something something Wachowki's getting officially adopted and he's dressing the rest of the Knux's up in traditional echidna clothing for the special occasion ~~ Qwerty
~~~~~
"I LOVE THIS!" Boom cried, spinning to let his poncho flare. "It's so warm and soft and cozy and MMMMMMM!"
"Stop that," Wachowski said, gesturing for Boom to put his arms down. He fastened an ornate belt around the taller echidna's waist. "It's not a dress. This is the formal attire for the tribe's respected elder."
Boom looked like he was about to cry. "You see me as a respected elder?" His lower lip trembled.
"You are wise in ways of emotions and communication. The big brother to the rest of us."
"I be older than him, ye know!" Dread called as he came closer. He tugged at the neckline of his outfit. "What be my outfit? Fiercest warrior? Best looking?"
Wachowski paused for a moment. "Something like that."
Dread cast him a cocked eyebrow. "I sense ye're not being completely honest with me, but choose to believe ye anyway, for the sole reason that I look GOOD."
Wachowski uttered a soft snicker. "Then it all works out."
He finished with Boom's attire and made his way around the room, checking and helping the others properly adjust the ornate accessories.
Little Z stood off to the side, staring at himself in a full-length mirror. There was something on the boy's face that Wachowski couldn't place, and he approached the little zombie quickly.
"Little Z, did you need help?"
The boy continued to stare at himself in the glass. "This is . . ."
When he didn't continue, Wachowski walked closer, adjusting the lay of the cloth. "The garment of a young guardian, ready to come of age to serve the Master Emerald."
The boy stared. His eyes were wide, flicking up and down his reflection in the mirror. He swallowed hard. ". . . I wore this before."
"What?" Wachowski was only half-listening. He'd need the Master Emerald to create another belt for the boy, his frame so small and frail this one wouldn't do.
Little Z's eyes went shiny. He opened his mouth once. Swallowed again. Opening it again and his voice was shakier than before.
"I wore this . . . before."
Wachowski straightened another wrinkle before the tone of the boy's voice sank in. He stopped, turning to look at the boy's reflection. "What's wrong?"
Little Z's body began to tremble.
"I don't want to do this. I'm scared. Please don't make me do this!"
The boy's voice turned higher as he spoke, and soon the other echidna in the room were turning toward him.
Wachowski wasn't sure what the problem was. He placed a firm hand on Little Z's shoulder and leaned close.
"You don't have to do anything, you're safe. What's wrong?"
Little Z was shaking now, tears trickling from his eyes.
"Let me go, don't make me do it, let me go, LET ME GO!"
Boom pushed his way forward, with Dread close behind. A flash of confusion passed over him for a second, before he realized the problem. Wachowski didn't know about Z's history. He didn't know how Z became Z.
The little zombie was struggling against Wachowski now, fighting to get away. Boom rushed forward, gently gripping Z's face in his hands and bringing their foreheads together.
"You're safe, Little Z," he soothed, keeping the boy's head against his. "You're safe. No one's going to hurt you. I'm here and I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise."
Dread moved up and pulled Wachowski away. "Get those clothes off him. Now."
Confusion passed over Wachowski's face, but he nodded and moved to pull the robes from Z's shoulders.
"They hurt me, they hurt me, why would they hurt me like that??" Z hissed as he held onto Boom's hands. "They were my friends! They were supposed to take care of me! WHY DID THEY HURT ME??"
Boom couldn't take it anymore and he scooped Z up into his arms, hugging the boy tightly.
"I dunno, Z, I really don't," he said, his eyes closed as he tried to absorb all of the boy's pain and sorrow. "But you're here now, and we will never hurt you. We'll protect you and keep you safe."
A chorus of agreement rose around them. Z wrapped his arms around Boom's neck, hugging the tall echidna just as tightly.
It took a few minutes for the boy to calm, and when he did he pressed his forehead against Boom's once more. The taller echidna whispered something to Z, and the boy nodded, sniffing once before Boom gently placed him back on his feet.
He wiped his cheeks, before turning back to Wachowski.
"Sorry," he said, his voice thick with unshed tears. "Sorry. I didn't mean to ruin things."
Wachowski shook his head, a concerned furrow in his brow.
"You have not. Dread explained things to me, and I greatly apologize for bringing back such harmful memories to you."
Little Z sniffled again, running his arm beneath his nose. "Do I still get to dress up?"
Wachowski offered the boy a smile. "You do. I have a much better idea of what you can wear. The robes of the village healer. The most precious and special of all."
A smile curled Z's lips at that, and he followed as Wachowski addressed the Master Emerald for the different clothes.
One of the first bits I wrote on the server for the Knucklesverse. Something something the other Knuckleses are concerned by how they observe Boom's friends treating him and try to talk to him about it.
It doesn't go well.
All drawings are by the fantastically wonderful @quazart
~~ Qwerty
~~~
"They're really not that bad, guys."
Boom tried to shrug it off. Tried to let it go. Sure, his friends could be kinda dismissive. Sure, they could ignore anything he says. But honestly, he's kind of a moron on his world. Why wouldn't they? But deep down, he knows they care. He's sure of it.
Dread shook his head with a sigh. "Lad, those so-called 'friends' of yers treat ye like ye're beneath them. I've seen it with me own eyes. They be treatin' ye worse than trash."
"That's not true. They hang out with me all the time! We just goof off, that's all."
Boom's voice wasn't as strong that time. Wasn't as sure.
"As much as I hate, and I mean really hate agreeing with this guy," Renegade said, stepping forward and hooking at thumb at Dread. "He's right. With friends like those, who needs enemies."
"Are you sure they care about you?" Wachowski crossed his arms. "I have been fooled in the past by someone I thought was my friend, only to have him trick me and leave me for dead when it suited him. Perhaps that is what's going on here."
Boom turned away with a dismissive wave of his hand. "That's not what's going on. I've known them for years. Tails taught me how to ride a bike! Or tried to, anyway. They would've tricked me by now, right?"
His brow twitched. A seed of doubt had been planted. But he was sure, positive that his friends were truly his friends. They wouldn't trick him.
Right?
"Are ye sure, lad?" Dread asked, stepping forward. "Are ye really sure?"
"They are disrespectful," Gawain said, shaking his head. "They do not hold you in the same regard they hold each other."
Boom turned away, trying to avoid the eyes of the others. The same eyes as his, but now looked at him with pity. With sadness.
"That's not true." The tone of his voice changed. No longer light. No longer joking. He didn't want to talk about this anymore.
"Do any of them seem to care that you have no home?" Sinbad asked, crossing his arms. "Do any of them make sure you're all right when it's cold? Or raining?"
"I like being a nomad. I can take care of myself."
Something was flickering inside him. Something foreign, but strong. He'd felt something similar to this a few times, mostly when Eggman was being a real pain, but never this much. It was something he wasn't overly familiar with, but it felt like a hot snake in his belly.
"Ye deserve more than what they give ye," Dread said, his muzzle pulled into a scowl. "They don't see ye as we do. Ye're just a punching bag to them. Something t' make themselves feel better by abusin'. Ye deserve better."
That snake in Boom's belly was moving, writhing in a way he'd never felt before. It rose into his chest, and suddenly he was . . . angry. The most angry he'd ever felt in his life.
How dare they. How dare these people he thought were his family, his tribe say these things about his friends. Sure, they weren't perfect, no one was, but they were there for him. They did care about him. They did.
Boom turned, his muzzle pulled into a fierce snarl, his teeth bared. He was tense, quills bristling and every muscle thrumming with strength and power, and he clenched his fists as he stared at the other echidna. Glared at them. The fire in his chest was in his eyes now, and he was the epitome of absolute fury.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" he shouted, and Little Z, who'd been hovering nearby as he always did, scuttled off to hide behind the twins. "Those are my friends! They've been by my side for as long as I can remember! They help me and I help them, because that's what friends do!"
A collective gasp moved through the group at Boom's sudden change. No one had ever seen him angry. They tensed at his fury, at the fact that it was directed at them.
"What do you all know about friends anyway?" he sneered, looking over the other echidna one-by-one. He shot daggers at Dread. "You double cross anyone who gets in your way." He flicked his gaze to Modern and X. "All you care about is watching over that rock on your floating islands." Turned to Wachowski. "You were the most dangerous warrior in the galaxy. So what right do any of you have to tell me that my friends aren't good enough?"
"Yes, I was the most dangerous warrior in the galaxy," Wachowski said, stepping forward. "But that was the past. I have a family now. And I—"
"I DON'T HAVE THAT!" Boom thundered, his voice echoing over the group. "I never had anyone! My friends are my family! And hearing you talk bad about them hurts me!"
Silence settled over the group then, and Boom took a few steps forward. The twins took defensive positions in front of Little Z, while Dread and Renegade moved to block Gnarly. Sinbad and Gawain moved closer, their hands hovering over the hilts of their swords.
Wachowski stepped in front of Boom, his hand out in front of him, palm out.
"Be calm, my friend. We are not your enemy."
Boom stopped, breathing hard and snarling at each Knuckles in turn. A soft growl pushed out of his throat.
"No. You're not my enemy. But you're not my friends, either. You're not my tribe."
Without another word, the large echidna turned and left the Sanctuary, leaving a bunch of very confused, very shocked Knuckles behind.
~X~X~X~
Boom stormed back into the village, the anger within him still churning.
How dare they. How dare they. They were supposed to be his tribe. His family. They were all him for crying out loud, how could they gang up on him like that and act like his friends were treating him like garbage?
Well, sure, Sonic and others sometimes disregarded him. But it was okay, they didn't mean anything by it. And yeah, they sometimes said kinda mean things. But he usually got them back with an equally snide comment. Sometimes.
He grunted as he stalked past Meh Burger. Those stupid echidna. They put ideas in his head. Doubts. The anger swirled in his chest, and now he didn't know what to think.
"Hey, Knux!" Sonic called from their usual table. "How was your visit to Knuckles-land?"
Boom didn't stop. Didn't look up. He wasn't in the mood for Sonic's sarcasm right now.
“Uh oh,” the hedgehog snickered. “Trouble in echidna paradise, I see.”
That made Boom stop. He turned and pegged Sonic with a sharp look, his eyes still full of that fire from before. He was angry, he was furious and he didn’t know how to get rid of this feeling before it leapt off his tongue.
“Not cool, Sonic!” he bellowed, and everyone at Meh Burger stopped to stare at him. He didn’t care. He was the town idiot anyway. They couldn’t exactly think less of him, could they? “I’m always a joke to you, right? Everything’s always so funny because I’m so stupid, right?”
Sonic looked at him with a shocked expression. “Hey, I was just kidding with ya Knux, ease off.”
Boom pulled his lips tight. He wanted to say more, to let loose this feeling inside him, cast out this anger at those who may or may not be making fun of him.
But the doubt in his heart grew. These were his friends. (Right?) They joked with him because they loved him. (Right?)
Without another word, Boom turned and stormed off. He needed to blow off steam, and the best way to do so is physical exertion.
He was going to go bust some boulders at the quarry until this horrible, hot feeling in his chest went away.
~X~X~X~
Meanwhile, back at the Sanctuary, the other Knuckleses were starting to unravel.
“This is your fault, Dread!” Renegade growled, pointing at the pirate. “If you hadn’t brought up that stuff about his friends, he wouldn’t o’ blown his stack like that.”
Dread sneered at Renegade, his lip curled to reveal his gold tooth. “I called it like I seen it, bucko. I didn’t know he would react like that! I’m going after him.”
Gawain and Sinbad moved as one to block Dread’s path.
“I think that would be a very bad idea,” the knight said, his arms crossed. “You’ve done enough. You’re staying put.”
Dread narrowed his eyes. “Are ye threatening me?”
“Not yet,” Sinbad said, hand on his sword hilt. “But the day’s still young.”
The pirate pulled his lip into a fierce snarl, a growl slipping through his throat. Renegade gave him a shove. “Knock it off. Do you really think Boom’s gonna wanna see you right now?”
“He be me best friend out of all o’ ye. I will not let him think the worst of us.” He paused. “Of me, anyway.”
“Not happenin’. You’re stayin’.”
As the group quarreled, X moved closer to Boom’s portal. Little Z and Gnarly noticed him, and moved quickly to intercept.
“You’re going after him.” It wasn’t a question, and Gnarly glanced over his shoulder at the others. “I’m coming, too.”
“Me, too,” Little Z said, sliding up next to Gnarly. He rubbed shoulders with the slightly taller echidna. The little zombie liked that warmth and comfort from physical touch.
“I don’t know how receptive Boom will be,” X said, keeping his eyes on the others. “But I figure I may have a better chance at getting through to him. I know how he feels.”
“Then let’s go before they notice,” Gnarly said, letting Little Z climb onto his back. Dread was still putting up a fight, so now was as good a time as any to slip out without notice.
With a silent nod, X, Little Z, and Gnarly slipped through Boom’s portal.
~X~X~X~
The boulder was the size of a small house. Boom pulled his fist back, and with a loud yell, brought it forward with as much force as he could. He didn’t often use all his strength—Eggman’s robots weren’t exactly a big challenge to destroy—but he dug deep within himself now and pulled out everything he could.
There was a feeling, a surge of power he felt when he was at the Sanctuary. He’d asked Modern about it once, and the boy had said it was the chaos energy given off by the Master Emerald. Boom hadn’t understood what that meant at the time. But now, it seemed to give him a boost of power.
His fist connected a loud smack, and the rock exploded into dust and tiny pebbles. Boom stepped back, watching as the cloud cleared.
He was running out of boulders. And that feeling in his chest hadn’t gone away.
He didn’t like it. Didn’t like feeling angry. Didn’t like being angry at his friends. At any of his friends—hedgehog, fox, badger . . . or echidna. He felt terrible and selfish and guilty for the things he’d said, but at the same time, behind that anger was another emotion.
Hurt.
After everything he’d done for those other echidna, all the help he’d offered with no expectation of any kind of reward, this is how they respond. By telling him his friends aren’t really his friends. That they actually treat him really badly, but he was apparently too stupid to see it.
He snarled. Stupid. He hated that word. But even now, when he was back on his world and the influence of the Master Emerald was weaker, his mind felt clouded. Jumbled. Messy. He couldn’t remember the details of what they’d said, but he remembered how their words made him feel. And he didn’t like it.
Boom grunted and stomped on the ground, kicking some of the rocks he’d created when he destroyed the boulder. He felt like screaming. And crying. And breaking things. And just laying down and not getting back up again. All these emotions, all these feelings, all jumbled up in his chest, in his head, in his stomach. He felt like he was going crazy.
With another yell, Boom brought his fist up and turned, lashing out at whatever was nearby.
His arm came to a jarring stop, and he blinked.
His fist was stopped dead by X’s open palm.
The snarl was back on Boom's lips.
"You here to tell me how horrible my friends are, too?" he asked, pulling his fist back. He turned away, walking toward one of the few boulders left. "Save your breath. I'm not listening. Go away."
X said nothing, but Little Z hurried forward. "Big Boom?" he called, his voice soft and shaky. "Are you mad at me, too?"
Boom stopped, lowering his head. His arms dropped, his large hands clenching and unclenching as he thought. The little zombie Knuckles hadn't done anything. But there was so much in Boom's head right now. It was hard to separate his feelings for the boy from all the rest of them.
"Why are you here?" Boom's voice was even, but there was so much emotion in it, X and Gnarly exchanged a glance. "Leave me alone."
"Big Boom?" Little Z called again, and Gnarly moved forward to place a hand on the boy's shoulder. X moved around to Boom's side, trying to get his attention.
"The others are just worried about you," X said, his voice soft. "We all care about you, you know that. They don't want you to be hurt. That's all."
Boom turned, his brow furrowed. There was still anger in his eyes, but a sorrow joined it.
"They hurt me. They think my friends treat me bad, like I'm stupid. They treated me just the same."
X didn't say anything for a long moment. Then a small smile curled his lips.
"I know how you feel, because I was treated the same way."
Boom didn't expect that. He turned, the furrow in his brow changing from hurt and anger, to confusion. "What do you mean?"
X smiled a little wider, shrugging. "I'm the same as you. I trust too much, I let my friends take advantage of me. They took my Master Emerald to power a spaceship, and I forgave them. I know what you're going through."
Boom seemed to think about this for a moment, before turning to X fully. “Is it . . . is it bad that we don’t hate people for the way they treat us? Even if they can be a little thoughtless, or mean? Does that mean we really are . . . stupid?”
X pulled his lips tight. He never thought of himself as stupid per se. Maybe a little too trusting. A little too quick to forgive, and see the good in everyone, even those who try to do him harm. But those aren’t necessarily bad traits, were they? Aren’t those better than going through life with a cynical, mistrusting outlook?
Before X could reply, Gnarly spoke up.
"When I was growing up in Boscage Maze, I could hear the trees. I could see colors the others couldn't. They all said I was crazy. That what I was hearing and seeing wasn't really there. But I knew. I knew they were. Just because the others couldn't see them didn't mean they weren't there. And yeah, I did question myself sometimes. But deep down, I knew there was something different about me. They just couldn't see it. They couldn't hear or see what I did, because they didn't really hear or see me.
"That didn't mean they were bad friends. Just because they thought I was crazy didn't mean they didn't care about me. They just didn't understand me. Heck, I didn't understand me either, for the longest time. Until I was pulled into the Sanctuary for the first time. Then everything was quiet. Everything made sense. I figured out who I was."
"Our friends may not treat us the best all the time," X said, moving closer to Boom. "They may not understand us all the time. But that doesn't mean they're not our friends. And that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with us. If someone treats us badly, either intentionally or unintentionally, it shows what kind of person they are. The best thing we can do, is just keep being who we are.
“That's how we stay true to ourselves. Yeah, it may mean we're hurt. Or sad. Or tricked. But the times when we're helping someone, or protecting someone, or doing good are much more important."
Boom's face cleared, the anger fading. His brow relaxed, and the tension in his shoulders disappeared. He looked between the three other Knuckles, the anger and hurt he'd felt just a moment ago dissipating like fog on a warm day.
The tall echidna pulled in a long breath, and let it out in a slow exhale. He rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a soft chuckle.
"Guess I went a little nuts back there, huh? Ugh. I said such horrible things. They're never gonna forgive me."
Boom dragged a hand down his face, when he felt a small hand grip the fingers of his free hand. He looked down and found Little Z, looking up at him with his big eyes.
"You're not mad?"
Boom smiled down at the boy, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm not mad, Little Z." He reached down to pull the boy up and perch him on his shoulders. "I just . . . had a little hissy fit, I guess."
"So," he said, looking over at X and Gnarly. "How mad are the others at me?"
Before either could respond, a loud shout split the air.
"YE'LL NEVER CATCH ME! I BE ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION!!"
The group turned and watched as Dread came running from the trees nearby, following closely by Renegade, Sinbad, and Gawain. The three bringing up the rear did not look pleased.
"THERE YE BE!" Dread shouted, screeching to a halt before Boom. "Now ye listen here, Boom. Ye be me best mate, and I ain’t gonna allow ye t’ feel such anger towards the fools what hurt you! We be just tryin' t' keep ye from gettin' hurt, and—"
Gnarly moved near him and clocked Dread upside the head.
"It's over. We talked. He's good."
Dread shot a scowl at Gnarly, before looking back at Boom. "This be true?"
something something, Dread get hits with a depressive episode in which he feels real remorse for everything he's done
Callie finds him off by himself, sitting with his back against the wall, hugging his knees
"I been so horrible, lass. Hurt so many. Selfish. Such a terrible waste o' life, it be."
He wouldn't look at her. Kept his eyes closed and forehead on his knees. Callie's heart went out to him. She knew his history, but had never seen him look so affected by it.
"Dread, c'mon," she says, her voice soft. "You were hurt by others as you grew up, it was the only way you knew how to be. The world hurt you, so you lashed out to hurt the world."
"Don't make it right," he said, his voice muffled. "Don't make any of it right. I still coulda been better. I killed them that hurt me, I didn't need t' take it out on others. Innocents. But I did. Which makes me jus' as bad as them."
Callie pulled her lips tight. She wasn't sure what to say to that. Brushing it aside wasn't right, but she hated hearing him beat himself up. Because it was true, he was pretty terrible.
"It was because of the shard's energy, though, wasn't it? It . . . kinda warped you. Made you worse than you otherwise would have been."
"Or maybe it brought out who I really be inside. What a monster I be."
She couldn't take it anymore. Callie reached forward, meaning to wrap her arms around him and offer some comfort, when he seemed to sense her and flinched away. He raised his head, looking up at her with wide, shiny eyes.
"Don't, lass," he said, his voice a harsh whisper. He shook his head, blinking the first tears down his cheeks. "Don't. I don't deserve yer kindness. Yer compassion. I deserve t' be punished f'r what I done. Not comforted." He scooted further away from her, turning to lean his shoulder against the wall, his back to her. "Jus' leave me be. Please."
"Okay, I'm pretty sure we both know that's not gonna happen," she said as she moved to sit in front of him, mirroring his pose. She hugged her knees as she looked at him. "So you're just gonna sit here feeling sorry for yourself for everything you've done in the past. Is that the plan?"
His brow furrowed as he looked at her. "I done bad things. Ye saying I shouldn't feel bad about them?"
"No, I think it's great you feel bad about them."
He scoffed. "Then ye do think I should suffer."
"I think you feeling bad about them is great because of what it represents. It shows you feel remorse. You regret your actions. You feel guilt for causing others hurt just because you were. I have a feeling the Dread from before the Sanctuary wouldn't have felt any of that, would he?"
He paused, his brow still furrowed in thought. "No. He wouldn't."
Callie nodded. "You are not the Dread you were before you came here. What you did was terrible, yes. I'm not gonna sit here and say it wasn't. And if I'd met that Dread, I probably would have punched him square in the nose about five seconds later."
That brought a little smile to his lips. "Aye, he probably woulda deserved it, too."
She smiled in return. "But that Dread isn't here, is he? I wouldn't be friends with that Dread, would I?"
Violet eyes turned up to hers. "No. I don't suppose ye would."
"Damn right I wouldn't. I'm very picky about who my friends are. Very picky. But you're my friend, aren't you?"
He paused, biting his lip slightly. "I be, yer . . . best friend? Maybe?"
Callie gave a soft hum as her smile turned into a little smirk.
"Maybe. Against my better judgment."
A smile curled his lips. "Ye're an angel walkin' the Earth, lass. Showin' me kindness like this."
"Oh shut up with that stuff," she said rolling her eyes. "You wanna hug or not?"
Without a word, Dread launched himself forward, wrapping his arms around Callie's neck and holding her tight.
"Thank ye, lass," he whispered, nuzzling against her. "Thank ye."
Callie wrapped her own arms around him and gave a squeeze, being mindful of his wavy quills. "Hush you little gremlin. Just breathe."
something something the Shatter triplets were yoinked into the Sanctuary somewhere between season two and three of Sonic Prime, and know each other going into the last season. This is playing a little with the actual timeline of things, as our current theory is the ME pulled Dread in after season 1, either immediately before or immediately after getting the shard. But for this piece, they got pulled in after season 2.
This takes place in New Yoke, after everyone begrudgingly came together. ~~ Qwerty
~~~~~
"Ren!"
The voice called out over the noise of the others arguing, and the battle-scarred echidna turned to find his jungle 'brother' hurrying closer. The boy wore an expression of worry, which wasn't all that strange considering his typical nervous demeanor. "Yeah? What's up?"
"It's Dread," the boy said, his voice higher pitched in his worry. "He's . . . something's wrong."
"There's always somethin' wrong with him," Ren scoffed, crossing his arms. "Guy's got a screw loose somewhere."
Gnarly's expression intensified. "Ren. This is serious. He's losing it."
The boy's expression sobered Ren, and he nodded. "Show me."
Gnarly grabbed Ren's hand and pulled, dragging him to where Dread had hidden himself away in a corner. The pirate stood hunched over slightly, hands to his head and muttering to himself under his breath.
"Me Beauty, I must have me Beauty . . . grr . . . no . . . no . . . I be better than that . . . me Beauty be mine, all mine . . ."
"Dread?" Ren's voice was firm but soft. "Talk to me."
Dread shook his head, keeping his back to them. "Get away."
Ren tried again. "Dread, c'mon. You don't need that rock. Look at me."
The pirate shook his head again, curling tighter on himself. "Leave me be. I . . . don't want t' hurt you. I don't want t' hurt anyone."
"Dread, you need to—"
Ren was stopped when Gnarly put a hand on his arm. He shook his head, before moving closer to their eldest 'brother'.
"I know what it feels like," he said, speaking softly as he approached. "That noise in your head. Like a buzzing. A million bees stuck in there, making you feel like you're going crazy."
The trembling in Dread's shoulders stopped, and he turned to look at Gnarly. His eyes were wide, haunted, and his lip curled in a fearful snarl. "Ye . . . h-how do ye know that?"
"I've heard it all my life," Gnarly said with a shrug. "Back in Boscage Maze, I hear the trees. Cyber said it was something about something called chaos energy? I dunno. But I heard it when no one else could. And some days it makes me feel like I'd rip my own skin off just to have some quiet."
Dread straightened very slightly, turning more to face the youngest of their trio. "How do ye stop it? I hear me Beauty call me, even now, and I feel its pull. I want to go and get it, feel the power as it flows through me. But it makes me lose meself. I . . . I don't want to do that. How do I stop it?"
Gnarly shook his head with a sigh. "You can't stop it. You just have to learn to tune it out."
Dread grimaced as though that was the most painful thing he could hear. "How??"
"Focus on the things that are more important. I focus on my tribe. On Mangey and Hangry. My urge to keep them safe is more important than letting that buzzing get to me. That's what you need to do. Focus on what's more important than that rock."
"Nothing be more important than me Beauty!" Dread snapped, his face twisting in anger as he leaned toward the boy. A second later his eyes went wide and he drew back. "I . . . no, that's . . ." He grunted, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. "Get outta me head, you bloody rock."
"Focus on your crew," Ren said, moving closer. He wanted to be nearby in case Dread snapped and went after Gnarly. "They're your family, right?"
Dread shook his head, his hands still to his eyes. "I betrayed them. They . . . they'd never forgive me."
"Then what about us?" Gnarly said, trying to side-step around Ren, but his urban brother kept himself between them no matter how Gnarly moved. "We're your brothers. We want to see you beat this."
Dread slowly dropped his hands to look at the two echidna before him, a crease in his brow. "Ye . . . ye do?"
The other two nodded. "We do," Ren said, relaxing his stance a bit. "Dread, you're stronger than this. C'mon. Focus on helping us kick that fox's butt and making everything right again."
"That should be easy, for a legendary captain such as yourself, right?" Gnarly asked with a smile.
Dread looked between them for a long moment, before lowering his hands completely. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly before a familiar smirk spread across his face.
"Aye," he said, and he sounded stronger. "Plenty easy for the likes of meself. We'll go and show that fox that there ain't nothing that can stop an echidna tribe from saving that which they hold dear."
He moved closer to the other two, and held his fist out.
"Thank ye, lads. I may need yer strength once we get there. But I trust ye completely t' help pull me head outta me own arse should I start t' lose meself."
"Oh, you can bet on that," Ren said with a smirk, joining his fist to Dread's. "It'll be fun to kick your butt. Again."
Dread's eyes narrowed, but his smirk remained. "Oh, is that how you think our last fight ended, aye?"
Ren narrowed his eyes right back. "I know that's how our last fight ended, yeah."
"Okay, let's keep focused here," Gnarly said, adding his fist to the group. "Dread, we'll keep you from going crazy. Ren, you can kick his butt when all this is done."
Dread gasped. "Lad, ye can't believe this lubber's tales?!"
"Kid knows the truth when he hears it."
"LIES!"
Ren and Dread continued to argue as Gnarly walked off, shaking his head with a smile.
Callie put the rest of the baking away, tucking the cookies and brownies into plastic bins and stashing them in the cupboards of the Sanctuary kitchen. They wouldn't last long, they never did, but they should at least last until the next big baking day.
As she finished up, a soft "ahem" caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder, and found Dread standing there with an expression she couldn't identify.
"Too late, little pirate man," she said, tucking the last container away. "No batter to snitch, no cooling sweets to steal."
He gave a half-hearted smile and glanced around, as though making sure the other Knuckleses were out of earshot.
"That ain't be why I . . ." He paused, clearing his throat. "Do ye have that . . . that brush by chance?"
She turned, an eyebrow cocked. "The brush? Yeah, it's around somewhere. Why? Don't tell me you actually want me to brush you. You haven't suffered a blow to the head or anything have you?"
Another of those weak smiles and he shook his head. "Nay, lass. I just . . ." He rubbed his arm. "I just be feeling . . ." He trailed off, before shrugging.
Callie looked at him, really looked at him, and noticed how un-Dread-like he was acting. The slightly bowed head, the subdued tone. He just seemed like he took up less space than usual. A little less vibrant.
Understanding finally sunk in, and she moved a little closer, hunkering down to be more eye level. "You just need some time?"
He paused, flicking his eyes up to catch hers. A barely there nod.
Callie gently cupped his muzzle, running her thumb over his cheek.
"Why don't we head over to the calm room? I'll find the brush and we'll just . . . sit quietly, 'kay?"
Dread nodded, a look of relief and appreciation on his face. "Aye. Thanks, lass."
"C'mon little pirate man. Let's go find out what's making you feel all . . ." She gestured to him, before sorting through a drawer for the brush.
Ten minutes later, the two sat in the Quiet Room, a place for any Knux who felt overwhelmed to sneak away and reset. It held a few couches, some piles of blankets and pillows for those who liked to burrow, and the lights were much dimmer in here. To Callie it was reminiscent of the pictures of those old libraries she’d seen, with the warm, inviting atmosphere and soft lighting. Just begging someone to sink in and enjoy some quiet time.
They were the only two in here at the moment, and they sat on the softer of the couches. Dread’s jacket, hat, and shirt sat on the cushion beside them, while the pirate himself practically lay across her lap. Callie dragged the brush through his fur, running down his back in long strokes.
"You don't have to talk if you don't want," she said, her voice soft. "But I’ve got two perfectly good ears if you do."
He sighed, his body giving a little shiver as she dragged her nails over his skin. "I just . . . sometimes it be hard to just . . . be me."
"Why's that?"
"Because I feel I need to be someone great. Someone legendary. But what if that ain't who I really be? What if I don't be as good as I think? I hurt so many people . . ."
"Stop." She paused her brushing and gave him a little bop on the head. "What do we say about the past? 'You'll never move forward . . ."
"’. . . if I keep looking behind'," he finished with a sigh. "I know. But I can't help it. Sometimes . . . it really gets to me."
"Your past is not today, Dread. That Dread isn't this Dread. Yes, you've done some things you aren't proud of, some things that will haunt you. But you can't change yesterday. You can only change today. Do better tomorrow."
"That don't make the nightmares go away," he said quietly. "Don't make me forget."
"You shouldn't forget. But you can learn from those mistakes, from those terrible things you did. And you can grow and do better."
He went quiet for a while, and Callie continued her slow, deliberate, gentle brushing through his fur. He moved without being asked, switching to a position to allow her access to other areas. Once his body was brushed through, he put his head in her lap, and she began the chore of untying the leather strips that bound his dreads, carefully going through his quills. She plucked out the loose ones, and stacked them beside her on the couch.
"Ye always treated me so kindly," he said, flicking his violet eyes up to meet hers. "Even after ye learned what I did. Even after knowin' I c'n go a bit bonkers if I be in my world too long. Why?"
"Why not? You're a Knux. You've never hurt me, or threatened me, or made me feel uncomfortable or unsafe around you. And you need someone to care about you. So why shouldn't it be me?"
"'Cause I don't deserve it."
She booped his nose. "Nuh uh, stop. You don't get to be the judge of that. If I feel you are deserving of my attention and kindness and compassion, then you're gonna get it, full force. I'll smother you with my love, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
He chuckled. "That sounds a might threatening."
"Oh, I can be very threatening. You'd better stop thinking so low of yourself or I'll be forced to tell you all the things I like about you. If you insist on feeling down, I guess I'll need to up my game and shower you with affection. And if you still want to play the 'poor me' card, then I'm gonna have to bring out the big guns and give you all the hugs and kisses you can stand. So be warned."
Another laugh rumbled in his chest. "Aye, I'll take that under advisement."
Silence descended over them for a while, as Callie finished going through his quills. She didn't remove her hands from his head right away, instead dragging her nails across his scalp in gentle massaging strokes.
His eyelids began to droop, and he uttered a long, relaxed sigh.
"Lass?"
"Hmm?"
His lids drifted closed. "Thank ye."
She smiled, leaning down to plant a kiss on his forehead.
"Go to sleep, little pirate man. And you're welcome."
something something Callie ticks Dread off and the two battle it out with Nerf guns to settle things
~~~~~
Dread held his Nerf gun, leveled straight at the redhead across from him. Spent darts littered the floor around her feet, just as hers lay around his.
His face was set. This was as serious as any other battle he'd ever faced.
"Surrender now, lass," he said, his voice firm. "Ye be bested."
A little smirk curled her lips. "Oh, I don't think so, echidna. Maybe you're the one who should stand down."
A chuckle rumbled through his chest. "The legendary Knuckles the Dread doesn't run from a fight."
"Neither does Callie MacPherson."
"Then we be at a draw."
"So it would seem."
They faced each other for another moment, before the redhead spoke.
"One last shot. Whosever dart hits the other wins."
A little smile curled Dread's lips. "Aye. Agreed."
They stared at each other for a moment. Reading each other. Feeling the other out. Suddenly Callie fired, and Dread leapt to the side to avoid her shot. He fired as he fell, and his dart bounced off her forehead.
"Gah!" she cried, throwing her body backward and dramatically falling to the floor.
Dread chuckled as he walked toward her, kicking her gun out of reach. She lay on the ground, gasping in breath.
"You . . . you got me . . ." she said, before coughing. "You won."
"There never be any doubt, lass." He stood tall and gave her a cocky grin. "I be the legendary Dread, after all."
She gave a weak laugh, and beckoned him closer. "There's . . . something I . . . (cough) need to tell you . . ."
Dread gave her a suspicious look, but carefully bent forward. "Aye?"
Callie leaned her head up slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Never . . . (cough) never . . ."
Dread leaned closer. "Never what, lass?"
Callie suddenly grabbed him, flipping him over and pinning him as she pulled the gun from his hand. She sat up, smirking down at him as she pointed it at him.
"Never underestimate your opponent."
She fired a shot, the dart bouncing off his forehead.
something something Boom is feeling bad about himself because he's not smart in his world. Dark sees an opportunity - if this idiot is starting to recognize his failing, this may be something he can use to his advantage.
He slithers up to Boom and starts whispering in his ear, reinforcing the idea that his friends there aren't REALLY his friends, and that the other Knux's don't REALLY understand what he's going through
It's making Boom feel so much worse, because when Dark says it, it's giving his thoughts validity. Dark's just about to go in for what he hopes is the final push to get Boom to draw on the ME's energy, when he's hit with an ice cold stream of water.
~~~~~
"I'm gonna muzzle you and chain you to that corner if I see you slithering around the others like a demented slug again, Dark," Callie said as she came over to them. She gave Dark another squirt with her Super Soaker. "Get your ass back to your corner, you wrinkly crank."
Dark actually hissed at her, but returned to his corner of the Sanctuary. Callie hissed back, giving him another squirt as he retreated for good measure.
She turned to Boom, a little smile on her lips. "How's my Boomie? What was that overripe banana whispering in your ear, hmm?" She sat next to him, pressing her shoulder against his. "C'mon. Talk to me."
Boom shook his head, heaving a deep sigh. "Just telling me what I already know."
"Oh really? And what might that be?"
"That I'm an idiot. Back on my world, without the Master Emerald, I can't think straight. My brain . . ." He tapped his forehead with his fingers. "It's like it's all fuzzy. Like I'm dizzy all the time. I'm just . . . I'm stupid."
Callie considered this, leaning against him more. Physical touch was a good way to provide comfort to a Knuckles (at least to those comfortable with physical touch), so she made sure to keep contact with him as much as she could. "And this bothers you."
He turned to her, brow furrowed. "Of course it bothers me! Why wouldn't it? I'm a complete moron on my world! Wouldn't that bother you?"
"I guess it depends. Does it bother you while you're on your world?"
Boom blinked. He thought for a moment, before shaking his head. "No. But, idiot, remember? I'm too stupid to know how stupid I am."
"So it only bothers you when you're here. When you think back on how you act there. Right?"
"It's only when I'm here that I realize just how dumb I am there. It's embarrassing. My friends think I'm an idiot, and I prove them right every time I open my mouth."
"They must not like you, then." She shook her head. "If you're that dumb, they must hate hanging around you."
He jerked in her direction. "No! They . . . they like me. They invite me places and like hanging around me. I think."
"Then they must not trust you to help them when they need it. Like when they're fighting your Eggman. Probably run off and leave you behind because they know you'll just mess up and be more trouble than you're worth."
"No! We fight Eggman together all the time! I bash his bots something good, and we all work really well together."
"Hmmm," she said, furrowing her brow as she thought. "So then they're mean to you and like to see you mess up so they can laugh at you."
He gaped at her, brows pinched in upset. "Callie, my friends aren't mean! They don't laugh at me like that!"
She looked over at him, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Then why does it bother you if you're different there than you are here?"
"Because I can't think straight there! I can't focus or concentrate or put my thoughts in order like I can here!"
A little smile curled her lips. "Take it from someone who overthinks like it's her job. Sometimes it's nice to not have a bunch of thoughts rattling around in your head, being distracting and anxiety inducing and overall annoying when you're trying to do other things."
"That's not the point," he said, planting an elbow on his knee and perching his chin in his hand. "You don't understand."
"No, I understand. But I don't think you're looking at it the right way." She leaned against him a little more, placing a hand on his arm. "Boom, you have friends who care about you on your world. They don't seem to care that you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer. They love you for who you are. They accept you for who you are. That should matter for something."
He was quiet for a moment, before looking over at her. "Even if I'm dumb as a rock?"
She shrugged. "That's the Boom they know. That's the Boom they love. I know it bothers you, and I'm not saying it shouldn't. I'm just saying that as long as you're loved and cared for and accepted by your friends . . . maybe it’s okay that you’re different. They're there to take care of you, even if you're not at your best." She looked out over the Sanctuary, at the other Knuckleses. "And maybe you can take solace in the fact that when you're here, you are so smart and pulled together that you can take care of all of them."
The furrow in his brow smoothed, and he looked out at the other Knuckleses for a moment, before turning back to her. "You really think that?"
She smiled, pulling him toward her to press their foreheads together.
"I really think that. We all play different roles to different people in our lives. Back on your world, you need a little caring. But here, you take care of others. It's just the way things go."
He smiled, a little chuckle rumbling from his chest. "Yeah, I guess so." He reached up and cupped the back of her neck to pull her against him a little firmer. "Thanks, Mom."
So a lot of what we do in the server is toss out any ol' idea that pops into our head and spitball the ramifications of it.
Dark is what's left of Dark Enerjak from the alternate Archie timeline, and he's always trying to reclaim that power, always trying to trick the other Knuckleses into drawing on the power of the Master Emerald so he can then have it for himself. (We're not sure how, those are details we don't bother with when we're knee deep in angst heaven.😆)
This bit was written a while before the other one I posted (Deep Thoughts) and introduced the idea of Boom being upset that he was so stupid on his world. I think he has some really deep resentment that he's viewed so poorly in his world, and he may fall for Dark if he's told he could be so much more respected if he shows his true power.
Dark gets to Boom after a particularly bad day where everyone makes fun of him or shows annoyance at him because of his 'stupidity'. He goes to the Sanctuary to cheer up, or at least take his mind off it, and Dark's the only one there, and the old crank sidles up to him, and is all "What's wrong, boy?" and Boom tells him because Boom doesn't think much of it, and Dark starts poking.
~~~~~
"Why do you think they see you like that?"
Boom shrugs. "Because in my world I am kinda dumb. Wachowski said it's probably because there's no Master Emerald, and something something chaos energy. I dunno. I didn't really understand it."
"But you think more clearly here, yes?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't really last when I get back home. Again, no Master Emerald there."
A smile curled Dark's lips. "But you have access to that energy. That power. You could pull from it and use it whenever you wish. Even in your world."
Boom quieted as he thought. He wasn't supposed to. It was pretty common knowledge among Knux's that they were only meant to be guardians, and not actually use that power.
"But the others always say that power's not meant for us," he said, brow furrowed. "We're just guarding it."
"But why not? I never understood that line of thinking. We are meant to simply stand nearby and look at it? We are the only creatures capable of harnessing and controlling chaos energy on that level. Why shouldn't we use it? If it's not meant for us, who is it meant for?"
Boom furrowed his brow. "I dunno . . ."
"Look at it this way," Dark said, inching closer. His voice had taken on a more eager tone. "Chaos energy is like a river. Flowing and moving freely around everything. If you could control that river, use it to make yourself healthy, or stronger, or . . . smarter, who would it hurt?"
Boom chewed his lip as he thought. He wasn't supposed to listen to Dark. None of them were. Because he was some evil Knux, from a different dimension—a different timeline? It was confusing—who'd done a lot of bad things with the power he'd had.
But . . . he kinda made some sense. So what if Boom used some of that power, if only to make himself think more clearly in his own world. That wasn't bad, right? It wouldn't hurt anyone, right? And he was a Knuckles--they were all good deep down, so even if he did use some of that power, he wouldn't do anything bad with it, so maybe it was okay?
He shook his head. This was confusing.
~~~~~
Dark eventually convinces him that tapping into the ME's power isn't so bad, and Boom's starts doing so. Just little bits here and there, mostly to make himself not so damn dumb on his world, but he doesn't know how to control that flow into himself. More importantly, doesn't know how to turn it off.
So it's flowing and becoming more and more powerful the longer he's linked to it, but it's too much, it's so much more than he's capable of handling.
His emotions are starting to cause problems back on his world - storms, earth tremors, killing vegetation near him, etc. No one has any idea what's going on, and he starts to panic, which is causing even more destruction.
He runs to the Sanctuary, but being in essentially ground zero of ME power makes things so much worse.
The Knux's who are there immediately feel the drain, and are shocked to see Boom of all people being the cause. Boom has no idea how to handle chaos energy in the first place, and being in a panicked state is making him unintentionally draw more.
The others are trying so hard to counter it, to balance it, but it's not working.
~~~~~
Boom fell to his knees, overcome with the sheer power flowing through him. Every nerve felt on fire. His muscles tense and thrumming with energy. He opened his mouth, trying to call to his friends, ask them to help him, but the only sound that came out was a strained scream.
The others stood back in shock. And maybe a little fear. They could feel the chaos running through him. There was so much. If they couldn't get it out of him, if he couldn't control it, it would tear him apart before their eyes.
Modern and X exchanged glances. Wachowski barely held himself back from rushing forward to help. Dread growled, his feet seeming glued to the floor as he watched his best friend struggle.
"We have t' do something!" he cried, looking from one set of fearful violet eyes to another. "Ye all know much more 'bout this Master Emerald. What c'n we do??"
"We . . . we don't know," Modern said, his eyes glued to Boom as the tall echidna struggled. "I've never seen anything like this before. No one's ever had this amount of power and lived."
"I have," a voice called from the shadows, and Dark moved into the light. A small smile curled his lips. "Oh, you poor foolish children. I have held just as much power before."
He turned to them, to Dread, that smile turning to a smirk. "I can help him."
The pirate's knee jerk reaction, honestly, was to launch himself forward and slice Dark's throat. The older version of themselves was never anyone's favorite, but now, when Boom's life hung in the balance, this wrinkled echidna's words seemed especially mocking.
"And I'm sure ye would do this outta the goodness of yer shriveled black heart," Dread snarled, showing fang. "And I'm also sure ye had nothing t' do with Boom even usin' that energy in the first place."
Dark moved closer, that smirk never fading. "We can stand here all day and point fingers, cast blame, but do you really think he has that kind of time?"
Dread looked back to his friend. Boom was on his hands and knees, waves of what he assumed was chaos energy flowing over him. The air around his body seemed to shimmer, and the Sanctuary around him . . . twisted. It was changing, as though melting and shifting into something different.
No time. Dark was right about one thing—there was absolutely no time to argue about this. Dread turned back to him, his snarl more pronounced.
"What can ye do?"
Dark uttered a soft laugh. "I can take the energy from him."
Of course he could. That's what he'd wanted all along. Using Boom's insecurities and fears to make him do something he ordinarily wouldn't. To tap into that power that Dark so desperately wanted, a power Boom had no hope to control himself.
Dark knew this would happen.
Dread's hand itched to take hold of his blade. He should have ended that shriveled pile of nastiness a long time ago.
Boom screamed again, and everyone in the Sanctuary covered their ears. It did little good. The sound came from inside their heads.
Dread uttered a loud growl, turning back to Dark.
There was no other choice.
"Help him, ye damned demon."
The smile on Dark's face widened, and Dread almost took a step back. He'd never seen the older echidna actually smile. Not like that.
"Gladly," he said, and moved with a speed Dread would not have expected. Dark stopped before Boom, going to one knee before the downed echidna. He didn't seem affected by the energy coming off Boom at all.
"You did well, son," Dark said, his voice low and dark. "You did just want I wanted."
Boom managed to lift his head, looking up at Dark. Tears ran down his muzzle, and his body trembled. "Wh-what?"
"Give me your hand." Dark held his own out. "I will take it from here."
Despite his current state, Boom hesitated. Questions, concern, fears, and doubts flittered through his mind.
This was wrong. He shouldn't. Dark was bad.
But the agony he currently experienced couldn't be ignored. The terror.
Lifting a trembling arm, Boom took Dark's offered hand.
The response was immediate. All that energy coursing through Boom, instilling every cell, every nerve, every fiber of his being with this unimaginable power, flowed into Dark.
No. That was the wrong word. It didn't flow as much as it was pulled into the older echidna. Every last ounce of the power Boom had tapped into was sucked away, along with whatever small amount he'd had to begin with. Boom uttered a strangled cry as Dark drained him, and fell to the floor, weak as a kitten when the older echidna finally released his hand.
Dark stood tall, his frail, weak body infused with that familiar power once more. He turned, offering the rest of the echidna present a wide, malevolent smile.
"Now," he said, his voice stronger than they'd ever heard it. "Oh, now the fun will truly begin."
