MerenDinoEmilano: Eggman is going to be a little bit. He's licking his wounds from getting licked hard.
/*-*/
Sonic woke up in the morning, and went out to see stew in a pot. The "monastery"(as it was called) was so peaceful. Everyone just seemed to go about their business. It was nice to an extent. A break from the world that was giving him so much trouble. It felt good. He walked up to the pot of stew and scooped himself up a bowl.
He sat down at the table, and Ceawlin stepped out with a depressed looking Sticks. She sat down next to Sonic, and smiled. Sticks seemed to feel a little bit better.
Ceawlin said his prayer, and they ate. It was strange, eating a sort of breakfast stew. It's broth was made with some sort of animal blood, but it was delicious. Sonic finished breakfast, and got up. He walked over to Ceawlin, who was eating still.
"Thanks for the food." Sonic smiled. The Wolverine turned to him, and nodded in approval.
"You are a warrior who has returned from campaign. We honor you the best we can." He growled proudly.
Sonic smiled, "Thank you, I'm going to go back down the mountain though." Sonic hated the idea, but he knew there were things to be done. He had to do them, despite his reservations.
Ceawlin nodded, "Sticks would like your return. She enjoys your company." Sonic nodded, but decided to return to his room.
He heard a knock at the door, and Sonic turned to the outside of his guest house.
Sticks stood in the doorway. Sonic cleared his throat, "Come in."
Sticks came in, and bowed her head, "Did you not enjoy your stay?" She sounded sad and angry. Like he had done something wrong.
Sonic shook his head, confused, "No… I had a great time… I just have to get back down to my town and work-"
"LATER!" Sticks growled, panting, "Do you know how Humiliating it is to have a guest leave early?"
Sonic sucked his lips in, before sighing, "I'll stay a little long if you'll have me… I enjoy your kindness." Sonic tried to smile.
Sticks stopped seething, and nodded, "I get it… you have duties. If you need to leave… Go ahead. I just would you to stay and tell me a little bit more about the battles you fought in."
Sonic blinked, "I don't really know what else I can tell you."
Sticks growled, "Anything. Tell me what it was like at the end."
Sonic sighed, "It was… rough. We won, and beat Eggman back, but we didn't really do anything. He'll be stronger when he comes back. We need to push him out."
Sticks began to have a smile grow across her face, "So you need me?"
Sonic blinked, "What?"
"I studied the tactics of Johan the Great. Da told me all about how he fought, and how to beat enemies with larger numbers." Sticks was practically bouncing with joy.
"Sticks… We can't just take you in and make you a general. I think you would be better here. You help people here." Sonic tried.
Sticks waved him off, "Oh please, I could save the world, Roht and Touborn can take care of things here."
Sonic wanted to protest, but Sticks ran off, skipping away. He didn't have the heart to tell her no, but he had a feeling that Ceawlin wouldn't agree. He seemed to disagree the last few times she tried to join them.
Sonic still waited in his room, wondering what he was going to do. They were nice to him, but he felt a little out of place if he started throwing snowballs with the kids.
He slumped down. He really wasn't allowed to be a kid anymore, was he? Sonic had… grown up. He now had the responsibilities of an adult… despite still being in his teens. That was a depressing thought.
He walked outside, and felt the cold snow which still covered the mountain against his quills. The air felt actually soothing… for the first five seconds, before it became chilly and uncomfortable. He saw kids, boys throwing snowballs at each other, laughing.
Sonic looked around, and was amazing, perhaps more than he ever had been about this place. Ceawlin had made a place for mobians who didn't have anywhere to go. Those kids were orphans, forgotten, yet Ceawlin took them in. He gave them the help they needed, and protected them. He still protects them.
Sonic smiled at the truth before him. Ceawlin was a great guy, looking after them. Sonic wished he would be remembered the same way.
A small white cat approached, "Hey Mister Sonic, can you throw snow balls?" The little guy asked, picking up a pile of snow, and fashioning it into a ball. The cat handed the rounded ball to Sonic.
"Oh come on… I'm way too old for that." Sonic brushed off. Those words sounded forced, even coming out of his mouth. He wanted to play.
The cat scoffed, "No you're not, you're still a kid, look, you don't even have a mustache yet!"
Sonic shook his head, "I have responsibilities."
"You're still a kid." The Cat chided.
Sonic growled, "I'm a teenager, I've got to be mature."
"You're still a kid." The cat repeated with mocking smile.
Sonic growled, "You'll see when you-"
"You're still a kid!" The Cat continued. Sonic tried to tell him that things were going to be different, only to be met by another, "You're still a kid!"
"Yo-"
"You're still a kid!"
"Sto-"
"You're still a kid!"
Sonic felt his anger growing. This kid was really getting on his nerves. Sonic opened his mouth again.
"You're still a kid, You're still a kid, You're still a kid!" The Cat chanted. That was the breaking point. Sonic grabbed a chunk of snow and threw it at the kids face.
"Stop interrupting me!" Sonic shouted as the snow slammed into the cat's face, knocking him to the ground. Sonic then realized all of the heads that had turned. Sonic shifted uneasily. Crap, did he hurt the little guy?
Sonic looked at the cat who sat up, his face scrunched up. Oh no… Sonic really should have kept himself under control.
The cat sat up, and pointed, "GET HIM!" The other kids immediately began to make snow balls. Sonic ran behind his longhouse, seeing the snow plaster the side of it.
Sonic took cover, and assessed his surroundings. There was snow, plenty of it. He quickly ran over to the house that was next to his own to prepare to his defenses. He was able to quickly assemble an arsenal of snow balls.
The kids came around the corner, and looked confused. They seemed to spread out in a screening formation. It was weird, seeing the kids look around with snow balls in their hands like they were hunting him. They seemed to be very tactically minded.
Sonic got low once a grey dog split off from the group. The puppy walked right into Sonic's kill zone, which caused Sonic to jump up and immediately pelt the child with snow balls.
He felt fantastic, alive. The kid fell on his back, and Sonic ran further down the houses as the other kids seemed to rush in to the housing area. Sonic, however, had planned for the attack, and carried snow balls from his stash with him.
The kids ran into the Sonic's line of sight, and Sonic unloaded more snowballs on the green moose child who followed the white cat. Sonic then jumped behind the cover of another house. He quickly recovered his losses, and rebuilt snow balls he had lost. He got prepared, and threw one right as the cat burst around the corner, taking the snowball square in the chest.
Sonic quickly recovered and threw another snow ball into the cat. The cat slumped down, knowing he had been defeated. Sonic smiled, laughing, "Not bad kiddos, but I'm the fastest thing alive." His victory was short lived, as he felt a presence move behind him.
Sonic turned around to be hit in the face by a giant snowball, being carried by Tumble. Sonic collapsed on the ground. The "snowball" was more of a boulder made out of snow.
Sonic groaned, and Tumble winced, "Oh… Sorry, I wasn't thinking about you being so soft." He said it with concern, as if it wasn't an insult. Sonic decided to sit up and pop his back. He began to chuckled from how much fun he was having.
"No… we're good."
Sonic heard a growling laugh, and Ceawlin seemed to walk through the spaces in between the houses.
The children quickly got up off the ground. The all walked in front of Ceawlin, and sat down. Sonic staggered to his feet, and walked up to house. Sticks came around the corner looking rather glum. Sonic knew the sting of rejection on her face.
Ceawlin gazed down at the children, "So… what did you learn from your skirmish?"
The kids remained silent. Shifting nervously. The Dog finally said, "Don't rush in?"
Ceawlin glanced down at the child.
The puppy nodded, "Don't rush in." He spoke more confidently.
"Do not rush in alone. Work in unity. What else?" Ceawlin asked firmly.
The cat sighed, "We shouldn't chase him directly. We needed to get in front of him."
Ceawlin nodded, "Put yourself in your enemy's shoes, and prepare to count the attack you make as them. Touborn saw this, and exploited it. Now what did you learn, Sonic?"
Sonic blinked. He wasn't expecting to be quizzed like a chil-…
"I guess… I can still have a little fun… that I can still be kid." Sonic sighed.
Ceawlin smiled, "Children are able to view the world with such wonder. They discover and learn, and do not allow themselves to be controlled by stress. You should never outgrow your childish state."
Sonic slowly nodded. That was… pretty smart. Sonic's focus turned to Sticks, who slumped down, but didn't seem like she was leaving. Maybe she wasn't leaving out of respect, but she felt sad. Sonic could tell that.
Ceawlin nodded, "I hope you will take those words to heart. Your mind needs rest, and God did not make you to be stressed." He turned and craned his neck up at the sky, "Hmmm, I will Leave you now." The Wolverine left, it was an awkward exit, but he did so.
Sonic saw Sticks turn around abruptly and walk off. He chased after her, "Hey… how'd it go."
Sticks stormed off to his long House. It was apparently not great. Her ears were drooped, her fist was clenched. She also seemed to walk with a slight limp.
Sonic cleared his throat, "Sticks?"
Sticks sighed as they entered the longhouse, "Please leave."
Sonic recoiled slightly, "What… Sticks, what's wrong?"
Sticks growled, "Please leave." Sonic blinked couple of times. He didn't know what was so bad.
"Sticks, Please, I want to help!" Sonic reached out to hug her, but Sticks flinched as his hand collided with her shoulder.
Sonic pulled away, and Sticks sighed, "I really wanted to come join you. I asked da, I kept asking. He said I could do it if I beat him in battle."
Sonic took a step back, horrified. She looked battered. Her face was fine, but her arms slouched, her back leaned and her legs wobbled. "Why'd he hurt you."
Sticks sighed, "He said, "You're enemies won't hold back, they will try to kill you, destroy you and break you in anyway possible. I will not hold back either."
Sonic softened, "I'm so sorr-"
Sticks growled, "I don't need your pity! I can fight… I just… I can't beat da."
Sonic slumped down, "I'm sorry, I know it sucks. You'll do well though. You're Sticks, you impressed even me. You'll get better in time." Sonic smiled at her, hoping to get a smile back.
Sticks lowered her head even more, "I think you'd better leave. Please."
Sonic frowned. He hoped she wasn't mad at him, but then he saw the look in her eyes. She was embarrassed, humiliated. She didn't want him there to see her humiliated form.
Sonic nodded, "Alright. I'm down in the city if you need me." Sonic hoped she wasn't going to stay away from him. He actually… liked her. She was honest, which was hard to come by in the world of nobility.
He descended down the mountain. Feeling mildly bummed out. He returned to his manor, and saw that the post had a few papers in it.
He opened the post and pulled out the papers. There were several requests for Sonic to get things built and working. He sighed and got to work, looking at the housing repairs. Sonic only thought that people would want their houses repaired first. Families tended to not do well in the cold.
Sonic thought about that for a moment. He slowly smiled, and remembered what he had promised his mom and dad. Sonic found a sheet of paper, and began to write. He was going to have them over, and finally show off all of the work he had done. He felt good for that.
/*-*/
Fiona felt good. She didn't know why, but she felt her insides smiling. It was weird. They usually said she was terrible. Fiona dropped the diamond bracelet in the homeless bear's bowl inside Roja.
She turned around, and walked back to her manor. She didn't know why, but she felt like giving things away. Fiona found the shadows to be appealing, safe and cool.
Fiona slipped back, and worked her way back to her room. Her room was dark, and Fiona slumped back as the windows allowed light to shine through. It was strange she felt terrible, stupid and amazing. Why was it so conflicting?
Fiona growled at herself. Why was it her job to take care of the poor? It was stupid. She groaned to herself, as her heart simply replied by making her feel happy. Fiona tossed and turned, before walking over to the corner of her room where her dresser was. She pulled open the lower drawered, and pulled out the small box.
She took a deep breath, and opened the box. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies. All stored within gold and silver. Stored within a box, that Fiona kept close, and her brother would never find.
Fiona gazed at her quarry, her prizes. She smiled. She had a nice haul, all courtesy of her victims. Fiona almost laughed at how easy it was. She was a thief, and that was who she was…
Fiona felt a strange twinge in her heart. It wasn't a twinge… it was an emptiness. Fiona closed the box. She didn't understand. What was wrong with her? Fiona set the box in the drawer and closed it.
The door opened, and her brother walked in, "Ar-Fiona, lunch is ready."
Fiona sighed, standing up to go walk out of the room, "Thanks."
Lunch was a roast sandwich. Fine beef and lettuce, with grapes on the side. Gold potato mash sat on the side with a pad of butter. It was fantastic. Fine flavor which wore itself within the starch.
Alister ate so cautiously, but after looking Fiona, he regained his appetite. She smiled down at her nephew, who looked at her nicely. This was her family. It would hurt when it was time to say goodbye. Did she really have to? Fiona shifted, much like a lot of her internals. What was she? Who was she? Something had changed over the past few days. Fiona still couldn't figure it out.
The day seemed to pass quickly. She almost wished she was back on campaign. At least then, there was some excitement. Ok… being honest, Fiona understood that a lot was going on in the kingdom, but nothing she could change.
Fiona went to bed, after another mediocre day. She wanted some excitement. Fiona rolled over and closed her eyes. She was restless, eager to explore, but night was time to sleep.
Her eyes opened, but instead of being at the road… she was on a golden lake. A bright light with barely a shape stood in front of her. Fiona gulped at the glow, confused but maintaining stoicism. There were weird dreams before, but this one… it felt weird. It wasn't angry or malicious, but calm.
Fiona waited, wondering how this dream was going to go. Fiona began to tap her feet as the form simply waited there. "I get you don't or can't talk, but can we get this along? I kind of want to get on to a… more fun dream, or maybe an argument with two annoying little-"
"Go to him, champion." The Golden Figure spoke with a deep, thundering yet soothing voice.
Fiona blinked, "Who?"
"Teach him of my love, just as I have shown you." The figure seemed to command.
"OK, NOW WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" Fiona shouted, "GIVING ME ORDERS! HA-"
"He will suffer, but his suffering serves a purpose. Show him I have a plan. His suffering is not in vain, but to serve the higher purpose." The Golden Figure commanded.
Fiona took a step back, "Who is going to suffer? What's going on. Who are you?"
The figure finally shifted. It seemed to look, and Fiona felt like she had no clothes, no skin, no muscles or bone. She was bare, the eyes seemed to strip every form of cover from her.
The voice boomed inside her, "You know who I am."
Fiona jerked awake, blinking feeling stressed. She was stressed, she felt a strange panic in her heart. Fiona was scared, She didn't know who that was… no… no way. Fiona began to pant. She just reached out into the void. Of course she wasn't expecting to get something back.
Who was going to suffer. Fiona felt it creeping inside of her. The one who suffered the most from her. The one she hurt and hurt until she realize how wrong she was. Fiona had to go. She had to go to Sonic.
"Oh no…. crap." Fiona growled in her panicked voice. what the hell was going to happen?
Fiona ran out of her room, realizing just how late it still was. It would have to wait until morning. Oh gosh… what was going to happen?
/*-*/
Johan sat in the metal chair as the apple mush sat in the roboticizer. Johan growled in frustration. The language was already hard enough to work with. He grew increasingly agitated.
Then… Johan heard something different. There was a change in the wind. The birds had stopped chirping, singing their songs of praise. The trees shook with a firmer, more aggressive shift.
Johan stood up, much to the surprise of his slaves.
Ezra glanced up, "What's wrong?"
"Can you not hear it? Something is changing. There is trouble coming." Johan walked outside to listen. To the sound of the angry world.
Indeed, there was something coming.
Ezra stood up, "Sir… We have the prototypes for the new weapon prototypes ready."
Johan nodded, and stood up, "I will see it at work."
He saw the weapons rolled out on the top of the ship. He would see for himself how ready they were.
/*-*/
So, I've had a recent surge in motivation thanks to a part I was looking forward to writing. The next chapters will be shorter, but more frequent. Back to the two chapters a week, for at least 2 weeks… or until the big part.
What is this big part? Tell me what you think, what you though of the chapter, or how I can improve in a review.
I will say motivation is waning because I've written the part I was looking forward to, now I'm trying to connect it to the next part, all the while I've had three story ideas for Sonic alone. It's hard to stay motivated when other stories start looking like a lot of fun.