Daylight

Chapter three: New World.

(x)

Wind flew through Shadow's hair as he glided down the rails. After Silver had dropped him off on the plains, he found his way up to and through the mountains and had found a series of rust-coated rails that webbed from mountain to mountain. At first, he was hesitant at the look of them, considering they hardly looked stable or well-maintained, but once he got enough courage to, he found that grinding down on them –like he the rails of the palace, which he had done so many times when he was younger- made getting from each mountain so much more efficient. Though, to be honest, it was mostly practice, momentum, and sheer dumb luck that he managed to avoid what seemed to be an idiotic death waiting to happen.

Of course, the speed and stability he got from the jet shoes hardly hurt anything.

By now, it had almost reached sun down, and the former prince was set on scoping out any place he could make shelter in. Not that he had an issue with sleeping on the ground, but a roof was always mandatory, considering the rain season coming in any day now.

He tried to reel back the scowl on his face –he only knew the weather so well because it was a skill he had to learn to become king; in order to estimate crop yield in order to set up appropriate trade taxes, or whatever it was that they claimed it was for. Personally, he always felt it was just because they were the Sun Tribe, and it was part of their culture to be bound to something or other. He didn't let that phase him too terribly, though.

'By now, Sonic has been made King, so he'll be the one to deal with things, in my absence.' While he felt just the smallest, tiniest bit of pity for his brother, nothing could make him go back.

A sudden flash of colors flickered in the sky, and caught the brooding male's attention.

What he had expected was a bird of prey, or possibly another set of rails –or hell, even one of those Gears Airships would have been a possible option. However, that would have been too easy. No, instead, what caught his eye was primarily red in color, falling to the ground, and most definitely not a bird. Shadow's stomach practically retched as he realized what had caught his eye.

It was, without a shadow of a doubt, a human –or at the very least a beastman of sorts- and they were coming down fast.

With a fast calculating mind, Shadow approximated where the figure would fall, and carefully slowed himself down just enough to buy a bit of time. If there was anything he could do to help this person, he would do it, even though every intellectual cell in his brain was screaming just how faulty and idiotic of a plan it was.

'Damn Sonic's hero instincts rubbing off on me.' But he had no time to deal with that.

Crouching closer to the rails, sparks flew from where jet shoes met metal, and while the friction heated his feet, Shadow couldn't have cared less. No matter how selfish he was, he wasn't about to watch someone fall to their death, especially when there was something he could do about it.

As he drew ever closer, he recalculated again and again to figure out where this individual was going to fall. There wasn't any room for error in a situation as grave as this. A sharp corner caused him to have to let up on the rails just the slightest, losing speed for a split second, but quickly regained it once he was upright again –his jet boots helping to speed him up immensely. Even though he was hesitant that he was going to miss catching the falling figure, that same fear made him crouch closer, speed gaining with every second.

'I have five seconds to position myself exactly where they'll hit the rails, or that'll be the end of them.' This thought made him so incredibly nervous, but he could already see the falling individual's shadow on the rails and made for that.

Five. He sped up, trying to make the distance as quickly as he could.

Four. Sparks flew this way and that as the runaway prince went around another sharp turn. A fear ate at him as he realized he might not make it.

Three… So close – so close!

Two… The sound of his jet boots whirring resounded in his ears and made them twitch, but all he could focus on was getting where he needed to be.

One! Arms held out, and the individual practically crash-landed into them, nearly throwing Shadow off-balance. Fortunately, he recovered just in time, and let up considerably on the rails. It wouldn't do to go so fast that he dropped the -incredibly androgynous- individual who he had only just saved.

Examining the person he was carrying practically bridal style, he found them to be unconscious and –what Shadow assumed to be- a priest or priestess of sorts. The headdress they wore, doubled with a traditional ceremonial hakama(1), spoke credibility to that. Though, the bandages and braided talisman bracelets on their wrists spoke to something else entirely –but that would have to wait until they woke up.

It was only with the mention of sleep that the runaway prince remembered just how truly exhausted he was.

Looking up, he noticed the rail ending at a mountain trail up ahead, and decided that best course of action would be some rest –for both of them. Taking the rail in stride, he slid down it as though it were nothing, and was on solid ground before he even realized it.

Several moments of searching passed before Shadow was able to find an overpass that expanded on far enough to act as their shelter. His first order of business was to set the red-haired individual down, and check them for injuries. Of course, the former prince didn't have any idea what to look for, considering he wasn't trained in first aid. The closest thing he knew of people patch work came from the fights he got in with Sonic, and the nightmares of war that invaded his dreams. But that was another story altogether.

After he set his backpack to the side, he took a moment to rest his feet, sitting next to the unconscious figure in front of him. Even with the headdress, the unconscious individual's face had a sort of masculine quality about it that Shadow hadn't quite noticed earlier, and he couldn't help his curiosity on what gender this individual was. Of course, that could easily be remedied, considering the situation, but he didn't want to think like that. Sure, it was only natural to think about things like that, but this wasn't the time for that. No, this was purely professional. Or, at least, that's what he kept muttering to himself over and over as he unhooked the clasps that held together the redhead's shirt.

Upon opening the shirt, Shadow was greeted by well-developed abs and chiseled pecks –needless to say, he found himself feeling sourly disappointed that he hadn't ended up saving some beautiful damsel in distress. Just his luck that he had met two possible dames in the last two days, and they both turned out to be men. Of course, he didn't have time to be thinking about this; this man's life could possibly be at risk!

Without a second thought, he set to opening the rest of the shirt, undoing the binding sash around his waist with the utmost care –considering it was silk, and looked incredibly expensive. In fact, taking another look at the red-haired man, Shadow found that just about everything about him looked custom-made and fit for royalty.

'Just my luck,' the bitter teen thought to himself. 'I escape the castle only to find myself saving another snobby prince'. Though, he swallowed his disdain and bit back the scowl on his face. Even if he didn't want to, he had to check the unconscious individual for any injuries.

The examination itself was a fairly quick ordeal, considering how there was a lack of any cuts, bruising, or discoloration anywhere on the man's chest or calves –while Shadow was a tactless menace, he would at least be respectful enough to keep the man's pants on, considering he couldn't see any blood on them.

Looking out the overpass, the prince noticed how the sun had sunken just beneath the horizon, the twilight hue making the mountains illuminate beautifully. Never had he appreciated his surroundings in his entire life, considering how he always felt it was suffocating him, but now that he was on his own –well, to say it was breath-taking would be giving it credit due.

He watched with bated breath as the sunlight slowly receded beyond the mountains, the stars beginning to rise in its place. Something about the scene calmed him to the core, and his usually destructive mind felt a welcoming bliss for the first time in many, many long years. It was as though life had come to a sudden standstill of beauty, and he could only be held to watch it unfold right before his very eyes.

A shuffle of clothing and an exasperated groan broke that calm faster than gunfire, and his ears twitched and flattened as he whipped his attention to the source of the sound.

Upright, shirtless, and with a piercing amethyst gaze, the previously unconscious man was staring him dead in the eyes, expression suspicious. In response, he could only manage a cold stare and a half-hearted smile. It's only now that he reprimands himself for never teaching himself the social skills needed to interact with strangers. Fortunately, the man is first to break the silence.

"Who are you?" Oh, how his voice is like boiling hot quicksilver, and it pierces straight through Shadow's calm façade. A feeling of irritation boils in his stomach, but he pushed it down with haste. It wouldn't do to make enemies when he was as alone as he was in the world.

"The man who saved your life." He stated, oh so matter-of-factly, trying to seem intimidating. The red-haired male calmed down at that, seeming to understand the gravity of his predicament.

"Saved? I was in danger?"

"You were falling from the sky. How did you even get up there, anyway? I haven't seen any airships in days."

"I well, uh…" Hesitant, he continued to open and close his mouth like he was willing the words to form on their own –they didn't.

"Hmm?" A bit of encouragement always helped, Shadow found, and soon the redhead could actually find the ability to use his vocal chords once more.

"I can fly." He said it like it wasn't anything to be surprised about. However, the freshly-runaway prince thought otherwise, his surprise showing on his face. Not like he didn't try to play it off cool and casually, though. That was always the best option; cool and calm, like nothing mattered, like nothing could ever dare to harm or affect you, even if it burned and scraped at your heart and hope.

"Huh? I don't see any wings on your back. Or did you fly too close to the sun, and they melted off?" A small chuckle escaped both of them from his comment, but they let it die with that. After all, quick quips at mythology was hardly something to bond over.

"No, not exactly." A smile –ever so slight and hardly noticeable in the terrible lighting- was evident on the older male's lips, and Shadow could only feel the need to return it –just as diluted and unnoticeable.

"Well, whatever you say, Icarus. I have all day, though. Don't have anywhere to be, so feel free to explain away." Even though he didn't quite want it to, he could feel the small smile on his face growing with his own humor, just as the man's did, like a terrible infection of happiness. All the black-haired hedgehog could do was tighten his fists, feeling the cloth of his pants stretch slightly, but stay put. He didn't bring any back-ups with him, so he was glad to snap right back to his sense's and stop sinking his nails into the black fabric.

"First off; my name's Knuckles. Second, I'm what people like you would call a Sky-Dweller. We use magic from runes to keep ourselves and our cities above the ground." The red-haired male lifts up his hand, revealing three odd tear-shaped stone attached to a beaded necklace around his wrist. While the necklace isn't anything out of the ordinary, the gems glimmer with a faint, bluish light. They're… interesting, to say the very least.

"So, you're one of the Ancients, are you? Haven't seen one in quite a while." Shadow says with a definite head nod, his eyes focused on the redhead's hands, studying them, almost.

"When had you seen one before?" He sounds baffled, amazed even. Perhaps he'd never seen one of his own kin before, considering how rare they were –to find a full-blood, anyway. There were certainly half-breeds and distant kin roaming almost all of the countries –easily distinguished by their eye color.

"A while back, when I was much younger. A small girl came to our residence, frail and worn from travel. She passed away soon after arriving, though. A real shame, too, since she's the only full-blood I'd ever seen of the Ancients –well, until now, that is." The sound of his voice was casual, but careful.

"I see…" He sounds disheartened, and the black-haired teen feels regret for how carelessly he worded what he said. But then again, he was sure that it wasn't anything he was at least hardened to, by now. The man –Knuckles, he reminded himself- seemed like a realistic individual.

"Ah, but, how come you fell from the sky? Did your er, runes falter?" He speak slowly, tiptoeing around the words. It wouldn't do to have this person assume he was someone who knew something -after all, he was a runaway. Couldn't do to make it seem like he was anyone important.

"Runes are powered by Chaos Energy. Are you familiar with the concept?"

"I learned about it in school, I think. It's what keeps the Airships floating, and what powers lights, and other things like that, right?" It was a flippant remark, but he felt he had to at least pretend to be friendly. There was no saying what this possible maniac could do -especially considering his sizable difference compared to Shadow.

"That's one way to put it. It's essentially the energy that powers all life. However, there are some gems and metals that have high, concentrated energy in them, so when harnessed it can do strange things, like heat up to incredible temperatures to light objects –how lights work- or push currents through pipes, or even power turbines and gravitational fields to keep things afloat, like the Airships. My runes act as gravity cancelers, and allow me to propel through the air. Though, they only have a certain amount of energy, and must be replenished." His eyes light up as he speaks on the topic, becoming more and more enthralled in the topic –though hardly like a giddy child, that's for sure.

"How do you go about doing that?"

"There are incredibly massive gems called Chaos Emeralds. Each one holds enough energy to power the entire continent for several decades, and regenerate their own energy. I'm able replenish my runes by placing them next to them." Off into the distance he could hear owls howling, becoming slightly unsettled by it, though he doesn't let it show. Throughout his entire life, he never cared for being awake at night, considering all the animals that cry to the moon. It never sat well with him.

"That's…"

"Pretty incredible, huh?" His amethyst eyes glowed bright for the briefest of seconds, his excitement seeming to get the best of him –that is before he gets a hold of himself and settles back down. In the near darkness Shadow can see him chuckle a bit before clearing his throat, and can't help but feel a bit awkward with him.

"That's one way to put it, yeah."

"Enough about that, though. I'm curious, what's a hedgehog like yourself doing up here in the Hallow Railway? And all alone, no less."

"I-" Shadow hesitates, a vile taste of fear on his tongue; he feels like he's going to mess up, say something he shouldn't. "I don't really know. I don't remember much of anything, aside from broad details. Just general things, really." He doesn't miss a single beat, though. An overwhelming feeling of calm rushes over him, and he can feel his body physically relax. While he feigns trembling hands and a fearful voice, internally he's commending himself for such a wonderful performance. It'd been a while since he last had to tell such an extensive lie.

"Is that so? That's not good…" The red-haired male purses his lips, eyebrows tight, as though caught in concentration. From the corner of his eye, Shadow can see the male twiddling with his headdress –ornate in its own right- and only then realizes just how very… outdated his outfit is, but only brushes it aside. He is a part of the Ancient's race, so it's only to be a bit expected.

"I figure if I just search the world enough, I'll find someone who knows me." Even with his fists clenched tight, his words still sound incredibly forced but he spits them out anyone. In the back of his mind, he knows, without a doubt, that he has to avoid the Sun Tribe at every and all costs. If he were to return, at least right away, he would only be welcomed with tears and steel –and possibly a few more broken bones from the new king.

"Is there anywhere in particular you're headed, next?"

"Not really. I just came from the Sun Tribe, and couldn't find anything."

"Well, if you head south, there's the Gears Tribe, as well as the Soul Tribe, just a big further, near the coast."

'Soul Tribe?' Shadow thinks to himself –he hadn't heard anything about there being a 'Soul Tribe' before. Even though he grew up in the middle of politics, he wasn't ever told much about the outside world, aside from the occasional visits to the Gears Tribe and Love Tribe –oh how he loathed visiting that godforsaken hell. The last time they visited there, he nearly maimed the Tribe's dearest princess. But that was now just a distant memory now that he

"What's this 'Soul Tribe' like?" He crossed his legs as he spoke.

"Strike a memory?" A hint of excitement passes through his voice, and Shadow only feels a twinge of guilt for playing him on with faked amnesia. It's all necessary, though, he reminds himself. After all, the last thing he needs is special treatment for being a cowardly run-away prince. Or even worse, being dragged back to the palace without accomplishing anything.

"Not exactly, it just sounds, how do I put it…?"

"Nostalgic?" The human –'humanoid, perhaps?' Shadow muses to himself- offers, expression kind, even in the hastily approaching darkness.

"Foreign, actually." This isn't the amnesia speaking, but more of just Shadow, himself. Hearing about foreign places was always one of his favorite things, but he was never really granted the access to go visit.

Though that could just be because he was a troublemaker -and well, still is.

"Hmm, well, if you want, I was actually headed there myself, and I could bring you along. Only if you wanted to, of course!" He gets increasingly frazzled as he speaks, almost like some kid panicking. A small laugh escapes Shadow, and he goes wide eyed before looking away, embarrassed; the idea of actually feeling amused, feeling happy is still so very strange and uncomfortable.

"Sounds like it'd be fun. But I guess it would be too much to hope we could just fly there with your runes, though, wouldn't it?"

"That's actually why I'm headed there. A woman tried to steal my Tribe's Chaos Emerald, so I smashed it into pieces. I heard that she was going to make an attempt at the Soul Tribe's, but I can't be too sure she'll still be there. Can't hurt to look, though." From the way he looked, he seemed to be more irritated than anything, and Shadow wasn't going to test it.

"Fair enough. Though, the sun's not going to be up for a while, so how about we rest up here for the night, and we can head out early tomorrow morning." Shadow's voice is nothing but certain, but internally, he's praying that the recently acquainted with Knuckles won't pull up some excuse or another to avoid venturing together –he's not familiar with anything outside the general Sun Tribe area, so trying to find that place on his own would take far longer than he would want to waste. And it only helps that the guy seems pretty cool, in his own far-too-genuine way.

"Sounds good to me." The older male lays back down on the ground, and attempts to get situated. Shadow doesn't observe him for long, and put his attention into taking some of the clunkier objects out of his bag in order to use it as a pillow. The ground was hardly comfortable against his bare skin, and he couldn't help the feeling of annoyance in his stomach.

Though, it improved considerably when he felt something hit his arm –a thick shawl of sorts. On the other side of the cave, the runaway saw Knuckles rummaging around in a bag he had at his hip –how had the prince missed that? And he produced a similar shawl, presumably for himself.

"Thanks."

"It's no good to travel unprepared. Though, I'm sure you've realized that by now." Even in the dark, Shadow can feel the dirty smirk on the Ancients' face, and is half-tempted to wipe it clean off –but decides heavily against that, considering how he's only shown him nothing but kindness.

"Good night." Laying down, faced away, he can only hear a general noise of agreement from the other side of the room before passing out. Enough excitement can exhaust anyone, after all.

(x)

(1) I have no idea how to describe kimono-like clothing for dudes, but if anyone has a guide/help/anything, I'd really appreciate it. Really, no fuckin clue.

It's really embarassing when you accidentally write something wrong, and then have to go back and fix it AFTER there have already been so many people who have read it.

Though I think this tidies up the last of my editing, for now at least.