Chapter 9: the storm
Knuckles woke up hearing a thunder.
He went out to find a cloud-covered sky to welcome him. Dense and dark clouds, with blue shades that didn't promise anything good.
- I have to move the island higher. - he murmured and then shook his head: the shields didn' t hold the air and to overcome those cumulonimbus clouds, he would have to climb very high, too much to bear for the guys. Shadow and Knuckles like other adult mobians had no problems even in space, but puppies and humans weren't so lucky.
He couldn't delay: he went back inside, took a sheet of paper and wrote a quick message which he left on the front door, then ran away.
- A storm' s coming. - Shadow read - I have to protect the emeralds and the island. Take the kids to Hidden Palace. There you' ll be safe.
- What a wind. - Tera murmured, looking through the window next to the door.
- Where's Master Knuckles? - Alexi asked.
- He will go around the island to make sure animals and chaos are safe. Then he will bring the emeralds to Hidden Palace and finally go to the altar of the Master Emerald and stay there to protect it.
- Then we have to help him. - Nadia said.
- No. Knuckles can take care of himself. And it would be too dangerous for you. Take your things. I will take care of the rest.
It took a bit for them to gather all their things, and even then the sky didn' t seem to lighten.
Shadow had a dark expression on his face. He would have helped Knuckles if he hadn't known him so well: the echidna worried about him, sometimes more than the emerald. Shadow knew how to look after himself but he also knew that Knuckles would not be able to concentrate knowing him out in the storm instead of safe. With the head elsewhere would have made a mistake, and with such a storm, an error can cost dearly.
- I just saw a lightning hit the ground! - Alexi exclaimed - A fucking lightning!
Shadow saw a darker spot on the trunk near the bonfire. The spots became two, then three, four, until a cascade of water fell in large and heavy drops, between thunder, lightning and a wind that bent the trees.
- Master Shadow, I'm afraid.
Shadow came closer to Tera, staring at the window.
- Let's get out of here.
Alexi's eyes widened - Do you want to go out there?
- We won't go out the way you think. - Shadow rummaged through the spines and extracted a red emerald. - When you are ready, stand by me.
They huddled around Shadow, holding hands. They were ready.
But Tera saw her communicator, forgotten on the table - Oh no.
She released Alexi's hand.
- Chaos Control!
Hidden Palace was dark and silent as always. Walls full of frescoes, inscriptions and mosaics surrounded the largest rooms of the building. It was there that Knuckles kept what he held most dear.
In the central hall nothing seemed to have changed: the luminescent crystals and the pool of water on which the path leading to the pillars with emeralds stretched were immaculate as usual.
Shadow did not expect to find animals. Birds, deer, deer and an army of bunnies. Prey and predators together, without injuring themselves, protected from a common danger. Such an anomalous behavior could only be explained by the influence of the Chaos and they, in fact, were also present.
Only Knuckles and the Master Emerald were missing.
- Tera? Tera!
Shadow looked at the three and saw they were two. His eyes widened - Where is she?
- She left my hand!
- Oh shoot shoot shoot!
Tera had the communicator in her hand, but she was left alone in the cave and the water was slowly entering from under the door.
The little hedgehog reacted instinctively, leaving the cave to escape the water and seek shelter elsewhere. She didn't know where the others were and she had no idea how to reach them.
She lowered her ears when she heard the thunder. She tried to advance with the strong wind, holding on to the tall grass of the prairie to reach the wood.
But the wind was simply too much for her. For a moment she felt her feet come off the ground and shouted, clinging to the grass, the creepers and anything sturdy she found. Then she threw herself on the ground, crushing herself against it, too scared to try anything else.
About fifty meters away, Shadow reappeared in the cave but found it empty and with the door open. He appeared on the threshold of the cave calling the little hedgehog, but the strong wind in the opposite direction prevented Tera from hearing him and the tall grass hid the small lilac body from Shadow's sight.
- She can't have gone far. - Shadow saw the woods and went quickly skating there.
She knows Mushroom Hill well. Maybe she went to seek shelter over there or on that path.
If he had taken the path that went into the prairie he would have run into her almost immediately, but the path to Mushroom Hill was reached by going around the cave, going in the opposite direction to the prairie.
A bad feeling reached Knuckles on the altar of the Master Emerald. The echidna clenched his fists and stared at the emerald. The big gem wobbled on its pedestal, wrapped in a net of ropes with pegs planted in the rock, which kept it well anchored to the ground.
The storm was bad and Knuckles felt it would get worse. Leaving the emerald unattended was out of the question.
But that feeling, that alarm bell in his head, pushed him to return to the cave. And when a sensation pushed him to move away from the emerald, it was never something good.
The life of someone dear was in danger. Maybe Shadow had somehow, been hurt.
He looked at the gem - I'll be right back. I promise.
He ran as fast as he could, but it took him several minutes to reach the cave. Luckily he emerged from the side of the wood right in front of Tera and as he advanced towards the cave he noticed her.
The little hedgehog was crying and was now soaked.
Knuckles ran to her and repaired it with his own body, planting a knuckle on the ground. - I'm here child. Everything will be fine.
She clung to his neck and he hugged her with his free hand.
That feeling disturbed him again, but this time weaker, mixed with the urge to move in a specific direction.
Ok. Who? Where?
He waited motionless, then got up and ran to the woods.
The wind howled through the trees, bent them, broke them, but Knuckles didn't stop.
He jumped, dodging a falling log, and sliding down a muddy escarpment. He held Tera close so that branches and rubble raised by the wind did not hurt her, protecting her as best he could. Tera was afraid, but the guardian's firm grip was enough to make her feel safe. It never loosened, always the same, sure but never too strong.
Knuckles didn't match Sonic in speed, but he was still a good runner and it didn't take him long to reach Mushroom Hill.
There he heard someone calling desperately and recognized Shadow's voice.
He changed his way and kept running - Shadow!
The hedgehog turned, the muzzle as white as wax and the sodden fur - Knuckles! I couldn't find- his eyes wide when he saw Tera and it was like removing a boulder from his chest. - Where the heck was she?
- Questions later. Take us to safety.
Shadow shook himself and nodded, pulling out the red emerald.
- Wow look at these frescoes! - Alexi exclaimed - And these engravings! They must be thousands years old, and they are all in perfect condition!
Once he reached Hidden Palace, Knuckles took the kettle and made a hot brew for everyone. Shadow and Tera were soaked, so he rummaged for warm towels and blankets. He felt the emerald scream in his mind, giving him a sense of apprehension.
I'm coming. Hold on.
Tera had finished a hot herbal tea and now slept bundled in two blankets, squeezing tightly the white fur of Shadow.
The hedgehog was exhausted, more out of concern than running, and hugged the hedgehog trying to remain alert, as if he wanted to protect her from everything.
The only ones still full of energy were Nadia and Alexi: once it was ascertained that Tera was well, they had started exploring the room.
- Master Knuckles, what are those stones?
The guardian winced at Alexi's voice - These are the Super Emeralds. The mother stones of the Chaos emeralds.
- And that mosaic? - Nadia ascked but the echidna did not answer, rubbing her head at the umpteenth call of the Master Emerald.
Just one more minute.
Alexi joined him just then and the fur on Knuckles' back lifted.
- Master, are the writings on the walls all in echidna?
He received a grunt of assent and smiled - Fantastic! Maybe I can translate them!
Knuckles rubbed his forehead - Do they teach you dead languages at school?
The boy's smile faded - Well, actually I never went to school. But Master Silver taught me some echidna, among other things.
- Really? - the guardian spoke calmly, but there was something hostile in his gaze - And why did he teach you that?
Alexi looked down - Well, I asked him. Ever since he started giving me lessons, I've always liked history. The Echidnas, the mystery of the space human colony Ark.
- Did Silver tell you about the Ark? - Shadow asked
- Yes. I know all about you and Sonic, how you stopped the Biolizard and prevented the colony from crashing on Earth. And I also know about the Resistance, how Eggman conquered the world and a small group of Mobian led by the Commander rose to fight him.
Knuckles became careful.
- Every year during this period citizen makes the Commemoration. We could go there. - Alexi said.
- No. - Knuckles said. He wanted to go. The Master Emerald was calling him louder every time and his apprehension was growing - With the threat of golems, you have to think about training. And with the attack a few days ago, I don't think they will have things to celebrate in the city.
- It's not a party. It's a commemoration. - Alexi replied - And it never jumps, circumstances don't matter. It starts at sunset, with a torchlight procession. Citizen reaches the square, places the flowers on the statue and then someone tell the story of the Resistance. There' s a stage with a microphone and everyone can share the stories handed down.
- It looks nice. - Shadow said.
- It is. - Nadia replied, approaching - Silver takes us every year. Only, in the long run we end up hearing the same stories anytime. - her eyes widened - You could tell yours!
- It's true! - Alexi exclaimed - Master Shadow, you fought in the Resistance didn't you? And Master Knuckles is very good at telling stories. - he turned to the echidna - You know the history of the Resistance, right? I bet they would all hang on your lips.
Knuckles looked away. Shadow knew that the Resistance was a sensitive topic for him. He hadn't said much to him or even to Sonic about how he had led the Resistance from the start to the rescue of the blue hedgehog. Once the war was over, he had taken Sonic aside the same evening during the celebrations. Sonic then told all members of the Resistance that Knuckles had returned to Angel Island, and asked not to reveal his role as commander to anyone. Whenever Shadow or Silver asked, he sidetracked the conversation or kept silent.
But those kids were persistent.
- Please!- Tera took his hand and pulled it a few times. - Grandpa always takes us!
- Yeah, and we could say hello to him. I have to admit I miss him a little. - Alexi said, looking away.
Shadow just looked at Knuckles, letting him decide.
Knuckles had no time to waste, or the Master Emerald would cause him a headache as big as a palace – Ok! Fine! But I don't guarantee the story. Now I have to go. I have to protect the Master Emerald.
- Why don't you bring it here? Alexi asked.
- I can't move it from the sanctuary. If it is removed from the pedestal, the whole island will fall into the sea.
