Chapter 12
Dust and cobwebs dating back thousands of years covered the ancient passageways
of the pyramid's interior. Sevag guided Tails through the maze like hallways and ancient
traps. Light was provided by torches along the hieroglyph-covered walls, though it
continuously faded until Tails could pull a switch relighting them. Sevag warned that if
the torches were to go out altogether, the spirits in charge of keeping Sevag trapped in the
temple would attack
"Tell me, Miles," said Sevag, breaking the death-like silence." What is it about this…Cosmo…that makes you so determined to resurrect her?"
Tails stared down at Cosmo's plant as he walked behind Sevag. "Its…its because I love her."
"Is that all? Or is there more to it? Some…feeling of responsibility perhaps?"
Tails closed his eyes and hugged the plant tighter, its leaves brushing gently against his muzzle. He felt a tear roll down his cheek.
"Yes…I think so…"Tails replied.
"You and I Miles…we have much in common." Sevag said," You see Miles, I too was once like you, young and innocent, only to have it all torn away by grief. I too was an orphan as well. I worked, as princess Midiana Rosemary Prower's caretaker."
Tails' ears perked up. "Did you say…Prower?"
Sevag simply chuckled and continued. "She was princess of Sandopolis, and I, a lowly caretaker. But slowly…she and I developed feelings for each other, and a forbidden romance blossomed. The more we were together, the more our bond deepened. However…this was not to last. True happiness never does."
"Wh-what happened?" asked Tails timidly.
"The echidnas attacked Sandopolis laying siege to the palace. The echidna king wanted to conquer all of Angel Island, in order to be in control of all the Chaos Emeralds. His people had already conquered five other kingdoms. Sandopolis was last on his list. Echidna soldiers invaded the palace, killing all who stood in their path. And the princess…she sacrificed her life to save my own…"
Tails' eyes widened, as Sevag continued his tragic tale. They really were alike…
"I vowed not to let her death be in vane. I vowed to exact my vengeance upon her killers. I vowed…to resurrect her! And so I hid out within the ruins of Sandopolis, and developed a following among the survivors as I studied the dark arts. I discovered the secret to resurrection. My priests and I went on a violent crusade for the emeralds, them being the key to resurrection. And when I had them all…I unleashed my vengeance upon those vile creatures, who had taken everything I loved away from me. I single handedly destroyed the echidna race."
Tails looked up at Sevag. Could such a thing be in his future, if he continued on the path he was taking?
"Then came the time to resurrect my love. I came here to my temple, and performed the same ritual you are about to perform. And I brought the princess back from the dead. But when I did…" Sevag was silent for a moment," …she was disgusted with the dark being I had become. The monster…that my journey into darkness had turned me into. I suppose I was no longer the little jackal she had fallen in love with. I was now a vengeful death god. And she used the Chaos emeralds to seal me away in this temple forever. The curse could only be broken by her or someone of her bloodline.
Sevag stopped before a large door, with two enormous jackal statues guarding it.
"That Princess, Miles…was your mother."
Tails stopped dead in his tracks, frozen with disbelief.
"Now you see why I chose you over Shadow. Only you can lift the curse. Only you can free me, and make me mortal again. I ask this, in exchange for bringing back Cosmo." said Sevag.
"No…this can't be…"Tails uttered.
"Your mother was a kind soul Miles. I want you to know that, for it seems she was roboticised shortly after your birth. You do not know who she was. That robotic corpse isn't her. And whoever your father was, he must have been good if she chose him."
Tails took Sevag's words to heart. He had been the only one Tails had ever met who
knew either of his parents. But still, Tails could not shake the feeling that he was about to
be forced to do something very disastrous in breaking Sevag's curse.
"I sense your confusion. Need I remind you that I am your only hope of ever seeing Cosmo again?" Sevag said.
Tails looked down. Sevag was right. It was now too late for second guesses. This was the only way that he would ever see Cosmo again. He looked up to Sevag, and slowly nodded.
"That's it miles. You know, obedience is one of your greatest virtues. And I'm almost a father to you, so it's just as well that you obey me." Sevag chuckled and turned back to the door. He spread his arms apart, and the doors opened. "Welcome to my humble Ceremonial chamber."
Tails walked in. At the center of the room, there looked to be a replica of the Emerald
shrine that Knuckles guarded. The room was brightly lit with torches. And at the far end
of the room, Tails noticed a large jackal-shaped sarcophagus, perhaps containing Sevag's
body.
"Now, let the ritual begin!" Sevag declared, as one by one he placed each emerald upon a platform. He paused, staring at the green emerald. "What happened to this one? There is something written on it."
Tails looked, and saw the smiley face drawn on it." Oh…that's Mr. Emerald…it's a long story."
Sevag shrugged and placed it on its pedestal. He then placed the Master Emerald in the
center, and stood back, admiring the shrine in its beauty.
"There Miles, is the key to true power!" Sevag cackled "If you think you were powerful before, wait until you harness this energy!"
Tails still couldn't help but feel cautious as he remembered the properties of the Chaos
Emeralds. Of course there was nothing wrong with brining Cosmo back…that in itself
wasn't using the emeralds for purposes of evil. But if he was also doing something wrong
in the process…like bringing Sevag back…the emeralds powers would turn into
something dark and destructive.
"Now then Miles. All you need to do is take your plant, stand upon the Master Emerald, and feed off the energy of the Chaos Emeralds. Then I'll use black magic to open up a portal to the realm of the dead."
Tails nodded and approached the altar. He flew onto the Master Emerald. Almost immediately, the energy hit him, making him dizzy.
"It may be a bit much at first, but focus! Think about everything that has happened to you, everything you've tried to achieve, and everyone who tried to stop you!" Sevag commanded.
Tails cleared his mind and focused, becoming one with the energy. Sparks and bolts of
energy began to shoot out of Tails, as his dark aura surrounded him. Without knowing
it…he was awakening the dark power of the emeralds.
I will make it up to you Cosmo. I killed you…and now…I shall bring you back!
Tails let out a terrifying growl as his eyes rolled back into his skull. He had let go of
himself. He had given himself over to Sevag's will. He was now levitating above the
emerald. He let go of Cosmo's plant, and it floated above his head. He held out his ams
with his palms up, and his aura grew more brilliant.
Sevag kneeled before the altar on one knee and held his hand out in front of himself. He
began reciting incantations, in the dead language of the jackal. These words seemed to fill
Tails with such power as he had never before experienced. He was beginning to change.
He roared as his fur glowed a deep blood red, and suddenly he began to grow more tails.
He soon had nine tails in all. It seemed that Tails had reached a new form.
"Sevag…my master…"Tails uttered.
Tails then looked upward and all of his energy was directed up. The altar began to rotate
slowly and on the ceiling, a round hole with beams of light penetrating through
began to open up and grow larger. Cosmo's plant slowly rose up into it, and the room
was engulfed in a blinding light. Tails screamed at the top of his lungs as the energy
consumed him, and he lost what little control he still had over his body. And then, out
from the portal, decended his lost love…Cosmo. She slowly floated down to the ground,
and opened her eyes. She looked down at her hands in disbelief.
"I'm…alive?" said Cosmo softly. She turned, and saw the rightening sight of Tails, or the monster he had now become. She gasped, knowing that it must be Tails. The fear in here eyes heightened, as Sevag approached her with a smirk.
"Well then, little girl, I've filled my end of the bargain. Consider yourself resurrected. You may be off now." Sevag said.
"You…you monster! What have you done to Tails! Change him back!" Cosmo pleaded.
"Tails belongs to me now! He is now my minion! And a strong one at that." Sevag folded his arms. "Him and I, we're going to have a lot of fun with this puny little planet after he lifts my curse! Now be off! No amount of turning into a tree will stop us now. Go, before I make Tails hurt you."
"No! Tails would never hurt me! I know he's still in there somewhere!" Cosmo said desperately. "Fight it Tails! Fight it!"
Could Tails really ever harm Cosmo? Can he fight Sevag's will? The last chapter of his journey into darkness…shall bethe last!