The Floating Island

Up on Angel Island, more commonly known to Mobians as the Floating Island, Knuckles was guarding the Master Emerald, and the Chaos Emeralds as well.

Knuckles was a red Echidna, with long dreadlocks, a useful gliding ability and knuckles like iron that he used for climbing, digging, and punching. He could punch through almost anything in his way.

Overall, it was pretty dull work. Usually, guard duty was about as interesting as counting grass. Sure, they were nice to look at, and Knuckles didn't doubt they'd make great paperweights, but other than just sitting there, the Emeralds didn't do much. Sometimes though, a Chaos Emerald would "blink out", or teleport itself somewhere on the island, and he'd have to go find the stupid thing again. It seemed like they did this to annoy him.

If he were having a really bad day, another Emerald would probably have "blinked out" by the time he got back with the other. Knuckles still couldn't forget the time when all seven of them "chain-blinked" on him... in a row. It had taken him a full day to find them all, and he finally got them back to the shrine about midnight.

"Hmmph. I sure could use someone to talk to. I wonder what Sonic is up to these days..."

Knuckles always tried to get along with Sonic, but Sonic… well... Sonic was a whole different story. It seemed as if Sonic liked irritating him... sometimes.

Knuckles yawned. He had been on duty since that morning, and nothing had happened yet.

"I think I'll take a short nap... Mighty, Espio, and Vector won't know." he thought, as he got comfortable, leaning against the Master Emerald's shrine.

Knuckles, like the rest of the Chaotix, had a habit of napping when the others weren't around. He had nothing better to do, so what was the harm?

********

When Sonic landed on the Floating Island, he ran off to the Shrine where the Emeralds were kept, stirring up leaves and dust in his wake, figuring that that's where ol' Knux would most likely be. He reached the Shrine relatively quickly, considering he was going slow... or what he defined as slow anyway. Sonic walked inside, looking around for Knux.

"Where is that knuckle head anyways?"

Sonic spotted Knuckles fast asleep against the Master Emerald's shrine, his arms crossed over his chest, his hat and sunglasses down. Sonic tapped Knuckles gently on the shoulder.

"Knux? You in there?"

Knuckles, surprised someone had got in without his knowing, had jumped a foot in the air, and caused Sonic to stumble back a few feet.

"What? Who's there?!"

"Yo, Knux, chill man."

Knuckles sighed with relief.

"Sonic! Don't scare me like that!"

Sonic laughed.

"Wait, I scared you? I thought it was the other way around."

In spite of himself, Knuckles started laughing too.

"Hey Knux, I thought you were supposed to be guarding, not sleeping?"

"Nice to see you again too, Sonic." Knuckles replied, "How is everyone back in Knothole?"

"Everyone's doing great. Tails and Amy are spending a lot of time together... and you know what?"

"What?"

Sonic smiled, and whispered something in Knuckles' ear.

"THEY WHAT?!?" Knuckles yelled in surprise.

Sonic nodded, smiling.

"Well, well... Amy and Tails, together. I never would've seen that coming in a million years." Knuckles said with a smirk.

"Mind you, that's only a guess." Sonic reminded him.

Knuckles just shook his head.

"So Sonic, you up for a race?" Knuckles asked deciding to change the subject.

"You're kiddin', right Knux? You know I could beat you any day of the week."

"You? Beat me? Ha! We'll see about that." Knuckles laughed.

"You're on! First one to get from here to the Casino Zone and back with fifty rings, wins."

"Deal." Knuckles held out his hand and they shook on it.

"No cheating!" they both said at the same time.

Sonic and Knuckles did some stretches, and bent down beside each other facing the Casino Zone.

"GO!" they both yelled, and they were off in a cloud of dust and leaves.