Third Person's POV

We start in an oriental city as it is nighttime, and a low-flying jet plane flies over the city. Knuckles and Ralph stand at the bow of a small freight boat, arms folded "Things were in pretty bad shape. We've been stranded in this weird world for what felt like forever, and no matter how many times we beat Eggman, we still weren't any closer to getting back home. I was starting to lose hope. Thankfully I have Ralph with me and wouldn't lose hope. Though things seemed to look up about two months ago, when We first met Hawk" Knuckles narrated.

*In a temple*

"We've been travelling for a while through the south side of the continent, searching for a Chaos Emerald. We saw an old stone temple of some kind, and We decided to check it out. Everything was eerie and quiet, until We heard a voice..." Knuckles narrated.

"Please! Somebody! Help!" Someone said and Knuckles and Ralph catch sight of an Oriental man, Hawk by name, trapped between two walls threatening to crush him. Knuckles and Ralph punch a hole in the wall, and they escape safely. A grateful Hawk bows to Knuckles and Ralph.

"We didn't know it then, but Hawk and We were looking for the same thing" Knuckles narrated.

*Back in the city*

Now Knuckles and Ralph are walking through the streets of the oriental city, ignoring the stares they are receiving "We heard from Hawk again a few weeks later. He told us he found what he was looking for. Naturally, We were suspicious and curious, so We decided to pay our new friend a visit" Knuckles narrated. Ralph walks up to a man "Hey, how do We get to Jack's place from here?" Ralph asks "Ah, I know you! You're that Brody guy, aren't you?" The man asks "Sorry to disappoint pal but I'm no wolf, just a racoon" Ralph said "Sorry I didn't mean to offend you, pal. We don't see many wolves around here" The man said "He led us through a half-dozen dirty alleys right to Jack's place" Knuckles narrated.

*At Jack's shop*

Knuckles and Ralph enter the shop, receiving stares from one and all - including two spies: a tall one and a short one. Knuckles and Ralph approach Jack, who is behind the counter "I'm looking for a guy by the name of Hawk" Ralph said but Jack just stares "It's not polite to stare, pal" Knuckles said "Sorry. I don't see many folks like you around here" Jack said "Never mind that. Have you seen Hawk or haven't you?" Knuckles asks "Nope. Name doesn't sound familiar" Jack said "Sorry, wish I could help ya" He said "How about you drop the act?" Ralph asks with a grin and Knuckles turns around to see that the men have stood up. They are all tough-looking men, known as the Bruiser Boys "Hey. The man told you he hasn't seen your friend. Now you can either thank him and get out, or me and my friends can show you the way out" A Bruiser boy said and Jack ducks behind the counter and Ralph turns around "Oh I never get tired of this. How about you and your boys get out before you get hurt?" Ralph asks "Oh, is that so? Well I'll show you, you dirty little--" The Bruiser boy said as he lunges for Ralph, but Knuckles trips him, and Ralph throws him behind the counter. Ralph turns to the others, who cower in fear.

"So, who's next?" Ralph asks "That won't be neccesary" A guy said and everyone turns the newcomer "I have a feeling they're tougher than they look" the guy said and the Bruiser Boys bow to him "Mr. Li Yan" the Bruiser Boys said and Li Yan approaches Knuckles and Ralph "What is your business?" Li Yan asks "A guy named Hawk said We could find him here. He has something We want" Knuckles said "You must be Knuckles and Ralph. I've been expecting you. If you are looking for Hawk, you're talking to the right guy. Just follow me and I'll take you right to him" Li Yan said "Then lead the way" Knuckles said and as Knuckles follows Li Yan out of the shop, he doesn't notice Ralph doesn't follow them "Soooo, how about you guys tell me where's the secret room?" Ralph asks the Bruiser boys cracking his knuckles. Unaware to Ralph, the two spies watch him. It is revealed that they are Decoe and Bocoe in disguise "Knuckles and Ralph" Decoe said  "I was not expecting to see them here. We must report this to Dr. Eggman" Bocoe said as a Bruiser Boy was sent flying over Decoe and Bocoe.

*Meanwhile in the city*

Li Yan leads Knuckles into a house, down a staircase, and to another door, where he holds it open for Knuckles "After you" Knuckles said "Okay" Li Yan said chuckling and steps through the door and closes it. Suddenly a trap door opens beneath Knuckles, and he begins falling. He extends his arms and legs on the walls to stop his fall, then drops to the ground. He finds himself in a jail cell with Hawk "I'll share this cell with you, but don't think I'm gonna share my food. If you want to eat, you're goona have to wait until tomorrow. Got it?" Hawk asks "That's no way to treat a friend, is it?" Knuckles asks and Hawk turns around "Knuckles, it's you!" Hawk said and embraces Knuckles' hand "Ah, it's so good to see you! How did you get down here?" Hawk asks "Well... Let's just say I decided to drop in" Knuckles said.

*Meanwhile at the Egg Fort*

The Egg Fort is still floating in the water. Eggman is speaking with holograms of Bocoe and Decoe "What was that nincompoop Knuckles and Ralph doing in a dive like that?" Eggman asks "They said they were looking for someone named Hawk. It all seemed very suspicious, Doctor" Decoe said "Very interesting. Perhaps it's time to put our little plan into action. It ought to be loads of fun! Now let's see..." Eggman said and chuckling, he presses a button that shuffles his deck of robot cards and his glasses glow "Excellent" Eggman said.

*Back at the Jail Cell*

"...and you're sure it was a Chaos Emerald you saw?" Knuckles asks and Hawk holds up his hand to estimate the size of the Chaos Emerald "It was a big red stone, about this size" Hawk said "It is a Chaos Emerald" Knuckles said "That's one more. If only we had them all, I could get back home again. Angel Island... paradise" Knuckles said and remembers guarding the master emerald with Ralph "Just me and Ralph guarding the Master Emerald without a care in the world" Knuckles said "Hour after hour... Day after day... Just watching and cuddling... But mostly cuddling" Knuckles said "Trading times for guarding. I thought it would last forever..." He said as they protected the Master Emerald, come rain or shine "Even when things got tough, I always knew they would eventually be all right. And then, out of nowhere, it happened" Knuckles said remembering the Chaos Control burst that brought them all here "You mean the reason you want to find those Chaos Emeralds is so you and Ralph can go back home?" Hawk asks "Best reason I can think of" Knuckles said "So that's it. I thought you wanted it for the same reason I did, for money" Hawk said "It doesn't matter now, though. I assume they took the Emerald when they put you here" Knuckles said "Don't you worry, Knuckles. I was smart enough to hide it before they came for me. I knew they'd be looking for it, you see" Hawks said "Oh but I've been wondering. Where's Ralph?" Hawk asks "Huh? I thought he was with me" Knuckles said and the two see a listening device on a wall.

*Meanwhile at Li Yan's room*

Li Yan is listening on Knuckles and Hawk's conversation when someone taps him on the shoulder "About time you boys showed up, the racoon isn't here find-" Li Yan couldn't finish as when he turned around he was met with Ralph punching him on the face knocking him out falling off his chair "Haha! I sure didn't get tired of doing this back home and I sure ain't getting tired of it now" Ralph said and sits on the chair resting his feet on the table "You big shots think are so smart but Ralphie ain't a newbie" Ralph said and grabs the microphone "Hey Knucky! Enjoying your first time in a cell?" Ralph asks "Ralph? Hey where did you go?" Knuckles asks "Hey this isn't my first time in a bar you know?" Ralph asks and Knuckles punches a hole in the wall to the room and he and Hawk walk up to Ralph ""How many times have you been in this situation?" Knuckles asks "Eh, enough to not be so naive. Hey Hawk" Ralph said "Hi Ralph, it's been a while" Hawks said.

*Later Outside*

Knuckles, Ralph and Hawk race out of the building and onto a street corner "Taxi!" Hawk said and an oriental taxi stops for them. It is ridden by a cyclist, with a two-person coach being pulled by the bicycle. Knuckles and Hawk climb aboard, Ralph enters adn Knuckles sits on Ralph's lap "Well, what are you waiting for? Start pedaling!" Hawk said and the taxi cyclist takes off. Unknown to them, Rouge is watching them from the air "Take a right up at this corner" Hawk said and the taxi cyclist makes a right, and Rouge follows them. They soon arrive at their destination, then disembark from the taxi as it speeds away "Where are we?" Knuckles asks "The old factory district" Hawk said and they look around "Come on. Let's go" Hawk said and they head to the top of a staircase leading down to the subway. As they head down, Rouge arrives at the top of the stairs, but is suddenly karate-chopped from behind by a man - the same man who was the rickshaw driver!

*At the subway*

Knuckles, Ralph and Hawk reach the bottom of the stairs "I found it at the place where my friends had their business transactions. I thought my mouth was going to burst out of my heart- I mean, my heart was going to burst out of my mouth" Hawk said as they arrive at a place where one of the railroad ties is marked "Over here" Hawk said and bends down and begins digging "Yeah..." Hawk said and lifts a bag out of the ground and empties its contents into his hand - the red Chaos Emerald "Here it is" Hawk said "That's a Chaos Emerald!" Knuckles and Ralph said "It's all yours. And thanks for getting me out, pals" Hawk said when they become aware of the sound of Eggman laughing. Turning, they see the doctor in his Eggmobile "Well, if it isn't my little friend Knucklehead and his treasure hunter boyfriend Ralph. Hand over that Chaos Emerald. I promise to keep it safe and sound" Eggman said "We'll give you something, but it won't be this Emerald" Knuckles said and him and Ralph charge toward Eggman, but he and the Eggmobile fade before their eyes "I'm a hologram!" Eggman said laughing "Knuckles! Ralph! Help me!" Hawk said and Knuckles and Ralph turn to see Hawk at the mercy of the nunchucks belonging to the rickshaw driver "It's you!" Knuckles said "Never judge by appearances, Knucklebrain. She may have seemed just like a rickshaw driver to you, but she's so much more. Say hello to E-91, also known as the Lady Ninja!" Eggman said and the man throws off his costume, revealing Eggman's robot, E-91 Lady Ninja "A woman ninja?" Ralph asks "Yes, and quite a lovely one at that. But don't let her loveliness dazzle you; you might get hurt!" Eggman said "A robot... Eggman!!" Knuckles said as the Egg Fort is now flying above Oriental City "It's time, my beauty. Time for you to get me that Chaos Emerald!" Eggman said.

Lady Ninja yanks the nunchucks causing Hawk to throw the bag her way. But Knuckles kicks a bucket onto her head, and the bag misses. Lady Ninja removes the bucket and leaps forward, holding her nunchucks "Egg ninja technique: 16 Tons" Lady Ninja said as one end of the chain becomes a giant 16-ton steel ball which she attempts to swing into Knuckles, but he leaps into the air and glides above her. She swings the ball into the ceiling, but Knuckles dodges, then leaps out of the way as a piece of the ceiling falls right where he was standing. Lady Ninja attacks again, but Knuckles avoids it and Ralph grabs the chain and pulls her towards him and Knuckles kicks her away. The impact of the ball causes even more of the subway to collapse "Quick, Hawk! Grab the Emerald and run!" Knuckles said and Hawk makes a run for the emerald, but Lady Ninja's ball hits the wall next to him, causing rubble to fall on the bag. Hawk cries out and attempts to remove the stones. Knuckles and Ralph appear next to them "Let's go!" Ralph said "Knuckles, Ralph, the Emerald! It's buried!" Hawk said and they are forced to dodge another ball-and-chain attack that strikes the fallen wall

Meanwhile in the city, Rouge regains consciousness "Sneaking up on a girl... That's no way to treat a lady" Rouge said and catches sight of the rising dust cloud coming from the subway "I don't know what that is, but it's not good... What the-?" Rouge asks as she notices the Egg Fort above her "I think that's my cue to get outta here" Rouge said and flies away.

Back on the subway, the reckless Lady Ninja is destroying the entire sunway with her ball-and-chain "Hawk! We have to get away from that thing!" Knuckles said "I know, but how?" Hawk asks and as the ceiling cracks and collapses, Ralph sees his opening. Grabbing Hawk and Knuckles, he leaps across the falling chunks of stone to safety above ground. As the entire subway collapses, the Egg Fort leaves.

*Later at Hawk's House*

Hawk is watching the news "Now our top story this hour. Interesting developments in last night's building collapse - eyewitnesses reported spotting Dr. Eggman in the area around the time of the collapse. Officials have launched a full investigation" A news reporter said "Guess there's not much we can do now, 'cept maybe hang around here for a while 'til the dust settles" Hawk said "I had that Emerald in the palm of my hand" Knuckles said and punches a punching bag with such force that it flies off of its support, and a few of the house's support beams fall as well "Hey knock it off Knuckles" Ralph said "Yeah that won't do any good!" Hawk said and another piece of ceiling falls on Knuckles. That's when he notices something on the ground in front of him "Is this... The Shover Claws!" Knuckles said "What? How'd they get here?" Ralph asks "Those metal things? I dug 'em out of that old temple. You know, when you two saved me" Hawk said "The Shovel Claws..." Knuckles and Ralph said "What about them?" Hawk asks.

*Later in the city*

Knuckles, Ralph and Hawk arrive at a certain part of the destroyed subway. Knuckles begins climbing underground and Ralph follows him "Careful down there!" Hawk said and Knuckles and Ralph slip  on their shovel claws and begin digging through the rocks "It should be around here" Ralph said and as they dig a little more, then lift the Chaos Emerald. They return to the surface, only to find Hawk is no longer there "Hawk! Where are you?!" Knuckles said "This isn't good knucky" Ralph said and Bokkun arrives with his television "Pay attention, Knuckles and Ralph. Special message from Dr. Eggman" Bokkun said and Eggman's face appears on the screen "If you want to save him, come to Orient New Town. Understood? After the message is delivered, the robot will automatically start doing karate" Eggman said "Direct Hell Kick!" Bokkun said and attempts to kick Knuckles and Ralph, who dodge. The robot continues to chop the air "You're pretty good. It's amazing you dodged my kick. Farewell!" Bokkun said and flies away.

*Later at a construction site*

Hawk is tied up and dangling from a crane, with Lady Ninja guarding him. Knuckles and Ralph approach "Knuckles! Ralph! It's you!" Hawk said and a hologram of Eggman in his Eggmobile appears "Good evening. I trust you brought the Chaos Emerald with you?" Eggman asks and Ralph lifts the Chaos Emerald high in the air "Now give it to the little lady" Eggman said and the hologram disappears. Ralph throws the emerald just past Lady Ninja. The newly-arrived Rouge dives after it. Lady Ninja leaps off the beam she is standing on "Egg ninja technique: Kite" Lady Ninja said and a kite appears on her back, slowing her descent. Knuckles leaps up and frees Hawk from the crane "Knuckles! Whaah! Thank you!" Hawk said.

Rouge grabs the Chaos Emerald, and is pursued by Lady Ninja "I want that Chaos Emerald!" Lady Ninja said "How about I keep the Emerald and you get lost?" Rouge asks and fires a laser at Lady Ninja's kite, destroying. As Lady Ninja falls, she throws a shuriken at the bag, ripping it in half and causing the Chaos Emerald to fall out "Oh no!" Rouge said.

Knuckles, Ralph and Hawk are now on the scene "Quick, this way!" Ralph said "Egg ninja technique: Flying Squirrel" Lady Ninja said and expands new wings, reminiscent to a flying squirrel, and continues the chase. Ralph is just about to grab the emerald when Lady Ninja pushes his hand away, sending the Emerald in a different direction Lady Ninja also sends Ralph through an awning. The emerald lands in front of Hawk, who picks it up. He flees as Lady Ninja turns around and pursues him. She draws her weapons and swings it at Ralph, but Knuckles throws a plate which deflects Lady Ninja's own weapon back at her, sending her through a table. Rouge sees the commotion "Uhh... Think maybe I'll pay another visit when things calm down a bit" Rouge said.

Hawk runs into and alley, and finds that it's a dead end. Suddenly he sees the shadow of Lady Ninja in front of him. He turns around, but she is not there. Lady Ninja, who is literally hiding in the shadows, snatches the emerald from Hawk "Egg ninja technique: Too Bad" Lady Ninja said and tries to flee the alley, but is cut off by Knuckles "You're not going anywhere. Now hand over that Emerald before there is more trouble" Knuckles said and Lady Ninja stores the emerald in her outfit. Knuckles then attempts to attack her with a flurry of punches, which she dodges. She flips backwards, then throws several shurikens, which Knuckles dodges. Knuckles then rebounds off the wall and kicks her down. She gets back up and traps Knuckles with a web of electricity "Egg ninja technique: Electric Bind" Lady Ninja said "Stop it! You're hurting him!" Hawk said "Give up" Lady Ninja said as Knuckles is still getting shocked by the electric bind and Ralph appears on a roof with a water bucket of water "Racoon ninja technique: Water!" Ralph said mocking Lady Ninja as he jumps down the roof and slams the bucket of water on Lady Ninja and she begins shorting out and droos the Chaos Emerald. Knuckles, free of the electric bind, punches Lady Ninja into the sky, where she disappears with a twinkle. Hawk holds out the Chaos Emerald and smiles. Knuckles and Ralph smiles back, and the three shake hands.

*Later at the Docks*

The next morning, Knuckles and Ralph are about to leave by boat "Well... I know you two have to be on your way... but maybe you two could come back sometime to visit. ...'Cause I'm gonna miss you, Knuckles and Ralph" Hawk said "We'll meet again someday, won't we?" He asks and there is a pause and Hawk begins to cry as the boat sets off and Ralph gives a thumbs up.

"Yes, We'll be back. See ya, Hawk!" Ralph said and Knuckles nods "See you soon, Hawk" Knuckles said "So long, my friends!" Hawk said as he runs to the edge of the dock "Goodbye! Come back soon!" He said as he waves goodbye.

On the ship, Knuckles and Ralph glance at the Chaos Emerald. Suddenly, it begins glowing and Knuckles and Ralph are transported to a completely white area "Where are we?" Knuckles asks and the whiteness is replaced by the Master Emerald shrine "The servers are the seven Chaos..." A voice said "The servers... are the seven Chaos... What does that mean?" Ralph asks and the duo soon find themselves on the boat again as the vision is over "What was that all about?" Knuckles and Ralph ask and the two look back at the emerald as this chapter comes to an end.