Ch. 3- Pouncing Lesson

A young Knuckles looked around and smiled. He ran over to where his parents slept. "Let's go dad, come on wake up!" He shouted while trying to walk over to them.

In the process, he accidentally kicked some chaos. "Pardon me." He apologized. "They are so not going to be happy about that." He added silently.

He finally came up to his mom and dad, to find that they were still sleeping. "Dad, get up." Knuckles said in annoyance. Rouge woke up first and said to Shadow, "Knuckles is awake Mr. Sunshine." "Before sunrise, he's your son Rouge." Shadow replied sleepily.

"Dad, just get up." Knuckles said again. He tried to pull his arm, but stumbled. Finally, Knuckles punched him lightly and Shadow opened an eye, at long last. "You promised today." His son reasoned.

"Alright, I'm up, Knuckles, I'm up." Shadow assured. "Awesome." The echidna said. Shadow stood up and followed Knuckles. Rouge looked at them, smiles and said to herself, "Those are my boys."

Once they were at the top of the shrine, looking out over the island, Shadow looked at Knuckles and said, "Look Knuckles, everything the sunlight touches, is our kingdom. Ones time as king rises and falls like the sun. One day, my son, the sun will set on my time as king, and will rise on yours."

"And all this will be mine?" Knuckles asked in excitement after listening to his father's wise words. "Yes." Shadow confirmed.

"Everything the light touches." Knuckles whispered to himself. He looked around and spotted a rather dark and lonely place in the distance. "What about that dark, shadowy place dad?" he asked, pointing toward the far away darkness.

Shadow looked and said sternly, "That's beyond the borders of the kingdom. You must never go there Knuckles." "But I thought kings could do whatever they want." Knuckles said in slight confusion.

"There's more to being king than getting everything your way all the time." Shadow said smiling. "There's more?" Knuckles asked.

Shadow chuckled and said, "Knuckles. Follow me." Shadow turned and started down the shrine. Knuckles followed close behind.

Soon, they were out in the middle of a meadow. Animals of all sorts were going about their business. Shadow looked down at his son.

"Every living thing you see exists together, in a delicate and fragile balance." Shadow said. "As king, you need to know and understand that balance, and respect all things. From the crawling spider, to the leaping gazelle."

Knuckles looked up at him quizzically and asked, "But dad, don't we eat the gazelle?" "Yes, but let me explain Knuckles." Shadow answered. "When we die our bodies become grass, and the gazelle eat the grass."

"I get it." Knuckles said in fascination. Shadow smiled and added, "And so, every one of us are all connected, in the great circle of life."

Espio came up to the pair and greeted, "Good morning Shadow." "Good morning Espio." Shadow said, returning the greeting. "I'm here to tell you this mornings report." Espio explained. Shadow answered and said, "Fire away, brainiac." (I have no idea why I put that. Probably a little sidetracked because I still have homework. XP)

"Well, the monkeys are going bananas over the baboons for stealing their food, the crocodile gangs are arguing over food and territory again…"

Knuckles wasn't interested in hearing the report. He spotted a grasshopper and started trying to catch it.

"The elephants are causing a major road block for the zebra herds, and I keep telling them to find a way to get around the grey blobs (sorry for all elephant lovers)…"

Shadow turned to Knuckles and saw him chasing the grasshopper and asked, "What are you doing Knuckles?" Knuckles looked at his hands to see if he caught the grasshopper, but turned out unsuccessful.

Finally Knuckles answered saying, "I'm pouncing." Shadow walked over to his son and said, "Let an old pro like me show you how it's really done."

Espio was still ranting on the report. "The hippos are hogging the water hole and I told them to find another water hole to wallow in."

"Espio, could you turn around?" Shadow asked, "Sure thing." Espio turned to face the opposite direction and continued with the morning report.

"Ok Knuckles, stay low to the ground." Shadow instructed in a whisper. "Ok, got it." Knuckles said. "What are you doing sire?" Espio asked behind his back. "A pouncing lesson." Shadow answered. "Oh, a pouncing lesson good." After a second of realization, Espio started to panic.

"POUNCING! Oh no, Shadow you can't possibly be serious." Espio said, looking at him. All shadow did was give him a signal to turn around. "Oh, this will be so humiliating" Shadow turned his attention back to his son and whispered quietly, "Try not to make a single sound."

"What are you telling him?" Espio asked, turning around. He saw that no one was there. "Shadow? Knuckles?" He called out, his voice cracking a little when he called Knuckles's name.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Knuckles pounced on Espio. Not that far away, Shadow was laughing at the sight. Knuckles got off Espio and went back to his dad. "That's very good, Knuckles."

A gofer came out of the ground and faced Espio, who was still trying to recover from the pounce.

"Espio"

"Yes?"

"News from underground."

"Ok." Shadow said to Knuckles. "Now let's…" "Shadow, thunderbirds, on Angel Island!" This is when Shadow got serious. "Espio, take Knuckles home, now." Shadow instructed. "Aw dad, can't I come with you?" Knuckles asked in annoyance. "No Knuckles." Shadow said sternly. And with that said, Shadow disappeared over the hill.

"I never, ever get to go anywhere." Knuckles said disappointed.

"Don't worry Knuckles." Espio assured. "One day you will be the king. Then you can chase the messy, bird-brained, feathered poachers from dawn till dusk." Knuckles smiled at that thought.

That's all for ch 3. And to those of you who said that I'm copying other ppls work, I don't know if I am, and if I am, please stop. Those of you who are not criticizing me like SOME PEOPLE ARE, you guys are the best. Oh yea, before I forget, I decided on thunderbirds because I like the legend of the thunderbird, and since the hyenas are going to be played by birds, this is what popped into my head 1st. Like I said before reviews are appreciated and will help Mocha, one of my dogs, mouth heal after having 2 teeth pulled out. (1 was loose and the others roots were showing. Ouch!) So, please review and help my little mocha. (Me, mocha and other dog, Tilly, do puppy eyes. You know you can't resist the puppy eyes!)