I thank KatherineOzawa of Wattpad for helping me.

Two weeks had passed by after the team's trip to the Grand Blue Sapphire Sea. The rest and relaxation was well earned after all their fights, but now it was time to find the Fifth Emerald. Sparkle had heard something about one of the Emeralds, the Red one, was likely found somewhere across the sea in another land. So, having felt responsible for sending everyone to Earth and wanting to have Knuckles get back home asap, she decided to search for it herself.

But days had passed and no sign or word from the Purple hedgehog herself. Not even a response to all the messages that were sent one by one through the communicator Tails had made for her to keep in contact! And it was starting to worry the team…

"Where could she have gone?" Amy paced the floor of the living room.

"Don't worry, she's fine." Sonic tried dissuading her worries.

"But she hasn't answered us. It's not like her to not answer." Cream countered, worried just as much as Amy for their fellow female companion.

"She may have gotten into trouble." Tails tapped away on the keyboard connected to the laptop that was on the table before him. "I just found the coordinates. A place called Oriental City."

Knuckles looked over his shoulder to the screen, "Says she hasn't moved from that spot in days."

"Then she is in trouble." Amy stopped pacing. "Why did Sparkle leave on her own?"

"Said something about wanting to help Knuckles get back home, 'cause Mr. Clifford the Big Red Rage Monster was bein' a drama queen and kept complaining about it." Sonic perked up, getting quite the glare from Knuckles.

"So now she's paying the price for that." Tails pursed his lips. Everyone looked at one another worried for their dearest friend and her current condition. Knuckles was especially guilty. His constant whining about wishing to get back urgently drove her to go on a solo mission when in this world, with Eggman's eyes nearly everywhere and tracking them down, going alone was a suicide mission….

He looked up with a new resolve, now knowing what to do. "Then, I have to go find her and bring her back." He decided with a heavy sigh. Everyone looked at him like he just grew a second head.

"Are you sure? What if you get caught too?" Cream fretted.

"Don't worry. The Winter Soldier's as tough as they come." Sonic assured, having faith in his ally.

"So is Sparkle, and she still got caught." Amy scoffed.

"But ' the tough get going' as they say. And I intend to keep that promise alive." Knuckles decrees. "I'm not coming back without Sparkle. And THAT is a promise."

Oriental City was not like Station Square. Still a city, but it had more suburban homes, smaller buildings, spots of trees and farmlands here and there and a giant moat cutting through two sides of the city, where one bridge connected them to give travelers access to either side.

On the waters of the moat, Knuckles stood at the bow of a small freight boat, arms crossed in front as he looked forward. Seeing the buildings around him from his spot on the boat, he nodded, knowing this was the place.

After leaving the docks, he walked through the streets with confidence in each step he took, not paying any mind to the weirded out stares thrown his way by each passerby. He was on a mission and he had to get it done. After searching high and low through almost half the city, he managed to spot something broken near one of the alleyways. He picks it up immediately recognizing it as the same communicator he has. No doubt about it: this was Sparkle's. But it was left at the spot where she was meant to be…

Knuckles quickly got to work, asking pedestrians, shop owners and even food stall employees if they'd seen any sign of a purple hedgehog running around. Some weren't of help or hadn't seen her at all, until one person brought up that she was last seen and might possibly be at Jack's Shop, her last known destination.

Quickly he jumped into asking for directions. "Hey, how do I get to Jack's place from here?"

"Ah, I know you! You're that Sonic guy, aren't you?" One man, who recognized him immediately, approached him.

"You must be crazy! I don't look anything like Sonic! I'm Knuckles!" The echidna corrects rather angrily.

The man held up his hands in surrender, "I didn't mean to offend you, pal. We don't see many hedgehogs around here."

After some apologies, the guy in cheongsam led Knuckles through about six dirty alleys until reaching Jack's place. After bidding the pseudo guide goodbye, Knuckles walked into the dimly lit bar, paying no mind to the stares from the patrons, including two familiar ones he couldn't see in the crowd due to their disguises. Knuckles strode forward to a rugged bald-headed man and looked up at said man behind the counter, no doubt Jack, who looked over.

"I'm looking for a purple hedgehog named Sparkle." He stared. He waited a few seconds but looked up, seeing Jack hadn't moved nor spoken, only staring at him like a dead fish. "It's not polite to stare, pal." Knuckles bit every syllable but still no reaction. He shook his head, "Never mind that. Have you seen Sparkle or haven't you?"

Finally Jack answered, "Nope. Name doesn't sound familiar. Sorry, wish I could help ya."

"You're lying." Knuckles narrowed his eyes, but at the sound of scraping chairs, he looked up, seeing most of the men in the bar having turned around. Their hands were clenched into fists or they looked close to reaching where their weapons were.

"Hey. The man told you he hasn't seen your friend. Now you can either thank him and get out, or me and my friends can show you the way out." One of the men spat at Knuckles, hoping to scare him. But the echidna merely chuckled, confusing the others. Jack, however, ducked behind the counter, not wanting to see the carnage that would follow.

"Well... Maybe you and your friends are the ones who need to leave." Knuckles smiled challengingly.

"Oh, is that so? Well I'll show you, you dirty little…" one of the Bruiser Boys lunged for Knuckles, who merely stepped to the side and stuck his leg out, tripping the big oaf and sending him landing behind the counter. He then stared at the cowering muscle boys, who looked torn from either wanting to fight or flee with their body parts intact.

"I would not do that." A calm voice spoke from the shadows and all eyes turned to where it came from. "I have a feeling he's tougher than he looks." From the darkness, a tall stout man appeared, jet black hair slicked back, showing dark eyes, a prominent nose and a smarmy smile. Dressed in nothing but a collared shirt, brown suspenders with matching pants and dress shoes, the men of the bar froze.

"Mr. Li Yan." At the sound of his name, the men fall to their knees before him. Li Yan disregarded them and walked to Knuckles.

"What is your business?" He smiled down, but it wasn't a friendly one.

"I'm looking for a purple hedgehog named Sparkle. She's been missing for days, and someone said I could find her here." Knuckles answered, not trusting this Li Yan.

He chuckled, "You must be Knuckles. I've been expecting you. If you are looking for Sparkle, you're talking to the right guy. Just follow me and I'll take you right to her."

"Then lead the way." Knuckles nods curtly, following behind Li Yan. Unaware to the two, another duo had watched the scene unfold from their disguises.

"Knuckles." Decor removed the hood covering his head. Bocoe follows, taking off the hat he had.

"I was not expecting to see him here. We must report this to Dr. Eggman." But as the two slinked away, another was also in the bar having expected one member of team Sonic arrive.

"The subject has taken the bait." Dorian smiled under his fedora menacingly.

Li Yan led Knuckles down some corners before leading him to a rather dingy house, which had a rickety staircase and led to yet another door. Li Yan opened it and ushered for Knuckles to go in first. But the echidna knew better and suspecting it to be a trap, shook his head.

"After you."

"Okay." Li Yan chuckled as he stepped through the doorway, only to slam it in Knuckles' face. He was visibly confused, but it vanished when he didn't feel hard floor under his feet. He screamed as he fell through the trap door under him. With fast telefaxes, he dug his feet and hands into the walls to slow his descent. It worked as he slowly lost his momentum, and letting out a breath he dropped through the opening and to the floor. He looked up: he was inside a cage, metal bars aligned perfectly leaving enough space for about ten other people to be in here. But upon surveying his surroundings, his eyes widen when he saw whom he was looking for. Sparkle laid on the floor, depleted of her energy and bruising.

"Sparkle!" He ran to her side and fell to his knees, holding her up by her torso. He checked to see if her pulse was there, though it was slow.

She let out a pained groan before her eyes slowly opened at the sound of his voice. "Knuckles…?" Once her eyes saw his worried ones, they flew open as she sat up, biting back the pain in her body. "Knuckles! You shouldn't have come. We're in terrible danger."

"Where's Eggman? I swear I'm gonna rip out his hair and beat him where-!" Knuckles started ranting.

"No, this time, Eggman didn't do this." She calmed him down. "It was that crazy scientist, Dorian."

Knuckles grew stiff, remembering that man's face when he tried to ambush them all those nights ago. "The one who set up the trap with the fake Emerald?"

Sparkle nodded sadly, "That's him. He's deluded himself into thinking we're a threat to everyone."

"How did this happen?" He inquired.

"Well… it was days ago, when I first left to find the Red Emerald… I traveled to these ancient ruins where it was rumored to have been buried. But just as I had found it in a sanctified temple, I was cornered by Dorian again... I evaded his traps that he had set for me, and after gaining ground, I managed to find a secure hiding spot in the city for the Emerald so he wouldn't get his hands on it… I promised to come back so you'd help me get it to safety… but he got the drop on me. He captured me, broke my communicator so I couldn't reach any of you, and he threw me in a cage… one made of the same material the door you, me and Rouge got stuck behind in Eggman's base when we had set it to explode. I did everything I could to get out, even using my electro powers… but it's impervious…."

"I see…but what was with Li Yan?"

"Apparently Dorian had hired Li Yan so he could keep an eye on me. He wants to make sure the others come as well to rescue us, and when he's got us all….he's going to dispose of us!"

"That-!" Knuckles was close to swearing but refrained from doing so. The time to be angry would be for later…

Back at the Egg Fort, still floating in the water, Eggman was conversing with holograms of his two robotic henchmen in the dark of his lab. The two underlings having told him what they witnessed in Oriental City.

"What was that nincompoop Knuckles doing in a dive like that?" Eggman's voice was confused.

"He said he was looking for Sparkle. It all seemed very suspicious, Doctor." Decor answered truthfully.

"Very interesting." Eggman's fingers rubbed his chin. "Perhaps it's time to put our little plan into action. It ought to be loads of fun! Now let's see…" turning to his computer screen, he pushed a button, chuckling in his throat, letting the deck of robot cards shuffling to the side in a stream. His glasses glow from the light of the screen until he slowed when he stopped at a certain one and nodded.

"Excellent."

Knuckles and Sparkle were still trapped in the cage, talking with each other quietly.

"Thankfully I got the Emerald placed somewhere safe…" Sparkle smiled with relief.

"That's one more. If only we had them all, I could get back home again. Angel Island... paradise." Knuckles closed his eyes as he recalled something from the past. On Angel Island, he saw himself, standing tall and proud; behind him was the Master Emerald on its Pedestal.

"Just me guarding the Master Emerald without a care in the world." He saw from his peripheral, a small butterfly landing on a leaf in his mouth. It made him laugh just remembering it. "Hour after hour... Day after day... Just watching and dreaming... But mostly dreaming."

The Knuckles of the past had his eyes closed and a little smile as he dreamt while standing guard, but shot awake with a jolt, the sudden shake making the butterfly fly away.

"I thought it would last forever…" Time passed and the sunny skies became strong weather, but Knuckles never wavered. "Even when things got tough, I always knew they would eventually be all right."

From the skies, Sparkle stood in the trees and used her powers to combat any stray bolts of lightning headed for Knuckles. The storm soon passed and when the sun rays smiled upon him, Knuckles placed a hand on the Emerald, smiling with joy.

"And then, out of nowhere, it happened." Suddenly from under his hand, the Chaos Control Power burst, blinding the area with light swallowing everything around it. Knuckles opened his eyes as he found himself back in the cage, the memory now gone…

Sparkle looked down, guilt written on her face. "This sucks….I tried to do one thing and go for the Emerald on my own… now look where it's gotten me."

"No, it's my fault. We're in this because I wouldn't stop moping about going back home…" Knuckles shook his head, squeezing her shoulder to ease her. Some tense silence filled the air between the two til Sparkle looked at him.

"So what do we do now? You know I tried everything to get out."

"You know, this place really isn't so bad. It's kinda cozy once you get used to it, you know?" Knuckles laughed, jabbing his thumb over to where a set of speakers were outside the cage, but still strangely close to where the two were. "Didn't think I'd like it when I got here, but I really think it's growing on me."

Sparkle was confused at his behavior but seeing the speakers made her eyes widen in realization: the men who caught them were listening in on them. Speaking quietly, "Well it could be worse…we'd be somewhere in a lab and have tests run on us~…" she slowly slid towards the sound system until she was right close to it and smiled deviously.

From another room, Li Yan was listening and turned the knob of the volume up and out his ear closer so as to hear them.

"Oh, and another thing…." Sparkle inhaled deeply before screaming like a banshee in the system, "SOMEONE SAVE THE CASHMERE!"

The echo from her screams nearly made Li Yan go deaf as he screamed and fell backwards, hitting his back on the ground, ripping the headphones off his head as his eardrums rang. Two of his goons burst into the room at the commotion.

"You all right, sir?"

"What happened?" They asked as they help their boss to his feet, but he glared at the sound system.

"Play games with me, will they?!" He pushed his men away from him and stormed out of the secret room to where the prisoners were being held. Ripping open the door, he stormed to the cage but got a shock when in the cage all he saw were broken floorboards, a large dirt hole dug straight underground and no prisoners.

Unbeknownst to Li Yan, the two were one step ahead of him: while Knuckles and Sparkle were still trapped, they were whispering to each other a plan of escape. Since beating down the bars or using their powers wouldn't work, they decided to go with an old fashioned method. Knuckles had managed to rap at the floor with his fist, hearing how shallow the floors were underneath the floorboards. He made it look like he was just showing off his abilities, when in reality the two were thinking of how to perfectly plan this escape. Sparkle got the idea to play along with them faking a conversation to throw off the big brute off their track of escape. But once she screamed so loud that it could make ears bleed, Knuckles started hammering away at the weak wood floors and dug like his life depended on it. Which it kinda did….Kicking up dirt and dust, concealing him and Sparkle from the potentially hidden security cameras. And when the dust had cleared, along with Li Yan storming in to teach them a lesson, they had long since vanished from their prison.

Outside, the streets of the city were relatively calm. From the corner of the alley and running for the crosswalk were our two escapees.

"I have to admit, I didn't think of digging. Then again, I'm not much of a digger." Sparkle tried not to laugh as she and Knuckles fled, only imagining the amount of fury that could be on Li Yan's face and the impatient veins of fury just popping out of the fat toad's neck. Looking around, they spotted a moving rickshaw driven by a farmer and jumped on to hitch a ride and get to safe ground. But from above, they had a familiar spy in the sky who followed after them with curiosity in her striking blue eyes.

After spending almost a half hour tearing their feet aboard their free ride, the two leap off the rickshaw speeding down the road and look up at their new destination.

"Where are we?" Knuckles raised a brow, looking around.

"And old factory district by the looks of it…." Sparkle shrugged, seeing all the semi-demolished buildings and metal framework of what could've been more factories but never got finished for whatever reason, but people passing by paid no mind.

"Let's go!" She tugged Knuckles by his wrist as the two hurried to the top of the stairs that led underground into the subway station. But by not looking back, they didn't Rouge standing where they were once. She narrowed her eyes as she watched them hightail down. She lifted a foot to follow them, only to get a hand from behind by a woman wearing simple farm clothes and a large straw hat that covered the top half of her face… the same person who drove the rickshaw the two from earlier had gotten a ride on.

Both reached the bottom of the staircase, running until they stopped where one of the railroad ties was marked. A place quite familiar to Sparkle.

"There it is." She jumped from the platform and ran to the spot behind the marked tie. Getting on her knees, she started digging until she felt fabric under her fingers.

"Found it." She grabbed a large bag out of the ground and unzipped it, turning it upside down and asking for Knuckles to put out his hands, she emptied it in front of him: out fell the Red Chaos Emerald.

"That's a Chaos Emerald!" Knuckles' eyes widened when he felt it in his hands.

"Told you we'd get them together. Now let's go before something bad happens." Sparkle nodded. But ironically on cue, Eggman's laughter resounded around them and they became tense. From the ledge he appeared, driving the Egg Mobile.

"Well, if it isn't my little friend, Knucklehead and Miss Know-It-All! Hand over that Chaos Emerald. I promise to keep it safe and sound." Eggman's greeted with a wide maniac grin.

Knuckles put the Emerald behind him and gave to Sparkle with one hand. "I'll give you something, but it won't be this Emerald." He launched off the floor towards Eggman about to hit him, but to his surprise the Egg Mobile vanished like it wasn't there to begin with!

"I'm a hologram!" Eggman cackled from somewhere unknown.

"Knuckles, we've got a problem!" Sparkle's voice made Knuckles turn around. He saw approaching her were some swinging nunchucks in the hands of the rickshaw driver they saw before. They got even more on edge, thinking this woman was in cahoots with Eggman to take them down.

"It's you!" Knuckles jabbed a finger at the woman.

"Never judge by appearances, Knucklebrain." Eggman sneered. "She may have seemed just like a rickshaw driver to you, but she's so much more. Say hello to E-91, also known as the Lady Ninja!"

The robot shed its human disguise and revealed its true form: a humanoid robot with purple dress-shaped armor, grey netting on her lower arms and thighs, knee-high boots and fingerless gloves, and a giant helmet with two horns, a pink visor cutting through the middle. The number '91' was painted on the helmet in grey numbers and a katana was attached to her back.

"Ninja?" Knuckles tilted his head, not quite sure if he'd label this robot as a 'ninja' per se.

"Yes, and quite a lovely one at that. But don't let her loveliness dazzle you; you might get hurt!" Eggman warned.

"She's not more lovely than me!" Sparkle rolled her eyes.

"A robot... Eggman!" Knuckles cracked his hands, ready to throw down if necessary.

The Egg Fort, flying over Oriental City, had the fight on the giant screen as Eggman watched with delight. "It's time, my beauty. Time for you to get me that Chaos Emerald!" He commanded.

Obeying her creator, Lady Ninja threw the nunchucks at Sparkle which wrapped around her wrists. Yanking them, she forced Sparkle off balance and to let go of the Emerald, making it fly towards the Android. Knuckles thought fast and kicked a stray bucket from nearby and made it land on Lady Ninja's head, missing her chance to catch the Emerald. She yanked the bucket off and retracted her nunchucks to her side as Sparkle ran for the Emerald.

"Let's throw a bit more weight behind things." Eggman smirked and jabs one button on the control panel.

One end of the nunchuck chain turns into a giant 16-ton Steel ball. Grabbing the other end with both hands, Lady Ninja swung her now Morning Star weapon towards Knuckles. He quickly jumped up before it could hit him and he flew over her, landing safely. But she switched the direction of the ball, making it embedded into the ceiling, forcing cracked pieces to fall to Knuckles. He dodged, making it land right where he once landed from earlier. Sparkle used her spin dash maneuver to attack, but Lady Ninja countered, attacking both at the same time, forcing Knuckles to avoid it. But the impact of the steel ball made more of the surrounding subway to collapse. Knuckles gasped; it wouldn't stay up for long so he and Sparkle had to escape with the Emerald before they got buried alive.

"Quick, Sparkle! Grab the Emerald and run!" Knuckles shouted. She nodded and ran for it, only to get swept off her feet when Lady Ninja swung the morning star, hitting the wall. Chunks of cement fell from the wall onto the bag it was kept in, burying it as the subway began to collapse. Sparkle frantically ran to where she saw the bag and threw off piece after piece of concrete. Knuckles ran up to her and pulled her away.

"Let's go!"

"No! The Emerald! I'm not leaving without getting it out of the rubble!" She shouted, desperation in her voice. Knuckles tackled her to the ground as the morning star ball-and-chain stuck at the wall again.

Outside of Oriental City, Rouge slowly woke up, getting her prone body off the floor. She shook her head and arms to clear away any wooziness or numbness in her limbs. "Sneaking up on a girl... That's no way to treat a lady." She scoffed at whoever had the nerve to lay a hand on her. But looking up, she saw a rising dust cloud in the distance coming from the subway's entrance.

"I don't know what that is, but it's not good... What the-?" She looked around but when looking up, she caught an eyeful of the Egg Fort flying above her. Seeing Eggman behind this, she knew it wouldn't end well. "I think that's my cue to get outta here." Quickly, she unleashed her wings and flew away.

The subway wasn't faring much better as Lady Ninja was on the warpath, recklessly destroying the entire place with her weapon. Knuckles hurriedly carried Sparkle in his arms, knowing there was no choice. They'd both die gettting the Emerald as long as Lady Ninja was on the loose. They'd have to fall back in order to be safe.

"Sparkle! We have to get away from that thing!"

"Yeah, but how?" The ceilings began to crack and cave in with the rest of the area, forcing Knuckles to look everywhere for a possible escape route. Looking up at where the ceiling just fell, he found it. Together, the two work together leaping over chunks of stone, getting to higher ground before reaching the outside. Sparkle had nearly slipped but he grabbed her hands just before she could fall back in and helped her onto the ledge as more and more concrete fell into the subway before collapsing entirely, leaving Lady Ninja trapped. In the distance, the Egg Fort flew away once it saw the damage.

The two ran for shelter, the afternoon sun blazing at their backs, finding a hideout nearby for safety. Though the place was dim with some peeling paint on the walls, it still had furniture and a somehow working television, which Sparkle was watching. The news broadcast was on, relaying any interesting news stories for the public to be aware of.

"Now our top story this hour. Interesting developments in last night's building collapse - eyewitnesses reported spotting Dr. Eggman in the area around the time of the collapse. Officials have launched a full investigation." The reporter on the tv stands in place on tv, microphone in hand and reporting to her coworkers. Sparkle shook her head at the news.

"Guess we can't do anything until the whole thing blows over. Not to mention Dorian's out there looking for us…." She murmured. Knuckles, however, glared out the glass panes of the window with disappointment.

"I had that Emerald in the palm of my hand." He turned away and began to throw punches at a punching bag to vent out his frustrations over Losing the Emerald. They got harder and faster that the bag itself flew off due to the sheer force, making the ceiling it hung from break into a spider's crack, some rotten wood beams falling just for added effect.

"Knuckles, you know that doesn't solve anything!" Sparkle ran to him and held back one hand that was reeled back before it could fly. But she couldn't pull him back far enough as he got hit by an unnoticed wooden beam and fell to the floor. She gasped and ran to help him. Knuckles tried to breathe in and out carefully as the wind got knocked out of him. Struggling to get up on his hands, he looked up only seeing something wrapped in white cloth laying in front of him. He grabbed it and unwrapped the time, only to gasp in complete shock.

"Is this... the Shovel Claws?!" His hand shook as he touched the dark silver and red metal. "How'd they get here?" He looked up at where the support beam was and assumed they were up there before the beam fell.

"Oh, now I remember, I found them from the old temple when I found the Emerald." Sparkle explained as she kicked the beam off him and helped him up.

"The Shovel Claws…" suddenly, Knuckles had an idea and pulled Sparkle closer to whisper in her ear.

Several minutes later, the two hightailed it back into Oriental City, evading the yellow taped off area thanks to police's interference and getting back to the collapsed subway. Mainly a certain area….Knuckles quietly and quickly climbed down into an area of the subway just big enough for him to squeeze through, Sparkle watching his descent.

"Good luck, Knuckles." She whispered to him as he made it further and further into the pit. He dropped down to sturdier flooring and quickly slipped on the shovel gloves. Once secured, he started to pummel and dig through the rocks

"I know it's around here somewhere…" he grumbled, putting his back into Dig Mode as he pushed away piles of rocks and rubble, determined to find what he's after. Once he felt soft material under his gloves, he smiled and quickly dug faster, quickly uncovering the bag that had the Emerald. He grinned and hosted it over his shoulder and quickly used the pile of pushed rubble to get to the opening where he made his way down. Just wait until Sparkle saw what he has!

Sparkle paced the area slowly after Knuckles descended, waiting for him to do what he came here for. She put his faith in him and into the plan, and made her the lookout in case of any real dangers heading their way, she'd hold them off. He knew she could handle herself. That's what made her admirable in his eyes. And for him, she saw a strong being who would do anything to protect what was close to him. Even if he had a little too much pride and ego to admit it…

A faint smile had made its way to her lips, thinking back on all their time spent together-

She gasped as she felt a jolt of pain strike her body. She clutched her stomach in pain as she fell to her knees. Breathing in and out slowly, she tried to focus on the spot where Knuckles once stood, hoping he'd come back out sooner or later with the Emerald. But her focus on not focusing on the pain was all for naught as it doubled- No, TRIPLED in agony as it became too much for her and she slowly sank to the floor, body seizuring as her eyes clenched shut…then slowly stilled and laid limp on the floor as a shadow was looming over her.

Knuckles threw the bag through the hole first and hauled himself to the top, keeping himself from scratching the street. He looked up, hoping to see his partner, but upon reaching the top Sparkle wasn't present. He started panicking, looking around the area shouting for her. It wasn't like her to just up and ditch him…maybe she-

Something had crunched under his foot and he looked down, seeing a crumpled piece of paper, a flyer, under his shoe. He picked it up, his eyes scanning over the words before filling with anger as he ran off into the night, dropping the note. It fluttered down, the words facing up and read as followed:

Lost something? She's trapped in power restraints so I couldn't let her slip away that easily~! You have something I want and vice versa. Meet me at the work zone at night. And don't think of screwing me over with your own tricks~! If you do, more than just her life may be lost tonight!

Dr. E

Evening fell over Oriental City, the skies now deep blue with stars fitting the skies. The Construction zone was dimly quiet, no workers around nor the movement of machinery. Leaving all silent in a five mile radius.

At the base of the metal frame, Sparkles was awake but dazed as she shook her wrists with the power bindings rubbing at her skin. She was propped up against one of the metal bars so she could have a clear view of what was to come. Above her, Lady Ninja stood taut like a soldier, her hand on one for he poles for a balance. Under her visor, she scanned as Knuckles approached the open dirt area, a steeled look in his eyes. He slowly walks forward as Eggman's hologram apprwared, still in the Eggmobile.

"Good evening. I trust you brought the Chaos Emerald with you?" Eggman tapped his fingers together with expectancy. Knuckles glared at and as proof he held up the duffel bag that held the Emerald. Eggman's eyes went to it and his grin expanded, "Now give it to the little lady." He smiled as the hologram vanished.

Knuckles slowly began to walk a little more forward, as Lady Ninja's hands were held out in front of her.

"Knuckles, you don't have to do this." Sparkle struggled to stay upright as she tried to talk him out of it.

"Sparkle, trust me. I know what I'm doing." He looked at her for a moment and sent her a knowing smirk. Just as he was just a yard away from Lady Ninja, he quickly chucks the emerald up and over her, as Rouge swoops down and caught it. Lady Ninja quickly leapt off and deployed a kite from her back to slow the momentum and race after Rouge.

"Should have known Rouge would come." Sparkle smiled but rolled her eyes with irony.

Rouge flew around the construction zone, Lady Ninja hot on her heels. "I want that Chaos Emerald!" The robot screeched.

"How about I keep the Emerald and you get lost?" Rouge shot back with a scowl as she fired a last at the kite, wrecking it. Lady Ninja began to fall to the ground, but not before flinging a shuriken at the bag, ripping it open at the bottom, giving enough space for the Emerald to fall.

"Nice shot!" Rouge scoffed, changing direction and flew after the Emerald. Knuckles and Sparkles quickly ran to witness the scene, the latter's wrist now free of her restraints.

"Quick, this way!" Knuckles points up at the sky, as the bat and robot zips for the targeted item. Lady Ninja deployed new wings, almost like a flying squirrel's to get faster speed than Rouge. Knuckles ran for it, and leapt up to grab the Emerald, but flew backwards when Lady Ninja smacked him away. But in smacking Knuckles away and into an awning, she also had sent the Emerald in another direction. It tumbled in front of Sparkle and on reflex, she grabbed it and ran for it. Lady Ninja growled and zoomed after her, throwing whatever weapon she could grab in her arsenal, but Knuckles had used a manhole, threw it like a frisbee and hit any weapon back at Lady Ninja and the robot herself, sending her crashing into a folding table.

"Uhh... Think maybe I'll pay another visit when things calm down a bit." Rouge, having witnessed the beat down, decided to peace out with a flap of her wings.

Sparkle managed to lose Lady Ninja and quickly zipped through the dimly lit streets before turning into an alley. She skidded to a stop, seeing a metal chain-link fence blocking her route. She turned back around, looking at the shadows, scanning for any sign of her enemy. Her eyes passed over Lady Ninja's silhouette, making her gasp and turn back. But she wasn't there. Sparkle got more tense, keeping the Emerald close to her chest as she turned around slowly, watching the shadows. From behind, Lady Ninja tackled out from the shadows, making Sparkle eat concrete and snatched the Emerald.

"Thank you." She held the Emerald with triumph and crouched to flee, only for Knuckles to shove her to the ground and pin her down with his feet on her arms.

"You're not going anywhere. Now hand over that Emerald before there is more trouble." He threatened, raising a hand for emphasis on the threat. Lady Ninja managed to push him off and stow away the Emerald into the chest cavity under her uniform, just as Knuckles began to use offense with a barrage of punches and each one missed due to her quick reflexes. At one punch, she quickly flipped backwards. Mid-flip, she unleashed a wave of shurikens at Knuckles. He jumped backwards just as they ricotched from the ground. He landed onto the upright brick wall and launched off, putting Lady Ninja down with a strong side kick. She backbended up and turned around, opening the palm of her hand and launched an attack at Knuckles. Upon contact, it sent him into the chain link fence and unfurled into an electrified web, trapping and electrocuting him. He grit his teeth in pain as thousands of volts of electricity shot through his muscles, making him spasm involuntarily. One particular spark made its way to his brain, making his vision white, but in that moment, he saw a brief view of the Master Emerald before him. His vision went white as more pain wracked his body. The Master Emerald appeared once more but a stray bolt of lightning illuminated it before the vision went away.

"No, Knuckles!" Sparkle watched with fear as Knuckles was electrocuted before her eyes. She got up from the floor and ran to him. She latched both hands onto the net, only to get the same treatment as him. Sparks of electricity made her arms shake and spasm. She bit back her screams, not letting go of the net.

"Sparkle, what are you doing?!" Knuckles shouted, seeing her share his pain.

"I'm not letting you risk your life for me!" She yelled, forcing her arms to grab at the net through the pain. Her fingers curled around the webbing of the net, dealing with each zap at her muscles. The pain was nothing compared to what each of her friends would go through…what Knuckles was going through just for all of them to get home. Even her! And after all they've gone through: transporting to this alternate Mobius, being with her friends and having fun, letting go of her vengeance for her mother's murderer, facing danger one too many times by either Eggman or Vetheran…she wasn't going to let anyone get in her way…not now, not ever!

With newfound power, she ripped the net off the gate and Knuckles, clothing it with tense hands. But instead of the power harming her, it amplified her like never before. It felt great…rejuvenating….electrifying! Without moving her body, she turned her head and looked at Lady Ninja over her shoulder, eyes glowing neon blue with fire. "Allow me to show you what real lightning is." She coldly threatened.

She turned to face her adversary. Her hands curled into fists as three bright teal lights began to form on her quills, from under her headband and down her tresses. Two more flicked out from the corners of her eyes akin to graphic eyeliner. Behind her manifested a dragon composed entirely of electricity. The dragon itself was outlined by purple and blue light, its entire body formed of bright blue lightning. A faint Diamond pattern cascaded down its back. Two horns sprung from its head, lips pulled back to snarl and two holes for its eyes were left vacant, giving it an even more terrifying appearance.

Sparkle thrust her hand forward, sending the dragon to lunge at Lady Ninja. It obeyed, roaring as it did so. It struck her in the chest cavity and started shorting her out. She jolted and screamed at the unfamiliar feeling, the chest cavity forced open and the Red Emerald fell out.

Knuckles watched with amazement at the display of power. He never knew Sparkle was capable of such power…he saw her motion with her head to Lady Ninja and nodded. He quickly got to his feet, having been freed from his electrical prison, and ran at her with a fist reeled back. Once at close range he sent it under and up, hitting her under the chin. Lady Ninja screamed as she went flying into the atmosphere, disappearing with a twinkle.

Sparkle smiled with triumph. She staggered as she felt her new powers diminish; she likely exerted all her new power to take down Lady Ninja and paid the price. Zapped of all her strength, she passed out and fell forward.

"Sparkle!" Knuckles quickly caught her before she could hit the floor and cradled her close, watching as the five lines around her head and face vanished slowly. A peace of calm serenity washed over her face as she laid in his arms. Knuckles looked at her with incredulity, thinking back to what he saw just moments ago…it was like nothing he'd ever witnessed from her or anyone else on the team! 'What did she just do?' He thought with wonder, as the red Emerald laid on the concrete close by.

Elsewhere, Dorian sat in a chair conversed by the shadows as he listened to what his hired help in the light of the room had to say. But once he finished, he gave a hard look.

"So you lost them in the end?" He sneered. Li Yan merely nodded, but underneath was a little afraid of the aura Dr. Vetheran was giving off…it didn't suit him well…

"Those two were more clever than they looked…" he admitted without a stutter. Dorian merely smiled though, having been one step ahead of the hedgehogs.

"No matter. Having captured the first, I managed to inject something into the purple hedgehog when she was out cold….I wonder how she will enjoy it~!"

Time soon passed and morning came before Knuckles or Sparkle knew it. The two had hurried to the docks as the sun began to rise, sneaking onto a ship that was bound for their city.

Now out at sea, the two had hid themselves away in the extra cargo to avoid being spotted. As they rested behind the crates, Knuckles kept looking over at the Chaos Emerald.

Sparkle saw him darting eyes, "Well at least now, we can get back to our friends." She smiled tiredly, a hand on the Emerald. But under her palm, it gave a shine of white light, blinding them both. The two found themselves in empty white space, the ship they were just in nowhere to be seen.

"Where are we?" Knuckles looked up and around him. Slowly, the white space bled away to color, morphing into an image of the Master Emerald shrine.

"The shrine?" Sparkle tilts her head with confusion, but tensed as she and Knuckles hear a girl's voice ring out from beyond.

"The servers are the seven Chaos…" she echoed.

" 'The servers... are the seven Chaos'... What does that mean?" Knuckles' eyes grew confused. Just as he blinked, both were back on the boat as if the vision never occurred. They look at each other, fear and utter baffled-ness painting their faces.

"What was that all about?" He asked.

"Maybe there's more to the Emeralds than we think." She gave an uneasy look back to him, before both of their eyes drifted to the Emerald with uncertainty.