Disclaimer: Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna do not belong to me, they belong to SEGA/Paramount

"My rings!"

Sonic watched as his rings had fallen while he held onto the snow-covered cliff and looked up when Knuckles had stepped up to the Hedgehog as he climbed back up.

"Has anyone ever told you you've got serious anger issues?" Sonic said with a snarky tone as he glared at Knuckles.

Knuckles, having had enough of Sonic's smart mouthing, glared back and spoke up.

"You mock me with your weak jokes, but you know nothing about me, hedgehog."

"Well, I know you echidnas have a habit of showing up uninvited and ruining my life."

"Ruining your life!? Another bad joke! I lost everything because of you!"

(Flashback)

The echidna tribe was shown as a line of echidnas were marching, equipped with spears and some bone helmets and other protective gear.

"My tribe was on the verge of its greatest victory. The last of the owl warriors had been located. Soon, Longclaw's emerald secrets would be ours."

A young echidna, dressed much the same as the other echidnas and armed with a spear as well, had come and the older echidna who was watching the others turned back to see the younger echidna.

"But my father stopped me from joining the fight. He said my moment to honor our tribe would come, but it was not this moment."

It was shown as the elder echidna had left with the rest of the tribe while the young echidna had stayed behind.

"Those were the last words he spoke to me."

(End flashback)

"I never saw him again..."

Knuckles looked down, a bit disheartened, and Sonic let out a sigh and looked down as well.

"We both lost everything that day..."

(Flashback)

The echidnas were shown on the trees behind Sonic while he was distracted, prepared to fire arrows at them before Longclaw had taken Sonic and flew him away before opening a portal with a ring with Sonic on the other side.

"Goodbye, Sonic..." Longclaw sorrowfully said as the echidnas were running towards her.

The young Sonic ran to her, arms outstretched towards her as the portal was closing.

"No, Longclaw!"

(End flashback)

Sonic looked rather heartbroken at the memory of having to be forced away from Longclaw the way he did, and Knuckles seemed the smallest bit concerned for him, having brought his guard down for the first time while confronting the hedgehog. Sonic looked up at Knuckles and the echidna sighed.

"Maybe you are not the threat I believed you were and that I was told about." Knuckles said.

Sonic looked up and smiled at the echidna.

"What made you come after me, and what made you team up with Robotnik anyway?" Sonic asked.

"You were with Longclaw, so I was certain that you were also part of the owl tribe, and my tribe were rivals to the owl tribe, as I explained."

"Well, yeah, I get that. But why team up with Robotnik? I'm sure he's only helping you to get what he wants." Sonic said, looking down and sighed.

Knuckles crossed his arms, not quite believing the hedgehog's words.

"And what makes you think that?"

"This isn't the first time I've dealt with Robotnik..."

Knuckles brought his arms down and kept his eyes on Sonic.

"What do you mean?"

He looked up at Knuckles.

"It's a long story, but basically Robotnik tried to catch me and take me in for his own selfish and evil plans. He wanted my speed, I'm sure he did, and he would've done anything to make that goal come true. Even going as far as to hurt... T-Tom..." He said that last part quietly, having remembered that time atop the building in San Francisco when Tom and Maddie were helping him retrieve his rings.

"Who?"

"I-It's nothing." He shook his head.

Knuckles let out a low growl, but stayed where he was, not planning to hurt Sonic unless he felt that he needed to.

"What are you trying to say to me?"

"What I'm saying is that Robotnik can't be trusted." The hedgehog said. "I know you have a reason to not like me because of what happened in the past. I had nothing to do with it, but I was under Longclaw's care, so I can understand not liking me because of that. But teaming up with Robotnik won't do anything. I can promise you, he's only using you."

"Using me? No one dares to even try something as foolish as that!"

Sonic closed his and chuckled for a bit.

"Then walk away. Whatever deal he made with you, I'm sure he won't keep his end."

The echidna looked away and thought about Sonic's words.

"Do not take this as me beginning to like you hedgehog, but you may be on to something."

"Well, do you trust me at least?"

"I never had anyone I could trust, I have been by myself ever since my tribe was gone."

"Well, just know you don't have to be alone. I was in your position too, but I ended up meeting people I can call friends, made really good and close relationships with, and I can proudly say I do have people I can trust. And you can too, you just have to open up to the possibilities."

He extended his hand out to Knuckles. The echidna looked at Sonic's outstretched hand, wondering if Sonic was telling the truth. After thinking about it for a bit, he looked at Sonic and nodded.

"If what you are saying is true, then I suppose a truce is in order."

He went to shake Sonic's hand. Sonic hissed loudly in pain and got down on his knees as he could feel his hand being crushed by Knuckles' grip, not that the echidna noticed. Sonic looked up at Knuckles, who let go after a few seconds and started to chuckle a bit. Sonic got up, still holding his hand and started to massage it and move the surely dislocated bones back to where they were. He sighed and smiled back at Knuckles, happy he could gain his trust.

I'll leave it here, with an ambiguous ending. Hope you enjoyed the short fic, and take care.