The Secret of The Rings Episode 9: The Night Palace

Time has passed, and Sonic and Shahra hurry across the desert as quickly as they can. Later in the night, Sonic and Shahra soon reach the part of the desert where their destination is. Just then, light begins to surround a large building that looks like a palace. There is the Night Palace, where Erazor Djinn dwells. Just then, the palace begins to rise and float into the sky.

At the palace, the doors burst open, releasing dark magic. Then, the clouds begin to cover the sky, turning the land dark. Suddenly a tornado swirls down from the sky and into the Night Palace. Within the tornado, are words that contain the stories of the Arabian Nights. The stories that Erazor Djinn has stolen. All the stories fly inside the palace until every last one is inside. Then with another burst of dark magic, the spirits begin flying out of the Palace.

Sitting in the throne of the Night Palace is Erazor Djinn, waiting patiently for Sonic and Shahra to come with the Seven World Ring that he desires. He then stands up and brings out his blade as he jumps on his throne to release his dark magic. Soon, the door closes, preventing anyone from entering the palace.

Sonic stands over the horizon as he stares at the palace, with the flame still pierced in his chest and still burning. Sonic clenches his hands, and lances his hand on the flame. After the sudden burst of magic, Sonic speeds towards the night Palace.

Time has passed, and Sonic and Shahra have reached the entrance to the Night Palace. Sonic then holds the White World Ring up high, and the door disappears. Soon, Sonic falls with one knee on the ground.

Seeing the remaining of the flame on his chest, Sonic says, "Hehehe. Looks like my time limit is about up."

"Sonic?!" Shahra says, worried.

"Sorry. I don't mean to worry you," Sonic apologizes," ...I'll be okay."

Feeling bad, Shahra says, "I'm so, so sorry. It's my fault that this happened to you…

"Really. Don't worry about it. Just remember my promise... The promise between me and you," Sonic reassures, and holds out his pinky.

Shahra holds out his pinky and says, "I haven't forgotten that promise!"

"I knew I could count on you Shahra. It's gonna take more than some tiny flame to bring judgement down on me! Come on, let's go!"

"Okay!" Sonic says.

Soon, Sonic and Shahra hurry inside the Night Palace to find the Erazor Djinn. Inside the palace is a cyan blue hall.

Shahra looks around and says, "So, this is where Erazor is…"

Sonic runs down one hall, and enters the other. He turns right and hurries down the hall.

"Don't worry. We'll get him in no time!" Sonic says.

Of course, they remember that this is Erazor Djinn's domain, so they have to go through the traps and spirits he has placed for them. They have to dodge spike balls, scale the walls. Some areas of the wall crumble under Sonic's feet, so they have to act fast.

Shahra cries out, "Hurry! Before it breaks!"

"I know! I know!" Sonic answers.

Sonic continues to scale the walls until they reach a different part of the palace, and continue forward. Just then, they run into Erazor's Djinn's minions.

"It's a trap! What do we do?" Shahra asks, worried.

"Well, guess it's time to rumble!" Sonic says.

Then calls out, "Speed Break!"

And uses the power to speed across the palace, dodging or ramming into the minions in their way. When the effects wear off, Sonic then spins dashes at the spirits.

Then Shahra says, "Now of all times is when we should stay on guard," Shahra advises.

"Don't worry," Sonic says.

And the two continue forward exploring different areas of the Night Palace to find Erazor Djinn and where he is. Sonic performs Speed Break again to speed ahead.

Soon enough, Sonic sees an ending to the road, and comes to a stop. Sonic and Shahra look down from the balcony to see a carpet.

"I guess next up, we go for a walk on the air," Shahra says.

Sonic grins, "This just keeps getting better and better."

Sonic then jumps off the balcony and lands on the flying carpet. Then the carpet flies Sonic to where he needs to go.

"Remember to be careful, Sonic," Shahra says.

"Got it," Sonic says.

Sonic and Shara continue to fly on the flying carpet around the Night Palace.

"Hey, check out the view! Sonic says, impressed by the palace.

But Shara says, "Sonic, we don't have time for sightseeing!"

"Okay okay," Sonic says.

Sometime later, Sonic and Shahra arrive at a large balcony at a different part of the Night Palace. Sonic jumps off and begins to look around.

Sonic sees an entrance and says, "He must be through here."

"Indeed…" Shahra says.

Sonic and Shahra soon enter the mysterious room and are surprised to see what they are seeing. Suddenly, something strange begins to happen.

"Whoa, what the…?" Sonic asks, surprised.

Then the room begins to scratch long, forming a hall, and the entrance is getting further away.

"The room… stretched!" Shahra says, shocked.

And suddenly, a wall made of dark magic appears. The two then approach the wall to notice a dark purple portal of some kind suddenly appears.

"Something's come out," Shahra says.

"Which means maybe we can go in!" Sonic says.

Sonic and Shahra then go through the portal, and find themselves in another location. However, this place is some kind of celestial space, and the only ground is the glass like floor and pillars.

Shahra looks around and asks, "Where could this be?"

Sonic begins to wonder, "Are we really inside the palace?"

"Sonic, look out!" Shahra panics, looking up.

Sonic looks up and notices what looks like meteors flying down at them.

Sonic screams, "Incoming!"

Sonic and Shara hurry down the glass path as some meteors destroy a few of the large glass tiles. They make a turn and one of the meteors hits part of the path.

Shahra calls out, "Watch out! The path is splitting, too!"

Sonic sees some of the spirits and uses them to bounce on their heads as the meteors destroy the path. Soon, they come across a spiraling path.

"Hang on, Shahra! Speed Break! Sonic shouts, and his speed accelerates.

Then Sonic runs across the spiraling path until they reach the other side. When they reach the other side they find a strange hour glass with glittering sand.

Looking at it, Shahra says, "there's something about this hourglass…"

"Hmm, a switch, maybe?" Sonic says.

He then spin dashes the hour glass and it turns upside down. Suddenly, Sonic and Shahra find themselves in another room, and it's not a safe room either. And then, a strange gas enters the room.

"This gas…" sonic says and calls out, "Watch out…"

Sonic and Shahra hurry across the wall as the pillars come down and more gas enters the room.

"We're getting weaker…" Shahra says.

"I see another hourglass up ahead," Sonic says.

Waiting no time, Sonic spin dashes the hourglass so it will turn upside down.

And soon, end up returning to the same area of the Night Palace. Soon, the gate fixes itself up.

"The gate! It's fixed!" Shahra says.

"Just what is this place?" Sonic asks.

They soon find another portal in front and they go in. Soon, they find themselves in a similar celestial area. They hurry down the area as meteors come down, and switch the other hourglass when they reach the other side. Of course, this place is proven to be a challenge with the twisting path and spirits.

After switching hourglasses, they appear in another room with the same gas that weakens them. They hurry across to the other side despite having to deal with the falling pillars and spin the hourglass up ahead. Then they are teleported to the same room and the second gate is fixed.

With that final gate ahead, they repeat the same as the other two. Being teleported from one room to another, turning the hourglasses and escaping dangers like spirits, falling pillars, and dangerous gas. After spinning the last hourglass, they are teleported to the white hall, and the last gate is fixed.

"So, we're finally here," Sonic says, seeing the entrance on the other side.

"Stay confident. Let's go," Shahra says.

With that, Sonic and Shahra continue forward and finally run through the entrance way.

Once reaching the other side, a purple ring begins to descend from the sky and heads to Sonic's hands. This is the last ring of the Seven World Rings.

"That's it," Sonic says.

"One of the seven World Rings. This one is purple," Shahra says.

Sonic grabs it and sparks come from it.

Seeing the ring, Sonic says, "This one... This one is sealed with sadness."

"Just what are these rings all about, anyway?" Shahra wonders.

Sonic turns to Shahra, "Hey, there's something I've been thinking about, Shahra."

"What is it?" Shahra asks.

Then Sonic asks, "How do you and Erazor Djinn know each other?"

"Huh? W-well…" Shahra replies, sounding hesitant about it.

Sonic smiles and says, "Hey, if you'd rather not talk about it, that's okay."

"Sonic…" Shahra replies.

Then Sonic asks, "Is he really a Genie of the Lamp like that king of bones said?"

"Yes…" Shahra answers, reluctantly, "Well, you see...he's the genie of the magic lamp from the story of Aladdin."

Sonic is shocked to hear it.

With that, Shahra begins to tell the story of Erazor Djinn's origins, "Long ago, he was punished for his misdeeds and sealed away in the lamp. He would not be forgiven until he had granted the wishes of a thousand people. But when his sentence has been served, he had a renewed hatred of people. That was his fate... sad, as it was. His cursed destiny came from the story he had been written into.

"...Shahra," Sonic replies.

Then Shahra continues, "To the Erazor Djinn, I am just a mere Genie of the Ring. I want to stop him, though."

Sonic remains silent.

Shahra continues, "I want to turn the stories of the Arabian Nights back to what they were. That is... my wish."

Sonic simply nods his head and says, "Don't worry, we'll return the Arabian Nights back where they belong. I'll make sure your wish comes true."

"Sonic…" Shahra says.

"Come on Shahra, Erazor Djinn can't be far. It's time to finish this," Sonic says.

"Right," Shahra says, sounding more reluctant.

With that, Sonic and Shahra continue forward until they reach a long hallway in the Night Palace. Standing before them is the Erazor Djinn.

Seeing Sonic, Erazor says, "Ah... It's the blue rat again."

"Hey, looks like I'm running a bit low, here. Think you could top me off," Sonic says, and points to his flame.

"Have you brought the seven World Rings?" Erazor demands.

"Well, you see... You should really just look for them yourself," Sonic says.

Seeing Sonic not giving in, Erazor says, "Very well…"

He then takes off his cape and says, "I'll carve you to pieces until I find every last one!"

"Is that so? Let's see you try?" Sonic says.

And so the fight between Sonic and Erazor Djinn begins. Erazor raises his blade and swings it a bit as he energizes himself with the stories he has stolen.

Sonic stands before him and says, "I've been waiting to finish things with you for a long time!"

"You filthy rat! I'll shut that mouth of yours permanently!" Erazor says, angrily, and holds out his sword.

Sonic speeds ahead to catch up with Erazor Djnn.

Shahra calls out, "Watch the way that Erazor swings his sword!"

Hearing Shahra, Erazor dodges Erazor's attack. Then he dodges another attack.

Erazor gives another swing, "Take this!" And swings his sword at Sonic, but Sonic dodges in the nick of time.

Sonic uses the opportunity to jump up and spin dash Erazor a few times as hard as he can. Then he jumps off of him.

"Aha! It's working! Now I just have to keep that up!" Sonic says.

However, Erazor is still standing, "Hah! Insolent pest! Your feeble attack cannot harm me! Come you filthy rat! And face me!"

Sonic then runs after Erazor Djinn as he swings his sword at him. Sonic quickly dodges the swinging of his blade as quickly as he can, and some are close shaves. Then Erazor Djinn backs himself away and prepares himself for another attack. Sonic sees that he needs to time this just right. So when Erazor Djinn charges for the attack, Sonic quickly jumps and spin dashes Erazor as hard as he can.

Erazor keeps his distance as Sonic speeds to catch up. Erazor then swings his sword and performs slashing magic, but Sonic dodges and quickly spin dashes on top of Erazor. Then quick;y jumps off.

Sonic says in remark, "What's wrong, Erazor? You don't look so good!"

Annoyed with Sonic, Erazor swings his word to release the slashes, "Enjoy your moment of pride, rat. It shall be your last!"

Sonic continues to use his speed to catch up with Erazor and Erazor continues to slash his sword as he begins to distance himself further. Erazor charges himself for another attack. As Erazor performs another powerful attack. Sonic spin dashes at him before he can have the chance. Sonic continues to chase after Erazor and spin dashes him when he gets the chance. Erazor refuses to attack and uses his cuts to attack Sonic. Sonic spin dashes at Erazor, until the genie quickly flies back and is ready to perform another. Erazor then charges to attack Sonic, but Sonic is able to strike an attack of his own.

After the last strike, Erazor screams in agony as the words and stories begins to be release from his body. Then he collapses to the ground.

Erazor uses his word to lift himself up, shocked that he has been defeated, "N… no.. this isn't possible!" and collapses to the ground.

Sonic then says, "All right, Erazor, give up! You've lost!"

Suddenly, Erazor disappears in smoke. The smoke then enters the door up ahead. Sonic runs to the door and enters with Shahra close behind. The smoke then enters another room, and it closes upon entry.

Shahra hurries to Sonic as she calls out, "Sonic?!"

"Ah. I'm okay. I'm still…" Sonic says.

But Shahra notices the door, "That door. What is it?"

Sonic sees the door and walks to it.

He then has an idea, "I have an idea! Watch this! Open, Sesame!"

So far, nothing.

"Ah, it didn't work!" Sonic says.

Then Shahra notices something, "That's…"

Sonic looks at the door, and remembers where he has seen the pattern before. He remembers seeing the book of the Arabian Nights. He and Shahra also notice seven holes around the pattern, each of them a different color.

"There must be some sort of... Offering we need to make. Seven…" Shahra says.

And soon realizes, "Sonic?!"

Then Sonic remembers, "'When the seven rings that control the worlds gathered, the portal between worlds shall open.'"

Then Sonic turns to Shahra, "We've got the seven World Rings, This must be the door that they open!"

Sonic then holds out the Seven World Rings and each of them begins to glow brighter. Then each of the Seven World Rings enter the slot on the door. The Seven Rings and the slot glow, and the door begins to glow. And soon, the door begins to open. Sonic and Shahra stand as the door begins to open, and soon, they'll have to face who or what is inside and prepare what will appear on the other side.