Chapter Ten
When they eventually reached the cemetery Sonic wasted no time in filling the moles in on what had occurred in the village. The small creatures exchanged worried looks and clutched at their robes as he spoke. When he had finished they turned to their leaders, eyes wide with horror. Myfanwy and Gethin looked very serious.
"This complicates matters." The high priestess tutted. "Expelling Cythraul from an inanimate object was always going to be tricky but from a living breathing person? That's a different matter."
Sonic felt his heart sink. It was not the news he had been hoping for. If the Moles weren't able to help he wasn't even sure how to rescue his best friend.
"Are you saying it can't be done?" Amy asked, her eyes full of concern.
Myfanwy smiled at her in a reassuring way. "It will be difficult but not impossible." She said. "Alot of it will depend on the person and their strength of character."
"Tails is the bravest person I know." Sonic said proudly. "If anyone can fight this its him."
He turned to the others expecting them to agree but they were staring at the ground in an uncomfortable silence.
"What?" Sonic demanded. "You guys don't believe in him all of a sudden?"
"It's not that." Knuckles replied "it's just…"
"He's not been himself lately." Sticks finished for him. "Even before the ghost troll turned up and made everyone go gaga Tails was becoming a little introverted. Out of sorts you know?"
"So?" Sonic said, a little defensively. He couldn't help but feel a little responsible for Tails recent mood.
"So," Amy replied delicately. "Cythraul picked Tails for a reason. He feeds on fear and was looking for the person most afraid. Of everyone in the village he was able to latch on to Tails and take control with hardly any fight."
Sonic shook his head angrily. "Tails is no coward." He snapped.
"I'm not saying that." The pink hedgehog reasoned. "Tails is very brave. He's brave because he feels the fear and helps people anyway. But he was afraid Sonic. Even before Cythraul came to town he was feeling frightened and alone. Whatever Cythraul said to Tails back in the fog, Tails was clearly already thinking it. Nothing I said could persuade him otherwise."
"We'll I have to try!" Sonic insisted.
Amy turned to Sticks and Knuckles who shook their heads. None of them could offer any alternative. Finally Amy asked the moles.
"Is there no other way?"
Gethin shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid not. The ritual will stay the same. It will all come down to your friend. He has to be willing to expel the ghost. If he is as broken down as you think he is it will be hard to free him from Cythraul's influence. Cythraul is a tricky beast. He will be whispering in your friends ear the entire time."
"We can persuade him." Sonic said firmly.
Gethin just shrugged. "Maybe." The mole replied. " I certainly hope so. But it wont be easy."
Sonic was willing to try anything to save his friend. This had to be worth a shot. He understood the others trepidation but there was no way he was going to let Tails down. If the little fox was going to listen to anyone it would be him.
"Did you manage to restore the pot? Sonic asked Myfanwy.
The mole nodded and motioned one of the others forwards. A small boy mole stumbled over carrying the vase which seemed taller than he was. The lid wobbled dangerously as the kid waddled over. Fearing that the boy would trip and smash the pot all over again Sonic rushed forwards and relieved him of it.
The hedgehog examined the pot closely. He could see that Myfanwy had fused the broken pieces back together with gold. The high priestess obviously saw him looking.
"If we embrace the clays flaws and imperfections it becomes stronger and more beautiful than before."
Sonic wasn't entirely sure what she had meant by that but nodded his thanks anyway.
"So what do I do?" He asked the Moles. "Are there some magic words that I need to say?"
Myfanwy looked offended but fortunately Gethin saw the funny side.
"It's a bit more complicated than that." The mole laughed.
"I wish you guys would stop saying that." Sonic said impatiently.
"Only a Mystic Mole can perform the ritual." Myfanwy said proudly.
All around Sonic and his friends the moles nodded and stood a little taller. Sonic sighed and tried not to sound to annoyed.
"Then we need you to come with us." He said to the moles high priestess.
Myfanwy opened her mouth to respond when Dylan piped up.
"No Mam!" the teenage mole cried.
Sonic rolled his eyes. He didn't have time for Dylans petulance. After all, if he had done his duty and guarded the vase like he was supposed to none of this would happen. Sonic was surprised when the young mole announced.
"I will perform the ritual."
Apparently Sonic wasn't the only one taken aback by Dylans outburst. Everyone stared back at the mole. Myfanwy looked as though she were about to explode when her husband placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
"Hear the boy out." Gethin said gently.
Dylan nodded appreciatively to his father. "I have to shoulder the blame for some of this incident." He said quietly. "I didn't do my duty and now I should make it up to our tribe. I have brought shame on us all and need to make amends."
"No offense kid." Sonic scoffed. "But we need the professionals here. We can't afford to get things wrong."
Dylan bristled. "I can do the ritual with my eyes closed!" He responded through gritted teeth. "I have been learning the words since I could first talk."
Sonic and the others turned to the boys parents. The high priest and priestess turned to eachother. Although neither said a word Sonic could tell that the old married couple new eachother so well that a small glance between them spoke more than a full on argument for some people. Gethins gaze remained firm and Myfanwy visibly sagged as she backed down.
"Ok." She said eventually. "Sonic, Dylan is more than capable of performing this rite. And he seems determined to make amends for his… indiscretion."
Sonic saw Dylans eyes dart towards one of the young female moles stood on the outskirts of the group. She looked away embarrassed as she met Dylans eye. Sonic smiled to himself. He couldn't really blame the kid for dropping the ball over a girl. It would be slightly hypocritical of him after all. If Myfanwy and Gethin were sure then it was fine by Sonic.
"Ok then." He said to Dylan. "Looks like your our best shot. I hope you're up to it."
Dylan merely nodded. His face set with grim determination.
x
Now that they had the vase and someone to prepare the ritual Sonic and his friends made their way quickly back through the forest.
"We still need to track Tails.. I mean Cythraul down." Amy pointed out as they weaved quickly between the thinning trees.
"He'll be at the village." Knuckles said confidently. "Like I said before, the bad guys seem to gravitate towards it."
"It is certainly convenient." Sticks agreed. "Although it's probably just cheaper for the animators to use the same backgrounds all of the time."
Sonic ignored them. He was entirely focused on Tails now. What was he going to say to him? Sonic was worried. Not only that he wouldn't be able to get through to his friend but also that he would have to have his heart in front of everyone. They would all be listening in as Sonic told Tails how much he meant to him. Sonic was not used to public displays of affection. Then again the entire village and all of his friends had just caught him kissing Amy. Perhaps Sonic was going to have to get used to living life more openly.
The hedgehogs stomach knotted as they reached home. As they left the trees of the forest behind and hedgehog village swam into view Sonic and the others immediately realized things were wrong. There was an eerie silence and the streets were almost deserted. The only movement were several large, familiar robots patrolling the perimeter.
"Has Eggman taken over while we were away?" Amy gasped.
Sonic shook his head and pointed to the village square which was visible through the villages entrance. Cramped together in a small bamboo cage in the middle of the town was Sonics usual Nemesis and his two robotic henchmen Orbot and Cubot. Cythraul clearly didn't see a need to take over the two weak little robots and had satisfied himself with the rest of Eggmans army.
As quietly as they could Sonic, his friends and Dylan crept closer. Sonic could see Dylan shaking a little. Fortunately Amy noticed to and took the vase from him before he dropped it. Now that the group were as close as they could be without giving themselves away Sonic could see a familiar foxy figure sat on a makeshift throne.
"Told you so." Knuckles gloated.