Each step aches a little more than the last.
Knuckles makes his way through the lush woodland of his beloved island, to which he has finally returned from the Sky Sanctuary. Although the island is back intact, the fires having been put out in between Knuckles' schemes, something is off…the water of the normally still ponds trembles, and the trees quiver despite the lack of a breeze – not to mention the eerie quiet. The doctor's presence has left the entire island unsettled…and has left Knuckles injured. The electrocution from earlier has singed the tips of Knuckles' quills, and his body is weak and shaky. After that and many hours of chasing after the hedgehog and fox, to say that he is exhausted would be an understatement.
Knuckles is not the only one who's been affected. He notices two Flickies cowering, shuddering in fear after being used to power robots and witnessing their home be set aflame, and they squeak and quickly hide away in a nearby bush as they hear his footsteps. Knuckles kneels down and gently approaches the bush and, when the Flickies recognize him as their guardian, they instantly feel safer and peek their heads out from the foliage.
It is for this that Knuckles knows that he must keep going for his little friends, those that depend on him, and to keep his island and the Master Emerald safe.
The Master Emerald…Knuckles loathes to think that it ended up in the evil doctor's hands, and further loathes the fact that he was so easily deceived. But he knows that he must not dwell on it, or he will lose focus. He has entrusted the doctor's defeat to Sonic and Tails, and prays that they know what they're doing. He does know that they're strong, though, especially with how far they've made it, even beating Knuckles in a fight. Knuckles' tricks, taunts, and mighty punches were hardly a match for the relentless pair. He's grateful that he was made aware of their true intentions and that they weren't the fiends that the doctor made them out to be.
He's not sure what exactly the two have been up against since they parted, but something tells him that they'll make it.
Suddenly, he hears the sound of an airplane. Accompanying it is an impact on the ground. Knuckles moves in the direction of the sound, willing to tackle any imminent threat, until a mighty force shakes the ground and knocks him over. Flickies once again start to squeal and hide in fear. Knuckles digs his fists into the ground to steady himself, and he grits his teeth as his hackles raise with his increased agitation.
He looks around after a few moments and, to his confusion, senses no other presence nearby. He hears no sound other than the airplane, whose noise has gone quieter, indicative of its departure. The ground continues to shake, more intensely by the second. Knuckles looks to the skies and, seeing the clouds approaching, realizes what's going on. The island is rising! He knows that this can only mean one thing.
The hedgehog won.
The Master Emerald has been restored to its rightful home and for that the island can once again stay afloat in its rightful place in the sky. Knuckles cannot help but smile as he feels the island below his hands and feet shake more forcefully as it frees itself from the clutches of the sea. As it ascends higher and higher, he senses more strongly in his body the mighty power and blessing of the Master Emerald. His feet already know the direction to take him and, as the island stabilizes, he makes his way over to it. The connection between him and the Emerald is a very special one which he has always so cherished.
Soon he finds the Master Emerald within sight. He smiles in relief and runs further towards it, ignoring the aching in his legs. Once he gets close enough, he stumbles over to press a hand against it, relief swelling in his chest at the return of the treasure that he has guarded his whole life.
He turns around at the sound of the airplane once again nearing. He knows who must be piloting it, and, surely enough, sees the bright red shape of the plane in the distance, with the fox piloting it and the hedgehog standing on the wings. He waves at them, though the gesture is shaky. He hopes that his gratitude is evident nonetheless – if they can even see him, that is.
As strange as the two are, Knuckles certainly hopes that he may one day see Sonic and Tails again.