(A/N: Just in case you're wondering, I changed the name of the legendary prophecy Destinee will fulfill. From my previous Sonic Fanfic Series, she's called "The Wallflower Ninja," but in the Sonic Archie Fanfic Series, she's called "The Kogansetsu Ninja." The word "Wallflower" doesn't fit into the story. And Destinee doesn't seem to be training herself like my previous Sonic Fanfic Series. Kogansetsu is the combination of "Kogane" {meaning "golden"} and "Densetsu" {meaning "legend"}.)

"Wait, what do you mean, 'Temple of the Golden Dragon?'"

Sonic was seen with his right index finger rubbing his right temple. Confusion was plastered on his face.

The other Freedom Fighters were quite surprised, but some of them were also in confusion. All eyes were fixed on Destinee.

"We've never heard of it before," said Sonic.

"Oh. That's because we lived on the other side of this land. The Temple of the Golden Dragon is the ancient temple found somewhere in the desert. This place is where the one called "the Kongansetsu Ninja" will get past through obstacles. When he or she gets through all of them, he or she will be led towards the key to fulfilling his or her destiny. I may not know much about it, but I have heard the concept about it from my grandfather," Destinee explained.

"So let me get this straight: 'You discovered that place and only the Kogansetsu Ninja will go there to investigate and do things on his own?'" asked Sonic.

"Perhaps, yes. I do not know who that Kogansetsu Ninja is. There wasn't even one before I was born or even during my life in this world." Destinee then, took a few steps forward to the Freedom Fighters. Then, she pulled out the same note she kept with her as she continued, "But the note sent to me by my father told me that my destiny awaits in the Temple of the Golden Dragon."

"So does that mean you're the—" Amy's face was suddenly crossed with confusion. Her eyes were up as her right index finger made contact with her chin. "Kongatsu something?" Amy asked Destinee.

"It's 'Kogansetsu,'" Destinee corrected her.

Then, she lowered her head one bit. Then, her eyes were closed. "Maybe" was her response.

Then, Destinee's eyes opened and her head turned to the others. Determination filled up her eyes. "Either way, I know I have to do this. To go to the Temple of the Golden Dragon and fulfill what awaits me at the end of the obstacle course challenge."

Everyone's eyes widened. You can especially focus on the Chaotix's same reaction. Worry started building up inside of them. Especially Espio.

"What?!" Vector exclaimed.

Without a single thought, he pushed himself forward a bit and his hand landed on Destinee's right shoulder. "Hey, you can't do this alone!"

Charmy flew in to join in the conversation. "He's right. We should stick together."

Espio also joined in. "And we don't know what obstacle that temple will give the destined one, Destinee Do you?"

It took a few moments before Destinee shook her head. "No. I don't." Her head was lowered and her eyes were closed.

"So let us come with you!" all three Chaotix members said at the same time.

Destinee immediately turned her head to the Chaotix. Her surprised expression was surfaced. The Chaotix were all in one scene before her eyes. Bright smiles appeared on Vector's and Charmy's faces, but Espio has more of a calm, relieved and determined-feeling smile.

"So that way, we'll make sure you're okay!" Vector said.

"Right!" Espio and Charmy said in unison.

"The Chaotix were right, Destinee. I think it's their job to keep you by your side on the way to the temple. Once you go there and investigate, you guys will have to report them to me. In the meantime, you'll have to pass obstacles on your own since you're the Kogansetsu Ninja. And be careful out there," said Sally.

"We will!" the Chaotix replied.

Then, all heads turned to Destinee.

That same surprised expression was still there on Destinee's face. Hesitation crossed her mind. But after a few moments, her face finally relaxed and nodded. "Alright. You can come with me, Chaotix. Just don't get hurt along the way."

Timeskip to the Chaotix and Destinee going inside the temple

When the Chaotix and Destinee got inside the temple, everything was dark and they could see nothing but stoned walls, a stone tablet with a prophecy written in it, a small hallway and a circular wall with five arch-like and door-like walls in front of them with different patterns on it. You can see that almost all the corners were covered in webs because it was built a long time ago.

Once Vector looked at the readings on the same stone tablet, he called out to the others, "Hey! This must be the prophecy of the Kongatsenu Ninja."

"It's actually pronounced 'Kogansetsu," Espio corrected Vector.

Everyone else headed over to look at the stone tablet. They looked over and saw that the readings were ancient-like writings that they didn't understand what it meant. Well, almost everyone.

"What does it say?" asked Charmy scratching his head in confusion.

"Hmm."

When Destinee looked over, it took a few moments before her eyes widened. In recognition. She turned to the others, "I'm not much of a translator. But if I'm not mistaken, it tells about how she must defeat the dark lord before he causes anymore destruction."

"Which must be you, Destinee! I mean, by the look of it, you might the main part of the prophecy!" said Charmy.

They all nodded in agreement.

"It also says that with the guardian's help, the prophecy will be fulfilled," Destinee continued.

"I'd say. If the prophecy is not just about Destinee, it could also be a job for you, Espio," said Vector turning to him at the last part.

Espio turned to him in confusion. He then, pointed at himself. "Really? Why am I part of the prophecy?"

"It's obvious. You two are getting along really well."

"So, two questions. Who is the dark lord and what does the rest of the prophecy said?" asked Charmy.

"I don't know. It can be any villain. Maybe it could be someone we've never faced before," speculated Vector.

"We all don't know, who that dark lord is," explained Destinee. "As for the rest of the prophecy, I'm afraid I can't translate them, for the last two lines are super rare to do so. Either way, we'll figure this out later. For now, it's me and Espio who should overcome the obstacles."

Everyone agreed as they all understood what the prophecy meant. Well, except for the last two lines. Espio and Destinee looked at each other and nodded. Then, they headed in front of the five door-like walls to start their quest through the temple.

You can hear Charmy's voice calling out to them, "We'll wait for you until you complete your quest!"

After the two chameleons gave him a sign that they heard him, it's time for them to overcome the obstacles and challenges lying on the road.

When Espio and Destinee walked towards the door-like walls, they saw that it had different patterns on it. Each of them had a clockwise lock where you will turn it to open it. That meant that they were not really walls at all. Each of them was a stoned door with a clockwise lock and a unique pattern. By pattern, they looked more like pictures.

"I think the first challenge is to choose the right door to open to be led to the next obstacle. If you choose the wrong one, you will either end up being booby-trapped or encounter a deadly path," Destinee explained. "So in order to choose the right door, we must investigate the pictures on each door and see which one is most unique among the others."

He nodded as they both investigate each picture on the doors. Going to the left, the first door had a female chameleon fighting a badnik. The second one had a male chameleon throwing a shuriken at a black-hooded enemy. The third had both male and female chameleons fighting off enemies alongside each other with a dragon background on it. The fourth had another female chameleon fighting an evil witch while the fifth had another male chameleon fighting a badnik.

As they investigated each picture, they found that they were all different, but only four of them had something in common.

"The pictures are all different, but they must have something in common. Specifically, only four of them, so the last one must be the right door," explained Espio.

Destinee was still deep in thought about the right door. After a while...

"Different pictures, which all have the same battle. All have the same species fighting off enemies, but only four had those fighting enemies alone with one having two chameleons fighting off enemies side by side."

"So that means—" he began. Then, his and Destinee's eyes widened in realization.

"The third wall is most unique among the others," they said in unison.

So they headed over to the third door and Destinee turned the lock clockwise and the door suddenly opened to reveal an empty hall.

"Is this supposed to be the right door?" Espio asked Destinee.

"I'm not sure, but it's now or never," answered Destinee as they both entered the third door.

As they did, they saw a torch on their right side. Destinee decided to grab it and they moved on. As they kept walking, they heard nothing but the sound of their footsteps and their heartbeats, for it is dark and silent.

A while later, Destinee accidentally stepped on a secret pressure plate and they both slightly gasped. Then, Espio sensed an axe coming down towards them and he pushed both himself and Destinee forward to save themselves.

When they looked at each other, they let out a soft gasp of slight shock that their faces were a centimeter away from each other again and they both blushed without being noticed. A moment later, he got up and lent her a hand. She took it and got up as well.

"Thanks, Espio. I would've been chopped by an axe if you wouldn't come by my side," she said to him.

A slight blush appeared on Espio's cheeks as he replied, "You're... welcome."

Then, they look forward in the hallway as she said, "We are in the right door. This must be our next obstacle."

As the two chameleons sought forward, chopping axes were in one scene, shooting arrows and even fire coming out of the gargoyles' mouths were all involved in this obstacles. "We have to get through an empty hallway full of hidden booby traps, so we have to be cautious of our surroundings."

"I know," he said as he held her hand causing her to blush slightly. "And together, we'll overcome any challenges that lies before us."

She smiled warmly and nodded. Then, they got through an empty hallway using their ninja skills while helping each other evade other hidden booby traps.

At the end of the hallway...

As they ran to the next obstacle, Destinee stopped and put her arm in front of Espio surprising him.

"Wait, Espio. We're already on the next obstacle."

Baseplates of different martial arts patterns were scattered over the square-shaped floor.

"It contains booby-trapped baseplates with pictures of different kinds of martial arts. If we step on the wrong plate, consequences might happen to us and especially the temple," Destinee said.

"How do we know which is the right one?" Espio asked Destinee.

Destinee's right index finger and thumb pinched her chin. Her elbow was laid on her other hand. "Like I said, I don't know much about the obstacle, but my grandfather gave me a hint. This temple might connect to the culture of Shinokoku."

Espio, then turned to the baseplates, "Shinokoku..."

As he scanned the patterns on the baseplates, he suddenly spotted a silhouette that contained a ninja. He crouched down and his hand reached the baseplate. But he didn't exactly touch it. Instead, his fingers barely brushed over the baseplate. Turns out, nothing's coming. Not even a oment of the baseplate being sank was seen.

When final decision came to mind, Espio turned to Destinee. "I think the baseplates with ninja patterns on it will be the right ones."

"Alright. Let's see," Destinee said.

With that being said, Destinee stepped on a ninja baseplate. Her eyes blinked in surprise. Every part of the envorinment except herself and Espio seemed frozen. After a few seconds, she looked for another one. As she hopped on another ninja baseplate, Espio stepped on the first one. As she hopped on another, he followed her steps by hopping on the second one. On and on until they finally reached the end of the obstacle.

They walked through a small hallway that led to another obstacle. It was a door and something written on the lock was a riddle with ancient writings on it. They both knew what it meant: In order to open the door, they must solve the riddle.

Espio turned to Destinee, "Do you know how to translate it?"

"Well..." Destinee looked at the riddle. "My grandfather once told me about this riddle, but never told me an answer because even he doesn't know."

Then, she turned back to the riddle, "If I could recall it and I'm not mistaken, it goes like this, 'I am the light, who comes upon the Kogansetsu Ninja. I am one, who can overpower the shadows. With me, he can defend the world, but without me, he will succumb to darkness.'"

"I've never seen an answer that goes with a riddle before," said Espio, for the riddle said something about the power that can only be activated on Destinee.

"I know, but I'm concentrating on recapping the lessons I learned from my father and grandfather in order to find an answer," replied Destinee as she started concentrating on the lessons she had learned before Shinokoku was burned to ashes.

Espio nodded, not wanting to interrupt her nor lose her concentration.

A few minutes later, a snap on her fingers became involved. You can indicate the fact that an answer had popped into her head.

"The Golden Dragon! It's a relic that can only be activated on me! It is said that with its power, the prophecy will be fulfilled and the dark lord will be defeated!"

Suddenly, the lock broke and the doors pushed themselves opened surprising them.

"Wow, they must've known that I got it all correct," she said.

"Yes. You really got it all from your father. Very impressive," he smiled at her.

With that being said, they got inside only to find the sliding puzzle game, which was all scrambled due to the fact that it wasn't solved before.

"We must be in a final obstacle where we must solve the puzzle in order to retrieve the Golden Dragon," she told him.

"And after that, we must prepare to escape quickly. We might be trapped in a temple falling down," he replied to her.

Then, for the first time ever, Destinee let out a normal chuckle. "Right."

And so, they began solving the puzzle together with their ability of teamwork.

Later on...

They both completed the puzzle and the picture looked like two chameleon silhouettes fighting alongside each other. Before either of them even noticed, the sliding puzzle game began to be brought down, then up came the Golden Dragon. It looked like a Golden Dragon statue with jade green eyes on it.

They both looked at each other and nodded as they mentally prepared for their quick escape while Destinee walked over the Golden Dragon and took it. As soon as she did, there was a rumbling earthquake, which gave them a cue to escape.

"Let's get out of here before we fell along with the temple!" she said to Espio.

"Roger," he replied as they both made a quick escape.

With Vector and Charmy, they too could feel the rumbling earthquake. You can see Vector balancing out his body to prevent himself from falling on his belly.

"We have to get out of here!" said Charmy.

"You're right, Charmy. In fact, I hope Espio and Desrinee make it through the obstacles inside the temple."

With that being said by Vector, the two quickly went out of the temple.

Later, back with Espio and Destinee...

Espio and Destinee headed outside the temple just in time to see the temple completely crumbling down. They panted finally allowing themselves a moment to breathe.

As they continued breathing, Destinee turned to Espio again with a smile on her face. "I'm really glad you came with me."

He looked at her and blushed slightly at a comment, "Same here."

Suddenly, they heard sounds of relief and footsteps running in their direction. They assumed it was Vector and Charmy heading towards them. When they asked what they'd do, Destinee showed them the Golden Dragon surprising them. Then, she explained everything she knew about it, then they reported to the Freedom Fighters on what had happened. Then, after she showed and told them about the Golden Dragon artifact, Bunnie was the first to ask them.

"Mah stars! Where did you learn about that?"

"It's a long story," Destinee answered simply.