Aaaaand I'm back! New chapter hooray! Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or locations. They belong to Sega.


Chapter 2: Return of a Lost Life

"What's up Knuckles?" a male voice said to Knuckles.

"No time for games, Sonic! Give me the Emeralds you have! Right now!" Knuckles shouted.

"What?! Let's see you take 'em, huh!" Sonic responded. Both opponents fought for some time in which at the end they ran towards each other giving their all, but Knuckles gained the upper hand and knocked off two Chaos Emeralds from Sonic.

"Oh no the Chaos Emeralds!" Sonic yelled. Unfortunately a large man with a mustache appeared in a mechanized vehicle blocking his path. "Ahhh! Eggman!"

Dr. Eggman pressed a button on the machine which brought out a cyan light under him which picked up the Chaos Emeralds as he held one of them.

"Ha… like taking candy from a baby!" Dr. Eggman mocked. Knuckles ran toward Eggman with visible anger.

"That's a Chaos Emerald!" the red echidna said in anger.

"That's right, fool, you made it all too easy! You practically gave them to me!" the human male said.

"Hold it right there, creep! You can't get away with this!" Sonic turns to Knuckles in confusion. "Knuckles, don't tell me Eggman tricked you again?"

"Me? What about you?" Knuckles questioned back.

"Way to go, Knucklehead!" the blue hedgehog scolded.

"Now, I have four lovely emeralds… Chaos…" Suddenly a puddle of blue liquid appeared next to Dr. Eggman. "These are for you my friend." he said tossing the emeralds towards the creature. Its power made Chaos morph into a larger form which was stronger than its initial one.

"Ah! He transformed again!" another voice coming from Tails spoke.

"Man, no one ever cuts us any slack!" Sonic complained.

"Hey Sonic, how are you doing up there?!" a yellow fox by the name of Tails shouted towards the famous hero, Sonic the Hedgehog. The person in question was resting on one of the wings of the Tornado as it flew in the skies, its rotor buzzing around the large open space above the ocean.

Sonic didn't answer back immediately as he was currently enjoying a chili dog while lying on the wing in a lazy position, eyes half closed in bliss. His ears twitched upon hearing his best friend call out to him and taking a gulp, he looked down at the two-tailed kitsune and gave a thumbs up with a grin.

"Doing alright so far buddy! So are we almost there yet?!" the blue hedgehog replied. The sound of the engine coming from the plane was somewhat loud that the two had to shout to each other so they can hear one another.

"It'll be at least another five minutes Sonic! Hopefully when we get there he should still be at the altar!" Tails asked him, keeping his blue eyes trained on the path ahead as he navigated the Tornado across clear skies. Sonic nodded and focused his gaze up at the open air.

'It's been a month and we haven't heard back from you Knuckles. I hope everything's alright with you.' Sonic thought in concern. He cared about his red echidna friend since he was the third member of Team Sonic, but lately the emerald guardian hasn't said or sent anything to them as of late. Tails gave Knuckles a communicator in case he was needed or is in need of help, but so far there was no response. Both he and the yellow fox tried to get a hold of him but the ring kept going and eventually cut off. This got them worried and upon hitting thirty days with nothing they decided to take a trip to Angel Island to check up on him.

'It's strange that you'd be this silent Knucklehead. I get that you have your duty to protect the Master Emerald but you should at least talk to us. You may be a bit of a loner but that doesn't mean you'll always be alone.' Sonic said internally.

"Sonic I can see the island up ahead! Get ready for landing!" Tails announced. Both of them watched in front to see the large floating atoll coming up in their view, its enormous mountains and spread-out forests greeting them. Both smiled at coming back to it, knowing that once they land they'll hopefully meet up with their red tempered friend.

Upon landing, Sonic grabbed Tails by the hand as the blue hedgehog took off in his signature speed. The rush that the yellow fox felt was incredible, smiling as stuff like this never got old. Sonic himself smirked and navigated through the dense jungle, weaving through trees and dodging several obstacles such as torn logs, bushes and large boulders.

It didn't take long for them to reach the emerald altar as Sonic slowed down and released his hold on Tails, the two friends walking towards the ancient structure and looking up at the Master Emerald above.

"Alright let's see if Knux is up there. He has me worried sick!" Sonic said. Tails giggled as both starting walking up the steps, the glow of the Master Emerald getting brighter the closer they got. Its power was felt upon the two, knowing that the sacred gem can imbue one or many with unlimited energy that can be used for anything they want. Whether it be used for good or evil, there was no boundaries that the Master Emerald can't handle.

The duo reached the top with the Master Emerald shining in front of them. Around them also sat the seven Chaos Emeralds in their own pillars, radiating their own unique aura in different colors. Upon looking around however, they did not see the focus of their trip in sight.

"He's not here? Do you think he might've went somewhere around the island?" Tails asked Sonic.

"Doubt it. He's really serious about his duty as guardian that if he were to do something like that it would be near the Master Emerald. Not only that, but we would've been caught in one of his traps back there." the blue hedgehog explained.

"That is strange… Knuckles would've made a cage or tripwire to catch us off-guard, but we haven't seen any of that in the forest." Tails said.

"Maybe he's just being lazy today. I mean he spends everyday just sitting there like a bum protecting the thing." Sonic replied with a smirk. The two-tailed kitsune rolled his eyes. "I can think of one other person who's like that too when he's not running…"

"Hey cut me some slack! At least I go out more unlike Mr. Grumpy here hehe." Sonic said chuckling. Tails simply sighed as the two scanned the area. "Alright let's start looking then."

Sonic ran at high speeds around the area quickly covering ground while Tails had a radar device on him to check for any signs of life. The two spent several minutes checking every part of the perimeter around the altar with Sonic at times disappearing into the forest and looking beyond. He came back a couple of times with a shake of his head, indicating that he could not find their friend. Tails also flew into the air to get better sight above but after roaming around for some time he came back down with his head lowered and sighing.

"It's no use we can't find him anywhere Sonic. I think he might be off the island or something." Tails sadly explained. The cobalt hero grunted in frustration. "He could be underground maybe. Knucklehead likes to dig a lot so maybe he's looking for treasure."

"My radar can pick up lifeforms under the earth but it didn't show anything. Just bugs and stuff." Tails gathered his things he used for the search and placed them in a backpack he had. "We should probably check out Station Square. It isn't likely he'll be there but who knows."

Sonic sighed. "Alright buddy we'll do that. There's no way Knuckles would leave the Master Emerald unguarded. There's just no way." he said as the two started leaving the altar.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Tails' ears twitched. "Huh what was that?"

Sonic looked at him in confusion. "What was what?" he replied. Tails' ears twitched again as the noise came to him once more. "I'm hearing a faint sound."

Thump.

Thump.

This time Sonic's ears also twitched, his eyes widening. "Hey you're right Tails, I also hear it!"

"Yeah, it's coming from the Master Emerald!" Tails said as he and the Blue Blur ran back towards the large green gem and observed its beauty.

Thump!

Thump!

"It's coming from inside the emerald!" Tails said in shock. Sonic was also astonished yet shook his head. "Don't tell me Knuckles got trapped inside the emerald?! That dummy!"

The yellow fox got closer to the Master Emerald, raising a gloved hand to feel its surface. He observed the green light emanating from its center, trying to see if their red friend was indeed trapped within. He got even closer to which his blue eyes were centimeters away.

THUMP!

A hand instantly met his gaze as Tails screamed in fright, tumbling backwards erratically and falling onto his rear. Sonic went up to him in concern. "You alright?" he said.

"T-There's s-someone in there!" Tails stuttered. Sonic got back onto his feet and looked at the emerald; he indeed sees a hand touching it from the inside. Another hand appeared next to it as well, the blue hedgehog watching curiously.

"How the heck did he get stuck in there?" Sonic said to himself. However his expression turned into shock upon whatever was inside revealing itself to the two: ocean-blue eyes stared back at them with a desperate look and a ghostly aura around their form.

"Yo Tails I don't think that's Knuckles!" the blue hedgehog approached the emerald and placed his hands on where the being's was. The person inside was moving its mouth in desperation but unfortunately no sound was coming out from them.

"They're trying to say something Sonic!" Tails asked him. The two watched as the being inside raised their hands up above in a gesture.

"Do you know what they're saying? I can't read lips." Sonic questioned Tails who answered with a shake of his head. "No I can't, but I feel like I've seen that posture before."

The being inside frantically raised their hands up in the air, mouth moving but as before no sound coming out of it. Their eyes watched them in panic as their expression was one of both fright and sadness.

Sonic had a hand under his chin in thought, trying to think of what they could be meaning. His thoughts came back to Knuckles and all the adventures they've been through, from meeting one another for the first time to becoming friends, beating Dr. Eggman, fighting several enemies, watching him do strange things with the Master Emerald.

'Wait that's it!' Sonic's eyes widened as he looked at Tails. "I think I know what they're trying to tell us!"

"What is it then?" the two-tailed kitsune asked. Sonic looked back at the being inside who watched with a bit of happiness, seeing that the cobalt hero might've gotten the hint.

"It's something I saw Knuckles do before to deactivate the emeralds I think. I kind of remember the words he said back then but I'm not sure if it'll work." Sonic explained. Tails looked at him with a raised eyebrow but then smiled. "Well if you remember then give it a try! Maybe they'll know what happened to Knuckles!"

Sonic nodded and raised his hands up in the air upfront the Master Emerald.

"The servers are the seven Chaos! Chaos is power, power is enriched by the heart! The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos!"

Suddenly the Master Emerald began to glow brighter as the two immediately covered their eyes. The light engulfed the entire altar which lasted for several seconds as the Chaos Emeralds around them also reacted to the light, illuminating themselves stronger just like the larger gem. Eventually the glow dimmed and the emeralds receded back to their original glows.

Sonic and Tails slowly uncovered their eyes to look up ahead, watching the altar appear right before them again. Only this time it wasn't just the two of them anymore.

"No way…" Sonic was awestruck.

The two were looking at a female orange echidna with a jeweled headpiece, necklace, and arm cuffs along with a white blouse, tribal-pattered skirt, and sandals with white wrappings around her legs and quills. Two gloves covered her hands with blue bracelets on her wrists which were both on her chest clasped together, while her eyes were closed as well. She stood there silently for a few seconds until she slowly opened her eyes, sapphire orbs blinking several times and looking around.

"I…I am… alive again?" she said. However her gentle presence didn't last long as her expression turned into a frightened one as she settled her gaze upon Sonic and Tails. "You must help!" she asked.

Sonic shook his head of the confusion he was experiencing. "Wait wait wait what's going on? What happened to our friend?"

"Yeah, we came here to look for Knuckles but instead freed you from being inside the Master Emerald. Do you have any idea what happened to him?" Tails questioned. The orange echidna lowered her eyes along with her hands.

"Yes, I know what happened to him…" she answered dully.

"Great! So where'd that ole Knucklehead go?" Sonic grinned while scratching his head. "I mean I'm kind of starting to remember you from back then but it's sort of a blur. I do remember fighting a giant water monster though."

"Yes, I do remember the time you defeated Chaos, but that is not of the concern right now. You must find him!" she said raising her voice.

"You mean Knuckles?" Tails asked her. She nodded while clasping her hands again. "He has renounced his duty as guardian and has disappeared!"

"…wat?"

End of Chapter 2


Oooh boy I wonder what'll happen next! Stay tuned and til next time!