Chapter 9! This things almost over; we have about 4 more chapters until the end! Hopefully you all are still reading this story.

As always, be sure to leave a review on this chapter for more of the story!

Chapter 9: The Haunted Wasteland

"So you and Link are working together now?" Tails asked Sonic after they left the Shadow Temple.

"Yep," Sonic answered. "The fate of our worlds is at stake now."

"And you two will be fine on your own, right?" Tails asked.

"We're positive," Link said. "Hope there are no hard feelings."

"No worries," Tails said. "But you should probably take this with you, Sonic." He gave Sonic some kind of wrist communicator. "Use this communicator in case you do need my help."

"Thanks, buddy," Sonic said. He put on the wrist communicator. "Just stay out of trouble now."

"I promise!" Tails said. Then he flew away.

Sonic looked up at Link. "So... where to now?"

Link and Sonic had arrived at the Gerudo Valley, an area by a vast desert and home of the Gerudo tribe. There was a small marketplace near the entrance to the desert. Link and Sonic decided to stop for a bit and gather some more gear for their journey ahead and ask the locals about the desert.

"How much is this blue stuff?" Sonic asked one of shopkeepers.

"Blue Potions are 60 Rupees per bottle," answered the shopkeeper.

"Rupees?" Sonic questioned. Then Link appeared and interrupted Sonic.

"You'll have to excuse my friend here," Link said, trying not to look embarrassed. "He's new around here. But while I'm here, I'll take a bottleful of Blue Potion." He gave the shopkeeper three small red crystals. "Here's 60 Rupees."

The shopkeeper handed Link a bottleful. "Pleasure doing business with you. Take care!"

Link and Sonic explored more of the market. "Bother," Sonic mumbled. "Not a single chili dog stand in sight."

"Whatever those are," Link responded, "I doubt you'll find one here."

"Excuse me," came a female voice. "Are you two new around here?"

Link and Sonic turned their heads. A tall woman with red hair and tanned skin had spoken to them.

"We are," Sonic answered. "We're looking for a place called the Spirit Temple."

"The Spirit Temple, you say?" the Gerudo woman said. "It's at the farthest end of the Haunted Wasteland. There's a giant sandstorm blowing out there. You'd better be careful if you go into that storm."

"Well, we have to go there," Link said. "We're looking for something."

"Looking for something?" the woman questioned. "So you've heard of those Gems of Chaos, too?"

Link and Sonic paused. 'Gems of Chaos'? That could only mean the Chaos Emeralds! "We have," Sonic finally answered. "We're trying to find them all."

"They're deep in that temple. You'll never get through that sandstorm. Even if you do that temple is filled with traps."

"All the more reason to go," Link murmured. "Well, thank you for your time, ma'am. We'd best be on our way now."

Link and Sonic approached the desert entrance, regardless of the danger that awaited them.

The Haunted Wasteland was worse than they had imagined. The wind was blowing strong and hard, kicking sand everywhere. Link and Sonic shielded their faces to prevent any sand from getting into their eyes. "Man, she wasn't kidding about this storm!" Sonic exclaimed.

"Stay close, Sonic!" Link shouted through the wind. "This storm could swallow us at any moment!"

Sonic had noticed familiar landmarks within the vast desert: giant cliffs, sandfalls, and rocks. This all reminded him of Sandopolis Zone. Link noticed the strange geography as well. He knew none of this was supposed to be here. Perhaps the most important thing neither of them noticed was the sand beneath their feet.

"Didn't Sheik say that our worlds are merging into one?" Link asked Sonic.

"Yeah," Sonic answered. "As time goes on, our worlds start to share the same landmarks and characteristic features!"

"This situation is getting worse by the minute!" Link shouted. "We have to get to that temple, NOW!" Then, he felt something weird under his feet. Link realized that he was slowly sinking into the sand! "Sonic, Help! I'm sinking!"

"Hang on, Link!" Sonic cried. He grabbed Link's hand and tried to pull him out. It wasn't long before Sonic started to sink as well. "Oh no! Now I'm sinking!"

"The desert is swallowing us!" Link exclaimed. They tried to dig their way out, but they were only sinking faster. "This could be the end, Sonic!"

"We can't stop now!" Sonic encouraged. "Keep trying!"

Despite how hard they tried, they couldn't escape. It seemed that the desert had defeated them, and all was lost.

Then, out of nowhere, a black figure zipped up to the buried heroes. It grabbed both Sonic and Link, each by the hand, and carried them into a nearby shelter in the middle of the desert. Once inside the shelter and safe from the harsh desert wind, the two heroes regained their senses. They saw their mysterious rescuer. Lo and behold, it was...

"SHADOW?!"

"You two are looking for the Spirit Temple, are you not?" asked Shadow.

Link and Sonic nodded. "How did you-"

"I know the path to it," Shadow interrupted. "Just follow me."

"Wait a minute!" Link said. "Why are you helping us?"

"I'll explain once we reach the temple," Shadow answered. "Come on. There's no time to waste." He skated out of the shelter. Link and Sonic silently exchanged looks.

"Do you think we can trust him?" Link wondered.

Sonic shrugged. "If he says he knows, he probably does."

They followed Shadow across the rest of the wasteland.

At long last, they had arrived at the Spirit Temple. The front of the temple displayed a giant statue depicting some kind of desert goddess with a snake coiling around her body. The doorway to the temple was at her feet.

"Shadow," Sonic asked. "What's going on? Why are you helping us?"

Shadow faced the two heroes. "Circumstances have changed," he blatantly answered. "I overheard you two talking with Sheik. If what he says is true, our worlds are bound for destruction. I cannot let such a thing happen."

"Do Eggman and Ganondorf know about this yet?" Link wondered.

"No," Shadow answered. "If I were to tell them, they wouldn't care. There is no reasoning with them."

"I'm with you on that," Sonic agreed.

"There should be two more Chaos Emeralds in the Spirit Temple," Shadow told them. "You must find them quickly."

"Thanks, Shadow," Sonic said.

"But before you go," Shadow interrupted, "you should take this." He reached behind his back and pulled out the white Chaos Emerald. He handed it to Sonic.

"A Chaos Emerald?" Sonic thought out loud.

"Yes," Shadow said. "You two need this think more than they do." He looked around. "You should get moving. I must leave before anyone finds out I'm helping you two. I wish you two the best of luck; we're all counting on you!" He then zipped away into the desert.

Sonic admired the white emerald in his hands. "It's nice to see Shadow have a change of heart."

"Indeed," Link added. "Now let's get moving. The Spirit Temple awaits us."

"Then let's do this!"

And now, we enter the Spirit Temple in the next chapter. Stay tuned!