I am so sorry that I have neglected to squeeze a chapter out until now. Man, senior year is a bitch.

Um, as I reread my work I noticed I had some continuity flaws, such as I mentioned that Faith's mother was dead, but now she's alive, and blah, blah, blah. All I can say is "whoops." I didn't even notice. Sorry if that caused any confusion.

Well, I hope you enjoy!


Shadow's eyes travel over the recruits. They are all straight as boards, their eyes focusing forward. Boston limps up to a large golden lion with deep blue eyes and a distinct, scarred muzzle.

"Good afternoon, Gabriel," Boston greets the lion stiffly, forcing a smile.

"Oh, hello, Boston," the lion purrs. "Are you feeling better?"

"Very much so, Lieutenant," Boston tells him with a smile. "So, these are the new recruits?"

Gabriel nods. "I'm sure they weren't expecting you to show up here today, though."

Boston nudges me forward. "This is Shadow the Hedgehog, Sky's fiancé, and he'll be helping me out today."

Gabriel nods at me, flashing a warm smile. "Hello, there." He leans in towards Boston. "Sky's fiancé?"

Boston waves him off. "Let's just begin. Recruits?" The soldiers all snap to attention. "Show me what you got."

The first, a black panther with piercing green eyes, steps forward, turning his head slightly so he can look directly at Boston. "My name is Roda, sir," he introduces himself, dipping his head. "I come from the Grottos."

Boston nods. Shadow's ears twitch. Roda appears to be a rather strong recruit, though he noticed that the panther's eyes shifted around too much, suggesting timidness.

That's a big weakness. You can't fight a war if you're scared."

A sharp gasp from Boston jerks Shadow out of his thoughts.

"Boston? Are you okay?" Shadow hisses, glancing up at the general. The older hedgehog's eyes are wide, and he's staring at one cadet in particular.

"Dot?" he breathes, stepping forward to stand in front of the cadet. He bends over to be eye level with her.

Shadow studies the cadet carefully. She's a petite hedgehog who has the same build and make of Sky, only her fur is a pale cream color, but her eyes are the same blue as Boston's. She appears to be only about nineteen or twenty, about fifteen years younger than Boston.

"What are you doing here?" Boston asks her, his ears folded back against his head.

"My mom said you were here working for the Princess, so I thought I'd join you," Dot answers coolly.

"And you actually could leave? Dad would never let you leave the island."

"That's funny, especially since Dad died three months ago."

All the color flushes from Boston's face. "What the hell did you just say?"

"Dad died from a lung infection three months ago," Dot repeats.

Boston stands upright and whips around to look at Gabriel. "You finish this, okay? I need to talk to my sister."

Gabriel dips his head and walks down the line of recruits.

"Shadow, you can go home. I'll see you later," Boston orders briskly, leading Dot back into the Palace doors.

Shadow shrugs, figuring that he'll find out whatever the heck is going on later, and begins to make his way home.


Sky's POV

I'm sitting on the couch with Millie when I get the call. I am just preparing to leave, packing the last t-shirt back into my suitcase. Vincent and Faith are lying on the floor, their arms draped over each other's backs.

My grandfather is dead. Daddy sounded so distraught over the phone, and I've only ever heard and seen him this sad once, and that was about twelve years ago when he found my mother cheating on him with Thunder.

From what I understood, he and Granddad didn't get along, mostly because Dad was born normal much unlike his parents and siblings, who all have special abilities. That's where he gained the drive to fight and become the great fighter that he is. When he became General over the Army, Granddad loosened up and let him be a true part of the family. He allowed Dad to come onto the island again.

The island is for the mutant kind, specifically for our family. My grandfather's family is known for breeding strong mutant types, and they only mate with those that carry a strong mutant gene. My dad broke two rules of the island: being a normal and mating with a normal, which led to his exile. Silver and my birth eased that a little, especially when Granddad discovered that my brother and I are mutants.

He loves Silver and me. We were always allowed to go to the island and play with our cousins and our aunt Dot. Granddad would always make us gifts and help us with our training and such. Grandma would bake for us and watch over us, especially when Dad left Mom and started to spend most of his time in the Palace.

Now that I think about it, none of us have been to the island in years, but I never found it strange, because I knew that Daddy was always too busy to take us over anymore.

I call Silver after hanging up with Shadow (I'd called him right after speaking with Daddy) and the Crown City Counsel (I called to let them know that there was a death in the family), drumming my fingers urgently against Mayana's table. He picks up after the third ring, and I can already tell that he's talked to my father.

"Silv?" I say quietly. "You talked to Dad?"

"Y-yeah, I did," he rasps, sniffling. "He's so upset. Are you coming home?"

I nod. "Yeah, Vincent's bringing me as soon as I pack my bag."

"Okay, Dad said that as soon as you get back we're going to head up to the island," Silver tells me.

"Gotcha. See you soon."

I hang up, tucking my phone in my pocket before turning around and flinging articles of clothing into my suitcase. I zip it closed just as there is a knock on my door.

"Come in!"

Vincent's head peeps in. "Are you ready?" he asks, giving a teeny smile.

I sigh. "Yeah, I am. Let's go."

He steps in, reaching out to take my arm, his staff in his other hand. Faith leans against the doorway, crossing her arms over her chest.

"See you later, Princess," she murmurs. "Sorry for your loss."

I nod to her and take Vincent's arm, gripping my suitcase tightly in my other hand. There is a flash of light and we are suddenly outside of Dad's house. Vincent turns to me, his light gray eyes full of sorrow.

"I'll be seeing you, I guess," I mutter, my ears drooping slightly once I think about what I could face behind that door. "Thanks for bringing me home."

"No problem. Thanks for your help with finding Faith's gift. I'll see you in a couple of days, Sky."

I nod, forcing a small smile as Vincent teleports back to Crown City. I walk up to my father's door, knocking timidly. When Dad's sad, he's the angry kind of upset, and he'll lash out at anyone, including Silver and me.

Silver answers the door, and he looks absolutely distraught. His quills are all awry, and his fur is stained with soot.

"You look like a mess!" I gasp, dropping my suitcase and dragging my twin into the bathroom. I immediately run hot water over him. "You can't go to the island like this!"

Silver doesn't fight me, but lets me scrub all of the dirt, ash, and grime out of his fur. "You don't know what I had to deal with," he mutters quietly. "I just had to sedate Dad to get him to calm the hell dow, and you know that's no picnic."

"I know," I whisper, soaping him up, moving my fingers through his quills delicately. "It's okay."

Silver frowns and wriggles away form me. "I can bathe myself, Skylar," he growls half-jokingly, taking the bar of soap from me.

I back off, glad to see that he's regained some of his old self, and sit up on the toilet, crossing my legs and staring at the wall. Neither of us speaks, and the only noise is the sound of water and my father's snoring.

"I didn't think it would upset him this much," Silver murmurs suddenly as he's rinsing off. "you weren't here, so you wouldn't know about all the shit he broke when Dot told him."

"Dot told him?" I cock an eyebrow. "I thought she wasn't allowed off the island."

"She isn't, but after Granddad died she came here to become a soldier. Or at least that's what Dad told me," Silver tells me, shutting off the water. He grabs a towel off the rack and begins to dry off.

"Where is she now?" I ask him, smoothing my shorts and biting my lip.

"At the Palace in the barracks. I told her to stay there until Dad calms down."

I sigh. "I just can't believe this was kept from him for this long, and Grandma nor his other siblings said a damn thing."

"Neither can I," my brother agrees, brushing out his fur. He takes care to fluff out his mane and smooth down his quills. "I guess we'll get answers when we go the island."

I frown. "Do you hear that?"

Silver's ears prick. "Hear what?"

"Exactly." I fling open the door.

Dad has stopped snoring.

"Dad's awake!" Silver gasps, flinging his towel to the floor and running to Dad's room.


Third Person POV

The trip to island is a quiet one. Boston rows his small family across the Lava Sea in silence, his ears pricked for any sign of danger.

"Do you want me to take over for a while, Dad?" Silver offers, quietly, bracing himself for any verbal lashing he is due to receive. The tall black hedgehog nearly bit Sky's head off (literally!) when she offered to help him clean his fur. He claimed that he didn't need anyone's help, and that he can do everything on his own. Sky had just nodded and agreed, backing off. Even she cannot argue with Boston.

"No," Boston growls. "I can do it myself."

Silver shrinks back, bringing his knees to his chest. "All right."

The twins exchange a look before turning back to stare at their father. Silver clasps his hands together, biting his lip and looking to the floor. Sky heaves a sigh, running her fingers through her quills and playing with the ring on her finger. Silver glances at her, frowning upon seeing the ring.

"When did you and Shadow get engaged?" he whispers, raising an eyebrow.

"A couple of weeks ago," Sky answers just as quietly. "I thought Shadow told you."

Silver nods. "He did. I just didn't believe him." He sits back, crossing his legs. "Dad was surprised."

"Well, I'm sure he's forgotten all about it now," Sky mutters, glancing at her brooding father.

Boston is a complete and total mess. His fur is unkempt, and his usually white, fluffy mane is now dull-grey and flat. His quills are drooping and his ears have been flat to his head since he's woken up. Both of his children are worried about him, and neither knows how long it will take before their father is pushed over the edge into insanity.

Cloud offered to come along with them, but the twins and her two sons all agreed that she was too weak, and their decision was backed when she broke down into a nasty coughing fit right in front of them. This saddened Boston even more, and that's what led to the state of his ears.

Shadow also offered to come with them, but Sky told him that it was more of a family affair and that he should stay home. She would most likely return before Boston with Silver for work-purposes. Shadow wasn't happy about this, but he stayed home nonetheless.

The boat hits the shore, and Silver hops off to tie it to the dock. Sky stands up and brushes off her clothes, mentally preparing herself for what comes next. She reaches out for Silver's hand, clasping it tightly as she watches her father trek up the blackened beach of the island. The don't even look at each other as they follow him, but they know that what follows will not be good.


Please review! Muffin out!