"...in other news, there have been a series of burglaries throughout cities in the area. The burglars seem to be striking at random, robbing everything from jewelry stores to local residences. However, in the end, only two robberies actually ended in something being stolen. In both cases, it was one of the mythic Chaos Emeralds..."
"Chaos Emeralds?" Sonic said, the TV suddenly catching more of his attention. Sonic was in Tails' workshop, helping him work on modifications to the Tornado. But in the end, Sonic was mainly just watching Tails' new TV.
"Sonic, I know it's new, but that doesn't mean you have to watch it... can you hand me that wrench?" Tails said.
"Huh? Oh, sure, here you go." Sonic responded, only looking away from the TV for a moment to see what Tails was asking for.
"...there have been two different descriptions, though vague, given for the burglar, but they share some traits: they are both described as hedgehogs in their teens, resembling Sonic the Hedgehog."
"WHAT!?" Sonic yelled, cause Tails to bang his head.
"Sonic, what's wrong?" Tails asked, rubbing his head.
"It seems like there's a couple more Shadows running loose!" Sonic said.
"I can assure you..." Shadow said from the corner of the room, "...that I'm the only one."
"Shadow! When did you get here?" Tails asked.
"Never mind that." Shadow said, "You do realize, that as long as that emerald is here, you're a target, right?" The red Chaos Emerald was sitting right on Tails' workbench.
"Don't worry!" Sonic said, "I'd like to see those guys try to get it!"
"Don't be overconfident, you blue idiot!" Shadow said, "I have a feeling that they might be dangerous."
"Shadow, when AREN'T people that are after the emeralds dangerous?" Sonic replied
As shadow was a about to respond, he suddenly cringed, "GET DOWN!"
An explosion suddenly broke apart Tails' wall. Amidst the sounds of crumbling bricks and fire, Sonic heard the sound of quick running, heading toward the workbench.
"Oh no you don't!" Sonic said, getting up while covered in debris. He dashed over, and gave whoever was there a swift kick to the head, knocking him down. Just as Sonic was about to pin him, the thief suddenly warped out of the way, grabbed the emerald, and took off.
"Was that...Chaos Control...?" Sonic said. Coming out of shock, he then said, "Tails! Shadow! We have to get out of here!"
"Tails is unconscious!" Shadow yelled, "Help me get him out of here!"
They picked up Tails and got him out of the workshop.
"I know Tails keeps an emergency hose around here, somewhere!" Sonic said, "Ah! There it is!"
Sonic managed to get the fire under control, although it left plenty of damage. He then walked over to where Tails was with Shadow.
"Lucky Tails is prepared for malfunctions and such... is he gonna be alright?" Sonic asked.
"He's fine. He just got hit on the head." Shadow said, and then kneeled down by Tails, "WAKE UP!" he yelled while slapping Tails across the face.
"Your bedside manner needs a little work, Shadow..."
"Uuh? What happened?" Tails asked in a daze.
"Your workshop got blown up and your emerald got stolen! THAT'S what happened!" Shadow yelled.
"WHAT!?" Tails yelled as he shot up, looking at his ruined workplace.
"You two should have been more careful." Shadow said.
"How could we? We didn't know about the burglaries until today!" Sonic yelled.
"You should always be cautious when you have a Chaos Emerald!"
"We'll get it back, don't worry!" Sonic said, looking at the workshop, "Looks like it's time for another adventure, huh guys? But we MIGHT need some more allies!" Sonic then took off in the direction of Angel Island, "You guys coming, or what?"
"Ahh..." Shadow said in annoyance, taking off after him, "He's gonna get himself killed if he's not careful."
Tails suddenly snapped into focus. "Gah! Hey, wait for me!", he said, jumping into the sky and flying off in their direction, briefly looking over his shoulder at the ruined workshop again.
"You guys go too fast sometimes..." Tails said, catching up to a stopped Shadow, "Where's Sonic?"
"Up there." Shadow said, pointing at Angel Island, floating in the sky.
"How did he get up there...?" Tails asked.
"Beats me." Shadow said, "I can tell already he's gonna cause me trouble. He never takes anything seriously enough."
"Well, that's how Sonic acts!", Tails said, "But he comes through in the end, right?"
"That's because he's lucky." Shadow said with a sigh, and then looked at Tails, "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Fly me up there."
"Uh?! I can't fly that far!" Tails complained, "Besides, can't you just use Chaos Control?"
"I would, if I had an Emerald." Shadow said, "Well, he'll be down soon. Let's look around here for a while. I feel chaos energy nearby..."
Meanwhile, up on the Island, Knuckles was performing his duty, guarding the Master Emerald.
"Hey Knuckles!" came Sonic's voice, "How ya doin', buddy?"
"Sonic..." Knuckles said, looking over at the hedgehog, "How do you always find your way up here..."
"I have my ways..." Sonic said, glancing around, "Anyway, do you mind helping out?"
"Does it have to do with that explosion I heard...?"
"Yeah!"
"Well, what's going on?"
"You see, there are a couple Chaos Emerald thieves around here lately, and I want to make sure they don't cause anymore trouble!" Sonic said.
"So in other words...", Knuckles said, "...It's an adventure?"
"Yup!"
"Count me out."
"What!?" Sonic yelled, "Knuckles, you can't be serious!"
"Sonic... I'm serious. I'm VERY serious."
"But why?"
"I haven't been paying enough attention to my duties." Knuckles said, looking over at the Master Emerald, "I've realized that every time I get involved in an adventure, I either abandon the Master Emerald, I have to get it back, or It gets shattered!"
"You know, one of those times it shattered WAS your doing..." Sonic said.
"Shut up!" Knuckles said, "My answer is no, Sonic. And it's gonna take more than YOU to change my mind!"
Meanwhile, unknown to Sonic and Knuckles, Rouge the Bat was secretly watching them from a nearby tree, waiting for a chance to claim her prize, the lovely Master Emerald.
"Shoot...", she said to herself, "Usually he just takes off... and I'm getting sick of waiting! Maybe I can take it while he's arguing..."
"Huh?" Sonic said, looking over at Rouge's hiding spot.
"What is it?" Knuckles said.
"I thought I just saw... never mind..." Sonic said, looking back at Knuckles, "Sooo... you're coming, right?"
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU NO!" Knuckles yelled, grabbing Sonic and shaking him.
"Ah! Take it easy, Knuckle-head!"
"WHAT?! YOU WANNA FIGHT, SMART GUY?!"
"Sure, why not?" Sonic said with a smirk, "But if I win, you have to help without a complaint!"
"Fine! But if I win, I'm throwing you off this island!" Knuckles yelled, "I hope you like skydiving!"
"Sorry, not my hobby! But I can see being stubborn is yours!"
"THAT'S IT!" Knuckles yelled, as the first punch was thrown.
After a bit of fighting, with Rouge enjoying the show, It seemed like Knuckles had Sonic pinned.
"Alright, Sonic!" Knuckles yelled, "I'm gonna knock you out and toss you over the edge! We'll see if you can fly in your sleep!"
"My my..." Came an unfamiliar voice, "Such a temper... of course, you never were one to keep your cool..."
Knuckles and Sonic both looked over to the Master Emerald, and standing on top of it was new face. He was a purple hedgehog with jagged, Shadow-like spikes, with a blue stripe on his head, which separated into two on his forehead. He had black shoes and baggy, black pants, held up by a yellow belt.
"Whoa!", Sonic said as Knuckles let him up, "Sweet contacts!" The stranger's eyes had red pupils and black irises. "Where can I get a pair of those?"
"Heh, sorry, but these are my actual eyes." The stranger said, "But, truthfully, they aren't naturally this color."
"Is purple your natural color?" Sonic asked with a smile.
"Sonic, be quiet..." Knuckles said, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Hmph." The stranger said with a frown, looking at Knuckles, "Sorry, but you interrupted our conversation..."
"Don't toy with me! Who are you?!"
"...well, it is true, I haven't introduced myself..." The stranger stepped down from the Master Emerald, "My name is Charge, and you can say I'm a treasure hunter of sorts... I'm looking for the Chaos Emeralds."
"Chaos Emeralds?" Sonic said, "You're one of the emerald thieves, aren't you?!"
"Well, the media HAS labeled me that way." Charge said, "But continuing with what I'm saying, I'm looking for the Chaos Emeralds. And it seems your Master Emerald's energy has lead my off the trail. It's a bit annoying, and I get irritated easily... so to release my anger..."
Charge floated up into the air.
"I think I'll destroy it!"
"WHAT!?" Knuckles yelled. Charge took out the light blue Chaos Emerald, and started to charge up energy.
"SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR PRECIOUS STONE!" Charge yelled, and then unleashed the stored up energy as a powerful beam, firing it at the Master Emerald. Knuckles tried to dash over to it, but the beam hit the emerald, causing a bright flash.
When the light cleared, all that was left of the Master Emerald was a small shard at Knuckles' feet.
"Ah!" Charge said, "I feel better... now, I'll be going..." And then he warped out of sight.
There was silence for a moment. But Knuckles fell to the ground, and did something Sonic never saw him do before: cry.
"Knuckles..." Sonic said, looking at his friend. Rouge, who was still in hiding, felt like she might cry, too.
After a few moments Angel Island started to fall, and Knuckles got up. He picked the shard up, and said, "Sonic, let's go."
"H-huh?" Sonic said, "I thought you weren't coming..."
"No. I'm coming. But not for you. And not for saving the world." Knuckles said, his voice quivering a bit, "I'm going for revenge. I'll make that guy wish he never met me..."
Knuckles used a string to tie the emerald shard around his neck, and waited for Angel Island to hit the water below.
Upon arriving at the shore, Sonic and Knuckles found Shadow and Tails completely drenched. It was obvious that they were hit by the massive tidal wave Angel Island caused upon hitting the water.
"If the Island is gonna fall, you should at least give us a warning!" Tails yelled, "Knuckles, did you break the Master Emerald again?! I swear, sometimes-"
"Tails." Shadow cut in, "Shut up." Shadow was staring at the emerald shard around Knuckles' neck. "I'm sorry for your loss, Knuckles."
"Heh... I had a feeling you'd know." Knuckles said, "Can we get going? I have some business to take care of, as Sonic knows."
"Heh, yeah." Sonic said, "You've got your mind set on it, too."
"By the way, Sonic..." Knuckles whispered, "I'm broken up about what happened... but if you tell ANYBODY... that I cried back there, you'll find yourself in the same grave as that Charge guy..."
"No problamo, Knux." Sonic said, knowing he was probably serious.
"Hey, Rouge!" Shadow suddenly yelled out, "If you're gonna stalk us, be a little stealthier."
"Ooh!" Rouge said, coming out of a nearby tree, "I should have known you'd find me."
"Whoa..." Tails said, "You're really keen to your surroundings, Shadow! I'd have never known she was back there!"
"Well, she's welcome to come along!" Sonic said, "The more, the merrier!"
"...hmph! Fine!" Rouge said, turning her head, "But it's just because I don't have anything better to do!"
"Well... they seem to be having fun..." said a hedgehog, looking through a pair of binoculars at Sonic's group from a nearby hill. He was in his teens, green in color with yellow stripes on his head and spikes. Wearing a pair of baggy blue jeans and a gray jacket, he flung his rucksack over his shoulder and stared at them with his blue eyes.
This seemingly dramatic looking scene was interrupted by his stomach growling.
"Uuh..." He said to himself, "I thought I bought all my supplies before I started going after the emeralds... but I forgot to buy food..."
"Here!" Came a voice from behind him. The hedgehog spun around, ready to fight, only to see a bee handing a chocolate bar to him. "I was saving it for later, but you seem like you need it more!"
"Uh... thank you?" the hedgehog said, accepting his gift.
"I'm Charmy, by the way!" Charmy said, "What's your name?"
"My name's Sparky..." Sparky replied.
"And are you an Emerald Thief?"
"UH?!"
"DARN IT, CHARMY!" Came another voice, "You weren't supposed to be so forward!"
A green crocodile jumped out from behind a rock, and before Sparky could react, a purple chameleon appeared behind him and hooked his arms around Sparky's shoulders.
"We're Team Chaotix!" Said the crocodile, "And you're under arrest for suspicions of stealing Chaos Emeralds! Search his stuff, Charmy!"
"Okey-dokey, Vector!" Charmy said.
"What?! No!" Sparky said, struggling.
"I'd advise you not to fight and come with us..." the chameleon said, "I'd rather not use more force than I am right now."
"Right! Keep him still, Espio!" Vector said, "What's takin' you so long, Charmy?"
"Hey, Vector! Espio!", Charmy said, "He's got a really pretty picture in here!"
"Pictures? We want Chaos Emeralds, you nut-"
"DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Sparky yelled. He managed to get his arms free, and unconsciously warped over and grabbed the picture.
"WOAH! Did you see that?!" Charmy said, "I bet he's a ninja like you, Espio!"
"That wasn't Ninjitsu..." Espio said, his arms hurting slightly, "That was Chaos Control, wasn't it?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you capture me!" Sparky yelled, ignoring Espio as he grabbed his stuff and took off.
"AFTER HIM!" Vector yelled, "That guy's got a big reward on him! We can't let that money get away!"
Team Chaotix dashed off along the plains after Sparky. Sparky, a small ways up ahead, was breathing heavily.
"Darn... it!" Sparky panted, "I shouldn't have done that! I'm out of breath already!"
Espio suddenly appeared in front of him, "Sorry, I'm not letting you get any farther!" Sparky then barely managed to miss having his nose cut off by a giant shuriken as he dodged Espio's attack. After that, Vector suddenly ran in swinging his fists, and Charmy flew up trying to sting Sparky. Sparky, of course, didn't know how long he could keep up dodging the attacks, as he already was very tired.
"I don't want to fight!" Sparky said, "I just don't want you to catch me!"
"Sorry, bub!" Vector said, "We need the reward money from you, and it looks like we can only get it by knocking you out!"
The skirmish was wild enough, that it managed to get Sonic's attention.
"Guy's! That way!" Sonic said, "Looks like someone's fighting!"
There was suddenly a bright flash of light from the direction of the fight.
"Chaos energy!" Shadow said, "That could be one of our emerald thieves! We have to get over there!"
When they got over to the spot of the fight, all they found was a smashed pair of binoculars, a torn piece of a photo, and the Chaotix detective agency knocked out on the ground. But off in the distance...
"Sonic, look!" Tails said, "Someone's running away!"
"I'll get him! Knuckles, follow me!" Sonic yelled, taking off.
"Got it!" Knuckles dashed after Sonic.
"Wait, what are we supposed to do?!" Tails yelled after.
"And what are we supposed to do with THEM?" Shadow said, looking at the unconscious detectives.
"Hey, Shadow..." Tails said, "Check it out..." Tails was referring to the photo. The photo seemed to be a piece of what was a group shot. But that's not exactly what caught their attention: the piece clearly contained what obviously looked like Knuckles and the back of a set of spikes that looked like Shadows. It also had a purple hedgehog and a brown tail in it.
"Weird... that's Knuckles alright, but he looks so much older..." Shadow said, thinking deeply.
His thoughts were interrupted, though when Tails said, "Where's Rouge?"
"Keep on going, Knuckles!", Sonic said, "He looks pretty tired out! We're almost there!"
The thief suddenly made a sharp turn to the right at a tree. Sonic kept going, and kicked his foot against the tree in order to make the same turn the thief did, and he launched himself in pursuit. Unfortunately, Knuckles crashed headlong into it.
"Son of a-!" Knuckles yelled, but he looked up, realizing sonic had taken off, "Hey! Where do you think you're going without me!"
However, Knuckles seemed to have hit something on the tree, as a passageway suddenly opened up at the tree's roots, revealing a stair case leading down.
"What the...?" Knuckles looked down, "A metal staircase...? I have a feeling I know who put this here... Sonic can wait!" Knuckles then dashed down the stairs.
"Doctor Eggman!" A Robot yelled into an intercom, "We have a security alert!"
"What!? What happened?" The mad scientist said over the speaker
"It seems we have an intruder, Doctor!"
"From where?!"
"Sector B!"
"Let me see! Feed through the security footage!" Doctor Eggman said from what seemed to be a control room. A video popped up on a large viewing screen, showing two hedgehogs kicking up against the tree the security camera was in and dashing off to the right, and then an echidna crashing into it.
"I see..." Eggman said, watching the echidna enter the passageway he discovered, "So it's that gullible fool Knuckles! Metal Sonic!" he yelled in the intercom.
Moments later, the metal hedgehog came into the room.
"Yes, Doctor?" Metal Sonic said in his metallic voice.
"We have an intruder! Head to sector B immediately and assist security!" Eggman said, "That echidna managed to find his way in."
"What about... him?" Metal Sonic said, looking at the repeating footage of Sonic
"I'm going to find out what that hedgehog is up to, and find out who he was chasing!" The Doctor said, "Now get going!"
"Yes, Doctor." Metal Sonic said, as he walked put of the room. He paused outside the door, as he suddenly recalled his battle with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles high in the sky. "I remember it..." Metal Sonic said, as he started heading towards the intruder.
"This situation seems like it's getting a bit hairy..." Rouge said, flying away in the opposite direction of the group, "But the reward for those thieves is probably high! If I can catch one, I could ask for my reward in jewels..."
"...perhaps you could ask for a diamond ring?" came a voice from behind her. Rouge spun around to see Charge floating behind her.
She landed, and said, "You! You're that hedgehog from the island!"
"Yes, and YOU'RE that sneaky bat the was hiding in a tree." Charge said, smiling, "Don't think I didn't notice you..."
"What do you want?!" Rouge yelled.
"Weren't you the one who just said you wanted to capture me...?" Charge said, sneering, "Well, here I am! Go on!"
"CHARGE!" Came another voice, "Don't you DARE touch her!"
"My, my... what a rude brother..." Charge said, looking in the direction the voice came from, "Sparky, it's not polite to interrupt people's conversations!"
Sparky ran up and said, "Where so you get off lecturing me!?"
"You're manners haven't improved at all since you were just a little crybaby..." Charge said, now frowning, "Oh wait... you still are one!"
Sparky suddenly nailed charge in the face with a quick punch, knocking him to the ground.
"Sparky..." Charge said, "You DO know that I hate it when you make me angry... and now I am very... VERY angry!"
"Charge, I've lost all respect for you!" Sparky yelled, "I don't care what you think anymore!"
"Hmph! You know very well I've always been better at fighting, and you STILL defy me?" Charge said, "Very well, you've sealed your fate!" Charge took the light blue chaos emerald out of his pocket, "Let's see how well you hold up!
"EZMRHS!" Charge yelled, and suddenly vanished into thin air.
"Wh-what!?" Rouge said in amazement as Sparky started to get beat up by nothing, The chaos emeralds can turn people invisible?!
Suddenly, Charge reappeared, holding not only the light blue, but the red emerald, too.
"Give that back!" Sparky yelled.
"I think not!" Charge said, holding the red emerald up, "NLIKS!"
A red beam fired out of the emerald, and Sparky attempted to dodge. But the beam hit his foot with a flash of light. When the light cleared, Rouge looked in horror as she saw that Sparky's foot had been turned to stone.
"Well, well! Looks like you can move very well with a rock for a foot!" Charge said, as Sparky tried to drag himself away, "It's been fun, brother, but this foolishness must end!"
Charge started charging an attack as Sparky looked around frantically for a way out of his predicament. He spotted a pebble and tossed it at Charge. He then held up the blue emerald, and shouted "TILDGS!"
A blue beam hit the pebble, making it balloon to the size of a boulder. The boulder then crashed into Charge, knocking him back and landing on top of him. Sparky dragged his way over to Rouge and grabbed onto her.
"We're getting out of here!" Sparky said to Rouge.
"Who... what are you?!" She yelled.
"You can call me Sparky Da Hedgehog! And don't worry, I'm on your side!" Sparky said.
He held his blue emerald over his head and yelled, "CHAOS CONTROL!"
Sparky and Rouge warped away, as Charge manged to push the boulder off of him.
"SPARKY! I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET AWAY!" he yelled, "THE EIGHT CHAOS EMERALDS WILL BE MINE!"
With an explosion of energy, Charge obliterated the boulder and took off into the air, in search of his brother.