Sonic and the Ghost Legacy

Mostly, Sonic was glad that things went back to normal. Exams came and went, and eventually the End of the Year Feast was upon them. House points were awarded and Ravenclaw won, and Sonic was happy to see Espio happy. Even happier to see Snoop glowering as Espio bragged afterwards.

That night, Sonic told all of his friends farewell for the summer. Rouge gave him a tight hug and mumbled something about seeing him soon, which he thought was weird because the next time he would be seeing her would be August, on the train. But, she gave him this long, heavy look that made him think that maybe he didn’t know anything.

Espio and Scout gave him their address and ordered him to write or else. When he said he didn’t have an owl they sighed. “Of course you don’t,” Scout muttered. “We’ll let you borrow ours. She’ll be there next Monday.”

“Jeeze,” Sonic laughed, “you gonna miss me that bad?”

“Yeah,” Espio and Scout said together. Then, they launched into an explosive round of jinx that ended with Scout on the ground, pinned under Espio’s slightly larger frame. Sonic thought that Espio still owed Scout a soda though.

Cream was her bubbly self as she stood near the door and told everyone goodnight and goodbye, because she won’t be at the train platform tomorrow. “Momma needs help in her office,” she said by way of explanation as Sonic kneeled down to get a hug from her. She happily obliged, and he scooped her up. She promised to write, though she might need help from her mother, but she also promised to send him hand-drawn pictures. He told her that he couldn’t wait, and her smile was so bright that he felt ten pounds lighter.

Finally, Knuckles, though that waited until they were both in the Room of Requirement. Knuckles was already there when Sonic arrived, checking the Master Emerald over for nicks or dings. His trunk was nearby, already packed tight with robes and books; all that’s left is the Master Emerald.

“How will you get it in?” Sonic asked as he stopped at the bottom of the dais steps.

“Tomorrow morning I’ll shrink it down. It doesn’t like being contained, but it should make the trip fine.” Knuckles patted the giant gem as if it was a loyal puppy. “It made the trip here fine, anyway.”

Sonic heaved a deep sigh. “I guess this is it then. Everyone is going their separate ways.”

Knuckles looked back at him, expression unreadable. “It’s only for a few months. We’ll be back.”

“I know.” Sonic scuffed his shoe into the ground. The sound it made echoed off the walls. “It’s going to be weird though. I’m used to seeing you every day. Promise you’ll write.”

Knuckles hesitated, hands resting on the Master Emerald. “I’ll try. My owl can’t make trips to and from Angel Island all that often. It’s hard.”

Sonic understand that in the back of his brain, but right then it sounded almost like Knuckles was trying to shake him loose. “Oh, okay.”

Knuckles, who at the beginning of year never would have been able to pick up the nuanced sadness in those two words, quickly crossed toward him. “I’m going to be here next year,” he said, and his words were forceful, a promise. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

Sonic sat down on the steps. “I know. I’m just going to miss you. And everyone else. And the castle. This place just feels like home.”

Knuckles sat down next to him. He didn’t say anything.

Sonic nudged him with his shoulder. “I know Angel Island is your home. But, at least Sylvania is a good second home, right?”

Knuckles swallowed so hard Sonic heard it. “Yeah. I’m going to miss it too.” He paused. “You too.”

“Aww,” Sonic cooed, “you like me. I’m your friiiieeend.”

“Okay, moment ruined,” Knuckles declared. “But, speaking of friends. I need to ask you a favor. Will you take something with you?”

Sonic straightened, sitting up as tall as possible. It wasn’t often that Knuckles asked for help, especially in something that really mattered. Sonic was flattered and honored, but he tried not to show it. He wanted to be professional about this. “Yeah, whatever you need.”

Knuckles held his hand out, offering Sonic the red Chaos Emerald. “They need to say separated,” he said, motioning toward the Master Emerald. “It’s safer. You’re the only person I can trust to keep it safe.”

“Knuckles...” Sonic said as he accepted the Emerald. It was heavy in his palm, and it sparked as it came into contact with Sonic’s palm. “I’ll keep it safe. No worries.”

“Thanks. That’s a big relief, actually.”

“It’s just another thing for me to hide from everyone. No biggie.”

Knuckles rolled his eyes and punched Sonic lightly in the shoulder. Sonic recoiled and made a great show of rubbing at the injury, though it didn’t hurt that much. Knuckles was getting better at holding back.

“One good thing that happened this year,” Knuckles said after they’d sat in silence a while. “We met. I finally feel like I belong somewhere again.”

It was a huge reveal and Sonic didn’t know what to say. Everything that came to mind was corny or teasing and this wasn’t the time or place. So, he just kept his mouth shut. Instead, he looped his arm around Knuckles’s shoulders and pulled him in for a sideways hug. It was only after Knuckles pulled away that he said, “Me too, buddy. Me too.”

+++

The next morning, there was one more round of goodbyes, though these were brief and sporadic. Some on the platform, some on the train. Sonic and Knuckles sat together until Sonic had to get off at Westside Island, talking about nothing of consequence. As Sonic gathered his things, he looked around the train and nodded once. “See ya later, Knuckles.”

“Until August,” Knuckles answered.

“Aw, I’m glad you’re okay too, man!” Sonic said, wrapping his arm around Knuckles’s shoulders, the movement just a little bit awkward because Sonic was the shorter of the two. “Especially because… Shadow was pissed. He really wanted that Emerald. I think. It was an Emerald, right?”

“Yeah, I actually wanted to talk to you about that--”

“Because normally, emeralds are green. That thing was red. I was very confused, Knuckles.”

Knuckles laughed through his nose, worming himself out from under Sonic’s arm. “The Chaos Emeralds come in all different colors.”

“Oh, do they? Because I have a certain Chaos booklet where all the pictures of the Emeralds are green, Knuckles!” Sonic shouted, trying not to laugh.

“Well, I only had two crayons, Sonic!” Knuckles yelled back. That did make Sonic laugh, and the hedgehog gave him a weak shove. “Okay, colors aside, that definitely was a Chaos Emerald.” Knuckles pointed to one of the pillars surrounding the dias, the ones that had waterfalls spilling out of their tops. Nestled atop the pillar closest to them was the red Chaos Emerald, glowing happily in time with the Master Emerald. “Not a Philosopher’s Stone, so…”

“Whoa, you got it? Sweet,” Sonic grinned. “Yeah, Shadow was all ‘bleeaaarrgh hand over the Emerald!’ when I got it out of the Mirror of Erised--which, yeah, that happened--so he knew it was in there. He said he needed me to get it out for him because he couldn’t do it himself, so he lured us both there.” He scrunched up his nose, as if just thinking about being used like that put a bad taste in his mouth. “I think the Philosopher’s Stone stuff was just to trick us. He didn’t want us to know what he really wanted.”

Knuckles turned to face the Master Emerald, his brow suddenly creasing. “But what would he want with a Chaos Emerald? And why wouldn’t he want us to know about it?”

“Dunno. Pickle said that Shadow didn’t want to use it to hurt anyone, and I’m inclined to trust him. He didn’t tell me much more than that, though.” Sonic’s voice was low, not a whisper but definitely quieter than normal. They were all alone in the Room, and it wasn’t like anyone could listen in through the door, but that subtle feeling that Shadow was lurking just out of sight had suddenly come back in full force. “Shadow’s such a jerk…”

“Whether his intentions were good or not, he knows about Chaos, knows about the Room of Requirement, and spent this year actively seeking out a Chaos Emerald,” Knuckles said, his voice low to match Sonic’s. He looked as on-edge as Sonic felt, fists clenched and eyes locked on the Master Emerald. “That makes him dangerous. If he knows about the Master Emerald, then…”

“Then you’ll be glad you have me here, helping you guard it,” Sonic smiled up at him. And really, what were the odds of that? Knuckles was a full year older than him--technically two years older right now, since Sonic’s birthday wasn’t for another month--and they were in two different houses, eight floors apart. No classes together, only a few friends in common, no extracurriculars or anything. A chance meeting and a secret, that was all that had set them on this path. It didn’t take much, Sonic supposed, to make best friends.

Knuckles looked back at Sonic, looked at that smile. He couldn't help but smile back. “Yeah,” he nodded, and then looked up at the Master Emerald again. “It’s a hard job to do all on my own.”