(In Guidance, Knuckles revealed to Nine that he was the last of his kind. Nine couldn’t get that out of his head, and one day he realizes there’s something he could do about that.)
“What's this urgent matter you wished to discuss with me, Nine?” Knuckles asked.
Nine rolled out from where he’d been working on his Shattercraft. He glanced down at his watch and sighed. “When Tails said you were prompt, I didn’t realize he meant ‘military precision’.”
Knuckles smiled. "Thank you." Nine wouldn't say it was a compliment, but it’s not like it was an insult either, so he figured he’d let it slide.
“All right, all right." Nine cleared his throat. "So uh, it’s less discuss and more show you I guess? Or . . . technically there will be some discussion, just not exactly from me—”
“Nine.” Knuckles placed a paw on Nine’s shoulder and regarded him seriously. “I appreciate your excitement, but you aren’t ready yet to explore the wilds of Angel Island. As I said, you need to build up your strength further.”
Oh Chaos. Ever since Nine heard about the ancient echidna ruins, he’d asked Knuckles if he could see them, yet somehow Knuckles misinterpreted. Nine just wanted to get some readings and experience something that hadn’t been built by egomaniacs, but Knuckles somehow got it into his head that Nine wanted to go spelunking and mountain climb with his bare paws.
Sonic and Tails said it was a rite of passage to step foot onto Angel Island, but the way they said it with grins that were far too wide made him suspect the three of them were pulling his leg.
No matter—he had a job to do. A job he was admittedly nervous about, because what if Knuckles didn’t like it? What if . . . what if it offended him? Shit, he really should have asked Tails for a second opinion!
“Here, just . . . just listen.” Nine took out the Shattercomm and pressed the central button. Then he pressed the buttons for the other three Shatterverses and waited. After a moment, the holograms of Knuckles’ counterparts started to appear.
“Hello, other me’s!” Knuckles said, moving to stand closer to Nine so they’d both be in view. After pleasantries were exchanged, Nine took a deep breath.
“Knuckles,” Nine said, unable to look him in the eyes, “you’ve been a good friend to me so I thought I’d uh . . . give you something in return.” He placed the Shattercomm in his large paw and took a few steps back.
“Nine, what are you—”
“I want to go first!” said a feminine voice Nine didn’t recognize. He and Knuckles glanced up to see someone jump into view beside Knucks. A female echidna with pinkish-purple fur wearing a grey tank top, black pants, and thigh-length teal boots. “My name’s Julie-Su, younger sister to this knucklehead,” she laughed, pulling Knucks’ beanie over his eyes.
“Would you knock it off?” Knucks growled.
“Are we be showin’ ourselves now?” said a gravely male voice. At Dread’s side appeared a grizzled echidna, with faded brown fur and grey-tipped spines. “I be Captain Nemo, uncle t’this here scallywag!” He wrapped an arm around Dread who wheezed at the pressure.
“And we’re Aurora and Thunderhawk, parents to our precious little Gnarly!” A pink furred woman and a purple furred man saddled up on either side of Gnarly to pinch his cheeks.
“Cut that out,” Gnarly said, his muzzle a faint red. His parents certainly looked at home in Boscage, with Thunderhawk’s head spines half tied up like a palm tree and Aurora wearing multiple bracelets in her dreads that matches her son’s.
“Little Nine here made it known how you were all alone,” Aurora said, reaching toward Knuckles with tears in her eyes.
“So we figur’d ye might b’wantin’ a chance t’meet som’a yer own kind!” Nemo placed a paw on his wide belly and laughed heartily.
“Yeah! Y’know, take a chance to adopt you into our weird little interdimensional echidna family!” Julie-Su threw her arms out wide before hugging herself tightly, as if she’d pulled Knuckles into it. “I’ve always wanted another brother!”
Nine winced and snuck a glance at Knuckles. The echidna was still as a statue, gaping at the multitude of people before him. He didn’t appear to be breathing, and Nine felt his heart sink to the ground. Way to fuck this up! Why didn’t he just ask—
His vision was suddenly bathed in red and Nine’s arms were pinned at his sides. After a moment, he realized Knuckles had smothered him in the tightest hug he’d ever experienced in his life. The chest his face was smushed into shuddered with uneven breaths and he felt a few drops pepper the top of his head. Knuckles made a few, aborted attempts at speaking, and Nine’s own eyes watered in response.
“You’re welcome,” he said, his voice muffled. While he couldn’t move his arms, he had all nine of his tails tightly wrap around Knuckles in response.
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Please accept this idea that literally possessed me just two hours ago. Disclaimer—I know nothing about any echidna who isn’t Knuckles. I relied on Sonic Wiki, and figured since these are AU versions of these characters it didn’t matter if I got them “right”. I just REALLY wanted to make Knuckles happy, and I totally made myself cry so please say I’m not the only one.
