Sonic the Traveler
Chapter 3: Sonic and Knucles
It was early evening at the workshop of Miles "Tails" Prower. Hard at work with his latest invention, Tails did not even know that time was slipping away as the sun descended beyond the horizon. Tails had kept the same workshop since the time that Sonic and friends had defeated the threat of Chaos. Inside Tails was gleaming over his latest creation.
It's almost complete, thought Tails proudly, this is definitely the hardest device I've ever created but it's sure to change the world. I bet even Dr. Eggman couldn't have made something like this! Now… all I need is to tell Sonic. Tails picked up a shiny diamond from a nearby table and glanced at it. With this, he gleamed; everything that was ever unclear will become knowledge to all!
At that precise moment there was a large knock at the door of Tails' shop. "Sonic!" shouted Tails hoping that it was his best friend who had come to visit. He opened the door wide and noticed that it was not a blue figure but a red one that stood at the door. "Oh, its you… Knuckles," smiled Tails sadly.
"What type of reaction was that?" yelled Knuckles loudly, "Were you expecting Sonic again? Can't you get it through your head? He's not coming back. It's been a year and he hasn't visited you, once! Rumor has it that he's coming after the Chaos Emeralds for his own personal gain!"
Tails laughed, "What did Dr. Eggman tell you this time?" Knuckles did not respond and was oddly silent. He looked down and noticed the silver Chaos Emerald in Tails' hand. Without any warning, he picked up Tails and threw him twenty feet in the air. "Knuckals!"" screamed Tails emphasizing on the last syllables of Knuckles' name as he flew through the air. Tails no longer had the silver Chaos Emerald in his possession.
Back on the ground Knuckles looked at the emerald as Tails descended to the ground slowly. "With this," Knuckles smirked, "the ultimate power, I will finally be able to discover my past!" Tails landed and looked at Knuckles with disbelief.
"Knucklehead," said an enthusiastic voice, "you're starting to sound like Shadow."
"Sonic!" said Knuckles and Tails in unison though their tones of voice were different.
"Hey Tails," smiled Sonic, "sorry I haven't seen you in such a long time. I've been cleaning up a mess. As for you Knuckles, long time no see. I'd expect that you'd do something like this by now."
"What?" asked Knuckles startled, "Am I that predictable? How did you find out about everything?"
"Well, seeing as you haven't done anything stupid in a while… you were due!" yelled Sonic arrogantly.
"Still arrogant and selfish as usual!" snorted Knuckles, "I don't have time for you and your little games. I have to meet someone." Knuckles turned to leave and jumped to glide out towards the sea, away from the train station and Tails' workshop in the Mystic Ruins.
Sonic was not about to let Knuckles go. He jumped in the air and knocked Knuckles down to the ground. "Maybe you didn't hear me? You aren't about to go hand over the final Chaos Emerald."
Knuckles stood up and looked angrily at Sonic. With a quick glance he charged at Sonic with hands raised in attack. Sonic easily dodged by moving out of the way at the speed of sound. Knuckles attempted to attack again but even he knew that at this state he couldn't knock Sonic down.
This is pointless, thought Knuckles, if I miss the deadline than there is no going back. I'll be stuck guarding the Master Emerald forever.
"We will have to continue another time," said Knuckles grimly, obviously enjoying the fight. "Sayonara, Sonic the Hedgehog. Chaos Control!" In a flash of light Knuckles was gone with the final Chaos Emerald. Tails sat on the ground confused and Sonic punched the ground with a short burst of rage.
"Did Knuckles just leave in the middle of a fight?" asked Sonic in disbelief.
"Did Knuckles just use Chaos Control?" asked Tails amazed.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you about that," sighed Sonic, "Knuckles has got a power boast from some new friends and they are planning to takeover the world or something like that."
"Wow. Anything else you think I should know?" Asked Tails grimly yet with a taste of sarcasm.
"Yeah. They have the ability to control these gigantic things called Chaos Elementals. Plus they are probably going to do something really bad now that they have all seven Chaos Emeralds."
"So how do you suggest we stop them?"
"I'm not the one with the IQ of 300 here. I think a good start would be to head to Central City. I'm going to contact some friends on the way and if you meet anyone on your way there, I suggest you do the same." Tails nodded in agreement and Sonic sighed, "I guess we're starting another adventure… I can't say that I'm upset, but this is really going to interfere with my vacation plans in Emerald Coast."
Tails smiled and took to the skies and Sonic raced off. Both heroes were heading towards Central City and into a conflict bigger than they could have imagined being intangled in.