Chapter eight
Knuckles felt the pulses of the Master Emerald continue to
slow down and weaken. Knuckles went pale when the Master
Emerald stopped pulsing altogether. He fell to his knees, his
whole body shaking. " He has saved us all. " Tikal whispered,
laying a consoling hand on Knuckles' shoulder. Tikal bowed to
the horizon and disappeared into the Master Emerald.
Knuckles slammed his fist into the stone beneath his feet,
imprinting it with his fist and splitting his knuckles. As hard as
he tried not to let it, a single tear fell to the ground. Knuckles
glanced back at the Master Emerald. " 'Sup Knuckles? " " Dang
you Espio! " " What's wrong Knuckles? " " Stay here and gaurd
the Emerald. I'll be back in a couple of days. " " Hey Knux!
NOOO! Don't leave me to gaurd YOUR Emerald! AAghh!
Dang you Knuckles! " Knuckles was already gliding towards
the Mystic Ruins at top speed. Knuckles arrived as Tails and
Keira were picking up Sonic. " Sonic? What's he doing here? "
Tails nor Keira answered. Keira tilted her head back to get
Knuckles to look in that direction. There was Amy, still on the
ground where she'd been holding Shadow. All that was there to
indicate Shadow was even there was a pool of blood and the
yellow Chaos Emerald with spots of blood on it. Knuckles'
stomach twisted itself into a knot that lodged in his throat.
Knuckles swallowed hard and asked softly. " Where's Shadow's
body? " Tails shrugged his shoulders and hung his head, Keira
answered softly. " We don't know. There was a bright flash
then, he was gone. " Knuckles walked around the blood to get
to Amy. She gave no sign she knew he was there. He grabbed
the emerald, then picked Amy up and followed Keira and Tails.
When they got to Knothole Sonic was immediately taken to the
hospital while Knuckles took Amy home. Knuckles, still
carrying the emerald went to the hospital and learned that
Sonic had heavy blood loss, slight paralysis that would wear
off, a couple broken ribs and a broken arm. Tails had been
assured that Sonic would be fine. Sonic was placed in a quiet
hospital room. When knuckles learned that he couldn't see
Sonic he punched a hole in the wall and was promptly thrown
out of the hospital. Knuckles took some time to wash the
blood off the emerald and his hand before heading back to
Amy's house. He found her sleeping. He set the emerald on her
dresser and waited for her to wake up. Amy woke up to find
Knuckles in her house. " Knuckles! " Knuckles looked at her
then held his arms out to her. Amy ran to him, buried her head
in his chest and cried. Knuckles held her and fought back his
own tears. When Amy couldn't cry anymore she stayed in
Knuckles' arms shaking. " Do you realize that this is the second
time you've made my fur stick out in all directions? " He asked
softly. Amy laughed but her laughter quickly faded. "
Knuckles, Shadow. . . " " Sshh, I know. " " He died in my arms.
He told me that he loved me then . . . he told me not to cry
because everything would be fine. " " You're in trouble then
aren't you? " Amy bit her lip and nodded. " Yeah, I guess I am.
" " Yeah. Hey Amy, can I borrow another towel? " Amy
managed a smile as she handed Knuckles a towel.