Knuckles and Nixus circle around each other with Shadow and Y/N watching. Though Y/N is having suspicion of this Nixus character as she finds it impossible for there to be another echidna besides Knuckles and Kneecaps.

"I don't believe it. I thought me and my bro are the last one!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock.

"You don't believe it? Where've you two been hiding?" Nixus asked.

"We've always been on Angel Island. Where have you been?"

"Haha! I've been looking for Angel Island!"

"I thought you said you were looking for Master Emerald shards."

"Yeah--so did you. How come they're not on the island, huh? Huh?" Nixus quickly said, fixing his mistake.

"Hold that thought."

Knuckles turned to Y/N and Shadow and whispered.

"What do you guys think? I want to believe he's on our side, but..."

"Step aside." Shadow said and stepped forward to Nixus.

"I find it too convenient that we've come to this remote mine, happen to run into you, and that you're also coincidentally looking for the shards."

Y/N joined in.

"Yeah, who exactly are you? If you know Knuckles, then how come we've never seen you? What are you trying to pull? If this is some sort of trick, I won't hesitate to slice you into bits."

Nixus flinched and camly spoke.

"I could say the same thing to you, Mac. I've been down there all this time and you three just happen to find me? How do I know you're not thieves planning to mug me?"

"We're asking the questions here." Shadow stated, crossing his arms.

"Fine. I don't know how I wound up off the island, but I've been traveling the world looking for a way back as long as I can remember."

Nixus pulled out the shards of the Master Emerald.

"When I stumbled upon the Master Emerald shards, I started looking for more. I figured they'd be my ticket home."

"I don't know how I wound up looking after the Master Emerald myself. He's just like me--but in reverse!" Knuckles said in shock.

"Also convenient." Shadow added, still not trusting this Nixus person.

Y/N though said nothing as she's not convinced as Shadow.

"Or maybe it's a stroke of good luck! Just because your only surviving kin is a murderous alien—!"

Y/N immediately realized what he was going to say and smacked Knuckles on the head hard.

"Knuckles!!"

"Ow! What?"

Knuckles realized his words as Shadow looked away.

"...Sorry. That wasn't fair."

"Yeah. It does, huh?" Y/N sneered, making him look down.

"Hmph. Suit yourself. We need to be looking for Eclipse anyway."

Shadow pressed something on his ear and called.

"Shadow to Rouge. Have you and Kneecaps found anything?"

"Who?" Nixus asked in confusion.

"Evil space alien. Er... long story." Knuckles replied.

There were no replies from Rouge, making Y/N worry.

"Rouge? Do you copy? Shadow to Omega--Report! Omega?!"

"We're under attack!" Rouge finally replied, sounding distressed.

"Does Eclipse have the Dark Arms with him?" Shadow asked.

"It's not Eclipse! It looks like Omega! And it's packing some serious firepower!"

Y/N's eyes widened and glanced at Nixus to see him smirking a bit and glared.

"Stand by! We're on our way!"

Shadow activate his rocket air shoes as Y/N activate her rocket roller skating shoes and pull out her whip.

"Rouge and Kneecaps are under attack, and it's not Eclipse."

"Then, we better save them right away."

"Let's go! Nixus--come with us! We'll be safer all together." Knuckles said.

"What? No! We need to reassemble the Master Emerald!" Nixus exclaimed, stopping them. "Do you want to risk the shards getting damaged? Or that you're being lured into an ambush? I know a hidden place where we can reassemble the Master Emerald. Once that's done and it's tucked away safe, we can come to the rescue!"

"He's got a point... Go ahead! We'll catch up!"

"Make it quick."

Shadow zoomed off to his team while Knuckles went off with Nixus, but Y/N grabbed Knuckles before he could go further.

"Knuckles... Just be careful with him. I don't know what he's up to, but stay safe."

Knuckles smiled softly.

"I will."

Y/N nodded and zoomed off after Shadow. They finally made it to see Rouge and Kneecaps fighting off against the upgrade ice crystal of Omega as they struggled to take him down. Shadow spin dashed towards controlled Omega's head as Y/N zoom in front of controlled Omega and kicked him in the chest, making him stumble. She then wrapped the robot around with her whip tight enough for her to flip him over her shoulder as he crashed onto the ground face first.

"Speak of the devil. Perfect dramatic timing, handsome and cutie." Rouge smiled.

"Thanks, Rouge."

"I am the ultimate lifeform. Are you alright?"

"Yes--no thanks to you. I had to rely on a different echidna this time."

"Where's my bro?" Kneecaps asked.

"He stayed behind to fix the Master Emerald with the help of another of your kind named 'Nixus.'" Shadow explained.

"What?! Another? Since when?"

Y/N suddenly felt something was wrong and her eyes widened in shock.

"Oh, no! I'm so stupid!!"

Shadow, Rouge, and Kneecaps turned to her in concern.

"Y/N?"

"We need to go back! I knew there was something off with that Nixus! Knuckles is in danger! We've got to save him! Now!"

"It's Omega! And he's getting back up!" Rouge warned.

Controlled Omega was slowly getting up until Shadow pulled out his Chaos Spear and threw it straight towards the robot's chest, making him froze. They immediately ran off.

"That Chaos Spear will keep him disabled for the moment. Rouge, track the Master Emerald. We find it, we find Knuckles. Y/N--explain."

"It's gotta be Walter Naugus! His name sounds very familiar to Nixus! He can do all sorts of crazy crystal stuff! Plus he really likes to shape-shifting to trick other people into getting what he wants! And he'd definitely want the Master Emerald!"

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

Meanwhile, Knuckles fought off against Naugus whose the disguised Nixus after he go free from the crystal with his spiked gloves as he looked pure angry that he got tricked again and should've listened to Y/N. He kept trying to punch Naugus, who kept dodging his attacks as he created a crystal spikes to protect him, but Knuckles easily punched through. Naugus made a crystal tower beneath his own feet to go further away from him.

"You're wasting your time with me! Your friends are fighting their lives even as--"

Knuckles cut him off by climbing his way up very fast and Naugus quickly made more crystals.

"AHH! Even as we speak! Do you value your revenge more than their lives?!"

Knuckles immediately stopped to realize that as he was close to catching Naugus as he remembered the only person he valued the most.

"...Y/N..."

This gave Naugus the advantage to hit Knuckles in the stomach by controlling the crystal as he got him out of the room and barricade the doorway with the crystals. Knuckles quickly got up and tried to punch his way through with an angry yowl.

"RAAAAUGH!!"

He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, seeing it's too strong to break through and went upstairs.

"It's okay. Save Y/N. Save Kneecaps. Save Team Dark. Get them to help me bust down the wall. Stop him. Save the Master Emerald. I can do this. This is doable. Just hurry and find--"

"Knuckles!"

He stopped to see Y/N running straight towards him and hugged him.

"Oh, hey! You're already rescued! That's great!" Knuckles said, hugging her back.

They pulled away after.

"Knuckles! Are you okay?! That Nixus guy! He's--"

"He's a troll wizard. I know. I got played like a chump--again."

"Bro..." Kneecaps frowned.

"Oh, Knuckles..."

"Awww, but you make such a reliable chump!" Rouge cooed.

"Now is not the time to joke around." Y/N glared, elbowing her arm.

"Where's your robot buddy? I need his help to get through to the Master Emerald!"

Shadow looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened.

"It seems he was enchanted by the same wizard who fooled you. Brace yourselves. He's--"

Shadow was cut off by the huge blast, nearly hitting them as they all dodged that in the nick of time. The laser hit towards the wall, creating a loud explosion. They turned to see the controlled Omega covered in crystals with a bad aura of Naugus.

"He's here." Shadow finished his sentence.