Sonic the Hedgehog

Not Enough

As the red echidna and ebony hedgehog fall four stories toward the ground, Knuckles reels his fist back to get a good punch in. However, when he looks to his left where the hedgehog was previously falling to his side, nobody is there. Confused and weary, the echidna lands on his feet and gets a quick look of his surroundings. Above him, the residents of the last room he and his opponent smashed through look down at the chaos in complete bewilderment. Knuckles realizes he's at the back of the apartment building, near a dumpster and a fence that has him boxed in. He turns around and across the purple see-through street filled with traffic is a line of storefronts.

"Challenging me was a big mistake," A voice says to Knuckles's right, making him jump back and face the direction of the mysterious black hedgehog. "And you're going to regret it."

Knuckles clashes his fists together, a small smile curling on the edge of his lips.

"Sorry, but echidnas don't scare easily," he says. "You're going to pay for hitting me with that door. Then you'll show me straight to Eggman so I can kick his big, round-"

Shadow disappears from Knuckles's view entirely, making his body tense up immediately, as well as accelerate his already fast-beating heart.

This guy... is he faster than Sonic?! Knuckles ponders in a mix of fear and uncertainty.

He turns in every direction, ready for the hedgehog to appear at any moment. Knuckles didn't know how he was doing it, but this can't be speed in action. Shadow's disappearing act looked more like teleportation.

Once Knuckles feels the breeze on his left shoulder it's too late. As he turns, his opponent's foot hits him across the face with more force than any kick the warrior has ever witnessed. It sends him flying across the air, but before he can land, Shadow is already waiting for him. He grabs Knuckles's leg mid-air and slams his body to the ground, creating a giant crack in the concrete below. Then, with a swift, fast throw, Knuckles flies into the dumpster with the speed of a cannonball, sending it flying over the fence and crashing onto the sidewalk where its contents spill all over the place.

Now so angry, the echidna somehow looks redder than before, he charges at Shadow before he can disappear in thin air again. He launches a fury of punches that the hedgehog dodges with little to no issue before quickly and unpredictably changing things up with an uppercut. An uppercut that finds its way to Shadow's chin, launching him back a meter and against the fence. Knuckles jumps up into the air, ready to dive and finish this battle until he sees something that makes his heart stop.

Shadow gets up immediately and reels his right arm back.

"CHAOS...!"

How is this possible?! Knuckles thinks in a state of complete panic. No one has ever recovered from one of my attacks so quickly!

"...BLAST!!"

Knuckles only has enough time to put his hands forward to try and soften the incoming blow before his body is quickly engulfed in a hot, excruciating pain. The impact of the attack sends him flying into the brick wall of the apartment building, knocking all the wind out of him. He slides down and lands on the ground, now unable to even stand.

Before him, the black hedgehog approaches.

This is it. He thinks, a tear threatening to emerge from his right eye. Mom. Dad. I hope you can see how hard I fought. It's up to that blue imbecile to get our home back. Sorry I couldn't do so myself.

"Hmph," Shadow crosses his arms.

Knuckles opens his eyes and looks up at him.

"What a waste of my time."

With that, Shadow turns around and walks away. Boiling with even more fury, more rage than the echidna has ever felt in his entire life, he slams his left fist into the ground and tries to use it as a support to stand up.

I won't be beaten- not like this! Knuckles swears as he tries to stand up. He dishonors me- even after he became the victor! I won't let him get away with this! I WON'T!

Yet, even with such fiery determination and will, it's not enough, which Knuckles realizes as he falls back to the ground, too hurt to get to his feet.

...