A/N First off…I would like to thank Blue Mage Quartet for helping me with this one. I OWE YA ONE MAN! LOL. Anyway…on with the story1 And don't forget to R and R when you get the chance. One last thing, And I've said this a billion times, don't unleash Satan on me. He's already scared to death about me. Just ask him.

A pair of drumsticks rattled against the bottom of a plastic tub. A bystander leaned down, tossing a quarter to the drummer. He looked up, smiling, "Merry Christmas!"” The young humanoid continued to drum. He was a cat like creature, with large ears that were black and a little white on the tips. He wore a black sweatshirt, a red jacket and a white jacket tied around his waist, and a pair of blue jeans. The tub continued to rattle as he drummed, but he stopped momentarily. Dismissing the noise, he started to play once more, but he heard the sound again. Perking his ears, he recognized the sound, someone was coughing. Shifting the tub and the drumstick to one side, he leant down, picking up a leather backpack.

"Hello?" The street drummer called out, walking down the alley. He saw a figure slumped against the wall.

"Oh my god, are you okay, honey?" Knuckles looked upwards at this kind stranger.

The dreadlocked echidna coughed, muttering, "I'm afraid so."

"Did they get anything, or-"

"I don't have any money with me, so they took my stuff. No, I'm fine, I'm fine." Knuckles warded away the handkerchief the stranger gave him.

"I'm Klonoa." The cat introduced himself.

"Klonoa? Friends call me Knuckles. You know, because of these." Knuckles gestured to the spikes on his hands.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." The taller echidna winced as he was supported up. "I kinda have to hurry; I have a Life Support meeting soon."

Knuckles looked at Klonoa, "Life Support?"

Klonoa explained, gazing into the echidna’s eyes. "Yeah. It's for people with AIDS. People like me."

"Me, too."

MEANWHILE……

Tails put on a pair of heavy black gloves. He glanced over at his best friend, strumming on a guitar. He was still working on a song, it seemed. "I was gonna try and find Knuckles. Do you wanna come?" Tails asked his best friend, "I was thinking, maybe we could all get a bite to eat."

"Zoom in on my empty wallet,” Sonic sighed."

Tails rolled his eyes, "Just kill the mood, why don't you? Anyway, don't forget to take your AZT." The two tailed fox walked out the door, leaving his best friend with his music.

Sonic stared listlessly at the ceiling, playing a few notes.

"I'm writing one great song before I…"

Breaking off, the hedgehog started a new song, but stopped. He sat up, sighing again, before heading out to the rooftops. The sky was black as coal, smoke drifting from the other buildings making an odd contrast of wispy white and solid black. Dusting off a chair, the struggling artist gazed at the light reflecting off the bricks from the building next door.

One song

Glory

One song

Before I go

Glory

One song to leave behind

Find one song

One last refrain

Glory

From the pretty boy front man

Who wasted opportunity

One song

He had the world at his feet

Glory

In the eyes of a young girl

He remembered meeting her, blue eyes hidden beneath a shy smile. They had a great relationship... until Tikal found out she was HIV positive. Instead of living through it with her friends, those last few months she had, the light orange echidna had chosen suicide.Â

A young girl

Find glory

Beyond the cheap colored lights

One song

Before the sun sets

Glory -- on another empty life

Time flies -- time dies

Glory -- One blaze of glory

One blaze of glory!

GLORY!

Sonic walked over to the edge of the roof. He leaned with his back against the wall, crossing his arms.

Find

Glory

In a song that rings true

Truth like a blazing fire

An eternal flame

Find

One song

A song about love

Glory

From the soul of a young man

A young man

Find

The one song

Before the virus takes hold

Glory

Like a sunset

One song

To redeem this empty life

Time flies

And then - no need to endure anymore

Time dies

GLORY!

Walking down the stairs, Sonic pushed open the door to the apartment. He did not notice the figure at the bottom of the stairs, or the flickering light of the candle she held. Blowing it out, the bat, Rouge, strode up the stairs and knocked on the door. Sonic opened the doors, a little surprised to see the woman he had locked eyes with earlier.

SONIC
ROGUE

What'd you forget?

Got a light?

I know you? -- You're --You're shivering…

It's nothing

They turned off my heat

And I'm just a little

Weak on my feet

Would you light my candle?

What are you staring at?

Nothing

Your hair in the moonlight

You look familiar

Sonic took a match out of his pocket. Holding his hands close to the flame, he lit the candle. Rouge turned to leave, but stumbled.

Can you make it?

Just haven't eaten much today

At least the room stopped spinning.

Anyway. What?

Nothing

Your smile reminded me of --

I always remind people of -- who is she?

She died. Her name was Tikal.

Rouge turned away from Sonic, holding the candle out of sight, and blew it out.

It's out again

Sorry about your friend

Would you light my candle?

Sonic drew another match, and lit the candle again. Both of them looked at the

floor, a little awkward.

Well --

Yeah. Ow!

A bit of wax had landed on the bat girls finger.

Oh, the wax -- it's --

Dripping! I like it -- between my --

Fingers. I figured...

Oh, well. Goodnight.

Rouge strolled towards the exit. Feeling around for something, she paused at the

door, and knocked three times with her candle. Sonic turned to her.

It blew out again?

No -- I think that I dropped my stash

I know I've seen you out and about

When I used to go out

Your candle's out

I'm illin' --

I had it when I walked in the door

It was pure --

Is it on the floor?

The floor?

Rouge fell down on all fours, searching the floor for her stash. Sonic couldn't help but stare.

They say I have the best ass below 14th street

Is it true?

What?

You're staring again.

Oh no.

I mean you do -- have a nice --

I mean -- You look familiar

Like your dead girlfriend?

Only when you smile.

But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else --

Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?

That's where I work - I dance

Yes!

They used to tie you up --

It's a living

I didn't recognize you

Without the handcuffs

We could light the candle

Oh won't you light the candle?

Why don't you forget that stuff

You look like you're sixteen

I'm nineteen -- but I'm old for my age

I'm just born to be bad

I once was born to be bad

I used to shiver like that

I have no heat -- I told you

I used to sweat

I got a cold

Uh huh

I used to be a junkie

But now and then I like to --

Uh huh

Feel good

Here it – um-

Sonic noticed an object on the floor. He picked it up, and realizing it was

Rouge's stash, hurriedly placing it in his back pocket.

What's that?

It's a candy bar wrapper

We could light the candle

What'd you do with my candle? That was my last match

Our eyes'll adjust, thank God for the moon

Maybe it's not the moon at all

I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street

Bah humbug ... Bah humbug

Rouge placed her hands over Sonics’, caressing them.

Cold hands

Yours too.

Big. Like my father's

You wanna dance?

With you?

No -- with my father

I'm Sonic

They call me

They call me Rouge

Rouge leaned very close to Sonic, almost as if to kiss him. Her hands snaking behind his back, she snatched her stash out of his jeans. Waving her prize merrily in front of Sonic, she strode out of the door. Sonic gazed after her, slightly confused.