The lights turned on to reveal Rouge who covered her eyes from the bright light with her wing, sitting in the table with Vector in front of her and papers in his hand. Knuckles, Julie-Su, Y/N, and Kirby are standing next to her with a glare.

"Alright then, lady. Let's take it from the top." Vector sternly said.

"Is this how you treat everyone who comes in looking for help?" Rouge asked.

"Only those with a reputation like yours."

Rouge turned to Knuckles.

"You're the head of the Chaotix, right? I'm sure you could make all this go away."

"Not likely." Knuckles replied coldly.

Rouge then turned to Y/N who's petting Kirby on the head in her arms like a boss.

"Y/N, sweetie. We're friends, right? Can you tell these meanies to be nice to me?"

"Since when are we friends? You're with that green loser."

"And I suppose you like him?"

"No way." Y/N said without hesitation.

"Good." Rouge smiled in relief, making Y/N confuse on what she mean by that.

"According to Sonic and Tails, you popped out of a warp ring right outside Freedom HQ." Vector explained, looking at the paper.

"Warp ring technology is exclusive to Angel Island. How did you get one?" Julie-Su asked, pointing at her.

"Nack wouldn't loan me his marvelous queen. A girl has to get around somehow."

"You came to us for protection. We can't do anything until we know what we're up against." Knuckles said.

"Why should I tell you?"

"If you don't tell us, there will be consequences."

Y/N brought out her giant fist whip as she held it up in a tight grip with Kirby on her shoulder as he punch his fist.

"Rude much? Violence won't solve anything, Y/N." Rouge smirked.

"Maybe you'd like a security lamp for your own cell?" Vector questioned with a sass.

Rouge placed her legs up on the table.

"Clever. It's nice to see the lamp isn't the only bright thing in the room. The kingdom of Knothole has taken to imprisoning the innocent?"

"Innocent, she says. As soon as you showed up, someone stepped forward to give us some dirt on you."

Rouge stood up in surprise.

"Who?"

Y/N smirked smugly and walked over and placed a finger on Rouge's chin, making her blush a little.

"A good friend of mine. What was her name? Oh, yeah! Fiona! Remember her, sweetie?"

She let go of her chin as Vector explained with proof from the file.

"Fiona told us how you beat her team in an illegal fighting tournament and how you beat her out of every treasure both ancient and illegal! Working for the president of Station Square might be one thing. But there's plenty of others looking fo you."

Rouge sat down with a pout.

"Fine. I'll fill you in from when I was last here. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Scourge and I escaped via warp ring. It was sent by a madman named Dr. Finitevus. He wanted our help in return for the rescue. We helped him break into Robotnik's Egg Vinyard. It turns out he had a lot of your enemies captured. Half of them were already dead. Dr. Finitevus rescued what was left of the Destructix. Since the master... Mammoth Mogul... had deserted them, they joined us. Finitevus brought us back to a base guarded by some ancient robot called Isaac. He wanted to steal all of Isaac's data, but most of it was corrupt or erroneous. I mean, it was guarding a frozen corpse. Can a robot go insane? Anyway, Finitevus was looking to control dozens of ancient missiles. When I found out he planned on using them, I ruined all of them, he didn't like that. So I stole one of his warp wings and came here see? I can be a good girl."

"Were you followed?" Knuckles asked.

"Probably."

"What do you mean by probably? Who can possibly be following you?" Y/N asked, feeling anxious.

"Not sure. It can be either Scourge or the Destructix."

Y/N walked out with Kirby as Vector followed her.

"Well, that was a waste of time. I gotta go and find my bro."

"Relax, Y/N." Vector said. "At least we got some info on Finitevus."

"It's not just Dr. Finitevus I'm worried about. But the Destructix, especially, Scourge. I feel like he's up to something."

"It may be the waste of time as I think it is, but we'll be ready for anything." Knuckles said with a smile.

"Thanks."

Y/N and Kirby then left, leaving Knuckles and Julie-Su deal with Rouge. She was just heading to the Freedom HQ when she saw Sonic, Sally, and Fiona standing in front of Sleuth who's holding Tails hostage with a gun pointed at his head.

"That's enough. Hello, Sonic."

"Sleuth! I don't know how you escaped Dr. Eggman, but if you don't let Tails go right now, I'll-"

Y/N noticed a familiar green blur and immediately charged them as Kirby quickly got off of her shoulder, knowing how this will go. She tackled them as they started rolling past Sally, Fiona, and Sonic who noticed her.

"...Y/N?!" Fiona exclaimed in shock.

They stopped rolling and Y/N pinned them against the tree as they revealed Scourge.

"You!"

"Hello again, Y/N~" he smirked.

"Scourge!" Sonic growled, running over to them.

"Ready for act two, wimp?"

"Anytime, punk."

Scourge kicked her off and zoomed up to the tree with Sonic and Y/N following after him. Sally and Kirby stood at the bottom, watching from there. Sonic kicked Scourge in the face while Y/N jumped up in the air and uppercut Scourge.

"Not that I'm not glad to kick your butt, but what's the occasion, Scourge?" Sonic asked.

Scourge landed on another tree nearby.

"First, a little revenge now that you don't have a shadow to hide behind!"

He catapulted and punched Sonic in the face. Then, he knocked Sonic to the bottom of the tree on his face.

"Second, I wanted to see my girlfriend again. I love how she plays it like you two are best friends, especially you, Y/N."

Y/N's eyes widen as she realize who he was talking about and jumped down and grabbed him and slammed him against the bark of the tree, holding the collar of his jacket to pin him here.

"You liar! She would never do that!"

"Am I? You know what she did in the past, but did she tell you what she has been doing now behind your back?" Scourge smirked.

Y/N's eyes turned red for a sec from the ruby that's glowing and went to punch him when Fiona called over.

"Y/N! It's over we made a deal."

Y/N turned to see Fiona, Tails who's unharmed, and Sleuth. Sally helped Sonic up as she and Kirby look on in surprise.

"I told Sleuth the Chaotix were questioning Rouge. He says if we take back the warp ring from her, he'll leave."

"Deal?" Sonic asked.

"I gave my word for hers. Don't make her a liar, Sonic." Sleuth said, arms crossed.

"Hold that thought."

Sonic zoomed off, leaving them in his wind. Y/N was hesitant for a sec as she look straight at Fiona to make sure she's telling the truth. Fiona had a look of beg to listen to her. Y/N then released Scourge, but on the inside, she could tell Fiona is half-lying.

"That was quick." Scourge commented.

"With two hostages, it ought to be." Sleuth agreed.

Sonic then came back with the warp ring as Sleuth asked.

"Here's the warp ring. Now beat it."

"With pleasure."

Scourge winked at Fiona.

"Later, sweet thing."

He then circled around Y/N who had a look of whether if everything he says is true or not. Scourge then went up to her and held her face up by grabbing her cheeks in one hand.

"Later, Y/N."

He gave her a quick pec on her lips, much to her shock as everyone except for Sleuth look on in disbelief while Tails look like he's about to blow at any second while Fiona look like she's going to break down. Y/N spluttered as her cheeks turn pink and backed away from him, causing him to chuckle. Scourge and Sleuth then went through the warp ring.

"Are you okay, Tails?" Sally asked in concern.

"Pooteetah?" Kirby looked at Tails in concern.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Sally. Sorry, Sonic and Y/N."

"It's cool."

"It's fine. All that matters is that you're okay, Tails."

"Y/N..." Fiona started, walking over to her. "Whatever Scourge told you, it was a lie."

Tails started to walk away as Sally, Sonic, and Kirby look at Fiona suspiciously as Y/N look at her with a hint of hurt.

"It's cool, Fiona.... I trust you." Y/N said, secretly glancing at Tails who look back at her knowing he'll tell her about it.

"Yeah. Let's go home." Sonic suggested, taking Sally by the hand and walking away.

Y/N and Fiona had a stare for a while until Kirby went up to Y/N as she carried him up to her shoulder and left somewhere, looking back at Fiona. Fiona feels hurt to see Y/N's beginning to not trust her. She gotta fix this or else she's done for.

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

Y/N was heading into the underground lab to talk to Tails when she saw Knuckles talking to Locke from the screen who does not look happy.

"Come home. Now."

"I can't." Knuckles said.

"Then send the Chaotix."

"They aren't mine to send."

"No? They seemed willing to follow you into battle on Mobius. Even, Y/N."

Y/N gaped at Locke, feeling offended and angry to be a part of this conversation.

"They're my friends, dad, not my soldiers! They came with me because they wanted to. And leave her out of this! She can do whatever she wants to."

"Good."

"Good?" Knuckles asked, looking ticked off.

"That means they'll follow you here. Y/N is more than free to come by and help you more."

"Why do you think you need me up there so bad?"

"I know you must return to Angel Island because your people are suffering."

"Why? I thought they were rebuilding Echidnaopolis?"

"Have you forgotten General Kate and his army? You all dealt them a small blow last time you bothered to return, but they're still a constant threat."

"What about the Dark Legion? I thought they were helping to fight them!"

"The Dark Legion is caught in their own Civil War. Lien-Da commands the Flame Legion. While an unknown echidna is now grandmaster of the Frost Legion."

"What?!"

"No way..." Y/N softly said in shock.

"You don't know who it is?"

"I have been too busy to investigate." Locke replied.

"Right... Our people come first..."

"No."

"Wha-?"

"The Master Emerald needs protecting. And what's more, the brotherhood is still missing."

"That's all he cared about?" Y/N glared at him.

"You've spent your whole time looking for them?" Knuckles asked with wide eyes.

"For the most part, yes."

"Do you plan on looking for Charmy's family just as hard?"

"Perhaps. I cannot find any of them without your help."

Knuckles clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

"No."

Locke looked at him in disbelief.

"What did you say to me?"

"I said no. The problems on Angel Island all stem from the same source, Dr. Robotnik. You taught me to never approach the problem head-on. You taught me to look at all sides of the situation. I have, and I've found the best route to saving Angel Island, and everyone else is to defeat Dr. Robotnik."

Y/N smiled at Knuckles, feeling proud that he's standing up to his father. Locke's face shown veins as he looking pure mad.

"So you plan on just staying down there righting wrongs..."

"Just like the brotherhood was doing for years? Yes, I am!"

"You have to come back, Knuckles. I cannot guarantee the safety of your mother or her family."

Y/N gasped loudly that Locke did not just say that. Knuckles is shocked as he couldn't believe he heard that from his father. Y/N now had it with him, feeling her anger is now up to 100%. She charged at Locke, surprising Knuckles and Locke as she gave a good punch to the screen where his face is.

"YOU DID NOT!!!"

The screen broke with pieces as the shards were sent flying. Y/N held her knuckles in pain as the blood poured out from the shards that cut her, but she didn't care.

"How dare you, Locke! After a long talk, you just have to bring her up! You really are a bad father."

Y/N turned to see Knuckles tearing up.

"Knuckles?"

Rotor goes to comfort him, but Knuckles flinched away and Rotor drew his hand away.

"I'm fine! I... I just..."

Y/N looked down in embarrassment.

"Sorry that I broke your screen."

"Don't worry about it... I-I'll fix it..." Tommy assured her.

"Thanks, Tommy."

Knuckles goes to walk away when Tails, Y/N, and Kirby went after him.

"Knuckles! Hold on a second!"

"Not now, Tails."

"What you did was right and we need you here. Despite Y/N punching the screen." Tails mumbled loudly at the last part as Y/N chuckled nervously. "You've made Mobius your island to protect. I'm sure your dad will see that eventually."

"Yeah... maybe. Thanks, Tails. Hey, Y/N..."

"Yes?"

"Can we talk in private?"

"Sure, Knuckles."

"Alright. Take it easy, Knuckles." Tails said, flying away.

Y/N, Kirby, and Knuckles walked out of the lab in silence. They don't know what to say after the confrontation with Locke.

"Know where your home is?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah. But it's not here. I'll show you where I live."

Y/N showed him the direction in the forest and revealed a treehouse in daylight.

Knuckles looked speechless.

"That's your home?"

"Pretty cool, right?"

"Yeah..."

Y/N goes to unlock the door when she hissed to touch the fist that's still bleeding. Knuckles quickly helped unlock the door and grabbed her arm and took her to the room as he figured out where it is. She sat down on her bed as he grabbed the first aid kit from the drawer. Kirby helped grab the stuff before Knuckles started cleaning her hand as he removed the shards first before removing her glove. Kirby handed him the cotton balls and the tool as Knuckles thanked him for it. He poured the alcohol on the cotton and started dabbing her knuckles to clean out the blood, causing her hiss in pain.

"That was reckless of you." he stated, shaking his head.

"Sorry. I just couldn't stand Locke. He had a nerve to try and use a trump card on you. I thought giving a long talk would get through him, but I was wrong..."

"It's alright. You tried. Thanks for standing up for me."

"Anything for a friend."

Knuckles smiled, blushing a little and finished bandaging her hand. Y/N moved her fingers for a bit.

"Thanks, Knuckles."

"Just take it easy with your hand next time."

"I'll try." she chuckled.

He looked at the window.

"I will return to Angel Island, dad... One day."

Y/N placed her hand that's not bandaged on his.