Mobius: 20 Years Later

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Mobius: 20 Years Later (or otherwise known as Knuckles: 20 Years Later) was an intended storyline arc to be implemented in the Archie Comic series Sonic the Hedgehog. It was, mostly, intended to be a special issue for Archie Comic series Knuckles the Echidna, though was still in development at the time of the series's cancellation, leading for the issue to be scrapped. However, this has left many future plotlines un-answered or un-elaborated upon (hints for the story have been seen in several comics from both series). To make up for this, Archie produced the Mobius: 25 Years Later, which is while set in the future, it isn't in the same time frame and has absolutely no connection to the storyline.

1 Plot
2 Known Details
3 Previews
4 Cancellation

[edit] Plot

Almost 20 Years into the future, Planet Mobius now enjoys a golden age of peace and prosperity, and its characters are enjoying happy lives. The Kingdom of Acorn is the primary power on Mobius, ruled by its benevolent King and Queen; Sonic and Sally, who have since married and had children of their own; Sonia and Manic. Rotor, who acts as the royal couple's technical advisor, has just recently dispatched NICOLE into the past, and Sally is left looking over the regained and restored Mobotropolis, she fails to notice a streak of light burning across the atmosphere...

Meanwhile, on the Floating Island, the Echidna people are experiencing a similar time of peace and harmony, and Knuckles has since consummated his relationship with Julie-Su by starting a family with her; he currently has a teenage daughter named Lara-Su (named after his mother, and similar to her parents) and has learned from Julie-Su she's expecting again. However, Knuckles is in the midst of a mid-life crisis. After numerous battles with all sorts of foes (one such incident involving him losing an eye and having it replaced with an artificial implant), he begins to believe there are no more enemies to fight and the Guardian is no longer needed. Knuckles conveys his feelings to Locke's grave, having died of pancreatic cancer in the 20 year absence, and also suffers with Lara-Su's pleas to let her be trained as a Guardian.

That night, a loud booming sound and a bright flash of light appear, and the meteor seen earlier crashes into the ground. the metallic shell around the "meteor" is clearly artificial, and a towering and gigantic cyborg lifeform emerges, bearing startling resemblance to the late Dr. Robotnik. The cyborg, known as Doctor Droid, seeks to find a way to dominate the universe, and has traced a powerful energy source across space that may allow him to succeed. It is at this time agents of the Dark Legion; lead by new Grandmaster Lien-Da, appear and introduce themselves to Droid. Lien-Da explains the source Droid has found is the Master Emerald, and insists Droid cannot secure the Master Emerald on his own, with the Guardian defending the Island. Lien-Da offers the Dark Legion's services and swears fealty to Droid, as long as he follows the plan she sets, not only so he can secure the Emerald, but that she will share domination of the universe as well. Droid agrees.

Back in Mobotropolis, Sonic and Sally are enjoying a romantic evening, though suddenly the city comes under attack by Droid and the Legion. Mobotropolis is soon engulfed in flames, with General Antoine D'Coolette and the leading Acorn Kingdom Army defenders being brushed aside. Dark Legionairres begin battering at the doors of Castle Acorn, with Sonic and Sally on the other side of the door. Knowing it will not hold, Sonic demands Sally take the children and leave, while he remains behind to face the enemy. Sally, the children, and retired-King Max go to a hidden escape pod and quickly blast off, with Sally worrying over Sonic's safety.

Sonic, meanwhile, fights the Legionnaires when the door succumbs and breaks down, beating them down with his superior speed. Tails, meanwhile, summons help from Knuckles on the Floating Island, who uses Chaos Control with the Master Emerald to arrive just outside Mobotropolis, and he begins flying towards the main battle. It is at this time Droid personally enters the battle, causing horrific destruction, and aims his laser-cannon arm at Sally's retreating escape pod. Knowing the pod will not survive, Sonic quickly jumps up in the way of the blast and takes it full in the chest. Knuckles catches Sonic as he falls to the ground, though he dies in his arms. Knuckles, heart-broken at the death of his friend, demands to know why Droid has done this. Droid, instead, demands the Master Emerald in exchange for the safety of the rest of the planet. Droid gives Knuckles one day to think it over, and threatens he will lay waste to Echidnaopolis next if he doesn't. Droid and the Legion depart.

The next day, Rotor and Tails are leading survivor efforts to re-build the shattered capital, while Knuckles is in a depression over Sonic's demise. He believes he is weak over failing to help Sonic in his time of need. It is at this time Sally and the rest of the royal family arrive back, and Sally, upon seeing Sonic's body, breaks down and cries. Knuckles resolves to find a way to beat Droid, no matter what it takes. Lien-Da hears this, and begins wondering...

Knuckles medidates in the Chaos Chamber, when suddenly he finds Lien-Da standing next to the Emerald. Lien-Da is curteous and polite, saying she wants to help Knuckles destroy Droid, insisting she only had the Legion become swear fealty to him so they may get close enough to defeat him. Lien-Da plays on Knuckles's insecurities, insisting that Droid can only be destroyed by the sheer mass of energy in the Master Emerald, which itself can only properly wielded by the Guardian. Knuckles, however, is sworn not to abuse its powers, and (doubtfully) believes his own abilities are sufficient enough to destroy Droid.

At this time, Echidnaopolis comes under attack, as to Droid's word, and the city is similarly devastated by the Legion and Droid. Lara-Su insists on fighting, while he protective mother drags her away from the carnage. Meanwhile, Knuckles arrives and faces Droid, and begins charging him with his Chaos abilities, though Droid retaliates by firing a pulse that blasts Knuckles through several skyscrapers and basly-injures him. Un-opposed, Droid continues his rampage.

Knuckles, having barely survived Droid's weapon, stumbles into the Chaos Chamber, his own doubts in his abilities having reached its breaking point following his near-death experience. Knuckles then drains the Master Emerald's powers into himself. The raw energy of the Master Emerald transforms Knuckles into Chaos Knuckles, who quickly ascends out of the chamber and faces down Droid. Droid demands the Legion stay back, content with facing Knuckles on his own, though Chaos Knuckles, instead, tears Droid apart with his energy attacks, destroying him completely. Just when it seems Knuckles will destroy the Legion for their crimes against Mobius, he instead gives them a choice; serve him or be destroyed. Lien-Da then arrives, proclaiming to her Legion that Knuckles will lead them to ultimate power. The Legion agrees.

One year later, Julie-Su reveals that the ton of chaos energy absorbed by Knuckles has led him to go insane with power, and lead the Legion in the conquest of Mobius. A unifed resistance movement, Julie-Su and Queen Sally among its most prominent members, has formed and fought back, its biggest victory, thus far, is breaking Knuckles's hold on the Floating Island, though his forces are launching repeated probing attacks in preparation for a new invasion. Julie-Su personally believes the man she loves was lost to Droid and Lien-Da's machinations (who she refuses to acknowledge). Julie-Su, also, has lied to Lara-Su over what her father has become, saying Knuckles was killed by Remington, who was revealed to have succumbed to his heritage and became a Dark Legion spy. This sets the stage for Lara-Su's time-travelling adventure...

(the following details are incomplete and may be incorrect in some areas, the complete storyline was never sold or released).

[edit] Known Details

Details confirmed by Ken Penders include;

It's based on the dream Locke had, but never saw the end of.
Julie-Su learns she is pregnant again at the beginning of the story.
Knuckles has become battle-scarred (to the point he has lost an eye and had it replaced with an artificial implant, similar to Kragok) and weary of his position as Guardian.
Knuckles and Julie-Su will be together, but not married, as Knuckles believes in commitment, and not ceremony.
Lara-Su, named after Lara-Le, is Knuckles and Julie-Su's teenage daughter (about 14) and is similar to Julie-Su in nature, while has her father's Chaos abilities and strength.
Lara-Su has fist-blades like Knuckles does, though has the ability to retract them whenever she wants.
The future shown in Sonic - In Your Face is the true future of Sonic and Sally. They are married as King and Queen, have regained Mobotropolis and have a son and daughter; Sonia and Manic (who themselves are 13 years old each), who regularly play with retired-King turned grandfather Maximillian.
The primary villain of this series is named Doctor Droid, and will battle in the vision Locke saw.

[edit] Previews

During Knuckles #25, Knuckles's father, Locke, explains in his tail that he was driven to genetically-engineer Knuckles because of a horrific nightmare he suffered, which itself was actually a vision of the future, in which Dr. Droid and future Knuckles faced off, and everything ended in a massive flash of light. A preview for the un-finished special issue was included, offering further details.
During Sonic Super Special #11 - Girls Rule, Princess Sally, while undergoing the immersion with the Source of All, was tempted with a vision of Mobius 20 years in the future by her future self. The vision was set in the same timeline as M20YL, and showed the restored Kingdom of Acorn under attack and a new Great War being declared. Castle Acorn, the future King Sonic and Queen Sally's home along with their children Manic and Sonia, was being besieged by unseen ground forces, and Sonic forced his wife to take the children and escape in a hidden
During Sonic #106 - ", Knuckles's future daughter, Lara-Su, came back in time to halt her father's assumed assassination, though after "failing", she returned and learned from her mother; Julie-Su, that Knuckles was now evil and a world-conquering mad-man, hinting that the events he went through during the crisis in M20YL eventually led to his transformation from hero to villain.
During Sonic the Hedgehog #122, Aurora reveals she was the one who gave Locke his precognitive vision, and revealed several key details about Droid and Knuckles.

[edit] Cancellation

Cancellation of the issue took producers by surprise. Reasons for cancellation vary, but in most cases were because popularity in the Knuckles comics had dropped to the point that all Knuckles-solo adventures, including M20YL, were decided to be cancelled, and its characters and other future plotlines moved to Sonic comics. Another reason is that the writers would have intended for the future in Sonic - In Your Face to be Sonic and Sally's true future, but had agreed not to show a final future for the couple until the end of the series. Due to the popularity and success of the series, it was decided to make sure the series continued, so the issue was cancelled.

Some details, most especially the scene with Knuckles at Locke's grave, were copied and used in Mobius: 25 Years Later.