Chapter 8: What once was then, is now once more

May 26, unknown year. 10: 43 AM. Bellicus Mts, Ikusa Fortress.

Knuckles' pride was one of the most important things to him, and nothing would ever force him to relinquish it. But the incident a few days ago had left him feeling strangely uneasy, and for the first time in awhile, he was afraid for the Master Emerald, though he'd never admit it. The phrase he'd heard that day kept repeating in his head, over and over and over, until he felt it might drive him mad. And then, as lay thinking of his friends, it hit him. Lucien! If anyone would know how to translate those words, it would be him. The Shadow Echidnas had the largest library in the unknown world, and Lucien, and the King's daughter Mist, were the keepers of the mass of knowledge.

And so that was how Knuckles found himself in the Bellicus Mountains, lost as a daisy in a hailstorm, for he had remembered in the last twenty minutes that he had absolutely no sense of direction. As he hiked up to a ledge, Knuckles was so absorbed in the map that should have taken straight to Ikusa Fortress, that he walked into a tree. He got up, rubbing his sore nose, and growled, "I am never going to live this dooooooowwwwwn!"

His final word was a howl as the cliff gave way beneath his feet to drop him… to the ground three feet below. Rubbing his now sore head, the Guardian stood up… and beheld the vast Fortress being patrolled by red and black echidnas. As he stared on in bewilderment, all he could say was, "How did I miss that?"

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"Knuckles, hello!" was Lucien's warm greeting as the Guardian entered the library, "It's been so long. How are you?"

"I'm fine Lucien, where's Mist?" Knuckles asked. There was a burst of fog as a mighty beast materialized in front of him to say, "BOO!" Knuckles shrieked and fell backwards over a chair. Mist's grin stretched from ear to ear as she said, "BOOYA! I still can get you with that one? You haven't changed, Knucklehead."

"Neither have you, since you were four," he growled, "Now I'd love to say and chat but I have important business with Lucien." Mist looked crestfallen, and she opened her mouth to complain, but Knuckles shoved her aside and marched to the elder.

"Lucien, I'll get right to the point. I need a translation. I have no idea what language it was in, or even what era the language was spoken in. Yes or no, can you help me?"

"Well, ah… I can certainly try. What was said?"

Knuckles reached into one of his gloves and pulled out a piece of paper, "Erm, I think this how it's spelled, I can't pronounce it myself."

Lucien picked up the paper and examined it, "Well, I'm not sure what's said here, but, with all these books around, the answer shouldn't be too hard to find."

Three hours later…

The three of them were bored stiff, sick of reading, and still had no idea what was on the scrap of paper. "Lucien," Mist whined, "I'm boooored! Can't we go and eat?"

"No, Mist," the archivist replied sternly, "We will not leave until we have accomplished our task."

"But I'm bored! What's on this stupid thing anyway?" She snatched it away from an aggravated Knuckles who growled, "Mist!" The Princess stared at the scrap and then said, "Negrathea toljium, prestadij atil? What in the hell that non-"

Mist was cut off as suddenly all the books save one slammed shut by themselves. The windows all blew inward as a scorching wind ripped across them and turned the last open book to one page. And as suddenly as it had begun, the wind stopped.

Exchanging uneasy glances, the three of them edged toward the tome, and they all huddled to look down at the pages. To Lucien's surprise, he couldn't read the text. "That's strange, I've never seen this text before."

Lucien thought to call for another translator, when to his even greater surprise, Knuckles began to read,

"From the shadows of greed he rises,

Bringing armies made from lore.

He wrath rains down on us,

And forms the eternal four.

Though now he is imprisoned,

A part of the great stone door.

What was once then,

Is now once more."

There was silence for a moment, and then Mist asked, "How did you do that?" Her words seemed to bring Knuckles out of a trance, because he said, "I dunno… it was like… like there was nothing but me and the text. And when I tried to read it, the letters told me what to say.

"Well that doesn't make any sense."

"Perhaps not Mist," said Lucien, "But nevertheless, Knuckles, you understand this book, whereas we do not. Therefore, you should take it." Lucien closed the book and held it out to the Guardian, "It'll be more useful to you than it will be to us."

Knuckles was unsure for a moment, but then, he tentatively reached out and took the tome. The item in hand, Knuckles left saying only, "I'll be back soon."

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On Angel Island, the beast residing in its bowels was stirring. It wouldn't be long now. Not long at all.