Back to Chapter 97

As Tails sat Errol down at the other side of the Dimension Bridge, he had a question for the older fox, “Won’t we have to defeat their champion in order to enter the Land Beyond?”

Errol shook his head, “No. The Enchanter Kings put that spell in place to protect the Nameless Zone. No such spell protecting the Land Beyond” He motioned at the sky, which had transformed into a grim, smoky misery in the time it took to cross from one side of the bridge to the other, “Anyway, who’d willingly come here?”

Tails surveyed the scene. Craggy rocks, a volcano belching angry smoke in the far distance, steam geysers across the pitted and cracked landscape and a whole lot of nothing else. “I see what you mean,” he admitted.

The sound of cruel laughter filled the air as five berserkers- three on the ground, two with wings approaching from above- encircled the two foxes.

“Admittedly,” Errol unsheathed his mighty sword, “that isn’t to say there won’t be a welcoming committee”

The berserkers brandished their hideous weaponry- rusted swords, rusted daggers, clubs and axes. Tails stood open-mouthed in worry as the cackling foes rushed at the adventurers.

Errol pushed back with a fierce attack, unflinching in the eye of danger. With a single stripe each, he shattered the weapons of the berserkers. Errol cast a glance at Tails, who was rooted to the spot, “Any time you want to help out, Tails, feel absolutely free…”

“Errol, I think there’s been a mistake,” Tails admitted sheepishly as he took to the sky to avoid a spear being thrown at him.

Errol let out a battle cry as the berserkers retreated to save their own miserable hides. The mighty swordsman made sure his foes had departed and sheathed his sword. “So,” he looked down at Tails, “tell me about this ‘mistake’”

“Oh dear…” Tails replied quietly, “I hope you’re not going to be too cross… the letters I wrote home to Uncle Merlin… I just… I wanted everyone to think I was doing well in the Green Hill Zone. I didn’t want anyone to worry about me. So, the truth is… I… sort of… well, I exaggerated a few details”

Errol sighed, a little miffed, “Details such as you being the hero who handed Robotnik his defeats, I’m guessing? Details such as your hedgehog friend being the sidekick”

“Yes,” Tails admitted, his stomach in knots and his chest feeling crushed with the embarrassment of being caught in his lie, “Sonic is the true hero of Mobius. I’m his sidekick. Look, Errol, I never meant for any of this to happen”

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Errol tapped his foot, reminding Tails of Sonic, which only made him feel all the more guilty- how would Sonic have reacted to this revelation? “That’s the thing about lying, Tails. Once you’ve told that first lie, any more that follow come rather more easily. And soon you have a whole web you have to keep straight. I’m not sure how you managed it but, well, I guess that web’s been broken now”

Tails felt like he could throw up at any moment. He’d never felt shame like this before. It burned at the back of his neck. It was horrible.

“You realise,” Errol continued, “I have no choice but to inform the Enchanter Kings of this deception”

Tails groaned a guilty groan of sorrow, “Do you really have to?”

“It’s my duty, Tails. Your lies could jeopardise the safety of the Nameless Zone. You know I’m right”

“I suppose so…” Tails stared at the floor.

Errol changed the subject, “Let’s just worry about the task at hand first. We have to enter the Land Beyond labyrinth. The entrance should be around here somewhere” The duo came to a stone entrance built into a mountain, leading to a tunnel. They entered, Tails with some trepidation. Errol could see Tails’ unease, “Don’t worry. I’ve studied maps of the labyrinth. I have the layout memorised. Let’s go this way”

Errol lead Tails through a doorway and was startled to come face to face with a huge lizard-like creature walking on all-fours. Errol let out an involuntarily noise of surprise. Tails shot him a glance, “Was he not on the map then?”

The lizard sprang into action and Tails and Errol sprinted away as fast as they could. Errol called out, “This way, Tails! I know these tunnels like the back of my paw!”

Coming through another door, Tails found himself somersaulting as he stumbled into a ravine. Errol was in freefall. The lizard chuckled at a job well done.

Tails couldn’t help himself “So, Errol, old buddy, the back of your paw- when was the last time you looked at it?”

“Looks like your secret’s safe, Tails. You’ll die a hero here with me…”

“Tails shook his head and reached for Errol’s arm, his twin tails spinning, “Nobody’s going to die here if I have anything to do with it, Errol” Their descent began to slow, “You didn’t forget I could fly did you?”

“Admittedly, yes”

At the bottom of the chasm, Tails placed Errol on the ground then landed in front of him. Errol breathed relief, “You saved my life, Tails…”

“Does this mean you won’t tell the Enchanter Kings my secret?” Tails asked hopefully.

Errol sighed, “Unfortunately, as much as I don’t want to… I’m afraid it’s my duty. Tails, you’re a good kid, I don’t want to get you in trouble. But it’s for the safety of the Nameless Zone. You understand, right?”

Tails nodded.

A low moan filled the air. The two foxes’ heads turned in the direction of the noise. Curious, they followed to the source of the moaning, hearing a fire burning nearby.

An older voice called out, “Is somebody there? Hello? Are you here to rescue me? Please… oh, please say you are. It’s so horrible here and I think… I think they’re going to… oh it’s too horrible…”

Tails and Errol turned a corner and saw an older fox, chained to a slab. He was clearly set to become a sacrifice to something or other. The gentleman looked at the two adventurers, “Foxes? You’re… from the Nameless Zone? Please, you have to help me! My name is Shirob”

“The missing Enchanter King!” Tails gasped.

Errol picked up a stone and started hacking away at the chains holding Shirob in place.

“You have to hurry! The pit beast will—” Shirob started, but it was too late.

A hideous, horrible monster that quite defied definition burst from the shadows. Purple and warty with hairs sprouting at random, its pupils a dull red in sunken, black eyeballs, its teeth rotten and misshapen. It wasn’t all bad news, of course- the monster had some impresses abdominal muscles, displaying a dedication to exercise.

With one final strike from the stone and a crack, the chain shattered and Shirob was free. The three foxes ran as fast as they could away from the pit beast.

“I can’t fly and carry both of you, I’m not strong enough!” Tails cried out.

“Beside the point,” Errol countered, “this pit’s so deep you’d never fly out anyway”

“There’s nothing for it,” Shirob called out, pointing ahead, “We’ll have to try to make it through the tunnel. This way!”

The pit beast weighed up the scene. It thought and scratched its head, “They just took my dinner. That makes me… what’s the word… hrmm… oh yes… MAD!”

With a growl that would put fear into anyone who heard it, the pit beast gave chase. It closed the gap between itself and the foxes in no time at all. Tails stopped running, drew his tiny sword and waved Errol on, “It’s no use running. One of us is going to have to fight. Get Shirob to safety, Errol”

Errol’s eyed widened in surprise, “Tails, what are you—?”

Shirob cut him off, “There’s no time for arguments! Keep running!”

Tails backed off towards a wall of the tunnel, stones jutting awkwardly out of its surface. The pit beast bore down on him. Tails looked at his sword and sighed, “I’m sure he’d be mad at me, but I still wish Sonic was here…”

The put beast charged at full steam and with a mighty KARUMP… hit its forehead on a stone sticking out above Tails. The beast fell to the floor, holding its head in agony, letting out a wail. Tails decided to make a run for it.

Managing to catch up with Errol and Shirob, Tails was relieved to be back in the right direction- and hopefully closer to the end of this nightmarish adventure.

“Tails!” Errol beamed, “You made it!”

“Well, I mean… there was a bit of luck involved,” Tails admitted.

Shirob picked a lit wooden torch from the wall and moved to the head of the group, “Follow me, boys. I’ll have up out of here and back to the Dimension Bridge in no time. Oh goodness me, it’ll be good to be home!”

After a good five minutes of following Shirob through door after door, down tunnel after tunnel, Errol confidentially muttered to Tails, “Tails, I don’t know about you but I get the feeling we’re heading deeper into the labyrinth. I’m pretty sure we should be heading upwards if we’re to head outside…”

“Maybe,” Tails answered, “But perhaps the maps you memorised were out of date? They did send us a bit wrong before, after all. Shirob’s been here for a while, maybe he knows the way”

Shirob knew the way alright. The way to lead the foxes into a trap. Through the next doorway, Tails and Errol found themselves grabbed by the same berserkers who had attacked them upon their arrival in the Land Beyond.

“I don’t believe it! We’re caught!” Errol announced.

Tails looked confused, “I don’t understand. Shirob don’t you want to be rescued?”

Shirob waved a finger at Tails, “No, Miles Prower, I most certainly do not! And you can stop calling me Shirob. Nowadays I prefer to be known by a different name…”

Shirob glowed with a bright orange magical glow. His form shifted and grew, becoming more hideous and frightening. Of course, it was obvious now, Tails realised. Who else would berserkers take orders from? Shirob’s form completely shifted into the leader of the berserkers himself.

“Trogg!” Tails barked.

“The very same,” Trogg smirked.

Tails looked at Errol, then back at Trogg. He shrugged, “Alright, now I really don’t understand. Shirob is Trogg?”

“It’s not difficult, you twin-tailed freak of nature!” Trogg scoffed, “True, once I was known as Shirob. I was the eldest of the Enchanter Kings. My magic was far beyond their meagre skills. One night, I made contact with The Dark One, master of the black arts of mysticism. He offered me power beyond my imagination. All I had to do was serve him. How could I refuse? I can see you think me mad. But I believe the experience changed me for the better!”

“And here we were worried that Trogg had killed Shirob,” Tails shook his head in disgust, “We had no idea you were one and the same”

“With you out of the way, the Nameless Zone will be mine for the taking!” Trogg snarled.

“I won’t let you, Trogg!” Tails shouted, leaping into the air and flying towards the fiend.

A mighty backhand punch from Trogg sent Tails to the ground, “Get real, you little wimp. You don’t stand a chance against me!” He drew his sword and stood over Tails, “I think those little tails of yours might look good in my trophy room…”

Tails looked up at Trogg, defiant.

Suddenly, a green light filled the room. Trogg and the rest of the berserkers shielded their eyes, unused to the light. Tails spun round to see the Enchanter Kings’ portal hanging in the air before him, “Errol! Hurry! This is out only chance to make it out of here alive!”

Tails looked over to see one of the berserkers had Errol by the arm. Even blinded, the berserker was in no hurry to let go of his quarry. Tails ran at top speed and barrelled into the berserker’s chest with a Spin Attack that would have made Sonic proud. As the berserker lost his grip, Errol was freed. The two foxes rushed towards the portal.

Trogg, squinting in the light, raised his sword and threw it towards Tails, “No! You must die here!!”

With a leap, Tails and Errol crashed through the portal, with Trogg’s sword sailing over their head and into the ground. Tails looked up. He was back in the Enchanter Kings’ castle.

“Oh my goodness!” the red Enchanter King exclaimed, “We were hoping to open the portal to follow your progress, we didn’t expect to see you in battle with Trogg!”

“Believe me,” Errol replied, “you don’t want Shirob back”

“What do you mean, my boy?” the grey Enchanter King enquired.

“I fear,” his colleague interjected, “explanations may have to wait. For now, we must open the portal back to Miles’ home in the Green Hill Zone. Our magic can only keep him here for so long”

“Hear that, Tails?” Errol looked at the younger fox, “You get to go home!”

“I’m relieved about that, I can tell you!”

Errol turned to the Enchanter Kings, “But before he returns, I have something I need to inform you both about Tails”

Tails swallowed and exhaled heavily. This was it. He was in for it now.

“Today, Tails showed true bravery. I wouldn’t have made it back from the Land Beyond without him. He saved my life no fewer than three times today! The only thing as impressive as his heroism is his humility” He looked over at Tails, “It’s just as well we know the truth from his letters. Otherwise, I bet he wouldn’t even take credit for defeating Robotnik if we asked him to his face”

Tails tilted his head. Errol gave a smile and nodded.

“Errol… thank you,” Tails smiled, “I owe you one”

Errol waved a dismissive hand, “Adventuring with you has been reward enough”

The two newfound friends shared a smile as Tails walked through the portal. His armour fell to the floor. The red Enchanter King made a note of this, “Miles’ enchanted armour cannot leave this Zone. But,” he declared, “we will keep it safe for him. The day shall come that we have need of our hero once more”

Errol smiled, “I look forward to it”

***

Back in the Green Hill Zone, Tails sat looking out over at the water. It had been an awfully strange day for him.

A gust of wind accompanied a pounding of footsteps as Sonic screeched to a halt next to his friend, “Nice work, Tails. I asked you to keep out of my way and for once you actually did it”

“I’m not all bad, am I?” Tails smiled.

“Nah, you’re alright,” Sonic grinned, “Sorry I was in such a mood earlier. Still pals?”

Tails’ face lit up with joy, as if there was ever any question, “Of course!”

“So! Tell me what your day looks like when I’m not around. What have you been up to?”

Tails thought about telling Sonic the truth. He wanted to. Really he did!

“Oh… nothing, Sonic. Nothing at all!”

The truth could wait a little longer. There was no sense in spoiling the nice moment, after all.

On to Chapter 99