Chapter 37: The Floating Island
Angel Island – Hidden Palace, Morning Hours
Deep beneath the surface of Angel Island lay a cavern of immense proportions, its shadowed expanse illuminated only by the soft glimmer of crystals embedded in the ceiling above.
At the heart of the cavern, surrounded by the eerie glow of the crystals, stood the Hidden Palace. The structure, ancient yet enduring, bore the unmistakable imprint of a civilization long gone but not forgotten. The remains of countless mechanical intruders littered the cavern floor.
Standing amidst the silent majesty, a lone figure cut a striking silhouette against the crystalline walls. A red warrior, the island's guardian. His breathing came in shallow gasps, and his bruised knuckles and strained muscles spoke of warding off endless waves of mechanized foes. Yet, despite the exhaustion, his eyes burned with a fierce, unwavering determination.
A single Shade Trooper—the last remnant of the invading horde—stood before him, its metal frame battered but still operational. The guardian steadied himself, watching the robot's movements, ready for the next move. The Shade Trooper's metallic body clicked and whirred, calculating its strike.
But the guardian anticipated its intentions, dodging with the fluid grace the laser blast. Lunging forward, and with a powerful leap, his fist came crashing down with a resounding uppercut that caved in the robot's chest plate. The impact was brutal, sending the Shade Trooper flying into a crystalline wall, where it crumpled upon impact. Its single eye flickered once, then dimmed, leaving only silence.
"Huff… Huff…" the guardian panted, he leaned against the crystal walls, letting the coolness seep into his fur. "Another one down," he muttered, a tired yet satisfied smirk creeping onto his lips. Victory tasted bittersweet, but it was a victory nonetheless.
After a brief moment, the guardian pushed himself upright. The weight of his responsibility surging back. He raised his voice, letting his words ring out. "You hear that, Robotnik?!" he shouted, his voice resonating against the crystalline walls. "Send as many as you want, they're all getting a knuckle sandwich!" His fists clenched. "As long as I stand, as long as I breath, I won't let anyone take the Master Emerald or my home!"
His declaration echoed back at him, a reverberating affirmation of his own resolve. For a moment, silence reclaimed the cavern. He let out a sigh, running a hand through his dreadlocks. "Maybe… I shouldn't yell so much," he murmured with a hint of self-amusement. His hand fell to his side as he shook his head. The constant battles, the endless patrols—they were wearing on him, but he couldn't allow himself to falter. Not now. Not ever.
Steeling himself, the guardian pushed off the wall as he resumed his patrol. The quiet of the Hidden Palace settled over him again. He knew, with a sinking certainty, that more of these weird machines would come. But he was ready. With a final glance at the remains of the robots, he strode deeper into the palace, his mind sharp with focus.
Angel Island – Mushroom Hill
The surface of Angel Island was bathed in the morning glow as a dense forest of towering mushroom trees rose towards the sky. The mushroom caps, some broad as rooftops, formed layers of reds, yellows, and oranges that stretched high above the forest floor.
The Spinner glided gracefully down to the ground, touching down on the soft, spongy earth with barely a sound. Torque setting the plane down far from the explosions that echoed across the skies from the distant Sky Battalion. Here, they would remain undetected.
One by one, the group disembarked, stepping onto the soft ground. They paused, eyes wide as they took in the surreal landscape that lay before them. Vibrant green leaves and towering mushrooms combined in a riot of colors and shapes that felt far removed from the danger they'd just left behind.
"Everyone, welcome to Mushroom Hill!" Tails announced, his arms spread wide, his grin infectious.
The group gaped, awe-struck by the towering fungi, their expressions a mix of wonder and disbelief.
"It's so… uh, mushroomy," Carol said, her tone laced with amazement. She reached out, fingers brushing against the nearest mushroom. "I mean, these are huge!"
"I can't believe it… I'm in Mushroom Hill," Lilac murmured, her voice tinged with excitement. She knelt beside a smaller mushroom, pressing her hand against its surface. The mushroom wobbled, bringing a delighted smile to her face. "Even taller than the pictures," she whispered to herself, her eyes bright with wonder.
Torque inspected the flora with a scientist's curiosity. "I've never seen such fascinating specimens where I come from," he noted, his tone marked by admiration. Nearby, Gyro found a smaller mushroom patch, bouncing on it with childlike glee.
Tails chuckled, watching his friend's reactions with a fond smile. "Yeah, Mushroom Hill was one of the first places Sonic and I explored when we arrived on Angel Island," he said, his voice softened by nostalgia. "It's got a little bit of everything, thanks to Robotnik's weather experiments."
"Where should we start?" Torque asked, turning to Tails, clearly eager to begin exploring the enigmatic environment.
Tails considered the question, glancing around at the surrounding landscape. "Well, there's a lot to see, and it's better if we go on foot to avoid alerting the Sky Battalion," he mused. "But if we want to find the Master Emerald as soon as possible, I think I know where to go." He gestured toward a path winding deeper into the heart of Mushroom Hill. "Follow me!"
They all followed Tails, the surreal landscape of Mushroom Hill surrounded them.
"We're really touring this place," Carol remarked, trailing behind Tails with an amused grin. "Think they sell souvenirs here?" she quipped, the very idea of a gift shop nestled among these mushrooms seemed ridiculous, but funny at the same time.
"Come on, Carol, be serious," Lilac chided, though her own excitement was evident in the sparkle in her eyes. She glanced around, still marveling at the fact that she was actually walking on Angel Island. "We need to find the Master Emerald before Shuigang does,"
As they moved deeper, the forest's atmosphere shifted from serene to peculiar, the once-pristine landscape giving way to signs of recent conflict. Patches of broken terrain and fallen mushroom trees dotted their path, and piles of twisted scrap metal lay across the forest floor. The wreckage included smashed Badniks resembling rhinos, their steel frames dented, as well as grey-armored robots with shattered green visors and mangled blasters.
"I'm one hundred percent sure Knuckles was here," Tails muttered as he crouched beside the remains of a demolished Rhinobot.
"Knuckles? The guardian of this place, correct?" Torque inquired as he surveyed the debris.
"Yep, Knuckles the Echidna. He's the guardian of the Master Emerald and protector of Angel Island," Tails replied. "We didn't exactly meet under friendly circumstances the first time."
"Oh yeah, like when he stole Sonic's Chaos Emeralds and set traps all over the island to stop you guys," Carol interjected with a snicker, remembering the stories they'd shared back at their treehouse.
"Yes, and that was because Robotnik tricked him into thinking we were the bad guys," Tails added, shaking his head with a wry smile. "But once he realized the truth, Knuckles joined us to help take down Robotnik and save his island."
Torque nodded thoughtfully as he observed the scattered robot parts around them. "He must have set some pretty effective traps to handle all of these robots."
Tails glanced back at him, his smile turning slightly mischievous. "Actually, Knuckles probably smashed these himself," he said casually, continuing to lead them forward.
They all looked around, eyes wide as they took in the sheer number of mangled machines piled around them. "Whoa, all of this?" Carol's voice was laced with awe. There were mountains and mountains of debris spread across the area, and Knuckles had apparently taken them down with ease.
"He must be really strong!" Torque agreed, his eyes widening as he took in the massive scale of the destruction.
"Really strong and probably really tired." Tails pointed to another ruined rhinobot, kneeling down to examine its metal plating more closely. "Some of Eggman's badniks have production dates stamped on them," he noted, tracing a set of small engraved numbers with his finger. "This one was made just three days ago," he continued, his voice edged with concern. "Knuckles must have been fighting them off non-stop for days!"
"Well, let's not keep that guy waiting," Carol urged.
They took a few steps, but it wasn't long before they noticed that someone was missing. Lilac had fallen behind, seemingly entranced by the mushrooms, a dreamy smile spreading across her face as she admired the surreal scenery.
Gyro floated over to her and gave her a gentle nudge, trying to catch her attention.
"…Yo, Lil! You coming or what?" Carol called back, rolling her eyes at her friend's distracted state.
Lilac snapped back to reality, blinking as she turned to the group. "Huh? Y-yeah, of course! Coming!" she stammered, her cheeks tinged pink as she quickly jogged to catch up.
Together, they pressed onward, moving deeper through the peculiar forest. Gradually, the thick foliage began to thin, and the towering mushrooms gave way to a more open landscape.
But as they pressed on, the signs of past battles became even more frequent. Scattered across the forest floor lay the remains of numerous robots, both from Brevon and Robotnik's armies. Yet, amidst the chaos, something else caught their attention—figures that weren't just robots.
"A-are those… soldiers?" Carol exclaimed, pointing at several still forms on the ground. The sight of what appeared to be lifeless Shuigang soldiers shocked them all, a collective chill settling over the group.
"N-no, Knuckles wouldn't go that far!" Tails stammered, his tone laced with disbelief. He knew Knuckles to be a fierce protector, but never to the point of ending lives!
"They're not real," Torque said firmly, drawing everyone's attention. Kneeling beside one of the fallen "soldiers," he gently turned it over to reveal an unexpected sight. What appeared to be a soldier was, in fact, a robot—a single eye glowed faintly behind its orange skin armor. "This is one of Brevon's tactics," Torque explained, his voice grim. "He disguises his robots as soldiers from other nations to spread confusion and mistrust. He's done this countless times."
The group absorbed the revelation. "It seems even the Shuigang soldiers aren't safe from Brevon's deceptions," Torque continued, his voice low. "And… it makes sense. With the way the prince is acting, his soldiers would start to question his motives too."
He gestured at the fallen robot. "Whatever's happened to the real soldiers, I can't say. But at least it's just these machines that Knuckles has been tearing through," he said, hoping to lighten the heavy mood.
The attempt to lift their spirits seemed to work, but Tails pressed on. "Then we need to keep moving," he urged, his voice taking on a sense of urgency. "The next zone isn't far now."
True to his words, the landscape began to shift as they proceeded, but Carol noticed Lilac was drifting off again, lost in thought, her gaze unfocused.
"Hey, miss hero pants!" Carol nudged her friend. "Getting lost in your little world again?"
Lilac blinked, shaking herself out of her thoughts. "No… It's just… Sonic hasn't come back yet," she admitted softly, her voice laced with concern.
The group fell silent as the realization sank in.
"Yeah…" Carol murmured, her tone shifting from playful to somber. "Sonic should've caught up by now, right, Tails?"
Tails hesitated. "He should have…" he replied slowly, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. "Maybe he landed somewhere else on the island, like Lava Reef or Hydrocity," he suggested, though there was a faint uncertainty in his tone, and his mind raced with other possibilities—maybe he was still dealing with Metal Lilac?
Lilac forced a smile, hoping to reassure the group. "Tails is right," she said, trying to sound optimistic. "Sonic will catch up. Sorry for worrying you guys. Let's keep moving." Her voice was steady, but the concern lingered in the group's expressions, especially since Sonic had the Blue Chaos Emerald with him. Nevertheless, they steeled themselves, pressing onward.
As they moved forward, the dense forest gradually thinned, revealing a new landscape altogether—the vast, open expanse of Sandopolis.
"Huh, I thought it was Hydro City," Lilac mused aloud, her expression puzzled.
Tails just shot her an exasperated look.
Sky Battalion
Meanwhile, high above the golden sands of Sandopolis, the Shuigang airships hovered ominously in the sky. Their metal frames cast dark shadows over the desert landscape below.
On the flagship's deck, Prince Dail stood unmoving, his gaze locked on the island's vast terrain stretched below him. His face remained an unreadable mask, yet his eyes betrayed the fury simmering just beneath the surface. The Master Emerald was down there—within reach, yet still frustratingly beyond his grasp. He couldn't afford this defiance, not when so much depended on his success here. His father's revenge, the future of his kingdom, and his own quest for power all hinged on obtaining that elusive relic of unimaginable power.
"My liege!" A soldier rushed onto the deck, skidding to a halt before him and bowing deeply. "Another wave of our robots has been… completely destroyed!" The soldier's voice wavered, dread slipping into his tone.
Prince Dail's jaw clenched as he struggled to contain his rage. "How dare that echidna defy us?!" he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "The Master Emerald will be ours," he seethed, more to himself than to the soldier. "Send another wave! We'll keep attacking until the echidna surrenders the Emerald, willingly or otherwise!"
The soldier hesitated, glancing nervously at the floor. "I…Y-yes, my prince," he replied, bowing before starting to back away. But then, he stopped and looked back. "S-sorry if this sounds rude, my prince, but… are we sure there isn't another way? Something… less destructive?"
The soldier's face betrayed a look of doubt, and his words echoed the unspoken unease of the other crew members. For many of them, Angel Island was a place of legend, a mystical land spoken of in stories. Now that they were here, assaulting it with relentless force felt deeply unsettling.
Dail's gaze snapped to the soldier, his expression darkening. "Are you questioning your ruler's orders?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes flashing with a fierce, red light that seemed to pierce through the soldier's soul.
"N-no! I…" the soldier stammered, his face blanching. But before he could finish, two mechanical soldiers emerged from the shadows, advancing on him without a word. He gasped as they seized his arms, their steely grips unyielding. "H-hey, wait! What are you doing? Who are you?! You're not—"
The soldier struggled helplessly, fear plain in his eyes. "P-prince Dail!" he cried out, his voice trembling, a desperate plea as he was dragged toward the flagship's depths.
But Dail remained silent, watching impassively as the soldier was led away, his pleas fading into the background. With a cold indifference, he turned his back as the man's cries grew more distant until silence reclaimed the deck.
As the final echoes faded, a strange look flickered across Dail's face. His hand lifted to his head, clutching it tightly as an intense, stabbing pain ripped through his skull. The world spinning wildly around him as he collapsed to his knees. In the depths of his mind, fragments of thought—jagged, conflicting voices—pulsed like a discordant chorus, filling his mind with chaos.
Protect… Kingdom… Protect… People… Destroy… Everyone… Protect… Save… Destroy… Destroy… Destroy…
The voices clashed violently, each one more insistent than the last, a torturous struggle that tore through his mind. He gritted his teeth, his body trembling under the of noise, and then… silence. With a final gasp, Dail's eyes shot open, glowing a fierce red, the intensity of his gaze dark and resolute.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, the pain dissipating, replaced by a chilling determination that seemed to settle over him. "…I'll have to do it myself," he muttered, his voice a cold, dangerous whisper filled with menace.
Without a backward glance, he strode toward a sealed door at the far end of the deck. The door slid open with a sinister hiss. Dail stepped forward, his figure disappearing into the darkness as the door slid shut behind him with a final click.
Angel Island – Sandopolis
"The last time?" Torque asked, his curiosity piqued as they pressed on.
They were now far from the towering mushroom hills, running headlong into the arid stretches of Sandopolis. As they moved, the forest's dense greenery gave way to barren expanses, and the air grew dry and heavy with heat. The group exchanging small talk along the way, mostly about Angel Island and Knuckles.
Tails paused, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I didn't tell you?" he asked, scratching his head. "Knuckles has a… bit of a history with losing the Emerald. Between being deceived, sometimes getting… well, distracted… and getting deceived again." He chuckled. "He trusts a little too easily, even if he'd never admit it himself. But don't tell him I said that!" He glanced around, as if to make sure the echidna wasn't lurking nearby.
"Well, he sounds like a really effective guardian," Carol quipped sarcastically, a teasing grin on her face.
Tails quickly jumped to Knuckles' defense. "Oh, but trust me, he is! Even if he has his slip-ups, he's a wonderful guardian and a great friend."
"If ya say so," Carol shrugged, rolling her eyes. But as they crested the next sandy hill, her gaze shifted, and her mouth dropped open. "Whoa."
The group emerged from the lush forest into a vast expanse of desert stretching out endlessly before them. The arid, golden landscape of Sandopolis opened up, ancient pyramids scattered across the horizon.
"Oh. My…" Lilac breathed, her eyes wide, a big smile spreading across her face as she took in the sight, her love for exploration and adventure blazing anew.
"Guess you know this place already?" Tails asked with a knowing grin, watching the wonder in Lilac's eyes.
"Yes!" Lilac nearly squealed, practically bouncing with excitement. "Sandopolis—the land of sand and ancient secrets! The pyramids are supposed to be filled with traps and treasures, just like in my book!" She clapped her hands, barely able to contain her excitement, and her enthusiasm rippled through the group.
"Oh, brother, this is just like when we were kids," Carol groaned with a playful eyeroll, covering her face with her hand.
"We should check out the other areas, too!" Lilac continued, barely able to contain herself. "There's Hydro Ci—, eh, Hydrocity, Carnival Night… and maybe even Sky Sanctuary!" Her eyes shone with childlike wonder, though she quickly caught herself. "After we save the world, of course," she added, realizing she was getting a bit carried away.
Torque observed her, his expression softening as he noticed the genuine joy lighting up her face. "You really love this place, don't you?" he asked, his voice warm with curiosity.
Lilac's gaze drifted over the expansive landscape, her face softening as memories came flooding back. "I do," she admitted, her voice quieter, touched with nostalgia. "When I was a kid in the Red Scarves, I didn't get out much… or really, at all." She reached up, touching the ear pieces nestled in her hair, her eyes growing distant. "You see, these… they're ear aids. I was born with a hearing condition. For a long time, I could barely hear, was nearly deaf, which made it hard to go anywhere new. So I stayed at the base, training day in and day out. That was my world."
The others fell silent, listening intently as she opened up. She took a slow breath, her gaze never leaving the vast expanse before them.
"But one day… Nana, my caretaker, she brought something back from one of her raids—a book," Lilac continued, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "She put it on a high shelf in the main room, and I remember feeling this surge of curiosity. It was the only colorful thing in that room, and something about it called to me. So, one day, when no one was looking, I climbed up and grabbed it."
She chuckled softly. "That book… it was about Angel Island. It was filled with drawings of its many locations. Places I couldn't even imagine. It showed me a world beyond the walls of the base… and in a strange way, it gave me the freedom to dream of being somewhere else. Of exploring a world I couldn't yet see, but I felt like I knew in my heart."
As she spoke, her gaze settled on the pyramids in the distance, her voice growing softer. "That book planted a seed. I think… I think it made me dream of this. Of going places, seeing things beyond the horizon. It gave me hope that maybe, someday, I'd get to see the world, not just the training grounds I was confined to."
The others watched her, touched by the her words. They could see the spark that drove her to fight for what she believed in. She was an adventurer.
"It's that dream," she continued, her voice a tender whisper as she glanced at her friends, "that brought me here, to you all. To finally living that adventure I read about."
"Hey, don't get all sentimental on me. You're making me feel bad now for teasing you," Carol pouted, though her eyes held a softness that belied her words. She reached over and nudged Lilac gently. "At least you're living your dream now, right?"
Lilac's smile widened, her eyes glistening with a mixture of happiness and nostalgia. "Yes, yes, I am," she agreed, her voice warm. But even as she spoke, a shadow flickered across her face, a hint of worry surfacing. "He promised we'd explore together…" she thought with a pang of sadness. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
"Wish we'd brought Milla," Tails said, breaking the silence and glancing at Lilac with a grin. "She'd probably be fangirling right alongside you."
"Oh, please, don't put that image in my head," Carol joked, feigning exasperation as she rolled her eyes. The group laughed, bringing lightness back to the moment.
"Hehe, okay, so after this is…" Tails started to say, but he was cut off as a massive object plummeted from the sky, crashing into the desert with an earth-shattering impact.
The ground beneath them shook violently, the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the sands, dislodging rocks and disrupting the dunes around them. Cracks splintered out from the crash site, spreading quickly like a web and stretching across the desert floor.
"What was that?!" Torque shouted, his voice straining as he struggled to keep his balance on the shifting sand, Gyro hovering close to him and offering support.
"I don't know!" Tails exclaimed, launching himself off the ground, his twin tails spinning to keep him afloat as the tremors intensified.
Around them, the tremors worsened, sending waves of instability rippling through the ground. The cracks multiplied, everyone struggling to stay upright. Lilac leapt to steady herself as the ground fell away in chunks just inches from her feet. Carol grabbed onto a nearby rock jutting out of the ground.
"Ah! Lilac! Somebody!" Carol screamed as she lost her footing, her body slipping towards one of the widening cracks.
"Carol!" Lilac shouted, lunging forward, her hand outstretched, but she was too late. With a horrified gasp, she watched as Carol's form disappeared into the darkness below.
"LILAC!" was the last word Carol managed to cry out before the shadows swallowed her into the unknown depths of Sandopolis.
"CAROL!" Lilac's scream tore through the desert air, her heart hammering with fear and desperation.
"I'm coming!" Tails shouted, wings whirring as he readied himself to dive down after Carol. But before he could take flight, a crackling electro ball struck him from behind, sending him crashing to the ground in a daze.
Startled by the attack, the group looked up, and there, standing on the ridge above them, was a towering figure atop a fearsome, mechanical bird. The creature, resembling a grand peacock, was adorned with metallic feathers that shimmered menacingly in the sunlight. Sharp metal talons gripped the ground as it glared down at them with cold, unfeeling eyes. Atop the mechanical beast sat Prince Dail of Shuigang, his eyes a ruthless surveying them with an air of cruel superiority.
"You will not pursue the fallen cat as her fate is sealed!" Dail's voice rang out, cold and unyielding, echoing across the desert like a death sentence.
"W-who…" Tails stammered as he pushed himself up, wincing from the sting of the electro ball. His eyes widened as he took in the figure of the panda prince riding the robot creature above them.
"That's Prince Dail of Shuigang!" Lilac exclaimed, her voice tinged with recognition and anger.
"He was leading the attack… but why is he here?" Torque's tone held a note of urgency and dread, his stance tense as he prepared for whatever might come next.
Dail's gaze swept over them, recognition flashing across his face. "So, you're the fools who dare interfere in Shuigang's affairs?" he snarled, his eyes narrowing as his mechanical bird, spread its impressive wings. "I have watched you cross this desert, but no more! Surrender now, or be judged!"
Lilac glared at Dail, her heart pounding as the image of Carol falling played over and over in her mind, igniting a fierce resolve within her. Despite the fear gnawing at her for her friend's safety, she held her ground, her voice rising strong and defiant. "Not a chance!"
Torque and Tails quickly recovered, moving to stand beside her. Gyro chirped, merging with Torque's wispon, giving a determined pulse of cyan light.
"We are not surrendering!" Torque declared, his voice steady, his stance unwavering.
"And after this," Tails added, his tails spinning in preparation, "we're rescuing our friend!" Even as the fear for Carol's safety loomed in each of their minds, they held onto the hope that she would be safe below. They had to believe she was alive, waiting for them to find her.
Dail's eyes narrowed further, a twisted smirk pulling at his lips. "Then you've chosen death!" he growled. The mechanical peacock spread its massive wings, letting out a piercing, metallic screech. Without warning, the mechanical peacock lunged at them, its talons glinting in the sun as it dove with deadly precision. "Be smitten by the Kujacker!"
Lilac leaped into action, summoning her energy as she launched a powerful Dragon Boost straight at the mechanical beast. The impact sent a resonating clang through the air, jolting the Kujacker back but hardly slowing it down. It shrieked in defiance. The battle erupted across the unstable desert terrain, cracks and tremors splitting the ground beneath them, forcing them to fight with heightened caution.
Meanwhile, far below, Carol's scream faded as she continued her descent, sliding helplessly down a sandy chute into the unknown depths of Sandopolis, her fate uncertain and her only hope lying with her friends above.