{A/N}

Man, was feeling a little sluggish, but now I´m getting the hang of this again.

Chapter 56: The Greatest Performance!

Shuigang Island – Unknown Location, Morning Hours

Deep within the unknow facility, a cold and sterile laboratory hummed with artificial life. Monitors lined the room, displaying fluctuating data streams, and various mechanical arms were suspended from the ceiling—a massive cylindrical containment tube filled with a translucent pink fluid. Inside, motionless and silent, was Metal Lilac, her sleek frame, illuminated faintly.

In front of the tube, fidgeting with his tools and muttering to himself, stood Robotnik.

"Hmm," he mused, adjusting a control panel as he examined the final calibrations. "I must say, it was frankly quite tedious to transport you all the way from the Shang Tu lab to this facility, but honestly, it's better to have you here once Sonic and the rest arrive."

His fingers danced across the console, Metal Lilac remained unmoving, her optics dim and lifeless within the tube.

Robotnik gave a chuckle. "How amusing," he mused aloud. "Now, I am quite the genius, and a genius like me would certainly not leave their own creations burdened with something as inefficient as forced memory wipes—now would I?"

He smirked, knowing, of course, that she wouldn't answer.

"Now, now, why would you want to erase those memories, hmm?" Robotnik continued, stroking his mustache. "Honestly, I can't say I know for certain, but perhaps it's because of your… special methods of creation? They give you something more than just life?"

Metal Lilac remained motionless. But despite her silence, there was something, as if, somehow, she was listening.

Robotnik grinned. "You are quite special, you know that?" He leaned in slightly, observing her still form. "This alien technology has made you far more advanced than my other robots—but shhhh, don't tell anyone I said that, hehehe!"

He turned back to the console. "…You're one of a kind, Metal Lilac. And it seems that you're developing something… interesting. Something I must research further. I need to see it for myself. But it also seems like you've been wandering without a clear purpose! And that—" Robotnik's voice grew sharp, "—is simply unacceptable!"

His fingers slammed the final key.

"As your creator, you will find that purpose! And you will seek it! Because this…" Robotnik gestured dramatically to the containment tube, his voice swelling with confidence, "…this will be the most pivotal moment of your existence! You hear me?!"

Silence fell over the laboratory once more, save for the steady hum of the machinery. Robotnik let the moment linger, his gaze locked onto his creation.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he pressed a final button.

A hiss of steam filled the room as the containment capsule slowly began to open. The fluid drained away, and the mechanical arms moved into position, unlocking the restraints.

"Now to wait for the full download of the virus, but until then…" Robotnik muttered, his lips curling into a satisfied grin. He took a step back, arms crossed as he admired his work.

"Welcome back, Metal Lilac."

A low, mechanical whir filled the air as two pink optics flashed to life.

Pangu Lagoon – Ancient Temple

Back in Shang Tu, within the heart of Pangu Lagoon.

"Ow!"

Magician Carol was launched into a stone wall, her back slamming against the surface before she staggered forward, rubbing her face in irritation. She let out a sharp hiss, baring her fangs as she lunged at Lilac once again, claws poised for a swipe.

Lilac, however, didn't even flinch.

With a swift maneuver, she sidestepped the attack and stomped down, halting the imposter's momentum before spinning into a Cyclone, the force sending Magician Carol tumbling across the floor in an undignified roll.

"Ow, ow, ow! What are you doing?!" Magician shouted, pushing herself up with a look of pure bafflement. "Do you just punch your best friend in the face without remorse?!"

Lilac simply exhaled, repositioning herself into a defensive stance before rolling her eyes. "First off, you're not the real Carol," she pointed out, she flexed her muscles, already preparing for a Dragon Boost. "Second, Carol and I have been sparring since we were little. You think I'm afraid to land a punch?!"

Without waiting for a reply, she launched herself forward, a streak of purple surging toward the imposter. Magician yelped and barely managed to dodge, flipping out of the way.

"Well, I didn't know that! How was I supposed to know that?!" Magician huffed, brushing imaginary dust off herself. Then, an idea struck. Her lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Fu fu fu… slip up after slip up, alright," she said, black smoke beginning to swirl around her. "You may not be afraid to hit your best friend…"

Lilac's brow furrowed.

"But I wonder how you'd feel about the others!" The smoke thickened, obscuring her entire form before suddenly dispersing.

Lilac's breath hitched.

Standing before her wasn't Carol anymore. Instead, a replica of Tails had taken her place, dressed in the magician's extravagant clothes and hat, his twin tails swishing mischievously behind him. His eyes gleamed with amusement, lips curled into a sly grin.

Lilac swallowed, suddenly uneasy. "Oh… oh no."

"Surprise!" Magician Tails chimed, before lunging at her with a burst of speed.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the temple, Sonic was handling both remaining Hooligans. He dodged Bark's massive fists effortlessly, letting the polar bear's attacks crash into the ground where he had stood mere moments before. A well-timed leap sent him flipping over a bomb from Bean, landing smoothly on the other side.

Bean pouted, stamping his foot like a child. "You're being incredibly rude, you know!" he huffed. "You're supposed to get hit at least once! Where's the drama? The stakes?"

Sonic smirked as he pointed at the scar on his chest. "Sorry! Can't afford it. I've been getting beat up enough lately."

With a burst, he launched into a spin dash, aiming straight for Bean. The green woodpecker let out a panicked squawk and flailed, barely managing to swoop out of the way just in time.

"Oh, come on, come on! All the explosions I've thrown have only hit the silly robots roaming around here!" Bean whined, tossing another bomb into the air. "I wanna hit someone with a protagonist role! Just one boom!"

Sonic snorted. "No can do!"

He bounced off the ground mid-spin, the force propelling him toward Bean. He let out a squawk as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the temple wall with a loud thud.

"Ugh… not even a little jab?" Bean groaned, his beak smushed against the floor.

Sonic shook his head, sidestepping another wild punch from Bark with ease. He was starting to get into the rhythm of the fight now. As he dodged another swing, something flickered at the back of his mind—a thought he had considered while they traveled through the lagoon. And it made him pause.

"Now this got me thinking, big guy…" Sonic mused, eyes still locked onto Bark as he effortlessly avoided another attack. "Why would you guys even attack your own buddies?"

Bark hesitated for a brief moment, his fist still raised. His brow furrowed slightly as he gave Sonic a confused look. In that instant, for just a heartbeat, a glimmer of uncertainty flashed in his eyes.

Sonic pressed on. "Uh, you do realize that there are a bunch of wasps and other robots around, right? And I don't mean Eggman's usual tin cans, you know, Brevon's?" His tone carried a mix of incredulity and genuine curiosity.

Bark continued to stare at him, his face blank with what could only be described as pure stupidity. His vacant expression seemed to silently ask, Who?

In that suspended moment, Sonic came to a realization.

"Wait… don't tell me—" Sonic began, his voice trailing off.

Before he could finish, Bark shook off his momentary distraction and growled, pushing forward with renewed aggression. He wasn't going to let himself get sidetracked.

He charged at Sonic again, ready to resume the now one-on-one brawl.

On the other side of the temple, Lilac struggled against the Tails replica, her hesitation slowing her reactions.

"Ooooh, what's wrong? Afraid to hit the little fox?" Magician Tails taunted, his grin widening as he twirled his tails playfully.

"S-shut up!" Lilac snapped, trying to push away the unease gnawing at her. She had been fine fighting the fake Carol, but Tails? She couldn't just attack sweet, innocent Tails, even if she knew it wasn't really him. It felt wrong.

Magician took full advantage of his hesitation, lunging at her with a burst of speed. Lilac barely reacted in time, shoving him away with force. The fox stumbled back, landing on his feet with a scowl.

"Fu fu… This is quite fun," he mused before black smoke enveloped his form once again. "Let's try another one!"

When the smoke cleared, the Magician now stood in a completely different form—this time appearing as Sonic himself, his usual smug grin plastered across his face.

"How about this? Time to go fast and all that!" Magician Sonic quipped before charging straight at Lilac.

Lilac clenched her fists, pushing aside her discomfort. This time, she wouldn't hesitate. As Magician Sonic dashed forward, she ducked low, pivoting on her heel to strike first. Her hair connected with his stomach, but to her surprise, he twisted midair, catching himself before flipping over her and retaliating with a kick. She barely dodged, flipping backward as his strike grazed the ground.

"Not bad!" Magician Sonic chuckled. "Guess you do know how to keep up!"

"Oh, please stop doing that you don't have his sass or the charm," Lilac shot back, preparing herself for a Dragon Boost.

"Maybe, but I've got all the style and none of the flaws!" Magician Sonic leapt, spinning in a ball toward her. Lilac braced herself, but just before impact, she twisted into a Cyclone, meeting him head-on. The two clashed midair, the force sending gust of wind through the air as they rebounded off each other.

But their fight was soon interrupted when an enormous form loomed from the distance, hurtling toward them with alarming speed. It was Bark, his massive silhouette darkening the sky as he was launched into the fray by Sonic.

Sonic's voice rang out, "Head up! It's raining bears!" he shouted, his tone a mix of amusement and genuine concern as he pointed toward the airborne menace.

Bark began a rapid tumble straight toward Magician Sonic, in the nick of time, Magician Sonic's eyes flashed with annoyance as he dodged the impending collision. "Watch where you're going, you oaf!" he barked, narrowly evading the falling threat.

Bark then crashed onto the hard ground below with a resounding thud, the impact sending vibrations through the nearby structures. He lay dazed and disoriented, his eyes blinking in confusion as the shock of his fall registered.

"And that is a wrap up here!" Sonic declared with triumph.

Seizing the opportunity, Lilac spun into another Cyclone, catching Magician Sonic off guard. The impact sent him hurtling through the air—straight toward the real Sonic, who effortlessly punted him into yet another temple wall.

"Ugh…!" Magician Sonic groaned, his form flickering as he shakily rose to his feet. His face contorted with frustration before he let out an exasperated huff.

"Take that! No way to run now, Magician!" Lilac declared, her tone triumphant.

The Magician sneered, and once again, black smoke erupted around him. When the haze cleared, his form had shifted—this time, he appeared as Milla. Magician Milla's ears drooped slightly and clasped hands exuding a fragile, almost pleading innocence. "Y-you wouldn't hurt a little puppy, would you?" she asked, her voice trembling just enough to sell the illusion.

Lilac faltered. The thought of hurting Tails was agonizing enough, but Milla was even worse! And even knowing it was only an illusion, her heart pounded with regret and uncertainty. Yet Sonic remained unfazed.

"Yeah, no. That trick isn't working on me," Sonic smirked, stepping forward confidently. "Show's canceled—you've already lost."

At those words, Magician Milla's trembling lips twisted into a snarl, and her feigned innocence evaporated in an instant. "No…" she whispered, shaking her head as her entire body tensed with resolve. "It can't end like this… I won't let it!" Her eyes darted past them, locking onto something unseen in the distance.

Then, with a sudden burst of movement, she barked sharply and propelled herself into the air. Her ears fluttered as she shot toward the temple's inner sanctum, a determined cry echoing behind her: "I won't fail them!"

Lilac and Sonic exchanged a surprised glance before springing into action. "Sheesh, didn't know she had that kind of drive!" Sonic remarked as they took off in hot pursuit. "She's usually the middle ground when it comes to intensity with the Heavies!"

"We can't let her reach the Emerald! Let's go!" Lilac declared, diving headlong into the temple's depths after her elusive foe.

Sonic followed, but a lingering thought gnawed at him. "Fail them…" he muttered under his breath. "That didn't sound like she was talking about Egghead…" Without another word, he leaped after Lilac, vanishing into the shadows below, determined to catch up and set things right.

Outside the temple entrance, Bean and Bark stirred groggily, their bodies still aching from the fight. Bean blinked dazedly and rubbed his head. "Ughhh… I think we should call the Marvelous Queen…" he mumbled, his voice heavy with fatigue.

Without a word, Bark lifted his beanie, revealing a hidden button nestled inside. With a press, the concealed signal was sent out.

In the distance, the deep hum of an engine roared to life, growing louder with each passing moment. Within moments, the Marvelous Queen will be on its way.

Pangu Lagoon – Inside the Cave

Sonic and Lilac landed in a dimly lit cave, their eyes adjusting to the faint glow of the tiles on the ground. The entire space was bathed in eerie hues of blue and green, the shifting light making the cave walls seem almost alive.

Stalactites hung from the ceiling, while the uneven stone beneath them felt damp. A low hum filled the air—not from anything mechanical, but as if the very energy in the chamber pulsed with a quiet, unseen force.

Sonic glanced around, taking in the strange environment. "Okay…" he muttered. "At least we don't need a lantern." He took a step forward, his eyes catching something carved into the stone walls—faded figures, their shapes unmistakable. Dragons, and other distinct creatures, like birds and perhaps echidnas, were etched into the surface. Sonic's brow furrowed. "Just like the one in Relic Island…"

But Lilac wasn't paying attention to the scenery. Her focus was locked on the scene ahead.

Across the chamber, Magician Milla was violently shaking an unconscious Fang, her movements frantic and desperate. The jerboa's body hung limp in her grasp, what shocked Lilac more, however, were the severe wounds covering him—deep slash and burn marks ran across his fur, smoke still faintly rising from the edges.

"Where is it?! Where's the Emerald?! Answer me!" Magician Milla screeched, her wild eyes filled with impatience as she continued to shake the barely-conscious Fang.

"Stop!" Lilac darted forward, shoving Magician aside. The robot stumbled back with a snarl, but Lilac ignored her, kneeling beside Fang immediately. "Can't you see he's in critical condition?!" Her hands hovered over his injuries as she quickly checked his pulse.

Sonic crouched beside her, eyes narrowing as he took in Fang's battered form. "What even happened to him?"

Magician scowled, crossing her arms. "Like I care!" she spat. "He was the first one in this hole! He has to know where it is!"

"That's not what matters right now!" Lilac shot back.

As Lilac and Magician Milla argued, Fang stirred. A low, weak groan escaped him, and his fingers twitched slightly, as he forced his heavy eyelids open.

"F-Fleet Feet… Whip Strands…" he mumbled, barely audible. His unfocused eyes drifted between them. "Get… outta here…"

Sonic leaned closer. "What did this to you?"

Fang exhaled weakly, barely able to move his head. But with great effort, he slowly lifted a shaky finger, pointing behind them.

"That…"

Everyone turned.

In the far distance, a faint purple glow shimmered through the darkness. At first, it seemed almost peaceful, the unmistakable glow of the Purple Chaos Emerald pulsed at the far end of the cave.

But then, something else moved.

A pair of massive, glowing blue eyes snapped open in the shadows, their piercing light cutting through the darkness.

"W-what is…?" Magician Milla stammered, her ears folding down in shock.

Lilac took a step back, her heart pounding. "That's… impossible!"

Sonic, despite the initial surprise, recovered quickly. "Well, hello there," he called out, his voice light but cautious. "You wouldn't happen to know an evil dragon on Northstar Island, would you?"

The creature's only response was a deafening, earth-shaking roar.

The sound reverberated through the cave, shaking the very foundation beneath them. Dust and loose rocks tumbled from the ceiling as the beast finally emerged into full view.

A massive eastern dragon slithered through the air, its long, sinuous body covered in shimmering blue scales. Red orbs, pulsing with raw energy, dotted its length. Its head was adorned with six curved horns, while a flowing blue goatee swayed with each slow, deliberate movement. Its maw stretched wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

But most striking of all was the Purple Chaos Emerald, embedded directly into its forehead, pulsating with an ominous light.

The air grew heavy, charged with an unseen energy as the dragon's gaze settled upon them. It inhaled slowly, the glow of the emerald intensifying—

Then, with a sudden, explosive roar, the dragon lunged forward, its massive clawed hand swiping down at them with terrifying speed.

"Scatter!"

Sonic's voice rang through the cavern as the massive claw came crashing down. He leapt out of the way just in time across the stone floor.

Lilac reacted just as quickly, grabbing Fang and propelling herself aside with a powerful jump, barely avoiding the impact. The ground trembled beneath them as the dragon's claws gouged deep into the rock, splintering stone into fragments. Magician scrambled away as well, letting out an annoyed growl.

As soon as they were clear, Lilac gently laid Fang down in a relatively safe corner, resting his battered body against a rock formation. She knelt beside him, her expression momentarily softening. "Stay here," she urged, voice quiet but firm. Even if he was an enemy, she couldn't bear to see him in this state.

Fang let out a weak groan. "Like… I can move…" His eyelids fluttered as he struggled to stay conscious, then weakly lifted a hand to point toward the massive dragon circling in the darkness above, the eerie glow of the red orbs along its form pulsing in the dim light.

"That thing is relentless…" Fang muttered, his breath hitching. "Look…"

Lilac followed his gaze and immediately noticed it—some of the red orbs along the dragon's body were already shattered, their light extinguished.

"Destroy… the orbs…" Fang rasped. "I hit a few… what happens… after… beats… me…" His voice trailed off as his strength gave out, and he slumped forward, unconscious once more.

Lilac's grip on her fists tightened.

"Sonic!" she called out.

"Already on it!" Sonic responded, spinning into a ball and slamming directly into a handful of the glowing orbs on the dragon's body. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the beast's massive form as the orbs shattered into pieces.

"It's got hundreds of these things!" Sonic yelled as he flipped away, dodging the dragon's tail as it lashed out.

Lilac gritted her teeth. "Whether it's a hundred or a million, we're taking them down!"

With a Dragon Boost, she launched forward, twisting midair into a Cyclone, her strikes shattering multiple orbs in quick succession. The dragon let out a screech, its body recoiling from the damage, it hissed and slithered back into the shadows, disappearing once again into the depths of the cave.

Sonic landed beside Lilac, watching as the darkness swallowed the beast. "A big lizard, yet it's able to hide pretty well," he muttered.

Lilac's eyes remained sharp. "We just need to focus and wait for its next charge."

The cavern fell into a suffocating silence. The only sounds were their own heavy breaths, the flickering hum of the glowing tiles beneath them, and the occasional distant drip of water echoing through the cave.

Lilac's gaze flickered to Magician, who was still scanning the darkness, her entire body rigid with tension. But it wasn't the dragon she was focused on—it was the Emerald.

"Magician!" Lilac called. "We need to work together if we're going to survive this!"

Magician Milla snapped her head toward Lilac, her eyes gleaming. "Work together?" she spat, her voice laced with bitter distrust. "So that you can take the Emerald for yourselves?!"

Lilac's brow furrowed. "That's not—"

"I'm taking it for myself," Magician Milla interrupted, her voice trembling with determination, "and letting you two rot!"

Sonic shot her a flat, unimpressed look. "You're serious right now?"

Before Magician Milla could respond, a deep rumbling filled the air.

The dragon reappeared, its glowing red eyes narrowing as its maw began to charge with an overwhelming energy.

Lilac's pulse spiked. "It's charging a big attack, some sort of fire breath!"

Her eyes darted across the battlefield, searching for a way out of the blast radius. Then—she spotted it.

One of the many mystical blue circles, floating just overhead, its power still active.

"Sonic, grab my hand!" she shouted.

Sonic didn't hesitate. He reached out, and the moment their hands clasped, Lilac launched herself forward, dragging Sonic with her as she passed through the energy field. A powerful surge of energy coursed through her body as she propelled both of them forward in a Super Dragon Boost, a streak of blue cutting through the cave like a comet.

The dragon unleashed its devastating beam, a column of raw power incinerating everything in its path. The heat singed the air itself, creating a shockwave that rattled the entire cave.

Lilac and Sonic barely cleared the blast zone, landing with a skid just as the attack faded. They both exhaled sharply, taking a brief moment to recover.

But their relief was short-lived.

A shriek of pain cut through the air.

They turned just in time to see Magician Milla caught directly in the blast, her Egg-Robo frame exposed as the disguise was burned away.

Sparks flew from her joints, her body crackling with damaged circuits as she collapsed onto the ground. The once-fluid illusion of Milla was gone—her mechanical frame now lay exposed for all to see, the edges of her plating warped and scorched.

Sonic and Lilac both flinched at the sight.

The fact that it was Milla's voice that made the scream made it even worse.

"Ugh…" Sonic exhaled, shifting uncomfortably. "Guess copying Milla's appearance didn't give her green cube abilities for a shield…"

The dragon let out another low growl before disappearing into the shadows once again, its presence vanishing from sight.

Lilac's gaze snapped back to the fallen Magician, her expression tight with concern. "Magician!" she called, worry evident in her voice as the robot staggered, sparks still flying from her damaged form.

Heavy Magician staggered to her feet, her battered systems barely holding together. Sparks flickered from the gaps in her fractured frame.

"I…asreaer… will not… be destroyed…" she muttered, her voice laced with static as if she were struggling to keep herself together.

Despite her injuries, she stood tall, eyes locked onto the Purple Chaos Emerald embedded in the dragon's forehead. Her hands clenched into trembling fists, her posture defiant.

"I must… have the Emerald! For them!" she cried, desperation leaking into her voice.

Sonic and Lilac exchanged quick, confused glances.

"For them?" Sonic echoed. His brow furrowed as he took a defensive stance. "Never knew that Eggman and Brevon needed it that badly!"

Before he could get an answer, the dragon reappeared, its form writhing through the cavern. Its many red orbs pulsed ominously, their glow intensifying as it prepared another strike.

Lilac's body moved on instinct.

"Sonic, go left! I'll go right!" she shouted, immediately dashing forward.

"You got it!" Sonic shot back, already moving.

The two blurred into action with their combined speed as they weaved between the dragon's attacks. The beast lunged, but Sonic was already in the air, twisting into a spin dash that shattered another cluster of glowing red orbs.

Lilac followed up immediately, using the opening to Dragon Boost forward, her strike rupturing another set of orbs with a satisfying crack. The dragon screeched, its body convulsing as more of its essence drained away.

Despite their momentum, neither of them forgot about Heavy Magician. Sonic kept an eye on her between dodging swipes, but she wasn't running—she was still staring at the Emerald, completely fixated.

"N-no..." she finally stammered, her voice weak with raw emotion. "For Heavy King... He will save us..." The plea in her tone was filled with desperate hope.

Lilac faltered slightly, nearly missing a step. "What...?" Sonic asked, his tone shifting to something more serious as he registered the weight behind her words.

Heavy Magician trembled visibly. "If we fail again... we won't be reconstructed... This is our last chance we… faddasfa… can't fail…" Her words, filled with a profound desperation.

Lilac's stomach twisted at the raw urgency in her voice—a feeling she knew all too well. The deep, aching need to save someone resonated with her own hidden fears of loss and failure.

"I..." Lilac hesitated, caught between empathy and resolve. She didn't know what to say, the robots desperation striking something deep within her. But then she took a deep, steadying breath.

"I understand the need to save someone. I really do," she said softly, her voice both gentle and firm. "But we can't let you have the Emerald. I'm sorry."

Heavy Magician let out a bitter, empty chuckle. "Fu fu... Why did I even bother telling you?" she murmured with sorrow.

Before anyone could talk further, multiple purple flashes suddenly illuminated the cavern. A barrage of lasers rained down, shattering the silence and plunging the chamber back into battle.

"Whoa, whoa! That's definitely the Emerald's power!" Sonic exclaimed, twisting his body mid-air to dodge a beam.

"The Emerald… it's powering the dragon!" Lilac added, her mind racing. "But how?"

Sonic barely avoided another blast, his thoughts scrambling. "I mean, the Emeralds do tend to do that, but this? This is on a whole other level! It's like the thing was designed around it!"

Meanwhile, Heavy Magician wasn't as lucky. Some of the lasers tore mercilessly through her form, slicing through her gleaming body. Leaving deep, gaping wounds, her entire structure barely holding together.

"A-ah… fassfd… I will soon… be destroyed…" she lamented, her voice faltering into a series of fragmented distortions.

Before anyone could react, the dragon reappeared, emerging from the shadows. Its remaining orbs flared a fierce, bright red, its entire body pulsating with unstable energy. The Purple Chaos Emerald embedded in its forehead flashed with violent intensity, its light nearly blinding in its fury.

Lilac's heart pounded as the gravity of the situation sank in. "It's using the Emerald for something huge, a super laser beam!" Sonic yelled, without a moment's hesitation, he reached for Lilac's hand. "Lilac, we have to move—now!"

Lilac turned, ready to flee—until her eyes landed on Fang. The jerboa lay unconscious on the battlefield, stranded far from any safe haven. He was too distant to reach in time, the impending blast would surely consume him.

"Fang!" she cried out, her body tensing as every instinct urged her to run to him. "We have to—"

Before she could finish, a sudden roar of engines cut her off. The Marvelous Queen swooped in, its revving turbines echoing ominously throughout the cavern.

"Tututuruuuu! The plot convenience device has arrived!" Bean sang dramatically from the cockpit, his voice as jolly as ever.

Without hesitation, Bark extended his arm, scooping up Fang with ease—well before the dragon's ferocious attack could strike. "You guys better get out of range before you get fried!" Bean called down as the Marvelous Queen ascended rapidly, escaping the imminent destruction below.

Lilac exhaled deeply, relief washing over her. Sonic, seizing the opening, grabbed her hand immediately. "Well, that solves that!" he declared quickly. "Lilac, c'mon!"

Lilac hesitated, her gaze snapping back toward Heavy Magician, she turned back toward the battered magician, extending a hand. "Magician! Grab my hand!"

But Heavy Magician remained motionless. She only stared at the glowing Emerald, as chaotic energy danced across her flickering optics.

"Lilac!" Sonic called again, urgency threading through his voice.

Biting her lip, Lilac clenched Sonic's hand tightly as she rushed forward towards the charged circle, her body surging with energy. She could feel the power coursing through her veins, its radiant energy amplifying her Dragon Boost. With Sonic in tow, they shot upward again, streaking across the cavern in a brilliant blur of blue.

Just below them, the dragon unleashed its full wrath. A devastating beam of pure, chaotic energy erupted from its mouth, splitting the cavern with a deafening shockwave. The walls trembled, the ground cracked apart, and an explosion of purple light engulfed the battlefield.

The sheer force of the impact obliterated everything in its path. Jagged rocks were pulverized into dust, and even the air itself trembled from the overwhelming power. The dragon let out a final, anguished roar, its voice echoing through the endless abyss as its massive form was swallowed by the radiance.

And then—silence.

As the light gradually dimmed, Lilac and Sonic landed safely, their feet skidding across the now unstable ground. The Hooligans descended as well, with Bark carefully setting Fang down while Bean theatrically wiped imaginary sweat from his brow.

But then, all fell silent at what happened next. They turned—and watched in stunned silence as the dragon began to disintegrate before their eyes. The remaining red orbs on its body flickered and faded, their energy draining away into the void. Its massive frame shimmered as it broke apart bit by bit into glowing, ethereal particles that drifted upward.

And then—something fell.

Lilac's sharp eyes caught the glint of violet. Without hesitation, she leapt forward, reaching out just in time to catch the Purple Chaos Emerald in her palm. A final pulse of energy surged through the cavern—and then, the blue dragon was gone.

The battle was… over.

For a long moment, silence reigned. The only sound was the pulse of the Emerald in Lilac's grasp. But then, her gaze fell to the crumpled form lying nearby, and her heart sank.

She stepped forward slowly, kneeling beside Heavy Magician, whose shattered body lay motionless amid the wreckage of her own disintegrated form. "I… tried to help you…" Lilac whispered.

Heavy Magicians eyes flickered weakly, struggling to remain alight. "You know…asdas" her voice rasped with distortion, "it wouldn't have worked… Sash Lilac… you know I willingly chose this fate…" Her body shuddered, her limbs barely functioning. "So gfdhks… I failed… my friends… my family… The King will be all alone now…" Her voice softened further, the light in her optics dimming slowly.

Lilac hesitated, then slowly reached out, taking Magicians trembling hand in hers. Without a word, she gently placed the Emerald into the Magician's grasp. "You… you didn't fail them," Lilac said softly, her tone steady yet compassionate. "You did everything you could to help, even if you don't realize it." Her grip tightened slightly. "You did your best."

Magician stared at the Chaos Emerald for a long, heavy moment before a soft, bitter chuckle escaped her. "Fu fu… You heroes… always with your kindness…even after the trick I pulled back at Shang Tu…" she murmured. Slowly, her fingers relaxed, and she pushed the Emerald back into Lilac's hands. "Take it… You deserve it…"

A final glitching flicker as her body shuddered one last time. "But… thank you… for the jolly good show…" she managed a weak chuckle. "This was truly… the greatest show…" And with those final words, her body collapsed, crumbling into lifeless scraps of metal that scattered across the floor.

Lilac stared for a minute as she saw the now pile of scraps as she sighed, but before she could dwell on it for too long—a soft chirp sounded from the wreckage. Blinking in surprise, she looked down just in time to see a tiny bunny emerging from the remains of Heavy Magician. The little critter hopped forward, pausing only to give Lilac a small, theatrical bow before bounding off into the shadows.

A bittersweet smile curled on Lilac's lips. Then, a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. Turning, she found Sonic offering her a quiet, reassuring nod, his expression warm and supportive.

And then—

"Pffffff!"

They both jumped as Bean suddenly burst into tears. "That was so beautiful!" he sobbed, burying his face into Bark's fur. The polar bear rolled his eyes and patted him on the back in silent reassurance thought he himself was touched by the sad moment that transpired.

Sonic blinked, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "So, uh… round three?" he ventured, his tone light despite the lingering tension. Bean and Bark exchanged a glance, their expressions with uncertainty, unsure on what to do next.

"Nah, let them have it…" Fang's voice came from the Marvelous Queen's driver's seat. Still dazed with one hand clutching his head. "We already lost…" he mumbled, his words heavy with fatigue.

A heavy silence settled over the group. Slowly, Bean and Bark both nodded in resigned agreement. Lilac exhaled in relief, they have finally gotten the last Chaos Emerald and now it was time to return back to the Royale Palace—but before she could speak, Fang suddenly squinted and pointed past them.

"By the way… what's that?" he asked, his tone laced with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.

The group turned as one. Where the dragon had once stood, something entirely unexpected now hovered in the air—a floating drone, its tendrils wavering sluggishly. Sonic and Lilac's eyes widened in unison as they took in its appearance. It was identical to Syntax in design—except instead of its green colored scheme, this drone was painted a deep, striking blue.

For a brief, tense moment, the drone hovered silently, its presence both eerie and intriguing. Then, its systems faltered, and it crashed awkwardly to the ground. Its single blue optic blinked rapidly as it surveyed the scene.

"M-m-minor damage d-detected," it stuttered, its voice glitching slightly.

A deep, heavy silence filled the cave as everyone stared at the unexpected peculiar newcomer.