i'm beginning to think that this story isn't that good because i have hardly any reviews, i want to know what you think out there please... anyway here is chapter 4, the longest chapter in the story...
disclaimber: again i don't own knuckles or rouge
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Chapter: 4
Knuckles soon stopped at the edge of the passageway. Past it was a huge drop into more darkness. Knuckles peered across from him to see a ledge and another passageway and the same on his left and right. He paused for a moment, closing his eyes; his sharp senses pointed him to the passage just ahead of him. He jumped up then glided to the entry, placing his feet firmly on the ledge. He froze suddenly as the ledge quickly gave way from under him. Knuckles let out a yell as he fell into the dark abyss.
Location: dungeon…
Rouge was flung back into a near by pillar, causing it to crumble on impact. She barely opened her eyes to watch her opponent's movement. This wolf like demon came to all fours, raising his tail in the air as if about to pounce. The wolfs lifeless white eyes shone in the blackened room. Rouge stumbled to her feet, holding the gash on her right arm. The demon growled, flashing his huge white teeth.
A trickle of blood ran down her arm and dripped on the stone floor, triggering the wolf off, it sped towards her and threw her down to the ground. The bat push back the beasts wide open jaws as much as she could away from her face. The force and weight of the wolf was intense.
Rouge's arms were weakening fast, the pain on her right arm was excruciating. She finally manages to raise her knee up and push back.
Despite her effort, the wolfs jaws were inches away from tearing face her apart. Rouge shut her eyes, waiting for death to greet her…but it didn't. A loud crash caused Rouge to open her eyes; she sat up and glanced to the hole in the wall.
"Are you okey?"
She quickly looked around, to see Knuckles offering a hand for her. A feeling of relief and anger swelled up, she ignored his offer and got up herself.
"I don't need you help echidna" she shot.
"Well it.." the demon arose from the hole, standing on hind legs, back hunched forward.
Knuckles stood ahead of Rouge, almost protectively. He raised his fists.
"Rouge! Get out of here!"
"What? You can't-"
"Run!" he yelled. The wolf took it chance and dashed for the echidna, clawing a gash out of his chest. Knuckles fell to one knee as the wolf leered over him.
"Knuckles!" cried the bat. The wolf glared over to Rouge, giving Knuckles a quick chance. He took it and uppercut the demon in the jaw, sending it through several pillars.
Rouge rushed towards the echidna, but stopped in her tracks as he stood up.
"Rouge, I said get out…"
She ignored him and cringed at the gash on his chest. "You need to cover that" she spoke, edging closer to him.
Knuckles growled, "its fine"
"Don't be so stubborn, it'll get infected" she shot, hands placed on her hips. Knuckles frowned "what about you?" he pointed out the gash on her arm.
"Its okey-"
"Now who's being stubborn?" he mumbled, "it'll get infected" the echidna mimicked.
Rouge hmphs "your just impossible!" Knuckles just shrugs then turns to where the demon had fallen- but… the body was gone? Instead, Si-harah's gem floated up from the hole.
"Great you two are together…" both Knuckles and Rouge looked at each other then back to the gem.
"You, you sent that beast!" growled Knuckles.
The gem circled the two. "Wait, you don't understand… it was a test, for greater things lay ahead of this quest. More powerful creatures…"
"Great…" sighed Rouge, rubbing the gash she grabs her backpack from the debris and rummages inside.
Knuckles rubs the back on his head in frustration. "Why can't we go it alone?"
"This…task, is too great for one mere hunter. You must work together" the gem gleamed brightly. Si-harah sighed, then a plan formed. "Your wounds need to heal, rest here, then journey on…" the glow faded and the gem fell lightly to the floor. Knuckles sighed then sat down against the wall, cringing as the gash stung with the movement. He glanced up as Rouge stood in front of him, holding a bandage of some sort.
"Rouge I don't-" before he could continue, she pushed him against the wall.
She checked the cut then rolled out the bandage "raise your arm" Knuckles grunted as he lifted his arm. Rouge wrapped it around his chest and up on his shoulder. Once done, she stood up.
"How am I gonna fight with this around me?" Knuckles groaned. Rouge shrugged.
"You figure it out," she muttered while making her way to the opposite end of the room. She threw her backpack down and sat down giving out a deep sigh.
Location: Si-harah's dungeon…
The wolf sat back against her chair, staring deep into the vision just ahead of her. "This…this is taking longer then I predicted… these hunters must have met in the past… it's proving difficult for them to work together…" she muttered, gripping the chair handles. "I need that ruby before the moon is full…" she growled, clawing the handle. She sighed. "This scheme…will work, but will interfere to much… I'll have to be patient for now, it seems it'll occur without my doing…" Si-harah smirked, flashing off her white fangs.
Location: The Pyramid…
An awkward silence grew between both hunters. Neither unsure nor cared what to talk about.
Then Rouge spoke up "I don't trust that wolf…" Knuckles closed his eyes.
"We're going to have too, it seems like we don't have any choice in the matter" he grumbles.
Rouge hugged her knees as an icy draft creeps past. She thought that comment over 'did he just say we're going to have too…odd…' Rouge shakes her head.
"Your right… but I still can't shake the feeling that she's up to something" Rouge sighed.
"Well…" he paused "we'll just have to find out"
'Again…he said we…is he accepting that we have to work together?' she sighs
"Yeah, I guess…"she pauses "Knuckles…"
"What?" still his eyes were closed.
Rouge shuck her head again then spoke "its nothing…"
Silence grew again for a while.
Knuckles opened his eyes and spoke up "how's your arm?"
Rouge looked hesitant, "oh uh, its fine, just a little sore that's all." The echidna stood up, then stretched.
"How's your chest?" asked Rouge, she began to stand.
Knuckles shrugged, "its good enough to carry on" Rouge smiled half-heartedly and nodded.
A few minuets later, after walking down a long passageway, they came to a wall. At the very top of the wall was an entrance.
Knuckles looked at Rouge. "Lady's first" he mocked. Rouge rolled her eyes then looked to the entrance.
She opened her wings and swiftly flew up the ledge, smirking down to the echidna.
He mentally kicked himself for forgetting she has wings, then huffed. He began to climb, punching his fists into the wall to climb higher. Half way to the top, the gash in his chest reopens. He yelped as the pain tore through his chest. Not thinking clearly, he let go of the wall and hits the floor.
Rouge gasps then quickly glides down to his side.
"Knuckles are you all right?" she asked, not hiding her concern. The echidna cringed then opened his eyes slightly.
"It-hurts so bad" he groaned. He was tense with the pain surging through him.
"Knuckles relax, don't tense up" she soothed to him not realising that she was holding his hand.
Knuckles closed his eyes and tried to calm down, his tense muscles relaxed and his breath slowed.
Rouge slowly undid the bandage around his chest and checked the wound.
The gem glowed brightly as it appeared all of a sudden.
"Listen, there is a fountain not too far from here, take the echidna there and let water into the wound…"
Rouge looked at the gem questionably "will it work?"
"Quickly!" gemstone vanished.
Rouge helped Knuckles up "lean on me" she instructed, placing his arm around her shoulder. She held his waist.
They continued down the passageway. Knuckles flinched and cringed every time he took a step.
Finally, they enter a fairly large room. A fountain flowed in the centre of the room.
Rouge helped knuckles to the rim of the fountain and leaned him against it. She cupped her hands into the strange sparkling liquid and poured it directly into the gash.
Surprisingly enough to Knuckles, it didn't hurt. The liquid soothed the pain. He sighed with relief.
"Any better?" Rouge asked while drying of her hands.
"Yeah…" he sighs again. He watches Rouge undo the bandage around her arm. The gash stopped bleeding but it was still open. She cupped her free hand into the water and tensed up as she poured it into the wound, expecting it to burn or something. But again, it didn't.
A few minuets later, crazily enough, both wounds had disappeared completely.
Knuckles sat down checking over where the wound used to be. Then glanced over to Rouge."Hey Rouge…"
"Hm?" Rouge mumbled, turning to Knuckles.
"Uh" Knuckles spoke hesitant, he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly "thank you, for helping me back there…" 'Do I still have feeling for her?"
She looked puzzled for a moment then just smiled before replying. "Your welcome, but…" she paused, mumbling the rest out "you would have done the same for me if you were in my position" she got the feeling that he would quickly deny that with his loner act. But he kept surprisingly silent.
Wanting to get off the subject, he spoke up "we should start moving…" he got up and headed for the entrance.
Puzzled by the sudden change of subject, she just shrugs it off and follows him out.
Once again they journeyed on. Knuckles ahead and Rouge tailing behind. The crimson echidna glances back to Rouge over his shoulder.
"We're close, I can sense something just ahead" he pointed out, nodding to the opening. They reached the opening and gazed around. This was a huge room. The walls were made out of what looked like to be gold. A red silk carpet rolled out up to a giant statue of Hathor.
"Now what?" moaned Rouge, watching Knuckles gawk at the statue. Si-harah's gem was soon to appear before them.
"This, is Hathor, goddess of the sky… the part we need to finding the inferno ruby is on the statue… get it and get out before something happens!" the gem vanished.
"What did she-"
"Knuckles come on, we need to get that piece" urged Rouge while heading towards the statue.
Knuckles senses sharpened "Rouge! I don't think you should-" before he could warn her, she had already reached the top of the statue. "Rouge!"
The bat grabbed a hold of the gem and pulled, but it didn't budge. She glided in front of it and kicked around the edge. Success, Rouge grabbed the gem and hugged it tightly. She flew to the ground and towards the edgy echidna.
"See, nothing happened. You get too worried." She mocked with a smirk putting the eye of Hathor safely into her backpack.
Knuckles sighed with relief and turned to exit the room.
Rumble
"What was that?" shot Rouge, looking behind her.
Rumble Rumble
"I don't know but it doesn't sound good" Knuckles shot back, raising his fists.
Rumble…
"Huh?" both hunters looked to the entrance on their right. The bars blocking the entrance were opening letting out a screeching sound.
Si-harah's gem soon reappeared "quickly, get out of here!"
Dark shadowy figures could be seen, coming through the newly opened passage. Deep painful groans engulfed the room; the fire lit torches blew out. Leaving the hunters in darkness.
"Wha-what are they?" urged Knuckles, watching the glow of red eyes slowly approach them.
The gem glowed "mummies, dead warriors and royalty!"
"Oh great" Rouge sighed. "So now what?"
Knuckles smirked "I can take them" Si-harah shuck her head.
"Its not them you should worry about… just watch out for the Anubite"
Knuckles paused "what the hell is an Anubite?"
Rouge gasped and pointed to a fox/wolf like demon, it held a hook like weapon in both hands. "That is!" Rouge shouted.
Both hunters spun around and sped out of the room, following a long passage.
Minuets later
"Do you think we've lost them?" Rouge panted while running for her life.
Knuckles stumbled a little then go back to pace "I-I don't know, just keep running" not far behind them were three Anubite tailing them. Two on the walls and one running full pelt after the hunters. All three were snarling loudly, flashing off their fangs.
Knuckles and Rouge stopped at a junction of passageways.
"Where-" Rouge spun around, spotting their pursuers racing down the passage. Knuckles grabbed Rouge's arm and pulled her through a random passage, running as fast as his feet could take him.
What seemed like an endless passageway soon came to an opening. This room looked familiar. There was an entrance just ahead and on the left and right. No floor, just a drop into darkness. The same place Knuckles was when Rouge was in trouble.
Knuckles rubbed his head and mumble to himself "think Knuckles think!" his instinct pointed him to the ledge on his right. "Rouge this way," he urged, as he turned back on glided over to the ledge. Rouge swiftly followed but landed awkwardly on the ledge, the same mistake Knuckles made earlier. The ledge gave way as she fell back but suddenly jolted to a stop. She looked up to see Knuckles; he had grabbed her arm just like what happened on meteor herd after they fought. It was all playing back to her.
He huffed as he pulled her up to safety. She sighed with relief, calming herself down. "Thanks" she whispered quietly, but loud enough for the echidna to hear.
They both glanced over the way they just came, seeing the demons at the foot of the ledge, snarling aggressively.
Knuckles stood up "come on, we better go before they find away of getting over here" Rouge nodded and stood up.
The two started to run again, following the torch lit way.
Crash!
The jolted to a stop as the wall ahead of them collapses. The dust settles. A snarling Anubite stood just meters away for them. Grinding it teeth in hunger.
The crimson echidna raised his fists, searching for a possible weakness within the beast.
The wolf like creature dashed forwards, lunging its hooks at Knuckles. The speed of the demon's attacks was beyond any enemy Knuckles had fought before. But as skilled as the guardian is he could dodge the beasts repeated attacks.
Knuckles soon began to see a pattern in the attack.
Right, left, right, right, left, right, right and so on. Knuckles took a risky chance and swung a blow at the beast, sending it flying backwards.
Knuckles panted, dashed off to the fallen demon. The Anubite forced it self up and jumped back a few feet away from the echidna. It ran forward and swiped at Knuckles, again the echidna dodges it. Giving him a bigger chance, Knuckles swings a much more powerful blow to the back of the Anubite's head causing the demon to collapse.
Knuckles strides up to the body, mysteriously the beast disintegrates into ashes and disappears. Knuckles stared at the spot for a while until Rouge spoke. "Knuckles, I think the exits just ahead…" she looked at him with puzzlement. "Are you okey?"
"Uh…" he came back to earth then turned to her, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah fine!" he said abruptly while beginning to head off. Rouge sighed then followed behind him.
'He was supposed to be out of my life… but some how, fate keeps bringing us together…' Rouge's mind raced, her eyes fixed on him as they journeyed on.
'What if I said no to this quest… what if I never met him at all, I would probably have been better off…' Rouge frowned 'why is this so difficult?'
Knuckles looked over his shoulder; Rouge was looking directly, almost past him but was thinking too hard to notice that he was looking awkwardly at her. "Rouge…?" he paused, stopping in his tracks. Still out of it, Rouge walked right into him causing her to jolt out of thought.
"Wha?" she stepped back "oh sorry…" she muttered, her eyes to the floor.
"Hey. Are you alright" Knuckles asked, a hint of concern in his voice. The bat just nods her head.
Minuets later, they exited the pyramid shielding their eyes from a beautiful fiery sunset. The echidna stretches "I'm so glad to get out of the dam maze" he laughed.
The bat smiled a little "yeah, same here" Knuckles glance over to her and frowned slightly.
Out of nowhere, Si-harah's gem appears in-between the two. "Great job, your out safely and you have the eye of Hathor I assume"
Rouge rummages through her backpack and pulls out the jewel. Si-harah clasped her hands in delight. "Excellent!" she sneers. "I need you to head over to station squares harbour, while you do that…" suddenly the eye of Hathor disappears "I'll do my research, now get going!" the gem vanished.
Rouge stared at her hands where that beautiful jewel had been then hmphed folding her arms.
Knuckles grunted "the harbour is the over side of the city" Rouge smirked.
"What this? The powerful guardian can't take a trip," she laughed.
He pouted, "Sure I can, but not twenty miles of walking" he crossed his arms and started off.
Rouge paused "twenty…" she moaned slightly
"Yup, from here to there" he mocked. She followed him
Rouge smirked a little "well…I bet I can get there first!" she began to run laughing at the same time.
Knuckles sighed then ran after her.