The Hardest Word

Across the room, Mighty chuckled as he noticed the look that Manic was completely oblivious to.

“Looks like somebody’s got a crush.” He smirked to his friends.

Vector raised a brow at the comment. “Maybe.” He agreed. “Too bad it’s for the Ice Princess.”

“Ice Princess?” Sonic echoed.

“She just don’t like guys.” Vector imparted.

“How do you know that?” Sonic asked.

“She turned me down flat.” The crocodile revealed. “And if she ain’t interested in yours truly…she can’t be interested in ANYBODY.”

“Is he ALWAYS that full of himself.” Sonia asked Sally quietly.

“Pretty much.” Sally nodded.

Espio threw his crocodile companion an unamused look. “Vec,” he said. “That doesn’t mean she doesn’t like guys. That just means she doesn’t like YOU.”

Mighty frowned. Though he didn’t know the burgundy echidna all that well, the fact that nobody had been able to get particularly close to her since her arrival on the Island told him that she was a very private being, something that she shared with just about her entire race. And he knew that Manic’s innocent attention could not be appreciated.

“This could take a while.” He announced. “Elle’s nothing if not thorough. What say we clear out and give her some space?”

“Yeah.” Espio agreed, having picked up on Mighty’s wavelength. “We’ll show you the sights.”

Ellie-Za threw the pair a rather grateful glance, but Manic still seemed loath to leave.

“Hey,” Vector chimed in. “You two are musicians right?”

“Yeah.” Manic brightened as the conversation turned to what could arguably be called his greatest love.

“Well,” The crocodile went on. “There’s usually some tunes brewin’ down at the common’s hall. What say we go make the scene?”

“Sounds good.” Sonic nodded his consent. “Seeing as Knux ain’t answering his pages…”

“He’s a sulker.” Espio shrugged. “He’ll show when he’s regained his composure.”

“Uh…” Sonia began, knowing full well she was the reason for the current sulk. “I’d like to go and talk to Julie-Su if any of you know where I can find her…”

Vector shook his head. “Not a good idea.”

“Those two have got a lot in common.” Mighty added.

“Not the least of which is a lousy temper.” Espio concluded.

Ray nodded his agreement silently.

“But I’m the cause of their fight…” She protested.

“I doubt that.” Ellie-Za said, finally turning from her computer, almost knocking Manic over in the process. “You might have brought something to a head, but those two wouldn’t have exploded like you say they did over one little kiss. There must have been something brewing under the surface.”

“Like what?” Vector asked suspiciously. “You need a crowbar to get those two apart.”

“How about where he’s been for the past year?” Ellie-Za suggested. “It’s got me pretty curious and I barely know the guy.”

“It’s pretty obvious that he’s hiding things.” Sonic added, thinking of the fire-wielding abilities he’d witnessed recently.

“I still want to talk to her.” Sonia insisted. “I have to set thing straight.”

“You have any ideas where she’d be?” Sally asked the Chaotix. The quartet exchanged a glance.

“She could have gone to see Lara-Le…” Mighty suggested uncertainly.

“Nah.” Ellie-Za shook her head. “Like you said yourself, they have a lot in common…”

“You’re saying she’s off sulking somewhere too?” Sonic raised a brow.

“She probably went home.” She looked at Sonia. “I’ll give you the address if you really want to go…but I’d watch myself if I were you.”

“I’ll go with her.” Sally said. “Hopefully my presence will make her behave herself.”

Vector raised a brow at Ellie-Za. “Got any nuclear weapons they can borrow?”

~~~~~~

“Is she really as bad as they’re making out?” Sonia asked as she and Sally walked the streets of Echidnaopolis on their way to Julie-Su’s apartment.

“She’s tough.” Sally admitted. “I’d say Knuckles is her only real weak point. And vice versa.”

“Really?” Sonia frowned.

“You wouldn’t think either one of them was capable of a bond as strong as they’ve got.” She smiled. “I’ve known Knux since we were kids, and he never seemed to notice that there was any difference between males and females. But then, I don’t suppose any of us do at that age…”

“But Julie-Su changed that, huh?” Sonia asked.

“I don’t think either one of them was prepared for the Soultouch…”

“The what?”

“It’s an echidna thing.” Sally shrugged. “Some inbuilt sixth-sense that allows them to recognise their life partner…”

“I wonder if my Knux felt that…” Sonia mused.

“Did you?” Sally asked.

“Did I what?” Sonia frowned.

“Feel the Soultouch?” Sally clarified.

“I don’t know…” Sonia admitted. “What does it feel like?”

“You’d have to ask an echidna.” Sally signed. “Julie-Su tried to explain it to me, but I don’t think it can really be put into words. But it’s like they know when the other one’s close by…like they can sense each other somehow…”

“I think I’d know if I’d felt that.” Sonia sighed. “Maybe we’re not…”

“Hey,” Sally cut her off, knowing what she was thinking. “We’re talking different dimensions here. What’s true for one isn’t necessarily true for another. Sonic’s an only child here. He’s not royalty…”

“But he can still be a right royal pain, right?” Sonia smirked.

“Definitely.” Sally chuckled. “You’re also not an echidna. It might not have an effect on you even if it had an effect on him.”

“I’ll have to ask him about it when I get back home.” She sighed as she thought of her brother and her red-furred companion that had become so much more than a friend. She wondered, not for the first time, how the two were faring without her and Manic. Even though she knew that if anybody could deal with Robotnik, it was those two, she desperately wanted to get home. “Do you really think they can pull it off?”

“I can’t really say…I don’t want to get your hopes up, just in case…but if anybody can, they will. So long as Elle can tune in on your dimension.”

“And your Knuckles can punch a hole through to it…” Sonia shook her head. “I can’t believe that your Knuckles is so much more powerful than mine. Mine can’t even fly…”

“Neither can ours.” Sally smiled. “He actually glides…at least he used to. He’s been through some changes of late…none of us are really sure what he’s truly capable of.”

“Like coming back from the dead?” Sonia raised a brow.

“We’re not too sure anymore that he actually did.” Sally admitted. “He HAS been missing for a year though, and nobody knows where he’s been, not even Julie-Su. He says he doesn’t remember, but I’m not so sure he’s being totally honest when he says that.”

“You may be right about that…” Sonia mused.

“What do you mean?”

“The pair had something of an…altercation…when Manic and I arrived. She demanded he tell her where he’d been. He said he couldn’t. But the way he looked…it was like he wanted to tell her, but there was something stopping him. Something he had no power over…”

Sally frowned. Being so close to Knuckles for so long it was possible that this newcomer might notice something that she hadn’t. But then, she was also involved with Knuckles, in a round about kind of way, she knew him in a way perhaps even Julie-Su didn’t.

“How long have you and the Knuckles of your world been together?” She asked. She knew it sounded like she was changing the subject, but Sally was suddenly curious to know just how well the hedgehog knew the other worldly representation of her friend.

“We’ve been friends for a couple of years.” Sonia said. “But we’ve been…more than friends for almost as long.”

“Maybe it WAS the Soultouch then.” Sally said thoughtfully. “Knuckles and Julie-Su realised how much they meant to each other pretty quickly. Of course they tried to deny it, and it took them quite a while before either one of them would truly act on it…they’ve really only been a couple for a short time. They’d only just admitted it when he died…for the want of a better term. And he’s only been back for a short time, and a lot of that they’ve been separated too…you probably know him better than she does.”

“Maybe…” Sonia nodded. “But then, they’re not exactly the same echidna…”

“Sonic’s met quite a few of his otherworldly representations, and a few of mine as well,” she smiled. “He says that though the physical differences can sometimes be quite extreme, the difference in personality, beliefs and outlooks are usually quite minimal…”

“Once a hero, always a hero?” Sonia queried.

“Something like that…” Sally arched a brow. They had, after all, only encountered one evil Sonic.

A pair of young male echidnas smiled as they passed them, obviously liking what they saw. Sonia’s glance followed them for a moment. It was still strange to see so many of the species.

“Is it me…” she began as she turned her attention back to Sally. “Or are these guys nowhere near as cute as Knuckles?”

Sally laughed lightly. “I think you might be just a little bit biased, Sonia.”

“Maybe.” She admitted. “But still…”

“Knuckles IS pretty much the Island’s most eligible bachelor.” Sally smiled. “Though Julie-Su might have something to say about that…Ever since Echidnaopolis returned, a lot of females have been putting the moves on him, and not always subtly…there’s a lot of status in being the Guardian’s consort, and the majority of the populace don’t approve of Julie-Su.”

“Why?” Sonia asked. “Even though we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, she seemed pretty nice to me. I’d have thought they were a pretty good match.”

“There are two very distinct fractions in echidna society. The Islanders, and a group of techno tyrants called the Dark Legion…and they really don’t get on.”

“And they’re from opposite sides?” Sonia guessed.

“Yep.” Sally nodded. “The upper class feel that she’s somehow beneath him. Of course, Knuckles thinks that’s a load of…well, I won’t say what he said…”

“I can imagine.” Sonia chuckled. “He doesn’t really mince words.”

“You know,” Sally sighed. “If I’d have known it was this far I would have hailed a cab…” The tall, glass spires of the city proper had given way to smaller, more modest dwellings. Though still quite clean and comfortable, they couldn’t compare to the grandeur they’d left behind.

“It can’t be much further.” Sonia said, glancing down at the electronic pathfinder Ellie-Za had given them. The glowing red dot that indicated Julie-Su’s apartment was quite close now. “Should be just up ahead…” she sighed. “I just hope she doesn’t slam the door in my face…”

~~~~~~

Julie-Su sat quietly on her windowsill, absently pulling at one of her long, pink spines. She watched the distant skyline, not really focusing on anything. Her temper had cooled, leaving her in a deep depression. She’d never felt like this before, like somebody had punched her in the stomach and torn out her heart at the same instant. She didn’t like it.

‘Get a grip on yourself, girl…’ she chided herself. ‘Why are you getting so cut up over one little fight? It’s not like you haven’t argued with him before…’

She smiled sadly to herself as she remembered when they first met, not even two years ago. All they had seemed to do back then was argue. But things had been different then. They hadn’t even been friends…

She sighed.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a rather loud knock at the door. She glared at it, a little of her anger returning. She really didn’t want to be disturbed.

With an angry sigh she dropped her feet to the floor and headed for the door.

“Hey!” Sally beamed at her as soon as she opened it.

'Great…’ Julie-Su thought. ‘Just what I need…the dance of the sugar plum princess…’

“Now…” Sally went on. “Do you swear to be on your best behaviour?”

Julie-Su raised a brow. She’d expected some sort of heartfelt sympathy from her Knothole friend. Or even some kind of lecture. But not this.

“Why?” She asked, growing more than a little suspicious.

“Because I want to introduce you to Sonia.” Sally said, the smile never leaving her face.

“Sonia?”

“You probably remember her.” Sally said as she turned to usher in her companion, feeling she was safe from any immediate danger. Physically anyway…

Julie-Su’s eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of the rather sheepish looking magenta hedgehog. The look gave Sonia reason to pause. It was not lost on Sally either.

“Now…” she said, smile still firmly in place. “Before you reach for the gas gun or turn this into some kind of cat fight…did Knuckles ever tell you about the Cosmic Interstate?”

“Not that I recall.” Julie-Su said in a low, threatening voice as she kept her attention focused on the now rather uneasy Sonia.

“Then are you familiar with the concept of parallel dimensions?” Sally enquired.

“Are you trying to tell me that Miss Mohawk here is from another dimension?” Julie-Su queried, still not breaking the glare she held Sonia captive in.

“In a nutshell.” Sally nodded.

“And THIS means WHAT to me?” Julie-Su raised a brow ever so slightly.

“It means…” Sally sighed. “Sonia here is involved with a completely different Knuckles.”

Julie-Su’s head turned sharply towards Sally. “Come again?”

“Can we sit down first?” Sally asked. “It’s rather involved.”

“Fine.” Julie-Su spun around, stalked across the room and flopped down on her ancient sofa. Sally sat down beside her while Sonia took a perch on the arm of the chair closest to the door lest she need to make a quick getaway from an irate echidna. She knew the species well enough to not get them too upset. And Julie-Su seemed to be a fairly typical member of the race.

“Okay.” Sally began. “There’s an infinite number of realities out there, each slightly different from the other. Inhabited by slightly different versions of the beings we all know and love. But not everybody exists in every reality. In Sonia’s reality, you don’t exist. I don’t exist. The Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix don’t exist. In fact, far as I can tell, only Sonic, Knuckles and Robotnik exist.”

She paused for a moment.

“And in that reality, Sonic’s royalty…” She stopped, raising a brow as Julie-Su let out a tiny, muffled giggle. “You find that amusing?”

“Well, c’mon, Sally…he’s not exactly regal.” Julie-Su pointed out.

“True…” Sally admitted.

“He wasn’t raised as royalty.” Sonia put in quietly. “Now of us were, really…”

“None of you?” Julie-Su echoed. She wasn’t feeling quite so much animosity towards the hedgehog now. From what Sally was saying, the incident earlier may have just been a case of mistaken identity.

“Sonic’s my brother.” She said with a sigh. “Manic too…the green hedgehog I arrived with…” she clarified before Julie-Su could even ask.

“And Knuckles?”

“Seems he’s stuck in the same job.” Sally smiled. “He’s still Guardian of the Floating Island.”

“But he’s all alone there.” Sonia smiled. “There’s no sentient life on the Island…and he is almost the last of his kind. There’s only one other echidna that we know of…Athair.”

“We’ve got one of those…” Julie-Su said absently. “Or, at least we did…”

“We met him a few years ago,” Sonia went on. “And, I guess I sensed some kind of kindred spirit in him. The only other beings I could really relate to were Sonic and Manic…and it was kinda nice to hang around with a guy that isn’t my brother…”

“I’m sure.” Julie-Su said.

“Robotnik isn’t much different though…” Sonia said with a mirthless smile. “He’s more or less the reason we’re here…” She sighed as she remembered. “He’d made some kind of weapon…I’m not sure what it was…but it opened up this vortex…an inter-dimensional doorway. Manic and I got sucked in to it…and we’ve been thrown from one dimension to the next ever since.”

“And Sonic?” Sally asked. She couldn’t help but feel concern for and version of him.

“We can’t be sure,” Sonia admitted. “We’re both pretty sure that he managed to out run it.” She looked down at the floor, obviously worried about her brother.

“I’m sure he’s fine.” Sally smiled, trying to convince herself as well. “I’ve known my Sonic since I was a kid…and from what you’ve told me about yours, they’re not all that different…and my Sonic can handle just about anything. And he’s got Knuckles to back him up…”

“Yes…” Sonia said softly. “Knuckles…” She noticed Julie-Su stiffen a bit at the way she spoke his name. She missed them both so much…worried about them every moment, but when she thought of Knuckles she actually felt as if she were in pain. And it had been reflected in her voice.

“I guess he’s the reason I’m here…” she glanced shyly at the echidna. “We’ve been gone so long…so when I saw a familiar face…and such a welcome one at that…” she sighed. “What I’m saying is that…well…I’m sorry if I’ve caused any friction between you and YOUR Knuckles…”

Julie-Su sighed. After all, she knew first hand what it was like to be separated from the echidna they both loved, in a way.

“Truth is…” she continued. “I should have realised he wasn’t my Knuckles. Mine’s not quite as tall, or as broad across the shoulders. And he’s a little thicker round the middle…” She smiled wistfully. “But they DO have the same dreamy eyes…”

Sally looked from one to the other, shaking her head with a smile. “I think I’ll go make some tea…” she said, heading for Julie-Su’s tiny kitchen.

“Yeah…” Julie-Su sighed. “One look from those eyes and I can pretty much forgive him for anything…”

“What he said to you before can’t hurt.” Sonia smiled. Julie-Su frowned, not sure what she was getting at. “He DID say those three little words.”

“He was just saying what he knew I wanted to hear…”

“Oh, please…” Sonia rolled her eyes. “If your Knuckles is anything like my Knuckles, he doesn’t have a conniving bone in his body. Even when he’s angry, he’s sincere.”

She blinked as what Sonia said sank in. She was right of course. Knuckles didn’t lie…he was often too honest, even tactless.

Sonia smiled at the rather startled look on her face.

“I think you should go find him.” Sonia suggested with a smirk. “And if I might give you a little advice?”

Julie-Su raised a brow as Sonia sat down beside her, leaning in close to whisper in her ear. Sally stuck her head in the room when she heard the conversation stop. Julie-Su’s face flickered through an amazing variety of expressions. She pulled away from the hedgehog with an incredulously suspicious look on her face.

“You’re kidding me?”

Sonia’s smile became frighteningly mischievous. “I swear it makes him purr like a kitten.”

~~~~~~

Julie-Su pushed aside vines and tangle undergrowth in a desperate search for the hidden entrance that he’d shown her not so long. He may have covered her eyes on the initial entry to the place, but he hadn’t bothered on the way out. And now she could see why. It was almost impossible to find.

But she knew he’d come here. Where else would he go? He had told her it was where he went when he was upset.

Finally finding the small entryway, she pushed open the grating to gain entrance. She hadn’t remembered the corridor being this dark and cramped, but then he’d been with her then, his presence would certainly be comforting now.

She’d had a lot of time to think during her trip out here. She was elated that he hadn’t betrayed her, but wasn’t sure how he’d feel about being accused of it. She sighed as she entered the palace proper. She smiled as she felt his presence, long before she actually found him. She knew he had to know she was there, but he gave no sign of it, even when she sat down on the floor beside him.

They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity.

“Knuckles…” she said finally, unable to take the silence any longer. “I’m so…” He put a finger gently to her lips. She looked at him, and those damn eyes.

“You don’t have to say anything…” he said softly.

“But Sonia explained everything…”

“Sonia?” He frowned.

“The hedgehog with the lips.” Julie-Su clarified. He looked away. “She and Sally went on about parallel universes and something called the Cosmic Interstate...I don’t pretend to understand what they were talking about. Apparently she’s involved with the you of another dimension.” Knuckles arched a brow.

“You were right, though.” He said. She looked at him, more than a little frightened now. “I shouldn’t have to keep secrets from you…about where I’ve been…” He looked off into the distance. “But there are some things that you really shouldn’t have to know…”

She could see the pain in his face, and in that instant she knew he had total recall of the events of the past year. Total recall of things he really didn’t want to remember.

“So…” she began, wanting desperately to lighten his mood. “Any cute girls I should be aware of…‘cos it’d be kinda nice to be prepared…”

“No…” he said, looking at his hands in his lap. “I was alone…completely and utterly alone…”

‘Well…that didn’t work…’

“You never have to be alone again…”

So they sat in silence again, but in a silence neither one of them minded. But Julie-Su could still feel the tension in his body. A mischievous glint came into her eyes as she remembered the advice Sonia had given her…

She slid an arm up his back, reaching a hand up beneath his long red spines. He frowned slightly as her fingers began to dance lightly across the back of his neck.

“Julie-Su?” He queried. “What are you dooooohhhh…”

Julie-Su smiled as he let out a long, contented sigh. She could feel him physically relax as he all but sagged against her. His breathing became deeper, finally becoming a soft, almost soothing rumble.

‘Just like a kitten…’

Knuckles suddenly jerked away from her, eyes wide, a confused and terrified look on his face.

“Well, what do you know?” Julie-Su smiled. “Some things ARE universal.”