Chapter 3 - Always Hope

I know, I know I take forever to update, but I'm back at school now and I have to put start putting my head down so it's going to take a little longer. So I apologize in advance. Anyway, here it is...

(Just in case you haven't read my prequel, Aeronniell is pronounced Eye- Ron- Knee- El)

"Well, I didn't expect to have to see you guys so soon," Aeronniell smiled weakly.
"What's going on, Aeronniell?" Tails asked.
"And why did you send Conrad to come and get us?" Shadow asked in his usual serious, uninterested tone, but drops of curiosity still managed to seep into his voice.
"I know this is all confusing but.. It's best to just show you," Aeronniell said, gesturing for Sonic and the others to come in.

Sonic and Tails hurried inside, but Shadow hesitated. He had just been led to the Forest of the Elementi by Conrad, an air Elemental who claimed to be a messenger of Aeronniell's brother, Karn (The current Ruler of the village). Shadow still didn't know why he had been brought here, but he knew it wasn't good.

Shadow looked around. Wooden huts and marble temples were shaped around huge oak trees. It was obvious that the villagers didn't like to cut down any trees. Other Elementals were talking at the market stalls, and the children were laughing and dancing to the music of the band. The entire village was peaceful and happy. The village was situated on a hill. On the very top of the hill was an enormous temple. Shadow knew that the temple was for the eight Ancient Ones, the eight people that protected and preserved the natural world.

"It's pretty cool, huh," Aeronniell smiled, leaning against the door frame with her arms folded. Shadow jumped, but smiled and nodded. "Come on, you need to see this. But just.. be ready," she said sadly. Shadow quietly followed Aeronniell inside her house..

Shadow expected Aeronniell to live in an igloo or something, due to her being a water Elemental, but it was just like a normal house. It was warm and airy. The furniture looked old, like it had been passed down from generation to generation. There was plenty of pictures hung on the wall: Pictures of Aeronniell's Elemental friends, The Ancient Ones, a birthday party, there were even pictures of Shadow with the others!

But the one that caught his eye, was a plain picture with three people on it: Karn, Aeronniell and another hedgehog She looked quite young but very pretty. Her fur was like Aeronniell's, only more lilac. She looked so happy, but there were water stains on the glass that protected the photos. Were those... tears?

He turned away and noticed that Sonic and Tails were crouching next to the sofa. Sonic looked up at Shadow, he looked worried. He looked very worried.
Shadow quickly walked over to the sofa and saw Rouge lying on it. "Rouge," Shadow exclaimed.
"It gets worse. Knuckles is at the Main Temple. The Ancient Ones are trying to save him from a curse but it's proving too strong for them," Aeronniell explained.
"Too strong for the eight Ancient Ones! That's gotta some strong curse," Sonic remarked.

"What happened to them? Who did this?" Shadow demanded, angrily, clenching his fists.
"Shadow calm down. To tell the truth we don't know what's happened," Aeronniell said, gently.

Rouge began to stir. She suddenly sat bolt upright. "Knuckles!" she exclaimed.
"Easy Rouge, you're ok," Shadow said quietly. He knelt beside her and put his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to get her to lie back down but she wouldn't budge. Sonic and Tails quietly moved aside.

"Where's Knuckles? Is he alright? That gem, it cursed him! Oh, This is all my fault," she rushed, before breaking down into tears.

Shadow sat on the edge of the sofa and comforted Rouge as she calmed down "It's alright," Shadow muttered. Aeronniell gave everyone a lemonade but she gave Rouge an herbal tea, to help calm her nerves and help heal her wounds.
"Here," Aeronniell offered gently. Rouge reached out to take it but her hands were trembling so badly that Shadow had to keep hold of the cup for her so she didn't spill it.

"Rouge, who or what cursed Knuckles?" Shadow asked after a few minutes of miserable silence.
"I.. It was Oblivion... Knuckles was cursed by Oblivion," Rouge managed.
"What cursed him?" Aeronniell persisted gently.

"The Gem of Greed." "But I think Knuckles said that he was looking for the Gem of Duty," Rouge added quickly, as if protecting Knuckles.
Aeronniell sighed.
"I know he was," she smiled gently. She seemed to zone out for a second, as if thinking of earlier memories, before getting thrown back into reality. Aeronniell headed towards the door. "Guys, I need to tell the Ancient Ones what happened, I shouldn't be long," Aeronniell explained, before quickly leaving.

"This is all my fault," Rouge muttered.
"No it's not," Shadow protested. "Rouge, you didn't even know that the Gem was cursed."
Rouge sighed. "But I still tried to take it," she muttered, staring into the log fire as she dozed off.

(A few minutes later...)

When Aeronniell arrived at the temple, she was panting. She had sprinted all the way up to the top and rushed into the little room where Knuckles was resting. The Ancient Ones turned to look at who had just entered.

"The Gem of Greed," she announced. "Knuckles has been cursed by Oblivion with the Gem of Greed."

"Aeronniell, are you sure?" a blue otter asked.
"I'm certain, Aqua," Aeronniell said.
"And yet another has fallen for his cruel trap... But why did your friend go in search of the Gem of Greed?" Smoulder the phoenix asked.
"Knuckles went in search for the Gem of Duty, but he was tricked and found the Gem of Greed," Aeronniell explained.

"Then, there is nothing we can do," said Rubble the mole gravely. Aeronniell's legs began to tremble.
"No.. No! There has to be a way... An old legend, a myth, something.. Anything!" Aeronniell exclaimed, as tears began to stream down her face.

"Aeronniell, you have seen this curse so many times. Deep down, you know that there's nothing that can be done," Argon the falcon said in a gentle but loud murmur, like a gentle summer breeze kissing your skin.
"I know, but I won't give in," she sobbed.

Aeronniell tried to pull herself together and turned away. Aeronniell stared at the walls and floors that were coloured with firery reds and calming blues and greens. Aeronniell put on a brave face and turned around again, as she remembered that turning away was a sign of disrespect. Knuckles was lying on a small bed, his breathing was deep but rushed. Torches lit the small room and seemed to be drawn to Smoulder the Phoenix, the Ancient One who controlled fire.

Aeronniell weakly walked over to Knuckles and dropped to knees beside him. She gently stroked his cheek. Knuckles began to stir. "Aero..," he murmured.

"Easy Knuckles, It's just me," she soothed.
"If the worst- .. If I," Knuckles managed weakly.
"It won't," Aeronniell smiled gently.

"But if it does.. Do you think you could.. Keep an eye... on the Master Emerald.. for me?" Knuckles croaked.
Aeronniell gently nodded.
"I will guard it with my life, but you're going to be alright," she said strongly. Knuckles smiled and fell unconscious again. He was beaded with sweat but his breathing was slowing down, it was now a bit more normal yet raspy.

Aqua walked over to her and put her hand on Aeronniell's shoulder. "I can't give up like before, there's just got to be something," Aeronniell choked. Aqua quietly led Aeronniell outside and they headed towards the stables...

Thunder was standing peacefully in his stall and nickered softly when he saw Aeronniell. "Hey boy," she said weakly, as she scratched his chin. Aqua sat beside Aeronniell on a bale of hay.

"I shouldn't really do this, because I'm probably sending you to your death, but there might be a way to save your friend," Aqua said quietly. Aeronniell nodded, as if considering a good deal.

"Then there's just one thing.. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN LILLY GOT CURSED!?" Aeronniell demanded, before standing up and turning away.
Thunder ears fell backwards and he moved closer to Aeronniell, sensing her anger and distress. Aeronniell walked over and gently stroked his head.

"Aeronniell, we didn't know at the time.. I swear, if I had known I would have said," Aqua said gently.
"When did you find out about the cure?" Aeronniell muttered, after an awkward silence. Aqua looked down and suddenly found an interest in her hands.
"The week after Lilly died. We decided not to say anything about it because it would have only made you feel worse," Aqua explained quickly.

Aeronniell shook her head and put her knuckle in her mouth, nervously biting it. "She was only seven, SEVEN YEARS OLD AND I HAD TO WATCH HER CRUMBLE INTO NOTHING!" Aeronniell thundered. "I won't let Knuckles suffer the same fate," she added, softening her tone of voice from solid steel to sandstone. Aeronniell sat on the hay, beside Aqua, and put her head in her hands and began to weep.

"You love him, don't you?" Aqua asked gently.
Aeronniell sighed and nodded. "Is it that obvious?... Yes but I won't tell him."
The tension gently began to lift but there was still an uncomfortable atmosphere.

"Why not?"
"Because Rouge loves him, and I won't interfere. Besides, he has a duty, I'd just be a distraction," Aeronniell explained bluntly, turning to face Aqua and drying her tears.
Aeronniell could tell that Aqua didn't really believe it and wanted to press for information but instead she nodded, as if to end the conversation.

"The Fireflower can cure everything from mental illnesses to curses. I don't know where it is but it's what you need to look for," Aqua said quietly. Aeronniell nodded, she was so glad that there was a cure, but she was still so angry. Aqua did not see how much Lilly suffered... She will never understand how desperate I really am, Aeronniell thought to herself.

"Thank you," Aeronniell muttered, as she stood to walk away.
"Aeronniell.. I'm so sorry for what happened to Lilly," Aqua said softly, standing up.

"Weren't we all," Aeronniell muttered, before leaving...

Ok, so this is kind of a really important chapter. I expect some of you will be trying to forget that this story exists because of the pairing that MAY happen (I'm not saying anything). Just note that even if the pairing was to go ahead, it wouldn't be anything rude. I don't write stories like that.

Anyway R+R please because I need to know what you guys think.

Bye XD