Hey hey hey!

Been a while since I last posted a chapter to this and that was due to the holidays. Yeah it was a riot for those two weeks with a ton of last minute shopping (even though I already got what I needed but you know, deals), bunch of food and celebrating with the fam. Work wise it was pretty slow with not much going on and I only got two days of it in between Christmas and New Year's so it was pretty great overall. Did wish it was longer but meh, depends on how one perceives time that with fun added it'll go by faster.

Anyway here's the next chapter so hope you enjoy! ^u^

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or locations. They belong to Sega.

Chapter 26: Time's Edge

"Knuckles! You okay buddy?" said a voice. The person called Knuckles punched a Badnik blowing it up upon impact, looking back at the person with a frown.

"Nothing flusters me Sonic… except when you're late." the red echidna then bolted off and destroyed several more of the robots.

…

"I don't need the details, just tell me who to smash."

…

"Eggman's got us fighting the Badniks so he can have Sonic all to himself."

…

"Get away! Stop destroying our forest!... It's gone… all of it…"

…

…

…

Knuckles awoke with a start.

Turning his head to look at his surroundings the red echidna noticed that he was in an unfamiliar place. The walls were made of thick ice with simple furniture present and a fire pit in the center. Knuckles looked down to see that he slept on the floor with a roll out comforter beneath him and was covered in a gray blanket. His eyes saw that the area was slightly dim with the morning sun peaking from outside the two circular windows that were next to each other. His crimson body slightly shivered from the cold within but it was still warm enough to not get frostbite.

Knuckles looked down at his ungloved hands and curled them in and out.

'That's right, I'm at Eggman's place. Was close to breaking my way out but luckily I saw his robots at the side and the talk we had yesterday.'

The former emerald guardian clutched his eyes tight and rubbed his temples sitting up further, groaning quietly.

'Just… what was that dream?'

"I see you're awake Knuckles."

The red echidna jumped and looked to the side quickly, spotting Dr. Eggman sitting on the table eating something out of a can. Knuckles raised an eyebrow at this to which the evil genius noticed. "This place tends to have all their meals sealed up so that it doesn't spoil quickly, but they're not aware that it only happens above room temperature. Nonetheless cooking it in these cans makes it less of a hassle anyway."

Dr. Eggman then pointed to another one sitting on the table by him. "Come and take your fill."

Nodding slowly Knuckles got up and walked over to the table and sat down. Peering inside the can he noticed that it was basically regular soup. "This isn't gonna kill me or anything right? Knowing you you'd probably-."

"As I said before Knuckles, I won't try to hurt you. What you see in here is what I got." Dr. Eggman stated. Giving another nod Knuckles cautiously reached for the can and a spoon that was on the side, grabbing the contents within and placing it in his mouth.

Violet eyes lit up in surprise.

"Hey this is pretty good." Knuckles said. Dr. Eggman tsked. "Yeah for the first few days. Apparently the people here mainly eat this stuff as it keeps them warm, but for me I had so much of this that the taste became dull."

"Then why don't you eat something else?" Knuckles suggested taking another spoonful.

"What I'd like to have is a five-star meal, not a piece of fish and regular bread."

"This isn't exactly five-star Eggman." Knuckles gestured to the soup.

"It's the best thing they got echidna. Don't rub it in." Eggman countered.

The two ate the soup in silence for several minutes, finishing up after. From there Dr. Eggman got up and retrieved the Paradox Prism from inside the safe placing it on the table for the two to see.

"Now onto business. Based on the analysis I've done pertaining the crystal and your own energy readings, they sync well enough for you to use the Paradox Prism and travel back in time. Most likely you will also go through dimensions that look very different compared to our own." Dr. Eggman explained.

"Will I get lost going through these dimensions? And will the Prism send me to the right locations?" Knuckles asked. The evil genius shook his head. "Unfortunately from what I analyzed the Paradox Prism isn't coordinate-based and will send you flying at random dimensions. If anything you can end up in a planet filled with mushrooms or something."

Knuckles sweatdropped looking at him. "Well looks like this'll take longer than I thought…"

"Not to worry echidna for I have created a solution." Dr. Eggman then revealed a small metal gauntlet with blue circuitry running through it and seven multicolored orbs attached that formed a hexagonal shape. "This device will connect to the energy signatures radiating off the Time Stones through the interdimensional gateway and pull you into their location. It isn't perfect however and it may bring you in several feet or miles away from them, but it will bring you into the correct dimension."

Dr. Eggman brought the gauntlet close to Knuckles in which the latter raised his arm below it. The device close around his wrist as Knuckles pulled it back and flexed his hand. "Least it's a snug fit."

"It adjusts to the diameter of your wrist so it won't be too loose or too tight." Dr. Eggman said.

Knuckles smiled looking at the gauntlet then back at the middle-aged man. "What about you? Will you be coming along?"

Dr. Eggman shook his head. "I cannot, the Paradox Prism seems to be selective on who can use its power and from the analysis, your energy will sync to it for you to tap into its power. My energy isn't compatible with it." the evil genius grabbed the multi-colored crystal afterward and gazed at it through his shades. "Which is why I'm able to hold it and not activate its effects."

"What do you mean by that Eggman?"

"What I mean is that the Paradox Prism is more volatile compared to the Chaos Emeralds and Master Emerald. While you can draw out their power by calling to them, the Prism will activate with physical touch. There is no way to control it whether intentional or not." Dr. Eggman stated.

The red echidna was confused. "How do you know of this if you haven't tested it out."

Dr. Eggman looked at Knuckles and grinned. "Because I'm an evil genius, plus the energy readings of the crystal spikes higher compared to the emeralds due to lesser constraint. The power of the emeralds is more controlled therefore you, the others and I are able to hold them."

Knuckles looked at the Paradox Prism that Dr. Eggman held. "I only understand parts of what you're saying Egghead, but if this is what's gonna help save the world then I'm all in."

The large man gave a hearty laugh. "Excellent Knuckles, now get yourself ready because in an hour we'll meet at the outskirts of Holoska." Dr. Eggman then got up and took the Paradox Prism. "I'll be leaving right now to establish how far we have to be in order to avoid possible radiation from hitting the people here."

The former emerald guardian chuckled. "Since when do you care about the people here?"

Dr. Eggman returned another grin. "They're nice fellows… and I am in their debt."

…

The large human and red echidna stood a few miles away from Holoska. Heavy winds blew onto them with icy cold air nipping on their forms. Dr. Eggman had his regular getup with goggles over his eyes while Knuckles simply had his hood up.

"This should be far enough!" Dr. Eggman yelled through the winds. "I'll place it on the ground and that'll be your queue to touch it!"

Knuckles gave a thumbs up to which the evil genius placed the Paradox Prism on the snowy terrain and stepped back a few feet. "Go ahead Knuckles! Save the world so that I can conquer it after!"

The red echidna looked back with a grin and shook his head, turning back to the multicolored gem. "I'll do just that, but I won't let you rule it." he whispered to himself and laughed. Stepping further towards the crystal he reached out his hand and grasped it.

WHOOSH!

The Paradox Prism began to glow more vibrant as the winds started to spin rapidly around the echidna. Brilliant lights of various colors were being let off from the crystal as Knuckles gazed onto it in awe. Quakes began to shake the surroundings with Dr. Eggman trying keep himself in balance watching the spectacle happening.

"It's working! IT'S WORKING!" the evil genius cheered with a cackle. Knuckles didn't hear him from the winds and suddenly his body began to glow as the light engulfed him entirely.

WHOOSH!

Seconds later the winds returned to their normal state blowing towards one direction and dispersing the snow that accumulated upward. Once the area was revealed to the world again.

Knuckles was nowhere to be seen.

Dr. Eggman smiled and nodded. "Just as I have predicted. Once Knuckles possesses all the Time Stones he will be able to bring the world out of this mess. Good luck and stay safe." he said to himself. The middle-aged man then placed a hand inside one of his pockets and took out a small walkie-talkie.

His happy expression then took a more serious one.

"Get the defenses ready… they would have detected it by now…"

…

…

"WOOAAAAAAHHHH!"

Knuckles cried out as he fell through a vast cosmic realm of outer space and portals. His eyes couldn't register all of it as his body traveled quickly through the unknown territory, vision taking in so many vibrant stars and lights.

'No time for games, Sonic! Give me the emeralds you have! Right now!'

"What the?!"

'Dang it… I came all the way to this island looking for the Master Emerald…'

"What are these voices?!"

'Maybe not, but at least I'm not as clueless as you. I'll see you later!'

"Hey I know that voice!"

'Just like I thought… A bit too much for your little brains to comprehend. Enough of this small talk! Time to take care of you both!'

"That sounds like Eggman! But wait why is he-?!"

'Soon will be the very last of us… fulfill the prophecy… Knuckles.'

"That voice…" Knuckles muttered upon hearing the last one. His form continued to drift into the endless interdimensional space yet he found himself becoming stable. Looking around and calming himself he gazed at the wonderous and vast expanse of several reflective-looking crystals that were just like the Paradox Prism. Each one of them glowed vibrantly just like the one in his hand and displayed faces of unknown people he's never met.

"So these are the dimensions that Eggman talked about. I don't recognize any of these people." Suddenly a glow radiated off the gauntlet he wore and turning his head to look at it noticed that one of the orbs started to glow brighter than the others. "I think this is what he meant! It picked up the energy of one of the Time Stones!"

A stream of green light emitted from gauntlet and connected itself to one of the large crystals nearby. Knuckles watched as the crystal began to glow and immediately did a bright light appear.

Pulling Knuckles into it.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

The red echidna was swallowed up by this light and disappeared within, the light vanishing as soon as it appeared.

…

…

…

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Tired eyes slowly opened to reveal jade green irises from beneath.

They closed again due to the blinding light, slightly moving their head away deep into the plush pillow behind them.

"Hey… Jian's awake…!"

With head pounding and aches all over them, they opened their eyes a second time and blurry vision greeted them. A groan escaped their throat and blinking several times, their vision readjusted and the person was able to see clear as day.

"Oh Jian thank goodness you're back!" Dulcy cried grasping the white tiger's hand tightly. Jian turned her head slowly over to the teal-colored dragon. "W-Where… where… am I?" she whispered.

"You're in Mazuri. Me and that orange echidna girl brought you and the others back to their hideout." Dulcy smiled rubbing her thumb on top of Jian's paw. "You're safe here."

Jian broke her stare from Dulcy and looked to the side. She was in a somewhat run-down medical room with equipment present and several other beds nearby. Those beds were all occupied by the others and by the looks of it were resting due to their breathing.

Sonic, Amy, Shadow, Blaze, Rouge and Bunker.

Dulcy looked over to them and gave another smile. "They're doing just fine and are sleeping. The injuries you guys got were pretty severe and we thought you wouldn't make it, but fortunately the Vanilla lady and the other doctors knew what they were doing and performed miracles hehe."

Jian looked back at Dulcy and blinked once.

"W-Where's… Cinder…"

Dulcy swallowed a huge lump in her throat and looked down ready to cry.

"S-She's g-gone…"

Jian's eyes widened a bit but she couldn't feel much of anything. Her heart ached for the orange pheasant but her body wouldn't move much due to the fatigue. The white tiger looked to her side again at Bunker, Dulcy already having a feeling. "S-She's knows too Jian. S-She let o-out a few t-tears on her part." the dragon girl said sniffing a bit.

Looking back to Dulcy, Jian opened her mouth again.

…

"Where's… Knuckles…"

End of Chapter 26

And that is it!

Ah man looks like our boy Knuckles will be traveling through time and dimensions, just like in Sonic Prime. Wonder where his first stop will be in his new quest to find the Time Stones? Also if the way I described the transdimensional space sounds different compared to the one in the show... well I wanted to make it look cooler hehe so bear with me.

What is this unknown thing that got Eggman unsettled?

And hooray the Shinjin Warriors (minus Cinder, nuuu) and Sonic and co. are alive! Will they keep trying to follow our former emerald guardian once they recovered?

Stay tuned and until next time! ouo/