Chapter Text
LEVEL START
Shadow: I sensed some chaos energy coming from Glyphic Canyon. I remember traveling through here when it was falling, but now it is a stationary ruin site.
Shadow: I need to gather more of the Chaos Emeralds to reach my full powered self. I am still lacking enough ability to know the emerald’s exact location, but I know it is here.
Knuckles: Hey, Shadow! What brings you to the ruins? They are definitely in better shape then when you were last here.
Shadow: Good Morning, Knuckles. I am in search of the Chaos Emeralds once again. Have you felt their energy here as well?
Knuckles: I can, but these ruins contain a lot of internal energy left over from the Master Emerald. It was created here and then moved to Angel Island. That latent energy is braking my personal sensor.
Shadow: Dammit. I suppose this search will take longer than I expected.
Knuckles: Well, you are more than welcome to accompany me. I am digging through some of the rubble here to check for any artifacts. There could be an emerald in there too. Or, I did see Espio earlier. You could see if he has seen anything.
Shadow: Espio? What business does he have in the ruins?
Knuckles: I see him visit here often! He likes to meditate by the cliff side. I try not to bother him too much since he needs peace and quiet and all. I am sure he wouldn’t mind a visit from you, though. You’re both those stoic types, hahaha! So, what will it be? Stick with me or try Espio out?
PICK ONE
Knuckles
Espio
PICKED: Knuckles
Knuckles: Okay, Shadow! I think I might like having you around! It can be pretty boring here just talking to myself when I’m digging, but with you here you, I can just talk to you!
Shadow: ‘Oh I didn’t expect him to be so chatty, but I suppose he is the best at finding emeralds…’
Knuckles: The dig site is just a few strides down this way. I can move the rubble around and you can see if anything we pull is important! And hopefully we can find that emerald you are looking for too!
Shadow: I am happy to help you in any way I can, guardian.
Knuckles: Haha! Oh Shadow, no one has called me that in a long time! But, I don’t mind if you want to! Let’s get started!
MINIGAME START
Knuckles found some tablets in the rubble, but they are encrypted. Use the clues to decode the words.
84U1Y75
4W82X
838W5ZY
95X8
U = H
Y = D
W = R
Z = L
X = T
(This is a no fail mini-game, user must pass to get next part in story.)
GAME PASS
Knuckles: Shadow, you did it! With the words you solved, I can translate the rest of the tablet! Here is what I can read…
Knuckles: ‘The echidna race must always seek to protect and preserve the energy throughout the world. The crest we wear is a reminder of the beginning and end of time, where we are but an arc in the forever going circle of life. The master emerald brings energy to us from the land’s cycle of life and puts out equally what it takes in. The fate of the world is held within the emerald and transitively the echidna race.’
Knuckles: Whoa, this is some heavy reading. I will need to compare this to the rest of the tablets I’ve found to see if I can learn more about the life cycles this one mentions. Thank you for helping me, Shadow! These will help so much in learning about my echidna heritage.
Shadow: Of course. Maria wanted to protect the planet and left it to me in her absence. It seems these tablets show how committed echidnas were to preserving life here as well.
Knuckles: That’s true! The other tablets I have found have similar writings about how echidnas were protectors of the world. I guess that is why they called each other ‘guardians.’ Also, I found something you might like in the rubble while you were solving the tablets!
Shadow: And what would that be, guardian?
Knuckles: One of those chaos emeralds you were looking for!
Shadow: That’s excellent. This will put me one step closer to finding myself again. Thank you, Knuckles.
Knuckles: Of course! As much as echidnas work to save the world, we always make time to help those we care about too. I always go out of my way to help Sonic and Tails too. They have helped me so much over the years. I wish they had more time to come visit, but I know they are busy saving the world their own way. That is why I got so involved in the ruins and research.
CHOSE:
[Loneliness]
[Research]
Shadow: I know what it is like to be lonely.
Knuckles: Sometimes, I think I prefer solitude since it helps me study for making better translations, but lately I just end up talking crazily to myself, haha! But thanks for being here with me today. Even if you don’t say much, it is nice to just have another body next to me.
Shadow: It was nice watching you work. You must train a lot on the island to be able to move rocks that heavy.
Knuckles: Oh yeah? Did I impress Mr. Ultimate Lifeform? I am glad you can recognize some ultimate strength when you see it! And it sounds like you enjoyed the show! You are always welcome to come visit me on the island if you want to test your strength! Think you can handle yourself against me in a sparring match?
Shadow: I have time before I need to go. Why not try me now?
Knuckles: Oh, you are so on!
Shadow: ‘We started with some light punches and blocks, just going back and forth on each other. Then, we started getting into a rhythm, playing off each other’s movements against one another. We kept up the energy until he grabbed one of my punches and I grabbed one of his. We got into a grapple and spun around until I used his weight to throw us both toward the ground. We held each other as we rolled and I stopped us by pinning him to the ground.’
Shadow: Not *pant* too bad *pant* for a hedgehog, huh? *pant*
Knuckles: Alright, *pant* you win *pant* this time, Shadow. *pant*
Shadow: ‘Our eyes were glued to one another as our breathing started to regulate back to normal. I continued to hold him down unconsciously and I still felt his hands gripped at my hips. Did he not realize what kind of a compromising pose we were in? And why didn’t I pull up right away?’
Shadow: That was good exercise, but I really should continue my quest.
Knuckles: He is a man on a mission! I am sure I’ll see you again if it is emeralds you are looking for. Have a good one, Shadow!
Shadow: ‘Knuckles left with the newly found tablets. I looked at the two emeralds I have obtained since I started my searching. It seems like I will be running into more and more people if I keep searching, and I have a hunch on where a good place to check next is.’