Hey hey hey guys! Welcome back to Crime Time Lover (Dimension 5)!
I can't believe I made it this far in this story! I finally got out of my binder for it, & now in the notebook. I'm probably going to need another notebook cause the one I'm using right now can only hold 4 chapters.
Well, let me say what needs to be said, & you guys can get ready to read this story.
Reviews- werewolf lover: Thank you for still supporting my story. I just wish more people were exited about it like you. Oh my, that's terrible, did you find out who was doing it? Sure, I guess I can do that for a friend & a fan. And I do agree, this is a very impressive story, it is one of my favorites that I am working on. Another one I'm working on also has a place in my heart. I can not announce that yet.
A/N: Don't take this so seriously, but not too lightly either. Since I'm now on the 11th chapter, I just realized how fast I'm going with this updating, but not the writing. I'm just 2 pages away from finishing Chapter 12. And that sounds disappointing, doesn't it? I know I am. School gets in the way of everything fun. Soo...what I'm trying to say here is, I might not be updating until I have gotten ahead of myself. Planned guess?: Umm, maybe by December? I'm not sure, I'm pretty sure I want to get to like a 22nd chapter before I start updating again. Still considering my options.
Sonic characters belong to Sega.
Zera characters belong to Me.
Enjoy!~
Chapter 11: I'm Sorry?
"Oh, how am I going to pull this off? I don't do all of the "sorry" act. How am I going to be able to do that to Zeren? Zera thought in confusion. How can she? She bet he was still pissed with her, but she needed to say this now!
"Zera, are you feeling alright?" Asked a small voice. Zera looked up to see Tails entering from the other side of the kitchen. Zera remained sitting on the counter, swinging her legs back & forth. Tails kept eyeing her, despite himself of pouring a glass of juice. "Well Zera? Are you gonna answer me or what?"
Zera could only glare at him for a small moment, then let a sigh escape her lips. "I don't know Tails. I'm just...Did I overreact with Zeren?" She asked with caution. Tails took a long swig of the sweet juicy liquid.
"You want an honest answer, or do you want me to sugar coat it?" He asked. "Tails suddenly seems quite relaxed despite of what he knows what I can do to him." Zera thought. Indeed, the young kistune seemed completely unafraid, and a lot less timid than when he first met & even talked with her.
"Tails, here's a fact about me that should be obvious: I like things straight and right to the point. So yes, I would like an honest straight answer, please." She said, her voice dropping to a very serious tone. Tails took a large sip of his grape juice, and looked at Zera dead on.
"I say yes and no. When I took Zeren away from you & Sonic, I took your side. Yes, he didn't have a right to insult you & take it that far. But no, you didn't have to crush, burn, and then throw my remote at him!" Tails said, his voice rising. She just stared at him with an unreadable face. But her eyes said it all.
Sadness, confusion,...and humility.
"I suppose your right Tails, I guess I didtake it a little bit too far as well. I'm not well with other living beings & emotions..." She admitted, slowly stroking her arm in self pity. Tails shook his head.
"Zera, I'm only saying this to you as a friend. That's a lot of bull crap." Zera looked at Tails in shock. He pressed on. "Your pretty open with us. You've only just met most of us, all 10 of us already like you. Despite your, um...problems, physically & emotionally, you still have a good heart."
"Tails, this was all just an act! Ms. Jackie told me this before I came to you all!" Zera couldn't go on. She didn't want to get in an argument with the blond fox. Tails was seeing this too, and slumped against the fridge.
"The point is, you guys need to make up. Try to be good about it, cause he wants to make things right with you too." Tails took his final gulp of juice. With a small purple mustache on his upper lip, he put the cup in the dishwasher, & walked past Zera.
As Tails went up the stairs, he lost that cool stance immediately.
"Oh god, I can't believe I just did that! I'm surprised she didn't try to attack me right then & there. Guess being cool about it gives me a less chance of being killed!" Tails was actually looking quite pale in the face. With wobbly knees, he went up to his room, hoping he won't have to pull the lever if something happens.
"I guess I have to make a right with Zeren..." She thought in a sad tone. With a final sigh, she jumped up off the counter and walked out of the kitchen.
XxX
"Canshe forgive me, wouldshe forgive me?" Zeren thought in wonder. Zeren was in the one part of the lab that wasn't all...well, how he called it, sciencey. There was actually a little lounge area in the far corner of the lab. A nice caramel carpet, a small flat-screen T.V, a coffee table, a yellow couch, and a blue recliner. (That's Tails resting place when he pulls the all-nighters on his lab experiments and is too tired to go back to his own bedroom). He kept rocking himself back & forth in the recliner in frustration. Damn, he couldn't take it anymore!
"Zeren, may...may I speak with you?" He heard her soft delicate voice break him out of his angered confusion. He could try to be cool about it, but would she see through it? A shrug was the only card available now.
"You may." He said as he spung the chair around to face her. She was shyly at the door, only her head & a leg was available to see. Zeren knew his face was heating up, but checking would only make him obvious. Still in a slow manner, Zera let her sleek form come into view as she entered. She let the door close on itself. Step after step, she strode closer to lounge area, and sat down on the yellow couch. All was still. All was too quiet as the two distant species sat near each other, but not close enough to have any other physical contact with each other.
"This is getting unbearable, I need to say something to her..." With a look of final determination, he spoke. "Zera, I know why we're not speaking right now...I think none of us know where to start." Zeren started, gaining Zera's attention. Her eyes drifted away from her feet, & to Zeren's calm face. "I...I guess I'll start. Zera, I am so sorry that I said those things at you. It was really pushing it past my own limit. I was... just really worried about your well being, & I don't want anything to happen to you or have you taken away from us...from me...I just wish-" This was about the time Zera put her hand over the babbling echidna's mouth to cut him off. This time, small purple eyes glued themselves to beautiful silver orbs. The fawn lips of Zera's twitched into a small grin, only being halfway real. When will she really smile?
"No Zeren, you had a full right to yell at me. I guess I couldn't cope with the nauseating fact that you...could have been right. I was always sincere to myself of making myself unavailable, & scarce. Having someone else prove my skills and awareness wrong...Just, made me detonate on you I guess. What I'm trying to explain here is...I'm sorry I'm so stubborn." Her throat felt dry. It felt weird to apologize, but it kinda...felt good too. Zera's face was having this innocent glow to it, it could be described as bioluminescent. Just pureness was bouncing off of this female hedgehog.
"This is a perfect moment! You can end it well! Just go for it dude!" His subconscious was yelling at him from the walls it was trapped in inside his head. He couldn't argue with it though. Indeed, the atmosphere felt perfect for some charm. But he had to be cautious about it. Zera, despite her age, still didn't know that much about life. So, planning this move carefully, he slowly let his hands drift over to Zera's with calm grace.
"Such delicate little maiden hands, though so strong enough to kill. So perfect...so...kissable..." His subconscious was getting hungry with lust, he felt like drool was slipping out of his brain. He felt the sudden urge to just suddenly pull on her hands to make her draw closer to him, & kiss her. Just once. Damn it, his hormones andhis little naughty subconscious was getting to him fast ! No, he needed to be serious and charming right now. Thathim can come out when the time was right. He finally gave Zera's hands a tight, but slow squeeze. She immediately stared into her friend's face.
"Zera, no matter what you do or say, you can never appear stubborn to me. The only thing you can ever be to me is amazing & important. Don't forget it." His voice was so soft, so caring, all rolled into one. Oh, how this could make any ordinary girl's heart feel gooey and melt. That was too bad for Zeren though.
Cause Zera was farfrom an ordinary girl.
The gesture was...sweet? (She couldn't believe she just thought thatword in her brain). But it was, she had to give him props for that. Still, she got this weird vibe...no, strange sensation! Burning inside her from it. She couldn't understand it.
"Only because you haven't ever felt this way before."
Oh God, not again! That stupid ass of a voice in her head felt cocky enough to show? itself again.
"Hello again Master. I felt that you needed me here to guide you through another troubling time." Voice continued. Did it really need to sound so cocky and...well,cocky?
"I do not want, nor wish for your service Voice. I am fine. I was only just apologizing to Zeren! THIS ISN'T YOUR CONCERN! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD! LEAVE ME ALONE FOR ETERNITY!" Zera shouted to Voice. It chuckled in the most amused way. Zera felt like she was being held forcefully. And she reallyhated that.
"Oh, you know you can't let me go. You need me more than you need a heart. I'm apart of you, & will never leave your side. Your mine. And always will be. The time will soon come when you will finally understand everything, and your destiny." Voice said with a hiss. Zera wouldn't say this, but it sent a shiver of fear down her spine. She really hated that thing. She could never cope that she was coped with it for the rest of her life.
"Ze-Zera, are you feeling alright?" Zeren's timid voice ,made Zera lose the conversation with Voice. Shit, she must have been in thought too long. Zera responded by repeating Zeren's action to reassure him. There was a jolt jumping up & down in Zeren's spine.
"She showed interest Just let her stayed hooked for awhile, then try going for the kill. And I mean try, she might have ever been kissed before, could probably attack if she had to." Zeren's inner self was just full of ideas.
And those ideas could lead to an untimely death.
"Zeren, I am fine. I just...wanted to say..." The girl seemed at a loss of words at what to say next. Or, at all. She tilted her head a bit. Amazingly, her bangs had managed to cover her silver orbs.
"You don't have to say anything Zera. I think I know what your trying to say..." Zeren said in a barely audiable whisper. With a green gloved hand, Zeren placed it under the young girl's chin, tilting it up so Zera can look at his face directly.
Soft silver eyes stayed under the power of caring purple orbs.
"His heartbeat...is getting intensifyingly strong..." Zera thought, her highly trained, (you can say sensitive too), ears, picked out the sound of fast beating coming from her friend. Wonder why...
"So close...too close! You guys are only a few spaces away! JUST GO FOR IT MAN!" The mini him inside of himself was practically shrieking now. But, I guess it couldn't be helped. Yes, the setting now...it was time.
"Sonic, dude, I love & respect ya, but the promise I made to you today? I just can't help it, nor can I control myself, I'm sorry..." It pained Zeren to misheave his pal's words, but the power inside him was overpowering. "Just, go man..." He repeated, tone so deep, but quiet.
"Z-Zeren? Is there a problem? Zera said, her voice justbeginning to itch with panic. Zeren was inching his face closer to hers, breath by breath. Almost there...
"Hey Zera, Zeren, we need to do the tests now! I just remembered I have other things to do that needs fast attention! Tails' shouts could be heard all through the house, and even towards the lab. The disappointing pause in Zeren's plan was no doubt angering the slow lust filled orange echidna.
"Ignore him!" Little him demanded. Zeren gritted his teeth in frustration. Oh, how much he wanted to ignore Tails right now. He was so close... So close, he could feel her breath brush against his lips, sending a tingle throughout his entire body. How she smelled...just ripe & ready for the taking...just...
"I think Tails is asking for our presence now..." Zera whispered. Oh, how cruel it was to see her eyes look away from him. Down-casted, even from him. "Don't look away Zera..."
"But, we don't have to go right away..." He replied, moving just a tiny bit closer.
That was too much for Zera.
In a flash, she was up and off the couch. That retreat was more of confusion than in fear. She slowly looked back at the echidna.
"As much as I hate being told to do something, Tails' voice is sounding pretty urgent right now. I think we should listen to him." Zera stated. Zeren couldn't testify his thoughts. She, as a woman, was right. As a woman should be.
"Sure. Go ahead to meet up with them, I'll um... I'll catch up with you guys in a few minutes." He said. Zera had confusion in her eyes at his words. "It's fine, really, go on without me." He said when Zera had opened her mouth to try and protest on his decision. With his final nod, she walked out of the lab and into the house. All became silent in the Lab as Zeren sat with himself to think things over.
"I just had her in my grasp! How could I let this opportunity slip through my fingers?!" He whispered loudly. Oh, this burning anger inside him will not settle. His chance. Probably his onlychance had just walked out of that door.
"How could you let that happen!? She was just in your grip!" Mini him demanded an explanation. Zeren just didn't have an answer. What could he say? Was it that she walked away or,... was it the fear of rejection that was actually holding him back?
"I... I don't know. I don't think that she would have enjoyed it as much as I would have. I have to think about her feelings as well." He countered.
"And when do you care about what the lady wants?! We just go for what we want remember? That was a motto! I should've just taken care of her myself!"
"YOUR JUST A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION! YOU'D JUST MAKE ME LOOK CRAZY!" He took a deep breath, wondering why he was shouting with his brain. "And, well, things change! It doesn't always have to be like this."
"Oh, your right Zeren. Things do change. Even people. You started changing. What happened to the old Zeren?"
"HE'S GONE! THAT ZEREN LEFT!... He was tired, okay? Tired of... of always getting looked down on! Of always looking stupid... Looking like a criminal..." He shot back with full anger. HIs other side had nothing to act on this. They both knew what Zeren felt deep inside, but the other side didn't know what was really deep inside of him.
"So, let me get this straight. Your actually being caring about a girl, who you've known for 2 days and a night?" This hasn't happened before to you." Zeren had to scoff at this. Did he really not know himself?
"I just...really like her a lot, and want her to like me too. She can see me like no one else can...She makes feel...something I haven't felt before, or ever in my life. She's just so special to me."
"In simpler words, your in love with Zera, correct?" A voice spoke out to him. Zeren froze from his pacing he didn't realize he was doing as he looked at the unnoticed guest leaning coolly against the door frame and a very mischievous smirk placed on peach lips.
"SONIC?! Oh, hey! Ummm...he-heh, how much of that did you hear exactly?" Zeren said nervously. Sonic started to chuckle.
"Oh, I came in when you were talking about how this old Zeren is over with, and a new one is being born. So I need to tell everyone, or just Zera that you actually talk out-loud to yourself & you ''subconscious''?"
"S-Sonic, c'mon man, your n-not seriously gonna t-tell them about all of this, will ya?" He stuttered. Damn, if any of the gang found out, hell, if even Zera found out, his life could be over. He couldn't even imagine what Zera would think if she heard any of this... He would be utterly humiliated as being known as ''The Crazy Guy That Likes Having Conversations To Thin Air". Great.
"Relax Zeren, I won't say a word to anyoneabout it. It will be our little secret." Sonic said reassuringly to him, pretending to sip his lips as the phrase goes. Zeren let out a loud sigh of relief at this, and headed out to the house to get another bottle of water to drink, and perhaps a snack. Once Sonic was sure his orange echidna friend was gone, he broke into a wicked grin as he pulled out a small black recorder from his spiky blue quills. Maybe it was a good thing he had it on & in his quills. He was originally using it to see if he could find & pick up some feedback of a little camera or something hidden in the walls that Amy put in 5 weeks ago. Sonic still doesn't know why she did it, but with her, it was always for Sonic. But THIS, was a better reason to have it.
"Blackmail,on the other hand, is a completely different story. Oh, this going to be deliciously fun." He chuckled darkly, the stopped for a moment. "That's exactly what Rouge would say. I hope I'm not turning into her." He thought with a shiver, as he knew trying to be like the albino bat was anything but funny. It felt more like a crime acting like Rouge. With that said, the slightly frightened hedgehog went after his friends in his house.
XxX
"Wow Zera, that's pretty neat! I know that telekinesis is lightly around (for some reason I feel like I know someone that does), but this a good example of advanced telekinesis!" Tails said in astonishment. Zera was not only floating in the air with a pale grey aura bathed apon her, but she was also able to start walking on the ceiling, and somehow made a book Tails was reading on the coffee table start walking. It was simply incredible! The only form of telekinesis Tails has heard yet never witnessed was the ability to levitate or fly, and also make inanimate objects plus living things float as well.
"Oh, this is nothing Tails. Using my telekinesis to control objects or even people is quite easy. All I have to do is search in the person's heart, and take control. To show an example, I'll need a subject to collide with." She stated. As if on cue, Sonic came rushing in the family room where Zera & Tails were in. Where she got the skill to predict an event, she'll never know herself, just be glad she had it. "Perfect."
"Oh, Master Sonic." She called. Sonic was looking around the well sized room for her, but to no avail, did he find her. She sighed in a bit of frustration at him for not looking in the most important direction: up, "No Sonic, I'm up here on the ceiling showing (& soon demonstrating) Tails some of my powers." She said. Sonic finally looked up to see the female hedgehog float down from the said brown ceiling.
"Wow, that's pretty cool Zera! And I see you brought that freaky aura out again. But then again, isn't that telekinesis stuff kind of cheating with our race. I mean, I can fly with the power-"
"Sonic, it would be wise notcomment on something that you, & forgive me for saying this term, but things you don't know shit on. I would very much appreciate it if you didn't criticize my way of my messed up life. I don't take insults very lightly. Remember that now. Zera said with a smile that involved fangs as she had slammed her hand over Sonic's mouth. Oh, the sweet terror in her victims' eyes as she had them in her clutches. Sonic had a right to be scared now. How she said that with a small threatening smile, and how her voice was being soft and dangerously cold at the same time was both terrifying...
And quite interesting.
Sonic nodded to show that he understood her clearly. Happy with that. she slid her hand off of his mouth. " I also want to apologize for what I am about to do to you. This is all for the young genius kitsune." Before Sonic could even make his face of confusion mixed with small fear, or even open his mouth to object to what ever the hell she wanted to do, Zera's beautiful aura came back, and started to surround the poor hero's unsuspecting body. It looked like a light show in Tails' mind as he furiously wrote down notes at the scene before him.
"As you can see Tails, I have complete control of Sonic. He had an open heart, as his pure hero self would show." Sonic said. Zera's eyes were now a deep blue, just as her aura changed blue. Her hand was slightly lifted at Sonic's head as if she was controlling him from his brain. She was controlling him to talk, that's why Sonic was talking like Zera. "You can hardly tell I have him under my power, since my aura is hidden inside of him. The only problem is, I can't move when I do this. This is why on missions-" Sonic suddenly stopped talking all together. Tails looked up at his superior hedgehogs in worry. Sonic suddenly jumped up in the air, having a shocked look on his face. Zera was just a statue next to him as he was clutching at his chest trying to breathe. Forget worry, this is a time to panic! Quick as a whip Tails sprung into action. He first surveyed between both hedgehogs. He went to Sonic first.
"Sonic, bro, can you breathe well now?" He asked, his voice stained with fear for the guy he called his older brother. Sonic's chest was heaving up and down just as fast as he legs would move if he was running. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Sonic came to.
"Tails! Little buddy, what just happened?" Sonic's voice was shaking Tails noticed. Without hesitation, he sat Sonic down on one of their couches.
"Umm... well, what do you exactly remember?" Tails asked slowly with caution.
"A-all I remember, was Zera being the Queen of Creepy, then she was apologizing for something to me...Then everything got cold... and dark." He shivered. Tails gave a small gasp as this. That didsound scary and life threatening...
"Oh...well, the thing is, um... Zera kind of took control of you with her powers." Tails explained. Sonic's reaction was quick.
"YOU LET HER TAKE OVER MY BODY!? AND YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP HER!?" Sonic shouted. He grabbed his brother by his blond shoulders and shook him like a rag doll.
"OW, OW, OW SONIC! Ok look, I'm sorry that I let her take control of you. It was A RISK FOR SCIENCE!" The smart junior cried out. Sonic had a mad twitch starting in his right eye, teeth clenching together in anger as his grip tightened.
"YOU SOLD MY LIFE FOR SCIENCE!? DUDE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT FEELS!"
"SONIC, IT ISN'T LIKE I WANTED HER TO KILL YOU! ZERA DID IT ALL ON HER OWN! She just wanted to show me what we actually need to help her..." Tails admitted. Sonic, now seeing that he was hurting his own brother physically & emotionally, let his grip go. Tails immediately rubbed his shoulders to ease the pain.
"I'm sorry bud, I didn't realize it was for an important part to our mission with Zera. It was just weird... and" Sonic leaned in closer to one of Tails' ears. "Between you & me, when she was first controlling me, I felt the power of Chaos at hand..." He whispered.
A gasp was heard. "You mean, the feel you & Shadow get when your using the power of a Chaos Emerald?!" Tails and Sonic turned to see Zeren walking in with a bag of jelly beans (which use to belong to Tails).
"Um, yeah. Dude, where did you find that? Tails always has that under complete lockdo- OWW!" Sonic yelped as Tails elbowed his side quite harshly. Zeren chuckled at this brotherly nature that he always had with Joey. He finally noticed Zera sitting on the couch across from them, looking quite stunned & staring into the great beyond.
"Guys, is Zera okay? She looks kind of... broken." Zeren said. 3 pairs of eyes looked onto the black hedgehog's body.
"Zera, can you hear us?"
"Zera, wake up chicka!"
"Zera, please talk to us."
After 2 minutes of shouting, and snapping fingers in her ears, Zera was unresponsive to their actions.
"DUDE, WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?" Zeren shouted at Sonic. Sonic then glared at him.
"HOW WAS THIS MY FAULT?! YOUR GIRLFRIEND HERE WAS CONTROLLING ME! FOR ONCE, I'M THE VICTIM HERE!" He shot back. Tails came in-between then when he saw fists starting to form.
"GUYS, GUYS! This isn't important now. We need to get Zera out of that trance!" Tails said, trying to become the peacemaker in all of this. "How about we just take her to the lab and try to some tests? You think you guys can carry her?" Tails suggested. Zeren and Sonic looked at each other then shrugged at the fox.
Carefully, the 2 older ones carried the female hedgehog off the couch, and tried carrying her to the Lab without dropping her.
"Hey bro, I'm sorry for yelling at you. I guess I'm just so attached to Zera, I instantly blamed you. Forgive a friend?" Zeren asked. Sonic sighed, glancing at Zeren over his shoulder.
"He's still the innocent hard head I remember..." Sonic thought as he was looking at Zeren. Zeren still had that childish face when Sonic first met him when Zeren was 10. Sonic snapped out of his past with Zeren. He nodded. "Sure, we'll let bygones be bygones. Forgive & Forget." He said. Sonic nodded as Zeren sighed in relief of the blue hedgehog's forgiveness.
"Ok guys, you can set Zera back on the examination table." Tails ordered them. Without a second command, Sonic and Zeren placed Zera on the table.
"Now...how do we get her out of this little trance?" Tails asked his elders. Sonic could only shrug. He was a hero that runs, not a hero that does medical things. Zeren could only look at her. Using his own powers on her...that could be risky not only to them, but also to her. "I don't want her to...again.." He thought.
"Should we just, I don't know, shock her back to reality?" Sonic suggested. Tails & Zeren gave him looks of bewilderment. Sonic looked back at them with confusion. "What? It's an idea, you guys weren't coming up with anything."
"Sonic, your sounding like a mini Eggman."
"SHUT UP TAILS!"
"I have a point though Sonic...but we could do something less...well..."
"Harmful, and won't make her kill us all on the spot." Zeren said, almost like he read Tails' mind.
"Huh, I guess I see your point. Then what do we do? I haven't seen anyone lost like that since Zeren blanked out on that test last month." Sonic said, earning an angry blush & glare from the mentioned echidna.
"Wait, I had an idea while you guys were talking." Tails exclaimed. Sonic & Zeren turned to see Tails putting on a white glove. The kind doctors use when they do operations, or when they need to...
"Tails, if your doing what I think your going to do: DON'T. She might kill you. Then usfor letting you do it!" Sonic squealed. Tails only managed to give his only brother a look that no one, not even Sonic, would think he would make. Tails was always the guy with the smile. The guy with the brain & plans.
"Relax you two. I'm not going to do...what you guys are thinking..." Giving the sophomores a strange look. Why do the older guys always had the weirdest & creepiest ideas when it comes to women, &...other things.
"I'm really not looking forward to puberty...or getting older with certain things..." Tails thought sadly, feeling a bit awkward again. With that awkward scene done, Tails did the unthinkable. The thing none of them, not even the girls would think of doing to the all powerful dangerous female hedgehog.
Tails slapped Zera dead in the face.
Zeren and Sonic could only stare in horror. "Tails is digging his own grave." They thought. The reaction was quick. Silver irises grew dark, a muzzle stained with a small imprint on where Tails smacked her. Faster than anything, Zera had the blond fox's collar in her deadly grip, her fist just centimeters away from his cute face. Tails eyes were wide with terror, knowing that death was just waiting for Tails in only a few moments.
"Wait, what is...in her eyes?" Tails said, now observing Zera closely. Her eyes were... actually looking a bit clouded. "Is she...relieving something?" Tails thought. Indeed, those eyes were clouded. Sonic had this happen to him before. It was harsh on Tails, trying to fend Sonic off.
"Zera? Zera! It's me, Tails! You know, the new smart friend you made? The friend and many others that want to help save you?" His words got a bit tense when the fist descended closer to his face.
"Tails, try harder!" Zeren said. Neither the male hedgehog or echidna were going to try to get too close to the others. It's not that they didn't care for Tails' well being and safety. They loved Tails to death.
It's just that they didn't want to have broken limbs.
"Um...come on Zera, snap out of it! This isn't like you! You would actually think before hitting someone! You actually wanted to control not only your powers, but also your anger! Please Zera, look into your heart & see the truth! Please Zera, snap out of it!" Tails pleaded. He was lucky that those words got to her before her fist collided with his nose. Slowly, ever so on his collar loosened up enough for him to escape. He slowly scooted away, just in case she had second thoughts on strangling him again. Now in the protective hold of Sonic, Tails could safely look at Zera's eyes.
It was happy to say the cloudiness in her eyes was finally fading away, and silver was visible again. The guys watched as Zera seemed more aware of her surrounding, and the people staring in front of her.
"I didn't...lose it, did I?" She asked them, her voice showing more confusion than her face was. "But that only makes her cuter. A dazed, confused Zera is a new kind of adorable." Zeren thought happily, drinking in this holy site.
"Well, I guess you kind of did, and also didn't. I mean after you took over my body." Sonic's voice grew dark for a second. "You went totally blank on us. Then your eyes got all foggy looking. Tails tried to slap you back to this reality." Zera's eyes fell onto the small yellow kitsune. Her eyes clearly stating. "I'm Angry With You, But I Am Forced To Not Harm You". Tails was definitely afraid for his life now than he was 2 minutes ago. "Then, you almost pounded on Tails for slapping you. Thankfully Tails snapped you out of it before you could hurt him. What was that all about anyway?" Sonic asked. Zera grinded her teeth together.
"Maybe they didn't notice my problem. I can't risk them finding this one thing out."
"Well, um, I guess I blanked out with thinking about doing tests again. I haven't gotten over the fear of death, the pain, and the torture I always went through whenever the scientists made me do...unspeakable things." She added a shiver for a dramatic effect. Not only for extra effect, but those painful memories gave her a chill. Good cover up for the real meaning.
"Well, that's understandable. But don't worry Zera, we aren't evil crazy scientists." Zeren glanced at Tails. "Well, we aren't evil. Crazy scientist on the other hand." He let his voice trail away. Tails gave him a hard nudge at the joke. Just because he was smart, loved to make inventions & experiments, he's deemed the crazy mad scientist. He's not like Eggman: He's not bald, not ugly, not lonely, and most importantly, he wasn't crazy/ creepy.
"Alright, you guys have convinced me. As my allies, I know I have to trust you. But, if what I heard you all emphasize to me is proven false, things will not only get ugly, they'll get drastic for you three. Maybe even for everyone else." Zera said to them. A wave of nausea splashed over the guys as they stared at the girl who has the simple power to strike fear into their hearts with only a sentence.
"Now, are you going to get these tests done, or are you all just going to stand there thinking that death is breathing down your backs?" She stated to them. Tails was the first to snap out of his fear state, & focused on the matter at hand.
"Sure. I want to see you do more with your powers. With the right notes. I think I might have something for you." Tails said. Finally the 2 found the way back to the present, and looked at the junior fox.
"What's that suppose to mean lil bro? Sonic asked. It was quite in fact a weird sentence. Tails can be quite a mysterious kid when it comes to his work, but never like this. Tails only looked over at the blue racer with a sly smile.
"Man, despite Tails' cuteness, the little dude is creepy sometimes..." Zeren thought with worry. "We'll um, I guess we'll leave you two to it. We'll just be in the living room if you guys need anything...or Tails needs some projection.." He said. Zera & Tails nodded as Sonic & Zeren left the Lab and closed the large white doors.
XxX
"Now then, shall we proceed with the tests?" Tails asked. Zera nodded just a bit. Tails began to grin slightly. Was it wrong to be doubtful on this suggested idea? "OK Zera, let's start this off right. After the destruction of my latest version of the remote, I was wondering about how you did it. Do you think you can demonstrate that ability for me?"
"Of course I can. And I am sorry about that Tails. I now feel guilty, and will pay any kind of debt I can offer to you." Zera said. It was a very tempting offer, but Tails wasn't one to take advantage of a great opportunity of "small" revenge. Not unlike a certain blue hedgehog despite his heroic heart. & 3 echidnas. Wait, would knuckles even count? Sure, he'd get back at Zeren and Sonic if they teased or pranked him, but when they were about to get clobbered then ask him if they could pay him by being his servants, Knuckles revenge isn't always as harsh as you would think. Knuckles isn't always prone to suggestions.
"Maybe being with Rouge made him a little soft."
"Oh, it's quite alright Zera. Your friendship and well, keeping things interesting around here is a paid debt all on it's own." For some reason that felt weird in his mouth. "Err, well, you think you can burn through this piece of steel?" Tails questioned. Just a few feet in front of her (Somehow Tails set that all up in front of her when they were in conversation), was a 5 inch think square of steel on a small stand.
"Just hope I don't burn down more than just the steel...or the stand." Zera sounded sure that something else was going to get burned. That didn't settle with that now being said.
""If she burns more than just the required material, I think Sonic might need to restrain me from trying to harm Zera." Tails had many items and blueprints that could be flammable, & Tails didn't want to live through that hellish nightmare again. Tails was so lost in thought, that he didn't see her shoot fire out of her palms and blast the steel cube to bits. Tails slowly looked above his clipboard to see small flames dancing around the pile of ash that used to be an actual object. And now that Tails thought about it, seemed like valuable material for him.
"Oh, wow! Zera, that was...well, wow!" Tails exclaimed as he rushed to write down notes on this partly missed experience of power. He did love the results even better, knowing what it could lead to. Tails glowed in an unhealthy way for a moment, which immediately made Zera tense up and feel a little self conscious.
"I just appreciate the help Tails. You may be the only scientist I would ever trust. And that is stating plenty, even at your age..." "Then again, the more he experiments on me, the more he finds out about me... This might turn on me against my favor... Better give him the simple things to execute about..."
"It's just extraordinary that your able to do all of this. I mean, I thought Shadow had his moments, but compared to you he has nothing. Tell me Zera, what else do you have?" He asked, hope flaring in his eyes like a wild fire. Perhaps it would be the best to leave Tails in a bit of wonder... but, he was merely a child with an IQ higher than Earth's most brilliant mind.
"Plus, the fact still stands that he is only curious, & so innocent... I don't think he wants to aim to hurt me."
"Well, I can also make forms of energy in my hands. In self defense of course." She added. With those very words said, Tails was already waiting for her to demonstrate this interesting ability. Zera had to admit, this little guy was interested in what ever she did. It almost please her.
It felt nice.
To be appreciated for once instead of being looked down in fear as an evil creature. It almost made her forget her plan for revenge against Tails for smacking her earlier.
Almost.
"Ok Tails, observe closely at this." She ordered. Tails got closer as Zera's left palm began to glow with a color similar to blue. A certain smell began to stain the air. It was distant, yet so familiar to Tails at the same time.
Before long, a single orb of glowing energy was spinning around as fast as an atom would in her tan palm. Tails blue irises glowed a bit darker, the light from the ball reflecting into his eyes.
An absolutely beautiful site.
"That's impressive Zera. You can make it larger too. I hope?" He asked, never taking his eyes off of it. She nodded.
"Not only that my young friend, but I can also multiply, and make it change its shape." As to comply to this, the orb got smaller, then split into 2 smaller ones. Tails started to grin in excitement. If that wasn't impressive enough, this next shift caught the boy's eye. The larger of the balls began to morph into something. A head, followed on it by two large eyes, big eyes, a fluffy muzzle, & a friendly smile later, was an exact replica of the famous boy genius himself. What ever Tails did, the smaller head did. Tails started to giggle as he made a raspberry towards his smaller self. He burst into a compliment ray of smiles.
"This is just incredible Zera! You think I can catch this as a sample for further tests & studies?" He asked her. She only answered in a shrug, which gave the blond kitsune enough of an answer of a yes. He quickly went over to one of his tables to hold a small glassy container. Walking back over to the female hedgehog, he opened it up to allow Zera to place the orb inside it. Once sealed inside, he put it back on a table with a large board next to it, filled with notes of some kind. Even next to the container was Tails clipboard. A thought suddenly came to her then.
"Tails, are you sure you want to go along with this? I'm having second thoughts that that small thing can contain that small ball of energy. It may be small in size, but large on the scale of destruction." Zera had to say. She didn't want to be responsible for Tails getting hurt. She would feel the worst kind of pain she would ever have: Guilt. Tails could only smirk at this news.
"Trust me Zera, it won't be getting out of there that easily. I made the casing strong enough to hold even the biggest of a nuclear explosion. And a tiny pissed Sonic." Zera raised a brow in confusion at that. A tiny...Sonic? She didn't even want to know, or begin to imagine it. "Um, yeah, you don't want to know about that mishap. It was awhile ago."
"Oh...right...Well, um, is this all you need from me?" She asked him. Tails nodded while rushing around the room. He was fast & light on his toes.
"Yes, that will be all Zera. Hopefully I can have everything done by tomorrow." He said. Zera gave him a strange look, but felt that she didn't need to be present here.
"That's good. I guess me and Zeren will head home then. We will see you tomorrow at school. Hope you have a good, & safe night Tails." She offered to say. Tails mumbled a 'good night' to her. With that, she walked out of the Lab, and right into the kitchen to grab a quick snack. An apple to be exact. A crunch later, she was hearing voices coming from the living room. Her first instinct was to attack, but she fought that and decided to listen.
"So, about what we said earlier at lunch again. Have you taken any action since then? Like, per say, when the apology happened?" She recognized the voice as Sonic's. What was he talking about? The apology? "Wait, is he talking about-"
"I think so. I mean, something felt right at that moment, but I kinda...went scarce. I was really close, but packed up my bags in fear. Nervous I guess." Yup, that was most definitely the orange echidna. You couldn't miss that calm, soothing voice that was slightly deep. At least compared to Joey's voice and-
"Wait a minute, what am I saying? Why am I caring so much about the description of Zeren's voice?" Zera thought. It was a pretty wild thing to speak about, especially of a being of Zera's stature. Trying to break free of these repulsive thoughts, she shook her head, & walked into the living rom.
"Hello guys, what are you talking about?" Zera asked, taking another bite of the apple innocently. Oh, how it felt good to have skill. Sonic & Zeren looked up at their female friend who was leaning against the entrance way. Sonic quickly stood up from where he was sitting.
"Oh, um, hi Zera, didn't hear you come in! Eh...how much did you hear?" He asked with a nervous look in his eyes. She was having a hard time trying to not smirk. It did succeed. She took another bite of her Kiku apple.
"Oh, I didn't hear anything I could only hear your voices & couldn't make out what you both were saying." She replied. Sonic couldn't say anything to that.
"Maybe she didhear us, but she's playing coy with us and letting it slide..." Zeren thought. Now with a small fear trapped in his heart, he looked at Zera.
"So, are you & Tails finished with all the tests? Zeren asked trying to pass by the awkward moment. In a few more bites, Zera had finally finished off the apple. Core and all.
"Yes, we just finished a few minutes ago. Are you ready to return to Ms. Jackie?" Zera asked Zeren.
"Yeah, sure. It was getting pretty late anyway." He said as he grabbed his bookbag and slung it over his shoulder.
"Bye Sonic, tell Tails I said so. Have a good night." Zeren said. Zera gave Sonic a small wave as she and her companion walked out the front door.
XxX
"So Zera, what do you feel like eating when we get home? Mum likes to have dinner requests." Zeren said as they were halfway home. Zera shrugged.
"I'm not sure. I don't know that much about food or anything. Been trapped in a high class cell & on the run for so long, remember?" She responded with an annoyed scoff. Zeren mentally slapped himself for forgetting the obvious.
"Erm, I know that! I just um, wanted to know what kind of taste you have. Was that wrong?" He was puzzled as they stopped at a stoplight. Cars of varied colors drove around them as they were going to their destination. Zera shrugged.
"I suppose not...I guess I feel like I'm in a feel for meat. Is that a fair idea? Or am I sounding a bit too pushy and demanding?" And maybe for once, she looked a bit nervous. Which, in a way, was a new turn-on for Zeren.
"A shy, bashful Zera. Score." He thought.
"No no Zera, it's fine. Mum can handle it. Like she said, she loves cooking for others. It's not only her job, but it's also part of her charm." Zeren said. Zera could surprisingly agree with that. Jackie seemed to be that type of woman.
"Zeren?" The said echidna looked at the girl who spoke his name in interest. "If you don't mind me asking, but why do you call your mother, Mum? You guys don't seem to have any genes that involve being English." Zera asked. The stoplight finally turned red, halting all cars. Zeren & Zera crossed the street in a slow manner.
"Well, I guess I call her that is because... It feels right to us. My brother and I truly respect our mother. She's given, and done everything for us... For the family.." Zeren was getting lost in his memories & thoughts.
"That, is actually pretty sweet Zeren. It looks like you all care about each other..." Zera said, but really wasn't looking at him, & seemed to have taken her pace a bit more seriously. Soon enough, the poor echidna had to chase after the hedgehogette down the next 2 blocks. If anyone passing by them saw this, it would look like a cute couple chasing after each other.
By the time they reached their destination, Zeren's face was all red, while Zera's face was calm. "Was there a reason why I was chasing you down Zera? Was it something I said?" The tired 17 year old asked. Zera glanced over her shoulder at him with a smirk.
"Yes, there was. I need to use the bathroom. And I wanted to have a few minutes of fun running. Oh, that explains it. With a nervous chuckle, he took his house keys out of his pocket, & unlocked the door. Not only in two steps when Zeren walked in, was he hit in the face by a sweet piece of apple pie.
And there you go, a perfect 30-32 page chapter from the Zera side. Hope you liked it. Tried to spice it up.
I know it's Sunday, & I'm 2 days late. I was just REALLY tired on Friday. Sorry about that. Next time I'll do better.
Hope to see you all next time on Chapter 12: Phase 2, Phase Change.
Ta-ta! ~Ari