Rouge walked up to the stage, picking up the suprising guest.

"Maria, is that you, you're..." Rouge paused, "not human." Maria looked up, confused at how the bat knew about her.

"Wh-who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Rouge, Shadow has told me much about you, it's nice to meet you," Rouge said. Maria smiled a little, while Narra watched for a little bit.

"Who are you?" Knuckles asked Narra.

"I am Narra, but I'm sometimes called Narrator," she told them.

"Why are you here?" Knuckles asked.

"You need to find the Chaos Emeralds, not only to bring Shadow back, but to destroy the evil that will come to this land," Narra told them. She noticed the horrified face on Mobious, and glared at him. "I need to go back with my team, I'll see you later." A bright light started to grow among Narra, and she and the light disappeared. She was back with her group, them all waiting, except for one.

"How did you get those powers," TL Waluigi asked. (TL means True Love.) Narra had a glimpse of a Orange Toad with 3 orange and 1 red bracelet. (Shh, Maddy.)

"From a friend," Narra told him. Knuckles and the others stated at the now blonde hedgehog that they didn't recognized. Knuckles then looked at Mobious, knowing what Narra meant. Knuckles stomped toward a Mobious, and grabbed him by the necklace.

"Alright Mobious, what is going on, why are you really here, what are you planning, and what are your real motives?" Knuckles demanded him to tell.

"I...uh, don't understand," he said.

"Woah Knuckles, settle down," Rouge said.

"Settle down, did you see how Narra looked at him? He's planning something," Knuckles explained. Rouge had enough, she flew up in the air, and swooped down and kneed Knuckles in the back. "Rouge, what are you doing," Knuckles said.

"Trying to keep an innocent man from being framed," she said. Knuckles realized it, Rouge had feelings for Mobious, but how? What did Mobious do, and how did he do it? These thoughts keeper circling his mind. He looked at the Chaotix, Silver, and Ray. They nodded at him, and Knuckles have Rouge a stern face.

"Of you really think that, then you can kiss me and the others goodbye," Knuckles said, running out with the others.

"Wait for me Knuckles," Tails said. Everyone started chasing them, thinking they were going insane.

"To the ladder, let's go," Espio said. Sonic suddenly ran in front of them.

"Sorry guys, but you're going to far with this," Sonic said. Knuckles looked back, seeing everyone else running at them. Espio teleported behind Sonic, and hit kicked him in the head. Sonic flew right into the crowd, knocking them down.

"ESPIO!!!" Knuckles yelled.

"It's better than letting them catch us," Espio said. Knuckles looked back to see Mobious still standing, smiling at the group. Knuckles looked back at the ladder and the team.

"Okay, just c'mon," Knuckles ordered, running to the ladder. The others followed behind, with someone else following them. Knuckles climbed down with the others safe and sound.

"Hello, I'm afraid I don't know what's going on," said a soft voice. They looked back to see Maria standing right below the ladder.

"H-how did you come down here without us knowing?" Knuckles asked.

"I don't know to be honest, one minute, I was knocked out, the next, I'm here," she told them. Tails thought for a moment, thinking about how this could've happened.

"Maybe she has teleportation, like Espio," Tails explained.

"That makes sense, does that mean she might have other powers as well," Knuckles thought.

"Wait Knuckles, maybe this is why Narra gave us Maria, maybe she is the thing we need to bring back Shadow, and defeat Mobious," Tails theorized.

"Alright, then we search for the Chaos Emeralds, give them to Maria, get Shaodw back, and defeat Mobious," Knuckles declared. They all nodded, and followed Knuckles to locations they think the Chaos Emeralds could be.

"Are you alright Mobious," Amy said, Mobious acting like he was best up.

"Th-they took the one you called Maria," Mobious told them, looking at Rouge.

"Wh-why would they do that?" Sonic said.

"I don't know," Mobious lied,"but I will bring her back, and find the Chaos Emeralds to defeat whatever evil is coming," Mobious told them. "Who's with me?" Sonic, Amy, Blaze, Storm, Jet, Wave, Rouge, and Omega stepped up.

"We're ready sir, what about the others?" Omega said.

"They stay here, if we see Knuckles and his team, I want to give them a fair fight," Mobious told them. Sonic wasn't sure who to follow now, but he just wants to help someone, so he just decided to join Mobious's team.
"Alright Knuckles, game on."

"Hey Knuckles, here's the temple, let's check inside," Ray said. Knuckles agreed, and they walked in. It was very dark, they couldn't see anything.

"Hey guys, I think I see a torch," Maria said, picking it up. All of a sudden, flames came out of her hands, and lit the torch.

"That'll come in handy," Silver said. Maria smiled, and they went deeper into the dark abyss.

"Wait, do you hear that?" Charmy said. They turned to see a boulder coming right at them. Knuckles jumped in front of the boulder, ready to smash it to bits.

"Come at us, I dare you," Knuckles said. He swung, and the boulder was now little pieces of rock. Knuckles stood back, and looked for more traps that could be buried in the temple. He saw a loose slap, knowing what it might hold. "Step away from that slab," Knuckles warned them.

"Which slab," Charmy asked, stepping on it. Knuckles slapped his forehead in disappointment.

"Just run," Knuckles grumbled. They ran to the door in front of them, but it closed, spikes came out the side walls, they were trapped. They didn't know what to do, there seemed no way out, the walls were getting closer, and closer, when...

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Maria screamed. The walls started to go backwards, and the Spikes started to disappear. The doors opened, and they were free.

"Man, I wished I was you right now," Vector said. Maria never felt so useful in her life. She was always the one being pertected, but now she's protecting them. They went in the next room, and there was a Chaos Emerlad, the red one. Knuckles picked it up, smiling in relief.

"One down, six more to go," he said. They all came out of the temple, going to the next destination.