Else where, on the quiet planet below, several people were celebrating on very special kit's birthday…

"Happy Birthday, Tails!"

The little fox's eyes widened in surprise as he walked into his not all to familiar work shop. The stained, burned and dinged metal walls were now covered in vibrant signs and colorful chains of paper loops. The floor seemed to be covered with little sequins and millions of pieces of confetti…

And all of his friends were spread out among his things, hidden until just moments ago.

"Hey little buddy!" said the all to familiar voice of his favorite hero and best friend. "Happy birthday!" He shoved a plate full of his favorite chili cheese dogs into the kitsune's hands. "Eat up! There's a lot more where that came from!" said the blue hero, rubbing his finger under his nose with that famous grin on his muzzle.

Tails smiled happily, taking a seat at a long table that the others had dragged in. "Thank you everyone!" he said, practically drooling over the wonderful food and the beautiful gifts placed in his 'new' work shop.

Mostly everyone from the Freedom fighters were there, but some of the others had to stay to protect the King, who could not attend because of the treaty signings that were taking place today in another city. Other than the few that were guarding the king and the city, they were all here. Even the Chaotix had made it this time around. Sadly, Knuckles had not been able to take time off from his 'job' to come and celebrate but had sent a small green package with the Chaotix.

Sally stood and made a wonderful speech on how, now that Tails was older, he was to be given more respect and how he was also not to be teased about the fact that he finally fit his ears.. She was interrupted by one of Sonic's witty comments and instead ended with a happier note; that they could start opening presents now.

Tails made a haul. Sonic had gotten him that famous chili recipe and Sally had given him a brand new wrench with adjustable tension. Bunnie and Antoine had gotten him some new parts for his work shop, like Rotor and most of the others had. He was just about to open up the small green box that Knuckles had given him when the door flew open and Rouge burst through.

"We have… *huff puff* a big Problem you *uff!* guys…" She was out of breath and looking rather rough around the edges at the moment, something never done for the infamous spy. The thing being carried by two other furs was probably the reason.

The being was mostly burned and covered in a deep green ash, though places of red shone through here and there. There were long tentacles coming off its head most charred and burned off in places. Its hands were burned and warped in a bloody looking cloth that peaked at two points around its knuckles seeming to be the remains of gloves of some sort, it was hard to tell.

Then two slots on its green charred face opened to reveal two dark purple orbs and they blinked wearily, trying, and failing horribly, to focus on their surroundings..

All the air seemed to drain from the hanger as it caught in the lungs of those who were seated there.

The echidna was rushed into the kitsune's bathroom and was cleaned up thoroughly, washing off all the bad smelling green ash, rubble, and other nasty bits while rouge explained that she had found him on the beach after spotting the red glow from the air while on one of her rounds..

The echidna didn't speak through the whole ordeal. Nor did he move of his own volition. He was like a hollow shell and it was scaring everyone to differing degrees…

Rouge now had him in the kitchen and was evening his burnt dread locks out. She looked up as Sonic and Tails entered the kitchen, Amy, Sally and the Chaotix hovering around by the door. Everyone else had been sent away to organize a search party.

Rouge looked up hopelessly, her eyes still red and puffy from the ash -supposedly.

"So how's he doing…?" Sonic asked a worried look on his face.

Rouge looked up and shook her head. She looked down at the battered and bandaged echidna whose eyes seemed to pierce through the kitchen cabinet in front of him.

"He hasn't responded to anything…" She said, trimming off some more of the burnt fur. "Voices… sounds…" she waved her hand at a wound on his shoulder that had been recently wrapped. "Even…" She paused and winced at the memory of stabbing him. "…pain…"

Sally's eyes went wide. "You STABBED him?!?!" she shouted angrily. She pushed past the startled pink hedgehog trying to rush the other woman before vector and Mighty grabbed her.

"Rouge!" sonic said, grabbing her by her shoulders and forced her to drop the scissors. He wiped her around to face him and yelled, "are you insane rouge?! You might have killed-!" He suddenly stopped when he saw her Azure eyes well up with tears.

"He didn't move!" She shouted, shutting her eyes letting the tears flow. "He didn't twitch, he didn't wince, he didn't even blink!" she shouted, her tears turning to little streams as she began to shake. "He didn't… He didn't do anything…" she sobbed.

Sonic signaled for Amy and Sally to go and take the unstable bat into the other room while he and the Chaotix would try what they could.

"Maybe he just needs food!" Charmy piped in, hovering around Vectors head. Mighty and Espio agreed and tried to force feed him some liquefied food while Sonic and vector pried and held open his clamped jaws. Charmy was allowed to spoon feed the poor form While Tails was left to watch for any reactions.

Nothing was happening. The Food sat in his teeth and even when they tilted his head back to see if it would just slip down his throat, he would stop breathing. They tried everything, even holding his nose and forcing him to swallow. It didn't work.

Tails gasped suddenly and jumped back, and pointed at the red one's face. "Guys!" He paused, his light blue eyes wide with surprise and what was apparently sadness. "He's… He's crying…"

They let got of his head in a snap, letting the food slosh down out of his drooping mouth and into the bowl being held by Espio. Sure enough, sliding down the red demons cheeks were silvery, glassy, tears.

"Knuckles…?" Charmy whispered, looking at his fellow comrade with worry.

"Knuckles!" Sonic said, shaking him a bit. There was something wrong… besides the fact that the echidna wasn't on his island and the guardian was in the worse shape he had ever seen him. And considering he had died twice before, this was sad.

Then he spoke. "Gone…"