Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s ending is a subject of much debate and speculation among fans. The game concludes with Sonic and his friend Tails returning to the Master Emerald on Angel Island, where they discover that Dr. Eggman has been using the Chaos Emeralds to drain the life force of the island.
As Sonic and Tails attempt to stop Dr. Eggman, they are met with a surprise revelation: the Master Emerald is actually a powerful, ancient artifact that has been keeping the island’s life force in balance. However, it is also revealed that the Master Emerald is connected to the Chaos Emeralds, and that the two are actually two halves of a single, whole.
Dr. Eggman, having learned of the Master Emerald’s true power, decides to use it to gain ultimate power and control over the world. Sonic and Tails must work together to stop him and restore balance to the island.
The game’s ending also introduces a new character, Knuckles the Echidna, who is revealed to be the guardian of the Master Emerald. Knuckles is sworn to protect the Master Emerald at all costs, and he becomes a rival to Sonic and Tails as they attempt to stop Dr. Eggman.
Ultimately, Sonic and Tails are able to defeat Dr. Eggman and restore balance to the island, but not before Knuckles appears and challenges Sonic to a battle. The game ends with Sonic and Tails returning to the city, where they are hailed as heroes.
The ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sets the stage for the events of Sonic & Knuckles, which continues the story of the two characters as they face off against Dr. Eggman and his new robot, Mecha Sonic.
