Explore the Island

It was a rare moment for him to finally have some alone time on the island. Now would be the perfect opportunity to research the history of the place. He gazed at the Master Emerald and made the decision to hide it in the Hidden Palace Zone for the time being. The only individuals aware of that area were Sonic, Tails, Eggman, and himself. He would normally worry about Eggman, but considering the "good doctor" had recently lost to Sonic, he wouldn't be returning anytime soon. As he carefully placed the Master Emerald back in its original home, he paused briefly to examine a mural on the wall. Had it always been there? That figure resembled Sonic! And the other one looked like Eggman's Super **** Egg Robot that Sonic had destroyed. How was that possible? It had been years since then, yet this tablet appeared to be centuries old. How in the world could that be... it must be impossible, right?

Compelled by curiosity, he climbed up to reach the mural, needing to understand what was happening. However, as soon as he touched it, he felt a sudden surge of power emanating from the Master Emerald. He turned, expecting to face a threat, but there was no one there! The Hidden Palace Zone began to tremble and transform, prompting Knuckles to instinctively retreat to the Master Emerald. Once he reached it, he prepared to grab it and flee, but he couldn't help but pause, awestruck by the metamorphosed temple and the emergence of more murals. The captivating sight continued to unfold, showcasing Sonic's victories over the years: Perfect Chaos, the Final Hazard with Shadow, Metal Overlord with himself and Tails, defeating Dark Gaia, the time eater, the Zeti, Infinite, and even The End, which had occurred just a few months ago.

His mind raced as he attempted to process it all. Were these ancients documenting their own history, or had they known all along? He needed answers, and surely there must be some on the island. Just then, he heard a soft, melodic voice emanating from the Emerald. "The answers you seek are not on the island of Angels," it whispered, causing Knuckles to blink in recognition.

Shaking off his astonishment, he contemplated what to do with this newfound revelation. As much as he preferred solitude, this situation was mind-boggling. Besides, if the voice was correct, he wouldn't even know where to begin searching. He weighed his options on who to seek help from.

Informing Sonic seemed like the logical choice, but uncovering secrets might require someone skilled in treasure hunting, much like himself. That meant he would have to approach Rouge the Bat. Despite her ability to drive him crazy, she possessed the necessary expertise, and the promise of ancient treasures might entice her to cooperate. He glanced at the Master Emerald for a fleeting moment, then turned, firm in his decision.