Chapter 2: The New Village

The old village of Knothole had changed a lot over the years. They have built a dense steel wall with multiple towers with AK-47 sentinels. The streets were in a grid and organized so that the military bases were scattered on the outside for defense and the residential area is in the middle for protection. Most civilians undergo military training at around age 7. Weapon and armor shops were scattered across the grid. Knowing that the robots have no hearts, no one rebelled against the war since it would not have done anything to halt it. Other civilians have moved in from other towns that the GrieveRs had destroyed, making a combination of different species, from gator to porcupine.

This has greatly expanded the members of the freedom fighters. It now has over 500 members including Swift and Hunter. Many different weapons had been designed by Tails to be used in the warfare. Princess Sally had also been a good leader in each battle, due to her mastery of the land around Knothole.

There are now 6 regions around Knothole, each with a different elemental landscape. Fiagra, Frostu, Aeroga, Earthro, and Naturi. The sixth is Angel Island that floats above the middle of the world. Knuckles usually lives there guarding the Master and Chaos emeralds.

The raging war has damaged many people.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Swift walked down the road. He decided he was going to talk to one of his best friends, Hammer the hawk. Hammer was regularly the wise one, giving the others good advise. Next to Knuckles, he was the smartest advisor around.

"Hey can I ask you a question?" said Swift as he sat down and helped himself to a biscuit.

"Ask away." Replied Hammer as he slapped Swift's hand away from the biscuits.

"What should do?" Hammer gave him an interrogative look. "Knuckles gave me these shoes but I don't know if I'm ready. I really want to save Clair, but I think I'd just get creamed by those GrieveRs."

"You know Knuckles is better than me, you should call yourself lucky."

"Ok then, do you know where the best weapon shop is?"

"Ah…" said hammer as he pushed a button. Immediately the walls flipped and revealed multiple guns, missiles, ammo, and swords. "Help yourself."

"Wow…"

"No, those are MY biscuits!"

"But they're so good!"

"GERROFF!"

At that moment, Hunter walked in to see the hedgehog and the hawk fighting over a small chocolate biscuit. Swift and Hammer noticed it stopped fighting.

"Y'no, you always seem to get into fights."

"Shut up." Replied Swift as he took a missile launcher and stormed out the door.

"Hey wait." Said Hunter. "I heard you saying at Brisk Mountain that you were gonna go out to look for Clair, right?"

Swift was flabbergasted. "You spied on me?" Hammer chortled.

"Well, I had to go somewhere to dispose the trash." Swift raised his eye.

"What about the garbage disposal plant down your street?"

"Well whatever. I wanna come with you. I haven't been let out of this village for years."

"Rouge wouldn't let you go."

"Amy wouldn't let you go."

"Don't worry. When she hears Knuckles told me I should go, she'll let me."

"My folks don't really care. She cares about jewels and he cares about his emeralds. I don't really see them caring about anything else. I don't really see why they got married."

"Ok fine, we'll leave tomorrow at dawn."

At that remark, the two left in opposite directions.

Hammer sighed. Those two never stop fighting. But this would be perfect. He walked into the back room, turning off the light. The room had numerous computers around the walls and an emergency pod, where a figure tied up was squirming hopelessly. "Stop moving back there!" shouted Hammer.

He pressed a big button and the pod launched, destined to land in the middle of Prison Ocean. Hammer chuckled and grabbed a small phone, and dialed a number.

"Hello?" said the responding voice.

"They're coming sir."

"Good."