The Age of Emeralds
Chapter 2
Partings and Meetings
Flocks of birds scattered from the island's treetops followed sometimes by white laser blasts fired from below. The Egg drones flew out of the dense foliage, causing as much havoc as possible. The bird's cries were deafening, and Sonic's emerald eyes narrowed as a few fell to the ground.
The fires had grown worse as well, and from their vantage point in the air, it was hard to tell what had happened to the land animals below. One thing was for certain in any event, the destructive forces would have to be nullified, and fast!
"Tails!"
"I'm on it Sonic!" the boy hit another series of buttons, the jet plane converting to his now legendary robotic armor. Sonic was just amazed... maybe it was a good thing that he played with legos and transformers as a young child after all.
No sooner had the blue metallic armor touched ground that Sonic leapt off. "You see about putting this blaze out, I'm gonna' go stop those eggheads!" The Pair of heroes parted ways, leaving to achieve their goals.
As was expected, they were being watched, and both the fox and the speedy hedgehog could feel it. They were being watched... Watched from the shadows by a pair of eyes. Who they belonged to was shrouded by the dark undergrowth, finally looking away as another tree caught ablaze.
Elsewhere, presumably on the Floating Island, three echidnas were discussing the current disaster. For a supposedly wiped-out race, the echidnas sure had a way of making a comeback.
One of the echidnas was Tikal, an orange echidna spirit from times long past. She was simply clad in a headband and skirt with a simple V weave to it, brightly colored. She was with her aquatic guardian - the walking jello jiggler with a brain, Chaos.
A male echidna in the group was black as night. He was only highlighted by the white crest on his chest, and the armaments he carried. he seemed to be a warrior type, sporting a technological targeting eyepiece in his headgear.
The Third member of the Echidna tea party, was a white echidna with soft features. Like Tikal, she was dressed modestly in naught but a skirt and headband. She carried with her a staff however, which appeared to contain a chaos emerald on its tip.
"So the time has come?" the white one directed to Tikal.
"Protector Crystal Ka, we cannot stop the Emeralds from changing. Chaos won't be set upon the planet again, but if you don't see to it that the right hands hold the Emeralds, the world will be destroyed."
The white echidna nodded gravely, "And what of our Guardian? Have those at Haven told him what he needs to know?"
"Knuckles is ignorant." The black one interjected.
"Then we must enlighten him, and we haven't much time." The white one struck a mused pose. "You'll have to break into Haven, Dirk." her silver-blue eyes cast on the black echidna.
"I'm sorry I can't help you more..." Tikal dematerialized into a glowing sphere of light which faded into the girl's staff, followed in a liquid stream by Chaos.
"It's all right Tikal, no one's to blame." She glanced for the exit to the golden crystal chamber, "The Age of Emeralds is about to begin."