For a long time after retrieving the pearl there was a welcome lull in excitement for Sheptilah. Although she continued to bounce between the lair and GUN she was comfortable with doing so. She hoped she was building up an immunity to all of the iron rather than just becoming used to the constant, throbbing pain in her body.
January sped by. Sheptilah, with Amy's help, refurbished an old abandoned shack in the forest. It took a long time and a lot of lumber but they succeeded in getting it to not fall over in the slightest breeze. However, no amount of work they did could stop the leak in the roof whenever it rained.
"Hey, Tilly?" Amy was sorting through the random items Sheptilah had picked up including the spices pilfered from Eggman's pantry.
"Yeah?" The witch was on the roof patching the thatches.
"When's your birthday?"
"Oh, uh," she had to think for a second, "It already passed. Birthdays aren't a big deal for us, and I'm only turning thirty-three."
"Five thousand two hundred and thirty three," Amy corrected her, "And happy belated birthday! They're big deals for us so next time give us warning!"
Sheptilah laughed. "Alright, fine, I'm ancient! Old as dirt! Older than-"
"You're an antique," Eggman chimed in, "It's much more polite to put it that way."
"Ivo?"
"I'm down here." He responded. He had a briefcase in his hand. "I'm actually looking for Amy. The blue rat said she'd be out here."
"Eggman?" Amy poked her head out the window.
"Fuzzy Puppy Buddies released some new blind packs and I've got doubles. I was wondering if you wanted to trade?" His voice had a higher inflection and he bounced on his toes.
"That stuff's back at my house," Amy brushed her hair out of her face, "We're kinda working on our apothecary here."
"On your what?" Eggman sulked. "A witch house?"
Sheptilah jumped down and landed in front of Eggman. She was sweaty and a bit dirty. Her hair was tied into a bun and her clothes were a simple black dress and a leather apron with a large front pocket.
"You're a terrible liar! You came to see me." She said smugly.
"What if both things are true?" He grinned. "I've got news about the witch-eaters too."
Amy and Sheptilah sat next to each other at her heavy wooden table while Eggman sat across from them. The hut was large and well-furnished with overstuffed shelves and wooden chests strewn about. He placed some papers on top of the table and slid it toward Amy.
"Mordred, the Egg Boss of Eurish if you remember, his team found some evidence of wiccaphage activity."
"Wiccaphage?" Amy's brow creased.
"Yes, as in 'witch-eater'. Wicca meaning witch and phage meaning to eat."
"Wicca is a religion, but go on." Amy rolled her eyes.
"Anyway," Eggman cocked his head, "They found the same kind of iron-dissolving marks on nearby buildings from a few years ago. Thunderbolt's people interviewed the locals and found that there were odd disappearances years ago as well."
"When was the moon destroyed?" Sheptilah bit her thumbnail.
"At the same time," he sighed, "So they immediately started causing trouble."
"But then… I should've been awoken immediately. The burst of energy that attracted you in the first place was the only one sent out."
"I was out there for something else. Finding you was an accident." Eggman pulled on his glove, "I didn't go out there after the burst of energy; it happened after I arrived."
She crossed her legs and bounced her foot nervously, "Why would the magic choose you?" She jumped up and grabbed the royal grimoire, dropped it on the table and began flipping through the pages.
"Un-fudging-believable," she pulled out some of the bookmarks, "Okay." She paused. The spell listed in the book was slightly different from the one that was imposed upon her. It wasn't unusual for a mage to alter a spell to suit their needs but it was rude of them to not apply their notes to it.
"What is it?" Eggman adjusted his glasses.
"Nobody kept their damned notes the way they should've. Then again, I guess they all died after they sealed me up." The witch crossed her arms. "I honestly don't know why you were chosen."
"Divine retribution for blowing up the moon in the first place!" Amy flashed a sharp-toothed grin. All of the Mobian hedgehogs had fangs, but Amy rarely showed hers.
"Unless… there is a theory," Sheptilah interrupted, "About the sun and the moon."
"A theory or a prophecy?" The hedgehog mused.
"The Red King and the White Queen. The sun and the moon 'marry'," she used air quotes, "Or come together soul-to-soul. It's an allegory of two conflicting forces coming together to create the rebis. I think the rebis would be whatever we defeat these wiccaphages with. It's gotta be the staff my mothers designed."
Amy gripped the table. "Where does this leave Shadow?" Her heart was beating hard and fast. All of this was exciting to her.
"Shadow is the third facet in the tria prima! He's salt! Salt is all about what's left over between life and death, right? And we all know his story fits that allegory. Gods, it makes so much sense!" Sheptilah grabbed a pencil and flipped to a blank page in the grimoire and started scribbling in cuneiform.
"The Universe is bringing us together to fulfill this alchemic theory," Sheptilah spoke rapidly, "I should've known. There's always a reason for something."
"What the heck are you talking about?" The Overlander was very confused.
"Eggman, you're the sun." The little pink apprentice slammed her fist on the table. "The Universe chose you for this on purpose. That's why the crystal didn't call for you until you were close enough. You were predestined for this. All three of you. Mercury, sulfur and salt are what metaphorically make up all of the Universe."
"But marriage?" He squinted.
"It's not literal, you doofus," Tilly stuck out her tongue, "I'm the moon and you are the sun." She brushed her hair behind her ear. "Sulfur and mercury."
"It makes so much sense!" Amy jumped up, slamming her hands down with a loud slap. "Mercury is the moon, right? Mercury is a shapeshifting material both literally and metaphorically. That's what you are, Sheptilah! And Eggman is sulfur! Active, fiery and volatile!" She jumped up and down. "Oh my God! It's all coming together!"
"Ladies," Eggman was thrown off guard by their enthusiasm, "The sun?"
"You were meant to be together!" Amy sighed wistfully. "It's almost romantic."
Sheptilah bit her lip, she didn't want the budding feelings known to anyone. She hadn't even told her familiar. It was a simple crush, nothing more.
"Amy, you need to lay off the pulp novels." Eggman chuckled.
"Sulfur represents wants and desires," Tilly interrupted again, "Salt is the manifestation of hard work and mercury is the constant movement between shapes."
"You're always pursuing your goals, Shadow is an engineered being and Sheptilah is always moving between here and GUN and moving between shapes." Amy explained. "Sheptilah has white hair and you wear red, primarily."
Eggman's eyes grew a bit wider with understanding. "And sulfur smells like eggs."
Sheptilah sat down and rested her head on her grimoire. "My head hurts."
"My mind is blown," the hedgehog squealed, "Oh my gosh!"
"Before we get any further off topic," Eggman snapped his fingers to get their attention, "The Avalon Egg Boss has been able to collect samples of the phages. Now we can try to track them globally. We may not even need to complete the staff."
"He did? That's great!" Tilly felt her heart lighten.
"Yes. I've already begun working on the device that will search for traces of them. Currently what tracking technology we have for living organisms isn't sophisticated enough to detect residue globally. You have to be in the area for it to scan anything." He scratched his forehead, "which means putting yourself at risk for being attacked by one."
"Please send a sample of the phages to GUN as well." Sheptilah pressed her palms together and brought her fingers up to her mouth as if she was praying.
"You can do that yourself. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't accept any packages from me." Eggman shook his head.
SHEPTILAH DOSSIER … last edited 2 / 25
I have my suspicions about the Oracle Stone. I feel this urge to grab it sometimes to see what it feels like but I know I would pull back a bloody stump.
So much information was dumped on me earlier. Supposedly the universe intentionally brought all three of us together to save our planet.
It seems like the 'sun' and the 'moon' are supposed to survive together, but it makes me wonder. There's something, dare I say, bewitching, about her.
I question whether or not it's me feeling her feelings, my own or the bond that forced us together in the first place. What's real anymore? At least she's healthier and happier now, but so far she seems irritated with me whenever I'm around. Very cold and distant.
I went back to the catacombs in Eurish and took some photos of the runes on the walls. That along with a very strong iron box would make a suitable cage for her. Hopefully I can study her more and have a more complete dossier. If she's trapped in that box I can do whatever I like to her without the bond affecting me!
I wonder if a raw iron collar and shackles is enough? I may not even need a box. That may make her limbs fall off, though.
"You got any love potions?" Rouge giggled. She went up to the large window and called in.
"No, I don't do love potions but I can tell your future! It says I'll be right out." Sheptilah stood up from the table and went to the door. "Where's Shadow?"
"He's talking to Sonic about collecting the last four Chaos Emeralds. That doctor back at the lab is still pressing for you. We keep telling him no but he refuses to let it go. President Tower is starting to press for your blood sample as well." The bat frowned, "You have no real choice now."
Tilly raised her hand to hush the bat. "Eggman is here."
Rouge's mouth became a tight line. "Sorry."
"Oh, don't be sorry. Come on in, I was about to make some fried honey bread." The witch smiled brightly.
"Tails," Shadow's voice was low and growly, "I would like to get the Emeralds some time this century."
"I'm working on it! Jeez. You're immortal- all you have is time." The fox typed away at his laptop. "One is in a museum in Dubai. If they refuse to lend it you could probably replace it with a fake and they'll never know. That just leaves us with three to find. I'll keep the program running at all times and I'll contact you once we find something."
"Dubai?" Sonic furrowed his brow. "Isn't that where the cops drive Lamborghinis and Bugattis?" He laughed, slapping his knee. "Could you imagine the cops chasing Shadow in one of those?"
"They'd never catch me," the black hedgehog smirked, "But it would be entertaining to see them try."
Tails frowned. "They're also known for brutality."
"Name one police force in the world that doesn't have a brutality problem." Sonic huffed.
Shadow waved off his concerns. "I can teleport in and out before their cameras even notice. GUN has diplomats in the Arab Emirates so I highly doubt it'll come to that."
"I hope I don't have to bail you out of prison," Sonic shrugged, "It's been nice seeing you, though. How goes the work on the witch-eater things?"
Shadow winced. "Don't even bring it up. We haven't found a damn thing and it's driving Hope up the wall. She seems to think they're responsible for the small quakes in the ocean. I keep reassuring her she's just stressing out over not having any real answers."
"That bad, huh? If we got a sample we could build a tracker." Tails sighed. "Sorry I couldn't be more help."
"So it's just fried dough dipped in honey?" Amy stood on a stool to see over the counter.
"Yep," Sheptilah showed Amy how to make it, "Really easy."
Rouge sat across from Eggman at the table and flipped through the grimoire.
"So why can't you do love potions?" Amy wistfully sighed.
"I can, I just don't. It's about consent!" Sheptilah flipped a half-fried chunk of dough. "You can't just mess around with that kind of thing."
"Nowadays we call that a roofie." Eggman scoffed.
Sheptilah pointed her spatula at him. "See? He gets it."
Amy's expression turned sour. "Not like that. Don't be creeps. I'm thirteen years old, for God's sake! I just want my crush to be reciprocated."
Tilly frowned. "Sorry, you're right."
Eggman rested his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm. "Amy, if I may be so bold; I don't think Sonic has time for feelings."
"Nobody around here does," Rouge's wings twitched, "We're all too busy."
"Saving the world." Sheptilah stared at the bread bubbling in the oil.
"Sonic spends three quarters of the day asleep," Amy sighed, "I guess all that running exhausts him. You should see his caloric intake; it's insane ."
Sheptilah scooped the finished bits of bread and drizzled on fresh comb honey.
Amy took the grimoire off the table and put it away so Tilly would have a place for the snacks.
"I'll tell you what, Amy," the witch smiled warmly at her, "I have a surprise for you tonight, so cheer up."
The pink hedgehog continued to pout. "Alright."
Almost everyone enjoyed their treat. The only odd man out was Eggman, frustrated with getting honey in his mustache. Rouge went on a walk with Amy to talk with her about her feelings; leaving the two Overlanders alone.
"I see you've been sticking to your prescribed diet," Eggman leaned in, "I decided I was going to work on myself, too. Notice anything different?" He grinned expectantly.
Sheptilah stared blankly at him. "You're using a different cologne?"
"Well yes but," he flexed his arm, "I've been working out."
"Well, you do look slightly thinner." She raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine." He grinned. "You're a good cook, you know."
"Thanks. Listen, I have stuff to do. I have to go collect some things from the forest before I can open my shop."
"Can I come with?" He asked innocently.
She paused then blushed slightly, nearly faltering in her steps. "Sure, I guess."
The jungle around the hut had been cleared and a garden was started. Pumpkins, watermelons, pineapples, kiwis and sunflowers were bearing fruit.
"Amy put in an order for cacao seeds so I can grow my own chocolate plants. You got me hooked, you know." She adjusted the basket she was carrying.
"I apologize for nothing." He watched her bend down and pick up seemingly random things. Specific kinds of tree leaves, twigs, coconuts and wildflowers.
"Sheptilah, can I be honest with you about something?" He held his hands behind his back.
"What is it?" She stood up and looked at him over her shoulder. Her expression was that of worry.
"You mentioned consent earlier. It made me think about the magical tethering and how it affects us."
"Yes?"
"Is it something that would force us to become complacent with each other?" He chose his words extremely carefully.
"Oh, no," she smiled, "It doesn't. Messing with people's emotions is explicitly forbidden. It just isn't done."
"That's a relief. Good to know you actually like me and it's my charms, not some kind of magical sedative."
Sheptilah raised an eyebrow and then began to laugh. Eggman laughed with her, their loud voices startling the wild birds.
She dropped the basket and ran to him, embracing him tightly. She buried her face in his chest and sighed. Ivo wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"So I'm the sun, huh? I guess that means the world revolves around me."
Sheptilah snorted, her voice muffled. "Yes. It absolutely does." She gripped his leather jacket; feeling the smooth, velvety texture with her fingertips.
"We're both going to die, aren't we?" He asked her flatly.
"Maybe," she hugged him tighter, "Probably." She corrected herself.
"Of course the sun goes out with a supernova." He looked up at the swaying leaves breaking up the beams of sunlight coming through them. "It's just as well. I don't have a family or children or anyone who depends on me. Once you're gone GUN is probably going to imprison me for my crimes for the rest of my miserable life."
"Do they allow conjugal visits?" She looked up at him and smirked.
He chortled. "I don't think so."
"That's too bad," she shrugged, "Thunderbolt would find a way." She stood up on the tips of her toes and chastely kissed him on the cheek. He was startled by the show of affection and his cheeks reddened.
She, too, was startled by the sudden bravery she felt in expressing her feelings. She played it off like a friendly gesture. What she truly wanted was to be touched intimately, even right there on the jungle floor. Imagining his massive hands trailing her nude body made her swallow hard.
She suddenly felt shame for these thoughts and shook it off.
"Come on; I have more stuff to collect."