Guardian Angels
S1:E7: Traveling Around the World with You (pt. 2)
Knuckles soon walked into the hallway that leads to the downstairs lab and had opened the door to it. He looked inside and was a bit amused when he saw Tails and Kathy crouching together next to the broken X-Tornado. He can hear Tails talking to Kathy as he was busy teaching her how to tighten some screws herself.
"That's it, Kathy. Just keep twisting the screw until it's screwed in tight," Tails encouraged calmly with a bright smile as he aided Kathy to keep screwing the loose screw on one of the plane's legs. Kathy focused onto the screw as she twisted it with the screwdriver and kept at it until she had gotten it tight.
"Ah! I did it! I tightened the screw, Tails! I did it all by myself!" Kathy exclaimed brightly with a cheerful grin as she looked at Tails.
"You sure did, Kathy! Way to go!" Tails exclaimed brightly with a huge grin as he gave Kathy a thumbs-up.
"Hehehehehe! Yay! I'm a winner!" Kathy exclaimed happily with a bright smile and with a giggle.
"Hmph..." Knuckles grunted quietly in amusement as he smiled a lot at that. She gets pleased so easily...Sigh...Knuckles pondered fondly with a warm look on his face. He soon quietly walked down the stairs on his left while staring at Kathy and Tails.
"Now, we only got 9, 999 screws to go!" Kathy exclaimed brightly with a grin as she kept staring at Tails.
"Hahahahaha! I'm pretty sure that the X-Tornado doesn't have that many screws! But I see your point, Kathy. It's going to take a while to fix the X-Tornado again especially with me teaching you how to fix it, but I'm sure that we'll finish it eventually," Tails replied calmly with a smile and a chuckle as he looked amused.
"Yeah! Your plane is going to get screwed by me!" Kathy exclaimed brightly yet innocently with a bright smile as she held the screwdriver in her right hand.
...That...That doesn't sound right, but she's innocent...so...Tails pondered calmly with a sheepish smile on his face as he stared at Kathy.
"Kathy...Why do you say such odd things sometimes?" Tails asked calmly in amusement as he smiled a lot at Kathy.
"It's because she has some loose screws herself. That's why," Knuckles answered calmly in amusement before Kathy could answer.
"...! Knuckles!" Kathy exclaimed brightly with a gasp and with a huge smile as she looked even more at her left to see Knuckles standing a bit away from her and Tails.
"Hey, Kathy," Knuckles replied calmly with a huge smile too as he stared back at Kathy.
Kathy immediately dropped the screwdriver and stood back up before running towards Knuckles to give him a hug. Tails looked at Kathy and Knuckles and smiled a lot in amusement. Not surprised to see that as a first reaction into seeing Knuckles again. I bet that Kathy really missed him even after he had left last night. Tails pondered calmly with a knowing smile as he watched Kathy run towards Knuckles with open arms.
"Yay! Hehehehehe!" Kathy exclaimed happily while giggling a lot as ran excitedly towards Knuckles.
Knuckles smiled very much at this as he opened his arms too as he awaited Kathy's embrace. Kathy soon reached Knuckles and embraced him, but then to his complete surprise, he felt her lifting him up a bit and swung him around a little.
"H-Hey! Heheheheheheh! Kathy! Easy!" Knuckles exclaimed happily in amusement with a huge smile as he chuckled a lot while being swung around in the air for a bit.
"Awwww, Knuckles! I missed you! I missed you so much! I'm so happy that you came back!" Kathy exclaimed happily in joy with a bright smile as she brought Knuckles down to the ground while hugging him tightly.
"Awww...I missed you too, Kathy. I'm happy to be back as well," Knuckles replied calmly in fondness with a warm smile as he looked at Kathy while hugging her tightly. He can feel his heart being elated after hearing that Kathy had missed him a lot. He can tell that Kathy really enjoys having him around, and he can't be any more happier than that. Sigh...I'm back to my Master again...It certainly does feel warmer whenever I'm with Kathy. For one obvious reason...I certainly don't get swung around in the air after seeing the Master Emerald again...That's for sure...Knuckles pondered calmly in amusement while smiling fondly at Kathy as he kept hugging her.
Tails smiled gently at Kathy and Knuckles as he watched them hug each other for a long time in silence. Those two really enjoy the other's company it seems...It certainly does sound more feasible that those two might have some feelings for each other due to how they're hugging each other for so long...It's honestly cute...Tails pondered calmly with a smile as he puts down the wrench and stood up.
Kathy soon pulled a bit away from Knuckles as she muttered calmly yet brightly in amusement and in curiosity with a silly smile and with a little giggle, "So how's my little Troublemaker doing lately? Are you making a mess that I don't know about? Hehehe!".
Knuckles smirked playfully at Kathy as he asked teasingly in amusement, "Why do you want to know? Are you planning to stop me, my little Angel?".
"Hehehehehehe! Yes! Because I don't want you to cause any trouble for the others!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a playful grin as she giggled a little.
Knuckles smirked even more deviously at that as he held Kathy closer to himself while replying playfully in amusement, "Oh, really, huh? Not even to Battra?".
"Well, except him. He deserves it!" Kathy replied calmly yet brightly with a silly smile as she held onto Knuckles dearly.
"Ahahahahahahahaha! No truer words have ever been spoken! Hahahahahahaha!" Knuckles exclaimed happily in amusement with a huge grin as he laughed a lot. Kathy smiled sweetly at Knuckles as he felt him holding her close and tightly in his arms. Knuckles soon stopped laughing and smiled widely at Kathy in amusement.
"But what about you, Kathy? You don't want me to cause trouble for you?" Knuckles asked calmly in playfulness with a huge smile on his amused face.
"Hehehehe! Even if I say 'no', I just know that you're going to anyway! Because you're a bad doggie!" Kathy exclaimed happily in amusement with a little giggle and with a sweet smile.
Knuckles soon looked smug after hearing that answer. He then replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a smug smile and with half-lidded eyes, "You know me so well, Angel".
"Hehehehehehehehehe!" Kathy giggled a lot from this and had given Knuckles another warm hug. Knuckles hugged Kathy back just as warmly while smiling fondly at her. I amuse her so easily...Sigh...Her sweet giggles are too pure for me...and yet...I adore it with all my heart...Knuckles pondered fondly with a warm smile on his face as he listened to Kathy's bubbly giggles.
"Heheheh...You're such a giggler, silly girl," Knuckles replied calmly in amusement with a fond smile as he chuckled a little while rubbing Kathy's back with both hands.
"Hehehehehehe! I can't help it! You make me giggle!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a silly smile while giggling a little.
"Heh...No, I don't," Knuckles replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a mischievous smirk.
"Hehehehehehehehe! Yes, you do!" Kathy exclaimed happily in amusement with a bright smile while giggling some more.
"No, I don't," Knuckles argued playfully in amusement with a mischievous smirk as he pulled Kathy a bit away from himself to look at her.
"You certainly do!" Kathy argued back playfully in amusement with a sweet smile as she stared at Knuckles' playful face.
"Do not," Knuckles argued back playfully in amusement with a mischievous smirk.
"Do too!" Kathy argued back playfully in amusement with a huge smile.
"...Prove it," Knuckles argued back playfully in amusement with a smug grin as he got a bit closer to Kathy's face. Kathy smiled hugely at Knuckles while not saying anything, and Knuckles just grinned smugly at her in playfulness and in amusement. He then playfully opened his mouth, and Kathy immediately went into a hard giggle fit.
"Hehehehehehehehehehehehe! Hahahahahahahahaha! Knuckles! Hehehehehehehehehe! You made me giggle again! Hahahahahahaha!" Kathy exclaimed happily in amusement as she giggled a lot from this.
"Well, what do you know? I guess that you were right, silly girl. I do make you giggle...Very easily I might add," Knuckles replied calmly in amusement as he smiled playfully at her.
"It's because you're so funny, Troublemaker! Hehehehehehehe! You always make me giggle and laugh!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a sweet smile while giggling a little.
"Yeah, I do...And I wouldn't want it any other way, Angel. I'll always find a way to make you giggle and laugh. You can count on that," Knuckles replied calmly in fondness with a warm smile as he held her close to himself again while staring gently into her eyes again. Kathy soon stopped giggling and smiled warmly at Knuckles while staring gently into his eyes too. Their eyes twinkled in warmth and in adoration again as they enjoyed seeing the happy looks on the other's faces.
"Oh, good grief, you guys act like a couple," Tails commented calmly with a little frown as he was standing next to Kathy and Knuckles.
"'C-C-COUPLE'?! TAILS! NOT YOU TOO!" Knuckles shouted in shock and in embarrassment as he stared at Tails at his left while blushing deeply. Kathy also looked at Tails while blushing a lot in embarrassment.
"Well, I'm sorry, Knuckles, but you two are really acting like a couple even though you just know each other for at least three days. If you two are going to act like this, then at least get a room," Tails replied calmly with a frown and with flattened ears as he looked embarrassed too.
"TAILS! SERIOUSLY! IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT! REALLY!" Knuckles shouted some more in embarrassment while looking shocked.
"Oh, really? Then why are you two giving each other nicknames such as 'Angel' or 'Troublemaker'? Hmm?" Tails asked curiously with a frown while looking sheepish.
"Uhhh...Ummm...K-K-Kathy was the one who came up with the idea! Not me!" Knuckles answered awkwardly in embarrassment as he looked at Kathy briefly before looking at Tails again.
"And yet you're willing to run with it because...?" Tails asked curiously with suspicion on his face as he stared at Knuckles.
"Uhh...W-Well...I'm...I'm just being a good sport about it! Yeah! That's why!" Knuckles exclaimed nervously with a little frown on his flustered face.
"But what about you calling Kathy 'a silly girl'? Were you also saying that to be a good sport about it?" Tails asked curiously with a frown and with lowered eyelids.
"Uhhhhhh...It...It...Uhhh...It just rolls off the tongue for me!" Knuckles exclaimed awkwardly with a deeper blush while still looking shocked.
"Uh huh...It sure does, Knuckles. Just like you and Kathy arguing childishly with each other at times," Tails replied skeptically with a frown as he had his hands on his hips.
"Hey! It's normal to get into arguments with someone! You know that the most with me as I argue with anyone that I meet!" Knuckles exclaimed defensively with a frown and with a blush as glared a bit at Tails.
Tails lowered his eyelids again as he replied calmly yet skeptically, "...But with you smiling all the time while making someone giggle in the process?".
"...So...So what? Even I can get tired of being angry all the time, you know," Knuckles muttered calmly yet awkwardly with a little frown and with a deep blush as he lets go of Kathy while staring at Tails. Kathy was still quiet as she stared at Tails with a blush while also letting go of Knuckles.
"Well, that's a first, and it's only now that you say that after arguing with Kathy of all people," Tails replied calmly with a frown as he slumped his shoulders a bit.
"What does that supposed to mean?!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock and in embarrassment as he looked shocked.
"I mean that you like arguing with Kathy out of all the people that you had met in your life. Hence why I say that you two are like a couple," Tails replied calmly with a frown as he shrugged.
"Ah! ...Uhh...Uhh...I...I...No, I don't! She's silly! Why would I like arguing with a silly person like her?! That's...That's just crazy! Do you know who I am, Tails?! I'm a serious person! I would never enjoy arguing with a silly person like her! That's just insane! You're insane, Tails!" Knuckles exclaimed back defensively in shock and in embarrassment as he looked at Kathy again before looking at Tails. He was blushing very much at this shocking statement. He found it ludicrous that he likes arguing with Kathy of all people, and yet, he knows in his heart that it's the truth. He had never smiled or laughed while trying to argue with somebody on something that's silly. He would usually get annoyed with them and just get irritated with their antics. Sonic is the big reason why he hates arguing with him. Because with Sonic, he makes his arguments sound condescending and far-fetched. Not silly like Kathy's arguments are. Also...he can't help but be playful with her at times and argue with her just to make her laugh or giggle...just like the one that he did earlier.
"Knuckles...You really are living in denial with this," Tails muttered weakly with a frown as he slumped his shoulders again.
"What?! No, I'm not! I'm not in denial!" Knuckles yelled back defensively with a frown while blushing a lot.
"You definitely are, Knuckles," Tails replied tiredly with a frown.
"No! I'm not! I refuse to believe that I enjoy arguing with Kathy! Hmph!" Knuckles yelled back with a deeper frown as he crossed his arms.
"Okay. Fine. You can deny it all you want, but there is one problem with that," Tails replied calmly with an annoyed look on his face as he straitened up a bit.
"And what's that?!" Knuckles yelled back irritably with gritted teeth.
"...That," Tails answered calmly with a frown as he pointed at Kathy.
Knuckles soon looked back at Kathy and had gasped in shock when he saw tears in Kathy's eyes as she stared back at Knuckles. ...Oh no...Oh nonononono...Please don't cry...Anything but that...Knuckles brooded in concern and in guilt as he frowned sadly at Kathy.
"...K-Kathy?" Knuckles muttered softly in concern and in sadness as he looked guilty.
"...(Sniff)...Knuckles? Do you...really not like me when I argue with you? I know that we had that little spat yesterday, but...I didn't know on how much you really dislike me during that...Do you really dislike my silly arguments, Knuckles? Do you?" Kathy muttered weakly with a sniff and a sad frown as she looked pitiful. Her eyes sparkled in sadness as tears filled them up.
"Ack! Uhh...uhh...K-Kathy...It's not...It's not what you think...I...ummm..." Knuckles muttered awkwardly in guilt and in shame as he frowned even deeper in sadness while uncrossing his arms.
"It's okay, Knuckles...(Sniff)…...I'll stop having silly arguments with you if you don't like them...I wouldn't mind...Really...(Sniff)…..I'm so sorry that I've annoyed you with them...I'm sorry," Kathy muttered weakly in sadness as she sniffled and cried silently while having her head down in shame.
"Kathy! No! Please! Don't apologize to me! You did nothing wrong! Honest!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock and in worry as he immediately grabbed Kathy's arms and had gotten closer to her.
"...(Sniff)...Really? I didn't?" Kathy muttered weakly with a sniffle as she looked up at Knuckles with sad eyes.
Knuckles frowned a lot in sadness as he saw Kathy's sad face up close. He hated that he had made Kathy cry again...and this time, it was only because he was denying the truth from himself and from Kathy. ...Uggh...It would be too easy to blame this all on Tails, but all he did was ask me some questions and gave me his observations...I can't fault him for that...I can only fault myself for being the one to...to...lie to him and to Kathy...And now I'm hurting because of that lie...Knuckles brooded in sadness as he grimaced a lot.
Knuckles then gently rubbed Kathy's arms as he consoled softly with a grimace, "...Of course, you didn't, silly girl. The only one who is wrong is me...I...I lied, Kathy. I lied that I don't enjoy your silly arguments. The truth is that...I do. I enjoy arguing with you immensely...Except for when...you know...when we do get legitimately angry with each other".
"...You...(Sniff)…You do?" Kathy muttered softly with a sniffle and with a little frown as she wiped her tears away.
Knuckles smiled a little as he replied softly, "Of course, I do, Kathy. How can I not enjoy your arguments? It's like looking into a world where it's all upside down and filled to the brim with nonsensical logic that even I couldn't comprehend. Your silly arguments really do make me laugh and smile. So much so that I like to initiate arguments just to get you to laugh and smile too".
Kathy soon smiled a little after hearing that. She held onto Knuckles' arms and leant closer to him while smiling warmly at him. Knuckles smiled warmly back at her as he's glad that he had cheered her up again.
"...So...does that mean that you...like silly people, Knuckles?" Kathy asked softly with a warm smile and sparkling, light-blue eyes.
"Well...as long as they don't annoy me, then sure. I do," Knuckles replied calmly with a little, warm smile as he stared gently into Kathy's eyes.
Kathy then smiled sheepishly while blushing a lot as she asked shyly, "Then...do you like me, Knuckles?".
"Uhhhhh..." Knuckles muttered awkwardly in shyness as he blushed very deeply at this. Aw crud...I walked right into that one...Knuckles pondered calmly in embarrassment as he blushed a lot while frowning sheepishly.
"...Ugh...Seriously, you two...Get a room," Tails muttered sheepishly in embarrassment as he had his shoulders slumped again.
"Ack! You're still here?!" Knuckles exclaimed in surprise as he stared at Tails with a shocked yet flustered face. Kathy looked at Tails too while blushing a bit.
"Uh duh, Knuckles. I live here," Tails replied calmly with a frown while rolling his eyes a little.
Knuckles gawked at Tails before shaking his head and letting go of Kathy again. He frowned as he replied calmly in annoyance, "Oh, you know what I mean, Tails. Just why are you still here with us? Don't you want to go hang out with Sonic or whatever? Just leave us be. Please".
"Wow, you actually said 'please'. That's a new one," Tails replied calmly with raised eyebrows as he was a bit surprised at Knuckles' politeness.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard it all from Sonic. Can you just leave? I..." Knuckles replied calmly with an annoyed look on his face as he waved at Tails before he looked embarrassed again as he looked at Kathy as he continued shyly, "...I...I want to spend time with Kathy now...Alone...".
"Umm...I'm sorry, Knuckles. But...I'm in the middle of fixing my plane. You and Kathy have to leave yourselves if you want to spend some time together," Tails replied calmly yet awkwardly with a frown and with a shrug as he stared at Kathy and Knuckles.
"Oh...Uhh...I...I see...Kathy? ...Do you want to leave with me?" Knuckles muttered calmly yet awkwardly with an embarrassed look on his face as he stared at Tails briefly before staring at Kathy.
"Oh! Uhh...A-Actually, Knuckles, I...I want to stay with Tails and help him fix his plane. After all, I..." Kathy replied calmly yet awkwardly with a little frown as she looked at Knuckles before looking down in shame as she added, "...I...I was the one who had broken it...It was my fault that his plane is in this way to begin with".
"What?! You...You broke it?!" Knuckles exclaimed in surprise as his eyebrows were raised and as his mouth gaped widely.
"It was an accident, Knuckles! She didn't mean to break my plane! Kathy...You don't have to help me fix my plane if you don't want to. You can go ahead and leave with Knuckles already. I'll handle the repairs myself. I've done it dozens of times before. It'll be fine," Tails exclaimed in alarm towards Knuckles before muttering to Kathy in concern.
"But...But I still feel responsible for it. I don't want to leave you and clean up the mess yourself. I want to stay here a bit longer and do my best to help you," Kathy replied calmly with a guilty look on her face as she stared at Tails.
"...Kathy..." Tails muttered sadly with a little frown as his ears flattened again. She still thinks that it's her fault even after I had told her that it's not? Boy...Kathy really does think lowly of herself and how she appears to others...Then again...if you're half-kaiju...then you might think that everything is your fault when you break things or hurt others on accident...Poor Kathy...I guess that nothing I can say will help her not see herself as that way...Tails brooded with a sad frown on his face as he stared at Kathy.
"Kathy, you don't have to do this. Like Tails had said, it's just an accident. You're free to go," Knuckles replied gently with a little frown as he held Kathy's arms again and stared at her sad face.
"No, I don't want to, Knuckles. I'm sorry, but..." Kathy replied calmly yet sadly with a frown and a headshake as she stared back at Knuckles.
"..." Knuckles was silent as he looked sad with his mouth opening a little and with his eyelids being down halfway. ...Kathy...You're not going to say what I think that you're going to say...are you? Knuckles brooded in sadness as he stared at Kathy with a sad look on his face.
Kathy's eyelids went down halfway too as she finished sadly, "...I think that I'm going to stay with Tails for a long time and help him fix his plane. You're...You're going to have to wait until we're finished with it".
"...! That...That could take all day!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock with a gasp as his eyes went wide and as his mouth gaped widely.
"I know, Knuckles. I know. I'm sorry that we can't spend any more time together today. Unless you want to help Tails too into fixing the plane...then...you can stay here with us. But if not..." Kathy replied calmly yet sadly with a frown and a nod as she looked down before finishing quietly, "...then...then you're going to have to wait upstairs until I'm done...".
"..." Knuckles was speechless as he looked distraught by this. He was really excited to spend more time with Kathy today. He had plans that they would travel around the world together and show her some beautiful, vibrant places. But since Kathy wanted to help Tails instead...he felt rather heartbroken.
It's because...he's going to be all by himself again.
Knuckles slowly lets go of Kathy's arms and looked down in sadness. With a depressed look, he muttered quietly in sadness, "...O-Okay, Kathy. I'll...I'll wait. You come and get me when you're done".
He then slowly walked to the stairs and had his hand on the handrail while looking back at Kathy. He had the saddest look on his face as he stared at Kathy. Kathy stared back at him while looking sad as well. She had never seen Knuckles look this depressed before and felt rather bad for him for making him wait like this. This must feel like torture to him. I know how much he wants to be with me and spend time with me, but...I can't just leave Tails behind and do all the hard work, can I? Ooooh...I'm so sorry, Knuckles! If only I hadn't broken Tails' plane, then I would've easily leave without feeling any sort of guilt! I just...I just wish that there is a better reason for me to leave! Knuckles...I can't help but feel sorry for you...Please stay strong...Kathy brooded with a sad look on her face as she stared back at Knuckles.
Knuckles was still quiet but soon simply muttered, "...Bye".
After that, Knuckles climbed back upstairs while looking depressed. Kathy and Tails stared at him with sad faces as he left. They soon see him reach the top and had closed the lab's door after exiting it. Kathy and Tails soon looked back at each other with sad faces.
"...Come on, Kathy. Let's go finish the plane," Tails replied calmly with a sad frown on his face.
[ 30 Minutes Later]
"...Are we done yet?" Kathy asked quietly with a frown as she tightened another bolt. She and Tails were crouching again next to one of the X-Tornado's legs.
"Well...we're about done with one leg of the X-Tornado. All that's left is the other leg and the underside of the cockpit. Which..." Tails replied calmly with a frown as he tightened another screw. He then looked at Kathy and frowned deeper in sadness as he added, "...is going to take an hour or two to complete...".
"Ooooh...That's going to take forever!" Kathy exclaimed sadly with a deeper frown as she looked at Tails.
Tails smiled sympathetically at Kathy as he replied gently, "I said 'an hour or two', Kathy. Not 'forever'".
"Oh, you know what I mean! I just wish that we fix this plane up faster so that I can spend more time with Knuckles!" Kathy exclaimed in frustration as she frowned a lot while staring up at the plane.
"You don't have to stay here with me if you don't want to. No one's forcing you to fix the plane up with me. So, why are you staying?" Tails replied calmly with a sympathetic smile while staring at Kathy.
"It's because..." Kathy muttered calmly yet quietly with a frown as she looked at Tails before looking away from him as she continued sadly, "...It's because I don't to appear as useless to you or to anybody...".
"Huh? 'Useless'?" Tails repeated in surprise and in confusion as his eyebrows were raised and as his mouth gaped a little.
("Reminiscence-Smile, No Matter What" from AA6: Spirit of Justice starts playing here)
Kathy looked even sadder as she replied calmly yet quietly, "Yes, that's right. I just want to be useful to everybody since I wasn't in the past. I've already told Knuckles about it, but back when I was a kid, I was a nuisance to others. I tried very hard to save others and protect them from Battra's monsters, but I was useless in the end as the monsters killed them all. I didn't save even one of them, and the people who wanted their loved ones back had despised me for letting them down. I was considered useless to them; and I had decided early on that when I grew up, I'm going to do my best to compensate my past failures by helping everyone as much as I can".
"...Kathy..." Tails muttered sadly with a sympathetic frown.
Kathy looked back at Tails while looking sad as she continued quietly, "Not only that but also...no one had ever asked for Mothra's assistance in centuries. As the Mobians moved on and lived their lives independently, they hadn't called for Mothra to help them with their problems. My ancestor was soon forgotten and became obsolete even after she was turned into a half Mobian-half kaiju hybrid. She was seen as useless by others even before I was born".
"..." Tails was silent as he looked pitiful towards Kathy as he frowned a lot and as his ears flattened a bit.
Kathy looked down to the floor with a little, sad frown as she finished quietly, "...And since I'm the current descendent of Mothra, it cuts me deeply that no one is relying on me for help. That's why I wanted to help you, Tails. I may not know how to fix machines or planes, but I want to try to be helpful towards you. I just...I just don't want to be seen as useless anymore, and I don't care on how I'm going to do it. I...I just have to try...even if...I'm not good at it...".
"Kathy..." Tails muttered quietly with a sympathetic frown as he puts his screwdriver down and grabbed Kathy's left shoulder. Kathy looked at Tails again with a sad look on her face. Tails stared back at her with a sympathetic yet understanding look on his face. So that's what this is all about. No wonder Kathy wouldn't let this little accident go. She thinks that she's a nuisance to me and just wanted to compensate for her mistake by helping me out. Poor Kathy...She's really being too hard on herself...and I...I don't blame for her that. I also can be hard on myself at times whenever I made a mistake or fail at times. It's not easy to get out of that critical mentality, and it seems that Kathy must've suffered a lot from that. Especially when she believes that everyone thinks that she's useless. Tails brooded with a sad frown on his face.
Tails then looked a little solemn as he consoled gently, "...You can't help everyone out with everything. There will be lots of times where you wish that you can help but can't since it's beyond your control or abilities. I know that you want to be helpful to everyone, but that's not a good idea. If you try to help everyone, you're going to stress yourself out and not be content with the fact that you helped just one person out with their problems. You'll keep bringing yourself down and be unsatisfied that you can't help someone out. I don't like being useless either, but there are times that you can't help out no matter how much you want to".
"...T-Tails..." Kathy muttered sadly with a frown as her eyelids lowered halfway and as her antennas went down.
"Kathy, I appreciate you helping me out, but it's okay to tell me if you want to be with Knuckles now. Being helpful is important, but happiness is also important. And if you're not happy helping me, then I don't think that it's a good idea to finish fixing the X-Tornado with me. You can leave, Kathy. I won't mind it at all," Tails finished calmly with a little frown while squeezing Kathy's shoulder a bit.
("Reminiscence-Smile, No Matter What" stops playing here)
Kathy gasped a bit when she heard Tails say, "happiness is also important". It sounded similar to the one that Knuckles had said yesterday. "Your happiness is important" is what he would say. Kathy then looked even sadder since she's reminded of Knuckles.
...Oooh...Knuckles...I wish that I can go and spend time with you, but I...I...Kathy brooded with a sad frown as she looked down to the floor again.
"...I don't know, Tails," Kathy muttered sadly yet quietly with a frown.
"Kathy...It's going to be fine...I'll handle it myself," Tails encouraged gently with a little smile as he rubbed Kathy's back a bit.
"Hmm..." Kathy mused quietly while frowning a lot.
Tails frowned with Kathy as he saw that she wasn't convinced. He wondered what he can say to her that will encourage her to go to Knuckles. How can I encourage Kathy to go to Knuckles even though she wants to help me out? Hmm...She cares too much about us...Hey! Wait a minute! That's it! Tails pondered calmly with a frown before he looked shocked when an idea came into his head.
Tails soon smiled a lot as he replied calmly, "You know, Kathy. Doing favors for others isn't the only way to help others. Sometimes, all a person needs is having you being there for them. Maybe what helps a person out is having company".
"...H-Huh?" Kathy muttered quietly yet curiously as she looked at Tails again with intrigued eyes.
"Yeah, you heard me. Giving someone company when they needed it the most is the best way to help someone. Some people need more help than others, and they could use some of your company to cheer them up and make them happy. People like...like..." Tails continued calmly with a gentle smile before he frowned and looked at his plane instead as he muttered quietly, "...Knuckles...".
"...! ...Knuckles?" Kathy muttered softly after gasping a little while looking shocked. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth gaped a little in shock. She stared at Tails more curiously after hearing that. Tails soon lets go of Kathy's shoulder and sighed a little while picking up his screwdriver before slowly tightening more screws.
("Haunted Memories of Emiko" from Godzilla vs. Destroyah/Destroyer starts playing here)
"Mmhm...You see, Kathy...Knuckles...hadn't lived a happy life while living on Angel Island on his own. I'm sure that Knuckles himself had told you this, but as he said, he didn't have any parents, siblings, or friends throughout his life. He was all alone while guarding a powerful emerald that could disrupt the entire world or universe whenever it's used in the wrong hands. He has that burden to carry on his shoulders all the time every single day of his life. Also, he...he just...never had a childhood, and...it's very evident due to how serious he is all the time," Tails continued calmly yet sadly with a frown as he quietly fixed his plane.
"..." Kathy was silent as she stared at Tails with a shocked yet intrigued look on her face. She had heard Knuckles himself say he lived on his island all alone, but she never knew on how miserable he is with his life. ...Kn-Knuckles...Kathy pondered sadly with a frown.
Tails looked at Kathy with a frown as he continued sadly, "...Knuckles doesn't even spend time with us since he's busy protecting his emerald. We tried and tried to convince him to just take a break and have fun with us. But...no matter what we do, he'll always turn our offers down just to fulfill his duty. Because of his undying devotion to his job, he couldn't leave behind the emerald to go have fun. It's only when it's out of necessity or out of emergency that he leaves the island. Not...for any other reason...".
"..." Kathy was still silent while having a sympathetic look on her face as she listened to Tails. She felt sad that this was what Knuckles' life was usually like. All work and no play. She can't help but feel pitiful for Knuckles. ...Oh, Knuckles...I...I had no idea that your life was like this...Kathy brooded with a sad look on her face.
Tails sighed again and looked back to his plane to fix it some more. He continued calmly with a sad frown on his face, "...I...I just wish that could change. That way...Knuckles could enjoy himself and have fun with his friends. However...his devotion...his need to protect his emerald...it's tearing him apart inside. Knuckles may not tell us how he's feeling especially with how he's acting lately, but...I can wager a guess and say that he's depressed. I mean...Sonic and the others had noticed how gloomy he's being these days and how...distant he is towards us. We all wish that we could bridge the gap between us and Knuckles and learn why he's so depressed, but Knuckles refuses to open up towards us and prefers to keep to himself instead. All we really wanted from him is to be happy, but the more he refuses to spend time with us and have fun with us...the more concerned we are towards him. There's nothing that we can do about this, and that...that...".
Tails frowned further and had looked at Kathy while finishing solemnly, "...that is where you come in, Kathy. If anyone can get close to Knuckles and get him to open up about his feelings, it's you. He may have been cold towards all of us except you. I'm not sure why you of all people had managed to do it, but...you had made Knuckles happy again. You somehow melted his cold heart and made him smile and laugh again. And...Sonic and I are glad that you have that power to do it. ...So...what I'm saying here is that...Knuckles really needs your help, Kathy. He may not say it to you that he needs help, but I'm sure that deep inside his heart that he's screaming for help. Just go to him, Kathy. Forget about helping me...There's someone else who needs help way more than me...and that someone is Knuckles...".
("Haunted Memories of Emiko" ends here)
"..." Kathy was speechless after hearing all of that. Her mouth gaped a little, and her eyes were wide in shock. She was just lost for words after hearing that sad secret about Knuckles. She can see how much Tails is pleading to her to go help Knuckles. She can see his sad frown and eyes as he stared back at her while not saying anything. Kathy stared back at Tails before slowly looking down on the ground while looking shocked. She didn't know how to take this.
...So Tails wants me to go spend time with Knuckles just to help him...Hmm...Knuckles...Kathy pondered calmly with a stunned look on her face. She then pictured Knuckles in her mind that he's sitting on the steps of the Master Emerald altar while having his arms crossed and while having solemn look on his face just as he always does. She can see him looking determined and fierce as he was ready for any intruder or thief to arrive at his island. She can see the unwavering gaze...the disgruntled look on his face...and the pain and sadness in his violet eyes. Even while his face is calm and solemn, his eyes tell another story. And that...is what Kathy can see in her mind...She sees Knuckles frowning further and lowering his head down as his eyelids went down halfway. It was the same depressed look that she herself had whenever she was alone on Infant Island. In other words...they both felt the same feeling...loneliness.
...KEEEE! KEEEEE! KEEEEKIIOOO! KEEEE! (Mommy! Mommy! Please come back, mommy!)
Kathy, the five-year-old brown larva, screeched in her native tongue as she looked up into the sky while sitting on the beach. She was holding onto her legs while having her head rest on her knees. She was waiting for her mom to come back from her trip as usual. She can see the sunset coming down in the distance and had frowned further in sadness. She screeched again in sadness and in despair.
KEEEE! KEEEE! KEEEKIIIOOO! KEEEE! KEEEE! (Mommy! Mommy! Please come back to me! Please!)
But of course...her mother still hadn't arrived yet.
"...(Sniff)...Please..." Kathy muttered softly with a sniff as tears came into her light-blue eyes as she stared at the sky before putting her face down onto her knees. She then cried softly in sadness yet again.
…Mmm...Our lives aren't really that much different...We both suffered from loneliness...Kathy, the present self, pondered with a grimace as her sad memories resurfaced in her mind. She soon closed her eyes as she looked solemn about this.
"...Kathy?" Tails muttered quietly with a curious look on his face as he stared at Kathy.
"..." Kathy was silent as she frowned a lot while having her eyes closed. Tails had waited for Kathy to say something but was soon surprised when he saw her stand back up after putting the wrench down. He was shocked when he watched her turn around and walk towards the stairs while being silent.
"A-Ah! Kathy! Hey! Where are you going?!" Tails exclaimed in shock as he looked up at Kathy while she was climbing the stairs.
Kathy soon stopped halfway up the stairs and looked down at Tails. She was holding onto the handrail while having a solemn look on her face. Tails was stunned when he saw that look on Kathy's face. What's up with Kathy? Did something come to her mind? Tails pondered in curiosity as he stared at Kathy with a stunned look on his face.
Kathy still stared at Tails with a frown but soon smiled gently as she answered calmly, "Where else? Upstairs".
"B-But...why? Are you going to do something else?" Tails asked curiously with a surprised look on his face.
Kathy soon smiled warmly as her eyelids went down halfway as she answered calmly, "Let's just say...I'm going to do something important right now...".
Tails looked confused at that statement but soon smiled a little when he realized where Kathy is getting at. He then replied calmly with a smile, "Alright, Kathy. You go do that. Don't mind me. I'll fix the plane myself. Thanks for your help".
"Anytime, Tails. Anyways, bye. I'll see you later," Kathy replied calmly with a smile and with a wave before she climbed further up the stairs.
"Bye, Kathy. I'll see you later as well. Have fun," Tails replied calmly with a smile and with a wave before facing his plane again.
"Heh...I will," Kathy replied calmly with a grin as she looked back at Tails one last time before opening the lab's door and exiting the lab. Tails smiled a lot as he grabbed his wrench and started to tighten the other bolts on the plane's other leg. Kathy...You really are a life savior. Tails pondered calmly with a smile while tightening the bolts now.
Meanwhile, Kathy had quietly closed the lab's door and quietly walked out from the hallway. She then reached the living room and stood still as she looked at Knuckles on her right. She frowned in sadness when she saw Knuckles sitting alone on the right end of the couch. His elbow was resting onto the armrest of the couch and had propped his head up with his right hand. He was frowning a lot, and his eyelids had drooped halfway in sadness. He felt miserable as he was sitting alone in silence.
...Kathy...Are you done yet? Sigh...Knuckles brooded in sadness as he sighed quietly.
Kathy frowned sadly after seeing Knuckles' depressed face. Poor Knuckles. He must've felt so alone as he waited for me to come back out from the lab. ...Well...I had been in the lab for a long time...So, I wouldn't blame Knuckles for feeling this way. I had felt the same thing with my mom. I'd sat alone for hours and hours just to wait for her to come back. It felt like forever for her to return, and I...hated every moment of that. I can understand if...Knuckles hated the wait too. Kathy brooded calmly with a sad frown as her eyebrows were furrowed upwards in sympathy.
She then smiled gently as she quietly walked behind the couch and stood behind Knuckles. She looked down at him in sympathy while he sighed tiredly again.
"...Please come back, Kathy. Please...I...I miss you," Knuckles muttered sadly to himself with a depressed look on his face. After he had said that, he was surprised when he felt two hands gently stroking down his head on both ends and combing through his dreadlocks.
"...I missed you too, Knuckles. I missed you too," Kathy replied softly in fondness with a gentle smile as she affectionately stroked his head with both hands.
"...!" Knuckles gasped loudly in shock as he immediately beamed at this and had looked behind himself to see Kathy. Kathy smiled gently back at him with lowered eyelids as she stopped stroking Knuckles' head.
"...I'm back, Knuckles," Kathy added gently with a warm look on her face.
"Kathy! You came back! That was fast! Had you and Tails finished the plane?!" Knuckles exclaimed happily in amusement while beaming in joy as he couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.
"No. Not really. We've only finished one-third of it. But it's okay. Tails is going to finish the rest of it," Kathy answered calmly with a little smile and with a headshake.
"O-Oh! I...I see...Umm...Wait. Then why are you here?" Knuckles replied calmly yet curiously as he looked confused.
"Hehehehehehehe! You silly doggie! What else would I be here?!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a sweet smile while giggling a little.
"Uhh...To watch T.V.?" Knuckles replied calmly in confusion as he frowned a little.
"No! Hehehehehe!" Kathy exclaimed happily in amusement with a bright smile as she giggled some more while running around the couch to stand in front of Knuckles. She continued brightly in excitement, "I'm here to spend some time with you! Come on! Let's do something together!".
"Ah! S-Seriously?! You...You want to...spend time with me? Is that why you...?" Knuckles replied in shock and in confusion as he stared at Kathy with wide eyes and with a wide mouth.
"Yes! I decided to leave early! If Tails can handle the repairs himself, then there's no reason for me to worry about it!" Kathy answered brightly in amusement with a playful grin and with a nod.
"R-Really?! But...But I thought that you wanted to finish repairing the plane with him! You had told me yourself that you wanted to help-!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock as he looked surprised by this.
"I changed my mind! You and Tails are right! I don't have to fix things when they're just accidents! As much as I do feel responsible for it, I don't think that I should let the guilt eat me inside and let it force me to do things for others to repay them back. Besides..." Kathy replied brightly with a sweet smile as she looked warm again when she added calmly, "...there are more important things to focus on than that such as...you, Knuckles. Let's have another adventure today. My treat".
"...!" Knuckles gasped again in shock after hearing that. His eyes went very wide, and his mouth gaped widely in shock. His heart pounded fast after hearing that Kathy wants to have another adventure with him. The fact that Kathy had decided to finish early just for his sake had made his heart implode in warmth again. Hearing that he is an important priority to Kathy made him feel loved. He felt touched that Kathy wanted to spend her time with him due to how important he is to her. Because of that realization...he felt like complete mush.
"...K-K-Kathy...I...You...You shouldn't have..." Knuckles muttered quietly in shyness as he smiled warmly yet sheepishly at Kathy. His face had turned completely red, and his eyebrows had furrowed upwards in sheepishness as he felt very shy right now. Dang it, Kathy. You did it again...You made me feel like mush...Quit doing that! Knuckles pondered calmly yet fondly in amusement as he smiled lot in sheepishness.
"Oh, but I insist! Come on, Knuckles! Let's go! Let's go have some fun!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a playful grin as she gestured Knuckles to get up from the couch.
"Uhhh...Umm...N-Nah...You don't want to spend time with me...You got...Uhh...T. V. to watch...Yeah...That's it..." Knuckles replied awkwardly yet shyly in coyness with a sheepish smile on his embarrassed face as he rubbed the back of his head in shyness.
"Knuckles...If I had wanted to watch T. V., then wouldn't I just grab the remote and sit down already instead of talking to you?" Kathy replied calmly in playfulness with an amused smile on her face.
"Uhh...Well...Maybe you're just getting to it..." Knuckles replied calmly yet awkwardly in shyness with a sheepish grin.
"Knuckles! I'm serious! I do want to spend time with you! You're more important than T. V.!" Kathy exclaimed brightly yet warmly in encouragement with a gentle smile and with twinkling eyes.
"Awwww...No, I'm not," Knuckles replied sheepishly with an embarrassed smile on his flustered face as his blush glowed redder.
"Yes, you are! Now, come on! Get up, Knuckles! Let's have fun together! You and me!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a playful grin as she had her hands behind her back and was bobbing up and down on her heels.
"Uhhhh...Ummm...Heheheheh...I...I don't want to..." Knuckles muttered awkwardly in shyness with a sheepish smile and with a nervous chuckle as he crossed his arms and leant backwards into the couch out of shyness. His blush deepened even further as he stared at Kathy in shyness.
"What do you mean you 'don't want to'? Didn't you want to spend time with me, Knuckles?" Kathy asked curiously with a playful smile as she stared back at Knuckles.
"I...I mean...Y-Yes...But...Ummm...Uhhh...Heheheheheh...I just...Uhh...want to...stay here..." Knuckles muttered awkwardly in shyness with another nervous chuckle as he smiled sheepishly at her.
Kathy then smiled playfully yet smugly at him as her eyelids lowered halfway while she replied calmly in amusement, "...Knuckles...Up".
"Ummm...N-No..." Knuckles replied awkwardly in shyness with a sheepish smile as he leant even deeper into the couch.
"Up," Kathy replied calmly yet quickly in amusement with a smug smile as she walked closer to Knuckles.
"I don't wanna...Heheheheh..." Knuckles replied shyly yet childishly with a huge smile and with a nervous chuckle as he noticed Kathy approaching him. He squirmed a little in his seat as he cowered a bit from Kathy as she walked towards him and stood right in front of him.
"Up, Knuckles," Kathy replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a smug smile as she stared down at Knuckles.
"You can't make me! Heheheheheheh!" Knuckles exclaimed in amusement with a huge smile as he chuckled nervously at this while staring up at Kathy.
"Oh, yes, I can," Kathy replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a smug smile.
"No, you cannot," Knuckles replied playfully in amusement with a huge smile.
"Can so," Kathy argued calmly yet playfully in amusement with a smug smile.
"Cannot! Heheheheh!" Knuckles argued back in amusement with a huge smile as he chuckled again.
"..." Kathy was silent as she stared down at Knuckles with a smug look on her face.
"..." Knuckles was also silent as stared back at Kathy while smiling hugely in amusement.
They stared quietly at each other for a while with amused smiles on their faces. Knuckles felt like a giddy, little kid as he waited for what Kathy is going to do next. But of course, after ten more seconds of staring, Kathy then tickled Knuckles silly yet again by getting his tummy and sides.
"AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! KATHY! NO! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! STAP! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Knuckles squealed loudly like a girl again before dissolving into hysterics as he laughed very hard at the tickling. He squirmed very much in his seat while being tickled silly.
"Come on, Knuckles. Up. Up," Kathy replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a smug smile as she kept tickling Knuckles.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! COME ON! QUIT IT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! OKAY! OKAY! I'LL GET UP! I'LL GET UHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUP!" Knuckles squealed some more while laughing hysterically as he kicked his feet while squirming a lot.
"There you go, buddy! Don't be shy! Just get up and have fun with me!" Kathy encouraged brightly in amusement with an excited smile as she stopped tickling Knuckles and backed away from him a bit to let him get up from his seat.
"Ahahahahahahahaha...I think that I already had fun with you tickling me again, but I get your point. Why waste anymore of our time by sitting here? Let's go out already and have another adventure. You ready?" Knuckles replied calmly in amusement with a huge smile as he laughed a little while getting up from the couch and stood across from Kathy.
Kathy beamed sweetly at Knuckles before giving him another hug. She then replied sweetly in excitement, "Uh huh! I'm ready to go, Knuckles! I can't wait to see more places in this world! It's going to be great!".
Knuckles chuckled again at this as he hugged Kathy back. He replied calmly in fondness with a chuckle and with a gentle smile, "Heheheheheh...It will, Kathy. It will. In fact...I have a lot of places in mind that I think you would like. It's going to be a fun adventure, Kathy. I promise".
"Hehehe! What are those places, Knuckles?" Kathy asked curiously with a little giggle and with a sweet smile as she looked at Knuckles.
"Oh, you'll find out," Knuckles replied calmly yet coyly in amusement with a playful grin as he looked back at Kathy.
"Hehehehe! But I want to know now!" Kathy exclaimed cheerfully with another giggle and with a bright smile as she pulled back a bit from Knuckles to stare at his face.
"Do you want me to spoil the surprise?" Knuckles asked calmly in playfulness with a smug grin as he stared back at Kathy in amusement.
"Yes! Hehehehehehehehehe!" Kathy answered brightly with a sweet smile while giggling a lot.
"Heheheheheheheheh! You're a silly girl, you know that? Heheheheheheheh!" Knuckles replied calmly in amusement with a playful grin as he chuckled a lot.
"Hehehehehehehe! I know! Now, come on, Knuckles! Let's go! Onwards, my little doggie! Lead your Master to the door!" Kathy exclaimed brightly with an excited grin while giggling a little as she released Knuckles, held onto his left hand instead, and pointed to the front door.
"Hahahahahahahahah! As you wish, Master. Hahahahahahahaha!" Knuckles replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a teasing grin as he laughed a lot at this. He then tightened his hold onto Kathy's hand and escorted her towards the door. He had a huge smile on his face as he pondered calmly in fondness. I can't believe that I got a chance to call her "Master" again. Somehow...it just felt right...Just like all the other nicknames that I had given her..."Angel"..."Silly girl"...They all...somehow fit perfectly with her. As if...I had said those things before...
Kathy was smiling happily at Knuckles as he and her stood at the door. He looked at her and smiled a lot at her too as he asked calmly, "Ready?".
"Yep!" Kathy answered brightly with a cheerful smile and with a nod.
"Alright, Angel. It's time for you to know the world a little better," Knuckles replied calmly in fondness with a warm smile and with a nod as he grabbed the door knob and turned it a bit.
"I can't wait!" Kathy exclaimed brightly with a huge smile as she looked outside after Knuckles opened the door fully. Knuckles looked fond at Kathy as smiled warmly and as his eyelids lowered halfway. He then whispered softly in fondness...
"Me neither, Kathy. Me neither...".
And thus, part 2 is over. Originally, I had intended to make this chapter slightly longer by having additional scene after Kathy and Knuckles walked outside the door, but I decided to put that scene into part 3 instead. What will happen next in the next few parts? Well, the short answer: Traveling. The long answer: you'll soon find out when I get to the other parts. But anyways, I hope that you had enjoyed this chapter and be ready to read more in the future! But for now, onto part 3!