Chapter 15: Gem Collecting (Part II)
Wario's Gold Mine: Tunnel
Wario and Knuckles were glaring at each other, each in a position to strike. "You're going to pay for that!" Wario said angrily. "Right out of your own pocket!"
"First off, I don't even have pockets!" Knuckles said. "And second, if I did you wouldn't be able to make me Tubby!"
"How dare you!" Wario shouted, running at Knuckles.
Knuckles quickly dodged Wario's punch. "So you're the slime ball who's working with Eggman and Bowser huh?" He threw a punch back at Wario, who narrowly dodged.
"Well," Wario snapped back. "This slime ball is going to make you pay for your insults!"
"Try it!" Knuckles challenged.
Just then a tall, skinny man snuck up from behind and struck Knuckles on the head with a metal rod, knocking the red echidna out cold.
"About time you got here." Wario said, panting. He wasn't used to that much exercise.
"Yeah, whatever." The skinny man rolled his eyes. "Let's just get out of here while we can!" He and Wario picked up Knuckle's unconscious body and ran off. Just as they faded from view Sonic ran up.
"Knuckles!" He shouted, looking for the echidna. "Where are you!?"
"What's up?" Tails panted, running up. "Don't run so fast Sonic!"
"Knuckles is gone." Sonic said shortly.
"Hmm…that's weird." Mario said.
"You don't actually suppose that Wario got the better of him?" Espio suggested, as he and the Chaotix walked up.
"I don't know…" Tails shrugged.
Just then Rouge and Omega walked up. "I didn't find a Chaos Emerald," Rouge said. "But I found loads of other treasure!" She then noticed everyone's confused faces. "Hey, what's up?" She asked.
"KNUCKLES HAS GONE MISSING." Omega said, scanning the area for the echidna and finding no sign.
"Oh, too bad." Rouge said, not that affected.
"Well, let's head back to the castle." Mario said. "We should look for the other emeralds."
Sonic nodded. "Chaos Control!" He said, making a bright light come and engulf the heroes, making them vanish.
Bowser's Castle: Throne Room
Bowser and Eggman were talking in the throne room when Dimentio and Shadow appeared.
"Bowser," The magician said. "We have the Chaos Emerald!"
"Excellent!" Bowser cheered. "How did it go?"
"It was a piece of cake." Shadow said. "There were no heroes there whatsoever."
"That's because they were all at my mine!" Wario exclaimed, walking in.
"What!?" Eggman almost shouted.
"They found the Chaos Emerald that we had stored there." Waluigi admitted.
"That gives them three emeralds," Shadow counted. "And we have three as well."
"So there's one left to find!" Eggman stated the obvious.
"So what's next?" Metal Sonic demanded.
"We get ready to launch an attack against Peach's Castle!" Eggman quickly said.
"Why not go to Dire Dire Docks instead?" Dimentio suggested. "I heard that there was a Chaos Emerald over there somewhere."
"Excellent idea Dimentio!" Bowser nodded, making Eggman frown.
"I'm on my way there now!" Shadow said, starting to walk out the door.
"No." Eggman said, making Shadow stop. "We should prepare an ambush instead of just grabbing the emerald. It's the docks, and Sonic can't swim…I think you can get my idea."
Bowser clapped in approval. "Great idea Doctor." He said.
"Why thank you!" Eggman bowed. "I told you that I was a genius!"
"Yes." Orbot, the red robot, nodded. "Dr. Eggman certainly is a genius."
"Until his plans fail that is…" Orbot joked, making Eggman smack him.
"Shut up!" He shouted.
Dimentio chuckled. "Too funny!"
"Ahem," Eggman cleared his throat. "Let's prepare our ambush, and destroy those heroes once and for all!"
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To be continued...