Beauty and the Beast

As the moon rose over the bay, the night seemed to come alive. The stars sparkled with an almost unnatural light as the chorus of crickets and frogs intensified. The Chaotix and Freedom Fighters had been invited to the Commons Hall downtown, where a special concert would be given in their honor. Sonic and Vector would be doing a number of songs together with Vector's band, Gen X, and there would be a song done by a mystery guest. As the stage was being set up, the FF and Chaotix were catching up on old times. Sally sat by Knux as they reminiced a bit. She whispered to him, "So, who do you think is the mystery singer?" He shrugged. "Ya know what? I have absolutely no clue." Just then Julie-Su came up to him. She threw her arms around his neck and gently kissed his cheek. "I love you." He smiled and shook his head. "How could you ever love a beast like me?"

Julie-Su took in the seemingly playfulness of the comment, but she could also sense the sadness underneath of it all. Ever since his father had told him who and what he really was, he been in a slight depression. It was nothing serious, just an underlining depair at times. He played it off by joking with Julie-Su about how their friends should start calling them Beauty and the Beast. She sighed softly and gently kissed his forehead. "I'll be back in a little while, I'm going to go help backstage, ok?" Knuckles pulled her down to kiss her lips. "Alright, see you after the show then." A couple hours and songs later, the stage was plunged into darkness. "Is it over?" Mighty asked. As if in answer to his question, a piano began to play a soft and almost sad tune. A voice began to sing ever so sweetly, as a blue light shown down on the singer. It was Julie-Su.


"You're not a stranger to me

And you are something to see

You don't even know how to please

You say a lot...but you're unaware how to leave

My darling lives in a world that is not mine

An old child misunderstood...out of time

Timeless is the creature who is wise

And timeless is the prisoner in disguise

Oh who is the beauty...who the beast"


Knuckles winced at the words and sighed. He knew who she was singing to.


"Would you die of grieving when I leave

Two children too blind to see

I would fall in your shadow...I believe

My love is a man who's not been tamed

Oh...my love lives in a world of false pleasure and pain

We come from difference worlds...we are the same (my love)

I never doubted your beauty...I've changed

Changed...who is the beauty

Where is my beast (my love)

There is no beauty

Without my beast (my love)

Who is the beauty

Oh...la bete...la bete

Where is my beast

My beauty...my beauty

My beautiful...beautiful...beautiful

Beautiful beast..."


Julie-Su concluded the song and the light faded to darkness. Everyone seemed to come out of a trance. Sonic turned to Knuckles to ask him if he knew that Julie could sing so well. When he saw the echidna's face, eyes closed and tears streaming down his cheeks, he smiled softly and looked away in respect.

Knuckles fought the tears that threatened to spill, he wanted to catch her before she left her dressing room. As he got there, he felt little butterflies in his stomach. He swallowed his nervousness, then knocked on the door. She opened it after a moment. When he saw her, he grabbed her and pulled her into a rough embrace. They shuffled inside the room and closed the door. He lifted her chin so that he could look in her eyes. "I loved your song."
She smiled softly, "I thought you might." He caressed her cheek gently with his thumb. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you, and I think now is the perfect time." She tilted her head in confusion as he dropped to one knee. As she watched him pull out a small velvet box, her eyes widened in comprehension. He opened the box to reveal a lovely ring. "Will you give me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together?" Her voice choked as tears threatened to spill over. Julie nodded furiously then pulled him into a tight hug. "My beautiful beast."