List: Thymistacles, SpeedAngel9294, DiamondStarz, JasmineMichelle, Koollolly, Jaydan the Hedgehog, Sonic5521, Zeldaskeeper, SonamyRules159, and, IHeartSonAmy!

Thanks a lot for the reviews and votes everyone! I had a lot of fun reading them.

The winners of the poll were…Knuckles and Dash! Haha, I had SO much fun daydreaming this one out. Thanks for voting everyone! Anywho, onwards, march!

Chapter fifteen

Just Like Your Father

He should've expected this.

Really, he should've. But when Dash had been born ten years ago, the echidna had thought little of it. Sure, the boy had inherited Sonic's speed, but as far as Knuckles was concerned, the boy, in no way whatsoever was going to inherit Sonic's carefree attitude.

How wrong he was.

At first, he tried to ignore the fact that every time he saw Dash, the blue hedgehog was turning more and more into a miniature Sonic. And, Knuckles had never really enjoyed Sonic's company, especially when on Angel Island, when guarding the Master Emerald.

But he couldn't ignore the fact anymore, for Dash had taken it upon himself to visit his "uncle" on Angel Island at least once a month (less than Sonic had used to do, but still, it could get rather annoying). Thankfully, the other kids hadn't reached the age when they realized annoying their favorite uncle was fun. No, only Dash had figured that out. But the boy caused enough grief anyway.

Today looked like a good day though, to the red echidna, and when he woke up he allowed himself a shallow smile. The sky was blue, the flowers were in full bloom, and the Master Emerald was extremely bright today (for he had spent all day polishing it yesterday). He sighed happily, expecting this day to be a relaxing one.

"Hey, Uncle Knux!"

A groan passed the echidna's lips. Oh great. His relaxing day had just turned into a nightmare.

"Knuckles!" A sudden wind rushed around the temple, and when it stopped Knuckles realized that a certain small blue hedgehog was hugging him, and he pulled away from the youngster, a frown on his face.

"Hey, Dash." He tried to sound calm and collected. He tried to pretend he didn't mind seeing his nephew here. Really, he didn't hate his nieces or nephews. He just found them annoying sometimes, like many little kids. "What's up?"

"Nothin'," the blue hedgehog replied, and he plopped down on the ground next to his uncle, by the Master Emerald.

"Just decided to go on a run?" The boy smirked, a detestable smirk, for it matched Sonic's.

"Why not?" the blue hedgehog replied. "The wind was callin' my name." The boy turned to Knuckles, grinning widely as an idea formed in his mind. "Hey, let's play a game!"

"A game?" The echidna tried to keep the groan out of his voice, but he was sure the hedgehog had heard it anyway. Dash stood up, looking around anxiously.

"Yeah," he replied happily. "Let's have a race."

"You know I'd lose," the echidna growled, closing his eyes, hoping the boy would take a hint.

"I could let you win."

"What's the point of racing if you already know who the winner will be?" Knuckles asked, and he opened one eye, staring at the kid with a look that he hoped meant, 'leave me alone'. But of course, even if the boy had seen the look, he'd stay.

"Fine," Dash answered. "We could play…tag! Yeah! Let's play tag, Uncle Knux!"

"It's Knuckles, not Knux," the echidna snapped. "And no, let's not. I can already see the outcomes."

"Oh, what would they be?" the hedgehog asked, grinning.

Knuckles groaned and stood up, facing the emerald.

"Kid, I got work to do."

"That's what every grown-up says," Dash whined, huffing. "Except Dad. He almost always had time for us kids."

"Oh I'm sure," Knuckles muttered sarcastically under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," he replied casually. "Hey, I know what we could play." The blue hedgehog's eyes lit up.

"Really?" he exclaimed.

"Yeah," the scarlet one replied. "Let's play, 'I spy'. I'll go first. 'I spy a small, annoying, carefree, speedy, cocky-"

"Oh, is it me?" the boy cried, jumping up and down in excitement. "Geez, thanks Uncle Knux! But, I've already had those names thrown at me. Can't you be a bit more…oh, I don't know, original?" Knuckles growled under his breath. This wasn't working.

"Hey, is it my turn?" Knuckles sighed and nodded, seeing that there was no way he was going to get out of this game now. "Okay, let me see…" The child stared, and he put a hand underneath his chin, looking around the small temple. "I spy, with my little eye, a big ol' dumb rock."

"IT IS NOT A DUMB ROCK!" Knuckles roared, his patience running thin. "It's the Master Emerald and it's very important and one more comment like that mister and you're oughta here!"

"Well, how're ya gonna make me leave?" the child asked, looking not at all worried. He smirked at his uncle, and rubbed his nose cockily, a trait he must've received from Sonic. Knuckles grimaced.

"Hey, let's play a different game," Dash suddenly piped up. "This one's boring."

"Okay…" Knuckles replied, defeated. And then an idea struck him. "Hey, how 'bout we play Hide and-Go Seek?" Dash gasped.

"Hey," he started, "that's a wonderful idea! I love that game! I always win! Uh, I mean, well…yeah, great game. Let's play!" Knuckles forced himself not to smirk. This would work!

"Alright, I'll count, and you'll hide," Knuckles said. "An-"

"Hey!" Dash interrupted, his grin huge, "Could we hide the Master Emerald?"

Silence.

"I mean…" Dash started awkwardly, grinning sheepishly. "Sometimes when we play at home, Dad let's us hide the chaos emeralds…so I thought-"

"No, you may not hide the Master Emerald!" Knuckles screamed, shaking the temple slightly. Dash giggled. "What do you think I'm doing with it here anyway?"

"Dad says you're in love with it."

"Well, maybe I am," Knuckles retorted. "But I will not have my emerald taken away! It is my duty to guard it-"

"Yeah, yeah, from anything or anyone who might steal it, and to polish it and to talk to it like it's alive…we get it Knux."

"I told you not to call me that," Knuckles growled, resisting the urge to injure the kid. He knew that if it were Sonic, the blue hedgehog would already have a broken nose. And then he realized that the kid was already a good part Sonic. Oh, the irony.

"Hmm, whateve," the blue hedgehog suddenly said. "I'll go hide." Knuckles let out a sigh of relief. Finally, some cooperation!

"Good. I'm going to start counting now." He turned to the Master Emerald, and rested his head against it, as he slowly began to mumble the numbers.

Oh please, let this work…

A sudden gust of wind, and Knuckles turned slightly to see the boy gone, finding a hiding spot somewhere on the island. Knuckles laughed softly. Had the boy really expected Knuckles to come find him? After all, that would mean he'd have to leave the Master Emerald, which he would never do. Sighing contently, the red echidna put a hand on the glowing emerald, smiling at it warmly, before he sank down to his spot near the emerald. Yawning, he closed his eyes. Here, he thought, was his promised relaxing day.

And then, just as he was about to fall into a light catnap, the wind was blowing harder, and a scream could be heard.

"Uncle Knuckles! Knux, guess what?" The voice sounded urgent, almost like the child was in danger, and Knuckles immediately awoke, staring around the temple in a half asleep manner.

"What is it, Dash?" he called. "Are you hurt?"

"Na," a nearby voice suddenly giggled. "But it got ya up, didn't it?" Knuckles sighed, and he turned to the voice to see none other than his nephew.
"I thought you were hiding," Knuckles snapped. "You have to wait for me to find you 'fore you can leave you're hiding spot!"

Dash shrugged, and it was then that Knuckles noticed that the boy had both hands behind his back. He raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing.

"I was hidin', but then I ran into something, and…well you weren't lookin' for me anyway."

"How do you know that?"

"'Cause you were asleep here." The blue hedgehog smirked. "But anyway, look what I found!" Suddenly the boy brought his hands out from behind him, and Knuckles screamed in alarm. Quickly, the echidna bolted forward and knocked the venomous snake out of the youngster's hand, pulling the boy away.

"Hey, Uncle Knux!" the boy whined, pulling out of his uncle's strong grip. "What's wrong? It's only a lil' gardener snake!"

"No it isn't," Knuckles whispered softly, staring at the snake with fear. Dash raised an eyebrow and started giggling.

"No, it ain't Uncle Knux. See, look. Dad and I have picked up snakes just like this one. They're all green and small." Knuckles stared at the kid, and then at the snake, and then back at Dash, who looked at his uncle with question. Slowly, the snake got over its alarm and slithered away, and Knuckles suddenly realized that the boy was right.

"Well," Knuckles started, keeping the fear out of his voice. "Maybe you were right."

"Maybe?"

"But it's gone now, anyway. Now, why don't you slither away while you're at it?" Dash frowned and put his arms across his chest.

"You don't like company, do ya?" the boy asked softly. "Here I am, tryin' to be a good nephew, and you just push me away!"

"Oh, will you stop it with the guilt treatment?" Knuckles exclaimed, raising his hands up in the air with exasperation. "You're just like you're father, you know that? Just like him! And it's bad enough dealing with one!"

"Aw, now, don't say that," Dash replied cockily, not at all hurt by his Uncle's words. "Ya love Dad. Otherwise, why would you put up with being called Uncle all the time? And why would ya come to Thanksgiving and Christmas with us and Tails' family? Huh?"

Knuckles sighed and shook his head.

"Can't I just have one day of peace?" he questioned the sky, and Dash smirked.

"You have peace too much, Dad says. Dad's glad I come here and talk with ya. He says ya need someone to talk to. Otherwise, he says, you'd turn into a hermit."

"Which would be just fine with me," Knuckles muttered, and Dash rolled his eyes playfully.

Suddenly, a natural gust of wind made Dash look up hopefully. Grinning, the boy turned back to his uncle.

"Well, it's been fun, Unc, but the wind's callin'. Later." The boy started revering up, and then he stopped suddenly, turned to his uncle, and hugged him. Surprised, the echidna blinked in confusion, but before he could even say anything, the blue hedgehog pulled away, revered up again, and left, just as suddenly as he had come, with the wind.

Sighing with relief, the echidna sank to the ground again, tired, glad to have some peace, finally. But as he closed his eyes there was a smile on his lips.

Well, it didn't turn out like I'd hoped, but, oh well…anyway, so now Dash and Knux will be taken off the list. Since you can only seem to vote on the poll once, I'm going to have to remake the poll…meaning I'm going to need your old and new votes back. Sorry 'bout that…anyway, thanks for reading, and don't forget to vote for the next characters! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

~Ksonic~