Knuckles opened his eyes and it was daylight. He glanced over at the Master smeraldo that shined brightly both from the suns rays, and the eternal glow that came from within. It was a different kind of giorno to him; somehow, it just felt different. It was as if something about that particular day, made it different from all of the others that the echidna had lived through. Rising to his feet, an image of the Master smeraldo froze in his mind. He stood there for a few minutes, remembering something from his past. Already the giorno was different; he drifted into the world that was his memories, seeing the first of many occurrences of his past that up until this time, had kept their significance hidden from his eyes.
It was many years ago, shortly after he met Amy Rose. The two had known each other for about half a year, and finally Knuckles trusted her enough to take her to his tribe’s village. It appeared quite primitive to Amy, but was Knuckles home in his heart. Over all the months that they had known each other, Amy had not mentioned Knuckles to anyone. He was her friend and she had come to look inoltrare, avanti to seeing him whenever possible. That particular day, Knuckles was practicing his martial arts, only wanting to become stronger.
Amy was sitting nearby watching him train. She admired his skills and his devotion to his duty: to protect the Master Emerald. There was something about him that she found appealing. She walked over to him and asked, “Knuckles, why do te train as much as te do?”
Knuckles turned to her, breathing deeply to catch his breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “I must become stronger.” He paused and motioned with his head to the superiore, in alto of the stairs where the Master smeraldo rested. He then said, “I can’t let anything happen to it. If somebody is stupid enough to try to steal it, then I must fight to protect it. The embarrassing thing is I am not yet strong enough to lift it. My father and all of the guardians before him were masters in the martial arts. I only desire to increase my strength to protect everything that is important to me.”
Knuckles awoke from his thoughts. When he detto that to her, the most important thing in his life, in his heart, was to avenge the death of his kin, and protect the Master Emerald. However, as time had gone by, many things had changed. He had gotten much stronger, stronger to the point that there was barely a person who could stand up to him. In addition, what meant the most to him then, had changed as the years had gone by. He was still out for revenge against those who had wronged him, and was still determined in his commitment to guard the Master Emerald. However, over time, he had made new friends, and had obligations outside of his own needs. When he spoke those words to Amy, little did he know that almost ten years later, she would be an important part of his life. So important, that he saw it as his duty to protect her…
A slow smile spread across Knuckles’ face. He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head, catching a glimpse of the mainland out in the horizon. He stood up straight and looked back at the Master Emerald. Behind it was a small memorial that Knuckles had built for his father, as well as the others of his tribe, who had died so long ago. He felt his cuore had healed a great deal since then, though the sting of the pain had changed his life, and all that he was.
He began his descent down the stairs, walking down from the Master Emerald’s shrine. As he walked, another memory flashed through his mind…and he stood still, as did the air around him. It was almost as if his thoughts took him back in time, to another point in his life that meant something to him, but its purpose remained unclear.
The sun was setting; Knuckles was about seven years old then, and he was gazing up the colossal staircase. He had decided to say something about it to Amy, feeling that she could never trust him fully until she knew why he was training so hard.
“Hey! Wait up Knuckles!” she called. Knuckles turned and saw Amy running to catch up to him. She finally got to him, dropping to her knees in front of him, trying to catch her breath. Knuckles bent down successivo to her and offered her his hand. The two looked at each other, and Amy took Knuckles’ hand in friendship. The two stood back up and Amy wiped any dirt off her dress. Then, she looked at Knuckles, who had already started to walk up the stairs to the Master Emerald. She caught up with him and asked, “What are we going to see Knuckles?”
Knuckles glanced at her and then said, “I’m going to mostra te something that’s of the utmost importance to me. It’s all I have left to remind me of my kin, and it is my duty to protect it now that they are gone. It is the fonte of power that kept Angel Island floating gracefully in the sky; it is the Master Emerald, Amy. Until I have learned and trained in the ways of my ancestors, then Angel Island shall sit precariously on the edge of the mainland. I must learn how to summon the power of the Master smeraldo so it may once again rise into the sky. I do not understand why your kind has not been able to locate it, o the village for that matter. It just doesn’t make sense…”
Knuckles continued walking. Amy paused for a few seconds. Who had killed of Knuckles’ tribe? Why was her kind after the Master Emerald? Was the Master smeraldo really that powerful? Amy knew of the Chaos Emeralds, but the Master Emerald, like the Echidna clan, existed only in legend. She hurried after Knuckles, and finally, they reached the top. Before them stood the Master Emerald, outlasting all legends, and holding its own in the hearts of those who knew it.
Amy gazed at the beautiful gem for a few seconds. She was speechless at the site of it. Before she could go up and touch it, Knuckles gently grabbed her wrist and said, “I dare not touch it. I feel my own hands are unworthy of its touch. Until I master its power, I dare not lay my hands on it. I’d appreciate it if te did the same Amy. te have to promise me something Amy. te must not tell anybody of the Master Emeralds whereabouts. It is my duty as its guardian to protect it from those who would use it for evil. It’s not that I don’t trust you; it’s that I do not trust unfriendly ears, lurking in the shadows of the unseen. Promise me you’ll keep this secret, will you?”
Amy and Knuckles looked at each other, each looking into the others eyes. Amy looked at the precious gem and said, “I promise Knuckles, nobody will ever know where the Master smeraldo is. te can count on me.”
Knuckles felt a warm feeling in his heart, as he had not felt in the longest time, if ever. He had a friend that he trusted with his deepest secret. Knuckles could not control what happened next. He embraced Amy and said, “Thank te Amy. You’ve been such a good friend to me. I just wish all of my kin could have rekindled their relations with hedgehogs. I value our friendship so much. We really will be Friends forever.”
It was a beautiful moment between the two. The sun began to set behind Angel Island, and not wanting to climb back down the steps in the darkness, Knuckles crawled on superiore, in alto of the Master Emerald, and then helped Amy on superiore, in alto of it. There they slept, side da side, dreaming in peaceful slumber. It was one of the first times Knuckles could remember feeling so much happiness since the tragic deaths of his kin.
Again, Knux awoke from his daydream. Shaking his head, he wondered how long he had been standing there motionless, Lost in the memories of his past. He continued his descent down the stairs, thinking over what he had just experienced. His first memory had been of Amy questioning his motives for training as much as he did. His secondo memory had been about when he revealed his responsibility of guarding the Master Emerald. What did this all mean?
Knux got to the bottom of the staircase and looked around. It was yet another giorno on Angel Island. He was feeling very confused at the moment and wanted desperately to collect his thoughts. He started walking in the direction of his ancestors’ resting places so he could try and get his thoughts straight. He put a hand to his hand and said, “Humph, it figures that I’d get a headache about now. How much worse can this get?” He mumbled angry words about his headache under his breath and continued his trek to his destination.
Some hours later, Knuckles was still trying to sort things out. He had found refuge from the burning sun under a albero that he and Amy always sat under together. She wasn’t there that day. She told him that she had to sort some things out at home. “Man,” Knux thought, “I just hope she can sort out her problems. Whenever she’s here, things always seem to be easier on me…” Then, something snapped in Knuckles’ mind. He was beginning to understand what his recurring memories were trying to tell him.
When he was younger, he did not understand the importance of Amy’s influence in his life. That had been nearly ten years ago. Over those years, he had met new people. Amy had introduced him to Sonic, Tails, and the rest. However, Knux had only seemed to feel più distant from them than close to them. He was just….different. They had Friends and family. Knuckles lived basically in isolation, bound to his duty to protect the Master Emerald. Recently, he and Amy had seen each other less and less, and Knuckles devoted più and più of his time to increasing his strength. Were he and Amy losing each other? Was that what his memories were trying to tell him?
Knuckles realized something. Each memory had had an important effect on him. When Amy asked him why he desired to be stronger than the rest, he detto it was so he could protect the things that meant the most to him. Times had changed, and Knuckles realized that Amy’s friendship meant più to him than just about anything. Then, when he hugged her that day, he remembered the tingly feeling that her friendship gave him. He remembered how he was compelled to hug her and could not restrain the overflow of affection he felt for her in his heart. Had it not been for Amy, Knuckles would have been an entirely different person.
That was it; he and Amy were drifting apart. Knuckles had let his jealousy of Sonic’s free spirited nature, as well as his mission to become stronger, drive a wedge between himself and Amy. What if she had already let go of him in her heart, Knuckles would never be the same. He had to find her and tell her he was sorry for being ignorant of their friendship…he loved her, and was determined to tell her that, no matter what…
Just then, Knuckles heard something. It sounded like someone crying to him from the mainland. Could it be Amy? He got up and started to run towards the direction of the mainland. As he got closer, the cries became clearer. It was indeed Amy, crying out for him to come to her. “Knuckles! Please come get me! I need te now! Where are you?”
Knuckles hurried his pace. While speed was not his strength, he made an effort in his cuore to get to her as fast as possible. At last, he made it to the edge of Angel Island. He looked down and could see Amy standing on the mainland, still crying for him. “I’m coming Amy! Just stay there!” he called to her. Knuckles gave himself a running start, and then jumped into the sky, gliding slowly from the island down to the mainland. Within seconds, he landed, and he and Amy ran to each other. When they met, Amy immediately hugged Knuckles with him returning her embrace. They had not been this close before, but something about that moment, gave it a sentimental feel to it. It was as if they were hugging each other only out of love, nothing else. The loving embrace was just their way of saying, “I need you.” Knuckles felt it in his heart; he could not let Amy go. She had become a vital part of his life, his being; all that he was and ever would be, as well as who he had been in the past.
Just then, Knuckles felt something wet on his chest. Amy had been silently weeping the whole time. He took his hand and put it under her chin, gently lifting her face up to where he could see it. Not knowing why she was crying, all he could do was take his hand and wipe the tears clean from her eyes. He smiled the best he could, trying to let her know that everything was going to be okay.
After this gesture of kindness, Amy’s tears lessened. She returned his smile with a weak one of her own. He rested his head against hers, running his hands past her ears and down her hair. A few secondi later, he pulled back from her. Finally becoming aware of what he had just done, and stubbornly trying to deny in his cuore that he had done it, he turned away from her for a secondo and said, “Are…are te alright?” Then his concern turned to a slight anger. “You sounded like te were in danger Amy! Don’t scare me like that again! te understand?” he detto in a slightly raised tone.
Amy couldn’t help but sigh sweetly. That was the Knuckles she knew. She picked up her book bag and stood beside Knuckles. Neither of them detto anything for a few seconds. Knuckles cleared his throat and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you, forgive me.”
Amy looked at him and he to her. She smiled and said, “I was waiting for te to do that Knuckles. It’s just who te are…”
“But te are part of what I am Amy! I’ve come to realize that!” he interrupted. He brought his hand to his mouth, knowing what he had just said. He crossed his arms, going back to his serious self, thankful that the faint of night hid the redness on his cheeks. He turned away from her and said, “What were te crying for me so desperately anyway?”
Amy had been going through her backpack and pulled out something. She walked up to Knuckles and said, “Well, I really wanted to give te this.” She presented a new hat, just like the one he often wore. He took it from her and she said, “It’s to replace the other one. I felt bad that te Lost it, especially since te look so cute in it too.” She paused and said, “Knuckles, there is a reason that I was crying for te so badly. I was having dreams, nightmares. I felt like te were in danger o something. I was desperate to come and help you. I don’t want to lose you. I don’t know what I’d do without te Knuckles…I…I know we’ve grown apart, but I cannot forget about my heart. te are a part of my life too. I just wanted to make sure te knew that. Now that I know you’re okay…I guess I can go home now. I’m sorry if I bothered te Knux.”
Amy picked up her book bag and started to leave. However, Knux grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him. He looked at her intently, trying to see into the depths of her heart. He went shy on her but said, “Heh, it’s too dark for te to walk home alone now and seeing as I can’t leave the Master smeraldo unprotected, you’ll just have to come back with me for right now. Come on, it’s getting darker.”
Then, Knuckles and Amy started walking together. Once safely on Angel Island, they felt più at ease with each other. As they walked to what once had been the echidna village, there was a bond between them that the tranquility of the night, only succeeded to strengthen. Knuckles took Amy’s hand in his own, holding it tightly and yet gently, just so he’d be sure that she was with him. Amy looked down at her hand held in his, and she held his in the same fashion, with the same affection.
Later that night, after he had gotten Amy settled he lay down in front of the Master smeraldo and beside Amy, feeling better with her beside him. He closed his eyes in the hopes of finding peace in his dreams. He put his hands behind his head and shut his eyes. Before he could drift to sleep, he heard Amy say with a yawn, “I Amore te Knuckles…” Knuckles opened his eyes and looked at Amy. He wasn’t quite sure if she meant that, o if she had just detto it in her sleep. He smiled though, because no matter what, she had at least cared enough to think it.
A chill wind blew across Angel Island, and Knuckles put an arm around her to keep her warm. Finally, he fell asleep, with Amy resting beside him. He was happy that Amy was with him again, and his last thoughts were his memory of the two years ago, curled up together on the Master Emerald. Again, they were together, and Knuckles was not going to let their friendship break, not this time. He would never make that same mistake again. She was a part of his life that he could never let go, just as his cuore did not let go of the memories from his past. In his heart, he knew that no matter what he had to do to protect her, that he would always Amore her, for what she meant to him then, what she meant to him in the past, and all she would ever mean to him, no matter how long he lived…he would always love, Amy Rose.
It was many years ago, shortly after he met Amy Rose. The two had known each other for about half a year, and finally Knuckles trusted her enough to take her to his tribe’s village. It appeared quite primitive to Amy, but was Knuckles home in his heart. Over all the months that they had known each other, Amy had not mentioned Knuckles to anyone. He was her friend and she had come to look inoltrare, avanti to seeing him whenever possible. That particular day, Knuckles was practicing his martial arts, only wanting to become stronger.
Amy was sitting nearby watching him train. She admired his skills and his devotion to his duty: to protect the Master Emerald. There was something about him that she found appealing. She walked over to him and asked, “Knuckles, why do te train as much as te do?”
Knuckles turned to her, breathing deeply to catch his breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “I must become stronger.” He paused and motioned with his head to the superiore, in alto of the stairs where the Master smeraldo rested. He then said, “I can’t let anything happen to it. If somebody is stupid enough to try to steal it, then I must fight to protect it. The embarrassing thing is I am not yet strong enough to lift it. My father and all of the guardians before him were masters in the martial arts. I only desire to increase my strength to protect everything that is important to me.”
Knuckles awoke from his thoughts. When he detto that to her, the most important thing in his life, in his heart, was to avenge the death of his kin, and protect the Master Emerald. However, as time had gone by, many things had changed. He had gotten much stronger, stronger to the point that there was barely a person who could stand up to him. In addition, what meant the most to him then, had changed as the years had gone by. He was still out for revenge against those who had wronged him, and was still determined in his commitment to guard the Master Emerald. However, over time, he had made new friends, and had obligations outside of his own needs. When he spoke those words to Amy, little did he know that almost ten years later, she would be an important part of his life. So important, that he saw it as his duty to protect her…
A slow smile spread across Knuckles’ face. He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head, catching a glimpse of the mainland out in the horizon. He stood up straight and looked back at the Master Emerald. Behind it was a small memorial that Knuckles had built for his father, as well as the others of his tribe, who had died so long ago. He felt his cuore had healed a great deal since then, though the sting of the pain had changed his life, and all that he was.
He began his descent down the stairs, walking down from the Master Emerald’s shrine. As he walked, another memory flashed through his mind…and he stood still, as did the air around him. It was almost as if his thoughts took him back in time, to another point in his life that meant something to him, but its purpose remained unclear.
The sun was setting; Knuckles was about seven years old then, and he was gazing up the colossal staircase. He had decided to say something about it to Amy, feeling that she could never trust him fully until she knew why he was training so hard.
“Hey! Wait up Knuckles!” she called. Knuckles turned and saw Amy running to catch up to him. She finally got to him, dropping to her knees in front of him, trying to catch her breath. Knuckles bent down successivo to her and offered her his hand. The two looked at each other, and Amy took Knuckles’ hand in friendship. The two stood back up and Amy wiped any dirt off her dress. Then, she looked at Knuckles, who had already started to walk up the stairs to the Master Emerald. She caught up with him and asked, “What are we going to see Knuckles?”
Knuckles glanced at her and then said, “I’m going to mostra te something that’s of the utmost importance to me. It’s all I have left to remind me of my kin, and it is my duty to protect it now that they are gone. It is the fonte of power that kept Angel Island floating gracefully in the sky; it is the Master Emerald, Amy. Until I have learned and trained in the ways of my ancestors, then Angel Island shall sit precariously on the edge of the mainland. I must learn how to summon the power of the Master smeraldo so it may once again rise into the sky. I do not understand why your kind has not been able to locate it, o the village for that matter. It just doesn’t make sense…”
Knuckles continued walking. Amy paused for a few seconds. Who had killed of Knuckles’ tribe? Why was her kind after the Master Emerald? Was the Master smeraldo really that powerful? Amy knew of the Chaos Emeralds, but the Master Emerald, like the Echidna clan, existed only in legend. She hurried after Knuckles, and finally, they reached the top. Before them stood the Master Emerald, outlasting all legends, and holding its own in the hearts of those who knew it.
Amy gazed at the beautiful gem for a few seconds. She was speechless at the site of it. Before she could go up and touch it, Knuckles gently grabbed her wrist and said, “I dare not touch it. I feel my own hands are unworthy of its touch. Until I master its power, I dare not lay my hands on it. I’d appreciate it if te did the same Amy. te have to promise me something Amy. te must not tell anybody of the Master Emeralds whereabouts. It is my duty as its guardian to protect it from those who would use it for evil. It’s not that I don’t trust you; it’s that I do not trust unfriendly ears, lurking in the shadows of the unseen. Promise me you’ll keep this secret, will you?”
Amy and Knuckles looked at each other, each looking into the others eyes. Amy looked at the precious gem and said, “I promise Knuckles, nobody will ever know where the Master smeraldo is. te can count on me.”
Knuckles felt a warm feeling in his heart, as he had not felt in the longest time, if ever. He had a friend that he trusted with his deepest secret. Knuckles could not control what happened next. He embraced Amy and said, “Thank te Amy. You’ve been such a good friend to me. I just wish all of my kin could have rekindled their relations with hedgehogs. I value our friendship so much. We really will be Friends forever.”
It was a beautiful moment between the two. The sun began to set behind Angel Island, and not wanting to climb back down the steps in the darkness, Knuckles crawled on superiore, in alto of the Master Emerald, and then helped Amy on superiore, in alto of it. There they slept, side da side, dreaming in peaceful slumber. It was one of the first times Knuckles could remember feeling so much happiness since the tragic deaths of his kin.
Again, Knux awoke from his daydream. Shaking his head, he wondered how long he had been standing there motionless, Lost in the memories of his past. He continued his descent down the stairs, thinking over what he had just experienced. His first memory had been of Amy questioning his motives for training as much as he did. His secondo memory had been about when he revealed his responsibility of guarding the Master Emerald. What did this all mean?
Knux got to the bottom of the staircase and looked around. It was yet another giorno on Angel Island. He was feeling very confused at the moment and wanted desperately to collect his thoughts. He started walking in the direction of his ancestors’ resting places so he could try and get his thoughts straight. He put a hand to his hand and said, “Humph, it figures that I’d get a headache about now. How much worse can this get?” He mumbled angry words about his headache under his breath and continued his trek to his destination.
Some hours later, Knuckles was still trying to sort things out. He had found refuge from the burning sun under a albero that he and Amy always sat under together. She wasn’t there that day. She told him that she had to sort some things out at home. “Man,” Knux thought, “I just hope she can sort out her problems. Whenever she’s here, things always seem to be easier on me…” Then, something snapped in Knuckles’ mind. He was beginning to understand what his recurring memories were trying to tell him.
When he was younger, he did not understand the importance of Amy’s influence in his life. That had been nearly ten years ago. Over those years, he had met new people. Amy had introduced him to Sonic, Tails, and the rest. However, Knux had only seemed to feel più distant from them than close to them. He was just….different. They had Friends and family. Knuckles lived basically in isolation, bound to his duty to protect the Master Emerald. Recently, he and Amy had seen each other less and less, and Knuckles devoted più and più of his time to increasing his strength. Were he and Amy losing each other? Was that what his memories were trying to tell him?
Knuckles realized something. Each memory had had an important effect on him. When Amy asked him why he desired to be stronger than the rest, he detto it was so he could protect the things that meant the most to him. Times had changed, and Knuckles realized that Amy’s friendship meant più to him than just about anything. Then, when he hugged her that day, he remembered the tingly feeling that her friendship gave him. He remembered how he was compelled to hug her and could not restrain the overflow of affection he felt for her in his heart. Had it not been for Amy, Knuckles would have been an entirely different person.
That was it; he and Amy were drifting apart. Knuckles had let his jealousy of Sonic’s free spirited nature, as well as his mission to become stronger, drive a wedge between himself and Amy. What if she had already let go of him in her heart, Knuckles would never be the same. He had to find her and tell her he was sorry for being ignorant of their friendship…he loved her, and was determined to tell her that, no matter what…
Just then, Knuckles heard something. It sounded like someone crying to him from the mainland. Could it be Amy? He got up and started to run towards the direction of the mainland. As he got closer, the cries became clearer. It was indeed Amy, crying out for him to come to her. “Knuckles! Please come get me! I need te now! Where are you?”
Knuckles hurried his pace. While speed was not his strength, he made an effort in his cuore to get to her as fast as possible. At last, he made it to the edge of Angel Island. He looked down and could see Amy standing on the mainland, still crying for him. “I’m coming Amy! Just stay there!” he called to her. Knuckles gave himself a running start, and then jumped into the sky, gliding slowly from the island down to the mainland. Within seconds, he landed, and he and Amy ran to each other. When they met, Amy immediately hugged Knuckles with him returning her embrace. They had not been this close before, but something about that moment, gave it a sentimental feel to it. It was as if they were hugging each other only out of love, nothing else. The loving embrace was just their way of saying, “I need you.” Knuckles felt it in his heart; he could not let Amy go. She had become a vital part of his life, his being; all that he was and ever would be, as well as who he had been in the past.
Just then, Knuckles felt something wet on his chest. Amy had been silently weeping the whole time. He took his hand and put it under her chin, gently lifting her face up to where he could see it. Not knowing why she was crying, all he could do was take his hand and wipe the tears clean from her eyes. He smiled the best he could, trying to let her know that everything was going to be okay.
After this gesture of kindness, Amy’s tears lessened. She returned his smile with a weak one of her own. He rested his head against hers, running his hands past her ears and down her hair. A few secondi later, he pulled back from her. Finally becoming aware of what he had just done, and stubbornly trying to deny in his cuore that he had done it, he turned away from her for a secondo and said, “Are…are te alright?” Then his concern turned to a slight anger. “You sounded like te were in danger Amy! Don’t scare me like that again! te understand?” he detto in a slightly raised tone.
Amy couldn’t help but sigh sweetly. That was the Knuckles she knew. She picked up her book bag and stood beside Knuckles. Neither of them detto anything for a few seconds. Knuckles cleared his throat and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you, forgive me.”
Amy looked at him and he to her. She smiled and said, “I was waiting for te to do that Knuckles. It’s just who te are…”
“But te are part of what I am Amy! I’ve come to realize that!” he interrupted. He brought his hand to his mouth, knowing what he had just said. He crossed his arms, going back to his serious self, thankful that the faint of night hid the redness on his cheeks. He turned away from her and said, “What were te crying for me so desperately anyway?”
Amy had been going through her backpack and pulled out something. She walked up to Knuckles and said, “Well, I really wanted to give te this.” She presented a new hat, just like the one he often wore. He took it from her and she said, “It’s to replace the other one. I felt bad that te Lost it, especially since te look so cute in it too.” She paused and said, “Knuckles, there is a reason that I was crying for te so badly. I was having dreams, nightmares. I felt like te were in danger o something. I was desperate to come and help you. I don’t want to lose you. I don’t know what I’d do without te Knuckles…I…I know we’ve grown apart, but I cannot forget about my heart. te are a part of my life too. I just wanted to make sure te knew that. Now that I know you’re okay…I guess I can go home now. I’m sorry if I bothered te Knux.”
Amy picked up her book bag and started to leave. However, Knux grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him. He looked at her intently, trying to see into the depths of her heart. He went shy on her but said, “Heh, it’s too dark for te to walk home alone now and seeing as I can’t leave the Master smeraldo unprotected, you’ll just have to come back with me for right now. Come on, it’s getting darker.”
Then, Knuckles and Amy started walking together. Once safely on Angel Island, they felt più at ease with each other. As they walked to what once had been the echidna village, there was a bond between them that the tranquility of the night, only succeeded to strengthen. Knuckles took Amy’s hand in his own, holding it tightly and yet gently, just so he’d be sure that she was with him. Amy looked down at her hand held in his, and she held his in the same fashion, with the same affection.
Later that night, after he had gotten Amy settled he lay down in front of the Master smeraldo and beside Amy, feeling better with her beside him. He closed his eyes in the hopes of finding peace in his dreams. He put his hands behind his head and shut his eyes. Before he could drift to sleep, he heard Amy say with a yawn, “I Amore te Knuckles…” Knuckles opened his eyes and looked at Amy. He wasn’t quite sure if she meant that, o if she had just detto it in her sleep. He smiled though, because no matter what, she had at least cared enough to think it.
A chill wind blew across Angel Island, and Knuckles put an arm around her to keep her warm. Finally, he fell asleep, with Amy resting beside him. He was happy that Amy was with him again, and his last thoughts were his memory of the two years ago, curled up together on the Master Emerald. Again, they were together, and Knuckles was not going to let their friendship break, not this time. He would never make that same mistake again. She was a part of his life that he could never let go, just as his cuore did not let go of the memories from his past. In his heart, he knew that no matter what he had to do to protect her, that he would always Amore her, for what she meant to him then, what she meant to him in the past, and all she would ever mean to him, no matter how long he lived…he would always love, Amy Rose.
