THE GUARDIAN OF ANGEL ISLAND
A new week was beginning in Knothole. It seemed an eternity after what happened that weekend. The villagers decided to leave behind the attack Robotnik did and continue with their lives. But certain people life changed forever.
Inside the Education Center or school, Jade was hanging off a railing and beside her; Amy was sitting on a bench eating her lunch.
"Of all the buildings Eggman destroyed, he had to miss school." Jade complained.
"C'mon, Jade. It isn't so bad." Amy laughed.
"In fact I agree." They heard a feminine voice and looking back, they saw a female rabbit with cream and orange fur, brown eyes and she was wearing a lavender dress with a crimson vest, crimson shoes and an orange ascot. That lady was the respected mother of Cream. "Otherwise I would be out of job."
"Morning, Miss Vanilla." Amy said politely.
"Morning, Ma'am." Jade said as she went down the tube.
"Good Morning!" Running to them, Cream came with her own lunch. "May I join you for lunch?" She asked politely.
"Sure." Amy answered as Cream sat beside her.
"Wanna join us, Ma'am?" Jade asked as she took sit as well.
"I'd love to." And she sat down next to Jade. "I heard you had a big time yesterday." Vanilla said starting the conversation.
"You have no idea." Said Amy as she bit her apple.
"Why didn't you call me?" Cream asked disappointed.
"Is not that we didn't wanted." Jade told her. "Everything was so fast that we barely had time to blink."
"Jade?" Vanilla looked at the teen. "Cream told me the new girl would stay in your house." The redhead nodded. "She also said that she helped her to get out of that awful robot the other day. I would like to meet her and thank her."
"Not a problem to me, if they were home." Seeing their confused faces, she specified. "Tails was able to fix the Tornado and wanted to test it. I think Jody and Sonic went with him." She bit her sandwich and continued. "But they left this morning. I think they'll be back soon."
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Flying away from Greenhills, Tails was piloting the Tornado with Jody in the back seat and Sonic over a wing.
"Everything works perfectly!" Tails said as he checked the panel. "Thanks for coming with me."
"To be honest, I needed to get out." Jody sighed, feeling the fresh air brushing her face. She spent all night looking at the books she took out of the library until dawn, but nothing gave her a hint of the Chaos Emeralds. And after Omochao mention that Tails wanted to test the Tornado, she sign up instantly. And since Sonic had nothing better to do, also joined them.
"Miss Seriousness is finally relaxing?" Sonic smirked.
"Hmph." She ignored him and looked the landscape. "I thought you only fly in Greenhills."
"Since Station Square, I thought it would be better to explore new zones." Tails informed her.
"I totally agree!" Sonic winked and held up the thumb.
Jody looked back down again and saw a swampy, overgrown rainforest. From above, they could see what appeared to be remains of pyramids. What they saw used to be the ancient homeland of a great civilization long forgotten through the centuries.
"Are those…?"
"Yep. Those are Mystic Ruins!" Tails said excited.
"We have to be careful then." Jody said.
"Someone is a little nervous?" Sonic mocked her. "What's worrying you? There's nothing there but ruins." Sonic said looking down.
"No, Sonic. It's because Mystic Ruins is a no-fly zone." Tails informed.
"Why?" He asked confused.
"Because is a Blind Spot Satellite." Jody tried to clarify, but after seeing Sonic still confused she let him be.
"Listen, I'll take altitude. So hang on!" Tails warned them.
The plane started to elevate between the clouds. Soon they were inside a beautiful sea of clouds and the magnificent scene amazed them.
"Wow…" Sonic whispered. "How high are we?"
"Let's just say that we could see a Boeing 747." Tails smiled proudly.
Jody was also admiring the view. She would never say it out loud, but it was beautiful and she was enjoying it. But a light inside her bag caught her attention interrupting the moment. In a second, the light intensified making Sonic and Tails noticed it too.
"What's that?" Sonic asked as Jody looked inside her bag bringing out the Chaos Emerald shocking the blue hedgehog.
"What's going on back there?" Tails asked in panic when the light was getting even more intense.
"You brought the Emerald?" Sonic said a bit amusedly.
"She what?!" Tails didn't thought it was funny.
"Forgive me, but I didn't trust it in hands of Thomas." She simply said and earned a laugh from Sonic.
"She has a point there, Tails." Sonic said, but before the little fox could protest the emerald shone brightly blinding them.
"What is going on?!" Sonic shouted covering his eyes.
"I don't know!" Jody shouted back. And as the energy came out as sparks and thunders from the emerald, the plane started to lose equilibrium.
"The Tornado!" Tails shouted gripping the controls. "I'm loosing control."
The plane began to move out of control and fell into the sea of clouds. The passengers clung to the Tornado and before they could scream, they noticed that they were going to crash into some trees. At the last moment, Tails managed to dodge them but the plane was still out of control. The Tornado hit the ground and slid on the floor. The last thing they saw was a large tree before everything went dark.
xxxxxxx
"Sonic!" A worried voice called him from the darkness.
"Come on, wake up." Another voice said more selfless.
Sonic groaned in pain and slowly opened his eyes to see the worried face of Tails and the neutral one of Jody.
"Sonic! You are alright!" Tails squeal in relief.
"Good thing you wake up." Jody said. "I was about to slap you."
"Thanks for the kind gesture." He sat up and rubbed his head. "What happened?"
"When the Tornado crashed to the tree you went flying." Tails informed him.
"Then your face met the dirt." For a second they saw a smile in her lips.
"Well, glad you had fun." Sonic got up and looked around. "Where are we?"
"I think we crashed in Mystic Ruins." Tails said as he approached to the Tornado and analyzed the plane.
"How bad is it?"
"Not as it seems." Tails opened the cabin to inspect the motor. "Most of the damage has to be for the Chaos Emerald."
"Talking about it," Sonic turned to Jody. "What make it act like that?"
"How I'm supposed to know?" She responded coldly.
"Just asking." Sonic grinned and turned to Tails. "So can you fix it?"
"I think so." Tails said checking the motor. "But a will need a few extra parts."
"In Mystic Ruins, there's a train station in the other side of the mountain. Maybe you can get what you need there." Jody said looking around.
"Hard to tell where the mountains are?" Sonic said as he looked up to the tall trees.
"I'll fly over and check." The fox suggested moving his tails and flew up.
"Do you see something?" Sonic shouted.
"Not yet! It's too cloudy!" Tails shouted back. Then the clouds and the mist began to disperse and what he saw left him speechless.
"Tails! Everything OK?" Sonic shouted a bit worried.
"What do you see?" Jody shouted as well.
"Guys…" The tone of astonishment in the voice of the little fox made them worry. "You better come up here."
Sonic and Jody exchanged glances and began to climb the tree. Sonic, being faster reached the top first and shared the same shock as Tails. When Jody finally joined them, she was able to see what was so shocking. As the fog dispersed, they realized that they were on an island… a floating island.
"Impossible…" Jody whispered to the wind. After a few minutes admiring the view, they came down from the tree.
"This is not good." Tails said as they touched ground. "Without the Tornado, we are trapped up here. Where ever is this place."
"So now what?" Jody asked.
"Let's try calling for help with the radio." Sonic suggested.
"I can't, Sonic. It's a Blind Spot Satellite." Tails told him.
"I remember that. But I didn't get it in that moment."
"It means there is no way to communicate." Jody informed him.
"Oh! Then we are stuck." Sonic joked.
"I'll try to fix the Tornado with what I have." Tails said as he inspected the propeller.
"Meanwhile I will check the area." Jody said and walked away.
"Wow!" Sonic ran in super speed a stood in front of her. "Since when you are an explorer?"
"It's clear we'll stay here for a while. We must look for shelter and food." She walked passing him continuing her way to the jungle. The boys watched her go and Sonic turned back to Tails.
"Stuck-up." He smirked pointing at her.
"I heard you." He winced at hearing her voice in the distant.
"Sonic, maybe you should go with her." Tails suggested.
"Are you sure, buddy?" Sonic wanted to confirm not liking the idea of leaving his little friend alone.
"Yes." He nodded smiling at him. "I'll stay and do what I can to fix the Tornado."
"Alright. Don't talk to strangers." And he ran to catch up with Jody.
"Don't worry." Tails said to himself looking around. "I won't."
xxxxxxx
Jody was walking deeper into the jungle. She was looking around the area searching up to the trees in case they had fruit and at last she spotted fruit in the top of a tree.
"So, what do you think?" Instantly, she reached for her dagger and when she turned, she saw Sonic standing just at her side.
"Don't ever do that again!" She hissed at him.
"Do what?" He asked innocently.
"Forget it." She gives up seeing that it was useless.
After lowering the fruit of the tree, they continued to explore the area. By then I had found more fruit and Sonic decided it was time to go back.
"I think we have enough for now." He said as he munched a fruit. "Let's go back with Tails." And he turned around to head back. Jody was about to follow him when something in the bushes caught her attention. Sonic looked back and realize that Jody wasn't following him.
"Hey! Where are you going?" When Jody didn't answered, Sonic walked after her. He went out of the bushes as well and saw Jody standing there. "What's the matter?"
"See for yourself." She responded moving aside letting Sonic see a small shrine-like temple.
"What is that?" Sonic asked as he approached and kneel in front of it to have a better look.
"I don't know but… I saw it before." She dropped the fruits and brought out a book from her bag. She looked between the pages and showed it to Sonic. In the page was the picture of the little temple.
"It's looks alike." He said as he took the book.
"It says that these thing has been found near Mystic Ruins." When Jody approached, her bag glowed again. She brought out the emerald and as before it was glowing intensely.
"It's doing it again." Sonic said annoyed. And when Jody walked away, the glow of the emerald decreased and when he approached the temple, it increased.
"And it looks like it's reacting to something." She walked passing the little structure seeing how the glow increased a bit.
"Then let's find out." Sonic said dropping his own cargo and they let the emerald guide them to what ever was reacting.
xxxxxxx
BACK TO THE TORNADO…
Tails was trying his best to fix the plane. He brought out his head from the copartner with his face dirty with oil.
"It's useless." He said with a sad sigh as he cleaned the sweat of his forehead. "I need spare parts." He hopped down and sat hard leaning aver the plane. "And I don't think this island have any spare store." Closing his eyes, he tried to relax. Without knowing that he was being watched. Up the trees a couple of red eyes were observing him.
xxxxxxx
The emerald led them to a small mountain range and into a cave, using the bright gemstone to illuminate their steps. In the end, they were able to see the light of day and when they came out, they went to a forest.
"Awesome!" Sonic exclaimed with wide eyes.
They witnessed an ecosystem alongside another. They walked to the depths of the woods reaching to a cliff and managed to see the rest of the landscape of the floating island. In the distant they could see a mountain of ice and a volcano.
"What in the world is this place?" Jody said in disbelief.
"Beats me." Sonic smirked. "But I like it."
Jody rolled her eyes and looked at the emerald. "Let's just find what this thing is reacting to so we can get out of this wonderland."
They got closer to the edge until they found a way down to a meadow. They kept walking until they arrived to a big and narrow fissure, but this one didn't have end. It was literally a crack in the island. Sonic walked closer and looked down, able to see the clouds passing down the floating island, he made a long whistle.
"I wouldn't like to have that fall."
Jody went by his side and looked at the other side and then to the emerald. It seems that they would have to cross. Then she saw some kind of structure on the other side.
"There is something on the other side." She said. Sonic saw to the same direction as she. Putting a hand over his eyes, he spotted what she was referring to.
"You're right". He affirmed. Jody looked around and saw a bridge leading across the crack.
"Look!" She exclaimed in surprise.
"That's what I call luck!" When they arrived to the bridge, they saw that it was a very old bridge made of rope and wooden tables. Many planks were missing or broken, and the rope seemed rotten.
"I think you should look the definition of luck." Jody told him putting back the emerald into her bag and walked closer to the bridge. She put a foot over the first plank and did some pressure making the wood squeak and creak.
"How are we going to pass this?" She yelped when Sonic carried her in bridal style and before she could protest, he ran through the bridge overthrowing it for completely in the way. Once in the other side, he placed her on her feet.
"Like this." Sonic smirked at her.
"Don't… You… Oh, never mind." Jody decided to ignore him and continued walking to whatever they saw.
Soon they reached the building and were amazed by what they saw. The ruins of a step pyramid with a small altar surrounded by seven pillars. And right at the top and center of the structure was a large green diamond-cut stone.
"An… Emerald?" Jody could barely say.
"Jumbo size!" Sonic exclaimed. They exchanged glances and approached the altar and when they reached the top, Jody took out their emerald, and then the giant stone began to shine. The two gems flashed in sync reacting to each other. And after a while both stopped to shine.
"What was that?" Sonic asked amazed.
"I'm not sure. But it was like if they were calling for each other…" She affirmed and approached, and slowly she put a hand over the stone. Even with the glove on, she could feel the warm that emitted.
Suddenly Sonic's ears twitched. He looked around and heard the wind brushing the trees and bushes. And put himself in guard.
"Have you ever felt you are been watched?" Sonic asked without looking at her.
"All the time. Why?" Jody looked at him in confusion.
Without warning, a shadow jumped from the bushes directly to them. Sonic took Jody from the waist and jumped back just in time when the shadow hit the floor making a cloud of dirt blocking the view of the attacker.
"So it's true." A voice deep and intimidating said. The dust dispersed, showing a red echidna kneeling in a small crater a hand inlaid in the middle. He pull out his hand showing that he was wearing white boxing gloves with two spikes in the knuckles, and red and yellow shoes with green cuffs and gray buckle. In his chest was a white mark of a waxing crescent.
"What is your problem, dude?!" Sonic screeched pissed off.
"Who are you?" Jody demanded.
"Silence!" The strange mobian yelled furiously. "I'm the one who will make the questions here!"
"Sure. What do you want to know?" Sonic mocked with him and the echidna got angrier.
"I know why you are here." He stood tall and pointed at them. "And I assure you I won't let to take the Master Emerald!"
"Master Emerald?" Jody mumbled confused.
"Don't play dumb to me!" The echidna became inpatient. "I know exactly who you are, thieves."
"We aren't thieves." Sonic tried to reason.
"Oh, really? Then what's that?" He pointed to the Chaos Emerald that Jody was holding. Sonic looked to Jody and back to the red mobian with a sweatdrop.
"Heh… Well, that's a funny story." He said nervously. In that moment, the echidna launch to them. Sonic and Jody jumped away to dodge the blow and the echidna passed between them.
"Calm down before someone gets hurt!" Sonic yelled to the echidna.
"That's the idea."
"Fine. Have it your way!" With a confident smirk, Sonic jumped down the pyramid and the new guy jumped after him leaving Jody alone.
In the base of the pyramid the two spiked mobians were facing each other. Sonic was standing tall with confident and the echidna has his fist up ready to start.
"Are you sure you want to continue?" Sonic asked once more time. The echidna ran forward him with a warrior cry. "Just making sure." Sonic jumped making the echidna hit the spot and destroying the piece of land.
The red guy continued to throw punches and Sonic continued dodging them.
xxxxxxx
Jody saw them getting away. So not wanting to be kept behind, she followed them.
xxxxxxx
The echidna hit another rock destroying it missing Sonic. Looking up he saw the blue hedgehog had jumped and landed in another rock.
Sonic looked down at the echidna, starting to get annoying. The red guy tried to hit him again, but Sonic kept dodging him. When the echidna attacked again and Sonic took action by jumping high. When the echidna looked up, Sonic was going to send a kick. But he was surprised the echidna made a fast round off dodging his kick.
Sonic had to admit it. This guy was tough. For the first time in ages, he was having a good challenger. The new guy had even managed to land a punch or kick.
They arrived to a stream that fell to the bottom of the fissure, far from the altar. In that point Sonic was having a hard time dodging the punches, so he changed his tactic. He jumped crossed the stream and ran to the pine forest.
Seeing the cliff, Sonic saw a chance to loose him so he ran up over the wall. He smirked in satisfaction almost reaching the top but when he looked over his shoulder he yelp in surprise. The echidna used his fists to climb the cliff and was doing it in great speed.
Sonic kept running until he got to the top of a tall pine that was at the edge of the cliff. He exhaled and cleaned the sweat of his forehead.
"Ha! I want to see him coming up here." Suddenly, the tree started to swing to a side. The echidna was uprooting the tree with his own hands.
The echidna pulled off the tree and lifting it over his head, he threw it sending Sonic fly away. But he landed on his feet. Looking back he saw a tree coming down to him. He dodged it and another tree started to fall, followed for many others.
The echidna was punching the bases of each pine in intent that one would crush the hedgehog. But Sonic ran avoiding each tree easily; he even glance back and mocked at him. The echidna yelled in fury and increased his speed.
Sonic run over a log, but a falling pine hit it making a catapult sending him flying. In the air, he saw his opportunity when the echidna made another pine fall. Using the tree as a ramp, he started to spin and went directly to the red guy.
Sonic tackled him but the echidna contained the impact. But not for long, because his feet started to slid backward until both where over the edge and rolled down.
xxxxxxx
Far away, Jody was watching the battle as she reached the stream. She stopped at the edge of the waterfall, watching how it fell to the fissure. Then her attention went right back to the two mobians rolling down a few kilometers away and as soon as they touch land, they stood up and continued the fighting.
Jody was so distracted that she didn't notice one of the fallen trees rolling down to her. Luckily, she noticed before it hit her and dodged it, then she saw more trees rolling right to her. But as she dodged, the trees pushed her to the edge. Until finally she was hit by one, throwing her to the fissure.
Without hesitation, she drew his dagger and embedded it in the wall to stop her fall. Holding on, she looked down and froze. The clouds spread revealing the ocean. If she falls, she won't survive. So swallowing her pride, she did something she never thought she would.
"SONIC!"
xxxxxxx
The hedgehog's ears twitched hearing his name, letting an opening to the echidna to punch him in the face and send him flying.
"Sonic!" He heard his name again, looking around he identified where it was coming from.
"Jody!" He gasped loudly. Once he touched land, he ran directly to the place ignoring the red guy.
"Get back here! You quitter!" The echidna yelled in rage.
"We will set this later!" Sonic shouted over his shoulder and kept running. The echidna growled in rage and ran after him.
xxxxxxx
Jody was trying to use her free hand and feet to hold herself, but the wall was too flat and inclined inward. The only thing that kept her from falling was her dagger and it was starting to slip out.
"Sonic!" She shouted again.
"I'm coming!" Sonic shouted, as he got closer. Grabbing a long loose root in his path, he threw it at the end of the fissure. Jody saw the root and when she took it, the dagger came loose causing her to fall. Sonic yelled hitting the ground and slid stopping at the edge, without releasing the root.
"Hold on! I got you!" He shouted as he tried hard to pull her up. Usually he could have done it without problem, but thanks to the battle he was wear out.
xxxxxxx
The red echidna watched him from distance, seeing how vulnerable the blue hedgehog was in that moment as he tried to safe his companion. After thinking it deeply, he growled in frustration.
xxxxxxx
Grunting, Sonic tried to pull her up again but ended falling back. He was too exhausted. Jody was trying her best to climb the root, but stopped after realizing the root started to break.
"Sonic! Hurry up!" She shouted in panic.
"I'm working in that!" He shouted back. Suddenly a white-gloved hand took the root taking him by surprise. It was the echidna.
"On my count, pull!" He commanded. "You got it?!"
Sonic blinked the shock and smirked "Right!"
"One! Two! Three!" And both pulled the root.
They were now standing up as they pull the girl up. When she arrived to the edge, Sonic kneeled and extended his hand to her as well as the red echidna and she took both without doubts pulling her out of the abysm. Breathing heavy, she sat trying to recover from the shock.
"Are you alright?" Sonic asked her. Jody looked at him and nodded.
"I think so." Then she looked to the echidna. "Thank you."
"Yes." Sonic agreed. "Thanks for the hand." The echidna responded with a growl and stood up.
"Get up." He commanded.
"Huh?" Sonic looked at him confusedly.
"We haven't finished our battle." He explained. "And I won't fight an opponent that is in disadvantage. Now put them up!"
"Oh. In that case I'll stay down here." Sonic smirked and sat comfortable. The echidna growled and walked close, then Jody sat over her legs and held a hand to stop him.
"Wait!" She said. "We at least have the right to know why you are attacking us!"
"I don't owe you any explanation!" The echidna snapped at her.
"Oh, no?" She stood up. "Because your childish fight I almost fell to the ocean." The echidna glared at the hedgehog and growled in frustration.
"I was informed that a blue hedgehog with his henchmen would come to my island to steal the Master Emerald." He explained.
"Master Emerald?" Sonic scratched his head in confusion. "You mean that big shiny rock? We thought it was a Chaos Emerald." The echidna growled at him.
"Not helping Sonic." Jody hissed to him. " You say you were informed of our arrival. By whom?"
"I'm not here to answer your questions." He snapped.
"Alright." Sonic stood up and dust off. "We fell here by accident. Our friend is trying to fix our… Big flying mechanic bird." He tried to explain.
"I know what a plane is." The echidna growled.
"We didn't know about this Master Emerald." Jody said trying to clear the misunderstanding. "As soon as the plane is repaired, we are off this floating rock." Jody assured.
The echidna looked at them thinking if to believe them or not. But at the end, he made his choice.
"Fine. I'll escort you to the exit." He finally said and started to walk back to the altar.
"I'm Jochebed." Jody introduced herself as she and Sonic followed him.
"And I'm Sonic the hedgehog."
"We are not friends." The red mobian snapped without looking back. "So it's no use to tell me your names."
"It would be better than calling you echidna." Jody pointed out. The red guy growled in frustration.
"Knuckles." He mumbled.
"It suits you!" Sonic smirked. "Knucklehead."
"Hush, Sonic!" Jody scolded him and looked back to the echidna. "Ignore him."
"C'mon!" Knuckles growled. "The sooner you leave the better!" They walked until they arrived where the bridge was supposed to be.
"What happened to the bridge?!" Knuckles exclaimed in disbelief when he saw what was left.
"You should have changed a few tables." Sonic smirked.
"You think you can jumped to the other side?" Jody asked Sonic.
"Hum… Maybe." Sonic rubbed his head as he calculated the distance. "If I was 100%. And by myself."
The next thing they knew, the red echidna took both in each arm and jumped to the abysm and before any sound could leave their lips, they realized that they weren't falling, but flying. And within seconds they landed in the other side of the abysm.
"Are you half pigeon or something?" Sonic asked Knuckles and ended crashing to the ground, as he put Jody down a little gentler.
"How can you fly?" She asked as she stood up.
"I don't fly. I glide." He responded as he saw in satisfaction how Sonic stood up rubbing his face.
"How can you do that?" Sonic asked as he stood up as well.
"It's a part of the privileges of been a guardian." He smirked and continued walking.
"A guardian?" Jody asked aloud.
"Hey!" Sonic shouted. "You're going to the opposite direction!" Jody sighed in anguish. The way back was going to be a long one.
xxxxxxx
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" The scream echoed the zone, scaring the birds.
Jody sighed as she left the tunnel, returning to the jungle area. She looked back and saw Knuckles stomping out and Sonic behind him.
"Don't need to over react, hothead." Sonic shrugged.
Those two had been fighting since they left the altar. Each five minutes Sonic would make a comment that irritated the echidna. She needed a break from their childish behavior, so she included herself in the conversation.
"So, Knuckles... Who else lives here?"
He halted and looked over his shoulder. "And why the interest?" He asked suspiciously.
"Just curious." She didn't push him further.
"Hmph. I am the only one here." He responded.
"Only you? In all this island?" Sonic asked.
"There use to be more. But not any longer." There was some sadness in his last words. For a while they stayed in silence. Then Jody remembered something that was bugging her for a while.
"Knuckles?" When he didn't responded she continued. "You said something about you being a guardian. It's that big emerald what you guard?" Still without answer. "Does it have something to do with the Chaos Emerald?"
Knuckles finally halted and turned back to her with a scold in his face. Jody knew her guesses were right.
"Hey!" Sonic exclaimed in glee, distracting the echidna. "We arrived." And started to run to where the Tornado was. "Tails! We are back. And we brought…" His good mood disappeared. "Company."
When the others catch up, they froze as well. Many trees and rocks were destroyed and the Tornado was worse than when they left. And to make it worst, Tails was gone.
"Tails!" Sonic shouted as he ran to the plane and scanned the surroundings. "Tails!"
"What happened here?" Jody asked in disbelief as she looked around.
"It's obvious there was a fight." Knuckles said as he inspected the remains of a tree. "About an hour ago." Then he kneeled and inspected the ground. "Whatever it attacked your friend, was something very big and heavy."
"But what happened to Tails?" Sonic asked seriously.
"I don't know." Knuckles said as he stood up. "The only visible tracks are the big ones. Others could had been lost during the commotion."
"Either he flew away or he was captured by whatever attacked him." Jody pointed the options. "Which direction it took?"
Knuckles inspect the tracks again and looked up to the trees.
"That way." Knuckles pointed to the east to a track of broken branches and trunks.
"So there's where we're going." Sonic said, then he and Jody ran to that direction. Suddenly both stopped and realized the echidna wasn't following them.
"What're you waiting for?" Sonic asked irritated.
"Who said I was going?" Knuckles responded.
"What?!"
"If there is something else in the island, my priority is go back with the Master Emerald."
"So you are going to abandons us?" Sonic asked shocked. Knuckles just turned leaving them behind.
"Well, it's only you and me." Sonic looked up to Jody. Without saying anything, Jody ran to the echidna and stood in front blocking his path.
"He is just a kid." She said. "He could be in great danger. I you know everything of this island, that's why we need your help to find him." The echidna growled, signing that she was getting into him. "Please."
Knuckles growled in frustration and stomped back. Sonic looked him passed and smirked.
"I think that means yes."
xxxxxxx
They followed the tracks for about two hours. Knuckles kneeled inspecting another print in the dirt.
"We are getting close." He informed the others. "We must be alert in this point."
"Whatever you say." Sonic said earning a growled from the echidna and both continued walking. Sonic looked back and saw Jody far away from them. For some reason, she was having a hard time to keep up. "Jody! Everything OK?"
The echidna stopped and looked back and realized the girl was walking slower than normal.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing…" Jody stopped by a moment and kept walking. Knuckles noticed how she avoided putting strength in her left leg.
"Are you sure you are OK?" Sonic asked when she reached them.
"I'm telling you is nothing." She said irritated.
"What's wrong with your leg?" Knuckles walked back to them glaring at Jody.
"Nothing." She assured, but he didn't believe her. Without warning, he knelt and grabbed her ankle making her hissed in pain.
"Hey!" Sonic protested but Knuckles ignored him.
"Take off the boot." He commanded looking up to her. Jody glared at him, but at the end she sighed in defeat. She sat over a rock and took off her boot and sock revealing a nasty scratch.
"When did that happen?" Sonic asked in surprise.
"When one of the trunks hit me. It's nothing." She tried to wave off the subject. Then Knuckles stood up and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Sonic asked.
"Stay put." The echidna said before disappearing in the bushes.
"What's his deal?" Jody thought aloud.
"The question is what yours?" She turned surprised to Sonic.
"What are you talking about?"
"Why you didn't say you were injured?"
"It's just a scratch."
"A very nasty one." He replied seriously. "But that's not the point. You didn't thrust me." She broke eye contact, but that didn't stop Sonic. "Jody, we are in this together. In this team, we watch each other backs." He smirked and winked at her. "That means I got your back."
Jody looked back at him. Her face was emotionless, but Sonic could tell for her eyes that his words reached her. Not long after that, Knuckles returned some herbs.
"What are those for?" Sonic asked but Knuckles didn't respond.
He sat cross-legged in front of Jody and put some herbs over a small flat stone and with another he grind until it form a green pulp.
"Is that for me?" Jody asked in surprise.
"Yes." Knuckles took the mix and put it over the wound. "The mix will help ease the pain and prevent any infection." Then he took a long leaf and used it as a bandage. "That will do it."
"I owe you again." Jody said.
"Forget it." He responded firmly and stood abruptly, but Sonic could see he was blushing.
"Aww. The tough guy has a soft spot?" He taunted. Knuckles turned to him with a growl, his blushes intensified.
"It feels better." Jody said quickly before they could argue. "Let's get going."
xxxxxxx
They followed the track for almost an hour when suddenly Knuckles stopped.
"That's odd." Knuckles said then he looked the ground and the surrenders. "The track ends here."
"Here?" Sonic looked around as well. "But there is nothing here."
They remained immobile and silent. Then Knuckles' muscles tensed and he took a fight position.
"Don't move." He said. "We aren't alone."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he jumped back and on that spot a crater formed with a light temblor. Something hit the ground, but they couldn't see anything.
"What was that?!" Screeched Sonic.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a pair of laser beams fired directly at them. And the trio jumped away to avoid the lasers.
"Whatever it is! It's not friendly!" Jody yelled as she ducked one lasers.
"Whatever it is," Knuckles shouted. "It's going down!" He noticed the spot were both laser were coming and launched to them.
Sonic ducked a laser and launched, having the same plan as Knuckles. The lasers disappeared causing the two to collide with each other and both fell to the ground.
"Nice going, hothead!" Sonic grunted over Knuckles.
"You are the one who got in my way!" Knuckles snapped angrily.
"Guys! Move!" She shouted, but it was too late. Something hit them sending them away and landing in a tree but getting stuck in the lianas.
Jody noticed a bright light coming from the thin air. And realized what it was.
"You have to get out of there, now!" She shouted. Both mobians were trying to free themselves but they were very tangled.
Suddenly, a silhouette came out from nowhere tackling the invisible foe, and the light released as a sphere of energy missing Sonic and Knuckles.
"Tails!" Sonic shouted in joy and relief at seeing his friend flying around. "Nice headbutt!"
"Sonic!" Jody got closer and threw her dagger to them. Knuckles squealed and ducked his head as the dagger passed been caught by Sonic.
"Thanks!" Sonic shouted grateful but Knuckles just glared at him in hatred. Sonic didn't pay him any attention as he set himself and Knuckles free. Jody ran to them and Tails landed by her side.
"Where had you been?" She asked to him.
"Not long after you left, something to attacked me. I had to escape to protect the Tornado." He explained as Sonic cut the last liana and landed in the ground.
"Good thinking buddy." Sonic said as he handles the dagger back to Jody.
"It's too early to celebrate." Knuckles snapped as he took a fighting stance. The other saw what he meant and made a circle.
"Now what?" Tails asked starting to feel uneasy. "We don't know what are we against."
"We could wait until it shoots another laser." Sonic suggested.
"That's the stupid thing you had ever said!" Knuckles glared at him.
"What do you suggest then?" Sonic responded a little annoying. "Punching thin air until you hit it?"
"It's better than stay still and wait to be kill!" Knuckles snapped.
"Be my guess." Sonic smirked. "It will be a funny to see acting like a fool, again."
"Why you-" Knuckles growled.
"SHUT! IT!" Jody screeched startling Sonic and Knuckles, while Tails chuckled nervously. "Fighting between you is foolish. If we want to win this fight, you must work together. Agree?" Jody spoke wisely. Sonic and Knuckles looked to each other and accepted.
"Agree." Both said.
"But guys…" Tails tense at hearing a rustled between the trees. "How to defeat something you can't see?"
"Maybe we can not see it… but we can still hear it." Knuckles said. He took a few steps away of the circle and closed his eyes. The others stayed still and quiet, allowing the echidna to concentrate.
Knuckles listened to his surrender. He could hear the wind, the birds in the distant, and the rustled of the trees… Then, he heard a heavy step coming to them. He opened his eyes and run to that direction, jumping and tackled something, sending it to crash to the trees.
"Way to go!" Sonic smirked impressed.
"Sonic, Look!" Tails pointed where the thing hit. A shape formed until it appeared a mechanical chameleon. In less than a second the robot stood up; it's eyes moving in circles until it target them.
"A robot? But how-" Jody said amused.
"So you found the way to reveal my robot." Looking up, they saw Eggman descended in his flying craft.
"Eggman! Why I'm not surprised to see you here?" Sonic said.
"It's you!" Knuckles exclaimed in surprise. "The one who warm me about the intruders."
"That explains a lot." Jody told Sonic.
"Oh, Sonic." Eggman said. "I have to thank you for distracting that fool echidna."
"What's the meaning of this?!" Knuckles asked himself. "He swore to me he came with the intention of protecting the Master Emerald."
"Now we know the value of his word." Jody comment.
"That fat slug! He lied!" Knuckles growled in fury.
"He's catching fast." Sonic scoffed.
The robot attacked again but this time, Sonic and Knuckles fight back without problem. Tails and Jody stayed back to not get in the way. As the robot threw a blow, the duo ducked by jumping. Then Knuckles punched it with his fists and Sonic gave it a spin attack.
"Is that the best you have Eggman?" Sonic shouted.
"Oh, no. I left the best for the end." Eggman responded snapping his fingers. Suddenly a little robot with big tweezers came flying holding the Master Emerald.
"What's that?" Tails asked amazed.
"The Master Emerald!" Knuckles shouted shocked.
"I don't like where this is going." Jody responded.
"If you know what is good for you, you will return the Master Emerald!" Knuckles roared in rage.
"Don't think so. Finders keepers!" After Eggman said that the robot attacked them taking them by surprise and making them move backward. Then the little robot flied fast to the mechanical chameleon, then it stood up right and opened a compartment in its abdomen. The little robot was introduced to the interior with the emerald.
"This doesn't look good." Tails said nervous.
"Ho Ho Ho!" Eggman laughed. "Now you will admire the power of the legendary Master Emerald!" He pressed a button in his panel.
Sonic and the others tensed with the sound of the robot recharging. But nothing happened.
"Wow." Sonic softened his posture. "I was expecting something more awesome."
"This can't be!" Eggman exclaimed in anguish as he tapped the panel. "The level power hasn't improve at all and all system are in full function!" Frustrated he hit the panel with his fists. "Why. Is. Not. Working?!" A soft chuckle brought the attention to Knuckles.
"You are right in one thing. The Master Emerald is the source of power more powerful in the planet." Knuckles looked at Eggman. "But without my help, the power will remain sleep."
"WHAT?!" Eggman roared.
"Knuckles!" Sonic yelled. "What do you say if we recover your shiny rock?"
"You bet." Knuckles said cracking his fists, they charged to the robot. Knuckles landed hard punches leaving big and deep dents, then Sonic spin and tackled the robot making it out of balance.
Knuckles jumped and punch the chameleon's chin; sending the head flying and Sonic spin passing through it. At the end, Knuckles jumped over the beheaded robot and launched himself to Eggman. Eggman was only able to squeal.
"Get out of my island! You liar!" Knuckles shouted and punch the scarf sending Eggman fly away. Knuckles landed as he and the others saw Eggman screaming and disappearing in the sky.
"Nice punch." Sonic said leaning in the robot's head with Tails and Jody by his side.
"Mmph!" He tried to hide the smile but was losing battle, and then his attention came to the emerald besides the robot.
xxxxxxx
Knuckles put the Master Emerald very careful in the altar.
"There." Knuckles smiled. "Back where you belong."
"It's amazing." Tails said as he approached to the emerald. "I wonder if this had a relation with the Chaos Emeralds." Knuckles glared at him for his innocent question.
"Tails?" Jody called him. "Did you get what you need for the plane?"
"Yes." He nodded at her. "It will do until we get home. There, I will fix correctly the Tornado."
"Then is time for us to leave." Sonic said as he stretched his arms and chuckled. "I don't want Grandma yelling at me for not bringing you before dark."
"Right." Tails responded with a grin and turned echidna. "It was nice meeting you Knuckles."
"See ya later!" Sonic farewell while Jody waved with a hand and they walked away.
"You are collecting the Chaos Emeralds, aren't you?" They stopped and turned to Knuckles who had a serious look. They glanced to each other before answering.
"Yes." Responded Sonic. "Is the only way to keep them safe from Eggman." Knuckles looked at them carefully. He took a deep breath and crossed his arms.
"Then you most know that your guesses were right." Said Knuckles. "The Chaos Emeralds aren't just are related to The Master Emerald. Centuries ago, Angel Island used to be their home."
"Angel Island." Jody repeated. "Is that the name of this place?" Knuckles nodded. "And the Chaos Emerald came from here?" Jody said recorded what she heard.
"All seven of them." That took them completely by surprise.
"Seven?" Tails exclaimed.
"Now that's a number." Sonic joked.
"But why they aren't here anymore?" Jody asked ignoring Sonic.
"I don't know." Knuckles' face became solemn. He walked and stopped in the edge of the altar, losing his gaze in the distance. "As far back as I can remember, I've been living in this island. Always guarding the Master Emerald from anything that can harm it. It's a duty that was given to my ancestors for generations. I don't know why we were given this job. But it was my fate. Destined to be here forever… Alone."
Silence came afterward, letting the wind comfort the solemn words.
"That's the… Stupidest thing I ever heard!" Sonic broke the moment.
"WHAT?!" Knuckles turned abruptly glaring furiously at the hedgehog.
"Sonic!" Tails squeak in disbelief and Jody grumbled and covered her eyes.
"Don't take me wrong." Sonic said. "I understand the family business but who said you had to do it alone." Now it was turn of Knuckles to be surprise. "Whenever you need a hand or just feel lonely, don't doubt in coming to Knothole and visit us." He put his thumb up and winked. "Anytime."
"Hmph." Knuckles looked away from them. "Who said I need friends."
"What about allies?" Jody offered. Knuckles looked at her intensely and then to Sonic and Tails. It was against his principals to have people by his side and specially get help from them. But after a few seconds, the idea didn't look foolish any longer.
"I think I can live with that."
xxxxxxx
Sonic, Tails and Jody were on The Tornado finally leaving Angel Island. As they flew away, Knuckles saw them from the distance, watching them disappear into the sea of clouds in a beautiful sunset. Watching leave the first people that had been in Angel Island after so long. He couldn't help but smile.