Sonic and Gwen runs and skates through a Loop, steps on a Spring and grabs a group of Rings. They head into the tunnel to grab more. To the right is a rectangular arena surrounded by quarter pipes. They skids to a halt. Eggman appears on the other side in a circular rolling machine and faces Sonic and Gwen. Sonic calls Tails to join in the battle. They avoid two rolling attacks from Eggman. They point and laugh at him. Eggman rolls again and hits Sonic, causing him to drop rings. Eggman rolls along the upper end of the arena, while Tails helps Sonic up, allowing him to pull off a homing attack on Eggman's machine and destroy it, revealing its Eggmobile and a singed Eggman while Sonic, Gwen and Tails celebrate and jump. Eggman flies away. A Gold-star Ring hovers down from above. They jump and reach the ring together and high-five in mid-air.

Back to present in New Yoke City where Sonic and Gwen are looking at the shield engulfing them. Gwen looks down at her hands as they're now covered in shard and begins to look worried.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, at the Grim, Nine looks at one of the monitors. Crystal structures break up and float in the air.

"I'm running out of time. My world will never be completely safe without Sonic's energy. Time to finish what I started."

Nine turns and looks at another monitor, showing his Shattercraft downed in a river at New Yoke City.

He draws two of his mechanical tails and extracts energy from the Paradox Prism. He delivers the energy to Alpha Grim Birdie. In a bright green vapor cloud, Grim Birdies clone out of the Alpha.

"If Sonic wants to save those pirates, he'll have to come and get them. Grim Birdies, bring the pirates to me." Nine ordered.

The cloned Grim Birdies set off from the top of the citadel's tower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In New Yoke City, Denizens and Sonic cross the road and run into the Yoke's entrance. Sonic hears a mechanical caw and stops by the doorway, looking up to see four Grim Birdies flying by.

At the Yoke HQ

Inside the Yoke shows a meter hovering at just under full power.

"The dome will only hold so long. And given the rate we're burning through our reserves of Shard power, that won't be long at all." Mr. Dr. Eggman reported.

Rebel and Knucks see the quad of Grim Birdies through the window.

"Bogies at Eleven o'clock." Rebel spotted.

"Another flock of robo roosters." Knucks said as he punched his fists together.

"Nine's watching." Rebel warned him.

"Ain't that a treat?" Knucks questioned.

"Batten down the hatches, buckos. Soon as that shield gives, we're as good as gull food." Black Rose said, popping out

"Speak for yourself." Thorn Rose said as Birdie shrieks in agreement.

"The last batch was overwhelmed by the three of us. We will handle them." Rusty Rose reported.

"Balderdash! Nobody will be handling anything if we're all disintegrated." Dr. Done-it said.

"Should we thank you for destroying our homes, too?" Prim questioned angrily.

"Ungrateful little pest. First, we invite you into the safety of our citadel, then you track mud all over our clean floors, now this!" Dr. Done-It said angrily.

"Hey, ain't you the ones that caused this mess in the first place? Killed Iris? Opening the portals in the sky?" Knucks reminded them of the past.

"Oh, that tears it!"

Dr. Done-It spins and lights up his walking cane, threatening Knucks with his weapon. Sonic dashes in through the doors into Yoke HQ and knocks the weapon off Dr. Done-It.

"We're all friends here." he reminded them.

As Knucks and Dr. Done-It clash heads, Sonic breaks them up again, forcing them apart as he continues speaking.

"Mostly. And there's more than enough mutually assured destruction to go around. No need to double down now, given all the sweat and tears we put into saving each other's skins. Speaking of which, this way, folks. Despite what it looks like, you're safe here."

Another door opens. Eggforcers and Denizens walk through the doorway, looking around their surroundings. Gwen counts them, while they walk past another doorway, and realizes something.

"Wait a minute. Black Rose, where's the rest of your crew? Batten? Sails? Catfish?" Gwen asked.

"Figured they were somewhere in this cursed place. Has no one seen them? Dread?" Black Rose said as she faced Dread.

Dread, who's sitting against the wall, shrugs.

"They're still in No Place." Gwen said in shock.

"Not for long. That place is shattering at the seams. If your friends are there, it's game over."

Dr. Don't displays a monitor showing No Place close to being ruined.

"I have to try." Sonic said.

"There's no time." Mr. Dr. Eggman warned him.

"I'm not leaving anyone behind. I can't." Sonic shook his head.

"You have no choice."

"We all know what'll happen if the fox gets his paws on you. And I'll be double dog darned if I sit back and twiddle my thumbs while you give away the store." Dr. Done-it said, poking Sonic with his cane.

He pokes Sonic with his cane.

"Samesies." Dr. Don't added.

"Agreed. And let the record show that this has nothing to do with our concern for your wellbeing." Mr. Dr. Eggman said, kicking Dr. Done-It away.

"Noted. Now that we've got that cleared up, back in a jiffy, let's go sis."

Sonic and Gwen runs and skaes off, but are stopped immediately by Rebel.

"Sonic, I hate to admit it, but they've got a point. It's too dangerous. You can't risk yourself. And Gwen's not strong enough to go and getting weaker by the minute." Rebel said as she's worried about Gwen.

This made Gwen frown, knowing she's right and turn to her brother.

"Sonic, I hate to say this, but she's right. I'm getting weaker and it's too risky for me, so i'll stay behind, but don't worry they'll keep me safe." Gwen said as Sonic sees the point and looks at Rebel.

"I'm sorry, Rebel, but I can't risk the lives of my friends."

"You're risking them either way." Rebel stated.

"You can't let Nine get a hold of you, Blue." Knucks added.

"But I'd do the same for any of you. Besides, what part of "back in a jiff" do you guys not get? I'm fast. It's my thing. And don't worry Gwen, I'll check on you after I rescue the Pirates" Sonic said with Gwen nodding, knowing they'll be okay.

Sonic runs off again, but a sword is thrown and sticks to the wall in front of him, causing him to stop again.

"You, too?" Sonic asked annoyed.

"I'm afraid you've mistaken our intentions. You'll be needing a ship to bring him back in, won't 'che? I'll be your captain, former captain." Black Rose said as Sonic smiles.

Sonic turns to Dread, still in the corner.

"How about it, Dread? Care to hit the high seas again?" he suggested.

Dread turns to him, not appearing excited as he was before.

"If there be no treasure, what's in it for me?" he questioned before turning away.

Gwen notices his down look and needs to do something to cheer up Dread and get his sea legs back out.

"Some legend yee are. Come on. Time's a wasting." Black Rose scoffed as she picked up her sword.

"Good luck, Sonic and be careful while Nine's still out there." Gwen said.

"Thanks, and you too." Sonic said as they hugged before the door opened and he, Black, Sonic, Rusty, Thorn and Birdie walked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Grim

Nine watches on the monitor the shield encasing Yoke HQ, and the Kraken depart New Yoke City.

"Fools." Nine frowned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at Yoke HQ, while Sonic and the Roses were rescuing the pirates at No Place, Gwen look at the shield with worry and then back at Dread, who was still sitting against the wall. Gwen decides to walk over to him.

"Dread? Are you okay?" Gwen asked.

"No, since I've betrayed my crew, your brother and mostly importantly... you. And I've heard you'll soon be gone, just like Emeraldas did." Dread said sadly as he covered his face with his hands.

"Listen, we'll stop Nine, restore the worlds, and hopefully we will find a find to bring back Emeraldas and my other versions, I promise. And I know exactly how you feel before." Gwen said sadly, kneeling down and putting her hands on his shoulders to face him.

But Dread still feel down about what he had done as he looks away in pain. Gwen look down at her finger to see she still had a ring that Dread had given her from the moment they first met. So she decided to sing as the room turns all dark with a spotlight on her and people around them faded, leaving just the two of them.

https://youtu.be/Zowlh4cXhSM

It's easy to push me away from you
Easy to say you want be left on your own
Yet somehow I can't help but see

Dread open his eyes to look at Gwen as she sings, and he feel something in his heart he hadn't felt something for a long time... hope. Gwen reach out her hand to grab his hand to lift him up.

How your eyes shy away
Your hands seal the entrance and path to your heart

Anger kept fear and the sadness you feel
Under the surface for so long
Locked that room, you keep it inside

Lend me your voice
Words you try so hard to forget
They'll break through the silence
Bring me close
Let me see the past you regret
Deep down below
Show it all

Gwen's ruby necklace begins to glow around her and Dread to bring them close as their faces close together and blushing. The room transforms into a pirate ship just like from No Place when they first dance at night.

La la
La la
La la
La la la la

It's not so hard living all by yourself
It isn't hard, yes, I know that's what you'll say
It's what you have told yourself

As they begin to dance while being hovered from Gwen's ruby necklace, they stared into each other's eyes with happiness and flew into the night sky.

Over and over again in darkness
You try to hold back all the thoughts

But you know, I just want you as you are
Just the you that I see right before me
It's all that has been on my mind

As they flys through the night sky, they stared with passion before kiseing for a short time, then hugged each other tightly as they hovered down to the floor and kneeled down.

Lend me your voice
Let me see your face, let me start
To show you what I see
Bring me close
Let me feel the beat of your heart
The secret you bury

Lend me your voice
Anything you want to say, I'll be right here
I'll listen so tell me
Open the door
Let me come and sit by the fire
Just let me come close
To your heart

When the song ends, the room transforms back to the reality of the Yoke HQ as they're still hugging tightly, knowing they'll never make a same mistake or never forget their loved ones ever again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Kraken and the Yolkomotive enter New Yoke City; the shield disappears allowing them to enter the mothership before re-closing it. Inside Yoke HQ, the crew pass through the doorway. Sonic shakes off some water in his quills, which splashes two Council members.

"Hey!" Dr. Done-It scolded.

"Watch it! This is my last pressed jacket." Dr. Deep whined.

"Sorry. Nice moves back there. You know, for an evil egg-o-maniac. I guess thanks are in order." Sonic said.

"Sonic! I'm so glad you're okay and you rescued our pirate friends." Gwen said happily.

"I'm glad, too sis." Sonic said happily.

Rebel becomes suspicious at Sonic.

"What are you, buddies now?"

"What do you want me to say? They helped us." Sonic said truthfully.

"We did more than help. If it weren't for us, you'd be six fathoms under by now." Dr. Deep pointed out.

"Do not forget who piloted the getaway vehicle." Rusty Rose reminded.

"You mean the one you almost sunk?" Dr. Done-It scowled.

"Awful quick to brag about a bad idea, ain't ya?" Knucks bragged.

"Easy for you to say, coward." Dr. Deep glared.

"Come say that to my face, Egghead."

They stare at each other, Dr. Deep chuckling while Knucks grunts. Gwen breaks them up again, forcing them apart.

"Guys, please. This was a win for all of us." Gwen scolded them.

"Was it? Your little friends are safe, but at what cost? The fox can conjure up more minions with the snap of his fingers." Mr. Dr. Eggman questioned.

"Says the guy who built Eggforcers by the dozens." Rebel reminded.

"Whereas our fleet is damaged, our troops are spent, and we're almost out of time! Should have let them go down with their ship and their world." Mr. Dr. Eggman said.

"Sorry, but losing anyone is not an option." Gwen said firmly.

She then walks away and joins Sonic to looks out the window; they see tops of buildings disintegrate into purple rocks which float upward.

"Nine is the only one who can stop this. The only way he'll do that is if I give myself up." Sonic suggested, shocking Gwen.

"Sonic, there's no way I'm gonna let this happen. And this why I'm also giving myself up." Gwen said determinedly, which surprised him.

Everyone except Sonic and Gwen gasp at what they just said.

"How about instead of letting Blue take the fall, taking care of Gwen for ourselves and we take the fight to Nine?" Knucks suggested, not risking Sonic and Gwen's life.

The denizens cheer at that.

"I'll say this much. In the Fox's position, we'd double cross you without a second thought." Dr. Deep said.

"Nine isn't like you." Sonic said.

"There are only two kinds of folks in this world, those who've got power, and those who want it. Face it. Your fox has changed." Dr. Done-It said.

"First, the shards, then Shadow, now this. I gotta admit, this whole losing thing is not my cup of chili. How do you do it?" Gwen sighed.

Dr. Deep and Dr. Done-It look at each other.

"Ha. We never lose." Dr. Done-It scoffed.

"We learn from our setbacks." Dr. Deep added.

"We make tweaks." Dr. Done-It added.

Dr. Babble speaks gibberish.

"Then take the next step towards our inevitable victory." Mr. Dr. Eggman finished.

"Real inspirational stuff coming from the likes of them." Knucks deadpanned.

Rebel nods in agreement.

"Actually, it kind of is. Say what you will about these guys, but they never quit. I've had my share of setbacks." Gwen said, and the Rebels turn to them.

"Gwen's right, I've made some tweaks, and I think I'm ready to take that next step. This is my mess, and I'm going to fix it. Whatever happens, it's been an honor." Sonic said, smiling at his friends.

He and Gwen then zoom off past Dread and went outside to the deck, calling up.

"Nine!" they called out.

Nine's hologram appears.

"So, you two finally come to your senses?" Nine asked.

"Hardly. But I'm ready to give myself up." Sonic said.

"I'm also giving myself up to stay with Sonic, and to fix me from the shard within." Gwen added, showing her now shard hand.

"Finally." Nine smiled.

"But, we want some assurances first." Sonic stopped him.

"Like what?" Nine asked.

"You'll agree to spare our friends." Gwen said.

"Agreed."

"And you'll promise to rebuild their worlds back to the way they were." Sonic added.

"Deal."

"Alright, then. Let's go." Sonic made a decision.

Nine's hologram disappears and a portal opens up. Sonic and Gwen spins up towards it.

"Sonic, Gwen, stop!" Rebel shouted.

"Get back here!" Knucks shouted.

"Don't be a fool!" Black Rose called out.

Sonic and Gwen ignores them and bursts out of the shield and into the portal, which closes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sonic and Gwen arrives at the Grim, spinning and bouncing on the cracked ground, coming to a halt. With a miserable look on their face, they walk towards a group of Alpha Grim Robots staring at them. Nine clears the robots and steps towards Sonic and Gwen.

"Don't worry. Beneath the surface, my new friends are far simpler than the flawed creatures you knew and loved. And all the more loyal for it." Nine said as Gwen felt sadness.

"Ever wonder where we'd be if things had gone differently between us?" Sonic asked.

"Not anymore. Except for you Gwen." Nine said, arms crossed.

"Nine, could you see what have you done by their worlds, our friends, even me as you could see I'm slowly becoming the next prism? And I don't think Iris don't want to see you like this. You know what happens next." Gwen reasoned.

"I do. All the time." Sonic said sadly.

"You had your chance." Nine stated.

"Right back at you, bud. Should we get this over with?" Sonic said.

Nine remains unconvinced, making Sonic sigh.

"You know, after all this time, I think I finally understand you, Sonic." Nine said.

"I'm fast, funny, and love a good chili dog. What's not to get?" Sonic asked.

"You want to save everyone. Friends, foes, total strangers, especially your sister. You say it's because you're a hero, and that's what heroes do, but deep down, after what you did, destroying your own home, it's the only way you can ever live with yourself. Even if that means you won't live at all." Nine explained.

"There's a good chance neither one of us walks away from this." Sonic said sadly, same with Gwen with tears.

"I'm aware of the risks, thank you."

Nine retracts his tails and turns his back on Sonic; hands on hips and shaking his head.

"If Sonic don't make it and you do, how do we know you'll keep your promise?" Gwen questioned.

"Don't worry. Your "friends" are safe. Once I have your brother's energy, I can restore everything. They can have their silly lives and their silly spaces as long as they leave me alone." Nine turns to Gwen.

"Fair enough." Gwen said sadly.

Nine points his mechanical tails at Sonic.

"And for what it's worth, I would have done the same for you." Sonic said.

"Same for me." Gwen added.

"Don't lie to me." Nine threatened with his mechanical tails.

"We're not..." Sonic tried to explain.

"Don't." Nine interrupted angrily.

"Think whatever you want. But it's true. Even after everything you've done, everything we've been through, together, against each other, you're still our friend, Nine." Gwen said, kneeling.

Taken aback, Nine relaxes his tails and looks at himself in misery. He looks at a begging Gwen and notices Sonic shoes starting to flicker in surprise. Gwen notices as well.

"What's happening?" she questioned.

Sonic stands up and checks his shoes.

"Wha... I don't know."

"What are you doing?!" Nine asked in shock.

"I'm not doing anything."

Sonic's shoes fire a laser behind him that opens a portal in the background. Nine, Gwen and Sonic stare up at it. Familiar looking aircraft, including the mothership, arrive through the portal into the Grim.

"Holding frequency... the dome is breached." Dr. Deep reported.

"Egg-cellent! Now don't land on the hedgehogs!" Mr. Dr. Eggman said.

As Nine, Gwen and Sonic watch on while bracing themselves, Sonic and Gwen's friends are inside the Kraken, displaying their combat poses, along with the Chaos Council. Mr. Dr. Eggman looks at the radar, smiling. Nine hyperventilates, frowns and grimaces.