A/N: KAY THIS IS YOUR TEASER before i give you all a REAL update. i promise the next chapter will have some plot development (read: budding feelings between Amy and Knuckles. cuz i loves me a good love triangle.) anyway, i know this is taken me forever to get out there but, well, here you are :D hope y'all enjoy!

"Listen, Sonic," Tails said finally, after his companion had calmed down considerably. "I'm scared."

Sonic looked as though he was on the verge of saying something, but in the end he stayed quiet. He had consented to listen to what Tails had to say on the matter, after all.

"We're on unfamiliar turf, which already puts us at a disadvantage. But beyond that, we're facing a kind of opponent we've never encountered before." He paused, half-waiting for Sonic to interrupt, but the hedgehog jerked his head irritably for Tails to continue. "Knuckles has already shown us that he has no qualms against hurting us. Remember, he thinks we're the responsible party for the destruction of these plains." He gestured to the vast wasteland just beyond the still-smoldering treetops. "If he had even the slightest inclination of sparing us before, it's flown out the window now. He's out for revenge, Sonic. He's out for our blood."

Sonic could hold his silence no longer. "All the more reason to get on it, Tails!" the blue hero exploded angrily. "Amy's life could be at stake here! You saw how he pitched her off the edge of a cliff!" His voice startled some ash-covered birds into flight, and Tails jumped at the sound of their flapping wings and angry squawks. When Sonic saw how skittish the two-tailed fox had become since their arrival on the Floating Island, his expression softened.

"I know you're concerned," Sonic tried again, more gently this time. He put his hand on the younger kit's shoulder. "And trust me, the feeling is mutual. But the longer we wait, the higher the probability is that Amy could be hurt!"

"Sonic, I think if we act too rashly, the consequences will be far worse. Knuckles dove in after her, after all," Tails reminded him quietly, shaking his head. Sonic still seemed unsure, and the two-tailed genius shrugged his arm off. "It's obvious he still has plans for her, although presently, we may not be sure what they are. An unnerving thought, yes, but we don't want to force Knuckles' hand. If he has to act rashly, then Amy could be killed."

Sonic bit his lip, and Tails sighed. "I'm not saying we abandon the endeavor outright, Sonic. I'm just saying we have to play it safe."

"But what if he plans to hand her over to Robotnik?"

Tails frowned and scratched the back of his head. "To be honest, Sonic," he admitted slowly. "Considering what Knuckles has shown himself to be capable of, she might be better off in Robotnik's hands."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going to the Hydrocity Zone," Knuckles responded tartly, as he continued to drag his pink hostage through the intricately-woven pipe system that supplied the Island with clean-running water. "But first, I'm taking you back to Dr. Robotnik."

"R-Robotnik?" She hated to think what the technological tyrant would have in store for her now that he had regained his bearings. "Can't I stay with you?"

"Sorry, I don't really have the patience to play babysitter right now."

"Please! I promise I won't get in the way. Just… just please, don't make me go back there!"

Knuckles came to a halt so abruptly that Amy stumbled into him and nearly fell backwards on her bottom. The scarlet Guardian glanced over his shoulder back at her, one eyeridge lifted skeptically. He appeared suspicious. "Why do you want to stay with me so badly?"

"I'm sure he told you what I did to him," Amy blurted suddenly, and Knuckles cracked a sardonic smile.

"Yeah. So?"

"So… don't you think he's going to be angry?"

"I'm sure he probably is," Knuckles admitted, still wearing that infuriating smirk. "But maybe you should have considered the repercussions for your actions before you brought it upon yourself to kick him in the balls."

"I thought you told me you weren't interested in hurting innocents!"

Knuckles snorted, tossing his thick red dreadlocks over his shoulder as he faced forward again. "I sincerely doubt he'll kill you, Amy," he scoffed as he began to drag her forward again. "You're too valuable as it stands. Alive."

I wouldn't bet on that, Amy thought miserably. After that little stunt I pulled, Robotnik might take what he can get at this point. She dug the toe of one boot into the earth behind a considerably sized rock wedged in the undergrowth littering their pathway, creating resistance between the two of them. Knuckles continued to pull, but she wouldn't budge. He turned around again, exasperated.

"What?"

"I won't try to escape or anything. I promise," she swore desperately, looking up at him with wide green eyes.

Knuckles looked down into those emerald optics and seemed to actually consider the offer. "Your kind has already proved that you can't be trusted," he said eventually, but he appeared to be relenting on his stance somewhat.

Amy did her best to sway him. "There may come a time where you'll wish I was on hand again," she said quickly, doing her best to convince him. "I'll work as better leverage in your favor if Sonic can actually see me."

She could see that the Guardian was relenting. Still, he seemed highly suspicious of her motives. "What's your aim here? I know you have one. You can't tell me you're doing this purely for my benefit, or because you're afraid of the Doc. You've already shown you're more than capable of taking care of yourself."

Amy hesitated. "I want to prove my boyfriend's innocence," she admitted finally. There was no use in denying the truth; Knuckles would find out sooner or later anyway. The echidna seemed taken aback by her honesty—but in the end, it helped sway his convictions in her favor.

"Either you're a very convincing liar," Knuckles said slowly, shaking his head, "or you honestly believe that."

"With all my heart," Amy swore passionately, hoping that the earnestness in her voice might win a point in Sonic's favor. But then Knuckles laughed, and she knew that it didn't.

"You're delusional," Knuckles said, slackening his grip on Amy's wrist until eventually she could pull it away completely. She rubbed her wrist where he had been hanging so fiercely onto her. "Fine, you can come, but don't get in the way. And if you try to make a break for it again, you can kiss your freedom – and a few of your boyfriend's teeth – goodbye. Every action has a reaction." He lifted one enormous barbed fist for emphasis. "You'd be wise to remember that."

Threatening her with violence on Sonic's behalf—an effective strategy. More than anything, Amy didn't want to see Sonic hurt—a weakness that Knuckles knew he could profit off of. "I won't try to run," she promised, and she really did mean it.

"Alright then, let's go," Knuckles said, and this time Amy fell in step beside him—not as a prisoner, but as a companion.