Chapter 73: Corruption
Once Miles had caught up to Sonic and Chip, he told them that Professor Pickle had translated more of the Gaia Manuscripts and they needed to go to the continent of Chun-Nan where a Gaia Temple might be located in the village of Dragon Road.
"What about the temple here in Spagonia?" Sonic asked.
"Pickle will look into the matter, but for now let's head to Chun-Nan," Miles responded, and went off to where he parked the Tornado-1 with Sonic and Chip following behind.
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After a whole day's worth of flying, Sonny Chip and Miles arrived in Dragon Road at night. While Sonny changed into Werehog Sonic, Chip asked the locals if they knew where a Gaia Temple might be located. The majority of them said the village elder Zonshen would probably know but none of them had seen him all day. Concerned, Chip went back to where Miles and Sonic were and told them the news.
"Sounds like something Eggman would do considering what he did to Professor Pickle," Sonic said.
"Maybe if we find this Zonshen-guy, he might reward us with the location of the Gaia Temple," Chip suggested.
"Well I don't see why he wouldn't if we asked him," Sonic responded as he stretched his arm onto a nearby roof and swung onto it. He looked back down at Miles and asked, "Aren't you coming?"
"No, I'd rather stay here with the plane," Miles responded. "But good luck finding that temple."
"Will do!" Chip said and followed a stone path that ran through the village with Sonic following nearby.
The stone path eventually led to a bamboo forest with stone lamps and small pools full of sleeping fish. It was also here that Sonic and Chip encountered more monsters like the ones they fought in Apotos and Spagonia which Sonic managed to easily defeat. Eventually, the two came to a circular courtyard that stood before a pair of stone doors that were carved into the side of an imposing jagged cliff-face. In the courtyard's center was an elderly Chun-Nanese man who was unconscious and lying next to a large green orb that glowed brightly.
Sonic and Chip leaped down from the stone path they were on and were just about to approach the man when a large shadow suddenly passed over them. Sonic looked up in time to dodge the sharp talons of a large bird that flew overhead. It was purple in color with a fiery aura surrounding its elongated neck, enormous wings, and peacock-like tail-feathers. After letting out an angry cry, the bird circled back toward Sonic and Chip diving straight at them. Fortunately, Sonic managed to dodge the bird's attack while Chip flew over to pick up the elderly man. While Chip carried the man out of the courtyard, Sonic confronted the bird with brute force. With the aid of special water-jugs located on four platforms around the courtyard's center, Sonic was able to quench the bird's flames temporarily before beating it senselessly and roaring loudly as the bird toppled over behind him.
"That was awesome!" Sonic said triumphantly. "What did you think, Chip?"
"I think you overdid it," Chip said and flew over toward the glowing orb.
"Chip, I wouldn't touch that if I were—
As Chip picked up the orb, it flashed brightly for a second. Then to Chip's amazement, the stone doors near the courtyard slowly opened. Intrigued, Chip flew into the entrance while Sonic followed after him. Inside, they found a similar structure to the one at the temple in Mazuri with the crystal-lit hallway, the green fires, and the pedestal. Chip then flew up to the pedestal, and the green stone on his neck instantly glowed. Once the pedestal was elevated, Sonic placed a Chaos Emerald on top of it and then he and Chip watched as the Emerald returned to its usual red color.
Once this happened, the ground started to shake forcing Sonic and Chip to flee the temple. As the doors closed behind them, Sonic saw that the bird he defeated was wide-awake and perched calmly on one of the platforms. It no longer had the dark-purple coloring and was actually golden with light purple and green feathers. The elderly man was awake too and he was observing the bird when he noticed Sonic and Chip approaching.
"You must be the ones who opened the Gaia Temple and brought the Phoenix to his senses," the man said as he bowed to them. "I humbly thank you for what you've done."
"Uh, you wouldn't happen to know Zonshen, would you?" Sonic asked.
"I am Zonshen," the man answered. "What can I do for you?"
"We were hoping you might show us where the Gaia Temple is, but I guess we found it ourselves," Chip said sheepishly.
"You were unconscious when we got here, and then that bird attacked us," Sonic said pointing to the bird which shrank its head in embarrassment.
"The Phoenix? He was only doing his job as the Guardian of the Temple, but he went completely berserk after the world's continents were split apart," Zonshen answered. "I figured Dark Gaia's power was corrupting him, so I journeyed here hoping to open the temple with the Dragon Jade but the Phoenix attacked me as soon as I arrived."
"Is this giant orb-thing the Dragon Jade?" Chip said as he held up the glowing orb.
Zonshen adjusted his glasses and said, "Yes, that's it, and I suppose one of you had a Chaos Emerald on hand?"
"I did," Sonic answered. "How do you know about the Chaos Emeralds?"
Once more, Zonshen adjusted his glasses. "I am well-acquainted with Professor Pickle of Spagonia University, who was one of many scholars and scientists that were hired by G. U. N. to study the Chaos Emeralds after they were discovered on South Island."
"Why do you keep adjusting your glasses?" Chip asked.
"My eyesight is not as good as it used to be, even with these glasses on," Zonshen answered. "So I can't see you both clearly."
"That would explain why he wasn't terrified upon seeing you," Chip whispered to Sonic.
"Probably," Sonic whispered back. Then Sonic looked up at the Phoenix and said, "I'm glad that you're back to normal and all, but I still feel bad for beating you up earlier. No hard feelings, right?"
The Phoenix shook his head in response and flew up to a perch that was located at the top of the cliff-face.
To be continued…