All copyright info in chapter 1
The 3 Shadows, Episode 4 - Hunters
Chapter 8 - The Silent Sapphire slices through.
Joz woke up in the Rest room surrounded by Shadow, Miles, Diamond, Emerald and Ruby. They all looked on in anticipation. Joz sat up and stretched is arms out.
"How long was I out?" asked Joz.
"Quite some time. You've been brilliant so far but Sapphire is waiting for you", said Miles.
"It's not a good idea to keep Saph waiting", said Ruby, "You were better than I expected and strangely I don't feel upset. You beat me fair and square. Sapphire though puts all of us to Shame. She's quick, strong and extremely skilled with her blade".
"Then what am I waiting for? Sounds like fun", Said Joz springing to his feet. Joz waved goodbye and re-entered the caves. Oddly the only was forward led to sunlight. Sapphire must be waiting at the top of the hill. Joz stepped out into the light, there was a slight breeze and it felt cool, especially after the fight with Ruby. At the top a blue bat stood looking out over the hills of hilltop.
"What took you so long?" asked Sapphire turning around.
"Whoa! You're Sapphire?" asked Joz.
"Yes I am. Am I anything like what you expected?" asked Sapphire.
"More! I was expecting just a blue bat, not a beautiful blue bat", said Joz. Sapphire smiled back at Joz.
"Thanks, but I'm not going easy on you just because you compliment me", said Sapphire, "I'm here to right a wrong. I deserve the title of Master hunter, let me show you why"
Sapphire dashed towards Joz and started attacking with her sword. Joz managed to counter every attack, but he started finding it more and more difficult as Sapphire increased the speed of her strikes. Sapphire jumped over Joz and kicked the back of his head. Joz crouched to avoid it and used his stealth wing. Sapphire stood very still as Joz moved around the summit arena. She then kicked the air and Joz went flying towards the end of the arena. Joz slid off the end but managed to hang on. He climbed to the top and stood panting and sweating like crazy.
"Wow! Beauty, Brain and Brawn. But I'm just getting warmed up", said Joz dashing towards Sapphire. She avoided the attack by sliding slighty to the right, and elbowed Joz in the center of his back. Joz fell to the ground and slid across the summit again. She picked Joz up by the neck.
"I know all about you. I know about R.E.E., I know about Gerald and your obsession with revenge. I know about your gemcrazes and I even know about the secret mission you took before you met Shadow and Miles", said Sapphire.
"What do you mean about the last part? My last mission, why is that important oh wait…", said Joz.
"You know you and me have more in common than you think. I thought you should know, wait I though Shadow should know a few things about us", said Sapphire.
"About us being hired mercenaries? He knows that", said Joz.
"Yes but he doesn't know my secret. I was the one who led the attack on ARK", said Sapphire, "And I believe I was the one who shot Maria Robotnik".
Suddenly, with a green flash, Shadow appeared besides them.
"WHAT?" Said Shadow very angrily; "You're the reason why Maria died. You killed her! I'll kill you murderous bitch!"
Shadow began attacking Sapphire but was soon stopped by Joz who shielded Sapphire with his Armour wing.
"So you never did care about my title. This is a guilt trip. You asked us here to tell Shadow the truth, to clear your conscious", said Joz.
"That's not entirely true. Yes I did bring Shadow here to tell him and apologise, but I did also want to challenge you for the title of Master", said Sapphire.
"Why are you protecting her Joz? Stand aside so I can get revenge for Maria", said Shadow.
"Haven't you forgotten? Maria didn't want revenge, but also I'm guarding her because she did what she did cause she's a mercenary. She told you I had a secret mission before I met you, a secret mission I completed that'll make you hate me aswell", said Joz.
Shadow calmed down as Miles and the other gems entered the arena.
"Sit down, you're not going to like this", said Joz.