Tloj: Brgylrodmfhitl I almost forgot today is Valentine's Day! Have a chapter, courtesy of me, Forever Alone. :(

All characters are owned by their owners. I believe all newcomers are owned by HTKWolfe777.


I wake up and check my watch, five as normal. I look around at the room Mom had given me and Sarah, and note that Aether had gotten onto the bed and lay at our feet, asleep. I brush Sarah's cheek with a kiss before slowly extracting myself from her arms and the bed.

Aether perks up, and watches me as his tails thumps lightly on the bed.

I give him a pet before walking out of the room, closing the door silently behind me.

I jump a bit when I see Reave meditating in the hallway.

"Good Morning," he says, opening one eye at me.

"I was wondering where I'd find you." I raise an eyebrow.

"I was maintaining vigil. Even in sleep I am fully aware of my surroundings."

"Cool. So where are you training me?"

Reave stands, and gestures for me to follow as he leads me outside. We walk until we reach a grassy clearing, and he sits with his legs folded.

"The key to combat is acting without thought, but training your instincts properly so you can trust your body. We will begin with meditation. Sit, do not think, simply be aware. Allow your senses to overtake you."

I sit and close my eyes, clearing my mind.

Antonio does this all the time, how hard can it be?

"I said not to think," Reave says calmly. "Let no words enter your mind, only feel, smell, hear, taste, and see. Be one with your surroundings, this is the way one senses Chi, the lifeforce of all living things."

I clear my mind again. After a few minutes, I hear the wind blowing around us, and water nearby.

I feel the grass brush on my hands, the wind in my quills. I smell the cleanness in the air, and can almost taste the humidity.

I sink a little deeper, actually seeing the few echidnas awake at this time milling around their business, catching wildlife or talking to each other. I could hear their conversations, if I really wanted to.

I see Reave's smile, and his lips move. It takes me a second to resurface, and understand what he said.

"Very good. You are learning to press your senses beyond yourself, and become your surroundings. Once you know the feel of chi then you will be able to sense another's presence without the aid of your eyes, and ears."

"It's... easier than I thought it would be. Is it because I've felt them before with powers?"

"It is because you have faced battle, and your natural instincts for this task have brushed the surface of you mind already. I will teach you to hone your skills so you can call upon your inner instincts at will."

"Okay."

Reave stands, and offers me a hand, "A sharp mind is more powerful than the sharpest blade, remember that... though your other instructor would beg to differ. He waits for you up by the foot of the nearby mountain."

I take it and get pulled to my feet. I nod and turn, running that way.

Reave lets me go, and heads back for the palace.

A few minutes later, I stop at the base of the mountain. I tune my senses, ready just in case he decides to start with a fight.

"CATCH!"

I look over my shoulder in time to see a boulder the size of a Volkswagen flying at me.

I do so without thinking before realizing that this probably wasn't a good idea. I slam into the ground, but I succeed in catching the boulder.

A few seconds Later Spike rolls it off me, "Nice job! Make your stance a bit wider though. Your legs are stronger than your arms so use them to brace yourself against the weight."

"Okay." I shake myself off, standing.

Spike picks up the boulder again, and jogs off a few yards before lobbing it at me again.

I widen my stance and catch it, getting buried but successfully staying on my feet.

Spike whoops, and claps as he tosses the rock aside, and yanks me out of the dirt, "Felt awesome, right?"

"Yeah... I think."

Spike pats my shoulder, "Don't need to do a lot of thinking when you're the toughest guy on the block, nobody wants to mess with you. Plus if you can really take a hit you'll last long enough to rip the attacker to shreds."

"Taking hits is your specialty, isn't it?" I joke.

"Exactly, I'm always training," Spike boasts.

"Tell me, are you invincible? You sure don't seem to die."

"Nah, too stubborn for that," he jokes. He spreads his arms, "Do me a favor real quick, punch me in the gut!"

I shoot forward, slamming my knuckles into his stomach.

It feels like I punched a steel wall! He smirks smugly, "I would never suggest Cinder's training, but you can't argue with the results!"

"So... if you expect it, you can take a hit, but if you don't, you get hammered?"

"Oh I learned that Chi stuff long ago so I always know when something's coming. I just take the hits so I stay able, you know?"

"And yet you complain about it."

"Sure I do, you think I want people thinking I like getting hit?" He shakes his head, "Nah man, so I roll how I want. When you got the power you can do that. Some pricks just like rolling the wrong way."

"Huh."

He punches my arm, forgetting about his knuckle spikes for a second. "But I got faith in you Dude, I know you'd use these awesome-beyond-awesome skills for good... Hey, you okay?"

"Oh, just... bleeding." I activate Tails Doll Hero, and watch my wound heal.

"Hey, no powers!" He points at me, "I know what I do ain't as flashy, but that's the whole damn point. There's bunch of guys who'd be helpless without powers so you gotta be prepared!"

"Dude, you stabbed my arm." I deadpan. "I can either heal it now, or pass out to blood loss later." I deactivate the form.

"So what if you bleed a little?" He summons his sword, and puts the tip on my nose, "See this? It used to be white, but now it's red. What's that tell ya?"

"That you're creepy." I push it away.

"That's blood, nimrod," Spike deadpans. Every time I killed someone a spot of red appeared, now the whole blade is red. So unless you become a spot on this sword you can still fight, capiche?"

"Yes, all right? Get back to lobbing stuff at me." I scowl.

Spike looks ticked off with me, "Man, you just don't get it!" He goes over to a tree, and rips off a branch.

"Wait, are we fighting now?" I ask, "I was lost for a second."

Spike stripes it down until it's a rod as long as me, and then cuts it in half. He tosses one to me, "I only know the sword best, but here's what I know best about fighting. Every time one happens there's a chance someone will die."

I take a swordman's stance. "I'm no champion, but I know a few things."

Spike takes a more solid stance, "Well so long as you know how to not die you'll be fine."

...

A few hours later we head back for the town. I have a nice collection of bruises, and welts while Spike barely broke a sweat. I'll catch up though, he's just had a lifetime to get good at swordsmanship.

"Can I heal these now?" I state, rubbing a particular welt on the side of my forehead.

"No," he says. "Let them heal on their own, it'll give you a good reason not to get hit next time."

He winks at me, "Plus why take the chance away from Sarah to let her fuss over you?"

"That seems counterproductive," Reave notes as he meets us.

"That's why I wanna heal them. She may or may not sic Millie on you for hurting me on purpose."

"If anything she'd have Millie attack Spike," Reave reasons.

"I can live with that," Spike shrugs. "Let me get some dodging practice in."

"That's what I meant. Maybe in two years, Sarah'll send Aether to eat you or something." I laugh.

"What's a puppy gonna do to me? Forget what I did to the adult? And I was being nice!"

"Dude, that thing was wild. In a few years, Aether will be just as big, if not bigger, and have training." I point out.

"And I'll still be the deadliest thing behind a blade," Spike counters.

Reave puts his hands up, "Enough. Spike does have a valid point Hero. Pain, and experience are the best teachers. We should let the dice roll on this one."

"Fiiine. But if you accidentally cut off one of my appendages, I'm growing it back." I state.

"Which is why we use sticks," Spike replies. "And if something gets broke we can practice you fighting without it."

Reave frowns, "You said your training wasn't too brutal."

"Compared to Cinder's it isn't!"

"Well, this separates you from my adopted mom. She let me heal, but she cut off limbs." I shudder.

Spike, and Reave laugh as we make our way to the Banquet Hall for breakfast. As soon as we walk in Sarah looks up from her seat by my mother, and gasps. "What happened?!"

"I think I won. Somewhere." I mutter.

She hops up, and trots over to me with a worried expresson as she looks over my injuries.

Spike nods to Lien-Da, "Your highness."

"I see you're training my son. Has he hurt you yet?" She smiles.

"Can't even lay a finger on me," Spike replies, and then freezes. "...Oh crap." He quickly vanishes from view, the door to the banquet hall slamming open.

"...Was he running from me, or did he forget something?" I blink.

"He was running from your mother," Reave corrects. "I've often heard Cinder use the same tone with him before striking."

"I need to remember that tone."

"Only works with echidna women," Reave laughs. "Once a friend of Smoke's tried it, but he saw right through it. He might appear a bit thick, but his skills as a fighter actually rival my own."

"I need to remember that tone so that I can run away from Mom, then." I correct myself.

Sarah dabs one of my cheeks with a cold wet cloth, "I swear I think I could smack him for this... if I could catch him."

"It wouldn't hurt. In fact, he may laugh." I wince.

She folds her ears down, "Sorry..."

"It's okay. It's worth it." I kiss her forehead.

She closes her eyes with a purr.

Reave turns to my mother, "So what is the next move?"

"Knuckles is talking to my sister as we speak. I'm trying to contact Warrior, but he isn't responding, as per usual. The best thing we can do is prepare for another attack." She says thoughtfully.

Reave nods, "How may we assist?"

"You can watch for the Nage and let us know if they plan on attacking us. They're the big threat right now." She says.

A warrior walks up as Reave turns to go. "My lady Lien-Da, we've received reports of "moving shadows" last night. One witness claims to have seen a hooded figure bypass our security for an instant."

Reave freezes, and turns with wide eyes.

"Not good. Hero, go with Reave and investigate." She orders.

"Okay." I give Sarah a quick hug before running up to Reave. "Let's do this."

Reave has the guard show us the scene where the figure was seen. Reave looks over the area critically, and looks up at a high wall. He takes two steps back, and leaps to the top with me following close behind. Reave looks over the edge of the wall, and pauses.

"...Chaos above..." He runs his finger over a gouge in the stone, not much ticker than a pencil.

I study it. "It's been here for a while. They came in at..." I check my C.E.A. for the time. "...11:47 last night."

"Not they... she..."

Reave pops one of his claws, and runs it through the gouge. It's a perfect fit.

"Your sister?" I blink.

He nods, "I can't imagine who else it would be. If the Nage were going after a Nightshade then you could bet the Nightshades would hear of it. As the only one they don't keep track of, it wouldn't be too hard for Crystal to know it was me."

"So she's after you? Or me?" I start concentrating.

Reave turns to me, "Something isn't right though. She was nearly finished with her training when I left, by now she should be a Master Assassin."

"Your point being...?"

"She shouldn't have been seen at all."

"So she's either being set up, or she wants us to know that she's here." I say thoughtfully. "There isn't another reason I can think of."

"There are Nage out there who train to slay us... what if she's injured?" He looks worriedly out at the jungle.

"Then she'll let us know. Sit down, and let's find her here." I sit on the ground and close my eyes.

Reave nods, and sits in meditation. He takes a heavy breath, and closes his eyes.

Reave doesn't give any signs at all when he goes stealth, so I should expect the same thing from his sister. I go under, pushing my senses out.

Reave says to me, "Focus inward Hero, search for the source of yourself. Once you have felt Chi then you can aid me. Meanwhile I will search as best I can..."

Find my source? What IS my source, anyways? Time to find out...

A quip about soul-searching comes to mind, but I force it away as I clear my mind. This is so much different from earlier when I was extending myself. I try to focus my senses inwards, but come up blank.

I almost feel ready to give up when I feel something... a gentle, but warm pulse. I search for it again, and this time I feel it. About where my stomach is I feel something... alive inside me, like a roaring flame, and a rolling sea all at once.

I peek at Reave, and see him smiling, "Well done."

"That's cool." I breathe. I close my eyes again, asking, "So how do I help you find your sister?"

"Now you know how to recognize Chi, feel it around you. When you find a spot where the elements of this world combine then you know there is a person there."

I nod, and reach out. Curiously I reach towards him with my newfound perception. I sense the steadiness of the earth mixed with the wind in him.

Elements of this world... Earth, wind, fire, water, ice, light, dark, electricity, and nature.

I push my senses out, ignoring singulars of these things and focusing on groups. "...She's near the lake we first arrived at."

I can feel Reave turn his attention that direction too, towards the mixture of Dark, earth, and fire.

"Very good, now let's go." He stands, and after raising a hood that he kept tucked in the back of his shirt, dashes into the trees. I quickly follow after him, but I lose him before too long. He must be going stealth to avoid any Nage out here.

I wonder if I can do a stealth mode...

I avoid sunlight, and make no noise, nearing the spot.

I frown, not a trace of life anywhere. I can't even feel Chi right now.

I pause in a tree and focus again, making sure that his sister is still there.

Nada, maybe there's some technique that hides Chi? Reave had hinted at it on our way into the tribe...

I flicker of movement catches my eye. Under Spike's truck I see the tip of a tail move ever so slightly.

I reach to my C.E.A. and pause. Pass, this time. This person may hear my shift. Instead, I pluck a quill from my head and aim it, launching it deep into the person's tail.

It writhes, but weakly. Suddenly I feel Reave's Chi again as he leaps from the trees, dropping his hood back as he looks under the truck. He reaches a hand under, and pulls out another figure, obviously female, clad in black with a peaked hood.

I land next to him. "Oops." I murmur.

Reave looks at his hand... it's red. "I was right, she's wounded."

That's when i notice the hole in the middle of her outfit, and the trail of red on the ground. Reave lifts her, "We must hurry!"

I switch into Tails Doll Hero and grab him. "No time for complaints!" We fade out, reappearing in the dining hall. "We need a doctor or a mage!" I call.

Fortunately Shade is in the room now so Mien-Dee is on the scene. We clear a place on the table for her, and as Reave lays her down her hood falls back. She's quite pretty, an odd thought to have now but true.

Mien-Dee looks worried, "It's deep, I don't know if I can do it by myself. Whatever it was it probably ruptured a few organs."

"Allow me to assist," Ari-Ell says as she steps up to the other side of the table. They nod to one another as they cut open her suit, and inspect the wound. They join one hand each, and a glazed look comes over their eyes. Droplets of water gather quickly around their joined hands as they use it to clean the wound.

"Sorry for sticking your sister." I apologize, looking at Reave.

"You did not inflict this wound," he says with a hard edge to his voice. I can't blame him for being ticked.

Together the mages mutter their words in a forgotten language, and steadily rise in volume until they're loud without shouting. The water seems to shimmer under their touch, and as it swirls I see the wound slowly growing smaller.

"Her pulse is normalizing... I can hear it." Antonio says.

Suddenly Crystal's eyes shoot open, and with a flick of her wrist a blade shoots from her sleeve. It's twice as long as Reave's hidden blade with a mean looking hook on the end. Ari-Ell backs up fast as the assassin takes a stab for her throat, and whirls to her feet with murderous intent. She puts one hand to her wound, the armed one raised to attack should any dare come close.

I motion everyone to stand down. "Are you alright?" I ask.

Her eyes focus on me, and I feel like my spine just got turned to ice.

"Sister..."

Crystal's attention snaps to Reave, and she breaks off in mid-hiss as she focuses on his face. "Reave..."

He lunges forward as her legs give out, and he catches her. "It's okay Crystal, let them tend to you."

She lies back down on the table with his help, and the mages set to work again. She looks away like she can't stand to look at Reave.

I quickly check my hair to make sure they actually weren't frozen.

Reave puts a hand on her shoulder, "Why have you come?"

"...I heard a Nightshade was being hunted..."

I point at Reave and state, "He is, because I'm being targeted."

"I am sorry for your plight," Crystal says to me stiffly, looking right past Reave.

He blinks, "Crystal... has something happened?"

She watches me for a minute, and then looks away as tears gather in her eyes.

"You can tell us. We won't harm you." I say.

Crystal flicks her wrist, making several people flinch as she retracts her blade. "...The Nightshades...are no more."

Reave goes still, "...Father?"

"Long dead from assassination, leaving the mantle of leadership with me... a task I failed."

"What happened?" I ask.

"The Nage attacked in force, using every resource they had once they knew we were vulnerable."

Reave closes his eyes, and bows his head, "...It should have been me."

Crystal snaps at him, "Never regret living!" That makes him take a step back as she glares at him.

"The Nage turned? This is bad." Lien-Da paces.

Spike steps in, "What I miss?"

"Reave's sister." I answer.

"...Whoa..." Spike watches as she sits up, now fully healed. Well... on the outside at least.

"We found her near the lake and brought her here to heal her." I explain.

"Ouch," he says, and walks over. "What up kitty cat? The name's Spike, I'm Reave's wingman."

She looks him up, and down. "You're an idiot."

"That obvious huh?" Millie chuckles.

"I think it's obvious to everyone." Antonio snickers.

Reave sits in a chair a bit hard, "So we are the last Nightshades..."

"Which makes you two important assets." I say.

Crystal adjusts her blade, "I achieved my Master title long ago..."

Reave looks up, "Which means you have the right to teach our secrets. We can rebuild our clan eventually!"

"After we deal with threats like Fear." Antonio points out.

Crystal rounds on him, "What did you say?"

"Fear? Creepy echidna boss, who believe it or not is my birth father and Hero's adopted father who left us when we were in diapers, give or take a few years?" Antonio repeats.

"I know such a man," Crystal says. "He was the one who aided the Nage the night my clan fell."

I stand upright. "What?! When was this?!"

"Not even a fortnight ago."

"There's our lead on him, then. We need to figure out a plan to defeat him once we find him."

Crystal closes her eyes, "I tried all I know, he's too powerful."

"But you attacked him by yourself? You just showed us how much more skilled you are than us!" I point out.

"Perhaps, but he overpowered me as one might a fly."

"Still, you survived to fight him again. Was there anything he said to you that may help us?" Antonio asks.

"All he said was an old quote, "Cry "havoc" and let loose the dogs of war." It was said by Julius Caesar long ago."

"That's... maddeningly unhelpful." Antonio blinks.

Reave paces, "Dogs of war..."

Spike shouts, "Hunting dogs!"

"Hellhounds!" Antonio throws in.

"Doubt it, bro." I state.

Spike is actually doing a jig, "LIGHTBULB! Hunting Dogs, like the puppies you'd send into a bush to chase stuff out so you can shoot it!"

"Hm... so what's he hunting, us? And is he using actual dogs?"

Crystal curses, "So he spared me so he could find you... I'm a fool!"

"No more than the rest of us." Antonio says.

"So he knows we're in the city. So what? He knew that already." Lien-Da states. "He knows everything that goes on around here, except for a handful of things."

Spike starts looking her over, "Think he planted a bug on you or something?"

She slaps him away across the room, "Keep your hands off me!"

"Nice one, Spike." I snicker. "Reave, do you see anything on her?"

Reave crosses his arms, "I will not search my sister's person."

Millie walks up, and offers her a hand, "C'mon, let's go someplace a bit private for this."

I watch them walk away while stating, "I thought you could use chi to find hidden objects. I was suggesting doing that."

"It's not as precise as that," Reave explains. "Chi only applies to living beings, and natural forces."

"Oh. My mistake." I apologize.

Reave nods as Millie leads his sister away.

"So... should we train some more?"

"No," Sarah hugs my arm.

I smile at her. "Are you sure? Fear may come at any time, and I want to defend the love of my life as best as I can."

She hugs me tighter, and purrs.

"Why don't you take her out on a date? Already your girlfriend/wife, and you haven't even had a proper date yet!" Antonio suggests.

Sarah looks up at me hopefully.

"Good idea, bro." I smile. "I'll go change into something better." I look at my clothes, covered in splinters and holes.

She nods, and follows Mien-Dee to get a change of her own.

I dash up into my room, and change into a red longsleeve and deep blue jeans, trading out my mud-covered steel toe boots for brown shoes before styling my hair back into hedgehog quills, letting my natural echidna bangs fall down. I walk down and look for her, shining my C.E.A.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, as I understand it this is traditional courting wear in this region, correct Ari-El?"

"Indeed."

I turn around, and my jaw drops.

It looks very much like some weird mix of armor, and a bikini. What part of her is covered is done so with golden plates with intricate engravings. See-through silk drapes from her hips to her ankles, and she wears sandals on her feet.

"Um... Uh..." I blink before slowly reaching up and checking my nose.

Just a spot of red, not too bad.

Ari-El chuckles, "Fortunately we are in the same size. You may keep that if you wish, I can forge another."

"You made this?" Sarah looks herself over, and turns. The back isn't a thing, but it still shows half her cheeks.

"...It looks good on you." I manage to say.

She smiles with a blush, "Just for you..." She walks over, and takes my hand, "Where are we going?"

"Well, I was planning on taking us into town... but there may be a few guys staring at you over there."

Ari-El chuckles, "None here would dare touch another's bride without consent from the husband."

"But not back in Station Square. What places are there to eat here?" I ask.

Ari-El smiles, "May I have the honor of taking the Secret Prince on a hunt? I believe the modern society would refer to it as a picnic?"

"That would be great." I smile.

Ari-El takes out her bow, and with a salute over her heart leads the way to the jungle. Mien-Dee comes along too with a woven basket, picking fruits as we walk.

I look at Sarah with a grin. "Most guys take girls to movies, not a picnic near an echidnaen civilization. I'm glad I'm one of the few."

Sarah giggles, and squeaks as Ari-El looses a arrow from her bow. A loud hiss comes in response as it nails a python to the ground by the head. She draws a longknife, and deftly decapitates it.

Mien-Dee smiles, and sets down her basket. She mutters some old words, and suddenly the ground under us weaves like a very soft blanket. She makes a fire pit for Ari-El to cook her kill as we help ourselves to some fruit from the basket. I watch Sarah having fun playing with some grapes.

"Hey Sarah." I open my mouth and point at the grapes.

She tosses one, and I snatch it with my mouth. She cheers, and claps.

"Your turn." I smile and toss a grape.

She tries to catch it, but it ends up going down the front of her top instead.

I blush. "Oops!"

She looks flustered as she tries to get it out.

I check my nose again, and wipe away some blood onto my sleeve.

She finally fishes it out with more than a little red in her cheeks, and she looks up at me. Slowly she holds it out to me like she wants to feed it to me.

I can't say no to that face. I slowly open my mouth.

She puts it in my mouth with a blush, and brushes a hand over my cheek.

I purr and run a hand down her arm.

I can feel her purring too. "Hero... I love you."

"I love you too." I kiss her on the lips.

She purrs, and crawls into my lap as she laces her arms around my chest.

I wrap my arms around her and touch my nose to hers.

She purrs, and takes my hand. She starts to drift it towards her chestplate as Ari-El sets a portion of cooked snake by us. I'd all but forgotten we weren't alone.

"When we're alone." I murmur before giving her a kiss, looking at the dish and picking it up.

It smells good, I wasn't expecting that.

Ari-El gives Sarah a portion, "As the Princess's Lady in Waiting I have learned many skills. I hope this meets your satisfaction."

I take a bite. Mm... I wouldn't say it tastes like chicken, but it's close.

Sarah takes a bite. "Hm... nutmeg, and oregano, right?"

Ari-el looks a bit surprised, but nods.

"This is delicious." I compliment.

She nods, "Thank you Sire."

"You're welcome." I take another bite.

Ari-El sits back on her legs folded under her, "If I had caught a Werehog it may be better. Only our most honored warriors are allowed to hunt them, and then only males."

Sarah looks disturbed as she looks down at the puppy gnawing on a piece of fresh meat.

"It's okay. I'm sure a deer will wander close by at some point." I smile.

Mien-Dee offers me a cup of ice water.

Ari-El looks impressed, "For a Mage so young you are quite the prodigy."

"I trained under Princess Shade, and Lord Enerjak himself," she replies. "Still, there is only so much I can do."

I sip the water. "If you trained under them, does this mean they can do this too?"

"And more," Mien-Dee says. "Lord Enerjak could flood large cities with a thought then freeze it in an instant."

"Wow."

"We do not refer to him as a god for nothing."

"I see that." I look up thoughtfully. Someone with that much power... I'm amazed he hasn't conquered the world yet.

Ari-El bites into an apple, "Good thing he is The Proud, and not The Greedy."

Mien-Dee nods, "Thank goodness no such deity exists."

I nod and finish my snake meat.

Sarah covers her mouth as she burps, "Excuse me..."

I laugh and grab an apple, biting into it.

Mien-Dee asks, "Will you be needing anything else?"

"Nope. Thanks though."

She nods, and the both of them walk off into the jungle... leaving us alone... sneaky women, but Chaos bless 'em.

I smile slowly. "Well... I did say when we were alone..."

She turns slightly red, and leans over to kiss me.

I move forward and wrap her in a hug, kissing her.

She purrs, and then lays her head on my chest, "Mmm... Hero..."

"I love you, Sarah." I murmur.

"I love you too Hero." She leans her head back, and kisses me on the neck.

I gently push her to the ground and smile.

She opens her legs a little as she pulls me down on top of her with a kiss.

I place my hands on her chest and purr.

She lets out a squeak of pleasure as she laces her fingers through my quills. She reaches up with one hand, and deftly undoes one of her top's straps...


Tloj: NEIN! NO LEMONS! Not for this story, at least. R&R, or at least F&F!