The Apocalypse 2: Rise of Zephiles [The Original]

Ch. 5

"'The servers are the seven Chaos Emeralds. Chaos is power enriched by the heart'? What does that even mean?" asked Jason.

"Exactly what it says. The seven Chaos Emeralds are the Master Emerald's servers. The more Emeralds one has, the more powerful that person becomes. They have unlimited power." explained Knuckles.

"What can they do?" asked Jason.

"All sorts of things. They can help create nuclear weapons, turn thoughts into power, control time and space, and there have even been rumors that they have healing powers." "Healing powers?" asked Jason.

"They can heal you if you're hurt and it's been said that if someone dies, an Emerald can bring them back if you get one to them in time. But only with all seven Emeralds can the revived person be completely human."

"Completely human?" asked Jason. "What if you use just one?"

"An unfortunate side effect." said Knuckles. "That's all I know."

"So where's this Master Emerald?" asked Wave. "Angel Island."

**********

The next day, the team headed for Angel Island and Mephiles and Zephiles met up again. "Did you find who you were looking for?" asked Mephiles.

"No. No luck. You?"

"I had a talk with Jason."

"And?" asked Zephiles. "They're headed for Angel Island. Now's our time."

"Finally!" yelled Zephiles. "Maybe he knows where I can find the one who imprisoned me."

"Maybe. But I doubt it."

"Why?"

"If you were trapped in time and space as long as you say, then the one you're looking for is most likely dead by now."

"Hmm. That's a shame. I would've loved to kill him myself."

"Do you remember what he looked like?" asked Mephiles. "How could I forget? He was a black hedgehog."

"It's nice here." said Jason. "It'll stay nice as long as the Master Emerald stays here. Once the Master Emerald leaves Angel Island, then down it comes."

"So the Emerald is what's keeping the island floating?" asked Jason. Knuckles nodded. "Did you know that when this island was first discovered, it was called 'The Floating Islands'?"

"No. No, I didn't." said Jason.

"So, where is this Emerald anyway?" asked Blaze.

"Follow me." said Knuckles.

Before long they were standing at the bottom of a whole bunch of steps. Everyone was looking up. "Wow." said Wave. "That's a whole lot of steps."

"This is the biggest flight of stairs I have ever seen." said Jason.

"The Master Emerald's up at the top." said Knuckles.

"What is the place?" asked Jason, looking around.

"More like was." said Knuckles. "This place used to be the 'Shrine of the Master Emerald'."

Jason, Wave, Knuckles, and Blaze went up the stairs. Jet, Sonic, Tails, and Silver stayed at the bottom. After what felt like an hour, they were there. Staring at a really big Emerald.

"It's like a bigger version of a Chaos Emerald." said Jason. "A Green Chaos Emerald."

"Well said, Jason." Wave said, jokingly. "So, now what?" asked Blaze. "What do you mean?" asked Knuckles. "Well, now that we're here, now what?"

"I... don't know." said Knuckles. No one said a thing for a while.

"Maybe we could pick it up and take it with us." suggested Jason.

"Impossible." said Knuckles. "It can't be moved or the island will fall."

"Oh. Right." said Jason. "So... you really mean 'implausible'."

"What?"

"Well, it's not impossible because you can do it. It's implausible because it's highly unlikely."

"I still don't..." said Knuckles, getting cut off.

"Guys! Help!" came Tails' voice.

Jason ran to the top of the stairs and looked down, as did the others. They saw a large, green, reptilian creature at the bottom, pinning Tails against the stairs with its hand. It had huge claws on each hand. Its tail was raising up from the ground, probably getting ready to strike. Jet, Silver, and Sonic were unconscious on the ground, with Mephiles standing by them. Jason pulled out his sword and dove for the creature.