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Description
"Forever Love"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Part One: A Broken Heart Remembers

   Knuckles the Echidna lived on Angel Island on the planet of Mobius, living his life and serving his avowed duty of guarding the powerful Master Emerald, with diligence unrivaled by any living creature.  Why he was so persistence in his duty…it was much more than instinct embedded deep into his very soul; no…it was much more than that.  Besides the island itself, the Master Emerald was all that remained of the once powerful echidna tribe.  His kinsfolk, everything he had ever known, had been brutally and cruelly taken away from Knuckles at such a fragile time in his life.  He was only a child, and in an instant, his whole life changed forever.  The echidnas all but slain, he knew that it was up to him to protect the only thing that he had left, besides his memories.  Ever since that day, no matter what the peril, he protected the sacred gem, unwavering in his will to protect it no matter what ill or adversity face him.

   Years had passed since that tragic day, and while he had found friends in Sonic the hedgehog, Tails Prower, and even Amy Rose, he still felt a gnawing emptiness in his soul.  The constant knowledge that he was the last echidna that still drew breath, had a way of getting him down at times, and as the years continued to pass, he found little comfort in the future.  The thought of passing even one more day the way he lived presently was sometimes overwhelming for him.  However, it was at times like these, which this story is about to recount, that this overwhelming feeling, turned into nothing but soul-breaking depression;…except, in this instance, it would be a time where his soul found lasting comfort, in a feeling of forever, undying love.

   One evening, Knuckles was in his usual routine…walking the island from end to end, stretching his legs before night came.  As he walked in silence, he listened to the sounds of the wood, enchanted with the way the evening forest tickled his senses.  He paused by a willow tree, looking up to the sky, and the rainbow of colors that the sunset brought to the vast expanse.  He could make out the stars that came out to play in the early evening, twinkling brightly even as the sun’s powerful light remained to overshadow them.  He found hope in these glimmers of light, but found even in this hope, he had to breathe a sigh, for within a week’s time the anniversary of the echidna tribe’s slaughter would arrive.

   Now, instead of walking to admire the beauty of the woods, his broken spirit began to tug at his emotions, bringing memories of that horrible evening back to his mind.  It was as if the echidna was transported back in time, and everywhere he looked, he could remember a friend, warrior, any member of the echidna tribe, he could see their broken and bloodied bodies exactly where they had lain so many years ago.  He tried to wrestle control of his mind as he blindly ran through the woods, closing his eyes tightly to suppress his tears, and make the ghastly images of his fallen kin retreat back into the void.  It was no use; the images still remained, and even as his tears clouded his vision, he could see the slaughter through his five-year-old eyes, even as the echidnas were being slain and he was powerless to help.  It was worse now, for he could even hear the screams of pain from the echidnas as they died, fighting to stay alive, even the cries of his own mother played over and over in his head.

   Knuckles screamed, finding himself back where the old echidna village once stood in her glory days.  He fell to his knees, his screams of agony making his throat hurt, his eyes burn, and his head ache terribly.  He couldn’t run anymore, nor cry anymore…or even scream anymore.  He collapsed onto the ground, panting to try to regain his breath, and let the last of his tears run out.  Finally, his tears subsided, and Knuckles prayed for his headache to recede as well.  After a few moments, he realized night had overtaken sunset, and it was time for rest.  He rose up, ready to climb the stairs to the Master Emerald’s altar, ready to resume his duty, and ready to resume his lonely, tragic life.

   On his way up, he looked back at the desolate village as he walked, and whispered to himself, “If only I could have done something to stop the carnage…I might not be alone as I am now…” He fell silent, taking one step forward, his foot falling on a loose piece of rubble, and when his full weight fell down on it, Knuckles slipped, and fell backwards, banging his head on the stone beneath him.  He went unconscious, and lay still at the bottom of the stairs, unmoving, after his fall.

   Silence, blackness, as Knuckles pulled out of the void that was his unconscious mind, he began to see daylight.  He must have been lying at the bottom of the stairs all night…but wait…he heard voices.  Perhaps it was Sonic and Tails, maybe Amy was with them.  No, that wasn’t it; he stood up, and found that while he was still at the bottom of the stairs, something was very wrong.  He saw echidnas walking all around him, carrying on the daily business of the echidna clan.  What had happened?  He found himself back in the days before his tribe was slain.  After the initial shock left him, he was overwhelmed with joy at seeing others like him again.  He ran to an echidna archer, but found that nobody could see him there.  Saddened at this, he overheard two of the village elders speaking.  He faintly remembered them, but from their conversation, discovered that he had landed on the week before the echidnas’ slaughter.

   Knuckles didn’t know what to think.  He couldn’t stop it if he couldn’t be seen…or would he even want to was what he was trying to decide.  If he changed the past, who knows what his future would be like?  He shook his head, and wondered how he might wake up from his dream.  He began to walk around the village, and for once had positive memories overflow his mind.  He saw many of the young echidnas that had been his friends running around, as well as the echidna warriors with their spears.  Then, he stopped fast, looking ahead of him, and seeing his dear mother, walking through the village with a basket of grapes, and Knuckles was in awe, when he saw his five-year-old self, running happily at her feet.  He had not been able to remember such happiness in all his years, but his heart felt tighten, as if it were weeping happily at seeing this happy memory.

   He watched as his mother and younger self walked through the bustling village; everyone nodded their head or even bowed as she passed.  She was the wife of the Guardian after all, and deserving of great admiration as a result.  The echidnas even let out a laugh and a smile as his five-year-old self ran at her heels, giggling and laughing with glee.  He followed his mother and younger self through the village, still unseen by all.  When they reached the largest of the huts, they entered in.  Once again, Knuckles’ heart was overwhelmed with pleasant sadness; for the first time in many woeful years, he had dozens of happy memories flowing through his mind.  He remembered his house, many of his friends, and even the beauty of his beloved mother.  The only thing that he could not recall…

   It was his father…at that moment, his father, the proud Guardian, entered in.  After giving his mother a kiss, Knuckles saw his father bend down, pick him up, and hold him high.  His younger self laughed and kicked as he did so, and finally Knuckles regained full memory of his happy life.  Then he listened to his parents speak.

   “What brings you here?  How could you find time to leave the Master unguarded at midday?” his mother said.

   His father laughed, then replied, “Mmm, that is of no worry to you, my dear.  Be glad that I am away from it at all, as I am even for a fleeting moment.  All I wanted was to see you, my dear, and to see the future guardian here.  What do you think of that Knuckles?  You’ll be the Guardian before too long.”

   Knuckles watched as his younger self laughed happily, only to reply, “I’ll be a good guardian daddy…better than you!”

   The echidna cracked a smile at what he heard his younger self say.  It occurred to him at that point that becoming the guardian was all he wanted, just so he could be great like his father when he followed in his footsteps, and eventually passed that same desire on to his own son.  He awoke from his thinking, only to see his father set him down gently, and pick up his spear, ready to depart once more.

   His father laughed and said, “Of course you will, but until then, remember to stay in the village, and away from the altar…it’s unsafe until you’re skilled enough to control it.  Don’t go beyond the borders of the village and you will be alright.  As for myself, I need to return to my duties.  I will see you two later.”  He saw his father bend down and kiss his younger self on the forehead, then give his mother a kiss on the cheek, and leave.  Knuckles, though overjoyed to see his mother again, decided to follow his father back to the altar.  He left the hut, and followed his father until they reached the Master Emerald.  It set in its shrine as it did every year following the tribes’ slaughter, proud and true, glowing from within.

   His father stood watch over it, much like Knuckles had for the past eleven years or so.  The difference was his father could take leave when he wished, as two of the Captains of the Guardian would keep watch over it in his stead.  However, it would be Knuckles who would become the new guardian, there was no other way around it.  Even if the tribe had lived, the echidna realized he’d still be stuck guarding the sometimes-wretched thing.  What point was there in preventing their slaughter?  His life wouldn’t change that much…or would it?

   Back on Angel Island, where Knuckles’ body lay still at the base of the stairs, Tails Prower discovered him, lying motionless.  When he could not wake him, he knew something was terribly, terribly wrong.

   “Sonic!” he cried, “Sonic!  Amy!  Something’s wrong with Knuckles!”  Tails ran off into the forest to find his friends, and as the sun again set over the horizon, two days had passed, and the anniversary of the echidna clan’s demise, was only three days in coming.  As Knuckles’ spirit walked in his past, he now started to wonder why he was literally in his own past, and what this would mean, when that third day came, and he watched his life be destroyed forever…for the second time, and powerless to stop it.

Description
"Forever Love"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Part One: A Broken Heart Remembers

   Knuckles the Echidna lived on Angel Island on the planet of Mobius, living his life and serving his avowed duty of guarding the powerful Master Emerald, with diligence unrivaled by any living creature.  Why he was so persistence in his duty…it was much more than instinct embedded deep into his very soul; no…it was much more than that.  Besides the island itself, the Master Emerald was all that remained of the once powerful echidna tribe.  His kinsfolk, everything he had ever known, had been brutally and cruelly taken away from Knuckles at such a fragile time in his life.  He was only a child, and in an instant, his whole life changed forever.  The echidnas all but slain, he knew that it was up to him to protect the only thing that he had left, besides his memories.  Ever since that day, no matter what the peril, he protected the sacred gem, unwavering in his will to protect it no matter what ill or adversity face him.

   Years had passed since that tragic day, and while he had found friends in Sonic the hedgehog, Tails Prower, and even Amy Rose, he still felt a gnawing emptiness in his soul.  The constant knowledge that he was the last echidna that still drew breath, had a way of getting him down at times, and as the years continued to pass, he found little comfort in the future.  The thought of passing even one more day the way he lived presently was sometimes overwhelming for him.  However, it was at times like these, which this story is about to recount, that this overwhelming feeling, turned into nothing but soul-breaking depression;…except, in this instance, it would be a time where his soul found lasting comfort, in a feeling of forever, undying love.

   One evening, Knuckles was in his usual routine…walking the island from end to end, stretching his legs before night came.  As he walked in silence, he listened to the sounds of the wood, enchanted with the way the evening forest tickled his senses.  He paused by a willow tree, looking up to the sky, and the rainbow of colors that the sunset brought to the vast expanse.  He could make out the stars that came out to play in the early evening, twinkling brightly even as the sun’s powerful light remained to overshadow them.  He found hope in these glimmers of light, but found even in this hope, he had to breathe a sigh, for within a week’s time the anniversary of the echidna tribe’s slaughter would arrive.

   Now, instead of walking to admire the beauty of the woods, his broken spirit began to tug at his emotions, bringing memories of that horrible evening back to his mind.  It was as if the echidna was transported back in time, and everywhere he looked, he could remember a friend, warrior, any member of the echidna tribe, he could see their broken and bloodied bodies exactly where they had lain so many years ago.  He tried to wrestle control of his mind as he blindly ran through the woods, closing his eyes tightly to suppress his tears, and make the ghastly images of his fallen kin retreat back into the void.  It was no use; the images still remained, and even as his tears clouded his vision, he could see the slaughter through his five-year-old eyes, even as the echidnas were being slain and he was powerless to help.  It was worse now, for he could even hear the screams of pain from the echidnas as they died, fighting to stay alive, even the cries of his own mother played over and over in his head.

   Knuckles screamed, finding himself back where the old echidna village once stood in her glory days.  He fell to his knees, his screams of agony making his throat hurt, his eyes burn, and his head ache terribly.  He couldn’t run anymore, nor cry anymore…or even scream anymore.  He collapsed onto the ground, panting to try to regain his breath, and let the last of his tears run out.  Finally, his tears subsided, and Knuckles prayed for his headache to recede as well.  After a few moments, he realized night had overtaken sunset, and it was time for rest.  He rose up, ready to climb the stairs to the Master Emerald’s altar, ready to resume his duty, and ready to resume his lonely, tragic life.

   On his way up, he looked back at the desolate village as he walked, and whispered to himself, “If only I could have done something to stop the carnage…I might not be alone as I am now…” He fell silent, taking one step forward, his foot falling on a loose piece of rubble, and when his full weight fell down on it, Knuckles slipped, and fell backwards, banging his head on the stone beneath him.  He went unconscious, and lay still at the bottom of the stairs, unmoving, after his fall.

   Silence, blackness, as Knuckles pulled out of the void that was his unconscious mind, he began to see daylight.  He must have been lying at the bottom of the stairs all night…but wait…he heard voices.  Perhaps it was Sonic and Tails, maybe Amy was with them.  No, that wasn’t it; he stood up, and found that while he was still at the bottom of the stairs, something was very wrong.  He saw echidnas walking all around him, carrying on the daily business of the echidna clan.  What had happened?  He found himself back in the days before his tribe was slain.  After the initial shock left him, he was overwhelmed with joy at seeing others like him again.  He ran to an echidna archer, but found that nobody could see him there.  Saddened at this, he overheard two of the village elders speaking.  He faintly remembered them, but from their conversation, discovered that he had landed on the week before the echidnas’ slaughter.

   Knuckles didn’t know what to think.  He couldn’t stop it if he couldn’t be seen…or would he even want to was what he was trying to decide.  If he changed the past, who knows what his future would be like?  He shook his head, and wondered how he might wake up from his dream.  He began to walk around the village, and for once had positive memories overflow his mind.  He saw many of the young echidnas that had been his friends running around, as well as the echidna warriors with their spears.  Then, he stopped fast, looking ahead of him, and seeing his dear mother, walking through the village with a basket of grapes, and Knuckles was in awe, when he saw his five-year-old self, running happily at her feet.  He had not been able to remember such happiness in all his years, but his heart felt tighten, as if it were weeping happily at seeing this happy memory.

   He watched as his mother and younger self walked through the bustling village; everyone nodded their head or even bowed as she passed.  She was the wife of the Guardian after all, and deserving of great admiration as a result.  The echidnas even let out a laugh and a smile as his five-year-old self ran at her heels, giggling and laughing with glee.  He followed his mother and younger self through the village, still unseen by all.  When they reached the largest of the huts, they entered in.  Once again, Knuckles’ heart was overwhelmed with pleasant sadness; for the first time in many woeful years, he had dozens of happy memories flowing through his mind.  He remembered his house, many of his friends, and even the beauty of his beloved mother.  The only thing that he could not recall…

   It was his father…at that moment, his father, the proud Guardian, entered in.  After giving his mother a kiss, Knuckles saw his father bend down, pick him up, and hold him high.  His younger self laughed and kicked as he did so, and finally Knuckles regained full memory of his happy life.  Then he listened to his parents speak.

   “What brings you here?  How could you find time to leave the Master unguarded at midday?” his mother said.

   His father laughed, then replied, “Mmm, that is of no worry to you, my dear.  Be glad that I am away from it at all, as I am even for a fleeting moment.  All I wanted was to see you, my dear, and to see the future guardian here.  What do you think of that Knuckles?  You’ll be the Guardian before too long.”

   Knuckles watched as his younger self laughed happily, only to reply, “I’ll be a good guardian daddy…better than you!”

   The echidna cracked a smile at what he heard his younger self say.  It occurred to him at that point that becoming the guardian was all he wanted, just so he could be great like his father when he followed in his footsteps, and eventually passed that same desire on to his own son.  He awoke from his thinking, only to see his father set him down gently, and pick up his spear, ready to depart once more.

   His father laughed and said, “Of course you will, but until then, remember to stay in the village, and away from the altar…it’s unsafe until you’re skilled enough to control it.  Don’t go beyond the borders of the village and you will be alright.  As for myself, I need to return to my duties.  I will see you two later.”  He saw his father bend down and kiss his younger self on the forehead, then give his mother a kiss on the cheek, and leave.  Knuckles, though overjoyed to see his mother again, decided to follow his father back to the altar.  He left the hut, and followed his father until they reached the Master Emerald.  It set in its shrine as it did every year following the tribes’ slaughter, proud and true, glowing from within.

   His father stood watch over it, much like Knuckles had for the past eleven years or so.  The difference was his father could take leave when he wished, as two of the Captains of the Guardian would keep watch over it in his stead.  However, it would be Knuckles who would become the new guardian, there was no other way around it.  Even if the tribe had lived, the echidna realized he’d still be stuck guarding the sometimes-wretched thing.  What point was there in preventing their slaughter?  His life wouldn’t change that much…or would it?

   Back on Angel Island, where Knuckles’ body lay still at the base of the stairs, Tails Prower discovered him, lying motionless.  When he could not wake him, he knew something was terribly, terribly wrong.

   “Sonic!” he cried, “Sonic!  Amy!  Something’s wrong with Knuckles!”  Tails ran off into the forest to find his friends, and as the sun again set over the horizon, two days had passed, and the anniversary of the echidna clan’s demise, was only three days in coming.  As Knuckles’ spirit walked in his past, he now started to wonder why he was literally in his own past, and what this would mean, when that third day came, and he watched his life be destroyed forever…for the second time, and powerless to stop it.