Y/N is sitting in the seat next to Tails along with Kirby who's in her arms as they're in a concert for a big celebrity. She still feels a little guilty about Eggman losing his mind, but that shouldn't stop her from being happy that they defeated him. Kirby noticed her look and went up to her face and snuggled into her, making her chuckle and hug him. She noticed Sonic and Sally are walking arm in arm to their seat where she, Kirby, and Tails are.

"Come on, you. This concert if for you and Y/N as much as the rest of us, and you've moped enough."

"I'm not moping! I'm just... y'know... Okay, so I've been out of sorts."

Sonic and Sally sat onto the empty seats next to Tails and Y/N.

"Hey, Sonic! I saved you a seat."

"Thanks, bud."

"Are you worried about Robotnik? This isn't the first time we've thought we defeated him." Sally asked in worry.

"It's not that. I knew we got him this time. Me and sis saw him snap. Dude totally fell apart right in front of us. We've beat him plenty of time before, but this felt... different. Like we did something to him worse than jut kicking his butt. It's like things went too far this time. Nevermind all the unspeakable things he's done. I'm not making any sense, Sal."

"We'll talk about it more later, okay? For now, Mina's music should put you in a better mood."

Sally is right as Y/N thought. Soon Mina and her band stepped onto the stage and the crowd went wild.

"Helloooooo, New Mobotropolis! We're the 'Forget Me Knots!' We're back from our world tour, and we're ready to rock! Are you!?"

"YEAH!" the crowd cheered.

"LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!"

Just before they're about to start a music, a bolt of lightning hit the stage, knocking Mina away. Y/N was shocked and looked up and her eyes widened in recognition. It was Monkey Khan who's riding on the cloud. She hasn't seen him for a while.

"'Party?' The Beacon of Hope for Mobius, and you're playing like children at a time like this? What kind of lazy, self-congratulatory jerks revel when the rest of the world suffers? Where are these so-called 'heroes' of Mobius? I want you charlatans to look me in the eye and tell me why you're so great!"

"Monkey Khan?" Sally asked.

"And just when I thought Post-Robotnik life would be boring."

Sonic got out of his seat and spin dashed at Monkey Khan, but he blocked it with his staff.

"Nice to see you're the same old jerk as always, Khan. I still haven't paid you back for the trouble you caused me over a year ago!"

"Oh, boy..." Y/N sighed.

Kirby looks on confusion with a tilt on the head.

"And you're the same ego-driven, short-sighted idiot I remember. How you won these people over is beyond me."

Sonic glared and got ready to spin dash while Monkey Khan lighted up his staff.

"Blah-blah-blah. This is for wrecking Mina's concert!"

"You arrogant—"

Y/N had enough of two people fighting and jumped out of her seat as Kirby held onto her shoulder and went in between Sonic and Monkey Khan and created a pink bubble around herself.

"ENOUGH!!"

Sonic and Monkey Khan were knocked away by Y/N's bubble. They looked to see an angry Y/N who's glaring at them through her bubble as she made the bubble disappear. Kirby looked at the boys with a disappointed look while shaking his head with his arms crossed. Sally walked over to them.

"Thank you, Y/N."

She turned to Sonic.

"Jumping into a bug fight does not help this situation. Cool it."

"Fine, fine. You talk to the hot-head."

Sally then turn to Monkey Khan.

"And if you've got a grievance with us, you can do it civilly... and without the light show."

"I... suppose... I could've handled introductions better. But to see you all playing around when the Eggman Empire is..."

"We defeated Dr. Robotnik a couple of days ago. The Empire should be in collapse."

"Collapse?! All you did was change who's in charge! The doctor may be off his throne, but now she's in control."

"Who's she?" Y/N asked in confusion.

"Pooteetah?" Kirby asked.

Monkey Khan turned to her.

"The Iron Queen."

Later, he began to explain to them and King Elias along with Antoine who joined in.

"...and that's where it stands most of the ninja and their clan leaders are still in the Dragon Kingdom, but she's moved a large force to cement her take-over."

"Oh my..." Y/N frowned.

"Khan... I'm sorry. We didn't know." Sally said.

"Mon dieu..."

Elias turned to Antoine.

"Antoine, if you would help me gather the council? We need to discuss how we're going to handle this new threat."

Khan looked at Elias in disbelief.

"'Handle?' You did the same thing you did with Robotnik! Nothing has changed for you. Your fight isn't over yet..."

"...It's just beginning."

Y/N and Kirby turned and saw the look on Sonic's face and knew what it is.

"Sonic?" Tails called.

Sally smiled, knowing that look as well.

"Easy, Sonic. We still need to plan our next step. But Khan's right—We have work to do."

"Thank you, Sally. I'm sorry for my actions earlier." Khan said.

"We'll deal with apologies later. Right now, we have the Iron Dominion's invasion to worry about."

"Yeah, and we've had plenty of experience with invasions lately." Sonic said.

"Right, and what worked before can stand to work again. We need to coordinate with the Freedom Fighters of the Dragon Kingdom. I'm sure there were a few in Stormtop Village. If you've been fighting the Iron Dominion, you must know the other resistance groups, right?"

Sally noticed Khan was silent.

"Khan...?"

"There... aren't any... others..."

"Oh..." Y/N said.

"In that case, me, sis, and Khan can zip over to New Megaopolis and just kick them out now." Sonic suggested.

Sally turned to him.

"Absolutely not!"

"Come on, Sal! I've already tangled with these jokers. They're not all that tough."

"They can't be total push-overs, Sonic. If they control the Dragon Kingdom and took over the whole empire!"

"No. If he thinks he's so mighty, I'd be happy to show him jus throw out of his league he really is." Khan said with a grin.

"Big words, Man! Think you can keep up?"

"EURGH! Honestly!" Sally scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Okay, go, but this is for recon only."

"And if we happen to liberate Mobius along the way, it's a happy bonus. Got it!"

"Sonic!" Sally sighed.

"Don't worry, Sally. I'll make sure these two don't do anything reckless." Y/N assured them, giving the boys a look and making them nervous.

"I know I can count you for it."

Y/N nodded and looked at Kirby.

"You ready for it, Kirby?"

"Pooteetah!" Kirby nodded in excitement.

Sonic, Y/N, and Khan then raced out of the Coliseum with Kirby who's hanging onto her head with a cheer.

"Follow me, M.K. I'll show you how this despot toppling thing is done."

They are now out of the city as they kept on going.

"Hey, do I get an apology for all the crud you've said and done to me?" Sonic asked.

"Only if I get one in return." Khan said.

"Ha!"

They are now in the Great Forest.

"I will never understand how the princess could be with you."

"Of course, you wouldn't."

Y/N and Kirby rolled their eyes and she boosted her rocket and started zooming off ahead of them.

"Less bickering, more running or skating or flying!!"

Sonic and Khan quickly follow after her.

"Geez... Your sister can be pretty scary."

"Well, that's her alright. Never mess with her. I'd rather be on her good side."

"She is... pretty interesting."

Sonic raised his eyebrow.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Let's go."

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

Sonic, Y/N, Kirby, and Khan are now coming close to the New Megaopolis.

"So Eggman's City got taken over by the same Iron King and Queen we tackled at Mt. Stormtop?" Sonic asked.

"Yes. Did you hear nothing I told Princess Sally?" Khan said.

"You thought I was paying attention? Ha! Cute!"

"You see, this is why you should listen before going somewhere dangerous." Y/N sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Hey! I listen!"

"Since when?"

"Well... uh..."

"That's what I thought."

Khan snickered at how she just made him embarrassed and quiet.

"Just how childish can you...?"

"Yeah-Yeah-Yeah. Seriously, we're hitting New Megaopolis proper. Be on the lookout for—"

Suddenly, lasers were fired towards them.

"—Sneak attack!!" Y/N shouted, dodging the lasers while Kirby held on tight.

"Called it!"

Sonic and Y/N spin dashed towards the Dark Egg Legion while Khan deflect the lasers with his staff by spinning them.

"I'm not familiar with this clan. Do you know them?" Khan asked, punching the member of the Legion off.

"They're the Dark Egg Legion. Bunch of Knuckles' people who have a mad-on for technology." Sonic said, zooming in towards a few Legion and punched them.

"They also have a bad habit of picking the losing side." Y/N added, smacking the Legion away with her whip as they were sent flying.

Sonic, Y/N, and Khan went back-to-back.

"You said the Doctor was defeated. Why do they side with the Iron Dominion now?"

Lien-Da came into view in her hovercraft with a smirk.

"Because we're not content to pander to the Guardian or his allies! Now surrender while you have the chance!"

Y/N and Kirby rolled their eyes at her pathetic order, knowing she's so desperate to win.

"Surrender?" Sonic snickered.

Khan raised his staff.

"I give no quarter and no sympathy to allies of the Iron Dominion!"

Khan blasted lightning towards Lien-Da's hovercraft and destroyed it, causing her to fall off.

"AUGH!"

"Nice shot." Y/N smirked.

"Thank you."

Lien-Da stood up still smirking like she has more trick up her sleeve.

"And I return the sentiment! Legion, fall back to support! Yagyu! Move in!"

"Yag-who?!" Sonic asked.

All of the sudden, an army of ninja bats came down towards them and started throwing ninja stars at them. The trio quickly dodged them.

"Yow! Watch it!"

Y/N activate her pink shield from her ruby and deflect the ninja stars.

"One perk of joining the Iron Dominion? Our small numbers just got doubled. I don't hear any wise-cracks, hedgehog is something wrong?" Lien-Da said in a smug tone.

Two ninja bats kicked Sonic in the back.

"NNGHF!"

Y/N growled and whacked the ninja bats off of Sonic with her shield while grabbing one of the ninja bats that attempt to attack her from behind with her whip and the help of Kirby warning her. Sonic nodded in thanks and jumped over the ninja bat.

"Yo, M.K.! What's the story of these bats in their pajamas?"

"They're ninjas, Sonic! And they're not pajamas! What do you think they wear it for? Fashion?" Y/N sassed.

Khan knocked the ninja bats away with his staff as it glowed blue.

"She's right. They're ninjas of the Yagyu Clan. They used to be simple snack-thieves pillaging the Dragon Kingdom until the Iron Queen slew their master, the Bride of Rich Nights. Now they're her personal army."

"Bride?" Sonic questioned, stomping on the ninja bat.

"It's an honorific title—I'll explain later! Now is not a good time. I just hope the other three clans aren't here."

"Three clan? Hooboy..."

"Legion! Fire at will! Take care not to hit our allies!" Lien-Da ordered.

One of the laser shot at Khan's shoulder.

"Ahh!"

"Khan!" Y/N exclaimed.

Khan quickly threw his staff towards Lien-Da and the Legion, zapping them. Y/N saw one of the Dark Egg Legion about to shoot Khan and she quickly threw Kirby towards them as he did a spin and knocked them right on the head, causing him to collapse on the ground unconscious.

"You alright?" Y/N asked, giving Kirby a high-five.

"Yeah."

"Hang in there! It's rough, but I think we've got this." Sonic said.

"Maybe. Just as long as they don't send in—"

Suddenly, they were stopped and turned to see a Mobian Ox. He has brown fur and white eyes and wears a metal armor and helmet. He holds the Tremor Mace that's glowing blue.

"Sonic and Y/N the Hedgehog! My Tremor Mace has hugered for this day! I owe you two much for my humiliation!"

"Jun Kun!" Y/N scowled at the ox.

"Now I remember this guy! Nigh invulnerable, right? We had to use that one weapon... 'Fan of Something-or-Other'..."

"Fan of Fen Xing." Khan corrected for Sonic. "And the Yagyu stole it for his personal collection not long ago."

"Peachy. And it looks like we're surrounded."

Sonic's right as the Dark Egg Legion, Yagyu Clan, and Jun Kun are surrounding them with their weapons ready.

"So—We take our chances with the big guy?" Sonic asked.

"I'm not sure, you guys." Y/N said with doubt.

"Cover me while I get my Atom-Bat, and then I'll be right behind you two." Khan said.

"Alright."

"Got it."

"GO!"

Sonic spin dashed towards Jun Kun and hit him straight in the chest.

"HNGH! You cannot harm me, puny ones!"

Sonic was knocked away after he hit Jun Kun. Khan comes and jumped and raised his staff.

"Then we'll just have to try harder!"

He slammed his staff towards Jun Kun when he blocked it with his Tremor Mace. Khan was knocked away from the impact from the power that clashed together. Y/N placed Kirby down and charged at Jun Kun and spins her giant fist whip while powering it up with her ruby. She threw it towards him and wrapped it around him and the end of the whip is the fist as it goes to punch his face, but he grabbed it and spin it with her holding on and threw her away like a rag doll.

"UGH!"

"Pooteetah!" Kirby called for Y/N in worry.

"I'm fine... Geez... He's stronger than he was before."

"I never thought there'd be a day when I honestly missed the swat bots." Sonic grunted.

Y/N got up and was about to go back and fight Jun Kun when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and was surprised to see Espio.

"Espio? What are you doing here? Here to help?"

"Y/N! Look out! He's one of the Shinobu Clan!" Khan shouted.

"What? No, he's our friend and with the Chaotix—"

Kirby gasped to see Espio goes to hit her.

"Pooteetah! Pooteetah!"

Y/N quickly leaned her head away from Espio's fist that was being swung.

"What the?! Espio! What are you doing?!"

Espio gave her a look of regret.

"Sorry, Y/N."

He then attempt to kick her, but she crossed her arms with her hands closed into fists and blocked it.

"If that's how it's supposed to be, then so beat it!"

Y/N glared at him and brought out her pink hand fan from her ruby while Espio brought out his kunai. They circled around each other while Sonic and Khan fight off Jun Kun and the rest of the enemies. Y/N then charged at Espio as he goes to stab her when she jumped over it and tried to slice him with her hand fan since it's made of gem from her ruby. He leaned away from it while backing away as she attempt to hit him. He then goes to slice her while she's distracted, but with her quick reflex she moved away from him. Espio charged her and she slide down under him and jumped to kick him but he dodged it. Y/N then brought out her whip and snatched his kunai from his grasp and threw it far away.

"Did you need that?" she smirked.

She then goes to fan him away when he ran up to her and grabbed her wrist and held onto her fan before kicking her away. He looked at the fan and tossed it away as it disappeared back to her ruby.

"Nah." he smirked back.

Y/N who's on the ground glared up at him.

"Looks like somebody's taking classes. Why are you doing this?"

"Can't talk. Not allowed to."

Y/N doesn't take no for answer and she got back up and charges him as he charges back. He tried to kick her again when she blocked it with her fist and used her other fist to punch his stomach. Espio backed away from it and tried to punch her, but she dodged it again and attempt to kick him when he moved away. Y/N then quickly gave him a punch to the face right where his cheek is. He was surprised that she managed to give him a hit. He glared at her and jumped with his fists raised as he rapidly tried to punch her again and again.

She dodged every punch from Espio and kicked him in the stomach, then did her spin kick, but he caught her leg in time, surprising her. Espio grabbed her by the collar of her suit and threw her over his shoulder, making her fall to the ground face first.

"Stand down, Y/N. Don't make me do this."

Y/N slowly got up with a grunt.

"Not until you tell me what's going on and why are you part of Shinobu Clan."

Once she's fully up, she goes to attack him when someone jumped and landed in front of her and punched her right in the face, making her slide back to the ground. Y/N coughed up and touched her face and hissed to feel her eye in pain. She stood up and was shocked to see Lightning Lynx standing next to Espio with a look of sympathy and regret. It appears Espio and Lightning wince to see her with a bad purple right eye.

"Lightning? You're part of the Shinobu Clan too?!"

"Sorry, Y/N. I didn't want to do this to you. Nothing personal."

Y/N couldn't believe it and growled, feeling irritated and angry. She tried to punch Lightning when he ducked from it and did the spin kick like she did and hit her. She went flying and landed in front of Sonic and Khan who are looking beaten up. Kirby who's hiding gasp in worry and run towards Y/N to see if she's okay.

"Sis!" Sonic gasped to see her hurt.

He quickly helped her up with Kirby on his shoulder. They're completely outnumbered as more of the enemies surround them. Jun Kun looked at them with smug look and his arms crossed.

"The champions of the East and West are defeated! Swear fealty to me and my queen, and you may live to serve the Iron Dominion."

"I dunno. What's your dental plan like?" Sonic asked, looking down at Y/N who's holding her side in pain.

"Sarcasms is lost on him." Khan replied.

"Pity. Thanks for the offer, Kingy... But we'll pass. M.K., we could really use that little cloud-thingy of yours. I don't think my sis can put up the fight."

"Here!"

Khan activate the cloud and he, Sonic, Y/N, and Kirby quickly take a ride on it as they fly away.

"I'd say your mission's complete! Fly, magic cloud monkey fly!"

With that, they escaped from Jun Kun, Yagyu Clan, and Dark Egg Legion, including Lightning and Espio. Y/N looked down at Espio with betrayal, hurt, sad, and anger. Espio glanced away with regret and his body is slumped.

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

They are now back to New Mobotropolis as they're in the Castle Acorn in the council meeting with Knuckles, Elias, and Sally. Sonic mostly did the explanation about everything that had happened with Y/N standing by his side as she stood there in silence, looking down as Kirby who's on her shoulder look on with worry. Khan was leaning against the pillar sitting down for him to rest and ease the pain while listening.

"...and then we got back and I called you guys. The Iron Dominion means business. They've got the Dark Egg Legion on their side, plus a slew of those Yagyu Ninjas. Lightning seems to have left the Destructix, Espio's gone rogue... Eggman may be done, but we're essentially back to square one."

"I don't understand. I thought Espio was from Rainbow Valley. I know there isn't a ninja clan there." Knuckles said who's confused and shocked at the betrayal of Espio.

Knuckles noticed Y/N got a bad eye and feel concerned.

"You alright, Y/N?"

Y/N looked away.

"I'm fine..."

Sonic frowned at that and turned to them.

"She's uh... gotten beaten down real good by Espio and Lightning."

"What?!" Knuckles and Sally shouted in shock and rage.

"Yeah... It's pretty bad... Even for her..."

"Y/N..." Knuckles said, looking at her.

"Pooteetah..." Kirby said, attempting to comfort her by snuggling his face into her neck.

Elias spoke up.

"I'll have the royal guard on high alert and inform the populace. Will you, Y/N, and Khan relate all your findings to the full council tomorrow?"

"Sure thing! We have to make sure everyone knows the 'good news,' right?"

Sally walked over to Khan and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Khan? Are you okay?"

"Hmm? Oh, no. I'm not, princess."

"Please, just Sally."

"...Then just Ken for me."

"Alright, Ken. Don't let it eat at you. We've faced setbacks worse than this."

"Yeah, but it's just one more in a long list of failures for me. What kind of king have I turned out to be?"

Khan turned away from them and walked away with a down look. Y/N sighed and can't blame him for it as she felt the same way about Espio siding with the enemy and what kind of friend have he turned out to be.

"You gonna be okay, sis?" Sonic asked.

"Yeah, I... gotta go take a walk... alone with Kirby."

Y/N then proceed to walk away for some fresh air.