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XIII: The Dark Limbo
As they approached the rift they were soon swarmed with shadow demons. The demons shrieked and hissed at them, refusing to let them get any closer to the rift between the dimensions. Shadow appeared in his super form in front of them and shot beams of chaotic energy at the demons who were pushed back.
"Go! I'll distract them." He ordered and everyone nodded at him before quickly diving into the dark rift.
Sonic didn't quite know what to expect to happen when he dived into the land of the dead and spirits, but certainly not this. The area remained in pitch darkness with no source of light. Sonic could still see everyone clearly as if they were walking in the midday sun, but they seemed to just be walking in a dark void.
There were no obstacles and although Sonic could see no floor, he felt like he was walking on a completely flat, smooth surface.
"What the hell is this place?" Knuckles asked as he looked around worriedly. He wasn't exactly a fan of the paranormal.
"Amy," Future Sonic mumbled, "Do you remember any stories the tribe used to tell about this place?"
Sonic wasn't sure what his future self meant, but Amy seemed to.
"I don't remember much, but all I do know is that the King is very cunning and likes to make deals. He's not trustworthy, but he does honour his promises, but I don't remember anything being describe about this place. Although, it does seemed strangely familiar." Amy mused as she looked around in wonder.
Future Sonic smirked. "That's all I need to know."
Sonic wasn't sure what he had up his sleeve, but he hoped it was something good and useful.
As they continued walking further and further away from the rift, Sonic strained his ears to hear what sounded like whispering in the distance. When he listened harder though, it sounded like people screaming and begging for mercy.
"Do you guys hear that?" Tails asked, his voice shaking with fright.
"I'm guessing it's the chambers of punishments." Amy said, glaring straight ahead. "Where the wicked receive torture after they die for all eternity depending on their crimes."
"Whoa." Knuckles mumbled.
As they walked on, they soon saw what looked like a figure in the distance. It appeared to be hunched over and trembling, with a cloak covering up their face.
"Hey, are you alright?" Sonic asked as they approached.
The person in the cloak nodded before taking a deep breath and standing up, still shaking slightly.
"Sorry." The voice rasped. "I'm just so tired. I haven't moved this much in while." He let out a low chuckle.
"Are you a ghost?" Tails asked nervously and the strange man chuckled again.
"No." He answered before sighing. "Although sometimes I wish I was."
"Huh?" Sonic said looking at the cloaked man in confusion.
"It's a sad existence when one cannot die." The man explained. "It's long, it's boring and tiring."
"Why can't you die then?" Knuckles asked suspiciously.
"It is my curse." He replied bowing his head in shame. "I was once the great guardian of the Scorpion temple, but I was eager to find out more about the deep magic that drives the world. I messed around with taboo magic and was caught doing so. I thought I could have power over the dead and be able to see spirits. As punishment, my eyes were gauged out and I was cursed to spend eternity working among the dead and the demons and spirits." He said before sighing in a melancholy way.
"You're the King of the underworld." Amy gasped and everyone took a hesitant step away from him.
The old man pulled back his hood and to Sonic's shock he saw a grey hedgehog with deep wrinkles and black hollowed out eye sockets that stared at them intensely. He was incredibly skinny too and he looked really tired and fed up.
"I wouldn't say King." He mumbled sarcastically. "I have no kingdom amongst the stupid souls here, the only reason I have power over death is because I was a chosen one of Scorpion." He said eyeing Amy's bracelet greedily.
Amy covered it with her hand and glared at him.
"But that was over a thousand years ago and I see the power has passed to a new keeper." He said staring at Amy with those hollow eyes.
She didn't say anything.
The old hedgehog continued to stare at her in a calculating way. "I saw your little episode with the knife a few years back. Very brave of you, and I am so sorry about the curse." Amy flinched, but the King continued on. "Very unfortunate that such a tragedy should happen to a pretty women such as yourself."
"Leave her alone." Future Sonic threatened as Amy looked close to tears.
"Ah, you must be Sonic the Hedgehog." The King chuckled. "From what I understand, you've been cursed too like your wife. Why don't you two join me and we can get revenge on the tribe together. You will all be valuable allies."
"We're not interested in petty revenge." Future Sonic snapped, but the King just smiled.
"How could you not be?" He asked. "That tribe ruined your life, just admit how much the curse burns in your soul."
Future Sonic shuddered, but regained his composure.
"I said no. Now where's Sky?" He demanded.
"I forgot you were the impatient one." The King muttered before speaking up. "She's stashed somewhere safe and you can have her back once you join me."
"Maybe he'll listen to force." Knuckles chuckled before running over to punch the King, but his fist just went right through his body.
"Sorry sir, but you don't have the magical might that I'm looking for." The King laughed before staring longingly at Future Sonic and Amy again.
Sonic stood there feeling confused. He wasn't magical in anyway unless you counted being able to use the power of the chaos emeralds. The only power Amy had was that crazy hammer of hers that Sonic often felt the brute force of way more often than what he would like. The King seemed so interested in them for some reason and Sonic wanted to know why. Maybe if he changed this in the future then the King of the underworld might not want to come after them.
Sonic heard a shriek and everyone turned around to see Sky appear being held back by two shadow demons. She looked tired and drained as she fought to stand up and break free of the demons' grasp on her. Future Sonic began trembling slightly again and the King smirked.
"Only you can save her Sonic." The King said smirking evilly. "Just say you'll help me get my revenge…your revenge. Don't you want to pay them back for what they did to you and Amy? What they are now doing to your family? We could find a cure, help you control it."
Future Sonic said nothing as he looked like he was fighting something back. He screwed his eyes tightly shut and Sonic watched as his future self looked like he was chanting or singing something to keep himself calm. Sonic's heart beat erratically in his chest at the disturbing sight. Everyone else kept their distance from him with worried expressions.
"Don't listen to him Sonic." Amy begged, looking like she desperately wanted to approach him, but couldn't.
"Don't worry about him sweet Amy." The King said. "You'd never have to worry about him again if you join me. I could find a cure for you too, imagine how much happier your life will be and you and Sonic could get back to the way you used to be. You could live in peace with your family for all eternity. I would make sure of that."
Amy didn't say anything as she bit down on her lip and looked desperately at Sky who looked like she was struggling to keep her eyes open.
"Poor dear, if you will not join me, I might as well put her out of her misery. After all, I do need a sacrifice." The King laughed as he pulled out a knife and began walking towards her.
"NO!" Future Sonic shrieked as Sonic stared in shock as his future self vanished into thin air.
The King turned around to watch the show with a huge smile on his face.
"Fascinating." He mumbled as he looked around to try and see where the blue hedgehog went.
Everyone else looked around worriedly and Sonic could hear his heart in his ears as he tried to listen out for any sign of himself.
They all jumped when one of the shadow demons was sliced in half before disappearing into a cloud of dark smoke that drifted away and then the same happened to the other shadow demon. Sky was swept off her feet by a dark figure and all Sonic could see was the white of his eyes that glowed threateningly.
"Run!" The figured commanded in a harsh voice before flying towards the rift with Sky in his arms and everyone followed without question.
"You fools!" Sonic heard the King shrieked. "Don't let them get away."
Sonic didn't need to look back to know that shadow demons were following them. They burst through the rift and Tails immediately ran towards the machine and held his hand over the switch.
Future Sonic carefully placed a now unconscious Sky on the ground and stroked her forehead before running to face the rift where the King and shadow demons were about to break out.
Shadow appeared in front of them in his super form and created a chaos shield around the portal to prevent them from leaping out.
"Good curse control there Sonic." Knuckles complimented future Sonic who smiled back.
"Tails you might want to flick that switch now." Sonic encouraged nervously as Shadow struggled to hold them back. Sonic paused when he saw Tails' face go pale as he stared at the rift with his mouth hanging open in shock.
"Tails, what is it buddy?" Future Sonic asked as he looked to see where Tails was looking and gasped.
Sonic looked up to see what had everyone so startled and he couldn't help but gasp too at the ghostly sight before him.
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