The day of Robotnik's fall was one that caused a chain reaction of events that, for the Mobians, brought down the evil doctor's once great empire. King Nigel and Queen Angelica formed their armies to fight against the robotic menace, allies to the Freedom Fighters infiltrated the Egg Citadel in full force, and Nicole - revenge driven after the loss of her adoptive mother, Jenni - sought to delete any remnants of the doctor's influence. At dawn of the next day, the battle was officially over, and Mobius had won… Peace everlasting… But Sonic and Sally would not forget what was lost to achieve that victory…

Jenni Robotnik
In loving memory of a cool babysitter, for she brought the brightest smiles.

Sonic stood in front of a grave, placing some flowers in front of it as the sunset in the horizon. A gentle breeze blew as Sally approached him, holding her arm in awkward silence. She didn't know Jenni that well, but she knew how much she meant to Sonic. But either acknowledging her presence or simply to break the awkwardness, Sonic spoke up.

Sonic: "Is clean up going well?"

Sally: "...For the most part. The roboticized Mobians have unfortunately shut down after Eggman's death. Perhaps as a last laugh, he opted to have them unable to be recovered from their condition. Those in the Kingdom of Snow were saved, but most were roboticized… And without Eggman…"

Sonic: "...So more than just Jenni was sacrificed in that fight… Just another reason to be happy he's gone for good."

Sally: "You… don't sound happy, Sonic… In fact, you sound… upset…"

Sonic said nothing, simply acknowledging that fact. He then feels Sally wrap her arms around his back, being mindful of his spikes.

Sally: "Sonic… I… I know you feel upset over how the fight went… Everything that could have gone wrong, did… But I… I'd rather you still be you…"

Sonic turns his head to look at Sally, revealing his eyes to be bloodshot, showing just how much he's truly cried.

Sonic: "...I can't promise I can be… happy all the time… I have to be real with you, Sal… I hesitated… in using the Chaos Emeralds… I was just scared at what would've happened if I did… That power is… too unstable…"

Sally: "What do you plan to do with them then?"

Sonic: "...I'll talk to the royals about what should be done. And… I still need to talk to Knuckles about the Master Emerald… Whether he agrees or not, that thing needs to be gone. And never return."

Sally thought about something - Albion, the city of echidnas. They could help in that endeavor, but… She swore an oath. One she wasn't sure if she wanted to break. But after some mental fighting, she ultimately decided.

Sally: "Sonic… I want you to come with me… Rather than going to Knuckles, I figured… another place would be better… I'll speak to Julie, and hope things will go over well…"

Sonic: "Will it be worth it?"

Sally: "I hope. But… I do intend to help you, Sonic… Because… I love you…"

Sonic looks at Sally before smiling, turning to hug her tightly. The two looked deep into their eyes before leaning in for a kiss. The love for each other only continued to get stronger.

A week later, Sally and Sonic, accompanied by Julie, were to the country of Mercia, which had been subjugated from Mordred's rule after Nigel reclaimed Mobotropolis from Robotnik's forces. With the tyrant's defeat, the road to Albion was much safer, though Julie was a bit worried about something as she led her friends to her old home.

Julie: "Sally, I do trust you… a lot. Like a lot a lot… But you know how Mom is with secrecy. Do you think this is wise?"

Sally: "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sure… But we need to build bridges to other nations. No more exclusivity. No more leaving others out. I'm hoping my diplomatic ways can convince Lady Luna the same thing."

Sonic: "From what you told me, she's brash but still kind. I'm sure you got this. And if not, I'll be here to help."

Sally: "Not that it doesn't help ease my troubled mind… But uh…"

Sonic: "I solved the issue with Meropis, didn't I?"

Sally looked at Sonic before sighing, deciding not to argue. His diplomacy aside, he did strengthen the bonds between the Kingdom of Snow, Kingdom of Acorn, and the Kingdom of the Ocean at the end of the day.

The trio arrived to Albion, the sights of the mix of ancient and advanced technology actually surprising Sonic in a way that made him excited to learn more of their new allies. He was brought to the council hall, where Luna was seen with several other echidnas, one of them being an old albino echidna who glared at the outsiders. Luna greeted Sally warmly, though curious as to Sonic's presence.

Luna: "Princess Sally. I welcome you back to our humble home of Albion. Your presence here is certainly welcomed, but… Who is the child beside you and my dearest youngest?"

Sally: "Lady Luna. This is Prince Sonic, son of Queen Aleena and hero of Mobius. He who had defeated a most terrible foe."

Julie vouches for Sally's claim, having been in that fight. Luna nods before bowing respectfully to Sonic.

Luna: "Hello, Sonic. I did not recognize you at first, but I do recall a small blue hedgehog who had the look of promise in his eyes. When I look into your eyes now… I see discomfort, pain, and tragedy…"

Sonic shuffled slightly in awkwardness, kicking some dirt in the air.

Sonic: "I… lost someone important to me… That's all I'll say since… I'm still coming to terms with it…"

Luna nods, giving a sorrowful look to the young hedgehog, bowing her head in condolences. But once this touching bit of news had subsided, she reaffirmed her serious composure as she then spoke.

Luna: "Very well. With introductions out of the way, what do you need, Princess Sally?"

Sally: "Lady Luna, there is something that may interest you. Sonic?"

Sonic: "Are you at all familiar with the Island of the Heavens?"

Luna: "A story passed down from patriarch to patriarch after the fall of the Knuckles Clan many years ago. Despite this tale of an island that floats in the sky, our best efforts to find it have yielded nothing."

An echidna in a lab coat and glasses nods to confirm this to be the case. But Sonic smiles and wags his finger.

Sonic: "It ain't no story though. It is real."

The room goes quiet as they stare at Sonic, the tension growing as it was clear none of them were in the mood for jokes. Disturbed, but not unwavered, Sonic explained his experiences with the island in question, meeting Knuckles and Kicks, the guardians there, and the Master Emerald.

Sonic: "That emerald is bad news, Lady Luna. Which brings me to my own request. To get rid of the Master Emerald for good. Otherwise, what happened to Meropis could happen to another kingdom… or worse, the world."

Luna looked at Sonic with… a curious look. Perhaps to see if he was lying? But no such luck. What he spoke was truth. Then the albino echidna spoke up.

Albino Echidna: "Poppycock! Our advanced technology couldn't find this island for years! And this boy just so happens to find it by pure luck!? Absolute nonsense!"

Luna: "Imperator Ix, you will do well to steal your tongue. Your tone is unwelcomed in our council room."

A deep voiced, mostly cybernetic echidna then spoke up. The look of this one was a complex series of wires, mismatched metal, a single triangle eye. There were so little flesh on this echidna that he could pass for a roboticized Mobian.

Cybernetic Echidna: "But he isn't wrong. The validity of his claim is… questionable at best."

Julie: "That's where I come in."

Luna: "Julie? Can you confirm the existence of the Island of the Heavens?"

Julie: "I've not seen it personally, no. But Sonic and his friend, Tails, have. In fact, the latter's plane, the Tornado, has a radar that enables him to track down a Chaos Emerald's specific energy signature. Which the Master Emerald gives off as well."

Ix: "So your claim is hearsay. Bah! Hardly worth investigating. Such a waste of time!"

Luna glares at Ix before turning to the cybernetic echidna.

Luna: "Dimitri, my love. What are your thoughts?"

Dimitri: "Hmm… Prince Sonic. If you claim the island exists and that you can find it through your plane, then it should be no problem for you to show us personally."

Sonic: "It is… sort of. See, the aforementioned guardians aren't… the most welcoming of echidnas. Years alone on that island have led them to fend off just about any intruder. I can land there without too many issues, but anyone else would likely be met with resistance."

Luna then stands before walking around the council table until she stands in front of Sonic, facing him directly.

Luna: "Then… What about a single representative of Albion? A being who can perhaps speak with this duo of guardians. Someone… like the Patriarch herself."

Sonic: "Um… I guess, if that's okay."

Sonic then whispers to Sally real quick.

Sonic: "Does she mean 'Matriarch'? I thought patriarchs referred to male leaders…"

Sally: "Just go with it…"

Luna: "Very well. Then I shall go with you to the island, personally. If nothing else, this may help… encourage the idea of forming an alliance with those outside of Albion. To bring Mobius closer to each other."

Sally's eyes lit up as she smiled. She and Julie then high fived before noticing Ix seething.

Ix: "WHAT!? Lady Luna, with all due respect, we can't trust the outsiders! Do you not see? They plan to assassinate you! Destroy our very way of life! You are putting your faith in a losing cause!"

Luna: "...Or perhaps your archaic way of thinking is blinding you to a bygone era. Times are changing and Mobius is growing. I only ever allowed myself to hide Albion from the outside due to a lack of trust from outsiders. But seeing these children… I am ready to place my faith… and Mobius' future… in their capable hands."

Ix growls at this before slowly taking out something. A gun. He then stands as he gets ready to shoot.

Ix: "Then a new pecking order is nee-"

A laser shot is fired, but not by Ix. In fact, the old echidna suddenly found it hard to breathe. His eyes then faded with no life in them as he collapses to his death, much to the shock of the rest of the council and the outside visitors. They turn to see the one who killed Ix was… Dimitri, with a laser cannon built into his strangely shaped bulkier hand.

Dimitri: "His first mistake was thinking he could go against the decisions of the Patriarch. His second was trying to usurp control. And his third… was thinking he could kill my wife while I still draw breath."

Luna: "...A poor fool who tries to kill to gain power… will be killed himself."

Luna then brings the trio of younger kids outside, away from the scene as the echidna with glasses calls for a clean up. The rest of the day was spent in Albion discussing plans for the future, with Sonic slowly starting to move on from his loss. This little adventure did help ease his mind; the future for Mobius looked… bright. Brighter than ever…

In present day, Sonic was taking Speed to her room for bed. The next day was going to be a long trip and they both needed their rest.

Speed: "Hey, Dad…"

Sonic: "Hm?"

Speed: "Um… I'm… sorry for forcing you to tell me that story… I was just… curious… And I still am. Like what happened after your trip to Old Albion?"

Sonic: "Hehe. A story for another time, maybe. But you shouldn't worry… Jen… risked her life for mine. She was never one to fear death due to her condition… Her sacrifice allowed me to defeat Eggman… And in the end, marry Sally and have you, Speed. To me, you are her greatest gift to us… And I'll always protect you, squirt."

Speed: "Pfft. You poser."

The two shared a laugh before Sonic kissed Speed on the forehead, laying her down for bed.

Sonic: "I know being a royal sucks, but… it's better to appreciate what you have now. A loving mother… A doting father… And friends who'll be with you every step of the way. Those are the greatest things to cherish for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"

Speed: "...Heh. You're way too preachy, Dad. Anyway, good night."

Sonic smiled before turning off the nearby lamp, walking out of the room and closing the door. As Speed laid in bed, she looked at a family portrait with her, her family, and other families from Sonic's various friends. She then smiled as she closed her eyes.

Speed: "...I understand, Dad… I'll cherish my friends… always…"

To be continued…