Prologue: How long can you run from authority?
A/N: Balthazar's Storm II, at last! Note that all characters are a LOT older. In Balthazar's storm I, everyone was 9 years older. Here, everyone is 8 years older than they were in the first book, meaning a total of 17 years. So, Tails is 25, Sonic is 32, Amy 29, Cream 23, Zoran (my OC about 26), etc. Enjoy the story!
Running… and running… and running… was this not what Tails was always doing when he had adventured with Sonic so many years ago? But this time, he was not running with Sonic… but with his daughter, who he often had to pick up whenever he thought he was in danger.
Tails' daughter, Violet, was 8 years old. Tails had given her the name because the flowers on her head were beautiful violet flowers, which gave off a fresh, delightful aroma. Her skin was yellow-orange, hardly any lighter than his. Though Tails had two tails, to his disbelief, she had three. It probably had something to do with some special gene that likely came from someone or simply mutated, but Tails had not really studied it much.
What really caught his attention, above all else, were her eyes. It was like looking at a star. The pupils, to Tails' disbelief, were not dark, but bright, its hue that of a star's. And though her eyes were a sapphire blue, the blue was dark, and Tails thought that a thin, black circle surrounded it. Her eyes were beautiful, but Tails had often feared they would reveal themselves to the people they were running from. Fortunately, he had avoided detection as much as possible.
Tails was carrying his daughter in his hand, as she slept peacefully in his arms. He was careful; he was both avoiding detection from any of the empress's spies, but he did not want to wake his daughter, no matter what the danger.
He had underestimated the empress; perhaps he should have imprisoned her when the opportunity came, eight years ago. He could not forget the name of the empress; just as much as he could not forget the day he conquered and nearly died from his fear of lightning, and that fear make a lightning imprint on his chest.
Balthazar had claimed rule over Tails' homeland, and she wanted anything moving with any relations to the Prowers dead. Anything with the last name Prower was in even more peril. Thus, he had run, with his daughter, protecting her even over himself, though it was really him and his cousin, Zoran Prower that Balthazar really wanted. "But for how much longer can I run?" Tails asked himself.
He had no answer.
(Elsewhere…)
The lioness Balthazar smiled at all the work she had managed to do now. The Mobians offered little resistance. And what could they do against her nearly limitless resources. The only ones who she spared were the ones that kneeled before her, acknowledging her as empress.
The old ruins she had eyes eight years ago was now her fortress, and did not look much like ruins at all. Balthazar had a fortress, had power, had authority, had wealth, but she still had not managed to capture one Prower.
And that was what kept the rebelling Mobians from giving up. For as long as they remained uncaught, they would keep fighting. Balthazar knew she could crush their army, but it would be costly. It would be best to avoid such drastic measures, and make them serve her willingly.
"But where are those darn Prowers?" She said to herself. "I know one is hiding amongst the rebels, thanks to my spy. I shall ask my guard to call him in. Perhaps he has learned more."
She motioned to the guard. "Guard, call in my spy. And if he protests, you have permission to use whatever force to get him into this room." The guard nodded, and obeyed her orders. Balthazar's spy was not a willing one. He only served her because she had something that he valued highly. "Pathetic Mobians, with their loving ways. A true leader leads with fear!" She stated to herself.
The guard brought the spy in. The spy looked at her menacingly. "What do you want from Big?" The spy asked.
"Did you get any information from that plant about the whereabouts of the other Prowers?" She inquired of him. Big shook his head.
"Big, Big, Big…" She drawled off. "You know how your disservice displeases me?"
"I am sorry mistress." Big said, with false sympathy.
"Then do as I command, and get the information. If you find out that she is unable to get any contact from them, and then devise a plan to capture her with the 2nd general. She will make sure it goes smooth. If you cannot do this, Big, I just may try out a course of frog legs. I hear they're quite tasty."
"Froggy!" Big said with worry. Balthazar laughed. Big gave her a pleading look. "Please, mistress, allow me to have Froggy back. Some of the rebels are asking why he's not with me anymore. I cannot keep lying to them!" Balthazar laughed again, before moving forward to him and slapping him across the face.
"Big, you are my servant. That alone is a big betrayal to your friends. A lie shan't hurt them at all." She slapped him again. "Now go. And do not return until you have brought that green plant from the rebel camp right into my own grasp.
Big left her presence and Balthazar sighed and sat on her throne. Her commander, Commander Salazar, a cybernetic lion, who had watched the scene, came up to her. "My empress, my forces are getting closer and closer to getting Miles. I bet he'll probably be out of breadth when we catch him!" The commander looked pleased with himself. Balthazar smiled at his work. She walked toward him, before giving him a seductive smile.
"Commander, if all goes as planned, and you can capture the Prower, then I will personally make you emperor." She drew him forward, meeting his lips with hers. "Now go. There is still much more work to do!" He bowed, respectfully, before leaving the room. Balthazar owed much credit to her commander, and she knew he deserved to be emperor now, but she wanted to wait, to give him something to earn, something that would make him work harder to get the Prowers.
She sat on her throne, and waited for time to pass. That would be all it took, before all challenge to her power seized to exist.
A/N: Balthazar is pretty cruel, eh? A lot has passed between the stories, and each character will take some time to fill you in a bit. Yeah, I know Salazar's name is very unoriginal, but it sounded dark enough to fit his character.
Stay tuned!