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The two had set off from Sonics home town and were on the hunt for the assassin that destroyed both their towns, "Let me hold it! I found it so hand it over." Knuckles had defeated a glowing goblin and found a shiny stone. "No way, I dealt the finishing blow so it's rightfully mine. I think I'll sell it in town, no wait! I'll exchange it for--" Knuckles snatched it off him. "You won't be doing anything with that since it's mine, you can have the next one alright?" Sonic grunted lowering his eye lids. "You're only saying that because you now there won't be another one..." Knuckles put the stone in his bag. "Maybe..." He smirked as he saw a new town. "Are you sure you want to follow me in here? I've been to this town a few times it's pretty rough. You might get hurt!" Sonic banged his chest. "No problem, if anyone messes with me I'll--" "It wouldn't be wise to start any kind of trouble here. There's someone that goes by the name boss, he pretty much owns the whole town and if anyone starts trouble you'll have to deal with him." Sonic looked away. "But how am I supposed to protect myself or anyone else if I can't fight?" "You'll find a way now come on I need a drink."

They entered the town pretty easily since there wasn't anyone stood guard at the gates. "That's odd..." As they entered they immediately saw someone getting mugged. The medium sized bear was holding a bag tightly as he got punched to the ground. "Give us the bag and we might think about letting you live." The bear reluctantly let go of the bag and the gang of Wolfs walked off in the opposite direction. Sonic walked over and gave him a helping hand to the fallen bear. "You ok?" The bear took the hand and got to his feet and dusted himself off. "I've had worse, I think they went easy on me today." Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Went easy on you? They seemed to really lay into you I'm surprised you aren't unconscious." The bear smirked. "Like I said I've had worse. Boss seems angry today." He studied the new comers. "I haven't seen you guys around before, are you new?" The two nodded. "You best leave right now, the boss is always looking for fresh meat." He looked around then darted into a nearby alleyway.

"Let's go to the pub they do really nice drinks there." Sonic followed him and they entered the pub. It was a small place with only 5 tables with chairs around them and a bar. "I'll have the special mix." Knuckles demanded. "That'll be 6 silver." Knuckles took out the money and handed it to the bar penguin. "6 silver? Seems a little expensive?" Knuckles prodded Sonic. "It's worth every coin my friend, trust me." He chugged down his drink and wiped away the throuth that was around his mouth. "You have to try one." Knuckles ordered another drink. "Here, first ones on the house." Sonic stared at the strange colour and what looked like pieces of something floating in it. "Are you sure it's safe for Hedgehogs? It's fine for you... But possibly deadly for me!" Knuckles laughed. "Just drink it and stop making excuses." Sonic picked the glass up sniffing it then took a little sip. "Hmm, not bad." He took a bigger sip then drank the whole thing. "So?" Sonic looked to knuckles after putting the glass back down. "It was pretty good." Knuckles smiled. "Of course, this place does the best drinks around!"

The barman put his hand behind his head and blushed slightly. "They aren't that great! You're embarrassing me..." Just then a Squirrel came into the bar with two wolfs at his side. Knuckles looked behind him then back around. "Don't look but there's the boss, maybe he won't notice us." Sonic turned his whole body around and stared at the wolf. "Who, that wolf?" He got up. "Hey are you the boss?" He asked the wolf. "No I am!" Sonic looked down at the small animal. "You are? But you're so small!" Knuckles smacked his head. 'Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut...' He got up himself and stood along side his partner. "Long time no see, boss. Please excuse my friend he sometimes acts before thinking." Boss looked up at the Echidna. "I could have you both killed right here and no one would say anything but since you helped me out in the past I'll let you live. For now..." "What's the catch?" Knuckles enquired. Boss smirked. "Nothing big, just go fetch me the jewel of atmos. Think you can handle that?" Knuckles eyes went wide. "You have got to be joking." Bosses face was blank. "Do I look like a joker? Now are you going to do it or do I have to kill you?" Sonic moved his hand to his blade. "Yes we'll do it..." "Excellent, good luck though no ones ever returned alive." He left laughing.

"Come on let's get out of here." Knuckles shook his head. "We have to get him that jewel." "But why? He's gone let's sneak out!" "Trust me you don't want to get in his bad books. He has contacts all over the world he can have you killed/murdered and no one will dare speak of it do you want that?" Sonic shook his head. "Of course not..." "All right then it's settled.. We're heading for the atmos cave after we get some rest." "Do you now where it is?" "Not a clue I only ever heard rumors. Everyone who was lucky enough to find it never came back..." Sonic sat down on a nearby chair. "Great... What now?" "Let's figure this out tomorrow, there's an inn on the other side of town lets go." Sonic followed Knuckles out of the pub and down an alleyway.

"Spare some change?" A small two tailed fox boy asked. Knuckles threw him a few copper pieces and stopped just ahead of him. "What about if we ask around for a guide? Surely someone around here knows where it is." Sonic started. "Even if they did do you think they'd help?" "I would!" Knuckles shook his head. "We're on our own here no one would help trust me." Knuckles carried on for the inn and followed passing the fox boy who was sat against the wall. "Hey mister --" "Sorry kid, no time." He hurried on ignoring the youngster.

The next day Sonic awoke in his bed stretching and yawning and headed down stairs to the front desk after noticing Knuckles had already left. "What do you mean 4 gold for the night!?" Knuckles complained to the man behind the desk. "Forget it I aint paying that its robbery!" "What's going on?" Sonic asked. "He's charging us 4 gold for staying here." The man looked at Knuckles. "I'd pay up if I were you or would you like to take this up with the boss?" The man slyly replied. "Hmph... Go on, tell the boss I'm sure he wont mind have a nice day." Knuckles left the man in pure shock. "You're crazy!" He shouted as the two left the inn. The fox boy from before was sat outside fast asleep next to the door holding a piece of paper.

He woke up rubbing his eyes. "You're awake..." The fox started. "What do you want kid? I gave you some money." "I came to help you! Here." He handed knuckles a map on the surrounding area. "I made it myself. If you look there." He moved around to knuckles side. "That's the cave you wanted to find right?" Knuckles covered his nose and coughed a little as the fox really stank. "Yes that's it. How did you find it?" the little kid had a wide smile of delight on his face. "I'm good at making things, maps are my speciality. I don't have anywhere to live so I sell maps to people who pass through here." He looks up with hope in his eyes. "Do you... Want to buy it?" Sonic prodded Knuckles. "We could do with a map... How much is it kid?" "1 gold!" "Seems a little much for a map..." The fox kid takes it back. "Well if you don't want it fine, find the cave yourself." He turns around. Knuckles sighs. "Ok here's 1 gold... It better be a good map." The kid takes the money and hands over the map. "Thanks mister, you won't regret it.

"Hmm so the cave is over in that direction... But we passed that at least twice today there wasn't any cave there!" He looks back at the fox. "There is a cave there I'm telling you the truth." He pleads. "I think he's trying to swindle us." Knuckles prodded Sonic. "Only one way to find out. Let's take him with us and if he is indeed lying we feed him to the wolfs." Tails eyes went wide. "I swear it's there! I've been inside and everything." "We'll see." Knuckles grabbed the kids arm and left town.

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