Author's Note-
I do not own the Sonic Characters. I do, however, own a few. If you steel them, I'm a lawyer. You die. Ok, not really, but my friend says I'm her lawyer! ^-^ Anyway, I own the following Characters that are in this chapter and are yet to come: Esperanza, Blacky, Alex, Kimi, Koko, Steven, Daisy, Smokey, Carrie, Hilary, Jessica, Annie, Meko, Melly, Tom, Bethany, Elizabath (friend's request on the spelling), Emily, Sarah, Destani, Leffin, Ragini, Roangi, Sheikai, Dreama, Draconic, FlameShine, Desitria, Nightmare, blah blah blah... Ok, there may be more later, but for now, it's just these guys! Hope you enjoy my story!
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Ch.4
The quest begins
"Oh, really?" Esperanza said. "Yes, that's what I heard. I need help. And if we can't find her, we're gonna have to search for the soul blade. It's the most powerful sword in the universe." She added, seeing the confused look they all shared. "Oh," Esperanza replied. "Well," "We'd love to help!" Tails said. "We will too, I guess." "Great!" She beamed. "We'll meet in front of this park tomorrow at eight in the morning. See you then!" "Ok." They said their good byes and then Esperanza, Blacky, and Alex set out to find the Station Square National Hotel. They found it at fourth-thirty, so they were lucky. They got a room on the third floor, room 137. They settled, and then Esperanza had just enough time to get to the girl's shower room. Then, a few seconds later, Smokey emerged from one of the showers. "You'd never believe how big these drainers are!" She exclaimed, as Hilary came out, too. "Hey! Wait up!" Carrie was last to emerge. "Sorry, I got my tail stuck."
Esperanza told them of the offer Jessica had given them, and how Tails had agreed and the others seemed not to mind, so she had agreed so it wouldn't look suspicious. They seemed confused. "Why would it be suspicious?" Smokey asked. "Well, I dunno..." she said. "But, I'm just wondering, how good are you at keeping secrets?" "I've never told a secret. It's wrong to give away information that they trusted you with!" Hilary said. "I'm with her!" Carrie chimed in. "Never will I tell a secret, especially from some one who just saved us from the police!" Smokey added. "Ok, then please, promise to keep this secret." Esperanza said. Somehow, she felt she had to trust them. It just seemed natural. The three put their hands over their hearts. "By the sun of the day, if we tell, may we meet our demise by flame." They replied in perfect unison.
"All right," she looked around, and when she was sure no one else was listening, she took a breath. "I'm Esperanza, and Chris is Blacky. We're unsafe; if Jessica finds out, we'll be executed. I need you to keep this as your greatest secret, ok?" They nodded, looking quiet shocked. Then, Smokey found her voice. "Esperanza, you're now an honorary member of my gang, you're the newest Smokey's Sister. We promise, as your sisters, we'll always keep you're secrets, and we'll always be there for you. As you'll undoubtedly be for us. Congratulations!"
"Wow!" Esperanza was thrilled. She was part of their gang, a good gang, like her new family. "You'll have to learn our oaths and code words, though!" Carrie beamed. "Also, how old are you?" "Sixteen, why?" "Smokey's the oldest, and that makes you the second oldest! We never get sisters older than Smokey! She's the big sis!" Hilary said. "We've got kind of 'code names', like Smokey's big sis. Carrie is and remains lil' sis. I'm spike sis. Smoke, what can she be?" "Well, Hill, she looks like she'd be a good..." She looked Esperanza up and down. "She'd be a good star sis. What do you think, Care?" "I like! It's a good one. You like, Espy?" "Yes! I love it!" Esperanza was overjoyed. "Well, star sis, you'll need to know the oaths. The first is, 'by the sun of the day', which we only say in the daytime. Also, at night, we say, 'by the moon of the night' or, 'by the stars in the sky.' By the way, you'll need to wear this."
Smokey pulled a necklace out of her right pocket. It was covered in beautiful, glittering rubies. Then, she put the glittering gems on Esperanza's neck. She noticed that Carrie had one of sapphire, Hilary one of emerald, and Smokey one of all sorts of gem stones. "This shows you're a member, but the police haven't found that out yet, and they don't know how to tell them from the other gemstone necklaces." Smokey smiled slyly. Then, her face became very solemn and serious. "I warn you, if you were to take it of, it will change color to a stone gray, and you'll be thrown out of the group. Also, fire is our greatest strength when we're together, for the necklaces have a spell on them. But, it is half curse, for if you're without us, and are burned, it will be ten times more serious. Are you sure you want to stay in our group, star sis?" She looked worried that she'd want to leave them for nothing.
"By the setting of the sun, I'll never leave you alone." "Wow! Great oath! And it's for evening! I like!" Smokey seemed ten times happier. "It's our evening oath. Alright sisters, what else should she know?" Smokey looked around.
"She should know about codes black, green, and silver!" Carrie said. "Good thought, lil' sis!" Smokey beamed at her. "Ok, code green. When you yell out, 'green', you're saying you're in trouble and need help. Silver means you're hurt or something serious has happened, and are in need of help. Code black means, well, it's never before happened, but it means mortal peril, and you are in desperate need of help soon, or you'll leave us forever." She looked at Esperanza, as though waiting for a nod. Esperanza nodded.
Then, she said, "Where are you staying tonight?" "Oh, probably in the sewer." "Well, I have a very large closet- I think it's also a dressing room! If you want, you can sneak up and sleep there tonight.' "We'd love it! Thanks, star sis!" Smokey smiled. Boy, Smokey sure smiles a lot, Esperanza thought. And so, they sneaked off, and slept peacefully that night, and when they awoke, the got ready for a long journey.
Then, at seven-thirty, the three of them set out to find Twinkle Park's entrance, closely followed by the sisters. They dared not show their faces in public. "Where did you get that necklace, Maria?" Blacky asked. "Oh, I've always had it in a secret pocket in my pack." Esperanza, yet again, thought fast and talked calmly. "It was my mothers." "Oh, ok!" Blacky started to jump with impatience. "Were is everyone? I wanna go now!"
Just then, Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and Big with Froggy came. "Where's that gold fox?" Sonic looked just as raring to go as Blacky. "Oh, Sonic..." Amy said. "You know that not everyone is as fast as you."
"Fast, are you?" Esperanza asked. "Yes, fastest creature here!" he seemed a little prideful. "Well, then you wouldn't mind a race? And I'll even walk, so I'll slow down." She had a playful face. "You're on! We'll race down that alleyway and back!" "How will I know you won't do half then go back?" Esperanza demanded. "Because, um... wait. How will I know you did the whole race?" Now Sonic looked playfully at her. "Well, I know! How about two of the others go down there, and we tag them when we get to them."
"Sounds fair," he said. "Well, who'll be our 'partners'?" "Well, you should get Alex. He's a big fan, and I know he won't just say you won!" she had the playful look again. "Ok, then you get Knuckles, because he never lets anyone win. They have to earn it with him!" He had the look now. "Alright!" Esperanza smiled. Knuckles and Alex sped down, and when they got there, blew a whistle; the runners were off. Amy, using her super calk that dries up quickly, and hardens, made the finish line. "We'll know who finished first." She said. The two ran, and dust flew everywhere as they cross the finish line. They looked, and Esperanza's side was erased, while Sonic's side looked untouched.
"We have a winner!" Knuckles ran up. He was panting, but looked impressed at Esperanza's speed. "She can run, and tags a little hard, if I may say so!" His hand was a little redder from a hard slap. 'Sorry," she blushed. "I didn't want to hurt you..." "It's ok! I'm very impressed!"
Then a minute later, Jessica came to the small chattering crowd that had offered to help her.
"I'm glad you're all gonna help me!" she said. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm the leader of this group, ok? I call the shots while we're on this search." She looked around. "Ok, then let's set off!" she smiled.
About three hours later, they were back in the middle of a jungle. "I just left a jungle," Esperanza said. "I wasn't expecting to come back to one so soon." "Speed up back there!" Jessica yelled from in front of the group. "We've got a lot to do." "No, we can't go to fast, or our footsteps will be heard by he vicious creatures of the forest!" "I call the shots here, Maria!" She yelled back. "This is why I don't work with blacks!" "Because we're always right? Or because we're almost all dead?" Esperanza called back. "And keep your voice down, Jessica!" "No, I don't think I will!" she screamed back. "Alright, it's your funeral. I hope the rest of us can defend ourselves when you cause a wild beast to come." Esperanza sighed.
Every few minutes, Jessica would call to them to make sure they were following her. She is going to get us all killed, Esperanza thought. We're in the middle of the jungle, and she's yelling every few minutes. Something could easily follow us.
Then, as Jessica screamed back to them, a cheetah leaped out of the bushes and pounced on her! The gold fox screamed as she was scratched hard across the face. Then, Maria jumped forward and landed on the cheetah, and she recognized its scares. It couldn't be..."Chris!" She yelled. "It's Sheikai!" Sheikai was a cheetah they had run into often in their old jungle. She was fierce; she always got what she wanted, until she met Esperanza. Esperanza was the one animal she was never able to beat. "You!" she turned to Esperanza. "You're the black one who keeps escaping from me. I won't let you escape this time!" her voice was threatening, terrifying, and accusing all at once.
The cheetah was the most threatening creature she'd run into, always just barely escaping. Now, she had to settle this, she new the time had come.
The challenge the cheetah gave next was just what she had expected. "I challenge you, to this fight to the death. You cannot refuse; you're in my new territory." Her brilliant yellow eyes gleamed. Esperanza let out a breath, and closed her eyes. "I don't want to fight you, Sheikai. I don't know about you, but I have plans for my life, commitments to live for. I will not lose." She waited for an answer. "So do I. One of who is to kill you, black one!" she stared angrily, maybe even hungrily, at her opponent. "Very well...if I must..." Esperanza's eyes slowly opened, revealing eyes that looked as though they were made of rubies. When all red, her eyes were a symbol that she was ready for a battle that could have serious consequences, like a death.
The two opponents circled, and Esperanza was getting ready for a strike to doge. Her opponent was always first to strike; she vowed to never start a fight and to avoid them at all costs if possible. Though, her fox instinct was to hunt and kill often, she never killed anything, ever. Her goal now was to knock Sheikai out, so she could leave her to recover.
It happened to soon for Esperanza to realize what had happened. She was suddenly in the air; it seemed that Sheikai had pounced, and she had flown up, and she had landed on Amy. Then, it seemed that Hilary and Carrie knew she was Esperanza's new friend, and had run up and pulled her up from under the beast. Smokey was only just visible; she must be torn between wanting to help, and not wanting to reveal that Hilary and Carrie were in her gang. She stepped back into the bushes after a few seconds.
"I'm ok!" Amy gasped as Esperanza landed next to her. "Maria! Watch out!" She stared behind Esperanza.
Esperanza didn't have time to look. She picked up Amy, Hilary, and Carrie, and then she flew up, so that none of them would be harmed again from her battle.
"Come down, little fox." Sheikai said. "We're not done. Why, We've only begun."
"I don't want to hurt you!" Esperanza screeched down to her antagonist. 'I don't want to fight. Can't we just call it even?" "No!" Was the angry scream from below. "I'm ready to kill you now, black one!" "Very well. Remember, you insisted for this to happen, you brought it upon yourself."
Her eyes gleamed the color of fresh blood. She gently placed the others down out of the feline's reach. "You'll not lay a finger on any of the others." She said. "I won't as long as we're battling. Afterward..." the beast licked her lips.
"Now, we'll really start." Esperanza said, and a great wind from the north came. It swept over the battlefield. "A strong wind to stay until the end of our battle..." Esperanza half whispered.
It started in a split second. One second, they were having a stare down. The next, Sheikai pounced, Esperanza dodged, and the wild cat turned and landed on top of the back canine. Esperanza barely had time to dodge another strike from the beast. Then, Esperanza leapt and landed on Sheikai's back. Then, Sheikai was on the ground for a split second, surprised that the fox had sharp claws that had dug into her back, which now drew blood. She hissed in a menacing way, and leapt again for the little warrior. She tried and failed to escape the cat's clutches, and was scratched across the back, her clothes ripped and blood trickling down to the floor. Esperanza got up, and had to fly up to dodge the next pounce. Then, she was on the ground, seven of her tails bleeding from the bite from Sheikai.
"Maria!" Blacky cried. "Watch out! You gotta win!" "It's ok; she'll win." Alex said, stroking Blacky's fur in comfort.
Unable to fly, Esperanza knew she must act fast; she couldn't miss anything. Sheikai leapt to the left of the black fox. "You fight well, black one, but not well enough!" She pounced onto Esperanza, knocking the tired teen to the ground.
Breathing was next to impossible in that position. Everyone, even Blacky, knew that. At the moment, Blacky was crying harder than ever; Alex looked pink from turning white; Smokey had come out and the three sisters were huddled together, unable to think strait; Amy had her arms tightly clamed around Sonic's neck, while Sonic seemed squeamish from the blood; Big was terrified, clutching a confused Froggy close to him; Knuckles looked ready to attack. Knuckles...ready to attack?
Then, Sheikai was on the ground; Knuckles had come and punched the beast off her. "Foolish little pest!" Sheikai spat. "Now you'll battle here, too!" "Better than having a friend killed." Knuckles smiled. Fighting seemed to be his element. "No, Knuckles. Let me do this. Two against one is never fair." Esperanza was walking up to the feline, who stared in amazement as she refused a partner. Then, she broke into a run, heading deeper into the forest. "Come back!" Sheikai sounded enraged, maybe even scared?
"No! You have to catch me!" she said, an all-knowing look on her face. She was badly injured, but was still as fast as she was in her race with Sonic. Her eyes were zooming around, looking for her goal. Sheikai was about a foot behind her, and she sped up. Then, she found it.
"Everyone," she started, as everyone ran up. "This is why I'll never kill this Cheetah," She dove into the cheetah's den. "One," she yelled from in the hole. There was a few scratching sounds, like a clawed animal in there. "She, like all of us, is a living creature. And Black Foxes were known for their value of life, even the value of their enemies." She stuffed her head out after a minute. "Second," she said. "This cheetah," She started to walk out. "Is a mother!" Everyone gasped. Esperanza was holding four little cheetah cubs, barely a week old. "My children!" Sheikai screeched. But before she could act, one of the children said, "It's ok, mommy. She's cool!" "Melly, are you sure?" "Ya!" the little girl replied. "I fink so too!" another little baby piped up. "Tom?" the mother was stunned. "Me three!' another cried "Meko?" "Don't forget me." A little voice came. It was the runt of the litter. "Annie?" the mother was stunned. All her children thought this fox was cool? They ate fox! Sometimes, at least.
"See," Annie said. "I knew it! Mommy hurt her!" The cubs jumped out of Esperanza's arms and walked up to her back. Then, they all gasped. "See, I always know the scent of blood when I smell it." Annie said, as the children looked at the deep scratches down her back and the fang bites on her tail. "Mommy! How could you?" Melly cried. "I'm sorry," Sheikai said to the children and Esperanza. "I thought she was an intruder...that she would hurt you..." "Mommy, you're over protective!" Meko said. "No," Esperanza said. "She was just doing her job as a mother. Some don't even let the father near!" "Our daddy is out hunting." Tom said.
"Mom, you're gonna let them go now, right?" Melly asked. "Of course." Sheikai answered, but she looked as though she still held a grudge, one her children would hopefully ease away. "Why have you returned to the forests? I heard you left, Maria." So she knew who Maria was! "We're on a dangerous mission, to find the soul blade." "No, I really think it would be easier to find your black hero." Jessica piped in rudely. "Who?" Sheikai asked. "The legendary fox, Esperanza." Jessica said before Esperanza could stop her. "Well, if it's that dangerous..." Sheikai whispered. Maybe this is my chance! She thought. My mate hates the runt... so do I, she's too weak, although we never told her...If I let her go with them, she'll die, and then I'll kill the black one to avenge her, and the children won't mind!
I do not own the Sonic Characters. I do, however, own a few. If you steel them, I'm a lawyer. You die. Ok, not really, but my friend says I'm her lawyer! ^-^ Anyway, I own the following Characters that are in this chapter and are yet to come: Esperanza, Blacky, Alex, Kimi, Koko, Steven, Daisy, Smokey, Carrie, Hilary, Jessica, Annie, Meko, Melly, Tom, Bethany, Elizabath (friend's request on the spelling), Emily, Sarah, Destani, Leffin, Ragini, Roangi, Sheikai, Dreama, Draconic, FlameShine, Desitria, Nightmare, blah blah blah... Ok, there may be more later, but for now, it's just these guys! Hope you enjoy my story!
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Ch.4
The quest begins
"Oh, really?" Esperanza said. "Yes, that's what I heard. I need help. And if we can't find her, we're gonna have to search for the soul blade. It's the most powerful sword in the universe." She added, seeing the confused look they all shared. "Oh," Esperanza replied. "Well," "We'd love to help!" Tails said. "We will too, I guess." "Great!" She beamed. "We'll meet in front of this park tomorrow at eight in the morning. See you then!" "Ok." They said their good byes and then Esperanza, Blacky, and Alex set out to find the Station Square National Hotel. They found it at fourth-thirty, so they were lucky. They got a room on the third floor, room 137. They settled, and then Esperanza had just enough time to get to the girl's shower room. Then, a few seconds later, Smokey emerged from one of the showers. "You'd never believe how big these drainers are!" She exclaimed, as Hilary came out, too. "Hey! Wait up!" Carrie was last to emerge. "Sorry, I got my tail stuck."
Esperanza told them of the offer Jessica had given them, and how Tails had agreed and the others seemed not to mind, so she had agreed so it wouldn't look suspicious. They seemed confused. "Why would it be suspicious?" Smokey asked. "Well, I dunno..." she said. "But, I'm just wondering, how good are you at keeping secrets?" "I've never told a secret. It's wrong to give away information that they trusted you with!" Hilary said. "I'm with her!" Carrie chimed in. "Never will I tell a secret, especially from some one who just saved us from the police!" Smokey added. "Ok, then please, promise to keep this secret." Esperanza said. Somehow, she felt she had to trust them. It just seemed natural. The three put their hands over their hearts. "By the sun of the day, if we tell, may we meet our demise by flame." They replied in perfect unison.
"All right," she looked around, and when she was sure no one else was listening, she took a breath. "I'm Esperanza, and Chris is Blacky. We're unsafe; if Jessica finds out, we'll be executed. I need you to keep this as your greatest secret, ok?" They nodded, looking quiet shocked. Then, Smokey found her voice. "Esperanza, you're now an honorary member of my gang, you're the newest Smokey's Sister. We promise, as your sisters, we'll always keep you're secrets, and we'll always be there for you. As you'll undoubtedly be for us. Congratulations!"
"Wow!" Esperanza was thrilled. She was part of their gang, a good gang, like her new family. "You'll have to learn our oaths and code words, though!" Carrie beamed. "Also, how old are you?" "Sixteen, why?" "Smokey's the oldest, and that makes you the second oldest! We never get sisters older than Smokey! She's the big sis!" Hilary said. "We've got kind of 'code names', like Smokey's big sis. Carrie is and remains lil' sis. I'm spike sis. Smoke, what can she be?" "Well, Hill, she looks like she'd be a good..." She looked Esperanza up and down. "She'd be a good star sis. What do you think, Care?" "I like! It's a good one. You like, Espy?" "Yes! I love it!" Esperanza was overjoyed. "Well, star sis, you'll need to know the oaths. The first is, 'by the sun of the day', which we only say in the daytime. Also, at night, we say, 'by the moon of the night' or, 'by the stars in the sky.' By the way, you'll need to wear this."
Smokey pulled a necklace out of her right pocket. It was covered in beautiful, glittering rubies. Then, she put the glittering gems on Esperanza's neck. She noticed that Carrie had one of sapphire, Hilary one of emerald, and Smokey one of all sorts of gem stones. "This shows you're a member, but the police haven't found that out yet, and they don't know how to tell them from the other gemstone necklaces." Smokey smiled slyly. Then, her face became very solemn and serious. "I warn you, if you were to take it of, it will change color to a stone gray, and you'll be thrown out of the group. Also, fire is our greatest strength when we're together, for the necklaces have a spell on them. But, it is half curse, for if you're without us, and are burned, it will be ten times more serious. Are you sure you want to stay in our group, star sis?" She looked worried that she'd want to leave them for nothing.
"By the setting of the sun, I'll never leave you alone." "Wow! Great oath! And it's for evening! I like!" Smokey seemed ten times happier. "It's our evening oath. Alright sisters, what else should she know?" Smokey looked around.
"She should know about codes black, green, and silver!" Carrie said. "Good thought, lil' sis!" Smokey beamed at her. "Ok, code green. When you yell out, 'green', you're saying you're in trouble and need help. Silver means you're hurt or something serious has happened, and are in need of help. Code black means, well, it's never before happened, but it means mortal peril, and you are in desperate need of help soon, or you'll leave us forever." She looked at Esperanza, as though waiting for a nod. Esperanza nodded.
Then, she said, "Where are you staying tonight?" "Oh, probably in the sewer." "Well, I have a very large closet- I think it's also a dressing room! If you want, you can sneak up and sleep there tonight.' "We'd love it! Thanks, star sis!" Smokey smiled. Boy, Smokey sure smiles a lot, Esperanza thought. And so, they sneaked off, and slept peacefully that night, and when they awoke, the got ready for a long journey.
Then, at seven-thirty, the three of them set out to find Twinkle Park's entrance, closely followed by the sisters. They dared not show their faces in public. "Where did you get that necklace, Maria?" Blacky asked. "Oh, I've always had it in a secret pocket in my pack." Esperanza, yet again, thought fast and talked calmly. "It was my mothers." "Oh, ok!" Blacky started to jump with impatience. "Were is everyone? I wanna go now!"
Just then, Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and Big with Froggy came. "Where's that gold fox?" Sonic looked just as raring to go as Blacky. "Oh, Sonic..." Amy said. "You know that not everyone is as fast as you."
"Fast, are you?" Esperanza asked. "Yes, fastest creature here!" he seemed a little prideful. "Well, then you wouldn't mind a race? And I'll even walk, so I'll slow down." She had a playful face. "You're on! We'll race down that alleyway and back!" "How will I know you won't do half then go back?" Esperanza demanded. "Because, um... wait. How will I know you did the whole race?" Now Sonic looked playfully at her. "Well, I know! How about two of the others go down there, and we tag them when we get to them."
"Sounds fair," he said. "Well, who'll be our 'partners'?" "Well, you should get Alex. He's a big fan, and I know he won't just say you won!" she had the playful look again. "Ok, then you get Knuckles, because he never lets anyone win. They have to earn it with him!" He had the look now. "Alright!" Esperanza smiled. Knuckles and Alex sped down, and when they got there, blew a whistle; the runners were off. Amy, using her super calk that dries up quickly, and hardens, made the finish line. "We'll know who finished first." She said. The two ran, and dust flew everywhere as they cross the finish line. They looked, and Esperanza's side was erased, while Sonic's side looked untouched.
"We have a winner!" Knuckles ran up. He was panting, but looked impressed at Esperanza's speed. "She can run, and tags a little hard, if I may say so!" His hand was a little redder from a hard slap. 'Sorry," she blushed. "I didn't want to hurt you..." "It's ok! I'm very impressed!"
Then a minute later, Jessica came to the small chattering crowd that had offered to help her.
"I'm glad you're all gonna help me!" she said. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm the leader of this group, ok? I call the shots while we're on this search." She looked around. "Ok, then let's set off!" she smiled.
About three hours later, they were back in the middle of a jungle. "I just left a jungle," Esperanza said. "I wasn't expecting to come back to one so soon." "Speed up back there!" Jessica yelled from in front of the group. "We've got a lot to do." "No, we can't go to fast, or our footsteps will be heard by he vicious creatures of the forest!" "I call the shots here, Maria!" She yelled back. "This is why I don't work with blacks!" "Because we're always right? Or because we're almost all dead?" Esperanza called back. "And keep your voice down, Jessica!" "No, I don't think I will!" she screamed back. "Alright, it's your funeral. I hope the rest of us can defend ourselves when you cause a wild beast to come." Esperanza sighed.
Every few minutes, Jessica would call to them to make sure they were following her. She is going to get us all killed, Esperanza thought. We're in the middle of the jungle, and she's yelling every few minutes. Something could easily follow us.
Then, as Jessica screamed back to them, a cheetah leaped out of the bushes and pounced on her! The gold fox screamed as she was scratched hard across the face. Then, Maria jumped forward and landed on the cheetah, and she recognized its scares. It couldn't be..."Chris!" She yelled. "It's Sheikai!" Sheikai was a cheetah they had run into often in their old jungle. She was fierce; she always got what she wanted, until she met Esperanza. Esperanza was the one animal she was never able to beat. "You!" she turned to Esperanza. "You're the black one who keeps escaping from me. I won't let you escape this time!" her voice was threatening, terrifying, and accusing all at once.
The cheetah was the most threatening creature she'd run into, always just barely escaping. Now, she had to settle this, she new the time had come.
The challenge the cheetah gave next was just what she had expected. "I challenge you, to this fight to the death. You cannot refuse; you're in my new territory." Her brilliant yellow eyes gleamed. Esperanza let out a breath, and closed her eyes. "I don't want to fight you, Sheikai. I don't know about you, but I have plans for my life, commitments to live for. I will not lose." She waited for an answer. "So do I. One of who is to kill you, black one!" she stared angrily, maybe even hungrily, at her opponent. "Very well...if I must..." Esperanza's eyes slowly opened, revealing eyes that looked as though they were made of rubies. When all red, her eyes were a symbol that she was ready for a battle that could have serious consequences, like a death.
The two opponents circled, and Esperanza was getting ready for a strike to doge. Her opponent was always first to strike; she vowed to never start a fight and to avoid them at all costs if possible. Though, her fox instinct was to hunt and kill often, she never killed anything, ever. Her goal now was to knock Sheikai out, so she could leave her to recover.
It happened to soon for Esperanza to realize what had happened. She was suddenly in the air; it seemed that Sheikai had pounced, and she had flown up, and she had landed on Amy. Then, it seemed that Hilary and Carrie knew she was Esperanza's new friend, and had run up and pulled her up from under the beast. Smokey was only just visible; she must be torn between wanting to help, and not wanting to reveal that Hilary and Carrie were in her gang. She stepped back into the bushes after a few seconds.
"I'm ok!" Amy gasped as Esperanza landed next to her. "Maria! Watch out!" She stared behind Esperanza.
Esperanza didn't have time to look. She picked up Amy, Hilary, and Carrie, and then she flew up, so that none of them would be harmed again from her battle.
"Come down, little fox." Sheikai said. "We're not done. Why, We've only begun."
"I don't want to hurt you!" Esperanza screeched down to her antagonist. 'I don't want to fight. Can't we just call it even?" "No!" Was the angry scream from below. "I'm ready to kill you now, black one!" "Very well. Remember, you insisted for this to happen, you brought it upon yourself."
Her eyes gleamed the color of fresh blood. She gently placed the others down out of the feline's reach. "You'll not lay a finger on any of the others." She said. "I won't as long as we're battling. Afterward..." the beast licked her lips.
"Now, we'll really start." Esperanza said, and a great wind from the north came. It swept over the battlefield. "A strong wind to stay until the end of our battle..." Esperanza half whispered.
It started in a split second. One second, they were having a stare down. The next, Sheikai pounced, Esperanza dodged, and the wild cat turned and landed on top of the back canine. Esperanza barely had time to dodge another strike from the beast. Then, Esperanza leapt and landed on Sheikai's back. Then, Sheikai was on the ground for a split second, surprised that the fox had sharp claws that had dug into her back, which now drew blood. She hissed in a menacing way, and leapt again for the little warrior. She tried and failed to escape the cat's clutches, and was scratched across the back, her clothes ripped and blood trickling down to the floor. Esperanza got up, and had to fly up to dodge the next pounce. Then, she was on the ground, seven of her tails bleeding from the bite from Sheikai.
"Maria!" Blacky cried. "Watch out! You gotta win!" "It's ok; she'll win." Alex said, stroking Blacky's fur in comfort.
Unable to fly, Esperanza knew she must act fast; she couldn't miss anything. Sheikai leapt to the left of the black fox. "You fight well, black one, but not well enough!" She pounced onto Esperanza, knocking the tired teen to the ground.
Breathing was next to impossible in that position. Everyone, even Blacky, knew that. At the moment, Blacky was crying harder than ever; Alex looked pink from turning white; Smokey had come out and the three sisters were huddled together, unable to think strait; Amy had her arms tightly clamed around Sonic's neck, while Sonic seemed squeamish from the blood; Big was terrified, clutching a confused Froggy close to him; Knuckles looked ready to attack. Knuckles...ready to attack?
Then, Sheikai was on the ground; Knuckles had come and punched the beast off her. "Foolish little pest!" Sheikai spat. "Now you'll battle here, too!" "Better than having a friend killed." Knuckles smiled. Fighting seemed to be his element. "No, Knuckles. Let me do this. Two against one is never fair." Esperanza was walking up to the feline, who stared in amazement as she refused a partner. Then, she broke into a run, heading deeper into the forest. "Come back!" Sheikai sounded enraged, maybe even scared?
"No! You have to catch me!" she said, an all-knowing look on her face. She was badly injured, but was still as fast as she was in her race with Sonic. Her eyes were zooming around, looking for her goal. Sheikai was about a foot behind her, and she sped up. Then, she found it.
"Everyone," she started, as everyone ran up. "This is why I'll never kill this Cheetah," She dove into the cheetah's den. "One," she yelled from in the hole. There was a few scratching sounds, like a clawed animal in there. "She, like all of us, is a living creature. And Black Foxes were known for their value of life, even the value of their enemies." She stuffed her head out after a minute. "Second," she said. "This cheetah," She started to walk out. "Is a mother!" Everyone gasped. Esperanza was holding four little cheetah cubs, barely a week old. "My children!" Sheikai screeched. But before she could act, one of the children said, "It's ok, mommy. She's cool!" "Melly, are you sure?" "Ya!" the little girl replied. "I fink so too!" another little baby piped up. "Tom?" the mother was stunned. "Me three!' another cried "Meko?" "Don't forget me." A little voice came. It was the runt of the litter. "Annie?" the mother was stunned. All her children thought this fox was cool? They ate fox! Sometimes, at least.
"See," Annie said. "I knew it! Mommy hurt her!" The cubs jumped out of Esperanza's arms and walked up to her back. Then, they all gasped. "See, I always know the scent of blood when I smell it." Annie said, as the children looked at the deep scratches down her back and the fang bites on her tail. "Mommy! How could you?" Melly cried. "I'm sorry," Sheikai said to the children and Esperanza. "I thought she was an intruder...that she would hurt you..." "Mommy, you're over protective!" Meko said. "No," Esperanza said. "She was just doing her job as a mother. Some don't even let the father near!" "Our daddy is out hunting." Tom said.
"Mom, you're gonna let them go now, right?" Melly asked. "Of course." Sheikai answered, but she looked as though she still held a grudge, one her children would hopefully ease away. "Why have you returned to the forests? I heard you left, Maria." So she knew who Maria was! "We're on a dangerous mission, to find the soul blade." "No, I really think it would be easier to find your black hero." Jessica piped in rudely. "Who?" Sheikai asked. "The legendary fox, Esperanza." Jessica said before Esperanza could stop her. "Well, if it's that dangerous..." Sheikai whispered. Maybe this is my chance! She thought. My mate hates the runt... so do I, she's too weak, although we never told her...If I let her go with them, she'll die, and then I'll kill the black one to avenge her, and the children won't mind!