life form… but I can sense it is ally with them…my conclusion… they are definitely not my men… Aha, they are guild trained students. I knew it, Mare-rith has sent students to hunt the remaining emeralds… that is why I sense… such royal, yet filthy dirty blood in them…" Aerick said. "What do you want me to do?" Eggman asked. "Dispatch a patrol unit to capture them, but do not kill them, I have my ways of sucking the truth out of people." Aerick said. "Alright, I'll send for them immediately." Eggman said. "Good, I'm going to find some more emeralds… lets see, you have three. The teal, orange, and green ones. Well, the pink one is left, and I sense the guild has the last three." Aerick said. Eggman walked off, into another room, as Aerick paced, back and forth.

"I'll find you guild students, you are all no match for me." Aerick said, "Mare-rith underestimates me."

"I sense an echidna among them… he is of my old tribe… he is also… my very key to this plot, once I reveal all of the lies the guild has told him, he'll tell me the location of the guild!" Aerick started to grin, "This will be so easy!"

END CHAPTER