"Does your leg still hurt?"

"Duh! You think I'm hopping on one foot 'cause I feel like it?!"

"Maybe."

"Ugh, whatever. Are we there yet Tail--I mean, Miles?"

"Yeah, were almost there." It had been more than an hour, and the boys were still treading through the gloomy woods. "You sure you're not lost?" the hedgehog finally asked. He had been thinking it ever since they started walking. "Were not lost, Sonic."

"But are you sur--"

"Yes! I'm sure! Now look; we're already here." Miles had stopped walking causing Sonic to lose his footing. After regaining momentum, the hedgehog looked around. They stood in a small plot of land with a few rocks and a rotted stump. "This looks like every other clearing we've been through."

"That's where you're wrong," The fox announced. He let go of Sonic and ran towards the largest rock in the field. Miles pushed it over. As a result, a circular gap in the ground unearthed its self. The hole was only a few feet away from the hedgehog. "You live underground?" he questioned, greatly surprised. "Building a house is basically suicide; anything taller than the trees and isn't a tree itself is blown up by Eggman."

"Hmm. Is it nice living down there?

"It's better than living nowhere," Miles responded. He walked back to Sonic, but made a turn towards the hole. "You stay here. I need to get someone first." he said before stepping down into the hole. The hedgehog waited until the fox returned. In the meantime, he tried to use his left leg. Ever so gently, he placed the foot of his injured limb on the floor. He winced as the pain from his leg climbed up his spine. "This is going to be hell," the hedgehog brooded while quickly lifting his leg up again. At times like this, he would've been tapping his foot impatiently. However, that action appeared near in impossible in his present state. Luckily, his wait was over. Sonic's ear stood on edge as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the hole. Along with this, there were voices. The hedgehog recognized one voice as the fox's. Miles' now matured tone was something Sonic couldn't forget. The second voice though, was completely new and yet so very familiar. Finally, the blond fox emerged from the hole in the ground. Accompanying him was one of the hedgehog's best allies and even better rival: the redheaded echidna. Unfortunately, he wasn't as excited as Sonic. "So what do you think?" Miles addressed the echidna. There was a pause of silence before he gave his answer. "I'm thinking that you found another one of Eggass's bots that just so happens to resemble our friend who was killed some while ago."

"Knuckles..."

"No, I'm serious!" the redhead claimed and poked a finger in the fox's chest. "And because this mechanical monster looks like our friend, you don't have the heart to destroy em'. So you dragged it back here so I could finish the job."

"Er, what!?" Sonic's voiced cracked. His smile quickly faded as the echidna stepped up to him. Just like Miles, Knuckles had changed considerably. He stood nearly a foot taller than the hedgehog and had twice as much muscle mass. An ugly, rugged scar traveled down his left shoulder. The disfigurement disappeared into the metal cuff of the echidna's brown, leather gloves. These same gloves wrapped themselves around the hedgehog's neck. Sonic choked. "This'll only a take a second", the echidna growled. "After all, a piece of scrap metal like you can't feel the pain of death." Instantly, Sonic reacted with a scream. The idle fox behind them finally stepped up to the plate. "Put him down!!" Miles shouted and grabbed the echidna's arm. With a muffled thump, the hedgehog was released and landed on the floor. "What the hell is your problem?! Are you that attached this thing!?" Knuckles furiously questioned. "No! You're the one with the problem. You're always beating the crap out of everything when a civil discussion can solve our problems!"

"Screw you!!"

"Just look at his leg dammit!" The fox pointed to Sonic's injured limb. At first, Knuckles glared at the hedgehog's bandages, but soon enough his eyes widened with curiosity. "...Is that blood?"

"I shot him earlier. As I removed the bullet, I just broke down; it was all organic. Blood, muscle, bone, and not a fragment of metal to be found. It's really him, Knuckles," Miles calmly stated in near whisper. A chilly breeze blew as the three stared at one another. Knuckles tightly closed his eyes. His hand balled up into a trembling fist. "Well then," Sonic started while trying to stand up again. "I guess this is all cleared--" Before he could utter another word, the hero found himself in the echidna's death grip once again: the redhead had him pinned up against a tree with his feet dangling in the air. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" Sonic yelled in fear. He hadn't even finished his sentence, and before he could blink, the echidna was all riled up once more. "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING!?" Knuckles angrily mocked him. "MORE LIKE "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN"!! TEN YEARS HEDGEHOG. TEN GUT-WRENCHING, BLOOD FILLED YEARS AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SHOW UP LIKE EVERYTHING IS ALL FINE AND DANDY!!" Just as fast as he scooped him up, Knuckles threw the rodent into the dirt. He then began to walk back to the hole in the ground. Meanwhile, Miles ran to Sonic's side. "I'm sorry Sonic, but..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." The fox slowly pulled his friend to his feet. "Let's just hope that everyone else is more reasonable," the blond stated. The pair also began to make their way towards the hole. Unfortunately, the echidna had other plans. He stood in front of the entrance with arms crossed in an agitated manner. His cold gaze was aimed at the hedgehog. "The trash stays outside," Knuckles muttered through clenched teeth. "HEY!" Sonic quickly retorted, but the fox held him back. "What do you mean?" Miles spoke for the hedgehog. "You know what I mean, Prower. Even if he could be the hope to our future, he's not stepping a foot into these quarters."

"I don't think you understand the significance of this situation Knuckles!"

"Oh, I understand very well!"

"HE'S SUFFERED ENOUGH!"

"WELL HE CAN CERTAINLY SUFFER SOME MORE SINCE HE ISN'T DEAD YET!!" Nothing more was said from either of the boys. The redhead finally disappeared into the gap in the ground. Miles stayed behind. Unexpectedly, Sonic nudged him forward. "Just go," his saddened voice proposed. The fox immediately turned to face him. "But Sonic--"

"Don't worry about me. I'll live, just like he said."

"...I really didn't think this would happen."

"What'd you expect? Knuckles' is a stubborn jerk." The hedgehog forced a smile to encourage his friend. Eventually, the fox left, and the hole leading to shelter closed behind him. Sonic was alone once again. He was cold, tired, and hungry. All the emotions going through his head made him feel sick. And most important, he was unwanted.