Angel Island (Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood)

Angel Island (エンジェルアイランド) is the sixth area that appears in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. It can already be seen on the world map in chapter 1, but it is not until chapter 5 that the player actually gains access to this area.

In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Angel Island became the target of the Nocturnus Clan in their hunt for the Master Emerald. Using the Chaos Emeralds, the Nocturnus Clan drew Angel Island to them and raided the island in the search for the Master Emerald. Though Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna and the rest of their team arrived to stop them, they failed in their efforts to keep the Nocturnus Clan's leader, Imperator Pir'Oth Ix, from stealing the Master Emerald, which resulted in Angel Island falling down into Metropolis.

Overview
Angel Island, as presented in Sonic Chronicles: the Dark Brotherhood, is a large, rocky landmass that floats high above the clouds, with smaller pieces of land floating close to the island itself and a few ravines. The surface of Angel Island is quite lush and green, filled with fields of green grass, trees, bushes and a section of trees and/or mountains located to the east. Around the landscape, there can be found several kinds of ancient ruins, such as huts, echidna statues and a large pyramid-like temple where the Master Emerald is located, which are presumably remains of the Knuckles Clan civilization.

History
In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Angel Island was targeted by the Nocturnus Clan in their search for the island's treasure, the Master Emerald, which they needed to permanently escape the Twilight Cage. Unfortunately, G.U.N. fortifications, with legions of soldiers, had set themselves up around the base of the island, which was currently located over the Mystic Ruins, leaving any direct apporach too dangerous. To solve this predicament, the leader of the Nocturnus Clan, Imperator Pir'Oth Ix, came up with the plan to use the seven Chaos Emeralds' magnetic connection to the Master Emerald to draw Angel Island away from G.U.N., to the Nocturnus Clan's turf, where they could assault the island without interference.

In little time, the Nocturnus Clan's forces, led by Shade the Echidna, managed to steal all seven Chaos Emeralds, and they used them to draw Angel Island away from the Mystic Ruins and positioned it over the ruins of Metropolis, the former stronghold of Doctor Eggman, where the Nocturnus Clan had set up their base, and they began their invasion.

Sonic the Hedgehog, along with Knuckles the Echidna and the rest of their allies, however, had learned that the Nocturnus Clan was going after the Master Emerald, and sought to locate Angel Island and stop the Nocturnus Clan from stealing the Master Emerald. With the unexpected help from Doctor Eggman, the team was able to find Angel Island and access the ruins of Metropolis. The group then split into two teams, with Sonic and Knuckles going to find a way up to Angel Island, while Doctor Eggamn and Tails constructed a weapon that could take care of the Nocturnus Clan soldiers.

By hijacking an airship from the Nocturnus Clan, Sonic, Knuckles and their team made it up to Angel Island, with some ground artillery support from Tails and Eggman. Sonic, Knuckles and their team, however, were forced to jump onto Angel Island's surface when a cannon on Angel Island shot down their airship. Once on Angel Island, the group nocticed the overwhelming numbers of Nocturnus Clan soldiers and Sonic called Tails' team to come help them on Angel Island as quickly as possible. Knuckles had his doubts about Sonic's decision, but Sonic assured him that they only had to slow the enemy down until help arrived.

Sonic, Knuckles and their team eventually made it to the Master Emerald's shrine, where they were met by Ix and Shade, trying to access the Master Emerald's chamber. Sonic and Knuckles insisted on facing Ix and Shade, but Ix arrogantly dismissed their attempts, finding them unworthy opponents and unleashed his troops of soldiers on them. While Knuckles thought this was the end, Sonic insisted it was not over yet.

Despite defeating several Nocturnus Clan soldiers, the waves of enemies kept on coming and began to overwhelming Sonic, Knuckles and their team. Still, Sonic insisted on standing their ground, until Tails arrived. As Ix himself moved in with serveral soliders, Knuckles began to falter, but Sonic refused to give up. As things looked at their bleakest, however, Tails, Eggman and the rest of the team arrived on Angel Island by a teleporter. Eggman then deployed the weapon they had created, which sent the majority of the Nocturnus Clan soldiers on Angel Island back into the Twilight Cage. With most of the enemies gone and with their whole team together, Ix decided to face Sonic and his team in battle himself, to which Sonic replied that Ix now had their "full attention".

As the team fougth back Ix, Ix himself began to lose his patience, and proclaimed that they could not stop him from conquering the world. Chocked over her leader's motivation for escaping their prison, Shade spoke against Ix, as she only wanted her people freed. In retaliation, Ix blew most of the team, and Shade for her insubordination, away from the temple, leaving only Sonic behind. Sonic, however, was too late and could only manage to seen Ix take the Master Emerald before teleporting away, which resulted in Angel Island falling down from the sky, right into the city of Metropolis.

Trivia

 * The music used here is a remix of Collision Chaos (Bad Future) in the Japanese version of Sonic CD.