Chapter four: "Another Journey Begins"
Far below and a great distance away in a deep forest, things were not as exciting as
some would wish it to be. Others were quite content with the unseasonable peace. Others still
were rather indifferent.
"I just wish SOMETHING would happen..." Sonic grumbled, as he paced the main hall.
"Be careful what you wish for Sonic," Sally reprimanded.
"Now how did I know you were going to say that?" He asked.
She frowned at him.
"Cool yer jets, Spikes." Clawz advised, "Take a load off. Your way over due for some
real R and R."
"R and R?" Antoine asked.
"'R'est and 'R'elaxation, Tony." Clawz explained, pulling his sun glasses over his eyes
and leaning back in his chair.
"Fo' once, I think the yankee's right, Sugah-hog." Bunnie said. "Relax a bit. You
deserve it."
Sonic stopped pacing, but began tapping his foot. "But I don't want to relax! I just
know Robuttnik is up to something!"
"Sir Charles hasn't reported any suspicious activity." Sally sighed.
"So what?" Sonic retorted, "Just because Robo hasn't been going overboard, doesn't mean
he's not planning something! Just that he's keeping it quiet."
"We know." Sally said, "We have dozens of bugs hooked to his system, Sonic. If Robotnik
is up to something, sooner or later we'll find out."
"But what if it's too late?" Sonic said, "We gotta know before he attacks us ya know! We
should send a team in and--"
"We are NOT risking troops on unnecessary missions, Sonic!" Sally scolded.
He grumbled unhappily, defeated.
"We've all ready lost too many." Sally said softly, "That's why I sent the trainees to
the Floating Island. So they would be safe and able to get better training. That will help
decrease casualties. All we can do now is wait until the strategy is in place..."
"I hate waiting." Sonic grumbled.
"Tell us somethin' we don't all ready know..." Clawz snickered, grinning.
Sonic gave him a sour look.
"Well, I'muh going outside ta enjoy this gorgeous day." Bunnie said, standing up.
"Oui. Good idea, mon cherie." Antoine agreed, "Not too hot, not too cold."
"Spring will be here soon..." Sally said wistfully, looking out the window at the pale
light that shone through the thick canopy and into the hidden valley.
"Good!" Clawz said, "I was getting sick of all that rain and snow crap."
"Yeah, me too!" Tails said, "Hey, Clawz you wanna play dirt hockey with me?"
"Sure, Duce." Clawz said.
Suddenly Sonic kicked the big wildcat's chair out from under him, causing him to fall
onto the ground with a loud thump.
"Hey! What was dat for?!" Clawz yelled at him.
Sonic just snorted in reply.
Tails took his hand. "You can play too, Sonic." He said.
* * * * * *
Knuckles sat with his nose buried in the combined Scrolls, while Archimedes kept a
unrelenting watch. Knuckles had been studying for hours now. It felt like years. But it was not
without some progression. He had figured out part of the mystery...
"So," He said, sitting up straight, "This Aurora-Sa created the elemental crystals to
protect four spirits of good, and imprison four of evil. There were eight in all."
"Correct." Archimedes said.
"The Good were peace: the spirit of wind, love: the spirit of fire, hope: the spirit of
water, and life: the spirit of... Well life." Knuckles said. "Peace Diamond, Love Ruby, Hope
Topaz, and Life Gold..."
"Very good." Archimedes said, nodding.
"The Evil were chaos: the spirit of earth, hate: spirit of lightning, despair: spirit of
time, and death: the spirit of death..." Knuckles continued. "Chaos Emerald, Hate Amethyst,
Despair Opal, and Death Silver..."
"You have learned well." Archimedes congratulated. "But still there is much more, much
that even I did not know. These scrolls have been lost for over five hundred years..."
"That's one thing I don't understand." Knuckles pondered, "Why? Why did I not know
of anything besides the emeralds before this? Any why are there so many emeralds and only
one of each of the other gems? It doesn't make sense!"
"Not all history does." Archimedes sighed. "Through these questions we will gain the
knowledge we need. But now--"
"I get to go see Shelia?" Knuckles asked, eagerly.
His teacher frowned at him. "No. Now we must figure out where the rest of these 'elemental
crystals' are. You must find them, and bring them back together like Aurora-Sa told you in
your dream."
Knuckles sulked. "Oh yeah..."
"Well, it says here that when they were created, Aurora-Sa dispersed them throughout
the world in strategic places, so they would equalize. They each were equal distances apart,
in eight points..."
"I only know the original locations of two of the gems though. One of them was
originally in Downunda, where the Floating Island came from, right?"
"...True."
"And one of them was in a desert cave..." Knuckles continued. "Where Shelia's mother's
ancestors kept it..."
"So..." Archimedes began softly, then letting his voice growing in volume, "If we use
those two measurements, and split the world into eight sectors using those points... We should
be able to find the locations of the rest of the gems!"
"Exactly!" Knuckles announced. "Problem solved!"
"Not yet it isn't!" Archimedes said, "Just part of it. We have won the battle, but not
the war. Now we must figure the placement. What was the location of this desert cave you
speak of?"
Knuckles thought a moment. "Well, uh... I don't exactly know..." He said softly.
Archimedes fell over.
"But Shelia should know!" Knuckles compensated, "She did live there for a while."
"Do you think she's know the exact co-ordinates, though?"
"Um... Probably not."
Archimedes fell over again.
"But Princess Sally would know!" He said, "All I have to is call her and ask!"
Standing up again, the ant nodded. "Please do, before I give myself a concussion..."
* * * * * *
"Hey, dat's not fair!" Clawz whined, as Sonic, using his super speed stole the puck
from him.
"All's fair in the game of war!" Sonic answered, then shot, and made a perfect
goal between the two trees.
"This sucks." Clawz mumbled, sitting down on the grass and pouting. "I demand a re-match!"
"Next?" Sonic called, ignoring him.
"My turn!" Tails yelled happily, flying out onto the small field. He landed softly, and
braced his hockey stick on the ground, ready to take on the world.
"Don't worry little bro, I'll go easy on you." Sonic said boastfully.
"Don't underestimate me Sonic..." The kit said, "I've been practicing."
"Yeah sure, Tails." Sonic laughed, "Now let's get it on!"
Before the puck even hit the ground, Tails was under it. Sonic lunged after him, but
the young fox flipped the black disc onto the broad side of his stick and flew over him. With
a quick fluent motion, he tossed it back into the air and slapped it straight into the goal.
Sonic was aghast. He turned and watched as Tails landed again, wearing a smug smile
of victory. The hedgehog frowned.
"No fair, you can't fly in a game!" He grumbled.
"All's fair in the game of war." Tails repeated with satisfaction.
At first Sonic looked angry at this, but then his expression changed all together. He
smiled and held up his hand for a high five. "Great job, big guy." He said, "You've beat the
master. Congrats."
Tails smiled too and slapped Sonic's palm. "Thanks, Sonic!" He said happily.
"Yeah, cool moves, Duce." Clawz said, "For cheaters, you guys is pretty good."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment." Sonic murmured.
"Hey, whatta say we go get some grub, eh fellas?" Clawz suggested.
"Good idea." Tails agreed, "Coming Sonic?"
"Naw. I'm going to wallow in defeat for a little longer." He joked, "I'll see ya later."
Tails laughed. "Okay, see ya!" He said, and he and Clawz began to make their way to the
mess hall in the center of Knothole.
Sonic sighed after they had left. He threw down his hockey stick softly. His expression
had turned somber.
"Hey," Sally said, from the meeting hall window where she had been watching. "Are you
all right, Sonic?"
He turned, a bit surprised by her voice. He walked over to her and leaned against the
window sill. "Yeah, I guess. It's just that things are changing too fast..." He said.
"But I thought you liked it that way." She said.
"Yeah, but..." He began.
"Not when it's your best friend that is changing?" She finished.
He nodded.
"Tails is getting older now Sonic. He'll be a teenager soon. He's going to go through
a lot of changes. But that doesn't mean you still can't be his friend." She said softly.
"Yeah, I know that." He said, "But he's getting better at everything, not just dirt
hockey, Sal. He's a smart kid. A whole lot smarter than me..."
Sally studied his face for a while. "And soon he won't be your 'little buddy' anymore."
She said, "And soon you'll have taught him all you know? Is that what you think Sonic?"
"Well... Pretty much, yeah."
She sighed. "He'll always be your friend Sonic, no matter how old he is, or how old
you are. He'll still look up to you even though he knows your not perfect. You still have
a lot of things you can teach him..."
"Like what?" He snorted.
"Well..." She said slowly, "I think it's about time you and he--"
Suddenly a beeping noise interrupted their conversation.
"Hold that thought." Sally said, reaching down to her boot and unclipping her hand
held computer Nicole. Sonic grabbed it and flipped it open.
"What's up Nicole?" He asked.
"Yo, Sonic." She said in her dull mechanical voice, "Incoming message, from the Floating
Island."
Sonic frowned. "That dumb echidna again?" He grumbled, "What does he want now?"
"Well, maybe we should ask him and find out." Sally suggested. "Accept message, Nicole."
"Yes, Sally." Nicole droned, her screens flipping, then forming into the image of the
guardian of the Floating Island, Knuckles Echidna.
"This better be good." Sonic told him fiercely.
Knuckles seemed rather surprised at Sonic's appearance. He had been expecting Sally to
answer his message. He frowned. "I need to talk to the princess." He said sternly.
Sally tried to grab Nicole from Sonic, but he dodged.
"Anything you can say to Sally, you can say to me, echidna." Sonic spat.
"You wouldn't understand it." Knuckles argued.
"Try me."
Knuckles stared at him for a moment, then launched himself into a very long and
complicated speech about the geometric circumference of Mobuis as related to the eight points
of the original locations of each of the elemental crystals, and the importance of calculating
the projectory in order to figure the homes of the remaining four.
Sonic blinked, then frowning, handed the computer to Sally.
"Thank you." She said, trying not to laugh.
"Shall I explain again?" Knuckles asked.
"No, I think I overhead enough the first time." She said, cracking a smile. "So you need
the exact co-ordinates of the desert cave, right?"
He nodded. "With that, we can estimate the locations of the other crystals."
"I'll have Rotor get on the calculations right away." She said.
"Thanks, Sally," He said, smiling himself. "You're a life saver!"
"No problem." She said, "So how's the fort coming along?"
"Nicely." He said, "Shelia really is dedicated to helping the freedom fighters..."
"I would think so, since Robotnik killed her entire family in cold blood." Sally said.
"Yeah..." Knuckles sighed, "She still gets upset..."
"I don't blame her." Sally said softly, "But at least she has a great guy like you to
console her."
Sonic shot her an icy glare.
Knuckles blushed. "Ehh... Thanks... For everything Princess..."
"Your welcome. We'll get back to you with the locations." Sally said
"See ya."
Sally closed the computer gently, and clamped it once again to her boot. She began to
climb out of the window.
"Were we having a conversation earlier, or was I dreaming?" Sonic said sarcastically,
helping her down.
"Ha ha." She said, "We can always talk later. I've got to go talk to Rotor now."
"Woah, woah." He said, stopping her, "You saying that ole' dread-head's problems are more
important than mine?"
She sighed, "Of course not." She leaned over and kissed him on the nose and smiled. "It's
just that he's cuter than you are."
"You're doing it again, Sal..."
* * * * * *
"Hi guys!" Shelia said cheerfully, as she walked into the room, several baskets in hand.
"Hi Shelia." Echoed throughout the room from the trainees and the Chaotix.
"Ready for some food?" She asked.
"Are we?!" Vector said, hungrily taking one of the baskets from her. "What 'cha make fo'
us this time, Miss CW?"
"Well lets see.." She said, setting the rest of the bundles on the table and fishing
through them, "There's salad, blue berry muffins, apple pie, sourdough, some noodles,
sandwiches..."
"Sounds good to me!" Espio said, pulling out a loaf of bread.
"You know Miss Shelia, you don't have to cook for us..." Charmy began.
He was stopped by dark glares from the rest of the ranks.
"Oh, don't worry! It's no trouble!" Shelia said smiling and patting him on the head.
"I love to cook!"
"And your pretty damn good at it too!" Mighty said, stuffing half a sandwich in his mouth.
"Uh, thanks." Shelia said, lightly. Then she walked off to serve the others.
When she was out of earshot, Vector hit Mighty on the back of the head, knocking the
sandwich from his mouth.
"Hey!" The armadillo said, "What was that for?!"
Espio answered for him. "Don't curse in front of the lady." He said, nodding.
Mighty grumbled, "All I said was--"
Vector slapped his hand over his mouth.
Mighty pushed him away. "You guys have gone nuts! I can cuss if I want to! It's a free
island, ain't it?"
"It's improper manners." Charmy said softly, popping a cherry tomato in his mouth.
"Since when have you guys been all prim and proper?" Mighty sneered.
"Since there's been ladies on the island." Espio said, sipping a cup of tea.
"What? You've got to be kidding!" He sneered. "Shelia doesn't care!"
"Yeah, but Knuckles will if he hears you doing it around her." The chameleon warned.
"I'm not afraid of him." Mighty declared.
Suddenly Knuckles walked in and Mighty jumped and fell out of his chair.
"Hi everyone." He said, then looked down at the armadillo on the ground. "What's your
problem?" He asked.
"Nothing, I just thought I dropped something." Mighty, lied smiling innocently.
"Uh huh..." He said, then turned to Espio. "I used your computer to contact Princess
Sally, I hope that's all right."
"Sure, Knux, that's fine. But I didn't know you knew how to work it..." The chameleon said.
He referred to Knuckles' technological illiteracy, caused by being raised without so much as a
digital clock.
"Well, I figured it out after a few hours..." Knuckles said, a bit embarrassed.
"Want some dinner Knuckles?" Charmy offered, "Shelia made us some food."
"Sounds good, but I think I'll pass for now." Knuckles said.
"Your loss, Knux-man." Vector said, cutting himself a rather large helping of apple pie.
"Where's Shelia?" Knuckles asked. "I told her I'd meet her here."
"She went out back after serving everyone." Mighty said, glumly. He was in a bad mood
now. While he had been on the floor, someone had stolen his muffin.
"Thanks," Knuckles said beginning to walk off to the back door, "I have to talk to her
first, but afterwards I need to tell you guys something important."
"Right." Espio said.
Knuckles left.
"Did you hear that guys?" Mighty asked.
"Hear what?"
"He's going to talk to Shelia about this 'important thing' first, before he talks to us."
The armadillo said sourly.
"So?" Vector asked
"So!" Mighty said, "So he thinks she's more important than us! Us the Chaotix!"
"Oh, get over it Mighty." Espio said, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, Mighty." Charmy said, "Knuckles is happy with Shelia."
"All I'm saying is that Knuckles needs to get his priorities straight. What comes first?
Shelia or us? The Floating Island or (gag) love? What's so great about some girl, anyway?"
Everyone stared at him for a moment.
"Mighty, have you SEEN Shelia?" Espio said.
"Of course I have. So what?"
Everyone sighed.
"You've never had a girlfriend, have you Mighty?" Espio asked.
"Well, uh... No." He admitted, "What's your point?"
"Just shut-up Mighty, will ya?" Vector suggested.
* * * * * *