"Absolutely beautiful!"
That was all that Robotnik could say as he examined the large ring hovering before him. In his right hand was a small device used to measure radiation of various types. The little machine read large amounts of Chaos energy in the area.
This was it. This was the portal that would lead him to the Chaos Emeralds. This was what would lead him to victory.
He reached out to touch it. Instantly, he felt a sudden change in environment, though he couldn't place what.
He looked around, finding himself floating in a mysterious maze.
"Disrupter of peace…you are now in the Chaos Realm," a voice spoke.
Robotnik laughed, undaunted by the mysterious voice. "Call me what you will. I've come for the emeralds. You can try and stop me, but it will do you no good."
"No," the voice said. "The emeralds are yours to take. You need only find your way through the maze. Only then will you be able to claim the power of the Chaos."
A maze? Robotnik wondered. This should be easy. A brilliant mind such as the doctor's would have no problem in solving this little puzzle.
"Be warned," the voice once again spoke. "There is another who seeks the emeralds."
The hedgehog, Robotnik realized. So he must've gained entry into the Chaos Realm as well. Oh well, if he needed to he could kill the little nuisance to ensure his victory.
"If he should obtain the emeralds, you will fail in your attempt at conquest."
"So far, so good," Sonic said aloud as he floated through the Chaos Realm's maze. Every path he had taken had led him ever closer to his goal and one step closer to defeating that madman, Robotnik.
He made a turn to his right, noticing that the path forked into two corridors. Then suddenly something caught his eye. Movement from the left corridor. A large tubby man in red was attempting to float by dog paddling (with little success).
Sonic chuckled. Looks like I have some competition. For all he knew, this was Robotnik's first visit into the Chaos Realm. Sonic had the advantage of experience, not to mention he knew how to float properly.
"Hey Eggman!" Sonic called out to Robotnik. The balding head peaked behind the corridor wall at Sonic, his red mustache twitching with anger.
"Hedgehog," the evil scientist growled. "It's time to put you out of your misery!"
Robotnik pulled a laser pistol from out of his black trousers. He took aim and pulled the trigger.
Sonic quickly moved out of the way, the laser beam striking the wall behind him. He began rushing toward the fat man, gaining speed.
"Uh oh," Robotnik groaned just as Sonic's foot launched his round body into a wall.
Sonic took off down the right corridor, Robotnik's bellows echoing throughout the maze. This might raise the stakes a bit. I've got find those emeralds.
There they were. The Chaos Emeralds. It had taken Sonic nearly an hour to find his way through the vast corridors, but now his prize awaited him.
"You have proven your worth, Sonic the hedgehog," the mysterious voice of the Chaos Realm said. "You have shown that you can wield the power to save your world. Now…take the power of Chaos and claim your destiny."
Sonic stepped toward the mystical stones, each of them various colors. They floated around in sync with each other, forming a circle of beauty that he had never before seen in his lifetime. He touched one of them, a blue emerald, and suddenly felt an odd surge through his body, like the feeling when one's limbs fall asleep. His surroundings vanished into white.
"Time is short," the voice once again spoke. "Robotnik has returned to your world and he will attempt to succeed in his goal of conquest. You have been given all of the Chaos Emeralds because you have shown that you are capable of carrying its burden. You were impatient in the past; you lacked faith in yourself. Since then, you have grown in maturity. Go now, child of the earth realm."
Sonic woke up beside one of the labyrinth's many pools of water. His gloved right hand was soaked having stayed in the water as he had slept. He rose to his feet, still groggy from resting. Did I actually get the emeralds? he inquired.
Robotnik furiously pounded on the cockpit of his aircraft. How could I fail? How could I let that blasted blue hedgehog outdo me again? His red moustache quivered with anger, his face started to match in color.
The beeping of his intercom temporarily restrained his anger as he answered the call. "What?" he barked.
"The hedgehog has been located once again, Dr. Robotnik."
The fat doctor started to smile. Then he remembered the words of caution given to him in the Chaos Realm. No, he declared to himself. I will not fail. Only I determine my destiny, not some specter from another dimension. I'll kill that hedgehog and use his remains to fertilize the landscape!
