Chaos roared, watery tentacles stretching out towards the hyper-fast hedgehog as he swerved past. Water splashed up onto his golden quills as he curled into a ball, shooting off like a bullet through the beast.

He plunged into the living water and out the other side, but Chaos easily reformed, knocking the hedgehog out of the air and into the liquid depths. With a gasp, Sonic took a deep breath, shutting his eyes as he plunged into the whirlpool below.

He stayed there, feeling the water rush past him. He'd barely lasted a second. He whimpered.

"Open your eyes, hedgehog warrior, ally to the Echidna Tribe."

The voice felt like it was right next to him, and his eyes snapped open, looking around wildly. It was then Sonic realised the water wasn't stinging his eyes anymore. His breath loosening, he took a deep breath.

He could breathe underwater. Could he speak?

"Who's there?" Sonic asked. Yep, able to speak. The voice, feminine, chuckled.

"I am the Chaos Goddess." The voice replied, calmly. "The being that exists within the positive energies of the emerald."

"The Chaos Goddess…?!" Sonic exclaimed. "You're the one the echidna tribe worshipped!"

"Indeed." The Goddess answered. "But thou must face a disastrous event. Time for talking is a luxury thy does not have."

"I shot straight through that thing." Sonic whispered. He stayed below the depths, hearing the murky noise of a deep roar. "It didn't even budge."

"It is possessed with Fleetway."

"Fleetway?"

"Yes. Fleetway is the being of the negative energies. It has corrupted my dear creature's mind, and it cannot protect my pets in such a state.

"When the Echidna tribe betrayed thine creature, it fell into deep rage that not even thy could quell." The Goddess explained. "But the tribe has chosen thee to wield the emeralds and plunge Fleetway from thine creature's heart."

"How do I do that?" Sonic asked. Pushing his feet down, he allowed himself to shoot through the water like a missile, bursting in a shower of droplets as Chaos twisted around to face him.

"The horn, hedgehog warrior." Sonic looked up at the beast's head. Sure enough, a deep-black energy surged through the creature's horn. "Attack it and thine will falter."

"I don't need to kill it." Sonic argued. "Only enough for –"

"For the ritual." The Goddess agreed. "Thine prophet is preparing to remove Fleetway from it. In doing so, thou will be allowed to move on."

Sonic nodded to himself as Chaos shot a tentacle towards him. Easily dodging to the side, he began to rise higher into the sky. The beast's eyes twisted into slits – it knew what the hedgehog planned to do.

Attempting to knock the hedgehog out of the way was pointless as he curled into a ball, rocketing through the horn. Chaos screeched in pain, collapsing into the watery depths.

Sonic uncurled and halted to a stop, staring down at the lizard as it reformed itself. The energy in its horn seemed slightly dimmer, although the hedgehog couldn't be sure.

The water swirled below as chunks of concrete from the road below were ripped from its foundations, tossed through the air like a football. Sonic's eyes widened as he shifted to avoid the meteor-like projectile. More blocks of concrete were tossed his way as Chaos reformed, its horn becoming visible.

"Your friends are nearing completion." The Goddess spoke as Sonic weaved past another concrete slab, charging towards his opponent. "Thou should consider leading thine creature towards them."

Sonic burst through the horn, knocking the lizard flat on its back before gasping as a tentacle grabbed him out of the air, pulling him into the watery depths. It clung like superglue, and the hedgehog – try as he might – could not break free.

"Why would I…!" Sonic gasped, feeling the beast reform through shockwaves in the water. "Why would I bring them their doom?!"

"It will take thy burdens away and make thine transition easier."

Sonic felt a jiggling feeling as he was pulled into the vortex of the beast. His golden glow became smothered in deep, goop-like water as the beast switched its attention to the people on the roof.

Meanwhile, Miles had taken a step back. "Your plan is failing!" He cried, staring at the golden, blinking glow in the belly of the beast.

"Hurry it up, will you?" Rouge spats impatiently.

Knuckles and Tikal didn't respond. Around them, the shards had begun to reform into the Master Emerald, albeit very slowly. Rouge took a deep breath, watching the beast twist and shift towards them, tentacles piercing the air, ready to destroy their only area of survival. "I swear, hedgehog…" She muttered. "If you do this, I will let you leave this place scot-free."

Miles, hearing Rouge's sentiment, looked over at Metal. "If Sonic survives, leave him be. We'll regroup with Julian and figure out our next move."

"I highly disagree, Miles Robotnik." Metal droned. "When he is weakened it will be the best chance for an attack."

Miles glared at the robot. "If it weren't for him, we'd all be dead." He looked back out at Chaos, rapidly approaching, and gulped. "Hopefully that doesn't happen."

"You must make the final attack, hedgehog warrior." The Goddess cried.

Sonic, still feeling slightly dizzy, nodded, and curled into a ball. Like a missile, he charged through the belly of the beast, the horn getting closer until finally, with a screech, Chaos' horn exploded. Deep black energy sprouted from the horn as Sonic burst from the beast, grabbing onto the mess that remained of Chaos and tugging him along, dragging him towards the emerald.

Just before he could throw him into the Master Emerald, sealing Chaos once more, Tikal shot in front of him. "Stop!"

Sonic stopped in a halt as his eyes shifted to the colours of the emeralds. "Prophet." He spoke, but his voice had changed – it was a feminine, calm voice. "Why do you stand in my way?"

Tikal's eyes widened as she realised who she was speaking to. "Goddess?"

The hedgehog shook his head. "I must seal them away. It is the only way."

Tikal shook her head. "No, there are other ways! Please, thy Goddess, this does not need to happen!"

Sonic grunted, grabbing his head, eyes shifting back to red. "Don't do that!" He hissed. Chaos had begun to shrink, until he had returned to his previous state. Feeling sick, Sonic lost his focus, and in an explosion of light the emeralds shot out. Metal's eyes shifted green and a hand shot out in the light. Miles yelped and turned the robot off manually as he crashed to the ground.

Sonic, returning to blue, landed painfully on the ground as Chaos shifted into a blob. Before it could run, it felt the calming brush of Tikal's hand, and reformed in front of her.

"Chao!"

The group whipped their heads around to Knuckles, holding the small blue chao in his hands gently. Chaos's eyes seemed to widen as Knuckles placed the chao on the ground, watching it run happily to Chaos.

Chaos cradled the creature peacefully. He looked at Tikal, who nodded happily. "They're all okay, Chaos. There's no need to be angry anymore." She gestured to Sonic and Knuckles as the echidna helped the hedgehog up. "They'll keep them protected. We don't need to fight."

Chaos paused, then nodded. It placed the chao on the ground and petted it, before placing a hand on the Master Emerald. In a flash, it vanished, and the emerald glowed brightly.

Rouge watched in mild interest until she felt the hot sun shine on her back. She looked behind her, hands blocking out the sun as it shone down upon the ruined city, the water slipping away into puddles. The clouds had parted.

"T-Tikal!" Knuckles shouted, catching the group's attention. Tikal's spirit had begun to sparkle, slipping into opacity. "Not yet, not now!"

"Knuckles, it's okay." Tikal answered, smiling sadly. "This is what I want. And you can be your own person now."

"But… I don't know what to do!"

"You're the best friend I ever had." Tikal replied. "You protected me when I was alive and when I was a spirit. I would never have been able to move on if you hadn't helped me and been there for me.

"You're more than a friend. You're my brother – my family – and I want to see you be the best you can be without my safety dragging you down."

"That was never a – Tikal!" Knuckles begged, watching the spirit fade. Tikal gave the echidna a soft smile, resting a hand on his head.

"Goodbye, Knuckles. Thank you for everything.

I love you."

Knuckles whimpered, tears rolling down his face. A memory of his mother came into his head, and he looked up at her fading form. "I love you too."

Tikal smiled. Then, she was gone.

Sonic gently placed a hand on Knuckles' shoulder, then glared at the trio in front of him – Rouge took a step back while Miles picked up Metal, throwing him over his shoulder. "I will fight you if I have to. Leave us."

Rouge put her hands up. "I don't trust you, but if it weren't for you, I'd have drowned down there. Consider this a truce." She lowered her hands, sighing. "Maybe I was wrong, looking at that metallic menace over there. But I can't deny the damage you have done."

Sonic looked downtrodden as Mammoth Mogul's words echoed through his ears. "You're still my sister, Rouge." He looked up, forcing a smile onto his face. "If G.U.N betray you, I will welcome you with open arms."

Rouge nodded, then turned to Miles, snarling. "Don't think you're off the hook, either." With that, she unfurled her wings and took off, leaving the group on the rooftop. Sonic turned to Miles and sighed.

"I'm sorry I taunted you on the Egg-Carrier. I needed you to drop the ice bombs so I could defeat Chaos, and it was all that entered my head."

Miles nodded. "I'm sorry, too. But I must follow Julian – I owe my very creation to him, as do you."

Sonic sighed. "I can't offer you the same as I did to Rouge. You've hurt us both, and you've almost irreparably destroyed my life." He looked away, helping the echidna to his feet. "Just be thankful I'm feeling merciful today."

Miles opened his mouth, then looked down. He spun his tails, and the duo watched as he took off, flying away.

"I don't trust him either." Knuckles responded. He picked up the Master Emerald. "Shall we head off?"

Sonic looked over the city – over the sun-baked cracked concrete, the people emerging from their homes, and the puddles of water that coated the city. Something was sitting in his head, something about making his own way, but he pushed it down. Now was not the time.

He turned back to Knuckles and smirked. "Let's go."