Red and the Beast

The castle

Knuckles wakes up and is saddened because today is the day they start the trip to return to the village. He looks at the crystals he collected but his favorite was the Opal. Even though this was over he's happy he got to experience the world outside his village. He gets up and dressed before putting his putting his souvenirs in his bag before heading down. His father smiles but it goes away seeing the sadness in his sons eyes even though he smiling. "Knuckles if you want I wouldn't mind you joining me again in a couple of months." Locke said. "Really? I get to do this again?!" He smiled widely and Locke nods. "Thank you father!!!" Knuckles smiled and hugged his father again. "You're welcome my son" Locke smiled knowing Ellen would be happy to know her youngest is living out her dream. "I'm doing this for our boy Ellen I hope you're smiling down on us." He thought.
They start riding home but the trail they originally were on was blocked off so they decided to cut through the forest. Yet as they got closer to the end knuckles noticed a odd shift in weather. "Father do you feel—" "Yes I do let's go investigate" he said and they quickly go to find out what's the cause. Soon they find themselves at a dead end. "That's strange...." "Why would their be snow here but a line across this area?" Locke wondered. Knuckles walks closer to the line and steps through. "KNUCKLES?!" "Father you need to see this...." Knuckles said in shock. His father walks through with the horses and was shocked. It as completely cold and snow and night sky linger. Yet they were most shocked seeing a castle they thought was gone forever. "Oh my god.... It's the missing castle from our village!" Locke smiled and mounted his horse before riding off. "FATHER WAIT!" Knuckles hollered and rode off after them. They arrived at the castle which was bigger up close. Knuckles was amazed at the scary but stunning castle. When he saw his father start walking up the steps and walks through the doors. "FATHER WAIT WE CANT! Ugh...." He relentlessly follows. Meanwhile at the tower and large figure watches them enter before growling and storms off. "Amazing this is the missing royal family's castles..... but what happened here?" Locke wondered and then saw a stunning crystal laying on the table below a torn painting. "Knuckles my boy here take this as a souvenir" he said and grabs it. "Father please put that back before—" knuckles eyes widen when a large dark shadow with red eyes glowing appears behind his father. "YOU DARE ENTER MY CASTLE AND STEAL?! I SHALL YOU LOCKED UP FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS!!!" It growled scaring Locke. A black paw comes out of the shadows grabbing the merchant. "Please I honestly didn't mean no harm!!!" Locke pleads staring into cold red eyes of the beast. "NO EXCUSES YOU WILL ROT IN HERE FOREVER!!!" He growled. "NO PLEASE!" Knuckles said and the beasts eyes widen. He felt his heart racing looking into the younger echidna's eyes. "Please let my father go he only grabbed the crystal because I asked for one each place we traveled. I'll even take his place! I give you my word." Knuckles pleaded ignoring the wolflike hedgehog. "Very well" "WHAT NO KNUCKLES DONT I LIVED MY LIFE DONT DO IT!" Locke begged. "He already gave his word" the beast growled and forced him to leave. Knuckles watches in tears as this monster toss his father out and leave with heartbreak in his eyes. "Now then—" "I didn't even get to say goodbye...." Knuckles said tears falling. The beast felt guilty about that but wanted to make sure the echidna was comfortable here with him. "I'll.... Show you to your room..." he said and knuckles looks confused. "My room? I thought I would be—" "Do you wish to go to the dungeon?" The beast snarled. "No..." "then follow me" he said.  Knuckles nods still frighten as he follows this black and red hedgehog beast. He turns around seeing tears fall from the echidna's eyes and sighed. "This place is your home now. You may wonder where ever you desire except the north wing." "What's in—" "ITS FORBIDDEN!" Beast yelled then calmed down. "Anyways let's continue down the hall" he said after calming downs. He opens one of the double doors and shows knuckles inside. It was a very nice room fit for a prince. "My servants will be with you shortly with dinner and your stuff" the beast growled and shuts the door. Knuckles sits in the silky sheets and then lays down to cry.

"He's so beautiful...." The beast thought.