After what seemed like a long while in the depths of the forest, the guidelight that was leading everyone stopped at a wall of stone. It was covered in grass, vines, and dirt. Everyone was at a loss, why did this guidelight lead them to a deadend?

"Did we just spend all this time following just to end up at a wall?" Knuckles questioned.

The guidelight turned its head towards the echidna and without looking, it raised its hand and a bright glow surrounded the wall they faced. The dirt, vines, and any other debris that was covering it either vanished or was moved out of the way. Once it cleared, it was now clear why the guidelight led them here.

The wall wasn't just a wall of stone. It had markings of the ancient past. some were unrecognized even to Knuckles. There was one marking however, Sonic definitely recognized.

The Hedgehog Dynasty Symbol…

It was a simple symbol of an "H" and "C" combined into one. Looking like the "H" lost its second vertical line and it was replaced with the "C."

Sonic and Knuckles both noticed this but Silver was still at a loss.

"What is this? What does it all mean?"

Sonic walked past him and the guidelight to get closer. He lifts his hand and moves it across the markings, feeling a sense of familiarity.

"It's the Hedgehog Dynasty Symbol. It's what represents the royal hedgehog family. But why is this here?"

He reached for the symbol and it began to glow. The ground begins to quake with birds and other animals running away from the area. The other markings begin to glow, more quakes rampaging, startling everyone but the guidelight who was unaffected.

"What is going on?!" Silver yelped.

"I don't know!" Sonic responded.

"Look!"

Sonic and Silver both looked back at the stone wall to see what Knuckles was pointing at. A crack was forming in the middle of the wall. Splitting down but around the hedgehog dynasty symbol. Once the cracks fully split the wall, it began to open like a sliding door. It grew wider and wider.

Then, it stopped…

The quakes stopped and the markings no longer glowed. Inside was a whole new ruin cave that was hidden from everyone even to Knuckles. The echidna ran past Sonic and took a look inside. Silver tried to catch up.

"Hey, Wait up!"

Sonic started following them but he took one last look at his guide. He turned around with a smile.

"So this is where you wanted to take me?"

The guidelight nods.

"You think this could help us?"

It nods once more.

"Heh… Well, I guess I should say thanks. I appreciated it."

He reached out his hand for a handshake and the guidelight stared at it, not knowing what to do. But after a few seconds, it was able to learn and return the handshake. Sonic smiled, glad to make friends of anyone either flesh and blood or non-corporeal.

"Sonic!"

He turned his head around towards the cave at the sound of his strong echidna friend.

"Get in here! You might want to take a look at this…"

"Well, care to join us to-"

Once he turned back around to invite his new friend, he saw nothing in front of him. He looked around and saw nothing. Just trees, grass, and plant life. Where did he go?

"Sonic!"

"Yeah, I'm coming!"

He ran inside and noticed writing all over the walls. Some areas had illustrations that showed mobians from the past. But also some strange ones that look too familiar…

"What is it?"

"It looks like ancient mobian." Knuckles pointed out.

"I'm trying to read it but some of these transcriptions I don't understand. If only Sonia was here… She would be able to read this as fast as you run, Sonic."

He's right, Sonia had been studying ancient mobian since she was young. She showed her skills during their adventures years ago. Sonic could only imagine how her skill increased since he left them.

"Wait… Here is something…"

Knuckles began reading one of the inscriptions, his face growing more concerned as he read more.

"It's about you, Sonic!"

"Me? How could it be about me? All of this was maybe centuries before I was born." Sonic said.

"Maybe not directly but if I'm reading this right, it says that a blue hedgehog of royal blood with the power of the wind shall arise and defeat many evils that threaten all life…"

"Is that all?"

"There are some inscriptions about said evils that were told. There is one about a giant being of water that can sweep away cities with one wave."

"Chaos!" Sonic exclaimed. "Wait, how does it know about him?"

Silver looked over to Sonic, "I don't think that is important right now. Does it say anything else?"

The echidna started reading the rest.

"Sonic, these inscriptions depict almost all of your battles. Chaos, An artificial creation of power as your rival, Gods of the Sun and Mobius, almost everyone you've faced before and you always come out on top!"

Sonic was at a loss, how did this ancient writing know about him and his battles? He looked up to the illustrations and it all started to make sense. He saw what looked to be rough images of waves destroying cities and a being of water roaring at him as super soaring to it. There was another with him fighting a black and red mobian. Before he could look at more however, he noticed one that was larger than the rest. It sparked rage in his heart the moment he recognized it.

"Knux, Is this what I think it is?" His voice grunted.

The echidna walked past him and started reading. After a few moments, he looked confused.

"I can't read it. The ones that I can read says, 'Only a royal member could reveal the secrets of the hidden power.'"

"Hidden Power? What does it mean by that?" Sonic questioned.

The Echidna only shrugged without saying a word. He stepped back to allow Sonic read what he could not. But how could he read it? He doesn't know a thing about ancient mobian. But he did recognize one word out of all the text. It was almost scratched beyond recognition when he saw it…

Nyxus…

The being in his head… His eyes glowed red for a brief moment before his pupils faded away. His fur fading to his dark form along with his aura to complete it.

"Sonic?" Silver placed a hand on his shoulder.

He shook his head and brushed him off as everything faded back to normal.

"I'm fine, Silver."

"Judging from that reaction," Knuckles stood up and crossed his arms, "You found something, something you don't like… What did you see?"

"It's nothing. I think I just need time to myself…"

He turns and walks away from his friends.

"Sonic, where are you going?" Knuckles called out.

"Home. I need time to think about this… and besides, the only one that can fully read the inscriptions is Sonia. You know that I can't get to her. Even if I knew where she was, I doubt anyone would let me near her in that kind of condition."

"Condition?! Sonic, you're not telling me the whole truth, are you?" Knuckles raised his fist.

Sonic didn't even flinch and continued to walk towards where they entered. "I don't have time to explain everything. Once I have a plan, I will explain everything. I swear…"

He reaches the open gateway and is one step away from entering the forest before he stops at his friend's call.

"Sonic, wait! Don't you need me to get off the island?" Silver spoke out.

Sonic stood there for a moment before turning his head so that he could see their faces.

"Actually…" He raised his hand to his face and moved his thumb onto his middle finger. "I found a way to control my powers better. I didn't want to use it the first time because I don't want to use it too much until I can master it. But this is an exception. Sorry, Silver."

He snapped his fingers and a bright white flash enveloped him. Temporarily blinding the guardian and time traveler. Once it faded away, he disappeared without a single trace…

Silver ran and stopped just where Sonic disappeared.

"Sonic…"

All was quiet in the valley during the night. Not a single sound was heard beside a few crickets hiding in bushes. All the lights from every home were out as its residents were fast asleep. Not a single Mobian wandering the street path under the moon's light. In one of the homes, a bright flash of white light shined through the first floor's windows. Inside was Sonic standing in his living room. He looked around and saw a pink hedgehog sleeping on the couch.

"Amy…"

He looked over to the clock and noticed how late it actually was…

1:52 AM

He quietly walked past the living room couch and entered the hallway. He reached a door with a piece of paper taped to the front that read,

Tails' Room/Workshop

NO ROBOTS ALLOWED!

(Except my robots…)

Sonic chuckled as the memory of his buddy first taped the sign on his bedroom door. He has such a big smile on his face with all the joy of having his own room. Before that, they were having difficulty trying to find a place to call home. He reached for the knob and slowly twisted it. The door opened slowly and he was able to see a young fox sleeping in bed, all tucked in and cuddled up in the sheets. A smile formed on Sonic's face, but a look of confusion formed when he noticed something in his hands. He couldn't quite make out what it was. He stepped forward to get a closer look but stopped as he didn't want to wake him up. He was only able to see a golden chain, possibly a necklace in his hands partially covered by his blanket. He backed away and shut the door the same way he opened.

A few steps back where he came from and he reached the door to his destination. He was going to twist the doorknob but he thought of the time and who he was going to disturb. It's too late at night for what he was going to do. Besides, she needs all the rest she can get right now…

He starts to turn and leaves for his room. But then, the door opens all by itself. He froze for a moment before chalking it up as a weak lock. He reached for the knob to shut the door,

"Who's there?"

He froze again at the sound of her voice, it sounded tired and strained. He couldn't move a muscle and just stayed quiet. Maybe if he did that, She would think it was nothing.

"Hello?"

Sonic sighed, closed his eyes, and opened the door slowly. The room was dark besides the window projecting the moon's light. But with that he still saw nothing inside. However, a silhouette was visible in a nearby chair facing away from the door. He knew exactly who it was…

"Mom?"

"Sonic? Is that you?" Her voice was slow and careful. Something must've happened.

"Yeah, it's me."

He entered the room and shut the door behind him to prevent anyone else from disturbing them.

"Are… you alright?" He asked.

"Y-yes, I'm fine. How are you?"

That was obviously a lie but can he blame her after everything they went through? He got closer as he continued,

"I'm doing… alright, I guess. I was just hoping I could talk to you about something."

"I'm sorry, dear. Could it wait for now? I'm not in the best mood for this…"

Sonic sighed again, "Yeah, you're right. I guess this could wait until-"

He stopped dead in his tracks once he noticed something off about her. There was some kind of red wrapping all around her body. From her head all the way to her legs…

"Mom, what's all over-?"

"Sonic, I think it's best if you go to bed. It's really late…"

He got closer and closer until he realized that the red wrapping wasn't what he thought it was. It wasn't clothes, but bandages. She had bandages all over her body completely soaked in her own blood. Aleena turned her head to him as he moved in front of her. Another blood soaked bandage over her eye with the other looking like it's barely holding its own life. His expression must've shown itself because Aleena reacted as well. She looked away and tried to use her bloodied bandaged hand to block her face. She couldn't look at him again like that.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want you to see me like this…"

"Mom…" Sonic carefully grasped his mother's hand and gently lowered it.

"What happened to you?"

Aleena looked back towards her son with a slight frown.

"I wanted to wait until I was healed to show you, but I guess not anymore."

She raised her arms to show all the bandages or stitches on her body. Sonic was terrified but confused on what they were from.

"Your friend Amy was successfully able to remove my implants once Miles disabled them. I'm myself once more and I owe my gratitude to them."

"Miles? Wait…" Sonic paused. How did you know his name? I've never told you his real name.

Aleena looked down and took a deep breath,

"It's a long story, Sonic…"

"Then, I'll have to listen to it later. But… There is something I need to ask you. It's very important…"

Aleena stared at him with curiosity on her face,

"What is it?"

"Mom, I haven't been fully honest with you about myself."

"What do you mean?" She asked with worry.

"Mom, do you know anything about… Nyxus?"

Her expression worsened from curiosity to fear in a nanosecond. Her hands covering her mouth with her good eye starting to tear up.

"Oh no… Sonic… No… I'm so sorry!"

She moved closer and embraced him with a hug as she began to cry uncontrollably. How could this have happened? Not to her child, it can't! But it is…
"I'm sorry, Sonic…"