Possibly Love?
By AliceStar
(Sonic and Company belong to Sega! Not me!)
Bright, radiant rays of sun peeled through thick, fluffy white clouds. A brand new day had arrived at Angel Island. Leisurely, the sun highlighted a slumbering echidna's face. At the great star's soft touch, Knuckles slowly began to awake.
He slowly opened his eyes to see a smirking white bat staring directly at him, arms akimbo. Sighing, Knuckles thought, 'It's how early in the morning and already she's ready to get into it…'
Casually, she leaned her weight against a gnarly tree. The presence of drowsiness around the scarlet echidna evaporated quickly once he spied her multiple suitcases beside her. Knuckles didn't need his super, awesome guardian senses to know that something was up.
"Good morning Knucklehead!" Rouge sang merrily.
"What are you up to now batgirl?" Knuckles asked suspiciously.
Knuckles quickly rose to his feet, however, before he could take a step towards her, he found himself none too gently hauled into the air. The guardian released a startled yelp as he found himself hanging upside-down in mid-air. He had been ambushed by the little white bat and now dangled helplessly from a rope tied at his ankles.
"Muwahaha!" Rouge cackled, throwing her head back, displaying a set of impressive fangs, "Success!"
"Hey! What is the meaning of this?" Knuckles demanded, feeling both confused and angered.
"What more is there to know?" Rouge purred smugly, "I set up a trap…and I've caught you! Now if you excuse me, I've got an emerald to find. It's been fun! And have a great time…just hanging out! Ha! Adios!"
Rouge walked over to the dangling echidna and gave his right cheek a playful tug. As she walked away, Knuckles tried fruitlessly to grab the treasure huntress. A grin spread across Rouge's face as she waved to him, and with a turn on her heel she disappeared in the thick, emerald jungle. Knuckles struggled in his new bonds, "Hey! Get back here batgirl! That was a lousy trick!"
Then he fell silent, "…See if I take you to another waterfall again!"
Snickering, Rouge trekked through knee-high shrubs, "That takes care of him! By the time he figures out how to get out, I'll be at least a couple of hours ahead of him!"
Rouge turned forward, a confident smirk still present, "Now then, on to more important matters…" She stopped traveling and gazed downward. The pale bat stood overlooking a great, tundra canyon. The canyon was a bright palette of vast colors, ranging from cool, icy azures to scorching crimsons, golds and gingers.
Thoughtfully, Rouge took in the lovely view one last time before she slid down the canyon, whooping in delight. Once she reached the bottom of the jagged, smoky-ginger hill, the treasure huntress picked up her belongings and began traveling through the colorful foliage.
As she traveled along, she came across a hill with a built in-stone passageway. The stone passage was great in stature, opening extensively like a vast, famished mouth. Silently, Rouge entered the stone passage, drinking in her surroundings with awe.
The dusty passage way had poured into a grand, stone cavern embellished with crumbling, tall statues. All of them displaying, strong echidna figures. Looking around, she saw that the room was illuminated faintly with torches. The stone ceiling seemed to have been miles away from the dusty floor she stood upon.
Walking past the imposing echidna sculptures, she saw a heavy granite door before her. The door easily quadrupled her in height and in width. Rouge frowned, just how was she supposed to open that door? Clearly, that was the direction she wanted to go.
Examining the door, she saw faded hieroglyphs, which were once freshly inscribed into the grand door. Rouge ran a careful finger across the length of the door, studying the soft powder it left upon her white gloves. She took another glance at the door, seeing an odd, large symbol carved above the hieroglyphics.
"…Looks kinda like a butterfly," Rouge mused to herself.
She slowly turned to glance back at the ancient statues, then decided to give them a better look. She stood before them, studying each of them, noticing the interesting garbs upon their strong frames. The males wore knee-length robes embellished with sashes while the females wore ankle-length, flowing gowns.
Secretly, Rouge decided that she had liked their jewelry, even if it was how many centuries old. Upon one of the female echidna's neck was an interesting necklace, Rouge was slightly surprised to see that it wasn't made of stone. The necklace was a jewel entwined in a sash of dyed papyrus.
The necklace was undeniably beautiful, but it seemed a bit gaudy, due to opulent size of the gem. It was at least as big as one of Rouge's palms. Enchanted by the necklace's beauty, Rouge examined the statue closer. The jewel in the necklace held a milky sheen, making it seem reminiscent of a pearl. And it had been fashioned in such an odd shape… Rouge gasped, when realization hit her.
"…It looks like a butterfly," Rouge said reaching for the necklace.
Gently, she removed the necklace and strode over to the door. She glanced at the necklace then held it before the door. A light rumble pulsed through the stone cavern. Rouge glanced at the warm, glowing pale jewel in her hand then gazed upon the rumbling door.
Obediently, the door opened, moaning as it slowly creaked open. A smirk played on Rouge's face as she tossed the necklace in her hands, "That's better! And personally, I think that door needs to be oiled…or something."
The treasure huntress stepped into a new room, acutely aware of the door, which sealed behind her. She turned forward, ready to continue her journey. She gazed at the necklace once more, "This just might come in handy."
She tied the necklace around her slender neck and traveled to the center of the room where she saw a large, circular opening in the stone ceiling. From the opening, seeped soft rays of light that illuminated what looked like a round stage.
"…Nifty idea, but I bet it's a pain when rain season comes along," Rouge said to herself.
She walked over to the elevated platform where she gazed skyward at the glinting sun. The white sun caused her to squint. Then she looked down at the round jewel she wore, which seemed to have been flickering.
"Eh? What's this?"
A loud, banging tore Rouge out of her thoughts and she turned around to see a couple of creeping figures approaching her. Slowly, the figures made an arch around her. From the darkness, she could barely make out their appearance, but once they stepped into the light, she gasped.
Standing before her were seven echidnas, glaring at her with cold, amethyst eyes. It was easily safe to assume that they were a class of warriors: war paint was streaked across their faces, bows and arrows were steady in their grip, and strong, muscular bodies were revealed by their adornment of breechcloths. Red and green headbands were plastered against foreheads as multicolored feathers and beads embellished both their quills and garments.
Rouge gulped, slowly surveying the hostile echidnas. As she prepared to take a step towards the echidnas, the warriors snarled and pulled the arrows back further. Rouge instantly halted in her steps.
Her eyes fell upon the first echidna that stepped forward; his quills feel nearly to his ankles, and unlike his subordinates, he had a short cloak flowing behind him. He spoke to Rouge in an incomprehensible tongue, but from reading his body language and his tone of voice, she could tell that he was questioning her.
"I…I don't understand you!" Rouge said shaking her head, trying to convey her thoughts.
Briefly the echidna spoke to his other fellow warriors. With all the speaking this, cloaked echidna did, she believed him to be the highest ranked warrior present. She snapped out of her thoughts when she saw that he had turned to face her, still glaring. He touched his neck then gestured towards the white bat.
"What? Oh, this?" Rouge asked glancing at the necklace.
'I see, he's making reference to the necklace,' she thought, lighting fingering the necklace within slender fingers, 'I guess I'll have to give it back then.'
Rouge slowly began to remove the necklace, but frowned, realizing that it wouldn't come off. "Hold on a sec, I'll have it off in a second," Rouge said to the awaiting warriors.
Much less delicately, Rouge tugged at the necklace, but alas, it stayed around her neck. Rouge grimaced, now she was mad. "Why…doesn't…this stupid thing…COME OFF?" Rouge screamed, struggling with the necklace, "ARGH!"
Not willing to admit defeat to a necklace, Rouge continued to yank at the necklace, shouting as the warriors watched stunned, "STUPID! STUPID! NECKLACE! …ARRRRGH! GET OFF OF MY NECK! …..YOU'RE UGLY AND OLD ANYWAYS!"
The warriors glanced at each other unsure of what to do, but subtly, uncertainty was replaced by anger and their bows where locked unto the struggling white bat again. Shaking his head, the cloaked warrior signaled the other echidnas.
Rouge gasped when she saw an arch of arrows fly at her, she stumbled over her own steps and fell backwards onto the cold floor. Blue irises shrank to the size of dots and she turned her head away, shutting her eyes tightly.
'All this over a necklace? That's too bad, I lived such a short life! I'll never see him again…' Rouge thought.
Rouge's thoughts were broken up as she felt firm, but gentle hands grab her swiftly and hoist her into the air. Rouge opened her eyes to see the world in a blur of colors. She was moving.
The necklace wielder gazed up to see a familiar red echidna holding her within his arms. His soft gaze had altered yet again to the fierce, smoldering glare. He held Rouge against himself tightly, as a mother hen would hold her chick. Rouge clutched both of her arms around his neck, feeling safe in his warm, firm, grasp.
"I really wouldn't do that again if I was you," Knuckles growled in his deep tenor, "It just might make me even more upset."
The red echidna stopped before the seven warriors, glaring fiercely at each of them. He slowly slinked into the light where they all saw received a clear view of him. Stunned, the warriors took a couple of steps away from him.
With one fist, Knuckles pounded his chest twice, then began speaking in their incomprehensible language with a deep growl. The head of the warriors spoke again, as Rouge detected, he sounded much more apologetic. The next gesture Knuckles made was unmistakable; he pointed a sure finger to the door and barked a single command at them.
Slowly, they replied by giving the guardian a deep bow then they returned his chest-pounding gesture and disappeared in thin air, on their way to the door. Knuckles lightly set Rouge on her feet, she gasped, "AAH! Did you see that, Knuckles? They disappeared! Poof! They poofed! What are they? I know they can't be…ghosts! Are they?"
Rouge's smile was returned by a cold glare from the guardian. Rouge's ears dropped as she saw his amethyst eyes radiate with anger, for a minute the white bat thought he could have been possessed by one of those echidnas!
"They were my ancestors," Knuckles said with a low growl, "And you were lucky they decided to comply with my demands."
Knuckles began walking towards another great stone door, with a familiar 'butterfly' insignia engraved in the stone. He placed a hand to the stone, carefully studying it. Rouge popped up next to the echidna, having a mischievous gleam in her eyes. Knuckles turned to face her and frowned in concern, 'Good Chaos, she has that look again…'
" 'Comply with my demands'?" Rouge asked arching an eyebrow, "Are you telling me that you sent them off running with their tails between their legs?"
Knuckles blinked, "To a certain extent…I suppose I did…"
"So you have the power to order those dead guys around? How?" Rouge asked intrigued, hiking a thumb behind her.
If possible, Knuckles would have sweat-dropped, "Have a little more tact batgirl, those 'dead guys' are my ancestors. And I can 'request' them to 'listen' to my pleas because I am endowed with power as guardian of the Master Emerald."
"'Request'?" Rouge said smirking, "Ha! 'Requested' nothing! You demanded!"
Knuckles expression darkened, "Sometimes, you have to batgirl."
"Why?"
The fire-furred guardian glanced at the door, and read the craved symbols in the door. The door heard and obeyed, slowly opening. The two treasure hunters entered a long stony corridor, furnished with flames, and at the end of the stony passage was…grass! And plants! And trees!
Rouge had never been so happy to see nature, "Land! We're free!"
The ivory bat began dragging her luggage towards the exit, Knuckles arched an eyebrow, "You're still lugging those around?" Rouge stopped and frowned, gazing at him, "What do you mean, 'Still lugging those around?' Of course I am! I'm not leaving my stuff here! ALONE! Did you not see those de-- er, ghosts?"
Knuckled sighed, "Whatever."
As soon as they stepped out of the stony corridor, Rouge looked skyward, studying the blushing sky, which was filled with warm reds, pinks and oranges, "Hmm, I think its time to call it a day…"
The huntress set her large luggage down and began unpacking her belongings. She gazed up to see that Knuckles had returned from gathering logs for the fire. The red hunter sensed Rouge's stare and smirked at her. She returned his gesture then slowly turned her gaze to the green grass, 'Ma-maybe I should thank him…he did save my life back there after all…'
"Umm, Knuckles?" Rouge began unsurely.
Knuckles glanced up immediately; from the quavering in her voice, he could tell it was important, "Hmm?"
"I…I," Rouge's eyes scanned around desperately, "I was wondering…do…do you have any of those purple berries?"
Knuckles frowned as he scrunched his nose up in distaste. Why would he carry those purple berries, anyhoo? They gave him a serious case of diaherra, "No!"
"Oh…that's ah…too bad then," Rouge said, "Well, I'll see you at dinner then!"
The necklace clad bat scrambled off into her tent, leaving a confused Knuckles staring after her. Rouge crawled out of his line of vision and hugged her knees as her face went scarlet, 'What's wrong with me? What's so difficult about thanking a guy? He did save your sorry rear! It's the least you could do…and besides…wasn't he absolutely hot when he saved you back there?'
Rouge blinked, becoming even more flustered at her thoughts, 'Did I just THINK he was hot? Look at me, acting like a little school girl!'
She sighed, 'I came here for the Master Emerald, not him! Get a grip, Rouge! But it was awfully sweet of him to help me out back there…so I will thank him, later tonight.'
She nodded her head, and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked; it had gotten much darker since she first came into the tent. She arched an inquisitive eyebrow as she smelled a delicious scent drift into her tent.
Rouge peeled back the flaps of her tent as she gazed outside. She saw that a fire had been started and she also saw that some of her cooking utensils had been unpacked. Onto of the fire was one of her frying pans cooking simmering meats. Rouge inhaled the air gratefully, it smelled quite delicious.
Her keen ears detected soft movements originating from the trees. She looked to where the sounds came from and she saw a whistling echidna hauling a bucket, one-handled, over his shoulders.
The iron pale made a soft ker-plunk, as it was dropped on the ground, beside the idling echidna. Rouge stared dumbly at Knuckles, who gave the pan a fast swill, and tossed its contents into a bowl, which he handed to Rouge.
Silently Rouge stared at the bowl; looked like dinner tonight would be a fresh cod soup. And it smelled heavenly. Slowly, her gaze returned to the whistling echidna who was boiling more fish he had in his iron bucket.
"In case you couldn't figure it out, dinner's cod stew," Knuckles said with a smirk. Rouge shook her head, snapping out of her momentary daze, she went into her duffel bag beside the echidna and fished out two spoons.
"You forgot something," Knuckles said smirking, he pulled out two iron cups, "…Did they have a sell on iron or something? All your Tupperware is silver."
"Knuckles," Rouge said, lowering her head slightly.
"…Were you ripped off?"
"Knuckles, please listen," Rouge said, azure eyes reflecting softly in the firelight.
Knuckles' smile faded slightly, "Yes?"
"I just….," Rouge signed, she looked into soft, tender amethyst eyes. Something about them seemed to soothe her. Feeling relaxed, she continued, "I just want to thank you for…what you did today. You came to my aid, even after I hogtied you in a tree."
"…Don't worry about it," Knuckles said, turning his gaze to the sizzling pan. He poured the contents of the pan into a bowl for himself and shoved a spoonful into his mouth, "Your knot you tied sucked anyways."
Blinking, Rouge threw her head back laughing, then she smiled softly, "Well, thank you anyways, Knuckles…"
"No problem," Knuckles said, sipping the last juices from the bowl.
He sighed and leaned back, feeling ten pounds heavier. He heard another sigh and turned to look at Rouge who stretched out happily. It appears she liked his dinner too. Oh yeah, today he had definetly been in the zone with that cod stew; all the delicious seasonings, herbs and even the fresh cod itself made the meal to die for.
Smiling, his gaze lazily fell from her content smile to her neck…
'That's quite a lovely necklace…' Knuckles thought to himself.
The guardian blinked, then sat up quickly, eyes studying the neck ornament much more intensely. His eyes widened once he recognized the necklace. Knuckles felt a cold chill run through his spine; that pretty peal-colored stone necklace couldn't be what he thought it was.
"No…it can't be…" he said slowly.
"Hmm? What did you say Knucklehead?" Rouge asked, returning a gentle smile.
Knuckles quickly rose to his feet and marched over towards the white bat, the odd gleam in his eyes signified that something wasn't right. All mirth had been drained viciously and now his face was utterly stern.
"Umm, Knuckles, what are you doing? What's wrong?" Rouge asked, blinking up at him.
The guardian stopped before the treasure huntress, she couldn't tell if the firelight was responsible for the anomalous glints in his eyes. Knuckles studied her in silence, making no move before her. Then suddenly his hand reached out towards her.
If Rouge didn't know any better, she'd think that he suddenly become bold and tried reaching for her…
"Hey! What are you doing?" Rouge hissed, stumbling backwards, crawling away from him.
"Stop," Knuckles commanded in an icy voice.
Rouge's eyes widened slightly as she lost all control over her movements. The huntress struggled, trying to move her limbs, but she couldn't move them! Only her eyes were able to dart to and fro. Even her speech was impeded.
Knuckles kneeled in front of her and fingered the necklace, then he sharply looked up at her, a rare sign of fury etched across his face, "WHAT, in the name of the Master Emerald, are you doing wearing this? Speak."
"I needed this to open the doors," Rouge said returning a glare of her own, "Or did you not know that?"
"This," Knuckles said grabbing the necklace, but still holding his furious gaze at Rouge, "is a sacred ornament of the Master Emerald! Only those with the sacred blood…my blood, can wear this!"
Rouge smirked, "Hmph, it doesn't look too bad on me though, huh?"
"…So then…that explains why the warriors came after you," Knuckles said submerged in his own thoughts, he turned, glaring at Rouge, "Do you know what you have done?"
"Well, I can't undo what I've--"
"Will you be silent for one second?" Knuckles snapped, "Here you are trying to out-speak me about something you know nothing of!"
Rouge fell silent, gazing up at the red echidna, who mirrored her fierce gaze. Knuckles narrowed his eyes, "Finally. Now, as I was saying, you know nothing about this necklace! As I said earlier, only my bloodline can wear this necklace. And why's that? Because that's apart of who we are and we've been privileged with being the guardians of the Master Emerald."
The guardian narrowed his eyes as his fingers found themselves rubbing the pearly-jewel, " It is taboo for anyone else to wear the necklace, because when they do, every single, ancestor is alerted that the Master Emerald is in danger. And do you know what happens? That's right; the ancestors come looking for the intruder…You."
As Knuckles carried on, the more his ire seemed to grow, like a raging inferno, " Those soldiers you met today, oh yeah, they were ancestors, and it's a good thing that they decided to listen to me. I guarantee you that if you cross other ancestors, the not-so-nice ones, even I won't be able to help you. I may guard the Master Emerald but I can't control them…"
Knuckles' expression softened as he saw the look of fear flash across Rouge's face. Knuckles sighed, then slowly rose to his feet, "Stand."
Slowly, Rouge rose to her feet, gazing softly at the guardian. Knuckles turned to look at her, both his gaze and tone were oddly dull, "If you're going to survive on this island, then I'm going to have to take you through the quickest route to the Master Emerald…"
Rouge blinked, gazing at the guardian who looked away, "…The Master Emerald is the only one that can help you now…"
"Knuckles, I-I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to cause you all this trouble," Rouge said fighting back tears.
Rouge was surprised when she saw the tall guardian turn to face her with a sorrowful expression. That very look on his face made her heart bleed. Knuckles the echidna was never sad! He was always cool and collected, sometimes he was a little arrogant and condenscending, but sad was something he never was.
This crimson-furred, purple-eyed guardian was a proud creature, not a sullen one. Pity was something that just looked absolutely foreign on his strong face. Rouge had to deter her eyes; looking at him made her feel awful.
'Why is he sad? I'm the one who'll have all the nasties after me,' Rouge thought blinking.
"Look," Knuckles said, running a hand through his unruly locks, "Don't worry about it batgirl, I'll…we'll take care of things."
Rouge sighed slightly, Knuckles smiled; at least he had removed some of the tension in the air…but, just to be sure…
"Well…now that you are wearing the necklace, you will obey my every command," Knuckles said slowly smirking at the white bat.
The bat's face blanched, "Wh-what are you…you wouldn't!"
An evil smirk tugged at Knuckles' face, "Oh yes I would. If I'm going to go through all the trouble of saving you…again, then I at least need….well, consider this your payment to me."
Knuckles took a seat on a stray log, looking as arrogant as a king in his castle, "Rouge?"
The white bat glared at him, "What? Knucklehead?"
Knuckles smirked, "Is that anyway to address me? Your superior?"
"You're absolutely right," Rouge said glaring at him, "Oh mister superior, you can kiss my--"
"Address me properly," Knuckles said lightly, waving a finger at her.
The white grimaced, fighting an odd feeling welling inside of her, but she responded, "Forgive me. Yes, Knuckles, sir?" A look of horror crossed Rouge's face as one of eminent pleasure spread upon Knuckles' face, "Hmm, maybe this whole necklace ordeal isn't quite so bad after all."
Knuckles leaned back in thought, while Rouge gave him the most awful glare she could muster up. Knuckles finally spoke, "I remember one time, when Sonic took me into the city, he took me to an odd shop, a 'Pawn Shop' he called it, anyway, and I saw something that fascinated me."
A twisted smile curled on Knuckles' face, "Since you're going to be my indenture servant for the night…you wouldn't happen to…have a French maid dress, would you?"
Rouge glared, face flustered, "Now why in the world would I bring one here, on Angel Island…with you being here?"
"Aww," Knuckles frowned, "Fine then, find something to wear, similar to one then."
Blinking, Rouge turned on a heel, and left into her tent, however, Rouge didn't go happily, or quietly, "Power-hungry jerk!"
Knuckles smirked, ever from where he was sitting; he could hear the noises from the zippers of her suitcase. The echidna chuckled to himself. So, Rouge the Bat was at his every command now, huh?
The same Rouge the Bat who was hot-headed, quick-tempered, arrogant, and beautiful? Perhaps this evening wouldn't be too boring at all. 'Hmm,' Knuckles thought, sitting back, looking at the sky with his hands behind his head, 'Who would have thought something so terrible would have such perks?'
The echidnas' ears perked as he heard shuffling footsteps approach him. Smirking, Knuckles slowly sat up, then almost lost his balance when he saw Rouge's outfit. The disgruntled bat stepped before him wearing a black and hot pink lacy bell-dress that reached her mid-thigh.
The dress was strapless and fit the curves of her round bosom. Curiously, Knuckles glanced at the white bat's ankles to see that she was wearing bright, red pumps, which nicely matched with the crimson headband upon her head.
The only thing the bat could say was, "…I truly…hate you…"
A large grin spread across Knuckles's face, he leaned forward, looking much more interested, "That'll do. Now then, French maid, clean up all of our dinner; tupperware and dishes."
Automatically, Rouge responded to his request, all the while glaring at him. Smiling, Knuckles watched her every movement. Just as she finished rinsing a dish, Knuckles saw one last cup that she had forgot to put away.
"Nursemaid," Knuckles said, he turned and pointed to the small cup.
Rouge turned and frowned, "You go get it!"
Knuckles smiled, crossing his arms over his chest, "Still fighting, huh? I'd really prefer it if you went and picked it up."
Rouge about-faced then turned and went to the last remaining cup. While stomping over to the forgotten little cup, she cursed Knuckles, his mother, and even those weird ghost guys she saw eariler. Anyone who was possible related to Knuckles was cursed.
"Okay, little fella," Rouge said, "Come to mama!"
Instead of taking a knee and picking up the cup, Rouge bent forward scooping up the cup. The watchful echidna…, who was sitting right behind her when this happened, glowed twelve shades of red, this time he completely fell from his seat.
Smiling Rouge gazed at the cup, then glanced at Knuckles, "What's wrong with you?" Rouge asked, putting away the last cup.
"Nuh-nothing," Knuckles said trying to recollect himself, "Um…kuh-come over here and give me a massage."
Rouge replied and began giving him a gentle massage, Rouge sighed, 'This is gonna be a long journey.'
Knuckles gulped, 'This is gonna be a long journey,'
Frowning, Rouge bowed, getting a better glimpse of Knuckles' face, "Are you sure nothing's wrong? You're at least twelve shades redder! Are you sick? Dying? Do you have a fever? It's awfully could out here! (gasp) Are you choking?"
Knuckles buried his burning face in his left palm, "…Leave me ALONE batgirl! I'll even let you try me up in a tree again, if you stop asking me questions!"
To be continued!
-Stay tuned for the next chapter & review and Alice shall renew!
-LuV, Allygurl 8D