The Red Sun and White Moon Ch1

As the sun settled into the horizon, taking what ever heat was left with it, and a full, snow white moon shined over Angel Island, one lone figure stood, at the edge his his home. His purple eyes settled on the last of what now was a red sun, peeking at him, as if wishing it a good night. The echidna shifted, and then, turned back, to head to the shrine that held the most precious cargo; the Master Emerald. The earth crunched beneath his feet as he hiked to the location.
For Knuckles, this was life, and the life he lead was a lonely path. He had tried, to reach out to his fellow echidnas once he had found that he was not alone. However, whatever feeling of comfort, or belonging had slowly casted away. His father, who so desbratly tried to reach out for his mother, was in a state of darkness that Knuckles could not reach in and help him, his mother, seeking a new life, with her new husband and child, while his grandfathers, from one generation, to the next, where quiet, and isolated themselves from their own grandson. As for whatever he had with his own girlfriend, Julie-Su, it was slowly falling apart, and they were slowly, but surely, drifting.
It seemed that he was alone in his pain; none of his friends seemed to expirence the pain that was coming into a reality of reuniting with their parents. Although he could turn to Sally, he saw the Princess was slowly dieing from the inside. She had lost Sonic, not once, but twice, and then again. She was slipping, and he damned himself for being on the island, instead of with her, to comfort her.
Finally, he was there. The emerald gleamed in the moon light, and perhaps, in its own aura of magical power, that was still a mystery to most. Knuckles sat down, and let out an exhausted sigh, and then turned, to watch the mystical object in front of him. There would be no tresspassers here tonight. Not while he was on watch.

There he is.
Rouge repeated the thought, this time, mouthing the three words. The bat had been hiding in the dark, as she always had. She bit her lip, in thought, watching him. How could she get him, distract him, and snatch that wonderous gem? She had nothing but her own charms, but she knew Knuckles; he would not fall for such a trick, like his poor, desperate father had once before. She frowned, and then, moved silently through in the shadows. The idea of sneaking, of attacking him from behind, was not her first choice, but she had no other option.
Her gloved hands reached, and grabbed at her target, and quickly she pulled his arms behind his back.
Knuckles reacted quickly, trying to counter her assault, but the attack was so unexpected that he was already on the ground, almost eating the dirt as her other hand shoved his face down; her whole body weighed him down.
"Now," Rouge's voice was as soft, and intoxicating as ever as she whispered into Knuckles' ear, "either you hand the Master Emerald to me peacefully, or I won't make this easy for you."
Knuckles grunted, struggling, "Damn it, get off, bat girl!"
"Aw, I'm afraid thats not the answer I was looking for."
"Forget it," Knuckles retorted.
Already, she was irrated. But if she was irrated, then Knuckles was down right infuriated with her. With as much strength as he could put into it, he attempted to roll over, resulting on her being below him. She let out a yelp as he succedded, and the red echidna quickly got away from her, and then, dove back in to pin her down.
Purple eyes met her own turquiose hued eyes. Both bodies gulped for air, as they stared at each other, studying one another.
"What in the name of Chaos do you want it for?" Knuckles demanded.
"Just finishing my collection," Rouge replied, "as you've reliezed, gems are my life."
Knuckles growled, "Your collection?!"
The bat struggled under his weight a little, "Let me go, and give it up."
"No," Knuckles snapped flatly. "People will die if the island --"
"I don't care!" Rouge screamed, shutting her eyes.
The Guardian was done with her games, and was getting sick at her temper. He striked her across her cheek, almost gently, to get her to snap back into reality. He let her go, watching her back off, a hand slowly moving for the cheek, that was now a blistering red. He gaped, as he saw the tears swarming into her eyes. He hadn't meant to make her cry. He came to her, reaching out.
"Rouge, I'm --"
"Its fine," she choked out. "I deserved that."
Moments passed, and not one word was spoken. After a long moment, Rouge muttered, "I'm sorry."
It was a bit of a shock. Knuckles looked at her, and cocked his head, confusion plastered on his face. "Huh?"
"You heard me," she sighed, "I'm said I was sorry."
The two sat together, watching one another quietly, as if trying to read each other. It was strange, to watch this girl he hardly knew, hardly had cared about before, sit in front of him. Was this all just a stunt? Just looking at her, he could sense something else, something beyound what he thought he knew; she appeared just as lost, as he was. She watched him as well, and, suddenly started to understand, something she had never thought through.
"You're --"
"Lost."
The couple averted their eyes as they both spoke the words at the same time.
It almost seemed, at that one moment, that both had found the light they were looking for.