THE FORBIDDEN ZONE, Part 2: ONCE UPON A TIME IN MOBOTROPOLIS
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Manny Galan
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

In the past, Lara-Le is packing her clothes and she says to Locke that she tried talking to him but he didn't listen. Lara-Le says that she's taking Knuckles with her, but Locke says that while he can't force her to stay, Knuckles has to stay with him. Back to the present, Lara-Le tells Locke that he hasn't changed and has to have everything his way. Locke says that she's wrong and kisses her.

At the Royal Compound, the "someone" from last issue introduces himself as Elias. Geoffrey remarks that Elias looks a lot like King Acorn and Elias is surprised to hear that his father is alive. Geoffrey says that King Acorn has never mentioned that he has a son. The Colonel tells Geoffrey that Elias is definitely King Acorn's son and heir to the throne. Geoffrey says that he needs proof. Elias says that traveling isn't a good idea tonight, so he'll take them to Haven tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Remington and the others have found Lara-Le's hovercraft. Remington's plan is to have his men secure the area while Knuckles waits in the EST's hovercraft. Knuckles says that he's going to check the hovercraft while they sit and wait. Despite Remington's and Julie-Su's protests otherwise, Knuckles goes to the hovercraft and finds it empty. Knuckles wonders where could his mother be.

In Locke's airplane, Lara-Le refuses to cut Locke "any slack" because of the way he left. Cut to the past: Locke informs Lara-Le that he and Knuckles are going to the Floating Island (they're in Echidnaopolis right now which is in its zone). Lara-Le says that the Floating Island is just a wasteland according to echidna history. Locke tells her that the Guardians have finally restored it and Knuckles has to protect it while he goes to Haven. Lara-Le wants to know what is Haven and why didn't Locke say something before. Cut to the present: Locke tries to lock-on to Haven's location, but he can't. Lara-Le says that it's probably the weather, which Locke comments that if that's the problem this isn't like any storm that he's been in.

At the Royal Compound, Geoffrey surprises Elias, who's holding the homing rod that King Acorn gave Queen Alicia just before she left just in case something happened so that she could call for help. Geoffrey looks at it and knows that it's the real deal. He asks Elias where did he get it. Elias tells him that an echidna named Sabre gave it to him. Geoffrey figures that the Colonel might know something. They go to breakfast and Geoffrey shows the rod to the Colonel, who recognizes it. The Colonel tells them what he knows. The Colonel was the right hand man of Commander Ian St. John, who tells him that the Princess is with Rosie at Knothole while they're taking the Prince and the Queen to the Floating Island and that the existance of the Prince and Princess is a wartime secret. They were airborne within a half an hour of King Acorn's order. They were seven minutes away from landing on the Floating Island when the plane was hit by the Overlanders who were using the Floating Island as a cover. He secured Elias and then went to join Ian in the cockpit. The plane was hit again and they crashed on the Floating Island. When he came to, he found wreckage everywhere but not even a trace of anyone. Years later, he found Elias wandering outside the compound. He knew that the boy was Elias because of the mark on his arm. Geoffrey asks Elias how did he survive all those years. Elias says that he promised never to reveal their secret, but he'll take the SS to where they left him and let them tell Geoffrey what they want. Geoffrey asks who are they and Elias replies "The Brotherhood."

Meanwhile, Knuckles and company are leaving the crash site. Knuckles wants to know how could his mother just disappear in a snowstorm and Remington says that weird things happen on the Floating Island, which Knuckles doesn't think is funny. Remington asks him if he has a better idea. Knuckles says no, but he thinks that Remington does because Remington is always withholding some info from him everytime they talk. Conversation ends there as a lightning bolt hits the hovercraft and it crashes.

Elsewhere, Locke comments that the weather is really going nuts because first there was a blizzard and now there's torrential rain. Lara-Le tells him that the Tomes, which Locke admits he hasn't studied, mentions a Day of Fury which is a cleansing process in nature. Locke notices an unusual signal and sets a different course. Lara-Le tells him that she didn't come to go adventuring with him, but to talk about Knuckles. Locke says that it'll have to wait as he finds the source of the signal: Elias and the SS are in the middle of a flash flood in a forest.

Meanwhile, Knuckles wakes up to find everyone else is out cold. He goes outside to check out the damage, but once he's outside, he notices that he's at the spot where his dad left him when he was nine. Knuckles runs along the same path Locke took until he walks through some sort of field which causes an illusion of flame around him for a moment. Knuckles wonders where he is as Archimedes teleports next to him and the Brotherhood gathers behind him.

To Be Continued in KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA #21