Chapter 3 – The Rescue

The freedom fighters sat around a camp fire that had been made in the centre of the village. Bunnie sat on her own in a corner sobbing, blaming herself for Antoine's death. Sally was just sitting there staring at the fire, a pale expression on her face. Amy had taken the news pretty hard. Ever since they had come back and told everyone what had happened, Amy had been shut up in her hut sobbing into a pillow. Sonic wasn't there either, he too had been shut up in his hut since he had returned to the village also. So much had happened lately that the freedom fighters were all in a state of shock. In the infirmary Knuckles was resting. He was still very weak from his attack and Espio had been looking after him. Right now he was asleep, dreaming.

"You will die." a voice said.

Knuckles spun to see who said it but no-one was there. Suddenly a harsh pain in his back made him collapse. He fell to his knees and looked up. Snively appeared holding the Master Emerald.

"You will never get this back!" he said and laughed.

"No, you…..argh!" said Knuckles and dropped his gaze.

"Help me!" a voice said in his mind, "Help me please. I am close!"

Knuckles awoke with a start and Espio ran to his side.

"Hey Knuckles, you ok?"

"I don't know. I just had a weird dream. I dreamt…….wait."

He paused and looked from one wall to the other.

"I sense it."

"What?" asked Espio.

Knuckles made a move to leave his bed but was hit by a wave of pain from his back.

"Argh!" he cried and fell to the floor.

Espio helped him onto his feet.

"I must get outside." he said and brushed Espio off.

He walked shakily towards the door.

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Over in Sonic's hut, Sonic was having a hard time.

"I should have saved him. DAMMIT I SHOULD HAVE SAVED HIM!!!" he said to himself as he picked up a vase from the table and threw it across the room. It hit the opposite wall and shattered. Sonic sunk to his knees next to the bed and buried his head in his arms.

"Tails!" he wailed.

He looked up and caught sight of a picture of him and Tails playing baseball together. He was suddenly filled with a flash of determination. He got up, opened the door of his hut and walked out.

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Back at the fire Sally looked up and caught sight of Sonic moving past.

"Sonic?" she enquired, "Are you ok?"

Sonic only looked at her out of the corner of his eye and continued on.

"Sonic?! Where are you going?"

The rest of the freedom fighters had now noticed him and were looking at him. Sonic ignored them and continued on. Sally leapt from her log and cut him off.

"Sonic! Where are you going?!"

"Out of my way Sal!" he said in a harsh tone, "Just get out of my way!"

"Sonic! Where are you going?"

"WHY DO YOU CARE?!" he yelled.

This sudden outburst caught Sally by surprise and she staggered back.

"Be…..be…..because I love you Sonic." she stammered as a tear welled in her eye.

"I know! said Sonic harshly and continued to walk.

"Sonic?!" Sally insisted.

Sonic whirred around, anger in his eyes.

"I was there Sally, so where you! I SHOULD HAVE SAVED HIM!!! Now who knows what has happened to him!"

"Sonic, you can't go after him alone. We need to organise, recover and then try." said Sally.

"By which time it will be too late!" cried Sonic.

"SONIC YOU CAN'T GO!" Sally screamed at him.

Sonic suddenly faltered and fell into her arms.

"God I miss him Sal." he cried.

"We all do Sonic. We will rescue him but we have to wait until……"

"IT'S YOU!!!!!" came a scream.

Everyone spun to see a red echidna lying on the floor next to Sally's open rucksack. He was holding a small green gem, the Master Emerald.

"I've found you at last." said Knuckles as he held the gem closer.

The freedom fighters had starting to gather around him now and Sonic pushed his way to the front.

"Knuckles what are you doing?"

"I sensed the Emeralds presence. And now I will restore it." replied Knuckles. He chanted something under his breath and suddenly the Master Emerald glowed bright green and enlarged to its full size. Knuckles was also enveloped in a green glow. The glow disappeared and Knuckles got to his feet, much to the surprise of the freedom fighters. He moved his hand across to his chest bandages and torn them off in one go. The surrounding freedom fighter gasped as they saw his wounds had completely healed.

"Knuckles……what…….what just happened?" asked Sonic.

"I restored the Master Emerald." replied Knuckles, "The powers of the Emerald are quite great. Now I must return to my Island and restore it as well."

"Hey wait Knuckles!" cried Sonic, "What do you mean 'I must return to my island'? We saved you, the least you can do is help us!"

Knuckles turned and started to walk away. Espio caught his arm.

"Erm Knuckles I think we should stay."

"Why? The Master Emerald will restore the Island. That is all that matters to me now." replied Knuckles.

"Knuckles, just listen to what they have to say."

Knuckles finally agreed and Sonic explain, with a few sobs, what had happened. When he was finished Knuckles sat looking at his knees. He raised his head.

"So Tails is…"

"Yes he has probably been robotisised by now." said Sonic, closing his eyes.

"And this Snively has the Chaos Emeralds?"

"Yes. Even if you restore the Floating Island Snively will just blow it out of the sky with his cannon."

Knuckles fell into thought. After a few minutes he looked up.

"Sonic. I have an idea. If I can get near enough to the cannon I may be able to shut it down using the Master Emerald."

"We had that though but put it aside due to your injury. But now…."

Sonic turned to Sally.

"Sal. We have to go now."

"Sonic, we can't." replied Sal, "We have to plan and….."

"SAL! Don't give me your 'we have to plan' crap again!" interrupted Sonic, "Tails is my oldest friend and I won't have him suffer as my Uncle Chuck did! It's not fair on him! Besides the longer we wait the more Snivley will destroy with that cannon!"

Sally sighed. She knew he was right but couldn't admit it to herself. She didn't want anyone else to be captured or die. Antoine and Tails had been enough to last her for years. If something happened to Sonic or anyone else she knew she would go mad. She finally decided to give in.

"You're………" she sighed, "….you're right Sonic. I just wish there was another way."

Sonic put his arm around her.

"So do I Sal, but we are out of options."

"So when do we go?" asks Knuckles.

"Tomorrow night." replied Sonic, "Tomorrow night."

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Sonic stuck his head over a wall.

"Ok, we're clear." he called to Sally and Knuckles.

The three of them darted out from behind the wall, crossed the street and dive into a pile of metal.

"So far so good. Eh Sonic." said Knuckles.

"Just like old times." he replied.

"Shh you two. We have to get past those bots." said Sally and indicated towards several swatbots patrolling a courtyard.

"No problem Sal. Let me take em." replies Sonic.

Sonic leapt out of the metal hiding hole and sped towards the bots. He jumped into the air and shot at the two swatbots in a ball. They turned but not quick enough and Sonic's attack knocked them flying. Sally and Knuckles join him.

"Very nice Sonic." commented Knuckles.

"Thanks. Come on we have to hurry."

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In his office, Snively watched the progress of the freedom fighters on his radar.

"Hmm. I like it how they think I haven't noticed them. It plays right into my hands. Tails!"

"Yes master." said the metal fox, entering through the far door.

"Go and see to our guests. Make sure they pay there bill!"

The robotic fox seemed to smiles and left the room. Snively leaned towards his communication unit.

"How is the cannon charge doing?"

"Cannon charge at 75%. Estimate 100% charge in 4 hours." came a swatbots voice from the other end.

"Good."

Snively sat back and laughed.

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"Ok Sal. Have Nicole break this lock." whispered Sonic as the three of them approached the building housing the cannon.

"Right. Nicole prepare for….."

"I don't think so!" said a voice.

The three freedom fighters look around but no-one is there. They finally looked up as they heard jet sounds. Out of the low cloud layer a figure emerges. It hovered using jets on its feet and finally landed on the ground. The three gasped.

"TAILS!" cried Sonic.

"Yes Sonic. It's your old friend." the figure replied.

Sonic looked at his friend. His orange body and tails have been replaced by cold hard metal and his eyes glow red. Tails saw the look on Sonic's face.

"Yes this is what I am now. I am now in Snively's service and now……." he closes his eyes for a second only to open them again, "…..it is time to kill you!"

Tails suddenly took a step backwards with one foot and smiled. Just then several blades folded out of Tails' metal tails creating a razor sharp edge on them both.

"How do you like that Sonic? Pretty nice huh?" said Tails and suddenly lunged at Sonic spinning his metal tails round.

Sonic jumped just in time and Tails' attack ended up carving a huge hole in the wall behind him.

"Tails. I don't want to hurt you!" cries Sonic.

"Well that's too bad Sonic because I don't care." replied Tails and spun again.

This time the attack hits Sonic's arm, cutting deeply and causing it to bleed heavily. Sonic screamed and fell over, collapsing into a pile of rubbish. Tails didn't stop as he launches another attack at Sonic. Sonic managed to dodge it and sprang off a wall, curling into a ball and hitting Tails in the chest. Tails was sent flying backwards and hit a wall leaving a large hole in it. He picked himself up.

"Very impressive. But not as good as this."

Tails's jet boots powered up and he shot towards Sonic. Sonic stood his ground and jumped as Tails swung at him. He jumped too late however and the tip of Tails' tail caught his foot sending him flying into a pile of metal. Sonic groaned and blinked. He looks up to see Tails standing over him.

"And now to finish this." he says as he raised his tails for a final strike.

"NOW NICOLE!!!!!!" cries Sally.

"What?!" said Tails as he turned to see Sally standing there holding Nicole. Suddenly a large blast of energy erupted from Nicole and hit Tails.

"ARGH!" he screamed and fell to the ground, "Wha? What was tha….."

Tails collapsed. Sonic got up and looked at Sally.

"What was that?!" he asked.

"Nicole generated a large EMP pulse that knocked out Tails. Come here and let me see to that cut."

"A what pulse?" he asked.

"EMP. Electro magnetic pulse. It shuts down any electronic object in the blast range."

Sally got out a med kit from her rucksack and bandaged Sonic's arm. Sonic looked at Tails.

"Sal. We gotta get him back to Knothole."

"Yes we do. But what about the cannon?"

"Forget the cannon. Snively obviously knows about us. If we try for the cannon we're going to fail. We gotta move." said Sonic, picking up the robotic Tails.

"Wait." commanded Knuckles, "Someone else is here"

"You are correct echidna." came a voice.

"Show yourself dammit!" Knuckles commanded, his eyes filled with rage that Sonic and Sally couldn't understand.

"Well since you asked so nicely." the voice said.

Out of nowhere there is a shimmer and a blue robot appears.

"Metal Sonic!" cried Sonic, "I though I destroyed you on the Stardust Speedway!"

"You did, but then Snively came and found me. He rebuilt me and now I work for him."

He turned to Knuckles.

"You're stronger than you look echidna. I'll have fun finishing you off this time."

"Not if I finish you first!" cried Knuckles and lunged at him.

Metal Sonic vanished and then appeared behind Knuckles, giving him a little push and sending him flying into a pile of rubbish.

Knuckles growled at him, "Why don't you play fair you coward!"

Metal Sonic's eyes glowed.

"You echidna," he said pointing at Knuckles, "you have a deal!"

Metal flicked his hands down and several large metallic claws extended. Knuckles took a step back with one foot and extended his opposite arm into his fighting stance. The two looked at each other for a moment. Suddenly Metal rushed at Knuckles, claws extended. Knuckles spun to the side and hit Metal in the side as he passed, sending him crashing into a wall. Metal picked himself up and charged again. This time Knuckles leaped into the air, glided to a nearby building and drove his claw into the wall, making him hang there. Metal fired his boosters and joined Knuckles in the air.

"Come on Metal!" coaxed Knuckles, "You can do better than THAT!"

"I will have your head on a plate echidna!"

Metal charged at the wall bound echidna. Knuckles released and jumped upwards before quickly diving back down in a drill dive, smashing into Metals head and pile driving him into the ground. Knuckles got up and jumped back as Metal recovers to his feet. Metal was now badly beaten and was emitting sparks.

"Enough……..ffzzt……enough of this fair stuff…….ffzzt………prepare to die!"

Metal suddenly disappeared and Knuckles spun expecting him to appear behind him.

"Knuckles look out!" cried Sonic as Metal appears in what was in front of Knuckles. Knuckles spun and dropped to the deck as Metal swung a shot at his head. The blow grazes Knuckles head causing it to bleed. Knuckles leaped back out of range of Metal and put a hand to his head. He touches his cut and winces slightly.

"Well if you're not going to play fair, then neither will I!"

Knuckles punches the air once emitting a small glowing orb that quickly vanishes. He repeats it with his other hand. Metal was puzzled by this but has no time to move as Knuckles surges forwards in a dash punch. The strike hit Metal dead on and sent him flying into a wall followed by Knuckles' fist. Knuckles stood back to see Metal lying there, sparks flying.

"Ha it appears……ffzzt……that you have….ffzzt…..beaten me. But I….ffzzt……I will have the last laugh!"

He reached down and pressed a small button on his wrist. Out of no where a loud siren rung out.

"Oh cripes!" yelled Sonic, "He just set off all the alarms in the city!"

"You bastard!" yelled Knuckles, as he thrust his claws into Metals body. The strike completely vaporised his body and Metals eyes went black.

"Sonic, you're right. The cannon will have to wait. We have to get out of here." replied Sally.

"No problem Sal." he reaches inside his rucksack and removed a power ring, "Better grab on."

Knuckles grabbed Metal Tails body with one hand and grabbed Sonic with the other. Sally uses both hands.

"Here goes." said Sonic and raised the power ring.

He was suddenly engulfed by a massive light as the power ring activates. Sonic's feet revved up and suddenly the three of them found themselves moving at incredible speed back to Knothole.

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On a monitor Snivley watches.

"So you have rescued Tails. No matter. I have no more use for him, I have the information I require." he turns to the comm unit, "What is the charge rating?"

"85% sir. Estimate 3 hours until firing."

"Excellent. Soon Sonic, soon you will be nothing but a smoking hole"

Snively laughed.

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Sonic skidded to a halt in the middle of Knothole. Sally and Knuckles let go.

"Woah Sonic, that was…" Knuckles searched for the right word, "…cool?"

"Too right Knuckles."

Rotor appeared from around a corner.

"Hey Sonic you made it back. Did you…."

He suddenly saw Tails.

"OH GOD!" he cried and ran to a nearby attention bell and rang it, "Everyone come quickly!"

Within a few minutes most of the freedom fighters were gathered in the centre of the village and Sonic explained what had happened.

"So when did you hit him with that EMP?" asked Rotor.

"About an hour ago." replied Sally.

"Cripes. We better get the de-robotisiser ready. The effect will wear off soon." said Rotor.

Just then as if to make Rotors point, Tails twitched and there was a robotic buzz.

"Sonic, bring him inside NOW!" cried Rotor and headed for his workshop.

Sonic picked up Tails and quickly followed. He ran after Rotor and followed him into his workshop. The de-robotisiser stood in a corner.

"Sonic, put him in there now."

Sonic put Tails on the platform and Rotor pressed a control. The glass screen came down around the still unconscious Tails. Rotor pressed another control and the module charged. Suddenly Tails woke. He jumped to his feet and looked around.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" he screamed in a metallic voice.

"We're getting the old Tails back!" replied Sonic as Rotor pressed another control.

The procedure started.

"No!" cried the robot Tails as his legs returned to normal.

"Oh yes!" replied Sonic as Tails body appeared.

"You will never get him back." the robot replied as it folded out its tail blades and took a swing at the glass.

Suddenly several dials went red and Rotor suddenly looked worried. Gas was leaking out of the capsule.

"Sonic we gotta shut it down!" he cried.

"No!" replied Sonic a twinge of anger and fear in his voice.

"Sonic either we do or it will explode." he said, not waiting for a reply, and pressed a button.

The de-robotisiser shut down and the capsule rose. Sonic tried to see but there was too much smoke. Slowly the smoke cleared to reveal Tails. Sonic scanned him quickly. Legs, body, arms and head. All normal!

"Tails!" he cried and ran to his buddy.

Tails looked up and saw his friend.

"Sonic!" he cried.

"Tails, I'm glad you're back!" he replied as he hugged his friend. Suddenly Sonic screamed.

"ARGH!" he cried as he released Tails.

"Sonic what's wrong?" asked Rotor.

Sonic looked at his hand. It was bleeding quite badly from the middle. Sonic's face suddenly turned to one of fear and he looked behind Tails. Instead of seeing two furry tails he saw two metallic ones, blades still out. Tails looked around too. His face suddenly fell like a stone.

"SONIC!!!!!" he cried, "Wha…..wha……..WHAT HAPPENED?!?!"

The fox looked like he was about ready to fall over and die from shock.

"I…I….don't know Tails. Rotor?"

"Well I think that when Tails, that is Metal Tails, hit the casing he caused the de-robotisiser to malfunction and…..cut off the procedure before it was completely done."

Tails looked shocked and scared, "You mean I tried to stop you?"

They both looked a bit edgy, finally Sonic spoke.

"Erm….well yes, you did. But you were still robotic then and…."

"So you mean this is my fault?!" cried Tails his eyes filled with tears.

He couldn't bear it, he broke down on the floor and cried. Sonic put his arm around him.

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About an hour later a small gathering had formed outside of Rotor's workshop. Sonic finally poked his head out.

"Ok everyone, he's ready to come out but please try not to make a big deal of thing. He's a little sensitive right now."

The crowd nodded and Sonic opened the door to reveal Tails. The crowd gasped as they saw him.

"Oh ma stars!" cried Bunnie, "Sugah fox!"

She ran up to him and hugged him. Tails started crying again.

"It's ok sugah. We all fix the machine and get you your tails back!"

"But you don't understand!" sobbed Tails, "It was my fault!"

"Now then sugah don't you……." Bunnie started but was interrupted as Tails pushed her away.

"No Bunnie! It was my fault and I will live with it now!" he said his face filled with determination and anger.

He turned away. Suddenly a voice in the crowd made him spin.

"TAILS!!!!!"

"A…Amy!" Tails stammered as a pink hedgehog pushed her was through the crowd and ran towards him.

She reached him and flung her arms around him, careful to miss his tail blades. She kissed him.

"That was for coming back." she said and then quickly slapped him, "And that was for getting captured."

She looked at him her eyes filled with anger and joy. She finally gave in and collapsed on him again.

"Oh Tails I missed you."

"I missed you too Amy" replied Tails.

"Will y'all look at that!" said Bunnie as she watched Tails and Amy hug, "It nice to see them two sugahs back together."

"Sure is Bunnie." replied Sally, "But it worries me, what if he told Snively anything."

As the though struck her and filled her with dread it must have triggered something in Tails. He yelled out. Amy quickly withdrew and looked worried.

"Tails! What's what's wrong?" she asked.

"I have betrayed you all." he wailed at the top of his voice.

The crowd gasped and Sonic and Sally looked at him in fear.

"I……..I…….I….." stammered Tails, he couldn't say it. How could he tell his friends he had done? He finally spoke in a small voice.

"While I was robotisised, I…..I revealed the location of Knothole to Snively!"

Sonic and Sally gasped and the crowd went silent.

"OH MY GOD!" cried Sally, "We have to get out of here."

"It's too late Aunt Sally." Tails howled, "Snively's cannon will be ready to fire in…" he looked at his watch and howled again, "….in less than 10 minutes."

Sally whirled on Sonic.

"I TOLD YOU WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OUT THE CANNON!!!" she screamed at him, her eyes filled with fear, anger and shock.

"Sal….we……we didn't know!" stammered Sonic, his voice filled with fear.

Sally pulled out Nicole.

"Nicole. Using the data from the other strikes, what would the estimated damage be for a strike on Knothole?"

"Going on past figure complete destruction of Knothole would be achieved. Complete destruction of underground passages would also be achieved. Estimated safe distance 5 miles from centre of blast."

"That's not good." said Sonic.

"Sonic we have to get everyone out of here." replied Sally, the anger dropped from her voice.

"Yeah." said Sonic.

He leapt up onto the landing in front of Rotors workshop to addressed the crowd.

"Ok everyone. We are evacuating. Grab what you can and scat QUICK! Dulcy?"

"Right here Sonic." replied the dragon.

"I need you to help with the evacuation. Grab as many people as you can and fly them out of here."

"Righto Sonic."

"Sonic, we'll never make it. 5 mile in about 5 minutes. What about the kids?" asked Sally.

"I'll take them. Ok everyone lets move NOW!"

The crowd suddenly dispersed and ran from the village. Sonic rounded up the kids.

"Ok kids hang on." he said as he blazed from the village.

He tore through the forest and after a few minutes reached a small ridge in the forest some 8 miles from the village.

"Wait here kids. I'll be back in a Sonic second."

He tore off again back to the village. When he arrived clouds had started to gather over the village. Sally ran up to him followed by Espio and Knuckles.

"Sonic everyone is gone but I can't find Tails and Amy." said Sally worriedly.

"Knuckles get yourself, Sally and Espio out of here. I'll look for Tails and Amy."

"Right Sonic!" replied Knuckles, "Hold on you two, we're gliding outta here."

"Be careful Sonic and get out before the strike." Sally said through a sob.

"Will do Sal. Now scram. All of you!"

Sally and Espio grabbed onto Knuckles and he leapt into the air, spread his arms and started to glide. Sonic diverted his eyes back to the ground.

"Now to find Tails and Amy." he said to himself and looked at his watch. About two minutes left.

He shot off around the village calling Tails' and Amy's names. As he approached Tails' hut he heard a slight sobbing noise. Outside of Tails' hut sat Amy crying. Sonic raced over to her.

"Amy! We gotta get out of here. Where's Tails?"

"He's….he's inside. He won't….he won't come out." replied Amy.

"Oh no!"

Sonic banged on the door.

"Tails! Tails we gotta motor NOW!"

"Go away Sonic. I did this. I betrayed you all. I……..I deserve to DIE!" came Tails reply.

"Tails! Dammit you stubborn fox! You were a robotisised! You couldn't control yourself! NOW GET YOUR TWO TAILED BUTT OUT HERE NOW!!!"

There was a rustling inside and a sliding of metal and the door opened slowly. Tails stood there, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry Sonic!" he wailed and collapsed against the doorframe.

"Its ok bud but we gotta get outta here!"

He grabbed Tails by the arm and dragged him down the steps. Amy stood up and Sonic grabbed her arm.

"Juice time people." said Sonic and shot from the village.

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In Robotropolis the Chaos Cannon was fully charged. Snively smiled evilly.

"FIRE!" he commanded.

The cannon fired and sent its beam of energy towards Knothole.

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In Knothole, Sonic had just cleared the edge of the village when he heard a strange noise. He looked back to see a giant multicoloured laser beam streak out of the clouds above the village and shoot towards the ground.

"ARGH!" he cries as the beam hits the centre of Knothole village.

The beam tore into the ground ripping it apart and vaporising it as it went. Sonic put on a burst of speed as he saw several huts disappear in the blast, one of which is his. The beam continues to dig into the ground, the explosion getting closer. Sonic was suddenly overwhelmed with the power of the blast. He felt himself beginning to float, he start to move faster, his still partially yellow quills turn bright yellow and glowed.  Tails and Amy watch on as Sonic changed from the power of the blast. Sonic suddenly glowed bright yellow and his speed increases 3 fold. He shot from the forest at nearly the speed of light.

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Up on the ridge, Sally watches as the beam hits Knothole, tearing it apart. She looked away and fell into Bunnie's arms.

"Oh Bunnie. It's gone, our home is gone!" she sobbed.

"Ah know Sally girl. Ah know." replied Bunnie with a tear in her eye.

"But what's worse is………is……….is SONIC IS GONE TOO!!" cried Sally.

A tear fell from Bunnie's eye as the beam trailed off and the light faded to reveal a large crater in the location where Knothole once stood. Just then something caught her eye. She looks more closely. In the forest about a mile from the crater there was a soft yellow glow. The glow is gradually fading.

"Sally?" she said, "What in the heck is that?"

Sally looked at where Bunnie is pointing. Her eyes widened.

"Bunnie quickly. Grab a power ring and follow me."

She ran off in the direction of the glow.

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About 10 minutes later, Sally and Bunnie approach the area where the glow was. They moved out from behind a group of tree and both stared. There lying on the group was Sonic. His body is giving off a faint yellow glow. Tails and Amy sat around him. Amy was crying and Tails was hitting his fist off the ground.

"Sonic!" cried Sally and ran into the clearing, "Bunnie quick the power ring!"

Bunnie handed Sally the power ring and Sally placed it in Sonic's hand. The ring glowed and Sonic groaned. Suddenly he sat up.

"Woah!" he said, "That was close."

Just then he swooned and collapsed back onto the ground.

"Sonic!" cried Sally as she helped him up.

"It's ok Sal." replied Sonic, "I just need a little rest."

"Oh Sonic, I'm glad your ok." said Tails, "I feel responsible again. If I hadn't been so damn….."

"It's ok Tails. We got out and no-one was hurt. That's what counts."

He looked at Sally.

"So what do we do now?"

"I….I don't know. Knothole is gone…….we've…….we've got no where to go." replied Sally before breaking into tears and leaning on Sonic.

"I do." said a voice.

Everyone looked as Knuckles comes out of the forest followed by the remaining freedom fighter and Espio.

"Come with me back to my island. We will fight Snively from there."

"You sure Knuckles?" asked Sonic.

"Yes. I've been thinking about what you said earlier. You saved me and now I owe you. Therefore I will allow you to use my island until you find another home. Come on. The Master Emerald will restore the island."

He turned and started to walk off.

"Knuckles! Wait! How do we get there? The Tornado was destroyed! HOW?!" cried Sonic.

"I know how." said a small voice.

Everyone turned to see Tails standing there.

"Follow me. I'll show you."

Sonic and everyone else slowly followed Tails into the forest and away from Knothole.