Dark Ritual is the eighth chapter of the fifth series of Sonic The Hedgehog: House of Iblis.
Overview[]
The ritual for awakening Gaia proceeds.
Included Characters[]
Marine the Raccoon
Cream the Rabbit
Elise III
Vanilla the Rabbit
Chip
Vector the Crocodile
Dark Gaia
Synopsis[]
"Now, let the Ritual begin!" Amy exclaimed. She was holding the Cup that Shade found in the attic.
"We shall use the blood of six mortals and spill it on the stones to unleash the Earth Mother, Gaia!"
Sally, Julie-Su, Bunnie, Knuckles, Tails, and Cosmo were bound on a platform above the dark abyss. Amy, Shadow, Elise, Vanilla, Felicity and Cream started chanting.
Sonic, Big, Marine, and the Chaotix went into Elise's cottage. They went down into the basement. A hole leading down into the ground was there. The five went into it, and saw the ritual taking place.
Shadow began to cut the six on their arm. He started with Knuckles.
"Stop!" Sonic yelled.
"Sonic!" Sally cried.
"No! You're ruining everything!" Amy yelled.
"Fight them!" Amy commanded.
Elise and Vanilla confronted the five first. The Chaotix played their music, and nearly deafened Vanilla and Elise. They fell to the floor, covering their ears.
Big and Marine followed Sonic ahead.
"You guys keep them busy." Sonic told Vector, Espio, and Charmy.
Felicity Cat appeared in front of them. Big and Marine took charge. Big swung his fishing rod at her, while Marine held up her hands.
Sonic rammed into Shadow.
"Shadow why are you doing this?!" Sonic asked.
Shadow didn't respond. Instead, he punched and kicked Sonic. They were almost at the edge of the abyss.
Sonic fell down into it.
"Sonic!"
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared out of the abyss.
"Ugh...Chip?" Sonic asked.
"Yep. I heard about all you guys' problems, and thought I could help." Chip said.
"Good thing you did." Sonic said.
"You're too late!" Amy exclaimed. The last drop of blood- Sally's- had enetered the Cup. Amy splashed the blood on the stones with ancient runes on them. The cavern rumbled, and shook everyone. A large creature erupted from the abyss.
"Mother!" Amy cried. She kneeled, alongside Cream, Shadow, Felicity, Vanilla, and Elise.
Dark Gaia roared.
"She's going to destroy the world, Sonic!" Chip said.
"There has to be some way to stop her!" Sonic replied.
"There is..." Chip said. He transformed into his Light Gaia form, Gaia Collossus. Chip flew up, and attacked Dark Gaia. He shot beams of light into her eyes. She shot back with beams from her mouth. They fought, and went down into the abyss.
"No!" Sonic yelled.
Minutes passed, and it seemed as if their was no victor. However, a blast of light energy burst throughout the cavern.
Amy roared in rage, and prepared to jump into the abyss. Sonic spin dashed to her, and caught her mid jump.
Then, her eyes changed. They became her normal green color. Shadow, Cream, Felicity, Vanilla, and Elise's eyes all changed back to normal too.
"Um, guys? A little help?" Sally asked, referring to the fact that she, Julie-Su, Knuckles, Cosmo, Tails, and Bunnie were still hanging over the abyss.
Soon, everyone got down, and went back into Elise's house.
The cottage had changed. The Lair was gone, and it was replaced by children's toys found in Soleanna.
"I did so many horrible things..." Amy said.
"Yeah, why did you all do this?" Sonic asked them.
"We'll explain at Gaia House." Cream said.
They all sat together in the living room.
"The reason I joined Gaia was because I believed that if Tails had tried harder, he could have saved Cream from Shade." Vanilla confessed. "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay." Tails and Cream told her.
"The reason I joined was...well...I don't really know." Elise said. "For more power, I guess."
"Well, first off, I was forced to join Gaia. Then...she got me thinking about my grudge. I...uh, I like Knuckles." Felicity said. "And she told me that I'm his soulmate, not Julie-Su. And I know now that it's the opposite."
"I'm sorry for attacking you. I really wasn't myself." Felicity said to Julie-Su, Big, and Marine.
"It's alright." they said.
"I joined to...protect you, Tails." Cream said. "When Vanilla was possessed, she told me that Gaia wanted me and her on her side, and that Gaia would protect us from her destruction of the world. I wanted to protect you from that. And Cosmo, I'm so sorry for attacking you."
"I forgive you." Cosmo said. She hugged Cream.
"Shadow?" Sonic asked. "Fess up."
Shadow sighed. "I joined Gaia, partly to be with Amy. The other reason was to get revenge on Sally and Knuckles for losing my best friend."
"How is it Sally's fault?" Sonic asked.
"Tell them." Shadow said.
"I...I pushed Eggman's car into a lake after Chaos' attack. Rouge was in the car. I thought I heard a thump from the trunk, but pushed it in anyway." Sally said, crying. "I'm sorry."
"It wasn't Sally-girl's fault! I made her do it!" Bunnie said.
"I know you would never have done it if you knew Rouge was in it." Knuckles said, hugging her.
"I'm sorry for threatening you at the funeral, Sally." Shadow said.
"I'm sorry for indirectly killing you guys' best friend." Sally said.
"There's something I need to say." Vanilla said.
"When I was possessed, Gaia made me do horrible things. I attacked Rouge when she washed up on the beach. She was critically wounded when I bound her and put her in the trunk. I drove it back to the crash site. She wasn't going to make five more minutes when I left. That's when you two came." Vanilla said. "You didn't kill Rouge. I did."
"Amy....why did you join Gaia?" Sonic asked.
"Yeah, and who's Rosy?" Tails asked.
Amy uncomfortably sat down.
"Look, I'm not going to say it in front of an audience. Sorry guys." Amy said.
Julie-Su, Bunnie, Big, Marine, Vanilla, Elise, Chip, and Cosmo exited the room. Sonic, Sally, Knuckles, Tails, and Shadow remained. Amy sighed.
"Rosy....is my sister."