Nothing left but Flames and Ashes

(This is the beginning of the end)

Chapter 1

The Rookie

Few had ever done what she had, but praise was scarce and far between. Staring fixedly at the far wall, Ashley listened as the instructors debated their situation. So far she had heard nothing to reveal whether she would be accepted or not; but having passed the agent exam with flying colors, she felt certain it would finally be time for her to enter into field work. Silently cursing at the clock above her head when she discovered that only a minute had passed, Ashley slumped her head back against the wall, trying desperately to curb her racing thought.

"But she's only seventeen," stated a gruff male voice. "It's suicide to send her out there."

"Agreed and we need agents who are reliable and intelligent. Not a bunch of newly recruited, trigger-happy morons." This speaker had a thunderous voice, thick with sarcasm.

She balled her hands into fists at his assumptions. Trigger-happy, ha, just who does he think he is?

Knowing that eavesdropping was getting her nowhere, she rose out of her seat, once more resuming her earlier pacing. Time had never dragged by so slowly as it did at that very moment, minuets spanning the lengths of hours as she walked slowly back and forth across the space. Ashley tried to keep her attention fixed on her feet as she paced, but time and time again her focus would be drawn once more to the room and what was being discussed inside. Even so, every time she did she would only end up hearing something she didn't like. Then her attention would return once more to the floor and her steady tread.

Lost in her thoughts she was startled back to cruel reality as the door behind her banged loudly open. "Embers." The Man she recognized as the corporal acknowledged her salute with an air of impatience. "You have been accepted to begin field work, however, due to your inexperience in this area, you will be assigned to work with a professional agent. You will treat him with respect or you will endure sever consequences. He will be reporting back to me and in turn this will determine whether your actions will have you promoted or removed from our corps. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes sir." She had to fight to keep her voice from shaking. The Corporal was an intimidating man with his deep voice, broad shoulders, and stern features. It was no surprise all his underlings fearfully referred to him as the Bulldog.

He nodded approvingly. "Then come with me." His brisk stride left her in a breathless hurry to keep up.

As they trotted down the corridor and into the main lobby of the G.U.N. training center, Ashley felt a surge of pride knowing she was finally finished with her toilsome efforts. All the years she had spent learning to shoot, fight, problem solve, and defend herself had finally paid off. It felt like a dream to now be considered an agent. A newbie, perhaps, but an agent all the same.

Her senses absorbed the familiar sights and sounds, mentally recording everything so she would always remember that scene, before she trailed the corporal quickly out the glass doors. Outside the sounds of squealing tires, incoherent yells, and continues gunshots marked the afternoon of a typical day. At the obstacle course, Ashley watched the group of trainees weave around, through, over and under a daunting number of difficult obstacles; occasionally releasing cries of pain or loud curses as they stumbled or lost their balance. Across from them stood a row of men and women, each firing diligently at targets so distant they resembled tiny red dots, while other trainees chucked grenades at random marks.

Ashley just smiled and kept up her steady jog, dodging hurriedly out of the way as three trucks, in a mock car chase, barreled pass. It was common knowledge to keep an eye open for vehicles. If not, you'd be flattened and all blame would fall on the oblivious, now pancaked, trainee.

"Quit your daydreaming and keep up!" Bulldog hollered at her, which she obeyed immediately. The corporal wouldn't tolerate anything other than immediate action. Head held high, despite her inward urge to balk, she kept on Bulldog's heels as he pushed open the door to the agency.

Wow! She thought in wonder as she entered the lobby. So this is what HQ looks like! Ashley had never before been permitted into the premises.

Spotless, marbled tiles gleamed beneath her feet as she trotted eagerly forward, eyes roving over the glass walls and ceiling so high she had to crane her neck all the way back to see it. Off to the side was a waiting area with plush armchairs and thick carpet; while adjacent to that rose a glass spiral staircase. Although the effects of the room left her in awe, she couldn't help musing over why it would be so airy and vulnerable. After all, this was a military agency. A building composed of such a large quantity of glass just didn't seem to get that point across.

As if guessing her thought, Bulldog briskly explained, "This place is not as breechable as it appears. The glass is bullet proof and you have yet to see what it looks like during lock down." Then he left her standing by the door, while he trotted forward towards the receptionist desk. By the time Ashley reached him, she only caught the end of the receptionist's reply. "...conference room, but he should be done with the meeting by the time you get there." Ashley wasn't surprised the corporal walked off without giving the woman even the slightest form of a thank you. Once again, Ashley tore after the tall man, wishing he would at the very least slow down for a moment.

After a tiresome climb up what felt like hundreds of flights of stairs, they emerged into a wide corridor lined with doors along the walls. Undeterred, she wandered amiably up to one of them, staring with mild interest at the sign platted above the handle:

"Conference Room 1A"

Well that doesn't explain much.

Bulldog said nothing as she wandered between the rows, her curiosity never satiated by the useless words engraved on each and every room. Apart from her footsteps there was no other sound within the corridor; not until a door at the end of the hall clicked open, filling the hallway with the buzz of conversing voices.

She pressed herself flat against the wall, all of her efforts centered on not getting crushed; while across from her, the corporal studied the passing faces as if searching for someone. Ashley too, let her gaze rove over the crowd, fixing on every unfamiliar face and perusing for something notable. No one stopped, no one even glance in her direction; and she turned to watch them as they flood the stairwell. Didn't they have any sense of curiosity as to why she was there? They were agents after all. Surely someone should have stopped for a second at the very least. What she failed to realize was, somebody had.

"Embers, come here." Ashley whirled, heading towards Bulldog without allowing her attention to stray. He waved a hand towards the man beside him, saying quickly "I have selected the agent you will be accompanying. This is Shadow. Obey him as you would any other commanding officer."

She froze instantly. Contrary to her first thought, she realized Shadow was not a man at all, but actually a hedgehog: a hedgehog with black and red quills and a deeply set scowl on his face. He glared at her coolly and she felt her heart stop. Not Shadow, of all the agents working for G.U.N. why had they chosen him to be her mentor? Shadow was notorious for his indifference, high expectations, skill, and- worst of all- his attitude. She would have opened her mouth to protest, to say she no longer felt ready for field work, that she was unprepared; but that was before Shadow suddenly spoke, breaking her determination.

His voice was low, but not deep, harsh, but not in a dramatically cruel way, and rang with both confidence- leveling obvious superiority- and annoyance. "She's ready for field work?" he questioned, cocking an eyebrow. "She looks like she would do better as a receptionist."

Now it was Ashley's turn to scowl as she glared down at her body. Why did everyone question her because of her mere appearance? She couldn't help being tall and alluringly slender. She had never asked for pale skin, vivid hazel-green eyes framed beneath thick lashes, and she certainly hadn't ever begged for the straight, shimmering sorrel hair that cascaded down to her waist. They mocked her, telling her that a model had no place there. On the other hand, perhaps she should have been flattered that they thought she was beautiful; but to her, she only saw her appearance as a cumbrance, something blocking the road to her goals.

In the time it had taken for her to run through her thoughts, Bulldog had already answered and had likewise questioned Shadow. The hedgehog nodded. "That may be true, but I was expecting a trainee who was more able." Or in other words, someone who wasn't like her. Naturally she felt that cruel blow to her pride as she would feel a punch to the face.

And Bulldog only partially defended her. "She has the highest scores for an agent that I have seen in a long time. However, I gave her to you in the hope that you can teach her the true ways of an agent before her intelligence stokes her pride."- Ashley had to struggle with herself to hold in her indignant snort- "Will you accept?"

She held the hedgehog's gaze determinedly as he scanned her body once more before training his eyes on hers. Inwardly she felt a strong desire for him to refuse, to give up and pass her off to someone else, yet there was also a part of her that wanted to prove herself to him: make him realize that woman were just as capable- if not more so- than any male was. For one fleeting instant, he gave a look that made her heart palpitate. Just from his sour expression alone, he made her courage quail, and she knew, if he chose her, he would be unbelievably difficult to work with. Then the moment passed and that expression went with it, replaced with a gleam in his blood-red eyes. "I accept," he stated, but there was no warmth in his voice, just cold acknowledgement.

Bulldog nodded. "Then I congratulate you both. Agent Embers, you are now promoted to the status of field agent in training. We expect great things from you in the future." She saluted, "Thank you Sir. I will do my best to make this agency proud." With that said, she sprinted after Shadow as he walked away.

Bulldog watched them until they had both disappeared from sight. Then he wearily swiped a hand over his face. Embers had yet to acknowledge her gift: instead remaining ignorant to even the slightest hint of its presence. But in spite of that, he was certain Shadow could summon it with his mere aura, the more time she spent around him. Hopefully that would protect her. If she were to fall into the wrong hands. He shook his head. They'd be doomed, there was no point in sugar-coating it.

She would have to learn soon. She was an important asset. They would need her when the time comes.

To all readers: I'm writing this first chapter in Embers' point of view, but don't worry Shadow and many other characters will take the spotlight in the next chapters. I started out with her because it's essiential to explain how things happened. The story's action pace will also pick up and I apologize for the slow start.

Please review. Even if it's a criticism. I appreciate everything. I get discouraged if I think I'm writing and no one is reading. Sorry, I'm not trying to beg, I just want to know that someone is actually reading what I'm writing. And to everyone, whether you liked my story or not, THANKS FOR READING!