UlTrRa SiK pRoDuCtIoNs pReSeNtZ:
LoVe'S bUrN
By: UlTrAa ShAdDow
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Sega's characters….but I'd be a very happy guy if I did!
"You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel."
Knuckles's POV:
It was dawn as the sun was beginning to rise. I felt the warmth of the sunlight fall upon me and I slowly opened my eyes. I could already tell that it was going to be another lovely day here on Angel Island.
While lying on my side, I slowly glanced over at the Master Emerald that rested on its pillar in front of me. Just looking into the green depths of the emerald reminded me of Rouge's eyes, deep and mystical.
I sighed thinking about what happened a few days ago between Rouge and myself; why did I have to be the one to watch the Master Emerald? Well, whatever happened between us certainly wasn't good and I'm undoubtedly regretting my solitude right now.
I rose to my feet and had a quick stretch before I began to walk around the Island. Just doing the usual security surveillances. I headed towards one of my favorite cliffs to view the ocean. Man was the view gorgeous!
This cliff overlooked the whole ocean and met with the sky's horizon perfectly. As I drew closer to the edge, my foot stumbled over something. I glanced down to see a couple of bags of luggage.
I took a knee to see who they belonged to, then it was clear; they belonged to Rouge. Maybe I should return them to her and just maybe give an apology as well…
After my route around the Island, I headed back towards the Master Emerald's shrine; a soft humming filled the air, "Hey, Tikal!"
A light voice answered, " Yes?"
Slowly rising from behind the Master Emerald was my friend of many years, Tikal. Looked like she was picking flowers again; the graceful monarch smiled back at me, "Good morning Knuckles, how have you been?"
Man, our friendship dates from way back. Ever since I had first seen the Master Emerald, I always remembered seeing Tikal in tow.
"I'm good, just finished my daily routes."
Whenever it's just us two on the island, I believe she's relaxed, but when a stranger, or even a common visitor like Sonic drops by, she reverts into this passive shell. Yeah, she's even stayed quiet when he's made passes at her!
'If you stood in front of a mirror and help up eleven roses, you would see twelve of the most beautiful things in the world.'
'Oh...t-thank you...'
'...So will I see you Friday night at eight?'
It's kinda strange, but then again what immortal being is normal? I scratched the back of my head, "Umm, do you think--Could you watch the Emerald for a second? I have to take care of a few things."
"Where shall you be going? Off to visit Sonic again?" she asked, stooping to pick more flowers.
"...No, I have to go to Station Square and...see another good friend of mine."
Tikal stared at me blankly; that was her equivalence of giving me a dirty stare.
"Oh come on! Have a heart! I'll be back really quick!"
"...Are you seeking that...bat girl again?"
"Huh?"
It sounded like she had an edge to her voice. I turned my gaze to the ancient princess, for half a second it seemed as if she was giving me a cold glare. But when I looked back at her again, that icy look was gone.
...Perhaps I was imagining things...
Tikal sighed, "Go ahead...I'll watch the emerald...I suppose."
"Thanks Tikal, you're a great friend!"
"Hush, you got what you wanted; just go," Tikal muttered.
I laughed, " Don't be that way! I said I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Hmph!" Tikal crossed her arms, frowning slightly, " I truly doubt that."
I winked at the floating friend, who I think actually blushed, " W-well, just be quick Knuckles! You have your duties to attend."
"Okay, see you later!"
With a whoop, I ran off the edge of the island and plummeted. I know I must have given Tikal a heart attack there! Overlooking the edge of the island, a tan female echidna appeared, " Decease your foolish antics! You worried me!"
After taking a boat from Angel Island, I caught a plane to Station Square. The flight to Station Square was terribly crowded, and I was stuck squeezed in between two horribly overweight guys. Damn that was horrible! Well, that'll be the last time I fly coach on a twelve-hour flight!
Anyways, it was about one in the morning when I arrived at Station Square, and I was tired! I took an expensive cab over to the apartment were a good friend of mine stayed. I paid the cab driver and hopped out of the car. I walked twelve flights up the apartment's stairs and banged on the door.
No response.
I banged on the door again and I was answered by a hostile, "HOLD YOUR HORSES DAMMIT!"
The door was flung open and out came a drowsy looking blue hedgehog. It looks like good ole blue just woke up from a nap, 'cause he sure looks terrible. Note to self: remember to ask Tikal if I look that horrible when I wake up.
Sonic beamed, "Hey Knux, what's up man?"
"Not much," I replied, "May I come in?"
By now, I'm more than used to Sonic's almost bipolar emotions. Sonic scratched his head, "Sure! Come on in man!"
He moved out of my way and I entered his apartment. I held my breath...
...Just what in the world was I walking into?
Magazines and dirty clothes were everywhere, soda bottles were scattered on his floor, and junk was settled through out his place. This place looked like some kind of junkyard. A poorly, unattended junkyard. Rats would refuse this place!
"Why am I not surprised," I muttered to myself.
"What was that Knux?" Sonic asked.
"Nice place you got here," I said trying to be polite, seriously biting my tongue.
"You can relax on the couch man, I'll be back with some cold ones," said Sonic disappearing into the kitchen.
I knocked all the junk off of Sonic's couch then flopped on it. Sonic shortly returned with two sodas in his hands and joined me on the couch. I frowned and inched over; I think I just sat on something. I looked over my shoulder; yep, just sat on some kind of remote.
"So, what brings you all the way out here?" he asked handing me a soda. I opened the Chaos Cola with relative ease and stared into its contents.
"Well, I think I made a huge mistake," I said. Sonic arched an eyebrow with mild interest, "You a mistake? Oh Knuckle-head...So? what was it?"
I sighed, "If you gotta know--"
"And I do," Sonic replied.
I smirked slightly; just let me finish my story you blue twit!
"I think I let Rouge get away, so hopefully, while I'm here, I can smooth things out with her," I said, swirling the soda slightly.
Sonic spit out his soda all over me and laughed uneasily, I glared at him, "You're here for Rouge eh? Well….Why don't you forget her and go after some other girl like…Amy! She's good for you!"
I laughed, forgetting to kill the blue hedgehog, " Me and her? Pssh! Yeah right! And I can't forget about Rouge! Aside from the Master Emerald, she's who I am….And why'd you spit that soda all over me?"
Sonic suddenly looked uneasy. Hmm, my guardian-sense is tingling and I think he's about to try something. And when I say 'try something' this can consist of: lying, trying to change the topic, or the most annoying one yet...
"Well the shower's down the hall to the left man!" Sonic spluttered, "Oh man! Look at the time! I gotta get my sleep on! Later man!"
...Running off. Before I could say anything else he zipped off. See, I knew it; the instincts never fail me.
"Dammit! He knows I hate when he does that!" I growled.
I uncrossed my arms and went to use his shower, which was much dirtier than his living room by the way. I turned on the hot water and sighed, " Well, at least this works..."
After taking my shower I was beat, so even Sonic's tarnished couch would do. I plopped face first into his couch and drifted off into sleep.
"Mmm, so...tired...I'll kill Sonic...tomorrow..." I grunted.
I failed to mention that in the middle of what was beginning to be a relaxing shower, the hot water stopped working...Guess how much fun that was! Just as I was about to holler at Sonic and force him to fix his shower, I slipped on a bar of soap and landed flat on my back.
And instead of being concerned, the blue devil appeared laughing his head off. I couldn't offer the blue idiot a good chase, so I settled for the couch, as I mentioned earlier...
I'll get him later...
I heard glass break and I was instantly awoke, ready to crush some skulls. I looked around furiously and spotted Sonic. I couldn't help but grin evilly, I was gonna get that blue jerk!
"'Morning Knux!" he smiled dropping another plate, "Damn! To make a truce, I thought I'd make you breakfast."
Damn! Foiled again, "...Do you have pancake mix?"
"Hey, you're with Sonic the Hedgehog, I got all the goods!" Sonic replied smiling, the blue hedgehog dropped yet another dish, "Shoot!"
I rubbed my eyes and made my way to his table, "Get plastic."
"Bah plastic," Sonic said waving his hand as if shooing away a fly, " Plastic is made for children with...greasy, unstable, little...fingers."
Sonic watched another dish hit the floor and I looked up at him, "Exactly..."
Then Sonic spun to face me, startling the living daylight out of me...he has to be one of the most random and strangest people I know. Like I said, I'm used to his mercurial mood swings, but this is just ridiculous!
"You, Knuckles, are one of the few privileged Mobians," said Sonic changing topics.
"Oh? How?" I asked.
"You, my tall red brotha, get to witness Grand-Master-Chef Sonic in action!" he said pointing to me.
"...And this better be good," I replied, " Don't think I'm over what happened yesterday."
He started juggling eggs in the air while I watched slightly amused. Eventually he started walking my direction and was juggling over my head. He was starting to cross into my personal bufferzone now. And I mean no one crosses into my personal bufferzone. If he wasn't my friend, he'd probably be dead by now.
"Sonic I swear…if you even…."
Before I could finish I felt four eggs splatter on my head. He fell to the floor laughing.
"Why you cheap little wench!" I laughed. I rose from my seat and instantly pounced on him and wrestled him playfully.
Once we had finished eating his burnt and nasty breakfast, which I'm surprised my systems didn't dump out right then and there, we both went out to the park to play catch. Why play catch? I honestly don't know; it was Sonic's idea. He's the guy who comes up with random stuff to do.
"So, you're really here for Rouge, huh?" asked Sonic who threw me the football.
"Yeah, I have to patch things up with her, and hopefully, she'll forgive me," I said returning the throw to him.
Sonic caught the ball and frowned, as if thinking of something, I interrupted his thoughts; what is with him lately? It's as if he's hiding something from me, "What are you thinkin' about?"
"Nothing," Sonic said shaking his head, as if clearing his thoughts, "So, what aces do you have up your sleeves?"
I smirked, "Well, just maybe this lil' ole cologne-sprayed poem from da Knux-man will win her over!"
Sonic laughed, "Knux, you are a ladies' man!"
It was about four in the afternoon when I reached Rouge's apartment. I was climbing up a flight of stairs to get to her apartment. I saw her feminine silhouette and smiled. As I continued up the stairs, I stopped immediately once I saw another one; it wasn't anything like Rouge's; it was taller and stronger.
It was definitely a male's silhouette. The door was beginning to click and like a reflex, I ran down the stairs to hide. I peered around the corner of the apartment building to see Rouge and the guy walking close together. From seeing his spine, I assumed he was a hedgehog...
I watched as Rouge and the black male hedgehog entered the car together and drove off laughing. Once I was sure I was safe from being spotted, I came out from hiding and stood where her car once was. I clenched my fists while my narrowed eyes followed the car. Who was that guy?
And what was he doing with MY Rouge? Well, whatever the reason, it's my job to find out!
To be continued!
Chapter three theme: "End Of The Road" -Boys 2 Men