Chapter 4:
Required Help
"Okay, I'm done." Tails said as he placed the dirty ratchet on the ground, and started to wipe his hands upon a rag. He threw the rag to the side, and then walked out of his garage, dunking a bucket under the water in the river. With all his strength, he started to lift it up slow, and then Knuckles snatched it out of his hands. He held it up, and then spun it upside down in his hands before Tails even had the chance to close his eyes. An annoyed look struck Tails' face as he glared up at Knuckles. "Thanks." He said sourly.
"You're welcome." Knuckles answered back sarcastically. Tails started to shake as if he was having a seizure, and then stopped to reveal himself dry. But the problem now was Knuckles was completely wet. "Nice going Tails" he said with sarcasm in his voice still. Knuckles walked inside the house, and then grabbed a towel, scrubbing himself dry.
"You ready for this?" Sonic asked, leaning in the doorway.
"Of course." Knuckles said calmly. "Why wouldn't I be?" He said. He turned to see a black hedgehog with red marks around his eyes, and on his spikes smiling evilly at him from across the hallway. Shadow was back in town. "What's he doing here? He tried to kill us before." Knuckles asked.
"He's good now." Sonic said. "There was a time when you and I were enemies, and it's as if it's repeating with him. I've also brought somebody else." Sonic added in at the last second. Knuckles glared at Sonic with such rage that if looks could kill, Sonic would not only die instantly, he would be turned to stone, and his soul would be trapped in a vortex for all eternity. A bat then stepped into view, with a white body, black tights, and a pink heart used as her top. She had large gloves that extended all the way up to her elbows, and folded up purple wings. She had bright blue eyes, and gave him a wink.
"Rouge." Knuckles whispered, gritting his teeth, and clenching his fists even tighter than he normally did. "Why did you associate her with us. She's only going to be looking for jewels." Knuckles turned and stormed out of the house as Shadow and Rouge laughed at his anger. Nothing would have made him happier than to walk up and punch Rouge in the face, and knock out Shadow. 'I better dig up my digging tools, and my Hammer gloves. Maybe I should get my air necklace too.' He thought. Quickly he walked over the side of the mountain and scaled it easily. A quick punch knocked his necklace, his diggers, and his hammer gloves from a hole concealed with a rock shoved into the opening. He put the rock back, and then jumped off the side of the mountain, landing on his feet.
"Nice tools. I see you kept yours as well." Tails said as Knuckles ascended up the stairs placing his tools on. Tails threw him a pair of sunglasses, and then started to attach the things he found to the tornado.
"You kept these sunglasses?" Knuckles asked Tails as he slipped them on, the glass part atop his head.
"You told me too." Tails responded, leaning over the side of the tornado to put the shield on.
"Wow. I would have chucked them." Knuckles replied with a grin on his face.
"Exactly why you didn't hold them." Tails turned around from his work, gave Knuckles a smile, and then returned to installing the shield.
"Sonic hired some company." Knuckles said as he crossed his arms. "Shadow and Rouge are here." The hate in his voice alerted Tails that something wasn't right.
"Why don't you just give them a chance?" he asked Knuckles. Tails always tried to make Knuckles reason with him so they came to an agreement before Knuckles did something harsh. "You were evil just like them." Tails added before Knuckles could say another thing.
"I was not evil, I was misled by Robotnick. I told you this story a million times; he told me that you were trying to steal the emeralds for your own evil." Knuckles said in an angry voice.
"So how do you know they weren't misled? They helped us out at the end, and almost died for it. It's a good thing there was Eggman, or else Shadow would be dead. Although that's not what we want." Tails tried to fix what he said, but it was too late. "I mean the only thing he did good was to save Shadow, and he became good. Now Eggman has Chaos with him, he's unbeatable." Tails looked back at Knuckles, who was looking away at the bay now. It was obvious he didn't want to listen. "If you want to save Tikal, it's the only way." Tails turned around again to reassure the shield had been equipped right, as Knuckles turned frustrated and ran off.
"Only way my." he started only to be cut off by a voice.
"I'm guessing you don't like me." The hedgehog said stepping out from the garage. "Just because I was misled as you were, is no reason to hate me." Shadow had his arms crossed, and his voice seemed a little raspy compared to Knuckles voice, while his was deep and loud. "I don't like you much either, but we have worked together, and we'll do it again." Shadow started to turn as Knuckles walked up to him.
"Sonic seems to think you have potential. But I don't." Knuckles said. "Don't even try to push me." Knuckles showed no fear, as did Shadow. They were two great forces standing face-to-face, ready to start killing each other. "This is a temporary truce. Till we save Tikal." Knuckles extended his arm, and Shadow extended his as well. They grasped each other's hands, each trying to over power the other. Shadow let go first as knuckles hammer gloves gave him a little extra boost of energy. Even if he did not have those gloves on, over powering Shadow would have been easy when given the chance.
"So you obey Sonic?" Shadow asked.
"He hasn't led me wrong yet. I trust him by now." Knuckles said. They were staring each other in the eye. Both brown eyes weren't giving up. It was as if they were having a staring contest, and the looser would perish. Finally Shadow turned away as a smirk appeared on Knuckles face.
"Knuckles! Shadow!" a high voice yelled from the distance. "We're ready to roll, lets get out here and do this!" Tails was stretched around the corner as Shadow disappeared between the garages, and then appeared behind Tails.
"I'm ready." Shadow said, which startled Tails beyond extent.
"Don't do that." Tails yelled, pushing Shadow. Tails jumped into the air and landed in the tornado, as Rouge sat in the newly installed second seat. Sonic and Shadow crouched down and sat on the bottom of two wings. Knuckles kicked off the ground with as much force, spinning around a multiple of times in the air, landing on his feet with his eyes closed, facing the same way as the plane.
"A show off, isn't he." Rouge whispered to Tails as the plane's engine started and drowned out their voices. Knuckles was meditating, which he was glad could be done anywhere. His deep thought for today was Tikal, as it was the day before, and the day before that. The thought of pain towards Tikal brought a slight tear to Knuckles' eye, but he quickly swiped it away, Tails being the only one who noticed him. They were coming up towards the ocean, and then a gigantic machine came into view. A gust of winds caused Sonic and Shadow to grasp to the bottom left wing, holding on for dear life. Rouge ducked her head, trying to have the least wind resistance, while Tails just pulled out goggles and placed them on his head.
Knuckles opened his eyes, which were bothered none by the wind that seemed to be coming from the gigantic machine in the distance.
"We're coming up on Eggquarters, Knuckles stated to Tails, who just nodded and kept his eye on the skies. Tails had taught himself to listen while he flew, as Knuckles taught himself to listen to everything that happened. So was he didn't miss anything of importance. They slowly approached Eggquarters as trackers caught them on camera, and Tails started some quick maneuvering to escape. He reached into a pouch on the side of the Tornado, and pulled out little microplanes, which guided themselves. With one click of the button on his dashboard, they shot off and started to take out the weapons Robotnick had placed down for such an occasion.
One or two remained after the attack. They were right next to Eggquarters as Tails' plane was shot out of the sky. Sonic and Shadow jumped as high as they could, and landed on a set of small pipes that hung outwards of Robotnick's ship. Rouge jumped out and flapped her wings, reaching the pipes Sonic and Shadow had landed on, in which she then swung herself upwards, doing about 3 back flips before landing. Knuckles wanted Tails to be there, not with his plane. He reached down and then grabbed an unconscious Tails by the hand, wrapped his arms around his neck, and then glides over to the ship. He stabbed his Knuckles into he side of the ship, and climbed up to reach Sonic, Shadow and Rouge. They were finally here.
Required Help
"Okay, I'm done." Tails said as he placed the dirty ratchet on the ground, and started to wipe his hands upon a rag. He threw the rag to the side, and then walked out of his garage, dunking a bucket under the water in the river. With all his strength, he started to lift it up slow, and then Knuckles snatched it out of his hands. He held it up, and then spun it upside down in his hands before Tails even had the chance to close his eyes. An annoyed look struck Tails' face as he glared up at Knuckles. "Thanks." He said sourly.
"You're welcome." Knuckles answered back sarcastically. Tails started to shake as if he was having a seizure, and then stopped to reveal himself dry. But the problem now was Knuckles was completely wet. "Nice going Tails" he said with sarcasm in his voice still. Knuckles walked inside the house, and then grabbed a towel, scrubbing himself dry.
"You ready for this?" Sonic asked, leaning in the doorway.
"Of course." Knuckles said calmly. "Why wouldn't I be?" He said. He turned to see a black hedgehog with red marks around his eyes, and on his spikes smiling evilly at him from across the hallway. Shadow was back in town. "What's he doing here? He tried to kill us before." Knuckles asked.
"He's good now." Sonic said. "There was a time when you and I were enemies, and it's as if it's repeating with him. I've also brought somebody else." Sonic added in at the last second. Knuckles glared at Sonic with such rage that if looks could kill, Sonic would not only die instantly, he would be turned to stone, and his soul would be trapped in a vortex for all eternity. A bat then stepped into view, with a white body, black tights, and a pink heart used as her top. She had large gloves that extended all the way up to her elbows, and folded up purple wings. She had bright blue eyes, and gave him a wink.
"Rouge." Knuckles whispered, gritting his teeth, and clenching his fists even tighter than he normally did. "Why did you associate her with us. She's only going to be looking for jewels." Knuckles turned and stormed out of the house as Shadow and Rouge laughed at his anger. Nothing would have made him happier than to walk up and punch Rouge in the face, and knock out Shadow. 'I better dig up my digging tools, and my Hammer gloves. Maybe I should get my air necklace too.' He thought. Quickly he walked over the side of the mountain and scaled it easily. A quick punch knocked his necklace, his diggers, and his hammer gloves from a hole concealed with a rock shoved into the opening. He put the rock back, and then jumped off the side of the mountain, landing on his feet.
"Nice tools. I see you kept yours as well." Tails said as Knuckles ascended up the stairs placing his tools on. Tails threw him a pair of sunglasses, and then started to attach the things he found to the tornado.
"You kept these sunglasses?" Knuckles asked Tails as he slipped them on, the glass part atop his head.
"You told me too." Tails responded, leaning over the side of the tornado to put the shield on.
"Wow. I would have chucked them." Knuckles replied with a grin on his face.
"Exactly why you didn't hold them." Tails turned around from his work, gave Knuckles a smile, and then returned to installing the shield.
"Sonic hired some company." Knuckles said as he crossed his arms. "Shadow and Rouge are here." The hate in his voice alerted Tails that something wasn't right.
"Why don't you just give them a chance?" he asked Knuckles. Tails always tried to make Knuckles reason with him so they came to an agreement before Knuckles did something harsh. "You were evil just like them." Tails added before Knuckles could say another thing.
"I was not evil, I was misled by Robotnick. I told you this story a million times; he told me that you were trying to steal the emeralds for your own evil." Knuckles said in an angry voice.
"So how do you know they weren't misled? They helped us out at the end, and almost died for it. It's a good thing there was Eggman, or else Shadow would be dead. Although that's not what we want." Tails tried to fix what he said, but it was too late. "I mean the only thing he did good was to save Shadow, and he became good. Now Eggman has Chaos with him, he's unbeatable." Tails looked back at Knuckles, who was looking away at the bay now. It was obvious he didn't want to listen. "If you want to save Tikal, it's the only way." Tails turned around again to reassure the shield had been equipped right, as Knuckles turned frustrated and ran off.
"Only way my." he started only to be cut off by a voice.
"I'm guessing you don't like me." The hedgehog said stepping out from the garage. "Just because I was misled as you were, is no reason to hate me." Shadow had his arms crossed, and his voice seemed a little raspy compared to Knuckles voice, while his was deep and loud. "I don't like you much either, but we have worked together, and we'll do it again." Shadow started to turn as Knuckles walked up to him.
"Sonic seems to think you have potential. But I don't." Knuckles said. "Don't even try to push me." Knuckles showed no fear, as did Shadow. They were two great forces standing face-to-face, ready to start killing each other. "This is a temporary truce. Till we save Tikal." Knuckles extended his arm, and Shadow extended his as well. They grasped each other's hands, each trying to over power the other. Shadow let go first as knuckles hammer gloves gave him a little extra boost of energy. Even if he did not have those gloves on, over powering Shadow would have been easy when given the chance.
"So you obey Sonic?" Shadow asked.
"He hasn't led me wrong yet. I trust him by now." Knuckles said. They were staring each other in the eye. Both brown eyes weren't giving up. It was as if they were having a staring contest, and the looser would perish. Finally Shadow turned away as a smirk appeared on Knuckles face.
"Knuckles! Shadow!" a high voice yelled from the distance. "We're ready to roll, lets get out here and do this!" Tails was stretched around the corner as Shadow disappeared between the garages, and then appeared behind Tails.
"I'm ready." Shadow said, which startled Tails beyond extent.
"Don't do that." Tails yelled, pushing Shadow. Tails jumped into the air and landed in the tornado, as Rouge sat in the newly installed second seat. Sonic and Shadow crouched down and sat on the bottom of two wings. Knuckles kicked off the ground with as much force, spinning around a multiple of times in the air, landing on his feet with his eyes closed, facing the same way as the plane.
"A show off, isn't he." Rouge whispered to Tails as the plane's engine started and drowned out their voices. Knuckles was meditating, which he was glad could be done anywhere. His deep thought for today was Tikal, as it was the day before, and the day before that. The thought of pain towards Tikal brought a slight tear to Knuckles' eye, but he quickly swiped it away, Tails being the only one who noticed him. They were coming up towards the ocean, and then a gigantic machine came into view. A gust of winds caused Sonic and Shadow to grasp to the bottom left wing, holding on for dear life. Rouge ducked her head, trying to have the least wind resistance, while Tails just pulled out goggles and placed them on his head.
Knuckles opened his eyes, which were bothered none by the wind that seemed to be coming from the gigantic machine in the distance.
"We're coming up on Eggquarters, Knuckles stated to Tails, who just nodded and kept his eye on the skies. Tails had taught himself to listen while he flew, as Knuckles taught himself to listen to everything that happened. So was he didn't miss anything of importance. They slowly approached Eggquarters as trackers caught them on camera, and Tails started some quick maneuvering to escape. He reached into a pouch on the side of the Tornado, and pulled out little microplanes, which guided themselves. With one click of the button on his dashboard, they shot off and started to take out the weapons Robotnick had placed down for such an occasion.
One or two remained after the attack. They were right next to Eggquarters as Tails' plane was shot out of the sky. Sonic and Shadow jumped as high as they could, and landed on a set of small pipes that hung outwards of Robotnick's ship. Rouge jumped out and flapped her wings, reaching the pipes Sonic and Shadow had landed on, in which she then swung herself upwards, doing about 3 back flips before landing. Knuckles wanted Tails to be there, not with his plane. He reached down and then grabbed an unconscious Tails by the hand, wrapped his arms around his neck, and then glides over to the ship. He stabbed his Knuckles into he side of the ship, and climbed up to reach Sonic, Shadow and Rouge. They were finally here.