Sonic: Atonement

Chapter 10: Floating Palace

The air was cold on Angel Island.

Gray storm clouds were gathering in the sky as Zero set foot on the island. With the help of a flying machine created by his uncle, he was able to get high enough to reach it. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an energy tracker.

"So this is supposed to lead me right to the Master Emerald?" He asked, speaking to Uncle Max through an earpiece.

"Yeah, I have it calibrated to detect it as you get close. You don't see it up there?" Max asked.

"Not yet," Zero answered, stepping forward and looking around. "This place looks like it was an altar for it. There's some steps and a walkway here leading up to a pedestal, but there's nothing on it." He described as he walked up the stairs.

"Nothing?"

"Just some chao bouncing around..." Zero looked up at all the floating buildings in the sky. "There's a bunch of interconnected structures up here too; it's not just the island that's floating. I'll have to do some more searching. The Master Emerald is probably somewhere in one of these buildings." He guessed.

"Interesting, I didn't see anything about floating structures in my research. Be careful, kid. I won't be able to bail you out if you fall." Uncle Max warned him.

"It'll be fine. No risk, no reward, right?" Zero quipped, getting ready to run.

"I don't think that really applies the way you think it does."

Zero made his way to the edge of the island again. He stopped, turned back around, and sped up the stairs of the Angel Island altar. He jumped up into the air and reached the side of the nearest floating building. He grabbed onto the side of it and climbed in through a window.

The inside of the building was musty, covered in vines and mostly empty except for a few chaos playing with small pieces of pottery. They flinched and looked up at Zero worriedly as he entered. Zero chuckled a little and took a few steps towards them.

"What's up, little dudes? You wouldn't happen to know where the Master Emerald is, would ya?" Zero asked, speaking casually to the little creatures.

He got a bunch of incoherent, baby-like cooing in response.

"Yeah that's fine. I'll just have a look around then if you don't mind." Zero said, looking towards an open doorway that led out onto a bridge.

Zero did a quick turn and boosted forward out onto the bridge, feeling an instant change in temperature as the cool stormy winds were picking up around him. From platform to floating platform, he made his way through the strange sky sanctuary, doing his best to be cautious while still proceeding with confidence.

"How's it looking up there, kid?" Max asked.

"It's windy up here! Would probably be a great view if there weren't storm clouds everywhere!" Zero said in response.

"Be careful up there. I don't want you getting struck by lightning."

"If I see any, I'll just duck," Zero joked dryly, looking down at his emerald tracker again. "The signal's getting stronger. It looks like these pathways are leading me in the right direction!"

"Focus up, kid. Don't start celebrating 'til you get your hands on it." Uncle Max reminded him.

"Copy that."

After a few more winding pathways and staircases leading further upwards, Zero found himself approaching a large platform with a green glow in the center. The problem was it was far away with no walkway leading directly to it.

"Ah crap. Here we go!" Zero exclaimed, pushing himself to run faster. He jumped as far as he could, leaping right off the edge of a platform and sailing through the sky towards the green glow. His arms and legs pedaled in circles awkwardly as he flew towards it.

"Ahh!"

With a loud growl, Zero crashed onto the large circular platform. He bounced and spun before digging his feet and hands onto the ground. He slid across the smooth floor before coming to a rough stop. He panted hard, taking a moment to compose himself.

"Zero! Are you alright?!" Max asked worriedly.

"Yeah! Yep...I've made it to the Master Emerald," Zero said in a strained voice. He stood up and brushed himself off. "I got my eyes on it now. It's big." He commented as he approached it.

"How big are we talking here, kid?"

"Looks taller than me, maybe about...6 feet across? It's shaped like it was cut a-and it's pretty big. I don't think I'd be able to carry this off of here." He said.

"The Master Emerald is a source of unimaginable power, Zero. There's gotta be a way to transport it." Max said.

"If it's so powerful, should I really be putting my hands on it?" Zero asked curiously as he took a few more steps towards it.

"Your body's built to handle it. I'm not worried about that."

"I hope so. If I get vaporized, that'll make it harder to..." Zero trailed off, hearing someone yelling at him.

"Get away from the emerald!"

Before Zero could turn his head in the direction of the voice, he suddenly felt a balled fist punch him in the head, knocking him away from the Master Emerald and clean across the platform. He bounced and slid on the floor with a groan.

"Ohh...what was that...?" Zero's vision went dizzy as he tried to sit himself upright.

"That was a warning. Who are you and what are you doing here? How did you get up to Angel Island?" The voice demanded.

"Zero, who is that? Who's speaking?" Max questioned in his ear at the same time.

"One sec...getting my bearings..." Zero blinked a few times and looked ahead. He saw a red echidna standing by the Master Emerald wearing big white spiky gloves and a stern expression on his face.

"Some red guy with big hands...sound familiar?" Zero asked, standing up.

"You've got about 10 seconds to state your intentions before I pummel it outta ya." He warned, tapping his fists together.

"Red guy with big hands...hold on...does he have a white U shape on his chest?" Max asked.

"Yep."

"That's Knuckles. He's a friend of Sonic's. What is he doing up here?" Max wondered aloud.

"Standing in my way at the moment," Zero commented. "My name is Zero. And you must be Knuckles!"

"That's right. I'm not gonna ask again. How did you get up to Angel Island?" Knuckles demanded. Zero looked at him for a moment before his eyes drifted back to the Master Emerald.

"That Master Emerald holds a lot of power, doesn't it? You ever think about using it against threats like Eggman?" He asked curiously.

"The power of the Master Emerald is too great for anyone to be toying with. I'll give you one chance to leave and never come back. Otherwise, I might just have to knock you out of here myself." Knuckles threatened, tapping his fists together again.

"Sorry, but I'm gonna need it." Zero said, crouching down and shooting forward straight for the Master Emerald.

He reached his hand out to grab onto it, but Knuckles was able to get in front of him just before he could reach it. He grabbed Zero by the shoulder and threw him backwards. Zero spun sideways and landed on his feet, sliding back a little before shooting forward again.

This time he aimed for Knuckles, running right up to him and throwing a punch at his face. Knuckles blocked it with his fist and punched Zero back again with his other hand. He threw several more punches, all of which Zero had to avoid by stepping backwards.

"You're telling me you care more about protecting this rock than you do helping the people down there? Do you have any idea how this could benefit?" Zero questioned. He crouched down, pressing his hand on the floor and throwing a kick towards Knuckles' head, which he was able to block.

"I do. That's why it isn't up to anyone how it gets used," Knuckles said. He grabbed Zero's leg, turning and lifting him up with a hard swing. Zero's arms flailed as Knuckles slammed him back-first into the ground. As he bounced off the floor, Knuckles punched him and sent him rolling backwards.

"It is my sworn duty to protect the Master Emerald from anyone who wants to use it for selfish reasons." Knuckles declared. Zero groaned and got back to his feet.

"Selfish reasons. You just want to keep it for yourself and your little palace in the sky, don't you?" Zero accused as he took a few steps forward.

"The Master Emerald doesn't belong to me, and it definitely doesn't belong to you. I won't let you get your hands on it!" Knuckles shouted firmly, getting ready to fight again.

Zero grunted irritably before speeding ahead again. He threw several punches and kicks. Knuckles blocked most of them, only getting hit in the shoulder and the side before responding with another hard punch that caused Zero to slide back.

Before he could move away, Knuckles grabbed Zero by the head and threw him towards the edge of the floating platform that they were fighting on. Zero slid awkwardly, just barely stopping himself from sliding off the edge. He winced and rubbed his left shoulder.

"Unc, this guy is really tough. I don't think I'm gonna be able to get past him. Any last-ditch ideas?" Zero asked.

"Zero, you're the key to this whole thing. If we lose you, it's over. Return back to base. We'll figure out another way to get that emerald." Uncle Max decided.

"Ugh, fine...but I'm not running away again after this." He muttered to himself.

He took in a deep breath before speeding off to the side, going in a completely different direction than what Knuckles was expecting. Zero leaped off the platform, bounced off a floating column in the sky and used it to get back on the path he had taken to get here.

"Huh? Hey! Get back here!" Knuckles yelled, jumping off too and gliding after him, using the winds of the storm to propel him forward.

"Great, this guy won't quit. Let me call you back, unc." Zero ended the communication between them.

Since he had already taken this path once before, Zero was able to run through it a lot faster, which was fortunate for him, because Knuckles was keeping up with him very well. It seemed like he knew this place inside and out.

"Almost there..." Zero jumped, swinging his arms and legs as he careened towards Angel Island again. Knuckles was just behind him, coming in closer. Zero grunted and curled his body into a ball.

He forced himself to spin dash forward, bouncing off the stairs and shooting ahead once he touched the ground. He aimed himself towards his flying machine, flipping forward and grabbing it with both hands as he sailed off the floating island.

"Whoa!" Knuckles came to a stop just at the edge of Angel Island to keep himself from going over the edge too. Zero quickly disappeared into the clouds, which means that Knuckles couldn't see whether he had gotten away or was currently falling to his death.

"Who was that guy...?" Knuckles wondered aloud, folding his arms with a concerned expression. He would need to find out more about this, and he had a sneaking suspicion that Sonic or his friends might have some answers...