The Story of Knuckles part 1
Fox McCloud was not the only one who had gotten married recently. Knuckles the Echidna had also taken the dive into matrimony, sort off. While Knuckles and his long time ex but now recently his girlfriend again Julie-Su had now made things up. But despite how romantically involved the two were Julie-Su was not totally open to the idea of totally settling down with Knuckles, given what's happened in the past. So Knuckles would day by day try and win Julie-Su over and any time he failed or made no visible progress the Chaotix usually bore the brunt of Knuckles' anger.
Angel Island was where they made their home. The group of six lived together in a small shack which they'd built. It was tight living quarters with limited privacy but they managed along well. And right now the two were really getting along.
Vector, Espio and Mighty all stood outside the shack each looking a different direction and each trying to tune out the noises they were hearing from inside. But then all at once the cries and the moaning died down and the trio looked to each other.
"You think their done now?" asked Mighty. Vector decided to be brave and went to the door. He grabbed the knob and opened the door open wide enough for him to peek in. He couldn't have been looking in for more than a second before he became white in the face, immediately turning and shutting the door behind him.
"Oh God." He groaned walking over to Mighty and Espio." They're not done, their far from it." Vector walked over and sat amongst the other two, waiting now for whenever( if ever) they could get back into their home.
But then all together their attention was called to something else, the sound of approaching footsteps. The three turned together and looked over in the direction that the approaching noise was being heard from.
The island was built around the pyramid where the master emerald stood at it's very top, and everything else ascended downwards. The trio stood together now and looked down trying to see what was coming up towards them.
Vector being the tallest saw who it was first, Mighty and Espio found out moments after. And together the three were visibly shocked at who they saw. A familiar face but one they hadn't seen in a long time.
There standing before them was none other than Carmelita Fox, the cop known best for hunting down Sly Cooper. But to the trio it was the woman Knuckles had dated before rekindling his love with Julie-Su.
The three looked to each other nervously as Carmelita stood there and looked back at them.
"How's it going boys?" She asked.
"Um." Was all Vector and Mighty could answer, luckily Espio spoke up.
"What are you doing here, Carmelita?" he asked.
"Ever quick to the point I see." Carmelita commented. During her time dating Knuckles she had gotten to know the Chaotix very well, and they her." Isn't it possible I just wanted to stop by and see how you're all doing?" she smiled. Espio just raised his brow at her.
"We haven't seen you in some time." He said calmly." I assume you didn't stop by after all this time to inquire about our health." Carmelita gritted her teeth in minor annoyance, she'd been found out.
"I have to see Knuckles." She said cutting right to the point.
"Why?" asked Espio.
"That's private." She said walking past him and towards the shack. But then looking forward she saw Mighty blocking her path.
"He's kind of busy right now." He told.
"He'll make time." She said walking past him but once again had her way blocked by Vector. And Vector was blocking the door to the shack and Carmelita couldn't get past his hulking frame to the door. Carmelita now found herself trapped with Vector before her and Espio with Mighty behind her.
"Now." Said Espio." Why do you need to see Knuckles?" Carmelita exhaled a breath and turned over to Espio, running her hand through her hair.
"I need his help." She told in a voice of great sincerity and truth." Matter of fact I need all your help." And the dire sound of her voice broke the sternness of even Espio's heart and the trio all exchanged agreeing glances.
"Wait here." Said Vector to Carmelita. Then he turned and entered the shack. Carmelita did as she was asked and waited outside with Espio and Mighty for several minutes. It wasn't long before Vector opened the door and walked back outside, and the little red echidna followed after him.
"Alright." Knuckles said as he walked outside. It took every bit of cunning Vector had to try and convince Knuckles to come outside. That in and of itself was not a troubling task but trying to persuade Julie-Snot to come with him was a different task entirely. But Vector had finally managed to do it convincing Knuckles using the guise that Mighty had come up with a really great joke. That was enough to interest Knuckles enough to come outside and disinterest Julie-Su." Mighty what's so-" Knuckles walked outside and saw Carmelita standing there. And upon seeing her after all this time he froze up on pure instinct.
"Hello Knuckles." She smiled at him, moving some of her hair behind her ear.
"Carmelita." Knuckles said in a voice as soft as a whisper. He turned his head and looked over to Vector with a plain face but Vector could sense the anger coming from him." Is this your idea of a joke?" he asked.
"Well um." Stammered Vector.
"Knuckles." Said Carmelita getting his attention." I'd like to talk with you." She rolled her eyes around to notice the prying eyes and ears of the trio standing nearby." Over here." And without another word she grabbed Knuckles by his arm and dragged him off to a more private spot.
The trio huddled together as they watched them go.
"Should we really let this happen?" asked Mighty.
"Let them have their moment." Told Espio." Just a few minutes."
"And what if Julie-Su comes and finds out?"
"Find out what?" asked a female voice from the door. The trio shot their heads around and there stood Julie-Su looking them over critically.
Meanwhile Carmelita and Knuckles were now in a more private setting thus allowing their conversation to go on unmolested. Carmelita leaned against a rock while Knuckles sat down on a ledge across from her.
"It's good to see you again." Said Carmelita." I hope you're doing well." It's always awkward when confronting one's ex, this situation was no more different. Knuckles and Carmelita had shared a special bond during their time together but over time they grew farther apart with their different obligations.
"What are you doing here?"
"Blunt as always." Carmelita stood herself up and took a step closer to him." I've come here because I need your help." Knuckles cocked his eyebrow at her and listened.
"Is that so?" he asked." With what?"
"I need your help." She told. Knuckles closed his eyes and took a deep breath." I've recently been ordered to watch over a shipment of priceless artifacts arriving at a local museum. But Sly Cooper has hinted at his intentions of a heist." Knuckles could understand that, Sly always wanted to leave his mark." And he's outsmarted my men on dozens of occasions." Carmelita turned to him." Since I was only ever really able to catch him with your help, I thought it best to come all the way out here and see if I can rekindle our old partnership."
And Knuckles took her definition of 'partnership' different than what she meant.
"Carmelita I'm in a committed relationship now." He told." My old girlfriend agreed to take me back on the condition that I wouldn't run off with other women again. What would it look like if I-"
"I'm not saying 'partnership' as in we get back together." Corrected Carmelita. "I'm saying a 'partnership' as in two or more peoples working together towards a common goal."
"What would it look like if I ran off with another woman?" Knuckles finished his previous statement.
"Indeed what would it look like?" questioned another female voice. Knuckles and Carmelita looked over to see Julie-Su standing there." Knuckles. "she said as she approached." Who is this?" she turned to Carmelita.
"This is Carmelita Fox." Knuckles nodded to her." The Police inspector who-"
"Who you dated before we got back together." Julie-Su said 'matter of factly'." Yes I remember. What were you two talking about?"
"Carmelita was just passing through." Told Knuckles looking at her." And now she's leaving." Knuckles turned and walked away. Julie-Su smirked at Carmelita and then followed after Knuckles, believing this conversation to be over. But Carmelita wasn't finished yet.
"Knuckles!" she called to him, forcing him to stop in his tracks and look over his shoulder at her." Even after everything that's happened you would do this to me? A fellow guardian!" That was always the link that bound Knuckles and Carmelita to each other, something Knuckles and Julie-Su never had. Knuckles was fiercely devoted to his friends and guarding the Master Emerald and Carmelita to her police work. And while both were able to move on after their break-up, deep down they still shared that bond.
Knuckles slowly turned back and looked at Carmelita.
"I think he said it's time for you to go." Julie-Su said stepping up and between the two." And I couldn't agree more." The sudden sound of raised voices attracted the attention of the trio who walked over to see what was going on.
"Knuckles?" Carmelita called to him. But her calls apparently went on deaf ears as Knuckles turned and walked away. Vector, Mighty and Espio stepped out of his way as Knuckles walked past him." Knuckles!"
"I think you've overstayed your welcome." Said Julie-Su getting Carmelita's full attention now that Knuckles had left. After everything that had happened between them Julie-Su was not about to lose Knuckles again so her defensiveness was understandable. But Carmelita was not one to be pushed and Julie-Su was walking a thin line with the inspector.
Julie-Su walked up and stood right before Carmelita.
"Do you leave on your own or do I show you out?" said Julie-Su cracking her neck. Carmelita slowly reached to her hip for her pistol." You think you'll be quick enough?" question Julie-Su with a smile figuring out her intentions.
"Only one way to find out." Carmelita gritted her teeth in reply. But before any blows could be traded the trio jumped up and between them.
"Carmelita!" called Knuckles as he had re-entered the scene. But as everybody saw he was sporting a different look. On his head was the brown treasure hunter's hat that Carmelita had given to Knuckles when they first met. Knuckles picked his head up and looked at her as the hat covered his face." What is it you need of us?"
Carmelita smiled as she looked up at Knuckles but Julie-Su was needless to say annoyed.
"Knuckles." She said walking towards him." Are you really going to do this? After all we've been through."
"Yes." He said with authority in his voice. Julie-Su squinted her eyes and locked her jaw as she walked over and stood before Knuckles. And now for the first time since they'd gotten back together the two began a stare off. The stare off would decide who was right and who was wrong, the winner and the loser. But it seemed as if neither one of them would back down.
"We'd best back away for a few minutes." Vector whispered to Carmelita, Mighty and Espio. His fellow chaotixs members nodded their agreement and together back away. But Carmelita stayed where she was until Vector reached over and grabbed her, pulling her back with them.
"You're really serious about this aren't you?" asked Julie-Su. Knuckles nodded his reply with a large inhale." After all we've been through?"
"I can't always be the way you want me to be Julie-Su." Knuckles replied. "I can only be myself!" That comment visibly shocked the female echidna as indicated by her face." You can stay here if you wish but I am going."
"You are so stubborn." Julie-Su commented as she reached forward and placed her hand on his face." It's a quality I enjoy about you. Very well you may go." Knuckles looked at her strangely since with or without her permission he was going." But" she caught his full attention again." I am going with you."
Knuckles glanced from her to the ground in silence. He though over now that anything he'd say might lead to a further argument so he decided not to fuel the fire and instead deal with it." Fair enough." He answered.
Then he turned and began walking away to tell the others the news. He found Carmelita with the trio all sitting around in a circle.
"Boys." Knuckles said getting their attention." We're going on another adventure."
"Haha!" laughed Mighty with his arms in the air.
"Wingo!" hollered Vector.
"Do you think it's such a good idea to bring them?" whispered Carmelita to Knuckles." You remember what happened last time?"
"They'll be fine." Knuckles replied. Then he turned and faced her fully." As for you. You have to tell us all about this mission you need us for."
"I'll explain it all on the way over." Carmelita said pointing him to the direction of her car. Knuckles nodded and turned to the trio.
"C'mon boys, let's go." The he led the way and they followed.
"I call shotgun!" shouted Mighty.
"The hell you say." Replied Vector. Carmelita chuckled as she watched them go off, remembering the old times when they'd accompany her on assignments. This was going to be just like old times.
So with a smile on her face Carmelita stepped forward and prepared to follow after them. However Julie-Su suddenly appeared and stretched her arm out and stopped Carmelita.
"I'll be watching you." She said turning and looking up at Carmelita. Then with a wink and a click of her tongue Julie-Su turned and walked away following after Knuckles.
Carmelita let out a deep exhale as she watched Julie-Su walk off. With her tagging along this adventure was going to be very different from the last.