Chapter 6- Game Over
--------------------
Both stood, staring up into the eyes of their predator. Sonic and
Knuckles clenched their teeth in rage. Each had a reason to fight the
lizard and each would get their chance.
"Good job, echidna. But this last level will be . . . your last!" he
recovered. Knuckles rolled his eyes at the comment.
"Please! That's what all my enemies say. And you know what the last
words on their lips are when they're on the ground, defeated? They
plead for mercy. Forgiveness. Whatever! This will be no different."
He declared bravely. Sonic crossed his arms and nodded slowly.
"Your words truly touch me. I could just cry." He said sarcastically.
"Really?" Knuckles frowned, wanting a challenge. Sonic elbowed him
below the rib cage, warning him it was sarcasm.
Melafariblaze laughed. "You really are dumber than you look! So naïve!"
Knuckles growled and charged after his foe, throwing punch after punch
after punch into his entire right side, each time sending
Melafariblaze into a fit. Having enough, he sent his tail lashing out
and hitting Knuckles, knocking him to the ground. Sonic jumped in and
preformed his homing attack, crashing right in between Melafariblaze's
eyes. He hoped with all of his might that Knuckles would get back up
and help him out again.
The blood ran from all of the holes in his side and Sonic noted he was
getting weaker from all the other fought battles he had been in. Sonic
began to slow his pace and saw Knuckles getting back up. He jumped away
and let Knuckles at him. It continued on like this for quite some time,
both switching off from time to time to take a much-needed breather.
Every so often the temple-like structure would vibrate, almost ready
to collapse. And as the battle rose to its climax, the bricks and roof
gave way and slowly began to crumble. The duo knew they had a limited
amount of time left, and if they didn't hurry, their death could be
right around the corner.
A flurry of punches, tail-swishing, kicks, spin-dashes, and homing
attacks were exchanged, and it seemed like the good guys had the
upper hand-
"Warning! Warning! System alert! System alert! Self-destruct set in
two minutes! Warning! Warning!" the masculine voice warned, ruby
lights flashing on and off annoyingly.
Tails ran into the room, Rouge by his side as well as the Master
Emerald. "Guys! I accidentally tripped an alarm!"
Knuckles widened his eyes. "How was that possible?!"
"I dunno! But I did! And now we gotta get outta here!!"
"I don't think so! You aren't going anywhere until I'm finished with
you!" Melafariblaze said, still in pain. He got onto his hind legs and
roared, shaking the walls and floor below them. Knuckles and Sonic
both got to their knees, lessening the shake slightly. Tails hovered
with Rouge in his hands.
"Sonic! What're we going to do?! I'm winded, and I can't get another
punch through to him!" Knuckles gasped. Sonic shook his head, thinking
of any other attacks he had left. There wasn't much, but he knew one
that would work no sweat. It always did.
More things toppled to the ground and barely squashed everyone below
it. Sonic risked whatever there was to be risked and fell into a
spin-dash, aiming directly below Melafariblaze's neck. He sawed a
fraction of the way and backed off.
Without even so much as a warning, he ran feverishly from the chamber.
Everyone else took the hint and ran as well, Knuckles picking up the
Master Emerald along the way and grabbing Rouge's hand to hurry her
along. It wasn't so hard to find the entrance again, considering they
hadn't traveled far from it. But the problem was hurrying away from it
far enough so the blast wouldn't send an aftershock after them and
kill them.
Sonic sped his way out and Knuckles and Rouge both latched onto Tails.
Plan was, Sonic could probably easily outrun it. Tails would just fly
them to safety.
As they ran out, they heard the yells of Melafariblaze. "Curse you,
echidna! You haven't seen the last of me! You may have won the battle,
but you've lost the war!"
Those were the last words before the explosion, and it sent everyone
spiraling deep into the forest.
* * *
Knuckles awoke to a drop of dew that fell onto his nose, splashing into
smaller droplets. He sat upright and looked around for his friends. The
only thing around his area was shattered bits of the Emerald. Picking
them up, he enclosed them in his paw and walked around trying to find
where everyone was. That is, if they survived.
"I'M LOST!!! OH NO!!!! HELP ME!!!!!" Sonic cried in the distance.
Knuckles let out a small chuckle and paced over to him. There he saw
Sonic on the ground, staring upwards, relaxed. He smiled at the sight
of Knuckles. "Wow! It only took you . . . I dunno. I didn't keep count.
But you got here in record time."
Knuckles pointed behind him. "I was only over there. Don't get all
excited." And helped him from the ground.
"That was some explosion. I wonder where everyone else is. I don't it
was that powerful to kill someone. That place was too small. But it did
pack quite a punch." He shook his head and ruffled his quills.
"I'll say. No one can be that far off if we're in the same radius. But
let's split up and see if we can find them." And both left.
Along the way Knuckles saw that many plants were severely damaged and
some trees were split down the middle.
"Knuckles! Up here!" someone shouted from a tree above. Scanning the
area, Knuckles saw Rouge entangled in the limbs of it. Climbing up, he
slowly released her and sat beside her, feet dangled over the side.
"Wow. You found the Emerald, you saved the world with Sonic's help,
and you regained memory. How does it feel?" she cracked, smiling
abroad. Knuckles shut his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I really don't know. But I do know I've gotta find a new island. The
Emerald won't do any good anymore for that island. Plus, I've gotta
rebuild it again," he held his hand out to Rouge, showing her the
pieces of the glistening jewel. "It shattered again."
"You have the worst luck with that thing, don't you?" and wrapped her
arms around his neck.
"I wouldn't say that. It's just like a dream . . . or something.
Hey . . . Rouge. What happened when I passed out and got amnesia?" he
spoke. Rouge let go and pursed her lips tightly.
"Well . . . after you passed out, Tails came over and begged Sonic to
finish the fight. When he had Melafariblaze knocked out, we figured
we'd better high-tail it outta there. And we brought you to Knothole.
You were out for three days straight. Doctors thought you wouldn't make
it, to be honest. And you woke up the following day. That's all."
"Oh. It . . . just seems so surreal. I just wanted to fly away from
here . . . just get away from this place," he mumbled. "Sorry I had
you worried."
"Ok. I answered your question. So, how did you remember?" she countered.
"I don't know. One minute I was on the ground with a major headache
that pounded in my head. Next, someone's telling me all my friends
were dying, and that the world would turn to some ugly mass of mess
if I didn't get up. Everything fell into place finally. And you know
what totally brought everything back together?"
"No, what?" she smirked, her eyes sparkling.
Knuckles kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "When we
were in the forest . . . right before I left."
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." he spoke with confidence. Rouge laughed and leaned as
far back as she could in disbelief. Shaking her head a few times, she
gaped.
"Hey! Lovebirds! Get your butts down here! I wanna go home!!" Tails
complained. Both looked at the ground, surprised. Sonic was looking
at his watch and tapping his foot impatiently.
"We've been standing here for a while! You still haven't noticed us?
Then you really must be messed up!" Sonic played.
"Darn. We're going back to our own routine again. Except now I've
gotta find a way to get another Island."
Rouge hugged Knuckles softly. "Don't worry about that right now. Just
be grateful that you're alright." Both jumped from the tree and landed
beside Sonic and Tails.
"Ready?! I wanna get home now!!" Tails tugged on Knuckles' and Rouge's
hands.
All four of them walked towards the sun that was now setting slowly.
Knuckles took hold of Rouge's hand and pulled her away from them.
"Thank you . . . for everything you've done." he quietly thanked. Both
stared at each other in the eyes and leaned in to kiss each other again.
It's finally over . . . thank God . . . it's finally over . . .
Knuckles thought to himself.
The End
--------------------
Both stood, staring up into the eyes of their predator. Sonic and
Knuckles clenched their teeth in rage. Each had a reason to fight the
lizard and each would get their chance.
"Good job, echidna. But this last level will be . . . your last!" he
recovered. Knuckles rolled his eyes at the comment.
"Please! That's what all my enemies say. And you know what the last
words on their lips are when they're on the ground, defeated? They
plead for mercy. Forgiveness. Whatever! This will be no different."
He declared bravely. Sonic crossed his arms and nodded slowly.
"Your words truly touch me. I could just cry." He said sarcastically.
"Really?" Knuckles frowned, wanting a challenge. Sonic elbowed him
below the rib cage, warning him it was sarcasm.
Melafariblaze laughed. "You really are dumber than you look! So naïve!"
Knuckles growled and charged after his foe, throwing punch after punch
after punch into his entire right side, each time sending
Melafariblaze into a fit. Having enough, he sent his tail lashing out
and hitting Knuckles, knocking him to the ground. Sonic jumped in and
preformed his homing attack, crashing right in between Melafariblaze's
eyes. He hoped with all of his might that Knuckles would get back up
and help him out again.
The blood ran from all of the holes in his side and Sonic noted he was
getting weaker from all the other fought battles he had been in. Sonic
began to slow his pace and saw Knuckles getting back up. He jumped away
and let Knuckles at him. It continued on like this for quite some time,
both switching off from time to time to take a much-needed breather.
Every so often the temple-like structure would vibrate, almost ready
to collapse. And as the battle rose to its climax, the bricks and roof
gave way and slowly began to crumble. The duo knew they had a limited
amount of time left, and if they didn't hurry, their death could be
right around the corner.
A flurry of punches, tail-swishing, kicks, spin-dashes, and homing
attacks were exchanged, and it seemed like the good guys had the
upper hand-
"Warning! Warning! System alert! System alert! Self-destruct set in
two minutes! Warning! Warning!" the masculine voice warned, ruby
lights flashing on and off annoyingly.
Tails ran into the room, Rouge by his side as well as the Master
Emerald. "Guys! I accidentally tripped an alarm!"
Knuckles widened his eyes. "How was that possible?!"
"I dunno! But I did! And now we gotta get outta here!!"
"I don't think so! You aren't going anywhere until I'm finished with
you!" Melafariblaze said, still in pain. He got onto his hind legs and
roared, shaking the walls and floor below them. Knuckles and Sonic
both got to their knees, lessening the shake slightly. Tails hovered
with Rouge in his hands.
"Sonic! What're we going to do?! I'm winded, and I can't get another
punch through to him!" Knuckles gasped. Sonic shook his head, thinking
of any other attacks he had left. There wasn't much, but he knew one
that would work no sweat. It always did.
More things toppled to the ground and barely squashed everyone below
it. Sonic risked whatever there was to be risked and fell into a
spin-dash, aiming directly below Melafariblaze's neck. He sawed a
fraction of the way and backed off.
Without even so much as a warning, he ran feverishly from the chamber.
Everyone else took the hint and ran as well, Knuckles picking up the
Master Emerald along the way and grabbing Rouge's hand to hurry her
along. It wasn't so hard to find the entrance again, considering they
hadn't traveled far from it. But the problem was hurrying away from it
far enough so the blast wouldn't send an aftershock after them and
kill them.
Sonic sped his way out and Knuckles and Rouge both latched onto Tails.
Plan was, Sonic could probably easily outrun it. Tails would just fly
them to safety.
As they ran out, they heard the yells of Melafariblaze. "Curse you,
echidna! You haven't seen the last of me! You may have won the battle,
but you've lost the war!"
Those were the last words before the explosion, and it sent everyone
spiraling deep into the forest.
* * *
Knuckles awoke to a drop of dew that fell onto his nose, splashing into
smaller droplets. He sat upright and looked around for his friends. The
only thing around his area was shattered bits of the Emerald. Picking
them up, he enclosed them in his paw and walked around trying to find
where everyone was. That is, if they survived.
"I'M LOST!!! OH NO!!!! HELP ME!!!!!" Sonic cried in the distance.
Knuckles let out a small chuckle and paced over to him. There he saw
Sonic on the ground, staring upwards, relaxed. He smiled at the sight
of Knuckles. "Wow! It only took you . . . I dunno. I didn't keep count.
But you got here in record time."
Knuckles pointed behind him. "I was only over there. Don't get all
excited." And helped him from the ground.
"That was some explosion. I wonder where everyone else is. I don't it
was that powerful to kill someone. That place was too small. But it did
pack quite a punch." He shook his head and ruffled his quills.
"I'll say. No one can be that far off if we're in the same radius. But
let's split up and see if we can find them." And both left.
Along the way Knuckles saw that many plants were severely damaged and
some trees were split down the middle.
"Knuckles! Up here!" someone shouted from a tree above. Scanning the
area, Knuckles saw Rouge entangled in the limbs of it. Climbing up, he
slowly released her and sat beside her, feet dangled over the side.
"Wow. You found the Emerald, you saved the world with Sonic's help,
and you regained memory. How does it feel?" she cracked, smiling
abroad. Knuckles shut his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I really don't know. But I do know I've gotta find a new island. The
Emerald won't do any good anymore for that island. Plus, I've gotta
rebuild it again," he held his hand out to Rouge, showing her the
pieces of the glistening jewel. "It shattered again."
"You have the worst luck with that thing, don't you?" and wrapped her
arms around his neck.
"I wouldn't say that. It's just like a dream . . . or something.
Hey . . . Rouge. What happened when I passed out and got amnesia?" he
spoke. Rouge let go and pursed her lips tightly.
"Well . . . after you passed out, Tails came over and begged Sonic to
finish the fight. When he had Melafariblaze knocked out, we figured
we'd better high-tail it outta there. And we brought you to Knothole.
You were out for three days straight. Doctors thought you wouldn't make
it, to be honest. And you woke up the following day. That's all."
"Oh. It . . . just seems so surreal. I just wanted to fly away from
here . . . just get away from this place," he mumbled. "Sorry I had
you worried."
"Ok. I answered your question. So, how did you remember?" she countered.
"I don't know. One minute I was on the ground with a major headache
that pounded in my head. Next, someone's telling me all my friends
were dying, and that the world would turn to some ugly mass of mess
if I didn't get up. Everything fell into place finally. And you know
what totally brought everything back together?"
"No, what?" she smirked, her eyes sparkling.
Knuckles kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "When we
were in the forest . . . right before I left."
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." he spoke with confidence. Rouge laughed and leaned as
far back as she could in disbelief. Shaking her head a few times, she
gaped.
"Hey! Lovebirds! Get your butts down here! I wanna go home!!" Tails
complained. Both looked at the ground, surprised. Sonic was looking
at his watch and tapping his foot impatiently.
"We've been standing here for a while! You still haven't noticed us?
Then you really must be messed up!" Sonic played.
"Darn. We're going back to our own routine again. Except now I've
gotta find a way to get another Island."
Rouge hugged Knuckles softly. "Don't worry about that right now. Just
be grateful that you're alright." Both jumped from the tree and landed
beside Sonic and Tails.
"Ready?! I wanna get home now!!" Tails tugged on Knuckles' and Rouge's
hands.
All four of them walked towards the sun that was now setting slowly.
Knuckles took hold of Rouge's hand and pulled her away from them.
"Thank you . . . for everything you've done." he quietly thanked. Both
stared at each other in the eyes and leaned in to kiss each other again.
It's finally over . . . thank God . . . it's finally over . . .
Knuckles thought to himself.
The End