Chapter 2: The Moving Pieces
"So when can we get started on looking for these things," Knuckles asks.
"Now," Tikal suggests. "Please make sure you guys have everything before we continue."
"Yeah we should go back and get some things before we head out," Tails says.
Once back at Tails' workshop, Tails checks around to pick out some things while Knuckles goes to take a look at Sonic once more with Tikal right behind him.
"Wait a minute, I know you," Sonic blurts out. "You're Tikal, right?"
"Yes I am," Tikal remarks. "You were the one who helped me calm Chaos right?"
"Yeah that's right," Sonic remembers. "You have the power to heal if I recall correctly."
"Yes I do," Tikal says.
"Hey you told us that you didn't have any powers," Knuckles says."
"Well I thought that the power to heal was sort of a minor thing so I didn't mention it," Tikal says. "I'm sorry."
"Nah, don't worry about it. What about fixing up Sonic here?" Knuckles asks.
Tikal order Knuckles to stand back as she spreads her hands across Sonic's body. A bright light dissipates from her hand and to Sonic's arm and leg which is currently broken. Tikal stands back as she chants some weird saying in a language that either Sonic or Knuckles understands. The casts that were around Sonic's right arm and leg come off automatically and floats to the ceiling in the room. They disappear and Sonic is completely stunned, so stunned that he doesn't even try to move. Tikal has a huge smile as Sonic and Knuckles stare at her in awe. Sonic then jumps out of the bed.
"Yes now I won't have be stuck here with Amy for a month!" Sonic screams full of glee. He grabs Tikal's hand. "Thank you so much!"
"What did you say," Amy says with tears in her eyes.
"Uhh, Amy I didn't mean it like that," Sonic implies. Amy storms off, but Sonic doesn't follow. "She'll get over it eventually," he says as he takes a seat on the bed.
"So you gonna come with us, right," Knuckles asks Sonic. "We need all the help we can get."
"I can't," Sonic replies. "I must find Shadow and get the Chaos Emeralds back. Besides, it won't take you guys long right? You usually have like 15 pieces to find."
"I got 100 this time," Knuckles says.
"Wow, well I promise when I take care of Shadow I'll find you guys," Sonic suggests. "You can count on me."
"Ok then, I'll catch you later I guess," Knuckles says. "Tails might be ready to go so we should get outside."
Tails, Rouge, Knuckles, and Tikal are currently outside going over the necessary precautions before they decide to leave in search for the pieces. Sonic catches up with them before they go.
"Hey, you might want to leave me the keys to the workshop," Sonic tells Tails. "Since I'm not going with you guys I'll come here between finding the Chaos Emeralds."
"Sure thing." Tails throws Sonic the key. "You take care of yourself."
"No problem little buddy," Sonic replies.
"Wait, you are not going with them," Amy asks. She appeared behind Sonic outta nowhere causing him to jump.
"Didn't you leave?" Sonic asks in a surprised voice. "I need to find the Chaos Emeralds first then I will join them." Sonic hesitates. "Uhh, I'm sorry for what I said earlier so do you want to come with me?"
Sonic is kicking himself as Amy accepts without any type of thinking.
"Well, we'll be off, " Knuckles says. "Our paths might cross maybe."
Sonic and Amy walks back to the workshop while Knuckles, Tails, Tikal, and Rouge sets off in search of the missing pieces.
The main group left the workshop and took a right turn which extends into a wide field with rolling hills and grass as far as the eye can see. The sun is out and it is beaming down hard. Knuckles even pulls out the shades. The wind starts to pick up creating a gentle breeze that helps on a hot day such as this. The grass begins to sway and fro as the breeze switches directions. So far they have been navigating on Knuckles' ability to sense the pieces' locations. After Knuckles leads them through field, they come across a huge lake with water so clear that you can see down to the bottom. The sun is reflecting off of the water creating shimmering light as the water moves. Knuckles stops them here.
"Three pieces are in this lake," Knuckles says.
"Really, well who feels like swimming?" Rouge says humorously.
"No wait, the pieces seem like they are moving," Knuckles says worriedly. "They are coming to the surface!"
Everyone jumps out of the way as a black figure emerges from the water. They all cover their faces as the water splashes them. Knuckles is the first to open his eyes to see who it is.
"You, why are you after the pieces of the Master Emerald," Knuckles shouts at Shadow.
"What I'm doing is none of your business. Now shut up and stay out of my way," Shadow orders.
"You know, since you stole the Chaos Emeralds from Sonic I think that it's payback time," Tails suggests. "Let's do it, Knuckles."
"Fine by me," Knuckles chuckles. "Let's do it."
"Wait you idiots," Rouge screams as she grabs both of them. "Shadow has the Chaos Emeralds right now. You will be slaughtered by him."
"I actually don't have them with me. Carrying around those things all the time are a pain," Shadow remarks. "You idiots also seem to forget that the emeralds split after you use them. I have to find them again."
"Oh yeah, right," Knuckles remembers. "Anyway, give us the pieces to the Master Emerald or Tails and I will have to take them from you by force."
Shadow chuckles then leads into uncontrollable laughter. "Tails can't do anything to me. You're better off going it alone."
"Don't you ever underestimate me!" Tails screams.
He charges up a spin dash immediately and flings himself towards Shadow. The black hedgehog blocks the attack with his hand, but the force pushes him back a bit. Tails jumps back to Knuckles' side. They look at each other and nod in confidence. Shadow rises into the air and shoots out purple lightning bolts. "Chaos Blast!" he shouts loudly. Knuckles and Tails jumps out of the way while Rouge grabs Tikal and flies up into a tree.
"You are pretty helpless, you know that," Rouge complains. Tikal doesn't say a thing as she stares at the fight below.
Knuckles pulls out the shovel claws while Tails prepares the ankle bracelets. Shadow takes off the rings around his wrists. Once they hit the ground, he starts to glow for a bit and gains a white aura. Knuckles and Tails shield their eyes from the blinding light that Shadow lets off. Once he finishes glowing, he points at Knuckles then without saying a word. He disappears then reappears right before Knuckles's face and comes at him with a right jab. Knuckles blocks this then Shadow continues punches in rapid successions. Knuckles continues to block these. This is going so fast that Knuckles is reaching his limit trying to retain focus. Tails jumps into the air and flies at Shadow so fast that if you blinked you'd miss him. He collides with the enemy and sends him into a tree on the other side of the lake. Tails flies over this lake so fast that he's invisible to the naked eye while leaving two jets of water over the lake's surface. Shadow is still sitting under the tree with his eyes close. As soon as he opens them, all he can see is Tails' foot. The fox kicks the crap out of him, sending him through three trees as he continues his path to pain.
"Wow, go Tails," Knuckles screams. "How did he learn this stuff?"
Tails continues his onslaught. He jumps through the wreckage he created with Shadow's body. Shadow jumps up and attempts to punch Tails, but Tails moves the side like something out of The Matrix. He doesn't even bother blocking Shadow's now multiple attacks. All he does dodge them, and this is all happening in the air mind you. Tails made some adjustments to the ankle bracelets that allow him to float. Tails just randomly grabs one of Shadow's punches. "Too slow," he remarks as he spins around counterclockwise in midair. Shadow is screaming throughout the whole thing. Tails release his foe on the tenth spin sending Shadow on a collision course into one of the rock formations right behind him. Shadow's impact is so hard that he leaves an impression on the surface. Before gravity could even take its course and carry him down, Tails is at the scene already. While Shadow is still impaled on the wall, Tails takes this time to wail on him. He continually strikes his opponent with devastating punches and kicks as Shadow cries out in pain.
"Hmm, looks like Sonic has been teaching him a few things," Knuckles thinks as he continues to watch. Rouge jumps down from the tree with Tikal.
"What in the world is going on with Tails," Rouge asks. She puts her hand over her mouth and is quite shocked. "He fights like Sonic now."
"Yeah, it's pretty cool if I do say so myself," Knuckles says. "Tails and I could be a very good team."
"Well, it looks like Tails IS the team to me," Rouge laughs hysterically.
Tails decides to get a little creative and starts throwing in swipes of his tails as part of his combo. He then stops cold as Shadow grabs his right tail.
"It's my turn now little pest," Shadow says calmly. He punches Tails in the face which causes the fox to flinch. Shadow then puts his hands together and comes down hard on Tails's head. He falls down to the ground and Shadow wastes no time in following. This is where Knuckles decides to jump in. He dashes towards the scene and catches some huge air. The echidna grabs his friend and puts him down right next to a tree. Tails is currently unconscious.
"Well, well, he's done already," Shadow remarks. "Well, let's see what kind of fight you can put up."
Knuckles runs at Shadow with his right arm already cocked back. Shadow smiles and moves his head to the left to dodge the slow attack. Knuckles then tries a kick with his left foot. His enemy dodges this without problems too. Tails slowly opens his eyes and struggles to get back on his feet. He looks to his left and notices the one-sided fight that's about to take place.
"Knuckles! You're too slow," Tails screams.
"What," Knuckles replies. Shadow takes this opportunity and hits Knuckles very hard in the face. Knuckles regains control in midair as he flips himself over and lands right on the side of Tails.
"Look, you are strong and I am fast. We must work together somehow in order to take him down," Tails suggest.
"How do you suppose we do that, " Knuckles asks.
Tails sighs and jumps into air to use his tails for flight. He picks up his friend by the hands. Shadow is still floating in the air with the help of his shoes. He looks at Tails and Knuckles then laughs.
"Haha, flight formation," Shadow remarks then laughs some more.
"Well if you remember that, then you'll recall thunder shoot I bet," Tails replies. He flings his partner into the air and kicks him at Shadow in the form of a red ball. It's coming too fast for him to block. Knuckles knock the black off of him causing Shadow to drop the pieces of the Master Emerald. Once they hit the ground, Tikal is the one to pick them up as Shadow flies off into the horizon. Tails and Knuckles lands after that and they both celebrate.
"How Tails, how," Knuckles says in awe. "You blew my mind today. Nice going!"
"It was all because of some training," Tails replies. "With who, I will not reveal. Just know that it's not Sonic." He winks and laughs.
"So 97 more pieces to go," Rouge says. "We should be finished in no time!"
"Being optimistic sucks," Knuckles remarks.
"Well the time will pass by fast as we continue on our quest to gather all pieces," Tikal says. "Being optimistic is a good thing."
"Uhh, there is a word for this, naive I think,"Rouge says then laughs.
"Nah I think it's pretty nice that Tikal sees it that way," Tails replies.
"Why thank you Tails," Tikal says.