Hello again! It looks like I've managed to keep to my original schedule so far... I'll try to keep it up! I hope you enjoy reading this chapter! :) - CN

Disclaimer- I don't own the Sonic franchise or anything that relates to it.


Chapter 4

The three Mobians stood in shock for a brief moment as they saw the Master Emerald being held in place by the claw, still in its crumbling stone stand. It was as if the mad scientist up above was teasing them. He was still standing on the great metal podium protruding from the balcony with one finger playfully resting lightly on the Egg Cannon's 'FIRE' button. Eggman looked at their miserable expressions and began to laugh loudly, echoing through the plains surrounding them. He took the longest stare at Sonic, the tired state of the blue hedgehog surprising him. It wasn't long before he was grinning manically when he saw the many deep gashes in his legs.

"What are you going to do about this one, Sonic?" He asked rhetorically, "The usual run, jump and spin, or will you for once in your life be forced to sit this one out, as it were?"

Sonic was left speechless, as there was no way he would be able to reach the ship due to its relatively high altitude. Even if he had been able to, his shins had been bleeding heavily, the open cuts now bringing so much pain to the usually laidback hedgehog that he was finding it hard to think straight, which would then affect his judgement of distance. Sonic knew that, with Eggman's new weapon, any miscalculation he made could be fatal. But he also knew that there were three of them there, and that if they brought their strengths together they might just make it. He looked down at his adopted brother and thought to himself, I don't even need to use my legs. Tails can fly me up there!

However, Tails was in no position to fly. Glancing up at Sonic, he knew what he was thinking and shook his head slightly, which caused the hedgehog to frown. His namesakes were aching terribly after his sudden and incredibly long flight towards the shrine. He could barely move them properly because of the strain he had put on them, and this frustrated him a lot, for the fox couldn't do much to fight airborne enemies without the use of his twin tails. For now, instead of them waving casually behind him, they hung limply at his sides. All he could do was try to formulate a plan of action in his head very quickly, but with the best friends both injured it eliminated almost all of the possibilities he was coming up with on the spot. Desperately, but unnoticed by the doctor, they both turned their heads towards Knuckles.

Meanwhile, back on the airship balcony, Eggman was in extremely good spirits. One hand twirled his bushy moustache while the other hand was dancing on the trigger. He was contemplating releasing the bombs now and killing the hedgehog and fox instantly, but he ultimately decided against it. No!,He thought to himself, Let's have some fun with them first. He had found the rare opportunity to do and say whatever he wanted to and he was going to make the most of it.

Still grinning, he taunted, "It looks like the blue rat has finally learned when to shut up! Oh, this is a miraculous turn of events... And I have you in just the position I want you in, too!"

Knuckles, far off to the side of the shrine and well away from Sonic, Tails, and Eggman, was too livid to notice that the other Mobians were staring at him pleadingly. There's no way he's getting off this Island with the Master Emerald! If he even lifts it out of the stand, we will all fall into the sea! Knuckles thought angrily, clenching his fists. Seeing an opportunity to attack the mad inventor, as the obese man himself was busying himself in humiliating his friends, the echidna began to form a very rough plan in his mind.

Sonic shot back a dirty look, and said to Eggman, "If you have got us in the right position, then why aren't we dead yet?"

"Well, to be blunt, hedgehog, I'm giving you one last chance here. Surrender and hand me the Emeralds, or Angel Island will fall! A simple choice- Yes, or No? Either way, I'll get what I want! I'm a genius!"

Eggman, having planned this event for weeks in advance, was overjoyed to see it finally paying off. Not only did he have them trapped, but Sonic was actually showing signs of weakness... To emphasise how much of an advantage he had over the Mobians, he pressed another button near to the one that would kill them instantly if pressed. Immediately, a comfy-looking recliner chair folded out from near his podium, and he sat back on it, grinning all the time. As a servant droid trundled out of the airship and onto the balcony, giving the doctor an ice-cold glass of water, he said to them, "As you prove no threat to me, I might as well get comfortable while waiting for an answer. So, what will you choose?"

Tails, out of the corner of his eye, saw Knuckles run towards a nearby tall tree that was behind the airship, outside Eggman's field of view, and use his spiked fists to climb to the top with ease. Not long after, Sonic discreetly turned to see what his adopted brother was looking at and suddenly felt a lot better. Whew! I was scared for a second that we'd have to grab Knuckles' attention instead, and that probably would've blown his cover... The hedgehog that the echidna was attempting to stop the doctor by himself, they both knew that now the only thing they could do was try to stall giving an answer to him for as long as possible.

The young fox gulped and ruffled the fur back of his head a little with one hand, while his brother just stared at his leg wounds, now bleeding a lot less than they were earlier. Sonic was thankful that his wounds always healed relatively fast due to the regular influx of Chaos energy that coursed through him every time he used the Emeralds. Soon, they will have turned into scabs and he would be able to run again, but for now, for his own convenience and time-wasting purposes, he had taken a couple of large leaves off of the ground and tied them around his shins, preventing the blood from escaping. He couldn't help but grin when he looked back up to see 'Eggbreath's' confused face.

"Well, rat? Have you decided yet?" inquired Eggman, demanding a response.

Meanwhile, Knuckles had carried out the first part of his plan. Waiting for the wind to blow in the right direction first, Knuckles stood atop the redwood tree which gave him a rather large view of the surrounding plains. This also made him feel more calm and relaxed for a few seconds. He thought, No matter how many times I see it, I will never cease to be amazed at the beauty of the Island... It also gave him a direct view of Eggman's airship from above, and this steered his thoughts back onto the plan, making him snarl. After seeing that the doctor was distracted and looking the other way, he began to glide in the air for the second time that day- but this time, his aim wasn't to get away from Eggman's airship, but to land on top of it.


Thanks to The Mirror's Wish (for reviewing and following), Cooldude1453 (for favouriting, reviewing and following), Shadouge baby (for following), 56th Reg. Corporal Epps Hande (for reviewing), and Beat the Fox (for following)! Bye for now, see you next chapter!