Chapter 1: One-Hundred Pieces
"Finally!" Knuckles screams with a huge smile on his face. "I found the last piece of the Master Emerald once again. Now then, I have other things to do."
Knuckles lifts up his hand and watches as the remaining piece of the Master Emerald floats into place. The emerald glows as it repairs itself to return back to its original shape. Knuckles' mind is at peace once again as he stares at the rotating emerald on its platform. The soft, green glow returns once more, but Knuckles notices a few things as the emerald turns.
"Oh no, it seems dirty in this spot," Knuckles points out. He pulls out a rag and gets straight to work cleaning every inch of the emerald. This is even more complicated by the fact that it's constantly spinning, but he tries his best. Once he's done, he stands back and looks at the emerald once more. The glowing is brighter and emerald is shinier.
"That's better," he remarks happily. "The emerald has to rest for a bit before I can shrink it and carry it with me. I don't want to leave it here, but I have to go visit someone first. I hope I won't come back and find it shattered like last time." Knuckles leaves from the altar to the bridge to get off of his island to go where he needs to go.
After about thirty minutes of walking, Knuckles comes across Tails in an open field behind Tails' workshop. Tails is standing next to a huge missile with a remote in his hand. The missile extends into the sky touching the clouds with light going around the tip of it. Tails is at the base putting finishing touches on it as Knuckles taps him on the shoulder.
"What's with the huge missile," Knuckles asks as he touches it.
"This is an energy-seeking missile," Tails explains. He closes the missile's hatch and steps down from the platform. "This thing can detect the nearest source of energy and destroy it within a matter of minutes. This is a test missile. Want to watch me launch it?"
"I guess," Knuckles says as he takes a seat on the grass. Tails presses the button on his remote and the ground rumbles as the missile rockets out of its base and into the air. It sores past the clouds and within a few minutes it's out of sight. Tails has a sad look on his face.
"It didn't take the bait I had set up a few miles west of here," Tails complains. "Ah well, I guess I messed up somewhere."
"Well that was interesting," Knuckles says in a sarcastic tone. "So, how has Sonic been doing?"
"Not well," Tails says. His head goes down with his voice becoming lower. "Sonic has shown no signs of improvement so far. He hasn't even waked up yet."
"Ah, that's hard to hear," Knuckles mumbles. "I came here to see if he had gotten any better. That battle with Robotnik was very brutal. I hope he gets better soon."
Tails then looks up again. He notices his missile off in the distance. It is quickly descending.
"I wonder why the missile is going in that direction," Tails tells Knuckles.
"Wait a minute," Knuckles screams. "It is going towards the altar!"
"What, I thought you said the Master Emerald was broken," Tails asks nervously.
"I just finished repairing it!" Knuckles exclaims. He takes off with Tails right behind him.
As soon as they reach the bridge to get to the island, the missile is directly overhead. It creates a huge shadow as it blocks the sun. Knuckles just stares as the missile continues its decent upon the Master Emerald. Tails is frantically trying to make some adjustments to his remote, but he's too late. The missile collides with the floating island and Knuckles grabs Tails as they run into the forest to take cover. The explosion is huge with tremendous force that's so great to the point where some of the surrounding trees uproot. Knuckles drags Tails into a cave with him until the rumbling stops. They venture outside to see the island and bridge eradicated with no emerald in sight. A mushroom-shaped cloud is above the hole that the island used to float above. Knuckles looks on with sadness in his eyes and Tails is shocked, but also secretly pleased with the impact that his missile made.
"The emerald is gone," Knuckles says sadly. His voice starts to break up. "I can't sense any remaining pieces. This is the tenth time the emerald has been broken."
"Don't worry, I'll help you find every piece since it's my fault this time," Tails says sincerely. "You have my word."
"No, this time is different," Knuckles explains. "Despite the fact that you destroyed my HOME as well, the tenth time the emerald breaks means I will have to be evaluated before I can protect it again."
"So, what's wrong with that," Tails asks innocently. "You are a good protector, and besides you is the only protector. By the way, you are the last of your kind so how can you be evaluated?"
"I will be evaluated by the person who resides in the emerald," Knuckles replies. "I never seen this person yet, and I don't know when they will show up."
"Someone is inside the Master Emerald?" Tails inquires. "That doesn't make sense. Anyway, you can stay at my workshop for as long as you need to."
"I better be able to," Knuckles remarks.
Knuckles follows Tails back to the workshop, but this whole ordeal is on his mind. Tails broke the Master Emerald, he failed at his duties, this person he will meet might be very upset, and also there is the problem of finding the pieces once more after they are activated again. His mind is clouded with many thoughts. Tails wants to say something to calm his friend, but he is afraid of Knuckles of course. Knuckles and Tails continue on without saying a word to each other. Once they make it to the workshop and Tails lets Knuckles in, Knuckles takes a seat on the couch.
"Uhh, as you can see this place is very small since most of it is a workshop so the couch is ok for you right," Tails asks nervously.
Knuckles doesn't say a word as he lays down in the couch and continues to stare at the ceiling. This makes Tails feel even worse since the silent treatment is being used on him. He leaves it be for the time being to go check on Sonic who is upstairs in the only spare bedroom. Sonic has casts on his right leg and arm. He is recouping from a previous fight with Robotnik. Tails walks up to his bed and tries talking to him, but Sonic doesn't respond. There hasn't been any sign of movement from him in weeks, well, until now.
"T-T-Tails," Sonic says weakly. "What's up buddy?"
Tails turns around with look similar to child's face on Christmas morning. "Sonic!" Tails screams. "It's about time you say something. I had doubts for a second."
Sonic laughs. "You know I can't die," Sonic explains with a big grin. "So I seem to have broken a few limbs here and there. No problem for me. I'll be back in no time then we will take care of Robotnik for good!"
"You do realize that no time equals about another month right," Tails says in a sarcastic tone.
"Well you know what I mean," Sonic replies. "You don't mind bringing me some water do you?"
"Sure thing," Tails says happily.
Tails exits the room and Knuckles enters after he heard all the commotion.
"The red man, what's up Knuckles," Sonic says.
"Good to see you awake," Knuckles says. "Sorry we couldn't help you the other day. I would have jumped in, but Shadow made off with the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald was broken at the time. I wish I could have done something instead of just standing there and watching that robot wail on you like that. We were pretty lucky Tails came when he did or you would have been in worse shape."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Sonic remarks. "Did you repair that emerald of yours?"
"Yeah but Tails out of all people broke it and blew up the island," Knuckles grumbles. "I don't believe it, and it's the tenth time. You remember when we found out what happens on the tenth time?"
"Yeah," Sonic says. "That's hard to hear. Have you seen this person yet?"
"Nah, but when they get here Tails and I will leave and we will leave you here with Amy," Knuckles says as he walks out the door.
"Wait, you're not serious are you," Sonic asks.
"Tails made a promise to me that he will help me since it's his fault in the first place, and Amy is the only person who agreed to stay and take care of you so yeah good luck with that," Knuckles laughs after that and walks out of the room. He lies back down on the sofa and closes his eyes once more. Before he can drift off into any type of sleep, Amy barges into the door of the workshop. She grabs Knuckles on the shoulders.
"Where is Sonic?" Amy screams as she shakes the life out of Knuckles.
"Upstairs, now let me go," Knuckles orders.
"Wow, I feel bad for leaving Sonic here a whole month with her," Tails replies. "Ah well, any time expectancy for when this person will show up?"
"I have no idea," Knuckles says. He thinks for a bit. "This person is supposed to appear instantly."
"Well they will come sooner or later. I guess we just wait for now," Tails suggests.
Amy comes down the stairs. She runs towards Knuckles. "I forgot to tell you that Rouge was looking for you earlier near floating island or whatever is left of it," Amy remarks.
"Really?" Knuckles asks. "Tails, let's go."
"Why I got to come?" Tails complains. "I want to work on the missile for a bit."
"Because if the person appears while I'm around and takes me on this quest then you are coming along with me!" Knuckles screams at Tails.
"Ok," Tails says with a low voice.
Knuckles and Tails reach the site of what used to be Angel Island. This only makes Knuckles sad once again. He then looks down and sees a piece of the altar buried in the dirt. He picks it up and wipes it off. Tails looks at this and is very sad, so sad that he can't even look Knuckles in the face and tries to change the subject.
"Aren't we supposed to be looking for Rouge," Tails asks.
"I saw her as soon as we arrived," Knuckles says. He points at what's left of the bridge. "She's holding a brown person."
"Why didn't you say anything," Tails questions him.
"Because I'm trying to make you feel guilty," Knuckles says with a big grin. "Nah but really, stop worrying about it. I'm not mad anymore."
"Thanks Knuckles," Tails replies with a smile.
Rouge and this person walks towards Knuckles and Tails.
"Hey, Amy said you were looking for me," Knuckles says.
"Yeah because when I passed by this girl just magically appeared out of nowhere and I had to catch her," Rouge explains. "She was looking for you. Her names start with a T or something I forgot it."
"My name is Tikal and I was the sprit who resided in the Master Emerald," she says. "Pleased to meet you."
"So the sprit who controls the Master Emerald is a girl," Tails asks.
"What's wrong with that," Rouge asks. "I detected some sarcasm in your voice there."
"Uh, I didn't mean it like that," Tails replies nervously. "I just expected a huge, powerful being because of how worried Knuckles was about the whole thing."
"Well I'm sorry I don't live up to your expectations Tails, but I sure hope we can get along on our quest to the find the 100 pieces of the Master Emerald," Tikal says.
"Wait, 100 pieces?!!" Knuckles exclaims. "I never had to find that many before. Why so many? Please tell me why so many."
"I didn't expect to you beg Knuckles. The reason is because well it's the tenth time you failed at protecting the emerald. I must accompany you on the quest to make sure you get all 100 of them," Tikal explains. "Please look after me."
"Wait, you have no powers?" Rouge asks.
"I really don't. The emerald holds all the powers I just regulate them," Tikal explains. "I'm basically helpless. The only thing I got going for me is the fact that I can't be hurt."
"So you're immortal," Tails asks. "Cool!"
"Not really," Tikal replies. "If there is no one around to protect the emerald then I eventually will die."
"Well you don't worry about that. I'll help you out," Knuckles suggests. "The emerald is my life and you are basically the emerald so your life is in my hands. We'll get all the pieces."
"Thank you so much," Tikal replies with a huge smile.
"Wait! I'll come too," Rouge interjects.
"What," Tails asks. "You usually never come with us when go do stuff."
"Well I have nothing else to do," Rouge replies.
"Cool, four people are better than three," Knuckles says.
First chapter may seem a bit boring, but it picks up as the story goes on. I urge you to read chapter 2 before you dismiss the story entirely. That is why they are getting released on the same day. Review if you want. No more messages from here on out.