Knuckles was no ordinary echidna, he is the guardian of the most powerful artifact in the world, the master emerald. He also thought before his last adventure with Sonic and the others that he was the last of his kind, which was until they all met an echidna named Shade. She was an echidna from the Nocturnus clan of echidnas, an ancient tribe that was thought to be vanished, but appeared they were trap in a place called the Twilight Cage.

One day, while Knuckles was on the steps of the alter of the master emerald, he was thinking hard about their last adventure and about Shade. "Why am I feeling like this? It's not like she liked me too," Knuckles said to himself. "I just so nervous around her, like I am going to explode."

"Knuckles if you like her why don't you just tell her," a floating orb said to Knuckles.

"It isn't that easy for me Tikal. You know I am one of those nervous types. I may be in peak physical condition, but I am soft when it comes to emotions," as he said that, he got up and started to leave the alter. "I am going for a walk through the jungle, can you warn me if someone appears on the island Tikal."

"Of course I will Knuckles," Tikal said while Knuckles was leaving.

Knuckles started to walk through the thick, green forest for about five minutes then Tikal said, "Knuckles, someone just appeared on the south-east part of the island." Knuckles just then turn in the other direction and started to run at his top speed.

He saw a shaded figure while still running towards it. "What are you doing on my island," Knuckles said ready to punch the figure until he found out who it was. "Shade," Knuckles said surprised.

"Hey Knuckles, how have you been," Shade said to Knuckles.

"Except me about to punch one of my friends, well," Knuckles said with a shameful look on his face.

"It's ok Knuckles I should have told you I was coming. If you want me to go I will," said Shade when she was about to use her teleportation belt to leave.

"Wait Shade, you can stay awhile I guess," Knuckles said to Shade while he was looking in her beautiful ivory colored eyes.

"Thanks Knuckles," Shade said.

"How about you come to the alter with me Shade."

"I would love to Knuckles."

Knuckles started to blush as they went to the alter. In about five minutes they were at the alter where the master emerald stayed. He finally noticed she was wearing jeans, a white tank top with a black blazer, a bracelet on her right arm and her nocturnes headband.

"Hey Shade, where have you been staying all this time," Knuckles asked.

"I been staying at Amy's place, but I want to leave as soon as I can, since you know Sonic is dating her and all." She said.

"Well if you want to you can stay on Angel Island with me," He suggested to Shade after she said that.

"I would love to Knuckles, anyway I think you would enjoy too have the company would you," She said while see was secretly blushing try to make sure Knuckles didn't see.

Knuckles started to chuckle a little. "I have been getting bored up here all by myself with no one visiting me since we got back from the Twilight Cage and took down Eggman's empire about five months ago, and with nothing happening lately," Knuckles said while still laughing a little.

"Knuckles tell her you like her," Tikal said in Knuckles head.

"Not now," Knuckles said out loud.

"Knuckles are you ok," Shade asked.

"Yes, thanks for asking Shade," Knuckles said hoping she will buy the lie.

"Knuckles I know your lying, I just can't believe how much a bad liar you are," Shade said with a suspicious look.

"Ok you got me, you know how I am the guardian of the master emerald right," Knuckles said.

"Yeah, but what that have to do with this," Shade asked.

"Well there is a guardian secret, and it is that there are two beings in the master emerald, of course you know Chaos. There is also echidna named Tikal and we can actually talk to each through her spirit being a orb or in my head," Knuckles said looking at Shade all confused. "Let me call her, Tikal can you come out in your spirit," Knuckles said then all of a sudden a floating green orb appeared.

"Hello Shade my name is Tikal, I have heard much about you."

"Wait Knuckles talk about me," Shade said while blushing a little.

"Yeah just because he li…"

"The way you smile, I mean dress, I mean the way you talk," Knuckles said and blushed a little.

"Yeah he likes you Shade," Tikal said while giggling.

"Knuckles is this true. Do you really like me and tell the truth," Shade said waiting for Knuckles to answer.

"Yes it is, I do like you, I just thought you wouldn't like me," Knuckles said.

"When I first met you Knuckles, I had a feeling that you the one for me. Then we caught you and kept you, which drove me just crazy seeing you in that cage. Then IX told me to kill you, I just couldn't let that happen. Knuckles, I don't like you…" Shade looked in the eye of Knuckles then continued. "I love you Knuckles," after she said that she kissed him on the cheek.

Knuckles in shock, then shook his head and went back to reality. "You love me Shade," he said while blushing.

"Of coarse I do Knuckle, I love you Knuckles," Shade said.

"I love you too Shade," Knuckles said right before he kissed her.