Chapter 24: The Final Encounter

Bowser's Castle: Throne room

With Team 1:

Mario, Sonic, and co. were fighting Bowser.

"Whew…" Mario said panting. "You're pretty strong."

Bowser laughed. "You are no match for me and Eggman!"

"Yeah?" Knuckles challenged. "We'll see about that!" He ran at Bowser, who simply blew his fire at Knuckle's feet, making the echidna hop like crazy. "Ouch! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!"

"You're asked for it Bowser!" Luigi said bravely. "Have at ye!" He leaped at Bowser, who grabbed the plumber's foot and slammed him into the ground.

"Luigi!" Mario exclaimed, running to his brother.

Bowser laughed evilly. "I told you that you can't defeat me! I'm too powerful—ouch!" He exclaimed as Sonic spin-dashed the Koopa's legs, knocking the giant turtle on his back.

"You were saying?" Sonic smirked.

Bowser growled in anger. "Hammer Bro, attack!"

Mario clenched his fists. "Let's do this!"

With Team 2:

Team Chaotix were busy fighting Metal Sonic in the lab.

"Gaaah!" Vector shouted as he narrowly avoided getting blasted. "Espio! Disable those machines already!"

"Right!" Espio quickly ran to a machine, only to get knocked down by a lightning-fast punch. "Ugh! He's a lot stronger now…"

"You cannot defeat me!" Metal Sonic boasted. "I am the ultimate Sonic!"

"Oh yeah?" Charmy asked. "Then take this!" He sped at Metal Sonic with such force it knocked the robot off its feet.

"Good one Charmy!" Vector complimented.

"Ahh, thanks!"

Metal Sonic angrily stood up. "That's it! Now more Mister Nice Guy! I'm unleashing my full strength!"

Vector was shocked…and a little worried. "Wait, he wasn't using his full strength!?"

"Bring it on!" Espio said, grabbing one of his shurikens.

With Team 3:

Yoshi, Silver, and Blaze were busy fighting Bowser Jr.

"Hahahaha!" The Koopling laughed. "You cannot defeat me!"

"Oh really?" Silver challenged. "Then have some of this!" He used his telekinesis to knock back the Koopling.

"Hey! No fair!" Bowser Jr. angrily shouted, transforming into Shadow Mario. "All right, now you asked for it!"

"Oh boy." Blaze sighed. "This'll be fun."

With Team 4:

Team Dark and Dimentio were staring at each other, each preparing for the inevitable fight.

"Dimentio," Shadow said. "I don't want to fight you. But I need that Chaos Emerald."

"Well tough luck." Dimentio chuckled. "That's not going to happen."

As Dimentio and Shadow talked Rouge snuck towards the emerald. Finally, she thought. I can get it for myself.

"Hold it!" Dimentio exclaimed, shooting Rouge with an energy beam that knocked her into the wall. "Nice try."

"Rouge!" Shadow exclaimed, slightly worried.

"Ungh…he's pretty strong." Rouge admitted, slowly standing up.

Shadow angrily glared at Dimentio. "You're going to pay for that!"

Dimentio chuckled. "Well, I would fight you…but I'm behind on my schedule." He snapped his fingers, which instantly trapped Team Dark in a magic block.

"What the-!?" Shadow exclaimed in surprise.

"I will see you later." Dimentio smiled. "But first," he took the Chaos Emerald that Rouge dropped when she was slammed against the wall. "I'm going to take this."

"You!" Shadow hissed in rage.

Dimentio smiled again. "I will see you later. Ciao!" He snapped his fingers and Team Dark vanished. "Well…that's one group out of the way." He said to himself. "Now to get the other emeralds and finish this." With that he grabbed the Chaos Emerald out of the storage room and vanished.

With Team 3:

The heroes were still fighting Bowser Jr., and were apparently driving him back.

"You can't defeat me!" Shadow Mario shrieked angrily. "I'm too OUCH! Get it off! Get it off!" He began hopping up and down as Blaze used her Flame Tornado to set him on fire.

"Sorry," Blaze said. "But I think we're done."

Bowser Jr. transformed back into his normal form, still smoking from the flames. "No…I can't lose…"

"It's just a way of life." Silver told him. "You can't win all the time."

"Hmm…what interesting advice…" A voice said. "I might think about that…not." There was a slight distortion as Dimentio appeared in front of the heroes.

"You!" Blaze exclaimed, recognizing him. "You're the one who attacked Sonic at the docks!"

Dimentio smiled. "Guilty. My name is Dimentio."

"Well, 'Dimentio'," Silver said. "We don't want you getting in our way, so I suggest you move!"

"Sorry…Silver, was it? I thought so. But yeah, that's not happening." The magician suddenly shot a wave of energy at the heroes, knocking them off their feet, as well as dropping two Chaos Emeralds, which Dimentio quickly grabbed. "But thanks for these."

"You little-!" Silver angrily hissed, standing up.

"Whoops! Forget to do this." Dimentio snapped his fingers, trapping the heroes in a magic block. "There, that's better. I will see you all later." He snapped his fingers again, making them disappear. He then turned to a dumbfounded Bowser Jr. "I will see you later as well." With that, the magician vanished.

"Uh…" Bowser Jr. said in shock. "What was that all about!?"

With Team 2:

Team Chaotix were still fighting Metal Sonic.

"Take this!" Vector shouted, punching the robot in the face, knocking the robot against the far wall.

"Impossible! How…how can you defeat me!?" Sparks were flying from the metallic hedgehog.

"You can't defeat us Metal." Espio said quietly. "We have the power of the Chaos Emeralds on our side."

"Or rather you did." Dimentio corrected, appearing next to Metal Sonic, who he turned to. "Really Metal? Getting tired already? You must be weaker than I thought."

"Dimentio!?" Vector exclaimed in surprise.

"Why is everybody surprised to see me?" Dimentio asked. "It's not like I just came back from the grave!"

"I am NOT weak!" Metal Sonic angrily shouted at Dimentio, who rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." He retorted. "But I'll take it from here." The magician snapped his fingers and trapped the Chaotix in a magic block.

"Whoa!" Charmy exclaimed. "What's this!?"

"I don't know…" Espio said quietly, looking around him.

"Now, if you'll be so kind…" Dimentio snapped his fingers and teleported the two emeralds they had to him.

"Wha!? How'd you do that!?" Vector asked.

"It's too complicated for you." Dimentio chuckled. "Well, see you later!" He snapped his fingers, making the Chaotix vanish.

"Thank you for the assistance." Metal Sonic said, more than a little embarrassed.

"Don't thank me yet." Dimentio said swiftly. Let's see… he thought to himself. I have six of the Chaos Emeralds. I just need that last one, and then I'll be unstoppable! He turned to Metal Sonic and smiled. "Well, I've got to go. Ciao!" With that, he snapped his fingers and vanished.

With Team 1:

Mario, Sonic, and co. were busy fighting Bowser.

"Oof!" Bowser exclaimed, getting punched in the stomach by Mario.

"Hey!" Eggman's voice shouted. "What's going on!?" He ran into the room, where he saw the scene. "Oh…" An instant later he was on the ground with Sonic grinning next to him.

"Hey Baldy Macnosehair!" Sonic teased. "Looks like the gigs up for both of you."

Eggman angrily slammed the ground. "Curse you Sonic! Why must you always interfere!?"

"Cause that's what we do." Mario said, trip-kicking Bowser.

"I must say," A voice said. "It's actually pretty funny to watch you guys get beaten up." There was a slight distortion as Dimentio appeared over the throne.

"You again!" Knuckles angrily shouted, punching his fists. "Haven't we already shown you not to mess with us!?"

"Nope." Dimentio said shortly. He then turned to the blue hedgehog. "Now Sonic, be a dear and give me that Chaos Emerald."

Sonic laughed. "Why would I do that?"

"Simple." Dimentio said, snapping his fingers. A television floated down, showing Wario and Waluigi with Bomb-ombs in their hands cornering Peach, Toad, Amy, and Cream. "If you don't, the girls go out with a bang."

"And how do we know you're not lying to us?" Tails asked.

Dimentio put his hand on his heart. "I promise that if you give me the Chaos Emerald I will teleport the Wario Brothers here and spare the girls. I have the power to do it, just like I have the power to kill the girls before those buffoons even throw their bombs. Is that good enough?"

"Well Sonic?" Mario turned to the blue hedgehog.

Sonic shrugged. "Do we have much of a choice?" He handed the emerald to the smiling Dimentio. "Now do your part of the bargain."

Dimentio nodded and snapped his fingers, transporting Wario and Waluigi into the throne room. "I have to say thank you Sonic." He said gratefully.

Sonic nodded. "Yeah, but do know that we're just gonna take it back."

Dimentio chuckled. "I don't think so." He snapped his fingers and trapped the heroes in a magic block.

"What the heck is this thing!?" Knuckles shouted, punching the block, which only hurt his hand.

"It seems to be some kind of cage or something made out of magic and energy." Tails observed.

"You are partly correct Tails." Dimentio said. "And know, I must bid you adieu!" He snapped his fingers again, and the heroes vanished.

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To be continued...