*Sonic's POV *
"What are you guys doing here?" I quietly laughed in surprise at seeing everyone gathered at G.U.N. the next morning.

"We heard you needed our help." Silver smiled at me and walked to me as did Blaze and hugged me. Mephiles was standing close by Silver, who seemed to be texting someone on his phone.

"No. Guys. You can't go." I shook my head, then looked at Shadow. "Did you call them? I told you -" He crossed his arms and looked away. We had been fighting all night the day before until we were too tired and ended up going to bed angry at each other.

"I did. I asked them if they wanted to help, and they all said yes. You need to stop getting it into your head that you're ruining our lives by being in it. No one here thinks that way." Tails said as he walked into the room. "I know we all haven't seen each other in a very long time, and we have more things to lose now than we did back then. That's another reason why we should be here fighting instead of staying away."

I guess they hadn't been here for long because everyone looked surprised at seeing how big Tails was now. He looked up at everyone and smiled. "It's so good to see all of you again."

"Have either of you even kept up with training?" Manic asked as he walked into the room we were in. Everyone said they had even me, but not like we all used to except for Knuckles. "Well, it's a good thing Eggman hasn't worked on anything in years either. The problem here is Metal."

Shadow and I had spent the whole morning fighting each other as well. He didn't want me to come, and I didn't want him to do this alone. But even with the rest of the group here and as much as I didn't want to do this, I knew I had to help. I couldn't let them do this without me. I couldn't leave Shadow alone.

Tails gave each of us a communicator and told us where he last was able to trace Eggman to. When we were dismissed by Manic, I pushed Shadow into an empty office and locked the door behind us. Without giving him time to say anything, I kissed him.

*Shadow's POV *
His lips were on mine before I could say or do anything about it. As angry and worried as I was at him for coming along, I couldn't resist and kiss him back almost instantly.

He pulled away before I could even kiss him back. "No more fighting." He said as he pulled away from me. I wanted to pin him to the wall and kiss him again, but it wasn't time for that. "I can't leave you to do this without me, and you keep saying you don't want me to get hurt again. Why don't we just get each other's back and finish him off like we did 10 years ago? We are more than a team now."

"I guess you are right." I sighed and kissed his forehead, then nodded. "Let's go before the others get there before us."

"Where is he anyways?" Sonic looked down at the communicator where the fox had sent us where to go. "The island. Great. I think he's trying to get the master emerald again."

Once at the island, Miles stopped all of us so he could tell us something important. "What is it?" I asked when I noticed the fox looked concerned.

"Eggman stole something from my lab the day he escaped." He started as he looked at all of us. "I am worried he is going ot use it against any of us, especially Sonic since he is usually the target."

"What can he possibly use against me? There is no way Egghead can kill me now." Sonic added, he had already explained his friends what had happened to him. Like we had expected, everyone was shocked and even worried about him for what he will have to endure in the future.

"Thats the thing. He can." Miles continued now catching my attention.

"What are you talking about?" I crossed my arms.

"I mean that I never actually stopped looking for a way to help Sonic. I couldnt find a way to reverse it but I did manage to create some cuffs that if put on, will prevent you on using any of your abilities. Including immortality." My eyes went wide in pure shock that the fox had actually managed to create such thing. It should have been expected knowing how much he cared of Sonic and how smart he was but to actually create something this powerful?

"Are you crazy?" Mephiles finally spoke. "Why do you have that? Sonic never asked you to create that, Eggman can use that against any of us and win this fight without a problem." He growled, he had more to lose now that him and Silver had a kid whic they had left in Vanillas care at the moment.

"Tails..." I looked at Sonic who looked sort of sad at hearing what his best friend had said. He sighed and walked beside him to defend him. "We need to stay in high alert, we cant let Eggman use that against us and if you do get caught, we need to have backup immediately. So everyone needs to have a partner here." He was back to being the leader of the team he used to be. Hopefully this time he doesnt leave after.

"Hun, go with Sonic." Rouge offered and was about to agree when Sonic stopped me.

"No, you and Rouge stick together. I need to stay with Tails." He looked at me, more like ordering me around which I did not like but I couldnt fight him about it nor fight him like I used to. I couldnt see myself hurting him anymore. I cant believe I ever did.

"I will be fine, I promise." He smiled at me, trying to reasure me everything will be okay but I already had it in my head that Rouge and I would not go far from the two of them. I couldnt let anything happen to him.

"Fine." I crossed my arms.

"Knuckles and Amy. Scourge and Blaze. And Silver and Mephiles then. Eggman is somewhere in this island, we know he is going to try to get to the emerald so Knuckles and Amy will be stationed there for now. Everyone keep your communicators on and contact us if you find anything. Got it?" Sonic spoke calm yet I knew deep down he didnt want to be here, he was scared. "We may not be as strong as we used to but weve defeated him before, we can do it again. Everyone, be careful.¨ He walked to Miles then held his hand and dashed off.