KNUCKLES & SHADOW

"You're an idiot, thinking you know all about the power of chaos!"

"Back off, Shadow! I'm doing the best I can!"

"Let me use Chaos Control."

"How? The emeralds are dead."

"You're not doing much better with the Master Emerald. No wonder Rouge is always trying to steal it from you. It's useless in your possession!"

"Say that again, hedgehog! I dare you!"

You couldn't help but overhear the loud argument from clear across quarters. You rush over before anything gets blown up or destroyed.

The Master Emerald was being guarded in one of the empty bunkers, so you figured that's where the argument is being held. Sure enough, there's Knuckles, standing across from Shadow, both in front of the Master Emerald, propped against the wall. Seven gray-colored emeralds are placed around the bottom.

"Okay, time out!" you jump in between the two before anyone is killed, "What's going on here?"

"Knuckles thinks he can restore the Chaos Emeralds' powers with the Master Emerald," Shadow replies.

You nod. "Okay, that sounds like a good idea."

"Except everything he's tried hasn't worked," the black hedgehog grunts, glaring at the echidna, "You call yourself the guardian and one with the Master Emerald. What a laugh."

"It'd be a lot easier if you left!" Knuckles spats, "I can't concentrate with you hovering over my shoulder and telling me how much I suck."

"You're right," Shadow hisses, "You're perfectly capable of sucking without me here."

" That's it!" Knuckles lunges at Shadow, but you manage to grab him around the waist and pull him back as much as you can.

"Will you two calm down?" you shout, "Knuckles, what's wrong with the Master Emerald? I always thought you of all people know how to activate its powers."

"If I just had a moment to concentrate," Knuckles grumbles through grit teeth, "But it's hard when somebody keeps interrupting me."

"All I'm doing is sitting here, watching you fail," Shadow retorts, "Why don't you let a true master of chaos power try?"

" Nobody uses the Master Emerald's power without my permission," Knuckles shouts, "Who knows what YOU'LL do with it?!"

"A lot more than you are right now."

"Damn it, Shadow, I'm gonna-!"

"Come on, Knuckles," you quickly grab your red friend's arm and pull him out of the bunker, "You need to cool off. Come take a walk with me."

"And leave Shadow alone with the emerald?" Knuckles spits, "Where he can hand it off to his partner in crime?"

"Wrong Team Dark member," you grunt, "Now come on! It'll be fine."

"And if it isn't, Sonic?"

"Then I give you permission to punch me in the face later. Let's go."

Reluctantly, Knuckles follows you down the hall, where you both walk together in an awkward and angry silence. After a while, and a few deep breaths, he finally starts cooling down, and the both of you make your way to the Mess Hall. You order a few drinks and then find an empty table and sit together.

"So… Knuckles-"

"I don't know what's wrong with me, Sonic!" Knuckles doesn't wait for you to express your concern and spills it right away, "I've always been able to communicate with the Master Emerald. Why can't I suddenly use its power when I need to?"

"Uh…." You clearly have no answer, and can only drum your fingers on the table in thought.

"Yeah, some help you are," Knuckles grunts, and takes an angry sip from his water.

"Sorry," you say, "You're the expert on the Master Emerald. What can I tell you?"

Knuckles sighs and glances to the side. "I dunno… make a suggestion."

You rub your chin in thought, and a silly idea enters your mind. "Maybe the emerald's jealous."

The echidna glances over at you. "What..?"

You grin. "Think about it! You let it get manhandled by the wrong men! Eggman, Ix, Nega… And now you've got two girls on the side. Maybe it wants to be the only girl in your life."

Knuckles rolls his eyes at you. "That is by far the stupidest thing you've ever said to me."

You shrug. "It makes sense. You're practically in love with the thing."

"I'm the guardian!" Knuckles shouts, "I'm supposed to protect it from all harm! So yeah, forgive me if I get crazy when people want to take it for their own selfish use!" He crosses his arms and turns away. "… and for when people say I'm a lousy guardian…"

You twitch your nose. "Is that what this is all about?"

Knuckles lowers his head. "I know I'm not perfect… Far from it. It doesn't help when everyone around me, those I'm supposed to consider my friends, joke about just how incompetent I am."

"Oh Knux, we're not trying to be mean," you say, "You know me. I tease all my friends. We joke because we love you."

Knuckles raises an eyebrow. " All of you love me..?"

"Well…" you shrug, "Yeah."

"Even Rouge?"

You chuckle at this. "Like that isn't obvious!"

Knuckles snorts in response. "Oh yeah. She's really in love with me."

"I think she is," you say, "Why else would she constantly visit you on Angel Island?"

"To steal the Master Emerald…"

"I recall her only doing that once…"

"Of course. Because I know now to watch out for her!"

You sigh. "Knuckles… do you realize she was trying to hug you back at the first celebration?"

He looks over at you curiously. "Really..?"

You nod. "Yeah. But you stepped over to celebrate with Shade instead."

Knuckles tightened his stare at you. "And that's a bad thing?"

"Hmm…" you look down at the table. "I guess not necessarily, if you like Shade and all. But I sort of feel sorry for Rouge a bit."

Knuckles scoffs. "Don't," he responds, "She doesn't deserve an ounce of pity."

"Sheesh, you really don't like her, huh?"

Knuckles darts his eyes the other way, and gives a small sigh. "Well… she's got some things about her I admire. She's got a good brain, she's got impressive agility and fighting skills, and I really love her-" He quickly stops himself from finishing.

You grin. "Her assets?"

Knuckles gives you a dirty look in response, but then looks down and sighs. "There are some things about her I do like. But she really makes it hard to keep liking her… Sometimes I think, why even bother? Especially when there's someone who does like and respects me regardless of how I am?"

"I take it you're leaning more towards Shade, huh?"

Knuckles twitches his nose and turns away from you. "Why don't you just mind your own business, Sonic?"

You shrug. "You're right," you reply, "It isn't my business. Come on, better go check on Shadow." As you get up from the table and head out, Knuckles is quickly on your heels.

"Uh… Sonic?"

You look over. "Yea?"

The echidna scratched the back of his head. "If… well… if you had to choose… Would you prefer Rouge or Shade?"

-"Rouge" (Chapter 40)

-"Shade" (Chapter 43)

-"Not My Concern" ( Chapter 44)