[Sonic’s POV]

“Tails never elaborated on Knuckles…. Do you think he’ll be alright?” Silver’s voice was quiet as he worried.

‘Don’t worry, Silv. It’s Knuckles; I’m sure he’s fine.’

I say that, but I couldn’t keep the feeling of worry and guilt down myself. The only reason he was in this situation was because of me…. It was because I never paid attention to him. I don’t know what came over me when Shadow went into that coma, but now that I’m snapped out of it, I fully realize what I’ve done…. I went to Eggman for Chaos sake!

The anger for how I’ve acted boiled within me slowly, making me feel even worse. Who know what could’ve happened to Dark or Knuckles or even Shadow because I couldn’t keep myself together!

“Sonic, is everything alright?” Silver’s question rang through my head, and I had to take a deep breath before replying.

‘Everything’s fine; don’t worry about me.’ I sighed and Tails looked to me with a curious expression. I smiled to him, trying to hide the conflicting feelings inside me.

And that’s when I was pushed to the ground. Above me, an angry echidna with… glowing green eyes?

“Knuckles!” No doubt about it, something definitely happened to Knuckles.

Swiftly, I kicked him off of me, pushing myself up before he could pounce again. Tails ran beside me, preparing for a fight. I huffed as Knuckles growled.

“Heh, I didn’t thank you were that devoted to the Master Emerald, Knux.” I grinned, opting to play around a bit. “I mean, changing your eye color just for it?”

He didn’t respond, his glare only growing stronger.

“Sonic, what if he thinks you’re me.” I could feel Silver pout. “It might make him angrier if he sees me taunting him.”

‘Oh, please, Knux may have a thick skull, but he’s smart enough to figure out what’s going on.’ I paused in my thought for a moment. ‘Right…?’

I didn’t have enough time to register the punch to my gut before it happened, and I soon found myself being launched into a tree. Tails acted quickly, grabbing Knuckles’s arms as he flied to add extra strength.

“Yeah, okay, focusing more now.” I coughed out as I stood. Quickly I made my way towards him, preparing a quick attack. “Tails now!”

Tails quickly let go, flying upwards as I put all my strength into a spin attack. Of course, Silver’s body wasn’t use to the move, but I still managed to get the other off his feet.

I laughed, glad to know that I could at least get somewhere with a different body. I looked up to Tails. “You ready for a quick finish?”

“Yeah!” Tails cheered. I stretched, hoping that I could still manage this move with Silver’s speed. Swiftly, I jumped up, and Tails kept the momentum going, swinging me around before we both became a blur.

“I think I’m gonna be sick.” Silver gulped.

‘Aw, come on, have a little fun.’ I laughed as Tails flung me towards Knuckles just as he was getting up again. Knuckles was again thrown off his feet, a crater made where he landed. I jumped up to the edge of the crater, laughing at this thrill I haven’t felt in a while.

Tails landed beside me. “Sonic, we can’t keep fighting him; we have to figure out what Eggman did!”

“Where is the ole Egghead anyway?” I glanced around. “Normally he’s here to gloat about what he’s done.”

Knuckles started to get up again, so I instantly got ready to fight. We ran towards each other, ready to fight, but just before I could hit him-

“Sonic! Watch out!”

-I was hit by a strong force, and I found myself hitting a tree again. My vision was blurry, but I tried to focus on whatever hit me. I could see the same glowing green eyes as Knuckles, but there was something familiar about that shape…. If only I could focus a bit more….

I tried to stand up, and although colors were blurring together, I could see a mix of red and black, and I knew the immediate moment who those colors belonged to.

“Sha-” I felt hazy, “-dow….”

I was kicked out of control.

________________________

[Dark’s POV]

“Where is he?” I growled, no other thought in my mind other than finding the man who ruined everything.

I surveyed the area around me, looking for any possible sign. I clenched my fists, twitching a bit as I found nothing. I continued my stampede, feeling anger throughout ever course of my body.

I always thought of Eggman as harmless. Sure there were a few times where he crossed the line a bit, but I knew Sonic would always come through.

Now I’m alone, and there’s no telling where Sonic went. Shadow’s gone, Knuckles has been corrupted, Exe is completely scaring me….

I’ve ruined Sonic’s life….

I felt my eye twitch as I fell to my knees.

I started this….

Sonic doesn’t deserve this….

I should fix this.

I have to fix this.

And it starts with killing the man who dared to trick us.

The man I know took MY SON-

Before I could even finish the thought, I was violently pushed into a tree. I coughed out, opening my eyes into a glare. A dark brownish red fox stood before me, clawed hands clutching my throat. He was looking down, and I used that to my advantage, kneeing him in the face. He’s organic…. What is Eggman up to?

He growled, letting go of me and backing up. I grinned.

Heh, weapon fodder.

I felt my aura intensify as I cracked my knuckles. “Let’s send a message to your boss. I’m not messing around anymore.”

He looked up, growling and glaring. It made me stop. Blood dripped down his muzzle, his eyes glowing a deep red.

“Exe….” The name was almost a whisper. “Exe, is that you? Wh-What happened!?”

He didn’t reply. Exe’s not a fox, but… those eyes…. I couldn’t mistake them for anything.

I was so caught off guard, that I found myself soaring upwards from a quick uppercut. I winced as I hit the ground, but I couldn’t let that stop me.

It doesn’t matter if that fox could be Exe.

I’m not letting anyone get in the way.