Infinite's Final Riot : Split Horns

[This is the part three of the 1x1 forum Cruel World made by Moving-Grape and Mr.Miles. Please do not interfere if you haven't been called to participate. If you'd like to see the part two of this forum, check out Infinite's Final Riot : Machine Traitors]


After Infinite's previous trick took out half of the world of Mobius, the people who lasted were trying to figure out a way to clean up the massive mess he left behind before fleeing away to rest from his first big battle against Kory. It really took a long time since he's been missing, because it has been a year since that battle occurred. And for the past two weeks, Kory has also been out of the picture ever since she left Sonic's team. It was all going mildly depressing, and most people only feared it would be worse. 

We now find ourselves in a very quiet night on the famous Angel Island. Some crickets played their soft tunes close to Knuckles' station as he observed the stars with the wind blowing on his hair. A calm night for a half-desolated world. Everything was calm, until a sudden noise could be heard in the distance. It sounded like something fell on the floor really hard.

Knuckles was watching the stars as he took a moment to relax and enjoy the night. It was tough work guarding the Master Emerald every day, especially since Infinite destroyed a lot during his rampages. It's been a year since he was last seen and while the survivors tried to rebuild everyone is worried about the future. Knuckles had also left not wanting the emerald to be lost. The echidna hearing the noise instantly got on edge bearing a fighting stance. Raising his fists, he speeds to the location hoping it's not the jackal.

The sound appeared to be coming from a southwest area of the island. Somewhere where there were many lakes around and fewer trees than its usual forests have. He was able to find a medium crater in that spot and.. To his surprise, it wasn't the jackal, but it was the one girl that people rumored she was killed, Kory The Goat. She had scratches all over her body, some even revealing themselves to be a little bit deeper into the skin, and her horns were cracked. She was unconscious but still alive.

Knuckles is shocked to see Kory on his island and in this condition. Gently picking her up he takes her back to his where the emerald is to let her rest while he guards it and her.

As he carried her to the small temple pedestal, he could see that she had her White Chaos Emerald with her as usual. Maybe he used Sky to get to the island.

Smiling he looks back at the night sky. He hopes something happened to Infinite so the world can grow in peace. With Eggman gone it would have been a celebration, but it wasn't meant to be. Looking at Kory he is worried about her. This past year had been rough for everyone.

As a new morning comes up, everything still seemed calm. The skies were cloudy, and the wind was a little bit stronger. Kory wasn't around however, and some footsteps were left on the floor.

Knuckles wakes up yawning while stretching. rubbing his eyes, he sees the footprints on the ground.                  "Kory you around here"?                                               Getting to his feet he proceeds to follow them.

It took quite a long while, but he finally managed to hear something. Sounds of water being brought up and messed with. They were getting closer and closer until he finally found her again! She seemed to be washing her face off with the water of a small pond. She's not with her Emerald anymore for some reason.

"Well, you're alive".                                                         Knuckles goes to her and washes his face as well.        "It's peaceful out here. Usually, I would fight intruders but I know and trust you.  What brings you out here to my island"?

She took a moment to look at him, but when she did, something was wrong. Her pupils were different sizes in each eye, one was normal while the other was very dilated. Her left eye's lower eyelid looked like it was pulled down and it didn't look like it was going back to normal on its own.

Knuckles looks worried. "Uh hey are you alright? You don't look so good." He puts a hand on her shoulder gently patting it

She looked at him for a few seconds before smiling and responding.

"Y-Yea! I'm fine!.."
She laughed a little.

"Are you sure Kory? I mean our world is still recovering from Him and it's taken a toll on us all".    Knuckles looks away.  "You were the closet to him. I'm sorry".

Kory's smile turned into a confused and concerned look as her smile dropped.

".. I'm sorry but.. I have no idea of what you're talking about."
She looked back at the pond and went to put some of its water on her hair.

"Uh....Infinite? Hes a crazy jackal that uses his powers for evil. You were friends with him for a while. Hes the reason why this world is in shambles. What do you remember"? Knuckles isn't sure if he should be worried or relived

"I remember... Always staying here! With you, Knuckles! Guarding the Master Emerald like all the other Echidnas did for years!"


She smiled joyfully again.

"Kory.....What species are you?"  Knuckles holds in his breath as he waits for a response.

Her smile drops as she takes a moment to respond with a blank stare.

"... E-Echidna."

Knuckles puts on a fake smile. "Right...I was just testing you...Uh You had a bad fight, and I was worried you hurt your head. You should probably rest and guard the emerald I got some errands to do else where since your capable".

She smiled again, this time, in excitement.
"Alright! Won't let you down!!"
She starts running for the pedestal temple right away.

Knuckles says his goodbyes as for the first time in a while leaves the island to report this to the others. "Poor girl. Lost her sense of reality", he says to himself.

As he flew above the oceans, he could see the peace of land that some of the remaining cities were located in. They weren't as damaged as the rest of the world and people still lived in that area. However, he needed to see the others, so he caught more speed onto his gliding and began flying his way to Sonic's Base in Station Square.

Many hours had passed as he traveled to find Sonic. Knuckles was no longer the leader, but he was still respected by the group despite leaving. Seeing the world rebuilt itself brought a smile to his face.

After finally arriving to the base's hidden door, he was accepted by the DNA verification that allowed him to enter. As he entered, he noticed how the base has grown bigger and more people were in the base, but they weren't soldiers, they were refuges. Apparently the team was giving a place to stay for the people who lost their homes to the disaster.