To Absent Friends...
Sonic smiled at his reflection as he brushed off his lapels. “Lookin’ good.” He said to no one in particular. He turned to Tails, who held out the cane the hedgehog had been using ever since he got the sensation back in his legs. Sonic sighed deeply as he took it. Even though he’d learned how much else he was capable of, he still missed his speed, though he never let anybody see it anymore.
Tails could read his friend like a book, however. “Doc Quack said you’d probably never walk again, and you proved him wrong,” the little fox smiled, “maybe…in time…”
“Yeah, maybe…” His sad smile brightened. “At least I’ve still got my buds,” the smile faded. “Well, most of them…”
Tonight was being celebrated as the first anniversary of the signing of the Mobian Declaration of Brotherhood. Although the Declaration had been signed only eight months ago, the idea had been instigated much earlier. And the date had been chosen to honour the one whose death had brought it about. All the kingdoms of Mobius were coming together to celebrate the union of the planet’s nations. But the two friends thought of the one whose sacrifice had bought about this newfound unity. For it was also the first anniversary of his death.
“I wish he could have seen this…” Tails said softly.
“Well,” Rotor beamed as he burst into the room, Antoine in tow. “Don’t we look dapper?”
“It iz not faire,” Antoine mumbled. “We all played a part, we should all get to go. Why does only Sonic get to go?”
“There are advantages to dating the princess,” Rotor said. “Besides, it’s for official delegates only.”
“Yeah,” Sonic sighed. “It’s gonna be all proper and upstanding, and totally boring.”
“Then why are you going?” Antoine asked.
“Yeah,” Rotor nodded. “Boring isn’t exactly your spee…um…cup of tea.”
Sonic raised a brow. “What? You can’t say the word?”
“It’s just that…”
“I’m okay with it, Rotor.” Sonic sighed. “I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss it, but I’m okay with it. Really.”
The walrus still looked decidedly uncomfortable. Sonic slapped a friendly hand on his shoulder.
“C’mon, times a wastin’.”
~~~~~
“My, my, my, sugar hog.” Bunnie smiled. “If you don’t look good enough to eat.”
Sally smiled. “I have to admit, there’s something about a guy in a dinner suit.” Her smile faded somewhat as Sonic fiddled uncomfortably with his cane. She leaned towards him, slipping her arm through his. “And that cane makes you look so…distinguished.” She pulled him towards the door.
Bunnie and Amy Rose fell into step behind them.
“And just where do you two think you’re going?” Sally asked playfully. “Official delegates only, remember?”
“We were just gonna hang ‘round outside,” Bunnie explained. “Check out the fashion, and such.”
“I guess there’s no harm in that,” Sally smiled. “Just try to keep out of the way or Daddy will have a fit. He wants everything to run smoothly. No problems, and no surprises.”
~~~~~
“Some of these gowns are amazin’,” Bunnie sighed.
“Yeah,” Amy agreed. “Wouldn’t it be dreamy to get all dressed up and go to a formal affair like this?”
“Why don’t ya ask Sonic?” Bunnie chuckled. “He didn’t seem too impressed.”
“Impressed about what?”
The pair turned to face Charmy. Saffron stood several steps behind him, looking lovely in a pale pink gossamer gown. She smiled politely.
“My, if it isn’t the most handsome bee prince Ah know.” Bunnie smiled.
Charmy raised his brow. “And how many bee princes do you know?” He asked.
“Well…Ah guess you are the only one…”
“Not much of a compliment then.”
“Oh, nuts to you.” She said swatting him gently on the arm. “You all better get inside.”
He chuckled, and reached back to take Saffron’s hand.
The pair watched as they entered the brightly lit hall, joining the other delegates from various kingdoms, then returned their attention to those still arriving. They watched as a seemingly unending variety of species, arriving in an equally unending variety of transports, made their way into the Great Hall.
“I love that turquoise number the princess from Burmah is wearin’.” Bunnie commented, drawing Amy’s attention as the graceful white tigeress swept by.
“She’s beautiful.” Amy sighed. The steady stream had thinned to a trickle.
“I guess that’s everybody.” Bunnie said.
Amy frowned. “Is that Julie-Su?” She asked.
Bunnie followed her gaze to the pink echidna, standing alone in a flowered archway. She was dressed in a flowing burgundy gown with a soft white underskirt. Her unruly hair had been tamed and swept back from her eyes. Her long dreadlocks had been twisted into an ornate series of curls. “It sure does look like her.” Bunnie agreed. With an exchanged nod, the pair decided to investigate closer.
“Julie-Su?” Amy said softly.
The echidna smiled brightly. “Hi, guys. What are you up to?”
“We were just checkin’ out the gowns and stuff.” Bunnie explained. “Are you representing the Floating Island?”
“Sort of, I’m with…” she turned to her left, then her right, then turned right around. She let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, for the love of…” she growled. Then she looked up. “What are you doing now?” She demanded of the shadows.
A shadow detached itself and dropped down silently beside her.
“Oh, my stars.” Bunnie whispered as she and Amy took in the long red spines, the deep violet eyes, the pair of spurs on each gloved hand, and the loving smile on Julie-Su’s face as she looked at him.
He held out a single white flower to her, head lowered sheepishly, smiling shyly.
“Thank you,” she said softly as she took the offered token, gazing into his dark eyes. His eyes flickered towards Bunnie and Amy. His smile deepened.
“There’s that look again.” He chuckled.
“I really thought you’d be used to it by now.”
“Knuckles?” Bunnie whispered, her brain still not willing to accept what her eyes were telling her without some kind of confirmation.
“Yup.” He said, still smiling. Then he got a better look at the rabbit. Frowning slightly, he reached out and gently took hold of her left hand. He turned it over, studying the flesh and blood limb with great fascination. He raised his eyes to hers, looking for an explanation. “I see there’s been a few changes while I’ve been gone.”
She smiled. “Yeah,” she said softly. She was about to tell him how it had happened, but thought better of it. After all, it had come about because of his sacrifice.
“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” Amy said without thinking.
Knuckles shrugged. “I guess I got better.”
Julie-Su looked around, noticing that only the four of them remained in the courtyard outside the Great Hall.
“C’mon,” she said taking his arm. “We’re late.”
“Talk to you later,” he called back to the still somewhat stunned and gaping females. They turned to each other.
“My, my, my,” Bunnie smiled, “he sure does fill out that tux nice.”
Amy chuckled. “Antoine’d be upset if he heard you say that.”
“I reckon he’d look pretty darn good in one of them penguin suits, too.” Bunnie said. “C’mon. We gotta tell the gang about this.”
~~~~~
King Max looked out at the delegates, milling about, laughing, talking, from his throne. He smiled. It looked like every known kingdom had sent a representative. He noticed his daughter, sitting with her young love. Sonic was tapping his cane so quickly against the leg of his chair it appeared as little more than a blur. The king frowned slightly. ‘It would seem that his power is still within him,’ he mused. ‘Perhaps he will recover.’ He glanced at Alicia, sitting regally beside him. She smiled at his loving gaze. It had taken him almost a lifetime to be reunited with his love, he had almost given up hope.
But now he knew…
Miracles do happen.
Geoffrey St John approached them reverently. “All the delegates have arrived, your Highnesses,” he announced, “except for the Floating Island.” Max turned towards the young skunk.
“I believe we can excuse Locke for his tardiness. It is also the anniversary of the loss of his son, their youngest Guardian,” a shadow of guilt crossed the skunk’s face. “They are no doubt conducting some kind of requiem mass for the boy.”
“Should we begin without…” Prince Elias began.
“Strueth!” Geoffrey said suddenly.
“What is it, Commander?” The King asked, ignoring his breech of protocol.
“The Floating Island delegate just arrived, Sire.”
“Oh,” he smiled, turning to greet his old friend. On either side of him he heard his Queen and son gasp with shock.
“OH!” He repeated, stunned at what he saw.
~~~~~
Julie-Su tightened her grip on Knuckles’ arm. He chuckled slightly. “You said you wanted to make an entrance.” He said softly.
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind,” she whispered. “They’re all looking at me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he smirked. “They’re looking at ME.” She threw him a scathing sideward glare. “Hey, I did come back from the dead.” He sighed. “Okay, they’re looking at US.”
~~~~~
The crowd was abuzz with comments and gossip at the arrival of the echidnas.
“Who are they?” Somebody asked.
“Such a charming young couple.” An elderly female smiled warmly.
“Must be from the Floating Island.” Her husband reasoned.
“Hmmmm...he's as cute as the hedgehog with the cane.” A younger, single delegate smirked as she, and her equally single companions eyed the red echidna appreciatively. “He was just poured into that tux.” Her friends giggled.
“Forget it,” another said. “You don’t have a chance.”
“Why not?”
“My people pride ourselves on reading body language, and I assure you, that neither of those two can see ANYTHING but the other.”
“How romantic!” Someone sighed.
“Pity,” the smirker pouted. “Red’s my favourite colour.”
~~~~~
“Sonic?” Sally whispered nervously.
“Yeah, Sal, I see it too.”
“It’s not possible.” She shook her head, unable to take her eyes of the newly arrived echidnas.
“I’m beginning to think that where that guy’s concerned,” Sonic said, “anything’s possible.”
~~~~~
Charmy almost dropped his drink as he gaped at the newcomers.
“Charmy? My love?” Saffron asked with concern. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m not so sure I haven’t.”
~~~~~
King Max stood up, as shocked as everyone else, as the pair of young echidnas approached the throne. Knuckles bowed gracefully. Beside him, Julie-Su dropped into an equally gracefully curtsey.
“My father sends his apologies, your Highness,” the red-furred echidna said. He smiled, “But it’s been a rather surprising day.”
Max raised a bushy eyebrow. “Has it indeed?”
Sally pushed through the crowd. “Knuckles?” She whispered.
He turned to her. “Your Highness, it’s very good to see…” Sally threw her arms around his neck, hugging him furiously.
“Your Highness,” the echidna said formally. “This is hardly proper princess behaviour.”
“Oh, be quiet.” She sobbed happily into his ear.
“I gotta tell ya, Red,” Sonic smiled as Sally released him. “You look pretty darn good for a guy who’s been dead for a year.”
Knuckles smiled, and was about to say something when he noticed the cane, and Sonic’s slight limp as he approached. He met his eyes with a concerned filled gaze.
“Yeah,” he said, a slight tone of bitterness to his voice. “I didn’t exactly come through it unscathed.”
“Sonic…I…”
The hedgehog held up his hand. “It was a long time ago, Knux. I’ve learnt how to deal with it.”
Sally grabbed the echidna’s hand. “We have to go tell the others!” She said as she attempted to drag him towards the door.
“I’m sure they know by now.” He said. She turned back, frowning.
“We met Bunnie and Amy on the way in,” Julie-Su explained.
Knuckles looked up as something began hovering above his head. “Hey, Charmy.” Charmy returned to his full size, landing gracefully next to his friend. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah,” the bee whispered as he hugged him tightly.
King Max stood back, allowing the young friends their reunion.
With his extra height, it struck the King just how much Knuckles looked like Locke. He then looked at Sally, and sighed at how much she reminded him of her mother.
Alicia squeezed his hand. He hadn’t noticed her rise to stand beside him. “He is so much like his father.” She said, echoing his thoughts.
“I was thinking how much Sally reminds me of her beautiful mother.” He smiled.
“You always were the flatter, Maximillian.” She smiled.
Finally, they stepped forward.
“Sir Knuckles,” he spoke reverently to the young echidna. “We all owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. You were willing to give your life for us, and it had appeared that you had. I know I speak for us all when I say, we are glad that your most noble sacrifice was not as permanent as it appeared.”
He dropped to one knee, head bowed reverently to the young saviour. Knuckles was stunned to see the proud monarch humble himself before him. He didn’t know what to do or say. He turned for some support, only to find the entire room follow suit, as all the assembled delegates dropped reverently to one knee.
He glanced around the room, denying his first impulse to just bolt for the door. He truly hated being the centre of attention. He took a deep breath, and spoke in a quiet voice. “You honour me, but I’m sure I did nothing that any of you would not have done in my place.” He offered his hand to the King, and pulled him to his feet.
The King smiled.
~~~~~
Knuckles was scanning the room, tugging absently at the bow tie at his throat. He’d never been to such a formal gathering before. Many delegates had approached him, expressing their surprise and joy that he’d managed to make it, that he wasn’t dead after all. Though he was sure Sonic would have lapped up all the attention that was being laid on him, he hated every minute of it. The only consolation he could find was in Julie-Su’s comforting hand, that never left his arm.
Then he noticed the Queen of the Mysterious Cat Country.
The elegant white cat sat, rather stiffly, observing the crowd in much the same way as he did. He glanced at Julie-Su, who was engaged in a deep conversation with a smirking delegate from a kingdom he could only guess at. He took her hand gently from his arm. “Excuse me for a minute.”
She looked at him, a little startled, as he crossed the room, heading straight for the Queen.
She met his eyes as he approached, raising a single brow curiously. Behind her, Razorklaw bristled, a low growl escaping his throat. His Queen simply raised a hand to silence him.
“Your Majesty…” the red echidna began, obviously extremely uncomfortable. “I’d like to apologise for…”
“You have nothing to apologise for.” She said. A smile curled her mouth. “I was informed that you were not quite yourself.”
Knuckles lowered his head. “It still doesn’t excuse what I did.”
He almost jumped when she touched his chin, lifting his head. She searched his dark eyes, frowning. “It is not easy to face the dark side of one’s self.” She said. “It is harder still to emerge from such a confrontation triumphant.” She leaned forward. “You are an exceptional creature, Knuckles, of the Knuckles clan.”
He smiled shyly.
“But now…” the Queen’s smile deepened. “You have been separated long enough.”
Knuckles frowned, not entirely sure what the Queen was talking about.
“Her eyes have not left you since you left her side.” She whispered in his ear.
Knuckles glanced over his shoulder to where Julie-Su stood, still listening to the smirker, her eyes clearly focused on him. He looked back at the Queen, she smiled at the slight flush of colour on his cheeks. He bowed respectfully and departed.
She sighed as he took Julie-Su’s hand. “Young love. There’s nothing quite like it.”
~~~~~
Knuckles absently pushed the food around his plate with his fork. Sally watched him intently. Ever since they’d been served, he’d just played with his food, he hadn’t actually eaten anything. ‘No wonder he’s gotten so thin,’ she thought.
Julie-Su noticed it too. She nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. “You’re supposed to eat it,” she said, “not just rearrange it on your plate.”
“Huh?” He blinked at her. “Oh! Uh…I guess I’m just not very hungry.”
She frowned. She leaned closer to him. “You didn’t eat very much yesterday, either.” She whispered.
“Yeah, bud,” Sonic smiled. “We gotta fatten you up a bit. You’re way too scrawny!”
“I must agree,” Elias smiled. “You are a little on the lean side.”
“I am NOT scrawny.” He protested. “I’m…” he paused, searching for the right word.
“Slender?” Sally suggested.
“Svelte?” Julie-Su purred at him.
“Streamlined?” Charmy smiled.
“What difference does it make if I eat this stuff or not?” He asked in a harsh tone of voice.
Sally frowned. He was unusually agitated by their teasing. She knew from Julie-Su, and her own personal experience, that he could be shy, but his skin was usually thicker that this. She looked at her own plate. It was a Mobian delicacy of lightly grilled meat in a thick creamy sauce.
‘Of course! How could I forget something like THAT!’ She smiled, and turned to a waiter, who was hovering nearby. She whispered hurriedly to him. He smiled politely, and shuffled off.
He returned with a large covered platter. He deftly removed the plate in front of the echidna, replacing it with the new offering. “Her Highness believes this will be more to you liking.” He smiled, removing the cover.
Knuckles looked at the platter before him, then threw Sally an almost grateful glance. She smiled and began to giggle. Julie-Su raised a brow as Knuckles began to chuckle. Sonic stood up so he could see over the centrepiece.
“Grapes?” He asked, incredulously. “Are you a vegetarian?”
“Pretty much,” the echidna confirmed.
“I didn’t know that,” Julie-Su looked at him. But as she thought of it, in all the time she’d known him, she had rarely seen him eat, and when he had, it was almost always some form of fruit. “You ARE full of surprises.” He just smiled.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Elias asked.
Knuckles shrugged. “I didn’t want to cause a problem.”
Sonic sat down again. “But why grapes?”
“Cool,” Sonic beamed. “Does that mean I can get some chilli dogs?”
~~~~~
Sally sighed happily as Sonic spun her, a little awkwardly, around the dance floor. With her to support him, he didn’t need his cane, but his movements were still a little stiff.
“It’s such a wonderful night.” She said as she lay her head on his shoulder.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I thought it was gonna be totally dull. Nothing like having somebody come back from the dead to brighten up the room.” He glanced back at their table. “Speaking of which. What are we gonna do with those two wall flowers?”
Sally followed his gaze. The echidnas were still sitting at the table. Knuckles, looking more than a little nervous as he eyed the dancers, leant towards Julie-Su. He said something to her, to which she nodded very quickly. Glancing quickly around, they slid off their chairs and headed away from the dance floor.
“They’re making a break for it.” Sonic said.
“Why?”
“Who cares?” He smiled mischievously. “Let’s get ‘em.”
~~~~~
Knuckles sat quietly, his hands in his lap, staring up at the stars. Julie-Su lay her head on his shoulder, sighing happily.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Sonic?” He asked softly.
She frowned. With the blanket of stars above them, the scent of flowers wafting on the gentle breeze and the soft music drifting from the Great Hall, it was an extremely romantic setting. And he wanted to talk about Sonic? She sighed, a hint of annoyance and disappointment in her voice.
“I was going to,” she admitted. “But everything’s gone so fast today. And yesterday, well, I was a little…distracted.” She blushed slightly, chuckling at the colour memory brought to his cheeks as well.
“What happened to him?”
“He saw Dimitri lunge at you, and bolted towards you, to save you. He was caught in the resulting blast. He was comatose for about four months. He couldn’t walk at all when he woke up. He was pretty out of it for a while. He was upset that he was crippled, and he blamed himself for what happened to you. But if there’s one thing you two have in common, it’s that you’re both so damn stubborn. He was determined that he’d at least walk again. It’s been a hard struggle for him, but you can see the results. Maybe, in time, he’ll even get his speed back.”
“Yes,” Knuckles said. “Maybe…”
“So this is where you two got to.” They turned to see the object of their conversation. “Nice. Very…romantic. ” He smiled impishly. “I suppose you…want to be alone.”
“Nah,” Knuckles smiled backed. “We’re just tryin’ to hide the fact that we’ve got four left feet.”
“Come again?”
“They can’t dance.” Sally smiled.
“Well, it wasn’t part of my Guardian Apprenticeship.” Knuckles protested.
“And the Dark Legion never had time for such…frivolities.” Julie-Su added.
Sonic and Sally exchanged a wicked sidelong glance. With a curt nod of agreement, Sally grabbed Knuckles’ hands and dragged him to his feet, while Sonic, very suavely, offered his hand to Julie-Su. The echidnas exchanged a worried glance.
“This really isn’t necessary.” Knuckles said softly.
“Maybe not,” Sonic smiled. “But it’s bound to be fun.”
They led them back inside towards the dance floor. Sonic and Sally each positioned their less-than-willing partner’s hands.
“Just put the tips of your toes on our,” Sally said.
“And away we go,” Sonic smiled as he spun Julie-Su on to the dance floor. “So how’s it goin’ with you and Red?” He asked.
“I really don’t think that’s any of your business.” She replied with a smile.
“That good, huh?” He wriggled his brows suggestively.
Julie-Su’s jaw dropped at his insinuation, then a nasty smile curled her mouth. “You really don’t want to upset me when I’m wearing high heels.” She said.
He looked down at their feet.
“Point taken.”
Across the floor, Sally raised a brow. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?”
“Positive.”
“You’re very good for a beginner.”
“I always was a quick study.”
He kept glancing at Sonic and Julie-Su. Sally smiled. “What? You can’t stand being separated from her?”
“Huh?” He looked at her. “Ah, no, I was just thinking about Sonic’s…condition.”
She sighed. “He says he’s okay with it, but…”
“You know he’s not.”
“It makes no difference to me,” she said, “I didn’t fall for his speed. But sometimes, when he thinks I’m not looking, I can see how much he misses it. I just wish there was something I could do, to make him smile again.”
“Sometimes, wishes DO come true.” He smiled. “I’m living proof.”
“Aren’t you guys a little confused?” They looked down at Charmy and Saffron. “You’re supposed to be dancing with her.” He pointed at Knuckles, then Julie-Su. “And you’re supposed to be dancing with him.” He gestured similarly between Sally and Sonic.
“He’s got a point,” Sonic smiled. “Let’s switch.” He dropped Julie-Su’s hand.
“Okay, Sonic,” Knuckles slapped a hand on the hedgehog’s shoulder, and offered his hand, “but I gotta lead.”
Everyone burst into laughter at the flustered look on the hedgehog’s face. “When did you develop a sense of humour?” He asked.
“You’ll find he’s full of surprises,” Julie-Su smiled as she took his hand from Sonic’s shoulder and placed it on her waist, bringing a slight flush of colour to the echidna’s face. Sally stepped up to the still slightly confused hedgehog.
“Miss me?” Julie-Su whispered into his ear.
“Always.”
~~~~~
“I can’t take much more of this.” Julie-Su muttered as she fell into a chair. “These shoes are killing me.”
“And I thought you’d be dancing on air just being with me.” Knuckles smiled at her as he dropped down beside her.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Well,” Sonic said as he approached the pair. “Sal, Charm, Saffron and I thought we’d blow off this whole formal do and go and hang with the guys. Wanna come.”
“Sounds cool,” Julie-Su said standing up.
“Aw, man,” Knuckles moaned as she dragged him to his feet. “They’re gonna get all mushy again.”
“At least this time they’ve been warned in advance.”
~~~~~
Tails launched himself at the echidna. “I knew it!” he cried happily. “I knew you’d come back!”
Knuckles raised a brow. “You did?”
“Yeah.” The little fox beamed, disentangling himself from the echidna’s long spines. “But where have you been? Were you actually dead?” He threw a glance at Sonic and Sally.
“I’m not sure,” Knuckles admitted with a slight frown. “I think I might have been, for a while at least.”
“He does have a nifty scar, though.” Julie-Su said.
“Where?” Bunnie asked, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“Right here,” she drew her finger from the hollow of her neck and down her ribcage.
“From the Blade of Order, huh?” Tails asked as he grabbed Knuckles’ shirtfront.
The echidna pulled him away with one hand. “Do you mind?”
“I just wanna see it.”
“You can’t see it,” Julie-Su smiled. “You can only FEEL it.”
“Oooohhh,” Sonic cooed, in reaction to Julie-Su’s expression and tone of voice. He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“What can I say,” she shrugged as she coiled her arm around Knuckles’ shoulder. “Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder.”
Knuckles buried his face in one hand, shaking his head as he did so. “Oh, for crying out loud.” He mumbled. He could feel his cheeks begin to burn.
“I do so love to make you blush.” She purred at him.
“And it doesn’t seem to take very much.” Sally teased.
“Aw, c’mon,” Sonic rolled his eyes, “I bet he doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body.”
An almost wicked smile curled the red echidna’s mouth. He glanced at Julie-Su, his eyes narrowing, his smile becoming even nastier. She backed away from him, fearful of just what was going through his mind. “Don’t even THINK about it.” She hissed at him.
“What?” He asked, spreading his hands innocently, the wicked glint still in his eyes.
“Don’t make me hurt you.” She threatened playfully.
His smile softened as he took her hand. She raised a brow, still unsure of his ultimate intentions. He said, in a light, almost lyrical voice. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” He gently lowered his lips to the back of her hand. Julie-Su blushed deeply, while Sally and Bunnie sighed dreamily.
Sally smiled at Sonic.
“Okay,” he admitted. “Maybe he’s got ONE romantic bone in his body. What the heck was that slush anyway?” Sonic demanded.
“Shakespeare.”
“What spear?”
“Shakespeare. He was a writer on that world we visited when that strange Overlander put the snatch on the Master Emerald.” He explained.
“And how did you come to know this ‘Shakespeare’s’ work?” Sally asked.
“You’d be surprised what my father has in his library.”
~~~~~
It was late, and most of the Freedom Fighters had retired for the evening. Knuckles was leaning on a railing, staring at the stars again, only this time he was alone.
“You okay?”
He turned his head towards Sally as she came up beside him.
“I’m fine.” He said softly.
“I know you better than that,” she said. “Something’s bothering you. If it’s because of the way we teased you before, I’m sorry. Julie-Su told me you were shy about your relationship with her, but I didn’t know you were that sensitive…”
“I’d have thought my little recital proved I’m not,” he sighed. “It’s just that… everything’s happening so fast. I’ve only been home for two days. And I find out I’ve lost an entire year of my life. Everybody’s been in mourning for me. One of my best friends has been crippled. And everybody keeps asking me questions I can’t answer.” He looked at his hands.
“Do you feel…different?”
“No, not really,” he sighed. “I just feel a little strange, like I’m out of place.”
“I think you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be,” Sally said.
“I hope so,” he whispered.
~~~~~
“So,” Sally said as she and Julie-Su settled in for the night, “how is he, really? Any little differences we should know about?”
“Not really,” Julie-Su replied, “though he does appear to be a little bit…I don’t know how to put it…but he doesn’t take anything for granted.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, I found him yesterday morning, just before dawn. He was playing in the dirt, letting it run through his fingers. I guess he was just glad to be home. And we got all kind of weepy and snugly when we saw each other…”
“That’s hardly surprising,” Sally interjected. “You hadn’t seen each other for a year, and you thought he was dead.”
“Yeah. And it was real nice, real cosy.” She smiled as she remembered. “Then he suddenly just dragged me through the bush, right to the edge of the Island, scaled a tree, scared the life out of me, all so he could watch the sunrise. And the look on his face…it was like he hadn’t seen the sun for ages.”
“Maybe he hasn’t,” Sally shrugged, “he is kind of pale.”
“And he’s more open about sharing things. Did you know he was an artist?”
“An artist?”
“Yeah. I woke up this morning and he was drawing a sketch of me…”
“You spent the night with him?” Sally was flabbergasted.
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” Julie-Su said, noticing the look on Sally’s face. “He was a perfect gentlecreature, even though he didn’t draw any clothes on me…” Sally’s eyes widened again, “…he hadn’t gotten to that when I woke up.”
“Has he said anything about where he’s been?”
“No,” Julie-Su admitted. “He says he can’t tell us anything. And I’ve been wondering if he can’t, because he doesn’t remember, or he can’t because he doesn’t WANT to remember. Either way, I’m not gonna push him.”
“No,” Sally agreed. “Let’s just be happy that he’s back. Even if he is a little... flighty.”
