K.O. – Welcome back! Now that my life-and-death experience from the last chapter is over, time for the next part!

Sonic- -weeping- Why couldn't the A.S.F.s have just left you dead?

K.O. – First off, they're the Happy Shadow Fans now! And they brought me back because I agreed to add a ShadowAirie romance thing-a-ma-jig when the time comes! Right, guys?

H.S.F.s – RIGHT!

Sonic- WHY ME?

K.O. – Just a quick note people. I don't remember this episode word for word, so things might be done differently. If this is a favorite episode of yours and its messed up, don't blame me. Blame my dang memory span!


RECAP: The last part made Steve-O fall out of his chair. And back in the cell, they heard a screeching noise come from the bug. Airie turned to Knuckles. "If you'd do the honors." She said pointing to the bug. Knuckles smirked and cracked his fists.
Two of Steve-O's henchmen came running to their cell. They were shocked when they found they only thing there was a giant hole in the wall.

One said to the other, "Will our salaries cover the damages?"
The other shook his head. "Not in this lifetime."


Airie, Knuckles, and Hawk were able to safely get out of the cell and back to Hawk's house. Hawk led the way for Knuckles, but Airie flew on ahead. She did know where everything was and what was going to happen, after all, and she at least wanted to get better at flying. Knuckles, not wanting to get crushed again, was against the idea, yet he didn't really have a choice. Airie flew up before he could say anything. She had gotten better, and flying felt more natural to her now, like she had been doing it all her life.

By the time Hawk and Knuckles reached his house, Airie was leaning against the door, waiting for Hawk to unlock it.

Once inside, Knuckles did his self hatred thing, Hawk looked confused, and Airie just slumped against a wall. At least she knew that for the moment, they were safe. She looked around at her surroundings. Hawk was sort of a pack rat; his house was filled with all the things he collected. Do he do find things because they had some sort of background, or merely because they looked cool? We may never know.

She heard a weird rattling above her. She looked over and saw Knuckles leaning against a wall under the shelf. The shelf's support screws were coming off. It would only be a matter of time.

"Hey Knuckles" she said causally. "Incoming." Knuckles turned. "What are you-" He never got the chance to finish, due to the shelf crashing on his head. The small, barely audible coconut-like sound at the collision secretly delighted Airie.

Serves him right, not taking a girl's advice.

Knuckles rubbed his head. Whatever was on the shelf was heavy. Very heavy. And very painful. He looked down and saw something wrapped up. He picked it up and unfolded it. Airie watched him. This was a good part.

"The Shovel Claw!" Knuckles exclaimed. "But how did they get here?" "Those things are yours?" Hawk asked. "I found 'em by a ruin a few days ago!" Knuckles smiled as he equipped the Shovel Claws, knowing he could use them. Airie rolled her eyes once more. If she were still an 11-year-old, she'd be going crazy at that smile. Thankfully she wasn't, or she'd be some kind of Amy Rose clone, only she would be the one who chases Knuckles. (A/N:Get the ideas out of your headsoff people!) When she rolled her eyes, they landed on something next too Knuckles' feet. They were two, large, thin, white discs with weird writing on them. In curiosity, she went over and picked then up.

"Hmm…Chakrams." She shrugged. "Well, its better than having NO weapon at all." "Hey, I don't even remember finding those!" Hawk said. "You must have, otherwise how would they be here?" Knuckles asked.

While they talked about her newly found weapon, Airie stared at the writing. She didn't really know what was stranger: the fact that she knew how to use them, or that the text on them seemed very familiar. (A/N: REMEMBER THAT!)

And with Shovel Claw and Chakram in tow, Hawk led them to the Chaos Emerald.


Hawk had hidden the Emerald in a downed subway. Under one track, he pulled out a small bag. He opened it and tossed out the Emerald!

"This is perfect!" Knuckles said as Hawk handed him the jewel. "One step closer to going home."

"That's what you think!"

The turned around to see where the voice came from. (A/N: $20 says it's Eggman.)

"Eggman, what are you doing here?" Knuckles yelled. (A/N: Pay up.) "I'm merely here to retrieve the Chaos Emerald. And to test out my latest invention!"

As he spoke, a feminine looking robot came out of the shadows. Its head and most of its body was covered in purple armor. Airie knew that armor very well.

"The Lady Ninja." she said. Eggman smirked. "Oh ho! Bocoe and Docoe were right! You ARE very knowledgeable! So tell me little girl, just how DO you know this?" Now, when most 15-year-old girls hear someone calling them a 'little girl', they're bound to say something just as insulting back. Airie is no exception. Of course she had the perfect comeback. "Well, why don't you just tell me why you're so fat, you giant bucket of lard!"

Knuckles craked up a little.Eggman got a huge anger vein. "Grr! How dare you! Lady Ninja! ATTACK!"

The Lady Ninja jumped up in the air. No matter how many times Knuckles or Airie swung at it, it always avoided the punch. A few times, Knuckles tried digging into the ground, back the L.N. always caught him before he could. Suddenly the whole place started to rumble. Airie then realized that the subway was about to cave in!

"Knuckles! Hawk! We have to get out of here now!" she yelled. Hawk got the message and headed for the ladder, but Knuckles just said he had to go back for the emerald, which he lost in the fight. "We can't leave it behind!" he said. "No! Just leave it!" Airie grabbed both his arms and forced him out.

Once outside and out of the way of Eggman, Knuckles went berserk on Airie. "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR? I COULD HAVE GRABBED THAT EMERALD BUT YOU WOULDN'T LET ME! WHY DID I EVEN LET YOU COME ALONG! I KNEW YOU WOULD BE TROUBLE!"

Airie couldn't take him yelling at her anymore. So she did what only made sense to do at the time. She yelled back.

"LOOK! I WAS ONLY TRYING TO SAVE YOUR SORRY LIFE BACK THERE! YOU ONLY CARED ABOUT WAS THAT STUPID EMERALD MORE THAN IT! WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO! LET YOU DIE!"

Now she was in tears. Knuckles was stunned. And Hawk was still confused.

"ALL I WANTED TO DO IS HELP YOU! BUT JUST HOW THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO THAT WHEN YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN TOONE DAMN THING I HAVE TO SAY! ANSWER ME THAT!"

Airie was shaking violently. Every part of her body wanted nothing more to do with this. Not if she was going to be treated like this. Knuckles still stared at her, like he had just been slapped multiple times across the face. He turned his head away. And almost in a whisper, he said "I'll listen."

Her head perked up. "Wha…What did you say?" This time his head was turned to hers and he spoke louder. "I'll listen to what you have to say. Just…stop crying, alright?"

She couldn't believe it. 'Knuckles is…apologizing? To me? To the person he only sees as a pest? No…wait, he sees everyone as pests. Aww, snap out of it Airie! He said he'll listen! Now's your chance to prove yourself!'

Airie wiped the remaining tears from her face. "Alright," she said calmly. "You just have to dig right here. The Emerald is beneath it all. I'll show you where." Knuckles nodded and started digging. Airie turned to Hawk. "We'll need you to stand guard Hawk." Hawk nodded, the shock not leaving his face. By that time Knuckles had finished digging, and Airie jumped down the small hole he left.


"So…you're sure its here?"
"Yep."
"You're sure?"
"Yep."
"Positive?"
"Knuckles, no matter how many times you ask, I'm always gonna say 'Yep'."

Knuckles and Airie were standing in front of a pile of rubble. Apparently, due to the earthquake, the Chaos Emerald was buried even deeper under the subway remains.

"Well, you know what to do." Airie said. Knuckles started digging once again. It didn't take as long as the first one, because after two powerful swipes he found it. He looked at it for a second, then gave it to Airie. "You hold on to it." he said. Airie blushed slightly due to the responsibility just handed to her. "Wh-why me?" she stammered. Knuckles looked at her oddly. "Because you have pockets." he said plainly. "Oh! Right." Airie said

When they got back up, Hawk was gone, and in his place was everyone's favorite pain in the neck next to Omochao, Bokkun. (A/N: Just for the record, I really like Bokkun.) In his hands was one of his famous exploding televisions. "Message from Dr. Eggman!" he said as he set down the T.V. Eggman's face appeared on screen. "Hello again." He said.

"Hey LardButt, who's it goin'?" Airie cracked. Eggman now had an anger vein the size of the computer I'm writing this on. Which is pretty big. But he shook it off, and his evil smirk came back. "Right to the point, you have something I want…" he pointed to the Chaos Emerald. "…And I have something you want!" Behind the screen, Hawk was tied up. Airie's face didn't change, were as Knuckles growled. "Let Hawk go. He doesn't have anything to do with this!" Eggman's smirk was getting very annoying. "I'll tell you what: Give me the Chaos Emerald TONIGHT and I'll let you have your friend back. Goodbye!" The screen clicked off and Bokkun started laughing.

"Ha ha! You have to give up the emerald!" he yelled in a sing-song way. "Yeah, but you know: that won't help with that bruise on your head." Airie said. "Huh? What bruise?" Bokkun said. "This one." Airie threw the T.V. at Bokkun's head, which caused him to fly backwards into the sky. When he was far enough that they couldn't se him, the T.V. exploded.

"Nice throw." Knuckles commented. "But how are we going to save Hawk AND keep the Emerald?" Airie sighed. "Let's head back to Hawk's house. Then I'll fill you in."


Later that night, they were on the roof, waiting for Eggman. Or rather, Knuckles was. As part of the plan they devised, Airie had to remain hidden until the right moment.

The EggCarrier soon hovered over head, Egman inside. The Lady Ninja scaled the building walls and landed gracefully on the roof. Hawk was dangling from an iron frame on the next building over.

"Well, if it isn't Knucklehead." Eggman jeered. "You know the deal. Give me the Chaos Emerald, and your friend here won't get hurt." Knuckles looked at the Emerald glowing brightly in his hand one last time, and walked over to the L.N., which extended its hand. Eggman watched closely to make sure he wouldn't do anything funny.

Right before Knuckles placed the Emerald in the robot's hand, he pulled it back and smirked. "Y'know Eggman, we can't have much of a deal when you can't keep up your end of it." Eggman looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?" He turned around. "Your friend is right-WHAT!" The rope where Hawk used to be was cut in half.

Both Eggman and the L.N. were distracted. Knuckles took this chance to fight back. He swung his fist and sent the L.N. flying. It quickly got up ready to fight. Knuckles just hoped that Airie and Hawk could get out safely.


K.O – Phew! 5 whole pages! I've REALLY gone over my limit! But still, one must wonder why its taking so long just to get through one episode.

Sonic- Yeah, why is that?

K.O. – DO NOT QUESTION MY AUTHORITY! –takes outhuge falmethrower- HA HA! PH34RT3H FL4M37HROW3R OF DOOM!

Sonic- W-Where d-did you g-et t-t-that?

K.O. SILENCE NON-L337 ONE! –starts shooting-

Sonic- AHHH! MY EYES! IT BURNS!