Angel Island, Mobius. Third Person POV
Knuckles the echidna, guardian of the Master Emerald, was taking a nap, per usual, since no meddlesome bat had tried to steal it yet. Actually, Rouge hadn't been seen on the floating island at all since Sonic and Shadow disappeared a few months ago. Everyone was searching for the two, and Eggman had been quiet ever since the chaos emeralds vanished with them. He would have helped in the search, but his duty was obviously elsewhere. Someone had to protect the Master in case Eggman decided to make a grab for it.

Suddenly, the giant green jewel began to pulse and flash in an irregular pattern, waking the snoozing echidna. He muttered grumpily and sat up, but then jumped as soon as he realized what had awakened him. He stared up at his normally silent charge and tried to decipher what it was saying but to no avail, which confused him, since he could often see what the problem was. Then it suddenly flashed.

Inside the Master Emerald. Still 3rd Person POV

Sonic groaned and sat up, trying to understand what happened, only for his vision to be swashed in green. Did I hit my head too hard? He rubbed his eyes, but the scenery didn't change, so he decided to look around. He seemed to be in some sort of weird cage made out of a giant crystal, at least that was his guess. He looked beside him and saw Shadow was with him too, and the dark hedgehog began to stir and wake up.

"What happened?" he asked and massaged his head and took in their surroundings, "Sonic..."

"What is it, Shads?" the blue blur wondered, and his elder brother ignored the degrading nickname for once

"I think...we're inside the Master Emerald.."

Sonic immediately busted out laughing, "Oh come on! How can we be inside the M.E.? That's like physically impossible!"

"So is getting sucked into a book, traveling to different dimensions, and breathing in space," Shadow quipped instantly while listing them on his fingers. Sonic stopped laughing once he thought about all of the "impossible" things they had done and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Good point. Hehe."
You two finally remember. I was beginning to lose hope, a feminine voice called after them. The two hedgehogs spun around only to be blinded by a flash of green light that unknowingly blew back a certain red guardian.

"You would think they would give us warning before doing that," Sonic grumbled and sat up, where he found that they were outside of the Master Emerald. Shadow was already standing, and he helped his younger brother stand. Both hedgehogs were still getting used to that connection, but neither of them made it awkward and tried to act like they usually would, although they still had their moments of uneasiness.

"Hey! We're back on Mobius!" the blue hero exclaimed and would have taken off at a sprint had a familiar voice not called his name.

Oh Sonic. Shadow...We've waited a long time for the two of you to remember your past. Your bond.

"Tikal. Chaos," Shadow acknowledged in a small state of awe. It wasn't everyday you come face to face with the source of your power and technical "parents."

The two brothers stood in mute wonder in front of the powerful mutant Chaos and the peaceful echidna Tikal. She had tears brimming her eyes, as she hugged both their necks like she would never let go. They hugged her back, Sonic more quickly than Shadow, while Chaos stood to the side patiently. Once the three broke away, Sonic looked to the aqua male and rubbed his neck nervously.

"I guess I should apologize for what happened at Station Square. If I'd known, we probably could've just talked it out."

"What happened at Station Square?" Shadow asked with his arms crossed and a mild, questioning glare that still made Sonic shudder. He doubted that attribute would ever fade.

"We had a bit of a tiff awhile back before I met you. First time I went Super, and weeellll, it's a long story," he tried to explain. The older hedgehog sent him look that meant 'We'll talk about it later' but left it at that.

Chaos looked down at Shadow's inhibitor rings and said something in his native tongue that only Tikal could understand. She immediately took notice and grabbed the Ultimate Lifeform's wrist, who grimaced with all of the attention, something he wasn't used to. She traced a delicate finger over the amplified gold and could feel the ancient power flowing through them.

"Oh, my...," she whispered, "I was hoping it wouldn't have come to this already."

"Come to what?" Sonic spoke up with a hint of worry. Tikal looked up into Shadow's ruby eyes.

"You have already bound yourself to that world, and unless you complete your task...you will go down with the planet."

If that worried the ebony hybrid, he didn't show it but merely nodded understandingly, "I knew the risks involved. That world needs saving, and I chose this of my own free will. I will come back, I promise."

"We both will," Sonic chimed in and laid his hand on Shadow's shoulder reassuringly. And for once, he didn't shrug it off but merely faced him and nodded.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? Your friends have missed you, and who knows what the doctor has been up to," he asked, not liking the idea. The blue hedgehog grinned like he always did before an adventure.

"Of course I'm sure! I wouldn't let ya go back to retrieve the emeralds and save a world without me!" he replied with his signature thumbs up. Shadow rolled his eyes at the gesture but allowed a miniscule smile when his younger brother wasn't looking.

So the great Shadow does smile, a deep male voice echoed. Sonic was too busy talking to Tikal to notice, but Shadow's eyes widened as Chaos himself strode closer to him.

"Wha-? How?" the ebony hedgehog tried to understand hopelessly. The water creature chuckled, or at least, sounded like he was, and shook his head like an all-knowing parent.

The four of us are connected to the Master Emerald. Sonic will understand me in time, but since you have depended on the use of the power I granted you, you are the more fluent in chaos communication.

"I see," was all Shadow was able to say.

It was at that exact time Knuckles decided to make his presence known. He had no idea what was going on, and he hated not being in the know.

"Sonic? Shadow? Where were you guys!? The whole team has been looking for the two of you!"

The two hedgehogs looked over at the echidna, and Sonic dashed over to give him a fistbump. Shadow merely stayed with Tikal and Chaos, not wanting to disrupt the reunion.

"Knux, my man! It's great to see ya!" the blue blur said quickly, and if the guardian wasn't already used to it, he may have missed it altogether.

"Did the Master Emerald bring you back?"

"Only for a time. We will be going back to retrieve the remaining emeralds," Shadow answered in his normal calm and collected tone. However, Knuckles noticed the lack of hostility between the two normally bitter racing rivals.

"He does have a point," Sonic replied while jerking a thumb at his elder, "But that's not all; Shads here is just being modest. The world we landed in is falling apart, and he volunteered to help."

The hot tempered echidna watched with awe as Shadow didn't reprimand Sonic for the nickname, something that usually resulting in a wrestling match, and that the dark antihero's rings had new designs etched into them. There also seemed to be a mutual trust between the two.

"Well, it was good to see you, Knux, wish we could stay longer," Sonic said at last and was inwardly laughing at his friend, who was still trying to figure everything out. He could almost visualize the gears turning in his head.

"You can stay. I am more than capable of completing both tasks on my own," Shadow stated evenly, earning a look from Tikal.

Now who does that remind me of? Hmm? she said with a smirk in Chaos's direction. He simply crossed his arms moodily.

Sonic laughed, "And let you hog all the fun. No way! I already told ya I was going back, and there's no changing my mind about it."

"But what do I tell the others? They've been worried sick about you two! Tails, Amy, and Rouge, in particular," Knuckles asked.

Sonic rubbed his chin for a few seconds before answering, "Tell them that the M.E. told you that we're okay, and that we'll be back soon."

Knuckles' eyes narrowed in thought, but he a lowly nodded in agreement.

Are you ready? Tikal asked, as the two brothers turned their attention back to her, and they nodded resolutely.

Farewell, Sons of Chaos.

There was a blinding green flash, and the two hedgehogs vanished.