#theidiotclawmate

So he made the trek down by foot. With the green glow to guide him now, it took him no time at all to reach the island - and ultimately the altar that held the giant Emerald.

Sitting on one of the pillars, clearly uncomfortable with his chosen perch, was Silver. "Took you long enough. Getting slow in your old ages?" he teased. Though the teasing grin dropped when he realized it was only Shadow.

"Where... What happened to Sonic? He's supposed to be with you." Silver's ears tilted forward - trying to catch any sound of the blue hedgehog's approach.

Shadow growled at him, before gently pulling out the emerald. "I was not there to know what happened, but his form disappeared and the emerald's been like this since."

Silver frowned, floating over to the hedgehog to look at the emerald. It was still dim - not even being this close to the Master Emerald was returning its own glow.

"They had mentioned you would be receiving outside assistance, but the ring is certainly an unusual method for that." Silver waved at the ring.

Shadow frowned. "They?" He looked around, before what was missing dawned on him. "Where's the red echidna-- Knuckles? I was led to believe he would be here as well."

"You've got some smart helpers! Knuckles and his friend will be able to explain more - and hopefully help Sonic."

Hesitation. Enough that made Shadow lift an eye ridge and frown at him. "But?"

A grimace. "...Buuuut to do it I need the Emerald that's currently housing you." He vaguely pointed at Shadow's chest.

The scowl and bristling was expected, but Silver didn't expect Shadow to then calm down and grumble what sounded like agreement. "Fine. How do I do that?"

Silver held up one hand, lifting Sonic's Emerald into the air. "Uh... I don't know," Silver admitted. "All I really know how to do is pull the Emerald out of you...? But once it's separated, you shouldn't leave a body behind or anything."

Another scowl, but Shadow crossed his arms and gave a small nod to go ahead.

"This... might be a little painful," Silver warned as he held up his other hand.

A little would end up being an understatement. If Shadow wasn't sure he held an Emerald inside him before, he certainly did now. As Silver's telekinesis gripped the Emerald and began trying to pull it out, his body shrieked in protest - trying its hardest to keep the gem where it belonged. Shadow struggled with staying still and trying to release the Emerald to Silver's grasp or allowing his body to jump the future hedgehog and forcibly make him stop.

The red glitching that covered his body gave Shadow's answer for him, and in the next moment was nothing but the Red Chaos Emerald.

Silver took them to the Master Emerald, carefully setting them on top of the larger gem.

Once he was sure they would not roll away, he lifted his hands to his mouth. A golden flute appeared and he began to play it.

The two Chaos Emeralds began glowing, lifting onto their ends and spinning for a brief moment before dropping back onto the Master Emerald. Both now dull.

The flute disappeared, and Silver took a breath. Maybe finally they could begin to progress toward saving the future.

Again.

A nudge would pull Silver out of his thoughts. He looked at the ring. "Oh... uh..." He gave it another wave and a smile. "Hi everyone. They'll be a second, so I guess in the meantime... what's up?"