"But was it really him?" Knuckles asked. "Zero was a master of misdirection. He made entire armies see things that were never actually there, but he occasionally used real things to reinforce the hallucinations he conjured up. Usually with destruction, but sometimes..." He tapped the quill. "...things like this."

"I don't know and don't want to know. Zero might have been one of us and Sonic is careless. I've carried that quill with me to remind me why I am alone in the world."

Rookie's eyes lit up. "Woah....!"

Luna held out her hand to Moonshine. "Are you friendly girl?"

"Alright, I won't talk about it anymore, but promise me something." The echidna said after a moment's silence.

"What?" Ajal asked cold heartedly.

"If you tell anyone I said this, I'm gonna deny it. As much as it wounds my pride to say it, Sonic has never given me a reason not to trust him. Remember, this is coming from me, a guy that was electrocuted, robbed, almost killed (twice, actually), and otherwise downright stabbed in the back by the first person I met. Yes, he's careless and annoying, but he would never intentionally harm innocents. If you told him what you told me, he'd probably be Devastated with a capital 'D'. I want you to promise me, whatever it is that happened that day... don't-- don't hold it against him."

Knuckles exhaled sharply, waiting for a reply.

"Don't hold it against a killer who devistated my guild not just one time but sixteen times? That is beyond forgivable." Ajal told him. "But I won't tell him for your sake not his."

Knuckles sighed, looking somewhat disappointed. "....I'll take something over nothing. But just know..." He looked his dead in the eyes, gaze cold as the night sky. "...I don't take well to being betrayed. I still hate that back-stabber's guts, and I still kick his sorry butt any chance I get."

"Me too and anyone else who tries to hurt my friends." Ajal agreed.