Trials of A Guardian
By: Phoenix Ride
Ch.1: Next In Line
It was another peaceful day on Mobious; the sun was shining, birds were singing, and Eggman hadn't been spotted for miles around. Usually the Good Doctor spoiled all the peace and quiet with one of his lame attempts to destroy Sonic, but not today. And for that Knuckles was glad.
Lying back on his familar postion on the Master Emerald's alter, Knuckles sat back and wondered, again, why he was given the job of being the Master Emerald's guardian. He hadn't exactly been chosen for the job.
Usually, when the time comes for the choosing of a Guardian, the previous Guardian must speak to the Master Emerald so that it will know who is its protector. That way the Guardian could use its power anytime he or she wished.
Knuckles had no one to vouch for him in becoming Guardian. The Master Emerald had accepted him on his own, and recgonized him as a loyal protector. Through many trials and hardships Knuckles had lost his fear that he couldn't protect the emerald from the most evil of forces.
Yet one thing still nagged at his mind, striking a fear that was long over due. Who would be his successor?
The entire echidna race had been wiped out years ago. There were no female echidnas for Knuckles to mate with. The Guardian line would cease with his death. Just the mere thought of that event made a chill run down Knuckles spine.
Sitting legs crossed, Knuckles closed his eyes and started reflecting on the mental images of his friends. Could one of them be trusted as a future Guardian?
Sonic and Tails were probably to immature. Vector and Espio were loyal friends, maybe they could be trusted. Rouge, she would probably just want to add the Master Emerald to her stolen jewel collection, which she still tried to do on occassion.
Shadow, maybe, the black and red hedgehog never let anything get in his way. However his mood always seemed to sift from good to evil depending on the situation.
"Must be because of his past," said Knuckles with a sigh.
The sun had just began to disappear over the horizion, and the blanket of darkness started to seep in. Getting up to his feet, Knuckles turned and locked his glowing, voilet eyes on the shining green beauty of the Master Emerald.
Reaching out one of his spiked, gloved hands, the crimson echidna touched the surface of the Master Emerald and gazed at it longingly, his eyes searching for an answer in its mystic glow.
"Who will my successor be?" said Knuckles softly, looking down at his feet.
The Master Emerald glowed, but provided no answer. With only a few more minutes of twilight remaining, Knuckles bed the Master Emerald goodnight and headed to his cabin, that was about ten yards from the Master Emerald, to sleep for the night.
As the full moon rose, and its Guardian went to sleep, the Master Emerald started to glow a very bright green. The Chaos Emeralds heard the Master Emerald's call and began to glow as well.
Rising up from the ring that Knuckles had formed out them in front of the Master Emerald, all the Chaos Emeralds, minus one, rose into the air and shot off into the distance. Where were they going? Only the next chapter will tell.