Chapter 7
Tails ran through the twisted corridors within the ancient ruins. Tails wondered
whether Sevag's pyramid would be anything like this. That pyramid was in Sandopolis
however, not in the Mystic Ruins. Tails had been to Sandopolis before, but this time he
went, there would be so much more on the line. Namely, Cosmo's life.
The corridor then sloped downward, making Tails run faster.
I have to make it there before Rouge does!
With that in mind Tails rolled into a ball, going even faster. It was a trick sonic had
taught him a long time ago. Tails now zoomed down the corridor.
Wherever Shadow is, I'll find him.
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Meanwhile, Shadow the Hedgehog opened a secret door, and walked into the main ceremonial
chamber at the center of the temple. In the middle of this room stood the Master Emerald.
Around it three emeralds orbited, levitating above it. Shadow threw the emerald he had
been holding at it, and it too began to orbit.
"Now…I have four Chaos Emerald; as well as the Master Emerald!" Shadow proclaimed. " Tails has two, and the doctor has one. Now I must steal those. Then… my task will be complete!"
" So that's your plan is it?" said a voice. Shadow looked around.
"Who's there?" Shadow demanded," Answer me!"
From out of the shadows, a blue figure stepped forth.
"Long time no see, buddy." Said Sonic.
"You! What do you want?" Shadow asked, getting into a fighting stance.
Sonic got into a fighting stance himself." First, I'd like you to tell me what you've been up to. Then, I'd like you to give back those emeralds!"
"Never! I'll never give them to the likes of you." Said Shadow.
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that." Said Sonic.
Just then, there was a loud noise, and tails burst through a cracked portion of the wall. In
the same instant, Rouge burst through a wall on the opposite end of the room.
Tails gasped." S-Sonic?"
"Oh great, you're both here!" groaned Rouge.
"Hmph, planning on ganging up on me are you? Fools, you will never take my emeralds!" Shadow shouted as he shot a chaos sphere in Sonic and Tails' direction. They both managed to jump, the blast exploding against the wall behind them.
"Sonic! What are you doing here!" asked Tails franticly.
"Nice to see you too!" said Sonic," Do you really think I'd let you take on Shadow alone?"
Tails was momentarily calmed at hearing this.
" Enough, die already!" Shadow yelled, blasting dozens of chaos spheres at them. They
managed to dodge them, and while Shadow was preoccupied Rouge kicked him in back
of the head, sending him skidding across the ground. Shadow flipped over, landing on his
feet. He then lunged at Rouge, taking her down. Just then Sonic jumped at Shadow, and
zoomed at him with a homing attack. Shadow managed to turn around and kick him
away, causing him to crash through the ceiling. Then Shadow turned to face Tails.
"Now do you see how hopeless this is?" asked Shadow, " You can never stand up to me."
Tails growled and frowned." I'll never forgive you….."
"For what? Defeating your best friend?" Shadow taunted," Or is it still because of that time I tried to kill Cosmo."
Tails' rage grew as he clenched his teeth.
"Don't blame me for that." Shadow continued, "Remember who really killed her…in the end?"
If you even go there, I swear…
"That's right…it was YOU wasn't it? I remember now!" Shadow cackled.
Tails roared with age as he ran at Shadow, jumping in the air and kicking him from
above, sending him flying into a wall. Before he could get up, Tails jumped onto him and
wrapped his two tails around his throat, putting him in a unique sleeper hold. He took off
his gloves, exposing his sharp claws, and dug them into the sides of Shadow's head as he
struggled to break free. Shadow's face began to turn red, and soon his struggling stopped.
He was unconscious, but Tails continued to squeeze with his tails.
"Just die!" Tails shouted.
Meanwhile, Rouge got to her feet, and began eyeing the emeralds greedily. Tails turned
just in time to see her about to snatch them, and he got off of Shadow and ran at Rouge.
Rouge ran at tails too, and was about to deliver a devastating kick to Tails' head when
Sonic suddenly knocked her out of the way from above. Tails skidded to a stop. Both
Shadow and Rouge were unconscious. It was just Tails…and Sonic. Tails looked at the
emeralds, then at Sonic.
"You really did a number on Shadow, little bro. I'm very impressed." Said Sonic with a smile. His smile slowly turned into a more serious look. "But I can't let you give these emeralds to Sevag. That guy is bad news."
The statement pierced through Tails like a stake through his heart. " Sonic, you're wrong about him!" he pleaded.
Sonic stood silently. "I know…that you miss Cosmo badly, and that you'll do anything to bring her back. But Tails, if you do this…"
Tails shut his eyes tightly." Sonic…this is something I have to do. You can't stop me. I owe it to Cosmo. Because…."Tears began to flow from his eyes. "Because…I killed her!"
"Tails, that's not true!" Sonic said," Cosmo sacrificed herself to save the galaxy!"
"I broke a promise to her Sonic! I promised to protect her with my life!" Tails sobbed, "And I killed her! And now, I will be the one to bring her back!"
"Tails! Cosmo wouldn't want this!" sonic shouted. But it was no use. Tails marched forward toward the emeralds. Sonic held him back, and Tails struggled to break free.
"You're talking nonsense Tails!" Sonic shouted. Tails struggled.
"Let me go Sonic! Why can't you understand!" Tails shouted.
Just then, a familiar purple light filled the room…
" Oh no! Its…its…" Sonic was stunned.
Sevag the Jackal rose up from under the ground. He looked around, seeing Rouge and
Shadow laying unconscious, seeing the Chaos Emeralds, and finally, looking straight at
Tails and Sonic.
" So, has Sonic been telling lies about me again?" Sevag cackled. He pointed his finger at
Sonic and he let go of Tails. Tails fell to his knees, and looked up at Sevag.
" I am afraid your friend cannot understand, Miles. It is unfortunate…that he does not want you to resurrect Cosmo." Said Sevag.
"No! That's not true! I just don't want you giving him the emeralds!" Sonic shouted, frozen in place.
Tails looked back at Sonic. "It's… the only way Sonic. You're wrong about Sevag."
"Indeed he is, Miles. I am impressed with you. Your mother would have been proud. You even defeated Shadow." He kneeled down to Tails, and ruffled his hair, "This is your chance. Go, take the emeralds. I will make sure Sonic does not catch up to you. But do not worry, I will not hurt him. His paralysis will only last for a half hour. Go now, to your plane."
"No! Tails!" Sonic shouted, struggling to move.
Tails nodded and ran to the emeralds. He picked up the Master emerald, and flew out
through a hole in the ceiling left by Sonic during the fight. He headed for the X-Tornado, taking the emeralds with him.