Chapter 5

"There's no doorknob," Sonic said.

What there was was an emblem on the center of the door, eye level with Sonic. The symbol was made of two halves, the top was white with a black dot near the top. However, on the right, it was the exact opposite.

"I don't like the looks of this," said Sonic.

"Me neither" said Knuckles.

"Let me see," said Tails.

Sonic raised the Miles Electric to the symbol.

Sonic started at the symbol some more. "Hey, wait a moment. I've seen this before," Sonic said.

"Me too!" Tails responded through the screen. "I saw it while studying under Professor Pickle on Earth. He sent me to Chun-Nan to do research for an ancient symbol called the Yin and Yang."

"Oh yeah, that's where it was!" Sonic said, snapping his finger. "Man, that brings back some memories. That was when I was going on a little world tour with Chip to stop Dark Gaia." Sonic paused, and held his arm forward so Knuckles could see the bracelet he was wearing. "After that adventure, he gave me this so I would remember him. Always."

"What does that gemstone in the middle do?" Knuckles asked, pointing at the neon green gem on the bracelet

"You know what? I don't know," Sonic answered. "I haven't worn it that much until now. I didn't want it to get damaged or broken, but now, I just felt, this may be big. And I want Chip on my side for it."

"Who's Chip anyways?" Knuckles asked.

"Well, I guess I could say he's the Earth God," Sonic said. "One of them, anyway. He's the good Earth God." Sonic said. "You know what? You weren't there when that all went down. You would have liked him."

"Right. Chip," Tails sighed. "Anyways, the Yin and Yang is a symbol from long ago. Before humans even existed on Earth. While nobody is around from its time of creation to tell its full story, we do know this much from their ancient ancestors. It represents balance. Be it joy or sadness, positives or negatives, or light and dark." Tails paused. "I remember reading that if the balance was ever disrupted, everything that has been or ever will be will shatter. And existence as we know it will cease to be."

"Wow... that's a lot to take in," Sonic said, looking into the Miles Electric.

"But that's just a myth, right?" Knuckles asked, not wanting to assume the worst.

"Maybe, maybe not," Tails replied. "Right now, what matters is getting through that door."

"Alright, easy enough," Sonic said. He put his hands on both sides of the symbol. Then, with all his might, he tried turning it. "This must just be some... fancy doorknob, right?"

"It's a little big to be a doorknob, don't you think?" Knuckles asked.

"I've seen doors open weirder ways," Sonic replied, struggling. The supposed doorknob had not turned a single bit. "Knuckles, help me out here."

Knuckles, on cue, walked up to the symbol and began to pull as Sonic pushed. They stopped when they realized they weren't getting anywhere. Even with Knuckles' strength, the door would not open.

Suddenly, the air was pierced by a loud buzz as an additional motor came into earshot.

"What is that?" Tails shouted.

"Sounds like..." Sonic started. Then, he saw them. Dozens of Badniks littered the front yard. Specifically, Buzz Bombers and Motobugs. "Badniks. Drat."

"You guys know what to do," shouted Tails. Go get 'em, Sonic and Knuckles!" Tails exclaimed.

Sonic Homing Attacked a Motobug, breaking it right open with a small explosion. Knuckles glided into a Buzz Bomber, and then another and another! Sonic slid under a Motobug and broke it open with a kick. He then Spindashed through another one, slicing it in half. But as with many things today, something was wrong.

"There's something wrong. Knuckles!" Sonic yelled. "Why aren't any Mobinis coming out?"

Sonic summoned the Sonic Wind and blasted it towards a Motobug and a Buzz Bomber.

"Knuckles!" Sonic yelled again.

To make Knuckles respond, go to Chapter 6

To have Knuckles do nothing, go to Chapter 8