It wasn't much later in the day. Y/n is seen lying down on the hospital bed he was given, half-asleep. His hair had grown slightly longer with a less prominent green color in his locksn and his skin was dirty and grimy. He also no longer bore his Chaos Gem in his chest.

Someone enters the room and hastily walks up to Y/n. She stopped right next to the bed and looked at her old friend, a million questions going through her head. How could Y/n be alive? She saw him die with her own eyes! And yet... there he was, lying right before her. She couldn't be more overjoyed!

After a moment's hesitation, she brings her hand to Y/n's face and cups his cheek, rubbing her thumb across it. This causes the half-asleep human to stir which makes his visitor pull her hand back, and Y/n turns to look at her. He smiles softly.

"Hey, Nic," Y/n greeted his girlfriend. "Long time no see, eh?"

Nicole looked down at her formerly deceased lover in shocked silence. She couldn't believe he was there in front of her.

"Y-y-you're alive..." tears formed in her eyes as her lips curled into a smile. "You're alive!"

The holo-lynx immediately jumps on Y/n and wraps her arms around his neck. She begins peppering him with kisses, making him laugh as he hugs the AI back. His smile was huge.

"It's good to see you, too, Nicole," Y/n chuckled. "You're looking great as always."

"I can't believe you're alive," she looks up into her boyfriend's eyes. "H-how? How did you survive?"

"Oh-oh, well, I was planning on telling everyone tomorrow when the Council was called together," Y/n stated.

"You can tell me," Nicole said. "Y-you must be exhausted from whatever happened, so I can explain to them while you rest."

"Nicole, I can tell 'em myself," Y/n said.

"Please?" Nicole begged. "I-I have to know..."

Y/n sighed. He knew it would be hardest on her, as well as Sally. He might as well explain what happened.

"I-I guess. It's kind of hard to explain, though," the human informed.

"I have time," Nicole smiled as she moved herself to lie down next to her boyfriend.

"Alright, then," Y/n smiled. "I-it was super weird. I really did think I died, but... I guess my energy was transferred away, or something?"

"Your energy?" Nicole questioned.

"Yeah. I think the Master Emerald had something to do with it," Y/n explained. "It gave me my body back like it did for Nazo."

"How did you end up at New Megaopolis?" Nicole asked.

"That... I'm unsure of," the human scratched his cheek. "I don't really know. Maybe Eggman found me or something and tried to take my power like he did with Knuckles when he was Enerjak? I don't know..."

"Well, he can't harm anyone anymore," the AI girl stated. "He's down for the count. Sonic finally defeated him. For good this time."

"Really?" Y/n asked. "Then what was all that back at Megaopolis?"

"The Iron Dominion," Nicole informed. "They took over the Eggman Empire after Robotnik had... broken down. And they may be an even bigger threat."

Y/n hummed in thought for a moment. "Then it looks like I came back for a good reason." He smiles at Nicole. "Guess I'm back to being a Freedom Fighter, huh?"

"While that may be, you still need to rest," Nicole said. "You must be exhausted from everything that happened."

"Honestly... yeah, I am," Y/n chuckled a bit. "I'll just sleep 'til tomorrow, I guess."

"And I'll be right here," Nicole said as she snuggled close to her boyfriend.

"Nicole, don't you have things to do?" Y/n asked his girlfriend.

"Youre more important right now," Nicole giggled. "Now go to sleep. You'll need all your energy."

Y/n was going to argue, but ultimately decided against it. So he wrapped his arms around Nicole's body and pulled her closer to his, and rested his head on hers. Nicole smiled at this and closed her eyes with a smile. Y/n looked down at his girlfriend before looking out the window in his room.

He smirked as his eyes momentarily flashed red.

The Next Day...

It was the next day, and Khan was walking down a path. However, some kids begun to throw rocks at him.

"What are you still doing around here?" one asked.

"Nobody likes you!" a second shouted.

"Leave already!" the third ordered.

However, before they could throw anymore rocks, Sonic ran in and took them from the kids.

"Hey-hey-hey! What's all this about?" he asked. "There's no need to say such things to our guests from--"

"But I came here yelling mean things about you!" the bear child stated.

"Yeah, well, you've got to let that slide," Sonic crossed his arms. "They're just words, and--"

"But he ruined Miss Mina's concert with his lightning!" the cat child grumbled.

"Okay, granted... but you can't just attack him!" Sonic told the children.

"But you did!" the... what kind of animal is he? "You Spin-Dashed at him lots!"

Sonic sighed as he turned away and the kids all smirked. They knew he couldn't argue with that.

Khan came by and placed a hand on Sonic's shoulder. "It's okay, Sonic. Really. You don't need to defend me." The monkey kneeled down in front of the trio of children. "I've already apologized to Miss Mongoose and her band. I'm sorry I ruined the concert for you as well."

With that, Khan stood back up and walked off with his head down. Sonic watched him curiously.

"That was... way too calm for him," he says. "Something's up." Sonic turns to the kids as he walked off. "And I'm telling Rosie about the rock-throwing. She's raised you three better than that."

Sonic then sped up and caught up to Khan. The monkey looked upset about something.

"What was that?" Sonic asked. "Where's your infamous temper, monkey-boy?"

"I'm working on the temper, alright?" Khan said. "And you're not helping."

"No, man! I like this!" Sonic stated. "Distinguised. Humble, even!"

"You of all people are talking to me about humility..." Khan grumbled.

"Don't blow it now!" Sonic pulled Khan in for a noogie. "With that crown of yours, you're almost princely! Didn't you have some prophecy about being king?"

Khan swung his atom-bat at Sonic, making him back off. "I'M NO KING!" He pointed his weapon at Sonic. "I wasn't even nobility when Robotnik stole everything from me! I wake up and find my homeland is being torn apart. The Four Houses warring every damn hill!"

"Those are the ninja clans, right?" Sonic asked.

"YES! And then Robotnik comes in and sponsors the Iron Dominion!" Ken yelled in anger. "Everyone caught in the middle needed some ray of hope. And then they attach that prophecy of the Monkey King to me, and then I... I..." Khan's anger was replaced with sadness. "... I failed them. Just like I failed to help you yesterday."

"Nah, man. It's not like that. I mean, if it weren't for you, we may not have found Y/n again," Sonic stated. "Besides, it's not over yet. And it's not like the bad guys are one the offensive yet.'

An alarm suddenly went off, making Khan and Sonic look up.

"You're attention, please!" Nicole's voice echoed through New Mobotropolis. "We have hostiles at the city wall. Please find cover immediately!"

"Y'know, I'm getting tired of this irony thing," Sonic admitted. "Yo, Nicole."

Said AI appeared. "Right here, Sonic."

"What's the story?"

"Two units crossed over the wall before I could raise our shield," Nicole informs. "It's Snively and the Iron Queen."

"And where's Y/n?" Sonic asked.

"He's getting tests done by Dr. Quake," Nicole informs. "And I'm sorry I didn't detect them sooner. Something is distorting my entire network."

"Don't sweat it. We can a nice little reversal of yesterday," Sonic slammed a fist into his palm. "And when he's able to, call Y/n. We gotta be ready for everything."

"I will, Sonic," Nicole nodded.

Sonic smiled and turned to Khan. "Ready to bust some heads...? Khan?"

Said monkey was running away, fear in his eyes. He was scared, and he couldn't face the Iron Queen again like yesterday.

"What's got him so spooked?"

Meanwhile, at the wall, Regina and Snively hovered over the city in their own Egg-Mobiles.

"This is the major seat of power for this region?" the Iron Queen asked.

"The recently rechristened Republic of Acorn, yes," Snively confirms.

"Hmph. Quaint..."

Down below, Ferrum spots Sally with Tails, Amy, Bunnie, and Antoine. They were ready for a fight.

"Iron Queen and Snively Robotnik! You are both wanted for crimes against Mobius!" Sally calls out. "Surrender peacefully, or we will use force to bring you to justice!"

The Iron Queen laughed. "Is she truly addressing me like this? Me?"

"Oh, she's quite impertinent!" Snively informs. "She fancies herself a princess, my love!"

"Bunnie? Tails? You're up."

"Yes, ma'am," Tails said as he and Bunnie took off into the air.

"Half-Robian is...?" Ferrum asked her secret lover as she aims her staff.

"Bunnie D'Coolette," Snively informs. "Recently married, I might add."

"Well, isn't that special!" Regina grins as strange symbols surround the end of her staff. The same symbols surround Bunnie's robotic are and it stretches to Tails in the stomach. "Too bad it will be such a short-lived union!"

"NO!!!" Bunnie cried our as Tails falls from the sky.

"Bunnie! What's going on?!" Sally called out to her friend.

"Ah'm losin' control of mah limbs again!" Bunnie declared a her legs became under the control of the Iron Queen, like her arm.

"Didn't your monkey friend tell you?" Regina grinned. "I'm a techno-mage. My magic allows me to control electronic signals and command all sorts of machinery." She turns to Bunnie and lifts up her arm.

"Now then, my dear..."

"Don't you do it, you--!"

"... attack! MREE-HEE-HEE-HEE!"

And with that, Regina commanded Bunnie's limbs to charge at the Freedom Fighters and plows right through them.

"Everyone get away from me!" Bunnie yells as she throws a punch against her will.

"I'll help stop you!" Tails says as he flies towards Bunnie.

However, he gets sent back to the ground when Bunnie's feet kicked him right as her rocket feet engaged.

"Tails! Ah'm sorry!" Bunnie says before flying towards Antoine. "No...!"

'S'il vous plait, non..." Antoine said in French.

Thankfully, Bunnie was able to wrangle herself away and narrowly avoids her husband.

"SOMEBODY STOP ME, DURN IT!"

Thankfully, Sonic ran in just in time and grabbed Bunnie.

"Hey!" he smiled. "Sorry I'm late."

"Please tell me you've got a plan?" Bunnie asked.

"Yep!" Sonic said as he brought Bunnie to some kind of building. "I'm going to help steer you to a contraption Nicole rigged out of the city's nanites, and we lock you down until your safe again!"

Sonic throws Bunnie inside and bars form between the two, cutting the half-Robian from the outside.

Sonic skidded to a stop. "It's not glamorous, but--"

"It'll do, sugah-hog. I--" Bunnie stops as her eyes grow wide in fear. "Oh, no! Run! RUN!"

"But you're safe now...?" Sonic said as he took a few steps back.

"SHE JUST ENGAGED MAH ARM-CANNON!"

Sonic ducked down just in time as Bunnie's arm-cannon fired and shot her through the bars. It fired again in the direction of the three kids from earlier, but Khan swooped in and pushed them away so the wouldn't get hit.

"Miss Rabbot! I mean-I mean, Mrs. D'Coolette!" one kid said.

"You've got to yelp her! You gotta!" the cat kid told Khan.

"I-I'm sorry," Khan lowered his head. "I can't."

"You have to!" the bear child said with tears in his eyes. "It's your job!"

"Please! Please! Please!"

"You got those lightning powers! Use 'em!"

Khan was unsure. How could he fight? He wasn't useful. He couldn't help.

Bunnie's arm-cannon fired again, and the monkey turned to look at where she fired. His lips quivered.

"What's this? You're looking terrible, dearie!" the Iron Queen said to a worn-down Bunnie. "Of course! You're only half-robot, so you have no battery. All your weapons and rockets must run off your life-force!"

"Monstre!" Antoine lifted his sword angrily. "Je vais vous tuer!"

Sonic arrived and helped Tails up.

"I can... I can..." He was still dazed.

"Take it easy, man," Sonic helped his friend. "You're hurt."

"I need the Chaotix here now!" Sally ordered. "But not Julie-Su!"

Back in the air, Regina grinned sinisterly.

"Well then, dearie! You'll have the honor of serving your new queen 'TIL THE END!" the Iron Queen lifted up her staff, making Bunnie lift up her robotic arm.

However, the sound of crackling electricity fills the air and Monkey Khan swoops down on his nimbus. He was pissed.

"No!" he shouted in anger. "NO MORE!"

He swings his atom-bat, producing archs of lightning that make Regina and Snively lose control of their Egg-Mobiles. The Iron Queen also lost concentration and her magic let go of Bunnie who began falling to the ground. However, a flash of green appeared and Y/n caught her. He teleported back to the ground and gave her to Antoine who was terrified.

"Bunnie..." the coyete couldn't finish.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner," Y/n apologized. "Quack's tests were pretty extensive."

"Is... is she...?" Sonic had trouble finding the words.

"She passed out," Sally assured. "Sonic, gett her to Freedom HQ and away from that mad-woman!"

"Got it!" Sonic grabbed Bunnie and rushed off.

While he did that, Y/n and the other Freedom Fighters stood up. They looked up at Regina and Snively.

"Anyone mind tellin' me what's happening?" Y/n asked.

"The Iron Queen and Snively came here to attack us and started using Bunnie to do so," Sally explained.

"Which she will pay dearly for," Antoine growled.

Back up in the air, Khan confronted the Iron Queen.

"Monkey Khan! Aren't you a complete coward!" the Iron Queen laughed.

"Th-these people are more than you can handle," Khan trembled a bit. "Run wh-while you still can!"

"Eee-hee-hee! Are you still pretending to have authority?" Regina laughed. "The so-called 'king of the free people'?"

Metal claws snake towards Khan and snatch his crown from his head. He turns to see Snivly laughing at him.

"Not much of a king without his power ring crown," Snively says.

"No, but he makes an excellent pawn," Regina smirks.

Back down on the ground, Sally was giving orders.

"Amy! Get Tails to Dr. Quack!"

Vector and Mighty ran up towards our heroes as Amy helped Tails walk.

"Nicole called us in," Vector said. "What's up?"

"We've got a situation, and--" Sally was cutoff by a yell.

"EVERYONE RUN!"

"Oh, boy..." Y/n muttered.

"Ken..." Sally couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Khan yells in pain as the Iron Queen's techno-magic surrounds his body.

"Oh, stop resisting, fuzzy," Regina grins. "The girl had only a few robotic limbs, but your cybernetics run throughout your entire body!"

Khan's entire body is suddenly zapped with massive amounts of electricity. It soon fades away, revealing Khan with a completely new look.

"You're mine once again!" the Iron Queen announced. "Now... burn this city to the ground!"

_________________________________________

Sonic's away and Monkey Khan has lost control! Do any of our heroes stand a chance? Find out, next time on No Longer Human!