Knuckles the Echidna, Guardian of the Master Emerald, didn't want to admit it, but... he was worried. He wasn't truly frightened... yet... but worry was there. He didn't know where he was. The animals around here were like nothing he'd ever seen - neither normal animals, nor the chaos-warped thaumagene animals that Eggman loved to capture and use in his creations.
And, most importantly was Rouge.
He'd tried waking her, but she wouldn't rouse. He'd then checked her over for injuries when he felt it.
Chaos Energy. And not just generalized Chaos Energy, as though she had absorbed a lot of rings... but the energy of the Master Emerald.
And Rouge was currently flooded with it.
He'd tried to siphon it off, but couldn't. Nor did she have the Master Emerald - or even a shard of it - with her. Just the power.
And, as much as he wished otherwise, he didn't know what to do to help her. Despite having been the Master Emerald's guardian for his entire memory, he didn't really know that much about it. Heck, it wasn't until the whole mess with Chaos and Tikal that he learned the chant to activate its power. As much as it shamed him, Tails and the Eggman probably knew more about what he was protecting than he himself did.
He'd done what he could, finding this cave for shelter, and keeping an eye out for animals that might think the two mobians would make a nice meal. But if Rouge didn't wake soon... then he'd either have to leave her here to find help, or try to take her with him. Neither of which were very appealing options
It should be noted at this time that the idea of just leaving her behind never even crossed his mind.
_-=^=-_
Rouge didn't like not being in control of a situation. She liked it even less when she had no clue what was going on. What she found herself in, was both.
The last thing she remembered was the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds spinning around... Knuckles trying to grab her... then she was here, standing before an ornate pedestal, dressed in a toga, of all things (though she was personally relieved to be dressed in something. Unlike most mobians, Rouge's fur was unusually thin. Thus where most mobians didn't find anything wrong with being mostly naked, Rouge found clothing more of a necessity than a convenience.) Beyond her, nine figures on thrones sat in the shadows, obscuring even what species they were from her.
The strange part of it was, it almost seemed that the other figures were as surprised to see her as she was to be there.
Finally, the figure on the tallest throne spoke. "Rouge of the Chiroptera Clan, you stand before us to be judged."
Rouge schooled herself. "And what am I being accused of?"
Some of the figures laughed at that, but another spoke out in exasperation. "See? She does not even know what it was she did! Surly you can not seriously expect us to take this seriously."
The first figure spoke again, its voice deep and aged. "I do indeed. Whether she knew what she was doing or not, she completed the ceremony. Regardless of her intentions or lack thereof, I would see her tested."
"This is a farce!" The other figure shot back, his(?) voice high pitched and whiny. "Why should we bother! The Controller already has a Guardian... one it chose itself, I might add! Do you mean to say you doubt it?"
This time, yet another figure answered, its voice more feminine than the last two. "While you raise a good point, the Guardian has proven to be insufficient for the task before him. He has for too long been cut off from the world at large. Nor does he even know half of what he should to properly do the job. He is easily duped. He still distrusts the Server's Guardian, and has not even recognized the Jikan's Guardian, the two people he should, perhaps, trust the most. The Floating Island is no longer a great deterrent to those who would wish to take the Emerald. Rouge herself has proven that the traditional methods no longer work. Who better to take over the responsibility?"
"Are you mad?! Strip the power from the Guardian to give to her?! A Thief, a Grave Robber, and a Spy?!"
"And who else would be better suited to stop the efforts of such?"
The first figure raised its arm, forestalling the argument. "No. The Controller's chosen Guardian will not be stripped of his power. But we shall still test her. If she succeeds... then she will also be made a Guardian."
All the figures seemed surprised at that.
"Two Guardians?!"
"This is unprecedented..."
"This is madness, you mean."
"No." The first figure spoke out, louder now. "It is merely a change. As animals grow and evolve, so must ways change with the times. Tradition has failed. Change is needed, or these incidents will only continue."
Slowly the figures seemed to... grudgingly... agree. Rouge herself was feeling very let out, but found she could not speak during the whole deliberation.
Finally, the first figure addressed her again. "Rouge of the Chiroptera Clan, you have performed an old ceremony of choosing. Now you will be tested. When you wake, you will find that you are not in the world you know, but a different one entirely. The Servers are there, strewn across the lands. Likewise, the Controller itself has been shattered, a scattered to the winds. It is your task to find them all again. Repair the Controller. Gather the Servers. Once you do, you will return to your home, and be made Guardian of the Controller. Fail... and you will never again see the world of your birth."
"What is the Controller? What are the Servers?"
All the figures laughed at Rouge's outburst. "You know them better as the Master Emerald, and the Chaos Emeralds. Good luck."
And then Rouge began to fade away slowly. But before she was gone, she heard one last bit of conversation.
"What of the other Guardian? He's already there. Will he interfere?"
"Part of the test must be to see that they work together..."
_-=^=-_
Rouge snapped awake, startling Knuckles. "Rouge!" Knuckles almost hugged her in relief, but managed to stop himself in time. "Are you... all right?"
Rouge just looked at him, the vision she'd had while unconscious vivid in her mind. "I think I screwed up." Rouge said, with uncharacteristic frankness.
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(Posted Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:58)
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