"Hope and Despair"
A Sonic and Knuckles fan-fiction series
Part 3 of the ~Elemental Crystals~ story arc
By: Erin Lindsey a.k.a. Diamondneko
***Special fanfiction.net chaptered edition!!!***
Legal junk:
Sonic, Knuckles, Robotnik, Nack the Weasel, Julie-Su, and all related
Characters are copyright Sega, Archie Adventure Series comics, DiC, and
Sonic Team. Not me. The idea for the Theresa charcacter was my friend
Natalie's, but her new design is mine. My characters are: Shelia
ClearWaters, Clawz Wildcat, Lysander, Hele-Na, Aurora-Sa, all the
elemental crystal spirits (Kayoss, Ace, Rona, and Venus), Lily Tigera
(The queen of the Amazons), and Maria ClearWaters. They are All mine,
mine, MINE! And so is this story. So don't take it without asking. If
there are any comments, questions, or complications, send them to:
~Erin Lindsey
erinlindsey@msn.com
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Chapter one: "Don't Get the Wrong Idea..."
It was a cool morning after the long rainy season. The grass was green and lush with
tiny diamond-like drops of morning dew hanging on the blades. The air was fresh and sweet with
the smell of the sea. The wind was soft as the Floating Island swept over the ocean on it's
silent path. Everything was quiet and calm as the serenity of the morning rays fell over
the edge of the rain forest.
Knuckles Echidna lay warm and comfortable under his own covers, sleeping happily and soundly.
He blinked, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face, and slowly opened his eyes. He yawned
drowsily. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, then closed his eyes again and sighed contentedly.
Then, rolling over so his side, he put his arms back around the warm body beside him.
She stirred, blinking and opening her eyes. She gazed at him for a moment blankly, then
smiled weakly and snuggled into him.
He nuzzled her gently, burying his nose in her silky hair. He took a deep breath. He
sighed again, feeling an intense feeling of happiness.
She looked up at him smiling. She raised a hand to his cheek and caressed him
affectionately. He leaned down and kissed her gently.
"Good morning." He whispered.
"Morning..." She purred back softly, "I must have fallen asleep here again last night..."
"I'm glad you did." He said, pulling the covers up to their necks as they lay beside
each other on the couch. He pulled her close, and stoked her back slowly.
"So am I." She mumbled.
About a month had passed since Knuckles had allowed the Freedom Fighters to set up a
camp on his island. The compound was almost finished. Homes had been made, training centers, and
other small buildings had been built not far from the guardian's lair. Fort Acorn, as it had
been named by Princess Sally, was alive and growing. Many of the younger and un-trained
residents of Knothole had been moved there for training. Knowing Shelia had the experience in
gunmanship, Sally had left her in charge, much to Shelia's surprise.
But now, she was not watching her fort. She was busy keeping the company of
the Floating Island's guardian, much to his delectation. They were happy to be together again.
"What time is it?" Shelia mumbled sleepily.
Knuckles glanced out the window and at the slowly rising sun on the far-away horizon.
"Still early." He replied.
"Good." She mumbled.
"You can sleep some more," He said, slowly releasing his grip on her, sitting up and
turning to the side of the couch to put his shoes on. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" She asked, a bit agitated at his departure.
"To check on the chamber." Was his only response as he stood and walked out the doorway
and into the dimly lit forest.
She sighed and laid back down from her sitting position she had took to watch him leave.
She pulled the covers up to her chin, and mumbling something about paranoia, fell back asleep.
Meanwhile Knuckles made his way down a beaten path to a small clearing in the middle of
the jungle. He looked cautiously around before approaching a huge vine covered rock. Taking one
last glance behind him, he pulled aside a clump of vines to reveal a solid silver panel. He put
his palm to it and closed his eyes, as if in deep thought. Then, slowly a door appeared in the
boulder, and opened. He entered and the thick rock door closed behind him.
He walked casually down the crystal lined hallway to a huge sphere-shaped room. The
walls glittered softly, sending their rainbow prisms bouncing around the room in a brilliant
display. But this little show was barely noticeable against the awe inspiring contents of the
room. There, in the middle of the Chaos Chamber, on four metallic pedestals floated an emerald,
a diamond, a ruby, and an amethyst, all roughly a foot in diameter. They were four beautiful
glowing gems that held a mysterious power all of their own.
Knuckles inspected them each carefully. He seemed to know every angle, every curve, and
smooth surface of each jewel. After all it was his responsibility to guard the island and
the Chaos Emerald, but now he was a bit confused about his duty...
A enigmatic girl had told him something in a dream...
But, after all it was just a dream. And dreams are crazy like that, he tried to convince
himself. But it all seemed so real... She had been right about the ruby and amethyst... She said
there were others...
He sighed and brushed the uneasiness away. He gave one last review of the jewels and
their conditions. 'It's beginning to get cramped in here.' He thought as he moved around the
Chaos Emerald.
For some reason, the green jewel seemed almost... Distraught.
He shook that feeling off too. 'Emeralds don't have emotions.' He reminded himself,
before leaving the chamber and starting back to his home and the waiting Shelia. As he neared
his domicile, he was greeted with the sound of a frantic scream.
He rushed inside at the resonance of this, only to be tackled by the fear-stricken
female. He practically fell to the floor.
"What's the matter?" He asked with concern, thinking some Dark Legionnaire had attacked
her or something of that sort.
"Th-there was this -- HUGE BUG!!!" Shelia shrieked.
'Oh brother.' Knuckles thought, as he tried to calm her. "Where?" He asked softly.
She just pointed a shaky hand back at the couch.
Knuckles could see something struggling under the covers. He approached slowly, picking
up one of her boots to smash it with. Shelia hid behind him. She wasn't usually this skittish,
but she wasn't used to waking up to insects crawling all over her, either.
Knuckles pulled off the blanket in a flourish, revealing the pest, only to realize right
as he was about to squash it, that it was a pest he knew well.
"Archimedes?" Knuckles asked in puzzlement, dropping his weapon.
"Knuckles!" The ant yelled, "What in the WORLD is going on here?!"
Shelia was a bit befuddled. "You... Know this... This bug?" She asked Knuckles.
"Yeah, sure." He answered, "This is Archimedes, my um... Teacher, I guess."
"...An ant is your teacher?" She asked in disbelief.
"Well, yeah." Knuckles said.
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"I thought echidnas ate ants." Shelia stated.
Another silence followed.
"Well, er... I did try to eat him once." Knuckles admitted. "He was a bit too spicy for
my taste."
"Now lets never speak of this again." Archimedes said, resoundingly.
Shelia stared down at the ant. And he stared back up at her.
"Ahem..." Archimedes said, clearing his throat, shooting an angry glance at Knuckles.
"Oh! Oh, yeah. Archimedes, this is Shelia ClearWaters." Knuckles introduced.
"... Nice to meet you Miss ClearWaters." The ant said, trying to be polite as he could.
"Eh, ditto." She said, still a bit confused.
"Now, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" He
asked, an edge beginning in his voice.
Knuckles stepped in for her. "Erm... She slept here."
Archimedes raised his eyebrows and his mouth tightened. "Is that so?" He said darkly.
Shelia sensed what the ant was thinking, and spoke up. "Mister Aridemis, I think you've
got it all wrong--"
"That's Archimedes." He corrected, "And I think you both have some explaining to do."
"Archy, I don't think you understand..." Knuckles began, trying to think of what to say.
"Au contraire, Knuckles." He said, "I was a teenager once too, you know. I know what
goes on..."
Shelia and Knuckles side-glanced at each other, tuning redder than usual.
"...We didn't... I mean umm... Last night, err... Nothing happened." Knuckles
tried to explain. "We were just sitting there on the couch, and we fell asleep. That's all."
"I'm sure." Archimedes mumbled, still looking a bit unconvinced.
"He's telling the truth, sir!" Shelia defended, although blushing, "I mean, me and
Knuckles have only known each other for a month or two. I stay here every once in a while, but
I would never--"
"You mean this isn't the first time you've slept here!?" Archimedes interrupted again.
"How come you never told me of this, Knuckles?"
"Well, probably because I knew you'd freak out like your doing right now..." He grumbled.
"Besides you where gone..."
"That's no excuse!" The ant scolded. "What else has been going on behind my back while I
was away?!"
"Um... Well, the freedom fighters are building a base here... And I found two more gems
like the Chaos Emerald..." Knuckles said slowly.
Archimedes blinked at him blankly. He covered his face with his hat to hide his anger.
"I am never leaving your side again..." He muttered.
"Hey, what are you doing scaring Shelia half to death anyway?" Knuckles asked, changing
the subject.
"I came to give you something. It was dark, and I saw someone asleep on the couch, and
I thought it was you! Don't go blaming me for all this!" The ant explained, although a bit
muffled through his hat.
"Bring me something?" Knuckles asked, "Bring me what?"
Archimedes sighed, and slowly took his hat away from his face. "Some books. I thought
you'd be interested in them..." He said.
"Oh." Knuckles said. "Where are they?"
"On the table." Archimedes mumbled, sitting down on a cushion, looking tired.
Knuckles walked over to the table by the window and picked up the two books. One was a
thick old leather-bound book that he had never seen before, and the other was a familiar blue
fettered book with gold embossed writing across the front.
"Hey!" Knuckles said. "This is my book!" He said, holding up the blue one.
"Oh, uh yes." Archimedes said, "I borrowed that."
"Uh huh." Knuckles sighed, "Well thanks for telling me. I've been looking for this."
"What is it?" Shelia asked.
"It's called 'The Story of the Elements' or.." Knuckles began.
"'Blame Chaos'..." Shelia said, reading the sub-title. "Huh. Somehow that sounds
familiar..."
"What's this other one, Archy?" Knux asked.
"It is the writings of your ancestors, The Scrolls." He answered.
"... The Scrolls?" Shelia asked. "As in 'The Lost Scrolls'?"
"How do you know about The Lost Scrolls?" Archimedes said, eyeing her curiously.
"I have them." She said, "Well, at least I did. I gave them to Knuckles..."
Knuckles pulled the small bundle of browning paper from a drawer in the table and
showed them to Archimedes.
"Great Scott!" Archimedes exclaimed, "If these are the real thing..." He trailed off,
hopping onto the table and opening the huge leather book to where some pages where missing. He
unfolded the bundle of papers and smoothed them out into the gap. They fit perfectly, margins,
tear marks, page numbers and all. He was flabbergasted. He looked up at Shelia again. This
pretty fox had more to her than met the eye...
"Hey! Check this out!" Knuckles said, as he examined the other book. "More has been
written!"
"What?" Both Shelia and Archimedes said in unison. Shelia peeked over Knuckles'
shoulder while the ant climbed up the back of his chair to do the same.
"It's like this book is re-writing itself..." Knuckles mumbled. "The girl in my dream
said to read this..."
"Girl in your dream?" Archimedes asked.
"I'll explain later... First I want to figure out this book..." Knuckles said, skimming
the pages.
* * * * *