The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 story - written by Neil Lafrenais
Based from the Sonic 3 Japanese manual and the Sonic and Knuckles Help File
What? You thought that Dr. Eggman's Death Egg was destroyed after the amazing events in Sonic the Hedgehog 2? No such luck, I'm afraid. Infact, as it transpires, his Death Egg fell but a few hundred feet before crashing down into the forest of a mysterious floating island! The shock waves from the machine caused this huge flying isle to crash down into the calm oceans below.
Meanwhile, quite deservingly, Sonic and Tails kick back and relax in steady thinking that at least the Death Egg (if not Eggman as well) has been totally destroyed. A few months later, their greatest fears are confirmed.
One sunny morning, while lying on the beach on South Island, Sonic notices that a strange sort of ring has been washed up by the sea. As Sonic examines it, he notices it has ancient text scribbled all over it. Although Sonic isn't very book smart, he does recognise some of the symbols grafted onto the ring.
"Echidna ... wars ... Angel ... Island?" he reads aloud. Quickly Sonic rushes off to where Tails is and asks him if he could find out anything about the ring.
***
Soon enough, they set off for the legendary Angel Island. As it turns out, from what Tails researched, Angel Island is this lush isle that no one seriously believes in, but has been rumoured to fly in the area and travel all around the globe. Sonic feeling in an adventurous mood suggests that the two set out across the vast oceans in search for this myth.
It takes Sonic and Tails but a mere few hours to discover the Island. Thanks to Tails' rough sketches from the book he dicovered the legend in, it was easy to identify. But as soon as they reach the island's green forest land, they are presented by a problem. A red problem.
You see, years ago, Angel Island was not as we know it in legend. It was but a mere stretch of land inhabited by a mighty race; The Echidnas. The Echidnas were a proud and strong race, afraid of nothing and no one. For years, they ruled over their stretch of land under the guidance of the great Master Stone. But with the power and respect the Echidnas recieved, also came greed and evil. A faction of evil Echidnas planned to steal the Master Stone and use it for their own petty plots. But before the Echidnas could get anywhere near them, a great white light from the Master Stone engulfed the entire Echidna populous and wiped them all out.
Days later, a Sky God desended from the heavens and created Angel Island. Tearing the stretch of land clear from the ground and using the Master Stone to enable to hang in the air as it does. And so the legends began and the scrolls were written ...
In the present however, Sonic has to deal with the legacy of the Echidna tribe, Knuckles, the Guardian of the Island and the Master Emerald. Knuckles, punching Sonic swiftly, proceeds to take his Chaos Emeralds off him. Standing his ground, Knuckles accuses Sonic and Tails of wanting to steal Angel Island's Chaos Emeralds. Annoyed and confused by Knuckles' statement, Sonic decides that this MUST be Dr. Eggman's doing!
Sonic could not be more right. The fiendish mad scientist has tricked Knuckles into thinking that Sonic and Tails are criminals and would want nothing more than to take the Island's emeralds. Eggman tells Knuckles that it would be a good idea to launch the Chaos Emeralds into a tear in the fabric of reality, known as the Special Stage, as this will buy them time, so that Eggman has time to repair his Death Egg ship and use to get both of our heroes off the Island. In reality, Eggman plans to destroy Sonic AND Angel Island with one blow.
So, Sonic and Tails are forced to travel through the jungle, ruins, the sky lines and volcanic caves of Angel Island in order to search for Mystical Big Rings to travel to the dimension the Islands Emeralds reside. They need those Emeralds, otherwise the Death Egg will launch and Eggman will be able to take over the world!
Speed, fun and adventure await in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3!
