Sonya and Sonic entered a control room with large windows; Sleet and Dingo were there.
"Greetings hedgehogs. You're just in time, for your demise!" snarled Sleet.
"I don't think so! Spin and win time!" replied Sonic as he and Sonya spun around looking like small blue and pink tornadoes.
"Oh ho ho! Nice try, but I'm already ahead of you!" laughed Sleet; he transformed Dingo into a whip. Started whipping it around, managing to grab Sonic. Sleet began to cackle as he looked upon his prize.
"You leave my brother alone!" shouted Sonya. She jumps-kicked Sleet right across the face, grabbing the Dingo whip and loosened Sonic. Suddenly, the ship started to shake, and Sleet dropped his transforming tool as he slid off, Sonya managed to grab it and used the Dingo-whip to grab onto something to prevent her from sliding too, unfortunately, her communicator was destroyed in the process. Sonic fell on the control panel hitting the side of his head where his communicator was, causing it to break as well, and also causing a cylindrical object to rise from the floor, Sleet fell into it, and by the time he was able to regain his footing, it was too late, the cylindrical object was now too high for him to climb out of.
"Noooo!" he shouted before a variety of electrical sounds began to emit from his prison; the cylinder opened and a roboticized Sleet stepped out.
"Priority one Hedgehogs!" the Robo-Sleet announced before sliding further away. He hit the wall, broke apart, and collapsed to the ground. The ship became level enough for the hedgehogs to stand up properly. Sonya turned the Dingo-whip into a Dingo-belt, and put it on.
You, my nasty friend, might come in handy later, plus, this does look kinda trendy," she said.
"Ah Sonya, at last we are together," answered Dingo dreamily. Sonya and Sonic made a nasty gagging noise.
"Now that's over, we best pick up Knuckles and Manic and get ourselves outta here!" said Sonic.
"Awww, that is so sweet! I hate sweet!" someone said. Sonic and Sonya turned around and saw in the doorway a black hedgehog with red streaks in his quills, leaning on the side.
"Hi, Shadow!" said Dingo stupidly.
"Shut up Dingo! Now here's the scoop, this ship is about to fall over any second, so you should hurry with whatever you're planning to do. Your brother's dying to see you!" Shadow shouted in an angry tone. He spun into a ball, rocketed out the window, right as the ship did tip over, onceSonya and Sonic rushed over to the shattered glass, Shadow was already gone. They saw the Floating Island getting smaller; in addition they saw a figure riding Manic's hoverboard.
"Any bright ideas?" asked Sonic.
"Why yes, actually!" said Sonya. She took off her Dingo-belt and turned him into a Dingo rocket. She and Sonic grabbed either side of him.
"Think you can fly us out of here and back to the Floating Island?" she asked him.
"No problem!" Dingo answered as he ignited himself. They sky rocketed out of the ship just before it disappeared into the clouds and flew up to the Floating Island. They crash landed, Sonya brushed herself and turned Dingo back into a belt.
"Another happy landing!" she stated sarcastically. She took the Dingo-belt and clipped it back on her waist as Bartlebee rushes over.
"Oh my! I am sorry to tell this to you but your brother, who I know you love very much, has been mortally wounded and is now in the medic tent!" he told them with panic in his voice.
Sonya and Sonic grew wide-eyed and rushed past Bartlebee. Upon entering the medical tent, they saw Manic lying on a hospital cot, being attended to by various doctors. Knuckles was simply standing there, depressed.
"What happened?" Sonya and Sonic asked in unison.
"We were attacked by a black hedgehog who called himself Shadow, he hurt Manic, but did nothing more than threaten me. Oh, and Sonya, why are you wearing Dingo as a belt?" Knuckles replied.
"Consider him a hostage! So that's what Shadow meant when he said 'your brother's dying to see you!' said Sonya.
"And Sleet?" asked Knuckles. Sonic merely replies: "No." Knuckles nodded before leaving, and shortly after, the doctors left as well, leaving a bandaged Manic lying on his cot, coughing. Sonya and Sonic walked over to him, crying.
"Hey guys cough if I don't make it out of this cough tell Mom I said hi cough" he told them. He then practically flopped his head back and fell asleep. Sonya and Sonic let their tears fall and hugged each other comfortingly.
Meanwhile, in the libray of the Oracle of Delphi, the Oracle of Delphius and Queen Aleena were in the middle of a conversation. Aleena had her head down on the table, sobbing.
"I just don't know what to do! One of my children is hurt! And yet, I must remain as far from them as possible! Yet what kind of mother would I be considered for that! I just can't stand it!" she bawled. The Oracle gently laid a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to, my dear. I have read a change in the wind, and the stars have spoken. This was not in the prophecy, so circumstances must be changed. Go, it is time for you to reunite with your children," he told her. Aleena looked up, her eyes a little red from tears.
"Really? You're saying I can be there for them, now? Out of all times picked, now is the time?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes, go be there for Manic, he needs you," the Oracle answered.
"Thank you, but first, I need to pick someone up," she replied standing up. The Oracle headed toward his bookshelf.
"Do as you feel is necessary, my friend, in the meantime, I must meditate on what is to come next," he replied with his back to her. He turned around, only to find that Aleena was already gone. He sighed sadly, and continued walking.
Athair, the great-grandfather of Knuckles was standing outside his cave, enjoying the last rays of the sunset. Suddenly, Queen Aleena joined him.
"Athair, my old friend!" she called.
"Ah, Queen Aleena, it is good to see you again!" he replied. They hugged, and he invited her inside, where they walked to a small table, he leaned on it.
"So, what can an old echidna do for you this lovely evening, my friend?" he asked her.
"I'm here to pick him up," she replied.
"Oh, you are?" Athair asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes, I am about to reunite with my children and I want him to be there when I do. Where is he?" Aleena continued.
Oh, he's up in his room, tinkering with machinery, he likes that," Athair replied. He led her to a small door littered with posters on it. He opened the door, loud rock music was playing, and various bits of machinery littered the floor.
"Hey little buddy! We've got company!" Athair called. A pair of pointy ears popped up from behind what looked like a fallen Swatbot.
"Queen Aleena?" asked a high-pitched voice.