Chapter 52: Bonds and Metallic Reflections

Royal Palace – Healing Springs, Morning Hours

The scent of life petals lingered in the air inside the healing springs, mingling with a tension that had replaced the earlier tranquility. Lilac and Sonic stood beside Spade, who held a sleek radar device aloft in his hand. The screen glowed faintly, displaying seven distinct colored dots arranged across its interface, each representing a Chaos Emerald.

Sonic tilted his head, his arms crossed as he tapped his foot, an unimpressed expression plastered across his face. "Yep, that's sure an Emerald Radar, alright," he said with a shrug. "I've seen, like, a dozen of those before."

Spade rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, no surprise there," he replied dryly. "Robotnik told me all about your little adventures with these magical rocks that turn your fur into piss," he added with a smirk, drawing a scowl from Sonic.

"Real classy," Sonic muttered, though he didn't deny the jab.

"But here's what's important," Spade continued, turning the radar so they could see the glowing display more clearly. The seven dots gleamed in vibrant colors, scattered unevenly across the screen. He pointed to two dots that were slightly closer to their current location. "You already know we've got the silver and blue ones."

To emphasize his point, Spade reached into his pouch and pulled out the Silver Chaos Emerald,the gem shimmered brilliantly. Sonic followed suit, retrieving his own Blue Chaos Emerald, its blue glow complementing the silver light.

Lilac stared at the two emeralds, their brilliance reflecting in her eyes. She could feel their faint energy pulsing in the room.

"But unlucky for us," Spade went on, his tone turning serious, "Robotnik and Brevon have the other four. That includes the red echidnas Master Emerald, and the Kingdom Stone." He gestured to four clustered dots on the radar, all concentrated in one location.

Lilac's frown deepened as she exchanged a worried glance with Sonic.

"So they've got the other four…" Lilac murmured, her voice heavy with concern.

"And we didn't even know they had that many because of our defunct radar," Sonic added, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Talk about a blind spot."

Spade leaned back against the wall, his smirk returning. "Yeah, you guys kinda dropped the ball on that one. But don't worry—yours truly has a radar that actually works." He tapped the screen, pointing to a lone purple dot on the far edge of the display. "They're missing the last one, the purple emerald. And it's close. If my guess is right, it's sitting pretty in Pangu Lagoon."

Lilac's eyes widened in surprise. "Pangu Lagoon?!" she exclaimed. "That place is sacred! No one's supposed to disturb it!"

Spade shrugged casually. "Yeah, and? Didn't stop Brevon and Robotnik from almost leveling Shang Mu or kidnapping the Magister and sticking an impostor in his place. Sacred or not, they're going for it if they get the chance."

His words struck a nerve, but they also made sense. Lilac's hands clenched at the thought of Brevon or Robotnik desecrating such a place.

"And while we're on the subject," Spade continued, his tone turning colder, "I overheard something while I was still working with them. Some Shuigang guards were talking about a commotion in Parusa from a few days ago. Apparently, someone—or something—grabbed one of the emeralds there. Whatever it was left a mark."

Sonic's eyes narrowed slightly as Spade's words brought back a memory, clear and sharp. Sari. The way she had looked at the emerald, at him. Her injury. That was not an accident, was it?

His hand curled into a fist briefly before he forced himself to let it go, shaking off the thought. "So, what's the plan?" Lilac asked, her voice firm and determined. "We go get the last emerald, right?"

"Duh," Spade replied with a roll of his eyes. "You think I'm giving you this info just for fun? You snag the last emerald, and whatever those lunatics are planning goes down the drain. After that, we regroup and figure out the next step."

Sonic smirked, his confidence returning. "Not too shabby, I guess. But wait—we? What about you?"

Spade crossed his arms. "What do you think? I've left the Red Scarves for way too long. Long enough for a sack of bolts to start calling the shots in my absence. It's time to remind them who's in charge so we can lend you guys a hand when the time comes."

Sonic shrugged, clearly having no complaints. "Alright, if you say so." He seemed pleased to see Spade finally aligning with them. But as he glanced at Lilac, he noticed her gaze fixed on Spade, a cloud of suspicion in her magenta eyes.

Lilac and Spade locked eyes. Unspoken words and years of unresolved bitterness passed in the brief silence.

Sensing the building confrontation, Spade narrowed his eyes and broke the silence. "What?" he snapped, his voice sharp. "Got something to add, Sash?"

Lilac crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "Yeah… something like how trustworthy this information is, coming from you."

Spade's eyes flashed with irritation, and he took a deliberate step closer, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, that's rich, coming from you. You were the one trying to convince me about the truth, weren't you? Listen, Sash," he spat her name like venom, "even if I wanted to backstab you—or rip you a new one for betraying the Red Scarves—we've got bigger problems right now."

"Betrayal?!" Lilac shot back, stepping forward to close the distance between them. Her voice quivered with anger. "You didn't give us a choice!"

Spade scoffed, crossing his arms. "And why should I? If you and Carol hadn't botched that mission, I wouldn't have had to deal with the witnesses."

Lilac's eyes flared. "What witnesses, Spade?!" she demanded. "They were old, innocent people! They wouldn't have said anything! We could have saved them, but you didn't even try!"

Spade's lip curled in frustration, his tone rising. "How would you know that?! For all we knew, if we had saved them, they would've run and spilled everything! You don't make it in this world by taking chances, Sash!" His voice grew colder. "And what do you two do after screwing things up? You walk away from the only place that ever gave you a home. Like it was nothing."

"You think we could stay after what happened?!" Lilac shouted, her voice cracking. "We had rules, Spade—rules that the three of us made together!"

Spade's voice dropped into a low growl. "Rules we made as naive kids. You should've known better. Once you're in a gang of criminals and thieves, things are gonna get bloody. But instead of sticking with the people who raised you, you ran away. Ran from everyone. Ran from the place you called home your whole life."

Lilac clenched her fists. Her voice dropped to a pained whisper. "It's not like I wanted to live there by choice…"

Spade's expression darkened further, his hand slipping into his pocket as he pulled out one of his cards. Lilac instinctively readied herself, her stance shifting slightly, but before either could escalate further, Sonic stepped between them, his hands raised.

"Hey, both of you, cut it out!" Sonic's voice was sharp, drawing their attention immediately. "I don't know what kind of beef or history you two have with each other, and frankly, I don't care. Right now, we've got an egg-shaped megalomaniac and an alien warlord planning to take over the world. That's more important than whatever grudge you're holding onto. So, drop it, will ya?"

The room fell into a tense silence. Spade and Lilac stared at Sonic. After a long moment, Lilac sighed and looked away, her face flushed with shame.

Spade's gaze lingered on Sonic, before he finally scoffed. "You actually said something intelligent for once. Guess a little bath in the ocean made you smarter," he muttered, turning away.

Without another word, Spade tossed Sonic both the emerald radar and the Silver Emerald. Sonic caught them effortlessly, the faint glow of the emerald casting reflections on the walls.

"You and your group can focus on grabbing the last mystic rock," Spade said over his shoulder. "Me and my crew? We've got to regroup for out next mission in Shuigang."

As he made his way toward the door, Sonic's voice softened. "To save Prince Dail, yeah? Hope you guys can bring him back to his senses."

Spade paused, his steps slowing. His expression unreadable as he glanced back. After a moment, he muttered, "...Whatever. Have fun hanging out with the traitor." He disappeared into the hallway, leaving Sonic and Lilac alone.

Outside, Spade walked away briskly, his face shadowed with unresolved anger, "Let's just get this over with…"

From the other end of the hallway, a certain hedgehog lingered, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. She had overheard the entire conversation, her brow furrowed in thought. She watched Spade's retreating figure for a moment before pushing off the wall and heading toward the springs.

Inside the springs, Sonic and Lilac exchanged a glance.

"I'm… sorry about the outburst," Lilac said, her voice tinged with embarrassment. She hugged her arms around herself. "I… I don't know what came over me."

Sonic waved it off with an easy grin. "Nah, it's cool," he said, glancing down at the radar and the Silver Emerald in his hands. "Looks like we've got some work to do, though. Time to tell the others."

Lilac nodded, though her thoughts lingered on Spade's parting words. The bitterness in his voice, the grudge he clearly still held—it gnawed at her. "He… really hates me, but I guess it makes sense." she thought, a pang of guilt twisting in her chest. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

Before they could leave, the door burst open with a loud creak.

"Seriously, what's taking you two so long?!" Amy stormed into the room, hands on her hips and an exasperated expression on her face.

"A-Amy?!" Sonic said, startled by her sudden appearance.

"Don't act surprised!" Amy shot back, her brow furrowed. "We've been waiting for you two for hours! What have you even been doing in here?" She eyed them suspiciously, her gaze flicking between them. "You weren't… doing anything else in here, were you?"

"What?! No!" Lilac's face turned bright red, and she stumbled over her words, flustered. "We—we weren't doing anything!"

Sonic, in stark contrast, gave Amy a flat, unimpressed look, his eyes half-lidded. "Seriously?"

Amy huffed but relented. "Well, whatever. Hurry up already! The others are waiting!"

As Amy marched out, Sonic shook his head, chuckling softly. "She's gonna be a handful," he muttered.

Lilac managed a small smile, and together, they left the healing springs, ready to regroup and prepare.

Meanwhile, Spade continued his march down the hall, his thoughts dark and brooding as he headed back to inform his crew about their next steps.

Shuigang Palace – Underground Laboratory, Morning Hours

Far to the north, in the icy lands of Shuigang, the Palace of Shuigang loomed over the snowy landscape. Deep within its halls, the underground laboratory buzzed with activity. The cold air hummed with the sounds of machinery, flickering monitors, and the relentless clanking of worker drones.

At the center, Dr. Robotnik sat at a massive computer console, a twisted grin playing on his face as he reviewed the flickering footage before him. Various screens displayed scenes from the battle inside the now-destroyed Egg-Thermos, analyzing the new data he had collected.

Behind him stood Metal Sonic, his optics on the screens, analyzing every frame with precision. Nearby, suspended in mid-air, Metal Lilac's damaged form was being repaired by an army of repair drones, sparks flying as her metal plating was welded and polished. Her pink optics, however, were focused solely on the screens.

"Look at this mess," Robotnik lamented, gesturing grandly toward one of the monitors. The footage showed the Egg-Thermos crumbling into the lake. "My precious Egg-Thermos, reduced to scrap. I actually liked that place." He sighed dramatically, before shrugging. "But you win some, you lose some, I suppose."

With a press of a button, the footage shifted to the main room where Brevon and Lilac had clashed briefly as well as the battle between her and Tails against Syntax and Metal Lilac. Robotnik's eyes gleamed with twisted interest.

"And by 'win some,' I mean win a lot," he chuckled darkly. "Look at this data! Syntax, that incredible drone—so complex, so elegant. I should build one of my own someday." He tapped another screen, pulling up footage of Gyro darting through the chaos way before his capture. "And this little creature, the wisp, Gyro! Such raw power packed into such a tiny body. Once this is all over, I must pay their planet a visit—for research purposes, of course." He said with a sinister laugh.

Metal Sonic rolled his optics as he said nothing, continuing his meticulous study of the footage.

Robotnik clicked to another clip, this one showing Lilac writhing in pain as Brevon's machine fired its laser. Her screams filled the lab, raw and agonized. Robotnik leaned back in his chair, watching with morbid fascination.

"You know," he mused, his tone almost conversational, "Brevon personally requested that I design that machine to be as excruciatingly painful as possible. And if I do say so myself, I succeeded beautifully. Pity it didn't extract the Wisp energy to its full potential… but I could make it even better in the future!" His lips curled into a wicked grin.

Metal Sonic's optics flickered slightly a faint trace of amusement in his stance.

But it was Metal Lilac who had the most visceral reaction. As the footage played, her optics flickered erratically. At first, she felt a grim satisfaction. Watching her organic counterpart suffer should have filled her with triumph.

But it didn't.

Instead, an unfamiliar sensation rippled through her circuits, growing stronger with each passing second. She couldn't tear her gaze away from Lilac's contorted face, her pained screams, and the sight of her friends rushing to her aid.

The sensation settled into something almost unbearable: sadness.

Metal Lilac's body trembled, her servos whirring faintly as the emotion overwhelmed her. This wasn't right. She was supposed to be the superior version of Sash Lilac—cold, calculated, and emotionless. But as she recalled the moment she had nearly perished in the lava pool, she understood the terror of losing everything. And she hated it.

Her optics dimmed as she shook her head furiously, trying to clear her mind. This is a malfunction she thought, her internal systems buzzing with warnings. Emotions are irrelevant!

POWERING DOWN.

Without warning, she deleted the footage from her memory banks and initiated a forced shutdown. Her body went limp, and the drones repairing her paused as her systems powered down completely.

Robotnik and Metal Sonic glanced over, both startled by the sudden shutdown.

"Eh? Ah, I see," Robotnik said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Taking a little break, are we? Well, I suppose you've earned it after delivering the Master Emerald. But don't get too comfortable, my dear! We've got plenty of work to do, and I'll need you back in action soon enough…" His grin widened, his mind already racing with future plans.

Metal Sonic, however, cast a disdainful glance at the powered-down Metal Lilac, the inferior unit. Pathetic, he thought, his fist clenching slightly, before returning his focus to the monitors.

Robotnik tapped the keyboard, switching to footage of Sonic's dramatic entrance during the Egg-Thermos battle. The screen showed the hedgehog destroying Shade Troopers with ease, his arrival timed perfectly to confront Brevon.

"…To think," Robotnik mused, leaning forward, "that he defied death itself... yet again. Racing from the depths of Trail Ocean to Shang Tu in mere moments, just to ruin our plans. It's almost… amusing." There was a flicker of respect in his sneer. "But I'm glad he's still kicking. It makes the game all the more fun."

Robotnik turned to Metal Sonic, his tone growing sharper. "And now, he'll witness my final plan! The grand event with Brevon begins today! Soon enough, I'll show those fools—them, Sonic and his friends, this world, and that insufferable alien warlord himself—the true power of the Eggm—" He paused, correcting himself with a flourish. "Ehhh I mean, the Robotnik Empire!"

His maniacal laughter filled the lab, mingling with the clanking of machinery and the hum of the monitors.

Metal Sonic didn't join in. His optics locked onto the screen, watching the footage of his organic counterpart with cold intensity. His circuits sparking faintly as his emotions flickered between rage and icy determination. This was his moment. His time to prove himself superior to that flawed hedgehog.

S-asdfs-S-S-Sonic... This time, death won't save you from me!

His optics glowed fiercely, shifting from red to green and back again as Robotnik's laughter echoed through the lab.

Royal Palace – Halls

Back in the bustling halls of Shang Tu's Royal Palace, Sonic, Lilac, and Amy emerged from the healing springs, the faint scent of life petals still clinging to their bodies. Amy clung tightly to Sonic's arm, her gaze occasionally darting toward Lilac with subtle glares. Lilac chuckled nervously each time, avoiding Amy's sharp looks.

Sonic, caught in the middle, could only let a bead of sweat forming on his temple. "What's with this vibe?" he thought to himself as they walked.

But as they approached a corner, the sound of raised voices drifted toward them, halting their steps.

"H-hey! C'mon, no need to push! Uahhh!" came a familiar, nervous voice from just around the corner.

"No, you said it yourself—you're going to apologize, and you're doing it now!" a gruff voice insisted.

"Yeah! Both of you apologize so everyone can be happy again!" added an energetic, cheerful tone.

The trio barely had time to register the voices before a figure stumbled into view, trying desperately not to fall over. Carol, looking flustered and disheveled, straightened herself with a hasty gulp as she came face to face with them. Behind her, Knuckles and Milla peeked around the corner, both clearly responsible for the not-so-subtle shove. Tails lingered nearby, his expression soft but encouraging.

"Uh… uhhh…" Carol stammered, her gaze darting nervously between the trio in front of her. She briefly glanced over her shoulder at Knuckles and Milla, silently pleading for support.

"Come on, Carol," Tails said gently, stepping closer.

Carol swallowed hard, finally turning her attention to Lilac, who was watching her with a mixture of surprise and unease.

Amy, catching on to the situation, tugged on Sonic's arm with dramatic flair. "Let's go, my darling Sonic!" she declared, pulling him away. "Let's not interrupt!"

"Hey, ow! I can walk, you know!" Sonic protested as Amy dragged him around the corner. But as he passed Carol, he shot her a wink. "Glad to see ya, Greenie. Just be sincere."

Carol offered him a small, warm smile. "Happy to see you kicking, Blue. I'll try," she murmured before turning her attention back to Lilac.

With the others gone, the hall was left silent, save for the faint hum of the palace's distant activity. Lilac and Carol stood across from each other, the weight of their unspoken words settling heavily between them.

Carol broke the silence first, awkwardly raising a hand in a weak wave. "H-hey," she said, adjusting her hat in an attempt to steady herself.

"Hey," Lilac replied, rubbing her shoulder as her gaze flickered nervously to the floor.

Another silence fell, the moments stretching uncomfortably.

Carol finally spoke again, her tone tentative. "Uh… does it hurt?" she asked, her eyes drifting to Lilac's broken horn.

"N-no, not really," Lilac replied, brushing her hand over the cracked edge. "I… um, you're all healed up?"

"Yeah, all healed up and dandy over here," Carol said, attempting a grin as she gestured to herself.

The silence returned, but this time their gazes locked. Carol took a deep breath, steeling herself.

"I'm sorry," she said earnestly, her voice trembling. Her green eyes shimmered with emotion as she met Lilac's gaze.

"Carol…" Lilac began, but Carol cut her off.

"No!" the wildcat cried, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry, Lilac! I'm so, so sorry! Because of my stupid decision, I left you, Tails, and Gyro to fend off against Brevon—the guy who strapped you to that machine and nearly killed you!" Tears streamed down her face as she trembled. "Because of me, I almost let you die! What kind of best friend would let that happen?!" She covered her face with her hands, her sobs muffled.

Lilac's heart twisted at the sight. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and placed her hands firmly on Carol's shoulders.

"Carol, please listen to me," Lilac said, her voice filled with emotion. Carol lowered her hands just enough to look up at her.

"I should be the one apologizing too," Lilac continued. "I… I saw how tired you were during our journey, but I didn't say anything. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard—or pushed you away. It's not your fault you were driven by your emotions. I was, too."

"But, Lilac—" Carol started, only for Lilac to gently squeeze her shoulders.

"No, listen," Lilac interrupted. "Thanks to you, Amy's group got the help they needed. You made sure they were okay and save them. Don't blame yourself for everything. None of this was your fault, Carol."

Carol sniffled, her tears slowing as she took in Lilac's words. "S-so," she stammered, her voice shaky, "we're still friends, y-yeah?"

Lilac's smile was warm and reassuring. "I couldn't ask for a better friend than you," she said softly.

Carol's face crumpled with relief, and she threw her arms around Lilac, pulling her into a tight hug. Lilac returned the embrace, holding her friend close as they both let out quiet sighs of reconciliation.

"You're my best friend, Carol," Lilac whispered. "And nothing's going to change that."

Carol sniffled, a weak laugh escaping her. "You better mean that, 'cause I'm not letting you off easy anymore!"

Before they could pull apart, a familiar voice chimed in, filled with joy. "I'm so happy to see you two like this again!"

They turned to see Milla beaming at them, her tail wagging furiously. Without hesitation, the puppy leaped into their hug, wrapping her arms around both of them.

"I'm never, ever letting this happen again, nor letting you two off without me!" Milla declared, her voice bright and filled with determination.

Carol and Lilac both blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter.

"Well, you better make sure of it!" Carol teased, ruffling Milla's ears.

Lilac smiled, her arms tightening around her friends. "We'll try not to worry you too much, Milla."

The three of them stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the warmth of their bond overshadowing the tension of the past.

As Lilac, Carol, and Milla remained in their heartfelt embrace, a group of familiar faces watched from the shadows of the adjacent hallway.

"Awww, so precious," Amy cooed, her hands clasped together as her eyes sparkled with delight.

Sonic smiled warmly at the scene before shooting a smirk at Knuckles, who stood with his arms crossed, a satisfied but stoic expression on his face. "Can't believe you managed to bring the duo back together, eh? Not bad, Knux!" Sonic said, nudging the echidna playfully in the ribs.

Knuckles huffed, his lips twitching into a faint grin. "What can I say? I have my moments, don't I?" he replied, puffing out his chest with pride.

"Yeah, way to go, Knuckles!" Tails added, joining in with a grin. He nudged Knuckles as well. "Didn't know you were that attentive! N-not that you aren't!"

"Yeah, yeah, big surprise," Knuckles muttered, though a bead of sweat ran down his temple as the compliments began piling on.

Amy wasn't about to let the opportunity pass. She stepped forward, reaching up to pinch Knuckles' cheeks. "So attentive of you, Knuckles! Great job!" she teased, her tone full of exaggerated praise. "Ohhh, how proud I am of you!"

"Uh…" Knuckles sweat dropped, his stoic demeanor faltering under the onslaught of attention.

"Great job!" Sonic chimed in with a chuckle.

"Maybe I'll give you a B next time!" Tails echoed with sincerity.

"So proud!" Amy teased further, still pinching Knuckles' cheeks.

Knuckles' patience wore thin as he waved his arms in annoyance. "Okay, stop!" he snapped, pushing everyone away and stepping back. "I get it, alright? I surprised your expectations! Now will you quit it already?!"

His exasperated outburst was met with a round of laughter from the trio, dissipating the tension of earlier.

Knuckles sighed, but even he couldn't suppress a small smile. "You guys are impossible…"

Before they could continue, a hesitant voice interrupted. "Um…"

The group turned to see Torque standing at the edge of the hallway, Gyro hovering beside him. The alien scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "S-sorry for interrupting, but Lady Neera has requested that we meet her and the Magister in the audience chamber," he said with hesitation.

The group exchanged glances, their earlier levity giving way to focus.

"Got it," Sonic said with a nod, stepping forward.

Amy adjusted her headband, her playful demeanor replaced with determination. "Looks like it's time to get serious again," she said.

Lilac, Carol, and Milla joined the group, their expressions brighter but resolute.

With their spirits high and their bonds reaffirmed, the group made their way through the grand halls of the Royal Palace, heading toward the audience chamber.

Royal Palace – Audience Chamber

Minutes after their reconciliation, the group made their way into the Royal Palace's grand audience chamber. The soft murmur of discussions filled the air as the heroes gathered around the Royal Magister, Neera, and Gong.

Sonic and Lilac stood at the forefront, the emerald radar clutched in Sonic's hand. The glowing dots on the screen pulsed faintly as they laid out their next move.

"Pangu Lagoon…" the Magister murmured. "A place of great significance. Once the home of the ancient dragons, it is said to hold many secrets."

"And you're absolutely sure the last unclaimed Chaos Emerald is there?" Neera asked, her icy purple eyes narrowing as she examined the radar.

"Positive, Ice Queen," Sonic replied with a playful grin, holding up the device. "The radar's pointing straight to the Lagoon, dead center. Whether it's hidden in some ancient temple or just lying in plain sight, it's there." He muttered under his breath, "At least it's not in some weird special zone…"

Lilac stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Your Excellency, this could be the edge we need. If we want even the slightest advantage against Brevon and Robotnik, we have to claim that Chaos Emerald before they do."

The Magister folded his hands behind his back and paced to the open window, sunlight bathing his robes. "You are correct, Sash Lilac," he said gravely. "Every moment we delay, our enemies grow stronger. Time is of the essence. Acquiring the last Chaos Emerald may shift the balance in our favor, but the window of opportunity is closing fast."

Sonic grinned, gesturing to himself and Lilac with a thumb. "Well, lucky for you, you've got not one but two speedsters ready to grab it!" he said confidently.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Carol interjected, crossing her arms and glaring at the pair. "We're splitting up again? Are you serious?"

Milla whined softly, gripping Lilac's hand tightly as she looked up at her. "But… we just got everyone back…"

Lilac's heart ached at Milla's expression, but she placed her other hand over Milla's. "I know, Milla. I'm sorry," she said gently. "But Sonic and I can get there faster than anyone else. We need to make sure we're ready to face Brevon and Robotnik in Shuigang, and this is the best way to do that." Her voice softened as she smiled. "I promise we'll be back as soon as possible. No more long separations."

Milla sniffled, trying her best to be brave. She nodded slowly, managing a small smile. "Okay… but you have to come back fast this time."

Carol, meanwhile, tilted her hat and pointed a mockingly stern finger at Lilac. "Yeah, no more getting captured or almost dying, Sash! Because we're not coming to rescue you again!"

Lilac chuckled and raised her pinky finger. "Pinky swear," she said with a sly grin.

Carol smirked, hooking her pinky around Lilac's. "Alright, then. I'll hold you to it."

The exchange drew quiet giggles from both Milla and Carol, their spirits lifted by Lilac's reassurances.

Sonic watched the scene unfold with a warm smile before turning to his own friends.

Tails stepped forward, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. "I'm just glad to have you back, Sonic," he said softly.

Amy stood beside Tails. "Please, oh please, don't do anything reckless," she said, her tone full of exasperated affection. "Well… not too reckless, at least."

Sonic's smile widened, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "Missed you too, bro. And don't take that for granted, alright, Amy?"

Knuckles crossed his arms, his face forming a mock scowl. "Try not to drown this time" he said dryly, though his tone carried a hint of humor.

Sonic grinned cockily, giving Knuckles a playful salute. "Don't worry, Knux—I'm not falling into the water three times in a row. That's a promise."

Knuckles rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk.

As the farewells unfolded, Torque cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Your Excellency," he said, his voice respectful but tinged with curiosity. "What about the rest of us?"

The Magister turned to him with a nod, his expression serious. "You do have a mission of your own. You will accompany General Gong and Lady Neera to Relic Island."

"Relic Island?" Sonic repeated, his brow furrowing. The rest of the group perked up.

"Correct" The Magister said, his tone grave. "While I was held captive, my impostor attempted to ignite conflict between Shang Tu and Shang Mu. Fortunately, his plans were thwarted, but it seems two Shang Mu prisoners warned Mayor Zao of… 'my' erratic behavior."

"Oh… Leonard and Lavernius…" Lilac murmured, her mind flashing back to the two Shang Mu guards who had helped them escape during their jail time. "We forgot to tell them that the Magister wasn't actually him but an impostor."

"Well, to be fair," Amy chimed in, rubbing of her shoulder awkwardly, "we figured it out after they left, sooo…"

Neera stepped forward. "Which is why Mayor Zao has called for a meeting between the two kingdoms to address the matter." She said, but there was a hint of skepticism in her voice. "And, for some reason, he seems convinced that diplomacy with a suppose impostor would have solved everything."

"Hey, at least his going to talk with actual representatives and he didn't try launching some kind of surprise attack," Gong added with a wry smile. "Honestly, a diplomatic conversation is the best possible outcome we could've hoped for."

Carol snorted, crossing her arms. "Good luck with that," she muttered under her breath. Not fond in all of that political mumbo jumbo.

Gong sighed, running a hand through his fur. "I know Zao's eccentric, but since you're friends with him, I think it's best if you talk some sense into him."

Carol groaned. "Oh, man… so I guess that means we're doing the whole dick-pluma-si thing?"

"Diplomacy," the group corrected her in unison.

"Yeah, yeah, diplo-whatever," Carol said, waving her hand dismissively. "Still sounds boring."

"Boring or not, your help will be of a great help to convince him" Gong glanced at the clock on the chamber wall, his demeanor shifting. "We'll need to move soon. The meeting is in two hours."

"Two hours?" Sonic repeated, a grin spreading across his face. "Is that a challenge? Because that's plenty of time for us to go, grab the last emerald, get back, and still run a few laps around the palace." He turned to Lilac, his grin widening even further. "Well, can't hang around here all day. You ready, Lilac?"

Lilac matched his grin, her violet eyes sparkling with determination. "You know it. Let's go!"

With a blur of motion, Sonic dashed toward the nearest window. A sudden gust of wind filled the room as he leaped out with a triumphant, "Yahooooo!"

"Hey! Don't you dare take the lead! See you guys!" Lilac shouted playfully, launching herself into a Dragon Boost that sent her streaking out of the same window. "Wuhoooo!"

The group stared after them, caught between shock and exasperation.

Neera leaned out the window, scowling. "We have stairs, you barbarians!" she yelled after them, though there was a faint twitch of amusement in her tone.

The remaining group burst into laughter, the energy infectious.

Carol, already revving up her bike, smirked as she prepared to take off. "Well, I guess we'll see them soon enough. For now, let's get moving! Time for some dick-pluma-si!"

"Diplomacy!" Gong shouted after her as she zoomed down the corridor, the rest following her trail and leaving him scrambling to catch up. "Hey, wait! You don't even know where we're meeting—come back!"

"Welcome to my world," Amy muttered with a sigh before jogging after them.

Neera rolled her eyes, turning back to the Magister. Their gazes met briefly.

"Will you be alright here, Your Excellency?" she asked, her voice softening.

The Magister nodded, a warm smile gracing his face. "I'll be fine, Neera. Your presence is more needed with them. Good luck—and be safe."

Neera hesitated for only a moment before returning his smile. "Thank you, Your Excellency." With that, she turned and hurried after the others, her robes billowing behind her as she disappeared through the chamber doors.

Alone at last, the Royal Magister moved to stand by the open window. The distant sounds of laughter and bustling activity filled the air as he watched the lively group make their way across the palace grounds. His gaze followed further at the faint blue and purple trails streaking toward the horizon.

"Quite the lively bunch," he murmured with a chuckle, his magenta eyes gleaming with quiet pride.

The sun shone brightly overhead, casting its warm rays across the palace as the winds shifted into a gentle breeze. The heroes were on their way, ready to face the next chapter of their journey.

And whatever awaited them beyond.

{A/N}

Aaaaaaaand done! With that, we are now in the endgame. Once again, thanks to everyone for reaching this far, I really appreciated it!

Uh, Just a heads up, no chapter till February, got things to do.

So, what are youre guys thoughts of the story so far? Just curious for your guys opinions on the characterizations of the characters and the plot as of now.

Favourites and comments are appreaciated.

Have a great day!