Something was wrong.
Something was wrong.
One of those stupid things must be have landed nearby and-
he wasn't saying anything.
He wasn't saying anything!
No, nonononono, not again, he was strong, he was tough, he-
he needed to get out.
If he was gonna make an unwanted guest appearance, he had to make sure Tails didn't see. Tails would ask questions, Tails would want answers and he didn't have any!
And what would he do to Tails anyway?
He needed to get away, he needed to run.
But where?
Angel Island.
Knuckles would probably be asleep and Angel Island was the safest place he could think of.
Just get there and we'll be okay. Just get there and we'll be fine.
He didn't remember running but here he was, stumbling in one of Angel Island's many forests, blacking in and out.
He fell to his knees and dug his hands into the dirt, his face strangely wet.
He was subconsciously aware of a growing pain that seemed to come from the inside out and would burrow its way out through him.
Make it stop.
Make it stop.
Make it st-!
Okey-dokey, Oggie!
Everything went dark.
Knuckles woke up to a growing sense of panic.
Something was on the island and it wasn't right.
He grumbled as he followed his inner compass, annoyed at his loss of sleep.
There, in the thicket, stretching like it was the most natural thing in the world, was Sonic. His back was towards Knuckles and he was humming an annoying tune.
Knuckles didn't know much about Sonic, he didn't really...talk. had plenty of attitude tho, and it was not appreciated.
"Blue? What are you doing he-?" Sonic turned as he spoke and everything in knuckles screamed at the wrongness.
Sonic's eyes were swirls of red in a white and red void, teeth sharp and mouth smiling.
"Ah, well, if it isn't good ole Red! Thought you'd be asleep." The last part of the sentence came out annoyed and bitter, but Knuckles was bit too shocked that he spoke at all. "But it's fine! I can work with this!"
Knuckles took a step back, much to Not Sonic's amusement. His disturbing grin widened and the red in his eyes swirled faster.
"Oh, come on, Guardian! It's just your pal, Good Ole Sonic!" He taunted the echidna. Knuckles only watched with a cautious eye.
This wasn't the frustrating blue hedgehog he knew.
This was….
Something else.
"Just tell what you want, you freak!" Knuckles spat at the wolf in sheep's clothing. Knuckles thought he saw a glimmer of hurt flicker in that tornado of red for a minute before it covered by layers of anger and hate.
"I'm not the freak here, Last Echidna." He snarled back, Knuckles flinching. "But I didn't drag this worthless hide here to get in a cat fight. I'm here for the emerald. Not the Master, we don't click. Ya know, the emerald you've been charging for emergencies?"
Knuckles flinched again. He knew about that?! Well, he had mentioned it to Sonic but….
"No. That's not for you to use." He said simply, trying to play it cool. Not Sonic scoffed.
"Please, if it's for anyone's use, it's MINE. Now, chop, chop, Guardian, hand it over." He held out a single hand for the emerald. At Knuckles' hesitation, he hissed, "You're making me angry, Red. I'd hate to add you to the list of people we've pummeled."
Knuckles considered.
Oh, well…. he'd find it again later.
Knuckles pulled it out and held it over Not Sonic's eager palm…
And hurled it into the sea below.
Not Sonic dove for it and Knuckles found himself grabbing at the faker to keep him from lunging into the water below.
"YOU IDIOT, WHY DID YOU DO THAT, THAT WAS MINE, I HATE YOU, YOU DESERVE TO-" Knuckles hauled him further from the edge, ignoring his pathetic screams.
He tore himself away from Knuckles and swirled around to face him, face contorted with fury.
He opened his mouth to scream more but then angry red cleared away to panicked green and outstretched sharp claws softened to hands limply hanging by his side. Knuckles relaxed, the wrongness fading.
Sonic looked at his hands before raising his head and giving a sheepish smile before opening his mouth to say,-
"I'll kill you." Sonic's eyes widened in horror at his voice, hands flying to grasp his throat and Knuckles isn't sure if it's an attempt to silence himself or the voice trying to make a point.
"I'll kill you all for everything you did and I will make it hurt and everything will go back to normal and this stupid game will be-"
Sonic gasped, as if he just resurfaced from a deep sea dive. He slowly removed his hands from his throat, red marks there from his tight grip.
He opened and closed his mouth like a fish and Knuckles didn't need to know Sonic well to guess why.
It must suck to worry that your voice isn't yours.
Sonic finally choked out a sentence before passing out.
"Don't pollute the ocean, Knuxs."
Knuckles sat by the unconscious hedgehog, sighing as another hour passed by without answers.
He glanced at the blue hedgehog and jumped back.
Sonic's arm had a huge bloody bite in it.
Sonic was awake, lips pressed tight in anger and annoyance as he pressed white gloved hands to the wound.
Knuckles sat back down, hating the casualness Sonic was wearing.
"How the heck…?"
Sonic hissed in pain before answering in a quiet, hoarse voice.
"He's mad. The Emerald's still close. I'm fine." Sonic hissed as a small scratch appeared on the arm covering the bite. "...I always am. It'll heal. Eventually. He's actually never bite me before."
Knuckles frowned at the red gloves before chewing on his lip and slowly reaching for the bitten arm.
"Can I..try something?" He asked tentatively. Sonic frowned but nodded, releasing his arm to Knuckles' grip.
Knuckles took a deep breath and concentrated on the energy around Sonic and the Island. Soon,a steady green glowing appeared over the bite mark. Sonic sat up, feeling a shift in his natural energy.
"Relax," Knuckles ordered. "I got you."
Sonic obeyed.