Sonic darted towards Knuckles, spinning at the last second to avoid his fist. Silver was staying back and using his psychokinesis to move the chip in closer. All Sonic had to do was keep him in one place, but that was easier said than done. Knuckles was coming at Sonic with everything he had and there were no signs of fatigue or strain. However, that didn't mean he wasn't tripping up on the environment changes he was causing. Finally, he stepped into a hole that had been created, and Sonic spun forward, hitting him directly in the face. This stunned Knuckles long enough for Silver to connect the device to his collar. Knuckles recovered, and was about to strike, when the collar began to electrocute him, before finally breaking and freeing him from its grasp. Sonic looked at the unconscious Knuckles and began to notice him changing. Where his rage form had been a dark crimson red, he began to shift back to his regular shade of red. His gloves became white again, and went back to two spikes, instead of three, and his teeth went back to normal, from the sharp, almost shark-like teeth they had been before. Suddenly, he sat up, his head slightly spinning.

"Uhhh... w...What happened?" Knuckles asked, barely able to keep himself upright.

"What do you remember, Knuckles?" Silver asked, still wary of Knuckles, but hopeful the device had worked.

"I remember...I... I..." Knuckles stuttered as he passed out.

"Knuckles!" Sonic shouted, grabbing his friend before he fell face first on the ground. Silver put his hand on Sonic and smiled, trying to tell him it would be ok. Sonic, wasn't sure, but it looked good so far, and that had to be the best news he'd had since this all started. As they waited for Knuckles to wake up, Sonic and Silver found a cave and set Knuckles up against the back end, while building a small camp to get warmth and to maybe start cooking some food. Sonic ran out, making sure to stay as far away from any open fields as possible, and was able to get some grub together. As he brought it back, and Silver began to cook, Sonic heard a shift behind them, and turned to see Knuckles getting up, looking at least a little bit better than before.

"You feeling better now?" Sonic asked, ready to strike if anything seemed off.

"Yeah, I... I feel way less woozy than I did last time." Knuckles responded, still holding his head, but a little more sure in his steps and his stance.

"What do you remember?" Silver asked

"All I remember is that... that red Mephiles, and then anger, deep, burning anger."

"Yeah, that sounds about right. That's what I've been feeling." Sonic shook his head, frightened by his own thoughts

"Sonic you're gonna be alright. You stopped yourself with me. Remember?"

"Yeah, but that wasn't completely me, Shadow pushed me off you before I went too far, and that was what brought me back. I almost fell right there, and I don't know if I could stop myself again."

"Wait. You're telling me that you" Knuckles pointed at Sonic, " are having issues with your anger? I've never seen you angry before."

"They took Tails. Mephiles took my closest friend, and I don't know if I can get him back." Sonic looked downward, scratching at his arm and trying to hold it together. Knuckles, felt bad for a second, before getting upset and punching Sonic right across the jaw.

"What the hell was that for?!" Sonic shouted, looking at Knuckles with anger burning in his eyes, the red glow beginning to encompass his blue eyes, before Knuckles burst out laughing. Confusion took over, and the red receded.

"Ya know, you are the most annoying friend I've ever had Sonic." Knuckles said, before beginning to laugh again.

"What? What does that mean?"

Silver also began to laugh, catching Sonic off guard, and confusing him even more.

"What is so funny? Guys?" Sonic was beginning to get upset again, but then Silver spoke up.

"He means that you get too wrapped up in your failings Sonic. You need to let this go. You couldn't have known what Mephiles was planning." Knuckles continued to laugh before slapping Sonic's back. Balancing himself, Sonic started to laugh too. They were right, he was too wrapped up in his worry. That wasn't the Sonic they needed right now. They needed him to be his usual self. Tails and Amy needed him to be his usual self.

As he stood up straight, he looked towards the horizon and stopped doubting himself. He would do this, he would get everyone back, and most importantly, he would make Mephiles suffer.

Wait, no, he wasn't about pain or anything. He would stop Mephiles. Why had that thought crept up into his mind? Sonic shook his head. He would have to be careful, Lillithia's influence was still there, even if he couldn't feel it as strongly now.

"Alright, let's go guys. We're gonna go get our friend's back!" Sonic shouted before darting forward. Knuckles and Silver trying to catch up, a smile on both their faces. Sonic was himself again, and in this rough time, that was enough.

Mephiles smiled. How did he smile? No one could tell you, but it was a feeling. He was enjoying this. Sonic was slowly falling into his trap. Mephiles turned, facing his siblings.

"How is everything going brother? You look happy for once!" Lillithia pounced on him, hugging him, usually he would push her away, but he was too delighted. He let her have her fun and when she was done he responded.

"Yes sister. I am quite happy with how things have gone. Not only do I have five of the seven Chaos Emeralds, but everything is going according to plan. Sonic is running straight into my web, Eggman thinks he is too brilliant for us to find and capture him, and Shadow, the only piece that has constantly been a thorn in my side is ours now. Isn't that right Abbadis?"

"But of course brother. Whenever Lillithia is ready, I have him trapped in the crystal, ready for his transformation into our greatest weapon."

"Good. You may both begin. Begone from here. I have work to do to prepare for our little friends. Much work to do."