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[Celeste Dimentia]

[Super ShadowArticuno]

"No problem!"

I launched an ice beam and froze the air under the door. Enough space was left for our heroes to crawl, roll or swoop under.

"It'll hold for a while, it's oddly moist in this place..."

I swooped under the door before the two blurs could make it to the door.

[Celeste Dimentia]

Grinning, Sonic went into a slide, his quills just barely grazing the top of the cold, icy opening. Shadow followed soon after, rolling forward and through the gap smoothly, then unfurling himself and standing up again. The three of them were now in a long, straight hallway. The entrance to the next room was just visible at the other end.

"Thanks!" said Sonic appreciatively, as Shadow squared his shoulders and walked right on ahead.

Sonic shook his head. "Way too close for comfort... but I guess we can't really dwell on it. Let's go!" He turned and walked down the corridor after Shadow.

[Super ShadowArticuno]

I flew down the long empty corridor, satisfied with my work.

"I really hope the Emeralds ARE here..." I thought about what the Pure Hearts would be like once they were revitalized by the purest energy source in existence...

[Celeste Dimentia]

There was a sudden sound like a cannon being fired, which nearly made Sonic jump out of his skin. Shadow had leapt back - just in time, as well, because a thick, red beam of energy had shot randomly out of the wall, blasting the wall on the other side and leaving an enormous black scorch mark.

"Sonic...! Not another of your contraptions?"

"Oh yeah..." said Sonic wonderingly. "I had almost forgotten..."

"How can you forget THESE?" asked Shadow furiously, leaping back as yet another energy beam fired off from where, only moments before, he had been standing.

"Look, we're just going to have to be careful... there's no rush here." Sonic inched forward, and ducked low as a third energy beam shot itself out of an opening in the wall.

"But there IS a need to rush. We can't waste any more time!" Shadow shouted, and he blazed forward, sliding beneath three beams at once, and jumping over a fourth.

[Super ShadowArticuno]

I had made it almost to the end of the hall before I was almost struck by a beam.

"Hurry, guys!"

[Celeste Dimentia]

They were all fortunate, in that they were able to avoid the beams - but suddenly, as they approached the door to the next room, the entire Death Egg shook violently.

"Wha... what's going on?!" yelled Sonic, leaning against the wall and trying desperately to remain standing.

"What else could rock a structure as big as this... one that's buried deep in the sand, no less. It's that cursed inferno!" said Shadow, looking even angrier, if possible, then before. "No way is that freak going to win... quickly now!" He pushed at the door, but it wouldn't open. "..."

"Stand aside!" said Sonic. He tucked himself up into a ball, and began spinning incredibly fast. When he had become a mere blue bur, Sonic shot himself forward like a pinball, sending the heavy door smashing to the ground with a loud thud.

"This better be it..." murmured Shadow, striding purposefully into the next room.

"It is!" said Sonic excitedly. "The Chaos... whoooah!!!" He and Shadow both staggered slightly as the Death Egg shook once more. Everything was starting to turn blazing red, even from the inside.

The chamber they had entered was the smallest yet. Lining the smooth, metal walls on either side were capsule-like tubes, filled with green liquid. Some of them were shattered, puddles of the dried mystery substance pooled around them on the floor below. But it was the very center of the room that was the most striking. A series of steps led steadily upward, where, at the very top, a stone dais laid in rest. And mere inches above it, floating serenely in midair within a shimmering field of energy, was...

"The Chaos Emeralds," breathed Shadow, and for the first time, he looked quite calm, even as the Death Egg experienced another ominous tremor. "At last." He walked up the steps to the dais, where the emeralds were suspended in rest.

"Very good, you three. Now hand over those emeralds, and nobody need be hurt."

"What... who is that?!" Sonic spun around. The entrance to the chamber had closed, and standing in front of it was a short, cloaked man. A hood was pulled over his head. He was dressed all in black.

Shadow's brow furrowed. "How did you get in here?"

The mysterious figure chose not to answer. Instead he continued, "The worlds have begun to merge at last. I cannot say that I didn't expect this."

Shadow shook his head in plain disbelief. "Right... save your story, pal, and don't get in my way. You'll only come to regret it."

As Shadow finished speaking, the Death Egg shook yet again. Sonic balled his hands into fists, facing the stranger, but speaking to Shadow. "Just grab the emeralds! We'll take care of this one!"

"Oh, but I don't think so..." The figure snapped its fingers, and the barrier containing the seven Chaos Emeralds was encased in a second. Shadow reached out for the emeralds, but the new barrier was impenetrable.

"You couldn't be... Dimentio?" said Shadow, walking down the steps again and facing the cloaked figure himself.

"Dimentio? I don't know any Dimentio. I'm only here to stop you from making a serious mistake."

"A mistake?" Sonic cut in, taking a step forward. "You call saving countless innocent lives... a mistake?!"

"You do not understand..." beneath his hood, the man shook his head. "You must--"

"Enough!" shouted Shadow, as the Death Egg trembled more violently still. "You couldn't possibly dream to defeat all three of us... no one is going to stop us from saving this world. NO ONE!" He dashed forward with lightning speed, letting loose a rain of attacks upon the mystery man and driving him backwards.

[Super ShadowArticuno]

How can I revitalize the Pure Hearts now? I was outraged... All I knew was this man had tried to stop me from saving the world. Was I going to take it? No way.

"Ever since I saw that void... Everything has gone insane. A short flight turned into a day of madness... The worlds are in danger. The only mistake I could possibly make is listening to you. Stand Down and remove the barrier." I felt possessed by a strange power. I had no idea what it was. I needed to save this world, and collect the Pure Hearts. I launched the most powerful Ice Beam I could muster.

OOC: This might be my last RP post for the night, feel free to post more for the story.

[Celeste Dimentia]

OOC: Alright.

Shadow leapt aside, leaving the way clear for Articuno's attack. The cloaked man jumped upward in response, soaring high into the air, but the beam caught the bottom of his legs, causing them to lock together. He landed awkwardly a few feet away from Sonic, and crashed to the ground. Seizing his opportunity, Sonic rushed forward and begun to deliver a flurry of punches. The mysterious figure, with much strain, broke his legs apart once more and leapt back, shielding himself with some sort of barrier, similar to that which had encased the Chaos Emeralds.

"You do not understand... this world MUST be destroyed... and the emeralds with it..."

Shadow shook his head. "This one's off his rocker... beating him into a pulp is going to be my very great pleasure." He dashed forward, and Sonic fell back. Winding up, Shadow delivered the strongest punch he could muster, but it merely glanced off of the barrier.

"What magic is this, if not Dimentio's..." muttered Shadow furiously, his eyes burning with anger. The Death Egg shook, and he stumbled back a few paces.

The mystery man only laughed. "You might as well give up. In both the case of the Chaos Emeralds, and myself... you are dealing with a power far too great for you to handle!"

[Super ShadowArticuno]

If there was any time to know someone with Brick Break, the time would be now...

I was exhausted from that attack, it was like I launched Hyper Beam. It wasn't like that, although. Much more strain on the mind than on the body...

"What do you mean this world must be destroyed? Why? Answer me." I glared directly at the dark fellow behind the barrier. I made it this far, and he was expecting us to give up?

[LordBlumiere]

OOC: My trip was crap. I'm so glad to be back o-o;

Count Bleck put a protective barrier around himself, just to make absolutely sure he was safe. And then, he walked into a towering inferno. For the third time that day he let out an exclamation I can't repeat. But for the first time that day, he unwittingly found himself following some strange markings in the ashen ground...

[Celeste Dimentia]

The man leaned forward. "You are being used... can you not feel it? This world... it has been marked with the Chaos Seed."

"The Chaos Seed...?" Sonic scratched his head. "What's that?"

"It is a sleeping power... but it will sprout, as long as this world continues to live... but if the fires raging across the world were to wipe out Mobius... then, and only then, the seed would be destroyed."

Shadow shook his head. "Even if you're telling the truth - which I doubt - this worlds matters more. We're not going to let it die... by your filthy hands, no less!" He dashed forward again, delivering a series of rapid kicks and punches, but the barrier continued to protect the man, shielding him effectively against the attacks.

"We need to find a way to break his shield!" said Sonic, looking desperately around the room.

[Super Koopa]

Ooc:can i join?

[Tails Doll]

[Super Koopa]

Ooc:Right

Nar:Where am I?