Hello everyone its good to be back and I hope you like this chapter too; I promise a lot of action in this one.

Shadows Obsesser: well if you remain as nice as you are by banging your head then please continue ill just stand by with the painkillers:)

Thanks for the review I'm glad you liked the chapter.

Aeyvi Allen Poe: thanks for the review and if you didn't read the review I sent then ill say it now, I love your story, its one of the best knux focused fanfictions in fanfiction.net.

Crysatlstorm21: thanks again for the review I'm glad you enjoy reading my story.

Dragon master Naya: I thought the two got together in sonic underground anyway? Oh well I'm glad you like the couple.

Authors note: I do not own sonic or any sega related characters nor to I own the lyrics to the sonic adventure 2 music or the lyrics to Anastacia's song 'seasons change'.

The guardian part 2

The majesty of Angel Island had been undisturbed for years, under the protection of the guardian the wildlife of the Island had little to fear from forces outside nature.

A small blue bird with a large purple feather crest was perched on a branch of its favourite tree as it happily fed on any insects that ventured too close.

Although not sentient that bird was feeling an emotion very close to bliss as it happily enjoyed the beautiful weather and moment of calm as its family chattered in their own languages in the branches above him.

He cocked his head as a strange feeling overcame him, like a pressure on his skull that while not painful was slowly increasing until it could not be ignored, the very air grew heavy and warm as an unknown force heated it.

"Arcckkk!" the bird screeched as it jumped in surprise as a blue and golden blur zoomed by so fast that they were gone in less time then it took to blink, the bird stared at the fiery trails burnt into the grass feeling as confused as its primitive brain would allow.

That was until a sound very much like a thunder clap boomed in its ears and it was knocked from its tree by a sonic boom.

(Pray all the way to your life, you can't survive, what lies before you)

Sonic and shadow raced towards the centre of the island going well beyond the sound barrier, the two hedgehogs near godlike reflexes zoomed round trees and jumped fallen logs and boulders as the two ran like never before.

(It's only a matter of time, before the night turns into day)

A river was fast approaching, the hedgehogs knowing that once spotted it would be on them in less then a second but not caring either way, sonic lowered his head and squared his shoulders as he pored on the speed, he knew without looking that shadow would be doing the same.

(Oh you should feel incredible ohhh, to know you're not alone)

In less then a second the river was under their feet but the hedgehogs did not sink, water was thrown in all directions to make a fountain of colours as light streamed through the water droplets making many small jets of rainbow colours.

(Just look in my eyes ohhh, just look in my eyes)

The hedgehog's sheer momentum prevented them sinking as the two ran across the water and continued into the forest.

(Ohhh happy turns to say, sometimes life can fade, things get rearranged, nothing stays the same, it just never ends, here we go again, one thing stays the same, seasons, seasons change!)

A cascade of greens and browns flooded Sonics senses as he continued to run, his muscles continued to power his motions never tiring nor taking damage despite the immense battering the air was giving them.

(Are you scared of today, running away, I can see through you, it feels like an eternal haze, it's only a phase, it's all in your mind!)

The forest was just a blur as sonic twisted his head round to see shadow, his love was running neck and neck effortlessly jumping small logs and dodging trees, his movements resembled an artistic dance rather then full-out running yet despite the danger all round and the Madrid distractions of the forest his demon eyes never broke their concentration.

(Feel invisible; just know you're not alone, just look in my eyes, just look in to my eyes!)

The forest began to clear as the stone pillars of the shrine came into view, the two hedgehogs began to slow down as their went below the sound barrier.

(Ohhh happy turns to say, sometimes life can fade, things get rearranged, nothing stays the same, it just never ends, here we go again, one thing stays the same, seasons, seasons change!)

The two skidded to a halt outside the shrine gazing in awe at the sight, the shrine itself was relatively simple with seven crumbling pillars round a rounded stone hill with a set of stairs leading up to it, the stonework's had various glyphs and pictographs hewn into them that resembled hedgehogs except with long dreadlocks instead of quills.

What got their attention though was the huge emerald that resting gently floating on the shrine.

It was beautiful, a gentle green glow surrounded the jewel like a nimbus of energy, the gem itself was beautifully cut its glassy sides perfectly hewn and giving distorted reflections of its surroundings as it lazily spun.

Two chaos emeralds also lay on a small pedestal next to the master; they were the grey and blue emeralds.

"Its beautiful" whispered sonic.

Shadow nodded as he looked around for his robotic double; did they get here first?

Sonic began to walk up the steps as something gently pulled him forwards, it wasn't a physical presence more a mental tugging on his mind as he made his way towards the emerald.

"Sonic? What are you doing?" hissed shadow as he quickly ran after his mate, he could feel tremendous chaos energy starting to build within the emerald and he was fearful to approach it.

Sonic ignored him as he stopped in front of the giant emerald, feeling a compulsion he couldn't understand he gently touched the emerald.

"SONIC DON'T!" yelled shadow racing forwards.

A burst of chaos energy shot out of the emerald and quickly travelled through Sonics arm, the cobalt hedgehog screamed as the chaos energy burnt his fur and sent tremors of pain down his spine.

Through the pain several strange visions flashed through his mind.

(Shadow was lying on the floor blood pooling round him as he breathed weakly, his arm was twisted at a strange angle and as sonic looked closer he could see traces of silver on shadows fur that began to slowly return to his normal black colour.

He appeared to be a city and as sonic focused he realised that it was Robotrobilous, but the city was in ruins, the place was destroyed and fires burned all over the place.

A glowing figure walked towards shadow, he was glowing so brightly that sonic couldn't see who it was but its outline was roughly hedgehog shaped, its eyes were glowing with a deep crimson light and sonic feared that it was metal shadow but it raised a delicate hand and sonic saw flesh at the tips not metal.

The figure laughed and sonic shivered at the evil voice, shadow was staring at the figure in horror, pain and... Loss?

The ruby eyes narrowed as the figure spoke in insanity filled voice.

"This world now belongs to super-)

"SONIC!!" yelled shadow as he cradled the cobalt hedgehog.

Sonics eyes snapped open and he looked around in confusion, he quickly spotted shadow and seeing no blood gave a sigh of relief and hugged his dark lover fiercely.

"Sonic you idiot why did you touch it! You could have been seriously hurt you fool!" said shadow angrily but with tears in his eyes.

Sonic kept his eyes closed as he tried to banish that awful vision; it was just a hallucination...right?

"I'm sorry shadow, it called to me...I didn't know what I was doing" whispered sonic sadly.

Shadow sighed and rested his head on top of Sonics as he felt immense relief; he had been so terrified when sonic had been shocked he had been in tears.

Thankfully there was no damage.

"H-o-w s-w-e-e-t b-u-t c-o-u-l-d y-o-u t-w-o s-t-o-p b-e-I-n-g s-a-p-p-y a-n-d g-e-t r-e-a-d-y t-o d-I-e?" hissed the familiar voice of metal shadow.

The two hedgehogs shot to their feet as the evil robot and three chaosbots swooped down from the sky and landed a few meters away from the hedgehogs.

Shadow glared in hatred at the robot that had beaten him so badly in their first confrontation, with the red emerald now the odds would be in his favour.

Sonic eyed the new robots metal was with, they looked a lot like swatbots but were more heavily armoured and had strange glowing energy coils round their bodies.

Metal smirked at shadow, "T-h-I-n-k y-o-u c-a-n l-a-s-t l-o-n-g-e-r t-h-e-n f-I-v-e s-e-c-o-n-d-s t-h-I-s t-I-m-e m-y t-w-I-n?" he said mockingly.

Shadow wordlessly raised his chaos emerald as metal tensed.

"Before this is over, I will show the true power of chaos control!" he promised fighting off the déjà vu those words gave him.

Metal waved his hand and the chaosbots stepped forward their arm cannons raised.

"E-l-I-m-I-n-a-t-e t-h-e b-l-u-e o-n-e, t-h-e o-t-h-e-r I-s m-I-n-e" he snarled his eyes locked with shadows.

"Can you take them?" asked shadow never taking his eyes of metals.

Sonic summoned his guitar feeling the familiar metal of the instrument and giving it a small pat.

'Missed this baby'

"No problems" answered sonic.

The chaosbots fired and the two hedgehogs jumped aside, metal raised his hands as green energy played over him.

Shadow quickly focused on his emerald as ruby light played over him.

"CHAOS CONTROL!" the two yelled at the same time.

Shadow smiled as the familiar time-warp took over and the world slowed, he glanced round smirking as the robots moved at a snails pace, they opened fire on sonic and shadow watched as one laser slowly, ever so slowly went right by his nose.

He remembered why he was here and quickly spotted metal charging at him with blades extended.

Shadow ran up to him swinging to the side to dodge metals downward slice and then smashing his fist into metals head, while the robot span he quickly uppercutted it under the chin creating a large dent as the robot was sent head over hells.

"You really think am amateur like you could beat a master of chaos control?" gloated shadow.

Metal got back up his optics blazing with hate, "W-e s-h-a-l-l s-e-e w-h-o I-s t-h-e m-a-s-t-e-r h-e-d-g-e-h-o-g!" he said angrily.

The two charged back at each other both determined to destroy each other, thrusting, punching, slashing, kicking their ferocity was unmatched and focused entirely on each other.

Sonic quickly jumped to the side twisting to a roll as he avoided the robots first barrage of attacks, he jumped up and quickly strumming his guitar shot a beam of energy at the lead chaosbot.

The robot twisted to the right, the shot that would have taken its head off hit its shoulder, which while damaging was not fatal and it quickly fired back.

Running round the shrine sonic quickly glanced around for shadow and metal, his eyes that could see objects clearly while going at the speed of sound only caught faint ghostly images of shadow and metal trading blows all over the shrine.

He ducked another shot and quickly took cover behind a pillar as the robots started taking chunks out of the ancient edifice, he quickly stole a shot at one robot grinning in satisfaction as it head exploded.

The shots lessened as one chaosbot ran round the side of the pillar hoping to get sonic in a crossfire while the other kept the speedster pinned down.

'Smarter then swatbots' thought sonic irritably.

Bunching his legs he jumped spinning into his customary summersault as he landed on top of the pillar, taking advantage of the robots surprise he fired at the robot that tried to sneak up on him landing a solid blow to its chest that caused it to explode in a brilliant fireshow.

The remaining robot fired at sonic again who quickly jumped forwards avoiding it, spinning round in the air sonic soared over the robot quickly firing downwards when he was directly above it.

The robot didn't move in time and the energy blast tore it apart as sonic landed on one knee behind it smirking as he heard the explosion.

(I am the ultimate life, a flawless existence)

Shadow snarled as he shot a chaos spear at metal, the robot flew into the air to avoid then shot at shadow like a missile blades at the front.

(Nothing is unpredictable to me, nothing can surprise me)

Shadow rolled out the way as metal banked up coming to a halt and hovering out of shadows range.

(I am the mystery of the world, I can tell it by their cold eyes)

To shadows surprise a small missile system came out of metals back, the robot smirked as it started firing missiles at shadow without fear of retaliation.

(I am the warrior, it's my way to go)

Snarling shadow raced towards a pillar near metal, he ran directly up it and jumping off the top used metals missiles to reach the robot, he jumped from missile to missile like stepping stones, metals optics widened in surprise as shadow flying kicked him in the face twisting his metal nose out of place and cracking the glass round his optics.

(Give me your huge potential with your fluid motion)

Shadow went into a roll as he landed, quickly getting up he saw metal lunge for him, he dodged metals first blade but metal swung round with a roundhouse kick smashing it into shadows chest knocking him back a few feet and knocking the air out of his lungs.

(Tell me the truth are you really the ultimate life?)

Ignoring the pain shadow got to his feet as metal fired a missile at him, with a swift chop of his hand he sent the missile veering away to explode against a nearby pillar.

(Nothing is unpredictable to me, nothing can surprise me)

"Chaos control!" shadow warped behind metal and spinning kicked him in the back causing his back plates to crumple and sparks to shoot from his back as the robot staggered forward his optics dimming.

(I am the mystery of the world, I can tell it by their cold eyes)

Metal shakily got to his feet and summoning three chaos spears began throwing them rapidly at shadow.

(Just move, it's the time for you)

Shadow dodged quickly, right, left two missed, duck! Too late shadow hissed in pain as his shoulder was struck and the flesh burned and smoked, he collapsed under the pain.

(Just move, it's the time for you)

Metal stepped forward his body smoking and sparking but triumph in his optics.

"A-n-d n-o-w s-h-a-d-o-w y-o-u-r t-I-m-e I-s o-v-e-r" said metal as he raised his blades for the finishing blow.

(JUST MOVE IT'S THE TIME FOR YOU!)

Shadows eyes snapped open as he lunged forward summoning a chaos spear as he did, metals optics brightened in surprise before shadow stabbed the energy spear deep into metals chest.

"A-R-R-G-G-G-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-H-H-H-Z-Z-Z!" metals scream turned into a static hiss as his optics flared and he clutched at the hole in his chest from which a green glow emanated.

Shadow sighed as the world began to move at normal time as his and metals chaos controls faded; he weakly got to his feet as metal staggered away from him.

"Shadow!" shouted sonic in fear as he ran towards his mate, he quickly grasped shadow before he collapsed and held his dark lover close to him.

"I'm fine, you should see the other guy," said shadow with a weak grin.

Indeed metal shadow was pretty much a mess to look at, the robot was hobbling up the steps towards the master emerald and the two chaos emeralds his undamaged eye fixed on the grey emerald.

"Oh no you don't!" sonic gently laid shadow down then raced up the steps towards metal, the robot turned and raised its blades to strike sonic down.

'Not this time' promised sonic.

He ducked under metals blade and spinning into a ball slammed himself into the robots chest as hard as he could, there was a sound of metal shrieking as his quills sawed through metals chest and black oily 'blood' spurted in all directions as metal collapsed against the master emerald knocking the two chaos emeralds to the floor.

Sonic stared down at the ruined robot, its optics was smashed and its undamaged eye was filled with static.

'Is this the end? Has my plan failed before it even begun?' though metal in anguish.

He focused on the floor seeing the grey emerald next to his foot, he hissed as he forced his arm to reach for it.

'I will not die! Not here, not now, I will be forever!' he swore as his hand swiftly clasped the grey gem.

Lifting it up he focused on the blue emerald that was near sonic and using the chaos control picked it up and began to speed it towards his other outstretched hand.

"No!" sonic leap forwards and grabbing the blue emerald pulled it back as hard as he could, metal hissed and pulled harder but his power levels were dropping and he needed repairs urgently.

"W-e w-I-l-l f-I-n-I-s-h t-h-I-s a-n-o-t-h-e-r t-I-m-e h-e-d-g-e-h-o-g, t-h-a-t I p-r-o-m-I-s-e y-o-u" he swore as he disappeared under the power of chaos control.

Sonic fell backwards with the blue emerald as the pull on it stopped, he lay there staring at the area where metal had been before picking himself up, he eyed the blue emerald in his hand before walking back down the steps towards shadow.

The dark hedgehog was holding his chest where several deep scratches were but his face betrayed no hint of pain.

"Metal?" he asked.

"Escaped with the grey emerald" answered sonic.

Shadow sighed as sonic slung an arm round his shoulder and helped him rest on the steps to the shrine, the two sat there for a moment enjoying the quiet peace as shadow rested his head on Sonics shoulder.

"What do we do with the emerald?" asked sonic.

Shadow frowned in thought, "I would have expected knuckles to show up by now but I guess he doesn't exist in this dimension, anyway if we remove the master this island will sink into the ocean so we need to find some way to control the islands movement"

Sonic nodded as he thought back to his siblings, he jumped up with a gasp as he remembered what they were doing.

"Shadow! Sonia and manic are still fighting those chaosbots, we have to help them!" he said as he tried to pull shadow up.

"Sonic I'm sure the two of them are fine" grumbled shadow as he reluctantly got to his feet.

"Less talk more running!" said sonic as he got ready to move.

"Oh but cant you stay a little while longer so I can kill you!?" spat a familiar evil voice.

The two hedgehogs looked up just in time to see a huge object come flying towards them, shadow quickly chaos controlled them away as a huge robot slammed its feet into the spot where the two hedgehogs had been resting.

They rematerialised at the other end of the shrine and stared in anger at the leering face of robotnik through the cockpit of his huge robot.

It was the size of a house and roughly bipedal with huge armour plating and various metal spikes attached to its body.

Its arms ended as long spiked maces and on its back were two immense machine guns with large ammo chains running off them and into the robots back.

"Please god cant you give us a FUCKING BRAKE!?" yelled shadow to the sky as sonic snarled at the robot.

"I told you id get you for that attack shadow and now its time to rid this world of you vermin once and for ALL!!" swore robotnik as a metal covering enveloped his cockpit and he swung his maces as he stomped towards them.

Quiet bird songs and the roaring of a waterfall echoed in her ears as Sonia warily opened her eyes, her jade eyes blinked as she focused on the peaceful surroundings.

'Such a beautiful place, what am I doing here? How did I even get here?' she thought.

She went to sit up but was stopped dead by the tough vines that her arms and legs were bound in, she groaned and collapsed warily to her side as she remembered the red creature that had kidnapped her.

'At least he didn't drag me to his cave to have his way with me' she thought in disgust.

There was a rustling in the trees above her before 'red-boy' as she now decided to non-affectionately call him dropped down onto the forest floor.

Sonia sat up as the hedgehog-look-alike walked over to some bushes and began to tear apart the foliage.

"You know for a Tarzan wannabe you haven't done the 'me Tarzan, you Jane' thing yet" Sonia quipped.

Red-boy eyed her in confusion before continuing to sort though the bushes; he gave a small grunt of satisfaction as he unearthed a large metal disk with strange runes and markings on it.

"What's that?" asked Sonia as red-boy began to look over it, he continued to ignore her.

"You know a little conversation like telling me who the fuck you are and why you've kidnapped me would be nice!" Sonia hissed angrily.

The creature gave an exasperated sigh before walking over to her it raised its fist towards her face, Sonia flinched away thinking he was gonna hit her but red-boy gave a shake of his head and began to point at his knuckles.

"Your knuckles?" Sonia asked confused.

The creature nodded then pointed at itself and back to its knuckles doing this back and forth again and again.

Sonias eyes widened in revelation, "Knuckles, that's your name"

Knuckles nodded and began to fiddle around with the metal disk again.

"You're the guardian...shit I'm such a dumbass you're the echidna shadow was talking about!" Sonia exclaimed in understanding.

Knuckles was staring at her his face showing his confusion, he made a motion to speak and just as Sonia thought he'd talk at last he stopped and shook his head.

Sonia sighed and hung her head eyeing the ant that was investigating her shoe.

'Little bastard better back off before I step on him'

Her head snapped up and at a strange scratching noise, knuckles was trying to write something on the ground pressing his knuckles into the earth to form the words.

The word was spelled something like 'EKIDNA'.

Knuckles pointed at himself with that same confused look.

"Yes that what you are, its your species" explained Sonia, "I'm a hedgehog see the quills, she shook her head a bit, and my names Sonia by the way, you're an echidna hence the dreadlocks" she finished.

Knuckles looked jubilant at knowing what he was, Sonia couldn't help but wonder how a creature couldn't even know what species it was.

"Are there no others like you here?" she asked nervously.

Sadness crossed knuckles face before the emotion was stamped on and his face went hard again, he glared angrily at Sonia and returned to fixing the disk.

"Ill take that as a no" she whispered as she lay back down.

Knuckles gave a grunt of disgust as he peeled a fat slug off the insides of the disk, he eyed it for a moment before popping it in his mouth and chewing thoughtfully on it.

Sonia stared at him in disgust before her stomach rumbled reminding her of its present state of emptiness.

Knuckles snapped round at the noise and again frowned at Sonias blush, he couldn't understand what that was for, though it did look nice.

"Um don't suppose I can have something to eat," asked Sonia.

Knuckles nodded and began rummaging around in the disk again.

"Something that isn't a bug! Maybe some fruit?"

Knuckles frowned; bugs were a good source of protein. Oh well.

He walked over to one of the trees near the water edge and kneeling down launched himself into its highest branches.

Sonia watched in awe as he picked a handful of strange purple fruit from the tree and jumped to the ground landing on his feet from such a high drop without injury.

"Nice" said Sonia once again noticing his powerful muscles, the guy ate bugs but had a great body she thought wickedly.

He crouched next to her and held a fruit to her lips, she frowned, did he expect her to eat from his hand?

"Can you untie my arms?" she asked, she glared as he shook his head.

He shook the fruit again but Sonia twisted her head away, she was not eating from his hand!

Knuckles frowned at her behaviour, she was hungry so why wouldn't she feed?

Giving a grunt of anger he grasped her head quills and quickly forced her head still, Sonia hissed in anger and tried to twist away but knuckles wasn't letting her budge.

His eyes blazed into hers as he held the fruit close to her lips she quickly lunged forward and snapped her teeth round knuckles fist, he hissed in pain as her sharp canines drew blood but didn't pull back for fear of damaging her teeth.

Sonia blinked in confusion as blood ran over her teeth and down her throat, she coughed and pulled back horrified at her behaviour as she eyed the deep wounds on his hands.

He loosened his grip on her quills and stroked them tenderly as he again tried to feed her; Sonia reluctantly took a bite as those amethyst eyes watched her intently.

She closed her eyes as the fruits sweet juice ran down her throat, she hadn't tasted fruit this pure since...well ever.

Once she ate her full she stared at the deep bite wounds on his hand, he had only tried to feed her after all and she had let her temper get the best of her.

Knuckles tensed as she leaned towards his hand again but stared in confusion as she gently licked his wounds to stop the bleeding, he shivered at the strange sensation, he had licked his wounds before to stop bleeding but the feel of another's tongue doing so was...heavenly.

They're eyes locked and Knuckles gasped at the strange burning sensation on his cheeks as Sonia finished cleaning the wound.

Sonia smiled at knuckles blush and chuckled as he turned away in embarrassment and fear, he held up another fruit but this time couldn't meet her eyes, Sonia shook her head and knuckles went back to the disk refusing to meet her eyes as he rubbed at his cheeks trying to get rid of the strange sensation on them.

Sonia lay back on the ground smiling softly as she licked her lips clean, that had been strangely erotic in a primitive kind of way.

Knuckles was staring at her again, her figure was in his opinion (and in many others) highly attractive especially as the strange clothing she wore showed off all her curves in perfect detail.

'Stupid emotions I am a guardian I have no need of such things!' he thought angrily.

"So what's that your working on?" asked Sonia as she looked up at the clouds, that one looked like Manic...hope he's ok.

Knuckles held up the disk pointing at the pictographs that showed an echidna stepping on the disk then appearing at a different location.

"A teleporter?" knuckles nodded.

"But what for" she asked.

Knuckles pointed at her, Sonia glared at him.

"I'm not leaving my brothers here for that monster metal shadow to kill them!" she screeched.

Knuckles blinked then ignored her.

'I will deal with her brothers, all intruders must be eliminated' he eyed Sonia again, well letting one live wont cause two much trouble hopefully.

"What are you going to do to my brothers?" asked Sonia.

Knuckles stared coldly at her before raising his fist and slamming it into the ground, he then scratched in another word.

'KILL'

Sonia gasped before her trademark explosive rage took over, she screamed, hissed and raged as she kicked and tore at her bonds, she managed to twist her bound hands round to her face and savagely bit through the vines.

Knuckles was on her in a second trying to hold her down but she clawed, kicked and punched him without mercy.

Knuckles quickly sat on her midriff using the leverage to grasp both her hands and hold them above her head as he hissed warningly at her while he leaned over her.

Sonia hiccuped as tears came to her eyes, she wished she could wipe them away but without her hands they flowed down her face streaking her fur with two lines of wetness.

Knuckles hissing stopped as he stared at the tears, he didn't understand what they were but he could see the obvious sadness on Sonias face and it hurt him for some reason.

"I thought you were nice, but your just a killer aren't you, how many people have you killed knuckles!? Do you enjoy seeing their blood over those spikes of yours and their tears!?" whispered Sonia in self-loathing at her tears.

Knuckles shook his head as he let go of Sonia and leaned back, he stared at her tears at a moment before idly scratching another word into the ground before Sonia was tempted to knock him off her.

'MUST PROTECT MASTER'

Knuckles didn't look at Sonias face as he continued to write he was too nervous about what her reaction may be.

'NIGHTMARES SCREAMING ALONE NOT MONSTER PLEASE'

He finished and sat there too confused to move even though he was still sitting on Sonia, he blinked as wetness gathered at the corners of his eyes but he was too deep in thought to notice.

'They come to steal the master, I have to protect it, the world would be in danger if its power was used for evil, I have to kill them to protect the secret. But I never stop hearing the screams; I always have nightmares'

He sniffed and angrily wiped his eyes, Sonia sat up with knuckles still in her lap as he froze with his hand still on his face, he had shown weakness.

'I cried, please Sonia don't hate me' he thought in anguish as he trembled under Sonias emotionless stare.

Sonia smoothly took his hand and rubbed it gently as she pulled him into a hug knuckles froze but slowly relaxed as Sonia softly rubbed his back, she quite liked the soft feel of his fur.

Sonia continued her inspection of knuckles in his relaxed state, his dreadlocks were not fur but flesh covered with a soft red fuzz, despite this alien anatomy Sonia wasn't repulsed but finding them very interesting as she felt round one.

Knuckles had his head resting on Sonias shoulder and he was staring at nothing as he enjoyed the hedgehog's gentle investigations, he never realised being touched so gently by another would feel so nice.

"My brothers aren't thieves knuckles, we want to protect the master from an evil man who will use it for great evil" she said into knuckles ear, or were it was under the dreadlocks.

Knuckles pulled back and eyed her dubiously, Sonia sighed and began to explain her story and about robotnik and metal shadow while knuckles listened wide-eyed and completely attentive.

Sonia not once thought to push him off her lap, one he was surprisingly as light as a feather, and two well... she liked him there.

Shadow rolled round the shrine as he dodged the hail of shot from robotniks machine guns; behind the giant robot sonic was trying to find a weakness in its armour by blasting it with his guitar at various places.

The robot spun round and swung a mace at sonic, the cobalt hedgehog jumped to the side as the huge weapon smashed into the ground making a large furrow in the earth.

Shadow quickly jumped at robotniks shielded cockpit and slammed himself into it with a homing attack, he hissed as he bounced off in pain with no damage done to the metal.

"Fools!! This machines armour is made of titanium! Not even your quills or weapons can pierce this metal hahaha!!" yelled robotniks voices from within.

"Then let us see if your armour can withstand the powers of chaos!" yelled shadow as he raised the red emerald.

"CHAOS SPEAR!"

A bright lance of yellow energy struck the robot dead-on knocking it to the ground as smoke bellowed from the impact, when it cleared a large gash had been forced onto the metal armour of the cockpit.

"Your pathetic rodent! Ill get you for that!" screamed robotnik.

The two machine guns opened fire on shadow who ran away as fast as he could, he jumped as the bullets tore up the earth round his feet, he quickly took cover behind a stone pillar.

He twisted round, the ruby gem pointing towards robotnik.

"Chaos spear!"

Again the energy spear punched into the robots metal skin creating a deep puncture wound in the cockpit, robotniks scream was one of rage and not of pain unfortunately.

"DIE!!" robotnik spat at shadow as he raised both maces and slammed them into the ground, a massive shockwave smashed into the pillar shadow was behind shattering the ancient structure and sending shadow soaring as he slammed onto the steps of the shrine.

He gave a wordless cry of pain as all the air was forced from his lungs and his back was nearly broken by the impact.

He forced his eyes to focus on the huge mace that hung above him mockingly as robotniks voice hissed, "Saynora shadow the hedgehog!".

The mace swung and shadow despite his best efforts couldn't get his legs to move.

There was a blue blur and shadow was wrenched out of the maces path as sonic zoomed into the trees taking cover in the dense foliage of the forest.

"Shadow are you ok?" asked sonic frightened as he gently cradled his lover.

Shadow nodded too breathless to talk, he heard robotniks machine tearing apart the trees looking for them.

"He must be stopped" shadow forced out through gritted teeth as he tried to get up.

"No way shadow! Your injured so stay here and rest, ill take care of butt-nik" said sonic as he forced shadow down.

"Are you nuts! No of course you are, sonic only chaos attacks can hurt him and I'm the only one who can perform the chaos spear!" argued shadow.

"Ahem!" coughed sonic as he raised the blue emerald.

"That means nothing! Just because you have the emerald doesn't mean that you can perform a chaos control!" swore shadow angrily.

"Hey anything you can do I can do, if not better!" he added smugly.

"Sonic..."growled shadow.

Sonic leaned forward and kissed his mate tenderly, shadows growl immediately cut off as he felt Sonics soft lips caress his, he groaned as sonic pulled him against himself until their bodes were deliciously close.

Sonic pulled back and smiled lovingly at shadows flushed face.

"I can do this shadow, please believe in me" he whispered.

Shadow nodded tearfully and gave sonic another breathless kiss before sonic pulled back and ran off to face robotnik.

Shadow groaned as his back gave in and he collapsed on the warm forest floor, he wiped his tears and tried to listen for sonic.

'Please be careful sonic'

"Ok I can do this, chaos control should be a breeze" whispered sonic to himself as he carefully approached robots robot, he circled it warily until it had its back to sonic as it continued to tear apart the forest.

"CHAOS SPEAR!" yelled sonic pointing the blue emerald at robotnik.

Nothing happened.

Robotnik turned round and the robot hesitated to attack when it saw the emerald in Sonics hand.

"Chaos spear, chaos spear, CHAOS SPEAR!" sonic yelled thrusting the emerald forward yet still nothing happened.

Robotnik laughed as he stomped towards sonic, "Any last words hedgehog?" he cackled as he raised his mace to crush sonic.

"Yeah bye!" sonic said as he dashed forward towards the robot, he jumped upwards towards the mace that was swinging towards him.

With a twist of his body he landed on the mace and ran along the arm as it slammed into the ground even though logic told him he couldn't harm robotnik he couldn't resist the need, the desire, the want of slamming his feet through that metal cockpit straight into robotics teeth.

He heard robotniks mocking laughter as he jumped feet first but he didn't care his thoughts were focused on causing that bastard as much pain as possible.

Unknown to him the emerald was reacting to Sonics new chaotic emotions and rage, the whirlwind of emotions in Sonics mind triggered its power in a way unique to everyone.

Sonic blinked gold electricity flowed over his body; they arced over his arms and legs dissipating into his fur before flowing from another point of his body.

He grinned at robotniks cry of outrage and rolling into a ball he said two words that seemed to be so natural yet so unnatural to his mind as the emerald compelled him to use its power.

"SONIC LIGHTNING!!"

Sonics body glowed with a golden light as he slammed his body into the robots cockpit, his quills and body flowing with chaos energy tore great strips of metal from the robot as he spun rapidly burrowing through the five-inch titanium.

With a roar the robot stepped back and swatted sonic with its right mace, a flash of white light blossomed at the impact as sonic was slammed to the floor while the mace was blown apart by pure chaos energy.

Sonic rolled over breathless after the rush of using the power of chaos, his eyes unseen by all glowed momentarily with a ruby light as he snarled as robotnik raised his robots foot to crush the speedster.

The ruby eyes narrowed and sonic felt immense power coming from inside, was this some strange inner source of energy he had buried inside himself?

"Chaos control" hissed a voice that sounded like him but felt so alien as sonic tapped again into the emeralds power.

The foot stamped into the ground leaving a deep imprint but sonic was already gone.

The robot twisted round to see sonic staring at him perched on one foot on one of the remaining pillars.

Robotnik was taken aback by the look of unrestrained ferocity on his rivals face, Sonics features were twisted into a parody of the good-but weak face of Sonics as the blue hedgehog laughed as he spun round twirling the emerald.

His ruby eyes glowed with power as he sonic cackled insanely, while staring into the emerald.

"Prophecy in motion, soon this world will burn with the gathering of the seven children of chaos, and at last a true avatar of chaos shall grace this world with its presence" whispered sonic to himself.

Inside the robot robotnik frowned in confusion, either the blue rodent had finally had a mental brake-down or that wasn't sonic.

'Doe's it matter?'

Robotnik swung again and sonic oblivious was struck by the remaining mace, he soared through the air slamming straight through another ruined pillar and plowing into the earth.

Sonic warily opened his eyes, what just happened?

(Get up fool! My powers cannot protect you from another attack!)

'And since when do I hear voices in my head?' thought sonic confused.

The giant robot smoking and with several long tears and whole sections of armour missing raised its remaining mace above sonic for the final strike.

'Oh shit, voice in my head help would be great right about now' thought sonic in terror.

"And that's how we got here" finished Sonia as knuckles stared open-mouthed at her amazing tale.

He pondered this tale for a while; this 'metal shadow' seemed to be a serious threat to the master.

Knuckles stood up and gnawing his lip in indecision for a moment then he reached down and with a few swipes of his knuckles cut the binds round Sonias ankles.

Sonia frowned in confusion as knuckles walked away and continued to fiddle with the disk.

Sonia stood up closing her eyes and stretching happily as she worked out the kinks in her bones, she groaned as her spine popped back into a comfortable place.

She heard a muffled squeak and half-opening her eyes saw knuckles was ignoring her again but his cheeks were suspiciously blushing.

'I'm glad I decided to wear my leathers today' she thought wickedly as she sauntered over to the echidna as he pulled a strange blue crystal from the disk.

"What's that?"

Knuckles looked up and then swiftly looked down again, she was standing right above him giving him a very good view of her...'assets'.

Sonia smirked but waited patiently as knuckles began to carve another word in the ground.

'POWER'

"It's a battery?" asked Sonia as she looked over the small blue crystal.

Knuckles nodded as he shuffled around until he was in a kneeling position, he glared at Sonia who still hadn't moved, she still stood in front of him hands clasped behind her back with a small grin on her face.

Knuckles waved his hand motioning her to move which she did taking slow steps round the kneeling echidna, he closed his eyes and focused on the crystal as he began to use the masters power to restore it.

His eyes snapped open as a delicate hand began to idly play with his dreadlocks, stroking the soft fur and running up and down the length of them.

Knuckles gave a small cough of irritation but didn't move to stop her as he again tried to focus on the crystal.

'She would just do something else to distract me anyway, well her childish attempts to distract me will not succeed' he thought smugly.

Sonia was kneeling behind him enjoying the feel of his fur and delighting in the small shivers he tried to surpress at her touch.

The echidna was fascinating to her, knuckles was a powerful fighter perhaps her superior though she doubted it, (He just got lucky last time) but he was sweet in his own way and so very innocent, the fact he couldn't talk for some reason didn't deter her, and the fact he didn't look at her like some sex object, a hole to be filled like that slime Michael (and most males) was a definite plus in her opinion.

She frowned as he stopped shivering at her touch and became unresponsive, 'that wont do' she thought amusedly as her hand left his dreadlocks.

Knuckles smirked when her hand left his dreadlocks, 'Ha! She's given up, a guardians concentration is not so easily broken, did she think she could distract me with simple touc-ohhh th-that's not fair...'

Knuckles groaned his shaking returning stronger then before as Sonia rubbed his back with one hand while her other explored his tail.

His tail was strongly muscled like the rest of his body and was strangely crocked but longer then a hedgehogs.

She smiled evilly as he whimpered at the soft touch and his hands fell to his lap as he leaned back against it, Sonias eyes were alight with passion as she held this wild creature completely under her thrall with only soft touches.

But that would soon change.

Knuckles mind was in turmoil as it tried desperately to process the mind-numbing touch of another creature after a life-time without any form of contact, he squeaked as Sonia rubbed his chest especially the crescent moon on his fur, he shivered at Sonias deep throaty chuckle as her hand went lower.

'What am I doing?' though Sonia in confusion, she had her arms wrapped round knuckles powerful body as she explored the soft fur of his chest and ran her fingertips over his muscles, she had started off just wanting to tease him and get him a bit riled up, she hadn't expected him to be so submissive but she wasn't annoyed with it, far from it, having knuckles under her control was just so...powerful.

She was attracted to him, with his beautiful body and wild nature; maybe it was his animalistic nature that got her first?

Maybe it was because she hadn't met a male like him before? All other males especially the resistance had fought for her attentions and practically drooling if she walked by, she had mainly ignored them she had no interest in such pathetic creatures who couldn't think beyond their own needs.

And she would die before submitting herself to their harsh hands and clumsy touch.

But knuckles was different and maybe that's why she gave a cheeky grin, a small kiss on the cheek and then slowly went lower below his mid-rift.

Knuckles eyes snapped open as Sonias hand went towards a very private place, in a burst of speed he quickly jumped up away from her touch and whirled round to face her blushing furiously, he backed away looking for a quick place to hide.

"Not going to run are you?" said Sonia amused as she slowly advanced on knuckles her hips gently swaying.

Knuckles glared and made a speaking motion, to Sonias surprise his 'attempt' at speaking was nothing more then a few gurgles and grunts.

Knuckles blinked in confusion before he realised he had just tried to speak, he hung his head in shame as he mentally reprimanded himself.

Sonia stepped forward and gently lifted the echidnas chin until they were eye to eye, she smiled at knuckles blush.

"Its alright, I kinda quessed you couldn't talk even if you know what words to say" she said quietly.

Knuckles pulled back hissing in anger how dare she try to show sympathy she was just a minor annoyance nothing more!

"Knuckles what's wrong?" Sonia asked in confusion.

'You will leave that's what's wrong! You made me care about you and now Ive been slapped by reality and I know that you cant stay and I'm going to be alone again!' he thought with tears in his eyes.

Sonia was strangely quiet and knuckles wondered for a moment why.

'She's probably disgusted with my tears, I would be if I met myself'

Sonia suddenly stepped forward and pulled knuckles into a hug, the echidna was going to pull away but then his ears picked up the sounds of her crying and he thought against it.

"I'm sorry knuckles, I'm so sorry, If I kept my stupid hormones under control and didn't molest you and now ive made the only guy I actually like pore his heart out" she sobbed.

Knuckles blinked in confusion, did he miss something?

"You talked knuckles, I heard what you said about me making you care and now your gonna be alone when I have to leave" she whispered and knuckles froze.

'I talked? How! I didn't even realise?"

"I cant stay knuckles I'm sorry but I cant" Sonia felt knuckles start to pull back with a small whimper but she quickly pulled him back.

"Listen, listen! Ill come visit, and we can meet and talk well ill teach you to talk and we'll see how it goes ok?"

Knuckles wanted her to stay here forever but he'd rather have her see him hardly at all then never.

'Strange how ive come to care for someone ive just met in only a few hours' he mused.

They hugged each other for a while longer, the beautiful hedgehog princess and the wild echidna guardian melded together so perfectly that anyone watching would be envious.

Knuckles pulled back as a shrill whistling grew in volume in his ear it took a second to realise what it was but when he did his snapped away from Sonia and hurried to the teleporter.

"Knuckles what's wrong" asked Sonia as she watched him focus on the crystal again.

'The master, the master is in danger!'

The gem glowed with a bright blue light after a few seconds and knuckles hurriedly fitted it back inside the disk, to Sonias amazement the disk glowed with a sapphire light and the runes lit up like Christmas lights.

Knuckles grasped Sonias hand and pulled her towards him as he stood on the disk, he pressed her against him so the two were both within the disks radius.

Despite his anxiety he couldn't stop blushing as every breath Sonia took pressed her breasts against his chest.

Sonia looked around nervously as a column of light surrounded them, she looked back to knuckles and calmed down as he smiled gently at her and mouthed 'don't worry'.

She sighed and rested her head against his shoulder as the light surrounded them and with a flash transported them to the master emerald shrine.

Sonic was swiftly pulled out of the way by shadow as the robots foot slammed into the spot where he had just been resting, he hid them behind a pillar as he tried to get his breath back.

"Did you see what I did! I managed to make a new attack sonic lightning! Ain't I just cool or what!" said sonic in excitement.

"So cool you got swatted by robotnik, what were you doing just standing there on that pillar making yourself such an easy target!?" yelled shadow angrily.

Sonic racked his memory, the incident was strangely blank, he hit robotnik with the sonic lightning then he chaos controlled to the top of the pillar and then he...he...said something...but what was it?

"I'm not sure" said sonic confused.

Shadow stared at him incredulously before shaking his hand in amazement.

"Show yourselves hedgehogs!" yelled robot as the robot strode round the clearing trying to find them.

A bright light manifested on top of the shrine next to the master emerald, to everyone's amazement Sonia and some strange red creature appeared next to the master emerald.

"Sonic, shadow!" yelled Sonia as she ran towards then the red creature right behind her.

Robotnik opened fire with his guns, Sonia had no chance of dodging in the open.

"Sonia!!" yelled shadow and sonic together.

The red creature stepped forward; its fists glowed with a green light as it moved insanely fast blocking every bullet that approached them, Sonia watched in awe behind knuckles as he roared his defiance towards robotnik.

Robotnik stopped firing and gave a grunt of annoyance.

"So the guardian line still exist, very well echidna, lets see you handle this!"

The robots remaining mace opened and a huge laser cannon emerged previously concealed inside.

Knuckles eyed the laser before throwing Sonia towards sonic and running towards the master emerald.

"Yes run coward! But you wont run far enough!" spat robotnik as a huge red laser shot towards the shrine.

Everyone ducked down as shadow swiftly chaos controlled sonic and Sonia to safety, they then watched in horror as knuckles refused to move, his eyes closed and his hand was on the emerald as he muttered unknown words.

Then the laser was on him, a huge explosion rocked the entire island as the shrine was vaporised, gas and water vapour filled the air and thick black smoke swirled round the blast zone as robotnik laughed insanely.

"KNUCKLES!!!" Sonia screamed as she collapsed crying into her hands as sonic hugged her; shadow just stared at robotnik hatred building inside him.

(The powers of the guardians are not so easily destroyed)

All the hedgehogs looked around as the deep voice rang in their heads, they all looked back at the crater of the shrine where smoke still filled but a faint green and pink light was glowing inside the smoke.

The smoke was suddenly blown outwards by a pulse of energy as the two lights were revealed to the shocked onlookers.

One was the master emerald hovering above the ground its green glow vastly brighter.

The other was knuckles who also hovered above the master, his fur had turned a bright pink and it glowed as small strands of raw chaos energy ran over his fur.

He opened his eyes and they glowed like two twin amethysts with a gentle flame behind each of them.

(Your evil intentions for this emerald have been denied Ro-butt-nik, now I give you a simple choice, leave my island or die) said knuckles mind-speech.

"Or how about you die!" screamed robotnik as his twin machine guns opened fire.

A bright energy field surrounded knuckles as the bullets burst into flames everytime they struck it, he flew towards robotnik the bullets unable to hurt him.

Robotnik quickly fired the laser again the blast hit knuckles dead on knocking him back but knuckles just charged again more fiercely then before and smashed his fist straight into the robots chest.

The entire chestplate shattered and its internal wiring was laid bare only to melt and explode under the power of knuckles energy field.

"You will die!" swore robotnik as he raised the robots mace and swung down to crush the echidna.

Knuckles just raised his hand the mace stopping dead as it hit his hand with no damage done to knuckles, swiftly grasping the mace with both hands knuckles pulled and effortlessly tore the bus-sized appendage off, with a sneer he swung it like a club and smashed the mace into the robots cockpit smashing the metal and causing the whole thing to cave in.

The robot fell.

It lay on the ground sparking and sizzling as the lights and viewscreens in and outside it flickered and died.

Knuckles contemptuously dropped the mace on top of what remained of the robots head.

There was an explosion and out of the robots back robotnik in his hovercraft blasted out of it, the dictator was covered in oil and grime and had a long gash on his face, he spat a tooth before sneering at the angry hedgehogs and silent guardian.

"You may have beaten me this time hedgehogs but the war is far from over, he turned towards knuckles and spat at him his dirty phlegm burning up before it even touched him, as for you 'guardian', he swore like it was a curse, you can say goodbye to your island!"

He pressed a button on his hovercraft and then smiled evilly at knuckles.

"If I cant have the master emerald then no one will! While you dealt with metal I had rigged the whole island up to several hydrogen bombs, in five minutes this entire island will be atomised! Have a good day!" he said blasting off before they could retaliate.

"That sneaky bastard!" swore shadow as he quickly focused on his chaos emerald, with Sonics help he might be able to chaos control them all to safety, but that's a big 'might'.

Sonic wondered if they could make it to tails helicopter, but where the hell was it? He stretched his legs and groaned at the agony they were in, no way would he be able to get to it in time even if he knew where it was.

Knuckles had flown over to the master emerald and holding it in his palms had slowly shrank it until it was the size of his fist, he sat down leaning against a tree with the master emerald covered by his body.

Sonia ran over to him as sonic and shadow hurriedly tried to figure out how to join their chaos control powers.

"Knuckles get up! We need to all teleport now before the island blows up!" she said grasping his arm.

He refused to budge, (I will not leave my home nor the master emerald, I will stay to protect it with my life...go leave me) he said into her mind.

"But you can't stay! The whole island will become a giant cloud of vapour, there will be nothing left not you or the master emerald if we don't leave now!" she said angrily.

(I must stay it is my duty!)

"Come with us" begged Sonia.

Knuckles eyed her his glowing eyes seemed to be staring into her soul.

"Please" she whispered tears in her eyes.

Knuckles looked away, (I'm afraid, of the outside, of them...of you)

"Me?" asked Sonia confused.

(I don't know what to do about you, in just a few hours I care more about you then even the emerald...I have feelings for you and they scare me) he confessed.

"Everyone is scared of change and I'm sorry I frightened you earlier, she blushed, but its all a part of living knuckles, we have to adapt to change and if you do the rewards are amazing"

'Change brought me you' she thought.

Knuckles was considering her words when shadow and sonic walked over to them, sonic was leaning against shadow crying while shadow just hugged him back looking defeated.

"We can't do it" the ebony hedgehog whispered.

"We're both too exhausted, said sonic tearfully, we can't use the chaos control"

Shadow sat down and pulled sonic into his lap, Sonia was surprised at their openly showing affection but guessed it didn't matter now.

"I'm sorry sonic" said shadow tearfully as he tried his best not to cry.

"It's not your fault," he said back as he smiled tearfully into shadows eyes.

The two stared at each other for a moment before sonic lunged for shadows lips and kissed him desperately, the dark hedgehog kissed back just as hungrily as he wrapped his arms round Sonics waist as the cobalt hedgehog played with shadow quills with his hands.

Knuckles stared at the two fascinated with their actions, what were they doing exactly?

Sonia smiled sadly, happy that the two loved each over so much as their actions showed, and sad that this looked like it was the end.

That was until a strange whirling noise filled the air and the small group all scanned the skies in sudden hope.

Knuckles was on his feet his fists clenched wondering what strange metal monster robotnik was gonna throw at them now.

The cyclone mark five suddenly flew over the clearing the air being blown in all directions and the smoke and fires around the ruined shrine being whipped into a frenzy.

A ladder was thrown out of the cargo door and manic grinned down at them.

"Would you guys stop giving your last will and testament and climb the fucking ladder!" he yelled at them.

Sonic and shadow ran for the ladder sonic going first with shadow just behind, Sonia pulled knuckles to his feet.

"Come with me"

(I must protect-)

"To hell with the island knuckles! You must protect the emerald right?" she yelled angrily.

(Well yes but)

"But nothing, Sonia pulled them face to face, you can protect it better if you live knuckles now get on the damn helicopter!" She screamed practically throwing him at the ladder.

Knuckles eyed her before swiftly climbing the ladder with Sonia just behind.

Sonic smiled at his brother as manic helped him into the helicopter; "Did I tell you how much I love you bro?"

"Yeah, everytime you get your ass saved by me, get a seat dude," said manic amused.

He helped shadow up, the dark hedgehog eyed him a bit before smiling, "thanks a lot manic"

"No problem dude your part of the family now, especially considering how close you and sonic were" he grinned.

Shadow and sonic blushed, "You saw?" asked shadow.

Manic grin grew huge; "Yep and ive get to go 'awww' everytime you two kiss now"

Knuckles stepped in and manic went to offer him a hand, the echidna stared at the outstretched hand then climbed in ignoring manic,

'Charming' thought manic.

Sonia climbed in next gave manic a quick peck on the cheek and a smile then sat next knuckles who was looking out of a window.

Tails peeked round the goggles over his eyes and scarf giving him quite a comical appearance.

"Everyone hold on to something this is gonna be rough!" he yelled.

"Manic how did you know where we were?" asked sonic.

"I don't know what happened after I passed out but my wound was somehow healed and Sonia was nowhere to be found, he eyed his sister who continued to stare at the silent echidna, so I got tails and we went looking for you guys thinking you where in trouble" he finished.

"It's a good thing you did," said shadow quietly as he rested his head on Sonics shoulder, hell if they all knew why hide it?

Knuckles watched as his island disappeared into the distance, shouldn't it have exploded by now? What if it was a lie, what if he was leaving his island for nothing!?

Sonia placed a hand on his arm and he calmed at her gentle touch, he looked across at her beautiful jade eyes, this is why I'm leaving.

"It will be ok, I promise," she said reassuringly.

He smiled back nervously.

A sudden bright flash streamed in from the windows and all of them swiftly covered their eyes, a huge boom rang in their ears as a shockwave slammed into the cyclone knocking everyone to the floor except tails who had wisely strapped himself to his chair tightly.

When the light subsided knuckles hurried to the window staring in shock at the huge mushroom cloud that was all that remained of angel island, he fell back into his chair staring at nothing as the hedgehogs and the fox cub commented on the huge explosion.

"That bastard is gonna pay for this" muttered shadow.

"I hope he doesn't do that to Mobodoon" whispered manic.

"At least we got out safe," said sonic clapping the two of them on the back.

Knuckles ignored them as he stared at the emerald in his hands, his super form had faded with the danger past and now he was back to his crimson furred self.

A small hand covered his and he stared numbly as Sonia raised his chin so they were eye to eye.

'My home...is gone...' tears finally filled his eyes as Sonia pulled him into a hug.

'Please don't leave me alone, please don't leave me alone' he begged her as he sobbed quietly into her quills.

"Your not alone knuckles, I promise you wont be alone anymore" she whispered as she pulled him into her lap and hugged him tightly feeling tears in her own eyes as the strong guardian cried softly.

The atmosphere was subdued as Manic and tails quietly conversed with each other while sonic and shadow lay curled up round each other.

"Is this ok?" asked shadow as sonic again blushed when manic grinned at them.

"It will take getting used to, but I'm glad that we don't have to hide anymore" said sonic snuggling into shadows arms.

"Me too" whispered shadow as he kissed Sonics head.

Shadow looked across at knuckles and Sonia, the echidna was asleep in Sonias lap his face peaceful but still showing the odd hard edge as something troubled his dreams.

Sonia was gazing in wonder at him as she absentmindedly stroked his dreadlocks, shadows and her eyes locked he smiled at her and gave her a thumbs up.

Sonia smiled back with a light blush as she went back to studying her new hobby.

Shadow sighed as he felt sleep overcome him, sonic was already dozing in his arms and his gentle snores were lulling shadow into sleep.

'This has been one hell of a hectic day, nearly being killed more then three times, giant robots, subatomic explosions and two new friends, he eyed Sonia and her smiling at knuckles, or possibly lovers, all in all an ok day, I hope though we don't have to go through another day like this' he thought.

His eyes snapped open as he frowned, then gave a light chuckle as he rested his head against Sonics.

'Who am I kidding of course there's gonna be more days like today, this isn't an R rating for nothing!'

He frowned again though his eyes remained closed.

'Why the hell did I say this is an R rating?'

Giving a mental shrug he finally went to sleep dreaming of his cobalt lover.

10,811 words!!! OMFG!!!

I'm so proud of myself anyway please review and ill get started on the next chapter soon!