She made half step back. Her siblings grabbed her clothes even more to the point where they almost ripped thru it.

"I shall free you from the chains they made you wear." He lifted his ax, ready to strike the other two.

Aalis' heart beat like crazy, her body was covered in cold sweat. All she could see was a huge ax in the air. The fear of her siblings poured into her body. She heard her mom's voice telling them to run. In her body... there was a sensation like never before. The ax was about to fall... Like in a dream, she put her arms in front of her... she spread her palms... covered by small crystals... and shot a small black and purple ball.

The knight had no time to react and his body was sent across the hall, hitting the opposite wall almost bursting thru it. His eyes were wide open as his body fell on the ground. Aalis was heavily breathing, not understanding what just happened.

"Aalis!" shouted Eclipse slowly stumbling to them. "Amyce! Magnus! Why haven't you run?!"

"Mom!" his two oldest children hug him. "We were so scared!"

Aalis was watching her hands. They were crystallized... just like his own!! "I... I am..." she couldn't find the words.

"Aalis! Listen!" Eclipse shook with her, looking straight into her yellow eyes... with the red sclera. "Take your siblings! Find a way out!"

"But mom...!" she shouted back.

"No talking back! Just go!" He hugged her. "And don't forget... you will always be my daughter! I love you!"

Aalis wasn't able to return the hug. Eclipse let her go, looking back. The knight was standing up and a black haze was leaving his body.

"Just go already!" he took a deep breath. Aalis finally took her sibling's hands and dragged them away.

Eclipse got ready for the second round. The knight slowly approached him, dragging the ax behind him making screeching sound. "They may run... but I shall find them soon."

"Not if I kill you first!" he growled.

"You really don't understand." A black mist appeared at Eclipse's legs and black vine-like tentacles immobilized his body. He struggled, but he had no way to get out. "I could take you by force, but I decided to use more gentle approach. You will be mine! It's no use to struggle!"

"You may get my body!" he barked back. "But you shall never get my heart neither soul!!" He growled, but then he smiled a bit.

The hedgehog was surprised. Why such smile now? There is no way he can escape him. He shall find the children and end them, taking his daughter and teaching her how to properly use black magic. 'Which reminds me...' he pondered. 'Why she has it... I thought it should be impossible this way...' His head jerked as he heard a loud noise. "What is--?!"

A wall burst open, bricks and stones were flying away. "Mephiles!!" shouted deep voice belonging to red and black hedgehog in an armor with a massive sword. The crystalline hedgehog was surprised, but he still managed to partly par the strike, but the impact sent him back.

"Lance!" called him Eclipse and with few strikes, he was freed from the tentacles.

"Are you hurt?"

"We can have hug and kisses later!" he barked. "I want that bastard's rod on a silver plate for tonight's dinner!"

Lance had evil smug on his face. "Your wish is my command!" He dashed, slashing his sword.

Mephiles the Crystallian switched to defense, blocking the fierce hits. "How did you find this place?!" This castle was at least thousand miles away, not to mention a huge desert was around it and it was enclosed by harsh mountains making this place almost unreachable.

"How?" they clashed and he smirked. "There is nothing that can stand in my way!" He pushed him back with one mighty swing. "Mephiles, I see you have survived our last encounter."

Dark hedgehog growled. "Yes, you have only killed my perfect copy... I painstakingly created..." He clenched his weapon. "It took me decades to create my perfect army."

Lancelot had a smug smile. "And I and my king has been able to destroy it in... less then one month I remember... must have been half-baked," he smirked and Mephiles attacked him, widely waving his ax. Lancelot was this time avoiding his hits.