"At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid."
- Friedrich Nietzsche
Casino Night glittered like an artificial lake surrounded by a black sea. Spinning signs, arcs of neon and giant pinwheels decorated the sky, and though only a fraction the size of Robotropolis, its energy requirements were no less than half that of the industrial hub of Mobius. An entourage of hover cars moved slowly down the streets… streets crowded by prostitutes, and thick with the sight of mobians stumbling around half alive, half high.
A sign just up ahead read: "Wonderland"
Shadow sneered at the reference, remembering the story Maria had shared with him so long ago. Turning away from the shaded window, Shadow crossed his arms in silent vexation. Casino Night was a hellhole - a festering boil on the face of the planet. Over a year ago, Robotnick had lost control of the city, and many of its inhabitants had been dereboticized. However, without homes to return to, or any meaningful work to perform, many of the newly freed mobians had simply hung around. In weeks, the city had been divided among several factions.
The three cars slowed to a stop in a paved parking lot near several others. High above, on rooftops and balconies, armed mobians watched and waited. The door to the second car opened, and Shadow stepped out, flanked by four white-paint model Combots marked as 'his' by the thick black stripe on their right arms. That little human rat, Snively, had once jokingly referred to them as 'Stormtroopers,' and apparently Robotnick himself had been sufficiently amused to the point of calling them that himself. Shadow watched, dispassionate, as four more 'Stormtrooper' model Combots exited their vehicles, and then the three that had been driving the hover cars.
"Get it," Shadow said, and pointed with his thumb to the car he'd just left. Two Stormtroopers quickly reached in, and took out two black briefcases. Without another word, Shadow walked towards the looming neon palace that was the "Wonderland Casino." Five of the Combots knew beforehand to stay behind and take up positions around the vehicles, while the rest (including the two with the briefcases), followed their leader inside.
They passed by two burly mobian rabbits, both of them the size of Shadow's Combot escorts, dressed smartly in a blue tuxedo with black tie. The two bouncers looked back, eyes hidden beneath the shadowed embrace of matching blue fedora hats. Inside the Casino, a main hall two stories high instantly caught one's attention. Wooden doors opened and closed, and animals came and went, carrying chips to play the games, drinks to inebriate the gamers, and trinkets to sell to them once they were drunk. Or stoned.
Shadow kept walking.
In the middle of the main hall, he stopped in front of another mobian rabbit, this one a thin nervous looking creature. At the black hedgehog's approach, he held out his hand and smiled thinly. "Clarence Domu at your service, Mr. Shadow. We've been waiting for you. Would you care for a drink or the use of any of our facilities…?"
Shadow just stared at him, and narrowed his eyes.
"I… I suppose not." The rabbit withdrew his hand and held it close; afraid it'd be snapped off if it stuck out for much longer. "Perhaps, after our business is concluded? This way, gentlemen."
Shadow followed the rabbit out of the main hall, past a large entirely glass wall that looked down at another room with row after row of slot machines. In that same room, a sunken pit had what seemed to be a wrestling match between two female felines, in what looked like mud, while crowds of animals cheered them on. The black hedgehog felt disgust rise up from within him, but pushed it down.
The entourage reached a large bulk elevator, and entered it. Domu pressed a series of buttons, and the elevator rose at a fair clip. The seconds slipped silently by, until the elevator finally reached the top floor and opened. Stepping out, Shadow saw a glass ceiling high above, and a small grove of trees growing in doors. Small birds flew back and forth amid them, chirping and singing. The rabbit, Domu, led them to the end of the room, past a stream that ran under a small wooden bridge, and up to a large desk.
Behind that desk, an entirely too obese rabbit hid his girth. He was white furred, with a few mottled gray spots, but both his ears were up and alert. Four more large mobian rabbit guards stood behind him, and Shadow's keen eyes picked up four more to both his left and right, behind the groves of orange trees.
"You must be 'Shadow.'" The fat rabbit scratched his lower lip. "My name is Armin Tweed. I am the proprietor of the 'Wonderland Casino' and its affiliates. I believe you have something for me."
Shadow held up his index finger, and motioned the two briefcase-carrying 'Stormtrooper' Combots forward. The robots did as silently commanded, and put the black cases on Tweed's desk. Unlocking and then opening them, they let out a faint glow, reflecting the overhead lights. Tweed smiled broadly, greedily, and reached out to the closest opened briefcase, cupping twin handfuls of its contents.
"Beautiful…" He whispered, holding up the sparkling diamonds to the light. "Beautiful!"
Putting the handfuls back, he went to the next case, and plucked out a gold bar. Holding it between his hands, he half heartedly tried to bend it, and then held it too up to the light, letting the rays play off its perfect surface.
"Superb…" he whispered reverently. Putting the gold back in the briefcase, Tweed gave Shadow a still-broad smile. It reminded the hedgehog of Robotnick.
"You have your payment," Shadow spoke, finally. "Where is the Emerald?"
Tweed chuckled, and closed the briefcases on his desk. Two of his bodyguards stepped forward, took a case in hand, and stepped back. For a few tense seconds there was no answer, and then the large rabbit leaned back into his chair.
"It is not here, of course," Tweed explained. "But in a more secure location. Guarded by my most loyal of men… so I assure you it is safe."
Shadow tensed.
"But…" Tweed continued. "Nothing and no one can be too safe here in Casino Night. Ever since your master left, and the city was divided up, it has been difficult to maintain any sort of… order."
"What do you want, Tweed?" Shadow was scowling now. He clenched and unclenched his fists.
"What do I want?" Tweed sighed and held out his arm. Domu briskly ran to his side, and helped the much larger mobian out of his seat before handing him a wooden cane. Tweed took it, and slowly walked over and past where Shadow stood, before stopping at one of the orange trees. Silhouetted against him, the glitter and gleam of Casino Night seemed out of place.
"What I want, Mr. Shadow… is nothing less than Casino Night." Tweed plucked a ripe orange from one of the tree's branches. "The whole Zone."
Shadow turned his head slightly. "Oh?"
"Yes," Tweed confirmed, simply. "I want it all. Casino Night… is more than gambling, Mr. Shadow. I am sure you know this. It is… drugs, prostitution, and smuggling… To have Casino Night, I need to control these things. These things that are the life blood of this city."
Shadow wasn't pleased by this sudden turn of events. The thought crossed his mind of throwing the fat mobian off the roof to plummet to his death, and then burn down his festering boil of a business, but the black hedgehog reigned in his anger and his impulsive nature. What was important was the Chaos Emerald. He knew Tweed wasn't lying – it was stashed away somewhere, and Shadow would never find out where by killing him.
"What do you want?" Shadow asked again.
"My family… before we were roboticized, of course… were simple farmers, Mr. Shadow." Tweed slowly peeled the orange, and walked back to his seat with the awkward aid of his wooden walking cane. He sat down with a contented grunt. "One might say we do not have the experience in certain fields to edge out all of our competition. Nor do we necessarily have the resources to rid ourselves of this competition through physical force. But now… we will have your talents at our disposal, Mr. Shadow."
"Me?" The hedgehog asked, somewhat amused. "You want me to help you?"
"I want you to help yourself!" Tweed beamed. "Because if you do not, you will return to Robotropolis empty handed."
Shadow smirked. "What do you need done?"
"Two things, Mr. Shadow." Tweed bit into a slice of the orange, and chewed it. "The Aracelia Family. They control most of the supply of Ginger and other drugs into and out of the city. Their Boss is Venitio Aracelia, and his son is Carlito Aracelia. I would like both of them to be killed, Mr. Shadow."
The black hedgehog nodded. "Done."
"That is not all." Tweed continued. "There is a matter of one other mobian I need taken care of: Xao Fang. He runs the House of Fang on the other side of the city. I will also require that he is taken care of… most finally. Is that understood, Mr. Shadow?"
"Of course."
"Then, once that business is done, you will have your Chaos Emerald to take back to Robotropolis. Mr. Domu will show you to our finest penthouse room where you and your… associates may stay. Additional information will be available there in two manila envelopes."
"This way, if you please." Domu walked past Shadow. The hedgehog pivoted and made as if to follow, but paused to look over his shoulder at Tweed.
"I will do this…" He said, calmly. "But do not expect a second chance, Mr. Tweed. It would not be… that inconvenient for my master to take back what was once his."
Tweed's brow creased in quiet consternation, and Shadow took his leave. Deep inside, despite his calm exterior, the black hedgehog was seething. This petty power gaming… this corrupt world… it was the very same that had destroyed the only sweet thing he had ever known. In a hundred years, nothing at all had changed. In a way, he was thankful for the encounter, because it had proven yet again that Mobius was not worthy of being saved. Let these fools play their pointless games.
In the end, Mobius would burn…
THE CYCLE OF AGES
CHAPTER TWO:
Best Trip Ever (The World Between Me and I)
Lara could admit it: she had been scared; panicked even… at first.
Now, greeting a fresh morning full of possibilities, she found little trace of doubt or fear. In fact, what had seemed like such a gloomy prospect – being trapped even further in the past – seemed more like a vacation. Yes, there was the trouble of actually getting back, but that was in the best hands imaginable. In the meantime, she was free to relax and not disturb the time space continuum.
The past wasn't even that bad, really, aside from the war. There were no responsibilities or assignments to look to, no Awakened Devourer or Shadow Jihad to worry about, not even a pesky robot girl to show her up. For her, if no one else, this point in time was far safer than her own. The emerald Miles had given her was still functioning, still augmenting her natural chaos powers, and while she missed the sense of companionship it normally also brought with it, she was also beginning to appreciate a little actual solitude. It made being back in contact with him; reestablishing their soul link (as she liked to think of it) all the more empowering and affirmative.
Being at this time also gave her a chance to observe a point in Miles' life that he preferred not to talk about. Miles rarely talked about the war – the one against Robotnick – or his old comrades in the Freedom Fighters. Lara had met them, and read about them in school, but Miles had known them like family. It was terrible that he had put that part of his life aside, despite his deep affection and feelings of friendship towards those he loved. Then there was Tempest, who she had seen for the first time the other day. The relationship there was similar, but different. When he talked about his time learning the nature of the kitsune, the memories were clouded by a mixture of nostalgia and betrayal.
All due to their ally; the one behind Tempest's trip south.
Now was the perfect opportunity to see those events that had changed the world, and her destiny, if only through him. That said there were some problems: she had no place to stay, for one, and she also happened to be the only echidna in the entire city of Knothole. Clouding the perceptions of others didn't come as naturally to her as it did Fiona; she wasn't great at it, and she couldn't do it when asleep or anything like that. One slip up and there'd be a real mess! A safer alternative was required, along with some means of doing more than living off the land. She still needed food and a roof over her head, chaos powers or not.
Getting money in general wouldn't be hard, with her abilities, but getting money in a way that wouldn't alert anyone to her presence or mess up the future somehow was far more difficult. Thinking it over the night before, she had taken a quick trip to one of the makeshift Knothole gambling houses. Games of chance were always immensely popular, and wherever Mobians and currency could be found, someone would be organizing a way to bet on something. Even the echidna were not immune, and while there was nothing in Knothole to compare with the great casinos of Casino Night (or Casinopolis as the echidna called it) or Marble Garden, there were plenty ready to lose their money to a sleight of hand or two.
Miles frowned on gambling himself, though he made enough use of it that any protestations seemed dubious. Robotnick often built gambling centers of his own, where the odds were heavily staked in his favor, and the losers became victims of roboticization. Typically, the more dangerous and risky the bet, the more Mobians flocked to it. Miles, or Sonic, or even both, often crashed these places, making off with the Eggman's ill gotten gains.
Lara made no secret of her love for games of chance. The risk did add to the fun, and she even played fair and lost almost as much as she won that night. Making the money without resorting to cheating or using her powers made the rewards all the better! Money, and a little persuasion, got her a nice room near the Old Town and the Freedom Fighter residences. After that… came the disguise.
Echidna facial structure, not to mention their dreadlocks, made it difficult to hide as some other Mobian breed. Luckily, a certain amount of body modification was within her limits, and she took her time styling her dreads back and slightly upwards, making it look like they curled up cutely just above her shoulders. Next came the violet colored hair dye. She'd never bothered with full body treatment before, but she'd never heard of a red hedgehog, so violet would have to do. Lastly, she had to style her hair just right to cover a distinct lack of hedgehog-type ears. The end result wasn't bad. She did look like a hedgie, and given how chock full of that breed the city was, she was sure to be able to blend in.
Last but not least came an identity card. Knothole's population included a good many refugees, and every one had to be screened to make sure they were free of cybernetics or tracking devices. So Lara spent the morning sitting through customs with about a hundred other refugees getting checked for bugs (be they electronic, pathological, or just lice). The careful application of Chaos powers assured that her blood test came back as normal, and definitely not echidna, and that her interview went as planned. Four hours and one clean bill of health later, Lara had received a laminated identity card confirming that she could enter Knothole. She hadn't felt the need to mention that she'd already been in the city and gotten lodging beforehand, and that no one had actually asked to see proof of ID.
Now standing in her room, Lara crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at the table. A smattering of items had her full attention.
"ID card…" she nodded her head. "Money…" she nodded her head again at the clips of mobian credits she had won the other night. "Tour Guide…" A small booklet was in the center of it all. On the front, a smiling rabbit woman stood in front of a hut with a camera in her hand. 'Knothole: Shopping, Security and Sightseeing Guide,' it declared in bold print.
"Vacation Time!"
Morning's light streamed in through the window, with promises of a new and fruitful day. Every morning promised a future free of terror, free of the scourge of roboticization and tyranny that had hung over it for so many years. Every morning Sally Acorn saw was an affirmation of life, and of the unquenchable desire for freedom and life all living creatures shared. Though she was not actually a morning person, Sally appreciated the symbolism of the moment, even through tired eyes and dulled senses.
She awoke slowly, remembering the race that had happened the day before, and Sonic being carried to the infirmary. He was suffering a mild concussion; it was nothing serious, and the medical staff had assured her that he'd be up and about later today. Likely stirring up trouble gloating over Tempest, too… a situation she, for one, intended to prevent.
"Another day…" Sally threw on a robe, and went to the bathroom to wash her face. A blast of cold water was just what she needed to regain her wits this early in the day. "Hopefully not as… eventful as the last..."
Looking back into the room, she checked the clock by the side of her bed, she saw the time: 8:30 AM. Good. She'd have plenty of time to avert any possible trouble. Throwing her vest over her shoulders, and putting on her boots, she headed out to check on Sonic and Rotor, but, soon after opening her door, she saw two figures on the far side of the Ring Pool through her window. Curious she walked outside and over to take a look.
Tempest and Tails.
The latter of the two was doing push ups along a narrow plank suspended over the Pool, and the former seemed engrossed in his one-armed chin-ups against a nearby tree, whose branches bent slightly with the weight. Tempest, who had decided to stick around after losing his race with Sonic, had obviously not been kidding when he spoke of training the younger Kitsune during his Turan'ha – his 'rutting' phase, as Antoine had put it. She wondered why Tempest was so adamant about staying with Tails (and why he had been sent in the first place). Since, as far as he had described his genealogy, they had no blood relation.
"Well, well, well…" Tempest said, between repetitions. "Boy, do you smell who I smell?"
"Sally," Tails said, concentrating on keeping his balance on the plank, and doing his push ups.
"An Acorn… a child of southern aristocracy… Your bloodline betrays you, but there is something else about it, something less obvious…" Tempest laughed, hanging from the limb of the tree by one arm, dripping with sweat. "Or maybe I imagine things. It's about time you woke up. Catching up on your beauty sleep? I hardly think you much need it."
Sally decided not to wade trough what he'd said to decipher whether it was an insult, compliment, or both. "How long have you kept Tails out here?"
"I woke the pup up at daybreak. He put up quite a fight about it, too. You've been spoiling him…" Tempest continued with his one-armed chin-ups.
"He needs sleep, too." Sally put her hands on her hips. "He is a growing boy."
Tempest huffed, accepting the remark. "True. But, I am here to train a warrior, not a little boy. Tails?"
"It's ok!" Tails struggled to say, and smiled at her from where he was still doing his push ups. He was happy. He was actually… happy…
"I'll have plenty of time to do my other work later today." He looked back down, breathing heavily. "It's just… understand that… I'm committed to this."
"Why aren't I comfortable with that thought?" Sally mused. She turned back to Tempest. "Where did you stay last night, by the way?"
"I made Camp in the Forest," Tempest explained, simply. "A hunter makes his own shelter."
"What if it rained?"
"I have survived the fiercest snowstorms on the planet. A little tropical shower is not a concern for me." He dropped to the ground suddenly. "I've been told I'm immune to many of your southern diseases, as well."
His ego was insufferable! It was like talking to Sonic, except more complicated. Sonic was about as obtuse as a straightedge, while Tempest obfuscated without remorse. Not that he outright lied (in fact, everything he had said seemed to be the truth), but he veiled what he was saying. Or maybe it was just his 'old' mobian dialect was different from her 'new' mobian one. Tempest formed his sentences and spoke like her grandfather had.
"Oh?" She smirked. "If your people are so great and invincible, how come you haven't defeated Robotnik?"
"Because we don't care." Tempest twisted his neck slightly and walked over to the Ring Pool. "Why should we?"
"He'll roboticize you! … Everyone!"
"He's just another southern tyrant. Let him wreak chaos down here. No one comes north. Your great grandfather was the last to try and subdue us; and his armies paid the price for their arrogance." Tempest washed his face off in the pool. "We have a saying among my people: When the prey do not fear the hunter; he shall never grow hungry."
"Except Robotnik is the hunter now, and you are the prey! We all are! Robotnik and Shadow and the rest are a palpable threat to all life on the planet. He may not have attacked now, but it's only a matter of time until he does. And then there's Mastermind… his motives aren't as clear, but he's no friend of Mobius, I can assure you! You can't just stand on the sidelines and watch all this happen! You can't do nothing!"
"He only seems to be killing our enemies, to me." Tempest yelled over his shoulder, "Tails! We are finished for today. How far did you get?"
"Almost 400," Tails answered.
"Finish up to that rep, then, and you're done for the half day."
"Ok…!" Tails took a deep breath and went back to his push-ups.
"Don't you think you're working him a little too hard?" Sally looked worried. 400 per rep!? That was the sort of obscene workout Knuckles sometimes worked himself up into. Besides, as far as she knew, Tails' strength came from his chaos powers, not from physical bulk.
"And what would you know about working too hard, Princess Acorn?" Tempest growled, pointing at her accusingly. "I know what I'm doing!"
"You may not know this… but we've been fighting for our lives, here! Day in and day out!" Sally was starting to really get mad.
"Life is a struggle." Tempest crossed his arms contemptuously. "The strong feast and multiply, the weak are devoured and die."
"Oh, that's it!" Sally took off her vest and threw it to the ground. Walking up to him, she cracked her knuckles. "I'll show you what the we're capable of myself!"
"Really?" Tempest raised a thick eyebrow, apparently amused. "A Warrior among the southern ruling house? Please, then; indulge me in your fantasy."
Sally's foot connected with Tempest's jaw before he could even finish his sentence. The kitsune's head tilted back slightly, and behind them, Tails stopped in his work out. Slowly, Tempest's head came forward, a tiny trickle of blood inching down his lower lip. His tongue crept out and traced the small wound, tasting proof that she had actually struck him. Though he never saw Tails' reaction to what had occurred Tempest anticipated it and spoke, not to Sally but to him.
"Boy. Finish your Reps."
Tails got back on all fours, but kept his eyes on the other two as he finished his 388th push up.
"Surprising…" Tempest's right thumb wiped the blood from his lip. It was gone, and none more flowed to take its place. "Was that it?"
"No."
Sally lunged, but Tempest casually stepped to the side, avoiding the strike. Whipping out another kick, Sally again saw Tempest dodge. Thinking quickly, she snapped her calf back to her thigh and redirected the knee forward, only to be met by Tempest's palm, where the two clashed. Again, Sally tried the jump kick, but Tempest reared back, allowing her foot to pass in front of him, and mess up her balance. Landing badly, Sally immediately kicked backwards, forcing Tempest back to avoid it, then twirled on the ball of her foot to again assault with a flurry of quick jabs. He avoided or blocked them all with apparent ease.
Finally, a blow connected - Sally's fist plowing into Tempest's torso, but, to her surprise, it was as hard as rock, and the fox only smiled. Trying again, she felt something strong wrap around her extended fist. Throwing the other fist, Sally winced as Tempest caught that one, too. Kicking low, for the shins, she only hit rock hard bone. Still grinning, Tempest pushed forward, and Sally fell onto her back, with Tempest above her, still holding both her hands down onto the ground and over her head. Sally struggled, but, with Tempest holding her down with his body against hers, and her arms over her head, she was pinned. Slowly, he lowered his head, and inhaled right behind her left ear.
"I could have your throat in my jaws…" He whispered, and then like she was made of fire, he let go and jumped to his feet.
"I was mistaken." He closed his eyes pivoted so his left shoulder was facing her. "The blood of a hunter may run in your veins after all. …Despite being watered down by your upbringing."
Sally was speechless. Tempest then looked over to Tails, who sat on the plank over the pond, his feet dangling into the water, an odd expression on his face. Odd to everyone except Tempest.
"Princess, I will have to speak to you, sometime… about matters." Tempest walked away from her and to Tails.
She got to her feet, and brushed the grass off her shoulders. "If you want a hut, or even a normal room, just ask."
"I accept your offer." Tempest said just that, took off his belt, and jumped into the Ring Pool. Tails quickly did the same and dove in after him. The water was cold and refreshing, but few mobians would think about swimming in it. They all had, once or twice at least, back when Knothole was a tiny rebel base in the forest, and they were relatively alone. Seeing the two kitsunes, Sally felt a sudden urge… to do the same. To jump in the Ring Pool.
To relive those times and more.
"Ah donne see what Tails sees in 'im…" Bunnie walked out with two towels before Sally had to make a decision on the stray, but tempting, thought. Sally gave her a questioning look – what was she doing here? Bunnie just smirked. "But ah think I know what ya'll do."
"He's a barbarian," Sally scoffed. "Just like Antoine said. I'm going to check on Sonic."
A second later, she left the area in favor of the infirmary.
Bunnie followed close behind.
"Did… Did I win?"
Typical. He just recovers his consciousness, and the first thing he things of isn't 'am I ok?' 'Is there any permanent damage?' 'Or even 'what happened?' Its 'did I win?'…
"Yeah, yah won, Sugah Hog." Bunnie leaned over to check his pulse. "He brought you back though."
"I suppose he's left, then…" Sonic looked up, a wistful and longing look on his face. Sally was surprised. Here she had thought all along that Sonic disliked Tempest. But all this time, he must've just seen him as competition.
"Damn." Sonic sighed. "I'd really wanted to savor beating him, too!"
"Err…" Sally chuckled nervously. Ok. So maybe he just didn't like Tempest after all. "Just relax, Sonic."
"Oh man, Sal, you should have seen it! He knew he wasn't faster than me, so he took to the trees to make better time. But I cranked it; I mean, I really, mondo cranked it up… Thinking about it now, I probably shouldn't have turned around to taunt him. I'm pretty sure I hit the goalpost… Oh, but man, the look on his face when I flipped him the bird! Priceless!" Sonic's eyes suddenly livened up. "So, what's a wounded hero like me gotta do to get some Chili dogs around here, anyway?"
A creak at the door quickly got Sonic's attention, and he saw Tails walk in. His fur had slightly lightened, too, adopting a golden shade. Tails' coat of fur had never really had a consistent color. It grew darker in the summer and fall turning almost auburn and lighter in the summer and winter, when it became almost blond. This had always struck them as a little weird, because Sonic was always the same shade of blue, and Sally and Bunnie's tones never changed. Kitsune had to be among the few old mobian breeds that retained alternating winter and summer coats.
"Heya, Sonic!" He said with a big smile.
"Hey, Big guy!" Sonic reached out and the two friends clasped hands. "I won!"
"I knew you would. Tempest is fast, but you're much faster. I told him that, but he had to see it for himself I suppose…" Tails shrugged and looked Sonic over. "How do you feel?"
"I've been through a lot worse, you know that. But I'll feel a hell of a lot better when I get some grub!" Sonic emphasized that last part. "I bet they cooked up a celebration feast for us. Rrrright?"
Just then, an attendant came in and practically dumped a plate of steaming chilidogs on the table just out of Sonic's reach. She was easily recognizable by her purple hair and short straw colored fur as one Mina Mongoose. Or 'Nurse' Mina Mongoose. After getting wounded on an attack on an advance party of Combots, she had developed a fascination with medicine. After a few months, she had transferred to small but essential medical corp., that was Doctor Quack's lasting legacy to Knothole. So while the Doctor now traveled, lending his skills to other less well off resistance cells, Knothole was still in capable hands.
"Hey! Way uncool, what's up with that?" Sonic reached for the food, but just couldn't reach it.
"Your body is still recovering. Eat these one at a time. And chew them for once, ok? Doctor's orders." Mina pushed the table and the food closer so Sonic could reach. "They're not going anywhere, and… everyone wants you to get well quickly."
"Gotcha." Sonic took one and ate it on one bite. Mina sighed wistfully and gave Sally an innocent look.
"How'd he get hurt, anyway?" She asked, suspecting something was up.
Sally coughed, hand covering her mouth.
"We were racing and he tripped over these." Tails quickly spoke up, and waved his two namesakes behind the Nurse, tickling her lower back and, startling her. She quickly bopped him on the head with her fist, but the Kitsune seemed not to feel it. Sally laughed at the look on her face, a mixture of shock and enjoyment.
"Don't startle me like that!" Mina drew away from the two frisky tails.
"Sorry." Tails apologized, half sincere. "They have a life of their own."
The mongoose nurse sighed again, and was about to leave when she noticed another thing. "Tails… have you gotten taller?"
"Maybe an inch or two." The fox shrugged. "See ya around, Mina. Thanks for the grub."
"Yeah, thanks!" Sonic said between mouthfuls. Mina smiled at the compliment (mostly Sonic's), and left the way she came. While his hedgehog comrade proceeded to scarf down as always, Tails took a single chilidog, and taking a bite, found it's flavor wanting. There was something missing. The texture was ok… and most of the flavor was good, though it bit a little spicier than his tastes told him… but it just seemed… dry. Not bad, just a bit dry.
"Good save, Tails." Sally was quick to add, "But… you shouldn't get in the habit of lying."
"Yeah. Of course not." Tails rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'm not ten, Sally."
Finishing off his chilidog, the fox grimaced a bit.
"What's wrong, Big Guy?" Sonic asked, licking a bit of chili off his right index finger. "Not hungry?"
"Not really," Tails said, but reached for another. "I'll be right back."
Running out of the old infirmary hut, Tails went back to the Ring Pool with the chilidog. Sniffing the air, he quickly picked up Tempest's scent, and found him behind a tree a few meters into the forest, legs crossed and eyes closed. He had already dried off and carefully combed out his fur, a routine he had told Tails to mimic. Kitsune seemed to be almost assiduous about cleanliness, a strange juxtaposition considering their apparent love of carnage. At the younger fox's approach, he opened his eyes.
"Turo… What is it Tails?"
"I'd like you to have this." He handed Tempest the hotdog, overflowing with chili.
"What is this?" Tempest took the foodstuff, and sniffed it cautiously. "Assorted meats… odd spices… beans? This is sort of like what we feed teething kits at home, before they're fully weaned."
"It's a chilidog. Try it."
Tempest took a tentative bite. He didn't grimace, and ate it slowly. "Not bad… a little dry though. If it was made with fresh meat, it would be better."
"That's what I thought, too…" Tails watched Tempest finish the chilidog. "When will I get to hunt?"
"Ah, now you want to hunt, eh?"
"Yes." Tails growled. "I'm hungry. I need a good lunch after that torture session you put me through this morning."
"You have the scent of that boar from last night. Hunt it."
"By myself?"
Tempest uncrossed his legs and stood up. "Do feel you need help with a puny boar?"
"No… I guess not." Tails looked down. "But I couldn't finish a boar by myself. Fresh meat should not go to waste, didn't you tell me that?"
"That I did, young Turo." Tempest nodded his approval and assent. "And here I thought that had forgotten. Very well…"
The boy was chuckling.
Tempest tilted his head slightly, honestly a bit bemused. "What? Did I say something funny?"
"No." Tails waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing like that. I'm just a bit happy. This probably sounds silly, but I haven't had fun in… what seems like years…"
'Fun?' Tempest wondered, but kept his thoughts to himself. 'What an odd word to use…'
Tails sniffed the air.
He was near.
Leaping from the ground, into a tree, Tails looked around. He had kept his shoes on, for the moment, though it made it more difficult to move through the forest's branches. Almost at his command, his vision cleared, sharpened, to allow him to search the area for motion. The faintest ruffle of leaves near a bush caught the attention of both his alert eyes and upright ears. Waiting for visible confirmation, Tails crouched low to his branch, keeping his tails low and straight for balance.
Last night, he had watched Tempest hunt. The elder fox had easily caught a fair sized wild boar… plentiful in these woods. He had tracked it, taken to the trees to surprise the animal, and simply dropped down and killed it in two seconds with his bare hands. Tails remembered the crack of the boar's neck, but, oddly, it didn't sicken him as much as he thought it would.
"A Hunter has to eat. You don't hate the bear, because he kills the caribou and salmon," Tempest had said, lifting the kill over his shoulder. "They live to feed the Hunter. They are the Prey. That is their natural role in things."
Tails saw him: the boar. It was pretty good-sized male, and at about 90 pounds it weighed more than he did. Tails' whole body tensed, and he could feel the adrenaline pump through this veins and muscles in anticipation of the strike. And, out there, Tempest was watching… evaluating him. This was his First Kill. Tempest said that he had made his fist kill at age six, long before his own Turan'ha. More than half Tails' age…
The animal was right below him. Looking around. It had a good sense of smell itself, though poor vision, and would soon recognize Tails' own scent, and make a run for it. But for the moment, it was scared and confused. It was now or never…
Leaping down from his perch, the world seemed to slow around him.
In a cloud of dirt and leaves, Tails hit the ground on all fours.
The boar turned its head, tusks at the ready.
Instinct took over. Tails lunged, taking the boar by the thick of its neck.
'Can I do this?'
Tails lifted the boar off the ground, denying it any leverage to escape or use its tusks to slash at him.
'Will I do this?'
The boar let out a wild cry.
'You are a Hunter!' The voice resounded in his head. 'A Hunter has to eat!'
The boar fell to the ground.
'Yes. There's that, and…'
It's neck broken.
"A Hunter has to eat…" Tails looked down, his canines bared. The hunt, the kill… it felt good. No, by the Source, it had felt amazing! "And… and…!"
'I've never felt more alive!'
Lara clapped as one of the folk dancers started to sing while the other danced nearby. Three others played simple instruments in a rapid, catchy melody. Really, she had no idea what the instruments were called, or what the lead dancer was saying, since the song was in some strange language. It was probably an old Mogulian tongue, since the canines were old fashioned like that. Like the language, the costumes were almost comically old, in the style of centuries past, before the canines had formed the original military backbone of the Kingdom of Acorn. They still served in the ceremonial Varangian Royal Guard as Special Forces.
Sadly, by the present, war after war had all but wiped out Mobius' canine population. Her first stop for lunch, then, had to be in Knothole's famous Canine Quarter. Now in its heyday, it was a bustling and vibrant collection of soldiers' barracks and stores catering to men and women on leave. It was also a hot spot for clubs, delis and jazz cafes. It was just a shame that so much of Old Knothole wouldn't survive the war…
Finishing his song, the lead dancer took a step towards her and held out his hand. Laughing, Lara took it, and tried to join in as they danced and people whistled and cheered. If it wouldn't be around much longer, then all the more reason to enjoy it while she could!
"This is Combot patrol 00457, reporting. No sign of Freedom fighters. No targets identified. Uploading terrain data…"
The robot paused momentarily, its processor power devoted to a single task, before joining its group on the hover transport. Around it, the land widened into a bleak tundra, tree cover all around, and frost and snow on the ground. It was quiet, too quiet, and had the robot any feelings left (at least one akin to apprehension) it would have scanned its memory banks and realized even Combot landings usually stirred up the wildlife; not quieted it.
But the Combot did none of these, and simply stepped onto the transport.
The last act of its short quasi-life, as, from behind, a figure clad in white erupted from the ground, in a cover made by its own hands. Cramped together, shoulder to shoulder in the transport, the normally well-designed Combot's couldn't even raise a weapon in their own defense. The two tailed fox, still half covered in snow, and taller and larger than any the bot had on record, withdrew a small pole, that, with a pop, expanded into long, bladed staff. Several Combots activated their stealth equipment, but given their situation it was a waste of energy.
Without even a war cry, the fox waded in, cut them down with ease.
As the last Combot's body slid in half at the torso amid the mangled bodies of its fellows, the Fox grinned into the robot's dead optics. "Like lambs to the slaughter."
Leaping off the transport, the Kitsune reactivated it, sending the craft off into the air, still trailing broken pieces of its occupants. Finally, with a heave, the fox threw its blade, hitting the transport in midair, creating a satisfying crunch and accompanying explosion, as the blade cut into the fuel tanks.
"I took care of the machine pods they left behind, but this is the fifth intrusion this year." Another fox emerged from the nearby woods. "They grow bold."
"Indeed they do, Chara." The first fox took the hood of its winter styled guille suit off, revealing long red hair and feminine features. "The males should be taking the offensive against these… creatures."
"That is for the Clan Elders and the Ephor Anthals to decide, Mother, not us."
The older female grunted in agreement. The actual decision, in practice, rested more with the former than the latter. Only the Elders made decisions that affected the whole of kitsune society, regardless of Clan affiliation. For a century, the ever shifting ranks of the Elders had decreed that the kitsune were forbidden to officially interfere in southern affairs. The defection of the one tails and the losses in the last war had been devastating and disheartening. If the one-tailed foxes turned against their northern kin, then what use was there in putting stock on other mobians?
Besides, none of the other lost breeds were risking their necks either.
Chara turned her eyes to the sky, searching it carefully. Both Kitsune males and females were proficient warriors, but they each specialized in different aspects of the fight. Males always spearheaded any offensive operations, and male warriors focused on tearing down an enemy's defense. Females were the opposite. They were trained to think and fight defensibly, and by Tradition took charge during any defensive engagement. This was practical in that it allowed them to ensure the safety of home and hearth, and because of the ritual of the Claim.
"Once Torrent's Pup returns from his little Quest..." Chara's mother smiled at the memory of her deceased husband. "Maybe he will finally settle down. I have yet to see any grandchildren from either of you whelps…"
Chara frowned. "Patience, dear mother."
"Well. We may as well head back to the camp." The older female sighed wizenedly, and started towards the cover of the thick woods. "Your discourtesy is hardly surprising, given your youth, Chara. But your pup of a brother should know better. The Family needs an Heir."
"That pup, as you so call him, is the finest warrior and Ephor Anthal of our Clan. He will pick a mate when it suits him, not at your whim." Chara growled, falling in step with her mother. "And he knows my opinion on things. Not that he pays it any heed, mind you."
"He needs a female to reign him in. The boy just doesn't carouse enough with the females of our Clan. If he found one, he'd have a different view of our situation here. He'd be quicker to realize we are better taking some sort of offensive action against these southern 'Cha'tah."
"Relax, Mother." Chara Na'Vidar took her own hood off, and draped it over her shoulder. The guille suit rustled almost inaudibly as she did this, the hand sewn bits of camo and matting crumbling up. "'Whatsoever happens, happens.' As long as we have an enemy to fight, and prey to hunt, we'll be fine. Tempest or no Tempest."
"Chara…?"
"Mother?"
"Does it not seem unwarranted to send an Ephor Anthal all the way south to find some lost kit? They could have sent anyone… a whole party of warriors from the boy's own Clan…"
"It does seem strange, Mother." Chara's breath became a tiny cloud of ice in the cold air of their northern climate. "But the Elders requested it, and you know my brother. Ever eager to test his limits…"
"You are getting rebellious in his absence." The brows on Chara's mother's face creased, and not just from age. "The whole extended family is. Clan Vidar's succession crisis was bad enough last generation. Some speak that history will be soon repeating."
"Aye, 'a litter needs its leader,'" Chara mused, quoting one of the best-known Kitsune phrases. "Faster mother! Let us back to the Camp! This victory today shall be hung over our hearth, and as the day wanes we shall gather the other women and regale them with tales of it! Tonight, we feast!"
"I am the Hunter,
My claws wet with blood,
The tang of victory in my mouth,
My enemies at my feet,
His blood is mine to spill,
His death is my life."
"Good!" Tempest then asked, "And when was the Creed adopted?"
"Year 1504, which would make it the… Era of…."
"Of?"
"Of the… Sharufa, right?"
"Superb, Tails!" Tempest clasped the youngster's shoulder. "Now, on to the Legend of the Cathumantana."
Tempest sat down in front of Tails. It was a cool night, and after Tails' kill, they had spent the next couple hours covering the rudiments of kitsune history, as well as the specific history of Tails' Clan – Turo. The young fox was an excellent listener, and seemed to absorb knowledge readily. When Tempest expressed his surprise at this, Tails had been more than happy to tell him about his training in the sciences, and his numerous projects, past, present and future. Now, with the sky dark, their bellies full, and their kill well gnawed upon, Tempest was ready to bring the day to a close.
"This is one of my favorites, boy, so listen well. One day you will likely see the thing of which I now speak. In the year of 1515, a minor Prophetic Comet crossed the sky, and taking it as an omen, the Clan Turo again attacked the southern settlements near her borders."
"Why?"
"Because they were tilling our soil, defiling our hunting grounds, and heaping upon us dishonor."
"That's what you say all the time!" Tails pointed out. "Wouldn't it be easier to just put up a sign. Like 'Go Away,' 'No Loitering,' 'No Solicitations' or something?"
"Because… then the Southerners and our enemies would know where we live and Camp. It is better that the borders are kept vague. Now: back to the story. After sacking the township of Amelius, a strange gem was discovered among the ruins. Small but brilliant, it was taken by the Clan's Ephor Anthal, and your great namesake, Mi El Zhu Na'Turo, who was also, by blood, a son of Clan Vidar. The Elders revered it, and called it a Gem of Chaos, of the first generation of such things, birthed in the fires of the First Age..."
"A Chaos Emerald?"
"Yes… that is the echidna name for them, but an 'Emerald' implies that it is green, and most Gems of Chaos are not..."
Tails made a frown. "You've never mentioned them before."
"Why should it matter?" Tempest asked. "Why this big interest in the Gems of Chaos?"
"Because…" Tails licked his lips, remembering the feeling of power he'd once had. He usually didn't dwell on that much, as used to using Chaos Energy in his machines as he was, but now… he could remember it well, and found himself wanting to feel it again.
"I've worked with them. I've held them. And more!"
"Really?" Tempest pondered this. "Do you know which ones?"
Tails wasn't quite sure what he meant. There were only two sets as far as he knew.
"What do you mean: which ones?"
"There would be several sets of them." Tempest held up all four fingers on one hand. "One for each Age that has drawn to a close. The newer ones would look larger than the old ones."
"About this big?" Tails cupped his hands to demonstrate. "The biggest ones, aside from the new Master Emerald, are about this big."
Tempest looked at the rough size outlined by his student's hands. "That is very large. Those were probably Fourth Generation Gems. Are those around here?"
"No, no…" Tails waved his hand dismissingly. "We don't have the big ones on Mobius. Those are all on the Floating… 'Angel' Island, now. The mainland ones aren't as big. You can usually hold two in each hand, though not so easily."
"Third Generation, then. Still very powerful."
"So how big is a First Generation Gem?"
Tempest measured it out with two fingers, pinching the air to the rough size.
"A few inches. But very brilliant in the reflection of light."
"Hmm…" Tails was obviously thinking about what he'd heard, and correlating and comparing it to what he already knew from past experience. "Interesting…"
"Anyway." Tempest went back to the original topic. "And, this Great Ephor Anthal, Mi El Zhu (who you are named after) took the Gem and decreed it part of his Inheritance. In the eleventh year of his reign as patriarch of Clan Turo, Mi El Zhu had a great contest of artisans and weapon smiths called to his lands, as well as the Council of Elders. The winner of these feats of prowess and wisdom was the legendary sword smith Adem Na'Kalahen, so Mi El Zhu commissioned the crafting of the finest of swords, and the Gem was mounted on the hilt."
"And, of it, the wise men said, 'this gem brings great power, so that no material may pause this blade in mid-strike.' To prove this, each Clan save Turo sent a single captured Mobian, raided from the southlands, and piled them one atop the other. Additionally, between each was placed a plate of the hardest iron. The Ephor Anthal, seeing and facing this challenge, hefted the newly forged blade, and with a single motion cut through all six bodies, and all six plates of armor, as smooth as if they were pure white snow. Mi El Zhu then was said to say, 'It sees not the difference between flesh and iron.'"
Tempest nodded sagely and approvingly, coming to the end of the story. "And so, in blood, the sword was christened, 'Cathumantana.' Which means 'Cuts Flesh and Iron equally,' or the Sword of Flesh and Iron."
"That's terrible!" Tails said, shocked. "They just killed those people just to try out a sword?"
Tempest half shrugged. "It was the Sharufa Period. A lot of that sort of thing happened back then."
"It's still not a…" the younger Kitsune rolled his eyes. He had learned it was pointless arguing certain things with Tempest. "Never mind. Is the Sword still around?"
"The blade is a Holy Relic, currently held at the Shrine to Northern Fire. It is still only wielded by worthy Ephor Anthals of the Clan Turo. I went to a pilgrimage there two years ago. The blade is the most beautiful and well crafted in the land. Truly a sight to behold."
"And where is that… Shrine? At the poles?"
"No.… No one lives at the poles. Your Clan comes from deep in the Tundra. Like mine. The Turo clan is considered the most ancient; possessing the purest blood and greatest warriors of our people… though many in Jel'Arah would dispute that fact. All other Kitsune clans are generally considered an offshoot of the Turo."
"Not the One-Tails, though?"
"No. The one tailed, mundane foxes of Mobius… they were once our adopted kin, but no longer. The One-Tails migrated from the south about two thousand years ago when the Second Flood made survival and hunting down there difficult. So we took them in as fellow hunters and brothers. For centuries, we fought, side by side. Then… well, that comes much later…"
Tempest stood up and smiled amiably. "Let us put out the remains of this fire and return to this Knothole village of yours. I will teach you more tomorrow."
They had snuck into the village. It wasn't really necessary, but Tempest had suggested that Tails always practice his stealth and balance, even when doing mundane activities. No one had seen them, as far as he could tell, and Tails knew the town's surveillance and security systems well enough to find holes in them. It had taken longer than usual, but Tails had gotten back to his dwelling.
Which left his mentor to his own devices.
Tempest looked at the sheets, lying on the edge of the 'bed.' He had never had sheets, and he had lived in one of the coldest climates on the planet. This was probably the same thing his young apprentice slept on. No wonder the body's fur was all matted – Kitsune fur was thick, and an effective cushion on its own. On hard and uneven ground most just used their tails as extra padding. He thought about going back to Tails' hut and demand he sleep on the floor as part of his training…
"Spoiled brat…!" He could easily imagine himself saying. "A warrior doesn't need cloth to keep him warm!"
"But…" Tempest said, to himself. "Tails isn't a warrior yet… so I may as well let him enjoy the comforts he is accustomed to."
Closing the door behind him, Tempest looked around and inside this place he had been given. This hut that Princess had given him. The ceiling was a little too low for his comfort, but it was thick walled… and full of, what his people would call 'premiums.' A clock… closets, and the bed - Tempest suspected it would give way when he sat on it; it was so soft. Back home, though his family was both powerful and proud among his Clan, he had only had what he needed. And his bed had literally been like hardwood, compared to this one.
His father used to say, "The less comfortable you are at home; the more comfortable you shall be out in the wilderness, on your own, surviving. You will learn that, if anything, boy."
"The old man was right…" Tempest felt the bed again. "It's amazing Tails ever gets out of bed at all. No wonder I had to practically drag him out of it this morning..."
Leaning back, and propping his feet up on the edge of the bed, for it was smaller than he was, Tempest relaxed, and fell asleep. Tomorrow would be a good day. He still wasn't sure why the Elders had asked him, specifically, to take up this Quest… but it was proving interesting at least. The boy was skilled in many ways already.
Tomorrow… he could afford to up the ante a little.
Lara fell face first into her queen sized bed, right between the red bag full of clothes, and the blue one full of souvenirs. Pushing her face deep into the sheets and then looking out of the corner of her eye at the time, displayed on a digital clock, she groaned. After the night's club hopping, she'd have to take it easy tomorrow. Maybe check out the old castle fortress, or the original Freedom Fighter headquarters!
Rolling over onto her back, she let out a long sigh.
This was shaping up to be her best trip into the past ever!