Duel at the Master Emerald Shrine

### Result (Outcome)

Ivo Robotnik absorbs the power of the Master Emerald and teleports to the Mean Bean Coffee Café in Green Hills.
Sonic the Hedgehog saves Knuckles the Echidna from drowning, who does the same for him.

*"The echidna's taking no prisoners today! Sonic has heart, but will he lose the quill to live?"*
―Doctor Eggman[src]
The **Duel at the Master Emerald Shrine** was a battle between Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna for the Master Emerald.

## Background

*"We have to help him. You don't know what he's up against."*
―Tails to Tom Wachowski and Maddie Wachowski[src]
Following a sudden appearance during Rachel's wedding, Sonic, an unconscious Tails and Tom Wachowski were arrested and brought into cells inside the hotel. However, Maddie was able to rescue them with Tails' gadgets as Knuckles the Echidna and Doctor Eggman have unveiled the giant Labyrinth, releasing a giant green energy beam. Seen by the Wachowskis and Sonic on Hawaii, Sonic adapts responsibility for Tails, who he has gotten nearly killed on their journey, and thus travels to the Labyrinth.

Eggman and Knuckles struggle through a maze imbued with death traps, until eventually using Eggman's inventions to guide them to the sacred Master Emerald. Sonic, however, simply uses his ultimate speed to evade all the traps.

## Duel

*"Is everything a joke to you? Why must you constantly interfere with my destiny?"
"Because my destiny is to protect my friends and family."
"I think I just threw up in my mouth."
"And if you want that emerald, you're gonna have to go. Through. Me!"*
―Knuckles the Echidna, Doctor Eggman and Sonic the Hedgehog[src]
Because of his speed, Sonic lands roughly and mildly injured before Knuckles and Eggman, who were approaching the Master Emerald Shrine. Because Knuckles questions Sonic's constant meddling with his destiny, Sonic responds it his destiny to protect the ones he loves and challenges Knuckles to defeat him in order to receive his desired Master Emerald. Sonic then races up the shrine's staircase, until Knuckles corners himself in a wall to charge up and launch himself towards Sonic, and Sonic does the same, leading them to clash against each other. A fight has now ensued, as they both throw multiple punches, with Sonic bouncing off another wall.

While Eggman narrates the events taking place, slowly approaching the emerald, Sonic flings himself at Knuckles in attempt of delivering a kick, but is eventually blown away by Knuckles' punch. Attempting to near the emerald again, Sonic continuously slams him into the staircase, before needing to dodge Knuckles' rapid attacks. Knuckles eventually succeeds in defeating him, holding a stone above Sonic's body. But Sonic takes note of Eggman having reached the emerald, despite Knuckles' short disbelief. Angered by Eggman's betrayal, Eggman grasps the emerald, embedding it's glorious power, teleporting back to Green Hills and leaving a shockwave behind that breaks down the entire Labyrinth. Because the Labyrinth is based amongst the ocean, water starts erupting, and pillars start falling. Sonic saves Knuckles from one, but is seemingly left to drown. However, Knuckles comes back for him and takes him onto the nearby island.

## Aftermath

*"It wasn't a tactic. I couldn't just let you die."
"Why? I've been trying to destroy you since the moment we met."
"Because being a hero isn't about taking care of yourself. It's about taking responsibility for other people."*
―Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna[src]
Sonic, after gasping for air, questions Knuckles' reason for his rescue. Knuckles responds that he was joining in on Sonic's weird tactic, to which Sonic replies it was not one, rather heroism and an act of responsibility, which was taught to him by Tom Wachowski. Afterwards, Tails, having finally awakened, flies a plane used for banner towing to save Sonic, much to Sonic's happiness, while Knuckles ponders Sonic's ability to keep moving forward despite his many failures. Sonic replies that it is because of his allies and family and grants Knuckles the ability to be his friend via hand shake. However, Sonic's hand is severely injured by Knuckles' mighty grasp.

Meanwhile, Eggman appears in the Mean Bean Coffee Café, where he meets a tied up agent Stone and temporary sherrif Wade Whipple interrogating him. After having told them to switch places, Eggman spots several Guardian Units of Nations soldiers surrounding the area. Showing his true power to them, Eggman rips apart several metal pieces of objects to emit a tornado of electricity in which the Giant Eggman Robot is created to wreak havoc upon Green Hills.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 *Sonic the Hedgehog 2*
2. ↑ *Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-Quill*