[Dark’s POV]

I groaned as my eyes slowly opened. It was dark, so I must’ve been out for a while. I rubbed my eyes a bit before rolling over and pushing myself up. “Tails….? You alright?”

“I’m fine.” I heard the kit’s voice beside me, and I glanced over. He was standing, his namesakes twisting together almost nervously.

“What do you think happened to him?” I asked as I stood beside him, recalling what had happened before.

He looked to me. “You tell me; he’s been with you all this time.”

“As far as I remember, he was acting just fine before.” I frowned. “He left, saying that he was going to check on the Master Emerald, and then he just never came back. I don’t get it.”

I watched the kid’s face for a moment, wondering what was going on in that brain of his. Something must’ve clicked because he suddenly turned to me. “You guys were at Eggman’s base, correct?”

“Yeah….”

“Should I give you a second to connect everything?”

“What!? I don’t need a second to-” Then it hit me. “Oh….”

“We have to get to Eggman’s base!” Tails stated, clearly determined.

I nodded and we ran off.

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[Silver’s POV]

“And, now I guess I’m here.”

I frowned as Sonic finished his story. All the puzzle pieces were fitting together as I finally found out what happened after I left.

I sighed; it was my turn to tell him what I’ve found out.

“I’ve been inside Shadow’s subconscious.”

Sonic sounded shocked. “What!? When!?”

“Whenever I went to sleep.” I replied. “He was so scared, and this fog like thing rolled in, but I never got to see what it did.”

“Shadow….” I could hear the sadness in his voice.

“I, uh, also saw Exe there.”

“Exe!?” I felt a jolt of shock go through my body as Sonic said that name. “So that’s where he went! But… how?”

“I, uh, I don’t know.” Did I just feel the same emotion as Sonic? I shook my head as I put that thought to the back of my mind; I still had a mission to do.

Quickly, I floated up to Angel Island, Sonic rambling about what could’ve happened to Exe as I did. I quickly found myself at the Master Emerald, feeling the familiar flash of energy run through my body.

“What are you doing?”

“Going back.”

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[Dark’s POV]

“Open up, Eggman!” I banged on the door, growling a bit. Tails seemed a bit taken back by it, but I ignored that. I clenched my fists, kicking it. “If you don’t open up right now, I’ll knock down the door!”

There was still no answer.

“Alright! You asked for it!” I looked back to Tails. “Stay back, kid!”

He quickly nodded, backing away. I cracked my knuckles a bit, grinning, before knocking the door down in one quick motion. It fell down with a loud crash as I looked back at Tails.

He was a bit shocked, to say the least. “It usually takes Sonic a spindash to get through.”

I smirked as I shrugged a bit. “He doesn’t know his full potential is all.” I then motioned for us to go in, and, without another word, we entered.

It was strangely quiet, the only sounds being our footsteps on the metal floors. I glanced around suspiciously. Surely, Eggman could’ve heard that.

I was instantly worried. Nobody was looking after Shadow when I left; what if Eggman did something?

Quickly, I grabbed Tails’s arm and ran. My worry grew as I approached the door. Stopping, I let go of Tails’s arm and stared apprehensively at the door. I took a deep breath and walked in.

Nobody was there.

_______________________

[Silver’s POV]

There was a brief flash of light before I saw that I was on Angel Island again. I turned around and quickly checked my surroundings.

“Are we back in the past?” Sonic questioned.

I looked at the shrine, seeing that it was still very much ruins, but it was more put together than in my time.

“Yep, we’re back.” I smiled proudly to myself.

“But… where’s the Master Emerald?”

The question made me freeze for a second before turning back to where the Master Emerald should be. Sonic was right, it wasn’t there. I quickly made my way to the edge of the island.

“Water….” I gasped out loud. The island wasn’t floating.

“That means the Master Emerald isn’t on the island…. Who took it?”

“Knuckles could be in trouble!”

“Calm down; Knux can handle himself.” Sonic said. “Get off the island and look for Tails and Dark.”

“Who?”

“Looks like me, but dark and has no pupils.”

“Uh, alright….” I made my way off the island. “Why are we looking for them?”

“Hopefully, they’re around here. This is where I left them.”

I simply nodded, deciding not to question him, and quickly looked around. “I don’t see them.”

“Ah, jeez…. I hope everything’s alright….”

I felt worry course through my body. “I’m sure they’re fine…. I mean, Tails wouldn’t really harm Dark, and Dark wouldn't harm Tails, would he?”

“I’m not worried about that.” I frowned at Sonic’s serious tone. “Without Exe or me, Dark is really unstable. If both of us are gone….”

The worry in my stomach grew, and I almost felt like I was gonna throw up. It was obvious now that I could feel Sonic’s emotions, and they were so strong they almost hurt. I leaned against a tree, facing towards Angel Island. I needed to find someone. Anyone.

I felt like I was being suffocated, too weak to run.

“Sonic… Sonic, I don’t feel so good….”

I got no response as I started to feel dizzy. “Sonic….”

“I have to find Dark.”

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[Dark’s POV]

I growled, clenching my fists. “SHOW YOURSELF!”

“Dark, calm down.” The kit beside me seemed to plead, but I ignored him.

I kicked the wall violently before stomping out of the room. The kit followed behind.

“Dark, what are you doing?”

I cracked my fists, a dangerous grin coming to my face. “Destroying anything that gets in the way of me killing that human.”