I must be dreaming (Sonic the hedgehog)

Chapter 5

Brea looked around curiously as she walked through the tall trees, smiling as she listened to the birds. "hmm.. so peaceful" she said quietly.
As she walked along, her attention was suddenly drawn to something behind her. she stopped in her tracks, listening to the rustle of leaves but as she turned to look, a pair of hands grabbed her pulling her backwards "HEY!" she yelped.
A figure behind her pulled her tight, lifting her off the floor. "WHAT THE..?!" she yelled, squirming.
"what did I tell you about wandering about out here all alone" came a deep husky voice, a voice Brea had come to know well.
"wha... KNUCKLES?!" she said, a look of shock on her face "put me down! right now!" she barked, kicking her feet out.
"take it easy" Knuckles replied as he slowly put her down, letting her out of his grip. Brea turned around and looked at Knuckles, frowning.

The echidna simply smirked at her "what?" he said teasingly. "oooh, why you..!" Brea grumbled giving him a shove.
"hey, it's not smart for a girl to go walking through the woods all alone" Knuckles said, watching Brea's face closely.
Brea frowned at him again "I'm a fully grown woman! and I can take care of myself thank you very much!" she growled, crossing her arms and now glaring at him.
"sure you can" said Knuckles sarcasticly, Brea stared at him. "you didn't even realise I was there... untill I grabbed you" Knuckles smirked, an almost taunting tone to his voice.
"I knew you were there..." Brea huffed, looking away from him "I just didn't know it was you, that's all... in fact, you're lucky I didn't bash you on the head... actually.... I still might!" she grunted, glancing at him then looking away from him again.

Knuckles stood there frowning, shaking his head as he crossed his arms "oh.. whatever!" he grunted.
"I didn't ask for your stupid lecture! so leave me alone!" Brea grumbled now turning her back to him.
"well, don't say I didn't warn you" Knuckles shrugged as he walked away from her.
"yeah.. well...?" Brea began as she turned round, only to find Knuckles was gone, leaving her alone once again. "stupid knuckle-head" she muttered as she headed down the long path towards the town.

"wow! talk about sour faced" said Amy as Brea approached her. "what's wrong?" she continued, watching Brea as she sat down.
"oh, it's nothing" Brea grumbled looking down at the ground, swinging her feet back and fourth.
"with a face like that, I know something's wrong. come on, you can tell me" said Amy as she sat beside her.
"well, that meat-head Knuckles.... he jumped me in the woods" Brea said, frowning as she stared hard at the floor.
"jumped you?....Knuckles? but.." Amy stuttered a suprised look on her face as she looked at Brea.
"he was trying to scare me, told me that girls shouldn't be wandering around all alone.... men are so sexist... think girls can't take care of themselves" Brea growled as she shifted in her seat.
Amy looked at Brea curiously "well, maybe he was just worried something might happen to you" she smiled, now with a mischivious glint in her eye.

"hah! yeah right" Brea grunted, shaking her head. "he's just being a good friend, in his own... imature way" said Amy shrugging, a slight smirk on her face.
Brea looked at her, a smile slowly crossing her lips "heh heh, imature's right" she said, laughing.
"heh. well, that's men for you" Amy smiled, watching Brea as she began to grin, nodding her head.

A few weeks had passed and as the bright sun shined down, Brea quietly sat there by the window. She sighed, looking out at the trees and flowers. Smiling as she daydreamed. A daydream that didn't last long, a sudden rumble drew Brea's attention away from her thoughts. A rumble that grew louder, shaking the furniture "what the hell?" she muttered as she headed out the door to see.
Brea followed the sound, feeling the ground beneath her feet shake as she headed up the grassy hill.

As she reached the top of the hill she could see Sonic, jumping and dashing from left to right, dodging the explosive shots of a huge robot.
Looking closer, she could see Knuckles, Amy and Tails all fighting back as best they could.
A small craft hovered high above the comotion, Eggman watching with a dark grin on his face. "let's see you get out of this one, hedgehog!" he cried out, laughing.

Amy looked up at the bald headed mad-man, frowning. "give it up Eggman! you'll never win!" she yelled as she threw her hammer hard.
"Wha... AAGHH!" Eggman squeeled as the hammer hit the flying contraption he sat in, knocking it spinning round and round.
"you'll regret that pinky! you'll see!" he yelled as he took off across the sky & disappered. "cowered!" yelled Amy & turned back to the robot.

"what's going on?" asked Brea as she ran up to Amy, a little out of breath. "another of Eggman's stupid robots" replied Amy as the two girls ducked down, a missile just missing them.
"we gotta lead this thing away from the town" said Sonic as he landed beside them. "over the hills, towards the mountin maybe?" Brea suggested "good idea" said Sonic & ran off ahead, gesturing to Knuckles to follow, as he ran passed him.

The group finally reached the rocky valley leading to the mountin, the robot in hot persuite behind them. with a sudden crash, the robot hit the ground ploughing deep in to the dirt "what the..." cried Sonic as he watched it disappear in to the hole.
"oh great! now it's gone underground... what now?" growled Knuckles, a frustraited frown on his face.
"well, digging is your thing isn't it?" said Amy sarcasticly with a smirk. "sure, except now we don't know where it's gone" said Knuckles in a taunting voice, a disgruntled look on his face.

Sonic shook his head in frustration "let's just split up, we can cover more ground that way" he said looking at the others.
"is that such a good idea?" asked Brea watching him. "it's better then just standing here... ok Tails you're with me, Amy.. Brea.." said Sonic only to be inturupted by Amy. "no way!, I'm with you Sonic!" she whined, frowning at him.
"fine, Amy's with me and Tails" Sonic sighed, rolling his eyes. "and Brea... you're with Knuckles" he continued.
"oh great" muttered the red echidna, crossing his arms and frowning. Brea simply glared at him.

The group seperated and as they walked along Brea watched Knuckles, unsure of what to say to him.
"ok" said Knuckles, breaking the awkward silence. "if you're going with me, you've gotta keep up and keep your wits about you. Got it?!" he growled, giving Brea a sideways glance.
"fine... mr. tough guy" she huffed sarcasticly and followed him around the large rocks.
"be careful, the ground's all un-even here" said Knuckles, looking back at Brea as she clambered over the rocks behind him.

As they walked along, a sudden rumble shook the ground. "what was that?" asked Brea as she looked down.
"I'm guessing it's our mechanical friend... it must be near-by" replied Knuckles, glancing at her.
The ground rummbled again and as it did, a crack appeared in the ground. The crack then quickly began running towards them.
"quick! move!" Knuckles yelled but as he reached his hand out to Brea, the ground gave way and the two of them fell in.

As they fell in to the darkness, Knuckles reached up and pulled Brea close.
Brea closed her eyes tight, clinging to him.
"oof!" Knuckes groaned as he hit the ground hard, Brea landing on top of him.
"are.. are you ok?" she asked as she opened her eyes, looking at him.
"fine, I just.." Knuckles stopped mid-sentence as he looked up. He grabbed Brea and rolled over on top of her as several large chunks of rock fell down, hitting his back as they landed.
"aagh.. geez!" he growled, flinching in pain.
"Knuckles?!" Brea whimpered, looking up at him.
"it's ok... I'm ok.. I'm mr tough guy remember" he replied with a falsed smile as he looked down at Brea.
"but... why did you..?" Brea began.
"I'd rather they landed on me, I can take it" Knuckles said, inturupting her.

Brea looked up at him. "um.." she said, looking left and right and smiling awkwardly.
"oh.. eh.. heh" Knuckles smirked, realising he was still on top of her.
Brea giggled as Knuckles stood up, stretching a hand down to help her to her feet.
"so.. now what do we do?" she asked as she looked up at the distant crack of light above them.
"I guess we climb" Knuckles shrugged as he reached up and gripped the cold wall.

Knuckles climbed up a few feet then stopped "uh.." he muttered as he felt the rough rock break away in his hand. "oww!" he groaned as he landed, butt first on the hard ground.
"are you ok?" Brea asked as she walked over to him, a slight smirk on her lips.
"fine.. but I guess that idea's out" he grunted as he stood up, dusting himself off.
"why?" replied Brea as she looked at him curiously.
"the rock here is all too loose, it's not firm enough to grip and climb.. we'll have to find another way out of here" Knuckles said, glancing around them.
"but how?" said Brea with a look of concern on her face.

Knuckles looked at her then looked behind her. "over there" he replied, pointing at a small gap in the rock. "looks like a tunnel, if we can't go up then we'll go... hmm, come on" he continued and headed over to the opening in the rock.
"but.. it's kinda dark in there" said Brea as she reluctantly followed behind him.
"just stay close to me" said Knuckles, heading in to the darkness.