The Passage of Gem Ch.15

Traveling along the run down train tracks to the Mystic Ruins, Gem's mind was clouded with thought. Thought for his mother, his father, his friends.......does he truly have the power to protect them all from harm? His training will prove it once he locates his father. After a few hours of walking, Gem arrived at the Ruins.....a truly memorial place. This place....this same place was the very location to many battles by the great Sonic the Hedgehog. Gem didn't know much of Sonic, only that he was great warrior, and a truly great friend to all. Gem traveled through the jungle, eagerly searching for the cave in which his mother had described. Although he could not see it, he could sense his father's presence....his dark aura was covered all over the landscape. Elsewhere, Flare, Jack, and Strife continued their journey to locate the remaining members of the syndicate when Flare suddenly froze....as if he was paralyzed.

Jack:   Flare? What's wrong?

Flare:   God.....oh god.....no....

Strife:   What's going on with you?

Flare:   I.....I'm sorry....I.....I have to go....

He quickly transforms into his super form and rockets into the skies above, leaving his friends very confused.

Strife:   Where the hell is he going!?!

Jack:   I don't know....but I got a bad feeling....

Gem was looking straight at the cave, where the aura is strongest. He was speechless as he slowly walked forward. He hasn't seen his father for so long....what will he possibly say? Suddenly, a spark goes off in Gem's head. A large increase of power was forming.

Gem:   Agh!

The next thing he knows, he's pushed out of the cave by a dark wave of energy.

Gem:   The hell!?! What the....huh?

Before him was a purple hedgehog wearing all black clothing. Instead of his usual black eye color, his eyes were now glowing purple. His skin was know a dark shade of grey, and his teeth were sharp like a wild animal. Gem couldn't believe who it was.

Gem:   Dad?

Emerald:   ..........

Flare immediately appeared on the scene. He transforms back to his base form and grabs Gem.

Flare:   Get outta the way!

Gem:   Hey! Huh?

He pushes Gem to the floor and deflects a dark energy blast fired by Emerald. Flare stared at his brother with a serious frown.....the scars that appeared on Emerald's face were a reminder of the day he truly lost his brother.

(Flashback)

Flare:   (Watches as Surge kills Emerald)

(Flashback ends)

Gem:   Flare! What the hell is your problem!?!

Flare:   Stay away from him Gem! You have no idea what you're getting into!

Gem:   What are you talking about!?! Don't you see him! My dad...your brother...he's alive!

Flare gets into a pose and charges a blast.

Flare:   No......he's not.....

Emerald:   ........

Flare:   Ka....me....ha....me...HAAAA!!

Emerald quickly dodges the attack and charge at Flare and Gem.

Gem:   Dad! Wait!

Flare:   Move!

He pushes Gem to the ground and punched Emerald in the face, sending him hurling back into the cave. Gem gets up and grabs his uncle by the shoulders.

Gem:   WHAT THE F&$@@ ARE YOU DOING!?!

Flare pushes away from Gem and charges another blast.

Flare:   Saving your ass!

He fires a blast so powerful, that the whole cave collapses. Gem couldn't believe what he was witnessing. It looked as if Flare was trying to kill Emerald.

Gem:   Alright! Talk! What the hell is going on!?!

Flare:   .........

Gem:   Flare!

Flare grabs Gem by the neck and applies a little pressure to the hedgehog's spine, causing Gem to pass out instantly. He then places him against a tree as Emerald smashes his way through the rubble of the cave.

Emerald:   .........

Flare:   ..........

(Flashback)

Flare:   I'll fight you....but not here! Follow me!

Using his speed, Flare quickly ran out the city and to a deserted landscape. Emerald followed him from behind. Once arriving, Emerald crossed his arms and smiles.

Emerald:   You really do have balls if you actually think you can fight me.

Flare:   ..........This ends now.....

(Flashback ends)

Flare:   Emerald!

Emerald:   .........

Flare:   I challenge you....but not here.....follow me....

He levitates into the air and flies off. Emerald follows him from behind as he stared at his brother with soulless eyes. Once they finally left the ruins, Gem slowly regained consciousness.

Gem:   Ughhhhh.....Flare....that son of a.....dad? Where.....where did they go?

Flare arrived at the deserted landscape, it was if nothing ever changed here. Rubble was everywhere, craters were still formed, Flare could still smell the blood.

(Flashback)

Emerald:   I'm sure you'll be a better match than Team Dark. Those idiots don't know anything about true power!

Flare:   You shouldn't of harmed them! You'll pay for all your crimes!

Emerald:   Stop taking like you're one of them brother....you aren't some....."agent".....no....you're a weapon.....a killer.....just like me.

Flare:   Shut up! I'm nothing like you!

Emerald:   No....you aren't...."I'm" your superior....the better clone! All you are is leftovers.....but still....I can change that....I can turn you from leftovers....to a god!

(Flashback ends)

Flare:   A lot of memories here.....this is where we first fought.....don't you remember?

Emerald:   ..........

Flare:   Of course you do....I can see it in your eyes....you know.....a lot has changed since that day....we became more than just enemies....we were rivals.....partners.....brothers.............everything we ever did together....started with that fight....it's only fair that we finish it here......where it all began.

Emerald:   ..........

Both get into their exact same fighting poses that they used on that very same day....

(Flashback)

Emerald:   I'll give you one last chance to give up....you can't beat me brother....

Flare:   I won't know.....unless I try!

Using all his speed, he runs up to Emerald and attempts to punch him, only to blocked by Emerald's hand. He smirks and punches Flare straight in the chest, sending him tripping into the dirt.

Emerald:   You really are a fool......I'm starting to think this was all a waste of my time.....

(Flashback ends)

Flare:   It wasn't a waste Emerald....that fight changed you....I know it did.....it showed you...that you're more than a clone.....you were still a living soul.....

Flare uses his speed and throws a punch at Emerald, who blocks it with his hand and attempts to punch Flare in the chest. Flare dodges the hit and kicks Emerald straight in the face. He looks at the wound on his cheek and spits a black substance from his mouth. It wasn't blood....it's what was left of him.

Flare:   Blood.....your godly blood....

(Flashback)

Emerald:   Blood!?! My godly blood...spilled by....the lower! Impossible! I'm the superior clone! No...I won't stand for this....I won't STAND FOR THIIIIIISSSSS!!!!!!! FLARE! YOU'RE INSOLENCE JUST COST YOU THIS PLANET!!! I'LL BLOW IT ALL TO PIECES....AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN STOP MEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

His body forms a purple aura as his eyes turn bright white. He rises into the air and charges a blast.

Emerald:   PREPARE TO FACE THE FULL POWER OF THE DEMON!!!!!

(Flashback ends)

Flare:   Surge's attack should have been all that you had to suffer with! But no....you're still here....still a suit for that bastard to live in!

Flare and Emerald attack each other with a wave of punches, both refusing to give up.

Emerald:   ........

Flare:   Do you hear me in there? It's all your fault! It's your fault why my brother can't transfer to the other side!

He kicks Emerald into the ground and fired an energy blast at him. He immediately teleports behind Flare and punches him into the rubble. Watching from a distance was Lilly. She looked as if she didn't care, but inside....watching them fight was torture to her. Flare stands up and watches as Emerald charges a blast.

Flare:   It all ends here....same as it began.....

(Flashback)

Flare:   My training with that alien has to work.....if it doesn't...I'm finished.....KA....ME....

Emerald:   FOOL!!!! YOU WILL SUFFER YOUR END!!!!!

Flare:   HA.......ME.....

(Flashback ends)

Flare:   Today....the DemonHog's curse on you will shatter!

Flare charges his own blast. He smiles as he thinks of all the battles they fought together....as friends....as partners....as brothers.

Lilly:   Flare!

Flare:   .........

Lilly:   Please.....save him....

Flare:   I promise Lilly.....I will save him....

(Flashback)

Flare:   (Looks at Emerald)

Emerald:   Let me come with you....

Flare:   .......

Emerald:   We'll always be here for you....

(Flashback ends)

Flare smiles as tears drip down his face.

Flare:   I know you will......I made him this way....it's only clear that I free him.....

Emerald:   ...........

Flare:   Ok buddy! One more time! This one's for you!

Emerald:   ..........

Flare:   KA......ME......HA.....ME.....

(Flashback)

Emerald:   NOW....TAKE THIS!!!!! BLACK HOLE CANNON!!!!!!!!!

(Flashback ends)

Emerald fires the purple blast straight at Flare, but he was ready for it.

Flare:   HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

The blasts collide.....creating a powerful surge of chaos energy.

Flare:   Don't worry.....this won't hurt a bit....

Flare's blast easily breaks through Emerald's and hits him....causing his body to disintegrate. Flare wasn't sure of it, but as the blast hit Emerald, he thought he heard someone say "thank you."

Flare:   Emerald?

It was over....the curse was broken....and Emerald was finally free.

Flare:   Lilly...we should...Lilly?

She was gone as well. Lilly returned to her world, unable to say anything more.