Chapter 2

Location: Angel Island

The guardian could be found relaxing by a nearby tree. His gaze fixed on the lake just ahead of him. The half moon shone down on the water making it glimmer. The sound of the waterfall soothed him even more. Knuckles shut his eyes for a moment, 'just forget about her…' his mind played on. He soon jolted out of thought when he heard a sound, just ahead of him. Knuckles staggers to his feet then glances around for any intruders.

His eyes then fell upon the lake, the water seemed unsettled.

Knuckles walked to the edged and peered into the clear water. Patterns formed, soon a vision appears in front of him. Knuckles rubs his eyes then continues to watch. The vision showed a magnificent ruby upon a shrine. The ruby glowed brilliantly in the moons rays. Knuckles gasps, his eyes fixed on the stone.

"Inferno ruby" a voice came out. Knuckles tore his eyes from the lake to a figure sitting on a boulder. The echidna instinctively put up his guard, raising his fists.

"Who-" Knuckles got cut off.

"The names Si-harah" spoke the wolf. "I'm here to grant you your most wanted desire"

Knuckles crosses his arms "yeah, well what I want is for you to leave this island!" he growls.

Si-harah laughs wickedly "oh come now, echidna. We all have our wishes" her tone seemed sly.

"Hmph, and the catch is…?" Knuckles shot.

The wolf smiles "all I wish is the inferno ruby, if a worthy warrior such as your-self accepts my little challenge… you will be greatly rewarded"

Knuckles narrows his eyes as the wolf jumps off the boulder and approaches him.

"So guardian…do you accept?" she taunts. Knuckles turns away and ponders.

'I have nothing else to do…'the echidna sighs then turns back to the wolf. "Fine"

"Great!" the wolf beams; she grabs a small mirror like crystal and hands it to him. "This is so I can keep in contact"

Knuckles eyes widen "wait aren't you coming too? Seeing that you want that ruby so badly," protests the echidna.

"I'm not that stupid… that's why I asked you" Si-harah laughs then in an instant she disappears.

Knuckles blinks a few times then shakes it off "what have I gotten my-self into now" he sighs. Knuckles looks at the crystal as it starts to glow.

"Yes it worked" a voice came from inside it "now, echidna. Tomorrow morning you shall start the task, head to the desert and start there, from there I will inform you of what to do" the glow fades back into the crystal. Knuckles still puzzled, just shrugs and heads back to the shrine.

Location: unknown…

Rouge had stopped again, this time near a small clear stream. The bat sat near the waters edge, gazing up to the night sky.

A smile forms on her lips 'I've done it… he's out of my life now, I can start fresh' Rouge laughs a little before laying back on the lush green grass.

Just then, Rouge's senses sharpen and her ears twitch. She sat up and looks about. "Who's there, come out" Rouge growls, now standing.

A sense of uneasiness came to her as a wicked laugh was heard. Rouge spun around to see a figure standing just ahead of her. It was Si-harah. "Who are you, and what do you want!" hisses Rouge.

The wolf crosses her arms and smirks "my dear, there is no need to be alarmed"

Rouge scoffs but before she could speak, the wolf continues.

"I, Si-harah have a little deal I wish to make with you" Si-harah's eyes lit up.

Rouge tilts her head "a deal?"

The wolf smirks "yes, I have a task fit for your abilities. If you complete this task you will be greatly rewarded"

Rouge, now interested had a sly smile on her face "reward"

"Correct… anything you desire will be yours and yours alone… do you accept?"

Rouge nods her head. The idea of having anything she wanted was more than enough. Si-harah threw over the crystal to Rouge "this is so I can advise you where to go"

Rouge looked at the crystal then back to the wolf "what's in this for you?"

"I require the inferno ruby, once you have that you will complete the task" with that the wolf vanishes.

Rouge looks back to the crystal as it glows. "What the…"

"Listen up… tomorrow you will start at the desert… I will tell you the rest from there" the glow disappears back into the crystal.

Rouge lays back on the grass and smiles "this is gonna be amusing"

Location: deep in the darkest place…

"Ah, I have done it… soon I will have the ruby all thanks to those selfish hunters" Si-harah laughs. She grabs another spell book from the self and skims through it "everything is going to plan" the wolf laughs again.