Chapter 4 - What happened to Knuckles - The guardian's conflict.
Our Heroes continued on until they could see Angel Island. Stopping on a cliff they surveyed the situation. Angel Island looked as bad as the Toxic tower and the Little Planet.
"It's horrible. My Island, turned into that abomination", Said Knuckles.
"We have to find a way across. I may just be able to fly up there but only by myself. Illumina if you can hear us can you take us across", Shouted Tails. They all began to float and were suddenly pulled to Angel Island.
"If I remember correctly, we first encountered the Master Emerald in the Hidden Palace area, under the Lava Reef of the volcano", Said Sonic.
"Yes if my alternate self is anywhere it's guarding the fake master emerald in the Hidden Palace. It was only until after I made friends with you and proved myself worthy as a guardian, that I took it to the Primary shrine", Said Knuckles.
"Right here's the plan. Sonic and Myself will go after the generator, the Chaotix crew concentrate on the communications tower and the rest of you find Knuckles", Said Tails, "As it looks like Knuckles is merging"
As the others turned to Knuckles they saw him start to fade.
"Knuckles don't be a rogue, wait for us to help you", Said Tails. Knuckles nodded before disappearing completely.
Inside Angel Island the newly merged Knuckles walked over to the Fake Master Emerald. It was a quite a shock for the Knuckles of this bad gloomy future and refused to believe it. He walked over, the closer he go the more painfully clear it became. The Emerald he had guarded for years was a fake. Behind some glass some badniks watched on.
"What's going on with Knuckles? He usually just sits there", Said one of the Badniks.
"No-one can sit down forever, relax", Said the Other one.
"Yeah you're right I'm being paranoid", Said the first one. They looked back over to see Knuckles and the Fake Master Emerald were gone. The Badniks began o panic. You could hear each individual screw shake in fear, it was that quiet. Then suddenly Knuckles appeared from under one of them and smashed it up before returning to the ground. Knuckles stood looking at the other badnik. After a moment of freezing in fear the badnik began roll away.
Knuckles' body began to absorb energy from around him. This resulted in the temperature in the immediate area getting hotter and hotter. Suddenly in a red flash the badnik lay on the floor, smashed to bits.
"That felt so much better", Said Knuckles, "Oh wait, what did Tails say? Don't be a rogue; wait for them to help me. Oh well too late now. Eggman is going to pay, no-one tricks Knuckles the Echidna and gets away with it". It wasn't long before Amy and Big found Knuckles who was just standing there.
"Erm, What took you guys so long?" asked Knuckles. Amy looked over at the smashed up badniks.
"Knuckles, do you even now what the word's 'low profile' mean?" asked Amy.
"Sorry but I hate being tricked, I hate looking like a fool. I needed to release my anger somehow", Said Knuckles.
"Yes of course but lets get inside the Crystal Palace first shall we?" said Big.
Meanwhile Sonic and Tails had reached the generator, Sonic led the assault. Just as the two entered the room they quickly hid again around the corner. The whole room was swarming with badniks.
"Badniks, loads of them", Said Sonic. Tails looked round.
"Come on we can take them", Said Tails.
"No, You concentrate on the generator, plant the bomb and get out. I'll distract the Badniks", Said Sonic.
"How?" asked Tails.
"By destroying half of them", Sonic said smiling. After a brief pause the two began their assault. Tails made his way through the badnik swarm, destroying any that got in his way. He planted the bomb and looked over to Sonic. It wasn't long ago he was suffering from a lack of confidence, but as Tails watched Sonic go through each badnik he realised the Sonic he knew was still there, the confident cool hero was there just doubt filled his mind. Tails had to get rid of that doubt if Sonic and himself will be able to save the world.
"Come on Sonic. The Chaotix crew will have destroyed the communications tower by now. We have to get out of here", Said Tails.
"Right, lead the way", Said Sonic. Tails picked up his radio.
"Time to get out of here guys", Said Tails over the radio.
"We'll meet you outside then", Said Big.
"We're having a little bit of a problem. This place is like one big badnik factory. We're currently fighting a huge hoard of badniks, more than we can comfortable handle", Said Espio.
"We're on our way. Amy, Big, Knuckles you get out of there before you're ambushed too", Said Tails, "wait you did destroy the tower didn't you?"
"Of course", Said Espio.
"Good, we'll be there soon", Said Tails. Sonic ran ahead,
"Come on Tails, grab my hand", Said Sonic. Tails grabbed his hand and Sonic headed to the tower at full speed.
Meanwhile Amy and Big surrounded the Radio. They were too far from the tower to help, and would be more of a burden than help anyway.
"Come on Guys, Tails said we should get out of here and meet them at a safe distance", Said Big. Amy looked around, strangely Knuckles had disappeared.
"Knuckles? KNUCKLES??" shouted Amy, "Oh where did he go?"
"Come on, if Knuckles wants to be reckless let him be reckless", Said Big.
"Well he does know this Island better than anyone. He'll be OK. We should concentrate on ourselves", Said Amy, "come on lets go". And with that the two left leaving Knuckles on his own.
Knuckles arrived at the communication tower site, not too long later Sonic and Tails arrived. The Chaotix crew and their reinforcements destroyed the badnik army soon after. But it was Knuckles who did most of the damage. He really took out a lot of anger on the badniks. After the dust settled Knuckles was still there punching and smashing away.
"ARGH! No-one tricks me and gets away with it", Said Knuckles panting heavily.
"Knuckles stop, they're gone, all destroyed. Calm down and lets get out of here", Said Sonic. Knuckles ignored him. The guys went over and pulled Knuckles back.
"Calm down Knuckles, come on we have to get going. Take your anger out on scrap brain", said Tails. Knuckles calmed down and they all left. They met up with Amy and Big on the nearest cliff.
"I'm sorry guys. I don't know what came over me. I just want to get Eggman so bad", Said Knuckles.
"Hey don't worry about it. We all make mistakes. Just remember we have a job to do", said Amy.
"Well there's only one place we can go now, Scrap brain. Feel up to it Sonic", Said Tails.
"I don't have much of a choice do I. Come on let's get this over with", Said Sonic. With that they all headed to the factory known as Scrap Brain.