Aight I'm back and hungrier than ever lawl. Curse my high metabolism and huge appetite I swear hehe, but before breakfast I'll be dropping the latest chapter so here it is!

Hope you enjoy! ^u^

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or locations. They belong to Sega.

Chapter 9: Forgetting

"Dang it! He got away again! If there's one thing he's good at, it's running. But what did he mean, though? How is this place Angel Island from the future? And what does it all have to do with the Master Emerald disappearing? Arrgh! Gah, it just doesn't make any sense! I've just got to track Eggman down and force him to tell the truth!" the person then saw two individuals come to their view after their tantrum.

"Huh? Sonic? Is that you? And Tails, too?" they questioned.

"Yo, Knuckles! Did you decide to give up on your little quest to track down the Master Emerald?" one of the two teased.

"Grr… You better shut your mouth! I'm not letting you make a fool of me again! Let's go, Sonic!"

…

…

…

"What's up, pal?"

Those three words.

Just those three words were enough to get Knuckles incredibly angry.

But he restrained himself, he knew better now.

Because they were words that he never thought he'd hear ever again.

Not from him and definitely the one that he really wanted to forget.

The bane of his existence. The person he envied the most. The one he saw as a rival until he was sidestepped by another. The one that was the polar opposite to him in terms of personality and traits. The one that received the most attention while he was stuck on a floating rock all alone.

The one… who everyone looked up to.

The one that was the dashing cobalt hero that people loved and were saved by almost everyday. The one with a big heart and bright outlook to life as he roamed the lands in his signature speed that flowed with the wind and sought adventure everywhere he went. Untamed and carefree to live out the way he wants with no one to look after him. The one that believed to never give up and to always keep going no matter what.

…

Unfortunately, the one that is just like many… fragile in every way even if he can take a beating.

Knuckles' eyes lingered for a bit at the blue hedgehog but then turned towards the others to study them quickly. He knew almost all of them by name and they all shared the same thing: they looked older and were half-covered in dirt and bandages.

Espio the Chameleon watched his silently, sporting several bandages on his arms and legs with purple spiked boots and black ninja clothing that was torn in several places. Shoulder pads, kneepads and gauntlets were also worn on his person though they seemed to be wearing out due to usage, also wearing a belt that carried some ninja stars. The most noticeable thing on him however… was the horn on his face broken off leaving only a small stub.

Charmy Bee's look at the red echidna was one of excitement, but Knuckles can tell that he was also affected by negative emotions. The mobian bee grew taller and looked more like a teen, but his clothing said otherwise: the trademark helmet he wears had the goggles severely cracked with the mesh around it worn beyond repair, the orange vest on his person torn in many places and his same colored shoes having holes to which his toes stick out. Another physical trait on him: both of his antennas were missing with his forehead bandaged in their place.

Vector the Crocodile gave the red echidna a respectful smirk, happy to know that one of his old friends was back. Yellow patches were noticeable on his bright green-scaled skin with several cuts and bruises: apparently Vector still had that tough guy attitude to refuse much medical treatment. His golden chain around his neck lost its dazzling glow and appeared dirty and grimed with his gloves and shoes also worn out. He was missing his signature headphones and Knuckles somewhat winced upon looking at his face: he had an eyepatch covering one eye with a bandage under it.

Big the Cat stared at him with a content face. Knuckles didn't have a close friendship with the large purple feline since they don't interact much but he respected him in the sense that they liked the peaceful and quiet nature. Unfortunately just the others he was too battered up: his sandals were missing with bare feet touching the floor, the belt around him cracked in several places, his large yellow gloves missing the finger covers to which his digits were shown, and several bandages covered his bulky form. Not only that, but his ears displayed several holes on them with the left one being half-sliced off.

The hazel eyes of Blaze the Cat watched him quietly with Knuckles' own violet ones quickly scanning her. It was only for a second but he was able to take it all in and it was a far cry from the clothing she wears to show her royalty: a brown open cloak covered her form with a white dirty blouse and brown tattered pants. She had her signature magenta heels though but they too were abused with specks of mud on them and were worn down from heavy usage. Her purple fur lost much of its color with the more noticeable aspects being the red jewel that was missing on her forehead and the ponytail she normally keeps now absent, leaving her short quill-like hair running down behind her.

He immediately skipped Rouge the Bat, his peripheral vision taking in the scowl she had on her face. She was also a bane of his past and wants nothing to do with her anymore, the years of her making fun of him and berating his existence resulting in a deep hatred for the ivory bat. Heck he was glad of what the years apart done to her as he took in the sight from his passing turn: a black robe covered her which hid the appealing parts of her form from the world and only left her head noticeable as the robe reached to cover her feet. She had no makeup on and looked a lot more natural, though she too was also bandaged there and upon closer inspection had noticeable bags under her eyes. The white fur on her head was specked with dirt making it less vibrant and just like Big, her ears had glaring small holes on them. Not only that, but one of her wings was also missing.

Violet eyes met the sharp crimson ones of Shadow the Hedgehog. Unlike the others he didn't really change much and had no extra clothing on himself minus the bandages. His gloves and shoes were somewhat tattered but the damage looked minimal, apparently the Ultimate Lifeform proving that he can still manage in whatever hard times they're living in. However, two deep cuts were seen on the area where his white fur used to exist displaying tan skin underneath. A final and glaring aspect of him: he was missing an arm and in its place was a mechanical aesthetic one.

Knuckles raised an eyebrow at the next person: a female echidna. He had no idea who she was but throughout the five years he was gone, he didn't care if he was or was not the last of his kind anymore. He fully accepted to move on from that and embraced whatever the outcome will be, whether he was truly alone in the world as a species or if there were others hidden in it that have yet to reveal themselves. Either way it didn't matter to him, his gaze passing by her yet his peripheral vision seeing her worried face. He did see what she had on, a tattered green tribal dress with several blue and red shapes on it with several bandages on her form and a jeweled headpiece around her head. He assumed that she didn't fight much seeing her barely injured state but nonetheless looked just like the others.

Amy Rose gave him the same expression as the female echidna, gulping as Knuckles' eyes watched her quietly. Disheveled pink quills were untamed by the lack of her signature red hairband along with a short brown robe that reached up to her knees tied by a rope around her waist. Her legs were cut and bruised with several wraps on them and her red boots were long gone and replaced by wooden sandals. He was able to make out her lower body since it was covered by the person he really did not want to see. Ever again.

Sonic the Hedgehog kept the tired smirk on his face, green eyes giving the same dashing gleam that is a trait for a hero. However his overall appearance said otherwise: he was heavily injured, covered in wraps around almost his entire body with his white gloves missing and bare tan hands showing themselves to the world.

Knuckles realized something else. Amy was behind him and for good reason.

The blue hedgehog was in a wheelchair.

He looked down to see why and was surprised.

Sonic was known for being the fastest thing alive… except how can he live up to the title…?

…

…

Without his legs.

Which looked like they were amputated up to his thighs.

Sonic saw him watch for a bit and smirked wider. "Like what you see Knux? Like to see the great Sonic the Hedgehog like this? This is what you wanted right? Now you can be the hero you always wanted to be, heck with that getup you have you'll fit the bill in no time."

Knuckles raised his eyes to Sonic's, narrowing them a bit as he stayed silent. The two watched each other for a few seconds, the blue hedgehog leaning back as he kept the grin.

"Things haven't been the same ever since you left. I mean you basically deserted Angel Island with no reason at all and left it defenseless." Sonic also narrowed his eyes, his expression somewhat angry. "I won't ever forget that day."

The red echidna felt threatened and so made his counter after staying silent.

"Don't think I'm responsible for whatever happened to you, hedgehog. I do not care for what everyone else experienced as to each of their own." Knuckles replied, his glare adamant.

Sonic's smirk slowly disappeared. "So you don't care about any of us anymore? You just turned your back on your friends after all the help we've-."

"Help? What help did YOU give me, huh? The most help you gave me was only during the first time we met." Knuckles didn't stop after that, keeping a calm yet seething voice. "After that, all I got was being made fun of for being an idiot and losing the emeralds several times. It's your fault that you led Eggman to Angel Island and I had to deal with others knowing of its location. Every single time we went on adventures I ended up being the butt of all your jokes. Do I get a great job or a pat on the back? A reward for my part of the work? No, all I get is hateful words and abuse from people like the worthless batgirl and a smack from your moronic pink hedgehog."

Amy looked like she was ready to cry, trembling at being mentioned by Knuckles like that.

Sonic lost it.

"Don't… YOU DARE TALK TO HER LIKE THAT!" he growled loudly and tried getting up, only for Amy to keep him sitting as she wept.

"N-No S-Sonic, i-it's alright… w-what he says is true… when we communicated from the chao garden." the pink hedgehog stuttered. Sonic continued to burn holes into the red echidna, the latter unfazed by it. "If I had my legs… I'll tear you a new one…"

"Don't even bother hedgehog, you don't even know what I'm capable of." Knuckles then turned around and started walking away. "I don't care any longer what happens to you people. Don't try to find me any-."

"I'LL SHOW YOU WORTHLESS!"

Rouge threw out a boot-covered leg in his direction, nearly making contact with his head.

Hence nearly.

Within a second, she was knocked out.

Knuckles pressed two fingers into her neck at breakneck speeds, lowering it after within a second as the ivory bat landed on the floor with a thud.

Everyone gasped at how lightning fast it was. Even Sonic and Shadow didn't notice it in time, the latter glowing red with fury and teleporting next to Knuckles.

"CHAOS BL-!"

And he was down too.

It happened so fast, the others not believing what they saw but it happened with their own eyes. Knuckles took the black hedgehog down with the same technique, two golden tipped gloved fingers lowering as he looked back at them, violet eyes glaring.

"If you try using force, I won't hesitate. Be grateful that I'm taking it easy on you." Knuckles began turning away.

"Wait Knux!"

Knuckles internally sighed at the voice of Vector. He had some respect for the green reptile so he obeyed and turned again, seeing not only him but the rest of the Chaotix group at his side.

"Look I know that you aren't on great terms with them but at least we didn't give you a hard time back then. Please just give them a chance Knux, we're suffering here!" Vector pleaded with hands clasped together.

"Yeah Knux help us out, you're our only hope! Heck you were awesome when you took down those bandits at-!"

"Charmy! Don't tell him about us spying on him!" Vector interrupted, grabbing the insect boy and shaking him back and forth with the latter getting dizzy. They started their usual bickering after that, Knuckles rolling his eyes. 'Things didn't change for them even in five years.'

"Knuckles, the people here need help." Espio said. "They are living in harsh conditions and lost their homes. If you can please-."

"I'm sorry Espio, but I can't. Even though you three never gave me the harsh experience that the others did, you are still friends with them. I moved on from my past, and that means that I can't be friends with any of you any longer." Knuckles stated. The purple chameleon watched him sadly and nodded, respecting his decision as he made his way to break up the other two.

Big silently came up and picked up Shadow and Rouge, giving the red echidna a sad look before quietly walking away and going through the doors they came from before. Knuckles didn't mind though, the fact that they didn't interact much not giving him a hard time. The feline was still friends with them though, so he doesn't consider him any more than a stranger.

"You really denounced your role as guardian of the emeralds in this dimension huh?" Blaze made herself known walking closer to him. "I can tell it is a heavy burden to keep such a responsibility and can compare to your experience."

Knuckles narrowed his eyes at her. "You rule a kingdom, with people in it. I was born carrying that burden with no one around, living as the last of my kind. You were born of royalty and greatness with many loving you, I was born with nothing. What makes you think we can compare one another?"

"We are both guardians Knuckles, it is an honor to carry such a title."

"It's a curse for me, cat. Just sitting there doing nothing and slowly rot as time passes. What honor is there to live a life chained down by a forced destiny upon birth that you never wanted?"

Blaze was taken aback, losing her options. "Knuckles yes it's a hard burden but-."

"Where's that white hedgehog by the way?"

…

…

That did it.

Tears immediately burst out of the purple feline, sobs coming out of her as she turned and ran disappearing into the doors from where they came from.

Sonic glared at him venomously. "That was a low blow dude."

"One would ask a question to something they don't know, hedgehog." Knuckles replied lowly. "Do not go against something that one is merely curious about."

Amy sniffed clearing away at her tears.

"H-He's… gone K-Knuckles…"

This also surprised the red echidna but he didn't show it. While he didn't know much about Silver, Knuckles did know that he was one of the strongest members in the group. His telekinesis was unmatched by any and to hear that… was really something. His eyes turned back to Sonic who looked away, tears also threatening to come out of him.

Knuckles decided he finally had enough.

"If the fox brought me here to see this, then I see it as a waste of time." he began walking away. "Remember this: you caused this and it will always be your fault. You look at your futures while I look at mine." was the last thing Knuckles said, disappearing behind the sliding door.

Sonic tried getting out of his chair but couldn't, clenching his teeth in anger as his own tears fell down his cheeks. Amy kept him at bay however, nuzzling her face into his quills.

The Chaotix watched him leave in sadness, Vector and Charmy having stopped their bickering. They saw him as a great ally back in the day and wouldn't forget their adventures, but now seeing him walk away from them did hurt. They were the better of his friends, yet he brushed them aside because they were associated with the ones that mocked him. Hypocrisy at its best one would say.

"H-Huh?" Espio gasped in surprise, feeling the last member of the group run by.

Orange quills flowing behind them.

…

…

The red echidna walked out of the invisible dome and was met by the hot ambient air of the Mazuri desert. He winced a bit feeling the harsh wind nip at his face and realizing that it wasn't like this a while ago.

'It looks like this land tends to get hot within a short amount of time.' Knuckles thought as he walked further away from the camouflaged structure. 'I do feel pity for the village that once existed here, but it's their problem if anything.'

Knuckles reached into his scarf and pulled out a Power Gem, this one glowing with vibrant energy. He knew that it would be a round trip regardless if Tails tried to convince him to stay. The red echidna already made his decision long ago and would not associate with anything of his past ever again.

Raising it high in the air he closed his eyes ready for the short trip back home.

"Wait, guardian!"

A panicked yet serene shout reached his ears causing him to open his purple orbs. He clenched his teeth at the fact of getting interrupted again, knowing that he already had enough of their antics.

However he didn't recognize the voice, it sounding very different from the others and turning around he finally realized who it was.

The orange echidna stood across from him with hands on her knees as she gasped for breath, blue-colored eyes staring at him in panic.

"Please consider it and stay guardian, the Master Emerald is no longer with us!" she said.

Knuckles merely glared at her. "Why would I care for that which brought misery in my life? Why would I help any of you? You have Sonic and Shadow so have them help you." he replied.

The orange echidna clasped her hands together. "The two were not able to stop the great evil that was brought upon the land. This evil is stronger and more powerful than anything we have ever faced. Not even Chaos would-."

"Wait now that you mention that I do remember you. You were in that flashback I got when I recovered the red Chaos Emerald and showed me those visions." Knuckles stated. "You're supposed to be dead along with that thing…"

The peach-colored girl whimpered at the last part, yet she stood her ground. "Yes but I was never truly deceased. My spirit was infused back into the Master Emerald when you and your friends defeated Chaos. It was after you left that Sonic freed me using the prayer and I am truly alive once again."

Knuckles narrowed his eyes, breathing out slowly.

"Well it looks like the Master Emerald has chosen its guardian. Good for him so you people definitely do not need me at all."

"That's not true, guardian!"

"Quit calling me guardian!" Knuckles raised his voice louder making her wince. "I renounced that title long ago and nothing will convince me to take it back." The red echidna then raised his hand in front of him, slowly clenching it to a fist.

"I warned you people once to not force my hand today. Do not tempt me to use my power against all of you." he threatened.

The orange echidna lowered her eyes to the ground, tears threatening to spill out. "I have felt the same way about you as well. When Sonic and your friends told me all about you, at first I couldn't believe it. That someone like you would be different from all the other echidna back then. Someone that fights for peace and to protect the emeralds, not to use them for power or conquest unlike my father. I figured that once I met you in person and as a living being, you would be like how they said."

Knuckles was a bit surprised at her explanation. They spoke highly of him even after all this time?

"I was friends with the first guardian of the emeralds which was Chaos. He was a benevolent being back then and took great care of not only the Master Emerald but the chao as well. He was very kind and loving towards them, though it took some time for him to befriend me but I didn't mind. Eventually they accepted me and Chaos entrusted me to guard the emeralds alongside him." the orange echidna raised her gaze up at him, the tears slowly beginning to fall. "It was an honor to serve the emeralds and that honor is bestowed upon you. Please do not give up on it I beg of you." she finished.

Yet the red echidna wasn't fazed much by any of this.

"I will not be held back by something that caused me lasting pain any longer. I will not go back to being shoved aside everyday and made fun of for even existing. You and those back-stabbers handle this on your own, and by the looks of it you people are doing a great job at it!" Knuckles let out angrily as he raised the Power Gem in the air once again.

The peach-colored girl gasped. "No please guardian-!"

"I do not care for something our people cursed upon me when I was born. Goodbye." he gave a harsh glare in her direction, then disappeared in a flash of light.

…

…

…

"TIKAL WHERE ARE YOU?!" Amy shouted as she burst out the doors that appeared from the invisible dome. The pink hedgehog spotted the orange echidna a few feet away and ran up to her. "Tikal why'd you take off like that?! Are you alright?"

The latter was not alright.

Shaking tremendously she dropped to her knees staring at the sight where Knuckles used to be, ocean-colored eyes displaying immense sadness. Her breathing came out in a rapid pace, close to hyperventilating.

"N-No… h-he c-can't…" Tikal whimpered out as Amy hugged her close.

"It's okay Tikal, we'll bring him back." the rose-colored girl rubbed her back softly. "He's the only one that can save all of us now and we're still glad Tails brought him here."

Tikal wasn't getting any better, Amy clearly hearing her choked sobs.

She didn't rest easy that night.

End of Chapter 9

...woah. Looks like our former emerald guardian REALLY didn't want to see them again; five years does change many for the better or worse.

Anyway that's the latest chapter! Til next time! ouo/