Chapter 23: Visions of Life
The infirmary was filled with a quiet tension, broken only by the steady hum of the medical equipment. Knuckles sat on the edge of a bed, stubbornly refusing to lie back down, while Amy Rose stood in front of him, her arms crossed and her expression stern.
"You need to rest, Knuckles," Amy insisted, her voice firm. "You're not fully healed, and you know it."
Knuckles shook his head, his brow furrowed with determination. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice gruff. "There's no time for resting when the emeralds are in danger. I have to keep moving."
Daisy sat quietly beside Rosalina's bed, listening to the exchange. She could see the frustration in Amy's eyes, the concern that made her push Knuckles to stay. But Daisy also understood Knuckles' stubbornness, his sense of duty. She decided to interject, her voice calm but supportive.
"Amy, I get what you're saying," Daisy said, drawing both of their attention. "But I think Knuckles is right. We don't have the luxury of time right now. If he feels ready, we need to trust him."
Amy's frown deepened, but she didn't argue. She could see that Knuckles wasn't going to change his mind. "Fine," she said, her tone resigned. "But don't come crying to me if you end up in worse shape."
Knuckles gave a small, appreciative nod. "I know you're worried, but I have to do this. Thanks, Daisy."
Daisy smiled softly and then turned her attention back to Rosalina, who lay still, her breathing shallow but steady. "Knuckles, could I see the Chaos Emerald?" she asked, almost hesitantly. Knuckles hesitated for a moment, then reached into his pouch and handed the emerald to her.
As soon as the emerald touched Daisy's hand, a warmth spread through her, and her vision began to blur. Suddenly, she was no longer in the infirmary. She was standing in a vast, radiant expanse, filled with light and warmth. Around her, she saw lush, green landscapes, fields of flowers swaying in a gentle breeze, and a sky that stretched endlessly above, bathed in a soft, golden glow.
She could hear the sound of children laughing, the rustle of leaves, and the distant murmur of a flowing river. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, sweet and fresh. It was a world full of harmony, a vision of pure, beautiful life. Daisy felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over her, as if she was finally connected to something larger, something she had been missing. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay in this vision, surrounded by the warmth and love, forever.
But the vision faded as Knuckles gently took the emerald back from her. Daisy blinked, her eyes refocusing on the infirmary. She felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she didn't bother to wipe it away. Her hand lingered where the emerald had been, as if trying to hold on to the feeling, even as it slipped away.
"What happened?" Amy asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
Before Daisy could find the words, a weak but warm voice spoke from the bed beside her. "She saw life," said Rosalina, her eyes open, the faintest of smiles on her lips.
Daisy turned, her heart leaping as she saw that Rosalina was awake. "Rosalina!" she exclaimed, her voice choked with relief. She reached out and hugged her tightly, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she could breathe again.
Rosalina, still frail and pale from her long rest, returned the embrace gently, her movements slow and careful as if conserving what little strength she had left. She glanced over at Knuckles, who looked pleasantly surprised to see her awake. "Hello, Knuckles," she said, her voice soft but steady. "Hello, Amy."
Amy blinked, startled. "Wait, how do you know my name?" she asked, tilting her head.
Rosalina's eyes drifted to the Chaos Emerald in Knuckles' hand, and her smile grew. "The emeralds... they are more than just sources of power. They carry connections, balance. I've seen many things through them. Balance will happen again."
Daisy's eyes widened as the realization set in. Her dreams, the ones that had plagued her with visions of chaos and confusion—they weren't just warnings. They were messages, hints about the emeralds. "Those dreams... they weren't just chaos," she whispered, a mix of awe and understanding in her voice. "They were about the emeralds—life and death, creation and destruction intertwined.
Knuckles nodded, his expression serious. "The emeralds have the power to do both," he explained. "They can create amazing beauty, like what you saw, or they can destroy just as easily. It all depends on who holds them and what they want. They've brought peace to worlds before, but they've also brought destruction."
Rosalina's gaze softened as she looked at Daisy. "You've started to find your path, Daisy," she said. "You are walking it now. But remember, the journey will not be without trials. When the stars align, I will be there with you."
Daisy was silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of those words. "We can take you to the castle's Power Star," she said, her voice full of hope. "It could help heal you, reconnect you to the cosmos."
Rosalina shook her head slowly, her expression kind but resolute. "It won't work. My connection was to the star in the Comet Observatory. The bond formed with a power star is unique, and mine has been severed. As for your path, Daisy, it's yours to walk. Not mine."
Daisy's heart sank a little, but she understood. Rosalina was right. Still, it hurt to see her like this, weakened and disconnected from the stars she once guided so effortlessly. "But you're too weak to fight..."
"I am," Rosalina admitted, closing her eyes for a moment. "But when the time is right, I will play my part in the conflict ahead. So will you, Daisy. This is only the beginning."
Daisy felt a warmth bloom in her chest, a glimmer of hope she hadn't felt in a long time. She glanced over at Knuckles and Amy, who both seemed to share that same feeling, a sense of unity and purpose. Knuckles held the emerald tightly, and for a brief moment, Daisy could see the quiet determination in his eyes. "Then we have to make sure we're ready," she said, her voice gaining strength. "Knuckles, Amy—travel swiftly, and travel safely. We'll need every bit of strength we can muster."
Knuckles gave a resolute nod. "We will," he said. "And we'll find the rest. No matter what it takes."
Amy smiled, her usual cheerfulness returning. "You can count on us," she said. "We'll make sure the emeralds don't fall into the wrong hands."
Daisy looked back at Rosalina, who lay quietly, her face calm but alert. Though she was clearly weakened, there was a light in her eyes that hadn't been there before. For the first time in what felt like ages, Daisy felt a sense of clarity. She glanced out the window, where the night sky stretched endlessly, dotted with stars. It felt as though the cosmos themselves were urging her onward, lighting the way forward.
"Let's make sure we don't let them down," she whispered, her resolve firm. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it. And she wouldn't be alone.
Rosalina offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "And you won't."