Chapter 16: Be Cool, Be Wild, and Be Groovy
Angel Island
Sonic, Knuckles, and Rouge stepped out of the Warp Ring just a few miles away from the Master Emerald.
"You sure you can handle Icecap?" Rouge asked.
"You should know me by now." Sonic boasted.
"Be careful, though." Knuckles said in a stern tone.
Sonic nodded and took off for Icecap.
Knuckles then shuddered, falling to one knee.
"What's wrong, hun?" Rouge asked, concerned.
"The Master Emerald is in danger! We need to get to the alter!"
Knuckles got up and ran to the alter with Rouge flying behind him.
Icecap, Snowy Mountain
Sonic had arrived at Icecap, observing the Snowy Mountain range, as well as a few Eggman robots in the area as well.
"So Egghead knows, too, huh? Well, the radar says the emerald is at the bottom of the mountain." Sonic said.
Then, something caught the corner of his eye.
It was Metal Sonic flying in the air.
"Metal me. It doesn't take three guesses to figure out he's after the same thing I am. This should be fun." Sonic smiled as he went to catch his robotic doppelganger.
Limestone Cave
After scaling the mountainside, the Blue Blur managed to enter to Limestone Cave, hot on the heels of Metal Sonic. In order to close the gap even more, Sonic used a short cut at the entrance to reach the upper walkway just as Metal Sonic was getting there.
"Sonic! How I'm not surprised to see you." Metal Sonic said.
"It's been a while, Metal. Four years, isn't it?" Sonic greeted.
"It does not matter how long it has been. Move aside as I must collect the Chaos Emerald for Dr. Eggman." He stated.
"Yeah, not happening because I'm going to get it first." Sonic smirked.
"Are you trying to challenge me, Sonic the Hedgehog?"
"You should know the answer to that."
'You're on."
Metal Sonic blasted off with Sonic running right be him.
Outside
"Let's make this interesting!"
Metal Sonic shot a laser out of his chest towards the mountaintop. Suddenly, There was a rumbling.
"You dirty little-"
Sonic was interrupted by the land he was standing on collapsing with an avalanche, which seemingly doomed the hedgehog.
Metal Sonic pumped his fist in triumph until something flew up in the air.
It was Sonic, who had conveniently found a snowboard stuck in the snow right before the avalanche trampled him.
"See ya at the bottom, Metal Can!" Sonic taunted as he headed down the mountain.
Metal growled and began pursuit.
The avalanche died down, eliminating its threat. The two were neck and neck about the whole way. A few Egg Flapper flew by, trying to stop Sonic, but were unsuccessful.
Soon, the mountain's bottom was in sight.
The Cyan Chaos Emerald was nested in between the trees below the windmill.
Metal Sonic boosted ahead, making it look as if the emerald would be all his, but Sonic, being who he is, ditched the snowboard, boosted ahead himself, passed Metal Sonic, and grabbed the emerald.
"No! Damn you, Sonic!" Metal Sonic growled.
"Looks like I win." Sonic said, leaning against one of the trees, tossing the emerald in his hand.
"Maybe so, but you won't be winning this time, Sonic. You will be handing over those emeralds eventually. Just wait!" Metal Sonic said as he flew away.
"Wonder what he meant by that. Oh well, I need to get to Lava Reef quick! Only problem is that it's on the other side of the island. There's a village just a little ways down. I'll cut through there, head to Hidden Palace, and take the short cut." Sonic said as he took off.