Knuckles frowned slightly as he considered Sonics' words about sensing the power within the Master Emerald. "That should be just because you're becoming more in tune with the Chaos Energy."

It wasn't a good sign- not by a long shot. Sonic was already a powerful being, and he was only getting stronger. The more attune he was to chaos energy… the more headaches for Knuckles as the blue hedgehog figured out just how to tap into the Master Emerald's power. It was far more dangerous to tap into the Master Emerald then it was a few measly chaos emeralds.

Sharp, sapphire eyes slid towards the crimson figure in his bed. "I'm plenty attune!"

"There's a difference between sensing it and using it. You're sensing the power now instead of just channeling it. And it looks like my own range has gotten greater."

"Yeah, we still gotta talk about that. What's up with you and the Master Emerald turning into a popsicle?"

Knuckles frown grew even more pronounced, as he uneasily regarded his mental link to the Master Emerald. "I think… Maybe the bond has changed somehow." Or maybe because I've been around so much chaos energy these past few years, my link with the Master Emerald has gotten stronger.

"Yeah, but that doesn't explain why!"

"I'm not certain either Sonic." Violet eyes slid close, as Knuckles wearily leaned back in the bed. It was far too soft for his tastes- he really only slept on stone or dirt floors. But still, it was nice. "Why don't you ask Tails?"

He must have fallen asleep.

There was no other possible explanation for why when he closed his eyes it was just Sonic, and when he opened his eyes Tails was crowded in behind him as well. At least it was beginning to feel warm.

"Tails?"

"Hi Knuckles! I think I've figured it out. Sonic told me about what you said about all of the energy and growing sharper to it. And I've been puzzling it over myself!"

Knuckles shoved himself into a better sitting position. His legs weren't quite listening to his commands to stand up, so he was just going to lay here and get the information this way.

Tails was babbling away in techno babble- Sonic and Knuckles both had absolutely no clue as to what he could be talking about. "Tails- a little slower would you?" Knuckles grunted out the words, resting his eyes behind the palm of his hand.

"I said that I think its that Knuckles has always had a kind of psychic connection with the Master Emerald- even when it's shattered you know where the shards are. So, really, it should go both ways. I'm guessing before the connection was too small to make it a real transfer, but we've all been growing up and older; the connection has to be getting stronger!"

Tails eyes were practically sparkling now, as his waving hands grew faster and faster in his excitement. "In fact, Angel Island began moving south even though Knuckles wasn't directly on the Island itself. Sonic said you did something and at about the same time, I felt the Island shift, and the Emerald glowed really brightly!"

Glowed? "That isn't a good sign Tails. Every time it glows it's giving some kind of message. Did you see anything in there?"

"Yeah, the image of a warm, sunny beach." Tails nodded thoughtfully. "It didn't seem like a bad glow- just a glow and the island moved south."

"An island huh?" Knuckles fell silent, musing it over in his own mind. A white glove came out to knock him gently against the head.

"Share it with the rest of us Knux. That was what you were thinking of, wasn't it? When you were trying to make the Island go south."

"Yeah. They're beaches that the I visited on one of your ill-fated attempts to go on vacation."

"Oh, right. I knew it looked familiar." Tails made a loose fist, and connected it in the open palm of his other paw. "You know, just remembering all of our lost opportunities for vacations and having fun to Eggman suddenly wear me down."

"The World Grand Prix." Knuckles mumbled.

"All of those corporations that are actually Eggman's…"

"The Olympic games…"

"My birthday party." Sonic groaned at the memory.

All three sighed in complete and total understanding. Beating Eggman was a job that didn't pay. Not very well at least… Sonic really had to argue the government into giving him a paycheck.

"Anyways, so your island is going south, and I left the heater on for the moment. Have you been feeling any warmer Knuckles?"

"Not really." The blankets were a warm comfort, and he could admit he could see why so many creatures liked to live indoors when the outdoors was so much better. "But that doesn't matter."

"Yes it does!" Two voices chimed in at once, and Knuckles flinched back as a flash of blue and dusty yellow crowded into his space, eyes practically on fire. "Do you have any idea how many people came by while you were unconscious Knuckles! Even Rouge came by."

Wait, Rouge?

"That bat didn't-"

"She said it was no fun to steal the emerald without you guarding it, so she didn't take it. She even tried giving you a kiss to see if you'd warm up before leaving and muttering about ungrateful men." Sonic grinned broadly, enjoying Knuckles discomfort.

The flustered echidna muttered under his breath, looking away.

A loud beep startled all three, and Tails scrambled desperately for a second for something in the bag at his feet. "Yes, what is it Amy?"

"Tails, there's nothing to do up on this island! And Charmy is driving me insane! Where's Sonic?"

"Amy is on my island?" Knuckles asked weakly, horror filling him- the Island was rather delicate for a bunch of rocks floating up in the air. Amy was going to destroy it!

"Knuckles? You're awake! Oh thank goodness! Listen, I left a bunch of magazines behind so you better take a look through them! You too Sonic, I marked some especially cute houses for when we get married!"

Amy giggled, while Sonic looked positively terrified.

"Tails- just how many people know I've been asleep for the past few days?"

"A week and a half in total actually Knuckles, and it would be Team Chaotix, Rouge, Shadow, Amy, Cream and Cheese-"

"So many?"

"Well, we were pretty worried. You wouldn't wake up Knuckles. You weren't responding to anything." Tails looked down at the floor, twin tails curling around his body in an attempt to hide himself.

Knuckles snorted, "As if I'm going to die."

"Huh-"

"I'm not going to die. I refuse." Amethyst eyes rose to meet emerald eyes. "I will not." It was a promise.

The blue hedgehog grinned, eyes softening for a split second. "That's good to hear, I'd hate to have to figure out a way to sever the link between you two."

"Don't you dare Sonic." Knuckles eyes hardened. Yeah, that would be another problem if the blue hedgehog was actually growing more attune with the emeralds power. "I'd rather die before that happened."

"Yeah, well, I'm not that willing." Sonic carelessly tossed out, eyes meeting and clashing. Tails cowered between the two of them.

"I-I don't think that it's really all that necessary Sonic." Tails stammered quickly, azure eyes darting between the two fighters. "Because Knuckles should be able to shut off the bond himself- we've seen him control the power before."

Neither even so much as glanced at him.

"Knuckles, I know you're all into this mysterious power and you having to guard it, but I refuse to let you die because of it."

"That isn't your choice."

"Oh, what, I suppose I let you sleep in my bed, in my house for the past two weeks just because I thought it would be fun!"

"You didn't-"

"Don't you dare say I didn't have too. I know you're not into this whole being sociable thing, but its what friends do. And we are friends."

Knuckles teeth ground together. "That is not the point! I'm talking about the Master Emerald-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I am talking about you Knuckles." Sonic wasn't a serious sort of person- he liked being serious with his fists long before he was serious in his tone. But he was serious right now.

Tails desperately looked between the two fighting members of Team Sonic. "S-Sonic, K-Knuckles…"

Knuckles clenched and trembling fist was slowly forced down, and the moment passed.

They hadn't come to any conclusion- it was clear Knuckles and Sonic both were completely focused on their own ways, but at the very least they wouldn't get into a down and out bare fisted fight right here and now.

"Erm, Knuckles, I have the magazines here if you want to look through them."

The echidna was teetering on the brink of plain just wrecking everything, but he confined himself to a glare. "Magazine for what?"

"Your new house we're going to build of course." Sonic grinned, letting the conversation flow away. It was placed to the side for now, but not forgotten.

"I already scouted out several great locations! There's a place half-way up the mountain that has a river running through it that I can create a hydroelectric generator to help power the house. And then if you'd rather stay in the jungle, or even at the beach, you can-"

"Not possible." The guardians voice was completely flat as he glanced around. He could see his gloves lying next to the bed on the small chest thingy he had never bothered to learn the name of. "Buildings don't last on Angel Island. They get blown away too easily."

"Oh, it's okay Knuckles, I compiled all of the data from storms weathered before on Angel Island, and I think I've determined what material we could use instead of just plain metal. It'll take awhile to gather, but it should be fine."

Tails smiled proudly, Knuckles pulled on his gloves, eyes sweeping the room for his shoes. "I don't think-"

"Knuckles, the building will be built. You just gotta choose how it looks like. Otherwise we're going to choose."

Sonic jabbed a thumb out towards the east, "I know this really cool 747 jet that is currently abandoned. We could just bring it up to your island, crash it, and then build your house from the inside."

Violet and azure eyes met each other, as both Knuckles and Tails considered the idea.

"That… actually doesn't sound half bad." Knuckles admitted.

"I bet that I can get it flying long enough to get to Angel Island no problem. After that it should be easy to hollow out part of the mountainside to make enough room for everything."

"Wait, what everything?"

"Kitchen, media room, workshop, guest bedrooms- we need at least five of those. One for Sonic, Amy, the Chaotix whenever they watch the Master Emerald for you, and a couple extra just in case."

"Who said that you lot were welcome to visit whenever you wanted?"

"Well, you don't really move Angel Island a lot anymore, and it's easier for all of us to come vacation on your island because Eggman is going to attack anyways, so we don't have to track you down."

"Yes it would be easier, but- hey! Don't run off on me!"

"C'mon Tails we gotta get started before he's strong enough to stop us." Sonic grinned as he hooked an arm around Tails, winking at his younger brother.

"Sure thing Sonic!"

Knuckles would have gone after them if he could convince his legs into working. The fact that they weren't was just a slight disappointment. He groaned, letting his head hit against the wall, stubbornly keeping his eyes from sweeping the room.

He wasn't one to pry, besides…

Knuckles eyes slid close as he felt for the Master Emerald. The Island floated south serenely. I'll be back home soon. I promise.

For now, he would spend some time with his friends.

Slowly he forced himself out of bed, ignoring his wobbling legs and went to go chase down Sonic and Tails- Eggman had to be around here somewhere, just waiting to strike. Knuckles fully intended to be there at their sides when he did.

Omake:

Deep in the forest, a chameleon stirred. Groaning, he slowly sat up, glancing around at the rich, deep forest with the sun shining brightly above- "Vector! Wake up!"

"Jus' five more minutes ma…" The crocodile rolled over, curling up beneath a large leaf.

"Vector- we have to find Charmy. We went into hibernation. Just how long-"

"Wait, WHAAAAATTTTT?" The crocodile bolted to his feet. "My walkman is ruined! Okay, that's it, we're taking Charmy and blowing this joint! Come on."

"That may be a problem- where are we?"

The two glanced around- there was what looked like a crashed 747 up on the mountainside, and the forest was rather unfamiliar… "We are on Angel Island, right?"

"I don't think so. Knuckles would never allow such a thing to happen on his Island."

"Then, we'll go north!"

"Very well then."

Vector struck a heroic pose. "Don't worry Charmy, we'll come and get you!"

Meanwhile: Charmy and Cream giggled as Cheese tottered around, Vanilla watching them both in slight worry. "Oh dear, I do hope mister Vector is okay…"

a/n: So, what do you think; Good, bad? Leave a review and let me know please.