Tails the Fox
Chapter 05 - The Missing Emerald
Boss 03 - Knuckles Vs. Experiment 1

2BIT: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and 
Sonic Team. You knew that, right?

Meanwhile, others were having their own troubles. A green echidna ran through the jungle. He had his mind on only one thing, the Master Emerald. This creature, in the color of envy, was known only as Experiment 1. Experiment 1 had an unfortunate case of amnesia, and could remember little. However, most of his memories were of the Master Emerald. "If I know anything," Experiment 1 thought, "it's that the Master Emerald is mine! The red echidna must have stolen it from me! But now, I'm here to take it back!"

A short distance, heading in Experiment 1's general direction, was Knuckles the Echidna. "I can't believe it!" He muttered angrily. "As soon as my back is turned, the Master Emerald vanishes! Can't I ever have a moment's peace!?" As Knuckles stepped forward, muttering angrily, something dropped from the sky in front of him! Knuckles recognized her immediately. It was, of course, Rouge the Bat!

"Hey, grumpy! Where's the Master Emerald?" Rouge said, getting straight to the point. "That's easy, " Knuckles said angrily, "YOU stole it! Right?!"
Rouge was shocked by that blunt accusation, but only a little. "Hey, Knucklehead! Why would I come over here if I already had it?"

At that moment, Experiment 1 barged in on the two. He had been eavesdropping, and heard that Knuckles lost the emerald. "Heeeeey, Red! You lose somethin'?"
Knuckles leapt to action, throwing a nasty punch in Experiment 1's direction, only to be swiftly dodged. "THIEF!" Knuckles shouted. "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS YOU!!!"

Of course, it wasn't Experiment 1 either. "I didn't steal it, Red! If anyone stole anything here, it was YOU!"
"Let's not go through this again!" Knuckles groaned. Apparently, Knuckles and Experiment 1 had tangled before. In fact, they had been fighting for close to a month!

At this point, Rouge stepped back into the shadows. Knuckles is so easily tricked, he even forgot Rouge was there! The two echidnas gave each other their meanest looks, and a fight broke out!

Knuckles threw punch after punch, which the experiment quickly and gracefully dodged, retaliating with various karate moves, which Knuckles dodged as well. It was clear that the two were evenly matched. They looked awfully similar, too.

"Stop this charade, Red! Gimmie that emerald!"
"YOU turn it over, you crook!"

Rouge had had enough. This wasn't getting them anywhere, and Rouge didn't want to go looking for something that may not be lost. She swooped in and kicked them both in the head, knocking them out! Rouge then proceded to search the area. When she was satisfied that neither echidna had the emerald, she turned to leave.

However, before Rouge could leave, Knuckles woke up! "Where d'ya think YOU'RE goin'!?" Knuckles roared. Rouge turned around, grinned at him, then took to the air, laughing. "COME BACK HERE!!!!" Knuckles yelled, chasing her into the distance...

But Experiment 1 was really knocked for a loop. He didn't wake up, even when a mysterious figure approached him. It was a mouselike creature, a little taller than Experiment 1, with dark grey fur, and wearing a dark blue cape. "Sleep, Dark One." he whispered, "When you awaken, you will find something you need..."

To be continued...