Red and the Beast

Old friend

Shadow opens the doors to the library and smiled seeing the mountains of books. "Oh my god it's wonderful!" He said looking around and admiring the first shelf. "You like it?" Shadow asked. "I love it!" Knuckles replied and grabs a very large book flipping through the pages. "Master Shadow it's good to see you in here again." Said a familiar voice making Knuckles drop the book. Knuckles turns around seeing a golden knight decor. "Tails?" He said tearing up. "Yes it's me knux" he said and knuckles felt tears falling walking up. "It's good to see you old friend" he said not knowing if he should hug him or not. He felt the gold arms wrap around him and knuckles hugs the empty armor. "I missed you so much knuckles how's my family?" Tails asked and knuckles looks down. "They passed away from a landslide.... On that terrible stormy night..." knuckles sand and the armor head nods. "I will leave you two to catch up" shadow said and leaves. Knuckles and Tails talked for hours catching up after 8 years. "So Manson still a ladies man?" Tails asked and knuckles nods. "I just wish I could see what him and my father are up to...." Knuckles said. "Follow me" tails said and knuckles does. He leads him to a large mirror in the grand reading room. "Go on ask it" tails said. "Ask it what?" Knuckles looks confused. "When the curse was placed the enchanter gave shadow a crystal ball and made three mirrors magic to see the outside of the barrier." He explained and knuckles nods. "I like to see my father and brother.... Please..." he said and the mirror glows. He sees his father in bed with a empty bottle of rum holding a painting of him and his mother. "My father really misses me...." Knuckles thought. The mirror then shows Manson flirting with one of the women he was interested in and gets rejected again by her. "He won't give up on her." Knuckles thought. "I seen enough" he said and the mirror returns to normal. Knuckles starts to really miss his father but he wants to find another way to break this curse. More than ever since tails is involved. "Knuckles" a female voice said. "It's time for dinner" Amy said. "Ok" he replied and hugged tails again. "It was great seeing you again." Knuckles smiled. "You as well knuckles ya know where to find me" tails said nodding the armor helmet.
Knuckles sat quietly during dinner letting his food get cold. Shadow notices the sadness in the echidnas eyes and knew he had to be homesick. "Knuckles.... what's wrong? Please tell me I might be able to help you."

Back in the village

"Father I need more money for the pub tonight" Manson said to sadden Locke. "It's in the—" the sound of the front door interrupts him. The two echidnas bolt to the front door and were shocked at who stood there.

"KNUCKLES?!"