In the evening, Knuckles strolled through the night streets of
Station Square. Night lights were on, people were busy, and the feeling of
activity filled the air. It was good to be back to civilization.
"Well.here I am." He thought, walking along the street, with everyone looking in wonder at a big red echidna with gloves on, ".at least I'm getting attention. It's been a while since a party happened down. I better get moving before I'll miss the show."
Knuckles had no clue where the town hall was. Neither did he know where either of his friends were. Tails lived in his shop in the ruins. And Sonic.well.where did he live anyway? Did he even have to have a house? The guy's up and ready to go, and on his feet every time Knux saw him. The only time he saw lying down was whenever he'd get hit by Eggman's gadgets. Lucky for him, Knuckles was there.
The echidna walked the streets for about another hour, when he saw a plaque on one of the boards near a newspaper stand.
"Awards Party tonight. City hall, 4th street and Aventine boulevard. In the honor of the heroes who saved Station Square, and the entire planet itself. Guests of Honor: Miles 'Tails' Prower, Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose.Knuckles the echidna."
He smiled at the name. He never really saw it anywhere, save it be from someone's mouth. He was glad to see himself being respected among people. At last they would see that he wasn't just an echidna, but helped out to save the world too.
At last, Knuckles found the place he was looking for. He said his name to the guard, who didn't have trouble doubting that it was him (Who'd mistake an echidna when you see a huge red one in front of you, especially speaking). And entered the building.
There were lots of people there. He walked the halls of the town hall, trying to see what was going on. Most people didn't really recognize him, save the fact that he was with Sonic. Everyone thought of the irony that it was actually animals.or advanced animals.or whatever, that saved the Earth, and not people. But heroes were heroes to them. In about an hour, the party really started. The band sat in the main room, with a long, rectangular table, filled with food, drink bowls, and candles in the middle. The 'Guests of Honor' sat beside each other.
"So.long time no see, red." Rouge told him, who was sitting to his left, ".Still guarding your precious emerald?"
".Don't worry about it." Knuckles replied, cooly, "I've got enough time on my hands. What about you? Still working for the government?"
"Heh.nah.I already told you it was too unfit for me. I reckoned I'd go look for gems on my own." She said, while turning back toward the table, ".If they're too slow to get them, then I get them myself."
She then looked back at him, then back down.
"Hm.you know.if you still got that emerald."
"Don't go there." Knuckles interrupted, knowing of where she was heading.
".It would be a nice gift." She replied, winking her eyebrows at him, ".I'd greeeeeeaaatly appreciate it."
"Sorry." Knuckled replied, turning away toward the table, and crossing his hands, ".Of all things in the world, this is not the one."
"Aw, come on." She kept on insisting, ".Tails gave me a gift, how about you?"
".And what might that be?"
"An invitation to this show. Not to mention the proper recognition for what I've done for your company back in space."
".And what do you want me to give?"
"Well.if you got any more of those jewels." She said, looking sweetly at him.
"Is that all you think about?" He asked.
"Yes."
"."
"All right!" The mayor interrupted the guests, "It is time to begin our celebration, and the congratulations of our honored guests. It had been a while since another threat has come to Station."
He talked of the first missile threat, then the announcement of world domination, then the space station being thrust down to Earth, all blamed on Dr. Robotnik. It was ironic to Knuckles. Eggman did helped them out too. Not as enough times as he'd cause the ruckus in the first place, but still, he did stop from his ways and helped them out. Where was he now, anyway?
And finally, they gave awards to the band of heroes. Everyone got a medal to keep, and as well as applauses. A feeling of satisfaction came to Knuckles, as he sat down in his chair. Could this really be it? Could he really get recognition for all of those years, sitting on that island and guarding the Master Emerald? Even if they didn't thank him for that, he joined in because of the emerald in the first place. At last, he felt good within himself. But as the party went into chatter and eating, things went the other way.
Everyone seemed to be focused on Sonic and Tails, and to others, but no one dared to go near Knuckles. They flooded the blue hedgehog with questions about Shadow, and about previous adventures. Tails was questioned about his future inventions, and Amy about her chances of getting something going with Sonic in the future, in a totally different crowd, of course.
"Well, well, it looks like the blue man's hogging all the attention." Rouge smiled wryly, "What do you think, Knucky?"
"." Knuckles was about to say something, when Rouge got caught by more fans.
"Are you that spy that worked for the president?"
"Are you really that treasure hunter that helped out with the research about the secret weapon?"
Knuckles stood by the food table, all alone, and looking into the crowd. A feeling of jealousy came to him, but he tried to ignore it.
"I don't need fans." He thought to himself, "Who cares? I don't have anything to say."
But it kept on bugging him more and more.
At last, a little girl came up to him. There were other kids behind her.
"Um.excuse me." She said, politely, holding a small notepad with a pencil.
"Hm?" Knuckles looked at her. Of all the people.he thought little children would come up to him, and ask him for a photograph. Could this really be true? He understood grown people.but little kids.would they really want his signature? Knuckles felt warmth come to him.
"Are you a friend of Sonic?" She asked.
"Huh." Knuckles' daydream was interrupted, ".uh.yeah."
"Do you know where we could find him?" She asked, a bit excited.
"Oh." Knuckles gave off a sign of disappointment, and pointed to the crowd on the left, ".He's.over there."
"Thanks mister." She smiled, and the whole group moved towards the hedgehog who now bathed in the voices of fans.
Knuckles, looked down. He didn't want to be jealous.but.but why.why did it have to be that.that way.
"Forget it." He muttered, and headed for the exit. He couldn't take any more of this. All of these years of adventuring with Sonic, and not even a drop of credit to him. At least Tails would've.
"I don't need it." He thought to himself, but still it bit him.
"Sure you do." A voice inside him told him.
"No I don't!" He said, determined, already in the visitor's center.
"All of those years."
"So, it's my job."
"Did you ever get paid for it?"
".I.I don't need to!"
"How come? Sonic gets paid lots for his."
"So what? .Oh." Knuckles shook off the thought.
"I don't need this." He thought. Then said out loud, "And if I don't need it, I don't have to be here either!"
And he walked out the City Hall doors.
* * *
He got to Angel Island in about an hour. Since Tails said that he could use one of his rockets to boost himself up there, Knuckles did so with haste. He didn't want to stay down here any longer. He didn't belong here. There was no place for him. No one liked him here. He was a stranger. A red, spiny stranger.
"Hmph.what a waste of time." He thought to himself, as he got back upon the stone step ledge, and sat on it. Another depressing day.he thought. Why couldn't anything go his way? Just once. Just once in his life couldn't he have someone acknowledge his work? No. No, he was independent. He didn't need fame. It was all him. He was the player, and he was the spectator. Others were just themselves. In his line of work, it was only him. Him.and no one else.
.But why couldn't there have been someone else? His friends were there sometimes.but why not.always? He just didn't get it.
In the distance, Knuckles saw Station Square. Although only a tiny, bright dot in the ocean, he could still see it from where he was. There they were, partying, and having fun. While he sat here. But he didn't blame himself for not being there. He didn't belong there, and neither did he belong anywhere. Except on this island. All by himself, with no one to talk to. That's the way it was.
He saw a light flash about Station Square. As if a line was drawn from the ground to the sky.
"Hm.let me guess." He thought. They were going to erect a statue for him, and flash lights on it. He deserved it.Knuckles thought. He deserved everything.
"Well.here I am." He thought, walking along the street, with everyone looking in wonder at a big red echidna with gloves on, ".at least I'm getting attention. It's been a while since a party happened down. I better get moving before I'll miss the show."
Knuckles had no clue where the town hall was. Neither did he know where either of his friends were. Tails lived in his shop in the ruins. And Sonic.well.where did he live anyway? Did he even have to have a house? The guy's up and ready to go, and on his feet every time Knux saw him. The only time he saw lying down was whenever he'd get hit by Eggman's gadgets. Lucky for him, Knuckles was there.
The echidna walked the streets for about another hour, when he saw a plaque on one of the boards near a newspaper stand.
"Awards Party tonight. City hall, 4th street and Aventine boulevard. In the honor of the heroes who saved Station Square, and the entire planet itself. Guests of Honor: Miles 'Tails' Prower, Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose.Knuckles the echidna."
He smiled at the name. He never really saw it anywhere, save it be from someone's mouth. He was glad to see himself being respected among people. At last they would see that he wasn't just an echidna, but helped out to save the world too.
At last, Knuckles found the place he was looking for. He said his name to the guard, who didn't have trouble doubting that it was him (Who'd mistake an echidna when you see a huge red one in front of you, especially speaking). And entered the building.
There were lots of people there. He walked the halls of the town hall, trying to see what was going on. Most people didn't really recognize him, save the fact that he was with Sonic. Everyone thought of the irony that it was actually animals.or advanced animals.or whatever, that saved the Earth, and not people. But heroes were heroes to them. In about an hour, the party really started. The band sat in the main room, with a long, rectangular table, filled with food, drink bowls, and candles in the middle. The 'Guests of Honor' sat beside each other.
"So.long time no see, red." Rouge told him, who was sitting to his left, ".Still guarding your precious emerald?"
".Don't worry about it." Knuckles replied, cooly, "I've got enough time on my hands. What about you? Still working for the government?"
"Heh.nah.I already told you it was too unfit for me. I reckoned I'd go look for gems on my own." She said, while turning back toward the table, ".If they're too slow to get them, then I get them myself."
She then looked back at him, then back down.
"Hm.you know.if you still got that emerald."
"Don't go there." Knuckles interrupted, knowing of where she was heading.
".It would be a nice gift." She replied, winking her eyebrows at him, ".I'd greeeeeeaaatly appreciate it."
"Sorry." Knuckled replied, turning away toward the table, and crossing his hands, ".Of all things in the world, this is not the one."
"Aw, come on." She kept on insisting, ".Tails gave me a gift, how about you?"
".And what might that be?"
"An invitation to this show. Not to mention the proper recognition for what I've done for your company back in space."
".And what do you want me to give?"
"Well.if you got any more of those jewels." She said, looking sweetly at him.
"Is that all you think about?" He asked.
"Yes."
"."
"All right!" The mayor interrupted the guests, "It is time to begin our celebration, and the congratulations of our honored guests. It had been a while since another threat has come to Station."
He talked of the first missile threat, then the announcement of world domination, then the space station being thrust down to Earth, all blamed on Dr. Robotnik. It was ironic to Knuckles. Eggman did helped them out too. Not as enough times as he'd cause the ruckus in the first place, but still, he did stop from his ways and helped them out. Where was he now, anyway?
And finally, they gave awards to the band of heroes. Everyone got a medal to keep, and as well as applauses. A feeling of satisfaction came to Knuckles, as he sat down in his chair. Could this really be it? Could he really get recognition for all of those years, sitting on that island and guarding the Master Emerald? Even if they didn't thank him for that, he joined in because of the emerald in the first place. At last, he felt good within himself. But as the party went into chatter and eating, things went the other way.
Everyone seemed to be focused on Sonic and Tails, and to others, but no one dared to go near Knuckles. They flooded the blue hedgehog with questions about Shadow, and about previous adventures. Tails was questioned about his future inventions, and Amy about her chances of getting something going with Sonic in the future, in a totally different crowd, of course.
"Well, well, it looks like the blue man's hogging all the attention." Rouge smiled wryly, "What do you think, Knucky?"
"." Knuckles was about to say something, when Rouge got caught by more fans.
"Are you that spy that worked for the president?"
"Are you really that treasure hunter that helped out with the research about the secret weapon?"
Knuckles stood by the food table, all alone, and looking into the crowd. A feeling of jealousy came to him, but he tried to ignore it.
"I don't need fans." He thought to himself, "Who cares? I don't have anything to say."
But it kept on bugging him more and more.
At last, a little girl came up to him. There were other kids behind her.
"Um.excuse me." She said, politely, holding a small notepad with a pencil.
"Hm?" Knuckles looked at her. Of all the people.he thought little children would come up to him, and ask him for a photograph. Could this really be true? He understood grown people.but little kids.would they really want his signature? Knuckles felt warmth come to him.
"Are you a friend of Sonic?" She asked.
"Huh." Knuckles' daydream was interrupted, ".uh.yeah."
"Do you know where we could find him?" She asked, a bit excited.
"Oh." Knuckles gave off a sign of disappointment, and pointed to the crowd on the left, ".He's.over there."
"Thanks mister." She smiled, and the whole group moved towards the hedgehog who now bathed in the voices of fans.
Knuckles, looked down. He didn't want to be jealous.but.but why.why did it have to be that.that way.
"Forget it." He muttered, and headed for the exit. He couldn't take any more of this. All of these years of adventuring with Sonic, and not even a drop of credit to him. At least Tails would've.
"I don't need it." He thought to himself, but still it bit him.
"Sure you do." A voice inside him told him.
"No I don't!" He said, determined, already in the visitor's center.
"All of those years."
"So, it's my job."
"Did you ever get paid for it?"
".I.I don't need to!"
"How come? Sonic gets paid lots for his."
"So what? .Oh." Knuckles shook off the thought.
"I don't need this." He thought. Then said out loud, "And if I don't need it, I don't have to be here either!"
And he walked out the City Hall doors.
* * *
He got to Angel Island in about an hour. Since Tails said that he could use one of his rockets to boost himself up there, Knuckles did so with haste. He didn't want to stay down here any longer. He didn't belong here. There was no place for him. No one liked him here. He was a stranger. A red, spiny stranger.
"Hmph.what a waste of time." He thought to himself, as he got back upon the stone step ledge, and sat on it. Another depressing day.he thought. Why couldn't anything go his way? Just once. Just once in his life couldn't he have someone acknowledge his work? No. No, he was independent. He didn't need fame. It was all him. He was the player, and he was the spectator. Others were just themselves. In his line of work, it was only him. Him.and no one else.
.But why couldn't there have been someone else? His friends were there sometimes.but why not.always? He just didn't get it.
In the distance, Knuckles saw Station Square. Although only a tiny, bright dot in the ocean, he could still see it from where he was. There they were, partying, and having fun. While he sat here. But he didn't blame himself for not being there. He didn't belong there, and neither did he belong anywhere. Except on this island. All by himself, with no one to talk to. That's the way it was.
He saw a light flash about Station Square. As if a line was drawn from the ground to the sky.
"Hm.let me guess." He thought. They were going to erect a statue for him, and flash lights on it. He deserved it.Knuckles thought. He deserved everything.