BudBear5110: What chapter 1? There is no Chapter 1! CHAPTER 1 IS A MYTH!
Victor John Foxfire: Fiona's integration will surely be fine, and nothing bad could possible happen now… right? As for Geoffrey, his position is no longer infallible. Nagus is no longer King, Sally no longer wants to play his game, and Sonic isn't paying him the mind of day. He is in the worst position for a schemer: everyone knows he is up to something and no one is gullible for it. As for the Wolverine, he understands the mind of the soldier, the follower, the masses. He is king, right?
So with regards to Sonic's thanking of Elias, I originally had a lot more planned for Sonic, but the jokes approached a line that I was worried about crossing. A line I approach with chapter 69, so I guess I might as well have gone with it. I am a little nervous about the vague nature of the rating system…
Merendinoemilano: I would say it's more medium-rare, but I guess some people enjoy well done. Ahh, but the road to chapter 70… that has plenty of time to cook.
Daedriel: First of all, thanks for reviewing, I love reading thoughts and examinations, because it shows you actually read both into, and it(This is really awkward, I know. You read the story, and looked deeper). The Wolverine was sort of created to provide a different view of the world. I've already said this once, but He is Sonic's flipped coin: nature can be horrifying and destructive. I wanted his ideas to change the world, taking it both forward and backwards, all while being a character is somewhat "cool" and fun to have on the page.
You might argue that this is Fiona's story, a tale of her changes and suffering. Scourge can't be denied, and his prize jewel can't be lost, but even he won't act too irrationally, right? Fiona thinks so… She is also a big factor in the Conflict between Sonic and Tails… but I can't spoil too much on that, outside of this: Johan did not start the conflict, he merely offered a resolution to it.
/*-*/
Sonic walked along the road, and kept close to the group. The Freedom Fighters stayed close to Sonic. He saw Sally and Fiona actually talking, which was a nice bow to tie up a tugging thread. He Didn't have the energy to mediate between them. Still, Sonic could feel the tension between the two, like they were hostile, but not the point they had been.
Sonic allowed the group to catch up with him. Sonic found himself stressed, for the oddest reason he could think of: There was nothing to do. Sonic was so used to not having a lot of time to himself, he wanted to make the most of it, but found that he was scared to leave Sally alone, in the event that someone would surprise attack them.
He kept watch as night fell. And they went to sleep. Sonic hadn't gotten much sleep since they left. Sonic made sure that nothing would come throughout the night. They needed to be safe. His family needed to be safe.
Still, His eyes began to close, perhaps a brief moment of sleep would be good for him. Sonic wasn't sure where he slept, probably on the rock but when he did, there was darkness around him. His hand grasped something firm and smooth.
His eyes told Sonic that he was in his bed room back in Roja. Sonic realized he wasn't alone, he felt two bodies under his arms, warm and soothed. They vibrated with light purrs, seeming to snuggle closer to Sonic. His chest felt compressed.
Sonic saw the two bodies, a beautiful chipmunk, and a fine red vixen, both under his arms, purring like crazy. His hands were in compromising positions on both of the girls, but they didn't seem to mind. His door was still destroyed( Thanks Sally), but that was something small.
Sonic's mind didn't need to wander much to know what happened. This had to be a dream, but it was one Sonic found to be exciting. He leaned down and kissed Sally on the head, and then Fiona. The two groaned, but smiled, making Sonic feel all too happy.
A shadow passed in front of the doorway. Quills which looked black from the light coming behind the figure seemed to be sharp and ominous.
"One bad day, blue…" the raspy, cynical voice growled. Scourge. Sonic felt his heart rate pick up as his quills rose.
"SCOURGE YOU BASTARD!" Sonic shouted.
"Let's see how many days it'll take." Scourge's voice cackled as he threw his arms in the sky. The room seemed to shift, disappearing into a flat plane, the skies black with clouds and rain.
Sonic's hand was closed around Something. It was knotted in a strand of webs… or something else. His face darkened as he dared to look, seeing the weight in his hand. In Sonic's hand was Sally Acorn's torn head, her body laying on the ground, stitched like an old doll, as if tried to be rebuilt. Sonic took a step back, and panted.
Sally's lifeless eyes were full of sorrow and pain, as if waiting for a hero that never came. Sonic dropped to his knees.
"How many days will it take, blue?" Scourge's voice shouted with the most mocking tone.
Sonic jerked his head up, ready to pound the fake abomination into the dirt again and again. He scanned the area as the voice of the cocky hedgehog laughed, "How many?"
"Sonic, help!" Sonic jerked around and saw Fiona being choked by a dark hooded figure.
"LET GO OF HER!" Sonic shouted, balling his fist. He ran, but only seemed to go in place. He couldn't go anywhere. Sonic tried to push through as Fiona's fur turned black, as her body seemed to dissolve with a look of hatred at him.
Sonic shouted, "COME OUT HERE AND FIGHT ME! STOP HURTING THEM!" Sonic shouted, feeling his breath leave his body. He heard the whispers around him, the voice all speaking with a tone of anger and frustration.
He knew what thy were saying. Sonic slumped to his knees, tired and weak. He dared to raise his head, only to find the broken form of Amy, lying there with her ribs busted in. Rotor, who laid dead on a pile of Walruses. Antoine, covered in mud and tears. Bunnie, fully roboticized, and disassembled.
Sonic broke down, "Why? Why are you tormenting me?"
"How many days until You're just like me?" The voice of Scourge cackled, long and hard.
Then he stopped. His voice growled, "HOW MANY DAYS?"
Sonic saw something bright on the ground. He looked up, and saw a golden figure, hidden their own light.
A soft, feminine voice spoke, "Begone devil, he is protected." The voice was so quiet, and soft, as if trying not to draw attention to its owner. But the darkness reacted with a hiss.
"NO! NO!" Scourges voice shifted, turning deeper and more monstrous as he struggled to repel the form. Scourge's form finally appeared before Sonic, clutching his head in utter agony.
Sonic saw Scourge's eyes burst into flames, and his face contort into pain.
Then, Sonic woke up. His head was resting on a… pillow, placed on the rock he had sat on. Sonic looked around, and saw a set of foot prints which lead into the woods.
Sonic felt that presence, the one that was with him on campaign. The one that was watching him from the forest. He was tempted to run into the woods, but Fiona's voice shook him off the idea.
"You look like you had a rough night." Fiona smiled. She had her black top and shorts on. The clothes she had when she joined Scourge. Almost like a uniform. But Sonic wasn't going to fall back into that mistake.
"I slept alright." Sonic waved her off.
Fiona's glance told Sonic that she wasn't buying it. In fact, she seemed to have knowing smile of disappointment.
Sonic sighed, "I was just keeping watch. Nothing is quite certain anymore. These roads aren't exactly safe."
Fiona looked at the pillow, "Who's is that?"
Sonic took a glance. There was a golden mask that flowed from a helmet sown into it. On the back, two crossed golden knives were there. Whoever it was loved to mark their things.
"I don't know. I got it in my sleep." Sonic smiled.
"Right, some watch you were keeping." Fiona jabbed, before immediately correcting herself, "I am joking by the way. You need your sleep."
Sonic nodded, "I know… I wonder who left this here?"
They set out for Roja, and Sonic was hopeful that they wouldn't have any incidents. Sonic kept close to Sally and Fiona. They were both exchanging glances and gazing at Sonic with enough concern to make Sonic more than nervous.
He dared to ask, "What's up?" He kept his voice in a whisper, as Sonic was not too keen on the other Freedom Fighters listening in on it. He didn't care about them thinking he looked weak, but Sonic also wasn't too keen on them getting nervous about him.
"Nothing." Sally smiled, that fake smile that Sonic had grown accustomed to seeing, and knew all too well that she was talking about him. Sonic faced Fiona, and was reminded how good she was at lying. She kept a calm, smooth face that told him she was perfectly fine, and definitely trustworthy.
Sonic was not exactly satisfied with Sally's response, "Come on Sal, what's going on?"
"You talk in your sleep." Sally explained, and tapped under her eyes. Sonic probably still had a few bags under his eyes. That didn't mean anything. Well… it couldn't mean anything for Sonic to keep helping.
"I've been up a little late. Nothing much. I just haven't been excited about sleeping too much." Sonic laughed a little.
Fiona scowled, "We heard you. Are you going to be ok?" She gave a mix of concern and authority in her voice, as if wanting to be sympathetic to Sonic, but also needing confirmation.
"Look, I'm fine. I've had a few bad dreams." Sonic was absolutely sure he was perfectly fine. Whatever it was would go away, maybe in time, but it would go away.
The group continued walking. They arrived at Roja a few days later, and Sonic went to his mansion. He walked up and pushed the door in. Of course, that couldn't be the end of it. Sonic could see people talking and eyeing him up. The whole city seemed to be scared for some reason.
Sonic went inside, and found someone waiting there for him. She was a green mobian marmot, who wore a white coat, " Ciao signore Hedgehog, I am-a Christina, and I am-a looking to finding a place in your of services."
Sonic blinked, who were these people? He didn't typically believe in a haughty noble's mindset but people were just showing up in his home and asking things. "Um… I'm sorry? What are you looking for?" She had a thick accent and was already making demands. Sonic had his limits.
"I am-a Christina and I am-a looking to join your services." The Marmot woman bowed her head. Her little tail stuck out of her coat, drooping and bristling, both sad and nervous.
Sonic blinked, "Um… what do you do?"
"I have the culinary trainings for a role as chef." She paused for a moment, and traced her fingers through the air, as if double checking her speech, "I am-a cook." She simplified with a weak, nervous smile.
Sonic blinked. That was at least understandable. He thought about her request for a few seconds, "Look, I don't think I need much help with food."
Christina almost fell over, before laughing slightly, "I'm-a seeing that your-a scettico. I have-a qualifications-a. That's-a not Koala." Cristina reached into her coat and pulled out a folded-up sheet of paper, and a chef's hat.
Sonic shook his head. The easiest way to get out of this was to hire her, or throw her out. He didn't really want to send the message he was mean to anyone who came in looking for a job. Still, Sonic wasn't exactly sure he was ready to hire her. He wasn't exactly keen on the idea of telling her to get lost. Then the idea hit him.
"Look, I don't really care about degrees and awards." Sonic started, taking the folded-up piece of paper, "But I do care about what the food tastes like, so you make me and my friend a good dinner tonight, and I'll hire you."
Sonic no further than spoke the words, than Christina jumped up with an enthusiastic, "Grazie, grazie. You won't be disappointed-a". She ran to the kitchen, which led Sonic to wonder how long she had been in his house. He had a feeling she wasn't content to wait outside while waiting for him.
"So… Who was that?" Fiona's voice sounded mildly amused. She stood in the doorway with a smirk.
"That… is someone trying to be my new cook." Sonic smiled nervously. He wasn't exactly keen on Christina walking back in the room and hearing him talk about how he was hoping she would make something he could at least pretend was terrible.
Should Sonic have felt bad that he was going into the new relationship already dismissing her, but he didn't really feel like he needed a private chef. His pantry was poorly stocked, with the exception of a few spices and herbs, so she would have a hard time making something to blow his socks off.
His theory was somewhat correct when dinner came around. Christina came in with two plates of noodles with green sauce on them.
"My lord-a, I present you with Pesto-aldente." She smiled, and bowed her head. It should have been a bow of triumph, because Sonic and Fiona both ate it, and had the look of surprise plastered over their faces.
"This is amazing, how did you do this?" Fiona exclaimed, thoroughly surprised. Sonic shared it.
Christina smiled and bowed her head again, "I used-a local ingredients. The people sold them-a cheap, and I made a simple sauce."
"Where did you learn this stuff." Fiona asked, taking another mouthful of noodles.
Christina tensed up for a moment, "The fine college of Auditore."
Sonic blinked at those words. That sound odd and foreign.
"I've never heard of that one." Fiona frowned, she seemed to examine the Marmot more closely. Christina seemed to back away.
"I'm-a go check on the deserts." She quickly ran into the kitchen once again.
Sonic pulled out her "Credentials" and decided to actually look at them. Immediately, red flags were set for both of them. The only thing that was the same was her name. The "college" was Ostevere college. The date was forty years before, which was odd since she barely looked Sonic's age. The big seller for it all was the fact that the entire diploma was written in pencil.
Sonic was pretty sure that the whole thing was fake. He passed it to Fiona.
"Oh… this isn't even a real college. She messed up like three times." Fiona laughed. Sonic was less humored by the joke. Perhaps he needed a more aggressive palette, but the food was fantastic.
Sonic stood up, and zipped into the kitchen, where some thin, hollow dough was made. Christina turned around, "Ah, Lord-a, I'm-a making the deserts." She smiled weakly, as if she knew the gig was up.
"I looked at you… diploma." Sonic smiled, hoping to calm her down. The girl was quickly becoming panicked, "It looks… suspicious."
The Marmot gulped, "I'm-a mean no harm-a. My mama told-a me "go and make your-a life good, do what you love". So I come here, and look-a at being a cook-a." She desperately explained.
Sonic raised his hands, "Just don't lie to me again, ok."
The Marmot nodded, but looked down. Sonic needed to clarify.
"You got the job. I'll pay you what you need." Sonic smiled at her, watching her face light up with joy.
"Grazie, grazie, I won't-a let you down." Christina bowed again and again. Sonic felt uncomfortable, but he decided it wasn't too bad.
She, at least, was grateful for what he did.
/*-*/
That food was amazing. Fiona wasn't sure how Christina made something so simple so delicious, but she was absolutely blown away. The best part was that the girl was definitely not coming in to hurt Sonic. She could tell right away that Christina was awkward, and desperate to move up in the world. She wasn't going to poison Sonic, and she would take some of the burden off of Fiona.
Fiona finished up her noodles and wiped her mouth with a cloth. Sonic came back, and Christina brought in hollow fried dough filled with a white cream.
"Cannoli, a fine light-a dessert for a long-a day." Christina clasped her hands nervously.
"You got to try these, Fiona?" Sonic grumbled with a mouth full of white cream and brown chunks of pastry.
Fiona took a bite of one, and found her mouth to be flooded with a light, smooth flavor. Definitely something a runner would love more than a citizen. Still, it tasted great.
"Christina, you are amazing." Fiona stated, with a smiled, "Sonic, make sure you get her job."
Sonic rolled his eyes, "She's already got it." He sounded a little troubled by it. Maybe he didn't want to pay for a cook. Still, it was less work for Fiona, and more rewarding by far.
After dinner, the two went to bed. Christina stayed up, and cleaned up her dishes. Fiona was also pretty sure she was going to eat something. She didn't eat anything while Sonic and Fiona were eating. A nice touch for the appeasement of nobles.
The girl did her homework.
Fiona looked out of her window, down at the town. The city was drawing more and more talent to it. The rise of the standing army seemed to bring in attention as much as the lower taxes and increased freedoms.
She could still see shops open, people doing last minute work before going to bed. There was something else…
Fiona's eyes went to a house that had a strange glint in it. Like someone was watching through a scope or something.
Fiona realized that there was someone in there, and facing them. Someone was spying on Sonic.
Fiona growled, before pulling away and covering her window. She was going to be quiet, and careful. Not everyone was out to get Sonic, but Fiona wasn't going to trust a scope in a window.
She stepped out, and passed by Christina, who was eating some of the left-over noodles and a cannoli. Fiona slipped by without alerting the marmot to her actions. There wasn't really a need for her to know, especially if her hunch was just a hunch.
Fiona slipped into the town, and ran down the street. She was ready to move in on Sonic's mysterious attacker. Fiona had to remind herself that who ever was in the window might not be an attacker. Still, walking into the dark street, one of the few ones, that held the house, Fiona was concerned. The houses had been abandoned after the influx of people returned to their old homes. The lack of lights told Fiona who ever was in there wanted to stay out of sight.
Fiona walked up to the doorway, and pressed on the wooden frame. It opened, and started to creak, but Fiona stopped, and spit on the door hinges. The creaking wasn't nearly as loud as Fiona crept forward, looking for the hidden attacker that stayed out of sight. Her eyes were having trouble adjusting, but time was on her side. The down stairs was clear, and Fiona kept walking forward, until she went up the stairs. The glint came from the third floor.
Every floor on the house seemed to be a home of its own. Rickety, and not particularly noble in quality, but a home. She found the third floor's door, and burst open…
Nothing moved or reacted. Fiona's eyes saw the open window that cast into the center of the room. She walked over to it, the floor creaking. She wasn't alone… right?
Fiona couldn't see anyone, but her eyes were only so adjusted, and they weren't getting better with the light of the city in her view. On the ledge of the window was a set of binoculars… and a coin. It was a strange golden coin, with a particular animal on the tail end of it. A wolverine.
Fiona looked around the room once more. She could light a lantern, but she had a feeling who ever was in there had slipped away. Still, binoculars were not a sniper scope, so it was better that Sonic wasn't in immediate danger.
She returned to the house, slightly tired, thoroughly disgruntled, and definitely not happy with the lack of success. She flopped down on the bed, and closed her eyes.
Her eyes opened deep inside a forest. There was a swamp next to her, the sky was dark and cloudy. Fiona turned and looked around. There were two trees sitting by the water of the swamp, seeming to smack each other as the wind blew.
Fiona found herself unable to leave the trees alone. The left one dove and slapped the base of the right tree. The right tree bent backward, before surging forward and slapping the left tree. The Cycle continued, the two seeming to try and destroy each other.
Fiona's eyes watched below, as a slimy, green figure rose out of the water. The figure seemed to rise with long hair descending down her back. Fiona felt creeped out by the back of the head, the slimy, dirty robes, and a hunched over posture. It looked unnatural.
Fiona dared to walk around to the trees, which were slapping each other more and more. The figure's fur was green, but not vibrant like a forested or lime, no, it was rotten looking. Fiona felt disgusted just looking at the figure.
Fiona looked at the trees, then to the figure. She was getting scared.
The golden glow of the God appeared over her head as the trees resumed their aggressive slapping.
"Please, get them to stop!" Fiona begged, she wanted the weird rotten figure gone. Fiona felt terrified, and knowing her dreams, something was going to happen that would wreck her life.
The trees continued to slap each other, as the wind began to pick up. The left tree swayed in the wind, its trunk bending and yielding to the force of nature. The other tree seemed to be shielded from the wind by the left one.
The tree snapped back, as if trying to fight the wind, but the wind responded with a firm blow. The left tree's trunk creaked, and Fiona saw what was about to happen as it bent back, and bent too far. Her face contorted into horror as the tree snapped in half, falling on its right counterpart, the trunk broken and discarded.
The figure on the water let out a blood-curdling shriek that echoed across the land, ripping into Fiona's soul.
She shot awake, panting as her heart thumped against her chest. Fiona saw that the day had barely started. She got up, feeling slightly annoyed at how early it was, but it was still for a good cause.
She walked outside of her room, and felt the cool air wrap around her, making Fiona feel better, and cooling her down. She went into the kitchen, but to her surprise, Christina was already awake, or rather, was awake, and was sleeping.
Fiona's eyes went to a couple of pastries on a plate, that seemed to be waiting for someone to eat them. They had a red filling on them, probably strawberry or raspberry. Fiona grabbed one and walked into the dining room, to see an empty plate sitting at the table.
Was Sonic awake? Fiona found herself curious once again. She ran up the stairs to Sonic's room, and found it empty. She felt oddly proud, and oddly upset that he just left without telling her anything. At least he wasn't sleeping in anymore.
Fiona ate her pastry and walked outside. She sat on the steps and watched the sun go up. Fiona really had stayed with Sonic and helped him out. How strange was her life? She had dated him to hurt him, hurt him by betraying him, and now wanted him back. Oh, how she wanted him back.
Still, She wondered if it was even possible. A bad habit of hers was asking the possibility in the presence of Sonic, the guy who did the impossible. Still, it gnawed at her heart. Fiona was going to try. She was going to give it everything she had.
She was about to get up and go, when a messenger arrived at the manor.
A young, yellow mobian ox, "Pardon me, are you an attendant for Sonic the Hedgehog, Lord of the Roja duchy?"
Fiona realized this a nobleman's envoy, "Yes, I am. He is occupied at the moment, what do you need?"
"The Southern Duchies would like to discuss his support in the matter of our status within the kingdom." The ox panted out in one single statement.
Fiona nodded, feeling pretty confident in how Sonic would react, "He probably won't support you."
"I was tasked with explaining-" The ox started, looking kind of afraid.
"Look, I'll run it by him, and he'll send a messenger with a response." She wasn't actually going to run it by him. She knew his response, and was pretty sure he wanted no part in their independence war.
"I need to receive a confirmation or denial." The Ox asked, clearly desperate for some decisive information. Fiona was finding this guy to be more and more annoying every second.
"Look, he won't support the independence of the Southern kingdom. My brother won't do it either." Fiona growled, frustrated by the pushy nature of this messenger.
"I need it from Lord Sonic himself." The Messenger growled, glaring at Fiona.
"You need what from me?" Sonic asked, his face in a disturbed state. He was apparently worried about Something.
"My Lord, the southern duchies wish to discuss you support for their independence." The ox asked.
"Not right now." Sonic stated, "Things are already tense as they are." He seemed occupied.
"My Lord, now would be the perfect-" The ox Start.
"NO! how's that?" Sonic shouted, earning a jump from Fiona, "Not right now. I am working on trying to keep everyone from tearing the kingdom apart."
The ox frowned, and bowed before leaving.
Fiona turned to Sonic, "What was that about?" She knew he was tense, but this seemed recent.
"More protests in the capital. This time about freedom of speech." Sonic groaned, pulling Fiona inside.
"What? What about the rights of mobians?" Fiona Proposed.
"What?" Sonic asked, slightly confused.
"Peaceful assemblies are protected under the monar-" Fiona realized it. The Monarchy was gone. The republic wasn't subject to the laws of the old monarchy. They could do as they pleased.
"The monarchy's gone." Sonic stated, slightly confused by her statement.
"Yes… which means… what will come out of this?" She should have left. She should have gone away. Nothing good is coming from the conflict brewing.
/*-*/
The tensions in the kingdom were rising. Things were escalating soon than Johan had expected. He wasn't aware of the monarchy support that existed within the kingdom. Most of the civilized people Johan had memories of… His mind hurt.
He could quite remember everything. No matter, everything would become clear in time.
Johan sat aboard his ship, frustrated with the roboticizer. He was missing something. It was avoiding his gaze, and the frustration that lurked within only grew as his understanding of the matter became less clear.
They mush that was the apple was more than enough to discourage the wolverine from testing the machine on himself. He liked challenges, not suicide.
He growled in frustration, before examining the hole that was left in the front of his ship. The small creatures were moving around, building it up more and more. They had limits, Johan knew all too well, so he could not force them to work any faster.
Johan even provided help when lifting parts became too much for them to handle. At the same time, his metal was being worked into bars, easier to transport and mold for later. The only parts that weren't being remolded into bars was a small piece worked into his armor, which was reforged. The improved durability would be invaluable should a new enemy appear. The extra weight presented both a problem and a solution.
Still, as Johan set up the parts of his ship, the world was still very unknown to him. He wanted to know more, about everyone and everything.
Ezra sat down to eat as Johan had this thought.
"What are you?" Johan asked curiously.
"I'm… I'm an Echidna." She stated her face contorting with confusion.
"No, You had a uniform." Johan made a note that Echidnas were perhaps separate from Garden Defenders. "What group did you belong to?"
"We were the Dark Legion." Ezra explained, "Nothing you need to worry about, as you've shown." She sounded somewhat upset with the last statement, but Johan ignored it. If she was upset, she would voice it, or else she was weak.
"What is this "Dark Legion"." Johan asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. He wanted to know and understand his enemy.
"They're a group dedicated to augmentation. We've been trying to keep ourselves out of the conflict between Eggman and the Kingdom, but Lien-da used Eggman's resources to take power." Ezra explained, shifting nervously, "We didn't exactly want to fight Sonic the hedgehog , or Sally Acorn."
Johan found himself looking at the middle sentence, "Lien-da, Seizing power? Did she have a claim?"
"Well, yes, but anyone could theoretically lead the Legion. " Ezra caught herself, "I mean, anyone can lead the legion if they have the right support." She seemed to think he could not understand the larger words. "Lien-da just happened to be the daughter of a Grand Master. It helped seal her approval."
"I understood the first statement. If I were to support your claim, then you would become the leader of this cult?" Johan cocked his head, feeling both over joyed at the idea of claiming a set of soldiers for his new army.
"Well, yes, but they wouldn't necessarily accept it. I'm just… Talia-ul to them. I'm not a big name or descended from anyone important, at least not directly." Ezra smiled, as if hoping Johan would ignore her utility and the opportunities that a fact would hold. It was not different from Saxon Succession.
"I could force them to accept you. Can you proclaim your status over this "Dark Legion"." Johan's mind began to form a way to decisively end the war, and focus on the greater picture.
"I… could." She was hesitant. She was still clinging to the old ideas.
"Ezra, abandon your loyalties to them. They are weak, and will be crushed under my feet. I off you a chance to be strong, and to bring the strong and free into my graces." Johan growled. Could she not see that he was the greatest one to appease? All of the old ways were dying, surely she see that.
"I… I understand." She frowned and bowed her head, "There is a way to solidify my claim. Echidnapolis is a prize city. It has remained out of our control for a long time. The legion views it as a birth right, one that belongs to us. If you controlled that city-"
"Then the others would fall in line." Johan affirmed. A single city, it was too easy… provided he ignored his previous oaths. That was a problem. He needed the freedom to move, without breaking his oaths.
"The Echidna branch would at least, and the rest would decide from there." Ezra frowned, looking guilty and nervous. She needed to understand that there was no point to being nervous. She couldn't stop it.
"Announce your claim once the ship is finished." Johan growled, and returned to working.
/*-*/
What a nice long series, I sure hope it won't be derailed by the author's desire to pad out the world and try to add build up… Surely that won't happen?
Well it's not all padding… there is some stuff going on, and Christina was added for a joke that I feel kind of fails because I know so little about the conflict itself, and can't really see the big deal. I worked through it though, and I'll explain the joke when it comes up. I think I'll just have dedicated chapters instead of padding out other characters' stuff.
So… I am at Universal Studios on vacation. A lot of their rides are these 4D indoor coasters with videos and shakings. So the natural progression of someone taking a nice break is to wonder, how would I make a 4D Sonic the hedgehog ride? I'm still thinking, and my attempt at writing it was getting long.
I love the feedback and reviews I've been receiving. You all are really looking into this story, and I LOVE IT! Please leave a review and tell me what you think, if you found something interesting, or if you think I could improve on something.
Lastly, I do want to Apologize to Victor John Foxfire, as in one of your reviews, you said I wrote Sally out of character, and I never addressed that, because I seemed to over look that section, so here it is: I know. I needed a character with a little more emotional focus, and I wrote her with a few extra flaws to help put her in positions to create, not just react, to conflict. I made her a little jealous, and a little petty for my own purposes with the plot. I did try to justify it with stress and emotional wear and tear, but I can never truly explain a major character shift without a big event, which I don't think I provided, so I am sorry about that.