Guardian and the Werehog Ch. 2

Guardian and the Werehog
Chapter 2

Back at the altar, Knuckles was in the living room sitting comfortably in the recliner reading a book while eating an apple.  He glanced every now and then through the window that provided a good view of the Master Emerald, keeping an eye out for trouble.

Shadow stood outside the house, watching his object of affection through another window.  He pondered on how he would convince the echidna to be his.  He was fully aware that they were both males, but he didn't care.  The hedgehog admired that fact that he was so like him, in a way.  They were both born with Chaos powers; only Shadow, who was created fifty years ago, had more experience with his powers.  Knuckles, who was only fifteen, still has a lot to learn about the powers he possesses.  And he was pretty good looking, Shadow thought.  He walked up to the door and knocked.  Seconds later, the door opened and Knuckles stood in the doorway.  "Shadow?"

"Hello.  Just thought I'd drop by and see a friend."

"Friend?  Since when did you considered anyone a friend?" Knuckles asked, perplexed at his unexpected visitor.

"I figured Maria would be happier if I made a friend, instead of moping around all the time," He stepped passed the echidna into the house and looked around.

"Really?" The Guardian closed the door and turned toward Shadow with his arms crossed, apple still in his hand. "And you choose me because...?"  He took another bite of his apple.

Shadow turned toward him.  "I don't know; I feel like I can understand you more than anyone else."

"Uh huh... What about that little move you made back in the city?"

The Ultimate Life Form chuckled, which had an arrogant tone to it.  "You mean like this?" He said as he put his arm around the echidna's shoulders. "I was only being friendly."

Feeling uncomfortable, the young Guardian focused his attention back to his apple. "Oh..."

Shadow took the half-eaten apple from the echidna's hands.

"Hey, that's mine!"

"Maybe we could even be…partners?" He took a large bite and tossed it aside.

"Partners?" He repeated, completely forgetting about the apple.  He suddenly felt himself being pressed against Shadow's chest. "Hey!" He tried to pull away.

"Partners, companions, soul mates…" The hedgehog ran his other hand up the echidna's arm and gently stroked his cheek with the back of his fingers. "…lovers." He picked up one of Knuckles' front spines and let it gently slip from his hands.

"No!" Knuckles tried to pull free again, but Shadow only tightened his grip around him.

Shadow gripped the nervous echidna's chin and lifted it up to face him. "But we could be so great together." He then forced his lips against Knuckles', tasting the apple he'd just eaten.

Knuckles immediately started squirming in Shadow's grip; when that didn't work he kicked him in the shin, causing the hedgehog to loosen his grip.  While Shadow was distracted, Knuckles took the chance to punch him across the face.  "Get out of my house, Hedgehog!" He quickly opened the door, shoved him outside, and slammed the door.

Shadow sat up off the ground rubbing his chin when he heard the door open again, then felt something  hard hit the back of his head, and another slam of the door.  He glared down at the object and saw the half-eaten apple sitting about a foot from him.  He got to his feet and picked it up.  He remembered how the young echidna had tasted when he'd kissed him.  He could easily go back in there and claim him right now, but that kiss will do for now.  One day he'll make that echidna love him, he thought as he crushed the fruit in his hand and walked away.

Back inside the house, Knuckles was leaning against the door, still shocked at what had just happened.  He wiped his mouth with his glove. "I can't believe he just…I can't believe he would think that I would want to be with him! He's a guy, and he's what, 50! Sick hedgehog!"  He peered out the window to see if he'd left.  No one was there.   He opened the door and stepped out, cautiously looking around in case he was hiding and waiting to grab him or something.  Realizing it was safe, he walked up the steps of the altar to check on the Emerald.  It was still there, and he saw no damage; just as he'd left it.  He was about to turn and go back to the house when he thought he saw something in the large jewel.  He moved closer to get a better look and saw an image in the green gem.  He could just barely see what looked like an echidna being pushed into a dark room.  The Emerald showed a closer view of the echidna; Knuckles immediately recognized the white coat and beard.  "Dad?!"  The image switched to what looked like a large dark figure, then back to his father.  "Dad's in trouble! Something's got him; I have to go find him!"  He stared to run when he remembered the Emerald. If he left, there would be no one to guard it.  But, his father was more important to him; if the Emerald was stolen while he was gone, he can just go after it later.  Hopefully, that wouldn't happen.  Knuckles ran down the steps toward the woods, where he saw his dad go when he left.

Night had fallen, and Knuckles had spent hours searching the woods when he came across an iron gate.  He peered through the bars an saw a very large, dark looking mansion.  "This must be where Dad is." He pushed the gate open and slipped though, shutting the gate behind him.  He walked up to the door and carefully twisted the knob; the door opened.  "It's unlocked." The wary echidna slipped inside, looking around the room for enemies or that creature.  He moved down a large corridor, peeking into open doors looking for any sign o his father.  "Hello? Dad?"

Vector and Espio were in another room bickering over what had just happened earlier with the poor echidna. "I told you he would be furious! You never listen to me!" Espio exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah…" Vector muttered, clearly uninterested in Espio's lecture.  "Do you ever shut u-wait! I hear something!" He poked his green candle-head out of the room.

"See! You're doing it again!"

"Look, we have another guest!"

"A guest!?" Espio looked out the door and saw an echidna walking around the corridors."He's not a guest, he's a trespasser!"

"He's just a kid.  Maybe he's here to find his father. We should help!"

"We should make him leave!"

Vector was already out the door hopping off after him.

"Hey! Vector!" He followed.

The candlestick quickly hopped through a hidden passageway.  Knuckles heard noises behind him and quickly turned and saw a set of stairs descending down a dark passageway.  He cautiously walked down it.  Halfway down he saw a lit candle sitting in an indentation in the brick wall.  He grabbed it and continued on, using it to light his way.  Eventually, he entered a dark room; the lonely light source was the moonlight shining though the barred windows and the lit candle in the echidna's hand.  He saw a bunch of cells lined along one side of the room. "Dad?" He called.  He heard shuffling from one of the cells.  "Dad?"

"Son?" An old echidna approached the bars. "Son! How'd you find me?!"

"Dad!" He ran toward him. "Somehow the Master Emerald showed me.  Are you ok?! How'd you get here!?"

"I'm fine, son, but you need to go before he finds you!"

"Who?"

"A monster! Go, son! Now!"

"No, I have to get you out!" Knuckles put the candle down and tried to open the barred door.

"Son! It's too dangerous! He'll-"  Locke saw something move in the dark room.  "Knuckles…"

Knuckles all of sudden felt like he was being watched; he quickly turned and got in a fighting stance, and scanned the room. "Come out, release my father now!"

"He shouldn't have trespassed!!" The creature stepped closer to Knuckles, but he still couldn't get a good look at him.

"I'm sure he didn't mean it! Maybe he got lost! Let him go!"

"This is my castle, my rules!!"

Knuckles thought for a minute. "Would you let him go if…I took his place?"

"Knuckles, no!!" Locke grabbed his arm through the bars. "You're still young! You still have a lot to live for! Think about what you're doing!!"

"I'll take his place as your prisoner, if you let him go."

"You're willing to…take his place?" The figure questioned.

"Y-yes. I stay here, and my dad goes free."

"Knuckles!!"

Knuckles turned to his father.  "Dad, I'll be fine. It's the only way he'll let you go. Don't worry about me."  He turned back toward the monster.  He was a bit curious as to what he looked like, after all, he's be living here for a while.  "Could you…step forward…please?" The beast stepped forward into the moonlight streaming through the bars, revealing his true appearance.  Knuckles stared at him wide-eyed.  He's definitely never seen any creature like this before.  The most noticeable thing about him was probably his size.  He was probably a good two, or three feet taller than himself, and much, much wider than Knuckles' slim form.  He had a big upper body and huge gorilla-like arms.  His fur was dark blue with some whitish areas in some places.  His face was sort of wolf-like, but more monstrous; razor-sharp teeth lined his large muzzle.  But the strangest thing about him was that he was wearing a pair of shoes, with little spikes on the soles; and they were huge!  Size…20? Knuckles thought. What monster where's only shoes?  The beast growled, snapping Knuckles from his thoughts.

"Knuckles!" Locke shouted.

Before Knuckles could react, the blue beast moved passed him, opened the cell door and grabbed Locke.  Then he shoved the younger echidna in and shut the door. "Whoa!" Knuckles got up from the ground and ran to the cell door. "Dad!!"  He shouted as he saw his father being dragged away.  Several minutes later, he heard noise from outside.  So, he quickly rushed to the window and saw his dad get pushed into some round metal contraption, and it carried him away.  "Dad!! Dad…"  His father was gone.  Knuckles slid down the wall and sat on some boxes and sighed hopelessly.  The thought of never seeing his father or his mother again… She'll be heartbroken, thinking she'll never see her son again, and they only just reunited.  He hoped he would get out of this place soon.  Tears rolled down his face, he didn't bother wiping them, knowing he'd be alone for a while.

Suddenly, he was started when he heard the door slam open, and the blue gorilla-wolf thing stood there, holding the green candle in his hand.  Was he going to kill me? Knuckles thought, or maybe he'll eat me.

"Come," he said in a demanding, but calm voice.  "I'll show you to your room."

"My room?" He repeated, surprised by the beasts offer.

"Would you rather stay in here and rot!?"

"N-no…"

"This way!" He turned, beckoning the echidna to follow.

Knuckles slowly got up and followed him up the stairs.  No one spoke as they travelled through the long corridor.

Vector wanted to break the silence. "Go on, say something to him."

"Uh...you'll be staying for a while, so you're free to roam the castle, except the West Wing."

"What's in there?" Knuckles asked.

"It's forbidden! No one's allowed in there, especially you!" The monster's voice echoed around the hallway.  They reach a set of double doors.  He opened one of them.  "This'll be your room." He motioned him to enter.

The silent echidna stepped in the room.

"Invite him to dinner, I'm sure the boy's probably hungry," Vector suggested.

"…You will join me for dinner, and that's an order, prisoner!!" He slammed the door, causing the echidna to jump.  Knuckles walked over to the bed and laid down on his back and did nothing but stare at the ceiling.

"Real smooth," Vector said to his master.

"Hmph." He stormed off.