Chapter 10: The Combatant Nature

The day had went well for the young hedgehog, he had shown great combat skills in his very first instance of using weapons for close quarters. He couldnt help but feel his family would be proud of him, wherever they were, not only had he accomplished so much in his fight. He had impressed his tutor Zaragon no end and had made his first proper friend in the monastery, Spark had been full of congratulations to him after his victory. Even at the evening meal, he clung to Riptos and tried real hard to get into the friendship stakes with him.

The evening meal was as tasteless as it always was, Riptos looked around at the ornate furnishings of the dining area, completely blanking out what Spark had been saying to him for the last fifteen minutes. He stared at the marble floor, remembering he had a similar one on Oberon XIV a few years back...funny how things change he thought inwardly before receiving a smack on the back of the head.

"What the hell was that for?" Riptos bellowed, rubbing his spines.

"For not listening to me, you've been staring all around the room for a while now!" Spark spat.

"I have been listening, can a guy not look around when he is getting spoken to or what...man."

"Yeah you were listening, well what have I been speaking about for the last ten minutes?"

Riptos's eyes darted around, he opened his mouth to speak when both Midnight and Zxenth stopped by the table.

Spark stood up, almost standing face to face with the fox. "What the hell do you want?"

Midnight merely ignored the hedgehog turning to face Riptos who remained sat down facing his meal. "Aren't you gonna speak to me?" she said in a sarcastic tone.

"I don't really...uh...have anything to say." Riptos added trying to avoid an obvious confrontation.

"How about a rematch then , be a man and beat me fairly." Midnight proudly announced, attracting the attention of many other people in the dining area.

"Will it make you leave me alone?" Riptos added cynically, he genuinely couldnt be bothered, but if it got her off his back, maybe it would be worth it.

Zxenth suddenly piped up "Midnight , do you really think this is wise, Zaragon will go nuts if he finds out."

"I dont care!" Midnight quickly retorted, "Come on niggerhog, you gonna fight me or what?"

Riptos heard the insult and exploded from his chair, landing a solid right fist off of the fox's jaw. Midnight reeled backwards from the unexpected impact. Even more surprised when the young hedgehog kept coming.

Spark looked on in disbelief, this had been a hedgehog who , minutes before had been really quiet and passive, now he was seeing a whole new side to his 'friend' as he continued to forcefully assault the class loudmouth. Suddenly feeling the adrenaline of the fight flowing he piped up "Go on Rip, kick her ass!!"

The whole dining area erupted with fight chants as Midnight screamed "You fucking backstabbing bastard!" and started doing high kicks at Riptos who managed to block two hard straight kicks.

A third kick from the other leg hit him square in the jaw and Riptos found himself flying backwards through his dining table sending the meal he had been picking at flying through the air, hitting Zxenth in the chest.

Zxenth wiped off the crummy remains of the meal and merely sighed "goddamnit, always happens to me."

Riptos felt the pain as splinters stuck into his back, suddenly realising he had no time to pluck them out as Midnight jumped at him elbow first hitting him square in the chest. The air was knocked out him as she got back on her feet and starting kicking him repeatedly in the ribs.

The pain was absolute, Riptos flashed back to his time on Oberon when he was shot and losing his mother and felt the same feeling he had had before, slowly flakes of energy began to channel into his hand much to the shock of Spark who could see the yellow glow emanating from his hand.

"What the hell!" Spark said unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

The kicks continued as Midnight went on a blood lust and was rewarded when she heard a rib crack under her foot. The satisfaction quickly faded as Riptos suddenly stood up with his right arm glowing. "What are you?" Midnight quivered and attempted to throw a devastating kick to Riptos's head.

Riptos saw it coming and grabbed it with his left arm and closed his eyes before unleashing a beam of energy from his right hand which sent the fox steamrolling into the faraway wall.

The crowd remained silent as Riptos fell to one knee cradling his ribs. They could barely understand what they had just seen. Slowly they began to cheer as Zxenth ran to tend to her best friend.

Spark held out his hand "You okay man." a look of concern in his eyes, with a trace of fear.

"I'm fine, bitch got a couple of my ribs though I think." Riptos added as he coughed and spat some blood onto the floor.

The crowd began to dissipate as Zaragon and Seriko walked into the dining area in disgust at what they had seen. Zaragon walking up to Riptos presenting himself in a harsh tone "In my chamber NOW!!"

Riptos picked himself up and staggered out of the dining area knowing full well he was in pretty deep shit now, he thought of Takeo's words, had they really been true, he had been here for two weeks and there hadn't been any inclination of him being taught how to use his energy. He hadn't even meant to use it there, it just sort of happened beyond his control.

Zaragon walked up with a disappointed look on his face as he looked at the burn mark on Midnight, "I guess this is a lesson learned for you Midnight, some people you should not pick fights with, in fact you shouldn't pick fights at all, get to the infirmary and I shall speak to you in further detail of this tommorow."

Zxenth picked her best friend up and heard her stammer out "Yes sensei," before falling unconscious. Slowly and carefully she carried her to the infirmary.

The chamber that Zaragon resided in was a decadent piece of history with walls adorned with Katana's and even a full length Masamune blade was present on his mantle. Riptos looked at each weapon in turn looking forward to the day he could use each and every one of them. His admiration was broken as he heard the heavy oak door open and close again behind him and the stern face of his tutor was looking upon him.

"Riptos, I presume you know what I am going to say before I even say it," he said in a serious tone.

"I probably do Sensei and I apologise whole heartedly, it will not happen again," Riptos said staring at the floor and still cradling his chest.

"Apology accepted, she had it coming from someone anyway, however I called you here for another reason entirely."

Riptos's eyes changed from a look of fear to inquisitveness "What then Sensei?"

Zaragon smiled a little "Master Sarko has ordered you to be ready to begin your real training with him, this will be the last time that you train under me."

Riptos felt a sense of apprehension and unease wash over him, Sarko, damn, this was going to be a real nightmare, however it would all be worth it at the end, of that much he was certain. "Very well Sensei, I shall report to Master Sarko at once."

"Not yet you wont, I see you have some cracked ribs there from your laboured breathing, get to the infirmary and try not to start anymore fights, I will inform Master Sarko that you will be ready to commence your training next week."

Riptos bowed and winced a little at the pain it caused him. "Yes Sensei, thank you." and walked out the room towards the infirmary.