Chapter 45
Ali Baba leads the others to the docks; The roads had become quiet and dark as most people entered their homes for the evening. "It gets dark here fast." Tails said,
"And cold…" Cream said shivering as Blaze walks next to her and puts her arm around her shoulder.
"Let me help," Blaze said as Cream smiles,
"You're way warmer than any blanket," She giggles as Blaze slightly turns red,
"If we don't find Sinbad you all can stay at my place for the night, I have plenty of room." Ali Baba offered,
"Thanks, but we really should keep looking for them." Shadow said,
"I know you're worried, but you need to take care of yourself too. You were drugged not that long ago." Amy said,
"They could be anywhere." Shadow said,
"Exactly and passing out from exhaustion doesn't help anybody." Tails said, "Knuckles is with her, he'll keep her safe."
"Speaking of staying safe…" Blaze lights her free hand as flames swirl around it, "It looks like we can use our Chaos abilities here. Shadow creates a Chaos Spear to test it herself.
"Good, I don't want to have to force it like last time," Shadow said,
"What's the matter Knight of Chaos? Don't want to go over the top to show your love for her." Amy teased,
"I will throw you into the river." Shadow said as he laughs, they finally make it to the docks.
"There's no one around." Cream said,
"Strange, there's usually a few people on the docks at this time of night," Ali Baba said as they look around,
"That's because they're all hiding, waiting to jump us." Shadow said kicking over a barrel as a man falls out surprised. The rest all jump out trying to make it seem like they have the jump on them,
"looks like we hit the jackpot boys!" One of them said,
"Oh, no! Pirates!" Ali Baba said, as the pirates take out their swords.
"Surrender now and we won't get rough with ya!" Another one said, The rest of them don't look phased by the pirates foiled surprise attack.
"Have you seen Sinbad?" Shadow asked ignoring their threat.
"Sinbad? We sent him floating down the river." One of them chuckles,
"You monsters!" Ali Baba yelled as they all laugh,
"Now give up! We have you surrounded and outnumbered." Another said as Ali Baba slightly cowers,
"Hear that Shadow? Apparently we're outnumbered." Amy said,
"I believe they have miscalculated." Blaze added with a smirk,
"How did we miscalculate?" One asked,
"Because you think you have us outnumbered when just one of us can take you all." Shadow said with a smirk,
"Get 'em boys! But don't kill them. The ladies will catch a good price on the market." Their leader said as all of their ears fold back in anger.
"For that comment, I get dibs on smashing his face in." Amy said summoning his hammer as some of them gasp,
"A sorcerer!" one of them said, as they charge. Amy swings, knocking three of them away,
"Ali Baba, stay behind us." Tails said. She and Cream take up defensive positions as the other three charge at the pirates.
In a matter of moments they defeated all of the pirates as Shadow drags the leader over to the edge of the docks and holds him over the water, "You're all monsters!" He yelled,
"You're going to take us down river for wasting our time or we'll just follow your body as you float down river." Shadow said as he flinches,
"Okay, okay! I… I'll take you just please don't hurt me!" He said as she throws him back down on the docks.
"I forgot how ruthless Shadow can be when Saya's in danger." Amy whispered to Tails looking a little intimidated,
"We'll have to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't kill anyone," Tails whispered back. They all climb on the boat as Shadow notices something green glowing in the corner of her eye as she walks over to it and looks over a barrel seeing a large green ring lying on the ground,
"That's one of the seven world rings!" Shahra said appearing next to her, "But what is it doing here?"
"What are the seven world rings?" Shadow asked,
"They are the seven hearts that hold together the stories. I thought Sonic hid these…" She explained as Shadow reaches down and grabs it. A surge of energy courses through her with emotions of hatred. They all see her radiate chaos energy before it fades.
"What was that!" Shadow said looking shocked shrugging off the feeling, it almost overwhelmed her the emotion was so raw.
"Are you okay Shadow?" Caroline asked, they all felt the immense malice that emanated off of her.
"I felt… pure animosity." Shadow said, her hand shaking with anger.
"Sonic said that each ring felt tied to a different emotion. It is said that when all seven of the rings are gathered the door to your world will be opened." Shahra said,
"We might need the rings to get back home." Amy said,
"So we keep an eye out for more rings." Shadow said pocketing the ring,
"I don't get it… only the Legendary Blue Hedgehog should be able to touch the rings." Shahra said looking confused,
"We can figure that out later, we need to find Sinbad hopefully alive." Blaze said as they all head out keeping an eye for where Sinbad may have floated off to.
Erazor Djinn takes Knuckles to a different part of the castle at the top of a tall tower. Knuckles knocks Erazor's hand away as he jumps back, "What are you trying to pull?" Knuckles said holding up his fists. He was taken off guard for only a second and it was enough for this guy to separate him from Sonic, he needed to be careful.
"Like I said, I wanted to have a chat, Aladdin." Erazor said,
"Aladdin? Sorry bud you got the wrong guy, the names Knuckles. Figured you would have known that seeing as you dragged us here." He said crossing his arms,
"Oh I know you are not the true Aladdin, But I needed to change up some roles. Afterall, a Street rat can become a princess with just a little bit of magic." He grins as Knuckles puts the pieces together,
"Sonic was Aladdin…" Knuckles said. It made sense why Erazor kept calling her a rat instead of a hedgehog.
"Not anymore, I've rewritten her as the princess. That role seems more fitting for a woman wouldn't you agree?" He laughs. Knuckles glares at him.
"What does changing her role do you sexist jerk? Making her a princess only inconvenienced her clothes and we fixed that already." Knuckles said confidently,
"Have you read the entire story of Aladdin?" He asked,
"Can't say I've read it…" Knuckles said,
"There's a third part of the story, The Princess Badar and the Wicked Sorcerer." Erazor said,
"Get on with whatever you're trying to say," He didn't like where this was going.
"I'm still tweaking the ending but the sorcerer steals Aladdin's princess and his palace and keeps them for himself."
"You might want to switch around that story, if you're the wicked sorcerer then you're going to be in for a surprise." He chuckles,
"You're in love with her, are you not?" Erazor asked as Knuckles if thrown off guard,
"That's none of your business!" He glares, "You're plan still won't work, saying she's your prisoner does nothing." Knuckles began to get ready to punch him.
"But my plan has already worked, she's locked away, alone as we speak. The longer she sleeps in that room the more time the story has to change her." Erazor grins, just like in Camelot another was trying to control Sonic and Knuckles had heard enough of his blabbering.
"Why you!" Knuckles swings at him but the punch goes through him like he's made of smoke.
"Now to seal in the spell, she needs to grieve Aladdin's death." He said. Knuckles jumps back as the room fills with Erazor Djinn's strange creatures. Knuckles knocks them away from him, Erazor waves his hands as Knuckles becomes paralyzed like before and two of the minions grab him. "You're lucky that I myself can't kill you, however pushing you off the edge will still look rather convincing." He smiles as the minions restrain Knuckles' hands before dragging him over to the edge of the tower,
"You won't get away with this!" Knuckles said trying to pull free as the paralysis starts to wear off.
"Oh, but I already have. Farewell, Aladdin." He tauntingly laughs as the two minions push him off the edge and he falls below the palace disappearing beneath the clouds.
Everyone else was getting some rest on the ship while Shadow was taking watch. She walked around the ship making sure the pirates didn't try anything funny while watching the river sides to see if Sinbad's body washed up. "Over there!" One of the pirates yelled as Shadow looks over and sees the silhouette of a body on the beach. She quickly warps next to it and is shocked to see that this man looked similar to Knuckles minus a scar on his face. She picks him up and warps back onto the ship.
"Blaze!" Shadow yells waking all of them up as Blaze sits up,
"Knuckles?" Cream said,
"I believe this is Sinbad, He's breathing, but his body is ice cold," She said laying him down as Blaze gets up and places her hands over his body. They lite on fire as she moves her hands. Sinbad begins to stir as he opens his eyes and looks at Blaze.
"Have I been saved by an angel?" He said sitting up as Blaze dissipates the flames. He grabs her hand and looks her in the eyes, "I have never seen such a beautiful maiden before. You must have come from the heavens."
"Yeah, no." Blaze pulls her hand away and stands next to Cream,
"Sinbad we need your help." Ali Baba said,
"Ali Baba?"
"Have you seen Sonic?" Ali Baba asked,
"That blue Hedgehog? Haven't seen him since that incident with the pirates." He said as they all let out a sigh,
"This was a complete waste of time." Shadow said sounding angry,
"Well we did save Sinbad's life so not a complete waste." Caroline said,
"Shahra, who were the other people Sonic interacted with?" Tails asked as she nods,
"King Solomon and King Shahryar." She said,
"Where can we find them?" Amy asked,
"King Shahryar lives in the palace… But King Solomon is… a bit further…" Shahra said,
"We should start with here and then if we don't find any clues we'll go find Solomon." Cream said,
"You'll have to wait till the morning, There's no way they'll let you into the palace this late at night." Sinbad said,
"Damnit…" Shadow said,
"It's just for a few more hours Shadow, we'll go right in the morning." Tails said,
"I'll tell the pirates to take us back to the docks…" Shadow said walking back upstairs,
"She seems very focused…" Sinbad said,
"That's Shadow," Cream said with a chuckle,
"So are you all Sonic's lovers then?" Sinbad asked,
"No…" Blaze said glaring at him,
"We're her friends." Cream said,
"Man if Shadow heard you say that…" Amy said shaking his head. "You'd be a goner."
"I forgot how different this world is compared to our own…" Tails said with a sigh,
"Yeah, it seems that to them we're all just objects…" Blaze said crossing her arms, "The faster we find Sonic and get out of here the better."
Shadow continued to keep an eye out above deck as the sun was just barely starting to rise. She notices something strange falling from the clouds, but it wasn't falling straight. It kept swaying back and forth like a large floating feather. "You, do you have a spy glass?" She asked. One of the pirates hesitantly handed her one as she uses it to get a better look at the falling object. It takes her a few tries to finally see what the object was. "New heading! Head towards that!" She said pointing it out to the rest of the crew, "Now!" She demanded as they quickly start working to turn the ship towards that direction as she walks over to the stairs below deck. "I found Knuckles!" She yelled down as the others quickly rush up the stairs,
"Where?" Tails asked as she points him out in the sky, "What in the?"
"Why is he gliding like that? Something's wrong." Amy said,
"Once we get closer can you two grab him before he falls into the water?" Shadow asked,
"Wait, can Shahra help?" Blaze asked,
"Shahra," Shadow rubs the ring, "Can you bring Knuckles onto the ship?"
"Your wish is my command." Shahra bows as a puff of smoke and Knuckles appears on the ground in front of them.
"What in Chaos?" Knuckles said looking confused as he catches his breath,
"Knuckles!" Tails said,
"Am I happy to see you guys. Could one of you untie me?" He asked they all notice that he was shivering. Blaze kneels down with her hands out to help him warm up while Amy starts untying the ropes binding Knuckles' wrists.
"What happened?" Cream asked,
"A whole lot happened…" He said struggling to stand up as he staggers,
"You look exhausted, sit down," Tails said as she helps him sit,
"I've been trying to glide all night…"
"Start from the beginning," Blaze said as he nods and begins to tell them what happened.
A few hours later Sonic slowly wakes up as she stretches now realizing that she had fallen asleep at the table but work up in the bed. "You didn't have to tuck me in," Sonic lets out a sigh slightly embarrassed as she climbs out of the bed. There was no response as she looks around and doesn't see Knuckles, "Knux?" She calls out as she walks around the room, "Hey, c'mon Red this isn't funny!" She yells but still nothing. She realizes that he may have been taken as she rushes to the door to the hallway. She tries to open the door, but it's locked as she starts to panic. "Not going to keep me locked up." Backing up, she gains momentum running at the door as she runs into it falling to the floor. "W… why can't I spin dash?" She looks confused as she steps back and tries again but has the same result.
"You won't be going anywhere, Princess." She hears as she falls to the floor again. Looking up seeing Erazor Djinn standing next to the vanity.
"Princess? That's a weird insult, I think I liked rat better Eraser." She chuckles getting back to her feet. "Is Princess my new role?" She asked using air quotes while rolling her eyes,
"Why yes, it is Princess Badar." He said with a grin giving her a dramatic bow,
"Yeah no, it's Sonic the Hedgehog. Now tell me what you did with Knuckles." She said crossing her arms as he starts to laugh,
"Your friend is gone; I saw to that permanently." He said. Sonic's ears turn back in anger as she glares,
"You're lying!" She yelled,
"Oh but it's the truth." Erazor said as he disappears, she looks around for him, "Let me show you." He reappears behind her and grabs her by the wrists,
"Hey! Let go!" She struggled as he pulls her over to the vanity and forces her to face the mirror.
"Watch closely." He whispers in her ear, The mirror ripples like water as the image changes to the tower showing Knuckles and Erazor talking. She continues to struggle trying to get out of his grasp, but for some reason she can't look away from the mirror as if mesmerized. The image in the mirror shows Erazor Djinn's minions appear and grab Knuckles; they restrain him before pulling him to the ledge as he struggled before they throw him off.
"No!" She cried out; She didn't believe what she was seeing as she watched him disappear into the clouds. At that very moment before she could second guess what happened. Erazor used magic making a white and purple ring appear on her arms as a surge of energy and emotion of intense despair courses through her. "Y… You…" Tears start to fill her eyes uncontrollably as the spell she didn't know he had cast took a hold of her, the tears streaming down her face being the final catalyst. "A…Aladdin…" Her eyes darken and she goes limp in his grasp, her entire body unmoving. The spell had her mind trapped, repeating Knuckles falling off the tower over and over again unable to do anything.
"Good," He said as he moves her with ease, she had become like a motionless marionette, seating her in the chair next to the vanity. "Now to complete your new role, my princess." He said snapping his fingers as her appearance chances further, Her hair grows triple in length and her clothes change to extravagant garments and head dress fit for an Arabian princess. "Perfect," he said lifting her chin as he looks into her empty eyes, tears streaming down her face. "Trapped in an eternal pit of grief for losing someone you love. The perfect punishment for imprisoning me in my lamp."
"So this Erazor Djinn has Sonic in his flying castle and threw you off to finish a spell?" Amy asked as Knuckles nods,
"He said he changed her role in the story, something about Princess Badar and the wicked sorcerer and called me Aladdin." Knuckles explained as Shahra lets out a gasp,
"I take it you know the story." Blaze said,
"Princess Badar is the one Aladdin fell in love with. In the final part of the story the sorcerer steals the princess and tricks her into believing her beloved is dead and she spends her days weeping for her loss."
"He said he couldn't kill me, so he made it look like I died by knocking me off the tower." Knuckles said,
"But you said Sonic was asleep in another room. How would she know you fell?" Tails said,
"The Erazor Djinn has many magical powers, one where he can show someone previous events through a reflective surface like a mirror or calm water." Shahra said,
"So we may already be too late…" Cream said,
"It's never too late. We just have to save her." Shadow said,
"You also said that Sonic found a white ring in her bag and that Erazor Djinn took it correct?" Shahra asked,
"Yeah, Sonic called it one of the seven world rings. She made a comment that they are like Chaos Emeralds but with emotions." Knuckles said sounding confused as Shadow pulls out her ring,
"Did it look similar to this?" She asked as he nods,
"Yeah, exactly like that. But white instead of green." Knuckles said reaching for the green ring as his hand goes straight through it. "What the?" they all look confused as Tails reaches out trying to grab the ring, but her hand goes through it as well.
"Weird…" Blaze said,
"Only Sonic was able to touch the rings before… perhaps only the one who first touched it can hold the ring." Shahra said,
"What's so important about these rings?" Knuckles asked,
"They could be our ticket back home." Amy said,
"But how will we find them?" Cream asked,
"Maybe they are like Chaos Emeralds and are attracted to one another." Tails said,
"I'll try to keep an eye out then." Shadow said putting the ring away, "Now, how do we get up to the flying palace?" She asked,
"First, we should find a way to weaken the Erazor Djinn," Shahra said,
"No, first we save Sonic." Shadow said,
"Shahra has a point, I couldn't even touch the guy when I tried to fight him." Knuckles said,
"If he's the genie of the lamp then his weakness is the lamp itself." Tails said,
"Yeah but trapping him back in his lamp caused this mess in the first place." Blaze said,
"Either way, we're going to the palace. He probably has the lamp somewhere hidden there and I'm not letting Sonic stay near that creep." Shadow said rubbing the ring, "Take us to the Night Palace." Shahra bows,
"Yes my Master." She said as the magic carpet reappears.
"You drop them off at shore." Shadow told the pirates, "We'll be back and if we find out you hurt them you'll be sleeping with the fishes." She glared as they all nod,
"You all be safe." Ali Baba said as they all climb onto the magic carpet and begin flying up into the clouds towards the Night Palace.
The group flies above the clouds, they see the massive castle floating above it as they all stare in awe. It seemed to glisten with the morning sun almost blinding them. "That place is huge!" Amy said trying to shade his eyes with his hand,
"That explains why we never found a way out. This place makes Camelot look like a children's playground…" Knuckles said,
"It'll take us days to find her…" Tails said looking worried,
"First we worry about how we get in." Shadow said,
"The last time we were here, Sonic used the white World Ring to open the front door." Shahra said,
"Well that's not good, last I checked Erazor has the white ring." Knuckles said,
"Maybe the green one can also open it?" Cream said,
"There's only one way to find out." Shadow said as they fly towards the entrance. They land in front of the door and look at it for a moment as Shadow takes out the green ring,
"We must be very careful, the Erazor Djinn can create many minions along with alter the inner working of the castle to confuse us." Shahra explained,
"I think I hate this guy more than Morrigan…" Shadow said holding up the green ring as it glows for a moment and the doors open,
"It worked!" Tails cheered,
"Keep your guard up." Amy said summoning his hammer. They all walk inside and look around the grand foyer overwhelmed where to go from there.
"It seems my castle has become infested with rodents." They hear as Erazor Djinn appears at the top of the stairs,
"That's easier than having to go look for him." Blaze said,
"Shahra? Have you chosen to betray me again?" Erazor Djinn said as she glares,
"You tricked me and used me to get what you want. For once I am finally free." She said as the others smile at her confidence though they were unsure about their history.
"You're just as worthless as that new rat you call a master." He said as Shadow glares.
"What have you done with Sonic!" Knuckles yelled as Erazor Djinn laughs,
"You mean the new Princess Badar? Thanks to you, the spell worked perfectly." He said as they all glare, "She silently weeps locked away in her room for all eternity."
"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Tails yells,
"You?" He raises an eyebrow, "A bunch of street rats loitering around my castle? There's nothing you can do." He snaps his fingers as his minions fill the room. "Besides, only the real Aladdin can break the spell and I've written him out of the story. You only have a fake." He laughs as he disappears. They all charge at the minions taking them down one at a time.
"Knuckles, what did he mean by that?" Amy asked as he swings his hammer down on one of the minions.
"Sonic was originally Aladdin, but since he rewrote her as the princess, the role of Aladdin is empty." Knuckles explained as he punches one of them away from Tails as she kicks one away. "He forced me into a fake role of Aladdin only long enough to meet his needs." He looked frustrated remembering Erazor Djinn questioning if he loved her. Shadow appears next to him striking two minions as they disappear,
"Focus on fighting, we make a plan after we're clear of these guys." She demanded snapping him out of us as he nods following her lead.
"This way!" Cream pointed to a nearby hallway as they all follow after her closing the doors behind them preventing Erazor's minions from following them.
"Uh… is it me, or does this room look sideways…?" Blaze said looking confused,
"It's one of the ways the castle tries to confuse you. It's a maze." Shahra said,
"We need to find Sonic now… Shahra, is there any way you can help us locate her?" Shadow asked. She begins to concentrate,
"I do not feel her presence… The Erazor Djinn must be hiding her somehow." She said with a frown,
"If we could get to the area I was around earlier. I might be able to find the room Sonic and I were in before Erazor grabbed me. He commented that he already locked her in there, so I bet he hasn't moved her." Knuckles said,
"That could work!" Shahra said flying over to Knuckles,
"What could work?" Knuckles asked looking confused,
"We got more company," Blaze said as more of Erazor's minion charge at them from down the hall.
"Shahra, what do you need?" Shadow asked,
"I need a moment with Knuckles." She said as they all nod,
"None of them get past us," Shadow said as they all beginning to fight.
"What do need from me?" Knuckles asked,
"The Erazor Djinn has Sonic hidden, but if you can remember something near the room instead of the room itself I can get us close." She explained,
"I'll try." Knuckles said. He closes his eyes and concentrates remembering how cold it was as the hallway he and Sonic walked through overlooked the sky like a long balcony. He remembers talking to her about finding a place to rest before they freeze as he notices her shivering. A magic circle begins to slowly appear beneath them.
"Everyone hurry inside the circle!" Shahra said as they turn and run towards the magic circle, Shadow and Blaze giving them cover as they all step inside. In a flash they are transported to another part of the castle. They all stagger feeling disoriented.
"I don't feel so good…" Tails said holding onto the railing,
"I apologize… I've never had to teleport so many people before. I'm not as powerful as a genie of the lamp." She said as Amy shakes his head,
"I'm just gonna sit down for a minuet…" He said sitting down,
"We should have a few moments before he figures out where we are." Shadow said holding her head,
"Where do we go from here Knuckles?" Cream asked also holding onto the railing as Knuckles dizzily looks around,
"I think it was around here that we started looking for a place to rest." He said.
"I'll start checking doors, you all try to regain your balance." Blaze said helping Cream sit down as she walks over to one of the doors.
"Wish I could shake this dizziness as fast as she did…" Tails said,
"She's got that whole balance thing…" Shadow said,
"Aren't you the Ultimate Lifeform?" Amy joked,
"Shut up." She said gaining her composure as the dizzy feeling subsides, "We just need to keep an eye out for a door that's guarded." She said helping the others to their feet.
"Do you really think he'll have her guarded?" Cream asked,
"Definitely, especially since we're now looking for her. He may be egotistically confident, but villains are always paranoid about losing their captives." Shadow said,
"Villains? Sonic made you read her comics didn't she?" Tails asked with a chuckle as Shadow looks flustered for a moment.
"M… Maybe…" She looks away trying to hide her face turning red,
"I think it's sweet you want to share more interests with her." Cream said with a smile,
"Everyone feeling alright to move forward?" Shadow asked trying to change the subject feeling embarrassed.
"Yeah," Knuckles said as they all continue forward.
"Okay, now that we have a moment to think… how do we break the spell once we do find her?" Amy asked, "Last I checked none of us are named Aladdin…"
"I have a theory about that." Tails said,
"Care to share?" Blaze asked,
"First, Knuckles, you said that Sonic was originally Aladdin correct?" She asked and he nods, "And Shahra, you helped Sonic while she was here in the Arabian Nights last time right?"
"That is correct, but I don't see how that information helps us." Shahra said,
"In the original story of Aladdin, he uses the help from his genie of the ring to escape the cave." She explained, "If Aladdin is the one who wields the ring…" She looks at Sophia as she puts it together,
"I might be the new Aladdin." She said looking at the ring on her finger.
"It's just a theory though… we won't know until we find her." Tails said as they continue forward as one of the doors Blaze attempts opens.
"Should we have a look just in case?" Blaze asked as Knuckles peaks into the room.
"This wasn't the room, but it definitely looks similar." He said as he sees a red ring laying on the table. "Is that one of the World Rings?" He asked walking over to it.
"What's it doing here? Unless The Erazor Djinn has been attempting to collect them again…" Shahra said, "Only the collector can touch them though so how is he able to touch them?"
"You said Sonic was the collector last time right?" Shadow said standing next to Knuckles "Maybe since she already collected them all it changed the rules?" She reached for the ring, but her hand goes through it.
"Just like when we tried to touch the green ring." Tails said,
"Didn't you say that these rings are the seven hearts?" Caroline asked as Shahra nods,
"I have an idea; Knuckles try to grab it." Amy said as he shrugs,
"Okay, but it didn't work when I tried to grab the green one." He said as his mitt grasps the ring, he feels a powerful surge of strength and emotion flow through him as Knuckles wells up with unknown anger punching the table causing it to break in half as he snaps out of the rage.
"Are you alright Knuckles?" Blaze asked,
"Yeah, sorry if I scared any of you… I just felt so angry I couldn't control it." He held his head for a moment, "It felt like maddening rage…"
"Is it better now?" Tails asked,
"Yeah, is this what you thought would happen Amy?" He asked while pocketing the ring as Amy nods,
"Just like Shadow's, your rings color matches your Chaos Emerald," he said,
"Power enriched by the heart…" Cream said,
"So we're all supposed to hold onto the one that matches our Chaos Emerald?" Shadow asked in disbelief.
"Just another theory." Amy said with a shrug.
"Sonic believed that the rings were originally from another world." Shahra said, "Perhaps that has something to do with it?"
"Maybe." Tails shrugged,
"We should keep moving." Shadow said as they continue forward.
Down a few more corridors was the room Sonic was sealed within guarded by two large sentinels. Erazor Djinn appears before her as he admired his work. She hadn't moved since he completed the spell on her as tears continued to endlessly stream down her face. "I have come to tell you that it is time to stop morning your love my princess," He grinned as he snaps his fingers. She slightly jolts as her head turns to him. The tears stop but there was still no life in her eyes, "You must accept your fate that you belong to me now."
"And I will tell you the same as I did the day before, The only thing you will get from me is my tears and lament." She said the words as if scripted and forced to leave her lips.
"I already told you, your beloved will not come save you. He has been killed by your father the sultan." He said enjoying the forced play, her body continues to move as if she were a marionette.
"I do not care. I will never love you." She turns away from him,
"Fight it all you want my princess, but there is no escape." He snaps his fingers again as tears begin to flow down her cheeks again as he tilts her head with a chuckle. "I will say, I enjoy this form far more than when you were a filthy rodent. But you have no idea what has happened, all you can see now is that man falling to his death over and over. You can't even hear what I'm saying." He lets out a laugh as he moves her head back into place. "Don't worry my unknowing pet, I'll visit you every day to fully enjoy your torment." He said as he disappears leaving her alone again.
"This is annoying!" Amy complained as they all continued to walk, "it's almost nightfall and nothing!"
"Are you sure this was the right area Knuckles?" Tails asked. They turn into another corridor as he begins to recognize where they were,
"Positive!" He said quickly walking ahead of them. "The room was in the next corridor to the left." He said as they all quickly hurry down the hall,
"Wait!" Cream said as they all stop; "I hear some of those creatures in the next hall."
"Looks like you were right about him guarding the door." Blaze said looking at Shadow,
"Let's go get rid of them then." Shadow said with determination in her eyes as she turns the corner seeing the two towering sentinels in front of the door.
"Those guys are huge!" Amy said as they turn hearing his voice as the rest of them turn and glare at him,
"Way to go Amy…" Knuckles said as Amy chuckles,
"Doesn't matter, you all focus on one I have the other." Shadow said charging ahead,
"Taking one on your own is dangerous!" Tails yelled as they all run after her as the sentinel swings it's large weapon as Shadow as she dodges it with ease while she concentrates. She gets close enough to touch it's leg.
"Chaos Control!" Shadow said as she and the one sentinel disappear taking the others off guard for a second. A few moments pass as they see the sentinel falling off the palace down into the clouds.
"Unless she does that…" Amy said sounding surprised,
"I hope this palace isn't over a city…" Cream said as the other sentinel gets ready to swing as Knuckles catches the weapon before it strikes down as Blaze jumps up blinding it with fire while Amy runs up to its legs. He swings his hammer striking the legs making the sentinel loose it's balance as Cream and Tails fly next to it and push them towards the railing as it falls off following after the other sentinel below the clouds.
"Well that went better than expected…" Knuckles said as Shadow warps back slightly out of breath.
"That took a lot more energy than it should have." She said,
"Remember, there is Chaos energy here but not as much as you are used to so be careful." Blaze said as she nods.
"C'mon, let's get Sonic." Shadow said walking over to the door and reaching for the handle as she's blasted back by an electric shock.
"Shadow!" Tails and Cream run over and help her back up.
"I hate magic…" She rages as Amy turns his hammer into a staff.
"Looks like it's my time to shine! Let's see if I can do this." Amy said casting the dispel magic that Merlina taught him. But the magic was much stronger than his own. "My powers aren't strong enough…"
"Shadow, Knuckles, help Amy using the energy of the rings." Tails said as they both pull out the rings and place a hand on his shoulders as they concentrate on the energy coming off the ring and making it flow through them into Amy as he attempts again. This time the spell was broken with ease as both Shadow and Knuckles stop channeling energy and collapse.
"Are you alright?" Cream asked as they all check on them,
"At least Dr. Q isn't here to yell at us." Knuckles jokes catching his breath as they help them up. Blaze and Amy open the doors to the extravagant room. They don't notice anyone at first but see someone sitting in front of a vanity facing the other way from them as Shadow quickly rushes up.
"Sonic?" She called out standing in front of her not recognizing her for a moment the only things unchanged were her hedgehog ears and her emerald green eyes that looked void of life. The others followed her and see Sonic just sitting there.
"What in Chaos did he do to her?" Amy asked as Shadow reaches for her and places her hands on Sonic's forearms lightly shaking her,
"Sonic? Can you hear me?" She called out but there was no change, her eyes were still dark, and tears continues to run down her face.
"Why is she crying?" Cream asked,
"In the story, the princess spends her days crying after hearing her father the Sultan had killed Aladdin. But that was a lie the Sorcerer told her." Shahra said,
"Knuckles say something, you're the one she thinks is dead." Tails said as Shadow doesn't look away from Sonic with concern in her eyes,
"Sonic, I'm right here. I'm not dead." Knuckles said placing his hand on her shoulder. They all wait for a reaction… but there was nothing.
"It's like he turned her into a doll." Blaze said uncomfortably having trouble looking at her. "She hasn't even blinked…"
"I don't think she can hear or see us…" Tails said looking her over.
"Wait, look at her wrists." Amy pointed out as they see a purple ring on her left wrist and a white ring on her right. "They look like the World Rings." Shadow reaches for the rings but can't grab them.
"Let me try." Cream said grabbing the white ring as she feels the energy flow through her as emotions of dreams flow through her. Sonic's wrists falls out of the ring as if she could no longer touch it. "The emotions of wishes and desire…" Blaze goes over and grabs the purple ring as the same occurs freeing Sonic's wrist from the ring. But she becomes overwhelmed by the emotions coming from the ring and begins to cry.
"Are you alright?" Knuckles asked putting his hand on her shoulder as Cream rushes next to her grabbing her hand.
"I've never felt this sad before." She said wiping away the tears as Cream hugs her,
"It's okay, I got you." She said as Blaze hugs her back.
"How were the rings touching her?" Tails asked confused,
"Perhaps it is because she has touched all of the rings before." Shahra said,
"Makes sense, She originally pulled the white ring out of one of her bags back home when this all started." Knuckles said,
"But after we touched them they went straight through her." Cream said.
"Perhaps because now you are meant to wield them?" Shahra said
"But why were those rings around her wrists?" Shadow asked,
"The emotions of Wishes, Desire and Sadness…" Tails pondered,
"The Erazor Djinn must have been using the overpowering emotions to lock in the spell." Shahra said pointing back at Sonic, "She is not crying as much. Perhaps try again?"
"Sonic? Can you hear us?" Shadow called out looking up at her as they all stayed quiet waiting to hear or see any change in Sonic's demeanor.