Ch.11: So Long My Friend
"No!" yelled Super Sonic and Shadow, rushing towards the falling Typhoon.
The force of Fenris's attack managed to get everyone knocked off thier feet. Zelkova and Knuckles had been knocked onto a nearby wing, while everyone else held tight to the palm trees decorating the deck.
Super Sonic and Super Shadow made sure to get everyone clutching to palm trees first. Rouge even popped out of Eggman's ship and decided to help. Working together the bat and the two hedgehogs led everyone to the safety of Eggman's ship. However, they had forgotten about two very important people.
Knuckles and Zelkova were clinging desperately to the wing of the Blue Typhoon. Both of them were near the edge of the wing, inches from the vortex, and three feet from safety.
"If only we can make it to the open hatch on top of the wing" thought Knuckles " we can last long enough for Sonic and the others to save us,"
Knuckles moved forward, determined not to die, when a silent shockwave, shot from the vortex, rocked the Blue Typhoon causing the echidna to lose his grip and plummet towards his doom.
Luckily however, Zelkova managed to grab Knuckles arm in time to keep the echidna from plummeting into it's gaping maw. Even though the vortex was still growing smaller, it would still take a couple of minutes at least for it to close.
"The time has come to repay my debt," thought Zelkova.
With that thought, Zelkova called on all his strentgh and flung Knuckles towards the safety of the open conpartment. Knuckles was stunned when he landed inside the Typhoon, but he didn't stay stunned for long when he realized that Zelkova was still out there hanging on for his life.
"Zelkova!" yelled Knuckles, leaning out of the compartment " Take my hand!"
Zelkova couldn't help but experince deja vu as he reached out for Knuckles outstretched hand. The echidna's hand was so close, yet still far away, just like it was in the lava pit.
Memories flashed across Zelkova's mind about everything that had happened to him in the past few days. The fight with Knuckles, Knuckles mercy, the lunch back on that strange planet, the rematch, the forgiveness, the acceptance, the friendship they have formed.
A grin grew on Zelkova's face as he stopped reaching his hand towards Knuckles, these were memories he would never forget. Knuckles stood stunned when he saw Zelkova pull his hand away. His eyes widened in fear when he saw the innocent smile on Zelkova's face.
"Zelkova?" asked Knuckles, confused.
"I shall never forget you" said Zelkova, still smiling " So long, my friend,"
With that said Zelkova loosened his grip on the wing and started plummeting towards the vortex below.
"Zelkova!" yelled Knuckles, as he witnessed his friend being swallowed up by the vortex.
Shadow couldn't have a picked a worse moment to appear, as he Chaos Controled Knuckles to safety of Dr. Eggman's ship just as the vortex finally closed. As soon as he appeared on Eggman's ship Knuckles fell to the floor, crying.
Sonic and the others had never seen Knuckles so miserable. The young Guardian hadn't cried this much since the disaster that wiped out his kind.
"He's gone" Knuckles repeated " he's gone,"
Sonic and the others immediately understood and hung thier heads in silence to requiem Yellow Zelkova's death. A noble warrior, a hero, and a true friend.