Chapter 6: Remembering Knuckles

Everyone stood in excited anticipation as Rouge typed in the command code on the capsule that would open it. The orange liquid inside drained out slowly and spilled upon the floor. Suddenly, Amy's eyes fluttered open, and with deep breaths she coughed up the highly oxygenated liquid that was filling her lungs. She was very, very disoriented and couldn't figure out where she was or what just happened to her. Her last memory was using her hammer to chuck one last boulder at the beast. This seemed to hurt it some, but then the smoke started to choke her, and everything started to feel so hot… She could feel some pain, but now her vision had become perfectly clear. Her beloved Sonic was standing there. Immediately forgetting everything else around her, she leapt at Sonic, grabbing him tight around the waist, squeezing him hard.

Shadow gave Rouge a look that perfectly conveyed "At least she doesn't rub him in his sleep." Rouge just turned her head away, a slight blush appearing across her cheeks.

"Amy, I can't breathe, and your lack of clothes doesn't help."

"Sorry!" Said Amy in a still happy voice, but then she just sounded confused. "Why am I all wet and in Rouge and Shadow's base? Ahhh! Get me some clothes!"

So Sonic, Rouge and Shadow first handed Amy a t-shirt, it was the best they had. Then they explained to her the crazy events that happened in the span of only a few hours. It was apparent Amy was still bothered by some of the sore-looking spots on her body, but other than she seemed fine.

"Well then, what are we waiting for! Let's move! And make sure to bring your pretty plants too!"

Sonic smiled at Amy's opportunistic and strong personality. If you were to grill Sonic very hard as to what if anything he really liked about Amy, that would be it.

So Rouge, still annoyed she was flying a bunch of people and things around, escorted everyone to the entrance of the base. There was a small part of the water under a rock overhang not on fire, and it was a short underwater swim to get into the cave that lead to the entrance. The crafty bat was easily able to deactivate the base's crazy assortment of security lasers and doors. Sonic literally freaked out when Rouge flew him straight into water! But the bat held his hand and literally pulled him toward the cave. Sonic was glad when his head came above water again and he could get a breath of air. Amy and Shadow had gone before him because they were less scared and were already arranging things and plants in the huge Aquatic Base area.

Rouge smiled "I was thinking about making this our new home anyway Shadow, but seriously, you need to learn to swim also! I'm having back spasms here!"

Sonic had something else on his mind, the Master Emerald. Angel Island used to float serenely above the Flames. To Knuckles' dismay, it had become a refuge camp for many humans and anthros. But only three months ago an anthro named Fang had stupidly grabbed the Master Emerald… sending Angel Island and poor Knuckles and everyone else along with it crashing into the Flames. Sonic had taken back the Master Emerald from the weasel-wolf who stole it and was guarding it himself in his secret base located in the former Sky Canyon area that was high enough to escape much of the flames.

"Hey Rouge, tomorrow don't forget we need to grab the Master Emerald, okay?"

"You want ME to grab the Master Emerald? Imagine what Knuckles reaction would-"

Rouge stopped when she realized she mentioned the name of one who already died and everyone, even Shadow, had a small frown on their face. "Yeah, tomorrow Sonic, but tonight, let's all get some rest."

Everyone was so very weary, and three out of four of them were in physical pain too. The generator lights were dimmed in the underwater base, and everyone found their own warm blanket in separate rooms. Rouge for a little while sat there, watching fish swim by the window. Lucky fish, they don't have to deal the Flames above. To be a fish, to not have to suffer the way everyone in the above world does. It must be nice. With that thought, Rouge laid down on her own blanket. She normally hung upside-down and she normally couldn't fall asleep unless it was daylight, but tonight she was just too tired. She fell into a sound sleep.

Suddenly her wings were grabbed, and a hand was placed over her mouth so she could not scream.