Collin, Sonic, and Tails were flying in a bi-plane over the ocean, with Collin in the back seat, Tails piloting, being the quick learner that he is, and Sonic standing on the wings. Collin adjusted his goggles and felt himself at ease though, as he had a set of controls in the back for him to take control in case things went wrong. He had been teaching Tails how to fly the bi-plane for a few months now. He had already taught Antoine how to fly, and the coyote had a fear of most things. Teaching Tails had proven much easier, especially without a language barrier.
Collin was looking at the monitors when the boys got his attention. Tails had been quite surprised to find a floating island! "Now that's something you don't see every day!"
Collin looked up in mild surprise, having seen the island from afar and been told about it in his youth, never mind all the reading research he did. Sonic however was equally surprised as Tails. "You're right, Tails! We fly out looking for Robotnik's hovercraft… and we find an island in the sky!"
"What do you suppose keeps it from falling?" Tails asked as they flew around.
Collin's eyes widened as his mind clicked on something. "It's floating due to a chaos emerald, and you need to keep us away from there!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a rocket with an unwelcome mat attached to it, smashed into their plane!
Sonic was falling, and Tails zoomed down to catch him. "Talk about direct hits!"
"Yeah! Right on target with a rocket! What a way to greet a couple of tourists! Let's bail!" With a quick snatch from Tails, the blue hedgehog was safe, but his overlander cousin was still in the plane as it kept going down. "This is plane crazy!" Sonic looked around and realized something. "COLLIN!"
Both boys watched helplessly as they saw their plane, with Collin trying to regain control of it, go down. "COLLIN!" Both shouted as they saw him pull up at the last second, managing to soften his crash. He skidded to a halt on the island as the plane fell apart around him.
He coughed with slight shock that he was alive. He dusted himself off as he stood and dropped the control rod he had been using to steer as he looked at the pile of plane parts around him. "That… that's… how? How the why?" He was confused. That kind of crash should have killed him, not fallen apart around him! He just shook his head. "Well that happened." Truthfully, Collin felt that he had survived worse, but it was still surprising. Sonic rushed forward and hugged his cousin tightly, too happy he was alright to care about the insane way he had pulled it off. Tails joined in with a rush. Collin sighed and patted both of them on the back, assuring them that he was okay. "So much for our ticket home, eh?"
"Heh, yeah, is this anyway to run an airline?" Tails asked with a smirk as the three parted. "I hate these unscheduled stops!"
"We need to get moving." Collin sighed as he grabbed his satchel from the wreck. "The longer we stay here, the bigger chance we have of angering the Guardian." He quickly checked his bag for all of his gear and was happy to see nothing damaged or missing from the miraculous crash.
"The guardian?" Sonic asked as the two followed Collin.
"I've read books about this place. It's supposedly guarded by a family of Echidnas, passing the title of guardian down the line to the eldest of each next generation. I'm not familiar with the current guardian, but the last of the overlander texts that talked about this place were from before you boys were born, so no real surprise."
"Whoa!" the two were impressed.
They had no idea that hidden in the nearby bushes was in fact, the guardian. He didn't much like intruders. A nearby robot came to life, trying to burn the trio. Collin was glad he hadn't worn his cloak that day, but he wished he had finished turning his sports gear into armor.
"YIPES!"
"I've heard of warm receptions, but this is ridiculous!" Sonic barely managed to jump out of the way of the flame thrower.
Tails pointed at the robot in question. "It's an assaulting batter blimp! We'd better duck and cover!"
Another blast was about to hit the boys when suddenly a green shield was surrounding Sonic. "Holy 16-bit graphics! I think I've just been covered by some sort of energy shield!" The shield looked as though it was made of a light green crystal, and Tails had one around him as well. Collin however didn't, but he was starting to look pretty pale, and it was probably a trick of the light, but he was starting to turn pale green like his shirt! "No telling how long the effect will last! Better get our feet wet while we're still able! Hit the drink, guys!"
"But it isn't even Saturday night!" Tails joked weakly as the three dived into the water.
The three regretted it immensely as soon as they hit water. The three had little to no control over where they were going and how they were dealing with everything as they were pulled by some sort of trap infested underground river. In the end, the three boys were pulled under and blacked out.
Collin awoke with a groan, a throbbing headache, and chest pains. The first to make a sound though, was his cousin, Sonic. "HEY! Who turned out the lights?" With a click, the lights were turned back on, or at least, a single circle of light, much like a spot light, appeared. It allowed the boys to see each other even though they weren't in the light itself. "That's better! NOW, for the $64,000 question… WHERE ARE WE?"
"Exactly where I want you to be."
The trio's eyes widened in surprise. They had been sure that Robotnik had been the one to attack, since robots were his thing. "That's not the voice we all know and despise!" Sonic pointed out the obvious.
"Then… who is it?" Tails asked.
Collin managed to adjust himself into a sitting position. "I'd guess the Guardian of this island. I told you, we needed to keep away from it." He groaned.
"That's the first intelligent thing I've heard all day." Came the voice once more as a creature stepped into the light. It was a red echidna with sharp knuckles and sneakers that were fastened on. He had a white half ring of some sort on his chest and a steely gaze as he looked at his three captives. "I'm Knuckles, last of the Echidna," Collin frowned at this as his research and travels without the Freedom Fighters said otherwise, "and guardian of the Chaos Emerald!" Collin rolled his eyes as it seemed the echidna only knew about the one on the island, not any other. "My pal, Robotnik told me how you guys were plannin' to put the snatch on the jewel!" The trio's eyes widened once more. "We don't take kindly to trespassers on the floating island…" Knuckles growled. "But we hate would-be thieves even worse!
Part 2"Looks like you were right about the Chaos Emerald, Uncle Collin!" Tails exclaimed.
Unknowing to the three captives, they were also being monitored by Dr. Robotnik and his son, Junior. "Correct, you two-tailed twit!" Robotnik snickered from the safety of a base on the island. "While that dope of a dupe deals with my hated enemies," Robotnik smirked as he turned towards his robotic son, "We shall abscond with the gem in question and use it's energies to recharge my crippled hovercraft!"
Junior chuckled. "That's pretty evil thinking, Pops! Playing the Echidna against Collin and his friends was pretty smart!"
"I know, Junior, I know!" Robotnik chuckled. "Watch carefully," He indicated back to the screen. "This is the part I really like!"
Back with the boys, Knuckles was losing his temper fast already. "That proves it! Robotnik was right! How else would you guys know about the emerald?"
Collin looked to his cousin and Tails with a bored look in his eyes. "You want to tell him, or should I explain how I already knew?"
"Both?" Sonic suggested.
"Sure, why not." Collin adjusted himself and stared at Knuckles straight in the face as best as he could from the floor. "My name is Collin, and …"
"and I don't care about your name!" Knuckles snapped.
Collin shrugged, unafraid. "And I don't care for your attitude, but I'm still going to explain myself so that you don't accidently lose everything to a tyrannical genius just like the kingdom of Acorns did." Knuckles was startled by this tiny overlander's calmness, as well as the comment he had just given. "Now, as for how I know about the Chaos Emerald from your island, I found some old texts in an abandoned city when I was younger, and they talked about the Echidnas of this island. I then looked through other pieces and found out about the myths of your island. My own research into Chaos Emeralds and power sources allowed me to come to the conclusion about the emerald powering your island."
Robotnik's eye was twitching from where he was at the young overlander's explanation. Knuckles was just dumbstruck, as were the other Mobians in the room. Sonic quickly shook his head. "That and you also just told us about the emerald like two minutes ago."
"Yeah, like Duh!" Tails nodded in agreement, having come out of his own stupor.
Knuckles snapped out of his surprise and glared at the three. "You guys are a couple of wise acres, eh? Well I'm gonna make you Ache all right…" He pounded his fist into his hand without hurting himself. "With a Knuckles Sandwich!" the boys merely glared back. Knuckles then took a deep breath and seemed to calm down a little. He smirked. "Still, we echidnas are firm, but fair! I'm gonna give you a chance to get out of my life…" He started to untie them. "And get off of my island!" He untied Tails first. "You got a ten minute head start before I come gunnin' for ya!" Knuckles then glared again. "If you aren't good and gone by then…" He slid his hand across his neck.
The boys got the message. The trio made their way out of the cave, ignoring the ancient sign that pointed out that a city named Gotham used to be nearby. "We have to find Robotnik. He'll already have the emerald." Collin pointed out as he tried to keep up with the two Mobians.
"Let's Juice, Tails!" Sonic nodded in agreement to Sonic. "We've got to prove our innocence in ten minutes or less! Collin, head to the edge of the island. He probably won't hurt you if he sees you actually trying to get off the island." Collin slowed to a stop and frowned as the other two sped off.
He rolled his eyes and groaned. "Why does everyone always treat me like I'm an invalid?"
"They simply care, is all, young man." A new voice chuckled from the nearby brush. "You are only an Overlander after all… and still a small one at that…"
"Who's there?" Collin whipped around to face what had tried to sneak up on him, only to be shocked like a deer in headlights. "Mon Dieu!" he said, quoting his French friend, Antoine.
Back with Knuckles…
"KNUCKLES!" Robotnik growled at the echidna through a two-way monitor he had activated. "Is your brain as tiny as the insects you devour?" Knuckles paused and glared at the monitor. "Those three are Jewel Thieves, not Freedom Fighters… like me!" Liar, liar, mustache on fire! "You've let them slip through your fingers! The little freak who spoke up is the most dangerous out of them." The fat man lied through his teeth, steaming at the "fairness" of the echidna.
Knuckles rolled his eyes as he looked at the monitor. "Keep your shirt on, Doc! You take care of business," Knuckles smirked. "While I Give those guys the business!"
The transmission turned off while Robotnik steamed. "Oooh, how I hate FREE WILL! The Echidna has left me little choice!" He started off towards another room with his son in tow. "Time to move up the count-down to Blast-off!" Robotnik entered another room that was littered with trash. "Swatbot XL-5, has that curmudgeonly crustacean crabmeat returned with my new power source?"
"Yes, Lord-Robotnik! He-approaches-even-as-we-speak!"
A Crabmeat bot came scuttling in with a large green chaos emerald in claw. "Your Chaos Emerald, M' lord!"
Robotnik actually looked happy. "Well done, Crabmeat! It's true what they say…" He grabbed the emerald. "With great genius comes great power!" He grinned evilly as he held the shining green jewel up to his face. "At last! All the forces of the universe in one bright, shiny, green jewel! And this time… I'll keep it!" He chuckled darkly. "I pity the hedgehog who messes with me now!"
Meanwhile…
Sonic was swinging on vines through the island's forest with Tails flying close by. Tails was upset. "This Tarzan stuff is for the birds… not foxes!" He grumbled as he pushed vines out of his way.
"Or Hedgehogs!" Sonic agreed.
"We know we're innocent, Sonic, but how do we prove it?"
"We're not going to, Tails!" Sonic explained as he landed and started running again. "If things run true to form, Robotnik will do it for us!"
Tails scratched his head. "Then why send Uncle Collin away?"
"Collin wasn't looking too good, in case ya missed it. In fact, I'd say he was looking a touch green…" Sonic actually thought about it a little before shaking his head. "Besides, he and Robotnik got bad blood between them, and I mean he has every right to hate the fat guy more than anyone!"
"Whoa! But…"
"Look, we also needed a ride off, and I figured he'd be better at that then trying to keep up with us, okay?" Sonic was stumbling along with his words trying to not make it seem like he wasn't as worried about Collin as he really was. Truthfully, he was terrified about the idea of his cousin getting captured and experimented on by Robotnik, or worse. Collin was the only one he knew of that the fat man loved to experiment on instead of just being robotosized.
"I get ya…" Tails grimaced. He knew that Sonic always worried about Collin, but he didn't understand why. He'd seen Collin do some impressive things when he had to.
The two were unaware that while they were talking, Knuckles was spying on them once more. "They're not leavin'!" He scowled. "Good thing I'm not the trustin' type." He started towards a secret path. "Those bums are headin' straight for the jewel! The other one must be getting their ride. This calls for drastic action!" Knuckles made his way through a secret passage that cut the trip in half. "Better hoof it through the hidden passageway and head'em off at… THE STONE?!" Knuckles cried out in shock as he made it to the pedestal of rocks that had once held the emerald. "It isn't there anymore!" He then looked over to see Sonic and Tails arriving. "You guys couldn't have taken it…" His mind racing to put together the facts. "Cuz you're only just now getting' here! Which means…" He growled. "I've been played for a sap!" He stamped his foot and looked at the two. "And nobody.. but NOBODY… plays Knuckles for a sap and gets away with it! Lead me to Robotnik!"
Soon…
"All aboard! Next stop…" a swatbot saluted. "ROBOTROPOLIS!"
Crabmeat smiled as it clicked its pincers. "Atomic batteries to power, Turbines to speed! The emerald has done its work well, your lordship!"
"Splendid! Ready to move out!" Robotnik held the shining jewel up to his face to examine it. "Yes… we'd best hang onto this bauble… no telling when we may need it…" the emerald was no longer in his hands after a quick *WHOOSH!* "again?!" Robotnik turned to see Sonic and Knuckles with the emerald nearby.
"Looking for this, Robo-butt?" Sonic asked as he gently tossed the emerald in his hand. "Well, look no further!"
Knuckles pounded his fists together to show he was ready for a fight. "Me and the hedgehog have come to an understandin'. We understand that you're a jerk!"
Robotnik started to steam. 'I won't lose another emerald to a blasted Freedom Fighter!' His bots all came to his side. "Get them. Get them… NOW!"
It didn't take more than two minutes to dismantle all of the bots that were in the ship, save for Junior who was already at the controls. Sonic and Knuckles were too busy congratulating themselves to notice the doctor wasn't in the room with them anymore. "Nice job!" Sonic smirked.
Knuckles had to admit that the hedgehog had some moves. "You too!" he just wouldn't admit it out loud.
Tails was the first to notice the missing person. "Uh, fellas… where's Robotnik?"
The engines of the ship startled the trio. "The engines!" Sonic gasped.
"We're moving!" Knuckles pointed out as the craft started off.
Tails grumbled as the trio of heroes jumped out. "Rats! This is still no way to run an airline!"
"Is it always this way wit you guys?" Knuckles called over the roar of the engines.
"Every day…" Sonic dived under the blades so as not to get hit. "All the time!"
With a hop, skip, and a jump, Robotnik's craft managed to fly off the island. "You may have won this round, Hedgehog, but I'll get you yet! And that echidna, Knuckles, too!"
"Good riddance to bad rubbish!" Sonic growled before looking around.
"What are you looking for?" Knuckles asked.
"My cousin. I figured he'd start putting the plane back together so we could leave."
"Huh? The overlander? Oh, so that's where he went!"
"Well yeah." Sonic rolled his eyes till he heard a smaller engine. The boys looked up to see Collin flying the small plane with two seats. "Collin!" Sonic called out, waiving his arms to get the overlander scientist's attention.
Collin didn't seem to notice at first, but he eventually turned the plan and landed in front of the three. "THERE YOU ARE! Why the blazes do you boys think you can just leave me behind all the time?" The man jumped out of the plane and took off his goggles before looking at the Mobians in front of him. "I take it that Robotnik is gone already?" He sighed, relieved that everyone was alright. He did hate getting left behind a lot still though.
"Yep." Sonic nodded as he handed Knuckles the Chaos emerald. "Try to keep this in a safer location, kay, Red?"
"I know what to do, Blue." Knuckles grimaced, grateful for the assistance, but not the jest. As the emerald was brought out into the open in front of Collin, he winced slightly, and the emerald in question glowed a little more. Knuckles and Sonic didn't seem to notice, but Tails did, and now he had questions about that shiny gem.
"Come along, kids. We need to get back to Knothole before the princess gets worried, or Rosie for that matter." Rosie was the main care taker for the children of Knothole, besides Collin and the Freedom Fighters, but she was still who they all went to for support and care. She was like an old granny for them all, and probably the closest thing to a mother that some of them knew.
Tails climbed into the seat of the plane with Collin behind him, and Sonic on the wings. Knuckles waived as they flew off. "That hedgehog's one palooka that will keep you Runnin'! Still…" Knuckles sighed. "I have this funny feeling that I haven't seen the last of those mugs!"
That night, in Knothole…
Collin had finished tucking the Freedom Fighters into bed and went to talk to the cousins, Rosie and Julayla Chipmunk. Rosie was the Princess' nanny, and Julayla was her teacher. Truthfully, after the fall of Mobotropolis, the two became the caretakers and teachers of all the children who had no parents. They were grateful for Collin's help with raising the Freedom Fighters, but were often concerned with him as he himself was only a few years older, and already the team saw him as an uncle or father figure. Collin, as soon as they had landed, had told the two that he needed to talk to them after the others were in bed.
Now he made his way towards the room he was supposed to meet them at. Rosie was the one to open the door. She was an older chipmunk with rounder ears than her cousin, grey hair, and had a red cloak and simple blue dress. "Ah, Collin," said the motherly figure. Her kind blue eyes looking down on the young overlander. "Come in,"
"Thank you…" Collin sighed as he steeled himself. He made his way in and saw Julayla, who was getting on in years. She had darker grey hair and was wearing a purple gown that was loose as she sat in her rocking chair. "How are you feeling, Julayla?"
"I'm fine, but you didn't call upon us to talk about my health, young man." Always to the point with that woman. "What's wrong?"
"I found some information out while on the mission with the boys today. I don't know how to deal with it yet. I need… I need to talk to you about this mess."
Rosie closes the door. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing more than usual, per say, but…" Collin took a deep breath and brought out one of his prototype shield inventions from when he was a child. It was broken, but had obviously been used before. It looked like a watch. "This is one of the shield prototypes from before… from before the fall…" The two looked at it curiously. "I gave it to someone before… before…" Collin closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. "This device saved someone's life… and…" Collin opened his eyes with relief, confusion, concern, and fear. "I…"
"What is it, Collin?" Rosie asked.
Julayla had already come to her own conclusion, knowing how long ago it had been since he had invented those shield watches. "Who did that one belong to, Collin?"
Collin grasped onto her words like a lifeline, using it to help him say what he felt was needed. "I gave this one to Ian St. John…He had a message…" Both women were shocked and looked at each other before looking back to the boy. "Long live… the Queen…" Collin looked up at them with a grimace. "And long live the Prince…"