Ch.8: A Dark Proposal
"Ugh!" said Knuckles, as he jumped out of the time portal " Whoa,"
Wherever Mephiles had taken him, Knuckles words couldn't describe it. There, right in front of him, stood a demonic black version of the Master Emerald's alter. The Master Emerald was placed in the center of the alter, glowing bright green, with the Chaos Emeralds circling around it.
The grass Knuckles was laying on was as black as coal, and the leaves on all the trees were painted blood red. From his surroundings, Knuckles concluded that he was on a dark version of Angel Island.
"You like your new home" said the crystaline version of Mephiles floating down from the sky " I made it just for you,"
"What is this place?" asked Knuckles.
"A solution" said Mephiles " I've created a seperate reality for us where we rule all. No more fear about betrayal, or friends who don't stand by your side. In this dimension Knuckles, you and me are Kings,"
"But I don't want to rule over a land of darkness Mephiles" said Knuckles " I want to live in my time, where I have my friends waiting for me,"
"I'm your friend too" said Mephiles " and I feel I should repay you for the kindness you have given me. Think about it Knuckles. With the Emeralds under my command, I can grant you anything you wish for. You miss your race? One tweak of reality and they're alive again. Come Knuckles, Wish!"
"I want my friend Dusk back!" yelled Knuckles, charging at Mephiles.
"Then good luck getting your wish," said Mephiles, charging at Knuckles.
Without another word they began to fight.
While Knuckles and Mephiles were busy duking it out in another dimension, Sonic and the others were still looking at the swirling time vortex hanging above the Master Emerald's alter.
"We have to get in there and help him," said Sonic.
"No Sonic" said Tails " the charge coming from that portal is to strong. You'll be burned to a crisp,"
"Hey" said Sonic " if Knuckles can make it, so can I,"
"Just a percaution," said Silver " we may want to stay inside my pyshic shield until we pass safely through the wormhole,"
"Sounds like a plan to me" said Shadow " let's do it,"
With that said, Silver wrapped his pyshic sheild around himself, Shadow, and Sonic and passed through the portal in time.
Meanwhile, Knuckles was putting up a fair fight againist Mephiles. His chest he greatly for air as he down another five of Mephiles shadow clones. The real Mephiles just floated there, watching the Guardian's determined face as he took one clone after another.
"What strentgh" thought Mephiles " to bad he decided to turn down my reward. We could have ruled the world together,"
Charging up a purple shockwave in his hand, Mephiles launched the ball of energy at Knuckles just as the echdina took out another one of his shadow clones. Knuckles felt the attack coming, but didn't have a chance to dodge.
Before he knew it, Knuckles was laying flat on the ground, paralyzed by pain. Calling off his shadow clones, Mephiles floated down and landed by Knuckles side, rasing his claw to deliever the final blow.
"I guess we weren't friends after all," said Knuckles, his voilet gaze locking onto Mephiles.
For some reason, after Knuckles had said that, Mephiles stopped his attack. For a brief moment the darkness had claimed Mephiles released its hold, and Knuckles was looking into the eyes of his old friend Dusk.
"Maybe there's still hope to save him," thought Knuckles.
Sonic, Shadow, and Silver couldn't have picked a worse time to arrive. The three hedgehogs wasted no time attacking Mephiles, injuring him in anyway they can. Knuckles tried to shout for them to stop, but the effects of Mephiles earlier attack hadn't worn off just yet.
The darkness returned to Mephiles eyes as he blasted Shadow, Sonic, and Silver away.
"Fine" growled Mephiles " if I can't live your world, no one can!"
With that Mephiles called upon the Chaos Emeralds and started to rip the universe apart!