New Age: Dark Pages of a Fox
Fifth Chapter
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this story, including the basic concept and plot, which is owned by hitobito. SEGA owns Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Robotnik, and Tikal. The story is down there! :: points. ::
BEE'S NOTE: Ladies and gentlemen! I bring to you another chapter, filled with evil and intrigue. Tut-tut-tut. No worries. That lightning flashing behind you is nothing. This chapter turned out different than I thought it would... well... ANYWAY! Read on, readers!
Bwah ha ha ha ha hah!
On with the story!
********************
Chapter 5 -
First Strike
Knuckles watches his blue compadre pace the center of the makeshift meeting place with mild interest. He turns back to staring at his sketches. Ever since this horrible occurrence, he has been seeing and sensing all new emotions from himself and from everyone else. He has never felt them this strong before. His hands began to ache for his sketchbook only the moment after he saw Tikal crying all alone. He then knew he needed to record everything--everything about her, about himself, just everything; he did not really understand why. His thoughts trail away as he glances up to see Amy coming towards him.
"Knuckles, have you seen Sonic? I haven't seen him since last night."
Knuckles, absorbed again in his sketches of emotion and disaster, does not respond for a time.
"Knuckles, are you okay?"
"Mm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Sonic? He was over cleaning up after last night's bonfire, last I saw him."
Amy looks in the direction of the makeshift meeting place. "Really? Why?"
"Well, the reason he gave to me was that he wanted to clear the space to build a platform. I really I think he's just trying to get lost in himself and forget what happened to Tails," is the red one's answer.
"I guess you're right," Amy mumbles and leaves.
********************
In the light of the freshly rising sun, Sonic is frantically thinking of something--anything--to say to passersby. Fatigued from staying awake for so long--having not slept in over twenty-four hours--he finds he is really struggling to even care to say anything.
Amy walks quietly to the area Sonic is currently working on. He is found, just as Knuckles said, holding a earthen-clad rake in the meeting center at the fire ground.
The fretful hedgehog looks up at Amy. He looks down immediately and closes his eyes tightly. He mutters something quietly to her.
She leans in to hear his words.
"...I am sorry, Amy..." Then mumbling. "...and I wish that Tails was still with us, cheering you up..." His words melt away, becoming noticeably quiet.
Amy can barely even decipher if he is even speaking at all, or just crying to himself.
He suddenly speaks up, "...but, unfortunately, he has become our new..." Sonic flinches at the word he finds himself about to say, "...problem." He is still perturbed, betrayed, and hurt. He looks at her, not hiding any of the fatigue, sadness, and worry in his eyes. "Good bye, Amy."
She looks into Sonic's eyes, not sure she heard him right. "What did you say?"
He rewards her with no reply. He merely turns away, dropping the rake, and speeds away, leaving the shaking girl and the earth, now clean of its scars, behind.
********************
The clanking, hammering, shoveling sounds of a grand rebuilding has been filling the air of New Metropolis since early dawn. Found there are many of the new Followers, willing and dusty, happy and thirsty, strong and satisfied.
The workers toil in the dust and grime of the recent battles. From there, they learned, the coweringly angry Eggman was forced to vacate and was later defeated. They work hard and long, untiringly, with the knowledge that their new leader was the one who freed them and found them.
They watch their founder thrusting above his head things much heavier than even the late Ivo Robotnik, rebelling against even the great force of gravity. Through these simple actions, they see he will indeed lead them to their dreams, their homes, their victories.
Through clouds of dust, a small, headstrong group passes through the flying soot and churning dirt. The members nod to each worker, offering him or her a cool drink of water and a small snack. After receiving utterances of graditude, they turn their attention to their leader.
Tails looks up. He sees the group of five Followers, with its head at the front: a black wolf with a spiked bracelet.
The wolf puts a clawed hand over the bracelet, bowing appropriately, and introduces himself as Spade. Tails nods a greeting, keeping his gaze on Spade with mild recognition.
The Followers to the right and to the left of Spade step forward, offering Tails a modest meal and a cool drink, which is accepted graciously.
The dark wolf smiles and speaks his purpose: a secret service to Tails.
"That would be safer for me. I'll consider it. First, though, you must learn my objectives. Understood?" Tails holds out his thirsty cup.
Spade nods and bows. He motions the two same Followers to refill Tails's now-empty vessel. "Also, Spade is merely my alias. You may call me by my real name." He leans to tell him, but is interrupted with Tails's wide-eyed smile.
"Call me 'T-Square,' like you used to, Talon!"
He just laughs. "Ah, you remember me. Sorry, but I will keep calling you 'Sir,' as I am your subordinate. Now, what are these 'objectives,'?"
Tails shrugs as the final gulp from his cup rolls into his mouth. Tails pauses. "One moment, Talon." He turns to all the other Followers outside Spade's pack. "Take a break, everyone! Go home and rest. Return when the air glows red."
"I'm sure they'll appreciate the rest, Sir," Spade comments as he watches the workers go their separate ways. "'...when the air glows red'?"
Tails nods. "About a week ago, I had an accident involving a Chaos Emerald. A device I made to extract energy from it exploded and destroyed my hut in Mystic Ruins, but it also obliterated the walls of my naiveté and ignorance." Tails holds out his cup again thirstily, and it is instantly refilled.
Spade smiles and thanks the right-hand pack member, a gray fox, two years younger than Tails.
"You're welcome!" grins the gray kit.
Tails smiles. "I hope you do introduce these other Followers. After which, I'll give you five your first set of instructions to carry out to prove yourselves.."
"Both will be done, Sir, gladly."
The orange fox continues. "It is said the Chaos Emeralds have an infinite amount of energy. My plan was to harvest it. But I smashed the device."
"Sir?"
Tails looks up. "I was in a rage, angry that I was so stupid to follow a hedgehog who acts with his heart and not his brain or his hands, like we do. Please understand that I do not rule for the citizens. I rule to destroy, to raise my chaos, and to crush all my opposition--those who stand in the ideals of emotion and ignorance, such as Sonic and Amy. The emerald gives me power."
"That's how you make the air glow red? With the emerald?"
"Yes, Talon. And also from the emerald, I was taught that Sonic's kind of order--that of heroism without knowing why--must not prevail. We must become missionaries to teach them what to fight for."
"Mystic Ruins?"
"Yes. They took your homes and they did not even come to rescue you under your oppression. They never even talked of it. I would know; I was there. They were too cowardly to face those whose homes they stole." With another glassful in his hand, he finishes. "With you, my special forces, my men, you will realize my dreams. Do you understand?"
"Indeed we do," grins Spade, "But, I have a small request upon our group name, Sir."
"Okay?"
"Just call us your Pack." With a hand gesture, he motions for them to stand up.
The Pack stands up as a unit. Spade stands next to Tails and begins introductions.
********************
"Tikal and Amy are now overseeing the reconstruction of all the huts," Knuckles tells himself as he is creating with his hands new sketches of rebirth and atonement for losses. "...and Sonic is nowhere to be seen." He closes the sketchbook, and walks over to Tikal for an update on Tails.
Amy sees the timid look in Knuckles's eyes and slips away to leave them alone.
"Recon reports say that Tails is doing something special, involving his people. I think they call themselves the Followers," Tikal stands there, quietly watching everyone building. A slight wind ruffles her fur and she sighs.
Knuckles looks at her closely.
"I just don't like the idea of Tails rising to power. It's scary," she says slowly. Tikal begins to feel the burning of Knuckles's glance, and turns her face to his.
"Yeah, I know. I really never thought of Tails as a potential threat. I have no idea what he is capable of."
Tikal stares deeper into Knuckles's eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
Knuckles awkwardly side-steps over to the emotionally-rumpled echidna next to him. "Tikal, I... don't know what to do."
She smiles and tilts her head lightly down to cover her face and her tears with her hair. "It's okay. You don't need to know; none of us do."
He swiftly sweeps an arm above her shoulders, turning her into a hug of innocent warmth and friendship. He knows she does not need to cry, and he will see to it that she does not.
She feels him sigh into her hair. She closes her eyes. In the darkness of her mind, she notices the strength of his hold. She relaxes a little.
"I am here for you, Tikal."
Opening her eyes, she looks straight at the seemingly-distant ground. She is kind of light-headed, thrust deep into thought. She turns her head up, meeting her eyes with his. She finds she is holding onto him as much as he is to her.
As the seconds pass gently by, the red echidna keeps his arms wrapped around this girl. He feels the sharp need to keep her from falling apart right there in his arms. He turns his head down, dropping his sketchbook, and nuzzles her gently.
She looks down to see briefly a drawing of herself crying, when an abrupt explosion rocks Mystic Ruin. The two echidnas turn just in time to see the most rebuilt structure in the area topple to the ground.
Squinting, Tikal sees a small group standing on top of the debris. The people in the group of five were not Mystic Ruin's inhabitants. "Are those Followers?"
Knuckles stutters quietly. "I... I don't know."
And there, standing amongst the building's tattered frame, is a black wolf.
Tikal gasps, recognizing him from somewhere. Her mind stuggles to grasp from her fuzzy memory where she has seen him.
Spade walks up to her, grinning. He covers his hand over his spiked bracelet and bows himself graciously, turning his golden eyes to her. "Hello, Your Highness. We are the Pack, on an errand commanded by our master."
"From Tails?"
"The purpose is simply this: To inform you that if we are so able to easily infiltrate your village and destroy your shoddy buildings, then you had better just surrender now." He stands from his bow and looks down at her.
"Who are you?!"
The dark wolf simply turns away. "Just an old friend," Spade replies, before taking off with his Pack in tow.
********************
End of Fifth Chapter
BEE'S COMMENTS:
lilkoisuru: Ooooooh. I like Talon... er... Spade...
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: Why am I here? I'm barely even in this chapter!
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
lilkoisuru: ... So manly and cute. :: thinks of a certain mate of hers. ::
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: :: stares at lilkoisuru. :: She's lost it.
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: . . . . Um... well, lilkoisuru is in her own world, and I think Tails broke.
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: Come back later; read chapter six; et cetera and so forth... :: waves. ::
Tails: Gee, I wonder why...
Fifth Chapter
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this story, including the basic concept and plot, which is owned by hitobito. SEGA owns Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Robotnik, and Tikal. The story is down there! :: points. ::
BEE'S NOTE: Ladies and gentlemen! I bring to you another chapter, filled with evil and intrigue. Tut-tut-tut. No worries. That lightning flashing behind you is nothing. This chapter turned out different than I thought it would... well... ANYWAY! Read on, readers!
Bwah ha ha ha ha hah!
On with the story!
********************
Chapter 5 -
First Strike
Knuckles watches his blue compadre pace the center of the makeshift meeting place with mild interest. He turns back to staring at his sketches. Ever since this horrible occurrence, he has been seeing and sensing all new emotions from himself and from everyone else. He has never felt them this strong before. His hands began to ache for his sketchbook only the moment after he saw Tikal crying all alone. He then knew he needed to record everything--everything about her, about himself, just everything; he did not really understand why. His thoughts trail away as he glances up to see Amy coming towards him.
"Knuckles, have you seen Sonic? I haven't seen him since last night."
Knuckles, absorbed again in his sketches of emotion and disaster, does not respond for a time.
"Knuckles, are you okay?"
"Mm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Sonic? He was over cleaning up after last night's bonfire, last I saw him."
Amy looks in the direction of the makeshift meeting place. "Really? Why?"
"Well, the reason he gave to me was that he wanted to clear the space to build a platform. I really I think he's just trying to get lost in himself and forget what happened to Tails," is the red one's answer.
"I guess you're right," Amy mumbles and leaves.
********************
In the light of the freshly rising sun, Sonic is frantically thinking of something--anything--to say to passersby. Fatigued from staying awake for so long--having not slept in over twenty-four hours--he finds he is really struggling to even care to say anything.
Amy walks quietly to the area Sonic is currently working on. He is found, just as Knuckles said, holding a earthen-clad rake in the meeting center at the fire ground.
The fretful hedgehog looks up at Amy. He looks down immediately and closes his eyes tightly. He mutters something quietly to her.
She leans in to hear his words.
"...I am sorry, Amy..." Then mumbling. "...and I wish that Tails was still with us, cheering you up..." His words melt away, becoming noticeably quiet.
Amy can barely even decipher if he is even speaking at all, or just crying to himself.
He suddenly speaks up, "...but, unfortunately, he has become our new..." Sonic flinches at the word he finds himself about to say, "...problem." He is still perturbed, betrayed, and hurt. He looks at her, not hiding any of the fatigue, sadness, and worry in his eyes. "Good bye, Amy."
She looks into Sonic's eyes, not sure she heard him right. "What did you say?"
He rewards her with no reply. He merely turns away, dropping the rake, and speeds away, leaving the shaking girl and the earth, now clean of its scars, behind.
********************
The clanking, hammering, shoveling sounds of a grand rebuilding has been filling the air of New Metropolis since early dawn. Found there are many of the new Followers, willing and dusty, happy and thirsty, strong and satisfied.
The workers toil in the dust and grime of the recent battles. From there, they learned, the coweringly angry Eggman was forced to vacate and was later defeated. They work hard and long, untiringly, with the knowledge that their new leader was the one who freed them and found them.
They watch their founder thrusting above his head things much heavier than even the late Ivo Robotnik, rebelling against even the great force of gravity. Through these simple actions, they see he will indeed lead them to their dreams, their homes, their victories.
Through clouds of dust, a small, headstrong group passes through the flying soot and churning dirt. The members nod to each worker, offering him or her a cool drink of water and a small snack. After receiving utterances of graditude, they turn their attention to their leader.
Tails looks up. He sees the group of five Followers, with its head at the front: a black wolf with a spiked bracelet.
The wolf puts a clawed hand over the bracelet, bowing appropriately, and introduces himself as Spade. Tails nods a greeting, keeping his gaze on Spade with mild recognition.
The Followers to the right and to the left of Spade step forward, offering Tails a modest meal and a cool drink, which is accepted graciously.
The dark wolf smiles and speaks his purpose: a secret service to Tails.
"That would be safer for me. I'll consider it. First, though, you must learn my objectives. Understood?" Tails holds out his thirsty cup.
Spade nods and bows. He motions the two same Followers to refill Tails's now-empty vessel. "Also, Spade is merely my alias. You may call me by my real name." He leans to tell him, but is interrupted with Tails's wide-eyed smile.
"Call me 'T-Square,' like you used to, Talon!"
He just laughs. "Ah, you remember me. Sorry, but I will keep calling you 'Sir,' as I am your subordinate. Now, what are these 'objectives,'?"
Tails shrugs as the final gulp from his cup rolls into his mouth. Tails pauses. "One moment, Talon." He turns to all the other Followers outside Spade's pack. "Take a break, everyone! Go home and rest. Return when the air glows red."
"I'm sure they'll appreciate the rest, Sir," Spade comments as he watches the workers go their separate ways. "'...when the air glows red'?"
Tails nods. "About a week ago, I had an accident involving a Chaos Emerald. A device I made to extract energy from it exploded and destroyed my hut in Mystic Ruins, but it also obliterated the walls of my naiveté and ignorance." Tails holds out his cup again thirstily, and it is instantly refilled.
Spade smiles and thanks the right-hand pack member, a gray fox, two years younger than Tails.
"You're welcome!" grins the gray kit.
Tails smiles. "I hope you do introduce these other Followers. After which, I'll give you five your first set of instructions to carry out to prove yourselves.."
"Both will be done, Sir, gladly."
The orange fox continues. "It is said the Chaos Emeralds have an infinite amount of energy. My plan was to harvest it. But I smashed the device."
"Sir?"
Tails looks up. "I was in a rage, angry that I was so stupid to follow a hedgehog who acts with his heart and not his brain or his hands, like we do. Please understand that I do not rule for the citizens. I rule to destroy, to raise my chaos, and to crush all my opposition--those who stand in the ideals of emotion and ignorance, such as Sonic and Amy. The emerald gives me power."
"That's how you make the air glow red? With the emerald?"
"Yes, Talon. And also from the emerald, I was taught that Sonic's kind of order--that of heroism without knowing why--must not prevail. We must become missionaries to teach them what to fight for."
"Mystic Ruins?"
"Yes. They took your homes and they did not even come to rescue you under your oppression. They never even talked of it. I would know; I was there. They were too cowardly to face those whose homes they stole." With another glassful in his hand, he finishes. "With you, my special forces, my men, you will realize my dreams. Do you understand?"
"Indeed we do," grins Spade, "But, I have a small request upon our group name, Sir."
"Okay?"
"Just call us your Pack." With a hand gesture, he motions for them to stand up.
The Pack stands up as a unit. Spade stands next to Tails and begins introductions.
********************
"Tikal and Amy are now overseeing the reconstruction of all the huts," Knuckles tells himself as he is creating with his hands new sketches of rebirth and atonement for losses. "...and Sonic is nowhere to be seen." He closes the sketchbook, and walks over to Tikal for an update on Tails.
Amy sees the timid look in Knuckles's eyes and slips away to leave them alone.
"Recon reports say that Tails is doing something special, involving his people. I think they call themselves the Followers," Tikal stands there, quietly watching everyone building. A slight wind ruffles her fur and she sighs.
Knuckles looks at her closely.
"I just don't like the idea of Tails rising to power. It's scary," she says slowly. Tikal begins to feel the burning of Knuckles's glance, and turns her face to his.
"Yeah, I know. I really never thought of Tails as a potential threat. I have no idea what he is capable of."
Tikal stares deeper into Knuckles's eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
Knuckles awkwardly side-steps over to the emotionally-rumpled echidna next to him. "Tikal, I... don't know what to do."
She smiles and tilts her head lightly down to cover her face and her tears with her hair. "It's okay. You don't need to know; none of us do."
He swiftly sweeps an arm above her shoulders, turning her into a hug of innocent warmth and friendship. He knows she does not need to cry, and he will see to it that she does not.
She feels him sigh into her hair. She closes her eyes. In the darkness of her mind, she notices the strength of his hold. She relaxes a little.
"I am here for you, Tikal."
Opening her eyes, she looks straight at the seemingly-distant ground. She is kind of light-headed, thrust deep into thought. She turns her head up, meeting her eyes with his. She finds she is holding onto him as much as he is to her.
As the seconds pass gently by, the red echidna keeps his arms wrapped around this girl. He feels the sharp need to keep her from falling apart right there in his arms. He turns his head down, dropping his sketchbook, and nuzzles her gently.
She looks down to see briefly a drawing of herself crying, when an abrupt explosion rocks Mystic Ruin. The two echidnas turn just in time to see the most rebuilt structure in the area topple to the ground.
Squinting, Tikal sees a small group standing on top of the debris. The people in the group of five were not Mystic Ruin's inhabitants. "Are those Followers?"
Knuckles stutters quietly. "I... I don't know."
And there, standing amongst the building's tattered frame, is a black wolf.
Tikal gasps, recognizing him from somewhere. Her mind stuggles to grasp from her fuzzy memory where she has seen him.
Spade walks up to her, grinning. He covers his hand over his spiked bracelet and bows himself graciously, turning his golden eyes to her. "Hello, Your Highness. We are the Pack, on an errand commanded by our master."
"From Tails?"
"The purpose is simply this: To inform you that if we are so able to easily infiltrate your village and destroy your shoddy buildings, then you had better just surrender now." He stands from his bow and looks down at her.
"Who are you?!"
The dark wolf simply turns away. "Just an old friend," Spade replies, before taking off with his Pack in tow.
********************
End of Fifth Chapter
BEE'S COMMENTS:
lilkoisuru: Ooooooh. I like Talon... er... Spade...
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: Why am I here? I'm barely even in this chapter!
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
lilkoisuru: ... So manly and cute. :: thinks of a certain mate of hers. ::
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: :: stares at lilkoisuru. :: She's lost it.
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: . . . . Um... well, lilkoisuru is in her own world, and I think Tails broke.
Tails: Gee, I wonder why.
Sonic: Come back later; read chapter six; et cetera and so forth... :: waves. ::
Tails: Gee, I wonder why...