Knuckles slammed his fist down at the robot, which twitched for a moment before shutting down. Turning behind him, he saw another robot leaping towards him. Knuckles quickly reacted by giving it an uppercut, sending it flying and it landed a few feet away from him.

Knuckles let out several deep breaths as he looked around for anymore robots. Finding none he turned to where Eggman was to confront him, only to find that he wasn't there.

Knuckles looked around for him. Where could he have gone? Did he flee when he started destroying the robots? Did he fly away to put himself in a bigger robot?

Then he realized something, Eggman said he was here for the emeralds. He most likely used the robots as a distraction for Knuckles while he stole them. Taking them away for use in whatever he has planned.

Knuckles quickly turned around and ran to where the emeralds were as fast as he could. It was times like these when he wished Sonic was around, he probably could've been there and stopped Eggman before Knuckles even arrived.

He managed to get to the temple where the emeralds were. Just as he reached the entrance however, he saw the top of the temple blast open, raining down debris around the area.

About a second later, Eggman rose from out of the temple, his ship carrying a capsule containing the four emeralds. Below that, to Knuckles horror, was also the Master Emerald being held by a chain.

"Oh ho ho ho." Eggman laughed as he looked at the horrified look on Knuckles face. "You should have been paying more attention to the emeralds you had."

The ship Eggman was on then began to ascent. "Well, I have to go. I'll be needing these emeralds for my plan."

Breaking out of his shock, Knuckles began to ran towards the ship, climbing up the temple to get to where it is. He managed to leap up and grab the master emerald just before it got out of his reach.

Climbing up on it, he began to punch the chain that was holding the master emerald to make it weaker, pulling the chain every now and then to try and separate it. As he did so, Eggman noticed him trying to free the master emerald, and he tilted his ship from side to side to try and shake Knuckles off.

Knuckles held onto the chain however, and continued punching it. Though he realized he had to free the Master Emerald fast, as Eggman was getting close to the edge of the island. So he increased the frequency of his punches, and pulled harder.

Taking a quick glance to see how far Eggman still had to go, he saw that he was nearing the edge of the island. Knowing he had no time left, he brought his fist back for a big punch, and hit the chain again.

CLINK

The chain broke apart and the Master Emerald, and Knuckles began to fall down. At the same time, Eggman, hearing the chain break, looked down and saw Knuckles and the Master Emerald falling to the ground.

"Hmph, well that's disappointing." He said before going back to the controls of the ship. "No matter, the 7 emeralds should be enough to power my machine."

Knuckles landed on the ground facing upwards, letting out a small grunt. He saw the Master Emerald about to land not far from him. Quickly rushing over to where it would land, he dived and quickly grabbed the emerald just before it landed.

Once he was certain that it was safe, he turned towards where Eggman was. He could see the silhouette of his ship getting smaller, seeing the capsule containing the four emeralds underneath it.

He knew that this was bad. Eggman just came in and took the four emeralds he had on the island, and was most likely going to go after the last three emeralds. Since Tails was supposedly working on finding them, it was safe to assume that Eggman was going to go find him and take any emeralds Tails had, and use them for whatever he has planned.

He knew he had to warn Amy that Tails was in danger, and that Eggman had four of the emeralds now.

Taking a glance at the Master Emearld, he knew that while he couldn't leave it unguarded, the current situation was a bit more dire and that as soon as he put it back in it's place, he would leave to go to Amy

Picking up the Master Emerald, he carried it back to it's place as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, Tails was performing maintenance on Metal.

"Okay." Tails said as he turned a bolt inside Metal's exposed insides from the back. "Can you test your emerald scanner? See if it can detect the last emerald from where we are."

Metal began to scan for the emerald. Since Eggman's attack at Tails' home, he had only been able to detect an emerald within a hundred mile radius. Throughout the journey, Tails had made repairs to the scanner, improving it to it's normal standards bit by bit. Now he had to test it to see if it was back to it's full condition.

After a few seconds, he got the location of the emerald. "The emerald is approximately 3100 miles west from where we are now." He stated.

"So I guess we're gonna need the Tornado again huh." Tails remarked after he heard that information.

"You seem to be doing better after our talk." Metal said. He had noticed Tails' change in mood when he had gotten up from his rest. He seemed a bit more pleasant then when he broke down a few minutes ago.

"I thought about what you said when you comforted me." Tails said. "When I pictured myself in Sonic's situation, I realized that I would've done the same thing."

"I am glad I found a way to help with your grief over Sonic's death." Metal said.

Tails covered up the back of Metal and put back the screws that held it in place. Just before Metal was about to stand up, Tails stopped him.

"Hold on. I still need to do one for thing to you."

Metal sat back down, a bit confused by the order. "What is it?" He asked

"Just hold still." Tails replied as he began to unscrew the back of Metal's head.

Once he had removed the back of Metal's head, Tails got a small chip out out and installed it inside his head. After about a few minutes of tinkering, he put the back of his head back on.

Once he had screwed the back of Metal's head back on he began to walk away. Which Metal noticed.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"I just need to test something out. I'll be right back." Tails replied.

He walked past the Tornado and turned towards some trees, disappearing from Metal's view.

About a minute later, Metal heard some beeping. It took about a few seconds to process what it was, but he realized it was similar to the sound his old internal radio made.

Metal answered it, assuming it would work the same, and not a second later, he heard Tails' voice.

"Metal, can you hear me?"

Metal paused for a second before responding. "Yes, I can hear you."

"Okay, you're coming out a little fuzzy on my end, but I can understand what you're saying."

Tails then hung up and Metal saw him exit the forest and walk back over to him.

"You installed a radio for me." Metal said. "Were you lying when you said you destroyed the radio?"

Tails scratched the back of his head. "Well, I did study it for a day to see how it worked before destroying it." He explained. "Created this one during the week we were preparing to search for the emeralds."

"If you had it made before we left, then why did you wait until now to install it in me?"

"Well, I wanted to install it once we got back to my house, but after what happened, I figured it's better if we had a way keep in touch in case we're separated."

"I see." Metal replied.

Tails then walked over to the Tornado and took out the fake arm. "Come on, let's do some quick practice with the arm before we go."

He swung the arm at Metal for a bit until he caught it. To Tails' surprise though, Metal didn't break the arm. He instead gave a slow, very light punch to Tails' head.

"Huh." Tails said in surprise of the result of the training this time. "Guess something happened in that cave to make you learn some restraint."

Metal nodded. "Affirmative."

Tails then put the arm back in the Tornado. "Come on, we still have a Chaos Emerald to retreve."

Metal nodded before running over to the Tornado and getting on it. Once he was on, they flew off to the final emerald.

In the air, the Tornado flew towards it's destination.

"Metal, I want to tell you something." Tails said as he piloted the plane.

"What is it?" Metal asked.

"When we arrive at Angel Island with the emeralds, I want you to stay at the Tornado while I deliver the emeralds to Knuckles."

Metal tilted his head. "Why?"

"I think it's best if I deliver them alone. We don't know how Knuckles will react to you, he could think you're still working with Eggman."

"I see, and what about your other friends?"

"I think it's best if I introduce you to them gradually." Tails replied. "I'm sure saving that person in the cave probably helped, but people probably still think you're still with Eggman and helping others might be an act."

Metal was silent at that.

"Look once we're done with this, we can continue helping others, get more people to realize you don't work with Eggman anymore." Tails continued. "I'll also have the others visit to help show that you're good now. That might help a bit as well."

"If that is what you want to do, then it is fine by me." Metal said. "I understood the process was not going to be a short one."

Tails simply nodded. "You still have a long ways to go before people accept you."

They continued flying the Tornado in silence.

A few hours later, they landed at a clearing near the location of the final emerald.

As they got off the plane, Tails checked for the location of the emerald.

"Okay, it looks like we're not far from the emerald." Tails said as he looked at the Miles Electric. "It should be in that direction."

He pointed to his right. Metal turned in that direction and saw that the area contained a lake and a small path nearby that led up to a cliff that towered above the two. Using his emerald locator, he detected that the emerald was on top of the cliff.

"The emerald is located on top of that cliff." He stated pointing to where it was.

Tails turned his head to where Metal was pointing. "Huh." He said. "Guess it wasn't as far as I thought."

He then turned to Metal. "Why don't you get it? You can easily fly up there with your thruster, right?"

Metal analyzed the cliff and it's height, comparing it to his thrusters current condition.

"I can reach it with my thruster." Metal stated.

He then turned to Tails. "Are you sure you are going to be okay by yourself? I can easily take you with me."

"I'll be fine." Tails replied. "Besides, it shouldn't take you too long to get the emerald."

Metal turned back to the cliff. "If you say so."

He then activated his thruster and flew to the cliff, leaving Tails alone.

Tails leaned against the Tornado. He thought about all the events that had happened over the past few weeks. It was clear that these events were going to stick with him for a long time. Almost similar to when Sonic saved him from the bullies when he first met him.

His thoughts then wandered to Sonic. He wondered what he would think of this situation. While collecting Chaos Emeralds was definitely something he and Sonic did, the fact that the robotic version of him was accompanying Tails was definitely an oddity. Tails figured that he would probably react the same say he did, not trusting Metal at first, but eventually realizing that he's turned good.

Like most of Tails' recent thoughts on Sonic, they inevitably led to him thinking about his recent death.

He no longer blamed himself for Sonic's death, but there was still a question lingering from within his mind.

Was he ready to move on from Sonic's death?

Sure Metal had helped him get better with coping with his death. But accepting that Sonic wasn't coming back and moving on, that seemed like a hard thing to do. He wasn't even sure it was something that even Metal could help him with.

It was becoming clear to Tails that he was going to have to do that step on his own.

His thoughts were then interrupted when he heard the Miles Electric beeping.

Picking it up, he saw that the screen was notifying him of an incoming call.

He at first assumed Metal was calling to let him know that he found the emerald, but with how short the distance was between the Tornado, and where the emerald was supposedly located, he would've assumed Metal would just fly back to him after finding the emerald.

He answered it anyway, and a voice came through.

"Tails, is that you?" It sounded a bit panicked, but Tails identified the voice as Amy's

"Amy?" Tails asked, surprised that she was calling.

He heard her give a sigh of relief. "It's a good thing I managed to reach you."

"Why, what's going on?" Tails asked, a bit confused.

"Knuckles just came over to my house and told me Eggman came and took the four Chaos Emeralds there." Amy explained. "Where are you right now?"

Tails looked at the cliff. "I'm looking for the last emerald." He answered.

"Get out of there now!" Amy cried out. "Eggman might be coming for you to get the emeralds!"

Tails was quiet for a few moments before he hung up, thinking about what Amy said. Looking around, he didn't see any signs that Eggman had been here. If he had been here, they would've encountered a few robots.

He then realized Metal hadn't returned with the emerald yet. He would've thought that it was taking awhile for him to locate the emerald, but after Amy's call, he wasn't so sure.

Just then, it struck him that Metal was all alone, with the two emeralds they had retrieved, and searching for the last one.

Realizing what this meant, he quickly dialed Metal's radio, hoping he was not too late.

At the same time, Metal had reached the top of the cliff and was searching for the emerald. Following the tracker to where the emerald should be though, he found that the emerald was not there.

He scanned the area three more times to make sure the tracker was not faulty. But each time, it read that the emerald was in the area.

Metal was confused. Where could the emerald be if he could not see it despite detecting it?

He then heard his radio beep, and he answered it.

"Metal are you there?" Tails' voice asked, sounding a bit frantic.

"Affirmative." Metal responded. "I am still looking for the emerald. Despite what my tracker is telling me, it is not here."

"Get out of there now!" Tails yelled. "It's a trap! Eggman is going to…."

Before he could hear Tails finish his sentence, Metal felt an electric shock that distorted what Tails said into gibberish. He also collapsed onto the ground as a result of the shock.

Slowly getting up, he realized that this electric shock was very familiar. Just like the one when Eggman attacked Tails' house.

"Metal? Metal are you there? The connection seemed to go out for a bit?" He heard Tails ask, clearly concerned.

Just before he was about to reply, another shock came, cutting the connection and forcing him back onto the ground. He then heard very familiar laughing.

Looking up, he saw the Doctor himself walking out from behind some trees. He was holding the emerald in one hand, and a device in the other. He approached Metal looked down on him with an evil grin on his face.

"Hello Metal Sonic." He said. "Long time no see."

Back at the Tornado, Tails was staring at the Miles Electric. When he tried to warn Metal about Eggman, the connection was disrupted a bit. At first, Tails assumed the radio was malfunctioning.

Then, the call disconnected.

Tails knew that with how Metal is now, he would never disconnect on him without a reason. His sudden disconnection could only mean one thing.

Eggman had got to him.

Tails realized that he couldn't stand here and do nothing. But unlike Metal, he couldn't fly up a cliff that high with just his two tails.

He looked at the path leading up to the cliff, and realized his only option on getting to Metal

Tossing the Miles Electric to the ground, he began running on the path that led to the top of the cliff as fast as he could. As he ran, he prayed he wasn't too late.

Back on top of the cliff, Eggman stared at the collapsed Metal, who glared back up at him.

"You..." Metal said.

Eggman gave a small chuckle. "It's certainly been awhile hasn't it. I see that fox repaired you after our last encounter. Of course, I should know because I've seen you destroy my robots."

Metal simply continued to glare at him while he brought one of his arms back with his hand in a fist. Just as he did that however, another electrical shock hit him.

"Tsk Tsk Tsk." Eggman said shaking his head at Metal. "I thought you would've figured out that you can't attack me. I thought I built you better then that, or did my attack scramble your memory a bit."

He then used his foot to roll Metal on his back and began to search him, continuing to talk as he did so. "I do have you say, you still had a bit of use for me then I thought. When I found that you had abandoned your search for the Chaos Emeralds, I was disappointed and angry."

He then took one of the emeralds from Metal and examined it. "Of course, then I realized I could just take the Emeralds from Angel Island and wait for you to retrieve the last emerald."

He then looked back at Metal. "So I have you to thank for me getting all 7 chaos emeralds."

Metal was horrified at this. While he had expected Eggman to try to get the emeralds, he never expected him to ambush him like this.

Eggman then took the other emeald from him and put it away. "Thank you for helping me Metal. Unfortunately for you, with Sonic gone, I no longer have any more use for you. Now I'm going to finish you off."

Eggman then walked away. Metal got up, hoping that he could get away while Eggman wasn't looking. Unfortunately, just as he got up, another electrical shock came through him.

"Ah ah ah." Eggman said looking back at him. "You're gonna have to stay where you are."

He then walked back into the forest. A few seconds later, Metal heard Eggman's ship start up and he emerged from the trees in it.

A cannon then emerged from the bottom of the ship and aimed right at Metal. He tried to inch away from him, moving closer to the edge of the cliff. He then felt another shock that caused him to stop moving.

"Stay still will you." Eggman said with slight frustration.

He then managed to aim it at Metal.

"Farewell, Metal Sonic."

Just as he fired the cannon, Metal saw Tails emerge from behind Eggmans ship. It was the last thing he saw before the blast hit him and his optic sensors cut out.

The moment the blast hit Metal, Tails froze for a second. Shocked at what happened, and watching Eggman fly away, not noticing Tails as he did so.

Of course, Tails' main concern right now was Metal, and he ran over to the cliff and jumped off it. Looking down, he saw Metal falling towards the water. He had expected Metal to activate his thruster, but he was still falling down towards the water.

As Tails got closer to him, using his tails to get there sooner, he reached his hand out in order to grab him.

Just as they were about to reach the water, Tails managed to grab Metal's arm and made his Tails hover in the air.

He then flew towards the sand near the water, collapsing as soon as they were above it.

Breathing heavily from exhaustion, Tails checked on Metal. He didn't appear badly damaged, but he searched him, hoping the emeralds were still there. To his dismay though, he didn't find them.

Collapsing on top of Metal, he began to drift asleep. As he did so, there was only one thought running through his mind.

What was he going to do now?

Author's Note: And now we have another cliffhanger. I can't exactly spoil what happens in the next chapter, though expect another emotional moment.

Also I've figured out how the rest of this story is going to go. Essentially, the final chapter total for this story will be 22. So there are about 5 chapters left for this story.

Not only that, but this story has reached over 20,000 views. Once again, I thank you all for getting it there, I never imagined it getting this much when I started this story. It's also almost at 100 followers, which I also thank you for.

See ya next time.