.:Chapter 4:.

Evil Arises Again

Geoffrey hopped off Dulcy's back and looked far to the east. "The village is located down there -- just beyond those hills."

"How's it look?" asked Sally.

"Well, it's flooded all right, mate. . . Normally you could see a beach just south of those hills. . . And see that lookout tower over there? The water's all the way up to the top almost. That tower used to be at least two miles off from the village."

"You're sure they got to safety in time?" Rotor inquired.

"Yes. They said so in the reports. This isn't the first time this has happened." Sally replied. "Well, now to check out the island."

"First we have to get off this mountain," muttered Sonic, standing upon a ledge just overhead. Nothing but sheer cliffs surrounded them on all sides, dropping thousands of feet down into a treacherous ravine lined with sharp, jagged rocks. Sonic shook his head as he looked down the slope they had slid down. "It's a good thing you stopped when you did, Dulce. Another few feet, and we'd have gone straight down that." He nodded to the sudden drop just in front of the dragon that ended only at the torrents of an enormous river.

"Can ya fly, Dulcy?" Uncle Chuck asked.

"Sure I can fly, Ma. . . "

"Dulce, snap out of it." said Sonic.

"I see pretty little stars . . . " she murmured.

"Great. We're stuck on a mountain with an idiot and an airsick dragon." Sonic shook his head again and began to pace.

"What'll we do about Dulcy?" Kimberly asked.

Suddenly Nihara walked by. "Well, there's always one remedy for a dazed dragon." She sauntered up behind Dulcy and stomped down hard on her tail.

"OW!" Dulcy yelled and jumped up so quick that everyone left on her back fell right off. "I'm up, I'm up!" She looked around, startled.

"Leave it to Nihara." Chuck laughed.

"Ow . . ." muttered Jessica, sprawled out across the rocks.

"You girls OK?" Sonic asked, helping them up one by one.

"Yeah. So where to now? We gonna go to the shrine? Are we? Are we?" Natalie looked around eagerly.

"Soon as we get our berrings," Sonic replied. "You OK now Dulce?"

"I see purple spots. . . "

"Oy. . . " Sonic sighed.

"No, really, I see something purple -- over there."

Sonic and the others turned to see the dragon pointing directly ahead. There, in the distance, was a peculiar violet object flying straight towards them. And it was coming in fast.

"What on Mobius--?" murmured Uncle Chuck.

"It looks like a bird," said Natalie. "A really . . . big bird. . . "

It was true -- as the object drew closer, it grew bigger and bigger. Soon great wings were visible, and four powerful legs propelling it through the air. Sonic leapt up onto a nearby boulder and squinted to get a closer look.

"Sonic, what is it?" asked Jessica.

He narrowed his eyes. "It's not a bird . . . It's a griffin . . ."

"A griffin?" Rotor asked, puzzled. "They're really rare on Mobius . . ."

"The Floating Island does have everything." said Nat.

"Uh . . . Griffins -- they are friendly, right?" Kimberly asked nervously as the beast drew ever closer to them.

"Let's hope so." was all Sonic said before the griffin suddenly increased his speed and charged at them with a piercing screech. It came at them with surprising swiftness, and Sonic had to jump sharply to the side to avoid it as it swooped down at them, its mighty wings spreading nearly fourty feet over their heads. Startled the other Freedom Fighters ducked down beneath the great violet feathers as the griffin perched on the boulder Sonic had been standing on, massive ebony-black talons gouging deep into the stone.

It was a monster of a griffin -- nearly eleven feet at the shoulder. It glared down at all of them with glowing red eyes, and snapped its wicked hooked beak with a sinister hiss. Folding its wings at its sides, it shook its heavy black mane and flicked his long, tufted tail like a whip. He was a true griffin -- with the head and forequarters of an eagle, and the hindlegs and tail of a lion. The only thing he wasn't was gentle-looking.

"So you've come," he chuckled suddenly, his voice deep and cruel. "You've arrived quicker than Master Naugus expected."

"Naugus!" Sonic broke in suddenly. The griffin turned his head to see him striding forward, and the long curved ears lowered against the black mane which ruffled threateningly. Sonic looked him straight in the eyes without a twinge of fear. "Ixis Naugus? The sorcerer?"

"That is correct, Freedom Fighter -- my most malevolent master." He bowed his head then glowered in Sonic's direction again. "Surprised, are you not?"

"Naugus is dead," Sonic retorted, mirroring the beast's glare. "Who are you? And what do you want?"

The griffin stood tall, and lifted his enormous wings to the sky. "Fear this name, mortal fools, for you shall flee from it in the future! I am Kaligarr -- Naugus's most cunning accomplice." Here he grinned haughtily, then his eyes flashed. "Surrender that Chaos Emerald, or I fear the consequences will be dreadful."

"What Chaos Emerald?" Sonic asked.

Kaligarr lowered his head and pointed with his massive wing. "There!" The great primary feathers lead everyone's gaze to a flicker of light coming from beneath the stones on the slope, directly behind Kimberly. "Surrender it! I doubt any of you have the strength and the wit to take on a griffin who wields the powers I do."

Kimberly looked to the others nervously, and suddenly Sonic jumped in front of her protectively. "Even if it isn't ours, you can't have it! I don't know where you're coming from saying Naugus is back, but you have no business with the Chaos Emeralds. You must have been the one who stole the Master Emerald and the other Chaos Emerald as well."

Kaligarr cackled suddenly. "I fear you are mistaken there, Hedgehog. I may be great, but a beast of my size could never get away with a task such as that. Allow me to introduce you to my partner in crime." He smirked coldly, and then, turning back, he gave a loud, clear screech.

Suddenly a black figure leapt into view, and dashed forward at a speed only Sonic could ever match. Skidding up alongside Kaligarr, he glared at the Freedom Fighters with deep crimson eyes. Sonic's ears came up and the three girls gasped in surprise, for they recognized this creature. He was a hedgehog as well, but as black as night, with streaks of scarlet red running along his quills, arms and legs as well as at the top of his dark eyes. He was distinguished by a path of white fur on his chest, and the particularly cold look in his gaze.

"Shadow." Jessica gasped.

"You know him?" Nihara asked.

"Only from Earth . . . B-but what's he doing here?" Jess replied.

"Your guess is as good as mine." answered Natalie.

Kimberly didn't say anything, for as she looked into Shadow's eyes, a strange sense suddenly filled her heart . . . She found she couldn't look away from him, and then that mysterious voice returned . . .

"We have come for you as well . . . Yes, it is I. . . The one you've seen in those dreams. . . Follow us. . . We will save you. . . "

Kim shuddered, for now the voice was stronger than before -- almost as if whoever was speaking it was whispering right in her ear.

Suddenly Kaligarr tossed his head. "So, are you prepared to give us that emerald?"

Then St. John suddenly stepped forward. "Don't even try it, mate! You're outnumbered!"

"Oh?" clacked the griffin. "You think your numbers frighten me?"

"I do, mate!"

"And just what would one so bold as yourself do to faze me?"

St. John suddenly raised the miniature cross-bow on his left wrist to his eye. Shadow and Kaligarr merely stood there, waiting, never once flinching. Suddenly Geoffrey fired an arrow right at Kaligarr's shoulder. . . But it was no use. Kaligarr was too quick for him. The griffin whipped his head around, and with one fierce bite, snapped the arrow in two.

"Child's play," he hissed, then turned back to Kimberly. "You there!"

Kim looked up as Kaligarr's sharp voice broke the trance. Then suddenly something extraordinary happened. . .

Kaligarr lowered his head and locked his eyes completely on hers, ignoring the rest of the world around him. "Give me the Chaos Emerald. . . " He spoke slowly, clearly -- then his eyes suddenly flashed bright red.

At once Kimberly's eyes flashed too, and then became completely blank. The others stared in astonishment and fear. Then, all of a sudden, Kimberly reached down and picked up a yellow Chaos Emerald.

"Kim, what are ya doing?" Natalie asked.

But Kimberly just started walking toward Kaligarr. Something was wrong -- she suddenly had no control over her thoughts or actions. And she was held by Kaligarr's piercing eyes.

"What's wrong with her?" Jessica yelled as she and Natalie grabbed Kim to stop her.

Sonic narrowed his eyes and clenched his teeth. "She's hypnotized!"

Then he abruptly whirled around and without warning rammed Kaligarr hard in the chest. The griffin staggered backwards from the force of the hit and gave a furious screech. His eye contact had been broken. . .

Kimberly stopped dead in her tracks and blinked, her eyes returning to normal. ". . .Oh my gosh. . . He nearly made me give him the emerald. . . "

Suddenly there came a angry snarl from behind as Kaligarr regained his balance. "You fool!" he cried, glaring fiercely at Sonic. "You dare challenge us!"

Nihara drew her swords. "Stay back! Both of you!"

"Shadow!" Kaligarr roared. "Get that Emerald!"

Sonic pawed the ground, quills bristled. "Just try it, pal! You won't beat me to it!"

Shadow's eyes gleamed. "Is that so? See how you like this! Chaos Control!" Suddenly he disappeared.

Uncle Chuck gasped. "It couldn't be. . . "

Sonic bared his teeth. He was already on edge after having nearly gotten into a fight with St. John -- now with another Chaos Emerald and his friends at stake, he was more than ready to take action. His legs stiffened and his ears came up. All senses came into focus, ready and waiting. . . Then, all of a sudden, Shadow reappeared out of thin air, right between Sonic and Kimberly!

"Kim! Look out!" Jessica cried.

But it was too late. Shadow had swiped the emerald from the girl's hands. Furiously Sonic whirled around and charged, but again Shadow disappeared and Sonic pulled up hard to avoid losing his balance. Seconds later his enemy reappeared higher on the slope, a gloating smirk on his face.

"Still wish to challenge me?"

Sonic responded with a snort and bolted for him again, this time summoning his swiftest speed. Shadow waited till he could nearly feel Sonic's breath on his skin before vanishing once more. Now Sonic's anger was mounting. There was no way possible this hedgehog could be faster than he! Snarling he whipped around and landed on the slope, his eyes scanning the surrounding land for his opponent. Then, suddenly, there came a flash of motion from behind, and the next thing he knew he was on the ground, Shadow standing tall above him.

"What's the matter?" Shadow asked. "Can't you keep up?"

"You can't be faster than me!" Sonic growled angrily, leaping to his feet again.

"He's not faster," Jessica suddenly cried. "But he can warp time and space with the emerald!"

Everyone stared at her now, including Shadow.

"She's right," Uncle Chuck then spoke up. "It's Chaos Control!"

"It's no matter," Shadow retorted. "I still possess superior speed. Allow me to demonstrate!" In a blur of black he wheeled around and dashed up the mountain faster than anyone could blink. And in a flash Sonic was after him, refusing to be outrun by this strange hedgehog. Flames shot up from beneath his feet, and fire blazed in his eyes. The Freedom Fighters all locked their eyes on the two hedgehogs now, hardly believing what they were seeing. Sonic had easily matched Shadow's pace, and now the two were running neck and neck up the mountainside. They were astounded -- never had they seen a single creature that could even come close to keeping up with Sonic, let alone matching his speed!

Sonic's eyes ignited into firestorms when he saw Shadow at his side. No -- he wouldn't have it! No one could outrace him! Lowering his head, he abruptly shot forward, tearing the earth up beneath his whirling feet, his arms thrown out behind him for balance as he leaned nearly parallel to the ground. But Shadow would not be thrown so easily. . . Gathering himself, he surged after Sonic, coming up alongside him again. Sonic clenched his teeth! With breakneck speed he suddenly spun around and hurled himself in the opposite direction, and the Freedom Fighters gasped at the speed at which he moved. But Shadow immitated his trick and was on his tail in no time flat. Sonic tossed his head in growing rage! He would not let this black stranger beat him -- no one would ever beat him at the one thing he did best. Throwing his head up to the skies, rallying on the strength in his legs, he became a furious blue blur as he burst forward! It looked as if he had been unleashed by a giant spring! The world was sent reeling beneath his feet, and a trail a fire was all anyone could make out before he disappeared! For a moment there was a breath of relief among the watching crowd. Surely Sonic had outrun Shadow here, for he was moving at his utmost speed now -- seven hundred miles per hour!

Then, Sonic noticed a black motion from his left, and couldn't believe his eyes. Impossible! Shadow was running alongside him, not neck and neck, but still terribly close! And then, without warning, the black hedgehog suddenly lunged at Sonic. Sonic was ready for him however, and used all his furious momentum to pitch himself forward and slam into Shadow. The force was bone-shattering, and both of them were knocked backwards from the stunning affect. Then, their eyes suddenly flashed skyward. The emerald had been knocked loose, and was now plummeting down to the earth. Both Sonic and Shadow dashed forward desperately to seize it before the other, rock and gravel flying up from beneath their heels. Then Kaligarr abruptly spread his wings and lifted off. Nihara snarled and tried to leap up and send her sword blade into his chest as he flew overhead, but he had gained too much altitude for her. With one swift motion he swooped down and captured the emerald in his beak. Sonic turned sideways and skidded so hard that his shoes screeched across the stones, trying to avoid a collision with the great griffin. Shadow however grabbed onto Kaligarr's hindleg and vaulted up into safety on his back. Seconds later they were high above Sonic and the others, smirking down on them triumphantly.

"Farewell, Freedom Fighters!" Kaligarr hissed. "You'll confront Naugus soon!" Then, in a flash, they were gone.