Chapter 3

An hour passes...

The sky darkens as a starless night falls. The blood-red moon slowly rises up over the horizon.

Sonic lays in his bedroll in his campsite in front of the portal. It is dark out, made worse by the lack of stars in the sky. A blood-red moon hangs in the sky, seeming to watch the champion, but providing little light. It's far too dark to leave camp, so he has no choice but to stay put.

As Sonic lies in his bedroll, he can't help but think about what the imp said to him.

Was it possible that he could actually end up like the other champions? Corrupted and filled with lust and libido?

He sighs, laying his hands over his eyes.

"I wish there was someone I could talk to." He says to himself. "I didn't realize that by being here, it could be so lonesome."

"Did someone say they were lonely?"

Sonic gasped and quickly jumped to alert, spinning around towards the voice, standing and growling in defence. However, his defense falls and he blinks in surprise as he watched familiar black and red quills step through the portal into Mareth.

"Shadow?!" He gasped at the sight of the hedgehog in front of him. "What do you think you're doing here?!"

"Well I thought I'd just come in and join the party." Shadow shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "In all seriousness, I'm here to help."

"How did you even get in here?" Sonic asked suspiciously. "What with Elder Nomur guarding the entrance."

"Guarding? Ha! He's as bad as Knuckles when it comes to that. The old man was asleep when I snuck in."

"You shouldn't be here, you need to go back." Sonic shook his head. "This is my quest, I have to do this on my own."

"Sonic you can't possibly be serious." Shadow hissed. "This is a job much too big for just one hedgehog. You're counted on to destroy a whole world on your own? That's impossible!"

"Even two hedgehogs won't even it out, Shads."

"No, but it's better than fighting alone. I easily could've just went on my own business hedgehog, but I decided to come in and help because I don't want to see Mobius get corrupted either." Shadow sighed and calmed himself. "Besides… you said you were lonely, right? Well, I'm here now."

Sonic's ears pressed flat to his head. No matter what he said, he knew Shadow wasn't gonna back down. He was much too stubborn, and loyal to the world he had come to know. He was a good alli and a potentially close friend.

A friend…

Sonic sighed.

"Fine. It doesn't seem like I'm gonna be able to change your mind." He nodded. "Just promise me this."

"What?"

"Stay close and don't wander off. Neither of us know what's out there, and this place doesn't let you travel normally. A mere thought about the campsite will bring you right back to it. Try to resist the corruption as much as you can."

"I promise." Shadow nodded easily.

"Good." Sonic yawned and climbed back into his bedroll. "We should get some sleep. We have a long day of exploring to do tomorrow."

Shadow nodded and went to a nearby tree, laying against its trunk with his arms behind his head, closing his eyes as both hedgehog's fell asleep, both troubled by dirty dreams throughout the night.

The sky begins to grow brighter as the moon descends over distant mountains, casting a few last ominous shadows before they burn away in the light.

The light hits Sonic's eyes and his nose catches the scent of cooking food, stirring him awake. He yawns and sits up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He looks over to his campfire and sees Shadow cooking some kind of meat over the fire in a pan.

"Good morning, Sonic." The ebony hedgehog greeted him. "Breakfast is almost ready."

"What are you making?" The blue one asked him curiously.

"Fish. I caught them just this morning. There's a lake not far from here that I discovered."

"Shadow, what did I say about wandering off?" Sonic frowned as he crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

"Relax hedgehog, I didn't go that far." Shadow rolled his eyes. "Besides, a good source of protein is a good way to start the day."

"I brought food."

"We can't live off of protein bars, Sonic. The lake is not that far. I didn't wander, honest."

"... Did anything jump out at you?" Sonic asked him, sighing in defeat as he sat by the fire.

"No, nothing jumped at me." Shadow shook his head as he finished frying the fish and pulled it out of the fire, setting it on a large leaf to cool off. "It's weird actually. It's almost as if everything was ignoring me actually."

"That is a little weird." Sonic nodded.

"Eh, whatever." Shadow shrugged as he handed one of the fish to his companion. "Let's just eat our breakfast and then figure out what to do next."

"There's this forest that I discovered yesterday." Sonic explained between bites. "I wanted to explore it a bit to see what can be found. Perhaps a clue of a weapon of some sorts."

"Sounds reasonable." Shadow agreed. "We'll explore the forest then."

After their fish breakfast, as promised, the two hedgehogs walked side by side as Sonic led them to the forest.

"I was gonna explore the forest yesterday, but then I was ambushed before I could do so." Sonic explained.

"Ambushed?" Shadow frowned. "By what?"

Suddenly, another imp leaps out of the bushes and attacks!

"Oh you've gotta be kidding me!" Sonic hissed as he took a battle stance.

"My my, so the rumors are true." The imp sneers. "The blue champion has entered our world. My, you're even more beautiful than I imagined."

"Back off fucker, he's not interested." Shadow hissed, stepping in between the two.

"Shadow let me handle this." Sonic urged.

"Oh, and the champion has a friend with him as well." The imp laughs. "Well well, I wouldn't mind a little three-way, if it's with you two."

"You little pervert!" Sonic hissed, pushing Shadow out of the way. "Go away and leave us alone!"

Sonic suddenly curls into a ball and quickly spindashes the creature. The imp groans as he's hit, but it sounds almost as if he enjoyed it.

"Oh yes, hit me again you beautiful beast." The imp pants, rubbing his cock through his loincloth.

Sonic blushes as blood rushes to his groin as a surge of arousal hits him, making his knees weak. The hedgehog's ample pecker hardens, distracting him further.

"Leave him alone!" Shadow growls, punching the imp in his face. The imp growls back and slashes at Shadow with his claws, catching him in the face. "Ack!"

"Shadow!" Sonic cries. He runs over and quickly roundhouse kicks the imp away from his friend. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Shadow hissed as he stood up straight, wiping a bit of blood away from the cuts.

"Oooooh!"

Sonic looks over at the imp, his breath getting caught in his throat as he sees that his kick had given the imp a bloody nose. The imp is panting sexually as he licks the blood away from his face, his lust-filled gaze staring at Sonic.

Images of the hedgehog fellating and fucking the imp assaults Sonic's mind, unnaturally arousing him. Sonic is frightened as he feels his ample pecker dribble pre-cum.

Shadow growls and spindashes at the imp. It hits him dead on, but then the imp gets back up and starts making arcane gestures at the black and red hedgehog. Shadow blushed as he suddenly realized he's going through the same problem as the blue one.

"Why don't you two just give up and have a little fun?" The imp teases.

"Never!" Sonic growls as he lunges at the imp, punching him repeatedly. The imp hisses and slashes at Sonic's side, reopening the cuts that the imp from yesterday had given him. "Aah! You'll pay for that!"

Sonic brings up his fist and punches the imp as hard as he could, sending the creature flying across the clearing.

He smiles in satisfaction as the imp collapses and begins masturbating feverishly. He groans as he realizes that his lust has grown a lot higher, but he refuses to stoop so low as the imp.

"Are you alright, Sonic?" Shadow asked him, holding him steady as he tries to stop the bleeding in Sonic's side.

"Yes, I'm fine." Sonic panted. He looks up and glares as the pleasuring imp. He walks up to him confidently. "I believe you have something for me for defeating you."

"Ah yes." The imp pants with a blissful smile on his face. "So you've heard of our traditions? Very well then, champion. For defeating me, here are 8 gems and a parcel of imp food."

"The imp food will turn me into an imp, won't it?" Sonic asked cautiously as he took the items, putting them in his pouch.

"Yes, it will. But you don't have to eat it."

"I'll sell it or trade it." Sonic nodded. "Thank you."

"Come on Sonic." Shadow offered, laying a hand on the hedgehog's shoulder. "Let's get back to camp and take care of that wound."

Sonic nodded in agreement, following the ebony one back to the campsite, leaving the masturbating imp behind.

"*hiss* Ow!" Sonic yelped as Shadow cleaned the cut on his side.

"Sorry."

"Nah, it's not your fault." Sonic sighed. "It just hurts in general. I'm so pissed off. This is the second time my journey to the forest was interrupted, both by imps."

"Annoying." Shadow agreed as he finished cleaning the cuts and wrapped a bandage around them. "There. They shouldn't be reopening anymore."

"Thanks." Sonic sighed, rubbing a frustrating hand over his face. "Let's forget about the forest for now. I'm curious about this lake you found. Can you lead me there?"

"Of course." Shadow as the two of them stood up. "It's this way."

Sonic nodded and allowed Shadow to take the lead as he led him to the lake. Their wanderings took them far and wide across the barren wasteland that surrounds the portal, until the smell of humidity and fresh water alerts Sonic to the nearby lake. With a few quick strides Shadow led Sonic to a lake so massive the distant shore cannot be seen. Grass and a few sparse trees grow all around it.

"Told you it wasn't that far." Shadow smirked.

"I stand corrected." Sonic nodded. "I wonder what we can find here."

"Well, let's look around."

And that's just as the two hedgehogs did.

As they're looking around the lake, Sonic finds a quaint farmhouse on the far shores of the lake. Around the homestead are a range of gardens, filled with delicious fruits and vegetables.

"Hey Shads, check this out!"

The black and red hedgehog stands besides the blue one as they both curiously stare at the farm. They look at each other for a moment before they approach the dwelling. A figure in a pepper patch rises up to greet them, waving them over.

As they walk forward, they are shocked to see that it's a female golden retriever labrador… a Mobian! She giggles happily and beckons the boys over.

"Welcome strangers," She greets pleasantly. "It sure is pleasant to see some new faces 'round here. My name's Whitney, and it's mighty fine I don't have to pitchfork y'all like most guests!"

"What do you mean?" Sonic asked curiously.

Whitney fills the hedgehogs in about the lake and her farm, telling them how the demons can't seem to stay close for long, and monsters always seem weaker the few times they have approached her farm. Whitney flushes and rapidly changes subject, "I've got to get back to work, but you help yourself to the peppers, boys!"

"These don't look like normal peppers." Shadow frowns as he studies the fruit.

"Oh they're not." Whitney giggles. "They're canine peppers. One pepper will turn you into a canine."

"Cool!" Sonic smirks as he grabs one of the peppers and places it in his pouch. "Thanks Whitney. Hopefully we'll meet again."

"Until we meet again, boys." Whitney nods.