Sonic wakes up in a white void and stands up holding his head.

Sonic: Uuuggghhh, my head.

Sonic looks around and sees he's not in Metropolis with his friends.

Sonic: Hello?! Where am I?!

??? Safe.

Sonic jumps and turns around to see a creature made out of water.

Sonic: Who... who are you?

Chaos: I am Chaos.

Sonic: Wait, THE Chaos? The wish granting Chaos?!

Chaos: The one and only.

Sonic: H-how?! How are you here?!

Chaos: Technically, I am not.

Sonic tilts his head in confusion.

Sonic: Huh?

Chaos: Once you touched the Chaos Emerald, we connected. It allowed me to form a bond with you so we may have this slim time to communicate.

Sonic: O....kay? I don't know what you want to discuss, cause Tikal pretty much told me the whole spiel. And besides, I'm pretty much destined to save the world so no biggies.

Chaos: Destiny can change.

Sonic: What do you mean?

Chaos: What Tikal showed you is one possible outcome in a roaring sea of infinite destinies. That is the one destiny we are hoping to abtained.

Sonic: But how can destinies change? It's destiny!!

Chaos: The power of choice is a... well chaotic premise Sonic. Any decision you make can change countless courses of destiny. Yours and others at the same time.

Sonic: So what decides the factor that'll give me that good future? The one where the RoboEmperor doesn't basically destroy the world?

Chaos: I cannot say Sonic.

Sonic: WHY NOT?!

Chaos: Because telling you would cause a massive change, causing that future to not exist.

Sonic: So why am I here?! Why are you telling me all this?

Chaos: So you'll know that your choices matter. Never waver, believe you are on the right path.

Sonic: And if I'm not?

Chaos: I have faith that you will be. Now, wake up.

Sonic: Wake up?

Sonic suddenly snaps into a sitting position on a bed. He looks around to see Knuckles sleeping in a bed beside him and Tails sitting at a desk working on some tech.

Sonic: Tails?

Tails turns around and a wide smile appears on his face.

Tails: You're awake! *sighs with relief* We were worried about you.

Sonic: Why?

Tails: Because you've been asleep for 2 days straight.

Sonic: Really?! Well, I do feel rested. Where are we?

Tails: Back at Knothole. You ok? You were tossing and turning a bit.

Sonic: Yeah fine. Well, as fine as meeting a wish granting entity can be.

Tails: Wait, you met Chaos?! THE Chaos?!

Sonic: The one and only.

Tails gets away from his desk and sits next to Sonic.

Tails: What did he say?! Did you get to have your wish be granted?!

Sonic: I didn't really ask for the wish. And honestly, I don't even have a wish.

Tails: You don't?

Sonic: I got all I need. A home, a purpose, and great friends. Not much more I could ask for really.

Tails smiles warmly.

Tails: I see. But what did he want?

Sonic: He told me that our destinies aren't set in stone, that they can change at a snap of a finger, and to always trust in my choices. Never waver.

Tails: Kinda vague isn't it?

Sonic: That's what I said. *sighs* Anyways, nothing really changes. We still got to collect the rest of the emeralds before that RoboFreak gets his grubby hands on them.

Tails nods in agreement.

Tails: Right!!

Sonic smiles and raises his left hand to his forehead to wipe off some sweat when Sonic notices the blue Chaos Emerald in his hand.

Sonic: Whoa! Why do I still have the Chaos Emerald?

Tails: You were holding on to it tightly. We couldn't pry it out of your hands unless we were willing to break your fingers, which we weren't.

Sonic: Weird.

As Sonic concentrates on the emerald, blue wind begins to slowly swirl around Sonic's hand with the emerald.

Sonic: Whoa!!

Tails: You're using the emerald!!!

Sonic looks over to the sleeping Knuckles and a sly grin forms on his face. Sonic summons a tiny flow of air and sends it to Knuckles' nose and causes Knuckles to sneeze. Knuckles slowly wakes and turns to see Sonic and Tails trying to contain giggles.

Knuckles: What's so funny?!

Sonic: *snickering* Nothing! Nothing's funny. Just testing out the emerald is all.

Knuckles: Ah good. You'll have plenty of time to practice.

Sonic: Why?

Tails: Eggman gave us a few days to relax and get back to normal while he helps transport Mogul to a G.U.N prison.

Sonic: Ah I see. Speaking of Mogul, how're you doing Tails? We just beat the guy who... y'know?

Tails: Yeah.... I feel... better? Like, nothing has really changed. Maybe I have a sense of closure but honestly, I feel the same. The pain he's caused me is still there but I got new things to look forward too. And friends to help me out in case I need it.

Sonic smiles.

Sonic: Always.

Knuckles nods.

Knuckles: Same here.

Tails smiles brightly.

Tails: I know! Thanks guys!!

(At a prison somewhere below Mobius)

Mogul slowly awakens to find himself inside of a prison cell with a glass wall showing more cells.

Mogul: *groggy* Where.... where am I?

???: Somewhere far from your precious home.

Mogul looks up to a human man hiding in shadow, only thing he can see is the reflection of light off of some glasses.

Mogul: Eggman I presume?

Eggman: Presumption is correct. Now, what does the RoboEmperor want? What is he planning?

Mogul laughs loudly.

Mogul: And here I thought you two were bitter rivals. Don't you know? He wants to turn all of Mobius into a mechanical garden, where only mechanical lifeforms can live.

Eggman: And why help him?

Mogul: Because he offered his services to me. Said he could reclaim what was mine. I didn't care how he did, or what it looked like afterwards, I just needed what was mine.

Eggman: I see... Well, that is all for now. I'll be off.

Mogul: You think this prison can hold me?! You're tech can't contain MY CHAOS!!!

Mogul raises his hands but he then sees two metal bands on his wrists.

Mogul: What.... What are these things?

Eggman: Siphoners. They take your Chaos energy and power the entire prison with it. You're not just a prisoner, you're also the prisons battery.

Mogul slams his fists on the window like wall.

Mogul: You've think you won?!

Eggman: Only this battle.

Eggman turns around and begins to walk off.

Mogul: He hasn't forgotten your greatest shame, you know?

Eggman stops dead in his tracks. Mogul smirks sadistically.

Mogul: Oh yes!! He's told me all about the Ark. What a shame, what happened to poor-

Mogul then groans in pain as he feels his energy being drained from him.

Eggman: Never. Mention. That. Name.

Eggman then walks away, leaving Mogul to chuckle in malice.

-----------------

So.... Ig you can tell what the next arc will be, or who'll it be about. I'm so excited to get into it, after like 2 or 3 chapters of important "filler". Also, I appreciate all the views, it gives me so much confidence to continue writing, and consistently too. Also, feel free to give me feedback and/or questions. I'll try to answer if I can. Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful life. Bye.