Update - June 25th, 2019: This story is very much an 'AU'. At about chapter seventy, I start to heavily influence canon. Not that I wasn't from the very beginning, heh, but I figure I should say so up front. In case I gave off the vibe that this was all how the original writers intended things to go, let me clarify that it merely 'mirrors' the comics and or shows in some ways, but the rest of this story is all me. ;)

For the new readers, let me start out by saying: This was originally a oneshot. However long this story is at this point in time, remember that it all started out as these first six hundred words and my desire to get out of my writing funk.

The story is a slow burn and it's hard to really say what it's about anymore. It's about everything. Finding love, brush with war, parenthood, social stigma, celebrity, politics, self expression, werehogs, introspection, family drama, addiction, hopes and dreams...anyway, the list goes on.

I kept it light and funny for the first thirty chapters, then it gets a bit more serious.

Enjoy. :)

Peace out.

-Chapter 1: Think Like an Echidna-

On the sleepy Seaside Island, Knuckles enjoyed a workout on the beach. "One. Two. Three...number after three...five," he said to count his handstand push-ups. He had designed an entire workout regiment that required him to be upside down.

"Knuckles, what are you doing?" Amy appeared from a hover board and landed on Knuckles camp on the beach.

He lowered himself to his feet again. "Hey, Ames! Just doing my patented 'reverse blood flow' technique. If I send more blood to my upper body, I'll get better results." He flexed an impressive bicep.

"Explain, please," Amy asked while face palming.

"It goes like this," Knuckles explained in a flashback.

Knuckles hung from a tree by his ankles doing sit-ups.

Knuckles in a contraption Tails made to allow him to run on a treadmill while doing a handstand.

Knuckles on his head, food and drink in hands, as he watched a movie.

Knuckles hung from a chin-up bar by the backs of his knees and pulled big weights from the ground to his chin and back again.

Knuckles did a backstroke, face down; he stayed motionless as Sonic and Amy pulled him out of the pool.

"Gotta work on that last one," he said, one fist on his hip, the other scratched his chin.

Amy placed a basket of treats on a nearby table, "That's what you were doing in there? Why not use a snorkel?"

"Because then I would just be snorkeling. And the point is to do everything upside down...besides, I tried upside down snorkeling and well..."

Knuckles wore a snorkel and floated on his back in the pool, motionless. Sonic fished him out with a pool skimmer.

"..." Amy could only muster a blank stare. She smiled, "Whatever works for you. But might I suggest you do water based activities with more than just Sonic around." She motioned to the gift she brought. "Home baked goods, honey from local farms and wine from the orchard down the road."

"You're the best Ames, thanks," Knuckles said as he pawed through the basket and landed on the wine. "I'm know someone who's going to get a casserole this weekend."

Amy clasped her hands together, "Really?" She remembered that Knuckles had been perfecting his cooking skills. "That last one you made was really good. What's your secret?"

Knuckles shut his eyes and turned away with a hand wave, "Trade secret," he said and folded his arms.

Knuckles was upside down cooking at a small iron stove. He smacked his lips and thought a moment. With an 'ah-ha' he grabbed a spice bottle with his toes and sprinkled some in, followed by a pinch of salt from a nearby bowl. With the other foot, he grabbed a spoon, stirred and tested the sauce again; he gave a nod of satisfaction.

"Whatever it is, keep it up; it's working," she said. "We're going to be having a luau tonight if you're interested." She turned and waved. "It starts at dusk. You only need to bring your own meat. Later." Amy was off on the hover board once again.

"I'll be there," he said and went back his handstand push-ups. "Now where was I?" He paused. "Right, five! Number after five, number after the number after five, seven, eight, nine..." He paused. "I think I missed one...ten, ten again." He stood up. "A solid bakers 10."

I edited it a little to not be so...choppy. O_O

I don't know why this made me laugh to think about but there you have it. XD

Any thoughts?