End of an Era

The following morning Shadow slept late, but even before he woke up the day brought bad news. Knuckles received a message over the Echidna long distance Message Network, relayed by Sharay at the colony. Master Ribern at the Guardian school was dangerously ill, not expected to survive the week, and was asking to see Shadow and Knuckles. It was perhaps Knuckles' distress that woke Shadow that morning and swept all memories of Metal and the Thousand into oblivion. Knuckles tried to contact Tails to beg a lift to Angel Island, but to no avail, Tails seemed to have gone on holiday, and left his radio at home, either that or Knuckles' one was broken. By that afternoon they had packed their bags, and set off for Angel Island.

The trip took them just over a day and a half. It was late afternoon when they arrived at the Guardian School on Angel Island. Here the mood was thoroughly subdued. The Trainees there, learning all that it was to be a Guardian seemed to lack the usual vigour of childhood. Shadow and Knuckles walked slowly between the barracks and classrooms, listening to the voices of various Masters wafting out the open windows. The day was hot. Angel Island seemed to sigh under the warmth of the summer sun. This was about as hot as it got up here. Angel Island, flying in the sky, always had a soft wind blowing over it at the very least. Around the school the short grass growing between the stone buildings was just beginning to turn yellow. Then as they neared the centre of the school they were spotted by a group of Trainees, probably off on a free period, any Trainees lucky enough to have the day off would probably be spending it at the lake. Evidently one of these Trainees recognised them for he ran up, and was quickly followed by his friends.
"Guardian Knuckles… Welcome back to Angel Island… I think you should report to Master Almer, to tell him you're here… he's off timetable at the moment… he's usually over there" The young Trainee pointed to a collection of smaller huts. Knuckles nodded his thanks to him and he and Shadow moved off, followed by the whispers of the Trainees.

They found Almer sitting just outside one of the island's smaller buildings. Ribern's hut. It was little more than a mud hut, small and dry in the late summer heat. Almer looked up sombrely as they approached, upon recognising them he stood up to greet them.
"Ah, Shadow, Knuckles… I assume you got our message… Its good of you to come so quickly…"
"What's wrong with Master Ribern?" Knuckles asked softly, he wasn't willing to admit how much Ribern meant to him, even to himself
"Age" Almer said simply "He's not a young Echidna anymore… A few days ago he became ill… the infirmary staff thought he would recover in time, but he deteriorated…" Almer sighed softly "Now they say he hasn't got long left. He's been asking for you both… Go in, but try not to stress him… he's very weak"
They nodded in unison, and entered the small hut in the middle of the school. Knuckles found himself back in a familiar room. It hadn't changed much in his lifetime. He had so many memories of this place, not all of them good. So many times he'd been sent here for various misdemeanours, he and Ribern had built up quite a familiar relationship. Master Ribern, unlike many of the Masters didn't have any family on the Island, so lived alone. His hut was simple, like most of the dwellings. One thing about the room that had always interested Knuckles however were the tapestries hung on the walls. They depicted all the best of the Guardians' stories. There was an old Guardian nurse in attendance, but she quickly left when they entered. Quietly they walked up to Ribern's bed. The old Echidna looked greyer than Knuckles remembered, and much thinner."Master…"
Ribern lifted his head a little. "Knuckles… and Shadow… It is good to see you"
"Master…" Knuckles repeated, seemingly at a loss for anything else.
"I have much to say to you… and so little time…""Let me help you! I can make you well!" Shadow said, aware only of his Guardian's distress
"I am old Shadow… I have had my time… Even you cannot prolong my stay on this Earth… Do you think there will be a place for me among the stars?"
"Of course Master…" Knuckles said softly
"Oh little Knuckles you were always so kind to us…" He sighed softly "Do you remember what I said to you last time we met? … … Since you and Shadow were Bound we have been working with the humans… The time to destroy the Master and Chaos Emeralds has come… they're here… all eight of them… Cholra is prepared… The humans and the Guardians have agreed that they are too great a threat to be allowed to remain… The humans have found other power sources to replace them…" He descended to a fit of coughing. "-They must be destroyed… But I was right… not within my lifetime…"
"How?" Shadow asked
"You will know what to do when the time comes… It's in your blood, in your spirit, both of you" Ribern lifted his hand to raise Knuckles' head where he'd been staring at the floor. "You must do this for us… the Echidna have too long lived under the Coreinth's curse… Do not worry Shadow… together with your Guardian the Coreinth's voice will not take you again." Shadow nodded slowly. Knuckles' felt Ribern stroke his cheek where his head still rested in his hand. "It is not as bad as you think little Knux"
"But…M-master…." He said softly
"Aren't you going to say anything else to me Knuckles?"
"Shadow… a minute?"
Shadow nodded. "I'm sorry" He said softly to Ribern, then with only the barest touch to Knuckles back, left the room. Once he was gone, Knuckles, who'd been trying not to cry all the way through the conversation, finally broke down.
"You wont let your Charge see you cry… that's not a good sign Knuckles"
"What are we going to do without you?" Knuckles asked through a sob "Who's going to tell me where I'm screwing up?"
"Oh my sweet little Knuckles… you're old enough now to know how to make your own mistakes…" Ribern stroked Knuckles bent head "You still haven't learnt to believe in yourself"
"I'd be a fool to"
"Shh…"
"Who's going to help me with Shadow now?"
"You'll be alright…"
"But you've been like a father to me… why do you have to go?"
Ribern sighed "I'm old Knuckles… I've had my share of the world… It's time I gave way to younger spirits…"
"Not yet…"
"Why not?" Ribern again stroked his cheek "I have nothing left to teach you… My little Knuckles… I'm so proud of you…"
"But we still need you…"
"No you don't… you and Shadow have each other… the Guardianship will go on without me… like it always has"
"But"
"Asking me to stay any longer would be selfish. It is time I went to my fate… whatever awaits me… The Black Pit… or the Heavens… I hope in my lifetime I have done enough to earn a place in the latter…" He coughed weakly "Promise me you will do this Knuckles… promise me you will rid us of the curse… Rid the Echidna of the Coreinth's curse…"
Knuckles nodded slowly, and took up his hand "We'll do our best"
"That's all I can ask… Almer will be a good leader… don't you think?"
"I expect so, if you trained him…"
Ribern yawned "I'm tired Knuckles… Oh to be young and strong again like you" He chuckled softly. Then seemed to drift into a half sleep, after a moment he spoke again "Be strong… Be brave little Chaos Keeper… take good care of your Charge…"
With that Ribern drifted into sleep. Knuckles took a few moments to compose himself then left Ribern's hut.

Shadow came immediately to his side when he reappeared. Noiselessly Shadow offered him his support. But support wasn't what Knuckles wanted, what he wanted was for someone to make everything ok. For Ribern to be the Master he'd once been. Knuckles knew he wished for the impossible, he didn't even think it was unfair; Ribern had lived a long life. He'd been far luckier than many Guardians. Somehow, however, that knowledge didn't make Knuckles feel any better.

Ribern died only a few hours after he'd spoken with Shadow and Knuckles. They said it was peaceful, in his sleep. He hadn't suffered. Knuckles found he didn't feel any worse on hearing of his final loss. The heavy weight that seemed to have settled on him since he knew of Ribern's illness remained on him, but grew no harder to bear. Shadow remained in reverent silence while Knuckles quietly grieved, offering what small help he could. For most of that afternoon however they remained separate, as Knuckles preferred to be alone with his despair.

The small ceremony symbolising Almer's ascension to the top position on the island was preformed that evening. Knuckles made sure he and Shadow were in attendance. He and Almer had had their differences in the past, but he felt it was important that they showed their support. The affair was a sombre one, not that this ceremony was one that was ever particularly celebrated. It really was the end of an era, Angel Island was filled with Guardian's and their Charges, all those who had graduated under Ribern's ever watchful eye. He'd been in command for over twenty years. There was many a tear stained face. Knuckles saw many fellow Guardians from his childhood, faces much changed by age and experience. Admittedly there were a few surprised stares when they saw him walking with Shadow, and another at the foot of the Master Emerald. Most of Knuckles' closest friends were absent however; having come to his and Shadow's Graduation he guessed they hadn't been able to escape their duties again. Knuckles would have given a lot to see Custos or Coral.

It was a good night for it, quiet and cool, one of those late summer evenings when the sun stays up late. Knuckles watched a moth flutter past the half moon as Almer took the leadership oath. He sighed, and wondered if Ribern had found his appointed place in the sky yet.

Angel Island was too full for there to be beds for everyone. The trainees had been usurped to give space for the visitors but Shadow and Knuckles slept outside. Knuckles stared up at the stars, listening to Shadow's soft breathing at his side. It was always worse at night.

The warm wind played lightly through his fur, it was so peaceful. As Knuckles looked down on the Guardian School from a low hill he heard footsteps behind him.
"People die my Guardian; it's a fact of life, the only thing that's certain. Some of us don't get a chance to say goodbye, you should be grateful. Some would almost sell their souls to be given that chance…" Sighing Shadow came up to stand beside him "You know Ribern's last wish… we can do him justice in honouring it." Shadow forced Knuckles to look at him "You once told me Maria was up there" he gestured towards the sky with his free hand "So Ribern must be up there too, as long as we have the sky, he won't ever be gone, and as long as we're on this Earth, under these heavens, he will always be with you, watching, guiding and guarding, just as he did in his life. He'll live on in our memories… and as long as we preserve that he'll live on in us." A cold wind brushed against them. Shadow shivered slightly and subconsciously drew closer "You also told me that one of your greatest fears was that you would disappear, that when you were dead, no-one would remember you, that your life wouldn't have made a difference… that you hadn't touched anyone enough to have earned a place in their memory… Ribern doesn't have to have that fear… because so many of us will remember him… you saw their faces today, so many grieve his passing…" Shadow was quiet for a moment. He dropped his hand from Knuckles face and turned away "But someone once told me… that if you grieve too long the only one your feeling sorry for is yourself… its selfish."
"How can you say that?" Knuckles asked angrily
"It is what I was taught" Shadow said evenly "but think about it… grieving wont help the person you lost, its only indulging in self-pity, you cry because you lost them, because you will never see them again. It's selfish."
"How can you be so heartless!" Knuckles shouted, so his voice rang across the plains, Shadow scowled and a thin layer of flame ignited around his body. In his anger Knuckles had dropped his controls and didn't take them up again.
"Maybe the scientists removed my heart. Maybe a demon like me doesn't know what grief and love are, right?" Shadow's scowl deepened, Knuckles noticed he had the Shard in his hand "I'm no stranger to grief Knuckles. I lost everyone in one go. Fifty years in stasis gave me a lifetime to grieve. If something were to happen to me, I wouldn't want you or anyone else to cry."
With that Shadow raised the Shard in his hand, and disappeared in a large flash of green light. Knuckles sighed, and looked up at the stars.
"I've already screwed up"

Cholra was prepared to Repudiate the Emerald, otherwise she would die with it as Knuckles and Shadow destroyed them. She looked terrified. Knuckles thought rightly so. The Master Emerald too wasn't too pleased by the thought of being destroyed. It had attempted to take up its telepathic dialogue with Knuckles again, for a moment he had listened to its voice. Knuckles had never heard the Emerald beg before; there was something satisfying about hearing it loose its arrogant note. He revelled in it for a moment, before turning his back on it, and shutting it out of his mind.

Shadow and Knuckles stood together at the base of the Master Emerald Shrine, the tear in their relationship forgotten. They watched as Cholra, surrounded by a gaggle of infirmary staff and close friends prepared to Repudiate the Emerald. Master Almer was there too, telling her what to do. Guardians were educated on how to Bond to their Charges; it wasn't practice to tell them how to break that bond. Repudiation was not encouraged, and only allowed in the most extreme circumstances. For Knuckles the process had happened naturally, but that hadn't stopped it hurting. Cholra was ready, she didn't put it off, she seemed to want to get it over and done with.

Her scream ripped out over the island. Immediately she dropped to the floor, convulsing and continuing to scream with a kind of animal agony and fear.
"Ugh-uhhh" Shadow muttered, and turned away to bury his face in Knuckles' chest, his hands over his ears in an attempt to block out the sound. Around them all but the strongest or oldest Guardians looked away. No Trainees had been allowed to attend. Knuckles on the other hand looked intently on, fascinated by a kind of morbid curiosity. Having been through the Repudiation himself he was curious to discover what it looked like from the outside, and to know if everyone's symptoms were the same. Cholra continued to convulse, though by now her cry had grown weaker. Foamy blood splattered her mouth and chest as those around her attempted to calm her. Knuckles could remember that, Sonic and the others had done exactly the same for him. By now Cholra would be beginning to regain her senses, though the pain would be far from gone, if, she was indeed experiencing it as Knuckles had. Mildly he wondered if she saw a vision of the Pit, as he had. Shadow, trembling in Knuckles arms had evidently heard her scream subside, and dared to look around, a gesture he quickly regretted. Cholra looked a mere shell of the Echidna she had once been, as though part of her soul had been sucked away, which in one way of looking at it was true. Shadow hid his face again. Knuckles began to regret that he'd made Tails and the others watch this. The infirmary staff put Cholra on a stretcher, and carried her away.

Shadow looked like he was going to be sick, but then, so did most of the Guardians and even some of the Masters. Only once Cholra was safely out of sight did Shadow dare to look up at Knuckles.
"I-I p-put you through that… I feel so guilty…"
Knuckles smiled, stroking Shadow's trembling back "No, the Master Emerald put me through that. You had nothing to do with it"
"But you would have never Repudiated the Emerald if it hadn't been for me"
"No, I would still be sitting beneath it, wishing I was free, or dead."
Shadow looked at the floor again.
"That's what it is to be a Guardian… love your life or hate it, you're stuck with what's dealt you"
Shadow looked up, shocked "What a defeatist attitude, coming from you! You don't honestly believe that?"
Knuckles shrugged "I'm almost as engineered as you are. It was always my fate to be Guardian of the Master Emerald, then yours… That's what we're taught to believe, that the Guardianship selection is never wrong, once I was Bound I always wished for something less rigid, something with more… choice, more freedom… I couldn't help but think the fates had got it wrong with me."
"Do you wish you weren't my Guardian?"
"No" Knuckles laughed softly "Which only proves my point… and leaves me feeling more like a puppet than ever." Knuckles grinned and shrugged "when you look at the Guardianship it does seem restrictive… but I'm told most people like what they're dealt, there have been a few… who say they got dealt the wrong hand… for them there's always Repudiation… but… half the time that's a disaster."
"Not for you" Shadow said "And hopefully not for Cholra… What will become of her?"
Knuckles looked thoughtful "The fates might deal her another hand… but I expect she'll become a Guardian of Trainees-one of the staff of Angel Island, helping, teaching and watching over the young Trainees. That's probably what will happen to her, that's what happens to most Guardians who loose their Charge at a young age and survive the Breaking. She'll probably never become Bound to the Trainees like the other Guardians of the Trainees, but that wont stop her being an excellent teacher… maybe she can give Weapons Master Drew's new apprentice a run for his money!"
"Just as long as she'll be ok" Shadow said softly
"Yeah, she'll be fine… The Guardians will rally round her, because that's what we do, we guard things"
Shadow rolled his eyes. "How long will she feel ill from the Repudiation"
Knuckles shook his head "I don't know"
"Well how long were you ill?"
"I don't know… I don't understand what happened to me on the ARK… or after… but it doesn't matter… I'm all fixed now"
Shadow chuckled softly "Oh so may things I could say to that… where should I begin…" Knuckles looked confused. Shadow turned serious for a moment "Knuckles… Thank you"
"No problem"
At that moment Master Almer approached.
"Its time my friends… Cholra has played her part, now you must play yours."
Several Guardians approached, each holding one of the seven Chaos Emeralds in their hands, behind them stood humans, obviously not here for Ribern's funeral. Shadow and Knuckles looked at each other, ominous uncertainty in their eyes. Ribern put the first Chaos Emerald in Knuckles' gloved hand
"Get rid of the Chaos Emeralds first"
Shadow and Knuckles looked at each other. The other Guardians brought the other Emeralds to them and placed them in a circle around them. Knuckles dreamily added his to the formation. As they moved to stand in the centre one of the Chaos Emeralds brushed Knuckles' leg. Yelping he jumped away.
"Ouch!"
"What?"
He reached down to rub his leg "The Chaos Emerald… I think it just burnt me!"
"As Guardian of Chaos Controlled you should hardly be surprised." Almer said simply
"They never did that before" Knuckles continued to rub his leg
"You weren't Shadow's Guardian before. I suggest you don't make contact with them with your bare skin"
"No more inducing my Hyper-Form then"
"No" Almer said sternly
"Do you think it will happen if I touch the Master Emerald too?"
"It will probably be worse" Almer said simply
"Oh… Hey Shadow can you touch them?"
Shadow picked up and Emerald in his gloved hand, and pressed it against this arm, nothing happened. "Looks like it"
"Enough talk! Destroy them, the longer the Master Emerald is without a Guardian the more danger we are in"
Shadow flinched, took up Knuckles' gloved hands in his and closed his eyes. Grateful that Shadow at least seemed to know what he was doing Knuckles followed suit.

For a moment Knuckles just stood there, his eyes closed, feeling a little stupid. Then, all of a sudden something happened. He realised he couldn't sense the world around him anymore, at least not it the way he normally did, he could still sense his body, and the people around it, but now he was somehow detached from that. He seemed to have gained an extra perception; he could feel Shadow at his side, but nothing more. Some how he knew Shadow was looking for something, then, through the Bond he knew he'd found it. Ahead a monstrous energy uncoiled and rose up before them, both flinched back from it, afraid. Knuckles narrowly avoided forcing himself back into what he perceived as the real world, almost as though this place was in a dream, and he had only to snap his fingers to wake up. He had no idea what was going on, but somehow all that was happening did not feel entirely alien to him. The creature reared up and seemed to form into a shape, like a panther, growling angrily. Behind it something all the more vast began to happen, Knuckles knew this creature was doing Shadow's bidding, if however unwillingly. Behind it something opened, like gates, beyond Knuckles sensed some vast greater force, something eternal, beyond his comprehension. He was deeply afraid that vast void would swallow him whole. Those gates swung open, and Shadow led them towards it. At the threshold Knuckles had no wish to go any further, and somehow he knew it was not his place, what lay beyond was Shadow's domain alone. That in itself terrified him; if Shadow went any further he would go beyond Knuckles ability to protect him. All he would be able to do was attempt to draw him back if the worst happened. Mercifully Shadow stopped at those gates. Knuckles felt Shadow draw together some power, then suddenly he perceived seven streaks of energy fly through the gates. The Chaos Emeralds were gone. Shadow paused for a moment, then called up more energy. This time Knuckles perceived a greater power, stronger, angrier, almost sentient. Shadow was having trouble bending it to his will. Then he heard a voice.
"You'll regret this Knuckles. You and your filthy Charge. I promised you grief such as you've never known… I keep my promises"
Knuckles realised it was the Master Emerald. Only too eagerly he discovered he could add his will to Shadow's and together they forced the Emerald beyond the gates. At Shadow's will the panther slammed the gates shut behind it.

They fell to the floor with a bump. Shadow opened his eyes and shook his head. Around them all the Guardians were staring at the Master Emerald Shrine. It was empty. For the first time since Pathfinder and the Coreinth Angel Island hung in the sky supported by the Ancients, but uncrowned by its green jewel.
"Well that was the weirdest thing I've ever done…" Shadow said softly
Knuckles was staring at the shrine. It looked so wrong, terrifying. In the past what he was seeing would have been the worst thing he could possibly imagine. His numb mind tried to reassure him, the only thing he could think he spoke aloud
"Rouge would kill me"
For a moment they all sat there in stupefied silence. Then Almer dared to approach.
"Well done… we knew you could do it"
Knuckles looked at Shadow "What exactly did we do?"
Shadow looked bemused "I, I think we just sent the Emeralds into Chaos… to join Metal. Whatever Chaos actually is" Shadow looked up at the shrine "What we did… It isn't permanent… I think they could come back."
"Not unless we let them though… right?"
Shadow shrugged "I don't think so, no…"
"It's the end of an era…" Almer said softly "Maybe now, thanks to you, the Echidna will be free…"