Knuckles lay in one of the hundreds of beds in the mansion. He was bandaged on his arms, legs, and around his head. Sonic and the others crept into the
room, not wanting to disturb him but also wanting to know what happened.
Knuckles cracked an eye open. "I suppose you want to know what happened."
The others nodded.
Knuckles sighed. "Okay, fine. But first, where is the Master Emerald?"
"It's locked up in the garage." Tails replied.
Knuckles stared blankly at them. "Okay…" The echidna then struggled to a sitting position before continuing. "Have any of you guys heard of the Legend of
Calcifer?"
Sonic shook his head. "I never heard the legend but Silver went to fight him."
"Silver? Why does that name sound familiar?" Knuckles asked scratching his head. "No matter, Calcifer is this huge lava dragon type beast. He was born out of
the flames of a volcano if you can believe it."
"I can believe it. We fought something like that just yesterday." Coal said.
Knuckles waved her off. "Am I done? Does it look like I am done talking?"
Silence.
"Thank you, now as I was saying, Calcifer is a beast so powerful that only something equally as powerful can destroy him."
"But what does this have to do with you getting attacked?" Tails asked.
"All in good time!" Knuckles glared, "I was just getting to that… Well, when I was protecting the Master Emerald, fully awake, I saw a huge monster coming
towards me. It was that beast, Calcifer! He started attacking the Master Emerald, and I was like 'uh-uh, don't even think about it, I already had to deal with
that raven girl!' So I started punching and doing my awesome moves, but, Calcifer was too big, yes, too powerful for even me to take on. So I grabbed the
Master Emerald. Calcifer was about to, I dunno, make his final blow? Or something, when he hesitated and started going off in the direction of Central City."
There was silence in the room, then Sonic broke it. "You think Calcifer is the beast we just fought?"
"Makes sense." Knuckles answered.
"But, Silver went into the future to fight him." Icefire said. "Does that mean there are two Calcifers?"
Knuckles shook his head. "No, no, there is only one fire beast in the whole world, and that's Calcifer."
"So, unless Calcifer can time travel—" Tails said.
"Someone is sending him back in time or to the future." Lizzy cut in.
Knuckles shrugged. "I dunno, but I am pretty sure that beast can't time travel, at least not when I last saw it."
"You saw him before?" Coal asked.
Knuckles nodded. "Long time ago, and too long of a story to tell."
"Right…" Sonic trailed off.
"Is it done?" Eggman asked staring out the window of the control room.
"It is, he is dead." Sylvia answered.
Eggman grinned then paused. "And Sonic?"
Sylvia shook her head. "No, but soon he will be."
Eggman nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Eggwonna!"
"Yes, sir?" She asked running up to him.
"Go get some more ice-cream, it's time to celebrate!"
"Yes, sir!" She started to scurry off.
"Oh, and Eggwonna," Eggman called.
"Yes, sir?" She turned back around.
"Please make sure it chocolate this time, and none of that nasty strawberry." Eggman grimaced, remembering the revolting taste.
"Yes, sir!" She too did not like the strawberry.
The next morning they had cereal for breakfast—while Shadow quietly rejoiced—and sat around the table talking about the fire beast.
"So, if there is only one Calcifer, and that Calcifer is here… what is Silver doing in the future?" Icefire asked.
Lizzy shrugged. "Who knows, maybe Silver got stuck in the future."
Icefire's eyes widened and then she muttered. "He promised he would be back…"
Lizzy, realizing her mistake, quickly said. "Or maybe he was needed to fight another beast, so he has to stay up there longer."
"Or he died…" Shadow said under his breath. Luckily no one heard him say that so they continued on talking.
"Forget about Silver… whoever he is…" Knuckles said. "Right now we need to figure out how to get something as powerful as Calcifer is so we can destroy him.
"Well, he doesn't seem that powerful," Coal said, "Sonic and Amy almost killed him… until things went wrong."
"If Sonic and Amy almost defeated him, then something has to be up." Knuckles said. "Calcifer can't be destroyed that easily, and by two hedgehogs
nonetheless."