In the mountains, Knuckles searched around as he held out the shards of the Master Emerald. He'd already gathered few, but it was nothing of what it could be.
"I was supposed to PROTECT the Master Emerald. And now it's shattered..." Knuckles grimly thought as he marched onward. "And these flash backs...what do they mean?"
Knuckles thought back to his latest flash, the Shrine burning and in ruins. He shook his head as the Emerald shards in his hand started to glow, meaning more were around. He came to the base of a cliff side as he charged up, ready for more pieces of the Master Emerald.
.
At the Thorndyke Mansion, Tails was putting on a replacement engine and wings on the X Tornado, making sure they would be able to fly no problem. Amy was captured somewhere out there, and they needed to find her before...
"Miles, are you sure about this?" Shadow asked. "You only just got over a concussion. Let me fly solo on this one."
"I feel fine Shadow." Tails responded. "Besides, I haven't shown you how to fly this thing. There's a lot of things you don't see in the backseat."
Shadow had to admit, a point was made. He didn't even try to make time to learn much of the X Tornado. "If you're sure about this... I'm not doubting your skills as a pilot, but-"
"Shadow...I'm fine." Tails confirmed. "We're a team, and that means we stick together."
Shadow looked away a little, thinking a bit. A team...they hadn't been one since...well, It's been awhile. They took to the blue sky, heading over a lake as he saw Maria and Big...fishing. Shadow brought his hand to his face. At least Maria was out of danger.
.
Maria was bored out of her mind. She thought she'd be helping Mr. Big find Froggy, not watch him fish.
"Um..Mr. Big?" Maria piped up, getting the Mobians attention. "Shouldn't we be trying to find Froggy instead of fishing?"
Big chuckled just a little. "Don't worry, I know exactly what I'm doing." Mr. Big stated. Maria wasn't sure if she was relieved or worried about that. She looked up and saw the X Tornado flying by.
However, deeper under the surface of the water Robotnik's ship stayed. She banged on her cell, demanding to be let out, but there was no answer. She sighed as she sat down.
"I was all set to get Shadow and Tails to settle down a bit." She said out loud to Lily. "Shadow's always so wound up, but I know he has a weakness for food. That part o him hasn't changed at all. I was finally going to make him smile again...but then Robotnik went and spoiled everything again." Amy sighed. "Every time he seems to be better, something goes wrong. He just won't let his guard down anymore...maybe that's why all of us are still alive." She said, remembering when she was wandering an area he told her not to go to. She was attacked but Shadow somehow showed up and saved her. Gave her a scolding, but he'd do it again in a heart beat. "It just...isn't fair."
.
Back up on the bridge of the ship, Robotnik had a monitor on showing Froggy as he talked into a microphone.
"Listen up, Shadow Androids. As you see on the screen here, this frog is having a bit of an abnormality. I need you to find this frog at all costs as he is holding something very dear to me. NOW GET HIM OR YOU'LL ALL BE TURNED INTO SCRAP!" Robotnik threatened as the Shadow Androids bowed, heading out the door. "And if they find Shadow...even better."
.
Knuckles smiled. He just found a mother load of Master Emerald shards. Grabbing the biggest one, his world started to fade away as he was enveloped in a bright light, with a familiar feeling.
Knuckles looked around, seeing the grassy plains and a new Master Emerald Shrine. He walked up to see that female Echidna at the base of the Alter, praying as Chao surrounded her.
"i'm frightened..." She stated. "Please, we have to end the madness. We must flee Chaos." She begged as Knuckles's eyes widened. Was she praying to CHAOS!? If that's the case, why was everything so peaceful? None of this makes sense. As the Chao surrounded the girl, they lead her up to the top of the shrine as a giant emerald green gem shined. "Chaos? You brought me up here...why?" She asked curiously to the shining Master Emerald. "I understand. The Servers are the Seven Chaos...The Controller, serves to unify the Chaos..." Knuckles watched the whole thing in awe as his vision started to white out again.
When he was able to see, Knuckles was back at the Master Emerald Shrine. He looked around, confused on what just happened.
"Who was she? And did she unleash Chaos on my ancestors?" Knuckles thought. But for some reason it just didn't sit right with him. "No...no it doesn't make any sense. Chaos was called the god of destruction by his ancestors...but he seemed peaceful unless-"
"Unless he didn't choose that title..." Knuckles rounded out. As little sense as that made to him right now...it felt right. He brought the pieces to the Alter Shrine, placing them in the center as the Master Emerald formed up...with a chunk missing from the top. "I'll just have to keep looking." He resolved. Then, he saw an image of Robotnik's battle ship. "That must be where the last of them are...or worse." As he was walking away, a he heard a voice over the wind.
"The Seven Servers...Are The Seven Chaos..." Knuckles turned, looking around. He shrugged, moving on. After all, it had to be the wind because nobody was there. And he wasn't afraid of ghosts.
.
Back at the fishing area, Maria was just getting frustrated. Part of her wanted to think Shadow really did think she'd find a Chaos Emerald. Another thinks she did it just to keep her out of the way. Either thought wasn't really helping her much when she heard a gun shot behind them, making her and Mr. Big jump a little. She creeped up slowly and saw three robots that looks like silvery versions of Shadow, each sporting a different highlight on the quills. The blue one went down, picking up a scared frog as Big gasped.
The androids looked over, seeing nothing as Maria and Big hid themselves in the bushes. The androids looked at each other as they walked away, Big and Maria following suit when the Carrier burst out of the water, opening the hatch letting the Androids in.
"We can't let them leave, come on!" Maria whispered, running after the ship entrance with Big hot on her tail. They made it just as the ramp was closing and Big lost his footing, tumbling down on top of Maria. Their landing did not go unnoticed as the orange and Green android turned, walking towards them as they put their weapons to the intruders heads.
"Hold it!" Robotnik ordered as he walked in as the Green one hoisted Maria up and the Orange one took Big. "You again? Haven't we played this game enough times?" Robotnik asked, getting in Maria's face. Maria gathered what she could as fast as she could and spit in Robotnik's face. He backed up and smacked her with the back of his hand, hard. "I'll teach that mouth of yours someday. Maybe if I removed it...or replaced it." He threatened and that unnerved Maria. "Take them to the brig where we keep the other pests. And bring me the bird!" He ordered as Maria and Mr. Big were hauled away.
They arrived at the brig, filled with holding cells like some sort of jail along with a table surrounded by...lab equipment. Maria started to shake a little as she was thrown in a different cell than Big, when the Green Android turned to face Amy.
"Let us go you bolt brain!" Amy demanded, but was pushed aside as Lily was torn from her hands. The orange one closed the cell on her, electrifying it when Amy touched the bars. What was weird was the robot seemed to laugh a little before it eyed Maria, then walked away.
.
Knuckles had been chasing the Carrier for some time now, but had no way of actually reaching it until...
"Knuckles!" Shadow yelled as He reached his arm out, Knuckles taking it as they flew by. "I assume you're heading after Robotnik to?" Shadow asked and Knuckles nodded, Tails gaining altitude as they drew near Robotnik who saw them on his monitors.
"That irritating jet is STILL AFTER US? No more. FIRE AWAY!" Robotnik roared as bullets came flying. Tails went completely on the defensive as Shadow and Knuckles held on for dear life.
Shadow pulled back his glove, tapping his communicator. "Miles, me and Knuckles are going to clear you a landing Zone. Make sure you don't miss it." Shadow stated as he and Knuckles jumped, falling into the fire below. They landed and went off towards different sides, clearing out the turrets as Tails made the landing. "We have to find Amy, and hopefully sabotage this ship." Shadow stated, and the three heroes nodded at each other, springing into action. But something just felt...off about this with Shadow. He'd have to wait and see what was in store for him.