Chapter three: the protectorate reformed
Jet, Julie-Su, and Knuckles stood on the Mystics Shrine looking down at their chattering friends.
Knuckles shuffled his feet uncomfortably, "their not going to listen to me," he whispered to Julie-Su.
"Just try," Julie-Su answered, "It'll get easier as you go, you were good at public speaking on Angel Island."
"O.k." Knuckles looked down at everyone and took a breath, "if I could have your attention please," no ones showed any sign of hearing him, "Hey!" everyone jumped and looked up at him, "thank you, now, I'm sure you're wondering why we called you all here'"
Robin raised his wing, "no, we're not passing out free cookies," Robin lowered his wing sadly, "as you all know we are searching for the crystal flowers, but to find the last two we must find the friends of Fire and Earth, and the only way to do that is having all of your palms cut and placed onto the master emerald."
"So you're just going to cut open all of our palms?" Amy asked.
"No," Knuckles answered, "we might only get through a few people before we find who we're looking for."
Everyone was silent for a few seconds, and then Vector said, "Works for me, who do you want to go first?"
"Any volunteers?"
Everyone looked around to see if someone was going to volunteer, no one did.
"Fine," Knuckles said, "Amy if you could come up here."
"Why me?"
"Your name starts with an A." Knuckles said simply.
Amy sighed and walked up to Knuckles.
"Give me your palm,"
Amy held out her hand and looked away.
Knuckles placed the blade of the knife against Amy's palm and closed her hand around it.
"Is this going to hurt?" Amy asked.
"Do you trust me?"
"No,"
"Then yes," Knuckles pulled the knife through Amy's hand. Amy squeaked and looked down at the blood in her palm.
Knuckles led her up to the Master Emerald, and placed her hand on it. The Master emerald pulsed lightly, and Amy's cut healed.
"What does that mean?" Amy asked.
"It means you're not part of the protectorate," Knuckles said, "you can go now."
Amy ran down the shrine and clutched Sonic's arm, much to Sonic's discomfort.
"Next," Julie-Su said, cleaning Amy's blood of the knife.
"I'll go," Sonic said, hurriedly yanking his arm from Amy's grasp, and running up the shrine. He held his hand out for Knuckles.
"Thank you," Knuckles placed the blade on Sonic's palm, and Sonic closed his hand around it and pulled it away from the knife.
"Wow that hurts," Sonic said, walking up to the emerald and placing his hand on it. The Emerald flashed brightly and Tikal appeared on top of the emailed, wearing a gown of white with golden feathered wings folded down her back, "Peace to you, Child of the Sun."
"Dang," Sonic snapped his fingers, "I was really hoping to be the friend of earth."
Tikal laughed, "Remember to keep that humor of yours, it might just save your life in the future."
The Emerald flashed again and Tikal was gone.
"Cool," Sonic said, "I'm the friend of fire," He flexed his muscles.
"Tikal said to keep your humor," Jet poked Sonic's head, "not your arrogance."
"Welcome to the protectorate," Julie-Su held out her hand and Sonic shook it.
"Do I get a medal or something?"
"When you find your flower," Knuckles answered, "I knew it would be you, I mean, who's freer then Sonic the hedgehog?"
"Free as fire," Jet exclaimed proudly.
"That's cheesy," Sonic said, "but I like it."
"O.k. friend of Earth," Jet said, "Who want's to be the friend of earth?"
Robin raised his wing.
"You're not eligible Robin," Knuckles said.
"But I want to help protect the emerald daddy," Robin whined.
Knuckles was about to say, 'don't call me daddy' but it suddenly accrued to him that it was useless and instead said, "you can, just not as the Friend of Earth."
"Yippee," Robin flew up and hugged Knuckles, and, for the first, time Knuckles hugged him back.
"Maybe I don't mind you being around," Knuckles said happily.
"Now, if you're done with your sentimental moment," Shadow said holding out his hand, "would you get this over with?"
"You want to be the friend of earth?" Knuckles asked.
Shadow shrugged, "I thought it might be cool to be able to control the earth, you know, throw rocks and stuff."
"Like growing pretty flowers?" Sonic asked, fluttering his eye lashes.
"If I'm the friend
of earth the first rock I throw will be aimed at you."
Knuckles
grabbed Shadow's wrist and cut his palm. Shadow went up and touched
his hand to the emerald, it flashed and his cut was healed. He
shrugged, "oh well," And walked back down the shrine.
"Dose anyone else want to try?"
Cream raised her hand, "I'll try," she jumped up the shrine, "I like flowers." She held out her hand.
Knuckles took it, and cut her palm. She walked up and put her hand on the Master emerald, it flashed and her cut healed.
"You owe me five bucks," Sonic whispered to Jet.
Rouge landed on the shrine next to Knuckles, "Sorry I'm late," She kissed him, "what did I miss?"
"Sonic's friend of fire," Jet said, "And we're still looking for the friend of earth."
"I'll try," Rouge held out her hand.
Knuckles cut her palm, and she walked up and put her hand on the emerald. The emerald flashed brightly and Tikal appeared once again, "peace to you, Child of the Mountains."
"Wow I didn't expect this," Rouge said.
"Remember to keep your friends close; they shall give you all the strength you need." The emerald flashed again and Tikal was gone.
