(Readers POV)

Everyone had managed to find Professor Pickle's research lab in Shamar. He said that the next Gaia Temple is actually somewhere in Shamar so me, Sonia, and Chip went out to find it. Me and Sonia were quickly dashing across the vast sandy landscape, but it was becoming sunset.

Sonia: Seems like night is getting close.

(Y/N): That would definitely slow us down if you turned into a Werehog right now, so let's try to find that temple before we have to deal with any monsters.

As we ran through the sands, some of Eggman's robots were on their own search of the temple. Me and Sonia easily destroyed them as we went past. We continued to rush and we actually found the temple. We stopped in our tracks and looked over at each other.

Sonia: Nice! We actually made it in record time.

Chip: I can't believe there isn't some kind of big monster here.

I let out a small sigh, the heat slightly getting to me. But it wasn't that bad since it was now becoming nighttime, getting cooler. Some weird kind of structure nearby the temple started to let out some lightning. A creature covered in lightning dashed right over at me. Sonia quickly dashed in front of me as dark purple flames covered her body. The creature covered in lightning crashed into Sonia, but she managed to stop it as the flames around her disappeared, now being in her Werehog form.

The creature was only about the size of Sonia.

Sonia: You're definitely a lot smaller compared to the other guys blocking us from the temples.

The creature tried to slam its hammer onto Sonia. She jumped back with me, letting the hammer crash into the ground.

Sonia: I actually almost feel bad for this little guy.

Chip: Really?! It's still really scary to me!

(Y/N): How could you feel bad for it?

Sonia: Little guy must be compensating with that big hammer of his is all.

The creature let out a roar as lightning started to strike nearby us, putting us on guard. Sonia grunted as she ran forward at the creature. It tried to slam its hammer onto Sonia, but she caught the hammer in her hands.

Chip: Whoa!

Sonia lifted the creature up by the hammer and swung it around, stretching her arms out. The creature got slammed into some nearby pillars before being slammed into a wall. Sonia brought her arms back, making the creature come back at her. Lightning started to strike more and hit Sonia, stunning her. The creature went over to Sonia and slammed its hammer into her stomach.

(Y/N): Sonia! Are you okay?!

She smirked as she let go of the creature and grabbed the hammer.

Sonia: Seems like you do have more bite than I thought!

She jumped up and started to rapidly kick the creature in its face. The creature got knocked back, letting go of its hammer. Sonia put her hands on the handle and slammed the hammer onto the creature, making it crumble into energy and disappearing.

Sonia: Was that all? I know girls that can wield hammers better than you.

Sonia took in a deep breath and rubbed her stomach. I ran up to Sonia to check up on her.

(Y/N): Are you good?

Sonia: Yeah. He was a little feisty one.

Me, Sonia, and Chip all walked into the nearby temple and went up to the alter in the middle. Chip went up to the alter and it raised up. Sonia took out a Chaos Emerald and put it on the alter. The Chaos Emerald started to glow and raised up into the air and it gained color, becoming yellow. The ground started to shake heavily, meaning that a piece of the planet is being restored. The ground eventually stopped shaking.

Chip: Now all we need now is 2 more Chaos Emeralds restored!

(Y/N): Almost done with this stuff. Let's go back to Professor Pickle and find out where the next temple is.

(Time Skip)

We returned to Professor Pickle's research pan and learned that the next temple is at a place called Adabat. Me, Sonia, Chip all made it to the place thanks to Tails using the Tornado 1. We landed nearby a village and Adabat is surrounded by the ocean, since it's more like a bunch of islands instead of just one huge land mass.

(Y/N): This village would make a great vacation spot.

Sonia: A little too much water for my liking.

Chip started to look around, waving hi to people as he did. We can hear his stomach growling. Me, Sonia, and Tails all had a drop of sweat come from our foreheads.

Sonia: So who's buying for Chip this time?

(Y/N): Yeah... I'm a little short on funds at the moment.

Tails: I didn't really bring anything to buy anything with.

Sonia let out a sigh and ran over and grabbed Chip by the back of his shirt.

Sonia: Sorry buddy, but we have a job to do.

Chip: Agh. Not even just a little snack?

I looked around and saw a tropical tree near me. I hit the trunk of the tree, making a coconut fall. I grabbed it and tossed it over to Chip. He managed to catch the coconut and looked at it with curiosity.

Chip: What's this thing?

(Y/N): It's a coconut. If you manage to break it, you get to drink some delicious milk out of it.

Chip: Delicious?! I'll make sure to open this coconut then!

Chip started to try punching it, but didn't get it to crack. Sonia walked up to me and patted me on the back.

Sonia: Good thinking. That will keep him busy for awhile.

I smiled at her as I rubbed the back of the head.

(Y/N): It wasn't that clever. I just figured it would help us not go into debt feeding the kid.

Sonia looked at Tails and waved at her.

Sonia: I guess stay here Tails and wait for us to come back. Make sure to update us on anything new that happens.

Tails: Got it.

Me, Sonia, and Chip all left the village. Chip is still trying to figure out how to open the coconut. Chip started to sit on my shoulders as I used my shoes to go forward quickly. Sonia running next to me as we ran into a tropical jungle that was nearby.

Chip: (Y/N)! I can't get this thing open!

I looked back at Chip and saw him still trying to break open the coconut.

Sonia: How about try using this?

Sonia handed Chip a small rock. Chip looked at the rock then back at the coconut. Chip started to smash the rock against the coconut, but not getting much results from it.

Chip: Not working. Got anything else I can use?

I looked ahead, trying to see if something was nearby to help open a coconut. I swear I could see something glowing for a moment, really catching my attention.

(Y/N): What was that?

Sonia: What was what?

Suddenly, a huge robot came crashing through trees.

The large pincers tried to slash me and Sonia, but we both ducked down to dodge. The pincers did slash the coconut in half. Chip smiled and started to drink the milk inside. He waved at the robot.

Chip: Thank you mister robot!

(Y/N): I don't think this robot is friendly!

Sonia: Eggman must've ran out of budget with this one!

I tried to look inside the cockpit to see if it's Eggman piloting this robot, but I couldn't tell since the glass is a solid color. Must be one way glass. Sonia Boosted forward right as the robot was about to slash at us again with its pincers. She dashed right into the cockpit with enough force to knock the robot back a bit. The weird parts hovering next to the robot started to shoot out lasers, making me and Sonia dodge.

Sonia: Eggman really did run out of budget! He really reused two bots in one!

As I dodged the laser with Chip on my shoulders, a laser hit the coconut out of his hands.

Chip: Ah! I wasn't done with that! Get this mean robot, (Y/N)!

The robot started to lay down bombs as it flew backwards, trying to hit me and Sonia. I used my shoes to launch myself high up into the air. I let out one of my legs forward as fire started to come out of the back of my shoe. The force started to make me spin around really fast. I launched myself forward at the robot and kicked the cockpit of the robot, cracking the glass.

???: Aaaahhh!!

I heard someone scream from inside the cockpit through the cracks in the glass. I guess they got surprised from my attack. I looked ahead and jumped back. The robot continued to fly backwards and accidentally crashed into a large tree. The tree managed to fall backwards, revealing that the next temple is just ahead.

Sonia: There's the next temple!

I landed on the ground and saw some of the wreckage of the robot moving around. Me and Sonia kept our guard up as a person came out from the wreckage, coughing from the smoke around. I took a step back in shock from who came out.

(Y/N): M-Mom?!

Amethyst: Ack! Cuh cuh!

She got out of the wreckage and saw me and Sonia staring at her.

Amethyst: (Y-Y/N)! I-It's not what it looks like!

(Y/N): What the... Why were you in that robot?! Attacking me and Sonia?!

I walked over and helped her to get away from the wreckage. She pushed me away and fell down to her knees. I saw tears start to leave her eyes.

Amethyst: I-I'm sorry... I didn't want you to find out...

(Y/N): Seriously, tell me what is going on!

Amethyst: I... I was hired to take the Chaos Emeralds from you and Sonia.

...What?

Sonia: Who hired you?

Amethyst: It was Doctor Eggman. He promised to give us a lot of money for getting the job done. I wanted to just convince you to hand them over, but you've almost restored the planet already.

(Y/N): M-Mom... Do the rest of our family know about this?

She just nodded her head.

Amethyst: It was Onyx that got asked to do this from Eggman. He convinced me and Garnet to go with the plan. Ruby and Sapphire aren't aware what we were hired to do.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I wanted this to be some kind of dream. I felt so many emotions swelling up inside me.

(Y/N): Is that why we even crossed paths in the first place? Just so you can do some dirty work for money?

Amethyst: I-I still wanted you back! I didn't want to betray my son! It's been forever since I've last seen you!

Everyone heard some footsteps getting closer. Everyone looked over and saw my dad walking towards us.

Onyx: Darling. You need to tell him the real truth.

(Y/N): Real truth?

He grunted as he looked over at me.

Onyx: It's how our family makes money. We take jobs that not a lot of people are willing to do. This isn't the first or last time me and your mother got our hands dirty.

(Y/N): I... What?! I'm not understanding any of this!

Onyx: When you were young, me and your mother were training you and Garnet to help our "family business". But you were deemed a failure. You couldn't meet up to our expectations. That's why we abandoned you.

I felt my heart shatter. I even put my hand on my chest on reflex.

Onyx: It seems this job was a failure too. No point in continuing to try to complete it.

I saw my dad help my mom stand up as they walked away. I was just left standing there, not knowing what to say or do. I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder. I looked over and it's Sonia.

Sonia: (Y/N)...

The crushing reality of what happened finally caught up to me. Tears started to escape my eyes as my legs gave out, making me fall down to my knees.

(Y/N): No... It can't be...

What that robot said. What Metal Sonia said. It was true. My family did abandon me because I just held them back. I started to punch the ground in frustration. Sonia started to pat me on the back, but it didn't help me much at all.

Chip: (Y/N), don't cry! I know this seems bad, but-

(Y/N): Just stop, Chip.

I interrupted him.

(Y/N): You don't understand. I spent so many years of my life trying to find my family. And after everything I've been through, what do I find out? They're just a bunch of scumbags! I wasted so many years and for what?! Just be called a failure?!

I shouted out, continuing to punch and hit the ground. The tears rolling down my cheeks started to hit the ground too.

Sonia: (Y/N), you shouldn't be talking like that-

(Y/N): Just go. You and Chip go on ahead.

I managed to stand up and started to walk away, going in the direction the village is at.

(Y/N): I'm going back to the village.

I wiped my face of my tears as I just walked in silence. I just want to be alone right now. I punched some trees in frustration as I walked, trying to get any sort of relief, but I couldn't find it.

(Chapter 45 end)