Chapter 19: A Gift from a Friend

Elsewhere on the Egg Carrier…

After leaving Sonic to fight the robots, Knuckles hurried to the heart airship. Just like all the Master Emerald shards before, he could sense the power of the remaining pieces coming from the center of the Egg Carrier. He did not know the layout of the ship, but he didn't need to. The power of the Emerald shards was the only guide he needed.

The Echidna ran tirelessly through the corridors, not even stopping to look for danger. When he came across robots patrolling the ship, all it took was a solid punch to bring them down, and he was off and running again. When the passageways began to lead him away from the Emerald's power, he decided to punch through the walls and go straight towards it. Nothing was going to stand in his way now. He was going to find those shards and return in time to help his friends.

With one last punch through a wall, Knuckles found himself stepping into a dark room full of metal storage boxes. He didn't have to worry about searching through all of them. The Emerald shard's power was strong, beckoning him to the right one. He approached a stack of boxes and effortlessly shoved away the ones blocking him from his target. When he finally found the right one, he grabbed the edge of the top and tore it off.

Three Emerald pieces lay inside, all glowing as bright as stars.

"At last," said Knuckles with a relieved sigh. His mission was nearly complete.

He stepped back and held out his hands. The shards grew brighter and floated out of the box. As they approached him, he felt the energy change again. The same one he felt at the casino and ruins. This time, it felt even stronger, as if it was becoming more alive. He narrowed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"This again? What's the vision of this time?"

As the shards gently fell into his hands, he closed his eyes and let their light wrap around him. Instantly, he smelled wildflowers and grass, and the ground beneath him became changed. He opened his eyes and looked up. Once again, he was at the foot of a restored Master Emerald Shrine with a warm sun shining down from a bright blue sky.

Then, he heard racing footsteps coming from behind. He turned around and saw a figure running towards him.

It was that Echidna girl again. Tikal.

As she approached, Knuckles stepped aside out of habit, and she ran right past him and up the steps of the shrine. Knuckles followed close behind her. When she reached the top, she halted for a moment, bringing a hand to her chest, and taking a deep, shaky breath. Finally, with some hesitance, she approached the Master Emerald. As she drew closer, its light grew brighter. She stopped a few feet away from the powerful gem and knelt down.

"O one whom have created the Chaos Emeralds," she said to the Emerald. "I have returned. I believe I have found the answer."

"You have done well, child of Light," said the voice from before. "Arise and tell me your answer."

Tikal obeyed and got to her feet.

"The servers are the Seven Chaos Emeralds," she said. "Chaos Energy is the power that those blessed with the gift to use it can harness. Mobians and Mystics. This power we wield is enriched by our hearts. Those with strong hearts and strong wills, they are the ones who can use the power of the Chaos Emeralds. The Controller is the one that unifies the Chaos. The Master Emerald, it is the one that can unify and disperse the power of the Emeralds. This was your plan, wasn't it? For Chaos Energy is neither good nor evil. Even those with darkness in their hearts can have a strong heart and will. You and the gods created the Master Emerald to control the Chaos should evil obtain it."

"Very good, child of Light," replied the voice warmly. "However, there is one more element. The Chaos Emeralds can be used by those blessed with the gift, but the Master Emerald can only be used by those who receive our blessing. Those who are strong of heart, strong of will, and pure of intention: they are the true Controllers. Should they choose to take up the task, they will have the power to control the Chaos Emeralds, but will also be bound to a life of service. It will be their duty to protect this world from evil."

"And…" Tikal said softly with a quiver in her voice, "you chose to tell me all this because…"

"Yes, dear child. You are one strong of heart and will, and pure of intention. Should you choose to take up this task, you will be granted the power to control the Chaos Emeralds."

Tikal fell silent. Knuckles watched as she lowered her head and clasped her hands together. They shook as she tightened her grip.

Then, Knuckles felt something strange, like something heavy and cold was suddenly shoved into his heart. He gripped his chest and found that his own hand was shaking. What was this feeling? It wasn't natural. It was like it was being forced on him, trying to make him feel it.

"I…" Tikal spoke up. "I…I don't know what to say. I am humbled and honored by your words, but with a power as great as this, surely there must be another more worthy than I. I don't even know if I want that kind of power. What if I make a wrong decision and bring disaster instead of averting it?"

"Peace, dear child," said the voice. "Believe when I tell you that you are worthy. But this is your choice. When you have decided, return here with your answer."

The voice faded, and the light of the Master Emerald dimmed. Tikal paused, her hands dropping to her sides. She stood still for long time, and Knuckles stared at her, the strange feeling in his chest waning slightly.

Then, Tikal turned around and began to walk towards the stairs.

Suddenly, the landscape around Knuckles began to shift and distort. It was like it was a painting with colors running together into disfigured and contorted shapes.

"What's going on?"

Tikal stopped and looked straight ahead. Knuckles froze. She wasn't looking through him. She was looking at him. He didn't know how; he just knew that she could see him.

"Had I known I what would happen next," she said, her voice ghostly, "I would've taken up the task without hesitation. It was my fear that stopped me, and others were about to pay for my cowardice."

"Fear?"

Knuckles stiffened. That was what he was feeling. Fear. But not his fear. It was her fear.

As he realized this, Tikal began to fade along with the rest of the landscape.

"Wait!"

Before Knuckles could reach her, Tikal and the vision disappeared. Knuckles quickly found himself stumbling into a metal crate, grunting as it struck him in the side.

He was back on the Egg Carrier. The feeling of fear disappeared, but it still left his heart racing, and his limbs numb. He leaned on the crate, breathing heavily and trying to get his wits together.

"What was that?" he said aloud in a low voice. "That was no ordinary vision. Whoever that girl is, she's definitely trying to tell me something. But what? What did she mean when she said others would pay for her cowardice?"

The power of the Emerald shards suddenly caught Knuckles' attention, and he held out his hand. They instantly appeared in his palm, and he narrowed his eyes.

"I guess I'll find out once I restore the Master Emerald. But for now, I best hurry back to help the others. Hang on, guys. I'm on my way."

Knuckles clenched his fist, and the Emerald shards vanished. He stood up and turned back to the way he came in. After loosening up his shoulders, he ran back the way he came. He would have to think about that vision later. Right now, he had friends to save.

Meanwhile…

Gamma pursued its target as she sped down the hallways, turning sharp corners in an attempt to lose it. Its sensors kept a lock on her Energy, and it caught up to her with ease. It could sense her Energy levels draining. She was struggling to escape. It was only a matter of time before she was exhausted.

At last, she bolted into a room full of prison cells and slid to a stop at a wall before her. She spun around and faced Gamma as the robot approached her. Her look of worry changed to determination. Her sword then appeared in her hand, and she got into a fighting stance.

"Surrender, Mystic," said Gamma. "Do not resist."

"Never!" the Mystic replied, tensing. "I'm tired of running, and I'm not going down without a fight!"

"Surrender," Gamma repeated. "The doctor commands it."

"No!"

"Your chances in winning are minimal."

"We'll see about that. Come at me!"

Gamma raised its gun and prepared to fire. The Mystic shifted her feet, ready to dodge. But before Gamma could fire off the shot, the door behind it opened, and a voice screamed.

"Leave her alone!"

The Mystic looked past Gamma and gasped in alarm. The robot turned around and saw the pink Mobian Hedgehog the Mystic was with before. She scowled up at Gamma with clenched fists.

"Amy!" the Mystic girl cried. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving you!" replied the Hedgehog before turning her attention back to the robot. "You're not getting your hands on her again, you big bully!"

Gamma looked at the Hedgehog, its memory recalling Eggman's orders. Bring the Mystic to him alive no matter what. This Hedgehog was interfering with those orders. Her Energy readings were far lower than the Mystic's. She was no major threat. She was simply and interference. Weaker entities had no use.

The robot raised its gun to the Hedgehog, and a look of fright came over her face.

"You shall not interfere," ordered the robot. "This does not concern you."

Gamma charged its gun up and prepared to fire.

"NO!"

Before Gamma could turn back, they Mystic sped by it. She stopped in front of the Hedgehog, standing protectively in front of her, and glared at the robot.

"I won't let you hurt her!" she growled, her eyes focused on the robot. "Amy, get out of here!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Amy protested.

"Please, I don't want you to get hurt!"

"I can't leave you behind! I won't let you get captured again!"

"I'll be fine! Get out of here!"

Gamma paused. The Mystic's threat meant nothing to it. It was seeing her standing between it and the Hedgehog, even begging for her to run that made the robot stop. She was the more powerful of the two, yet she defended the weaker one instead of herself. And the Hedgehog. She was weaker than the Mystic, but she wanted to protect her regardless.

"This does not compute."

The girls stopped arguing and looked back at Gamma. The Mystic kept her sword raised, and the Hedgehog moved closer to her.

"Why do you not surrender?" Gamma asked the Mystic. "Why do you protect what is useless? It is illogical."

"She's not useless!" the Mystic retorted angrily. "She's my friend!"

"Friend?"

"You wouldn't know anything about friendship, would you?" said the Hedgehog. "Your one of Eggman's creations. He doesn't even know the meaning of the word."

"Friendship?"

"That's right, we're friends," said the Mystic. "Which means we look out for each other."

"This does not compute," replied Gamma. "Why protect what is weaker than you?"

"You really don't know what friendship is all about, do you?" asked the Hedgehog. "Eggman failed to put emotions in you. It doesn't matter how strong or weak you are. A friend is someone who stands by you no matter what."

"For what purpose? What is the reason?"

"We don't need a reason," replied the Hedgehog. "A friend is a friend. Someone to count on and care for. Even if we haven't known each other for very long, we can still help each other."

Gamma lowered its gun and stepped back. That anomaly was returning. Nothing in its system was corrupting, but it was as if a virus was starting to infect everything. It couldn't draw any logic from this. It made no sense.

The Mystic girl saw the robot recoil and stepped forward.

"I won't surrender because I have friends to fight for," she declared. "And friends to find. I fight for the ones I love. I swear, I will find Carrie and Master Aaron, no matter what."

Hearing those names, Gamma locked its gaze on the girl. It stared into her eyes. They were…familiar?

Suddenly, that anomaly took over completely. Gamma staggered back as a series of images flashed in front of its screen. All of them of the same girl. The one standing before it. But they were not from its own memory. They were coming from the anomaly. They were images of her as a little girl, growing up, and fencing with her sword, crying from a scratch on her arm, and racing across the beach.

Finally, an image appeared and lingered for a moment longer than the rest. She was smiling. A bright, joyful smile. She was…happy.

"Alex!"

Gamma jolted. It did know this girl. It didn't know how, but it knew this girl. Alex. That was her name. She was standing before it. She was in danger. In danger because of it.

Gamma raised its gun again, and the girls braced themselves for an attack. However, instead of pointing at the girls, it pointed it at the door behind them.

"Go," it ordered. "Go now. It is dangerous here."

Alex and the Hedgehog looked at each other, confused. Then, with some caution, they both hurried towards the door. Before going through, they stopped and looked back at Gamma.

"You're really letting us go?" asked the Hedgehog.

"Go now," Gamma repeated. "Hurry."

The Hedgehog gave a small, thankful smile. "Thank you," she then looked back at the Mystic. "C'mon, Alex."

Alex nodded. "Right."

Gamma watched as the two girls exited the room. It stood where it was, processing the anomaly. Nothing was corrupted, but something had changed. Remembering Alex seemed to have rebooted a part of its system. It couldn't fight her. Not because she was too powerful for it, but because it couldn't order itself to fight her. Not anymore.

But why? What was the logic behind it?

After putting some distance between them and the robot, Alex opened the door to a small dark room and ushered Amy inside. She pushed the door closed and held onto the handle, holding her breath. At any moment, she was expecting to see the robot come around the corner and charge at them, but it didn't.

It wasn't coming after them.

"That was strange," Alex said. "He really did just let us go. But why?"

"I don't know," Amy replied. "One moment he's trying to shoot us, and the next he's letting us go. But whatever it was, it's clear that he's not like Eggman's other robots. Lucky for us."

Alex let go of the handle and leaned back against the wall and breathed heavily. In this moment of relief, she was now aware of just how exhausted she was. Amy saw her distress and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay, Alex?" she asked, worried.

"I'm fine," Alex sighed heavily. "I just used a lot of Energy, that's all."

Then, a soft glow came from Alex's bag, and she felt a light jolt of Energy surge through her. Curious, she opened the bag. The two Chaos Emeralds inside were now glowing.

"Of course, this should help."

Alex reached in and grabbed the yellow Emerald. She held in both hands, closing her eyes and letting its power rejuvenate her own.

Amy sat down next her. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah," Alex replied, the Emerald's light dimming as her strength fully returned. "Good thing I had these. Guess you were right to bring them with you."

"So, you're ready to keep going?" Amy asked eagerly. "I'm sure Sonic and Tails are worried about us."

Alex put the Emerald back her bag and then stopped when Amy mentioned Sonic and Tails.

"Amy, why?" she said in a low voice.

Amy's smile faded at Alex's tone. "Huh?"

"Why did you come after me?" Alex asked, her voice rising and her eyes glistening with pain. "I told you to get the others to safety. That robot almost blew your head off. What would I have told Sonic and the others if you got hurt, or worse? If something happened to you because of me, I…I don't know what I'd do."

Amy shrunk in on herself and cast her gaze down with a sad frown.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I just wanted to help you. I know you've been facing those robots alone. I didn't want you to go through that again. But the moment he turned on me, I realized just how powerless I am. I'm sorry."

Alex hardly heard Amy's apology. Her words of wanting to help her and why tugged at her heart. She couldn't stay upset with her. Just hearing how much she cared about her lifted a weight off her chest. She put her hand on Amy's shoulder, and she looked at her, Alex pulled her in and hugged her tightly, making her tense with surprise.

"Thanks, Amy," Alex whispered. "I was worried, but I am glad you came. I'm not alone anymore."

Alex felt Amy relax and hug her back. "That's right," she said kindly. "You're not alone. We're all here for you."

After a moment or two, Alex let Amy go and sat back on her feet. She remembered what the Hedgehog said about being powerless, and an idea came to her.

"You know, since you helped me," she said, grinning. "How about I help you this time? Give me your hand, palm facing up."

Amy blinked at the request before holding out her hand. Alex placed her left hand underneath Amy's, and held her right over her palm. She took a deep breath and focus her Energy on Amy's. Her green aura appeared around her hands, and a bright, rose pink appeared around Amy's. Their auras soon mingled together between their palms, swirling together into a circular shape. In a few seconds, they joined together and took the shape of a green ring.

"Perfect," said Alex.

With the forcejewel completed, Alex and Amy's auras faded, and the ring dropped in the Hedgehog's hand.

"What is this?" Amy asked curiously.

"A Conjuration forcejewel," Alex answered, holding up her own ring. "It allows us to summon items using our Chaos Energy. Typically, it's a weapon that best fits you. This should help you defend yourself now, at least a little. It only takes a fraction of Energy to summon, so you don't have to worry about running out. Give it a try. Don't think too hard about it. Just let your Energy do the work."

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

Amy slipped the ring on her right index finger and closed her eyes. She held her hand to her chest for a moment before lifting her head and stretching her arm out. The forcejewel flashed, and a large red and yellow hammer appeared in her hands. She opened her eyes and gazed at it with astonishment. A huge smiled streaked then across her face as she held her new weapon in both hands, and Alex let out an excited laugh.

"You did it!" she said with elation.

"Alex, thank you," Amy said happily. "This is amazing!"

"It's what friends do after all."

"So, you're saying we are friends?"

Alex smiled and winked. "Sure, if you want to be."

Amy nodded in response, and her hammer disappeared, turning back into a green ring. Only now, there was a small image of a yellow hammer on it.

Alex then stood up. "C'mon. We got to meet up with Sonic and the others. I'm sure they're worried about us."

"Right," replied Amy, still smiling. "I can't wait to show Sonic my new hammer. Won't he be surprised. Just follow me."

Amy opened the door, and she and Alex poked their heads out. When they saw they coast was clear, the two friends left the room and ran down the hall side by side.