Enerjack Unleashed

One minute it was there, the next gone. For generations Angel Island has floated above the world thanks to the all-powerful Master Emerald. That was until today.

One minute all was calm and the next in a cloud of smoke and fury the island flew like a dart into the sea, falling apart as it did so.

Julie-Su had only just returned, and had prepared to cross from the mainland to the floating Island. But the second she stepped out towards it the island burst into a cloud of smoke.

"NO!" she yelled watching it fall into the sea. But she wasn't alone. Vector, Mighty, Espio had all been there with her. All of them away from the island before this disaster hit. But Knuckles had not.

Twisted thoughts started running through their minds. That someone must have gotten onto the island and overpowered Knuckles which led to it's destruction. But that was the least of their concerns now. The biggest problem was Knuckles.

He'd survived worse than this, surely he'd get out of it.

Julie-Su leaned over the side of the cliff, scanning the waters below for any sign of him. But between the crumbled rocks and trees she saw nothing resembling him.

"No." she gasped dropping to her knees." Knuckles."

"Look!" Vector suddenly called getting her attention." Up there!" Julie-Su followed his finger and looked up. And looking into the sky they could see one lone figure fleeing the wreckage. A figure dressed in blue and gold. Whoever he was he was surely involved with this.

Julie-Su reached for her pistol, ready to take revenge for Knuckles here and now. But as quick as he was seen, he was gone. Disappearing in a flash of green light.

But his disappearance only meant one thing. The Hunt was on.

Carmelita Montoya Fox was sitting behind her desk, busy at work. The Office was abuzz with excitement as police officers went back and forth across the room bringing documents and criminals where they needed to be.

While one hand was busy on paperwork, Carmelita extended her free had to grab a sprinkled donut on the edge of her desk. She touched it with her fingers when suddenly a green light filled the room and she jolted in shock to see a figure hovering in the air before her.

He had a blue leather shirt with white gloves but his boots, tunic and most importantly his helmet were all solid gold. A red tail and dreadlocks poked out of the loose spots of his armor. He was an Echidna, Carmelita recognized that and in his arms was someone Carmelita knew all too well.

"Here!" boomed a deep voice inside the helmet, and Sly Cooper was dropped on the table before her." See that this leech is put where he belongs." But before anyone could ask who the man who he was, where he came from, what he was doing he vanished in a flash of green light. Carmelita looked at the spot before her with curiosity. There was something familiar about that figure.

Julie-Su along with the surviving members of the Chaotix went to the only place they could after that.

"Gone?!" Sonic repeated in shock." How can the hole island be gone?!"

"Not gone as in vanished." Espio told." But destroyed. Crumbled to pieces." Sonic easily looked over that for the more important news.

"And Knuckles?" And when none answered, it meant only the worst could have happened.

After that the figure flew out into the center of the city. He stopped in mid-air viewing the loud, bright city below him. He hated it.

All the technology, the devices, but most of all he hated the noise. With a scowl on his face he lifted his head up to the sky and his eyes glowed green. Then with the snap of his fingers the city dimmed. But it only happened for a moment, but when the lights came back on his image was being put on every tv screen around the world.

"Well how do you know?" Sonic asked." Did you see him? How do we know he's still not out there?!"

"Uh guys." Tails cut in." You might want to come look at this." He pointed to the tv and everyone crowded around it.

"That's him!" Julie-Su pointed to him." We saw him over Angel Island after it was destroyed."

"Greetings Mortals!" his voice boomed." I am Enerjak, God of the Echidnas." Sonic and his friends were watching from his home. Dr. Eggman watched in from his lab. Carmelita was seeing it from her office." And I have come to free not only my people but free all the people of the world from the plague that infects you." He cast his eyes down to the city below." Your use of technology has rotted you down to the core and you forget the true purpose of living." He picked up his head." But fear not for I shall free you from this plague." He raised up his hand and it began glowing with green energy. And with the wave of his hand the city below him vanished. The buildings, the cars, the lights all gone. But the people stayed behind. Then with a wave of his other hand a lush green forest grew.

Enerjack pleased with his work smiled before turning and flying off in another direction.

And the whole thing was caught on camera from a satellite in space.

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Mighty.

"Unbelievable." Sonic added." How did he do that?!" He turned his head to see Julie-Su headed for the door." Where are you going?"

"If he's going from City to City doing that then, I'll be waiting for him when he comes to this one." She pulled the pistol from her hip." I'll get him back if it's the-"

But then a shadow cast down at them from the sky and everyone looked up in fright at who they saw. Enerjak.

"You!" Sonic yelled.

"Fear not friends." His voice echoing in his helm." For I come here to make peace not war." He floated down from the ground and touched his feet onto the earth.

"We've already seen the peace you've made!" Mighty yelled pointing a finger at the God." And we'll have none of it!"

"And I won't forgive what you did to Knuckles!" Julie-Su yelled as she stepped up. She pulled her pistol from her side and pointed it at him. God or no God she would have her revenge." I don't care what you do here but I will kill you for what you did to him!" Enerjak opened his hand and Julie-Su's pistol flew from her hand and into his.

"Destroy? Do to you?" He said. He dropped the gun and put his hands on the side of his helmet. Then took it off and revealed his face." I would never hurt you my love." Every gazed it shock at what they saw. He rested the helmet under his right arm." And I can't very well destroy myself!"

Enerjak was Knuckles.

"My dear friends it is a new world we are entering!" Knuckles announced with his fist in the air and a smile on his face." I come to you as a living God to show you the world of tomorrow. Finally I can live out our dream."

"Who's dream?" Julie-Su asked stepping closer. Knuckles turned back to her a sad smile on his lips.

It had been Locke the Echidna's dream to make his son the most powerful Guardian to ever live. Knuckles had already lived up to that. But with these new powers, he'd succeeded well past his father's expectations.

"A dream for a better tomorrow." Knuckles told." A world without pain and suffering. A world built by my unmatched power."

"Knuckles, bro what's happened to you." Said Vector.

"That sound like Eggman talking not Knuckles." Sonic said. Your unmatched power has already done enough destruction. Look what you did to Angel Island and everyone there." Knuckles eyes darted from left to right as everyone spoke on the issue, contradicting him in any way he could.

"Knuckles, please." Julie-Su sniffled in front of him." This power has already brought us pain and suffering. You're not Enerjak, please stop this before it gets worse." Knuckles scowled at her and a darkness grew on his face.

"I am very disappointed in all of you." He said as he slid his helmet back on his head." But I think you simply lack an appreciation for my vision." His hands and his eyes began to glow green." Allow me to show you."

"Not if I can help it!" Sonic yelled. He dashed forward and tried to strike the living God. But with the simple flick of his wrist and a slap to the face, Sonic was sent back onto the ground.

"You know I don't get any real pleasure from this." Knuckles told stepping towards him." But if this is the only way, then so be it!" He pointed his hand at Sonic and tried to blast him with chaos energy but Sonic was too fast and easily dodge. But no matter how fast he was, he was still too slow now.

He ran in and tried to punch Knuckles, but to the new and improved Knuckles Sonic might as well have been moving in slow motion. He easily reached out his hand and caught Sonic by the neck, slamming him into the ground.

"You don't fight alone Sonic!" Vector yelled. Together he, Mighty and Espio were with him. The four surrounding Knuckles and together they attacked.

But they were hardly a match for Knuckles ordinarily. He jumped into Mighty giving him a kick to the stomach before leaning over to back-hand Vector to the ground. Espio had his kunai's drawn but they dented against Knuckles invulnerable body. And with him this close Knuckles grabbed him by the arm and slammed him into the ground. He held back of course, he wanted to hurt them not kill them.

Tails came out next, in the Cyclone. Knuckles turned his head to see his little friend stomping towards him in his armored vehicle. And did nothing as the front opened up shooting a giant lazer canon at him.

But Knuckles never could hurt his little friend, so he simply deflected the lazer off his hand. Then with his hand glowing green from chaos energy levitated Tails out of the cyclone before closing his hand and crushing the cyclone into a ball.

But suddenly Knuckles was taken by surprised and knocked to the ground. When he picked his head up he saw another fighter had entered the match. Standing before him was Shadow the hedgehog. But if Shadow was here that meant two more were as well.

"Knuckles?!" gasped Rouge. He titled his head to see her floating in the air above Omega.

"Always so quick to grasp the situation." Knuckles said. He raised his hand causing his golden helmet to float and return back to his head.

"We've been sent here to stop you." Shadow said. Knuckles never feared Shadow before and he certainly didn't now, especially with his new power.

"You can try." Knuckles said. His eyes glowing with chaos energy. But likewise Shadow did not fear Knuckles. He disappeared from everyone else's sight prepared to attack Knuckles from behind. But he did no better than Sonic before.

"Hello." Knuckles said as he titled his head back while shooting back his fist to hit Shadow in the face. This one powerful enough to send him flying onto his back. While he was distracted Sonic thought he'd be able to surprise Knuckles. But without even looking at him Knuckles raised up his arm and with a flick of his finger sent Sonic into the dirt as well.

Omega armed himself to the teeth. Both his hands had changed to machines guns while missiles, grenades and lazers shot out of his body.

But they either bounced off Knuckles or left him without a scratch.

Of the three special agents before him he hated Omega the most. A living machine, a walking arsenal capable of nothing but destruction. Knuckles knew exactly how to deal with him.

His hand glowed with chaos energy and with a quick wave of it Omega stood there active and alive to nothing but a pile of bolts.

"NO!" Shadow screamed when he saw it. Rouge gasped as Knuckles turned his attention to Shadow.

With all his speed and effort he Ultimate life form dashed forward and tried to take Knuckles on. A valiant effort but still futile. Knuckles sent him back into the ground just as easily as before.

With minimum effort any who could stand against the might of Knuckles was cast down to the ground. He turned his head to the side cracking his neck as he did so.

"Is that all?" He called to his defeated foes." Will none of you stand against me further?"

"Hold!" called a raspy voice. Knuckled turned around and saw a figure take form from the shadows. It was Ganondorf the Dark Wizard from Hyrule. Now Knuckles had never had a personal encounter with the wizard personally and even with his God-like powers he was not all knowing.

"Who are you?" He said turning to him.

"I am the World's Most Powerful Wizard!" he answered. He raised his arms above his head and then swung them back, puffing his chest out as he did so." A God among Mortal Men. I am Ganondorf." Knuckles faced turned from stern to a malicious grin from ear to ear.

"You fancy yourself a God!" He said. His voice roaring like thunder." Test yourself against the real thing." He held up an open palm before closing it into a fist.

Ganondorf cried out as he swung his arms forward shooting his dark magic at Knuckles. The Echidna God simply put up his hand and created a force-field, blocking the attack. Ganondorf pressed on hoping his unstoppable magic would be enough. But Knuckles force field held strong. It was time for a new tactic. He the attack stopped and Ganondorf rushed forward and speed-blitzed Knuckles.

The Sorcerer had his arms around Knuckles shoulders. But Knuckles simply grabbed Ganondorf by his arms and swung him into the air. He flew up but Ganondorf managed to stop himself by flailing out his arms.

But Knuckles was quickly on him. Leaping from the ground and into the air to punch Ganondorf in the stomach. But the sorcerer swung his fist down but before his attack could hit Knuckles disappeared and teleported behind him. Then with one swing and a hit to the back of the head Knuckles sent Ganondorf flying down and to the bottom of the sea.

"This just keeps going from bad to worse." Julie-Su commented.

"How did this happen?!" Rouge said landing down beside her.

"Maybe I can explain that." Called a new voice. Julie-Su turned her head and standing there she saw none other than her own half-sister Lien-Da.

"You caused all this?!" Julie-Su said.

"You were always so quick to grasp concepts Su." Lien-Da responded. "Yes I did this."

After Dimitri's death it fell unto Lien-Da to take control of the clan in the aftermath of their near destruction. But after several months of work the fruit of Dimitri's labor would finally become a reality.

It was Lien-Da's science mixed with the power of the Master Emerald that turned Knuckles into the Living God Enerjak. She had planned to make herself into Aurora afterwards, so that the two of them would rule together as King and Queen forever. However Knuckles seemed to have other plans.

The power corrupted him and the first one's he took his fury out on was Lien-Da and the Nocturnus Clan who had given him the power.

"Then undo it." Julie-Su demanded stepping forward and pushing her sister." Do it!"

"I can't." Lien-Da said." Can't you see he's too powerful."

After Knuckles had sent Ganondorf into the sea he'd thought his work was finally finished. Evidently he was wrong. He heard the sounds of roaring jets and engines behind him.

"Now what?" He grumbled turning to it.

Coming at him were four arwings, each piloted by a member of the elite Stark Fox team. Together they flew down and surrounded Knuckles. The Echidna wasn't truly surprised, he actually expected them sooner.

Knuckles raised his hand pointed it at Krystal's Arwing. Then with his other hand did the same for Falco's. Now with them levitating in place by his will he decided to take action his own way. He clapped his hands together and forced the two Arwings to do the same.

"NO!" Fox yelled from his own. The two were a cloud of smoke, the broken pieces falling to the ground and the deep sea below.

Fox quickly kicked himself into gear and moved his arwing as fast as he could. He was coming at Knuckles from behind ready to give him everything he had. The bombs they were equipped with could destroy a large asteroid. With just the click of a button Fox sent the bomb flying at his super powered friend.

He didn't even manage to dodge it and soon Knuckles was covered in smoke. Fox looked on, looking to see if Knuckles had fallen from the smoke. But suddenly the wind picked up blowing the smoke away. And Fox saw that Knuckles was perfectly fine, except for a few black marks now on his golden helmet.

Now he was ready to make his move. He raised his hand and pointed a finger at Fox's ship. A single beam of green chaos energy shot from his finger. That beam traveled through the air and shot into the right wing of the ship.

The cockpit suddenly became ablaze and Fox's view clouded by smoke. But he tried to steady the ship as much he could and make for a safe landing. But when it became too dangerous he did the only thing he could and ejected from the arwing moments before it crashed into the earth.

Fox ejected and landed with a face-full of earth. He groaned as he propped himself up onto his elbows, holding his swimming head. But when he sat himself up he saw Knuckles standing there, straight as an arrow with his arms at his side. He moved one foot forward and began walking towards him. In an effort to defend himself Fox reached down for his blaster.

At his hostile intentions Knuckles quickly crossed the distance between them and placed his hand on Fox's throat, then lifted him up into the air. Fox had been hit by Knuckles before and the strength he had now as unlike anything he'd had before.

Fox already had his blaster pulled from it's holster. But before he could make any use of it Knuckles raised of his index finger the object was torn from Fox's hand and off into the distance.

"I'm disappointed Fox." Knuckles said." You rely too much on technology." He glanced from the battered arwings to Fox's legs." Even sacrificed some of your own body to use it." He looked back up at Fox's purpling face." But fear not for I will help you." His eyes glowed green and the energy he shot from them was not meant to harm. The flew from his eyes and onto Fox's legs, destroying the two metal replacements.

"No!" Fox yelled." No what have you done!" Knuckles only shushed Fox as he slowly lowered him onto the ground. Now legless Fox was forced to prop himself up on his arms.

"I'm afraid this is gonna hurt." Knuckles told. His put his arms out in front of him and Fox's eyes went wide. Then slowly Knuckles began pulling his arms towards him. And as he did Fox felt a pain unlike that which he had ever felt before.

The bones, muscles and tendons at his knees began to grow out and take a new form. The form of the legs he'd sacrificed in order to pilot the arwing. There was no fighting back against it, nothing he could do but bury his hands into the grass and scream.

It was over when Knuckles hands were in line with his chest and he rested them there triumphantly. With the burning pain all over his body and his face sweating Fox managed to look down to see what had been done to him.

"Try to take it slow." Knuckles told him." You might find it hard to use them, since it's been so long since you really have." He slowly began to turn away from Fox.

But suddenly the seas began to rumble and rage. Then they shot up into the sky opening a view to the bottom. Knuckles looked down to see Ganondorf standing there. And with a wave of his hand sent the strength of the waves against the deity.

But as the water closed around him Knuckles' eyes went green and raised his hand. The waves came crashing against him but split apart against his hand rushing past Fox and engulfing the landscape behind him.

The waves finally ended and Knuckles hadn't moved an inch. But when the water was gone Ganondorf was in it's place. He appeared before Knuckles and punch him in the face sending him flying down and destroying the landscape.

Knuckles looked but from the rubble to see Ganondorf suddenly appear before him. He moved forward with his hands and gripped tightly into Knuckles' shoulders. Then with all the magical power he held began blasting it into Knuckle's body. The colors of the night shot from Ganondorf's hand and onto his opponent. And for the first time this entire battle the Echidna managed to feel pain. He screamed as the bigger Ganondorf forced him down onto his knees.

The pain was dulling. His eyes dimmed to a darker shade of green and everything to him seemed to slow down. There was a battle going on in Knuckles' mind.

He was not alone in his head for he now shared it with Enerjak.

"What's going on?" asked Knuckles. The Echidna God turned around and faced a newcomer.

"You." He said to it. Knuckles turned around and saw another Echidna God there. None other than Aurora, Enerjak's wife. Knuckles quickly dropped to one knee and regarded her.

"Your Grace." He said with a lowered head at her.

"Guardian"She acknowledged him before turning to her husband." My Love" She said hovering in the air before Enerjak." Abandon this mission. You have no claim here."

"No Claim?" He repeated." My dear I simply act on the best interest of our people. And the people of the world."

"You have slaved this young one's mind." She pointed to Knuckles.

"The Echidnas are our children, and the Guardians my chosen warriors. This Boy. "He pointed to Knuckles." Is precisely the savior our people and the world needs." Knuckles lifted his head and watched as the two went back and forth.

Aurora was the Mother of all Echidnas. The Goddess of Love, Family, and Nature. His people prayed to her for good health and joy.

Enerjak was the Father of all Echidnas. The God of War and Justice. His people prayed to him for victory in battle and strength.

"It was the Mortal's science that brought me here." Enerjak told his wife." And it was their undoing."

"You cannot do this!" Aurora said back." You'll hurt many innocent people if you do this."

"Heretics will be dealt with swiftly."

In truth Ganondorf was the only one who could take such a powerful deity on like this. He was nearly as old as the Gods themselves and instilled with their power, he was right to be prideful about it. But however much he fancied himself a God he was not one. And Knuckles right now with all the powers of Enerjak was a true God.

"I have had ENOUGH!" He commanded. And the sound of his voice was enough to shake the earth itself , rubble the waves and dim the stars in the sky. Knuckles reached forward and placed one single hand on Ganondorf's head. The dark wizard struggled against him but couldn't compete with Knuckles' superior strength. Now Knuckles did as was done to him he unleashed all his chaos power against the sorcerer.

And against the vast energies of the Master Emerald even his dark sorcery was no match. His eyes eventually rolled in the back of his head and he fell back onto the ground. Knuckles stood over him. Over Fox, Sonic, Mario over all of them. None of them a match for his unlimited power.

"Look one last time!" Knuckles roared. His feet left the ground and he hovered into the air. His hands began to glow with all the power he could manage." Because I'm about to change this world permanently."

"Knuckles." Called a voice among the chaos. And this one voice managed to be heard loud and clear amongst the storm of chaos and rage. Enough so that Knuckles could hear it and end it. He tilted his head to look down at the source of it.

There standing amongst the wreckage of the battle was Inspector Carmelita Fox. Knuckles descended the air as if it were steps as he walked down to be before her.

"Knuckles." She said when he stood before her. A smile formed on Knuckles' lips. Not the smile of enjoying battle that he'd had but one of true genuine happiness.

"I'm glad to see you here." He said. He reached forward and took one of her hands in his." It only means one thing. You've come to share in my world, my vision." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it." It's lonely at the top and in this new world I plan to create I'll need someone like you at my side. Someone who shares in my view of justice." Carmelita smiled and cupped Knuckles face in her hand, turning her eyes to her's.

She knew it was Knuckles the very moment he appeared in her office. She knew it was him who broadcasted to the city and it was him standing before her now. She knew before anyone.

"It doesn't have to like this Knuckles." She said. And once again the happiness dimmed from Knuckles' eyes and only anger remained.

"I am so sick of this." He claimed his eyes tilted to the sky.

"Knuckles! Knuckles!" Carmelita called after him. But he did not listened and continued to fly farther and farther into the sky.

"Nothing's working!" Shadow grunted.

"We must do something.' Rouge said.

"Wait!" Sonic snapped his fingers." I know!"

"What?" Rouge asked turning to him.

"Shadow with me." Sonic said." I'll explain on the way." Rouge watched as the two suddenly disappeared in a blue and black blur. Leaving only Rouge, Carmelita, Julie-Su and Lien-Da behind.

Luckily the two reappeared almost immediately and they'd brought something.

"Is that?!" Rouge questioned.

"The Master Emerald." Sonic said as he and Shadow set it down." It's time to fight fire with fire." He jumped on top of it and in a flash of blinding light he became Super Sonic. He was a thousand times faster, stronger and most importantly invulnerable.

His eyes went onto his friend turned foe and he dashed off. He looked like he disappeared to most but he was just too fast. Knuckles couldn't even see him this time as Sonic flew up and crashed right into his chest, pushing him up into the air before he put both hands against him and pushed him off.

"WHAT?!" Knuckles fumed looking at the golden hedgehog before him.

"Hey, Hey rad red." Sonic said." Ready for round two." As he finished Shadow appeared beside him glowing gold as well.

"You use my own power against me." Knuckles said. "Then I don't have to pull my punches." And with one swing he punched Sonic in the face. Knocking him down from the sky and deep into the center of the planet.

As soon as he'd dealt with Sonic, Shadow took him from behind wrapping both arms around his neck. The two struggled before Knuckles elbowed Shadow in the stomach, forcing him to let go. Then Knuckles turned and punched Shadow in the face forcing him back even more. But Shadow quickly countered with a punch of his own.

Knuckles reared his fist and prepared to swing back but was distracted by a sudden weight he felt at his feet. Looking down he saw Sonic grabbing onto him. And in his distraction Shadow punched him again. Then Sonic tightened his grip and tossed Knuckles into the earth.

The two super powered hedgehogs looked down to see Knuckles face deep in the dirt. Was this it? Was it finally over?

Knuckles pushed himself to his feet and roared at them from the ground.

"You can't take me down!" But then he was taken from behind once more. Ganondorf reentered the battle putting both hands against Knuckles' head and blasting him with dark magic once more.

It pained him so much Knuckles roared out in pain. So he slip his head out from his helmet. And while Ganondorf held it the echidna turned and punched him in the face, then a second time. But before he could go for the third Sonic was on him, holding back his arm.

Knuckles immediately turned to him, sending him to the ground with a head-butt. But this opened the opportunity for Ganondorf who punched Knuckles in the face, then a second time.

With constant defiance only made Knuckles madder and madder as the fighting went on. Before Ganondorf could hit him again Knuckles reared forward and punched him back into the ground. But right as he was finished Shadow jumped back into the battle and attacked.

"Their actually doing it." Rouge commented in disbelief. It might have looked that way given superior numbers but it couldn't have been farther from the truth.

"No." Lien-Da said. "Their only prolonging the fight."

"Prolonging?" Carmelita questioned.

"Even between the two of them Sonic and Shadow aren't near half as powerful as Knuckles is. The only thing that's keeping them alive is their invulnerability. But their power will eventually run out while Knuckles' will not."

"Then what do we do?!" Julie-Su questioned.

"Nothing…." The Master Emerald was dim but in a moment glowed with it's usual light. And inside the light a figure could be seen. It was Aurora Goddess of Echidnas.

"Listen to me." She called in a siren voice.

"What the?" Julie-Su questioned.

"There is only one way to purge Enerjak of his mortal form and return your friend to his old self."

"How?" Carmelita questioned. Aurora's eyes flickered a moment but she answered all the same.

"Someone who loves him has to sacrifice themselves." She answered." Simply place your hand on the Emerald and offer yourself." But that was a lot to swallow. The only ones left to stop Knuckles were two of the people who loved him most in the world. The only question was who would do it.

The two women's eyes shifted quickly to each other. It was a hard price to pay but for the man they loved it was enough. At the same time they both rushed forward and placed a hand on the Emerald.

But it seemed someone else beat them to it. Standing across from both Julie-Su and Carmelita was Lien-Da, Su's half-sister.

"Sorry big sister." She said with a smile. "It looks like I beat you to it for once." And a surge of green chaos energy shot from the Emerald to Lien Da. And at the same time Knuckles found himself depowered.

Instead of floating in the air he was falling from it. The clothing he'd been wearing was falling off him and no matter how he tried to stop his fall he couldn't. Then he came crashing down and into the ground.

The blue tunic, his gauntlets and golden helm all melted off of him leaving only the true Knuckles behind.

With a grunt and a groan he raised his head from the dirt. Pushing against the ground until he could sit himself up. When he looked up he saw everyone looking back at him with fear in their eyes.

He took him a moment but then he realized they were looking at him. With another soft push he moved himself to his feet, everyone watching him slowly.

Everyone still looking on edge around him, as if in fear of what he would do next. And when he broadened his view to see the destruction around him it was easy to see why.

All of it was because of him.

Knuckles looked to the ground where he saw the Master Emerald, the heirloom of his family. He reached down in the dirt, grabbing it in both hands and lifting it above his head.

"This is mine." Was all he said. He turned and prepared to walk away.

As a Guardian Knuckles purpose was to protect Angel Island, the Master Emerald that powered it and the way of life passed down by his father and grandfathers.

And he wondered if his father had been here and now, would he be proud of this display.