Ch.6: Final Legacy
When the green light vanished this time, Sonic and the gang found themselves standing back on Angel Island, although, not as how they had left it. Eyes widening in horror, everyone could barely believe the horrible scene playing out before them.
The lush beauty of Angel Island was being torched by flames, a red sky hung above, black clouds of smoke filled the air, and the sounds of an army could be heard blasting at something near the Master Emerald's alter.
Rushing though the flames, Sonic and the others speeded towards the alter. Being the fastest beings around, Sonic and Shadow had the pleasure of meeting the gruesome scene at the alter before the others did.
"What is that?" shouted Vector, when he and the others caught up.
Right before Sonic and the others a battle was taking place between the Dark Legion and some kind of monster. This monster's fur was black as night, white crystal tips sported the ends of each of his dreadlocks, the talons and knuckle-spurs on his hands looked deadly sharp, and his eyes glowed a fearsome gold.
As he jumped up to launch an attack on the Dark Legion, Sonic and the crew gasped in realization when they saw the white cresent mark on his chest.
"It can't be," gasped Rouge.
"Knuckles," said Sonic, softly, his eyes wide with shock.
The Dark Legion tried thier best to keep Knuckles back with thier weapons, but it proved to have little effect on the angry, super-charged echidna. One of the Legionarie's turned to look to her leader, Dimitri, while still blasting at Knuckles.
"I knew it would happen this way" said the Legionarie " his Chaos powers are to much for us to control. Now he's going to destroy us all,"
"Yes" said Dimitri, agreeing with his Legionarie " he was much more powerful than I thought when he sent us away all those years ago. Oh, all the beloved tortures that took place in front of his eyes, especially the one with the bat was very enjoyable. I loved seeing his face wrung up in pain,"
Sonic and the others growled at Dimitri when they heard the half-robot echidna's statement. The dark version of Knuckles growled as well, he was through playing games with Dimitri.
Calling on all of his Chaos powers, a highly bright, green orb of energy formed between Knuckles hands. Flashing a sinister, fanged smile at Dimitri, Dark Knuckles unleashed the chaos energy striaght at the Dark Legion.
When the beam of light ran out of power and vanished, all that was left of the Dark Legion were black burn marks on the ground. Growling an animalistic howl in victory, Dark Knuckles dropped to his knees, and slowly began losing every trace of his dark form.
Once he had returned to normal, Knuckles, sad, voilet eyes took in the burning scene around him and cried. Rouge wanted so much so to go up to Knuckles, put an arm around the echidna, and catch his tears. But as soon as she took two steps forward, the scene changed.
This time, Sonic and the others were standing in the middle of the Mobious Cementary. Six graves were lined up side by side sporting the titles; Tails, Sonic, Vector, Espio, Rouge, and Shadow.
Knuckles stood in front of the graves, tears flowing from his eyes as he looked at each one in turn. Six red roses were clutched in one of his hands. Wiping away his tears, the echidna approached Tails grave first and put down a rose.
"You were to young to die Tails" said Knuckles, looking at the fox's grave " me and Sonic tried our best to save you from the Dark Legion's trap, but we weren't fast enough,"
Tails gasped in horror, as Knuckles approached Sonic's grave next and placed a rose on the hedgehog's grave.
"Stubborn hedgehog" said Knuckles " Amy still won't stop crying tears over you. Now I have to keep an eye on her so she won't do the same stupid thing you did after we lost Tails. Who knew you be such a coward,"
Sonic's eyes widened in shock, hoping Knuckles wasn't saying what he thought he was saying, as the echidna approached both Vector and Espio's graves. After he had laid roses on both of them he sighed and began to speak.
" Charmy's growing up just fine you guys" Knuckles said to both of the graves " heck, he's been helping me repair Angel Island and has even got a girlfriend now. Her name's Saffron, just in case you want to know. He going to come visit you guys whenever he gets the chance. Things just haven't been the same without you two loonatics hanging around,"
Knuckles managed to force out a small chuckle as he approached Rouge's grave, making both Vector and Espio direct their gaze downward in sorrow. Placing a rose on Rouge's grave, Knuckles sighed and sank to his knees.
"I'm sorry that I never got a chance to tell you how I feel" said Knuckles, shutting his eyes tight, trying to prevent tears " no one, not even you, desired to die like that. Now that their finally gone, I hope, for my sake, your death was avenged. Fly Rouge, and may your soul finally be at peace,"
Rouge could feel a small tear drop out of left eye as Knuckles got up and walked to the final grave; Shadow's. Placing a flower on it, Knuckles raised up his head, his eyes no longer showing saddness, but praise and gratitude.
"Shadow" said Knuckles, in a calm, clear voice " thank you, for keeping me sane. Although, I know you'll probably be reborn in one your clones soon, and I'll have to fight you again in order to get you to trust me, I'll never forget those final words you said to me before you died. Hope I'll see you again soon, my friend,"
"Friend?" asked Shadow, confused as the echidna walked away " did he just call me...friend?"
"How can this be our future?" asked Tails " we all die at the hands of the Dark Legion,"
"All except for Shadow it seems," said Espio.
"I can't believe that I died by suicide" said Sonic " that's so lame!"
"I want to know the reason why this all happened," said Rouge.
"Why?" said an eerie voice in response to Rouge. Sonic and the team turned and gasped in shock when they saw Dark Knuckles standing behind them. " the reason is very simple dear Rouge, all of you are the cause!"
"What's that supposed to mean!" Sonic demanded.
"You'll see," said Dark Knuckles, lighting his hands with purple chaos energy.
A strong, purple light suddenly surrounded Sonic and his crew as Dark Knuckles cackled in evil laughter. When the light vanished Dark Knuckles, Sonic, and the rest of the team were gone.