#hyper knuckles

[0pooleart]

okay guys what if this is how Adventure ended instead

[knuckleslove]

The sun and moon eclipse.

[nova-rpv]

could you draw hyper knuckles with a ponytail? I love fanart of him with his hair tied back

ill do you one better: string worm hyper knuckles with a ponytail

hope you enjoy this silly echinda, echidna enjoyer

[solfinite]

head shots of some of my sonic designs! originally drawn to show off how i like to draw their eyes. also semi-finished super form color palletes

[gherkin-s]

TRADE WITH MY FRIEND!!!!

№1 My art

№2 Her art

I feel sigma

[pupdoc0916]

Transformation

“Tails, get down!”  

The deep voice carried over the cacophony of sound causing Tails to look up from his device.  His eyes widened when they caught the sight of a explosive rolling toward him after being released from the rogue drone.  His body froze, mind racing, he was unable to move as he heard the beep coming from the device begin to speed, indicating the imminent detonation.

The wind was knocked from him as he was grabbed and quickly pulled aside and flung to the floor as the explosion rocked the ground beneath them.  There was a soft grunt in his ear as he hit the pavement.  Tails struggled to find breath after the impact.  His dazed mind slowly looked up as he pushed himself to his knees, ears ringing, and saw his big brother jump to his feet and throw a large piece of rubble at the haywire enemy.

He crawled across the debris on the ground, finding his device and pulling to toward him.  A blue blur ran by and he watched as Sonic dodged the oncoming laser fire and struck the machine with a heavy blow.

Tails shook his head trying to force the ringing from his ears and the kit pushed himself to his feet.  He dug through his bag, grabbing his next weapon of interest.  He aimed and fired, causing an electric net to shoot from the tip, grabbing the drone and causing sparks and screeching as it began to short circuit.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Knuckles grab another rock and, while the machine was fumbling, threw it down, crushing the metal contraption underneath.  

Tails bent over, hands on his knees, trying to regain his breathing and nerves.  He pushed his back against the flipped car which was now providing cover and protection.  Knuckles knelt next to him, one large hand still perched on Tails’ shoulder protectively as he ensured the drone was not going to rise again.  With a blur of blue Sonic materialized on his other side.

“You guys OK?” the hedgehog asked, green eyes scanning over the foxes body in search for injuries.

“I’m fine Sonic!” Tails insisted.  “But we need to regroup.  If my scans are correct the main threat is almost here.”

The main threat.  Tails swallowed hard as he felt the ground shake under the weight of approaching danger.  According to GUN they were trying to purge Eggman’s remaining drones to ensure they could not be used again.  But Eggman had been clever.  And it seemed, even without the presence of the doctor, his tech could be dangerous and deadly.  GUN had tried to disconnect and purge a known stash of drones, only, due to Eggman’s codes, to activate them.

People had already been hurt as the large robotic threat woke.  Smaller drones activated to fill the air with gun shots and explosions and despite GUN’s efforts the tech had escaped.

He and his brothers had been called upon to stop the threat.  But so far, neither of them could find a way to destroy the large robot that made its way through the small desert town that happened to be in its way.

Sonic had ensured that the towns people found cover, rushing ahead to warn the citizens to take cover while Knuckles and himself tried to slow the progress of the drones.  The small weapons were relatively simple to take down.  But the larger machine, the one that towered before them as it turned the corner and into their eyesight, was not so easy.  

Tails swallowed hard as it came into view, only a few apparent dents within the heavily fortified armor.  It almost reminded him of what Eggman had built with the Master Emerald, but this was not powered by emerald energy, but gathered energy from Sonic’s powerful quills loaded with chaos.  And this one was unmanned.  There was no taunting, no reasoning.  It was awoken with one purpose - destroy all that opposed it with no concern for collateral damage.

“So what’s the plan?” Sonic asked, eyeing the small fox.

“I’m trying to hack the database but Eggman buried the codes deep.  I can’t get through to stop it.” he lamented.  “I am trying everything I can.”

“OK, keep trying.” Sonic urged.  “I think we may need to get the towns people to evacuate.  They aren’t safe in the buildings anymore.”

Tails nodded and turned toward Knuckles.  The echidna had been quiet next to them as they discussed next steps.  But through the pause in conversation he looked up and met his brother’s eyes.

“We cannot let these people lose their homes.” he said firmly.

“Then what do you suggest?” Sonic asked.  “Everything we’ve tried so far isn’t working.”

A blast rocked the earth around them as a laser fired toward their current cover causing the three boys to duck to avoid flying debris.  They were running out of time.

“We can get the master emerald.” Sonic suggested.  “I can get the chaos emeralds and destroy it before it can hurt anyone else.”

Another blast, this one hitting a near by building.  Screaming was heard as the towns people ran from the explosion, once again pressing the urgency of the situation.

“No time.” Knuckles answered.  “And the chaos emeralds are unpredictable.  We cannot be sure of their effect.”

“Then what?” Tails asked, fear entering his voice.

Tails gasped in fear as the echidna suddenly lurched forward.  He watched as Knuckles lowered his head and closed his eyes as if in pain.  His eyes clenched and breaths became quick.  Then, to Tails’ horror, his body lurched back, every muscle tense within his body.  His face was twisted into a grimace.

“Knuckles?”  he asked fearfully.

“The rocket launcher is pointed directly at us!” Sonic exclaimed.  “We have to move!”

Tails tried to grab Knuckles, who was now curled on himself, to try and pull him away but his hand was thrown back by a surge of energy.  Tails pulled his hand to his chest.  “Knuckles, we need to move!”

“Come on!” Sonic exclaimed.  “Knuckles!”

A blast erupted from the chamber as the rocket careened towards their location.  They were out of time.  Tails grabbed Sonic’s hand as the impending doom approached.  But there was no death.  There was no pain.  The fox opened his clenched eyes and his mouth dropped as he took in a glowing haze of pink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knuckles hid behind the car as he heard his brothers scheme.  He clenched his teeth in frustration.  He needed to protect these people.  He needed to protect his brothers.  In a bid of desperation he reached out the tentative connection of the Master Emerald, stretched thin due to distance.

“We can get the Master Emerald.” Sonic suggested.  “I can get the chaos emeralds and destroy it before it can hurt anyone else.”

Another blast, this one hitting a near by building.  Screaming was heard as the towns people ran from the explosion, once again pressing the urgency of the situation.  Knuckles raised his eyes and his chest tightened as he watched the innocents run for cover as this robot destroyed their town.

“No time.” Knuckles answered.  “And the chaos emeralds are unpredictable.  We cannot be sure of their effect.”

Than, as if in answer, the flickering thread he had called upon moments ago began to strengthen, almost as if his words and distress called upon the power so intricately connected to his being.  The energy grew in strength, the connection widening.  A buzz tickled his chest and he brought a hand to up to quell the surge.  He lowered his head and closed his eyes against the influx of power.

From his chest the buzz spread, clawing down his arms causing his fingers to tingle.  His breaths quickened against the feeling, unable to take a full breath due to the growing energy spreading from his heart.  His legs began to feel numb, toes tingling with his fingers.

Then a sudden blast of energy caused his body to lurch back against the upturned car.  Every muscle tensed as the surge continued to escalate.  He grimaced against the feeling.  It was overwhelming, stealing the breath from his lungs.  

Then calm.  His muscles released and his breath returned.  He could hear everything.  Feel everything.  The terrified screams of the citizens, the cry of the earth from the onslaught of damage, the wind as it changed with the approaching danger.  He could feel the emerald’s power, intricately intwined with his own.  And as if being guided by power itself, he knew what to do.  His eyes opened and he stood, turning toward the approaching missile.  He opened his hands and the rocket stopped midair, held by exuding power.  He stared at it like a human may react to an annoying fly as it hung in the air.  His eyes lifted, taking in the approaching droid.  He turned his glove, causing the missile to rotate mid air, then released it back from where it came.  

The explosion as the rocket impacted the large droid shook the road and the droid, for the first time, was drawn a step back.  Knuckles lifted his arms, causing the robot to rise in the air.  The metal legs flailed as it lost it’s traction, lights flickering as it followed chain codes to its next move.

Knuckles drew energy to his core and with a simple thrust of his arms the robot was blasted back through the air, clearing the borders of the small town.  And with the blink of an eye he moved forward to meet it in the open desert.

The droid was on its back, rolling and attempting to regain its footing.  Knuckles landed on top of it, using his escalated strength to reach through the flickering forcefield and grab the front plate, tearing it from the chest.  His other hand reached forward, ripping and tearing the wires from within.  The robot began to seize as it’s power was shredded with each tear of his claws.

Smaller flying droids appeared, descending upon him like a swarm of angry bees.  He lifted his blazing eyes toward the threat and with the push of a hand they all began to short circuit and fall from the sky, falling to the ground in a heap of damaged metal.

With this threat neutralized he turned back toward the larger threat only to see another explosive launch toward him short range with the use of auxiliary power.  He narrowed his eyes in anger catching the explosive just before making contact with his glowing form.  He held the rocket in his hand then turned and smashed it into the droids upper compartment.  The blast pushed him back, body thrown from the droid.  He reached out to the caress of the wind, catching the breeze and allowing his body to gently return to Earth on his feet.  

His eyes met the failing droid as it began to convulse, sparks flying until it finally rested, unmoving in the desert sand.

He closed his eyes, reaching out to the massive connection of energy.  With the threat eliminated he began to push back the power offered.  He He felt it drain from his arms, causing them to slacken.  It drained from his legs, causing him to collapse to his knees.  It emptied from his chest causing him to gasp, and as the last vestiges of power faded he felt an overwhelming exhaustion. 

He heard his name called, but with the waning energy and increasing exhaustion he was only able flick his eyes, blue appearing at the periphery of his vision, before his body collapsed and he knew no more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Come on!” Sonic exclaimed.  “Knuckles!”

A blast erupted from the chamber as the rocket careened towards their location.  They were out of time.  Tails grabbed Sonic’s hand as the impending doom approached.  But there was no death.  There was no pain.  

When Sonic gained the courage to open his eyes he was met with a glowing light pink.  Sonic’s mouth dropped as he took in the sight.  Knuckles stood before him, skin illuminated in the diluted hues of his natural color.  His dreads floated and moved as if submerged in water.  

The echidna exuded power and chaos.  And that power was stepped between himself and the rocket that was supposed to have ended their lives.  But now the missile hovered, course stopped as it hung in the air.

The hedgehog got to his feet and his eyes widened as Knuckles, with a simple flick of the wrist, turned the dangerous explosive and sent it careening back toward the droid, the explosion causing the ground to shake beneath his feet.  

Then with a simple lift of the echidna’s arms, the robot was lifted from the ground, metal appendages flailing.  Then Knuckles pushed his arms forward and the robot was jettisoned through the air and out of the city.  Knuckles body rose from the ground and with a blast of chaos, he was gone, speeding in the direction of the evicted robot.

Sonic shook his head in shock, mouth still agape.  

“Sonic, did you know he could do that?”  the small voice of the fox asked, pulling his thoughts back toward the present, grounding him back into the current situation.

“No, buddy…” he replied.

He finally found his footing, taking in the new quiet around him.  The robot was gone, the town safe.  He was still struggling to process what had just happened.  But he needed to act.  His job wasn’t done.

“Tails, go to the citizens, make sure they’re ok.” he directed.  “If anyone needs help, call GUN, this is their mess and they can help get the people the help they need.”

“What are you going to do?” Tails asked.

Sonic turned his green eyes toward the direction of the fight.  The sound of an explosion caught his ears.

“I’m going to go help Knuckles.” he said, eyes narrowed.  And with a blast of blue he was gone.

The sand kicked up around him as he sped in the direction of his brother.  It was seconds before he came across the new  battlefield.  His heels skid in the dirt as he came to an abrupt stop.  And as his eyes took in the scene in front of him he once again found himself speechless.

Knuckles was still glowing pink as he faced the robot, standing atop the mechanical beast.  He reached through the mech’s forcefield as if it didn’t exist, ripping the plate from the front and tearing at the wires within.  The robot limbs began to convulse as it lost it’s power.

A whirring caught his ear causing him to turn.  A swarm of smaller drones raced toward Knuckles, lasers firing as they closed the distance.  Sonic prepared to fight and help his brother finish the job, but with another raise of his hand the echidna stopped all incoming drones in their tracks, causing them to spark and plummet from the sky.

With Knuckles’ body turned Sonic finally got a look at the echidna’s eyes.  His own eyes widened as he took in the blazing green of the eldest’s irises, the same green of the Master Emerald.

A click caught his ear and he saw the large robot’s lights come back to life.  Sonic’s chest seized when he realized Knuckles was still looking toward the falling drones.

“Knuckles!  Look out!”

A rocket was shot towards Knuckles at short range.  Sonic’s heart leapt in his throat as the rocket was released but the echidna had already stopped the rocket with his hand.  Sonic could only watch in awe as Knuckles smashed the rocket into the metal of the droid causing a large explosion.

The blast caused Knuckles body to be flung from the robot and Sonic moved to lighten his fall, only for Knuckles to stop in mid air and gently lower himself to the ground.  Sonic watched as his brother stood silently, eyes not leaving the droid until it lay defeated.

Then Knuckles closed his eyes and Sonic could feel the flow of chaos as it ebbed away.  He watched as his brother’s body began to slacken, the pink slowly fading away.  Knuckles fell to his knees.

“Knuckles!” Sonic shouted, rushing toward the echidna’s form.  He reached his arms out to catch the collapsing body, gently laying him on the hot desert sand.

“Knuckles!?” 

Sonic shook the echidna’s limp form trying to get a response, any sign of life.  But his brother continued to lay unmoving in the sand.  Sonic swallowed hard and moved a hand toward Knuckles’ chest.  A relieved sigh left him.  His brother was breathing.

He looked up, head turning in all directions, holding his hand over his eyes to block the hot desert sun.  A large caravan of military vehicles raced down the nearby road towards the damaged town.  The cavalry was here.  Sonic sighed with relief.  He needed to find Tails and get Knuckles home.

The sand kicked with the wind, blowing into the hedgehog’s eyes as he pulled his communicator to his mouth.

“Tails?”

Some static, then his brother’s young voice came through.  “Sonic?”  he asked.  “Are you and Knuckles OK?”

“We’re fine, but Knux is unconscious.  We need to get home.”

“Is…is he…”

“I think he’s just passed out.” Sonic answered, keeping his hand placed over Knuckles’ chest.  “But we need to get out of here.”

A pause of silence.  Then the fox’s voice came back on.  “OK…alright…GUN is here to clean up.  I’m on my way.”

Sonic sighed with relief.  And in the oppressive heat of the sun he held his brother’s prone form, mind racing with possibilities.  A small smile began to tug at his lips as he stared at the sleeping echidna.  A super form.  His brother was full of surprises.  He hugged Knuckles closer and waited for the sound of double tails that would mark their ability to go home.

Note: Not one of my best works, but I struggled to come up with ideas for this prompt. Hopefully it's adequate!

@year-of-the-echidna

[ray-fantasia]

Im redoing the Ivory AU, it isn't going to use the Skyline Designs anymore, so I'm redesigning a bunch of characters

Sonic and Knuckles kinda solo the story (Amy and Tails are playable after you beat the game (I'm designing it as a game idk), but they are just sonic and knuckles reskins)

[shad0wscha0s]

Hype knuckles and supa sonic

[fyeahsonicthehedgehog]

https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/360297

[alterchaos]

A POINTLESS WAR

(cw: written blood/gore, intense violence, body horror)

Purpose...it's what drives us to do incredible things...but what happens when that purpose proves to be built on false assumptions? Maybe we aren't all so different after all...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: ZELKOVA STRIKES BACK

NEXT CHAPTER: REGROUP

The fox and the Metarex lord stared each other down through their respective ship windows, neither willing to yield against the other.

“Chris.”

“Yeah?”

“Are they out of range?”

The scientist smiled, “They are now, captain.”

“And Zelkova didn’t see them leave?”

“No. It doesn’t look like it.”

“Good.”

The flight deck fell silent for a moment.

“Listen…if anyone else wants to go-”

Amy stood up from her console with a confident smile, “Not a chance! You’re stuck with me no matter what!”

Knuckles smiled as well, “Me too!”

Chris nodded, “We all know the risks. Besides…” He winked knowingly, “...this was to protect Sonic wasn’t it?”

Tails jolted, “Huh!? How did you-”

The human smiled, “Same as you. I had a feeling about where that message was going, which is why I blocked it when I did. If Sonic had heard that last part…”

The fox’s eyes grew worried, “Yeah…I know what you mean…”

Zelkova…he was out for revenge…

…revenge…against Sonic…

Though he didn’t want to think about it, he had a nagging suspicion about what really happened back on the evil scientist’s base. It made too much sense…the corrupted energy…Eve’s burns…

The ashes surrounding him…

There was no doubt in Tails’s mind that his brother would have offered himself up had he pieced those facts together. He was too broken mentally after everything that happened and wasn’t thinking straight. Nobody needed the IQ of a genius to know that much. Had it come to that, there would have been no stopping him.

That was why, even if it tore him apart inside, he had to send him away.

Even if it meant goodbye…

Forever…

Tails wiped his tears fully dry and pulled back one of his levers, forcing the thrusters to oppose the Metarex ship at maximum drive with newfound determination, “Enough of that! Knuckles, it’s all on you now!”

“Roger that, Little Brother!” With that, the echidna raced from the scene towards the engine chamber.

The fox pressed a few more buttons, “Chris, start launching our frontal attack! Amy, aim for the rear! On my signal, Chris, release the communications block. With his emotions high, we can maybe play Zelkova right into our hands and further distract him.”

“On your mark, Captain…”

The ship shook some more from the excessive force of the tractor beam.

The weapons were launched.

BOOM!

“NOW!!!”

beep

The golden Metarex lord appeared on the screen once more, shaking with rage as he stared down the young captain, “WHERE IS HE!!!??”

“...”

Zelkova slammed his fist down on the side of his control panel as a few more missiles hit, “WHERE IS THE BASTARD THAT KILLED NARCISSUS!!!??”

“Heh.” Tails grinned in a cocky manner, “Why don’t you tear this ship apart and find out for yourself?”

“RRRRRRRRGHHHHH!!!!!”

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM!

“Or is it that you’re too scared to face us head on again after that dent we gave you last time…”

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!!!!!” The vengeful warrior thrust his control stick to its maximum position, pushing the beam’s force to its limits and dragging the Blue Typhoon down further despite its resistance, “I’M NOT AFRAID OF ANY OF YOU!!!!!”

The ship continued to shake, creaking slightly from the strain.

BOOM!

“I WILL KILL HIM!!!! NO!!!! I WILL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!!!!”

The ship’s sirens began wailing once more as red lights began to flash. Tails began to sweat. Crap! The engine couldn’t take much more without tearing the ship apart! 

He tapped his wrist communicator to call Knuckles, “Hey!! Any time now!!”

The echidna raced up the steps of the makeshift emerald altar, “I’m working on it!!!” He reached the top, praying to chaos for extra strength in the fight at hand, “The servers are the seven chaos…”

The gem began to glow.

All systems’ outputs were boosted.

“DIVERT ALL POWER NOW!!!!”

The weapons stopped firing as the power canon roared to life.

Tails smiled.

“NOW YOU ALL WILL DIIIIEEEEEE!!!!”

vreeeeeeeeeee

Tails flicked open the hidden button’s cover atop his control stick.

“Sorry, Zelkova! This ends HERE!!!”

He clicked it.

shooooom!!!

CRASH!!!

BOOOOM!!!!

The energy from the laser blasted a giant hole through the Metarex ship’s center, destroying the engine and half of Zelkova’s controls in its wake.

His video feed grew staticy, “NO!!!! NONONONONOOOO!!!!” He tried to regain control but it was no use. The fiery planet’s gravitational force was too strong, and what was left of the ship began to be pulled in against his will. 

“Haha! We did it-WOOOAAAHHH!!!”

The Blue Typhoon continued to shake, being dragged down towards the planet as well. Despite half of his systems being offline, Zelkova maintained a solid pull on the ship within his tractor beam. 

Tails gritted his fangs, “WE’RE GOING DOWN!!! BRACE YOURSELVES EVERYONE!!!!”

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEE-

CRASH!!!

BOOM!!!!

SKRRRTTT!!!!!

THUNK!!!

—----------------------------------------------------------

“N-Nnnngh…”

The young fox’s hand twitched a few times as his eyes slowly fluttered open. Everything was fuzzy, his head spinning from the force of the ship’s impact against the rocky surface. Thankfully, he’d managed to land them in a way that minimized damage to the infrastructure, though the same couldn’t exactly be said for the rest of them. He and Amy had flown from their seats, the latter currently unconscious against a far wall, hammer lying out next to her. Chris was still behind his control panel, though it appeared that he’d hit his head against the console and was knocked out as well. Knuckles was nowhere to be seen, having been with the Master Emerald throughout the entire endeavor. 

Tails coughed a couple times before pushing himself up onto shaky, stumbling legs. He tripped, falling forward onto his knees as he gazed out behind him, his eyes flying wide as he did. 

They’d managed to land safely…

However…

The fiery pits of lava beneath the rocky surface reflected against the cracked glass, illuminating the young fox’s terrified face. 

If…

If they’d landed only a few inches further…

He gulped, backing away frantically as he attempted to push himself onto his feet once more, “I…I-I have to…g-get the systems online…I h-have to-”

BANG!

BANG!

CRASH!!!

Tails gasped as the door to the flight deck flew off its track, Zelkova stepping through. His towering presence frightened the small fox, the terror he felt only heightened by the Metarex lord’s battered state. His armor was dented in various places now, small pieces of his helmet and armor shattered off, revealing a soft, green figure underneath. The exposed eye radiated fury and bloodlust, a stark reminder that the Metarex were, indeed, actual people beneath the suits. 

People with thoughts…

Histories…

Beliefs…

Dreams…

Goals…

Tails stumbled again as the Metarex lord slowly approached, “Z-Zelkova…please…w-we…we can talk this ou-MMPH!!!!”

The towering figure grabbed the fox by the face, lifting him high into the air as he kicked and squirmed. His hand could so easily crush him if he wanted, but no…

Zelkova had other plans.

“Go on…call for your supposed ‘hero’…” He produced a small seed from the palm of his hand, causing Tails to let out a muffled scream as he fought harder to escape, “I want him to watch helplessly as the light fades from your ey-”

“HEY, ZELKOVA!!!!”

The golden-clad Metarex lord turned to face the figure behind him, his exposed eye narrowing with hatred. The echidna marched through the busted doorframe, each stride leaving behind a distinct trail of glittering light. He pounded his fists together in righteous fury, the immense energy blasting off of his prismatic, glowing figure in a threatening gesture. His amethyst eyes danced with small flecks of gold, the echidna sparkling like the light caught in the eye of a rare diamond. He cracked his neck before fixing his eyes once more on the threat before him.

“That’s our captain you’re messing with.”

Zelkova trembled slightly, though he refused to let go of the young fox. He’d been expecting to face the might of the gathered emeralds…but this…this was…something more…

Something…beyond…

“Tsch! You’re not that same echidna I fought last time, are you?”

“That’s right, and I’m going to leave you with a lot more than a small dent and some hurt pride if you don’t let him go…now.”

“...” 

“...”

“...”

Zelkova lunged, ready to force the seed into the young fox’s face. 

Tails screamed.

SHAZAP!

BOOM!

“GUH-!!!”

Without a word, Knuckles teleported before the Metarex lord, blowing his arm clean from his shoulder in a single, controlled chaos blast. The free limb landed before the busted doorway, its golden blood splattering along the walls as it flew.

“GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

Zelkova dropped the trembling fox as he clutched the bleeding stub where his arm had once been. In a matter of moments, an arrangement of yellow carnations blossomed from the open wound, halting the bleeding in a sort of scab. Tails’s eyes widened at the sight as he recalled his friend’s eye from before.

Zelkova…

The Metarex…

No…

It…It couldn’t be…

They…

They were-

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!! I’LL MAKE YOU PAAAAAY!!!!!” Zelkova pulled his lightning spear from his back, sparking it to life with the power from his armor. He lunged at the hyper-speed echidna, “I’LL MAKE YOU ALL PA-”

SHAZAP!

Knuckles grabbed Zelkova before teleporting him outside the ship and away from where they could cause harm to the others. Tails watched as they flew about the thundering skies of the fiery planet, fighting at speeds unmatched by even Super Sonic’s standards. Each clash shook the heavens, rocking the planet to its very core.

RRRRRRRUMBLEEEEE….

“-!!!??!?”

Tails fell to his stomach as the force of the distant attacks pushed the Blue Typhoon closer and closer towards the edge of the cliff they’d landed beside. The ground shattered underneath, causing the massive ship to start sliding forward towards its magma-infused end. Tails screamed once more, shielding his eyes in his helpless and shaken state.

SHAZAP!

Knuckles appeared at the nose of the ship, gently lifting it from the earth, as if it was no more than a mere feather, and teleporting it over to more stable ground. As he laid it down, he suddenly shook and fell to the ground, his light flickering slightly.

“D-Damn…c-chaos…o-overloa-”

WHAM!

In a single hit from his enemy’s spear, Knuckles was sent careening miles away. Zelkova floated down to the rocky surface, his face now fully visible thanks to his shattered helmet. He resembled Cosmo somewhat: the pale, green skin; the leafy hair; the blossoms for ears…

He held out a hand towards the ship, “N-Now…to…e-end this-”

c-crack

“GNH!!!??”

Zelkova lurched forward suddenly as the gem adorning his chest began to crack slightly. His eyes widened in horror as he dropped his staff, clutching it with everything he had to keep it from shattering.

“N-No…I…I-I can’t-”

SHAZAP!

WHAM!

THUD!

SKIIIID!

Zelkova rolled across the rocky terrain towards the cracked earth as Knuckles punched him once more, his light flickering a bit more erratically than before. The Metarex lord continued to hold his gem as he neared the edge, halting his momentum by digging his armored feet into the earth below. The golden metal cracked a bit more, revealing more of his leafy flesh beneath. He gritted his teeth, quickly producing another seed from the late scientist and throwing it up into the air before grabbing his gem once more. He leapt up, kicking his leg around him and launching the seed at the echidna as he approached.

Dodged.

Knuckles, with Zelkova’s spear in hand, raced up to the Metarex lord for one final confrontation. He deflected the warrior’s flurry of kicks with the weapon, eventually knocking him back hard enough to cause him to stagger. Knuckles then drove the spear into Zelkova’s cape, trapping him along the edge, unable to escape.

Knuckles released a few heavy breaths, “There…Now you can’t chase us anymore…”

The earth rumbled around them.

Zelkova smiled.

“Fine…i-if I can’t win…”

He sweeped his legs underneath Knuckles’s feet, knocking him over before locking his knees around his neck.

“...then none of you can.”

RRRUMBLE…

CRACK!

SHATTER!

Tails watched in horror from the distance as his brother disappeared with Zelkova beyond the rocky cliff.

“KNUCKLLEESSSS!!!!!”

The echidna screamed as he fell, he and Zelkova landing on a small foothold unreached by the surrounding lava. The Metarex lord laughed, a bit of golden, sap-like blood dripping from his lips. He smiled at Knuckles tiredly, still clutching his slowly cracking gem as he sat.

crack

“I…m-may not have taken down Sonic…b-but I hope this can be revenge e-enough…”

Knuckles stood up, the last remnants of the master emerald’s energy fading from his weak, tired figure.

crack

“...brother.”

“Huh?”

Knuckles paused, taking in what Zelkova just said.

“Brother?”

crack

The Metarex lord sighed. It wasn’t as if telling him would matter anyway at this point, “Yes…Narcissus…” He chuckled slightly though with a twinge of regret, “For…F-For all of his faults…he was…s-still my…l-little brother…”

“...” Knuckles’s eyes grew sad.

crack

This caused Zelkova to jolt in embarrassment before turning his face away, “W-Well…it isn’t as if animals like you c-could ever understand…w-what that kind of love t-truly means…”

Knuckles sighed, “...Is that what…Dark Oak told you?”

“W-What of…it?”

crack

Knuckles sat back down beside the Metarex lord, “...You know…that fox back there? He’s my little brother…”

“-!!!”

crack

“I…can’t imagine what it would be like…to lose him like that…” Knuckles looked at his hands, “Us older brothers…even though we want to see them grow…become their own person…it’s our duty to protect our siblings…They look up to us…sometimes even want to be us…and to fail them is just…”

crack

“...”

“It’s unspeakable…”

“...”

“...”

“...”

crack

“I’m sorry, Zelkova…I wish I’d been able to do something for him…for both of you…I really do.”

crack

The large seedrian remained quiet as he watched the lava bubble and slowly rise. Everything he’d just heard, everything Knuckles said, it all went against what he’d been taught.

To love someone like that…

A mere animal…

No.

crack

A person…

One who perhaps wasn’t so different from him after all…

And if that was true…then…

Well…

crack

The seedrian chuckled slightly, smiling tiredly as he leaned his head back, looking up into the starry sky beyond the fiery pits.

“This war…”

“Huh?”

Zelkova released his hand from his gem.

crack

crack

s h a t t e r

Knuckles jolted in fright as large branches began to emerge from the heart where the gem had been, though he was unable to run in his overloaded state. He froze as Zelkova grabbed his hand, smiling with warmth as he did.

“D-Don’t…w-worry…o-our branches…th-they don’t…spread…”

Knuckles’s demeanor softened, “Then…why would you-”

In response, the transforming Seedrian lifted Knuckles to the rocky wall behind him. His hands began to grow into thick, long branches, gently raising the echidna towards the cliff’s edge with care. The emerald guardian’s eyes widened as he reached back out below.

“NO!!! WAIT!!! ZELKOVA, TAKE MY HAND!!!!”

The seedrian slowly shook his head, a small creak from rapidly spreading bark escaping his figure. He looked back up at the echidna, smiling as he forced himself to stand with the last of his energy. He raised his arm higher as roots spread from his feet, planting him firmly on the rocky foothold.

“040…806…”

“What?”

“G-Give your…crreeaakk…b-brother those…cough cough…c-coordinates…crreeak…”

“Zelkova-!”

“G-Go…there…cough crreaakk…e-end this…p-pointless…creeaak…w-wa-r-”

Knuckles was almost at the surface.

“ZELKOVA!!!!”

The tree-like seedrian smiled once more as his voice gave out, a few small branches escaping his lips. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate with peace as he grew still.

Brother…maybe we can find happiness…together…in the next life…

Knuckles reached the cliff’s top, pulling himself to safety as he looked back down on his hands and knees at the fully grown tree below in distress. 

“ZELKOVA!!!!”

There was no response.

“H-Hang on, Zelkova!! I-I’ll get help!! Then we can find a way to turn you ba-”

FWOOSH!

Too late.

Knuckles watched in horror as the lava reached the foothold, the wood immediately catching fire throughout what was once the body of the great Metarex lord.

“ZELKOVAAAAAAA!!!!!!”

All he could do in that moment was watch helplessly as the lifeless tree burned like that of its former brother, he whose life was stolen by the warrior as free as the wind upon which its ashes now flew.

CHAPTER END

[ultimate-guardian]

Reblog for more votes!! 🗳

[conceptmobius]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Super Theme Concepts

A video I made regarding theme songs I want to hear used for Super themes, mostly for fangames and mods.

~Ryan

[sonicwind62391]

[spindashes]

Daily reminder that Knuckles’ super form being called “Hyper Knuckles” is exclusive to the Archie Comics, and that it’s just called “Super Knuckles” in the game. Hyper Knuckles is his Hyper Form.

I know, I know, I don’t like thinking about it either

[qsmb2012]

More Knux!

[cryptoriawebb]

What would it be like for Psionic Sally to interact with the other characters?

That’s a good question!

Psionic Sally is an interesting situation because in this “super” form, she actually allows the Sword of Acorns to take control. Though it is a somewhat symbiotic relationship (in that Sally’s desire is the Sword’a guiding influence while in control,) the Sword speaks differently than Sally herself. As an ancient cosmic entity of sorts, it is more serious and distant. As such, I think Psionic Sally would get along best with Super Shadow and Turbo Tails, as both are more mature and controlled when transformed, just like she is.

I think Super Sonic would frustrate her, as he is the opposite of that😂, but at the same time, he is her guiding inspiration and the one for whom she’d risk everything for. When they do sync up, they’re a beautiful and unstoppable force.

Knuckles she respects but he can also be reckless and thus, a source of frustration.

She does not care for Silver, finding him annoying and in over his head. She (the sword) also knows that one day he will turn on her, a detail that puts Sally and the sword at odds with each other. Ancient logic dictates he be dealt with now but Sally herself never quite gives up believing in the unknown, and wants to trust in the clumsy good Silver has displayed, despite everything.

I don’t think Nicole likes or trusts this Psionic form. Ancient cosmic entity vs futuristic AI tend not to be a good mix. Julie-Su also does not trust her. The Sword of Acorns reminds her too much of Enerjak.

As for the other Freedom Fighters…I think this form is something of a rogue canon, one the seasoned veterans watch closely: an all-knowing, all-powerful entity can be brutal and reckless in its own way at times. Despite the golden heart of its vessel.

I hope this answers your question!