Author's note: I've got multiple ideas for this story, so this is as good a time as any to continue it.
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Chapter 4: The Pyramid
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It was rather dark inside the pyramid, except for some torches that lined the walls. It looked like they had just been lit. I removed a loose feather from my leg and set it on fire from one of the torches, so I would have a light as I continued.
The pyramid's halls led me to a door that was shut tight. A hole in the wall, about two inches square, permitted me to see what was in the next room. One thing in particular caught my eye: a crystal orb that rested on a pedestal.
I acted on my first thought, and shot a feather through the hole at the orb. Direct hit! The orb began to shine, and the door opened. How does this all work? I thought to myself as I continued.
There was another long hall, and I approached a large room. The room was flooded with quicksand, and several pillars stuck out. I tried to fly across, but the air currents in the room made that impossible.
Realizing that I had no alternative, I hopped from platform to platform, and quickly reached the other side. The door was shut tight, though, and there was no visible way to open it.
I casually glanced around the room, and spied a tile sticking out of the wall a distance away. I started to jump from tile to tile, but my foot slipped and I had to grab onto the edge of one pillar to avoid falling into the quicksand.
Whoa, that was too close for comfort, I thought. Okay, enough recklessness. I had better be careful from here on out.
Climbing back on top of the pillar, I took it slowly, hopping to the pillar nearest the odd tile out. I pushed it in, and the door shook a little, then creaked open. The wind currents also stopped, so I could fly over to the door without fear of crashing.
I loved the long halls in the pyramid; they were perfect for zooming down and hitting coast speed. I enjoyed it a little too well, since I almost fell off the end of the path when I entered a large room with a deep pit.
There's no telling whether I'd ever be able to get back up if I fell down there, I thought to myself. I was about to start circling the pit when the phone beeped. Taking it out, I held the button. "You need something, Tails?"
"Yeah," Tails replied. "How's your skill with your feather-shooting?"
"Top-notch. Why do you ask?"
"I wanted to let you know that I'm experimenting with your feathers. There were some left over on the floor from when you fell down, and I think I might be able to do something useful."
"Thanks for the reminder, Tails. I'll stop by your lab when I'm done in the pyramid."
With that, I put away the phone and stowed it in my wing where it had been before. I then looked around, and realized something discouraging: There was no way out other than the way I came, and the pit in front of me.
Gathering all my bravery, I leaped into the pit, spreading my wings to slow my descent. All the while, I kept an eye out for something to land on. A pillar came into view, and I closed my wings and landed squarely on it.
Pausing for a breath, I looked around for another door. Of course, it wouldn't open, but two unlit torches beside the door seemed to be a clue. There were two lit torches on the other side of the room.
My first idea was to fly over and light one of my feathers on fire from the lit torches, then shoot it at one of the unlit torches, but I immediately realized that such a move would be stupid- that would set my entire wing on fire, and even if I survived, I might not be able to fly afterwards.
So I chose the safer method, and flew over and lit one of my feathers, then flew to the door and dropped the feather into the unlit torch. The torch burst into flame. I used another feather to transfer the fire from that torch to the other, and the door opened. I whistled the "puzzle solved" melody from the Zelda games as I watched the door open.
The next door came right away, and it was open. I was hesitant to go through, though. I think I'd better save my game before I continue, I thought to myself. I have a bad feeling about what's ahead. Wait, what am I thinking? This isn't a game! There's no way to save! I guess I'll have to take my chances.
Bravely, I continued.
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Sorry, all out of things to say here. Sonic Gems Collection is excellent, though.
Quote of the Chapter:
"Mental note, never act on your first thought."
-Sally Fann, The Fann Girls: Zero Mission, Ch. 2