"Oof!"

Knuckles, the level-headed but gullible guardian of the Master Emerald, jolted in fright as a white figure crashed down next to where he had been sitting with the Emerald, and landed right on his stomach; the white figure didn't move for several seconds, and Knuckles was just about to panic – he'd been too busy staring in utter shock and fright – when the strange creature's gloved hand reached out, trying to grab something, his face still buried in the grass.

"R-Ring...I need...I need a Ring..."

Knuckles kept Rings nearby, and one was just within his grasp. He handed it to the white creature, and tried to help him sit up, but also kept his distance if he turned out to be one of Robotnik's goons.

Which reminded him.

Sonic!

They'd been on a fantastic adventure, but Knuckles wouldn't lie - he'd believed that Sonic and Tails were there to steal the Master Emerald for themselves, and had rudely snatched the Chaos Emeralds from them when they first arrived on his island. But he'd been proven wrong by their noble deeds, and he'd pursued them all through Angel Island to Hydrocity, past Carnival Night and Launch Base; then they'd reunited in Mushroom Hill, and didn't meet again until the Hidden Palace, when Knuckles had realised they were trying to help him. He wouldn't exactly have considered Sonic and Tails to be his friends. They were...assistants. Acquaintances. He was grateful for their help, but Sky Sanctuary was his limit. The two went up into the Death Egg and with Tails' return about an hour ago, Sonic was in space pursuing Robotnik.

But where Sonic was, or what happened to Robotnik, Knuckles had no idea.

"Excuse me," Knuckles began, and cleared his throat nervously. "Who are you?"

"I..." the strange figure started. He opened his jade eyes, and when he moved his head, Knuckles gasped as he watched the quills, mesmerized by the wonderful colours. The creature's head shone rainbow colours when catching the light, like a gemstone, a diamond, a clear emerald...it was beautiful, and Knuckles couldn't help gawking at him for a few moments, but dusted himself down when he saw the creature – who he noticed was a hedgehog – staring at him. "You're Knuckles, aren't you?"

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "How do you know my name?"

The white hedgehog shook his head, trying frantically to remember something. "I...I don't know. Well, I...I just knew that was your name. I think..." His eyes widened. He'd realised something. His bottom lip trembled.

"What?" Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Oh no. Oh no..."

"Mother! Mother, big brother's gone to Mobius! The blue boy's come here instead!"

"It is alright, my darling. He will find his own way back."

"But...but can't we help him? Why's he there and not here?"

"The Master Emerald...it was not on our side. You know that thoughts influence the Emerald quite profoundly, if one's desire is strong enough."

"So...so Robotnik thought that big brother shouldn't come home?"

"...not quite, little one."

"What happened, Mother? Why won't you tell me?"

"It has only been a short time, my darling. We must wait until the answers are clear..."

"Oh, please, Mother! Let me go there to him! I can help!"

"No. Not yet. You will see your brother again. I promise you that. For the blue boy, I cannot say..."

The white hedgehog explained that he had fallen from space. Knuckles believed him, remembering that Tails had helped Sonic all the way up to the Death Egg, but that was his limit – he'd flown back down in the Tornado and promised to catch Sonic or at least keep a lookout for him. It had been a waiting game from then on out, and the white hedgehog, at the right time, had fallen instead. Still Knuckles hadn't caught a name out of him yet, and he'd called Tails to let him know, but as time slowly ticked on, the sun still shining high over Angel Island, he began to worry more and more about Sonic – what with this hedgehog's voice, mannerisms, and generally everything else about him, he knew that he wasn't Sonic in disguise. There was no way he would have carried on a prank for this long, and not like this. Knuckles bit his lip after hanging up the phone, an inert sadness coiling in his center, and he would either suffocate from it or breathe in hot, stinging air until he was relieved.

So just who was this white hedgehog? He was grateful for whoever he was, anyway – he'd returned the Master Emerald in Sonic's place. Knuckles returned outside, where he was waiting, twirling his Ring expertly around gloved fingers. Lord, he looked so much like Sonic, but he was considerably taller than than the hedgehog. He didn't seem to pose much of a threat, though, and a distant look had glazed his eyes over. Knuckles, again, cleared his throat. "I, uh...what did you say your name was?"

"Just call me Hyper."

Knuckles furrowed his brow. "Hyper? What kind of name is that?"

"It's what Sonic called me."

"Speaking of which," Knuckles quickly averted the subject. Man, this guy was a weirdo. "Where is he, anyway? And how did you know him?"

Hyper closed his eyes. He stopped twirling his Ring. Knuckles couldn't fathom for the life of him why he needed it so. "I helped him out a little on the way to defeat Robotnik."

"Really?" Knuckles inquired. "Well, tell me! I never saw you there with him on the way!"

Hyper smiled. "We met just after you left at Mushroom Hill. He found a Giant Ring past the door you closed, and when he and Tails jumped in, they found a little gateway between my world and Mobius. Where the Super Emeralds are kept."

"Your world?" Knuckles had had enough. This guy really was a weirdo. "Alright, big guy, just tell me where Sonic's at, alright? Before Tails worries himself silly. And don't get me started on Amy!"

Hyper's face fell, and his grip on the Ring tightened. His eyes shut, guilt tightening his features, and once he opened them, he looked ready to burst into tears. His bottom lip trembled. Guilt was etched into every feature. "Knuckles...I have a bit of explaining to do."

"Explain away," Knuckles rolled his eyes. "I'm listening."

"Don't interrupt me whilst I'm telling you what happened," Hyper sighed. "Just...just hear me out."

Knuckles nodded. Hyper gulped, and gasped, and then spoke. He was crying. Knuckles' fearless demeanour began to crumble as he slowly, slowly began to catch on what Hyper was crying over; his folded arms fell limp, his mouth hung open, his eyes wide, his lip trembling, his eyes welling up. He...he...

"I...I don't know how to say this easily, Knuckles..."

"My darling, it is time for you to go and help Sonic."

"Okay, Mother. I'm ready."

"Do you know what you must do?"

"When he collects the right number of Rings, I'll sense it, and take over him for a little while."

"Your battle will take you into space, my darling. Please be careful. And whatever you do, always keep a Ring with you. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mother. Don't worry. I'll help him as much as I can!"

"Thank you, my darling. You are so brave..."