Disclaimer: I own Sonic. I own them all. Why? Because I own the world! And therefore, I own all in it! Including you!!! You just don't know it yet....
Alright, I have something to shout out about for a minute, so go ahead and skip this if you don't want to read my praise. Lately I've neglected reading all my favorite Internet comics, mainly because I have NO time. But the other day, band camp cut off a little earlier than usual, so I rushed around on the Net, catching up with Kid Radd, Kevin And Kell, Angel Moxie, Exterminatus Now, and an assortment of others, most of which are located on Fireball20xl, a rather awesome dotcom webpage for Sonic related comics! However, what I would like to address is the written work of one, Jen Irwin.
The story is called Blurry, and off the bat, I loved it. Why? Because it was beautifully written, emotional, descriptive, and its plot flowed better than most rivers. You don't see writing like that just anywhere, and this particular one inspired me a little. I hadn't planned to update again until August 12th, mainly because I haven't had any great ideas on what is to come in this storyline. Well, okay I do, it's just a matter of getting there and making it logical and go all smoothly like.
Anyway, it's a wonderful story, like most her work, and I'm supplying a link on my bio, because every time I put it here, it messes up the text in this chapter. Ah well. Please read it, it's a lovely piece of writing.
Shadow: You're stalling.
I am not, and you should shut up before I do something drastic.
Shadow: LIKE WHAT?! You've already got the worst thing imaginable planned for the next chapter! What more can go WRONG?!
......have you ever read Just A Girl by E-chan DOLL...?
Shadow: ......yeah....
What if what happened to Sonic happened to you?
Shadow: Oo' ....you wouldn't dare...
Wanna bet?
Shadow: .....I hate you.
Chapter Five - Quick Flashback #1
It was another humid day on the Floating Island, the stifling heat driving it's many inhabitants into their slightly cooler houses, the shade of the forests, and the shallow streams and lakes that dotted the isle. The clouds blotted out the sun for short intervals, yet the heavy moisture pressed down on the many residents. Even the Chao were forced to retreat to more tolerable regions, though some of them were able to stand the heat, as long as they were lying down. The heat was uncomfortable but all the same, chores and duties could not be set aside simply because one was feeling a little hot and sticky.
At least, that's what the Guardian kept telling himself.
Atl was new to the rank of the sentinel, as was obvious by his awkward stance. He didn't believe he would even get used to the isolated life, with only the glowing gems as company. However, he would have to learn to be alone, no one save himself and the priests and priestesses of the Emeralds. But he couldn't count on their company, since the temple they worshiped the Emeralds in was a twenty minute run from the actual shrine, and unless there was a danger to the Emeralds in another region of the island, he was never to leave his post.
He leaned back against the top stair with a sigh, wondering why or how he'd ever gotten himself into this mess of tradition and responsibility.
Oh yeah, I was born to it.... Atl grumbled, slouching dejectedly.
He'd cursed his heritage many times before as well, unable to refer to life as sentry over a rock an honor. And the fact that he'd been chosen over his two elder siblings only made it worse. Nairn already had a wife and two sons, only one of which had gained the white crescent mark of the Guardians. Mor-Ann had not received the white mark as Atl and Nairn had, so she was not a candidate. And neither of his two younger sisters were able to be the Guardian, due to previous betrothals. The Guardian could have no pre-existing ties to the society.
But the chief, Pachacamac, was reconsidering this ancient law, due to the dwindling appearance of the crescent mark, and the mark meant not only being chosen as a potential Guardian, it was a blessing of awesome power and strengh, and a direct link into the power of the Master and Chaos Emeralds, if one was trained to find and manipulate it. The priests and priestesses were also some of the few who were connected to the Emeralds, and the only ones who could do so without the cresent mark, having to rely on intense meditation, and even then very few heard the Master Emerald's Voice. He himself had yet to hear it, but the High Priestess said the Emeralds had chosen him as their Guardian. Therefore, if he had any children with the mark, his nephew would be over-looked most likely, and the child would be next in line.
Atl jolted forward when he heard a faint yelling growing louder by the second.
"Come back here with that, you evil little monster---OOF!!"
A small Chaos Light Chao came rushing out of the forest, followed closely by a light orange female Echidna. The girl paused in mid-run, trying to dislodge a thorny vine that had twisted itself around her ankle, but stumbled, falling forward onto her face side and cringing in pain when the thorns were forced to puncture her skin. To his surprise though, she didn't twist around and tangle herself more, or sit and wail, but quickly rolled onto her back and gingerly pulled the vine away from her flesh, wincing the entire time.
Atl grimaced himself, knowing what a pain those vines could be if you were in a big hurry. As for the Chao, he could understand her frustration there too. Quiautl was often chastised for snatching pretty things away from others, Echidnas and Chao alike. The Chaos Light Chao acted more like a little demon than the angelic status most of his kind were known for. In fact, just the other day the evil midget was smacking around one of Atl's favorite Chao, an Chaos Angel type named Tezozo. Atl had given Quiautl the punt of a lifetime for that stunt.
Deciding to help the girl before Quiault took advantage of her and tried to pull off something even more dangerous, Atl pushed off the steps and quickly descended to the ground. Luckily gliding was all part of the package that came with the crescent mark; it was a very helpful trick, cutting the distance of the stairs by more than half. He dropped fluidly, landing in a graceful kneeling posture beside Quiautl.
Then he ruined the tranquil moment by clonking the tiny, devilish brute on the head.
"CHAO!" The minute creature protested as Atl wrapped a large hand around its torso and lifted it off the ground. Now that he was close up, he saw the treasure Quiautl had nicked off the girl.
It was a headpiece of some sort or another, intricately decorated, with a large, light blue jewel centered on it. Obviously it was a festive piece, but he couldn't think of any up-coming occasions that would require such a unique piece. The gem was flawless, as were most on the Island, but the light blue coloring was one of the rarest, besides the purple and gray.
He quickly stopped his muses and handed the jewelry over to the girl, whom was staring at him in shock. Atl ignored her gaze and set down the Chao, ushering it off to go bother someone else, hoping that it would be the Head Priestess this time. Then he stood and started to head back to the stairway, when the girl's voice rang out behind him.
"Thank you...."
He paused and looked over his shoulder at her, surprised that such a young girl would have such a grown sounding voice. Then he turned fully and looked her up and down, suddenly realizing his afore-made mistake.
The girl was obviously almost an adult, probably only just a year or so behind him in age, unless she was just gifted with young looks. She certainly passed off for much younger from far away, and up close as well, but then, he hadn't looked at her until now.
She was light orange, Atl was happy to see he'd gotten her coloring right at least, and very slim, but at the same time stocky and well-build, as were most the females he knew; it came from all the exercise they naturally got. Her brow was unfurrowed, unlike that of most their kind; probably the reason he'd thought she was so young at first. What seemed strangest about her though, were her large, child-like eyes, bright aquamarine in color, but at certain points where the sunlight struck them, green.
"...sir...?"
"Oh...um, sorry." Atl snapped backwards a little, jerking herself out of his assessment of her looks. She however, didn't seem to mind he'd been looking at her with what he guessed was his usual burning gaze. In fact she seemed seriously worried about him, like she thought he would drop at any point for one reason or another.
"Are you alright? You have a far away look in your eyes...." Atl frowned as she spoke, trying to think of something to compare her voice to. Comparing was what he did to pass the time, often ending up with little poems and songs to hum to himself. It was an odd hobby, he'd admit that much, but it was an interesting way to wile away the seemingly endless hours he spent on duty. Now that he was the Guardian, it was his 'soul purpose in life' to ensure the safety of the Emeralds; a sure-fire way to die early, thanks to boredom.
"I'm fine, it's an old habit..."
"Does your mind wander to other places then?"
Atl hesitated, not sure how to answer the inquiry. Most people just shrugged his blank stares off, thinking it to be something he would one day grow out of. But no, eighteen in three weeks, and he still let his mind explore the hidden universe of thoughts at every open opportunity. 'Childish' they all told him, but then again, hey didn't know what he thought about when his mind left. He didn't even know. Ah well...
"...yes. Quite often, in fact."
"Ah..." She nodded, excepting the explanation. He frowned subtly, but said nothing. Most usually, he'd have played some sort of prank on her by now, he was well known for it, in fact. Mischief was forever his forte, though according to the Unwritten Scriptures, duty came first in all aspects.
She was fastening the headpiece around her forehead, pushing up her dreadlocks to clip the pieces together. He raised an eyebrow at her actions, didn't she feel uneasy around the Guardian? Most the other Echidnas did, the ones who weren't close friends or related to him. It was strange having her be so calm, so at ease around him. It was unusual for someone he barely knew to stay this close for so long...
He was jolted out of his thoughts when he realized she had a hand extended toward him.
"I'm Tikal, Daughter of Pachacamac." She said, smiling, waiting for him to take her hand. "What might I call you?"
Atl's eyes flickered from her hand to her face, at a bit of a loss. The daughter of his chieftain, of all the Echidnas on the Island, it was her? The day was nothing like he'd expected; he'd been looking forward to another quiet, uneventful day guarding the immovable Emeralds. Alright, not really looking forward to it, more like about to slit his own throat if he had to drag himself through another one. But this was beyond anything that he even imagined....
Slowly he let him take her hand and shake it, gently and cautiously as possible.
"I'm...Atl...."
Hey guys! Have you guessed who Atl is yet? O-o Eh? Eh? Bet you have, of course have. Lord knows I'm dropping enough hints. But anyway: Technically, this chapter was supposed to be number FIVE in the story, but I forgot about it -.-' Sorry. Anyway, chapter ten will be another one of these flashbacks. They're not insanely vial to the story, but I want to make a fully rounded 'my version' of Tikal, Chaos, and Atl, and the history they share. Atl is mine, but...not mine. I dunno. The name isn't even mine really, since it's an ancient Indian word of 'water' and....dang I forgot the other meaning. Something like 'power' or crap like that. Oh well. Please don't forget to review the story!!
Chaos: -grumbles swishingly-
Tikal: He says that he's a GOD, not an Echidna.
Well, screw him, cause I think it's cooler this way. Deal with it, Chaos, I'm not changing it now.
Chaos: -mutter mutter-
Tikal: He says--
Svaroki: Screw you?
Tikal: ....in nicer terms, yes. How'd you know?
Svaroki: I'm an expert, my dear. I know.
