Chapter eight: "The Power Within"
"Princess?" Shelia asked, appearing on Nicole's screen. "Y-you asked to see me?"
"Uh, yes." Sally answered.
Shelia seemed rather flustered. She glanced back at Knuckles beside her, who was
giving Espio, a very dark stare.
"I wish for you to come to the mainland." Sally said decisively.
"Back to the ground? What for?" Shelia questioned.
Sally noticed that Knuckles began to pay more attention to the conversation when she
mentioned Shelia leaving. She cleared her throat. "Well, I'd rather tell you in person." Sally
tried to explain, "But it's very urgent, and I wish for you to come as soon as possible."
Shelia looked pained. "Is it an emergency?" She asked. She seemed reluctant to leave
her newfound home on the island.
"Yes, it is." Sally said. "You can take one of the hovercraft's we left on the island
for the troops to get here. I'll transfer you the coordinates."
"Excuse me Princess, but ah..." Knuckles mumbled, "Did you find anything yet? About the
stones or its existence?"
She blinked. "...I have a lead, but I'm not sure. I would suggest, that if possible,
you could come down with Shelia also. I have an idea that the keeper of this stone will need
some convincing before they hand it over, and you're just the guy to do it."
"Right then," Knuckles said, picking up the print-out of the directions Sally had sent,
"With the hovercraft it should only take us a few hours. We'll be there, A.S.A.P.!"
"See you then." Sally said, and disconnected.
Knuckles turned to Espio. "Shelia and I are going to the mainland, but will return
momentarily. I want you and the Chaotix to keep watch while I'm gone. You can contact us through
the communicator in the hovercraft if you need to." He said.
"Right." Espio said, although frowning. "Don't be gone long. You know what happened last
time you took a 'vacation'..."
"I know, I know." Knuckles reassured. "I will only stay as much as a night, if needed.
I know that I can't neglect my duty like I did before."
"Good." Espio said, relieved.
"We better get going if we're going to get there before dark." Shelia said, quietly.
"Right." Knuckles said, putting his arm around her waist. "Let's go."
They walked together down the path from Rainbow Valley towards Fort Acorn and the Land's
End, where the mini-hovercrafts were stored. Knuckles looked over at his companion, and
frowned slightly, seeing her confused expression.
"Are you all right, Shelia?" He asked, nudging her cheek gently with his nose.
"Oh, yes of course..." She mumbled, "I was just thinking... What did happened here while
you were in Knothole with me?"
"Well..." He mused thoughtfully, "The island was attacked by a group of mecha-echidna
radicals called the Dark Legion. For a while now, they've been trying to take over the
Floating Island, saying that it was rightly theirs and the 'Great Dimitri's'... All history
now. Anyway, they attacked while I was away... And when I returned to the island... Something
weird happened..."
"Oh?" Shelia asked, growing more interested. "What happened?"
"I don't remember much..." He said, trying hard to think. "I remember landing on the
island, and feeling really angry. Then this black electric light from the back of your locket
seemed to swallow me... And then things went black and I had the dream about the girl. When
I woke up, the entire legion had been defeated. The Chaotix said that I did it somehow, but
I don't remember a thing."
During his description, Shelia's eyes grew wide as saucers. She stopped walking and
stared at him, as if horrified by something.
"What's wrong?" He asked, when she abruptly stopped.
"The black light from the back of my locket... You mean when it still had the amethyst
in it... Oh Knuckles, you... You let it possess you?" She asked, almost shaking.
"Um well..." He mumbled. "Is that bad?"
"BAD?" She practically yelled, "Of course it's bad! Letting the spirit of hatred engulf
your body is considered suicide! An ultimate form! No one has done so and lived!"
He blinked again. "R-really?" He asked, suddenly feeling shaky himself.
"As long as you're all right..." She said, softening her voice. "Just don't ever do it
again, okay?"
He nodded vigorously.
"Well at least you didn't use chaos' power..." She said, beginning to walk again. When
she saw that he wasn't starting again also, she stopped and stared at him.
"... Well, actually..." Knuckles began, rubbing the back on his head.
Shelia's eyes got wide again. "You mean you HAVE used the emerald?!" She asked, in horror.
"Well, um... Yeah..."
"Good god! How...? How...? Oh my god!" She stuttered.
"I don't understand. It didn't hurt me..." Knuckles said, "What is so wrong about using
the power of the emerald, or the amethyst for that matter, to do good?"
She took his hand. "Knuckles, listen to me when I say this... The gems of the dark side,
the emerald in particular, are incredibly dangerous. No good can come of them. Using their
power only weakens the seal. If it were broken... I don't even want to think of what would
happen..." She explained, her voice growing dark. "Just promise me, promise on whatever you
hold sacred, on my heart, that you will never use their power again on yourself. NO MATTER
WHAT."
Her sudden dark tone frightened him. She was usually so light and cheery. He paled
slightly but nodded. "I... I promise, Shelia. I promise." He stuttered.
She sighed, relieved. "Good." She said, smiling again and hugging him.
"I... I never knew that it was dangerous..." He said, still a little confused, but
returning the embrace anyway.
"It's okay..." She said, "I'll explain more on the way."
"Right." He agreed. "Let's go. Where's the hovercraft?"
"It's hidden, here in the cave." She said pointing to a small alcove under a cliff on
the edge of the island. The walked in and were met with a guard.
"Who goes there?" He said, sticking a laser pistol in their faces.
Knuckles put his hand on the barrel and pushed it away. "Is that any way to talk to
a Guardian, freedom fighter?" He growled.
"Oh, sir, I'm sorry..." The guard stuttered.
"It's all right, private. You were just doing your job. Just watch where you point
that thing okay?" Shelia said, frowning slightly at Knuckles.
"Oh yes ma'am, Commander ClearWaters, of course." The boy said, seeming now his true
age of several years younger than Shelia and Knuckles. "I'm sorry."
"Quite all right." Knuckles said, somewhat sarcastically.
"Carry on, private. We've just come to use the vehicle."
"Of course ma'am. Here's the activation device." He said, handing her the keycard.
"Thank you." She said, and walked deeper into the cave until they met with a small
red spherical hovercraft in the very back. They stopped and stared at it for a minute. She
began to cross in front of it and get in the driver's seat when he stopped her.
"I think I should drive." He said.
She frowned again. "Oh? Why is that?"
"Well..." He said, thinking a minute, "Eh, err..."
She sighed. "Fine, fine." She said rolling her eyes. "Drive. Be a macho man."
"Woo hoo!" He said happily, hopping into the front seat. Shelia opened the other door
and crawled in beside him into the passenger's seat. He grinned at her. "Better buckle your
seat belt!" He said, then pushed down the accelerator pedal as hard as he could.
Nothing happened.
"Hey! What's wrong with this thing?" He asked, confused.
"Ahem..." She said, handing him the keycard, "You have to start the motor first."
He took it sheepishly. "Oh yeah..."
* * * * * * *
Sonic crept slowly among the wilted trees, following Clawz and Nack sneak around the
edges of the Amazon village. At first he had led them, but eventually they had taken the lead.
He was surprised how they seemed to work together, soundlessly. They were in their element.
Sonic hated to admit it, but the wildcat and weasel did make a good team. Suddenly Clawz
stopped, and behind him the weasel halted, causing Sonic to almost run into his back.
"What's up?" Sonic asked quietly.
"Shh!" Nack growled in a harsh whisper. "Somethin' up ahead."
Sonic frowned at him. So now he was taking orders from this guy? No way! He'd definitely
have it out with him later. For now though, he was silent, and squinted through the brush
and into the clearing ahead of them.
Clawz's ears were flattened against the back of his head, as he laid low in the grass
watching intently. It was that sexy tiger again... Their queen. Yeah, very nice legs... But what
the hell was she doing?
The queen sat in lotus position the center of the clearing, all alone, mumbling
softly to herself. Her eyes were closed, the stripes down them and her long black lashes
creating almost a star formation. Suddenly, from the small steaming pool in front of her, a
shining opalescent crystal arose and floated before her. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and still
chanting, she reached forward, and plucked the fist-sized opal from the air. Then, standing up
and looking cautiously around the small clearing, she left.
After a few silent minutes the three guys, thinking it safe, came out from hiding.
"Woah!" Nack said, excitedly, "Didja see the size uh that jewel?"
"I think that's exactly what we're looking for..." Sonic said.
"And the tiger babe's got it." Clawz said, "I bet'cha nothing she ain't just gonna
give it to us."
"Well, we just swipe it then!" Nack suggested, grinning broadly. "Just like we swiped
the diamond from them wolves!"
Sonic raised an eyebrow. "...What?"
Clawz looked pained. "Eh... That was a long time ago..." He said, shooting a warning
glare at his brother.
"You mean that diamond Knuckles found in your bag along with the Chaos Emerald way back
when you were gonna rat us out?" Sonic said, his anger growing as he converged on the weasel.
Nack gulped. "Er... Well uh, yeah, but like Clawz here said," He said, backing away,
"That was a long time ago..."
"And you say you stole it together? From some wolves?" Sonic asked, scowling.
Clawz grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, lay off Spikes." He said sternly, "That was a long
time ago and things have happened since then. Things have changed."
Sonic looked back over his shoulder at him, then back at Nack. "Yeah," He growled,
"But some things never change."
"Cool it." Clawz said frowning, stepping in between them. "Cool it Spikes."
Sonic snorted, and looked away. "Fine." He grumbled. "I'll see you guys later. I'm
heading solo."
Before either one of them could react, he had zipped off through the trees.
* * * * * * *