Well, here we are! Lily is getting married again! But what's a wedding without a little drama before it? Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," "TMNT," "Lord of the Rings," "Toy Story," nor "Sonic the Hedgehog," nor do I own Donna Lewis & Richard Marx's "At the Beginning" nor Crush 40's "Live and Learn."
I only own the following by family: Lilianna, Little Donnie, Mika, Vaia; Ryan, Justine, Isamu; Venus; Athena; Anna, Monica.
January 8, 2062 - San Diego, California, USA
ANNA'S POV
I was working on my case reports when my phone started ringing.
"Yes, Monica?"
"Anna, there is this blue creature who says his name is Sonic and he wants to speak with you."
I felt confused.
"Have you told him to see Jasper?"
"No, ma'am. He says it's wedding business."
"Well, I need to go on break anyway. I'll come up. Thank you, Monica."
I hung up and put on my jacket. I met the hedgehog in the lobby.
"Hey, Anna!"
"Hello, Sonic. Would you like to eat lunch with me?"
"That is perfect! Do you know a place with amazing chili dogs?"
"Besides my house?" I asked teasingly.
"We could go there, too!"
"I know a place. Come on."
We drove to a Weinerschnitzel and ordered our chili dogs.
"So, Sonic, what did you want to talk about?" I asked.
"From best man to matron of honor, we need to discuss the bachelor and bachelorette parties," Sonic answered.
"Then shouldn't we get Karena involved?"
"No. Listen. February 2nd is the day of birthdays."
"Yes, I know. Karena and Diana have birthdays on that day."
"So does Knuckles."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You're joking."
"No, ma'am. I don't joke about this. And Knuckles has already told me he does not want a bachelor party, which is unacceptable. So I talked to Lily and asked her for advice. I want to run this by you and you alone because it's going to be a surprise party for Karena, Diana, Knuckles, and Lily."
"I'm... afraid I don't follow," I hesitantly replied. "Lily's birthday is in May."
"Lily is the bride," Sonic continued. "Why not combine all the parties we are supposed to host into one big party? Celebrate Karena and Diana as well as Knuckles and Lily. And Lily already came up with the perfect place: the glow-in-the-dark bowling alley in Todayland. Everyone likes bowling."
"That is true. So we need to reserve the bowling alley, then? For February 2nd?"
"On a Thursday?"
"Oh! Or not. Saturday might be the best day, then."
"That's a better idea. Maybe Knucklehead can spend his birthday with Lily and the kids."
"Why not spend it with you and Tails?" I asked.
"Because we have spent the last 40 years together celebrating each others' birthdays," Sonic explained. "To be honest, it's getting boring."
"You are just now realizing this after 40 years?"
"Says the half-elven princess who is over 200 years old," Sonic shot back.
"Now hold on a moment!" I snapped. "I'm not a princess. In another life, I was a Citadel Guard of Gondor."
"Okay, we both need to calm down before this gets out of hand."
We took deep breaths in and we let them out.
"What I am trying to say, Anna, is that it's a good thing Knuckles found someone to celebrate his birthdays with besides me and Tails. And honestly, I'm a little jealous of him."
"Isn't Amy Rose a hedgehog as well?" I asked.
"Yes, and we have tried dating before. It didn't go well. But I can't help but wonder... would she give me a second chance?"
I put one of my hands on his and smiled.
"I believe she would. I do not know much about Amy Rose, but I can tell she cares for you. What happened that caused you two to drift apart?"
"This happened many years ago when Amy Rose and I had started knowing each other," Sonic explained. "But she wasn't giving me any space to breathe."
He chuckled.
"It was, ironically, Knuckles who advised me to set up boundaries. But not even that worked. So we broke up. But Amy Rose has grown up and is a great listener. She's fearless and headstrong, like I am. She is always looking out for her friends and will do anything to protect them, especially Tails and Cream."
"Listen to your heart, Sonic. Everyone deserves another chance at love."
I smiled at him, and then I got up and returned to work.
February 2, 2062 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"Knuckles is going to be back with Chik-Fil-A any minute now," I told my children. "Do you have the gift?"
"Yep!" Little Donnie answered, holding up the wrapped present.
"We got ours!" Mika spoke, holding the second present that I wrapped.
"We got the grapes in the fridge," I spoke. "We got rocky road ice cream in the freezer."
"And Aunt Karena got the cake," Little Donnie said.
"We had to go full ninja mode to hide the cake from Daddy," Mika chimed in with a giggle fit.
"Did he catch you?" I asked with surprise.
"Nope!" Little Donnie answered proudly. "We used Vaia to distract him."
I glanced over at my toddler daughter, who laughed. I sighed.
"Let this be a lesson learned, Donatello: do not ever use the baby as bait. Thankfully, it's just Knuckles this time."
"But Vaia's cute!" Mika replied. "Who'd want to hurt her?"
"The Shredder if he finds her!" I answered sharply.
"That took a dark turn very quickly," Little Donnie replied with worry.
"I am back with the Chicken-Fill-A!" Knuckles announced happily.
"Yay!" Little Donnie and Mika said excitedly.
Knuckles set the food down and then glanced at the children.
"What are the presents for?" he asked. "Are they for Karena and Diana?"
"No, Daddy!" Mika blurted out. "They're for you!"
"Happy Birthday, Dad," Little Donnie said happily, handing him the present.
"How did you know?" Knuckles asked with a grin.
"A little bird told me that your birthday was today," I answered with a smirk.
"The hedgehog told you?"
"Yep."
"Come on, Daddy!" Mika beckoned him. "Open it!"
Knuckles tore off the wrapping paper.
"It's a very strong box," he spoke.
"It's a case for the Master Emerald," Little Donnie explained. "I finally found the materials I needed to make it. I remembered Grandpa telling me that lead helped cover the energies of the Kraang crystals. I thought maybe it may help hide the energies of the Master Emerald. And there's a code you need to unlock it. It's indestructible, even to the strongest being in the universe."
Knuckles tested his strength on it, throwing his fist down onto the box.
"It didn't even bend!" Mika said in awe.
"Well done, Donatello," the Echidna commended him. "This is a fine gift. Thank you."
"Here's ours!" Mika said excitedly. "Mommy, Vaia, and I picked it out for you."
Knuckles opened this present and then he opened the box with his sharp knuckles. His expression of happiness turned to one of confusion.
"Why are you gifting me with the Master Emerald?"
"It goes with the box," I explained. "I remember you telling me the Master Emerald was supposed to be placed on Angel Island to restore order to your people. But since there is no one there anymore, perhaps the Master Emerald can be hidden in a new way."
Knuckles smiled and bowed to me.
"Thank you, Lily. You honor me. And thank you, Mika and Vaia. You all have been very thoughtful."
"Happy Birthday, Knuckles."
I kissed him on the cheek.
"Donatello, you are currently the guardian of the Master Emerald. I trust you to keep this safe."
"But you need to know the code in case you do decide to return to Angel Island someday," Little Donnie replied.
Knuckles glanced over at me, smiled, and held my hand.
"I do not believe that will happen anytime soon. This is my new home, with all of you."
"I still can't believe we'll be married in just three weeks," I replied, squeezing his hand. "How are you feeling?"
"I am nervous and excited."
"Ah! You're nervacited!"
"I have no idea what that means," Knuckles replied with confusion.
"Mom likes making up words," Little Donnie explained. "You are nervous and excited at the same time. I actually feel the same way. Like, what if I drop the rings?"
"You can't drop the rings!" Mika assured him. "They'll be tied to the pillow."
"Rings?" I spoke, turning to my fiancé. "Knuckles, you'll be wearing a ring?"
"Yes. If my gloves are ever off, the ring will show the world that I belong to you, Lily."
"Now I'm kind of intrigued of what your ring will look like."
Knuckles smiled at me.
"You will see on our wedding day."
February 4, 2062 - Todayland, North Montana, USA
KARENA'S POV
Wilbur told me and Diana to go to Tallulah's dress shop, so that was where I went. He had assured me that he would take care of Wesley, and I trusted him.
When we got to the dress shop, words could not express how surprised I was that we were not alone.
"Hey, Lily!" Diana greeted our fellow company. "Hey, Knuckles! Did Cousin Tallulah take your final measurements or something?"
"That was one reason why we came here," Knuckles answered with a perplexed expression. "Then Tallulah told me to go outside. I have not seen her since."
"Tallulah finished up with me and then I joined up with Knuckles," Lily explained. "But like Knuckles said, we haven't heard from her."
"So wait, if you two are here, then where are your children?" I asked.
"Wilbur told me he'd take care of them," Lily answered. "Of course, I'm going to trust him."
Suddenly, all of our phones went off. Knuckles's phone was the loudest.
"Rock you like a hurricane!" Diana sang along.
"The hedgehog wants us to go to the bowling alley," Knuckles read.
"Then, off we go!" I replied. "Let's take the bubble transport."
"Amazing!" Knuckles said in awe when we got there.
"You've never been to Todayland, have you?" Diana asked.
"Lily and I have gone on a date here before. But we have not been here since then."
"Ironically, it was at that same bowling alley," Lily chimed in. "I wonder if this is related to the wedding."
"If this is related to the wedding, then how come Mom and I know nothing about it?" Diana asked in confusion.
"Diana's got a point," I spoke. "I'm one of two matrons of honor. I should be planning the bachelorette party and bridal shower. I doubt this is related to the wedding. If anything, this may be a birthday surprise."
"Then why am I here?" Lily asked. "My birthday's in May."
"Wait, Knuckles, is your birthday in February, too?" Diana asked.
"Yes, it was two days ago."
Diana and I both dropped our jaws in shock.
"Why didn't you tell us?" I asked loudly. "We could have invited you to celebrate with us!"
"Our birthdays were two days ago, too," Diana explained.
"Our birthdays?" Knuckles replied. "You're telling me that I share a birthday with not one, but two others?"
"February birthdays are pretty popular here," I spoke. "What holiday was it nine months ago?"
"Memorial Day?" Lily asked with laughter. "Or perhaps my birthday?"
"Or Donatello's," Knuckles chimed in.
"Well, while a pregnancy technically lasts for ten months, the first month is when a woman conceives a baby," I explained. "So a child could easily be conceived on a holiday such as Easter."
"Wilbur and Wesley's birthdays are in May as well," Lily reminded us. "But anyway, we're here. Let's see what this surprise is all about."
We walked inside.
"SURPRISE!!"
All four of us gasped.
"What's the occasion?" Lily asked with laughter.
"Anna and I simply decided to throw one huge party!" Sonic explained. "Knuckles didn't want a bachelor party and yet we have three birthdays and a wedding to celebrate."
"So we decided to throw the four of you a combined birthday-bachelor-bachelorette party!" Anna spoke excitedly. "I'm sorry for leaving you out, Karena, but we wanted to surprise you."
"You did an amazing job!" I replied excitedly.
"And the best part is that we have the bowling alley to ourselves all night long," Tails chimed in.
"Then let's roll!" Knuckles spoke.
"So, are we going to divide up into teams?" Lily asked.
"We have planned the teams based on age," Sonic answered. "Anna is teamed up with Mika and Vaia. Knuckles and Donnie. Myself and Diana. Amy Rose and Athena. Tails and Venus. And lastly, Lily and Justine. Am I missing anyone?"
"Karena!" we all shouted.
"Aww, seriously?"
"You gave Anna two teammates!" Tails explained.
"Because Vaia's a baby!" Sonic shot back. "She doesn't know how to bowl."
"This teams of two idea is a bad idea," Anna chimed in. "There are fourteen of us, and the youngest is only fifteen months old."
"Fourteen is also a bad number to use because the only way this can be even is if we have two teams of seven or seven teams of two," Tails chimed in.
"And one of them is the baby," Amy Rose replied. "I say we leave it up to chance. Whomever gets the baby will have to help her bowl."
"I will handle that," Lily spoke, taking out her phone. "I'm creating a wheel of names. And here we go. Knuckles is with Vaia."
We laughed at that.
"Justine is with Diana. Amy Rose is with Donnie. Sonic is with Mika. Athena is with Venus."
"Now that's a surprise," Venus replied sarcastically.
"We're always together," Athena chimed in. "This should be a piece of cake!"
Right on cue, the cake came out as Lily announced the last two teams.
"Karena is with Tails. Which means I'm with Anna."
"Yes!" Anna exclaimed excitedly. "Sisters unite!"
"Good luck, everyone!" Lily yelled.
Tails and I turned out to be a great team, and he reminded me very much of my friend Donatello.
"So how did you come to this planet?" I asked.
"I tracked Sonic to Earth using his energy blasts and my inventions," Tails explained as he bowled a strike with one of his tails. "And then, I learned Knuckles was hunting him down trying to find the Master Emerald. So I had to come here to warn him. In one way or another, Sonic pulled me into an adventure and I've stayed by his side since. If it wasn't for Sonic, I wouldn't be here right now. What about you, Karena?"
"Have you heard of dimensional travel?" I asked in reply.
"Yes."
"That's how I came to be. I was moving to my first apartment when I found this wonky remote that transported me through dimensions. That's how I met Wilbur and the Turtles. I ultimately decided to stay in the future with Wilbur and all dimensions transformed into one. Then again, interdimensional travel still exists, like going to whatever place you came from or going to Dimension X."
"Has Lily found anything else on the Shredder?" Tails asked as I knocked down eight pins.
"No. It's been almost two years since Lily discovered the plans to Armageddon and we haven't found much since."
"Just the clue of Dr. Ferrell making mutagen and Kraang Subprime is a part of the mystery."
"And them hiding in Dimension X. They've got to be making the bomb there."
"So why don't we stop them there?" Tails asked, this time knocking down seven pins.
"Because we don't have concrete proof."
"What if I went to get proof?"
"That's not a good idea, Tails."
"I have gadgets that will make me discreet."
"There's something you don't understand," I explained. "There's a time differential in Dimension X. You can go there at a young age and come back decades older."
"Yuck! I can see why the Kraang wanted to terraform the Earth now. But if this weapon is truly capable of destroying humankind, then we'll help you stop it."
I glanced over to my left.
"Oh my goodness, Tails! Look at Knuckles!"
We watched Knuckles teach Vaia how to roll a bowling ball down the lane. He knelt down to the baby's eye level and guided her with his big gloves on. Vaia released the ball and we watched it slowly roll. We heard some pins fall and Knuckles cheered.
"Great job, Vaia!"
He picked her up off the ground and she laughed.
"Look at her," I spoke. "She's so full of joy."
"She's been comfortable around Knuckles ever since they met," Lily chimed in to my right. "And I'm thrilled. Since I found out about Vaia after James passed away, Vaia never really had a father. Knuckles became that father figure from the start."
"He is really good with your children, Lily," I said in awe. "I can see why you want to marry him now."
"It's not just because he is my children's father figure. He helped bring life back into me. He gave me a newfound confidence and a new sense of security. I feel safe around him. Like, I know he'll be there to protect me from harm."
"I could never have imagined Knuckles would be so good with kids," Tails replied. "He was really good with our dog Ozzy and with all animals. But with young children?"
I glanced over and saw Tails smiling.
"Actually, I've known all along. When we first became a family, Knuckles always carried me on his shoulders. He always gave me a piggy back ride when I asked for it. He always backed me up when I was insulted. He is an amazing big brother, and now, I know he is a magnificent father."
Tails turned to Lily and smiled at her.
"You are very lucky to have someone like Knuckles. Cherish him everyday."
We continued to bowl only to find Lily and Anna combining their efforts to bowl a perfect game. But before we could get to the presents, Lily held her head and moaned.
"Lily, are you okay?" I asked her.
"It's my dad!" Lily answered in alarm. "He's in trouble!"
"The entire lair is in trouble!" Anna chimed in with an alarmed look.
"Lily, I will take the kids and watch over them at home with Wesley," I told her. "Everyone else, head to the lair! I'll have Wilbur meet you there."
New York City, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"Casey!" I yelled. "What is happening?"
"I don't know, Lil!" Casey Jones answered, putting his hockey mask over his face. "I just received a call from Raph begging me for help."
"I am here!" Shinigami announced.
"We all are!" Sonic spoke.
"No matter what happens, we need to act quickly," Knuckles chimed in.
"Let's charge in and help my family!" I spoke.
To my horror, all of my enemies were present in the lair. I used my telepathy to find my dad and found him in the lab battling Kraang Subprime. I transformed into Aumanil and charged into battle, shielding my dad from harm.
"Aumanil!" Dad exclaimed happily. "Am I glad to see you! We need to drive everyone out of here!"
"How did they find the lair?" I asked.
"I told them!" Kraang Subprime sneered. "I have been here before, remember?"
I heard my mom screaming from the side and she released a very powerful psychic blast.
"Leave my family alone!" Mom shouted.
She suddenly screamed and fell to her knees.
"April!" I yelled, being careful to not reveal my relation to her.
My dad and I were still too busy with Kraang Subprime to break away. I glanced over and saw the Shredder right behind her, ready to strike again.
"Red, no!"
"CASEY, DON'T!" I screamed.
But it was too late. The Shredder struck Casey down the same way he struck my late husband. My dad let out a battle cry and struck Kraang Subprime in his most vulnerable spot with his bo staff.
"CASEY!" Mom yelled, examining him.
I watched the Shredder attempt to strike again... only for his blades to meet a huge white glove instead.
"What is this?" Shredder asked, glancing down at his foe.
"April, go take Casey to the hospital!" Knuckles yelled. "I will distract him!"
"Donnie, go!" I told my dad. "I'll stay with Knuckles."
"Get back here!" Kraang Subprime yelled. "We're not done here!"
I did a spinning roundhouse kick to his bald brain and knocked him out.
"Aumanil," Shredder spoke. "You have been in my way for too long."
"You can't knock me down, Saki!" I shot back. "You may have taken away my husband, but you will never take my spirit."
"Wait, he is the one who killed James?" Knuckles asked.
"Yes."
He growled, his eyes turning red and his body surrounded by red lightning. He took one of my swords and pointed it at him.
"If you want to get to Aumanil, you will have to get through me first!" Knuckles yelled. "I will not let you lay a finger on her."
My heart melted.
"Aumanil, go," Knuckles said. "I will handle him."
I nodded and made my way to help the rest of the family. The Vizioso gang had made their way to the kitchen where Uncle Mikey, Aunt Renet, Athena, and Tails fought. With my stealth, I easily knocked them out.
"I have an idea!" Tails suddenly spoke. "Is there a place to put all these people?"
"Yeah!" Athena shouted. "Outside the lair!"
"If Aumanil uses her magic lasso, we can gather everyone out there, make them forget the lair's location, and then I can scatter them around the world with my technology!"
"Their project would be set back a couple years!" I spoke. "Yes, please proceed. I'm going to help Raph!"
Next, I found Uncle Raph, Auntie Mona, Venus, and Amy Rose fighting the Purple Dragons. I knocked them out the same way I knocked out the Vizioso gang.
"Wow, Aumanil!" Amy Rose exclaimed happily. "You went full on ninja with them!"
"Master Splinter would be very proud of you," Uncle Raph told me.
I flashed him a smile.
"Get these people outside," I told them. "Tails has an idea."
The four beings nodded and got to work. The next place I went to was the dojo. I spotted Uncle Leo, Auntie Karai, Shinigami, Wilbur, Diana, Sonic, Isamu, Justine, and Ryan surrounded by Shredder's Foot Clan.
"Mind if I join in?" I spoke with a grin.
Everyone turned towards me, and it was enough of a distraction for all nine beings to knock them out.
"What happened?" Uncle Leo snapped.
"Kraang Subprime revealed the location of the lair," I spoke.
"Oh, good!" Sonic exclaimed. "I was worried someone had betrayed us or something."
"But that is something we cannot rule out," Wilbur spoke with a glare.
"You are absolutely certain about this?" I asked angrily.
"Of course not! But it's a possibility that an allie of ours could be a spy for the Foot Clan. It's happened before. Dr. Ferrell, who helped the Foot Clan make mutagen, just happens to be a member of G.U.N., an organization created to help keep Sonic and his friends at bay."
"You cannot possibly--"
I stopped when I realized someone was missing.
"Knuckles! Guys, get these people out of here. I'm going to check on my fiancé!"
I ended up going outside the lair to find Knuckles and the Shredder locked in their fight. To my amazement, Knuckles held his own against the Shredder, still holding on to the sword. When neither of them were watching, I snuck up on the Shredder and gave him a spinning roundhouse kick to the head, knocking his helmet off. Knuckles punched him in the face, knocking him out.
"Quick, Aumanil!" Knuckles spoke. "Help me put him with the others!"
We returned to the entrance of the lair where all of our enemies were located and knocked out.
"Knuckles, my lasso isn't big enough," I spoke.
"I have one," Uncle Raph replied. "Just add it to mine."
The three of us worked together to tie everyone up. I used my psychic abilities to erase their memories of the lair. Then, Tails used his teleportation gadgets to transport everyone to unknown locations around Earth.
"Thank you, everyone, for helping us keep the lair safe," Uncle Leo spoke. "Thank you to both the Hamato Clan and Team Sonic for your aid."
My phone suddenly rang. I picked up.
"This is Aumanil."
"Lily, it's Mom. We just received news about Casey. He... he didn't make it."
February 11, 2062 - North Hampton, New York, USA
The entire clan, plus Shinigami and Team Sonic, met up at the farmhouse to lay our dear friend to rest.
"Casey Jones died a hero," Uncle Leo spoke. "He became our ally when we were only teenagers. Even though he always put himself first, he always checked in on us and asked if we needed help. After helping our counterparts defeat Shredder and Krang from another dimension, Casey went off to serve in the United States Army. He served his country and returned to play hockey and become a hockey coach to children. But he still helped us, whether it was in his talent as a videographer or as a vigilante. He was fearless and strong. And he will be missed."
"Casey died to save my life," Mom spoke. "He always had feelings for me, even though I chose to spend my life with Donnie. He always looked out for me and put me first. He was one of my best friends. He was the one I went to when Donnie and I didn't agree on something. He went with me to Jerusalem and he helped me find my faith, even though he was unsure of his. But Casey remained a true friend until the end."
"Casey was the first ally who really got me," Uncle Raph spoke. "We shared the same passion for cleaning the streets of crime and we loved to fight and get angry. We both had a strong sense of justice. I went on to work in the police department and Casey went off to serve in the army. We served our country and we served our people. But most of all, we served our family. I'm gonna miss you, Case. You were the best partner I could ever ask for."
"You know, Casey, I felt pretty stupid when I first met you," Dad spoke. "I was jealous and was scared that you were going to take April away from me. But I was wrong. We both learned that April needed to make her own choice. We became best friends once we learned that. And when April and I got married, you were still there for us, even though you were thickheaded at times. And in the end, you saved my wife's life. You allowed her to live another day, and I am forever thankful that you were a part of our lives. I'm sorry I was a jerk to you. I hope you have forgiven me."
My mom clasped my dad's hand as we stood in silence. Then, the Turtles worked to bury our friend with such sadness on their faces. While they did that, I walked over to my late husband's grave, and I sensed Knuckles following me.
"Lily, I have a confession to make."
I turned around and faced him.
"What is it?" I asked.
Knuckles looked very uncomfortable, shifting his feet.
"I... killed a man."
I gasped. I walked up to him with tears in my eyes.
"He was the one who initiated my kidnapping," Knuckles explained with such sadness. "He sent two agents to kidnap me so they could sell me to him and use my quills to make very dangerous weapons. Thanks to Wade, I escaped. But they caught up to us in Reno, Nevada. They used Wade to turn me in, but I put the agents in their own trap. Then, he came and found me. He took my power. I almost died because of him. And then, Wade reminded me of what I was fighting for and I defeated him with a huge disco ball. But I had no idea he had died from impact. I... have not killed anyone since then."
Knuckles sighed.
"I was only seventeen and I did not know any better. If this causes our relationship to end, then I will understand. I just wanted you to know what I am capable of before you married me."
He started to walk away.
"Wait."
He froze.
"I killed someone, too," I explained. "And he, too, had initiated my kidnapping. He sent his minions to kidnap me. Of course, I was only fourteen and was stupid enough to reveal that I was the daughter of one of the Ninja Turtles."
Knuckles walked back towards me as I continued.
"I, too, escaped, thanks to my powers and my training. But the Magician found Karena and dragged her off to Los Angeles. Feeling responsible, I drove there, freed Karena, and faced the Magician. We fought, even to where he used a gun and he broke my bo staff in half. The battle ended... with my accidentally activating the blade in one half of the staff and stabbing him in the liver."
Knuckles' mouth was open in shock as I started crying.
"You are not alone, Knuckles. I made the same mistakes you did. But we have both learned and moved forward with our lives. In fact, thank you."
"What for?"
"For reminding me that I was never alone in my journey. Somewhere out there was someone who went through the same things I did, and that someone was you. I wish I had seen this and met you sooner. I wish I could have seen... that you were always the one for me."
He sighed, now feeling relieved, and he held me in his arms as I cried into his shoulder.
"Thank you for sharing your story with me," he spoke. "I didn't want you to find out about my past through someone else and so I decided to be upfront with you. But I did not know you went through it as well."
He smiled and held my hand.
"Does this mean you will still marry me in two weeks?"
I returned the smile, wiped away the last of my tears, and pulled him in for a kiss.
"Yes. I have never felt more confident, thanks to you. And even if I hadn't gone through it, I would have understood. You are not the same Echidna you were forty years ago. You are stronger and wiser. You have a huge heart for me and my children and you'd give your life to protect us. I am honored to become your wife, your soulmate."
This time, he pulled me in for a kiss, and our bodies were electrified with his energy. Two weeks could not come soon enough.
February 14, 2062 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
I arrived home from work and saw that the house was dark.
"Knuckles?" I yelled. "Donnie? Mika? Where is everyone?"
I walked into the kitchen, where I saw him, sitting at the table with two candles lit. In his hands was a bouquet of red roses. On the table were two steak dinners with green beans and mashed potatoes, as well as two glasses of wine.
"Good evening, Starlight."
"Knuckles, what is all this?" I asked in awe.
"Our first Valentine's Day as a couple," Knuckles answered softly, getting up from the table. "And our last date before we get married. Happy Valentine's Day, Starlight."
Knuckles handed me the roses.
"Thank you. This is a wonderful surprise to come home to. But where are the kids?"
"They're with Sonic and Tails. I wanted us to be alone tonight."
"I love it."
I put the roses in water in a vase and set it on the counter. Then, we started to eat our dinner with piano music in the background.
"You've really outdone yourself, Knux. This is absolutely wonderful."
"I am glad you are enjoying yourself," Knuckles replied.
"You cooked the steaks just right. And the green beans and mashed potatoes are delicious."
We continued eating.
"I've been doing some thinking about our little pet names for each other," I spoke again. "We're going to be married soon. Ever since you called me dear, I can't help but fantasize about it."
"Would you rather be called dear instead of Starlight?" Knuckles asked.
"Only if it's okay with you. That is, if you are alright with my calling you something, like honey."
The Echidna cringed.
"Or not," I continued with laughter. "Or we could do what we did when we dated and just call each other sweetheart."
"Sweetheart?" Knuckles replied with contemplation. "I love it, actually. We are marrying each other for our hearts, after all."
"That is true."
"Sweetheart, it is."
We finished our dinner and wine. Knuckles then got up and put on a familiar tune.
"Sentimental Evening!" I said in awe. "You remembered!"
"I did," Knuckles replied, holding out his hand. "May I have this dance?"
"You may."
I took his hand and we started dancing together, swinging our bodies side to side. Our cheeks touched. This time, I did not care that his dreadlock was in my face. This felt right. I felt at home with the one I love. I felt like a little girl. I felt excited to spend the rest of my life with him.
February 25, 2062 - North Hampton, New York, USA
I woke up in excitement. Today was my wedding day... again! And I had never been so excited.
I ended up taking the entire week off work. Little Donnie and Mika stayed with Karena and Wilbur while Vaia and I took the trip to North Hampton to help Athena, Venus, and Skyler decorate the chapel. This time, the chapel served a dual purpose due to the cold weather. We were going to use the chapel for both the ceremony and the reception. We decided the transition period would take place in the greenhouse that was attached.
Yesterday, Wilbur and Karena took the four children with them to North Hampton. Knuckles and his friends used rings to get to North Hampton and back home to Green Hills. We had our dinner, which was simply pizza, and our rehearsal. It took Mika and Vaia a few tries to make it down the aisle, but Vaia learned quickly. All of us felt ready for the wedding, especially since Wilbur filled in as the new wedding videographer.
I got up out of bed and glanced at my wedding dress with my lace veil.
"I'm ready."
Green Hills, South Montana, USA
KNUCKLES'S POV
I woke up with a smile on my face. Today, my life changes forever. I was no longer going to be alone. And best of all, I was no longer going to be the last Echidna.
I got out of bed and glanced at my clothes hanging in the closet: my white shirt, my dark red vest, and black pants.
"I'm ready."
"Knucklehead!" Sonic called from downstairs. "Breakfast is ready!"
I chuckled. I silently admitted to myself that I was going to miss the hedgehog calling me Knucklehead and teasing me every day. I decided not to take this morning for granted and walked down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Good morning!" Sonic greeted me.
I glanced over him.
"Is that...?"
"It's the chair that designates your role as family champion," Tails answered.
I laughed, glancing at the iron throne.
"You recreated the chair? Why?"
"Because we love you, Knux," Sonic answered. "We're gonna miss you around here."
"You always made our lives entertaining," Tails spoke.
"But you always made sure we were safe," Amy Rose chimed in. "You are a true champion, Knux."
"And you deserve a champion's breakfast," Sonic spoke.
Tails took my hand and led me to the throne.
"We made your favorites," Amy Rose said as Sonic and Tails laid breakfast on the table.
"Yum, grapes!" I replied. "Are those Oreo pancakes?"
"Yes, sir!" Sonic answered. "Maddie gave us the recipe. This breakfast is your wedding present from her and Tom."
I laughed.
"Well, everyone, dig in!"
North Hampton, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"Dig in!" Mom said excitedly.
The entire clan got together and ate breakfast together before Sonic and the gang got here. When we finished, my children and bridal party went upstairs with me to get ready.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, Mika-- oh!"
I laughed.
"Here. Let me help you."
I helped Mika put on her white laced dress and tied the dark red ribbon on her back.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
"I feel like a princess, Mommy."
"Well, today, you are a princess," I told her with a grin. "You and Vaia are both princesses. Speaking of which, would you help me put on her dress?"
We worked together to first change Vaia's diaper and then put on her simple white dress with a dark red ribbon.
"Look at the small curls in her red hair!" I said sweetly. "Aren't they cute?"
"Is my hair going to be curly?" Mika asked.
"That's up to you, sweetie."
"I want my hair curly. Please?"
I laughed.
"Let's see what we can do about that."
"Will your hair be curly, Mommy?"
"We'll see."
I kept my robe and pajamas on as my mom did our hair.
"Well, what do you think?" Mom asked. "I know it's not the same as having long hair, but--"
"No, Mom. It's perfect."
My red bob was parted to my right and it was curled at the bottom. I looked like a bride from a century ago. My mother had put a white pearl barrette on the left side of my head.
"Wow, Mommy!" Mika exclaimed. "You're pretty!"
"We all do!" Diana chimed in.
All of my bridesmaids had very similar hairstyles. All of their hair was parted to the left and had barrettes on the right side of their heads. They were all already dressed in their dresses.
"Are you ready?" Anna and Karena asked me.
Green Hills, South Montana, USA
KNUCKLES'S POV
I fastened the buttons on my vest and glanced at myself in the mirror. I grinned. I had never dressed myself before and I looked dashing.
I glanced down at my bare hands. It looked very strange. I let out a sigh.
"Get a grip, Knuckles," I told myself. "You are not going into battle today. You are getting married to the most beautiful woman you have ever seen."
"Giving yourself a pep talk, buddy?"
I turned to see Sonic, Tails, and Amy Rose at the door. I laughed.
"I suppose so."
I looked over at them. Sonic and Tails both wore white shirts underneath red vests and black pants with black shoes. Amy wore her dark red dress with her gold bracelets and a dark red headband.
"Knuckles, I'm sorry for giving you a hard time with our outfits," Sonic spoke. "It's your day. Not mine. I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course, brother. All of you look great. Shall we go?"'
North Hampton, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
I finally put on my wedding dress and everyone around me gasped in awe, including my children.
"Wow, Mom," Little Donnie, wearing a white shirt with a white vest and black pants, said. "Knuckles won't take his eyes off you."
"Are you ready to go down the aisle again?" Diana asked.
"We can't let her go down the aisle yet," Karena chimed in. "We can't forget the most important tradition of all."
"Something old."
I turned around.
"Maddie!" I said in awe, hugging her. "It is an honor to meet you. Knuckles has told me a lot about you."
"And he has told us all good things about you, Lily," Maddie replied.
She helped me turn around and put a silver flowered necklace around my neck.
"This was my mother's," Maddie explained.
"Thank you for trusting me," I told her. "I promise to take very good care of your son."
"Thank you for giving Knuckles hope. You know, with you marrying him, Knuckles will no longer be the last Echidna."
I gasped.
"Because I'm marrying into the Echidna tribe!"
"Here's something new," Diana spoke, handing me a classic pair of ivory heels. "I got them with my own money for you as thanks for being the best godmother I could ever have."
I gasped in awe and gave my goddaughter a hug.
"Speaking of the Echidna tribe, here is something borrowed," Amy Rose suddenly chimed in. "Knuckles returned to Angel Island and retrieved it. It was his mother's. He would like it back."
I cracked up laughing as Amy Rose slipped an amythest garter over my right leg.
"And lastly, something blue," Venus spoke. "Or more like something purple to match Knuckles' eyes."
She handed me my bouquet as Maddie and my mom put the veil over my head. I examined my bouquet to find dark red, white, and purple roses.
"Let's get you married," Maddie said.
"Yes, please!"
We heard knocking and we found Sonic at the door.
"Sonic!" Maddie exclaimed. "Shouldn't you be at the altar with Knuckles?"
"I'm sorry to intrude, but Lily, Knuckles needs to speak with you."
"Why? I'm the bride. He can't see me until the ceremony."
"He's nervous. And don't worry. I'll make sure you two don't see each other."
Sonic led me to the barn and put my back against the building. He led my hand to the door, which then touched another's.
"Knuckles?" I asked.
"Hello, Lily," he spoke gently. "How are you feeling?"
"Worried now. Is everything okay?"
We clasped our fingers together.
"I am a little nervous now that we're about to start the ceremony," Knuckles explained.
"Is it the vows?"
"Yes. What if I mess up?"
"Knuckles, it's a wedding. Weddings are meant to be celebrations of a couple starting their lives together. They are never perfect. If you ever need to focus, just look into my eyes."
"I will. And Lily?"
"Yes?"
"There is one other thing I thought I'd surprise you with."
"And what's that?"
"I have decided to change my name."
I laughed.
"Change your name? What do you mean?"
"I have only called myself Knuckles Wachowski for legal reasons. But now, when we marry, I am honored to use my new name: Knuckles Hamato."
I gasped and almost started to cry.
"You're changing your name for me?"
"Yes. I understand how much this name means to you. Just like you are marrying into my tribe the Echidnas, I am marrying into your Hamato Clan."
"Knuckles, close your eyes. I want to hug you."
I turned around, entered the barn, and hugged my fiancé. He hugged me back.
"You are wearing lace. A very beautiful material. I will see you at the altar, Lilianna Mae."
I blushed as I watched Knuckles walking away from me. Just seeing his dreadlocks going down to his waist had me falling in love with him. I walked back inside the farmhouse to meet up with the rest of my bridesmaids.
"Let's do this!" Anna yelled excitedly, handing me my bouquet.
"One, two, three!" I yelled as we all put our hands in.
"TEAM LILY!"
DONATELLO'S POV
I had greeted all of the guests that included our mutant friends, our allies, Sonic's friends, and even his parents Tom and Maddie. Then, when Knuckles entered the chapel, I made my way to the altar. When he made it there, we embraced each other.
"You look incredible, Knuckles," I complimented him, gazing at the dark red vest he wore.
"Thank you."
"Are you okay?"
He took a deep breath and let it out with a smile on his face.
"I am ready."
My phone buzzed. My wife had texted me.
"The bride has arrived."
"Get into your places, guys," I told them.
Once Knuckles, Sonic, Tails, and Amy Rose had taken their places, I nodded to Mikey. He started the music, Taylor Swift's "Lover." The guests settled down. Raph and Mona Lisa opened the chapel doors.
Diana, a flower girl in Lily's first wedding, was the first to enter with a proud smile on her face. Wilbur proudly smiled as he videotaped her. After Diana came Athena, then Venus, then Justine, all with smiles on their faces.
After Justine made her entrance, Karena came in wearing a dark red shawl. And then, a beaming Anna entered the chapel. When she glanced at Knuckles, she winked at him. Once Anna made it to the altar, my grandson entered with a simple smile on his face, carrying the wedding rings on a dark red velvet pillow. And then, Mika and Vaia came together. Mika tossed petals onto the ground. Vaia simply wore a flower crown and attempted to pick up the petals, to our amusement. Mika had to keep turning around and grab Vaia by the hand. This put smiles on all our faces as Mika led Vaia to sit with Leo.
I glanced over at Mikey and nodded to him. He changed the song to "At the Beginning" from Anastasia. Then, I glanced over at Tom and Maddie and nodded to them. The guests stood up, and Raph and Mona Lisa opened the doors.
And there she was. My daughter Lily, all dressed in ivory lace with a veil covering her red hair and her face, carried a bouquet of dark red, white, and purple roses in her left hand. Her right arm was linked to April's arm. My wife wore a long-sleeved dark red dress and her red hair was tied up in a bun towards her left side away from Lily.
Lily grinned at the sight of Knuckles, and she started to sing.
"We were strangers starting out on a journey, never dreaming what we'd have to go through. Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing at the beginning with you."
LILIANNA'S POV
Knuckles had his jaw dropped in awe at the sight of me as I finished singing. Then, my mom started escorting me down the aisle.
"No one told me I was going to find you. Unexpected, what you did to my heart. When I lost hope, you were there to remind me, this is the start."
I never took my eyes off the groom. Sonic helped him close his jaw and Knuckles started to grin at me. He was beaming.
"And life is a road I wanna keep going. Love is a river I wanna keep flowing. Life is a road, forever a wonderful journey. I'll be there when the world stops turning. I'll be there when the storm is through. In the end, I wanna be standing at the beginning with you."
My mother and I were nowhere close to the altar, so my uncle made adjustments to keep the song going.
"I knew there was somebody somewhere, like me alone in the dark. Now I know my dream will live on. I've been waiting so long. Nothing's gonna tear us apart! And life is a road I wanna keep going. Love is a river I wanna keep flowing. In the end I wanna be standing at the beginning... with you."
My mom and I hugged when we reached the end of the altar. Knuckles came down the steps and embraced my mom, who wholeheartedly embraced him back. Knuckles then took my hand and led me the rest of the way as the song ended.
"Wow!" Knuckles quietly exclaimed.
"Hi!" I whispered excitedly.
"You may be seated," Dad spoke.
Everyone sat down. Knuckles and I turned to face my dad.
"We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join together Knuckles and Lilianna in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, since the first man and the first woman walked on the earth. Therefore, it is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
There was a loud silence in the room except for Shinigami's camera.
"A reading from the Apostle Paul, the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verses four through seven: Love is patient, love is kind."
Knuckles held my hand and I held his as my dad continued.
"It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Father, as Knuckles and Lily pledge themselves to each other, help them and bless them that their love may be pure, and their vows may be true. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen."
"Amen!" we all spoke.
"Lily, Knuckles, I believe you have written your own vows?" Dad asked.
Knuckles gulped nervously. I squeezed his hand with assurance. I turned to face him and gazed into his purple eyes.
"Knuckles," I spoke. "Before we met, I was grieving over the loss of my first husband. I had been consumed by grief and felt I was not deserving of a second chance at love because I am a mutant. Once we mutants meet and marry someone, who else would accept us? But then I met you, and it was a delightful surprise. Not only have you loved me for all I am, but you had experienced the same things I have, assuring me that I was never alone in my journey. You related to me and you made me feel safe in my insecurities."
I blew out a breath before I continued.
"I promise from this moment forward until God calls me home to love you with all my heart, all my strength, and all my soul. I promise to cherish all of our times together, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, and in joy and sadness. I promise to love you always because you are more precious than titanium."
He grinned at that.
"Forever and ever, Knuckles. I will always love you and honor you."
I firmly nodded at him. He took a deep breath in and he let it out.
"Lily, no one told me I was going to find you. But when I did, you brought life back to me the moment we met. You have given me a new purpose not just to fight for, but also to live for. What you have done to my heart was unexpected. I lost hope, but you were there to remind me that this is only the beginning. And I have loved every moment I spent with you and your children."
He let out another breath before he continued, gazing into my blue eyes.
"I promise to love you, Donatello, Aurora, and Vika with my mind, my body, and my soul. I promise to honor all of you by putting you first. I promise to cherish every moment we spend together, whether it is spent with sadness or happiness. Whether we spend our moments in a ritual trial by combat or at the dinner table, I will always choose you and honor you. I love you, Lilianna, always, until God calls me to the great battleground in the sky."
"May I have the rings?" Dad asked.
Uncle Mikey started playing the wedding song from When Calls the Heart. I glanced over and saw a grin on Amy Rose's face. Little Donnie brought the rings up to Sonic, who untied one. Then, he walked over to Anna, who untied the other. I swapped my bouquet with Anna for the ring and Knuckles retrieved my ring from Sonic. Then, Knuckles and I exchanged rings and placed them on our fingers.
"May Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are now starting to build together," Dad prayed. "That you may know the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you both all the days of your lives and fill you with His joy. Amen."
"Amen!" we echoed.
"Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder," Dad continued. "In so much as Knuckles and Lily have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed before the same God and this company, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. Knuckles, you may kiss the bride."
We grinned at each other as Knuckles lifted the veil off my face.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you."
We caressed each other's cheeks. His hand brushed against my hair while I placed one hand on his chest and the other on his hip. At last, we closed the distance for a sweet first kiss as husband and wife. When we finished, everyone in the chapel was cheering as the song reached the grand finale. We turned their way and smiled.
Knuckles took my hand and we walked back down the aisle. When we reached our parents, he held my hand up in the air as we walked. We laughed as everyone continued to cheer.
Wilbur and Shinigami worked together to get our pictures taken in the greenhouse while the rest of the family got the chapel ready for the reception. An hour later, we were ready for a fun-filled night. Ne-Yo's "Never Knew I Needed" started play.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! It's your best friend Sonic the Hedgehog here to get this party started!"
The entire room cheered and I laughed. I now knew why he was so eager to kick things off at the reception.
"First things first, we have our bridesmaids because ladies first. The first to enter the room is the girl who was the bride's flower girl in her first wedding, Diana Robinson!"
After each introduction was a pause so each person could enter the room in style.
"Next up, the bride's youngest cousin with a flair for history, Athena Hamato! And here is another cousin of the bride's, the daughter of the mutant turtle Raphael and Salamandrian Y'Gythba, Venus de Milo Hamato! And here is the sweetest cowgirl you will ever know from Oklahoma, Justine Hamato! And now for our matrons of honor. Here comes the bride's very good friend who has been married for almost 20 years, Karena Robinson! And last on the bride's side, her best friend and confidante, a warrior from the mystical realm of Gondor, Anna Swan!"
I applauded.
"And now, for the groomsmen... and groomswoman! First up, a very beautiful hedgehog who would make any man lucky to have one day, Amy Rose! Next up, the best friend a hedgehog and an echidna could ever ask for, Miles 'Tails' Prower! And last but not least, the groom's best friend and competition in every way, Sonic! Oh, wait! That's me! Gotta go!"
Knuckles and I laughed as we witnessed Sonic speeding to the entrance and entering the chapel in style. The song changed to Christina Grimmie's "Without Him."
"Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen!" Sonic continued. "But tonight is not about me. It is about two beings, an Echidna warrior and a psychic kunoichi, who fell in love and pledged themselves to be married. They understand each other. They love each other. And they'd protect each other with their lives. And here is a surprise: the groom loves his bride so much that instead of having her change her name, he changed his. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, without further ado, here are your bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. Knuckles and Lilianna Hamato!"
"Let's do this!" Knuckles said with a grin.
We reentered the chapel, holding our held hands high in the air. When we got to the dance floor, the song transitioned to our song. We held each other close as we swayed back and forth. After some time, I put my hands around his neck as he put his hands around my waist.
"I never imagined I would become your husband after one year of knowing each other," Knuckles spoke with a fond smile.
"I never imagined I would have a second chance at love," I replied. "And this time, I know our love for each other is true. I promise to never take you for granted."
"And I promise to always take care of you."
I felt tears coming to my eyes.
"Lily, are you alright?" Knuckles asked, his smile suddenly fading away.
"Knuckles, you have made me the happiest woman I have been in a very long time. Of course, I am okay. You and the children complete me."
We closed the distance with a sweet kiss, careful to not activate his powers. All too soon, the song ended. I danced with my dad again. And then, it was time for the toasts.
"Of all things we had expected to do on this planet," Sonic began. "The last thing we expected was for one of us to get married. The irony is that Knuckles used to tease me for dating my ex-girlfriend. And today, I get to stand by his side as he marries the love of his life. Knuckles, Lily is a more precious jewel than the Master Emerald. Cherish her and love her with all your heart and soul. To Knuckles and Lily!"
"To Knuckles and Lily!" everyone echoed.
"Lily, I remember in our first talks after James passed that you told me you were not going to find love again," Anna spoke. "But we have all learned that love finds us. Love is a gift that is freely given. And because Knuckles gave you his love, you were able to move past your grief and open your heart to love him as well. Lily, I am so proud of you. But Knuckles, I am still swearing that I told you to find Lily to help her defeat a plot, not to fall in love with her at first psychic blast!"
We laughed.
"All jesting aside, Lily, I hope you and Knuckles will be blessed in all the years to come. To the victorious couple!"
"Hear, hear!"
We ate our dinner. Then came time for me to toss the bouquet. I turned around and threw it.
"I CAUGHT IT!"
I turned around and found Amy Rose with the bouquet! I ran up to her and hugged her.
"Thank you for standing with us," I told her.
"I'm really happy for you and Knuckles," Amy Rose replied with a smile. "I'm excited to call you my sister."
"I'd love that!"
"Amy, can we talk?" Sonic suddenly asked.
"Sure."
"Listen, I've done some thinking."
"I should leave you two alone," I chimed in.
"No, Lily, please stay," Sonic pleaded with me.
"Well, if you're sure."
"Amy Rose, seeing Knuckles and Lily together got me thinking about us. Perhaps we weren't right for each other back when we first met. But..."
Sonic sighed.
"If you are willing, perhaps we can try again? Maybe we can start with a dinner date? Start simple. And if we find that we work, then we can continue."
Amy Rose grinned and nodded eagerly.
"I'd love that!"
I smiled. Then, I felt two hands on my shoulders.
"Hi, Knucklehead."
"Hello, Dr. Hamato."
I turned around and kissed him.
"What is it time for now?" I asked.
"The garter toss, whatever that means."
I grinned. I pulled up a chair and sat down.
"You're going to get on your knee just like you did when you proposed," I explained. "The garter is on my right leg. You dig up my leg for it, remove it, and then toss it like a slingshot to all the single men."
"Ooh!" Knuckles exclaimed with a smirk.
He did exactly as I told him. Once he found the garter, his eyes widened. Then he frowned.
"I cannot toss it. This was my mother's. In fact, I have a better idea."
Knuckles walked over to Sonic and gave the garter to him.
"What are you doing?" Sonic asked with confusion.
"Put the garter on Amy Rose's leg," Knuckles told him. "Please, just trust me on this."
"Ummm, okay."
Sonic gulped. He took Amy Rose's free hand and took her to the chair. I stood up and she sat down. Sonic easily put the garter up her leg and she blushed and grinned with delight.
"May I get your picture?" Wilbur asked.
"Please do!" Sonic answered enthusiastically. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
Knuckles and I glanced at each other and grinned. We gave each other a power bump.
"We are excellent matchmakers," Knuckles said with satisfaction.
"We sure are."
Suddenly, a song came on. The entirety of Sonic's tribe gasped in awe and excitement.
"Ah, Sonic and Shadow's favorite song," Knuckles spoke.
"Shadow's favorite song?"
I glanced over in the midst of the burgundy and white decorations and I, indeed, saw Shadow dancing with a grin on his face.
"I have never seen Shadow so happy," Knuckles said with a sigh. "He had a rough start to his life when he lost his only friend and he was put in stasis for 50 years."
"Fifty years?!" I asked, feeling floored. "He didn't deserve that. So how old is he, then?"
"Probably twice our age. No one really knows."
"He looks like he's your age!"
"No matter how old he is, he is the ultimate lifeform," Knuckles explained. "It is rare that he is taken down easily. Only Kraang Subprime has overpowered him."
"Can you feel life movin' through your mind? Ooh, looks like it came back for more. Yeah! Can you feel time slippin' down your spine? Ooh, you try and try to ignore. Yeah!"
Everyone in the room was dancing except for me and Knuckles. We simply continued to watch Shadow dancing like he was having the time of his life.
"But you can hardly swallow your fears and pain. When you can't help but follow, it puts you right back where you came."
"It looks like Shadow has moved on from his pain," I spoke. "I'm happy that he's happy."
I held out my hand, and he took it. We started dancing the night away with our friends and family from both sides.
"Live and learn, hanging on to the edge of tomorrow. Live and learn, from the works of yesterday. Live and learn, if you beg or if you borrow. Live and learn, you may never find your way."