Chapter 11: Recovery from damage. Tragic past of the forsaken child.

I do not own anything from any media.

Opening 1: Koji Yusa - Break Your Destiny


A few days have passed since the case of the tax collector. Shadow was recovering in the Charming Fairies. Each night, Tiffania would check on him, making sure he was okay. He was unconscious for some time. The half elven girl was with him, holding on to his right hand.

'Please Shadow... Wake up and come back to me…' She thought in desperation.

Tears were flowing out of her eyes, seeing the unconscious Gandálfr. By then, she felt her hand being gently squeezed.

"Shadow...?" She said, uncertain.

Shadow's hand have a gentle squeeze, rekindling her hope. This made her smile with tears and she hugged Shadow. Louise, Saito and Silver went to see how she was doing and noticed her hugging Shadow's unconscious body.

"She truly cares for him... I feel bad for Tiffania..." Louise said with sympathy.

'Shadow, you'll have to wake up soon... Tiffania is worried sick about you…' Silver thought.

'I don't blame you for suddenly going berserk like that, Shadow. But please come back for Tiffania. She wants you to be with her…' Saito thought.

By then, they heard Shadow groaning. This got everyone's attention as Shadow opened his eyes.

"Tiffania...? Where am I?" Shadow asked.

Tiffania was overjoyed in seeing Shadow finally awake. She hugged him close to her bosom, smothering his face.

"Oh Shadow! I was so worried about you! When that tax collector was about to do something scary to me, you came and fought with him." Tiffania explained.

Shadow then remembered what happened few days ago. It made him rather sick of going berserk.

"Tiffania... The reason I went in that berserk state was due to his intentions. I couldn't stand the fact he was about do something unspeakable to you…" He answered.

"I understand, but don't scare me like that. I thought I lost you." Tiffania said, holding him close.

"I'm really sorry, Tiffania. My actions might have scared everyone working here." Shadow said.

Saito had an understanding smile for the young man. He decided to speak with him.

"Not really. Everyone was glad you got rid of him." Saito said.

"He's right, Shadow. I also went to Her Highness and delivered the proof regarding about that tax collector. She understood why you killed him." Louise said.

"It doesn't make me feel any better... That berserk state was not me... Rather, it's my own darkness from my own heart. It made me less of what I am." Shadow said in pessimism.

Tiffania held Shadow's face and made him look at her.

"You're not a monster, Shadow. You and your friends have been with me for a few months. I can't thank you enough for showing me around Tristain and having friends." She explained.

This made Shadow widen his eyes in surprise. He then hugged Tiffania, feeling her warm presence envelop his form.

"Glad to see that you're alright, Shadow." Hien said.

"Likewise, Hien." Shadow replied.

"You have been unconscious for a few days, but with Tiffania's help, I was able to heal you up." The fire soul said.

"Thank you, both of you. I'm grateful." Shadow said.

"Speaking of which, Tiffania and I have won the tip race." Louise said.

"Wait, that means you two..."

Shadow trailed off till he took a glance at Tiffania wearing one of the Charming Fairies' bustier. It made him blush red, due to how exposing it was. Louise and Saito noticed his reaction and laughed.

"Hahahaha... Wow, you turned red." Saito laughed.

"Don't push it, friend. I could wonder your reaction as well." Shadow retorted.

"It was a funny thing. One minute Saito saw me wearing one of the bustiers and it made him faint for a bit." Louise said.

Shadow chuckled upon hearing that. He then looked at Saito, who was embarrassed.

"We're even now, Saito. Still I didn't know you had a thing for Lolita." Shadow remarked.

"Ha ha ha... Very amusing…" Saito pouted.

"Speaking of working, we should leave this place. Scarron may have noticed our real social standards." Shadow stated.

"He already knew from the start. For some reason, Scarron accepted the fact that Tiffania and Louise were Nobles. I would say that man had sharp eyes for noticing." Saito said.

"Well, Louise and Tiffania happened to be students in the Tristain academy. It may be a wise choice to keep the job, but considering the fact that they are second years, this might prove otherwise." Shadow said.

"Hmmm... I don't know if we should stay here any longer. We did receive a large payment after that incident with that tax collector. Plus, Louise and Tiffania need to attend the classes." Silver said.

"He has a point there, Saito. We should head back to the academy." Shadow supported.

The girls remembered the lessons they had to take. They remained calm, despite the sudden thought.

"I'll use Chaos Control to teleport us there." Silver said.

"Easy there, Silver. You may be able to use Chaos Control, but that doesn't mean you should use it recklessly. You need to memorize the place you wish to warp at before using it" Shadow lectured.

"What would happen if I misused it?" Silver questioned.

"It won't do anything, or worse, drain you of chaos energy or your life energy." Shadow said.

Silver paled in response. He decided to focus on teleporting back to the Tristain academy.

"Alright, I got the image of the academy in my head." Silver said.

"Keep the image in thought. In the meantime, Louise and Tiffania, change into your academic uniforms. We'll be arriving at the school shortly" Shadow said.

The girls nodded in response and quickly changed their uniforms.

"Wait, what about Scarron?" Saito asked.

"I'll have a word with him." Shadow said, walking downstairs.

######

Shadow was walking downstairs, noticing all the female workers looking at him. He felt dreadfully insecure and nervous.

'I know they all saw me go berserk on that tax collector... This is very uncomfortable…' He thought.

By then, Jessica walked up to him, noticing his tension.

"It's alright, Shadow. They know why you went berserk. You did so to protect that girl, Tiffania." She said.

The workers looked at Shadow who nodded in response. They all smiled at him.

"We're all thankful you got rid of that pervert. He has been causing too much trouble." One of the females said.

"I've heard from Jessica. It's rather mundane to see such a thing." Shadow said.

"You're a hero of this inn, Shadow. Don't let your fears overrule your reasoning." Jessica said.

"She's right. You helped saved my shop from that man, tres bien." Scarron said.

"Nice to see that you're doing okay, Scarron. In any case, I came here to inform you that Louise, Saito, Silver, Tiffania, and I will be leaving back to the academy. It was nice working here, despite it being temporary." Shadow said.

"Much obliged, Shadow. Anytime you or your friends want to work here, come visit. Be sure to address me as mi-mademoiselle." Scarron said.

'I think I'll pass…' Shadow answered mentally.

######

Shadow eventually came upstairs and saw that the girls were in their academic uniforms. They were ready to head back.

"Okay, I'm ready. Let's head back to the academy." Silver said.

"Okay, Silver. Do your thing." Shadow said.

Silver concentrated the chaos energy in his body. He was able to channel it, forming a blue aura.

"It's time. Chaos Control!" Silver said.

The group was engulfed in a blue flash. No one was left behind.

######

The group arrived at the academy in a short time. Shadow was impressed with Silver's ability to naturally harness the Chaos Force.

"I see you have been training yourself to use Chaos Control. Keep practicing so you'll be able to harness it as though you're not even trying." Shadow encouraged.

Silver smiled, feeling praised for his effort. Louise, Saito, and Tiffania were surprised to see someone else use the Chaos Force just like Shadow does. This brought up a question to the trio.

"Since Shadow can use the Chaos Force like he was breathing, does that mean the people in Mobius have the same ability?" Saito asked.

"If you're referring to manipulating the Chaos Force, it's possible." Shadow said.

Saito was rather surprised on what he heard. The girls were equally surprised as well. Before he could ask, Shadow decided to voice his opinion.

"Anyway, we should head back to our dorms for the day. Louise may have been able to inform Her Highness, but I still feel fatigued from that recent incident." Shadow said.

"Seems as though you're running low on chaos energy. Luckily for me, I was able to find several rings." Silver said.

"Much appreciated, Silver. I could use those for a pick-me-up." Shadow said.

Silver provided several gold rings. They flashed and were absorbed into Shadow's body. Louise, Saito, and Tiffania watched in fascination as the rings were absorbed in him.

"Wow, it's hard to believe that a gold ring like that can make Shadow recover." Louise said.

Saito inspected the rings and noticed a familiar sensation.

"Those are no ordinary rings... Something about them is different." Saito said.

"You're right. These rings are made with chaos energy. However, the energy they hold is limited, requiring a decent amount." Silver explained.

"Is it possible to invoke the Chaos Control with them?" Tiffania asked.

"No. They don't have enough power to help create Chaos Control. They dissipate the moment anyone attempts to use it. To compensate for that, we use them as a recovery item." Silver answered.

The girls and Saito were somewhat disappointed, but they understood.

"Well, let's head inside and take a breather. Since today is Void Day, we can rest." Louise said.

The group decided to call it for the day. Although the sun was at its zenith, indicating it was noon, the group was rather exhausted.

"There something I have to point out before we end up resting for today." Hien said.

"Hmm? What is it, Hien?" Shadow asked.

"Shadow, that time when you went berserk, you were able to combine both my power and yours to create a new technique." The fire soul revealed.

"I created...a new technique...?" Shadow questioned in surprise.

"Yes. You called it 'Chaos Inferno'. The flames you made were mixed with chaos energy. As a result, you can manipulate the flames and make them hotter than usual. You literally turned a person into ash in mere seconds." Hien said.

Shadow stated at his palm, now remembering what happened.

"That's right... I recalled using that technique. Problem is, I don't remember using this technique. I probably used it through muscle memory and instinct." Shadow said.

"Well, let's just say that you'll be developing new chaos powers. I remember that time with Count Mott, you created a wave from Zenyōso." Saito said.

"I was also planning to talk with you about that. Whenever you snap into your rage, you end up using powerful techniques that you don't seem aware of. Astonishing as it sounds, you should train on your newly discovered chaos abilities." Hien said.

"Thanks, Hien. By learning these techniques, I should be able to protect my friends more efficiently." Shadow stated.

The group smiled, hearing Shadow's resolve to protect the people he cares for.

"It's been a long week so we should head inside and rest." Saito said.

The group went in their dorms to rest for the day.

######

Few months have passed. The air was humid and hot, indicating summer. The academy was also quiet, a complete contrast on how it was filled with students. Shadow was outside, resting in a shade to keep himself cool. It was an early morning but it was rather warm.

"Sure is a warm day. I can't practice my swordsmanship on this weather. Maybe I should practice on my new chaos abilities." Shadow said to himself.

Shadow decided to practice the Chaos Inferno. He willed the flames to appear and mix them with chaos energy. The result was a powerful, red flame. He then slammed his palms on the ground. Near him, a column of flames erupted like a volcano.

'So this ability allows me to conjure flames of chaos energy. I was never able to create a volcano of flames like that when using pyrokinesis. I wonder...' Shadow thought.

He then willed the chaos flames around him. A shield of fire formed, glowing brightly.

"Well, I have a feeling that everyone will flip if they see this…" Shadow stated.

He then jumped and performed a midair dash. Upon doing so, he turned into a fireball and literally flew in the air.

"Well, I would say that this a major improvement of the so-called Fire shield." Shadow said.

He then decided to recreate the Chaos Wave. He focused his energy on his hands before taking Zenyōso out of its scabbard. With a mighty swing, a wave of chaos energy was created.

"So I can use that as well... Nice to know that I have new techniques to master." He said.

He decided to take a break and went back to Tiffania's room.

######

Tiffania was still asleep. Shadow teleported inside her room. He noticed how she slept quietly.

'Thank goodness she's sleeping okay... I don't like the fact that she can get nightmares.' He thought.

He then noticed how sweaty he looked. A funky scent from his sweat was permeating.

'Might as well start bathing to wash off this sweat... I don't want to appear unsanitary to others.' Shadow thought.

Luckily for him, the room Tiffania and Shadow were in had a small bathroom. He was able to set a bath for himself.

'Good thing the door has a lock... Better finish my bath quickly.' He thought.

Shadow quickly took his clothes off and began washing himself. He quickly applied the soap and quickly washed his body. He then went in the tub and was sitting in the bath quietly.

"Haaaah~... This is heaven…" He said.

Shadow's cheeks had an evident blush from the heat. Hien was burning brightly on his chest.

"So this is what it feels to have hot water on you." The fire soul said.

Shadow chuckled, expecting Hien to comment at him.

"It feels comfortable to relax with hot water. However, you can't stay in too long unless you want to faint in the bath. Speaking of feeling, you can feel what my body feels?" Shadow said.

"To some degree, I can feel the five senses. However, it is limited." Hien replied.

"Alright then... Time to get out of the bath. It was nice while it lasted." Shadow said.

He got out of the tub and drained it. By then, he was drying himself with a towel. His hair, having been washed in the bath, flowed down in a smooth pattern. After drying from his bath, Shadow put his pants and shoes on. He didn't had his muscle shirt on, leaving his top half exposed.

'Whew... The bath left me tired. I suppose I could take a nap while Tiffania is asleep. She'll most likely wake me up…' Shadow thought.

He sat down near the tea table and fell asleep.

######

Two hours have passed. Tiffania eventually woke up from her sleep. She noticed Shadow sleeping, who was shirtless. It made her blush to see his athletic body, yet curiosity overwhelmed her. It became so strong, she ended up looking at him.

'I never had the chance to see how a boy looks... Shadow looks so muscular, yet he feels smooth.' Tiffania thought innocently.

She gave a gentle poke on his stomach. This made her feel more curious about him.

'I don't know why, but my heart is beating so quickly... I can feel my face getting hot. Am I getting sick?' Tiffania thought.

Shadow groaned in sleep, moving to his left side to avoid the touching sensation. This made Tiffania giggle, seeing how tired he looked.

'I don't know why, but my heart was beating a lot when I touched Shadow... My feelings for him are growing stronger.' She thought.

By then, Shadow began to wake up. Tiffania stepped back to give him some space. A noticeable blush dusted on her cheeks.

"Good morning." He said somnolently.

"G-good morning." Tiffania stuttered.

Shadow noticed her face was turning red. It made him realize why.

'She has feelings for me, no doubt about that. But can I do this...? My past actions are nothing short of bloodshed. Plus, I'm not certain if I can have a relationship.' He thought.

"Um... You don't have to stare so deeply at me." Shadow said.

Tiffania looked away, her face turning red. Shadow was also blushing in response as well

"Um, Shadow. I want you to hold on to this Chaos Emerald. I'll hold on to the red one." Tiffania said, giving him the white Chaos Emerald.

"What's the reason, Tiffania?" Shadow asked.

"I think it may help you on something today. Plus it looks well with you." she said.

######

Outside, Louise and Saito were taking care of an errand from the academy.

"Glad to see that we're back here. That Noble had quite a mouth there." Saito said.

"Somehow I wish they never act like that. They're letting their own judgement go over their heads." Louise said.

"I'll say. There's a limit to being overzealous." Silver said.

The trio sighed in exhaustion. Saito and Silver noted how quiet the place was.

"It doesn't seem like anyone's here. Did something happen?" Silver questioned.

"It's summer vacation for the students here. Most went back to their families or gone traveling to spend the summer." Louise answered.

"That makes sense. For a minute, I thought something bad happened here." Saito said.

The trio noticed a horse carriage that was outside the entrance.

######

Tiffania and Shadow were heading outside of the academy building. The heat from the summer climate proved to be rather stressful.

"It's pretty hot here... Knowing the climate is like the one back in my world, it's not much of a surprise." Shadow said.

"Oh? I haven't heard you talking about your world much lately." Tiffania said.

"True, but I guess I can tell you this. The continent of Halkeginia is called 'Europe' from where I'm at. At the southern areas. The weather gets real hot during the summer. During those times, people often take a nap called afternoon siestas in their homes." Shadow said.

"Why do they take a nap during those times?" Tiffania asked.

"They do this for two reasons. One is to sleep away from the heat during the afternoon and two is for them to be active at night." Shadow said.

Tiffania was amazed on what she heard. Before she could question anything, she saw a horse carriage. There, Tabitha and Kirche were boarding.

######

Tiffania, Louise and the boys were looking at the carriage. Before Shadow knew it, Tabitha walked up to him.

"Favor…" She said.

"Alright, but can you bring along my friends though? I can't leave Tiffania behind." Shadow said.

"They can come." Tabitha said.

"But the space is rather small. I thought Louise went back home, but I guess she had a task to deal with." Kirche said.

"No worries. Tiffania and Louise will head in the carriage. Silver and I will be able to fly while Saito follows along." Shadow said.

"Are you thinking what I am...?" Saito asked, unable to fully say the question.

"Yes. Silver has psychokinesis. He can levitate himself and anyone with him. I only use chaos energy via Chaos Control to fly." Shadow said.

"That's fine. Follow us." Tabitha said.

Kirche, on the other hand, was pouting. She couldn't get near the boys since they'll be flying.

"I wanted to go with Darlings." Kirche said.

"Quit acting like a child and get inside the carriage." Louise said.

"In any case, where are we heading to?" Shadow asked.

"Oh, we're heading to Tabitha's home." Kirche answered.

"If I recall, she was from a region called Galia, according to the headmaster…" Shadow said.

"Someone has astute hearing." Kirche flirted.

Shadow cleared his throat, obviously not liking Kirche's comment.

"Anyway, we should make our way there. Do anyone of you need to pack for anything?" He asked.

Saito raised his hand upon hearing the question.

"Well, I might need to bring something with me. You'll understand soon." Saito said.

"Alright, we'll wait but be quick." Louise said.

Saito took off at the southeast court nearby. He was approaching a discarded pot that looked big enough for a person to fit in.

'Somehow, I can make use of this…' He thought.

######

Saito was holding the giant pot in question when he came back to the group. Everyone was confused on why Saito brought the huge pot.

"What are you planning to do with that large pot, Saito?" Shadow questioned.

"I'm planning to turn this into a small bathing tub. It's an old-fashioned trick to making a hot bath." Saito answered.

"Fair enough. Silver, I'll carry the pot. You can carry Saito with your psychokinesis. I can catch up by foot." Shadow said.

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle it, Shadow? It does look like a long journey." Tiffania questioned in concern.

"I'll be fine, Tiffania. I've been traveling across my world like it was nothing." Shadow reassured.

"If you feel tired Darling, you could come inside and sit with me." Kirche said.

"I'll pass." Shadow immediately replied.

######

(Play Sonic Runners OST - Windy Hill)

The group was at the outskirts of Tristania. The countryside provided a majestic view of the area. The wind blew gently across the land. Inside the carriage, Kirche was looking at the surrounding area.

"It's rather peaceful out here." She said.

"It does look serene here." Louise said.

"It reminds me of the cottage I have back in my home." Tiffania said.

Tabitha remained silent, but everyone else looked at Tiffania.

"You used to live in a cottage at a countryside?" Kirche asked.

"Yes. It was as peaceful as this area. It's been a few months since I left that place." Tiffania said, remembering her times prior to when Shadow arrived.

The girls remained silent, but they respectfully decided not to pry any more details. Kirche decided to talk with Tabitha.

"Hey Tabitha. Since you're heading to your home country, why do you look less cheerful?" Kirche asked.

The blue haired Mage remained silent. This got Louise and Tiffania slightly concerned for her.

"I'm still surprised that you were an exchange student. I have to confess, we're similar in our cases. But why did you choose to study abroad?" Kirche questioned to Tabitha.

Again, no response from the Mage in question. She continued reading her book. Kirche decided to explain her reasons.

"Let me provide my explanation of myself… I was kicked out of my school. I was a troublesome student, causing me to be expelled from my school. My parents thought it ruined the family reputation. They attempted a forced marriage to an old geezer. I refused so they sent me here." Kirche said.

Louise, Tiffania and even Tabitha were surprised on what she said.

"Is that true...?" Louise questioned.

"Oh? I didn't think that you would be the one to ask, Louise." Kirche teased.

Louise felt agitated but remained calm. She took a deep breath to set her thoughts straight.

"This isn't the time for teasing. I'm asking if what you said is true." Louise stated.

"It is…" Kirche declared.

Louise looked down in self-resentment. She thought Kirche's teasing was to play around with her. It made Louise realize that she was hiding her own internal conflicts.

"Oh? I never thought that a member of the Vallière family would feel pitiful for me." Kirche teased.

"Don't make it worse, Zerbst…" Louise said.

######

Outside, the boys were catching up to the carriage.

"How far is Galia from here?" Saito asked.

"According to this map, we should make it before sundown." Shadow said.

"Don't feel afraid of the sensation, Saito. My psychokinesis feels strange at first, but you'll get used to it." Silver said.

Shadow chuckled when he saw Saito feeling the tingling sensation all over him.

"I remembered when Silver used his power on me. It felt just like what you're feeling. He's right though. You'll get used to it." He reassured.

"Speaking of which, are you okay with that pot on your shoulders?" Saito asked.

"This is nothing. I can easily flip a bus off from its tires with one hand." Shadow said.

"You have that much strength!?" Saito questioned in shock.

"It never came to me to tell you that." Shadow answered.

"Since when did you started becoming a jokester, Shadow?" Silver asked in surprise.

"Being with Tiffania probably made me soft." Shadow stated, making Silver laugh.

######

On the way, a farmer holding a hoe came by, which caused the horse to neigh loudly. This stopped the carriage, causing the boys to stop as well.

"I wonder what the occasion is…" Shadow questioned.

He saw the farmer approaching the carriage.

"I suggest taking a different route up ahead. The Lagdorian Lake is flooded." the farmer said.

"Is there another route we could use to get around the lake?" Silver asked.

"Yes. Take the higher road that leads to the cliffs." the farmer answered, pointing at the lake's bluffs.

"Alright, thanks for your help." Shadow said.

The farmer nodded and proceeded to head back to his property to till the land.

"We can fly across the lake, but that would leave the girls behind. I suggest following what the farmer said." Silver said.

"My thoughts exactly, Silver. Let's move out." Shadow stated.

######

At the nearby cliff, everyone could see the lake water flooding several houses.

"Lead it to Silver and Shadow for helping out on the directions. Although the boys can make it through, we won't be able to." Kirche said.

"Be thankful for them, Kirche. They're at least considerate enough not to abandon us." Louise said.

"I'll take that into consideration." Kirche replied.

"But what is causing the lake water to rise and flood the area?" Tiffania questioned.

"We don't know for now…" Louise said.

"In any case, how far is your home Tabitha?" Kirche asked.

"Very close." Tabitha answered quietly.

Outside, Shadow was merely jogging. Silver decided to follow along, with Saito being levitated by Silver's psychokinesis.

"You know, I never realized how beautiful nature is. Much to my comfort, it does provide relief whenever I see places like this." Shadow confessed.

"Oh? I didn't think you had a liking to nature." Silver said.

"It just came to me before arriving here in Halkeginia. I guess being battle weary has left me with little time and understanding to see such majestic sights like this." Shadow said.

Saito looked at Shadow with surprise and realized something.

'He's not a heartless person after all... He's just a misguided being who is now questioning his role. I never thought I would say this to the former hedgehog, but you're becoming more human.' Saito thought.

(Windy Hill OST ends here)

By then, the carriage passed a sign, something that Kirche saw.

"Hey, that was..." She said.

She then looked outside and noticed another sign. It had a shield symbol displayed with runes engraved at the bottom. The boys noticed the sign and Shadow read the tunes carefully.

"We're here in Galia." Shadow said.

"How can you tell?" Saito asked.

"That sign had the seal of Galia's royal family. This region is part of Galia's territory." Kirche said.

"Galia's Royal family?" The boys asked.

"Yes... But that leaves one question. Tabitha, is it possible that you're a member of the royal family of Galia?" Kirche asked.

Tabitha remained silent. The boys noticed her silence, indicating it may have opened old scars.

"Let's not ask any more details about the area, Kirche. She may not show it, but she has some scars that didn't seem to heal…" Shadow whispered to Kirche.

The Germanian girl understood what he meant and remained silent. By then, a large mansion came into view. It was four stories tall with many rooms.

"So this is your home, Tabitha." Kirche said in surprise.

By then, an elder man came outside. Everyone took notice of the man in question. He was reaching the end of his middle age, due to the evident wrinkles and hire hair. He was wearing a butler outfit which consisted of a black coat, a red buttoned up sweater with a white shirt. A blue bow tie was shown near his neck. He had black pants and shoes. The man bowed to the group.

"Welcome home. We have been expecting you, Lady Charlotte." The man said.

######

Inside the mansion, the group was amazed of what they saw. They were at the guest room and noticed a portrait of a blue haired man. The person in the picture appeared to show the same facial features that Tabitha had. Kirche decided to talk with her friend.

"I'd like to share my greetings with your father." She said.

Tabitha merely shook her head in response. Shadow understood what she meant.

'It seems as though something happened to her father. Whatever it was, it probably killed him' Shadow thought.

Kirche was surprised on her answer.

"Wait here." Tabitha said to everyone.

She then walked to Shadow and Silver.

"Follow me, you two." She said calmly.

The two boys in question nodded but stopped briefly.

"I would like to bring Tiffania... She might end up feeling nervous if she stays separate from my presence." Shadow said.

"Um, I'll be okay, Shadow. Louise will keep me protected." Tiffania reassured.

"As you wish, Tiffania." Shadow said.

The boys followed Tabitha through the manor. The others were on the guest room till the elder butler came in. He had several cups of tea prepared.

"Please excuse me. I'm the butler of the Orleans family, Percerin." He said, introducing himself.

"I'm Germania's von Zerbst. This is Tristain von Vallière, Tristain von Westwood and Hiraga Saito. Those two boys you saw are named Silver and Shadow. We're in your care." Kirche introduced.

"I never would have thought that Lady Charlotte would bring a friend or more than one person to our home. Plus, I never seen her let anyone follow her around the place like that." Percerin said.

"Wait, Charlotte is her real name?" Louise asked in surprise.

The butler looked at the group in question.

######

Tabitha, Shadow and Silver were at a nearby door. There, Tabitha briefly paused and was hesitant on opening the doors.

"Is everything okay, Tabitha? You don't seem rather well…" Shadow said in concern.

Tabitha shook her head to regain her thoughts. She then proceeded to knock on the door. Shadow could feel something was wrong. He felt the tension rising around him. Silver also felt the same sensation.

'Why do I have a feeling that there's something deep that's making Tabitha how she is right now?' Shadow thought.

By then, Tabitha opened the door, allowing the boys to enter the room with her. The room was large and offered a nice view to a nearby garden. Near the window, a lone female figure was sitting on a leather chair. There was a tea table placed in front.

"Who's there?" The woman questioned.

(Play Zero no Tsukaima OST - Tragic Memory)

The trio walked up to the woman and noticed her appearance. Her hair was sky blue like Tabitha's. However, her skin was sickly pale. She was wearing a white, long dress with a red ribbon. A blanket was covering her legs. She was clutching what appeared to be a doll dressed in a pink dress. When Tabitha went up close, the boys noticed a deranged expression on the woman's face.

"I have returned home, Mother." Tabitha said.

"Go away, you insolent girl!" The woman shouted.

This made the boys gasp in response. Shadow realized what Tabitha meant.

"Can it heal mental inducement from potions?"

This got Shadow in realizing the situation. He took a deep breath to control his shock.

"Silver, I know what we need to do…" Shadow said.

"What are you thinking about Shadow?" Silver asked.

"It's about this woman's condition." Shadow said.

######

Back in the guest room, Kirche explained on Tabitha's current name with the butler.

"So Our Lady calls herself Tabitha now?" Percerin asked.

"Yes. The question is why she is using an alias while studying abroad?" Louise asked.

"She doesn't seem to say anything about herself." Kirche said.

"Her studying abroad was from an order by her uncle, the King…" Percerin answered.

"Her uncle? So she really is part of the royal family." Tiffania said in a hint of sadness.

Percerin noticed the group's downhearted expression and began explaining.

"Lady Charlotte's father, the previous King Orleans, was the current King's younger brother…" He said.

"So her father passed away." Saito said solemnly.

"He was assassinated…" Percerin said, his eyes closed.

Everyone looked at the butler with shock upon hearing what he said.

"Seeing how she had invited you all, along with her bringing those two boys with her, it seems Our Lady can trust you all." The butler said.

This made everyone felt the tension in the mansion. It made them feel as though something terrible happened.

"Everyone, I'll trust you all so hear the story I will say to you." Percerin declared.

######

Back in the large room, Silver used his psychic powers to peer at the woman's condition. He noticed a foreign substance was causing her brain to over fire on many regions on her brain.

"Shadow, she has some kind of substance that is causing her to develop schizophrenia. It appears long lasting so purging it would take a lifetime for the effects to wear off." Silver stated.

"Hmmm... Alright then. I'll see what I can do to try to purge the substance out of her system. It sickens me to see such a terrible sight." Shadow said.

He then walked up and held the white Chaos Emerald. The woman backed away as the stone glowed bright with energy.

"You were all sent by the palace! Stay away from my Charlotte! I won't allow you to kill my daughter, like my husband!" The woman shrieked.

"You may want to induce her to sleep, Silver. I can't have her awake or this procedure may damage her." Shadow said.

"I got this." Silver said.

######

Back in the guest room, Percerin began explaining a story.

"Sir Orleans was a prodigy. He excelled in magic, surpassing his brother, Joseph, above all else and was loved by all. However in five years ago, the King died. The palace voted for his successor to take the throne, but the vote was evenly divided." Percerin said.

"In other words, a political battle." Saito said.

"Fighting for succession to the throne." Kirche said.

The butler continued with the story, only his eyes showed a pained expression.

"During the battle, Sir Orleans was killed…" Parcerin said.

Everyone gasped in response. It became harder to bare the news. The butler continued on, despite the group's shocked expressions.

"Those who made Sir Joseph the King hunted down any heirs and targeted our Lady for extermination." Parcerin revealed.

This got the group in edge. Tiffania was visibly shedding tears while Kirche was starting to hyperventilate. Louise nearly lost her breath, unable to process the story. Saito had an angered face, obviously feeling the need to find the person responsible. Parcerin, seeing their expressions felt a heavy heart on his chest. Despite this, he continued his story.

(Tragic Memory OST ends here)

(Play Sonic Adventure OST - The Past)

"One night, Ma'am and our Lady were invited to a dinner party. A suspicious man offered our Lady a glass of water, but Ma'am noticed something that shocked her. The man was planning to poison her. The water was laced with a powerful magic. A toxic Aqua magic which breaks one's mind had been cast on the water. The case was publicly announced and the aristocrat in questioned was executed for his crime. Alas, the damage had been done. Ma'am sacrificed her sanity in order to protect our Lady. Since that terrible day, she has been through a lot, almost dying in the process." Percerin explained.

The shock of Tabitha's history was becoming to be too much. Kirche, Louise, and Tiffania all shed tears for the young Mage. Percerin, trying to remain calm, was visibly clenching his hands and shaking. Saito clenched his hand harshly. His fingernails dug deep into his skin, shedding blood in the process.

'This man that was responsible for hiring that Noble to poison Tabitha... He's the worst kind of human I've ever heard…' He thought with anger.

######

In the room, Tabitha's mother was visibly smiting her and the boys.

"How fearful, to even think that my child would aim for the throne. All we wished for is a quiet life. Get out! All of you! I will never give her to anyone! This child... Charlotte is my dear daughter…" The woman said.

The boys persisted and stood their ground.

"Silver, make her fall asleep through hypnosis." Shadow said.

"Here goes." Silver said.

Silver used his psychic powers to hypnotize the insane woman. She eventually fell asleep, giving a chance for Shadow to attempt to heal the damage done to her.

'This might take a lot out of me, but I have to do this. I understand why Tabitha asked me that question. She wanted me to help cure her mother from this substance…' Shadow thought.

He then held the white Chaos Emerald on his left hand.

"Chaos Emerald, here my request... Provide me the power to heal this woman from the foreign liquid that poisons her mind. CHAOS PURIFICATION!"

A bright flash of light engulfed the room.

######

In the guest room, Parcerin continued his explanation.

"The name 'Tabitha' actually comes from the doll that was given to our Lady as a gift. Ever since that day, she has become a shell of her former life. It's as though she sealed away her soul, leaving nothing but a hollow body. After the Ma'am's case, the people attempting to kill her stepped away behind the scenes. They had their ways of trying to kill her. By using her strong innate mana as an excuse, they assigned jobs that were realistically impossible. Yet, she prevailed through them. Our Lady braved through the jobs, in order to protect herself and her mother. She has been risking her life since." Parcerin finished.

"Then why was she sent to Tristain?" Louise asked.

"Since the methods were unsuccessful in killing our Lady, they gave her the title of Chevalier. However they were able to exile her from her own home." Parcerin answered.

"'Exiled from one's home'... That's unjustifiable…" Saito said.

"I agree with you, young man." Parcerin said.

(Past OST ends here)

The group pondered on Tabitha's history. It made them feel sick to their stomachs. By then, the thought of Shadow and Silver came up to them.

"I wonder why Tabitha needed Shadow and Silver in the first place." Tiffania said.

By then, a bright white light shines across the mansion.

"Where's this light coming from?" Louise questioned.

"It's coming from Ma'am's room. Follow me!" Parcerin said.

Everyone in guest room followed where the light was coming from. They then came across the doors leading to Tabitha's mother's room and noticed Shadow using the white chaos emerald. He was struggling on the energy that was pouring on to the woman in question. Silver intervened to make sure Shadow's focus was not interrupted.

"Don't interfere. Shadow's trying to cure that woman from some kind of substance…" He said.

The white light was creating ripples around the area. Shadow kept the light concentrated on the woman to try and purge the substance out. By then, Tabitha's mother woke up and began to gag. She then vomited out a bright blue liquid. She regained her breathing and looked at Tabitha.

(Play Mabinogi OST - Nao Appears)

"Charlotte?" She said weakly.

This brought Tabitha to tears. She then rushed to her mother and hugged the woman closely.

'I've managed to cure her from the induced insanity... My body feels very weak right now…' Shadow thought.

He was visibly exhausted and collapsed, taking a knee.

"Shadow! Are you alright!?" Tiffania asked, rushing to him.

"I'm okay. Just fatigued. I was able to use a special power from Chaos Control. It's called Chaos Purification. It allows me to purge anything that is damaging in the body. However, it requires me to have the white Chaos Emerald." Shadow said.

Everyone was shocked on what they heard. Shadow displayed a miracle in order to heal Tabitha's mother from the induced schizophrenia.

"Charlotte, I'm so sorry that you had to grow through so much... I couldn't risk you suffering from what I endured." Tabitha's mother said.

Tabitha couldn't help but release all the sadness she had. Parcerin was grateful for Shadow's efforts. Everyone else now realized that Tabitha made him and Silver follow him in an attempt to cure her mother.

"Tabitha, I'm very happy to see that your mother is finally cured." The butler said with happy tears.

"Mother... I'm glad you're finally cured." Tabitha said, shedding tears.

Tabitha's mother held her daughter closely. The scene made everyone smile. Tiffania was very happy that he helped someone using the white chaos emerald.

"You've done something close to a miracle, young man. Answer this though, why were you healing Duchess de Orléans?" Parcerin asked.

Shadow stood up, albeit with struggle. He then looked outside the window.

"Tabitha was going through the same thing I endured. I can easily relate to what she had to deal with." Shadow answered.

"What are you trying to say, Shadow?" Kirche asked.

Louise, Saito, Silver, and Tiffania looked away. They had a brief pained expression.

"Back in my world, there was someone close to me as a family. However, she was taken from here. My 'parent' went insane and threatened to destroy humanity but I thwarted his plans. However, the family I once knew died. I can never revive them, no matter how much I wish for it." Shadow explained.

Parcerin, Tabitha, her mother, and Kirche were all shocked. They didn't expect Shadow to have a similar case.

"Would that explain why you sometimes have a far-off look?" Kirche asked.

"Sharp eyes. Yes, that time when I lost the people I cared for, made me into what I am now…" Shadow said in a solemn tone.

"I see... I understand your sympathy, young man. For your efforts in curing Duchess de Orléans, I'm forever grateful." Parcerin said.

"So am I. Young man, what is your name?" Duchess de Orléans asked.

"It's Shadow." Shadow replied.

"Well Shadow, I'm glad that you were able to cure me but I bear bad news for everyone. The current King of Galia, Joseph, still intends to kill Charlotte through any means." She said.

"So that man in that portrait is his brother?" Shadow asked, looking at the hanging portrait.

"Yes. His name was Charles, my husband and former King. He was assassinated by a Noble sent to kill him." The Duchess replied.

Shadow began to think carefully. He then pieced everything together from Charlotte's emotional state, the assassination of the previous King, and the induced schizophrenia on the Duchess. It began to make sense to him.

"A battle of monarchy..." Shadow deduced.

"How did you figure that out so quickly!?" Parcerin asked in surprise.

"Believe it or not, one of the stories written in my world has the same problem we're dealing with. The book was called Hamlet from William Shakespeare." Shadow said.

Saito immediately deduced what Shadow meant.

"He's right... The story detailing on Hamlet's plot against his uncle. Hard to believe that Tabitha, no Charlotte's life, was like that." Saito said.

"What does this have to do with this story?" Parcerin questioned.

"Listen carefully, for this isn't easy to explain. If Charlotte ends up plotting a rebellion against the current King, now that her mother is freed, she may end up dying in battle." Shadow said.

"How so...?" Kirche asked.

"She may fall into insanity or worse, fight someone close to her and die from poisoning." Shadow said.

The news weighed heavily upon everyone. Shadow had a serious expression on his face.

"Charlotte, revenge is never the answer. I went through the same thing, but it never brought satisfaction. It only caused more hate to fester. Don't soil your hands anymore from another person's blood. We will make the current King of Galia pay one day. I assure you, Joseph will regret causing you harm." Shadow declared.

"Are you intending to challenge the King for our Lady's rightful position? This is no small feat for anyone." Parcerin said.

"I am. The fact that Charlotte is standing in the middle of a battle for monarchy as an innocent bystander is unjust. She shouldn't have to go through this pain. I wish there was a peaceful solution, but alas, I foresee major bloodshed to this country from the King." Shadow said.

This hit everyone with shock. By then, Tiffania decided to speak out.

"Um... If it isn't too much trouble, we should bring Charlotte and Duchess de Orléans with us in Tristain. It'll be safer for them so they won't fall victim to Joseph's plans." She said meekly.

Everyone looked at her with amazement. This made Shadow smile in response. Louise decided to voice her thoughts.

"Tiffania, you have suggested an ideal thought but it may be risky." Louise said.

"Charlotte is a victim of this political war. Like it or not, our friend is a victim of the scandals. If we came here only to leave the Duchess alone, who are we to question whether we're Nobles or not?" Shadow questioned with a retort.

"You have a solid point on this one Shadow. I also believe that you're right as well. The country of Galia may end up in a war one day." Silver said.

"Alright then. I'll have a word with Her Highness in Tristain so she'll provide safety for your mother, Charlotte." Louise said.

Tabitha, now called Charlotte, couldn't help but shed tears. She looked at Shadow and Silver, smiling elegantly.

'Shadow, Silver, you have done more than save my mother. You also saved a lot of people.' She thought, blushing.

Shadow noticed Charlotte smiling at him. This made him smile back in response. Tiffania was with Shadow, who also smiled at Charlotte.

"Everyone, I can't thank you enough. I'm forever grateful for your help." She said.

"Isn't it natural for a friend to help each other, despite being different or having different social standards?" Shadow asked philosophically.

Louise and the others couldn't help but smile at Shadow.

'He's very caring at everyone he meets. I know Shadow has been softened from his interactions with Tiffania, yet I never seen him act like this.' Silver said.

'Shadow, you're right on what you said. You can't judge a person on his past actions.' Saito thought.

'Darling, you're amazing... I'm happy that you helped my friend deal with such a horrible fate.' Kirche thought.

'I can't help but be amazed on you, Shadow. You're someone who cares for others.' Saito thought.

'You're an amazing person, Shadow. If anything, being Tiffania's familiar may have been a blessing in disguise.' Louise thought.

Everyone's thoughts were then interrupted when Shadow walked to the window.

"First things first. Before we go after Joseph, we need to deal with the current threat at hand." He said.

"Reconquista…" Charlotte said.

"Yes, that terrorist group. They have been causing untold damage behind our eyes. Whatever they're planning, it may threaten more than just region. Their ideals are probably threatening the whole of Halkeginia." Shadow said.

"We should inform Her Highness about it." Louise said.

"Good thing I can teleport with Chaos Control back to Tristain and here." Shadow said.

"Chaos Control?" The Duchess said in question.

"Just hold on tight though. People who experience the teleportation will feel dizzy". Shadow said.

He then held the white chaos emerald and stretched his hand up to the ceiling. Everyone gathered to him as he began to utter the words.

"Chaos Control!"

Immediately, a flash of blue light engulfed everyone around him.

######

Shadow and everyone around him were in a void of space, traveling at fast speeds.

"Is this what you see when you travel through Chaos Control?" The Duchess asked in surprise.

"Yes, all the time. We should see a passage of light coming." Shadow said.

True to what he said, a small light began to appear and glowed brightly. The group was getting closer till the light got bigger.

"Here we go!" Shadow said.

######

In Tristania, a flash of blue light appeared. Shadow, Tiffania, Louise, Saito, Silver, Kirche, Charlotte, Parcerin, and the Duchess de Orléans looked around.

"We're back in Tristain." Louise said.

Kirche, Charlotte, Parcerin, and the Duchess were surprised of Shadow's abilities.

"Thank you for bringing us here, Shadow." The Duchess said.

"Think nothing about it. I'm doing what a friend should do." He bashfully replied.

"In any case, we should find the royal palace so we can speak with the Princess about this." Louise said.

By then, Silver noted Saito, now holding onto the large metal pot.

"You're still holding on to that?" He questioned.

"Yeah. I'm planning to use it for something tonight." Saito said.

Everyone, save for Shadow and Silver, didn't know what he was planning to use the pot for.


Ending 1: Kokia - Fate


That's all from here.

Note 1: The next chapter will provide some relief for the characters.

Note 2: Chaos Purification: a technique that's capable of curing any illness. Victims either feel cured or regurgitate foreign substances responsible for causing the sickness. Use of the technique requires the white chaos emerald, but it tires the user out. Please bear in mind, not all abilities are dependent on the chaos emerald color that Shadow holds.

Note 3: Silver has the ability to cast hypnosis. As the name implies, it causes the person to fall asleep. It can be used for medics to heal a person or capture enemies.

Note 4: For those of you who wanted Tabitha to be paired with, this is your chance to decide.

Note 5: I know the story is starting to stray from the original plot. This story will remain unchanged.

Note 6: Please note that I will provide some scenes for the Sonic characters. It's rather tough to focus on both sides at once.

Any questions, send a review.