ARC 5: Crystalized Darkness
Chapter 9: Mephiles PT 1
Kingape got in contact with one of the commanders asking for some support in guarding the buffers. Pale Payleaf sent 20 of his Metarex soilders to guard the buffers and the Boo called for more of the ghosts to guard as well. Ultimately the Boo decided to stay behind to help.
"I just hope the Metarex can keep Mephiles busy should he try to follow us." Tails said.
"We shouldn't be long." Sonic assured.
The mobains decided to hop on top of Thomas.
"Hold on Big and Lady, we're coming to save ya!" Sonic said.
Thomas unhooked from the freight car and whistled. Seeing he was too close to the buffers to easily activate them, he had to back up.
"Are you guys ready?" Thomas asked.
"Let's do this!" Shade said.
"Let's make it quick." Shadow said.
Thomas then charged for the buffers and everyone braced themselves as the rainbow-colored portal opened up and they teleport through into the Magic Railroad. The other Metarex and Boos were rather surprised.
The Magic Railroad...
Everyone gasped at the beautiful scenery, gold dust flew all around them and raced across the golden rails. Thomas was glad to see this place again...this was definitely a good spot to relax and enjoy yourself, if it wasn't for the Dark Guardian being held somewhere around here.
"Wow...this place is gorgeous, reminds me of Planet Wisp." Tails said.
"I know...I could get used to this. Heh...what do you think Shadow?" Sonic asked.
"Hmph...it's okay. Nothing that special." Shadow crossed his arms.
Shade rolled her eyes and went back to admiring the view. Kingape had never been to a pretty place like this, he was used to only being in space. They came across the freight car that Big had road in, it was off the rails on it's side.
"Huh, so Big really did get this far." Sonic said.
"Lucky." Shadow said.
Finally they were arriving at the other end of the line, Thomas could hear Lady again.
"WATCH OUT THOMAS! HERE HE COMES!"
Thomas was about to brake when he suddenly is forced to speed up and races through the buffers, Thomas had hoped he end up on a different line than the one with the cliff drop since there were multiple routes. Unfortunately as they entered out into Muffle Mountain, Thomas immediately is halted by Dark Guardian who suddenly returns just by the cliff. The mobians get ready to fight as Dark Guardian prepares to swing it's warhammer.
"PROTECT THOMAS!" Sonic shouted.
Shadow and Sonic jump first and spindash into Dark Guardian who jumps out of the way but staggers a bit. Apparently Lady's magic gold dust had weakened it a bit...that was a good thing. Kingape stayed in the cab while Tails tried to figure out Dark Guardian's weaknesses. Shade and Metal worked together to fight against Dark Guardian who started to swing his hammer wildly and hits Sonic who crashes to the ground.
"CHAOS SPEAR!"
Shadow makes a second attempt to use his spears, aiming precisely at the monster's eyes but the Guardian covers his eyes in time. Shadow figured if he used chaos blast it was destroy part of the mountain. Metal flies around Dark Guardian dodging a punch and a hammer swing and kicks the monster hard in the gut before charging into him with an electric orb. Shade teleported around the monster trying to confuse it.
"Hmm, Shadow you may have no choice but to use Chaos Blast. It's the only way!" Tails said.
"Is that dangerous?" Kingape asked.
"But this is Muffle Mountain, Lady is hidden inside...you need to be careful." Thomas said.
Shadow looked at everyone before Dark Guardian takes another swing with its hammer and knocks into the back of Thomas.
WHACK!
Thomas is jolted forwards nearly knocking Tails and Kingape out of the cab.
"THOMAS!" Sonic gasped.
"CINDERS AND ASHES!" Thomas gasped.
Like long ago, Thomas slips down the mountain and lands on a large steep hill. Shadow had to use his power now.
"I have no choice now! CHAOS BLAST!"
Shadow unleashes a blast of red energy so powerful it indeed destroyed a bit of the mountain but also knocked Dark Guardian off the mountain and he tumbled down the hill.
"AFTER THEM!" Shade shouted.
Tails and Kingape humorously tumbled around the cab constantly smacking into each other and apologizing each time. Thomas knew he was heading towards the hidden buffers and could sense Dark Guardian now chasing after him. Tails grabbed the chaos emerald not scorched by the fire in Thomas' firebox.
"Thomas! Use the emerald's power!"
"Okay! Chaos-"
But before he could finish, Dark Guardian grabs onto his bunker just as Thomas dips into the ground and another rainbow-colored portal opened and sucked him and the Dark Guardian in. Sonic, Shadow, Shade and Metal end up getting left behind.
"Oh no!" Shade said.
"Damn it!" Sonic stomped a foot.
"What now?" Metal asked.
Shadow felt the ground, its energy connecting with his own. He pulled out his green chaos emerald.
"CHAOS CONTROL!"
The four are then teleported away.
Burnett Stone's Workshop...
Thomas, Tails, Kingape and Dark Guardian end up racing through a large tunnel and Dark Guardian trips and falls hard onto the ground...he was too weak, yet he crawled forwards. Thomas sped closer to the light and spotted who he had been wanting to see for a long time.
"Lady."
"Hello Thomas."
There was Lady, the magical engine that kept life on Sodor, and next to her was Big and Froggy.
"Hi Thomas!" Big waved.
"BIG!" Thomas smiled.
Tails and Kingape jump out of the cab in awe at the engine.
"Whoa...she's...beautiful." Kingape said.
"So you're the magical engine?" Tails gasped.
"Yes I am...and it seems you were able to stop that monster." Lady said.
They all watch as Dark Guardian crawls weakily towards them, warhammer left behind on the surface of Muffle Mountain. Lady released some magic gold dust from her wheels and it surrounded Dark Guardian, its eyes glowing gold. But instead of destroying it, she manipulated its mind. Once finished, Dark Guardian just stood up and smiled.
"What did you do?" Tails asked.
"Consider it now your assistant in stopping that evil hedgehog." Lady smirked.
Thomas puffed closer.
"Lady...it's been so long...how are you?" Thomas asked.
"I'm fine, Burnett and Lily are still taking care of me. I heard about what you did last year. I'm very impressed...and proud." Lady smiled.
Thomas just blushed, just then the others arrive in a flash of green.
"Hah, we made it." Sonic cheered.
"Hey guys!" Big came over.
"Big you're okay." Shade hugged him.
Then they noticed Dark Guardian just standing there.
"Now to finish it for good." Metal said.
"NO!" Tails jumped on front of him.
"What do you mean?" Shadow asked.
"Lady manipulated his mind so now he can help us against Mephiles." Tails explained.
The four turn to Lady and gasp, though Shadow just crossed his arms. Sonic cleared his throat and smiled.
"Hello ma'am, I'm-"
"Sonic the hedgehog, I know all about you and your friends." Lady smiled.
Sonic blushed.
"So will you be able to help us be rid of Mephiles?" Shade asked.
"Indeed, though I'm not at my full strength yet since Burnett plans to head to Sodor and retrieve more Sodor coal for me. I should be back to normal by tomorrow." Lady explained.
"I just hope we have until tomorrow." Thomas sighed.
"Hmm, what if one of us was to go back now and get the coal, then you can be ready." Kingape suggested.
"That's a good idea...don't you think Kingape?" Sonic smirked.
Everyone turned to the metarex and he sweatdropped.
"Oh...wait...NO! WHY ME?" Kingape asked.
"Because you want to prove yourself...and this is your chance." Shade said.
While Shadow wanted to disagree, he knew he was in enough crap already, so he said nothing, the others just nod. Kingape heavily vented and clenched his fists tightly.
"Very well...I'll do my best." Kingape said.
And so as Lady's eyes glowed gold, Kingape is transported back to the Island of Sodor by his ship. He looked around to see no one, he had to be careful in case Mephiles was around, maybe one of the other Metarex commanders could help. Back inside the workshop, everyone was getting to know Lady while Shadow had an idea.
"Hmm...I think we should also try to find the Chaos Emeralds. Maybe they could enhance the power of the gold dust." Shadow thought.
"Huh, nice thinking Shadow. But that could take forever." Sonic said.
"Not necessarily, I think I can help locate where they could be." Lady said.
"Really? You can do that?" Tails gasped.
"Yes...just give me a minute."
Lady shut her eyes as her whole body glowed gold. After a few moments she returned to normal.
"Apparently Mephiles got a hold of them, and scattered them around the island. I sense him lurking around the Island for us, and sending out more villains from your past...and one from Shadow's." Lady said.
Shadow realized who she was talking about.
"You got to be kidding me." Shadow face-palmed.
"I wonder how far away each one is." Metal said.
"Looks like we need to get back to the Island fast, we need those emeralds back. We have only 2." Sonic said.
Lady then had rings made out of gold dust be places on a finger of each other them...except Dark Guardian of course.
"What are these?" Tails asked.
"These rings will allow you to use the gold dust's power against any foes you meet, but they won't be enough to stop Mephiles." Lady said.
Suddenly Dark Guardian turns into gold dust and is absorbed by Sonic's ring.
"Nice upgrade, I can even call the big guy if I wanted to." Sonic smirked.
Thomas let off some steam.
"I'll be back for you Lady, I promise." Thomas said.
"I'll be fine Thomas, I don't think Mephiles has a chance against me anyway. I'll keep in touch with you telepathically." Lady said.
With that, Lady sent them all back to the Island. Sonic got their attention.
"Okay everyone, spread out and search for those emeralds, we'll meet back at the buffers when we have them. Thomas, try to round up any engines to help search." Sonic said.
"You got it!"
Thomas and Shade set off to first find Tikal, Chaos and Percy who was probably out with the mail, Sonic and Metal went together to search while Shadow went alone, Tails and Big decided to go make sure Kingape was doing okay. The fact that Mephiles could be lurking around filled him with fear, Shade remained silent as he looked out the windows of the cab. Owls hooted and the wind blew against the trees making them rustle.
"Thomas you okay?" Shade whispered.
"I'm fine...I have to be brave." Thomas said.
Shade knew this was difficult for Thomas to handle...but she knew something that always cheered him up.
"You're a really useful engine Thomas."
That did make Thomas smile and feel a bit better...at least for awhile. So far he had come across none of the engines, where were they?
"Ooohhhh Thomasssss..."
Thomas didn't dare say a word since he knew who the voice belonged to. Shade kept her mouth shut and ducked from the windows.
"I'm coming for you."
Still the two said nothing and kept racing through the night.
"You're mine..."
Thomas hoped he would come across someone soon, and before he had thoughts of screaming, he could see Percy up ahead at Elsbridge Station taking on water. He didn't have the mail with him instead he had a coal truck filled to the top. Thomas could hear a faint laugh from Mephiles before he stopped next to Percy.
"Hey Percy, I thought you were taking the mail." Thomas said.
"Oh Paxton volunteered to do it instead." Percy said.
"So what's with the..."
Thomas immediately realized what he was doing as Percy winked. Hiding in Percy's cab was Kingape, Big and Tails who had collected the coal. Thomas and Percy then made a false accusation.
"You taking that lost coal truck back where it was before?" Thomas winked.
"Oh yes, someone decided to try and hide it. Luckily I found it, well I should be off." Percy said.
He quickly and left and Thomas and Shade continued on.
"Yes...coal collected." Shade whispered.
A few minutes later, Thomas was still curious as to where Tikal and Chaos were, probably still scoping out sights to finish their movie. Unfortunately is searching was rudely interrupted when he could sense someone following him...Mephiles. The crystalized hedgehog was floating closer behind him. Shade was taken by surprise when Mephiles suddenly jumped into the cab to face her.
"Hello girl." Mephiles said.
Shade got in a fighting stance.
"Mephiles...what are you up to now?" Shade said.
"Oh just seeing if you really can collect the chaos emeralds...after all, I still have a surprise for you all while you collect them. Even if you get all 7, they won't do you any good against me." Mephiles chuckled.
"We're gonna stop you!" Shade growled.
"Keep thinking that, besides, none of this has to happen, simply hand over the secrets to the buffers...and you can become my SLAVE INSTEAD OF BEING DESTROYED!" Mephiles growled.
"NEVER!"
"VERY WELL!"
Mephiles jumped back out the cab and clenched his fists to his chest as he began to summon someone. Down the main line, a purple portal opened up and out comes a red muscular monster with large horns and a long red tail.
"Thomas, meet Zavok, the leader of the Deadly Six..." Mephiles said.
Thomas and Shade could see from Zavok's purple eyes that he was possessed and he was holding one of the chaos emeralds. They needed that emerald, but Shade didn't know if she could beat him.
"We'll still find a way to beat you Mephiles." Shade growled.
"Oh I'm sure you'll try...but he's not the only one." Mephiles chuckled.
Another purple portal opened up to Thomas' left and out came a floating demon-like alien with three glowing eyes, twin horns sticking out of both sides of his head and robe covered in chains. He was possessed as well.
"This is Black Doom, he's from Shadow's past." Mephiles said.
"Woah...this is not good." Shade said.
And finally to their right came a villain Thomas and Shade were all too familiar with, a certain robotic snake who tried to takeover the island last year.
"LYRIC!" Thomas growled.
"Not him again!" Shade said.
But like the other two, Lyric was possessed. As the enemies closed in on them...Mephiles floated down in front of Thomas.
"Now I bet you think I'm gonna send all three of them on you at once eh, well I'm not. I'll play fair by doing it one at a time." Mephiles said.
He made Lyric and Black Doom flicker away leaving only Zavok who finally spoke.
"Let's play a game shall we...it's called SCRAP THE LITTLE BLUE ENGINE!"
To be continued...