Athair (Sonic Underground)

Athair is a character in Sonic Underground. He is the ancient sage of the echidnas, and the great-grandfather of Knuckles the Echidna. He lives as a hermit on the top of a large mountain region.

History
When Knuckles was about to leave the Floating Island to help Sonic, Manic and Sonia stop Dr. Robotnik's Chaos Emerald-powered Fortress of Altitude, Athair appeared before Knuckles in a vision and warned him not to leave the Floating Island, as doing so would destroy all of Mobius. As Knuckles asked Athair if there was a way so that he could both protect Mobius and help his friends, Athair told Knuckles that it was possible to change the future this way, but said cryptically that it depended on Knuckles' decision, before disappearing.

Later on, Knuckles, Sonic, Manic and Sonia came to Athair, seeking his help on how to contain the Chaos Energies from a lost broken Chaos Emerald, which threaten to destroy the planet. Having already seen and sensed the events that had transpired, Athair provided Knuckles and his friends with a canister to contain the broken Chaos Emerald and its energies. However, he told them that to save Mobius, they had to make an alliance with Robotnik. Sonic, Manic and Sonia were reluctant to heed his advice, but Athair insisted firmly that it was the only way.

As Knuckles and his friends succeeded in containing the broken Chaos Emerald by allying with Robotnik as he predicted, Athair was content with it. When Knuckles then came back to Athair to give him the Chaos Emerald fragments for safekeeping, Athair declined by telling Knuckles that he was meant to guard these fragments on the Floating Island. Sonia then though Knuckles would join the resistance against Robotnik now, but Athair told her that Knuckles' duties were to the Floating Island, like Sonia and her siblings' duties were to the resistance.

Personality
Athair is very wise, and according to Knuckles, he is never wrong. Athair is also rather serious, and brooks no argument when he makes a decision. However, he possess some humor, and clearly thinks well of his great-grandson.

Trivia

 * Athair is the only character to originate from the Archie Comics and then be incorporated into the storyline of a cartoon series.