CHAPTER 21: SHADOW STRIKES AGAIN!

Sonic and Rainbow Dash walked through the passage that went to a set of stairs leading out of the Crystal Caves. The light at the end of the tunnel was almost blinding to them. When they reached the top and stepped out into the fresh open air of the Crystal Kingdom, they took there bearings.

"Ok, so here is my map..." Sonic pulled out his map from his backpack. "Can we see... A large tree?" he said.

"Erm... No." replied Rainbow Dash.

"Can we see... The Palace? That great big spire?"

"Yes, we can... We're standing right next to it."

Felling dumbstruck, Sonic walked through the palace doors once again, hoping not to be seen by the guards. But, to his surprise, there we're no guards! He pushed open the door to the throne room slightly and peeked in. King Sombra and Eggman were talking...

So he got through... Sonic thought.

"You? The evil genius?! Pah! That's a load of rubbish." chuckled King Sombra.

"I AM a genius who IS evil making ME an EVIL GENIUS!" Eggman exclaimed.

"If you don't leave now I'll resort to violent action."

"Ha! You and what army?" Said Eggman, with a smug look.

"Army?" said King Sombra, "I AM AN ARMY!"

Sonic turned to Rainbow Dash. "King Sombra got through and is having an argument over who is better with Eggman."

"Tell Tails!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "And where is Princess Cadence...?"

Is she the princess of this place?" asked Sonic.

"Yeah. She's also married to Twilight's brother, Shining Armor." she replied.

Sonic held up his watch. "Tails, do you read?" he said.

No answer.

"Tails!" he said again.

"I believe that your friends are in captivity." said a voice behind him.

Sonic quickly turned to see King Sombra. He was holding Rainbow Dash using magic.

"What did you do to Tails?!" Sonic demanded.

"Oh, we haven't done anything to him... yet." he replied.

"And I will make sure they don't escape after our little 'truce'." said Eggman, walking through the palace doors.

"Your BOTH monsters!" Rainbow Dash screamed.

"Be quiet. Now, stay here while I squish your little spiky friend." said King Sombra. He put Rainbow Dash down, but then worm-like vines came from the ground and held her in place.

"Let's duel." said Sonic.

"Accepted." replied King Sombra.

Sonic started running. But King Sombra, using magic, made him trip over. Sonic got up and ran left faster, but then a tentacle come out of the ground and hit him square in the face, knocking him down.

"Now for the squishing bit." said King Sombra.

"You missed one 'friend', you idiot." said a voice.

Sonic turned. It was Shadow! He was standing next to Eggman, who was looking at him with a 'please don't kill me' look. Shadow had this medallion on his neck.

"Come at me, you twit." said Shadow.

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE KING OF EVIL!" King Sombra boomed. A tentacle came out the ground, but Shadow Chaos Speared it away.

King Sombra growled. Shadow started running, then using his shoes, started sliding around. The King used his magic on his shoe, hoping to trip him up, but instead, it did nothing!

"What sort of trickery is this?!" he demanded.

"The power of Chaos!" Shadow replied. "Chaos... RIFT!"

Using his emerald, he opened a spectacular rift in Space-time. It came near King Sombra, ripping off his armor. He then closed the rift.

"I hate you all." said the King.

"This is it!" said Sonic, getting up. "Shadow, ready to do the Black Blur move?"

"Surely." Shadow replied.

"What?" said King Sombra.

Shadow jumped over to Sonic. They locked arms, back to back, then they both jumped, and started spinning, making a blue and black comet. Next, it hurtled towards the King.

Then it went right through him. Black steam shot out of the hole in him.

With a final scream of pain, he exploded in a cloud of black steam.

They both landed safely as Rainbow Dash was let go by the tentacles.

"Thanks, you guys." said Rainbow Dash.

"It's all because of Shadow." said Sonic, looking at him.

Shadow grunted. "Let's find the others."

They walked into the Palace.