Story 54: A Path Through The Storm
The next morning dawned bright and sunny. Sonic had rested well from his brutal fight with Zira, although he was still feeling a little beaten and slowed down and he was set to find this mysterious new clan that Emperor Tai had told him about. Ruben the Water Panther, last of the Hǎilàng clan decided to go along with Sonic on his journey since he had more knowledge on Chun-Nan and its landscape then Sonic did. Tai packed Sonic a bag which had food supplies in case he got hungry and a map to the new clan's territory. Sonic gave the map to Ruben since he wasn't interested in reading it and Sonic slung the bag of supplies on his shoulder.
"Do I need anything else emperor?" asked Sonic.
"All you need is vigilance and skill." said Tai "The way to the clan is full of challenges since its bride only excepts powerful and mighty citizens and if you can pass them all, your journey will be all that simpler. But I'm warning you, this is a dangerous trek and you MUST be careful or you won't make it back alive."
"Emperor, puh-lease." scoffed Sonic, wafting his arms down "I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, the fastest thing alive. I don't need to be careful, any challenge this clan has awaiting me won't be able to snag me, I'm too fast!"
"Sonic!" snapped Tai "I mean it! I've braved the path to the clan's territory before and I barely made it out alive! If you don't be careful you will die! Please take this seriously or I will forbid you from going!"
"OK, OK! Keep your hair on emperor!" snapped Sonic "Sheesh, why are royal people so darn grouchy?"
"Sonic! Don't speak to the emperor like that!" hissed Ruben "It's disrespectful and bad manners!"
"Whatever." said Sonic casually "Well, I'll be going now. Wish me luck emperor."
"I do wish you luck young one." said Tai lowly.
"And so do I." said Princess Matilda, fanning herself with a handheld fan she was fond of using "Make sure you don't get killed out there hedgehog of heroic nature."
"Don't worry about me princess." said Sonic casually "I'll be fine. Come on Ruben, let's juice!" he cried.
He ran off and out of the door and supersonic speed.
"Oy! Wait for me you overeager hedgehog!" yelped Ruben, running out of the door after him.
In order to catch up to Sonic, he summoned a wave of water out of his fingers and rode upon it in the style of a surfer. The wave carried him down the hilltop and after Sonic who was already near the local village a good distance away from the pagoda. Tai and Matilda watched Sonic and Ruben head off to the village. They looked at each other with dis-concern on their faces.
"If that boy's obstinacy doesn't falter then he'll be dead before he gets past the Valley of Stepping Stones." said Tai despairingly.
"That's why we sent little Ruben to accompany him daddy." said Matilda, putting her fan away "Ruben is more level headed then the hedgehog after all so he'll keep him under control."
"Let us hope so, for his sake." said Tai.
As for Sonic's friends, Tails the twin-tailed fox, Amy Rose, Cosmo the Seedrian, Cream the Rabbit with her pet Chao Cheese and Knuckles the Echidna were sitting on cushions, not really sure on what to do right now other then wait for Sonic and Ruben to return. Matilda sensed they were bored and wondered if she could be of assistance.
"Excuse me heroes of the west, can I get you anything?" she asked.
"We don't need anything thank you." said Knuckles "Don't strain yourself worrying about us."
"OK." said Matilda "I'm going into the sacred garden outback to meditate. If you need me, just call me."
"OK." said Cream.
Matilda left the room and headed out the back into the garden. Tai decided to meditate with his daughter so he followed her. Now the two mongooses had left, Tails spoke up to break the silence that started drifting around the room after the emperor and princess left.
"So. When do you think that Zira woman will attack again?" he asked.
"I believe she said she'd be back in the afternoon." said Cosmo "But she didn't say a particular time in the afternoon. It could be midday, half twelve, one o' clock or anything."
"Well when Zira and her army of misfit morons show up again, I'll be very happy to pound every one of their heads in!" said Amy crossly, summoning her hammer to her hand "I owe that Bladefeather guy a headache for wrecking my robe yesterday!"
"One thing I wonder is how did Zira subjugate two kung-fu masters with mere bribery?" asked Knuckles "Aren't kung-fu masters supposed to be tough and don't give into their enemies no matter what?"
"Maybe they're just as evil as Zira is." suggested Cream.
"Chao." piped Cheese.
"But Tai knows them for being good." said Tails "Maybe they fell to the dark side just like Zira did or there's more to their alliance then what we know at this moment."
"I can't stop wondering how Zira got a clan of ninja cats to work for her." said Cosmo to nobody in particular "They seem like the kind of ninjas who want Chun-Nan for themselves, they don't seem like the kind that ally themselves with someone."
"They're thieves according to Ruben." noted Tails "I bet Zira bribed them as well. Any amount of bribery can get a gang of thieves to serve you faithfully."
"I have a sneaky feeling Zira maybe lying to them." said Amy "I mean, once she conquers Chun-Nan, what need will she have for a clan and two kung-fu masters?"
"So are you thinking Zira's going to kill them after she conquers Chun-Nan?" squeaked Cream "How horrible! I hope that isn't what she's planning!"
"Well if we can defeat her, she won't get a chance to do that." said Knuckles, pounding his fists together "I really hope this new clan will be enough to stand up to Zira's might or we're dead meat!"
While the Mobians were talking, Cheese fluttered near the window to get some fresh air and upon reaching the window, he saw a nasty sight coming towards the pagoda. He gasped in shock and flew back to Cream, squeaking madly and waving his arms around in a flurry. Everybody stared at the frantic Chao who's panicked words could only be understood by Cream since she could speak Chao.
"Chao, Chao, Chao!" cried Cheese frantically. Cream's eyes widened in shock, she knew what Cheese was trying to tell everybody.
"What's up with Cheese?" asked Tails "He seems worried."
"Cheese says Bladefeather is standing outside the pagoda and he's got Mushu with him!" shrieked Cream, putting her hands to her cheeks "Oh no!"
"What are those two clowns doing here?" asked Knuckles, raising his fists "Are they here to hinder us and give Zira a chance to grind us into the dirt?"
"Well we're not letting them!" declared Amy, waving her hammer around "Let's get them!"
Everybody leaped up onto their feet and ran outside to confront the two invaders. They stood protectively in front of the pagoda in battle ready stances and ready to strike. Bladefeather and Mushu stood at the edge of the hilltop with straight faces and their arms folded. Tails clenched his fists, Knuckles gritted his teeth and raised his fists, Amy raised her hammer, Cream clenched her fists, Cheese flapped beside the rabbit's head and raised his fists and Cosmo put on a pretentious brave face and clenched her fists, even though she knew she was going to get creamed by the two kung-fu masters.
"Hold it right there you two mercenaries!" screeched Amy, pointing sharply at them.
"Back off and we promise we won't pound your skulls in!" snarled Knuckles.
Bladefeather just sarcastically clapped at his confronters.
"What a marvellous display of vapidity and fatuity my obscure and impetuous heroes of the west." snorted Bladefeather "Now do me a favour and soothe those overly jumpy nerves of yours before someone gets hurt."
Amy growled and tried to pounce on Bladefeather but Tails grabbed her by the dress and held her back. He shook his head at her as if to say "No Amy." and Amy lowered her hammer, still scowling at the vain falcon. Bladefeather held his hand out and out of his long sleeve dropped a long piece of rope, some shuriken, a pair of shackles, a dagger and a white gag with a yin-yang symbol on it. They all dropped onto the ground at his feet.
"We are here under the pretence of kidnapping Princess Matilda and delivering her to Zira the Ruthless for hostage purposes." explained Bladefeather, motioning to the equipment he'd just dropped on the ground "Zira believes that Dalon Tai will cede to her demands if the life of his precious daughter is threatened. But that is not the real reason for our presence here and we do not intend to carry out this repugnant mission."
The Mobians hesitated and softened their expression. They all looked at each other. Bladefeather and Mushu aren't going to do what Zira told them to do? What was going on? Bladefeather and Mushu were two very mysterious people indeed! Tails stepped bravely forward, while being weary of any sneak attacks that possibly hid and spoke to the falcon.
"If you're not here to kidnap Matilda." said Tails slowly "Then…what are you here for…um…sir?"
Bladefeather scowled at Tails.
"As if I am going to inform you." he sniffed "I do not discuss seminal messages to mere gamin and mendicants!"
"Care to repeat that again? In English?" snarled Amy, raising her hammer threateningly "We don't know what you mean!"
Bladefeather sighed loudly.
"Of all the uneducated…I do not discuss important messages to mere children and tramps!" he repeated crossly using small words this time.
"Tramps?" screamed Amy "That's it! I'm gonna…"
"No Amy." said Knuckles, holding his arm up to stop her from hammering Bladefeather into the ground like a nail.
Amy tensed up for a minute before standing down and stepping back.
"So, if you won't talk to Tails then will you talk to me?" asked Knuckles "I'm not a child, I'm sixteen and a guardian of a special island so I'm definitely not a child or a tramp."
Bladefeather scoffed at him.
"You're vacuous. I only talk to intelligent people." he said nastily to Knuckles.
"Are you calling me stupid?" snarled Knuckles, preparing to give Bladefeather a black eye.
"Knuckles, don't kill him! That's not going to settle anything!" cried Cream.
Knuckles stepped back and lowered his fists, growling like a tiger to himself.
"Where's the magnanimous Sonic the Hedgehog and the Hǎilàng Clan survivor Ruben the Water Panther?" asked Bladefeather "I will acquiesce to talking to them if you don't mind. They're meritorious and worthy enough of hearing my terms."
"They left." said Tails bluntly "They've gone to meet a clan in the outskirts of the country and hopefully get the clan to help us beat Zira."
"Fat lot of good a primitive ninja clan will do." muttered Bladefeather "Zira obliterated the three clans of Chun-Nan with little effort so this one won't be of any good. In that case, bring me Emperor Dalon Tai instead." he ordered "I will explain everything to him and no one less."
No one moved. Amy just raised her hammer and gritted her teeth.
"Oh I get it now!" she growled "You're tricking us into thinking you have no intention to kidnap Matilda so you can kidnap the emperor instead! I can see right through your little plot Bladefeather! Well tough luck bird brain, if you want to kidnap the emperor then you'll have to go through me first!"
Mushu face-palmed himself in annoyance and Bladefeather glared at Amy.
"You are the embodiment of idiocy child!" snapped Bladefeather "Which part of "we do not intend to kidnap anybody" did you fail to comprehend? We are here to discuss seminal matters and clear up some misunderstandings with the emperor and you are just making this innocent act of ours seem like an act of serpentine! You get me the emperor or you will not live to see another sunrise you vacuous, perfidious little brat!"
"Stop talking with big words and speak English for once!" snapped Amy "You sound like a dork!"
"Amy, stop trying to start a fight with him!" yelled Tails angrily "He's here on peaceful terms and all you're doing is making him mad!"
"I'll go and get the emperor before a fight starts." said Cosmo "I'll be right back."
Cosmo ran back into the pagoda to fetch Emperor Tai. Bladefeather smiled wickedly at Amy.
"The leaf child is more mature then you are gamin." sneered Bladefeather "And yet her age doesn't seem to be at your level. You should be ashamed of yourself."
The only thing stopping Amy from killing Bladefeather right now was Cream the Rabbit grabbing her by the dress and holding her back.
"Once the emperor appears, I shall reveal our true nature to you merchants." said Bladefeather "And I think you'll be very invigorated with what I have to say."
"Invigorated my foot." hissed Amy under her breath.
Tails began to wonder what Bladefeather was going to say once the emperor showed up to meet his amends. Was this all a trap or was there another reason for Bladefeather and Mushu being here…?
Meanwhile, Sonic and Ruben had left the local village behind and were running through a long stretch of plains that seemed to go on forever.
"So Ruben, are we following the map correctly?" Sonic called over to the water panther.
Ruben peered at the map he held in his hands.
"We are indeed Sonic." said Ruben "We've gone through the village, through a bamboo forest, over the Great Wall of Chun-Nan and we've been travelling for fifteen minutes straight across these plains. In a moment or two we should come across a guard who will instruct us on our first challenge we have to brave."
"Cool." said Sonic "Those Chun-Nan folk can set up whatever challenge they like! No challenge is too great for Sonic the Hedgehog!"
"Of all the ego-centric…" muttered Ruben in annoyance.
The two Mobians continued making their long trek through the plains. If an average person was walking these plains, he would probably have taken eight hours to walk the entire way but Sonic, being super speedy and Ruben, using waves as transport, were making this journey in a jiffy. They had been travelling for fifteen minutes straight and five minutes later, they finally arrived at their first destination. There were a pair of iron gates chained shut with a long stretching wall on either side, boxing in whatever was on the other side of the gates. A guard who was a rhinoceros in full body armour stood by the gates. He was so heavily armoured even his horn had armour on it! He had a spear at the ready and he looked extremely mean and tough looking. He also didn't seem to show much tolerance for visitors given how he angrily snorts at them every time one comes. Sonic and Ruben skidded to a halt in front of the guard and looked up at him. The guard looked down at them and blew steam out of his huge nostrils. Sonic held his hands up in front of his face.
"What are you two here for?" boomed the guard.
His voice was as powerful as his appearance.
"We've come to meet the clan that lives on the outskirts of Chun-Nan." explained Sonic "Now let us through tubby! It's urgent we get to this clan!"
The guard laughed at Sonic. His laugh sounded like thunder due to his powerful voice.
"You want to meet up with the all powerful, all mighty Raiju clan?" he bellowed "I doubt Conquering Storm will make amends with peasants like you!"
"Conquering Storm?" said Ruben "Who or what is Conquering Storm?"
"That is for me to know and you to find out peasant boys." snarled the guard "And the only way you'll find out is if you can brave the two challenges the Raiju clan have set up as a test of might to see if they are worthy enough of meeting them."
"That's what we're here for so let us through." ordered Sonic impatiently.
"Not so fast little boy." boomed the guard, holding a huge hand up to stop Sonic in his path "Conquering Storm does not like cheats so I must ask you if you have super powers of any kind, can you refrain from using them? If not, then the Raiju clan will not except you."
"So does that mean no-go on the super speed?" cried Sonic "That sucks!"
"As for you little boy." the guard pointed at Ruben "Give me your aqua-collar. I cannot trust a water panther to not use his water powers to aid the hedgehog in the challenges."
Ruben reluctantly pressed a button on the back of his purple collar he wore around his neck that unclipped it and he handed it over to the guard. The guard hooked it on his horn and chortled to himself.
"What's with the collar and why do you wear it?" asked Sonic.
"The collar is what gives me my water powers." said Ruben "Without it, I'm cut off from my water powers and all I end up having is my novice style kung-fu and ninjutsu."
"Well that's a stupid idea." muttered Sonic "Who invented that?"
"It wasn't an invention." said Ruben "We water panthers don't have our water powers until we get our collars. When we wear those collars, we have the ability to use water powers and control water. Only the most trusted of the Hǎilàng clan are granted permanent water powers by our bride leader, Bride of the Gentle Waves. When Gentle Waves grants us permanent water powers, we don't need the collars and we can use our powers at all times. If you can't be trusted then you're stuck with your collar and if you went rogue, Gentle Waves just confiscated your collar and you were permanently cut off from your water powers."
"Oh." said Sonic "I'm sorry little guy, I had no idea…"
"I know you didn't mean any harm Sonic." said Ruben "I understand your thoughts on the subject. Since Bride of the Gentle Waves is dead though, I'll never be able to have permanent water powers, I'm cursed with that stupid collar for the rest of my life. If I lose it or it gets destroyed then that's it, no more water powers for me."
Sonic pulled a grim face and he turned back to the rhino guard.
"Hey tubby, you'd better promise me that Ruben gets his aqua-collar back or I will be forced to fight you for it." said Sonic.
"You have my word of honour that the water panther will get his collar back." boomed the guard.
"Is that a promise?" asked Sonic.
"In Chun-Nan, one's word of honour is sacred and it would be the ultimate dishonour if I went back on my word." explained the guard "When I say the water panther will get hiscollar back, I mean he'll get his collar back and I will not go back on my word."
"Good." said Sonic in a softer tone "Now let us through."
"Very well." said the guard, pulling the key to the gates out of his pocket and unlocking the heavy padlock that kept the chains together "Good luck out there travellers, you're going toneed it." he said in a rather flat tone, suggesting that other travellers taking the challenge hadn't been so fortunate.
The rhino guard pulled the chains away and opened the gates. Sonic and Ruben were met with a rather wonderful sight on the other side of the gates. There was a large lake with tall stones protruding from it. The stones were seventy feet tall and they led all the way to a ledge on the other side. The lake was surrounded by bamboo trees, full of lily pads and brightly coloured flowers that grew on the banks. Ruben was delighted at the sight of water but Sonic, given his dislike for water, wasn't so delighted. He groaned in annoyance.
"Jeez, water again?" he moaned "I got wet yesterday! I don't need to get wet again!"
"I take it you don't like water then." said Ruben, disappointed.
"Nah I don't mind water it's just I can't swim and I don't really like getting wet." said Sonic, hoping he wasn't offending Ruben.
"Well you won't have to worry about getting wet." said Ruben "All you have to do is hop across the lake on those stepping stones and you'll be as dry as a bone."
The rhino guard closed the gates behind the hedgehog and water panther, startling them a little but they shook it off and focused on the objective.
"So where's the challenge then?" wondered Sonic "I don't see what's so challenging about stepping stones."
"According to the map…" said Ruben, consulting the map "This is the Valley of Stepping Stones. Not many people survive this area and it can be a very tense area due to the challenge it presents."
"Which is?" asked Sonic impatiently.
"Watch." said Ruben sternly as he folded the map up and stored it into his glove.
He picked up a stone and threw it at one of the stepping stones. The stone hurtled through the air and landed on the stone. The moment the stone landed with a clatter on the stepping stone, it shook slightly and began to descend down into the lake. The stone descended down and down until only the top of it was above the water. Sonic and Ruben peered over the edge of the ledge they were standing on and saw the shrunken down stepping stone. Then suddenly a metal dragon shaped head appeared from nowhere and its jaws clamped around the stepping stone. Then smoke poured out of its nostrils and the jaws opened up, revealing the stepping stone which was blackened a little and the stone Ruben threw at it had been disintegrated and the head disappeared back underwater, making lots of bubbles as it did so. The stone then rose back up to its original height, causing it to rain down on the water under it. Sonic was surprised to say the least.
"This is a challenge of patience and brain." explained Ruben "You have to find the correct path across the stepping stones. If not, then you're toast, literally."
"So I have to leap across the right stones or I'm a kebab hedgehog?" exclaimed Sonic "Well I think this is the first challenge I'm not so confident on!"
"Proves you shouldn't be so arrogant Sonic." said Ruben "Now since I'm willing to give my life for you and Chun-Nan, I will find the correct path across the valley."
"Are you sure?" asked Sonic "It's not that I doubt you but, what if you mess up and get fried? I can't do this trek without you buddy."
"I am positive about this friend." said Ruben kindly "You have your life ahead of you, I have nothing to fight for since everything I lived for is gone so I don't care if I die."
"Well I do!" said Sonic firmly, grabbing Ruben by the shoulders "Would your clan leader want you to throw your life away like that? No! She would want you to be strong and you need to be strong Ruben or we'll never make it to the clan and tempt hem to help us defeat Zira!"
"Y-y-y-you're right." said Ruben, his ears drooping back in despair "What was I thinking? I'm such a fool! Oh Sonic, I'm sorry I thought so little of myself."
"Ruben, it's cool." said Sonic "No need to apologize. You just needed some support that's all. Now let's get across this lake, together!"
"Right." said Ruben with a much more confident expression on his face.
Sonic leaped off the ledge and onto a stepping stone. Ruben gathered up a few pebbles so he could use them to find out which stones were deadly and which stones were and he leaped onto the same stepping stone as Sonic. Sonic tried not to look down at the water below. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead at the sea of stepping stones they had to hop across. There seemed to be at least fifty in total and only a few of them would be non-lethal. Sonic looked around desperately. Apart from the stone with the scorched stone from earlier, he had no idea which stone to step on next.
"So Ruben, any ideas?" asked Sonic.
"Yes." said Ruben.
He threw a pebble at the stone in front of them. Nothing happened. Sonic and Ruben leapt onto the stone and Ruben scooped up the pebble.
"If I keep throwing pebbles at the stones as a tester then we'll find our way across easily." said Ruben "We'll know which stones are lethal and which are not."
"But what if you run out?" asked Sonic.
"I have more then enough Sonic." Ruben assured the hedgehog "We'll be across before I run out."
Sonic gave Ruben his trademark thumbs up sign with an added wink as if to say "OK then buddy." Ruben tossed another pebble at a stepping stone in front of them. The pebble landed on the stone and the stone descended down into the water. Bad step. Ruben threw another pebble at the stone on their left. That stone descended down into the water too. Ruben threw a pebble at the stone on their right. Nothing happened so they hopped onto it.
Sonic and Ruben kept this up for a while and soon enough they had made it half way across the valley. Their hop across the stones had been a huge zigzag across the valley. Unfortunately, Ruben had used up more pebbles then he anticipated and he only had a few pebbles left. Not nearly enough to help find the right way across to the end of the valley. They had twenty-eight stones to get over and they had no idea which ones would be right. Regardless, Ruben used up his three remaining pebbles to get across the stepping stones. Two stones descended down but one didn't so Sonic and Ruben hopped onto the stone and Ruben scooped up his last pebble. He threw it at a stone and the stone descended down, taking away his last pebble. Sonic folded his arms and sighed in annoyance.
"So much for "We'll be across before I run out"!" moaned Sonic, mimicking Ruben's exact words.
"I didn't think I'd use my pebbles so quickly!" snapped Ruben "But now I've run out, there's no knowing how to get across without knowing which stones we should avoid. I guess we'll just have to take chances and make a lucky leap."
"So are you saying if a stone goes down into the water, we should leap before we go down with it?" asked Sonic
"Yes." said Ruben "It's our only chance."
Sonic and Ruben leaped onto a stone on their left. Safe stone. They then leaped onto another stone. Another safe stone. They leaped onto another stone. The stone started to descend down and they leaped for it before they could go down with it. Unfortunately, they landed on another death stone and they leaped off just as it started to descend. Luckily, Sonic landed on a safe stone but Ruben had been slightly off mark and he landed on a stone directly beside Sonic and the stone started to descend into the water. Ruben leaped off but he didn't quite make it and he ended up clinging onto the edge of the stone Sonic was standing on. Ruben started to slip but Sonic grabbed his hands and hauled him on. Now Ruben was safe, Sonic and Ruben leaped onto a stone in front of them. The stone began to descend down and they leaped off it and onto another stone. Luckily it was another safe stone but Sonic landed funny and he lost his balance and almost fell off and into the lake but Ruben grabbed him just before he could fall over. Ruben pulled Sonic to safety and the heroes leaped onto another stone. The stone descended down and Sonic and Ruben leaped off it before they could go down with it. They landed on another stone and didn't bother waiting to see if it was safe or not and they made a valiant leap for the ledge that was one stone away from them. Sonic was a good jumper but even he missed his targets sometimes. He didn't quite leap far enough and he ended up clinging onto the edge of the ledge. Ruben had been just as unlucky and now the two were clinging for their lives on the edge of the ledge. Sonic tried to climb back on but he just didn't have the strength to do so. Ruben was having just as much trouble. Ruben wasn't a very good climber and it seemed that this heavy flaw would end up costing him. Sonic pulled and pulled on his arms, desperate to make it onto the ledge. He couldn't fail now, not while he was so close. Sonic grunted with effort and got a good grip on the ledge with his feet to help push himself onto the ledge. With one mighty effort, Sonic managed to pull himself onto the ledge and to safety. Ruben however was beginning to lose his grip. Sonic grabbed Ruben's arms and pulled as hard as he could to get the water panther to safety. It took a lot of pulling but Sonic finally managed to haul Ruben onto the ledge. Ruben panted and gasped heavily.
"Oh thank you Sonic!" he cried "I would have been done for if I fell!"
"No offence Ruben but you need climbing lessons." said Sonic with the shrug of the arms.
"I know I do." said Ruben "We water panthers aren't very skilled in climbing. We're only skilled in martial arts and swimming. I'm gonna need to learn how to climb or I'll be done for."
"Well at least we made it." said Sonic "Now let's get outta here and move onto our next challenge. I hope the next one will be easier."
"Somehow, I doubt it will." said Ruben with an unsupportive tone in his voice.
Ruben fished the map out of his glove and unfolded it to see where they were going next.
"Right, now we've done the valley of stepping stones, we move onto the Plains of Deception" he said.
"Why do they call it the Plains of Deception?" asked Sonic.
"Because they're plains and they're deceptive I guess." said Ruben "Unfortunately, I won't be able to keep up with you now I don't have water powers. If only I didn't have to relinquish my collar."
"I'll carry you bud." said Sonic, scooping Ruben up bridal style "You just tell me where to go and we can get going."
"We just go straight on until we come to a sign that says "Plains of Deception." said Ruben, observing the map "I don't think we've got far."
"Then let's do it to it!" exclaimed Sonic "Hang on tight Ruben! This is going to be really fast!"
Ruben quickly folded up the map and put it back into his glove and Sonic raced off at top speed. What challenge awaited them at the plains they had no idea but if they could conquer the valley of stepping stones then they could conquer any challenge…
Meanwhile at the Pagoda of Prosperity, Cosmo returned to Bladefeather and Mushu with Emperor Dalon Tai by her side. Tai stood forward to meet the pompous, ill-tempered falcon and Cosmo stood respectfully back since Bladefeather didn't want any kids near him while he spoke to Tai. Princess Matilda stayed indoors and watched through the window to see what was going on. Tai wasn't pleased to have been summoned by a traitor but he was curious on what Bladefeather had to say so he respectfully waited for the falcon to speak up. Bladefeather bowed respectfully to Tai but Tai just stood there with a stern look on his face.
"So Bladefeather you subversive fiend, what do you require my presence for?" asked Tai coldly, folding his arms.
Bladefeather took a deep breath and spoke.
"Your grace, me and Mushu came here to apologize for what we have done to the Pagoda of Prosperity and Chun-Nan." said Bladefeather slowly.
Tai's eyes widened and the Mobians all gasped in shock.
"Here's here to apologize?" whispered Tails.
"What is going on with that bird?" whispered Amy.
"I would thank you little brats for silencing those accursed lips of yours." said Bladefeather, his voice like ice.
The Mobians stopped whispering and fell into silence. Tai spoke up and broke the silence.
"You and Mushu…want to apologize?" he said slowly "I hope you can explain yourselves you two."
"We can emperor, well I can, not Mushu." said Bladefeather "Allow me to clear up the misunderstanding between us, you and the distinguished guests from the west." he added, notifying the Mobians watching them.
"Talk. I'm listening." said Tai dryly.
Bladefeather breathed in deeply, breathed out and then spoke.
"All my talk of us joining Zira under the promise of riches was nothing more then a red herring." explained Bladefeather "Me and Mushu weren't bribed into serving Zira the Ruthless, nor were we willing to join that serpentine. Our abhorrence for her is just as great as all of Chun-Nan's and we wish nothing more then to throw Zira back into obscurity and exile."
"I see." said Tai, taking this information in rather well "So why are you working for Zira if you hate her?"
"Me and Mushu were forced into joining her." explained Bladefeather, his expression becoming a grim and miserable looking one "Last week, me and Mushu were having a tour through the mountains that stretch beyond the borders of Chun-Nan and we met Zira. She engaged us in battle and she must have aggrandized herself because me and Mushu could hardly keep up with her. We along with Master Shan had no trouble handling her the first time but when me and Mushu fought Zira again, she refuted us. We had no idea how she aggrandized herself and we couldn't believe it when we got beaten. Mushu suffered worse then me though."
"Why?" asked Tai.
"Zira gave him a rather acerbic blow to his throat in our battle." explained Bladefeather "The blow damaged his voice box and thus has rendered him unable to verbally communicate to anyone now. He'll never recuperate from that blow, he will be mute for the rest of his life."
Mushu pulled a sad face as if he missed being able to talk. He clearly didn't look happy being mute for life.
"After Zira refuted us," continued Bladefeather "She prepared to execute us but I pleaded for mercy. Me and Mushu were forced to swear fealty to Zira and she took us in. If we dared to rebel against her, our penance would be too pernicious and barbaric for me or anyone to put into words. Me and Mushu strive to abnegate our ties with Zira but we dare not in fear of having our necks broken. Thus we were forced to serve Zira faithfully and we played a part in Master Shan's capture and later execution. We weren't pleased with ourselves but we have to remain in this forlorn condition or we die, no second thoughts."
He stared down at the ground and sighed sadly. Tai hummed to himself. He could see it in Bladefeather's eyes he was not lying, every word of his story had been true and he knew it. Tails stepped forward to the down-hearted falcon.
"So if we've got this straight, you want us to help you and Mushu defeat Zira?" asked Tails.
"Please don't talk little boy." said Bladefeather coldly "This is an adult's conversation."
"Bladefeather!" snapped Tai "There's no need to be so acrimonious to our guests from the west! I know of your abhorrence for children but please tolerate them just this once! They're your only hope of being free from Zira's grasp!"
"My utmost apologizes my magnanimous emperor." Bladefeather apologized with a respectful bow.
"So is Tails right?" asked Tai.
"The kid is absolutely correct." said Bladefeather "Me and Mushu wish to form an alliance with Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends and you emperor. Zira may be a match for me and Mushu together but with me, Mushu, Sonic, his friends and you, not even Zira will be a match for us. We'll be the unstoppable typhoon that will blow away Zira's mighty advances!"
"Don't forget she's got the Yīnyǐng Mao clan on her side." reminded Tai "Fong Zarr is a mighty warrior and he has a lot of ninjas at his side. Zira has advantage in numbers but we have advantage in brain and strength so we may have a chance."
"We will." said Cream "Especially since you have that nerve freezing thingy that paralyzes people. You can paralyze Zira with it."
"That is right child but I don't think Zira will be easy to hit." said Tai "Regardless, we must try all we can to prevent Zira from filling Chun-Nan with depredation."
"So do you accede to my requests?" asked Bladefeather hopefully.
"Yes. We do." said Tai, holding his hand out "Welcome back to the good side Bladefeather and Mushu."
"The pleasure is ours." said Bladefeather, shaking Tai's hand "Now, I have already begun to contrive a plan. Get ready to listen because this is very seminal. Heroes from the west, you may gather around with me, Mushu and the emperor."
Knuckles, Tails, Amy, Cream and Cosmo did as they were told and they gathered around Bladefeather, Mushu and Tai and they began communicating to each other in whispers barely audible to any who was passing by.
"Here's the plan…" whispered Bladefeather.
Meanwhile, Sonic and Ruben came across a fancy and brightly decorated sign with Chinese writing on it. A silver sculpture of a dragon's head was perched on top of the sign and it greeted anyone coming near it with demonic red eyes and a snarl with steam venting from its nostrils. Sonic looked at the sign but being as he doesn't live in Chun-Nan he had no idea what the writing on the sign said.
"Hey Ruben, care to translate this?" asked Sonic.
Ruben peered at the sign and looked at the writing.
"It says "You are at the Plains of Deception. Cross these plains at your own risk! Only the mightiest will make the way through and get the honour of meeting the mighty Raiju clan." Ruben translated.
"Wow. This Raiju clan has might issues." joked Sonic.
"So I'm guessing these are the Plains of Deception." said Ruben, looking ahead of him.
There was a long stretch of plains that expanded quite far. If one looked closely enough, you could see a sign at the end of the plains presumably marking the finish line. The plains seemed quite harmless and there didn't seem to be any challenge in this at all. Sonic was pleased to see this and he was ready and rearing to go.
"Well these aren't very deceptive plains are they?" sneered Sonic "They look completely harmless. Let's go!"
"Stop you idiot!" hissed Ruben, yanking on Sonic's quills to hold him back "They're called the Plains of Deception for a reason! They're plains and they're deceiving! It may LOOK harmless but it actually isn't!"
"Prove it smarty pants." scoffed Sonic.
"Of all the self-centred…" moaned Ruben.
He picked up a stone lying near the sign and he threw it into the plains. Before the stone could even hit the ground, a spurt of fire shot up from the ground like water from a geyser and scorched the stone to pieces. Sonic was so surprised his quills almost dropped off.
"Huh…uh…wha…um…huh?" blurted Sonic.
"I knew it!" said Ruben crossly "This is a test of agility and intelligence! The plains are full of invisible traps! But how did the Raiju clan get invisible traps? I thought only chameleons had that kind of technology."
"There are chameleons in Chun-Nan?" asked Sonic "I wonder if Espio once lived here…" he mused to himself.
"No, there are no chameleons in Chun-Nan." said Ruben "But my clan has met a clan of chameleons when we went sight-seeing in another country and they showed us their invisible trap genius that they had invented. If I were to guess, I'd say the Raiju clan must have stolen this technology from the chameleons or they've somehow managed to duplicate it. Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant as we cross these plains. There maybe more then just fire geysers we have to avoid."
"So I'm guessing we're taking this slowly and steadily aren't we?" asked Sonic in dismay "I hate going slow, it's boring."
"Well as boring as being slow is, you don't wanna get killed do you?" snapped Ruben "Now stop complaining and come on!"
"OK! OK!" said Sonic, waving his hands around hastily "Sheesh, who's got your tail in a knot Ruben?"
"Of all the irksome…" grumbled Ruben.
Ruben stormed out into the plains with Sonic slowly following him. The plains stretched a long distance away and they were only moving at a walking speed so this trek would take a while. Sonic and Ruben passed a fire geyser and the geyser spouted a huge jet of fire from underground, making them jump. The fire died down after that huge spout.
"Whoa!" cried Sonic "I am NOT gonna get used to that!"
"You won't have to once we cross these plains." noted Ruben "Because we won't have to do it a second time."
Ruben wasn't watching here he was going and he walked over a symbol marked on the ground that activated a trap. The symbol lit up and out of nowhere, daggers started shooting everywhere and whizzing straight past Sonic and Ruben. The hedgehog and water panther began leaping about to dodge the daggers.
"Ruben! What did you do?" cried Sonic as he ducked to dodge a dagger.
"I think I accidentally activated a trap!" yelped Ruben, falling to the ground so the daggers wouldn't be able to hit him "Silly me! I should be watching where I'm going!"
Sonic decided to do something about the showers of daggers that were coming from nowhere. He leaped into the air and spun into a spin-dash. Any dagger that hit the spinning hedgehog was instantly shattered by Sonic's spin-dash. That idea impressed Ruben and it seemed to be working well because the daggers couldn't harm anybody with Sonic breaking them all in a spin-dash. The daggers seemed to be slowing down because less and less were shooting at Sonic and Ruben by the second. Ruben made the mistake of getting up and thinking it was safe and all of the sudden, a dagger skimmed across his back, leaving a huge gash and bringing the water panther down to his knees. Ruben grimaced and rubbed his throbbing back. Sonic stopped spin-dashing and landed beside Ruben to see what was wrong. Luckily, the daggers stopped coming and everything fell into silence.
"Ruben! Are you OK buddy?" asked Sonic.
"Ugh! I should have stayed down!" grunted Ruben "A dagger skimmed me on the back! Erhn! My back hurts!"
"That dagger got you good." said Sonic, noticing the gash on Ruben's back left by the dagger "Good thing it was only a skim. If it actually impaled you I bet the outcome would be a lot worse. Can you stand?"
Ruben tried to stand back up but the pain in his back forced him back down. Ruben grimaced as if he did have a dagger in his back.
"I can't!" grunted Ruben, tensing up "The pain in my back is too great! You'll have to…go on without me!"
"What? No! I'm not leaving you behind Ruben! How could you even suggest something like that?" exclaimed Sonic "Friends don't leave friends behind! They stick together no matter what!"
Ruben was really surprised at Sonic's selfless nature. He was willing to provide help for anybody that needed it, even if it meant slowing him down in the process.
"Sonic, I dunno what to say." said Ruben, touched by the statement.
"Don't say anything buddy." said Sonic, putting his arm around Ruben and helping him onto his feet "We're gonna get to the end of those plains even if it kills us."
"Your valour is incredible." said Ruben "I think my clan would look up to you if they met you."
"Really?" said Sonic "I suppose they would. A lot of people look up to me. Especially Tails.
"I can see why." said Ruben.
With that said, Sonic continued the trek with Ruben walking beside him. Sonic kept his arm around Ruben to support the wounded panther as they made their way across the plains. Ruben kept his eyes out for symbols marked in the ground so they didn't accidentally activate another trap and Sonic kept all his senses alert. In a place like this with invisible traps, you had to be weary of anything. More fire geysers activated but none of them managed to singe the hedgehog or panther yet. Sonic pressed on as the geysers died away. Another shooting daggers trap activated but Sonic and Ruben were ready for them this time. Ruben stayed down on the ground while Sonic broke all the daggers. He even found where they were coming from and Sonic spin-dashed the dagger shooter, which was invisible, to pieces. Now the daggers had stopped firing, Sonic helped Ruben back up and they continued their trek. But an even deadlier trap was waiting for them and this one did not require a symbol to activate it. As Sonic and Ruben carried on, a whoosh sound was heard from nowhere and the whoosh was soon followed by a slam on the ground. Even though there didn't seem to be anything there, the ground cracked after the slam sound was heard, startling Sonic and Ruben who were inches away. It was an invisible hammer on a machine. The machine couldn't harm them since they weren't close enough so Sonic and Ruben carried on. But there was more then one of those hammer machines. Another invisible hammer swung down and slammed the ground. Sonic and Ruben were just inches away from that one and they were sent staggering backwards. Another hammer machine activated and tried to slam down on Sonic, who unfortunately was in range this time. Sonic heard the whoosh and he rolled over to avoid a ground cracking smash that followed. The slam rung in Sonic's ears and he felt a little shaken afterwards. Ruben strained to get back up and he managed it, although he couldn't stand up straight and he helped the shaken hedgehog back up. Sonic shook off the slam's effects and they carried on. Another fire geyser activated right in front of their faces and the two could feel the heat of that. If Ruben's collar hadn't been confiscated he could easily fight the fire with his water powers. The geyser died down and the two Mobians carried on. Unfortunately, they were halted by an invisible wall. They bumped into it and fell onto their backs. Sonic shook his head and frowned at the invisible wall.
"Oh that's just cheating!" he grumbled "How is anyone supposed to get over an invisible wall? We have no idea how high this thing could possibly be because we can't see it!"
"I'm willing to bet this thing expands all the way to the edges of the plains." said Ruben "And they're blocked off by high stretching rocks. I'll have to see how high this is."
He picked up a stone lying nearby and he threw it at the wall the highest he could throw it. The stone hit the wall and fell back down to the ground. Ruben's face fell.
"It's higher then I thought it was." he muttered.
"Well I'm not giving up!" yelled Sonic determinedly "We're close to getting to the end of these trap-laden plains so we can't give up now! If we can't get over the wall we'll have to go through it!"
Sonic spin-dashed into the wall…and bounced straight off it. He hit the ground and groaned in pain.
"Man! Is that wall invulnerable or something?" he muttered.
"Well we can't get over or through the wall so we'll have to go under it." said Ruben, digging a hole at the base of the wall.
Ruben began to dig at a rapid speed, sending soil flying behind him as he dug. Sonic stepped back so he wouldn't get hit by the dirt. After a while of digging, Ruben finally managed to dig his way under the wall and onto the other side. Sonic spin-dashed through the hole Ruben had dug and he leaped out on the other side. But then more trouble began. The moment Sonic and Ruben were on the other side of the invisible wall, fire geysers all began going off at once. There were at least twenty fire geysers all going off at once. And to add insult to injury, daggers began shooting from nowhere. And there were hammer machines lying in wait for its victims.
"Well I guess the Raiju clan decided to put everything at once at the end in an attempt to stop us." said Sonic, bewildered at what he was faced with.
"Taking it slowly won't do us any good here." said Ruben "Sonic, you are free to go as fast as you wish."
"Sweet!" cheered Sonic, scooping Ruben up bridal style "Hang on tight Ruben! This is gonna be hectic!"
Sonic charged into the fire geysers at top speed but because he was going so fast the fire didn't have time to burn him. Sonic weaved his way around all the geysers and dodged all the flying daggers. He ran too quick for the invisible hammers to it him and he jumped on top of the machine and leaped through the air like a grasshopper. Sonic landed on the ground directly in front of a fire geyser that went off. Sonic charged on at his trademark speed, too fast for the fire to burn him and too fast for the daggers to hit him. He got a little careless and almost got smashed by an invisible hammer but he stopped just before it could hit him and he leapt back, leaving the hammer to hit the ground. Sonic leaped on top of the hammer, then onto the machine wielding the hammer and leaped through the air again. He landed on the ground and charged on. The dagger's numbers were beginning to increase as he got closer to the end of the plains, increasing the chance of getting hit even at sonic speed but Sonic knew how to deal with the daggers. He fell down on his back and slid right across the ground with the daggers whizzing over him. Sonic was sliding so fast he actually managed to dodge all the shooting daggers and make it to the end of the plains! They slid past one last fire geyser and Sonic leaped back onto his feet. He put Ruben down and whooped with joy.
"Whoo hoo! That was awesome!" he cheered "Let's go again!"
"Sonic!" blustered a very frazzled and shaken Ruben "You are the craziest hedgehog I've even known! And that's why we made it to the end of the plains. Your super speed helped us avoid all those traps. Maybe next time I shouldn't doubt you when you wanna rush off into things."
"I understand there are times I have to slow down." said Sonic casually "I just don't enjoy them that's all. Now, where too next Ruben?"
Ruben pulled the map out from his glove and studied it.
"Um…now we've conquered the plains it's straight onto to the clan's territory." said Ruben "Funny, I was expecting more then two challenges."
"Well I'm glad there aren't anymore." said Sonic "We barely escaped with our lives just doing those two! How's your back by the way?"
"Better." said Ruben "I can walk now. So, let's get on to the clan's territory. I really hope they're willing to barter with us."
"If they're not then Chun-Nan has no hope of survival." said Sonic "And Zira will conquer this country for sure."
"Exactly." said Ruben "So, shall we continue hero from the west?"
"Ready when you are water boy." sniggered Sonic.
Sonic and Ruben ran off and headed on to the clan's territory. What awaited them there was unknown at the moment and what the clan would be like was a mystery. But answers to those questions were just around the corner and Sonic wasn't going to back down now…
"What is taking those idiots so long?" roared Zira, punching the wall and cracking it heavily "Kidnapping a stupid princess shouldn't be that hard!"
Zira and the Yīnyǐng Mao clan had retreated back to the abandoned prison and were eagerly awaiting Bladefeather and Mushu's return with Princess Matilda in hand. They had been taking an awful long time and Zira was beginning to lose her patience. Fong Zarr just stood against the wall with his arms folded and he watched Zira pace around with an oddly amused expression on his face. Zira stopped pacing and she pointed sharply at Fong Zarr.
"You! Have you heard anything from Bladefeather at all?" she snapped.
"Not so much as a little whisper." said Fong Zarr bluntly "Your boys maybe in grrrrave danger rrrright now."
"They can't possibly be in danger!" snapped Zira "They're kung-fu masters! Sonic the Hedgehog and his band of younglings can't possibly be that much of a threat to them and they'll be all the wiser about the emperor's paralyzing technique! I think they're playing about like children! Well, I've got a lovely punishment planned for those two morons when I get my claws on them!"
"So what do you suggest oh mighty leader of the Yīnyǐng Mao clan?" asked Fong Zarr inquisitively "Are we going to find them?"
"No. I am going to kidnap that princess myself!" announced Zira "You and your ninjas are coming with me Zarr. And try not to get hit by a wok like last time*!" she roared.
"My head still grrrieves thinking about that discombobulating defeat of mine." muttered Fong Zarr, rubbing his head which had healed up nicely after being hit by a wok.
"Zarr, get your ninjas together!" barked Zira "We're leaving the moment you're ready so get a move on!"
"At once your majesty." said Fong Zarr loyally, leaving the room to get his gang of ninja cats together.
The moment he left the room and headed down the dull, dusty corridors, his face changed to a more evil expression then before.
"Oh Zira you unrrrrighteous fiend." he purred to himself "You will not conquer Chun-Nan. Once we arrive at the Pagoda of Prosperity, my clan will refute you, then I'll take the thrrrrone myself and I will be rrrruler of Chun-Nan and you will be nothing but a bleeding, broken corpse lying by the side of a river somewhere. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha…"
His laughing filled the empty, dusty corridor as he headed off to gather his ninjas together…
Footnotes:
* See Story 52
Bladefeather and Mushu are good guys? I bet you didn't see that coming! Sonic and Ruben have made it to the end of the new clan's challenges too! Will this clan be willing to abide with them or has their journey all been for nothing? Join me next time as Sonic meets the new ninja clan face-to-face... Reviews are welcome.
