Epilogue: Because We're Sonic Heroes

The Adventure Must Go On

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, now reverted back to normal, ran up to the collapsed Neo Metal Sonic, who was slowly reverting as well.

"It's no use…" he growled, looking up at Sonic with the same look that he had the last time they had battled. "Why can't I defeat you? !"

"Ha, because…" Sonic began, raising a finger as Tails and Knuckles smirked from behind. "We're Sonic Heroes!"

Their small window for gloating was slammed shut by Amy's shrill cry of "SONIC!"

Taking this as his cue to leave, Sonic stepped up to Metal and practically whispered, "Any time you want a rematch, just let me know." He gave a two-finger salute, jogging away. "I'll be waiting!"

He almost sounded sympathetic, and just thinking that was enough to drive Metal into a fury again. But he also wasn't stupid, contrary to what Sonic would like to believe, and since he was severely weakened, Metal chose not to move, and even went so far as to shut down completely.

"Hey Sonic, wait up!" Tails cried, running after Sonic. Amy started running after both of them, apparently still determined to get what she so desperately sought out after.

"Sorry to leave like this!" she called to her team over her shoulder, waving. "But I can't let my Sonic get away!"

Her team was much more understanding than they were before, Cream and Big sending her off with a shout of, "Good luck, Amy!", joined by Froggy and Chocola's excited sounds.

"Sonic sure has his hands full," Knuckles realized, simply standing off to the side and watching everyone wrap things up. It wasn't until Rouge strutted in front of him that he was given a reason to leave as well.

"I guess I'm outta here too," she stated, hands placed casually behind her head. "I think I'll go hunt for someone else's treasure…"

She was somewhat pleasantly surprised to see that he didn't rush after her with unbridled anger, but instead shrugged and mumbled, "She never gives up, does she?"

Rouge chuckled a little as she picked up the pace, hearing Knuckles run after her and cry, "Oh no you don't! Wait!"

Maybe Shadow was right. Perhaps being nicer would have its advantages…

The Chaotix watched Knuckles and Rouge rush off, tittering a bit to themselves. Eventually, Vector spoke up, declaring the end to the chain of jobs.

"Guess that's it for this case!"

"Guess so," agreed Espio simply.

"But what about our money?" Charmy asked innocently.

However, to Vector, this was a very serious question. "OH MAN! I almost forgot!"

Suddenly, Espio heard someone walking along the metal floor behind them, only for the three of them to turn around and see Eggman trying to sneak off.

"That slime ball!" Vector roared. Eggman dared to turn in their direction, witnessing a crocodile, a chameleon, and a bee rampaging toward him. Yelping, he sped off as fast as his legs would take him, in hopes of getting out of his "handsome pay".

Omega, standing not too far away from the fleeting Eggman, was distracted by a more immediate problem: the guy who they chased all over the place just to get revenge and answers, only for it to be the wrong guy and to be left with nothing. Scooping up Metal Sonic's unresponsive body, Omega was conflicted with what to do next.

Shadow, the last hero, walked up next to him, noticing Metal Sonic draped in the fellow robot's arms.

"Well, you've got an Eggman robot in your arms," Shadow began, not taking his eyes off of Metal. "What're you going to do now?"

"Part of my internal processor says to destroy him as we speak, preferably by tossing him violently off the edge of this descending air craft," Omega explained. "However…despite this, for some reason, said internal processor cannot force out a complete action. Perhaps you could say I am hesitant."

"Or you can't make up your mind," Shadow shrugged. "I can understand why you don't want to destroy him…maybe."

"And what is this explanation for my malfunction?"

Shadow sighed, turning from Metal and staring hard into the sky. "You know when we found that Shadow Android at Bullet Station? If…if there were more of those, I'm not sure if I could destroy them, because…it might be like destroying myself. Not because they look like me, but if I'm…an android too…"

"…I can process this," Omega finally said, choosing to keep quiet about particular aspects of Shadow's proposition. "I am one of Eggman's more successful and prized robots, as is the same with Metal…I am an Eggman robot as well, but would I be able to destroy myself?"

"Whether you are an Eggman robot or not, don't self-destruct or anything like that." Shadow began to walk away. "If I were you, I would deactivate, so that you could reawaken in the future, where Eggman robots are gone, and you can use your abilities to help people. That wouldn't be so bad, right?"

"I will analyze my future actions at a later time," Omega replied. "What will your next course of action be, Comrade Shadow?"

"I'm going to find out who I am. I know I awoke in Eggman's base and he's the one who imprisoned me in there, but there must be more ways to get answers out there…Maybe our paths will cross again, after you decide what to do with Metal, and maybe after Rouge finds what she really needs…" He started to leave, only stopping to gaze over the edge of the Final Fortress. "Perhaps…I'll find out what my place is in this messed up world …"

But he bid Omega goodbye, and the last of the Sonic Heroes walked away from the final trace of their three-day adventure.

. . .

Far, far away from where the fortress and much of the Egg Fleet crashed, Tails and Knuckles were walking in a grassy, seaside area, though Tails wasn't entirely sure if they were back in Seaside Hill. Tails had given up chasing Sonic, knowing that he could never catch him if Amy was on his heels as well. So he just started making his way home, believing Sonic would find his way there as well.

As for Knuckles, Rouge decided not to go after the Master Emerald after all, and Knuckles was just on his way back to Angel Island. Along the way he had found Tails, and decided to talk with him.

"What're you doing out here by yourself?" he asked, genuinely surprised to see this. "Isn't this the part where you celebrate your victory with Sonic?"

Tails shrugged, unsure of what to say. "I was just going home…"

"Yeah, me too."

They were both silent for a moment, until Tails broke through it again with a piercing statement.

"Knuckles…remember what you said, way back at the beginning of this adventure?" he asked. Knuckles had to think about it for a while, but eventually recalled and his eyes grew way wider than they should've been. "What if Sonic already left again for months on end…looking for new adventure already?"

Knuckles heaved a deep sigh and went so far as to pat Tails on the back. "You know, while it's true that Sonic vanishes from our lives at long intervals at a time…it's not like him to just up and leave without saying good bye, especially to you. I bet he's looking for you…you know, if he's not still being hunted by Amy."

They both laughed, but Tails was still feeling melancholic.

"I know, and while I am okay with Sonic being gone…it's just that this last adventure was really fun, and I actually got to spend time with both you and Sonic…and what if we never get another chance like this again?"

"We'll get another chance…maybe Eggman's still on the good side despite Metal's meddling, and Rouge seems to be turning over a new leaf, so maybe I won't have to guard the Master Emerald so hard and I can visit a little more often…"

"That'd be nice," Tails admitted honestly. "But it wouldn't be the same without Sonic."

Knuckles sighed, beaten because he couldn't deny that was true.

As the two walked on, a blue streak rushed between them, grabbing their wrists and dragging them along for the ride.

Like that hadn't happened before.

"Why the long faces, guys?" Sonic asked, slowing down and releasing them so they could run at their own pace. "We just beat a bad guy within three days, and it's looking to be a beautiful start to a fourth! That's gotta be a new record!"

Tails and Knuckles said nothing and simply grinned, starting to run faster alongside Sonic. Seeing that they were on board, Sonic ran a little faster too, smiling as well.

"All right then! Our next adventure awaits us, so there's no time to waste! YEAH!"

The three of them jumped in the air, striking eccentric poses.

"We're Sonic Heroes!"

And they wouldn't have it any other way.