Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic, Knuckles, Robotnik and the rest. The plot of Sonic Adventure is also property of Sega. I only own the original characters, original locations and original plots within this fanfiction. Yay!

Cue Sonic Unlimited Opening Theme: "Change The World" by ARTIST Dream.


CHAPTER 7: Lazy Days In Paradise, Part 2/2 - Stranger In A Strange Land

Mystic Ruins Zone/ Deeper Jungle Region / Outside Big's House / 3.41 PM

The sun was beginning to fall now, and the humidity of the jungle undergrowths was seeping away into a cool breeze. The setting sun looked like a blazing meteor in the sky; coming even closer to the planet and setting the once azure heavens alight with crimson flames in its wake.

But whilst the immediate climate was indefinitely cooling down from the typical barrage of tropical sun energy, elsewhere in the ancient exotic hideaway, hot and uncanny tensions were building in the presence of two person(s).

A blazing fire… a mysterious robot man… and now a personal friendship, long woven is now facing its ultimate test from the unknown, just what else would happen in this mystic region?

Big the Cat now stood before the now ominous form of his best friend Froggy, the one who'd hissed that ear piercing unnatural screech and had run away in pure desperation whenever he'd gotten close to him.

All this happened, whatever had happened, occurred whilst he'd been away that morning…

I simply don't understand how someone could change so much… so quickly. Its simply a mystery to me, thought Big as he continued to bravely stare down the now unfamiliar figure ahead of him.

Well it's now or never, I guess… he thought with a large gulp in his throat.

And with that he bit down nervously on his upper lip and began a swift movement to grasp Froggy before he could make an escape again. Unfortunately the foreign entity foresaw this sudden advance, hopping with ease out of the way, and out of the big cat's palms.

"Oh Froggy! Just what is wrong with you today?! First you disappear out of your bed (when you should've been resting…) and get me worried sick and then you go and break one of our favourite…", Big snapped at the evasive amphibian, having falling down on the ground.

HISS!!

Froggy was now standing once again in his tense, electric striking posture and hissing all the while in Big's direction, the former bright yellow eyes of his again becoming a radiating swirling hue of red and green.

This violent manoeuvre caused Big to fall over backwards and land bottom first on the hardening sun kissed earth, a distance or so away from the tall presence of Froggy.

Another nervous gulp passed through Big's throat before he could once again speak.

"And… those… eyes, just where'd you get them from? They weren't there this… morning…" he managed to stutter out, his eyes now a wide with an emotion behind them that was oddly enough fairly new to him. And that was one of none other than fear…

Oh no… I couldn't do it. I knew that I should've even bothered to try… to be strong and unfeasible, I'm just not like grandpa… And now it looks like this will be impossible. Whatever's wrong with him is something I cannot deal with it seems… he thought sadly, all the walls of faith and optimisms he'd strongly built up over the years were now crumbling and falling back down to earth, to reality in dozens of pieces.

But this is no normal occurrence, even someone like me can tell that! Those eyes… so much anger and malice in them, resentment… what could I have done to upset him so?

And after a few silent minutes of personal thought, in he he'd regained his steady intake of breath and stabled his nerves again, he'd realised that there was nothing at all that he'd done wrong. He'd always been there for Froggy, whatever he'd wanted or needed he'd get it for him and Froggy knew all this… [I always told him how much he meant to me, nearly everyday]

Perhaps then… it is not Froggy here taunting and hissing at me right now? Maybe it's one of those… like grandpa described to me once before (on many a cool starry night), the ones that ancients call demons.

Is it a demon's foul work at play here, did they kidnap Froggy from me…?

He stole a quick glance in 'Froggy's' direction, before deciding with haste… no those are certainly not the eyes of my friend; he'd never feel such things. Such evil things!

Anger erupted briefly within himself, at whatever had taken his friend away from him, but the dangerous reality brought him back to his thoughts; just what could he hope to stand to do against a demon's wicked might? He was no hero; he had no super powers the like costumed heroes in the comic book collection of his and grandpa had been given. He was a nobody here and a slow and powerless one at that.

Perhaps I could find someone out there in the big old world that could help me out? Yea that'd work… But then first I'll have to catch him and he certainly doesn't look like he's gonna let me leave…

This is going to a lot harder than I first…

A loud crashing sound was the next thing he heard, cutting off his last words with ease and stopping all initial trains of thought immediately thereafter.

What was that… just what the hell is going on now?

And as if to answer him, the heavens roared and the sky was blotted out in the shadow of something very large, and falling… lets not forget falling at great speed!


Mystic Ruins Zone/ Deeper Jungle Region / Outside Big's House / 3.58 PM

In the next minute or so after the initial sighting of the falling mass the ground had started shaking with increasing violent tremors, almost throwing Big clean off of his feet again but he braved them, kept his momentum and held firm his ground. The noise was deafening but he forced his mind to concentrate, to block out all the pain, all he was worried about now was Froggy, or at least this form of 'Froggy' anyway…

With his yellow cat eyes darting around the vicinity with record speed (for him), it should come as no big surprise that he found Froggy quickly and with fair ease. The amphibian creature was hopping frantically amidst the cracked fissures that had broken out across the immediate area, his glossy demon like eyes were now bulging with maddening fear, a much change from only minutes ago when he'd been glaring stares of death at Big.

Even despite the ensuring chaos and the horror he still felt, something within Big snapped him into action motion and any thoughts he'd just been thinking about his own survival were not bolted out of his foremost memory, all that was on his mind now was to save Froggy… so that he could save him…

With Big now pushing himself to the limits to make this lengthy stride amidst the surrounding chaos the terrain certainly looked set to make it as hard as it could be, with the tremors now splitting apart more and more of the jungle undergrowth and the steamy pressure rising like bold cinders from within, the initial challenge just got a whole lot harder!

The dust clouds rose quickly and obscured the feline's vision, swirling like locusts on a prime feast in the scorching desert and scratching at Big's hide. It hurt like mad, but he could just about see glimpses of green and blue through the haze with adamant focus (the green jungle and blue sky, he figured correctly). The earth now was quickly dissipating below Big's feet into the air or into the formed crevices, like it an apple being peeled at high speed; it was making it very hard to press on forward coupled with the howling wind.

Nevertheless the plump feline trudged hard onward anyway, flailing his arms about hoping for any assistance or to land it lucky and grasp Froggy's form…

And like a quiet murmuring sound, his acute ears then pricked up at a distinct sound that he'd know anywhere as being only that of a croaking sound, it was Froggy and he sounded scared! I have to get him… and save… him…

"Ugh!"

A quick rush of wind slammed into the feline's back and tore him off his feet and from the ground, an earthen twister had been formed and sucked Big right up. The next few moments were all a pulsating blur and a major headache; all he really recalled later was ascending above the jungle and then seeing a mortified Froggy sail past at high speed. With everything Big could muster, even his frantic attempts to grab him close did no good and the pair both went spinning off and then it all went black…

The fish-loving teen feline then groggily woke up here, wherever here was anyway…


Mystic Ruins Zone/ Unknown Location / 4.16 PM

He didn't know how long he'd been out for, but assumed that it'd been the strong air currents that had propelled him here…

But just where is here exactly?

But quickly looking around with his eyes and he came with haste to the decision that it was the most amazing place he'd had ever seen.

The surrounding landscape of rainforest jungle opened up into great grassy plains, and all around you could see many different environments and places just aching to be explored. To the east for example, there was a large jungle that looked like it'd hold an abundance of new life even in comparison the one back in the Mystic Ruins…

And to the north was a large mountain peak that spawned over this stretch of land, with one half been covered in what looked like an eternal winter and snow (it was mobian summer time after all currently), and the other was bare and bore large scale rocky brown ridges and terrain leading up into the sky…

And whilst some mist surrounded its peak he could make out some ambers flaring to and fro up and down from the volcano's core, burning bright reds and oranges before falling away from view once more.

To the west there was a large area of sand, sand and more sand… from what he could tell there was nothing out there, although a large pyramid structure in the far distance may or may not be a mirage (the hazy heat that befell him when he even started to walk in that direction made it hard to tell).

The sound of gushing water got his attention next, and it was situated just to the southern bearing (to where Big was currently anyway), a stones throw away in fact. Taking this handed opportunity for a brief peaceful interlude to his erratic adventures of late, he walked playfully with a great smile on his face to the lake's edge, feeling the hard and firm earth beneath his feet all the while (a much pleasant change from the aerial flight of before).

Using his natural taught instincts (and recalling some pointers his grandpa had made) he quickly deduced that the water in this lake was clean and thus drinkable; it looked so pure and sparkled so much that it was like it was a magical lake! But then this place really does seem so wondrous to even exist, so it must be magical… right? Big laughed at the merry thought, even if this place was magical like in the vein he was thinking of then it'd surely never be the likes of him that'd discover it…

Whilst he was there sitting by the lakeside drinking scooped waters from his palms it came to him, the answer to his initial perplexities with this place, the truth of the matter was that it reminded him very much of something out of a fairytale book! Could it be such a place… or is this just the 'other side'? Have I passed on and into some paradise and not noticed? Well some do say that traumatic experiences can cause such odd events and I guess today really was one of those (for me). Or could this island paradise really be real? The mind of Big was bustling away at high speed as to the possibilities, hopefully towards a viable solution.

He truly hoped that he wasn't dead, as he still wanted to live a healthy long life, doing the things he loved to do, perhaps also venture out to some nearby places… He didn't wanna be here, alone and confused as he was now, as being alone was one of his biggest fears and one that Froggy had always kept far at bay. And now he was gone, and Big was stuck in the middle of nowhere, on a deserted… island?

His thoughts had been clouding his mind and senses for a long period so it took him awhile to notice that he'd been walking (for goodness knows how long) and had stopped at the edge of the island. It was here, under the abundant golden rays of the setting sun that finally took in the expansive ocean in front of him.

A large expansive area of water that stretches far as the eye can observe… That is what grandpa described it as, so this must be it. This is what they call the ocean!

And for the next ten minutes he let his mind wander whilst he gazed at the marvel spectacle in front of him, the sun's rays lit up the ocean as though it were a serene cauldron of fire, warm and clear. It really was a home away from home.

And the air was surprisingly refreshing for the 'salt air' that his grandpa had once told him about in regards to his many ventures across their continent and beyond. He stuck out his tongue to taste it, but the resulting powerful sour taste immediately made him gag a little bit. I'm definitely not trying that again… he groaned inwardly.

He next took note of the fact that across the large bay of twilight lit water was an equally large and expansive jungle terrain stretching across the far shores ahead, and it was a familiar one at that, for it could be none other than the jungles of his home, the Mystic Ruin Zone!

Big could tell this because not only could he make out the ancient temple's entrance through the tree clearings but could also see the unique glow spot of the sun at the pinnacle of the temple's peak. The temple had a unique sun disc at the very top which (according to Big's grandfather) bore the inscriptions of the calendar for the ancient people that originally resided in this area. The sight was one that he showed Big many a time over whilst he was growing up during a sunset just like this…

Hmm so I over here but then where is this? I swear the ocean was never this close before…

Looking back and forth between the two locations, Big concluded that his current locale seemed to be held up on stilts above a large basin of water, with the large and life abundant jungle foliage behind him reaching high into the sky.

Yes the ocean was never this close but then… wait a minute!

I remember now, there's a lake just near to the ancient temple, a rather large one…

But where did this large island paradise come from? Was that what fell earlier from the sky…? Before I could grab Froggy…

Too many questions, with few answers it seems, he thought.

I need to make headway for home, and then I'll need to get a Froggy back. Perhaps he's already at home and waiting? I hope he's friendlier this time…

Taking one last look at the 'ocean' to commit to memory he then set back in the previous direction he'd followed, but this time he had his sights set on some place different. He was heading towards the mountains, as something innate within told him that it was on the right path to finding Froggy and getting off this place.

That's what he told himself anyway; although for all we know it could've been because of the temple like structure stood posed and immaculate at its base…


Mystic Ruins Zone/ Floating Island / Emerald Shrine / 4.56 PM

At a steady pace it didn't take all too long for Big to reach this summit, but even breathless as he was it still didn't take away any of the surprise that he felt now he was up close to this temple building.

It was… far less grand than he'd expected, nothing of the colossal size of the Mystic Ruins' own local mysterious temple ruins. Instead of being wide and spacious it was actually very on the small side and compact, and was a dirty brown & gold colour everywhere except for the many odd shaped structures dotted around its main submit, and the 4 pillars stood high and above the centre piece area at the top of the staircase.

A fleck of red caught his eyes for a moment or two but Big casually waved it off in face of the mysterious odd shaped structures mentioned before, and they intrigued him because carved into them were all manner of what appeared to be writing (although to Big's own eyes they appeared to be nothing but gibberish and alien like).

They consisted of many enigmatic symbols; these must be some of the foreign languages that Grandpa told me about once, Big thought to himself as he rested his hand on one such structure piece. Looks a bit like that German one to be honest… a bunch of gibberish that was, it made my head hurt a bit…

The way that they had been carved so beautifully and perfectly did indeed suggest higher superiority from whoever had made them, although Big had no idea where to begin speculating on that… Another odd thing his senses picked up as he leaned on one of these blocks was that they were rather warm, like they were cooling down from something? It was all rather baffling to be honest; it was like these things were alive.

It just plain unnerved him so he decided to leave them be and investigate the rest of this small but mysterious shrine, and the only place left was up the straight and simple staircase. And so he did just that (although it took him awhile, seeing as he was rather tired after all of today's strange events after all).

At the top of the shrine he now had a pretty grand view of the surrounding island terrains (looking away from the towering mountain peak of course), and he could also see what the grey & silver, spiral designed four pillars were supposed to be showing of the centre now. There was nothing in the hole there strangely nevertheless but it looked as though it used to be containing or holding something important, and the pillars were just there as a supporting structure of some kind.

Hmm I wonder why there is nothing at the top of them though, like with the buildings in that Rome place Grandpa described though. It seems a bit silly to have them there and not doing anything… It was like the place was incomplete or something, Big thought to himself, his curiosity for life and its ever branching mysteries growing with every moment that this day had brought to him (thus far).

Unfortunately in light of his puzzled but exciting demeanour his earlier flicker of 'red' was about to have more haunting and real effects, as he then saw the occupant of it sprawled out in front of the central shrine area. He looked hurt and was of a crimson red colour, with odd coloured shoes and white glove with knuckles on them.

But Big could still feel a hearty pulse in his neck, having rushed over there in a dazed panic on sight. It would seem that he (?) would live, although what had happened here he couldn't begin to fathom. It seems I don't know a lot of things these days… Is the world outside always this confusing and mysterious?

I wish you could be here to explain it all for me Grandpa… I'm just so bad at learning by myself, he thought inwardly, bringing him close to tears. If only I could remember those First Aid techniques then I could be useful to this person here!

"Ugh!" a nearby scream of agony then uttered.

The red figure quickly thrashed his way outta Big's presence and stumbled his way to a nearby pillar for support, moving very awkwardly and in obvious pain. He quite plainly looked like he didn't want any help, his colossal pride showing as clear as a sunny cloudless day (even Big could tell that).

The whole escapade had lasted mere seconds, though it felt like much longer before the red figure then began mumbling incoherently, with raging undertones.

"Ugh… what the hell happened? All I remember is… that crazy water monster and then all black… Just how long has it been?"

"What about the Chaos Emeralds?!" his eyes now went slightly manic, shimmering their mixed purple hue very clearly to Big, of whom Knuckles still hadn't noticed yet. He then rushed over to the hole in the shrine and cursed loudly, thumping his large (hands?), thought Big, in frustration.

"Now what the hell I'm I supposed to do…?" he muttered, partly with rage and with some degree of sadness as well.

This poor person not only looked in a terrible beaten up shape but he'd obviously had something very dear to his own heart taken from him, by some 'water monster'? It was a bit crazy but then after today, Big was starting to think that anything was possible these days… Still it saddened him to see someone this way (even of someone he'd never even met before), and it was then that he made a brave forward move, alerting Knuckles to his presence almost immediately.

To many people that would've been a fatal move on their part but for Big this time he was lucky, as Knuckles wasn't in tip top shape, his punch missing the big feline creature by miles. Still his anger wasn't going to subside that easily…

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here on my island?! You have no business here," he retorted with malice, his eyes primed in Big's direction. I sure as the Master Emerald's great wisdom & powers won't miss the bloated creature this time, he thought. His fighting spirit now renowned and ready, it was in his blood after all.

This angered backchat, the likes he'd never much witnessed other than perhaps from his own selfish parents (from what he could remember of them) definitely caught Big off guard, prompting him to shake and mix mumble his next choice of words.

"Well umm… sir… my name is Big…"

Hmph figures that would be his name… it suits him well, Knuckles thought hastily. He was so filled with anger he'd probably have spat that out (had he had voiced it vocally) most likely. He decided to let the feline speak whatever words he had in him and then see what he should do with him first.

"I was just looking… for my… friend Froggy… as I think he may… have landed on your island here… after it crashed along with me…?" Big continued on, the words clear and concise, although he himself was still shaking with some primal fear.

"I mean you no harm. Honest!" the feline said in a quick panic, whilst waving his arms at the now advancing echidna.

Knuckles grabbed him swiftly by the neck with minimum strength and power (as he didn't wanna hurt Big much, just yet…) and held him just mere inches above the shrine's ground, just to unnerve him abit before...

"So you're just looking for your frog friend? You're not with that crazy water monster who took my Chaos Emeralds?" Knuckles rattled out loud and clear, holding Big in a semi-vice like grip as he awaited an answer, of any kind, to his questions.

"Yes… yes! I am just looking for my friend… Froggy. That is all sir…?" said Big a little more confidently, whilst also trying to enquire into this fellow's name.

"The name is Knuckles, and don't you forget it!" he said with pride, with a small thump to his chest, his eyes closed and a very small smile apparent on his face; as he slowly put Big down on his feet once more.

"Oh okay… I see. Hello Knuckles…" said with a smile, and his palm held out for a shake.


Knuckles reluctantly shook it quickly before looking out over the edge of the shrine and with his right hand covering his forehead; he then looked out over the island, looking and searching for something…

This left Big promptly to his thoughts, which by now were getting more muddled by the minute. Chaos Emeralds…? What in the gods of nature's name are they? I know of crystal emeralds, gemstones, but why would they be chaotic? Big mused such thoughts quickly over in his mind, over yet another unveiled enigma of the day.

And whilst indeed he was curious about all the stuff he's seen on this island thus far, he didn't wanna be rude… And besides it seemed like the subject of these 'Chaos Emeralds' meant as much to him as Froggy did to Big himself, he didn't wanna add any more hurt to injury but pressing forward on such things.

But wait this is his island, he said so right…? So he'd know if Froggy is here or not! Big realised, and with rising glee in the pits of his stomach he was about to ask the mysterious Knuckles creature whether he did know of any such thing when...

"Oh yes! I remember now!" shouted Knuckles loudly, the anger seeping again into his voice as he said it. This sudden outburst knocked Big off of his feet and onto the hard ground… yet again.

"The last thing I saw before I blacked out… It was a symbol, a very familiar one… I'd remember that moustache and rounded egg head anywhere – Dr Robotnik!" he spat at the last name with the biggest amount of venom Big had seen from him yet, this Dr Robotnik is obviously a very bad person… first making Gamma do those things and now… to have done something to Knuckles here? Big thought silently, the rising glee from mere moments ago now filtered instead with grave ill. More bad things are happening… What could this all mean…?

Knuckles was now muttering again to himself whilst pacing around the inner shrine but Big could hear some of what he said, as he was trying to look for an interval to interrupt and ask his former question…

"… water monster…be with Robotnik somehow… but how did it get through the Island's defence systems?" Knuckles muttered, obviously bewildered over many things.

Wait a dang minute… the Guardian thought suddenly.

"Hey, you said your name was Big right?" he asked the plump feline calmly, stepping forward into his direction, there was no malice afoot this time.

"Yes that is right… Knuckles… Oh I wanted to ask…" Big began.

"And you got here by a tornado you say, from the main land; Mystic Ruins?" Knuckles continued on, some slight scepticism apparent in his tone of voice now.

"Yes Knuckles, it swept me and my friend Froggy away and everything went black for a long, long time as that island fell and crashed down from the sky…"

"The Floating Island crashed!" Knuckles exclaimed, reality still hauntingly catching up to him. Not to mention the random visitors it'd brought to his island…

"Yes… I guess it did. We're now on the Great Mystic Lake of the Mystic Ruins Zone, just over there is the mainland jungle area, with a temple further in and my home…" Big pointed out, hoping to add some kind of reassurance to Knuckles' well being by appearing more confident, calm and comfort in his manner of voice.

And following the big palm and fingers of Big the Cat out across the island, Knuckles could make out the ocean (something he'd rarely still seen) and across from it an exact matching description to Big's explanation…

"Oh man…" Knuckles groaned, this was worser than he thought. Not only did Robotnik get through the Island's defence systems, nor did I get beat by some creepy water monster, and lose the Chaos Emeralds; I now have to contend with random visitors to my downed island in the middle of the Mystic nowhere!

Why must I be spited so… oh great Master Emerald? Is this my destiny…?

But nevertheless, Robotnik is behind this and I must find him, and beat down that water monster for good. No one roughs me up and gets away with it! Knuckles thought, his warrior pride and instincts returning, as he punched his palm in warrior style. Getting ready for the anticipation of battle…

"Knuckles?" Big asked softly, but clear, taking measures to make sure he was answered this time by stepping forward towards him this time (even if he was kinda scary at times and so strong…).

"Hmmm? Yes Big, what is it…?" And make it quick because I'm kinda busy, please.

"Well I wanted to ask of you whether you had seen Froggy… my friend? You said this was your island and all so I figured you'd know?" Big asked, trying with all his will and muster to keep his eyes locked with Knuckles', as he needed to know. And to help things along he also gave him a recent photo of him from his small pouch on his belt.

The cat's sudden outspokenness surprised the warrior guardian abit, and whilst he initially felt it was a rather dumb question to ask (seeing as he'd been knocked out for goodness knows how long), he respected Big's courage and tat in asking him in such a manner, as not many could or wanted to with him… Knuckles' hasty temper & warrior pride and all made him a tough customer to get on the wrong side of after all.

"Uhh… Well, sorry to say man but I haven't seen any kind of frog on this island for a long time, especially not to this description you've given me here. Sorry Big… but I don't think Froggy is anywhere near here," Knuckles said sincerely, whilst giving back the picture to Big.

The answer disappointed Big very much but try as he may he was thankful for an honest answer anyway. "It looks like I'll have to keep looking then…" he mumbled sadly, to his lone self.

"It looks that way I'm afraid…" the guardian responded weakly, not really having anything better or more confiding to say (since his social skills in general weren't exactly amazing, especially with a complete stranger).

"Umm… I know this is a bad time to be asking this of you but… I was wondering… Do you know where the nearest city is from here, the Mystic Ruins?" Knuckles asked slowly, wanting not to overdo it (as he wanted to get things moving on his end now, selfish as that may have been). He had just realised that with all of Robotnik's robots, oil and machinery that a city would probably be the best place to look first, as he probably wouldn't have gone so far. He hoped anyway…

Although that giant airship may have got him anywhere by now, a grave & defeated inner voice echoed in his subconscious, much to Knuckles' annoyance.

"Hmm, well there is Station Square which my grandpa told me about, it's just a train ride away from the edge of the Mystic Ruins. Just keep going west from here and you should reach it," Big pointed out again across the bay and past the jungle, into the next part of the Mystic Ruins, where the newly formed Station Square Express would take visitors to and fro from the city to this ancient, protected tourist site.

Hopefully I explained that right… Yea I think I did, Big thought again in reflex.

"Cool, I got it Big! Sorry I can't stay but I hope you find your friend soon!" Knuckles shouted out as if to the heavens themselves as he took a short running sprint ad then jumped off of the shrine, gliding gracefully into the air above like an experienced eagle in flight and soon across the island, to the short ocean plain beyond.

"Wait! Knuckles! Please take me with you!!" Big screamed as hard as he could, Knuckles all the while getting smaller and further out if sight.

Sorry Big, but I have my own duties to fulfil now, but I know that you'll find your friend! Friends… I wonder… how they are all doing now? It'd been awhile since he last saw them all to say the least. Knuckles reflected as he soared in the air, feeling the warm dusk winds massaging slowly through his dreadlocks and allowing him even greater altitude.

Now what am I to do…? And how am I going to get off of Knuckles' island? I wish he hadn't run off like that… Everyone seems to be doing that of late, always in a rush… Why can't everything just slow down and be simple? Big the Cat was thinking to himself, now all alone up on the lone 'Chaos Emerald' shrine.

I hope he finds what he is looking for though… I think he's a nice guy deep down, under all that anger, Big thought with his goofy smile on his face. Maybe we'll meet each other again someday.

He then started walking…

"Now how am I going to cross this large ocean water? I don't like water, especially not big water!" his cat instincts now playing havoc with the very thought of him having to cross this great bay of cold water. But alias it seemed there was no other way…


Mystic Ruins Zone/ Great Mystic Lake Edge Side / 5.41 PM

And contrary to his previous adamant feelings against such a venture just twenty odd minutes ago, Big the Cat had did it… He'd plunged into the deep great water, as the soggy and plump feline coming up on the Great Mystic Lake's edge side now proved without a doubt.

"Oh!! Uggh…" *Cough!* "Oh!! Uggh…" *Cough!* he groaned, panting at the lake side, trying to eject the water from his respiratory systems as quickly as possible.

"Hmm… that actually wasn't as bad as I'd thought it'd be." Big the Cat uttered to himself, in his trademark glum and slow tone of voice; having taken a minute or two to stagger and straighten his erected pose up. I'm still alive!

"At least the water was kinda warm and not freezing…" Although my body now smells no good… Ugh. Oh well.

"I'm not doing so much swimming again though… too tiring for me!" he said to himself, as he walked briskly into the jungle, towards the entrance to the Mystic Ruins…


Mystic Ruins Zone/ Entrance To The Mystic Ruins / 5.59 PM

"This must be the place that Big told me about…" Knuckles said to himself, in mild awe at the small Train Station building that lied on the outskirts of this large region. He'd seen a manner of industrial and human made things by now, but still not a train… he wondered how he'd have to ride it? From the top..? Or do those doors at the side there open… Stupid machines…

Before he could continue anymore though, the female, dark navy uniform and brown hair bearing conductor for the train pushed him playfully in, along with the remaining attendees for the train into its #6 carriage.

"What the! Hey! Stop that! Ouch! Woh!!" Knuckles exclaimed at all the 'man-handling', especially by that of a female…

"Ugh…" How embarrassing was that, I'm glad that blue cocky hedgehog wasn't around to witness that… He'd have a field day with that one! Knuckles thought inwardly, as he sat on the floor in a mild sulk, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes firmly closed.

Needless to say, the echidna humanoid was quite an interesting one to look at, by the other humans in the carriage (especially the kids).

One such younger child (of about 6 or so) even said "Aww mummy, look at the lil animal! Can we take him in and keep him? Please?!" whilst gawking and pointing over and over in Knuckles' direction.

And with a cursing mutter under his breath and with his teeth solidly clenched at the embarrassment and lame things he was experiencing today, he could only come to one conclusion.

It was going to be a LONG train journey… May the Master Emerald help me…



Mystic Ruins Zone/ Entrance To The Mystic Ruins / 6.17 PM

"Hoo ha! I finally… made… it!" Big the Cat muttered, his voice now laced completely with tiredness. Too much exercise can do that to a person ya know.

He'd now arrived at the Station Square Express station outlet, unfortunately to his disappointment Knuckles wasn't around. I guess he's already gone onto Station Square…

"Hmm…?" he uttered at a flicker of green somewhere ahead on the platform.

And to his excited surprise it was none other than Froggy himself! He must've known that I'd be here and he's been waiting for me… Oh what a good mate you are Froggy… Big thought quickly, sighing in relief, before then running forward to grab him in a great big 'cat' hug.

Again he was about to be met with disappointment though in his mad rush of excitement as when the automated computer voice of the 18:00 hr train uttered its immediate departure, Froggy then hopped towards the closing train doors and got inside, vanishing from Big's point of view once more.

"Oh Froggy! No not again… Please… Come back… to me…" Big huffed and puffed as he reached his breaking point, physical and almost mental, before then coming to a stop at where Froggy had just been. He hadn't, needless to say been able to catch a ride on the departing train before it had thundered its way out of the station and to the city pastures afar and in the distance.

"Oh… It looks like I'll have to get the next train now…" Big said, utterly bummed out, as he cushioned himself down on a nearby cream coloured, wooden bench.

"What a long day this has been…" he sighed.

I just hope that I'll be able to catch up with you soon Froggy, and fix all this mumbo jumbo stuff, and that Knuckles finds his 'Chaos Emeralds' too. Then we can go back to our paradise, and be happy together, this time for always… this big but sensitive cat, with a unique calmed perspective of the world, thought to himself as the automated message for the next train echoed throughout the train station.

Not noticing a small red and white sparkling ball of light fly over his head in the direction of the city…

Going to Station Square, the current crossroads of destinies it seems…



XXXXX

Cue Sonic Unlimited Ending Theme: "My Will" by ARTIST Dream

XXXXX


And thus ends the eighth chapter of this story arc!


And this marks the end of this chapter and Big's journey for now!

[Sorry for the delay but Uni work has really had been snowed under for the last few months! But it's dying down now for Christmas, so its all good…]

In this chapter I had Big the Cat venture out into the big world beyond the Mystic Ruins Zone (which is where he has lived a simple and comfortable existence all his life until now).

I like him actually for a number of reasons, one being that in a world that is majorly consisted of heroes and villains it is hard to remember sometimes that in fact there are those that are neither. These are the normal folk who live & want simple everyday lives and don't want to get involved (majority wise) in the matters of the heroes VS villains, if they can so help it.

And this character type is where Big shines perfectly in my opinion, he's like a newborn child having just ventured out into the world for the very first time (even though he's actually currently 18) and so he can get a perspective on things that no one else can (except maybe Knuckles, who has been in the same kinda boat before, but is naturally far more further developed and experienced in the big old world than Big).

I hope I did okay on Big and Knuckles here, although I kinda think that I worsened Knuckles' character abit from his solo outing in chapter two. I think it was too madman and anger ridden perhaps? I mean I know it's understandable why he would be considering but… I think I did overdo it. Oops!

One last thing I wanted to mention actually regarding Knuckles in this chapter is his prompt dislike of Big (who bar being an unknown entity and assumed intruder on his island) was… plump and 'dumb'.

Yes that was rather racially bias of Knuckles, but you have to remember that he himself was part of a warrior clan of echidnas when he was growing up, and thus most people he knew and associated himself with were expected to be in prime shape and form (in the ancient past). And then of course the last plump person he met was Robotnik and we know how that went… So it's kinda unintentional racial bias on his part because as mentioned before even Knuckles still has to come to grips with the 'new' world, and how things are.

Think that's all I wanted to mention in this 'Author's Commentary' yeah.



'Chaos Shows His Face' is the next chapter.

Take care ya'll *smiley face*