Act I/Chapter VI: Another Prophecy
If there is one guy I know that always seems to help me in a pinch unintentionally, it's Knuckles the Echidna. I met Knux when I wanted to take a vacation, and I chose Angel Island, a floating paradise which was stuck in the ocean at the time. Over many brawls and revelations, we both became acquaintances and defeated Robotnik. Without his aid, I don't think we could've stopped the doctor several times before.
He was something of a wise guy that kicked major butt. He was filled with knowledge of ancient civilizations and prophecies. He always had a plan… which was to improvise. While he did have this mind of guidance, he never backed down in terms of fighting. He was a true brawler. I swear, if you stuck him in a boxing ring, he could demolish his opponent with little force needed. Of course, you'd have to take his spiky gloves away to make it not murder.
Why am I mentioning him? It's simple. He was the first person I woke up to after the boat experience. Honestly, I didn't even think about where I was. I just started to talk.
"Knuckles?" I mumbled through blurry eyes, "Is that you?"
And of course, he responded in his usual gruff voice, "No, Sonic. I'm Charmy. Why would Knuckles be the guardian of this place?"
Gotta love his sarcasm. It cracks me up.
"I know it's you, Knux. I was just testing to see if you still hated me."
He reached his hand out. I grabbed it and he pulled me up.
"I don't hate you. I just hope for echidna's sake you don't end up endangering my job again."
"Not like you benefit from it anyway. Sitting alone on an island is something you'd probably do when you're in your twilight years. You're not in your twilight years."
"Oh, so because I'm young, I'm not allowed to do something that, supposedly, old people do? Besides, I was tasked with this ever since my race died out. I'm not letting anyone endanger my father's trust."
Oh, yeah. Knuckles's father, that's right. He was a big figure in Echidna legend, supposedly. He led many armies to victory, pleased his people, and was super intimidating even at dinner. He was like Napoleon Bonaparte, only taller. However, at least from what Knux told me, his father was lost in some sort of sandstorm or something. What a way to go. I don't know how the other echidnas died, but even if I did, I'd say that Knuckle's father's death was the most peculiar to figure out. For me, at least.
"So I'm on Angel Island? Well, ain't that a coincidence that I happened upon you during… wait, how did I even get here?"
I checked my surroundings. We were on the left side of Angel Island. The south side faced land, which was about a couple hundred yards away if the island were at sea level. On this portion of the island, the shrine stood, containing the Master Emerald.
That gem is the most powerful of all the emeralds. It controls the Chaos Emeralds and helps maintain their energy. One time, I literally used the Master Emerald's power to magnify the Chaos Emeralds' power ten times the usual, thus creating the Super Emeralds. This granted me the ability to go "hyper", as some people call it. I shine like a rainbow and am faster and stronger than ever before. The only problem is it's dangerous. It nearly killed me the last time I went to that level of power. The Chaos Emeralds run out of juice quicker when they're Super Emeralds. I haven't done it since I chased down Ro-butt-nik in an asteroid field two decades from this story's time.
There was a cliff right by where we were standing. Below that was water. Believe me. By this point, I was not going off of land anymore. Knuckles explained my situation.
"You were floating in the ocean when I saw you. You were passing under the island, so I dropped a ladder down and carried you back up here."
"Why didn't you wake me up in the water?"
"First of all, that would be a stupid idea. And secondly, I know you. I didn't want a hedgehog freaking out. It'd mess with my duties."
"Good point."
"Why were you out in the ocean? Tails push you in "by accident" again?"
"No. It's a long story."
As if on cue, my communicator started ringing. Thank god for things being water-proof! I took the call.
"This is Sonic."
"Finally!" the voice complained. "Where have you been?"
It was Tails. I could tell by his squeakiness.
"Well, how long was I away?" I asked.
"A couple days or so," he responded, "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. Just a… killer gone missing."
"You didn't catch him? How come?"
"Well, let's just say-."
"No. I'm not letting you get away with your riddles again. What happened?"
"Well, you see, this guy named Nack was the killer. Knux might know him. He… was connected to some other killings in the past… ones I've been aware of for a while. I fought him, but… he disappeared."
"Disappeared? That doesn't seem physically possible!"
'That's what I thought! Usually, you don't see big flashes of light right in front of you! Should that ever happen?"
"Well, there were thunderstorm warnings last night."
"I was IN that thunderstorm! But thunder didn't strike at us; there were no marks left. I'm beginning to think I had something to do with it."
"Sonic, you have the power of speed. What other power could you possibly have? Unless you've been regressing the urge to pull flash bangs out of your butt, I don't see anything pointing towards you!"
"But that's what puzzles me! He didn't shoot me! I didn't shoot him! Ugh! This makes less sense than Rayman: Origins!"
"Okay, okay. Calm down! We'll figure this out."
I took a deep breath.
"Look, I'll just head back to you when I'm finished at Angel Island, okay? I have people to see."
"Wait, you're at Angel Island?
"Gotta go, Tails."
"Say hi to Knuckles for me!"
"Sure thing, little bro."
I closed the call.
Knuckles was giving me the "raised eyebrow" look.
"Wow," he commented, "Your conversations getting' shorter? I thought you two were best friends, even brothers."
"We had an argument," I explained, "and I now am thinking about myself."
"When do you not?"
"No, I'm being serious, Knux. I'm really trying to remember what my purpose was BEFORE all of this. Not that I'm not grateful for what I got, but now I'm thinking of me before going hero."
Knuckles put his arm around and poked me.
"You've always wanted to play the hero, or at least that's what Sally said."
"Sally…" I whispered.
I started remembering that night she went out… and putting Nack in the killer's spot. It was… well, I cringed because of it.
"Something wrong?"
"Nack killed Sally."
"Really? Now why doesn't that surprise me?"
"It's probably because Nack's done things like that before. I asked him why he did it still, but he gave the old 'ain't broke, don't fix it' routine."
"That sounds like Nack."
"He killed her by accident, though, so I do feel some sympathy for him, but I still wonder why he killed Maximillian Acorn and Uncle Chuck. It's just…"
I sighed. Knuckles was baffled by the info hitting him all at once. I just told him the killer of three murders, only two of relatives, one of someone I held dear. Knuckles shoke his head.
"Well, I honestly don't know what to tell ya. I guess you could try to find him and-."
"That's the thing. I CAN'T find him. Something knocked him off the boat."
"Something? Wait, when did this something come?"
"When I flinched at his gun being cocked."
"Hmm."
He contemplated for a bit. Usually, when Knux figures something out, he starts to explain it in real life terms, but then he prattles onto prophecies and stuff like that. I was actually afraid of what prophecy I'd fulfill next.
"Wait a second," he began, "What hand was further out than the other?"
"Umm," I thought, "the… right, I think?"
"Okay. Well, let me see your right hand."
I raised it up to him. He looked at it, and then looked shocked after a couple seconds.
"What?" I asked.
"What's around your hand?" he asked.
I looked. All I saw was Shadow's ring. You know, the one I wear around my right wrist as a souvenir and reminder of his sacrifice. Actually saying it that way makes it sound important… which it turned out to be.
"Tell, Sonic," he asked, "What was one of Shadow's powers?"
"Um," I responded, "There was… he had Chaos Spear."
"Eureka!"
Made me think of "Doctor Who" somewhat.
"That's it!" he shouted.
"What's it?" I asked.
"I was absolutely lost here.
"Now, listen to me on this one. Shadow died, right? Somehow, his ring was still around after the Chaos Control. Well, maybe some of his Chaos energy is stored within that ring…"
"Oh, boy. I see where this is going."
"… and you just happened to harness it."
"That's so stupid, Knux. How could his Chaos Energy be stored in this little ring?"
"Well, he died using it, correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, the energy must have been stored somewhere in the meantime. Suppose he was weak and couldn't his inner power. Than he'd have a back-up: ring storage. It's the perfect theory."
"Theory, Knux. Theory. This has become far-fetched enough."
I began acting out what I was saying.
"You're telling me that Chaos Energy is stored in this ring, and when I go like THIS…"
I lashed my hand out in an angular slash. But much to my surprise… Chaos Spears actually came out! The light particles were less bright than the night before, so I could see still. I was amazed at Knuckle's theory being correct. Knuckles was crying out loud because of it.
"What did I tell you?" he asked, yelling in my face… which was absolutely unnecessary. "The prophecy's true."
"Again? How many prophecies am I gonna fulfill Knux just curious. Actually, do you just make these in your own time?"
"Just come with me."
He led into a cave burrowed in the canyon wall surrounding the back of the shrine. I walked into a surprisingly well-lit room; torches were perched on the wall and carvings were on them as well. I noticed many stories similar to my adventures. I noticed one of a giant robot and a yellow spiky being going after a glowing green gem, a reference to my chase through the asteroid field. I saw another with a spiky haired being growing fur, a reference to my journey across the world as a werehog. I even saw a one portraying a tall, skinny, spiky guy and a short, pudgy, spiky guy, which was a reference to the time I met my past self.
"Ah!' Knuckles exclaimed, "Here it is."
He pointed at another carving. It showed a spiky haired being shoot what looked like lightning out of one hand and green aura out of the other. It looked like someone was tripping when they drew this one.
"One prophecy states that-."
"You know," I interrupted, "Why are they all separate prophecies? If they're all happening to me my whole life, then why aren't they all stringed together?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. But anyway, one prophecy states that one shall come across two very different yet cooperative powers. One power lends the ability to use energy as a projectile. The other lends the user the power of telekinesis. Together, the two powers will help the one bring down the darkness taking over the land."
"One question: where do I get telekinesis from? I don't have it right now."
"Well, the prophecy is almost fulfilled. All you need to have is telekinesis and the power to stop the evil at all costs."
"Oh, and the second thing. What's this evil they speak of? If it's Nack, then the prophecy has technically been fulfilled."
"That I don't know. However, you must find the ability of telekinesis."
"Why?"
"Because the prophecy is coming true! But if you, the one, must get these powers, then the evil must sweep the land as well."
"Dang. Something tells me I'm screwed."
"Honestly, if this one is wrong, then I must wonder what made them prophesize this."
"Well, thanks, Knux. I'll look into the telekinesis thing. In the meantime, do you need help?"
"Not at the moment. For now, I must return to my post. You can proceed to Tails's workshop, now that we're done."
We walked to the steps of the shrine.
"If you need anything, just let me know. But don't call for me to open the refrigerator door again."
"Don't worry. Just… one more thing."
"And that is what?"
I looked out at the cliff, with only water below, then back at Knuckles.
"How do I get back without touching the water?"
Knuckles face-palmed himself. Once again, you gotta love Knuckles.
