Red and the Beast

Father returned

The little bell rings on the door as Knuckles walks into the library. "Good morning knuckles!" Said a old woman. "Morning Mrs. Avery" he smiled and handed her the two books he borrowed. "Did you enjoy the books?" She asked with a sweet smile. "Actually I did i really felt like I was there.... And not here..." he looks down. "Sweet boy you have your mother's adventurous heart I remember her always wanting to venture out of this village." She smiled remembering his mother. "But she met your father and gave up on that, yet she told me her greatest adventure was you boys." She finished placing her wrinkled hand in the red echidna's cheek making him smile. "Thank you" he smiled and she nods before he starts to look around. He sees his favorite story was back and grabs it. The reason it was his favorite because he remembered his mother reading it on her spare time after the chores were done. He also knows her initials were in the back of the hard cover. He flips through the pages and finds it smiling. He grabs another book and walks up to Mrs. Avery. "Ah this book again you read this what 6 times now?" She smiled. "Yeah... it's my favorite" he smiled and she looks at the book. "Keep it youre the only one in this town that read this more than anyone" "I can't ac—" "Yes I can it's yours knuckles" she smiles and knuckles hugs her. "Thank you." He said and she hugs him back. He says his goodbyes to her and leaves the library reading his favorite book. As he walked through reading he doesn't notice the eligible women swooning over his brother who just walked into town. "Manson~" one of them purred leaning over the window ledge. "There you are knuckles!" He said and wrapped his arm around his little brother. "Manson leave me alone I'm not in the mood—" "Father returned come on" he said and knuckles follows his brother back to their home. Knuckles smiles seeing the older echidna hop down from the horse. "Welcome home father" knuckles smiled. "Ah my boys! How have things been the past couple weeks?" He asked smiling. "Good father and all the chores have been finished" Manson smiled even though knuckles did all the work while his brother brought two women into their home and into his bed. "Good that's very good now as you both know I'm only staying for a few days before heading back out. So knuckles your 24th birthday is coming up what would you like for me to bring back for you as a gift?" He asked. "A wife?" Manson snorted "Manson enough if anything you should be looking for a wife too." Their father snapped. "Now knuckles what would you like my son?" Locke asked. "A crystal or a rock from each town you visit on your trip" "what kind of gift is that?" Manson laughed. "Well if I'm not going to be allowed to leave this town I would like something that isn't part of this town that would last forever." Knuckles growled. "Alright fair enough if that's what you want I will get it for you my boy." He smiled. "Thank you" knuckles smiled.
Later that night knuckles fell asleep with his book in his hand. His father walks in and smiles picking the book off of him and places it on the nightstand. "I'm sorry my son I know you wish to leave.... But after your mothers death.... I just can't risk you or or brother losing your lives ether." He thought and blows out the candle.

Knuckles as no idea his request had put his father in unknown danger.