Chapter Text
[Opening Scene]
The scene opens with Sonic running up a stony wall in a desert landscape.
Sonic (Narration): Hey, I'm Sonic. Right now, I'm heading into Angel Island's Sandopolis on an important mission. Tails wants to stay one step ahead of the good doctor, and I'm just the person for the job.
Sonic's eyes widen as we zoom in on his face.
Sonic: Wait, is that sand already? Uh-oh!
Sonic frantically tries to brake but finds himself unable to halt his momentum, going straight into the sand and slipping. He has very little traction on such a steep surface of something that's already not very solid. He begins falling backwards.
Sonic: Nononono, shoot!
Knuckles, who is climbing a distance below Sonic, grabs Sonic in one arm.
Knuckles: Need some help?
Sonic: Hey, Knux.~
Sonic (Narration): But it doesn't hurt to have some help either.
The scene ends with Sonic being thrown up by Knuckles to the top of the wall, which begins the first level. This introduces Sonic's gameplay.
[Opening Level A: Slither Through (Sonic)]
A level which focuses on the hazards of quicksand and platforming between different ruins, all to reach the entrance of a large, Egyptian-esque pyramid. The big setpiece of this stage is Sonic having to repair the golem he once fought here to reach a higher area.
Dialogue:
{At Level Start}
Sonic: Tails, do you read me?
Tails (Intercom): Yes, do you see the pyramid?
Sonic: Kinda hard to miss.
Tails (Intercom): Well, go in there and find the tablet. If it has the power it's told to have - Eggman will be after it sooner or later.
Sonic: Already on it, talk to you in a bit.
Tails (Intercom): Good luck.
{At Golem Construction}
Sonic: I fought this thing when it was still in Eggman's control... That's ages ago now. Funny how the bots from back then are still kicking around though... Ugh, do I have to do cleanup now that I know that?
{At Pyramid Entrance Area}
Sonic: Woo! This might be easier than I thought.
{Tutorial} (Activated by Hint Rings)
Sonic: I can jump across this, just press the A button and I'll be set.
Sonic: Press X, and I'll do a homing attack!
Sonic: Quick, use the bumpers to dodge!
Sonic: Cool, a rail! Hold X to make me crouch, it'll make me go faster if the rail's going down.
Sonic: The right trigger will be useful here, hold it and I'll use the cyloop to grab the pieces of the golem.
[Entering the Pyramid]
Sonic is seen walking in before Knuckles lands behind him with a grunt. Sonic smirks as he glances in Knuckles' direction.
Sonic: Thanks for the save earlier.
Knuckles waves Sonic's comment off as he looks inside.
Knuckles: Don't mention it, so what do we do now?
Sonic: Good thing you're here, actually. There's a stone tablet we need to find. Apparently, it was used as a way to get warriors to face their deepest fears.
Knuckles: Great, I need to be your scout now.
Sonic: You're one of the best treasure hunters I know.
Sonic gives Knuckles a wink.
Sonic: But if you're scared of the dark, I can come with.
Knuckles: Actually, I like the dark. It's less stimulating.
Sonic: Huh, I stand corrected.
The scene ends with a transition to Knuckles' Gameplay.
[Opening Level B: Getting Darker (Knuckles)]
A level which re-introduces the treasure hunting gameplay from the Sonic Adventure games. Knuckles goes through a short linear portion before the level opens up as he has to find pieces of a code to enter the central chamber with. Instead of a radar, this iteration is more puzzle-based, taking inspiration from classic Tomb Raider for its feeling of exploration.
Dialogue:
{At Door}
Knuckles: It seems like a code of some sort. These symbols don't look like language, more like pictures. That'll make things easier.
{At Code Piece One}
Knuckles: A hand covering the mouth...
{At Code Piece Two}
Knuckles: A spear...
{At Code Piece Three}
Knuckles: Sonic, I've found the last one! ... It's a black square.
{Tutorial} (Activated by Hint Rings)
Knuckles: While jumping, you can hold the A button to glide.
Knuckles: I can climb on certain surfaces if I jump or glide into them.
Knuckles: It's too narrow to turn around. If you dodge and jump immediately after, I can do a side-flip.
Knuckles: The X button will make me punch, pressing X three times will make me do a combo. If you press Y or B on the third hit, I'll do a different finishing move.
Knuckles: Hold X, then release to do a targeted strike.
[The Tablet]
Sonic and Knuckles enter the central chamber with the stone tablet glowing in the centre. Sonic runs over to it before waiting for Knuckles to catch up, with Knuckles looking at it with caution.
Sonic: We've got to get this thing secured before Eggman can use it. If he used our fears against us, that'd give him an upper hand.
Knuckles: Wait, are you sure this is a good idea? I sense that its energy is still running high.
Sonic: When am I not sure?
Knuckles: That's kind of your problem.
Sonic: Which would you prefer, us dealing with it on our own or us dealing with Eggman using it?
Knuckles: Hmm... On our own.
Sonic: Then you get it. C'mon, let's g-
As Sonic places his hand on the tablet, he's swallowed by a darkness that causes him to vanish. Knuckles, on instinct, places his hand on it as well. Knuckles will not let Sonic handle... whatever this is alone.
Thus concludes the introductory segment of the story.