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"Love That Gives True Peace"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Chapter 10: "Forgiveness, Sweet Victory, and Peace"

   With morning fast approaching, and the storm at the peak of its intensity, the battle came down to Hidama and Knuckles, and Lord Olermere.  With the bodies of ten-thousand mutants around them, and Shadow, Sonic, and Elianaron as the only audience, the final showdown was about to begin.

   As a crash of thunder rolled through the sky and lightning streaks struck the earth, Olermere decided to strike; he lunged for the brothers with his brass knuckles, and finally acting together, each brother leaped out of the way, and ended up behind Olermere as he recoiled from his failed attack.

   Hidama panted heavily, and said, “Okay, we’ve gotta strike together.  Be ready to dodge him again then strike his legs with a running cut from your claws when he’s on the rebound.  We can do this.”

   Knuckles nodded, but before he could speak, Olermere whipped around and said, “Hold still you dammed echidnas!  Let me make this as quick and painful as I can!”

   Once he finished his shrill cry, another lightning strike struck the trees behind him, setting the forest up in flames.  This frightened Hidama and Knuckles to some degree, but had no time to be distracted as Olermere lunged for them again.  “Now!” Hidama shouted, as Olermere’s clenched fist hurdled for them.

   The brothers split up once more; extending their arms out, they both ran by Olermere’s huge legs, standing taller than both of them.  As they ran, Knuckles used his claws to rip through the nasty, blotchy black skin of his left leg, and Hidama’s claws tore through his right leg.  The mutant king let out a fierce, bloodcurdling cry as he fell to his knees.  He began to bleed profusely as the brothers had given him two deep wounds, one on each leg, wounding him at last, and very seriously.

   As Knuckles and Hidama met after their simultaneous attack, Knuckles shouted in exhilaration, “Ah ha!  Yes!  We got him at last Hidama!  You’re going down you fiend!  Let’s move!”

   Knuckles prepared for another attack, but again, Hidama was temporarily lost in thought, transfixed on Olermere as he was doubled over in pain.  The mutant king didn’t fight with the zip and enthusiasm of what he initially let on; he looked almost like a victim of random acts of violence, for while he’d fight and show intense anger, inside he was crying his eyes out, and his heart was aching.

   Yet Hidama knew this was something that had to be done, so he got ready with Knuckles to strike the mutant king again.  The brothers always struck him as he rebounded from his own attacks, wounding him slowly and in different places each time.  As they battled, Shadow, Sonic, and Elianaron tried their best to put out the raging fire, as it threatened to consume anyone and anything that stood in its path, including the possibility of spreading embers to Angel Island.

   Shadow, his broken arm beginning to hurt him more and more, looked to Sonic and Elianaron and said, “The rain should help us out here…we need to use it to our advantage to douse the flames.  Let’s hurry.”

   As Sonic began to do what he could to douse the flames, Elianaron looked to Shadow and said, “Gosh Shadow, you might wanna take a rest…you could really hurt yourself if you don’t.”

   The hedgehog glared at Elianaron, but his eyes were much softer than normal, as if he had little to no energy to be angry with.  He shook his head and said, “No, really, just, help Sonic and I try and control the fire…I actually think Hidama has enough power to do away with the flames…so we must try and control them until he can douse them.  Quickly!”

   Elianaron left Shadow begrudgingly, and began to help Sonic try to contain the fire.  Shadow however, dropped to his knees for a moment, holding his broken arm tight to his chest and cringing heavily.  He began to tremble badly, and was almost on the verge of tears.  He whispered, “My arm feels ready to fall off…ugh…I don’t…know how much longer I can take his punishment.”

   He looked up first to the eastern horizon, where the sun would soon rise, then up to the advancing thunderstorm and saw it was beginning to break up at last, to the point where he could see stars.  Then he glanced to where Hidama and Knuckles were fighting Olermere; he felt faint, and was about ready to collapse, but before he did, he smiled weakly and said, “Almost there you two…do me…a favor, and defeat Olermere, and be at peace forever…just incase I die, I want…to be sure you’ll finally have the peace I promised you both.”

   His voice trailed off; finally he was overpowered by the urge to faint, and he quickly collapsed, slumping to the ground, extending his good arm to brace his fall.  As he fell silent and didn’t move, his red chaos emerald tumbled out of his hand, the one he had used to brace his fall.  As it rolled on the ground, it stopped a few inches away from his face; it was glowing brightly from within before he fell, but as he remained unmoving, nearly lifeless on the ground, the light faded away and went dull.  It seemed now that more lives than was once thought now hung in the balance of the fire, the unforgiving storm, and the frightful King Olermere.

   Nobody witnessed Shadow collapse, and nobody would for awhile it seemed.  As the fire raged out of control, Sonic and Elianaron did their best to contain it, the heavy rains of the storm helping them somewhat, and Hidama and Knuckles continued to attack the mutant king.

   The storm indeed was beginning to break up, and as the thunder began to decrease in its magnitude, the lightning began to weaken, and the rain slowly reduced to a steady rain, Knuckles and Hidama prepared for the major blow, the one that would signal the beginning of the end for Olermere.

   Knuckles and Hidama signaled each other for the final attack.  The mutant king was badly wounded and quickly losing the battle, but struck once more for Hidama and Knuckles, who now stood together rather than separate, demanding that Olermere strike for them both at the same time.  As he lunged for the brothers, Hidama shouted, “Strike him quickly!  Move!”

   Though both brothers were significantly injured and tired, they pulled off one final attack; Knuckles let out a cry, and pulled into a mid-air roll; as he came out of it, he grabbed on to Olermere’s massive neck, and bracing himself by placing his feet on Olermere’s body, he pulled with all his strength on the mutant king, trying to drag him to the ground.  Hidama followed this up by leaping on Olermere’s back, ready to thrust his claws into his neck.

   Hidama called out to Knuckles, “Go for it Knuckles!”  In doing this, Knuckles quickly released his pull on Olermere and struck him hard on this side of his head with a critical blow from his huge fist.  At the same time, Hidama’s fist came down hard on Olermere’s head; this made his head lurch down and to the side, and finally Hidama drove his claws into the heavily exposed side of Olermere’s neck.  The mutant king’s cries were earth-shattering in intensity; yes, it was this finally, crippling blow, that signaled the end for the mutant king.  As he fell, broken and bleeding to the ground, the last significant rumble of thunder could be heard, the final flash of lightning fading away.

   Knuckles jumped to the side as Olermere’s massive body fell hard to the ground, and Hidama rolled off his back once he landed.  Knuckles was about ready to spit out a few nasty words of hatred to the mutant king before killing him, but before Hidama could begin to do the same, he opened his eyes.  First thing he saw was the stars in the sky beginning to fade away, signaling the sunrise, which was soon to come.  As he stood up, rubbing his head, he looked and saw the forest up in flames.

   He began to panic, but realized he’d be able to put it out with his magic.  Yet terror struck his heart once more.  He saw Sonic and Elianaron fighting to contain it from spreading, and Tails and Aranelion back to back on the ground, unconscious and suffering serious wounds from battle.  He and Knuckles both had major injuries as well, and he knew again that they would recover, but at last, he saw something that made his heart bleed.

   There, near the edge of the burning forest, flat on the ground, was his friend Shadow, his savior, the one who promised him he’d find peace…the one who led him back to his brother…and saved their lives…there was Shadow, near death on the ground.

   Ignoring Knuckles and Olermere, Hidama began to weep, and ran to Shadow’s side.  He picked up Shadow’s lifeless chaos emerald, which began to glow again in reaction to Hidama’s touch.  Placing it beside him, he pulled Shadow into his lap and cried, “Please no…Shadow, wake up, I beg you.  Don’t die like this.”

   There was no response from Shadow, who now seemed lifeless.  Hidama looked at him closely, and in the faint light of the early morning skies, he could see exactly how many wounds both he and Shadow had suffered.  Hidama had a gash on his forehead, a long cut on his left arm, a deep wound on his stomach, and several small cuts and scrapes.  His cape, shoes, and tuft of chest fur were stained with blood, and he had a black eye, but Shadow it seemed suffered even more critical injuries.

   He could tell Shadow was badly wounded, but his black and red fur hid exactly how many wounds he had and how severe they were; yet his fur was sticky from where he had bled and the rain did little to clean it.  What Hidama noticed more than anything was Shadow’s broken arm, which now seemed more than just broken.  It was almost as if it was broken, fractured and shattered in multiple places, a regular pain to have to bear.

   Hidama wouldn’t accept it; he wouldn’t accept that the battle was enough to kill Shadow, who for so many years now was his soul source of hope that someday he would be free; that someday he would find happiness.  So many times was he ready to give up and die, but Shadow would always intercede.  He promised Hidama he wouldn’t rest until he was reunited with Knuckles, and now Hidama was praying that death wasn’t the mode of rest he had long referred to.

   Soon anger overtook his sadness; he held Shadow close to him and said, “Shadow!  Dammit, you wake up right now!  I won’t let you die, so help me!  Now you wake up…Rouge won’t let me live it down if you die!”

   Whether it was his shouting, the movement of being picked up and cradled, or the mention of Rouge, something persuaded the hedgehog to open his eyes once more.  After catching his breath, he replied, “Al—Alright Hidama, please…I’m awake.  Don’t shout anymore alright?”  Hidama immediately smiled, dispelling the few tears of joy he wept as soon as Shadow rose, on bent knee.  He cradled his broken arm, cringing as waves of pain pulsed through it.  As Hidama handed him his chaos emerald, Shadow smiled and said, “You must finish Olermere…then we have to try and stop the fire.  All of us need some extent of medical attention…and by the looks of it, Aranelion and Tails need it very soon, as do you, Knuckles and I…and he needs to get home soon.”

   Hidama understood what Shadow meant, and knowing his friends would be alright, the doomed guardian stood up.  He looked to see Knuckles ready to kill Olermere, screaming at him quite loudly, condemning him to hell for murdering his family and destroying his life.  Hidama felt this same rage…but with everything so close to ending, he returned to his thoughts of mercy one more time.

   He heard Knuckles accuse Olermere of murdering his family, and while it was Feldmort’s army who did this, that wasn’t how it bothered Hidama.  He closed his eyes, and thought for a minute how all this had played out.  Feldmort and Olermere became mutants when they tried to take the Master Emerald, and were condemned to exile and death by his ancestors.  Over the years hate festered in their hearts, and once they built up enough power, they destroyed the echidnas in rebellion…now what was wrong with that scenario?  Hidama knew…

   This whole battle, this whole time, all Feldmort and Olermere spoke of was revenge for the transgressions they suffered.  Sure they lusted for the Master Emerald, but it was this same lust exemplified by the echidnas that banished them that got this vicious cycle of hatred and revenge started.  The echidnas banished, ridiculed, and dammed them to hell largely because they tried to violate and take the Master Emerald.  The Master Emerald wasn’t the true source of the anger and violence…more like it supplemented to it.  No, the true source of hatred, violence, and bloodshed for the mutants and echidnas was the lack of one thing: love.

   Yes love…through love, you had forgiveness, acceptance, and true peace.  Looking back on everything, it was love that saved Knuckles’ life, through Amy’s love for him, his love for her, and the kindness, caring and acceptance he received from his friends.  For Hidama, the care and concern he received from Shadow, the support and love from the fox children, the camaraderie he had with the Brokenstar Twins, and his faith and hope that he would be with his brother again kept him fighting for life.  All around him he could see how love could heal wounds, provide courage and strength, resolve grudges and disagreement, and even save lives, and now his heart wept, as he finally fully realized how the simple act of forgiveness and love could have saved Olermere and Feldmort, and perhaps so many other souls.

   He was now brought to tears as he looked around him; it wasn’t just the lost souls of his tribe, it was the deaths of all these mutant soldiers…the pain and misery that touched the lives of so many over the Master Emerald…over the lack of love, forgiveness, acceptance…truly, even the longest chain of hatred and violence could have been stopped with the love of one.

   Now, Hidama wept not only for his tribe, but for his ancestors who were slow to realize this miracle, and thus cursed all of them to certain death and misery as a result.  Hidama knew now that there would be no peace for any of them, unless he could extend love and forgiveness to Olermere before he died, and thus find true peace for them all.

   Tears fell from his eyes, but before he could really begin to weep, he looked up in horror to see Knuckles about to kill him for good.  He ran from Shadow, up to Knuckles and shouted out, “No Knuckles, stop!  Don’t do it!”

   Knuckles looked up at Hidama, baffled as to why Hidama would want to delay the death of this miserable creature any longer.  Even Sonic and Elianaron stopped to watch as the fire was thankfully dying down.  Shadow watched carefully, intrigued by Hidama’s actions, and all was silent.

   As Hidama ran up to Knuckles he tried to dispel his tears, to no avail, and thus startled Knuckles when he saw them.  Knuckles asked, “Hidama, why?  Why do you cry for this loathsome creature?  How can you after all the grief we’ve suffered under him?”

   The two brothers stared at each other for a moment, tears streaming down Hidama’s face.  He spoke, his voice quivering, “I’m not weeping for him alone…I’m weeping for his followers, his brother; I’m weeping for our tribe, our ancestors, and anyone hurt by the Master Emerald and the lust by us all for its power.  Truly brother, if the echidna race had not cared more for it than their own ailing brethren, things would have played out quite differently for us all.”

   The dying Olermere used what little strength he had to watch and listen to Hidama, amazed and shocked at Hidama’s words of mercy and kindness.  Knuckles however, was immediately confused and upset; “What on earth are you talking about Hidama?  Are you saying this is all the fault of the echidnas?”

   Hidama pulled Knuckles into a hug and said, “No brother, listen to me.  It is the fault of us all…the fault of our nature, to jump to selfishness and concern for ourselves instead of others.  Surely our ancestors brought this on by hurting Feldmort and Olermere by not extending and forgiveness or kindness when they needed it most.  Yet I do acknowledge I too am deeply hurt by the scars the mutants have inflicted on us all.  I’m not condemning anybody here…what I am saying however, is that this chain of hate will continue to live even after he dies…because hatred cannot be stopped by more violence like this, whether for justice or not.  These wounds can only be healed by love.”

   Knuckles thought about it, and realized what he said was true.  Even if they were to kill Olermere, they would forever feel the hurts of their lost loved ones and suffer the memory of their troubled pasts.  Yet it was love that up until now in many forms would always see them through, even when pain and hatred was always present.  He shed a few tears, hugged his brother tightly, then nodded and said in a low, shaky voice, “You…you’re right Hidama…I understand now what my hate-filled heart could not.”

   They pulled back from their hug, and as the sun began to rise behind them, the two brothers smiled through their tears.  It was then that they looked to Olermere, who was about to die from his injuries, and saw he was teary-eyed from Hidama’s words. Hidama slowly knelt down beside Olermere and spoke softly.  “I don’t know how much good this will do you in the afterlife, but I think it’s about time these wounds we’ve all suffered are finally laid to rest.  You only took hurt against us in rebellion of the wounds you suffered under the care of my ancestors.  Both of us are the hurt party in this nasty string of hatred, violence and bloodshed; we’re victims of our own hatred, misunderstanding, and lack of consideration of the feelings of others.  So now, before you pass away, I want to extend my apologies…for all of the deplorable acts of my kindred.  I know I am apologizing for the sins of many, but I hope that somehow you can forgive us…maybe if we can forgive each other, we can go our separate ways in peace.”

   There was a hushed silence at this moment, even the rain chose now to slow to a drizzle and the storm clouds break up completely.  The mutant king summoned the last of his strength to look at Hidama in the eyes.  The two remained transfixed on, not just the numerous wounds they had suffered in that battle, but the wounds they had suffered over the years of their lives, physical, mental and emotional.  It was almost as if Hidama could feel the pain Olermere had received, and Olermere recognize the suffering Hidama had endured.  In this moment the two realized they weren’t that much different from one another; long ago Olermere was once an echidna, they both realized this.  Yet they also realized they were alike in other ways; they both suffered more than they should have ever had to…and, most importantly, they were both brothers, and all this time it seemed they had such great care and concern for them above all else, and now it was time for Olermere to be with Feldmort again, just as Hidama and Knuckles were finally reunited.

   Yet this silence of acceptance and realization was broken as Olermere hacked terribly, his breath becoming short and his breathing labored.  Everyone watched as Hidama moved closer to Olermere and pulled him into his lap.  Then, Shadow struggled to his feet, only to be balanced by Sonic and Elianaron; the three of them looked back to see Knuckles sit beside his brother in Olermere’s dying moments.

   Sonic shook his head and said, “I wish I could hear what was being said…because I don’t understand this at all.”

   Shadow, who was steadily getting his strength back, managed a smile and said, “Hidama and Knuckles are doing what not even the strongest and most honorable of their ancestors could not.  They are extending love and forgiveness to those that have done them wrong, putting the life of another before themselves.  In extending their apologies for the suffering he’s had to endure and forgiving him for the transgressions they suffered under his and his brother’s hands that they shall all find true peace.”

   As Sonic steadied Shadow, they watched with Elianaron the scene that unfolded before them in the presence of the sunrise.  Olermere, in his dying moments, was weeping considerably at this gesture of kindness from both Hidama and Knuckles.  His voice was quiet and his speech broken and rattled, but he managed a reply to Hidama’s declaration of acceptance, kindness, and forgiveness.

   “S—Sons of the…the Guardian…truly you are many…many things. You are very strong…able to—to survive many trials…to continue to persevere in the f—face of death and ad—adversity.  You…you speak rightly, Hinsei Hidama…for it was…was hatred and neglect I…and my br—brother suffered that…that drove us to kill.  Now…I am just…so sorry, for these sins…and my heart is breaking—for finally I’ve found…two beautiful…beautiful souls…to love and accept me—despite my flaws, and my sins against them.  It—it feels so good, to be forgiven…and accepted by my native kin at last…and I can only offer…my deepest apologies for the acts of my brother, myself and our followers.  Now I know…I was only hurting two souls that were…suffering as much as my brother and I,” he whispered.

   Hidama was smiling through his tears, and now even Knuckles began to weep, for they felt now they were just losing another member of their kindred.  The one major difference between Olermere and Feldmort, and themselves, was that hatred had corrupted their happiness and cost them everything.  Hidama and Knuckles were just lucky that they had so much love, care and acceptance to keep their hope alive and their lives full of happiness and comfort.  The tragedy in truth wasn’t as much that the echidnas were massacred or Hidama and Knuckles brought harm; the tragedy was that Olermere and Feldmort weren’t fortunate enough to have such love and support that Hidama and Knuckles were so blessed to know, and now, Hidama and Knuckles realized how lucky they truly were, and how tragic it was that Feldmort and Olermere didn’t have that blessing.

   The sun now began to climb over the horizon, and the last of the storm clouds began to drift south; birds began to sing, the air felt crisp and damp, and the fire in the nearby woods began to die down, the plume of smoke blowing westward on a cool breeze.  Knuckles and Hidama looked up, and realized, morning had come, and now, someone was about to die…King Olermere.

   Knuckles was weeping very heavily; he shook his head in defiance and said, “No…you can’t…not now; there has to be something we can do.  How can you die when at last we’ve all found acceptance?  You’re one of us at heart…”

   At a loss for an answer, Hidama wrapped his free arm around Knuckles and hugged him.  Olermere looked up at the brothers, and whispered, “Oh Knuckles…I—I’ve found acceptance yes…but, …but not peace.  My peace…is with my brother Feldmort…just as your peace, is with Hidama…and his peace, with you.  Now that our sins are forgiven…and we’re finally shown acceptance…and love…Feldmort and I can at last have our solace…but not here with the living, as with you and your brother.  We shall have comfort and happiness in the great beyond…but no…”  Olermere smiled, for perhaps the first time in so many years, and whispered, his breath running short, “You and Hidama, you two were strong enough, blessed with enough love and friendship to survive this…this chain of hatred and death.  The dead of your kindred have protected you…your friends accepted and cared for you, and your love for each other…held you through, and now, you will live on, in happiness, prosperity, and peace, as you have long deserved.”

   Hidama and Knuckles looked at each other, their strong smiles now reduced to the weakest smiles they could bear.  Knuckles closed his eyes to try and suppress his tears, and could no longer speak.  As he rested his head on Hidama’s shoulder and continued to weep, Hidama found words to say.  “Bless you Olermere…it gives my heart great relief and comfort to know…there is no more ill will between us.  Though this love, forgiveness and acceptance can never undo all that has been done, at least it can heal the lasting scars that before we supposed could never be caressed away.  May you and Feldmort find peace and solace in the afterlife that so eluded you in life due to selfishness and hate, violence and bloodshed, …misunderstandings and sorrows.”

   The mutant king continued to smile.  With his last words, he spoke, “My friend…our peace is assured now…because of your kindness and forgiveness.  But now…I must go, and be pure again.  In the mean time, Angel Island awaits you both, as well as sweet love and acceptance from your friends and each other.  I only hope you shall continue to bask in such blessings and never again know severe pain and misery as this.  You are both most deserving of all things good…and have all along, and forever more.”

   Hidama could only nod, and whisper, “Goodbye my friend, rest well.”  Knuckles turned to look at Olermere once more and rested his hand on the mutant king’s back; the two brothers could feel Olermere take his last breath and then pass away.  They realized now they had just lost another member of their kindred, whose shrewd appearance was nothing more than a testament to how hatred and violence could corrupt even a soul that was once a member of what was known as, “The Master Race” long revered as the most noble, beautiful, graceful, and precious examples of life on earth.  This was truly a reason to cause Hidama and Knuckles to weep, for to see how much misery, torture, and sorrow one act of hatred can grow even in the hearts of their own kin, and how a simple gesture of kindness could undo it all in an instance, but all too late, made them feel sick inside, despite the relief they had that they were wise enough to be the ones to extend love before it was too late to mend the wounds.

   As Hidama and Knuckles turned to embrace each other as they wept, Shadow, helped by Sonic, managed to walk over to the two brothers.  He knew exactly what had transpired between the three as Olermere lay dying, but knew even more urgently that Knuckles was needed elsewhere.  He turned to Sonic and said, “Help me kneel down, then you and Elianaron go help Tails and Aranelion.  The fire is about to go out anyway.  I’ll be alright.”

   Sonic nodded, and helping Shadow to his knees, he looked over at Aranelion and Tails, then said, “Hang in there Shadow; you fought a good, long battle.”

   Shadow looked to Sonic, smiled a bit, then said, “Thank you for your assistance Sonic.  You and Tails helped turn the tides on a seemingly impossible road.  Now go, quickly.”  Sonic sped away, and Elianaron followed, leaving Shadow with an almost inconsolable Knuckles and Hidama.

   He placed the hand of his good arm on Knuckles’ shoulder and said, “Come now you two; yes you have a great reason to weep and mourn, but you also have legitimate reason to be happy.  You two did something no one before you could, and that was to extend forgiveness, apology, and love to those pitiful creatures.  You were able to see who they were deep inside…you were able to see past what the anger, hate and sorrow had made them become, and for that, Olermere is finally at peace, and Feldmort is the same I am sure.  As sad a time I know this is, you cannot stay here and weep for long…and Knuckles I think perhaps you know why.”

   The two pulled out of their embrace and as they tried to dispel their tears, Knuckles’ eyes widened in horror; he looked to Angel Island, and in panic, he cried, “Oh my…Amy!  I—I’ve got to get there fast!”

   Hidama slowly set Olermere’s body on the ground and stood up, gazing at the home he had not seen in twelve years.  His eyes widened with wonder, but he realized the seriousness at hand.  He looked to Knuckles and said, “Let’s go; you were needed here, but now you’re needed more back home…so let’s move.”

   The two brothers looked at each other when Hidama called Angel Island “home”; again, they couldn’t believe that they were finally together again at long last.  They embraced each other tightly once more and Knuckles whispered, “Yes Hidama…we’re both needed at home…so let’s go home…together.”

   Withdrawing from their hug, they wasted no time in getting back to Angel Island, for as the sun rose higher into the morning sky, the time they had left to get there was running short.  Shadow for once could not keep up with the pace, so he sat quietly near the edge of the woods, watching Knuckles and Hidama take off for Angel Island, fingering his chaos emerald and grinning to himself.  He whispered, “So at last, I fulfilled my promise to you both; you are together again and home at long last…now I suppose it’s time I fulfilled a promise to myself…and someone I hold dear, above all others.”

   A short time later, Hidama and Knuckles finally arrived on Angel Island, and Hidama slowed his pace as he walked in the woods he had not seen for so long.  His steps were shaky, as he never once thought he’d ever return.  Knuckles, though in haste to get back to Amy, realized the shock his brother was going through.  He put Hidama’s arm around him so he could steady Hidama as they walked.  Knuckles smiled and said, “Wait until you see the cottage Amy and I live in.  It’s pretty close the altar, but the grounds of the village I left untouched.”  He paused, and whispered, “Hidama, I was scared that night when you left me…but I was even more scared when your body wasn’t amongst the dead.  You just don’t know how happy I am to have you back with me again.”

   Hidama smiled at Knuckles, then looked and saw the Master Emerald in the distance.  He inhaled deeply and said, “Oh Knuxie…I’m just glad to be back home…where I belong.  Heh, last time I called you Knuxie was that evening that everything happened you remember?  It’s been too long Knuckles…really it has; we had so much stolen from us, but now I can only say we’re better off than we ever once thought.”

   As the cottage came into view, sitting on the edge of what was once the thriving echidna village where Hidama and Knuckles were born, the time for another birth was about to come.  It became apparent to Knuckles just how urgently he was needed.  However, before he could sprint away, Hidama stood on his own and said, “Indeed, we are both so rich…so blessed…”  He shook his head, looked at Knuckles and said, “Well, go on now!  What are you standing around here for?  I’ll catch up…I just…want to reacquaint myself with the island.”

   Knuckles smiled and nodded, before taking off urgently to the cottage porch.  He sped through the door, only opening it quick enough for Kelerai to scurry outside.  As Hidama walked along, he glanced at the cottage, smiling at the life his brother had made for himself, then turned his attention to the silent remains of the echidna village.  He remembered things more vividly than Knuckles, and as he walked around, glancing at the houses, bakeries, and even where he once went to school, he could visualize the past so well he could hear the sounds of children laughing, the elders talking, even his mother’s voice.  He had inherited his love for singing from her, and as he walked up the steps to the Master Emerald, he sung a song in the echidna tongue, one that was sung to celebrate new birth, in observation of the new life that was about to begin below.

   The echidna tongue made it sound rich and sweet, but translated into speech as well as Hidama could manage, the words lost none of their emotion and meaning.

   Welcome to the world we know, the world we love, where we live and grow.
   As souls before you have come to know, there’s much love we have to show,
   In this world, there’s so much to see, so much to love, to give you glee,
   But infant young, the most important thing, you must know this peace isn’t free.
   For peace, comes from the souls of all under the sun, and now you belong to,
   Peace comes from the love that all souls share, and the hatred they choose to undo.
   So child, please grow strong, and love with reverence, your family, friends, and all the joys of this life.
   Yet please remember too, to love what others may hate, for peace, comes from overcoming hate and strife.
   No, peace is not lack of hatred, sorrow, and misery…child, you must know, through your birth there is peace,
   For your birth is a symbol of how life may continue in spite of evil, how goodness and life will never once cease.
   Welcome child, to this place.  Live long and happy, free, and in love.
   And do child, do love others, for this world, though filled with sorrow, has a firm foundation in love, as seen in you.

   As Hidama stopped singing, he found himself at the top of the Master Emerald’s altar, much as his father was every day;  he smiled, realizing at last the deep meaning of this simple song.  Glancing down at the cottage he could hear the first cries of this new life.  He rested his hand on the Master Emerald, which glowed under his touch.  He saw Rouge run from the cottage in the direction of the battle to find Shadow, and Kelerai came running up the stairs, only to sit beside Hidama.  Reaching down to pet her, he laughed and said, “I’m home…and at last, we’ve conquered the miseries, and finally found peace; Knuckles could tell you that better than anyone.”

   He looked down once more at the cottage, in the direction of Knuckles and Amy’s bedroom and continued to smile, his eyes shining from within.  He was finally home, and after so much adversity, finally the peace that was long fought for was about to begin.  Still looking towards the bedroom window, he said, “Aemerai, shentei ai’asantee, herendei ai’sarendei lasuntei,” which in the echidna tongue meant, and appropriately:

   “Welcome, child of the Guardian, to everlasting peace.”

Description
"Love That Gives True Peace"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Chapter 10: "Forgiveness, Sweet Victory, and Peace"

   With morning fast approaching, and the storm at the peak of its intensity, the battle came down to Hidama and Knuckles, and Lord Olermere.  With the bodies of ten-thousand mutants around them, and Shadow, Sonic, and Elianaron as the only audience, the final showdown was about to begin.

   As a crash of thunder rolled through the sky and lightning streaks struck the earth, Olermere decided to strike; he lunged for the brothers with his brass knuckles, and finally acting together, each brother leaped out of the way, and ended up behind Olermere as he recoiled from his failed attack.

   Hidama panted heavily, and said, “Okay, we’ve gotta strike together.  Be ready to dodge him again then strike his legs with a running cut from your claws when he’s on the rebound.  We can do this.”

   Knuckles nodded, but before he could speak, Olermere whipped around and said, “Hold still you dammed echidnas!  Let me make this as quick and painful as I can!”

   Once he finished his shrill cry, another lightning strike struck the trees behind him, setting the forest up in flames.  This frightened Hidama and Knuckles to some degree, but had no time to be distracted as Olermere lunged for them again.  “Now!” Hidama shouted, as Olermere’s clenched fist hurdled for them.

   The brothers split up once more; extending their arms out, they both ran by Olermere’s huge legs, standing taller than both of them.  As they ran, Knuckles used his claws to rip through the nasty, blotchy black skin of his left leg, and Hidama’s claws tore through his right leg.  The mutant king let out a fierce, bloodcurdling cry as he fell to his knees.  He began to bleed profusely as the brothers had given him two deep wounds, one on each leg, wounding him at last, and very seriously.

   As Knuckles and Hidama met after their simultaneous attack, Knuckles shouted in exhilaration, “Ah ha!  Yes!  We got him at last Hidama!  You’re going down you fiend!  Let’s move!”

   Knuckles prepared for another attack, but again, Hidama was temporarily lost in thought, transfixed on Olermere as he was doubled over in pain.  The mutant king didn’t fight with the zip and enthusiasm of what he initially let on; he looked almost like a victim of random acts of violence, for while he’d fight and show intense anger, inside he was crying his eyes out, and his heart was aching.

   Yet Hidama knew this was something that had to be done, so he got ready with Knuckles to strike the mutant king again.  The brothers always struck him as he rebounded from his own attacks, wounding him slowly and in different places each time.  As they battled, Shadow, Sonic, and Elianaron tried their best to put out the raging fire, as it threatened to consume anyone and anything that stood in its path, including the possibility of spreading embers to Angel Island.

   Shadow, his broken arm beginning to hurt him more and more, looked to Sonic and Elianaron and said, “The rain should help us out here…we need to use it to our advantage to douse the flames.  Let’s hurry.”

   As Sonic began to do what he could to douse the flames, Elianaron looked to Shadow and said, “Gosh Shadow, you might wanna take a rest…you could really hurt yourself if you don’t.”

   The hedgehog glared at Elianaron, but his eyes were much softer than normal, as if he had little to no energy to be angry with.  He shook his head and said, “No, really, just, help Sonic and I try and control the fire…I actually think Hidama has enough power to do away with the flames…so we must try and control them until he can douse them.  Quickly!”

   Elianaron left Shadow begrudgingly, and began to help Sonic try to contain the fire.  Shadow however, dropped to his knees for a moment, holding his broken arm tight to his chest and cringing heavily.  He began to tremble badly, and was almost on the verge of tears.  He whispered, “My arm feels ready to fall off…ugh…I don’t…know how much longer I can take his punishment.”

   He looked up first to the eastern horizon, where the sun would soon rise, then up to the advancing thunderstorm and saw it was beginning to break up at last, to the point where he could see stars.  Then he glanced to where Hidama and Knuckles were fighting Olermere; he felt faint, and was about ready to collapse, but before he did, he smiled weakly and said, “Almost there you two…do me…a favor, and defeat Olermere, and be at peace forever…just incase I die, I want…to be sure you’ll finally have the peace I promised you both.”

   His voice trailed off; finally he was overpowered by the urge to faint, and he quickly collapsed, slumping to the ground, extending his good arm to brace his fall.  As he fell silent and didn’t move, his red chaos emerald tumbled out of his hand, the one he had used to brace his fall.  As it rolled on the ground, it stopped a few inches away from his face; it was glowing brightly from within before he fell, but as he remained unmoving, nearly lifeless on the ground, the light faded away and went dull.  It seemed now that more lives than was once thought now hung in the balance of the fire, the unforgiving storm, and the frightful King Olermere.

   Nobody witnessed Shadow collapse, and nobody would for awhile it seemed.  As the fire raged out of control, Sonic and Elianaron did their best to contain it, the heavy rains of the storm helping them somewhat, and Hidama and Knuckles continued to attack the mutant king.

   The storm indeed was beginning to break up, and as the thunder began to decrease in its magnitude, the lightning began to weaken, and the rain slowly reduced to a steady rain, Knuckles and Hidama prepared for the major blow, the one that would signal the beginning of the end for Olermere.

   Knuckles and Hidama signaled each other for the final attack.  The mutant king was badly wounded and quickly losing the battle, but struck once more for Hidama and Knuckles, who now stood together rather than separate, demanding that Olermere strike for them both at the same time.  As he lunged for the brothers, Hidama shouted, “Strike him quickly!  Move!”

   Though both brothers were significantly injured and tired, they pulled off one final attack; Knuckles let out a cry, and pulled into a mid-air roll; as he came out of it, he grabbed on to Olermere’s massive neck, and bracing himself by placing his feet on Olermere’s body, he pulled with all his strength on the mutant king, trying to drag him to the ground.  Hidama followed this up by leaping on Olermere’s back, ready to thrust his claws into his neck.

   Hidama called out to Knuckles, “Go for it Knuckles!”  In doing this, Knuckles quickly released his pull on Olermere and struck him hard on this side of his head with a critical blow from his huge fist.  At the same time, Hidama’s fist came down hard on Olermere’s head; this made his head lurch down and to the side, and finally Hidama drove his claws into the heavily exposed side of Olermere’s neck.  The mutant king’s cries were earth-shattering in intensity; yes, it was this finally, crippling blow, that signaled the end for the mutant king.  As he fell, broken and bleeding to the ground, the last significant rumble of thunder could be heard, the final flash of lightning fading away.

   Knuckles jumped to the side as Olermere’s massive body fell hard to the ground, and Hidama rolled off his back once he landed.  Knuckles was about ready to spit out a few nasty words of hatred to the mutant king before killing him, but before Hidama could begin to do the same, he opened his eyes.  First thing he saw was the stars in the sky beginning to fade away, signaling the sunrise, which was soon to come.  As he stood up, rubbing his head, he looked and saw the forest up in flames.

   He began to panic, but realized he’d be able to put it out with his magic.  Yet terror struck his heart once more.  He saw Sonic and Elianaron fighting to contain it from spreading, and Tails and Aranelion back to back on the ground, unconscious and suffering serious wounds from battle.  He and Knuckles both had major injuries as well, and he knew again that they would recover, but at last, he saw something that made his heart bleed.

   There, near the edge of the burning forest, flat on the ground, was his friend Shadow, his savior, the one who promised him he’d find peace…the one who led him back to his brother…and saved their lives…there was Shadow, near death on the ground.

   Ignoring Knuckles and Olermere, Hidama began to weep, and ran to Shadow’s side.  He picked up Shadow’s lifeless chaos emerald, which began to glow again in reaction to Hidama’s touch.  Placing it beside him, he pulled Shadow into his lap and cried, “Please no…Shadow, wake up, I beg you.  Don’t die like this.”

   There was no response from Shadow, who now seemed lifeless.  Hidama looked at him closely, and in the faint light of the early morning skies, he could see exactly how many wounds both he and Shadow had suffered.  Hidama had a gash on his forehead, a long cut on his left arm, a deep wound on his stomach, and several small cuts and scrapes.  His cape, shoes, and tuft of chest fur were stained with blood, and he had a black eye, but Shadow it seemed suffered even more critical injuries.

   He could tell Shadow was badly wounded, but his black and red fur hid exactly how many wounds he had and how severe they were; yet his fur was sticky from where he had bled and the rain did little to clean it.  What Hidama noticed more than anything was Shadow’s broken arm, which now seemed more than just broken.  It was almost as if it was broken, fractured and shattered in multiple places, a regular pain to have to bear.

   Hidama wouldn’t accept it; he wouldn’t accept that the battle was enough to kill Shadow, who for so many years now was his soul source of hope that someday he would be free; that someday he would find happiness.  So many times was he ready to give up and die, but Shadow would always intercede.  He promised Hidama he wouldn’t rest until he was reunited with Knuckles, and now Hidama was praying that death wasn’t the mode of rest he had long referred to.

   Soon anger overtook his sadness; he held Shadow close to him and said, “Shadow!  Dammit, you wake up right now!  I won’t let you die, so help me!  Now you wake up…Rouge won’t let me live it down if you die!”

   Whether it was his shouting, the movement of being picked up and cradled, or the mention of Rouge, something persuaded the hedgehog to open his eyes once more.  After catching his breath, he replied, “Al—Alright Hidama, please…I’m awake.  Don’t shout anymore alright?”  Hidama immediately smiled, dispelling the few tears of joy he wept as soon as Shadow rose, on bent knee.  He cradled his broken arm, cringing as waves of pain pulsed through it.  As Hidama handed him his chaos emerald, Shadow smiled and said, “You must finish Olermere…then we have to try and stop the fire.  All of us need some extent of medical attention…and by the looks of it, Aranelion and Tails need it very soon, as do you, Knuckles and I…and he needs to get home soon.”

   Hidama understood what Shadow meant, and knowing his friends would be alright, the doomed guardian stood up.  He looked to see Knuckles ready to kill Olermere, screaming at him quite loudly, condemning him to hell for murdering his family and destroying his life.  Hidama felt this same rage…but with everything so close to ending, he returned to his thoughts of mercy one more time.

   He heard Knuckles accuse Olermere of murdering his family, and while it was Feldmort’s army who did this, that wasn’t how it bothered Hidama.  He closed his eyes, and thought for a minute how all this had played out.  Feldmort and Olermere became mutants when they tried to take the Master Emerald, and were condemned to exile and death by his ancestors.  Over the years hate festered in their hearts, and once they built up enough power, they destroyed the echidnas in rebellion…now what was wrong with that scenario?  Hidama knew…

   This whole battle, this whole time, all Feldmort and Olermere spoke of was revenge for the transgressions they suffered.  Sure they lusted for the Master Emerald, but it was this same lust exemplified by the echidnas that banished them that got this vicious cycle of hatred and revenge started.  The echidnas banished, ridiculed, and dammed them to hell largely because they tried to violate and take the Master Emerald.  The Master Emerald wasn’t the true source of the anger and violence…more like it supplemented to it.  No, the true source of hatred, violence, and bloodshed for the mutants and echidnas was the lack of one thing: love.

   Yes love…through love, you had forgiveness, acceptance, and true peace.  Looking back on everything, it was love that saved Knuckles’ life, through Amy’s love for him, his love for her, and the kindness, caring and acceptance he received from his friends.  For Hidama, the care and concern he received from Shadow, the support and love from the fox children, the camaraderie he had with the Brokenstar Twins, and his faith and hope that he would be with his brother again kept him fighting for life.  All around him he could see how love could heal wounds, provide courage and strength, resolve grudges and disagreement, and even save lives, and now his heart wept, as he finally fully realized how the simple act of forgiveness and love could have saved Olermere and Feldmort, and perhaps so many other souls.

   He was now brought to tears as he looked around him; it wasn’t just the lost souls of his tribe, it was the deaths of all these mutant soldiers…the pain and misery that touched the lives of so many over the Master Emerald…over the lack of love, forgiveness, acceptance…truly, even the longest chain of hatred and violence could have been stopped with the love of one.

   Now, Hidama wept not only for his tribe, but for his ancestors who were slow to realize this miracle, and thus cursed all of them to certain death and misery as a result.  Hidama knew now that there would be no peace for any of them, unless he could extend love and forgiveness to Olermere before he died, and thus find true peace for them all.

   Tears fell from his eyes, but before he could really begin to weep, he looked up in horror to see Knuckles about to kill him for good.  He ran from Shadow, up to Knuckles and shouted out, “No Knuckles, stop!  Don’t do it!”

   Knuckles looked up at Hidama, baffled as to why Hidama would want to delay the death of this miserable creature any longer.  Even Sonic and Elianaron stopped to watch as the fire was thankfully dying down.  Shadow watched carefully, intrigued by Hidama’s actions, and all was silent.

   As Hidama ran up to Knuckles he tried to dispel his tears, to no avail, and thus startled Knuckles when he saw them.  Knuckles asked, “Hidama, why?  Why do you cry for this loathsome creature?  How can you after all the grief we’ve suffered under him?”

   The two brothers stared at each other for a moment, tears streaming down Hidama’s face.  He spoke, his voice quivering, “I’m not weeping for him alone…I’m weeping for his followers, his brother; I’m weeping for our tribe, our ancestors, and anyone hurt by the Master Emerald and the lust by us all for its power.  Truly brother, if the echidna race had not cared more for it than their own ailing brethren, things would have played out quite differently for us all.”

   The dying Olermere used what little strength he had to watch and listen to Hidama, amazed and shocked at Hidama’s words of mercy and kindness.  Knuckles however, was immediately confused and upset; “What on earth are you talking about Hidama?  Are you saying this is all the fault of the echidnas?”

   Hidama pulled Knuckles into a hug and said, “No brother, listen to me.  It is the fault of us all…the fault of our nature, to jump to selfishness and concern for ourselves instead of others.  Surely our ancestors brought this on by hurting Feldmort and Olermere by not extending and forgiveness or kindness when they needed it most.  Yet I do acknowledge I too am deeply hurt by the scars the mutants have inflicted on us all.  I’m not condemning anybody here…what I am saying however, is that this chain of hate will continue to live even after he dies…because hatred cannot be stopped by more violence like this, whether for justice or not.  These wounds can only be healed by love.”

   Knuckles thought about it, and realized what he said was true.  Even if they were to kill Olermere, they would forever feel the hurts of their lost loved ones and suffer the memory of their troubled pasts.  Yet it was love that up until now in many forms would always see them through, even when pain and hatred was always present.  He shed a few tears, hugged his brother tightly, then nodded and said in a low, shaky voice, “You…you’re right Hidama…I understand now what my hate-filled heart could not.”

   They pulled back from their hug, and as the sun began to rise behind them, the two brothers smiled through their tears.  It was then that they looked to Olermere, who was about to die from his injuries, and saw he was teary-eyed from Hidama’s words. Hidama slowly knelt down beside Olermere and spoke softly.  “I don’t know how much good this will do you in the afterlife, but I think it’s about time these wounds we’ve all suffered are finally laid to rest.  You only took hurt against us in rebellion of the wounds you suffered under the care of my ancestors.  Both of us are the hurt party in this nasty string of hatred, violence and bloodshed; we’re victims of our own hatred, misunderstanding, and lack of consideration of the feelings of others.  So now, before you pass away, I want to extend my apologies…for all of the deplorable acts of my kindred.  I know I am apologizing for the sins of many, but I hope that somehow you can forgive us…maybe if we can forgive each other, we can go our separate ways in peace.”

   There was a hushed silence at this moment, even the rain chose now to slow to a drizzle and the storm clouds break up completely.  The mutant king summoned the last of his strength to look at Hidama in the eyes.  The two remained transfixed on, not just the numerous wounds they had suffered in that battle, but the wounds they had suffered over the years of their lives, physical, mental and emotional.  It was almost as if Hidama could feel the pain Olermere had received, and Olermere recognize the suffering Hidama had endured.  In this moment the two realized they weren’t that much different from one another; long ago Olermere was once an echidna, they both realized this.  Yet they also realized they were alike in other ways; they both suffered more than they should have ever had to…and, most importantly, they were both brothers, and all this time it seemed they had such great care and concern for them above all else, and now it was time for Olermere to be with Feldmort again, just as Hidama and Knuckles were finally reunited.

   Yet this silence of acceptance and realization was broken as Olermere hacked terribly, his breath becoming short and his breathing labored.  Everyone watched as Hidama moved closer to Olermere and pulled him into his lap.  Then, Shadow struggled to his feet, only to be balanced by Sonic and Elianaron; the three of them looked back to see Knuckles sit beside his brother in Olermere’s dying moments.

   Sonic shook his head and said, “I wish I could hear what was being said…because I don’t understand this at all.”

   Shadow, who was steadily getting his strength back, managed a smile and said, “Hidama and Knuckles are doing what not even the strongest and most honorable of their ancestors could not.  They are extending love and forgiveness to those that have done them wrong, putting the life of another before themselves.  In extending their apologies for the suffering he’s had to endure and forgiving him for the transgressions they suffered under his and his brother’s hands that they shall all find true peace.”

   As Sonic steadied Shadow, they watched with Elianaron the scene that unfolded before them in the presence of the sunrise.  Olermere, in his dying moments, was weeping considerably at this gesture of kindness from both Hidama and Knuckles.  His voice was quiet and his speech broken and rattled, but he managed a reply to Hidama’s declaration of acceptance, kindness, and forgiveness.

   “S—Sons of the…the Guardian…truly you are many…many things. You are very strong…able to—to survive many trials…to continue to persevere in the f—face of death and ad—adversity.  You…you speak rightly, Hinsei Hidama…for it was…was hatred and neglect I…and my br—brother suffered that…that drove us to kill.  Now…I am just…so sorry, for these sins…and my heart is breaking—for finally I’ve found…two beautiful…beautiful souls…to love and accept me—despite my flaws, and my sins against them.  It—it feels so good, to be forgiven…and accepted by my native kin at last…and I can only offer…my deepest apologies for the acts of my brother, myself and our followers.  Now I know…I was only hurting two souls that were…suffering as much as my brother and I,” he whispered.

   Hidama was smiling through his tears, and now even Knuckles began to weep, for they felt now they were just losing another member of their kindred.  The one major difference between Olermere and Feldmort, and themselves, was that hatred had corrupted their happiness and cost them everything.  Hidama and Knuckles were just lucky that they had so much love, care and acceptance to keep their hope alive and their lives full of happiness and comfort.  The tragedy in truth wasn’t as much that the echidnas were massacred or Hidama and Knuckles brought harm; the tragedy was that Olermere and Feldmort weren’t fortunate enough to have such love and support that Hidama and Knuckles were so blessed to know, and now, Hidama and Knuckles realized how lucky they truly were, and how tragic it was that Feldmort and Olermere didn’t have that blessing.

   The sun now began to climb over the horizon, and the last of the storm clouds began to drift south; birds began to sing, the air felt crisp and damp, and the fire in the nearby woods began to die down, the plume of smoke blowing westward on a cool breeze.  Knuckles and Hidama looked up, and realized, morning had come, and now, someone was about to die…King Olermere.

   Knuckles was weeping very heavily; he shook his head in defiance and said, “No…you can’t…not now; there has to be something we can do.  How can you die when at last we’ve all found acceptance?  You’re one of us at heart…”

   At a loss for an answer, Hidama wrapped his free arm around Knuckles and hugged him.  Olermere looked up at the brothers, and whispered, “Oh Knuckles…I—I’ve found acceptance yes…but, …but not peace.  My peace…is with my brother Feldmort…just as your peace, is with Hidama…and his peace, with you.  Now that our sins are forgiven…and we’re finally shown acceptance…and love…Feldmort and I can at last have our solace…but not here with the living, as with you and your brother.  We shall have comfort and happiness in the great beyond…but no…”  Olermere smiled, for perhaps the first time in so many years, and whispered, his breath running short, “You and Hidama, you two were strong enough, blessed with enough love and friendship to survive this…this chain of hatred and death.  The dead of your kindred have protected you…your friends accepted and cared for you, and your love for each other…held you through, and now, you will live on, in happiness, prosperity, and peace, as you have long deserved.”

   Hidama and Knuckles looked at each other, their strong smiles now reduced to the weakest smiles they could bear.  Knuckles closed his eyes to try and suppress his tears, and could no longer speak.  As he rested his head on Hidama’s shoulder and continued to weep, Hidama found words to say.  “Bless you Olermere…it gives my heart great relief and comfort to know…there is no more ill will between us.  Though this love, forgiveness and acceptance can never undo all that has been done, at least it can heal the lasting scars that before we supposed could never be caressed away.  May you and Feldmort find peace and solace in the afterlife that so eluded you in life due to selfishness and hate, violence and bloodshed, …misunderstandings and sorrows.”

   The mutant king continued to smile.  With his last words, he spoke, “My friend…our peace is assured now…because of your kindness and forgiveness.  But now…I must go, and be pure again.  In the mean time, Angel Island awaits you both, as well as sweet love and acceptance from your friends and each other.  I only hope you shall continue to bask in such blessings and never again know severe pain and misery as this.  You are both most deserving of all things good…and have all along, and forever more.”

   Hidama could only nod, and whisper, “Goodbye my friend, rest well.”  Knuckles turned to look at Olermere once more and rested his hand on the mutant king’s back; the two brothers could feel Olermere take his last breath and then pass away.  They realized now they had just lost another member of their kindred, whose shrewd appearance was nothing more than a testament to how hatred and violence could corrupt even a soul that was once a member of what was known as, “The Master Race” long revered as the most noble, beautiful, graceful, and precious examples of life on earth.  This was truly a reason to cause Hidama and Knuckles to weep, for to see how much misery, torture, and sorrow one act of hatred can grow even in the hearts of their own kin, and how a simple gesture of kindness could undo it all in an instance, but all too late, made them feel sick inside, despite the relief they had that they were wise enough to be the ones to extend love before it was too late to mend the wounds.

   As Hidama and Knuckles turned to embrace each other as they wept, Shadow, helped by Sonic, managed to walk over to the two brothers.  He knew exactly what had transpired between the three as Olermere lay dying, but knew even more urgently that Knuckles was needed elsewhere.  He turned to Sonic and said, “Help me kneel down, then you and Elianaron go help Tails and Aranelion.  The fire is about to go out anyway.  I’ll be alright.”

   Sonic nodded, and helping Shadow to his knees, he looked over at Aranelion and Tails, then said, “Hang in there Shadow; you fought a good, long battle.”

   Shadow looked to Sonic, smiled a bit, then said, “Thank you for your assistance Sonic.  You and Tails helped turn the tides on a seemingly impossible road.  Now go, quickly.”  Sonic sped away, and Elianaron followed, leaving Shadow with an almost inconsolable Knuckles and Hidama.

   He placed the hand of his good arm on Knuckles’ shoulder and said, “Come now you two; yes you have a great reason to weep and mourn, but you also have legitimate reason to be happy.  You two did something no one before you could, and that was to extend forgiveness, apology, and love to those pitiful creatures.  You were able to see who they were deep inside…you were able to see past what the anger, hate and sorrow had made them become, and for that, Olermere is finally at peace, and Feldmort is the same I am sure.  As sad a time I know this is, you cannot stay here and weep for long…and Knuckles I think perhaps you know why.”

   The two pulled out of their embrace and as they tried to dispel their tears, Knuckles’ eyes widened in horror; he looked to Angel Island, and in panic, he cried, “Oh my…Amy!  I—I’ve got to get there fast!”

   Hidama slowly set Olermere’s body on the ground and stood up, gazing at the home he had not seen in twelve years.  His eyes widened with wonder, but he realized the seriousness at hand.  He looked to Knuckles and said, “Let’s go; you were needed here, but now you’re needed more back home…so let’s move.”

   The two brothers looked at each other when Hidama called Angel Island “home”; again, they couldn’t believe that they were finally together again at long last.  They embraced each other tightly once more and Knuckles whispered, “Yes Hidama…we’re both needed at home…so let’s go home…together.”

   Withdrawing from their hug, they wasted no time in getting back to Angel Island, for as the sun rose higher into the morning sky, the time they had left to get there was running short.  Shadow for once could not keep up with the pace, so he sat quietly near the edge of the woods, watching Knuckles and Hidama take off for Angel Island, fingering his chaos emerald and grinning to himself.  He whispered, “So at last, I fulfilled my promise to you both; you are together again and home at long last…now I suppose it’s time I fulfilled a promise to myself…and someone I hold dear, above all others.”

   A short time later, Hidama and Knuckles finally arrived on Angel Island, and Hidama slowed his pace as he walked in the woods he had not seen for so long.  His steps were shaky, as he never once thought he’d ever return.  Knuckles, though in haste to get back to Amy, realized the shock his brother was going through.  He put Hidama’s arm around him so he could steady Hidama as they walked.  Knuckles smiled and said, “Wait until you see the cottage Amy and I live in.  It’s pretty close the altar, but the grounds of the village I left untouched.”  He paused, and whispered, “Hidama, I was scared that night when you left me…but I was even more scared when your body wasn’t amongst the dead.  You just don’t know how happy I am to have you back with me again.”

   Hidama smiled at Knuckles, then looked and saw the Master Emerald in the distance.  He inhaled deeply and said, “Oh Knuxie…I’m just glad to be back home…where I belong.  Heh, last time I called you Knuxie was that evening that everything happened you remember?  It’s been too long Knuckles…really it has; we had so much stolen from us, but now I can only say we’re better off than we ever once thought.”

   As the cottage came into view, sitting on the edge of what was once the thriving echidna village where Hidama and Knuckles were born, the time for another birth was about to come.  It became apparent to Knuckles just how urgently he was needed.  However, before he could sprint away, Hidama stood on his own and said, “Indeed, we are both so rich…so blessed…”  He shook his head, looked at Knuckles and said, “Well, go on now!  What are you standing around here for?  I’ll catch up…I just…want to reacquaint myself with the island.”

   Knuckles smiled and nodded, before taking off urgently to the cottage porch.  He sped through the door, only opening it quick enough for Kelerai to scurry outside.  As Hidama walked along, he glanced at the cottage, smiling at the life his brother had made for himself, then turned his attention to the silent remains of the echidna village.  He remembered things more vividly than Knuckles, and as he walked around, glancing at the houses, bakeries, and even where he once went to school, he could visualize the past so well he could hear the sounds of children laughing, the elders talking, even his mother’s voice.  He had inherited his love for singing from her, and as he walked up the steps to the Master Emerald, he sung a song in the echidna tongue, one that was sung to celebrate new birth, in observation of the new life that was about to begin below.

   The echidna tongue made it sound rich and sweet, but translated into speech as well as Hidama could manage, the words lost none of their emotion and meaning.

   Welcome to the world we know, the world we love, where we live and grow.
   As souls before you have come to know, there’s much love we have to show,
   In this world, there’s so much to see, so much to love, to give you glee,
   But infant young, the most important thing, you must know this peace isn’t free.
   For peace, comes from the souls of all under the sun, and now you belong to,
   Peace comes from the love that all souls share, and the hatred they choose to undo.
   So child, please grow strong, and love with reverence, your family, friends, and all the joys of this life.
   Yet please remember too, to love what others may hate, for peace, comes from overcoming hate and strife.
   No, peace is not lack of hatred, sorrow, and misery…child, you must know, through your birth there is peace,
   For your birth is a symbol of how life may continue in spite of evil, how goodness and life will never once cease.
   Welcome child, to this place.  Live long and happy, free, and in love.
   And do child, do love others, for this world, though filled with sorrow, has a firm foundation in love, as seen in you.

   As Hidama stopped singing, he found himself at the top of the Master Emerald’s altar, much as his father was every day;  he smiled, realizing at last the deep meaning of this simple song.  Glancing down at the cottage he could hear the first cries of this new life.  He rested his hand on the Master Emerald, which glowed under his touch.  He saw Rouge run from the cottage in the direction of the battle to find Shadow, and Kelerai came running up the stairs, only to sit beside Hidama.  Reaching down to pet her, he laughed and said, “I’m home…and at last, we’ve conquered the miseries, and finally found peace; Knuckles could tell you that better than anyone.”

   He looked down once more at the cottage, in the direction of Knuckles and Amy’s bedroom and continued to smile, his eyes shining from within.  He was finally home, and after so much adversity, finally the peace that was long fought for was about to begin.  Still looking towards the bedroom window, he said, “Aemerai, shentei ai’asantee, herendei ai’sarendei lasuntei,” which in the echidna tongue meant, and appropriately:

   “Welcome, child of the Guardian, to everlasting peace.”