Red and the Beast

Servants

"This is so exciting we finally have a guest!" "Calm yourself sonic" "sorry Blaze it's just been so long" "I know but the poor thing is already scared enough." She said as they approached the doors. Knuckles lays there after drying off his tears and hears the door knock. "I'm coming...." He said and opens the door but saw no one. "Umm..." down here sweetie. He looks down and jumps back at the walking and talking Candlestick and Teapot on a dining cart. "Y-yo-your... t-talking..." he said stepping back. "Well of course sir now we brought you your bags that's in the bottom shelf, and please warm up with some nice soup and tea" the purple teapot with a gold paint trim spoke. "I think I have lost my mind.... No this must be a dream...it has to be candlesticks and teapots don't talk...." Knuckles said then felt a slight burn on his knee. "OW!" He falls back holding his knee. "Nope it's real" said the silver candlestick. "Ok I'm not dreaming... just gone mad...." Knuckles thought. "Well if that's the case all the furniture would've been talking to you. But know only a few of us talk" the candlestick smiled. "My name is sonic I shall be your guide." "And my name is Blaze I will help you with meals or refreshments. Now what is your name?" She smiled. "I ummm ok.... and it's knuckles..." Knuckles stood up and walks to the cart to get his bags. "Wait my horse what about..." "he's in the stables being fed as we speak." Sonic smiled. "Now please enjoy the meal before it gets cold we shall help you unpack." "No please I'll do it....." knuckles said. "Alright enjoy and ring the rope of you need anything else" they bowed and leave the dining cart with the meal. Knuckles eats the soup and was surprised how good it was. Once he finished he started to lay out the collection of his souvenirs on the windowsill. He looks out seeing his village along with the next one over. "That barrier must be one side.... Because you can't even see this place...." He thought looking down and finished unpacking. He tears up seeing the bracelet he got for Mrs. Avery knowing he's never going to tell her about his trip. "I'm sorry Mrs Avery.... I won't be able to keep my promise.... God if I knew leaving would end up like this.... I wouldn't have left... now I lost my family.... And my freedom." He cries and sits down to hug his knees. Blaze hops in seeing him in tears. "Master knuckles?" He said hopping up to him. He looks up seeing the teapots eyes with concern. "Just leave me alone...." "No you're in tears and I can't leave you alone." She said in a tone that comforting to Knuckles. "Well..." he tells her and was still dumbfounded he's talking to a teapot. "I see perhaps once you and the master get to know each other he will let you visit your village" "Yeah right I doubt that..." knuckles huffed. "Look shadow is not a monster I promise you knuckles" "Shadow?" Knuckles looked up. "Is that the beast's name?" Knuckles asked and she nods. "Get some rest dear the master wishes you to join us for breakfast." She smiled. "I hope you like hot oats and honey with eggs" she smiled hopping away to the cart and rolls out of the room. Knuckles felt a bit better after talking to her and heads to bed. The bed was nice, warm and comfortable and with all the crying knuckles drifts off to sleep.
His sleeping body appears in the crystal ball being watched by the beast. "He's so beautiful.... And I'm this monster.... How could he love someone like me before the blood moon.... Besides what will he think of me once he finds out who I am...." The beast looks down and a flash back to when he was a child seeing the echidna as a child as well. He remembered the purple kind eyes when he handed him that cookie.

He couldn't believe this was the same echidna all grown up.