As they walked towards the lake near the M.E. Shrine, Espio accompanied the nine echidnas.
"Step lively. The sooner we get to the at the M.E. Shrine the sooner we can leave."
Tikal looked at Knuckles, and started whispering.
"So, where are we really going?" asked Tikal.
"The Rogues' base." answered Knuckles.
"Wow!"
"Shhh! Espio."
Hearing the place where they were going, Ralph, Shade, Gabor, Jon and Kneecaps got excited.
Julie-Su and Remington knew that something would happen to them in this adventure, but Ralph encouraged them to continue with them.
"Right." Tikal dropped her voice back to a whisper. She and Knuckles were a little ahead of the group at that time. "So how are we gonna ditch the chameleon?"
As the echidnas were whispering the plan to each other, Espio had gotten the wrong idea.
"Oh, just look at you two. Little seeds of romance blossoming in Mobius. Your parents will be thrilled. What with your being betrothed and all."
Both echidnas looked puzzled. The other echidnas also heard that and were also curious.
"Be-what?" Knuckles asked.
"Betrothed. Intended. Affianced."
"Meaning…" Tikal ventured.
"One day, you two are going to be married." Espio gestured with his hands.
"Yuck!"
"Ewww!"
"I can't marry her!" Knuckles crossed his arms, not pleased with the idea. "She's my friend!"
"Yeah." Tikal coughed. "It'd be so weird."
The other echidnas have their own conversation.
"Can you imagine them getting married?" Asked Ralph.
"No. And like Knuckles said, friends can't marry." Agreed Julie-Su. "It's weird."
"Although if that happened, Knuckles would be my… brother or something." Gabor scratched his head in confusion.
"And then in some way, you and I would be cousins… I guess." Jon looked at his friend, puzzled.
"But... we're good enough as friends, right?" Kneecaps put in questionably.
"You think it's true what Espio said." Whispered Shade to Remington.
"I don't know, but it seems… odd." Mused the brown echidna.
"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but you two turtle-doves have no choice." Espio scoffed at Knuckles and Tikal. "It's a tradition, going back generations."
"Well, when I'm Guardian, that'll be the first thing to go." Knuckles winked at Tikal, who brightened instantly.
"Not so long as I'm around." Espio put in.
"Well in that case, you're fired."
"Hmmm, nice try. But only the Guardian can do that."
"Well, he's the future Guardian." Tikal pointed out.
"Yeah. So you have to do what I tell you."
"Not yet I don't! And with an attitude like that, I'm afraid you're shaping up to be a pretty pathetic guardian indeed!"
"Not the way I see it!"
And they launched into a song about how Knuckles believes he will be a great guardian.
Knuckles: A great guardian I will be, so enemies beware
Espio: (Pretending to measure Knuckles) Well I've never seen a guardian look smaller than a bear.
Knuckles: I'm gonna be the main event
Like no guardian before
(He runs up to a small rock.)
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my roar
Espio: (Moping brow) Thus far a rather uninspiring thing (He gets knocked back by a non-mobain elephant.) ARGH!
Knuckles: I can't wait to be guardian
Espio: You have a long way to go, young master, if you think—
Knuckles: No one saying 'do this'
Espio: Now when I said that—
Tikal: No one saying 'be there'
Espio: What I meant was—
Knuckles: No one saying 'stop that'
Espio: What you don't realize—
Knuckles/Tikal/Ralph/Julie-Su/Remington/Shade/Gabor/Jon/Kneecaps: No one saying 'see here'
(They race away)
Espio: NOW SEE HERE!
Knuckles/Tikal/Ralph/Julie-Su/Remington/Shade/Gabor/Jon/Kneecaps: Free to run around all day
Espio: That's definitely out—
Knuckles: Free to do it all my way!
Espio: I think it's time that you and I
Arranged a heart-to-heart
Tikal: Guardians skip advice
From chameleons for a start
(The 9 young echidnas exchange a hi-five and race off again.)
Espio: If this is where the brotherhood is headed
Count me out
Out of service, off this island
I wouldn't hang about (He falls off a raft) AHHH!
This child is getting wildly out of wing
Knuckles: I can't wait to be guardian
(Instrumental)
Knuckles/Tikal: Everybody look left
Ralph/Julie-Su: Everybody look right
Remington/Shade: Everywhere you look, he's…
Gabor/Jon/Kneecaps: Standing in the spotlight
Espio: Not yet!
Knuckles/Tikal/Ralph/Julie-Su/Remington/Shade/Gabor/Jon/Kneecaps/Other mobains:
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
Gonna be Guardian Knux's finest fling
Knuckles/Tikal: I/He can't wait to be guardian
Ralph/Julie-Su: He can't wait to be guardian
Remington/Shade: Oh, he can't wait...
Gabor/Jon/Kneecaps: Can't wait
Knuckles/Tikal/Ralph/Julie-Su/Remington/Shade/Gabor/Jon/Kneecaps: To be guardian!
After the music number, Espio was in the middle of a group of other mobains who got caught in the flash mob, but he couldn't see the 9 young echidnas.
"Oh dear. Where'd they go?!" He cried. "Knuckles?! Tikal?! Ralph?! Julie-Su?! Remington?! Shade?! Gabor?! Jon?! Kneecaps?!"