Chapter 39: Red vs. Green
Shang Tu Island – Pangu Forest, Noon Hours
The setting sun cast a golden glow over the lush expanse of Pangu Forest, its light filtering through the dense foliage and creating a serene atmosphere. The forest was calm and tamed, with an aura of ancient wisdom, as though it had borne witness to countless centuries of history.
Three figures made their way through the underbrush, the peaceful sounds of the forest accompanied them. They moved with purpose, their footsteps soft but steady, determined to find their objective.
"Hmmm, is this really the place, Sherlock?" Amy teased, glancing playfully at Milla, who was intently sniffing the ground and surrounding plants as though on the trail of some elusive clue.
Milla perked her ears up, a gleam of excitement in her eyes as she looked back at Amy with a smile. "Yep, yep! We're going in the right direction, Watison!" she replied, bounding forward a bit.
"Watson Rose!" Amy corrected with a laugh, shaking her head at their little game. It had been quite entertaining to play their own version of detectives. Their investigation had led them here to this expansive, sacred forest, thanks to Milla's keen sense of smell.
"Are you two done playing?" Neera interjected, her tone tinged with impatience. Her gaze scanned the surroundings, eyes narrowed as she took in every detail. She didn't have time for childish games—there was too much at stake.
Amy gave her a sheepish smile. "Oh, don't worry, Neera. We're just having a bit of lighthearted fun."
"Fun. At a time like this?" Neera replied, her expression unchanging, her tone dry and unamused.
"I know, I know," Amy said, her voice becoming more serious. "We need to find the Magister as fast as possible, but we can't be all gloom and doom, we have to maintain a positive attitude!" Her face softened with a smile as she glanced at Milla. "Besides, thanks to Milla, we're able to follow the Magister's trail in no time thanks to that spare robe of his."
Milla beamed at the praise, her eyes bright with pride. "Uh-huh! It was so easy to catch his scent! It's practically still fresh. And even though there were other smells mixed in, I could track it easily!" She wagged her tail in excitement. It had been a bit challenging when they were back at the palace, but as they moved through the forest, the scent had grown clearer with fewer obstacles.
Neera's stern expression softened as she watched the two, though she tried to mask it with a sigh. At least they were making progress. The three of them were the only ones available for this crucial mission while Gong took charge in their absence. "I suppose progress is being made," she muttered, conceding reluctantly.
Amy sensed Neera's frustration and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "Neera. I know you're eager to find him, but we need to be patient. We promised that we will find him, and we will" She gestured toward Milla, who sniffed along the ground with intense focus, her tail wagging furiously.
Neera sighed deeply. "You're right, it's just…" She hesitated, her worry almost breaking through. After a pause, she deflected, her attention turning to their surroundings. "It's just… Pangu Forest? Why would the captors bring someone here?"
Amy nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, yeah, if I remember correctly, this place is sacred, right?" She recalled stories from her tour, the legend of the forest, and its mystical significance.
Neera's expression softened further, her eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia. "This is indeed a sacred place, where the legendary dragon is said to have first descended upon our land in the ancient times before these islands were known as Avalice." Her gaze became more distant as she spoke, as if she could see the stories coming to life around her. "Actually… it makes sense. If they wanted to hide someone or something, this would be the last place anyone would look."
"Of course! That's actually smart!" Amy agreed, nodding. "It's unexpected enough to work."
"Woah, you're so good at detective work, Lady Watson Neera!" Milla exclaimed with admiration, looking up at Neera with wide eyes.
"Hey, there's only one Watson here!" Amy protested, grinning. Neera's lips twitched in a small smile, the first sign of humor breaking through her usual stoic demeanor, maybe she could relax a bit...
But just as the mood lightened, Milla's nose twitched. Her expression shifted, her ears perking up as she took in a fresh scent. "I… I smell the Magister's scent clearly!" she announced, excitement mingling with sudden alarm. "Yeah, it's definitely the Magister's… but it's mixed with something else. Metal… some other smells… dirt… and… ah! Blood!" Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes widening.
"Blood?!" Neera's voice was filled with alarm, her heart racing. "Follow the trail, quickly!" The thought of blood chilled her to the core—she only hoped it wasn't the Magister's.
"You heard her, Milla—onwards!" Amy echoed, urgency clear in her voice as she picked up her pace.
"Yes, follow me, Watsons!" Milla said, dashing forward on all fours, her nose leading the way with newfound urgency.
As the two followed Milla deeper into the forest, moving faster than before, they remained unaware of the fourth figure that shadowed them from the treetops, his movements silent and stealthy.
"Damn, it's been at least two days since the Magister's kidnapping, and they still managed to track him this far?" the figure murmured, watching the group from his concealed perch. He noted the dog's efficiency with a grudging respect. "That dog's sense of smell is… impeccable. Creepy, but effective." His eyes narrowed as he watched them head deeper into the heart of Pangu Forest.
He studied them for a moment longer, piecing things together. "Don't know who they are, but something tells me they're with Sash and Carol… Well, they're about to reach the hideout anyway. Might as well make the proper introductions."
Adjusting a silver, light-emitting device strapped to his pouch, he smirked slightly. "They better tell me where the others are," he muttered under his breath before leaping from his perch. With a flash of green energy, he propelled himself to the next branch, keeping pace with them as he continued his silent pursuit, waiting for the right moment to reveal himself.
Angel Island – Hidden Palace
In the heart of the Hidden Palace, the green glow of the Master Emerald bathed the shrine in an otherworldly light. The emerald's radiant aura filled the cavern, casting long shadows of the two figures locked in a fierce battle: a red echidna and a green wildcat. Their movements were fast and precise, each strike a display of strength and agility as they clashed in a blur of power.
"Ora!" Knuckles shouted, landing a swift punch aimed at Carol's midsection, but Carol flipped backward just in time, landing gracefully on her feet as Knuckles skidded to a halt and turned.
"Oh yeah? How about this, teriaaa!" Carol countered, unleashing a series of powerful kicks, each one aimed with pinpoint accuracy. Knuckles blocked her strikes with unyielding determination. But with a final, stronger kick, she managed to push him back, only for Knuckles to counter with a fierce punch to her stomach, sending her tumbling across the ground.
"Ugh… cough… ow…" Carol groaned, clutching her abdomen, trying to catch her breath as she glared at the echidna. She could see now how he'd managed to defend this place for three days straight. He was a powerhouse, and it didn't seem like he was planning on backing down anytime soon. "Tails wasn't kidding…" she muttered, struggling to her feet.
Knuckles looked thoroughly unimpressed as he raised his fists. "Stop saying his name, cat! You're not fooling me!" he snapped, his glare hard and distrustful.
Carol felt a spark of irritation ignite inside her. Even as they fought, she had been trying to convince him that she was on his side. She'd even gone as far as sharing detailed descriptions of her friends, recounting how awesome and cool Sonic was, how smart Tails was, and even telling stories of Amy and her adventure. But he dismissed every single attempt. It was like trying to reason with a brick wall, and her patience was quickly wearing thin.
"Dude, you are really, REALLY, pissing me off!" Carol growled, her eyes narrowing as Knuckles charged toward her, his fists ready for a barrage of punches.
She anticipated his move, sidestepping as his first punch missed, and retaliated with a quick swipe of her claws, scratching his arm and startling him. Seizing the moment, she spun into a roundhouse kick, sending him hurtling backward.
Knuckles managed to land on his feet and quickly transitioned into a spin dash, barreling toward her in a blur of red. Carol recognized the move instantly from her experiences with Sonic and braced herself, timing her counter carefully. Just as he reached her, she delivered a powerful kick, sending him flying like a football straight into the far side of the cavern, where he slammed against the stone wall.
"Hrng…" Knuckles grunted, his breath coming in hard gasps as he dropped to his knees, winded from the impact. He spat onto the ground as he staggered to his feet, refusing to let exhaustion take over, though he couldn't deny that this "thief" knew how to handle herself. "Gotta admit, you sure know how to pack a punch."
"Oh, please, don't butter me up," Carol shot back, steadying herself with a grin.
Knuckles blinked, thrown off by her sarcastic response. "Butter… what does butter have to do with our battle?"
Carol rolled her eyes, exasperated. "No wonder Sonic calls you 'knucklehead…'" she muttered under her breath.
Knuckles, undeterred by her remarks, suddenly dropped to the ground and began digging, disappearing into the earth in seconds. Carol tensed, her ears perking up as she tried to sense his next move. She felt faint tremors underfoot, jumping to the side just as he burst from the ground, his fist swinging for an uppercut. She dodged, but before she could counter, Knuckles disappeared back into the earth.
"I didn't know echidnas could do that!" she muttered, alarmed, her eyes scanning the ground as she listened closely for any more tremors. "Well, I never really met one, so… How do I hit him?" she thought, feeling her frustration grow. "This is like the metal snake all over again!"
She tried to recall the strategy she and Sonic had used against that creature but quickly dismissed the idea. Knuckles definitely didn't have missiles hidden anywhere in his jaw, and she couldn't just wait this out. Steeling herself, she decided to let him come to her, holding her ground as her muscles tensed in anticipation.
The moment he burst from the ground, Carol moved, pouncing as she raked her claws across his chest, causing him to stagger backward with a pained grunt. But recovering quickly, he curled into a ball and launched another spin dash, this time hitting her square in the chest with an intense force that sent her rolling across the floor.
Both fighters were drenched in sweat, their heavy breaths echoing through the quiet of the shrine. Carol took in the signs of fatigue weighing on Knuckles—the subtle slump in his shoulders, his slower movements. He'd been defending this island tirelessly, and now the toll was showing.
This was her chance.
Summoning every last ounce of her strength, Carol steadied herself, watching as Knuckles pulled back for what was clearly a final, all-or-nothing punch. His fist seemed to blaze with energy, a last surge igniting his spirit, but Carol was ready. She sidestepped in a flash, grabbing hold of his arm as it powered toward her.
Using his momentum against him, she twisted, redirecting his force with a fierce shout. Knuckles was sent flying through the air, his eyes wide with surprise as he was hurled across the shrine. He skidded across the stone floor, landing face-first with a resounding impact that echoed through the cavern.
For a moment, there was silence. Carol felt her own exhaustion creeping in. She approached the downed echidna, realizing that her victory was due more to stamina than skill—if he hadn't been so worn out, things might have ended differently, way differently. Shaking her head, she approached him as she reached into her pockets.
"No…" Knuckles whispered weakly, his eyes fixed on the Master Emerald as he reached out a trembling hand toward it. The emerald's light bathed him in a soft glow, and he looked up at Carol's shadow approaching, bracing himself for what he assumed would be the final blow. "I… I'm sorry… I failed…" he murmured, waiting for the worst.
…
…But instead of pain, he felt a strange, soothing warmth. He opened his eyes in confusion to find Carol applying a handful of red petals to his wounds, her touch surprisingly gentle.
"Oh man, I was really saving these for me," Carol muttered, not entirely serious, as she pressed the life petals to his injuries, glowing faintly, slowly healing the cuts and bruises on his body. "But I guess this is better than nothing," she added with a small grin.
Knuckles' wounds began to close, his pain easing as the petals worked their magic. He was still exhausted, since the petals cure that, but he felt a newfound relief. "You… why would you…?"
Panting heavily, Carol dropped down beside him, too tired to keep standing. "I told you, dude" she replied, a hint of exasperation in her voice, "I'm not here to steal the Emerald. I came with Tails and Sonic." She reached out a hand to help him up, offering a faint smile. "Name's Carol, by the way."
Knuckles looked at her, still bewildered but touched by her kindness. For the first time, he began to see her not as an intruder, but as an ally.
Knuckles remained silent, still processing what Carol had just done. "You…were…" he started, unsure how to finish the sentence. But before he could continue, the ceiling above them exploded in a rain of stone and debris. Carol reacted instantly, grabbing Knuckles and pulling him out of the path of falling rocks. They looked up, eyes wide with alarm.
Descending into the room, battered and barely functional, was Prince Dail atop his nearly broken Kujacker. The mechanical peacock's wings were tattered, and sparks flew from its body as it struggled to remain upright.
"Aha! I have finally found you, echidna!" Dail shouted, his eyes blazing with fury. "Surrender the Master Emerald, or I will take it by force!" The Kujacker let out an echoing screech, amplifying Dail's threat.
"What, that's the prince! The prince is here?!" Carol exclaimed, her shock evident. Could he have been the one responsible for that earthquake back in Sandopolis?
"He's not with you?" Knuckles asked, equally bewildered as he looked from Carol to Dail.
"Why would I be with him?! I told you, I'm not the enemy! I'm with Sonic and Tails to save your butt!" Carol insisted, her frustration bubbling up.
Knuckles looked at her, frowning. "But… the robots that attacked me were green. I thought that because you were green…" He trailed off as he realized how ridiculous his assumption had been. Carol couldn't do nothing but to stare at him with a deadpan look.
"Enough nonsense!" Dail's voice roared through the cavern. "The Emerald, now!"
Carol stepped forward defiantly, positioning herself between Dail and the Master Emerald. "Sorry, buddy, but the Emerald stays right here." She glanced at Knuckles, who was still catching his breath. "C'mon, let's get him."
Knuckles blinked, surprised at her words, but he nodded, finally recognizing their new alliance. "Yes, this is my Emerald, and you're not taking it! So you better get out alongside your airships or I will do it myself!"
Dail sneered from atop the Kujacker. "So, you have chosen deat…" He paused, fumbling for another word that didn't sound repetitive. "...to perish," he growled. "Die!" With a screech, the Kujacker unleashed a barrage of electric bolts, forcing Carol and Knuckles to dodge and maneuver around the cavern as the mechanical bird continued its assault.
As they weaved and darted through the cavern, both Carol and Knuckles noticed that the Kujacker wasn't able to take flight; its wings were too damaged, and its movements sluggish. The blue gems on each of its back feathers were cracked and shattered. It only needed one last, decisive blow to finish it off.
"Looks like Lilac and the rest made it easier for us!" Carol said, a smirk crossing her face as she saw Knuckles clenching his fists, preparing for one final push.
"Die, you vermi…uh, insects!" Dail shouted, his voice shaking with frustration as he urged the Kujacker forward for a devastating peck.
Knuckles stepped in, catching the mechanical beak with his hands, stopping the attack in its tracks. Dail's eyes widened in alarm as he watched the echidna hold back the force of the Kujacker. Carol seized the opportunity, darting in and delivering a series of clawed strikes to the peacock's neck, each swipe tearing at its already weakened structure. Realizing his disadvantage, Dail attempted to pull back, but before he could retreat, Carol had an idea.
"How hard can you throw someone?!" she shouted at Knuckles, her eyes gleaming with a plan.
Knuckles gave a nod, grinning. "Far enough!" He flexed his muscles, lifting Carol into his palms in one swift motion.
With a powerful hurl, he threw her straight at the prince. Carol spun through the air, her claws extended as she connected with the Kujacker's head, her strike slicing cleanly through the neck. The robot's head detached with a screech of grinding metal, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
"No! My beautiful creation!" Dail cried, scrambling to regain control of the now-helpless machine. In a final act of desperation, he leapt from the smoking, sparking remains of the Kujacker, drawing a sword and charging at Carol.
Carol braced herself, alarmed at his sudden attack, but before Dail could connect, a blur of red shot between them. Knuckles, spinning into a fierce spin dash, collided with the prince, sending him crashing hard into the cavern wall. Dail hit the ground with a groan, knocked out cold as he slumped to the floor.
Carol and Knuckles both landed, breathing heavily as the destroyed Kujacker erupted in a final small explosion behind them. Its parts scattering across the caverns floor.
The Hidden Palace fell into silence, save for the faint hum of the Master Emerald's glow. For a moment, they stood side by side, the tension between them finally melting away. Knuckles understood now—she wasn't an enemy.
"Huff… Not bad, you're strong," Knuckles said with a weary smile, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes as he looked at her. But as he was about to speak further…
"Because I was green?!" Carol snapped, glaring daggers at him, her arms crossed in irritation.
Knuckles stumbled back a step, embarrassed and unsure of how to respond. "H-Hey, come on! The ships were green, the other robots, some of them were green, there was a lot of green, and, and…" He trailed off, his cheeks reddening as he realized how flimsy his reasoning sounded.
Carol sighed, rubbing her arm. "Doesn't matter. At least we don't have to fight anymore." She glanced over at Dail, still lying unconscious on the ground. "And at least we got the prince…"
Knuckles rubbed the back of his head, glancing at Carol with a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. He realized he probably should have trusted and listened to her sooner instead of jumping to conclusions. As he opened his mouth to apologize, his eyes caught something else—a faint cyan glow drifting down through the broken ceiling.
"A g-ghost?!" Knuckles shouted, stumbling backward as the light floated closer. He dropped into a battle stance, fists raised to fight the mysterious apparition.
"Huh, ghost?" Carol, however, wasn't the least bit scared; in fact, her face lit up with happiness. "Gyro!" she exclaimed as the cyan Wisp floated down, chirping with joy. It nudged her playfully, and she couldn't resist reaching out to pet the little creature. "You're here—it's so good to see you!"
Knuckles blinked, his battle stance slackening as he took in the scene. "Gyro… what?" was all he managed, thoroughly confused as he watched Carol interact with the floating, glowing creature.
Carol chuckled, realizing his confusion. "Don't worry, hes a friend and, oh, wait—you came through the hole too!" She looked back at Gyro with sudden excitement. "So, if you're here, that means the others…"
Another rumble shook the ceiling as more figures descended through the opening above. Lilac, Tails, and Torque dropped down, dusting themselves off as they landed on the stone floor of the Hidden Palace.
"Lilac! Guys!" Carol cried, her voice filled with relief as she hurried toward them.
"Carol!" Lilac ran up to her, wrapping her arms around her friend in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're safe!"
"You really did find her. Good work, Gyro!" Torque said, patting his small companion with appreciation as Gyro chirped proudly, doing a little spin in the air.
Tails, catching sight of Knuckles, called out, "Knuckles!" He flew up to his friend, offering a high five. "I'm glad you're okay!"
"Yeah, good to see you Tails" Knuckles replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over him as he saw the fox. "It's, uh, not been the greatest time lately…"
"Yeah, I can tell" Tails grinned, but it quickly faded as he took in Knuckles' worn-out state. "Oh no, you look injured!" he said, concern evident in his voice.
Meanwhile, Lilac noticed Carol's own bruises. "Carol, what happened to your ear?!" she asked worriedly, studying her friend's injuries.
Carol grimaced, pointing to her various cuts and bruises. "Courtesy of the prince and the many traps along the way." She gestured to Dail, who lay unconscious a short distance away, then motioned toward Knuckles with a smirk. "And the ear courtesy of the guardian himself."
"Hey…" Knuckles muttered, embarrassed, though he knew she wasn't wrong.
Tails shot Knuckles a look, exasperated. "Knuckles, did someone trick you again?"
Knuckles huffed, feeling his face heat up. "What, no! I never get… Okay," he admitted with a sigh, rubbing his neck as he glanced at the others, "this time I might have made some wrong assumptions. Really bad assumptions." With a deep breath, he stepped forward, facing Carol directly.
He bowed, leaning down with his head close to the ground in front of her. "I apologize for my rash actions and for hurting you, Carol. I was wrong to jump to conclusions and accuse you without listening. You were right all along, and I'm truly sorry for causing you harm. I know I've let my stubbornness and mistrust get in the way, and I hope you can forgive me."
Carol stared at him for a long moment, caught off guard by the depth of his apology. Part of her wanted to stay mad at him—he'd practically threatened to turn her into green paste minutes ago. But she also realized he'd been doing his duty, even if it was a little misguided. And besides, three days of nonstop fighting could make anyone a bit paranoid. With a sigh, she shrugged.
"Nah, it's cool," she said with a small, forgiving smile. "But just so you know, I was definitely winning," she added, her tone smug.
Knuckles narrowed his eyes at her, his expression reminding her of a certain blue hedgehog, but he felt relieved to see she held no grudge. "Thank you." He straightened up and looked around at the rest of them, his expression curious. "Now, who even are you guys?"
Tails stepped forward, gesturing to each member of the group. "Well, you already met Carol. And these are Torque, Lilac, and Gyro," he explained, motioning to the little Wisp who floated over to Knuckles, chirping happily.
Knuckles took a wary step back, startled by the creature's sudden approach. But realizing it wasn't spirit, not like he was scared of them or something, he relaxed, smiling slightly at the tiny, glowing friend.
"I see we have a lot to talk about," Knuckles began, glancing around at the gathered newcomers. Part of him wondered where Sonic was, but his thoughts were cut short as he noticed Lilac staring at something, her eyes wide with awe.
The Master Emerald glowed softly atop its pedestal, untouched and unharmed from the two previous battles. Its ethereal green light cast a serene glow across the cavern, illuminating Lilac's scales and fur with a gentle shimmer. "The Master Emerald, the island's jewel… it's really in front of me," she whispered, stepping closer, captivated by its radiance.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Knuckles jumped in, positioning himself protectively in front of the emerald. "No! Look, but don't touch!"
Lilac blinked, shaking her head as she snapped out of her trance. "S-sorry! It's just like in the book," she said, her eyes still sparkling with childlike wonder. "It's so… so beautiful."
"It's incredible, isn't it?" Tails said, his own gaze drawn to the emerald's majestic glow.
"It truly is as big as you said," Torque added, studying the massive gem with admiration.
"Wait…" Tails' eyes suddenly brightened with an idea. "I got it!" he exclaimed, pulling out his radar and rushing toward the emerald.
"What?! Tails! I said do not touch!" Knuckles barked, watching with growing irritation as Tails tapped and examined the emerald.
"Relax!" Tails replied, waving Knuckles off as he continued to fiddle with the radar. "This is the perfect opportunity to fix my radar!" The others looked at him, baffled, but he went on. "The radar hasn't been able to pinpoint the Chaos Emeralds because of interference from the Kingdom Stones' energy waves. But with the Master Emerald's energy as a reference, I believe that I can calibrate it to filter out the Kingdom Stone's signals, so we can track only the Chaos Emeralds once again!"
"…Uhhhh, yeah, totally get what you're saying," Carol muttered, scratching her head, Knuckles mirroring her confusion.
"Tails, that's amazing!" Lilac exclaimed, fully understanding and allowing him to work. She then turned to Knuckles, smiling as she extended a hand. "Knuckles, it's really nice to meet you. We're here to help you protect Angel Island from Shuigang's army and keep your home safe."
Knuckles looked at her, momentarily caught off guard by her sincerity. While he was still wary of these newcomers, their willingness to defend his island brought a faint smile of gratitude to his face. "Thank you."
Lilac grinned. "To protect such a wonderful place as this? Any day!" But her smile faded as she studied him, noticing his weary expression. "But you really need to rest, Knuckles. You've been fighting for so long… you look worn out."
"I'm fine, uh, Lilac," Knuckles insisted, straightening up as if that would mask his fatigue. "As the guardian, it's my duty to protect the Emerald."
"But Mr. Knuckles," Torque interjected, his voice polite but firm, "if you don't rest, you won't be able to guard the emerald properly. The Shuigang ships are still attacking the island and it won't seem to be stopping any time soon."
Knuckles glanced away, knowing they were right but feeling conflicted. His island was still in danger, and the ships were bombarding it relentlessly. "But how can we stop them from attacking?" he muttered. "Are we supposed to go to each ship and destroy their cannons one by one?"
"Ehhh, we kinda were actually thinking of that," Carol admitted, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she turned to the unconscious prince. "Buuuuuut it just so happens that the prince of Shuigang is right here with us." She pointed at Dail, lying crumpled on the floor.
Torque's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, you're not suggesting…"
"That maaaaaybe we could ransom out the prince?" Carol suggested, her grin widening. "As far as we know, the soldiers are still loyal to him. If we give them the prince, they'll definitely leave this place alone. It's a simple deal, and who knows, maybe we can get something else out of it."
"Carol…" Lilac sighed, her tone disapproving.
"C'mon, Lilac, it's not like it's the first time we've tried to ransom someone. And it's even the same guy!" Carol said, crossing her arms.
"Wait… same guy?" Torque asked, looking at Carol and Lilac curiously.
Lilac quickly shook her head, clearly not eager to revisit those memories. "A story for another time, Torque." She turned to Carol, her face serious. "Carol, we have to find another way."
"But she's… sort of right," Tails admitted, surprising everyone as he looked up from his radar. "I've got the Master Emerald's energy waves calibrated into the radar now, ill need to tinker it a bit more to be able to locate the Chaos Emeralds, but that's for later. But look, with Dail in our custody, the Shuigang ships wouldn't risk bombing the island with him inside. And…" he glanced at the prince, his face grim, "as Torque said, he's too far gone for us to snap him out of Brevon's influence, for now."
"Really? We're actually doing this?" Carol asked, her eyes widening with excitement as she realized her idea was actually going to work. "Oh my gosh, yes!"
Lilac looked from Tails to the rest of the group, then back at Dail's prone form. After a brief moment of contemplation, she let out a sigh of resignation. "Fine, we'll make a deal. But first, we need to rest and heal up. Carol, do you have any life petals left?"
"Nope," Carol replied, grimacing. "I used the last of them to patch up Knux over here. I'm fresh out."
Lilac sighed, looking down at Dail. "Well, that's a problem… and we still need to tie up the prince before he wakes up." She turned pointedly to Knuckles.
"There's some rope and food in my shed inside the palace," Knuckles offered, gesturing toward a passageway. "It's not far from here. There's not much food, but I think it'll be enough."
Lilac smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you, Knuckles."
Knuckles shook his head, letting out a small chuckle. "No… I thank all of you for willingly protecting my island…not like I couldn't have done it on my own," he added, his tone lighthearted. The others let out a few chuckles. Knuckles turned toward the direction of his shed, ready to grab the supplies they needed when suddenly, another violent tremor shook the entire cavern.
"Seriously? Another one?!" Knuckles yelled in exasperation, steadying himself against the tremors. "Is it Sonic this time!?"
But this quake was different. It was deeper, more intense, as if the very foundation of the Hidden Palace was about to give way. The rumbling grew louder, and the ceiling above them cracked as something massive tore through the stone, hurtling downward. With a thunderous impact, a figure landed on the cavern floor, sending a shockwave of dust and debris across the room.
As the dust cleared, Tails's face paled, his eyes wide with dread as he recognized the sound of an engine powering down. His voice came out in a horrified whisper. "No…" Everyone's eyes focused on the figure standing in the newly formed crater.
Metal Lilac.
Her sleek, metallic form shimmered in the dim light, her pink optics piercing and cold as she scanned each of them in turn. She moved with a calculated precision, her gaze finally settling on the enormous green gem in the room's center.
MASTER EMERALD LOCALIZED.
Metal Lilac's synthesized voice echoed through the chamber with an eerie finality. Her mission, her goal—all of it led her here. The endless tunnels had been a maze, but trusting her newfound instincts had brought her to her prize.
Dail, barely conscious, opened his eyes from where he lay, his vision blurry. He caught sight of the metal duplicate and felt a chill run through him, powerless to do anything.
Knuckles stepped forward, his fists clenched as he took in the sight of the robot with a dawning realization. "Another metal?!"
The others were already steeling themselves for a fight, if she was here before him…then…
"You!" Lilac's voice rang out, sharp with fury as she took a step forward, glaring at Metal Lilac with an intensity that burned. "Where is Sonic?" Her voice trembled with anger, her fists clenched tightly. "Where is he?!"
The cavern grew silent as the group braced themselves, each of them clinging to a hope that the worst hadn't happened—that it couldn't have happened.
But Metal Lilac merely stood, her optics locking onto Lilac. With cold deliberation, she reached behind her back and pulled something out, tossing it at their feet. The metal object clanged against the stone floor, sliding forward until it came to a stop in the center of the group.
The others froze, their eyes widening as they realized what it was—a twisted fragment of the Tornado. And tangled around it was a small tuft of blue fur, Sonic's blue fur.
Everyone reacted differently, the shocking truth hitting each of them like a punch to the gut.
Knuckles's fists trembled as he stared at the shard, his jaw tightening with fury. "That's Sonic's…" he murmured, anger rising as he lifted his gaze to glare at the robot.
Carol's teeth clenched, her fists balling up as her whole body shook in fury. "Bluey…" she whispered, her voice low and filled with pain.
Torque and Gyro looked equally enraged, Torque raising his weapon and taking aim at the machine. Another friend lost, another wound opened.
But Tails… He stood frozen, the weight of the realization sinking in. The blood drained from his face, and his knees began to buckle, a wave of despair threatening to pull him under—how could this have happened? He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Knuckles steadying him, the echidna's face reflecting a mix of anguish and defiance as he met Metal Lilac's cold gaze.
Metal Lilac's optics flickered with something akin to satisfaction, watching as they all absorbed the weight of her message. But there was one reaction she'd been waiting for above all.
Lilac stood there, her initial shock melting into a seething rage, her body trembling with barely contained fury. "You…" Her voice was low, her shock now replaced by an intense, burning hatred. Sonic…her dear friend… her… he was…
"Ahhhhh!" Lilac's scream of rage tore through the cavern, echoing off the stone walls as she unleashed a powerful Dragon Boost toward Metal Lilac. A single tear escaped her eye, catching the emerald's light as she charged, all her fury and grief poured into her attack. Metal Lilac responded without hesitation, her own Dragon Dash igniting as she met Lilac head-on.
The two purple comets collided, sending a shockwave through the cavern. The Master Emerald pulsed, glowing brighter than ever as the two Lilacs clashed. The force of their battle reverberated through the chamber, the ground trembling as they fought, the green light of the Master Emerald casting shadows across their fierce struggle.