Guardian of the Floating Island
In the comic books, this is a position belonging to a stratus of society that is like unto royalty or a High Priest, but in my version, "Guardian" is just the lofty title with a VERY difficult job that Knuckles took upon himself when his people disappeared. He considers it his duty to keep the Island the way they would want it, and protect it, in the hopes that somehow that might bring them back someday (sniff!) And he takes this job VERY SERIOUSLY...
Yet there is something special about it...see, in my version, the Master Emerald is at least semi-sentient, and IT picks its Guardians rather than the echidnas picking them. (So in other words, if Knuckles had not been deemed worthy, he could have CALLED himself that all he wanted but it wouldn't have been true.) And once it has picked someone, it bonds itself to their life-force; the end result being both bad and good. First of all, whoever the person is (and they DON'T have to be an echidna!) can sense whenever a Chaos Emerald of any kind is nearby. Secondly, that person gets some kind of weird power--perhaps more than one--and it's random what they get; each Guardian gets a different ability. Knuckles happens to be able to glide and punch through things without getting hurt (the climbing is a natural ability due to the spikes on his knuckles); another might be able to teleport, turn invisible, walk on clouds...etc. You never know. However, in return, the Guardian has to do EVERYTHING in his/her/its power to make sure the Emerald and the Island are protected from everything dangerous at all times, and if something DOES happen to the Emerald--such as it starts loosing its power, or is even destroyed--then the Guardian would start weakening in proportion, and maybe even die. So it's definitely a two-edged sword...
Then there are "Helper-Guardians"--which is what the Master Emerald regards the four animals that make up the original Chaotix as (more on them in their own section.) It hasn't given them powers, but has enhanced what they already had JUST a bit. After all, like I said, the Master Emerald can think, and it knows that just one person can't guard it AND the entire huge Island all alone, so...The Chaotix' bond with it is looser; basically it'll heal them magically if they get badly sick or hurt, but other than that they're on their own.
Like I said, all the above is MY VERSION. Yes, it does indeed clash with the comic book one and I know it does (I just don't like the idea of Knuckles being royalty--it doesn't fit with the "sad, pathetic, lonely soul" image of him that I have) so don't e-mail me to correct me; this is all on PURPOSE!
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curious tourists have stopped by to read the legacy of the Guardians of the Floating Island since June 17, 1999. Of course, they all died rather violently when they dared attempt to enter the Master Emerald Chamber, but hey...