Notes: Back on track

Disclaimer: I have never owned the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

Ch. 4: It's like Marble, but with a Garden

It felt like they had been falling for quite a while, but at last, the ground came rushing into view. This new area was, like the last, made up of ancient ruins, but instead of water…

"Finally," Sonic said, "Grass at last. Let's roll, Tails."

Sonic curled into a ball and rolled down the nearest hill, while Tails flew to keep up. They screeched to a halt in front of a pool of some strange substance.

"A whole pit full of barbecue sauce," Sonic joked.

"Oh, come on, Sonic," Tails said, "It's just mud…although I almost mistook it for tar or oil."

"Either way, best not get stuck in it. Let's take this rotating platform."

With a few quick jumps, they continued on their way. They passed by a row of spikes, when suddenly, something shot at them.

"Where did that come from?" Tails wondered.

"I'm gonna find out," Sonic said, as he looked around.

Another shot came from nowhere, and Sonic jumped to avoid it, but…

"Sonic, you jumped too far ahead! Look out for those spikes!"

"Good thing I have rings!"

*BOING*

Sonic landed back on the ground.

"What just happened?"

"Those spikes were springy, Sonic."

A Badnik called Spiker poked out of the ground to fire another projectile. Sonic was ready, though, and spin-dashed into the Badnik.

"Well, that was unexpected," Sonic said, "This place is a big change from the last area after all."

"I suppose you want to name this place?"

"It reminds me of those ruins back home that I called Marble."

"That's it? Marble?"

"I wasn't as creative back then. Now, however, I'm gonna call this place Marble Garden."

"That does sound catchy."

Just ahead was a round, blue, fish-like Badnik called Bubbles. After a few seconds, a series of spikes emerged from all over its body. It was followed by two more Bubbles. As they floated towards Sonic, he seemed to be thinking of something. Once they got close enough, and their spikes were retracted, Sonic jumped into every one, one after the other.

"Impressive, Sonic," Tails said.

"I'm trying to refine my striking abilities. Let's keep moving."

They ran past more ruins, and several grasshopper Badniks strangely called Mantis popped up out of the ground. Tails used his tails effectively to take them out.

"Way to go buddy. I –" Sonic felt something.

"Hold the phone, pal, I think there's one of those giant ring things nearby."

"Which way, Sonic?"

Sonic did a quick look around.

"This way for sure."

They ran for a bit, but then they came upon a giant statue head called Strange Relief.

"This statue must be blocking the way," Tails said.

Just then, the statue shot an arrow out of its mouth.

"I didn't see that one coming," Sonic said, "Now how do we get past it?"

"That jewel, or light, or whatever it is, on its forehead. It flashes whenever it fires. Try hitting it."

As soon as it launched its arrow, Sonic jumped into the jewel. The "statue" still kept firing.

"I guess it takes multiple hits," Sonic said, "Figures."

Sonic waited for another opening to strike again…and again. There was a popping sound, and then the ground opened up beneath them.

"Third time's the charm, they say," Tails said.

"It's coming from over here. Yet another hidden room, of course."

Special

"I'm glad we're at least on the ground, Tails. Can you imagine how frustrating this would be if we were floating or something?"

"It'd be very annoying, Sonic. Still, you seem to be getting through these really quickly."

"The sooner we get the Chaos Emeralds, the better. And as of now, we have the silver Emerald."

*FLASH*

"One step closer, buddy. Hey, look at this."

It looked like a large, flat, blue top.

"I've never seen anything like it," Tails said.

"I'm gonna try it out."

Sonic stood atop the device…nothing happened.

"It looks like a top. Maybe you have to spin it yourself," Tails suggested.

Sonic began to run on the top. It slowly lifted into the air and levitated forward.

"Interesting and fascinating," Tails observed, "Something so technical for an area of ancient ruins."

"Not very fast though," Sonic added, as he drifted to another level of the ruins.

As soon as the top touched the ground, it sped across at an accelerated rate.

"Scratch that, Tails!"

The top demolished some brittle ruins and spun down a column. Sonic finally jumped off and kept moving forward. Tails managed to catch up, and they found themselves in a large underground opening. A large machine with two drills floated in the air.

"Greetings, Sonic," Robotnik's voice rung out, "This is my Tunnelbot. It's going to bring the house down!"

"Wow," Sonic snarked, "Didn't see that joke coming."

Sonic gave the Tunnelbot a few hits before it ascended to the ceiling and burrowed in. This caused pieces of the ceiling to fall around the duo. Tunnelbot emerged and began to tunnel through the ground, but Sonic and Tails kept hitting it. It was too much for the robot, and it soon broke apart.

"I guess that's what comes from not overseeing your robots," Tails said.

"He's a busy man, Tails, or else he'd do things himself, I'm sure."

Moving on, they ascended a few steep hills with the aid of a pulley system that had been installed. They kept going on, crashing through weak walls, and using blue wheels to create reachable platforms. They then came to room similar to the one where they found Tunnelbot. And just like before, the ground began to shake.

*SMASH*

The Egg Mobile erupted from the ground, and was now equipped with a giant drill.

"I'm here, Sonic!" Robotnik declared, "Say hello to my Drill Mobile."

Before Sonic or Tails could react, the Mobile drilled into the ceiling, and the entire landscape was being affected.

"We better get moving, pal," Sonic said.

They ran through the landscape as parts of the ruins began to descend. More and more Badniks advanced on the duo, only to be destroyed as they made their way to higher ground.

"It seems such a waste that Eggman is destroying these ancient ruins," Tails said, "Think about what could be learned from them."

"You know Eggman," Sonic replied, "If it doesn't involve power, then he's not interested."

They at last came to a wide open area. That was when the Drill Mobile reappeared.

"I had hoped you would get crushed somewhere in there," Robotnik said, "but I also knew better."

*SMASH*

"Hey! No fair attacking my Mobile while I'm taunting you."

"Maybe you should try talking less then, Eggman!" Sonic taunted right back.

"Let's see how easily you can hit me when there's no ground beneath your feet!"

He turned his drill downwards and began demolishing the ground. It all began to fall away.

"So long, Sonic! Ho ho ho ho!"

He took off into the air, but…

*SMASH*

"What was…?! Oh no!"

Tails was carrying Sonic through the air.

Robotnik growled, "You're lucky your little sidekick can fly."

"Tails is more than a sidekick. Plus, if anything, you oughta be smart enough to remember that he can fly. Ready, Tails?"

"Leave it to me!"

Tails flew up higher, and then Sonic collided with the Mobile again. Before he fell too far, Tails grabbed him again. Sonic swung himself around and hit the Mobile yet again. This time, however, Tails had to pause to catch his breath.

"If only you had your plane, Hedgehog."

"That would be overkill, Eggman," Sonic shot back, "We don't need a plane to take you down."

Tails flew up high yet again, giving Sonic plenty of opportunity to dish out more damage to the Mobile.

"You know," Tails observed, "This Mobile of yours seems to have no offensive capabilities. That drill may have been useful near the ground, but in the air it serves no purpose."

"Well I…"

While the doctor was mulling over that statement, the Mobile took all the damage it could and started to break apart. As it fell…

"You win this round, thanks to your flying freak of a friend, but next time my Mobile will have real offensive capabilities. I made this an easy fight on purpose!"

"Man," Sonic said, "He really talks too much."

Tails nodded in agreement, then said, "I didn't even notice the sun was going down, Sonic. All this flying is making me tired. With both those statements in mind, can we take a break?"

"You've earned it, little bro."

They set down at the edge of what was left of the ruins.

"A nap will both of us good, right, Tails?"

Tails was already out.

Sonic smiled, "Great job, buddy."

Meanwhile

Dr. Robotnik was examining his Egg Mobile and giving it repairs.

"I can't believe this! How could I forget to attach a weapon? On the other hand, how was I supposed to know the battle would take place in the sky?"

Just then, Knuckles popped up from out of the ground.

"Is this all part of your grand plan? First my jungle, and now you destroy a good chunk of these ancient ruins!"

Robotnik hesitated for a few seconds, but then, "Uh…Of course this is all part of my plan!"

"Really?! He's found more of the Chaos Emeralds. What happens when he gets all of them? The whole point was to prevent that."

"What does it matter if he finds them all? You alone know the location of the Master Emerald. We can use that to our advantage. Besides, I think of come up with something that will render the Emeralds a moot point."

Knuckles sighed, "So where are they now?"

"The first three areas they traversed were your territory, Knuckles. Now they've stepped into mine."

"Oh, you mean that thing you built when you got here. Why exactly did you build a place like that?"

"Well…it's good for tourism."

"How are tourists going to get to an island floating in the sky? On top of that, my job is to keep people out!"

Robotnik was getting annoyed, "Look, will you calm down? Just follow them in there and try to sabotage their efforts. We must delay them a bit longer. My main project will be complete by the time they reach my base. Then I'll take care of Sonic for good."

Knuckles still didn't look happy, but he nodded, and then went off in the direction of a lot of bright lights.