"What's that doing there?" Tails asked in astonishment.
The two of them were standing on a hill overlooking the vast Angel Island. You see Angel Island was an island that was high in the sky do to the power of the Master Emerald. Both of them had no idea why the island would suddenly be back down on the ground. The only possibility was...
"The Master Emerald must have been stolen," Sonic said.
"You don't think Robotnik took it?" Tails asked.
Sonic nodded.
Tails looked over the island. For some reason it just seemed to naturally fit where it had landed. Tails pondered at this.
"I wonder where..." Then a thought struck her, "Awe man Ice Cap Zone's under it."
Sonic looked and nodded. Angel Island was no on top of the area that used to hold the Ice Cap Zone.
"We'll just have to see if there's a way to get under it," Sonic replied as he headed towards Angel Island.
Tails nodded then followed.
The duo of Sonic and Tails headed towards the big island. It took a while but eventually they made it to the base of it. Sonic began to look around. Tails also looks then she notices something. A little ways up is what looks to be a hole in the side. Tails walked up to the hole and felt a cold breeze coming through it.
"Sonic this may lead down," Tails told Sonic.
Sonic nodded as he used his speed to quickly scale the space to the opening. Tails flew up and landed at the entrance. She pressed a button on her com and a light show at the tip like a flash light. So, the two moved on with Tails in the lead.
As they proceeded they felt as the air got colder and colder. Tails began to shiver slightly. Then the light came across an opening to the side. The opening was made of solid Ice and it looked as if it continued down a slope. Tails went to her com and activated a map data base.
"This might lead to the entrance of Ice Cap Zone," Tails remarked.
Sonic nodded.
So the two headed down the opening. They were both careful as they walked on the Ice covered floor. As they proceeded they came across a small pool of water.
"Isn't that the pool of water right outside the entrance to Ice Cap Zone?" Tails asked amazed.
Sonic nodded.
"Strange, Tails remarked, "How this tunnel leads just about perfectly to Ice cap zone."
Tails checked her COMs map and sure enough they were at the entrance to Ice Cap Zone.
"Let's keep moving," Sonic said as he walked around the pool of water. Tails followed.
The two continue on their way with not much problems. Eventually, they start to see a faint glow coming up ahead. They continue as the glow gets brighter. Soon they can make out the source, an Active Star Post.
They get closer but suddenly, Tails steps on what could have been a trip wire. Suddenly a part of the ceiling begins to drop down on them. Sonic quickly pushes Tails forward as they get out from the falling ceiling but on the Star Post side.
"What was that?" Tails asked still in shock.
"The Ice Cap Zone as a few booby traps in it," Sonic replied, "That's one of the reasons why they've never been fully explored."
"I see, Tails turned back to the now block of ice that had come from the ceiling, "So much for going back the way we came."
She turned back to see Sonic walking up to the StarPost. He placed his hands on the orb and in a flash of light he was gone.
Tails didn't bother following him. She was certain that he could handle it by himself. Thought how cold it was out here made it slightly tempting to follow him. She began to rub her arms as she tried to get herself warm. She only hoped that there was another exit up ahead.
It didn't take much longer as the StarPost flashed again and Sonic reappeared holding a second Emerald. It was green. So they had three Emeralds in their possession and two in Robotnik's. The last two, however, had dropped from Tails' Plane and for all she knew Robotnik could have them by now but hopefully he didn't.
Sense the light of the StarPost had gone out the light now came from Tails' COM plus the two Chaos Emeralds Sonic was holding gave off a faint glow but not really big enough to see.
"So I guess we just continue on," Tails asked.
Sonic nodded.
So Tails took the lead as she continued down the path. As they continued they began to tell that the path was now inclining upwards plus it seemed to be winding upwards.
"Where's this path lead?" Tails wondered aloud but Sonic didn't answer.
The continued the winding upward slope. Soon, Tails started to feel a slight breeze. Not long after that she saw a light coming up.
"We're about out," Tails said.
The two continued. As they rounded a corner they saw an opening. They reached it and as their eyes adjusted to the light they began to see that it wasn't ground level.
"How'd we?" Tails thought then remember, "Ice Cap Zone must lead to that tall mountain on Angel Island."
Sonic walked up and looked around. He could see Angel Island down below. He then looked around. The grounded slanted downward enough to be able to use it to go down but it'd be hard to walk on. He looked to the left and saw something really strange. There were a few pieces of wood. They were all long enough to be used as a kind of snowboard. Tails looked in that direction too.
"Well, at least we know one of the things the Echidna's did for fun," Tails said with a slight smile.
Sonic walked over and picked up of the pieces of wood. He then handed Tails one. Sonic placed his down on the ground and stood on it like a snow board.
"Wait you don't plan on..." Tails said but didn't get to finish as Sonic was off snowboarding down the mountain.
"Oh great," Tails said as she placed her piece of wood down She stood on it.
Flying was one thing, but this was entirely different. She took a deep breath then took off after Sonic.
The wooden snowboards were shaped nicely to allow her to keep her grip on it with her feet. Good thing too as she began to pick up speed fast. She was a bit scared but she wanted to keep up with Sonic and this was the fastest way to do it.
She then hit a drop in that lead to a lower part and that made a small gasp come out of her. No sooner had she did then she wished she didn't. She started to hear a sounded that made her fear increase as she looked back and her fear was confirmed.
"Avalanche!" Tails let out but that only increased the avalanche. She bent forward a bit more. She wasn't keen to going faster but her fear of the avalanche caused her to forget her about that.
So down the mountain she went, weaving in and out of rocks and other obstacles all to keep ahead of the Avalanche behind her. The Avalanche was gaining however and that only spiked her fear.
Then she saw a blue figure up head.
"Sonic!" Tails called out to him.
Tails caught up to him.
"Sonic what are we going to do?" Tails said fearfully, "We can't out snowboard it."
"Then fly," Sonic said, he wasn't scared at all.
"Fly?" Tails asked confused then it hit her. How could she forget that? She began to spin her tails rapidly and she was lifted off her board. She then flew over to Sonic and picked him up. She then proceeded to fly at an angle till they were safely out of the avalanches reach.
Tails let out a sigh of relief.
"Head to the Flight brother's place," Sonic told her.
Tails nodded as she flew them both in that direction. As they reached the edge of Angel Island Tails sat Sonic down and landed herself. The two then set off to the Flight Brother's place.
Knuckles search for the Master Emerald shards was going very well. Besides his minor confrontation in the city he wasn't having many problems at all. Knuckles seemed to have a way of being find the Shards. Even he was kind of surprised but he was glad for it.
Now Knuckles had just found the last Master Emerald shard on Angel Island. He was wondering why he didn't check the Island first but he just shrugged it off.
While searching he believed he heard the sound of an avalanche but he didn t look into it. Could be anything.
So Knuckles headed back off the Island. He saw a forest not far off from where his island fell so he figured he'd check there next.
Knuckles left the mountain area he was in and made his way to the forest area he had seen. On the way there, however, he came across a clearing. In the clearing was a rather large wooden structure that at the top had house with pieces of metal on what could of been some type of road. Also in the clearing was a small shack but the thing that peeked his interest was by a pond. For walking by it were two Mobians that he recognized, Sonic and Tails.
What are those two doing here? Knuckles thought. His gaze brought him to a rather shiny green object in Sonic's hands.
Robotnik was right, Knuckles thought, that's a piece of the Master Emerald.
Knuckles wasted no time as he charged at the duo fist flying. Both managed to avoid it.
"Knuckles?" Tails said astonished, "What's going on?"
"Enough talk," Knuckles said his eye on Sonic's hand, "Give me the emerald and no one get's hurt."
Sonic gave a small smirk.
"I don't think so," Sonic said.
"Then it's the hard way then," Knuckles once again charged at Sonic, Sonic, however, simple moved aside. Knuckles shifted his wait and aimed a punch into the direction of Sonic. Sonic once again stepped out of Knuckles' reach.
Knuckles then launched a series of punches at Sonic but Sonic dodged them all. Finally, Sonic launched a kick at Knuckles which pushed him back.
Angrily Knuckles punched the ground with his fists then stood back up. He charged at Sonic again as he did Sonic charged at him. The two met and knuckles threw a punch at Sonic. Sonic dodged it but was suddenly met with Knuckles other fist. The impact knocked the wind out of Sonic and Knuckles took an advantage as he sent another fist flying his way. This one also hit as Sonic was knocked back, while the two Chaos Emeralds flew from his hands.
Both Sonic and Knuckles turned towards where the Emeralds fell, right next to the pond. Suddenly, out from the pond water, rose a craft. The crafts top came off as it revealed none other than Dr. Robotnik.
"Robotnik!" Sonic yelled as he scrambled to his feet but suddenly mechanical claw flew from Robotnik's Egg'omatic Hovercraft and snatch both Chaos Emeralds. The claw then gave the Emeralds to Robotnik.
"Give me back those Chaos Emeralds," Sonic yelled as he charged towards Robotnik but suddenly a beast arose from the ground and blocked off Sonic's path. It was Chaos.
"Well done Chaos," Robotnik said, "Now here I have a treat for you."
"You're not giving them to him are you?" Tails asked though she already knew the answer.
"Cleaver little girl aren't you?" Robotnik said with a grin as he tossed the Chaos Emeralds to Chaos.
"Wait those are Chaos Emeralds?" Knuckles asked as he was more stunned than the other two.
"And you gave them to Robotnik," Sonic said hatred in his voice.
The Chaos Emeralds were absorbed into Chaos. They glowed brightly as Chaos matched the brightness. The light dimmed and before them stood or more precisely floated, Chaos 4.