The night was calm, the sky above Peach's castle lit only by the soft glow of stars and the pale light of the moon. Inside the castle, all was quiet. Peach was asleep in her chambers, her dreams peaceful for once, far removed from the chaos of the war that had taken place over a year ago.
A soft knock on the door stirred her from sleep. She blinked groggily, rubbing her eyes. Another knock, more urgent this time.
"Princess," a Toad's voice called from the other side of the door. "I'm sorry to wake you, but… Sonic is here."
Peach's heart leaped at the mention of Sonic's name. For a moment, she didn't believe it. Sonic? Here? She hadn't seen him or his friends since they'd helped save the kingdom from Bowser. The idea that they had returned filled her with excitement and hope.
She quickly grabbed her robe, not waiting for the Toad to offer any more information, and hurried to the door. "Where is he?" she asked, already heading down the hall.
"Princess, wait—" the Toad called, but Peach was already running, her slippers barely making a sound on the castle floor as she descended the grand staircase.
As she reached the bottom, her excitement quickly turned to panic. She caught sight of a group of Toad medics rushing through the halls, a stretcher between them. Knuckles, his fur matted and body limp, was lying on it, unconscious. His injuries were severe, his ribs visibly bruised, and his leg twisted unnaturally. Behind him, walking with a worried expression, was a pink hedgehog holding a large hammer at her side.
Peach's breath caught in her throat. She followed them, fear tightening her chest. "Knuckles…" she whispered, dread settling in her heart.
The medics hurried into the infirmary, and Peach slipped in behind them. The pink hedgehog looked up, noticing her for the first time.
Peach took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I'm Princess Peach," she said softly, introducing herself. "A friend of Sonic's."
"Amy," the hedgehog replied with a small, nervous smile. "Amy Rose."
Peach nodded, casting a glance between Knuckles and Amy. "What happened?"
Amy didn't answer right away. Instead, she pulled a bright, glowing gem—a Chaos Emerald—from her pouch. She placed it gently on Knuckles's chest, and a faint light surrounded him, pulsing with energy. Peach watched in awe as some of the bruises on Knuckles's body began to fade, his breathing growing steadier.
"The Chaos Emerald will help him heal," Amy explained quietly, her voice thick with a mixture of hope and worry. "It'll take a little time, but he'll be alright."
As the emerald's light faded, Knuckles's eyes flickered open, his gaze unfocused but growing sharper as he looked around, confusion and weariness clouding his face. "Where… where am I?" he murmured, wincing slightly as he struggled to sit up.
"You're safe," Amy reassured him, leaning close. "We're at Peach's castle. You were hurt badly—you need time to heal."
Knuckles's gaze cleared, but an abrupt tension gripped him as he looked down at the Chaos Emerald, realization dawning. "The… the Master Emerald!" he gasped, panic flashing in his eyes. "It—it was taken!"
A shadow crossed Amy's face, and for a moment, the two locked eyes. There was a depth in her gaze, an unspoken message that needed no words. Knuckles's expression faltered, a flicker of devastation crossing his face as he understood.
"Angel Island…" he whispered, his voice rough, almost breaking. The weight of the loss settled over him, his hands curling into fists. He swallowed, looking away, a brief shudder betraying the depth of his grief and anger.
"Green Hill, too," Amy murmured, her voice barely audible. But Knuckles heard her, the shared destruction of their homes connecting them in a moment of silent resolve.
Peach stepped closer, her voice gentle but steady. "Knuckles, you're not alone in this. What can we do to help?"
Knuckles looked at her, a fierce resolve blazing through his anguish. "We have to get it back," he muttered, attempting to sit up but stopping due to the pain from his broken ribs. "I'll do whatever it takes," he said, trying to convince himself there was no pain.
"Where's Sonic and Tails?" Peach asked, worry filling her voice.
Amy tensed for a moment, holding back a tear. "Robotnik did this. He… he took Tails." Amy cast a worried glance at Peach, who fell silent for a moment. She knew just how important Tails was to Sonic. Amy continued, "Sonic's outside… still in the courtyard where we arrived. We should go to him. He's not doing too well."
Peach nodded, giving Knuckles a reassuring pat on the shoulder before following Amy out into the quiet corridors. They stepped into the courtyard, where the cool night air met them, calm and almost too still in contrast to the weight hanging between them.
Sonic stood with his back to them, his gaze fixed on some distant point in the night sky. His shoulders were tense, his hands clenched at his sides as if holding back an invisible storm. Peach and Amy approached him, each sensing the struggle within him.
"Sonic?" Amy called softly, stepping closer. He didn't turn, his focus remaining on the shadows beyond the castle walls, his body radiating a barely contained energy.
Peach's hand reached out, resting gently on his arm. "We'll get Tails back, Sonic. We're all here with you, and we'll make this right."
Sonic gave a single, tight nod, though his eyes stayed distant, his thoughts pulled elsewhere. Amy moved beside him, her tone quiet but steady. "Robotnik's back, and… he has the Master Emerald."
Peach's eyes widened in confusion. "The Master Emerald?" she echoed. "What is it exactly?"
Amy nodded gravely, glancing at Peach. "It's… a massive power source, even stronger than the Chaos Emeralds. It keeps Angel Island in the sky, and Knuckles has protected it his whole life. Without it…"
Peach's eyes softened with realization. "Without it, Angel Island falls." She took in a breath, understanding now why Sonic was so tense, so urgently focused. "And Robotnik has it now?"
Amy's face darkened. "Yes. He took it, and… and Tails. Sonic's been trying to find a way to get them back."
Peach's gaze softened with understanding, and she gently squeezed Sonic's arm, grounding him. "You don't have to face this alone, Sonic. We'll find Tails and stop Robotnik together."
Sonic's jaw tightened, his fists clenching and unclenching as he struggled with himself, his voice barely a whisper. "We don't have time," he muttered. "I need Dr. Light. Now."
Peach gave a firm nod. "We'll get him, and Donkey Kong and Zelda too. But let's plan this carefully. Tails needs us all at our best."
Amy stepped in, her words gentle but firm. "We're all in this together, Sonic. Tails isn't just counting on you—he's counting on all of us."
Her words seemed to reach him, and he finally looked at her, the hardness in his eyes softening. With a reluctant nod, he glanced back at Peach, his voice tight with urgency. "Fine. But we need them now."
Peach called for one of her Toads, issuing orders to contact Dr. Light, Zelda, and Donkey Kong immediately. Turning back to Sonic, she spoke gently. "Rest, Sonic. We're moving fast, but you'll need your strength for what's next."
With a final nod, Sonic turned and headed back inside, his figure tense but slightly less burdened. Peach and Amy watched him go, both sensing the weight he carried, each quietly vowing to help him face it.