Victor John Foxfire(Ch77): Jack certainly mucked things up. But, in a way he also helped by making Sonar's story seem believable.

Victor John Foxfire(Ch78): Nagus… was actually kind of right. In terms of the ripple effect, Sonic, the owner of Roja which was one of the most power duchies in the kingdom, pledging his support to the Republic made the less ambitious nobles back down. It also meant that more time had to be spend drawing up alliances to be certain they could overpower the Republic, which allowed other ambitious nobles to stake their claim and draw up alliances. Rosemary and Tails certainly helped Nagus's return, but without Sonic's pledge to Rosemary at the ball, one noble would have simply taken the throne.

Sonic wasn't really injured by Tails. There were a couple scrapes, but Sonic was hit with HESH damage from Johan. Essentially, Sonic's ribs shattered into shrapnel and pierced most of his organs. Tails, I'm pretty sure didn't land a fatal hit.

Johan understands the needs of warfare, but he was absolutely insulting Spike, in both his courage and masculinity. His tone was less "You would be better for this" and more "Get back in the kitchen and the Women will show you how to have courage".

Merendinoemilano: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. More is on the way.

/*-*/

Fiona faced herself in the mirror. Her hair had grown out a little over the past month. Her chopped ponytail was starting look like a short-ponytail. Maybe she should cut it?

Fiona shook her head and sighed. What was the point of cutting it? What was done, was done. She ran her finger down the strands of hair. It actually didn't look too bad. A little twisting, but she could manage it.

Fiona sighed, feeling… numb. She was so upset, she really thought she'd have a chance. Fiona was going to win over the only noble in the kingdom that would actually treat her like someone more than a simple alliance tool or object. And of course, she'd failed. It seemed to be the story of her life.

Fiona stopped fiddling with her hair, and turned to the box under her bed. Fiona opened it and looked at all of the jewelry and stones inside. One was a family ring, it had lasted seven generations. This last one might find it a bit… unfound.

The dangling gold earrings with ruby cuts belonged to a duchess who had celebrated their return to their estate after pushing Robotnik back. Fiona was a bit more deserving of those precious chains.

A diamond studded necklace, made from silver. The story was that each of the diamonds were once part of a larger piece, before friends split the diamond as it caused them to fight each other out of greed. Fiona removed those tempting pieces.

And yet, she did not feel any joy. If she was with Nic, they would have been celebrating. If she was with Scourge, they would have gone out to wreck a wine-and-dine place. They would have been happy. Yet, in these moments, when all her needs were taken care of, when she wasn't running for her life or to ruin another's, Fiona felt empty.

She slumped back against the bed. She was tired. Fiona could imagine what Sonic was doing, staying with his princess. Doing things, he should have been doing to her. Fiona was bitter.

She was still trying to figure it out. Why did she lose? Fiona let Sonic have his space, and let him come to her. She made her move only when Sonic felt comfortable.

Fiona felt empty, angry, full of regret. Why? She should have been happy, she would have been happy. Something had changed inside of her.

Ceawlin's words came back to her. God had created her to draw value from herself? Was he tormenting her for that? Was that why she was feeling so terrible, because she wanted Sonic all to herself.

"Alright, FINE! I get it, I'm a bad person! I get it, please…. Stop this. Make me feel… good!" Fiona pleaded, gritting her teeth.

She slumped back against the bed. Fiona stared up at the ceiling, She was broken, something inside of her wasn't working right. She needed help.

Fiona sat up and looked at all of the other gems, which all had stories. So many were romantic, gifts and testimonies of love. Yet, Fiona plucked those stories and testimonies away. She was awful.

"Hello… miss-a foxy?" Christina knocked on the door.

Fiona's eyes widened and she put the jewelry in the box and pushed it under her bed, "Come on in." She tried to sound mildly put off instead of nervous.

The creaked open, and there was Christina, "Should-a I prepare a dinner for-a tonight?"

"Just for me… I think Sonic won't be coming home tonight." Fiona put up a forced smile.

"Ah… boys and their-a parties." Christina smirked, shifting ever so slightly, "You're-a not-a with him?"

"Nope… he's spending the night with his girlfriend." Fiona allowed the forced nature of her smile to show through.

Christina realized that she had touched a topic that was not exactly safe, "Ah… I'm-a sorry."

"How do you have a better love life than me?" Fiona asked, before realizing just how that sounded.

Christina raised her eyebrows, but gave a simple nod, "I make-a good-a food. Boys like-a food." Her face gave a more… lecherous smile, "A good-a trap needs-a bait."

Fiona actually laughed at that one, "Alright… well, I'm happy for you."

Still, Fiona didn't think that cooking was her bait. She needed to think a little more about what she wanted. She would, and she'd get whatever her heart desired.

/*-*/

Johan was surprised by how much time was given for them to set up defenses. The anti-air guns were rolled out onto the walls. Some were destroyed due to Johan's attack, but the base had additional guns in the event.

Johan was not afraid of the coming attack force. They had prepared effectively, and as long as the Sand Blasters held this refinery, then the enemy would succumb to defeat eventually, due to a lack or strain of resources.

Despite this, the Sand Blasters sat idly, not bothering to learn the weapons needed to defend the necessary refinery. Johan was not in the mood to assume command of them. They would pay for their inexperience in time, Johan was sure.

His eyes gazed at the large structure that the walls protected. It seemed to tower so high, and it had been giving off smoke. They had stopped the refining process, so the smoke had stopped.

Johan saw the many barrels, some black, some red, some green. They appeared to be color coded. The Sand Blasters were very keen on keeping these barrels under close watch. Still, Johan valued the lake of oil far more than a few barrels.

Even as night set in, Gewis was swift to work around the defenses. He patrolled the walls, looking to make sure they were all ready and capable of fighting. Johan found himself greatly impressed by Gewis, the boy who had been so small, now a man capable of leading and taking control when necessary.

Johan found a bit of pride in his ability to spot great potential. Gewis, a boy who had been wrong by his land and shamed for being a man of action, now a worthy companion to Johan. Johan felt… proud, and briefly sad. Gewis' potential had been squandered by the rights of birth. There was another bit of sorrow, about the future, but Johan would worry about that when the time came.

He climbed out of the hole he had dug, and called out to Gewis, "Sleep, rest."

"After another checkup." Gewis replied from the wall, before turning to the large anti-air gun.

Johan growled, and crawled up the stairs. He twisted his head and picked up Gewis with his maw.

The white fox growled, "Hey, I'm still working!" Johan paid him no mind and he walked down the steps, and towards the tent that housed the siblings. Johan found Gewis's sleeping bag, and dropped the fox there, next to the snoring badger and rodents.

"Sheesh, you're treating me like a child!" Gewis growled, sitting up. He was truly testing Johan's patience, wasn't he? Johan sat down on his legs.

"You have done checks, there is no more you can do. I will need my best men ready for when the attack comes." Johan asserted, Gewis tried to push Johan's rear, but reality set in, and Johan's weight was far too much for the small fox to lift.

"Fine, fine! I'll sleep!" Gewis grumbled. Johan sat up, and walked over to the outside of the tent. Gewis closed his eyes, and shifted.

Johan kept watch outside the tent. Gewis shifted again.

"Do you fear the coming attack?" Johan growled as Gewis continued be restless.

"I'm… not nervous. You've got us through worse… I think." Gewis mumbled, before shifting again.

"Do you desire to claim Sonar?" Johan asked cocking his head.

"What?" Gewis asked, a little confused.

"Do you desire to marry her?" Johan cleared up. He hoped that Gewis would calm down with discussion.

"What? What? No, why would you think that?" Gewis sounded somewhat defensive, but still confused. His eyes were planted on Johan's back.

"You are protective of her." Johan confirmed.

"I…. she reminds me of my sister. Strong, passionate, wanting to help with a good heart." Gewis sighed, his voice dropping and sounding sad. Johan made a note of that. "I want to keep her safe… to make up for what I couldn't do… before."

Johan almost laughed at those words, "It seems she guards you better."

"She's…. she's awesome…. I know." Gewis sounded both hopeful and ashamed, but curled up.

Johan laid down, and noticed the large ears cast against the watch tower. Johan would listen to her in the morning.

Morning came as it usually did. Johan's eyes opened and still, the watchmen still stood. Stoix was always up and eager to help out. She seemed so enthusiastic, and eager to get started. A warrior at heart.

She actually made Johan look bad. If he was ever the insecure type, Johan would have been angry. Instead, Johan found great pride in her service. She led by example, and Stoix was not the only one up earlier, as several Sand Blasters seemed to be patrolling the walls, repairing any missed damages or simply keeping watch.

Johan knew that her greatness was both inspired by his will, and that her will inspired his greatness. The ever intensifying dance that a leader must not be lesser than those who follow, but those who follow must strive to be greater than their leader.

Stoix understood and embraced this idea. It made Johan ever so proud. She walked along the walls, scanning the desert. She seemed frustrated.

Johan quickly joined the frustration. He had expected an attack soon, within hours of taking the base. When that did not come, Johan expected the attack to come in the night. Now Johan was waiting for the attack, but he was beginning to think that it would not come.

Perhaps they were surrendering the refinery out of fear of Johan, or Perhaps they were not prepared for an attack on such a critical resource. Gewis also seemed troubled by the lack of enemies nearby.

As Johan began to examine the defenders of the fort, everyone who stood on the black walls seemed to be on guard. They knew an attack was supposed to come, but like Johan, they found themselves wanting it to happen immediately.

Johan went and ate breakfast with his men. Touborn looked at him, and gave a respectful nod. Roht was still cautious of Johan, but that was fine.

Olivar was busy laughing at their table before looking at Johan, "You are a BEAST man! They looked so terrified, they shot you with their biggest guns, and you just kept plowing through them."

Johan found it nice that his men were inspired by his strength and courage. Still, he hoped that they would find their own will to win, and not rely on him. He had no need for the brainless or weak.

After breakfast, Johan visited the courtyard and passed by the large black pool. He saw that several of the barrels of fuel were loaded into cars. They seemed quite eager to get the barrels back.

Jack seemed to be examining what he seemed to believe was his prize, helping load the last few barrels into the backs of some of the cars. Some were still empty.

Johan also noted how Sonar and Gewis were in deep conversation. Sonar seemed hold out her hands as if trying to explain something. Gewis seemed rather embarrassed, and was shaking his head. Sonar held up her hands in a shrug, before Gewis said something and she nodded at him.

Johan approached the two at the wall.

"Look, I don't know how it got lot in the wind. No…I-I was not intending to-" Gewis seemed very quick to explain. He was stuttering and nervous. His body was certainly reacting one way. There was maybe three years difference between the two, and so they were both young and ready to start their own family.

"I understand. I heard little bits, but the glass made it hard for me to hear." Sonar shifted. Why were they so reluctant to pursue a union? They both desired it.

"Well…. I like you, and I think you're pretty… cool." Gewis shifted, catching himself, "But you remind me of my sister. I don't want to lose her again." Gewis shifted, growing frustrated.

Sonar passed a look over to him, "Do you not talk with her anymore?"

Gewis looked down, and Johan could feel his anger rising. "It's… not easy to talk to her anymore."

Sonar let out a sigh, "I'm sorry. I didn't understand."

"It... it's not my proudest moments." Gewis slumped down, "But I see this as a chance. If I can get you through this war… I'll what I couldn't do for her."

Sonar sighed, and shook her head, prompting a somewhat confused response from Gewis. Sonar sighed, "You need to talk more. You won't find redemption with me. I'm already a lost cause. I'm angry…. And… nothing." Sonar sighed.

"What is it?" Gewis asked, concerned.

Sonar turned to him, and only recently noticed Johan. Johan gazed at her with a firm look. She understood all too well. Sonar sighed, "I wanted… part of me still does, to kill Jack. Spike… he's my one friend in this stupid desert. I don't know where I'd be without him. He said the same thing to me."

Johan sighed, "Watch yourself, Jack was quick to throw his life away, but Spike would be burden on us. He would have slowed us down. We must value each life, and that involves the nobility to accept that you can not always be saved. An unfortunate sacrifice that I would have committed to if the enemy had not surrendered." Johan affirmed

Sonar seemed to frown, but she nodded. She did not like it, but she knew he was right.

"I would rather not lose anyone else." A voice called from the tower. A buzzard sat upon the tower, perched. She had a metal face mask, indicating authority.

Sonar tensed up, "You! Nephthys!"

"Hello, Sonar. You've grown quite a bit since our last battle. You seem different." The feminine vulture spoke so sadly.

"You… It seems you have come alone." Johan snarled, not liking that his enemy was underestimating him.

"I do not mistake your power, Demon of the Ice." Nofeeter proclaimed, giving what appeared to be a submissive bow.

Johan glared up at her, "Then are you arrogant?"

"I come under diplomatic parlay. You will not attack me, it goes against your cultural laws." Nephiler stated, firmly. She wasn't wrong, and most certainly did her research. It frustrated Johan that she did not come for battle, but no matter.

"Very well, I will extend the protection for you to beg for your men's lives before I end them." Johan snarled, stamping his foot.

"How generous." Nonfjorder spoke drying, but remained on her perch.

"WHY WOULD WE LISTEN TO YOU!" Sonar shouted angrily, her voice clearly displaying outrage. This was personal between them.

"I know you are angry, but there is more to our stories than you understand." Nefighter growled at the fox.

Gewis stood on guard, moving in front of her, and holding onto his weapon. Johan snarled at Gewis, who shifted, before releasing his weapon.

Johan snarled up at the buzzard, "Nofeller, you have come here, and I trust you have come with more than to simply waste my time."

"Call me Neph, it is clear your older tongue has difficulties with my name." She spoke firmly. Yet, she seemed to understand the difference in strength between the two, as she maintain a submissive posture.

"What have you come to barter for." Johan snarled. His patience was wearing thin, and this diplomatic mission was a waste of time.

"I want a ceasefire." Neph stated, ruffling her feathers up.

Johan cocked his head. Was she… begging for mercy? Why would he stop their advance? He had no problems with pulling the legionnaires out of their hole. "Why?"

"There is no reason for us to continue our battles. We can build a second refinery, and there is plenty of oil to go around. I know that your people also demand tribute for peace. I will happily give you more of the oil you desire." Neph bowed again, "I do not think anything good will come from this war."

Johan thought for a moment. Jack was all too keen to bring his thoughts into the fight, "Bah, we don't need to back off. If you all want to run scared, leave our desert."

Neph seemed especially offended by Jack's intervention, "I assure you, my plan will work better for you."

"That's assuming it's not a lie!" Sonar growled at her, balling a fist, gritting her teeth.

Neph seemed to take a silent moment. Neph sighed, "Very well, I ask for a moment with… my old friend."

"We aren't friends!" Sonar bore her teeth.

Johan intervened before she dishonored them both, "Control yourself. She is under my protection."

Sonar turned to Johan with a fire in her eyes, angry and furious that the vulture was given the time of day.

Neph looked at Johan expectantly, "I wish to speak, alone."

"You will not prey on her. Her heart is divided and conflicted. I will not let you attack her while I am away." Johan asserted, stamping his feet.

Neph ruffled up her feathers, "I assure you, I do not intend to hurt her."

"I trust Sonar, and she does not trust you, so I do not trust you." Johan growled, standing his ground.

Neph's face was unreadable under her mask, before she sighed, "Very well. Sonar, I assure you, I did not betray you."

"You left us, me, Spike…Trevor. You left because you were scared! YOU LEFT US!" Sonar balled a fist, her hand inching closer to her revolver. Johan was beginning to realize he would have to enforce his protection, but not in the way he expected.

"I understand you hate me, but I did so for the good of everyone." Neph stated, a slight tinge of regret in her voice, "But I assure you, that your hatred is not nearly justified-"

"Some of us didn't live to hate you. I have to make up for that loss." Sonar's hand grabbed her revolver. Johan growled a throaty groan.

Sonar turned to look at him, before releasing her revolver.

"Trevor was not your fault, but his death wasn't mine either. Eggman's trap… it was going to kill you three, so I bargained." She lowered her head.

"WHAT DID YOU LOSE? YOU BARGAINED US AWAY!" Sonar threw her fists to her side, tears streaming down her face.

"I bargained myself, for you two." Neph's talons came up to her facemask and pulled the golden mask off. What came out was a metallic beak, mechanical in nature.

Sonar stepped back, "W…Why?"

"I saw an opportunity. I was going to bring peace to this land. So I took control of the new Egg Army, and drove the Sandblasters into the mountain. I could have chased them there, but your leaders were broken. Jack was never going to hurt anyone again." Neph explained, her wings expanding before dipping.

Was she really so blind?

"Then… He came." Neph gestured to Johan, who knew full well why she was so disturbed by him, "The Demon of the north. You came and inspired a counter attack. More over, you've drawn attention to the peace I've brought. The Sand Blasters could have settled in their oasis, and been fine. We would not have had to respond to these aggression."

"You were trying to keep the peace?" Sonar sounded shocked.

"I was trying to end the pointless bloodshed between Jack's narrow-minded aggression and The Duke's arrogant counter attacks. But now, I can not make any progress to peace with this monster here." Neph growled, stamping on her perch once again.

Johan almost laughed. A monster? Part of him wished to encourage her flattery. Another part found the idea that he was anything supernatural to be the opposite of his goals. "You honor me, but do not elevate me to such a status."

"Regardless of your desire, I need you to abandon this region in the name of peace. You came for oil, and I am offering you that oil to leave this land for peace." Neph proclaimed, bowing her head again, "You're culture states that if you take a tribute as protection, you must uphold that protection."

Johan snorted, "You are well informed on my culture." She had parts of it right. Not everything, but enough.

"When I first heard reports about Legionnaires losing to a long extinct Mobian race, I assumed that it was a Freedom Fighter deception. Lies, however, do not produce bodies, especially not in the large amounts we received." Neph glowered, her feathers flaring as she balled a fist.

"You see that I am no lie." Johan held up a fist.

"I watched the combat footage of you. I saw your fighting style, I heard you speak works in your tongue. So I looked deeper into the old histories. You come from a Germanic-Nordic culture. You are likely from a derivative of it. I know from the old history records that your people think war is a way of life, so you have no issues with killing. I know that your culture severely frowns on dishonest, and views honor as absolute." She sounded so proud of the research she did.

"Yes, and you know I will not break an agree I have made." Johan growled in the back of his throat, almost laughing at her lack of understanding.

"Yes, You also want to enrich yourself, which I am offering." Neph proclaimed, "So stop this pointless fighting, and let peace reign."

Johan weighed her words. She was somewhat right, and somewhat wrong. She had some of the history right, and other pieces wrong. Johan laughed, "You have… some things right. We do love battle, and we do love honor. But you don't understand that wealth is pointless. It is a tool, one that many confuse with power. I do not seek war to enrich myself, I could simply take what I want."

"Then why come here and kill us?" Neph growled. Sonar watched Johan cautiously. She seemed to be scared, and confused.

"I came here for three reasons. The one I gave to the King was to bring order to this region. The one I gave to my men was to obtain oil. If I agree to your treaty, then I will handle the first two. But my reason to fight is simple: I am at my greatest in battle. I learn and grow through every fight as does my enemy." Johan gave a snort, and shifted, "The weak are quickly destroyed, but the strong push me to greater heights, and I push them. That is why I spared some of these men, who were strong and committed." He gestured to the chained-up Legionnaires which he had chosen to spare.

"Take your growth elsewhere then. We want peace." Neph sneered, angrily.

"Peace? You seem to believe it will last." Johan snorted, "The peace you bring will only stabilize the ground for the seeds of these problems to take root. Let them fight, let a victor win."

"And push Eggman to more extremes? You must understand he is impossible to defeat, and you only serve to provoke him to my region." Neph growled before she tensed up. After a brief moment Neph relaxed, "Would you consider joining us? You could fight Sonic the hedgehog, and others who keep this war going so long."

"Why would I fight for a man who produces abominations on this world? He continues to destroy the natural world with his cursed machines." Johan snarled, before composing himself, "I will destroy him, to prove my own strength. I will not back down or bow in submission to a fool. I will not allow you to keep this land fighting itself in the future. I will bring this land true peace, not one that the world understands, but I understand."

Neph began to tap her claws, getting annoyed, "I have chosen the lesser of two evils. I want this war to end to end the pointless bloodshed."

"Lesser, greater? There is no such thing. There is the righteous and the wicked. If the world's order demands I choose between one evil or another, I will destroy the world, and replace its order." Johan growled, stamping his feet, "A world where the righteous can break their shackles and forge them into swords to carve their names into history!"

Neph remained quiet. Sonar looked even more confused. The men who had gone came back, looking disturbed.

Neph placed her mask back on her face, "So be it. If you will not see reason, then I will fight to secure the people of this desert. Face me in a duel!"

Johan found a grin work its way to his face, "Finally, give me a worthy fight to learn from!"

Neph bore her claws and jumped into the sand where Johan stood.

The Sand blasters came out with their guns ready. Johan growled at them, "Do not interfere!"

Johan's roar sent a rumble through the ranks of men. They lowered their weapons, and Johan began to prowl around Neph. "You have not laid out terms, so I to presume you simply fight for pride."

"If I win this duel, then my problems will be solved. If not, then there is nothing I can do." The vulture screech, flaring her wings upward, spreading her feathers as she circled with Johan.

"If? Do you not believe you can win this?" Johan snarled at her.

"I can not win in a test of strength. I am not an idiot." Neph glowered, "But I will not stand by and let you do as you please."

Johan laughed, "Then beat me down and proclaim your dominance!" Johan leapt at her.

Neph spread her wings and flew back to avoid the attack before diving with her claws out. Johan reached up and smacked at her, but Neph rose higher in the sky.

She was a buzzard, so she was slower to get higher, but Johan still did not jump to his full extension for fear of losing control in the air. Johan landed as Neph circled around. Johan snarled up at her.

"PLEASE STOP, She's not our enemy!" Sonar called out, running onto the clearing.

Johan snarled and pressed his hand' on her, holding her, "Do not interfere. I will kill you if aid either of u-"

Johan had lowered his guard for the briefest moment, and talons ripped into his shoulder. He was lifted up before Johan recovered and swatted at the Vulture's talon, forcing her to release him.

Johan landed on the ground, to the horrified face of Sonar. Gewis ran over, with his hand on his rifle, but kept himself at a distance.

Johan's shoulder… was bleeding. She had the will to land a clear and decisive blow. Johan was angry to some extend and to another… he was different.

Johan faced the vulture which had landed, blood dripping into the sand. The cloudy skies still cast darkness over them.

Johan let out a growl…. The wrong one. His throat expanded, releasing a hearty groan which reverberated across the clearing. Everyone seemed to be thrown for a shock.

Johan found himself helpless. Between the biological need to seek out strong… partners, and the deep rooted belief that a woman should be strong enough to protect his children, he couldn't help his body's response to her.

He let out another groan which caused even his vulture enemy to recoil slightly.

Jack laughed, "Ya'h gonna get it ya bottom feeder."

Gewis was quick to correct, "That… wasn't a growl of aggression."

Jack looked confused, before recoiling, "Uhg."

Johan cleared his throat, "Forgive my forwardness. I have not been injured in a long time. It is nice to see a strong enemy."

Neph remained landed, her mask unreadable, but her body language showed she was not prepared for his reaction. Sonar looked very thrown off, unsure of what was happening.

Johan clarified, "This changes nothing, We are still fighting." He growled to drive home his statement.

Neph nodded, "Alright… very well." She still sound thrown off.

Johan was also struggling. His instinct told him… certain things. Still, He was above his beastly instinct.

Neph lunged at his face. Johan lowered his head and lightly pawed at her claws, smacking them away. Johan found himself hesitating to drive a deadly blow. His instincts were a problem, but Johan also saw her as such a powerful warrior. She was able to injure him with her will a drive. To kill her would be such a waste.

Johan still felt the adrenaline as her claw pushed past Johan's defenses, and scratched his chest lightly. He was getting frustrated, and her speed was giving her an edge.

She broke off and soared higher. Johan has his chance, her climb would slow her down. He leapt up taking the risk that he needed to win. Johan saw her talons get closer, and closer.

Then she dove at him. Johan had fallen right into her trap. Her claws grabbed Johan's hands, and threw him into the refinery. Johan's body let out a yelp as He slammed into the metal structure, into the oily pool below. Johan could swim, but oil was not as thick as water.

He felt himself sinking. He had lost, by his own foolishness. And yet, he had to congratulate his opponent. She had planned tactically, and pushed him into falling for a trap.

Johan… had lost. He was doomed to die, in a pool of oil. Like a coward trying to escape.

No…no… he would not accept that. Johan snarled as he sank low. The oil seemed to turn to gelatin when it touched him. Johan growled as his feet touched something solid. It was all he needed.

Johan kicked off and shot upwards. He soared through the pool until his snout graced the air. Neph had been hovering overhead. Johan's surprise shocked her, and she barely had time to react before he sank his teeth into her leg, and dragged her down.

Vultures were not agile fliers. They were barely strong enough to lift their own weight. Neph was strong, absolutely, but she required focus, which Johan exploited with his surprise attack. He dragged her down into the shallow oil field.

Her feathers became matted with the black goo, as she scrambled to escape Johan. He pushed her under. She would drown in the oil that they fought for. He show his force… and waste a good warrior.

Johan felt her struggling ease up. He pulled her out and tossed her onto the sand, before leaping on her to pin her down. Neph coughed up the black liquid. The two glared at each other. Johan could feel it through her mask.

Then the two laughed. They were, at their hearts, warriors. They enjoyed the fighting, even if they had different desired outcomes. Johan felt thoroughly challenged by her, and she seemed to feel the same. They had no ill will towards each other, at least, not in the moment.

"Alright… finish it." Neph sighed with her chuckle, hanging her head.

Johan felt… somber. That was how the fight was supposed to go. One lived, one died. Still… to waste her skills, her strength, was terrible.

"Go on, finish her." Jack called out.

"Egg Carriers, two on approach!" A call came from a watch tower.

Johan glared down at her. Neph panted, "I came ahead under diplomatic pretenses. They aren't here to fight, or they shouldn't be."

Johan still held her life under him. and so he would use it. "I want you to serve me." Johan growled

Neph looked up through her smeared mask, "What?"

"This land has no honor, but you have proven me wrong. You have honor, the spirit of a warrior. I would not waste something so precious. I will win this war, you know that now." Johan growled at her.

She nodded, "I do, you don't seem to have a desire to quit."

Johan nodded, "Then you would serve me well?"

She seemed to muse over it, before sighing, "I can't. Even If I did leave and join you, Eggman has placed a bomb in his new army command. I would die anyway."

Johan felt horrified, but he also partially understood. Traitors have no place in a good world. Johan sighed, "Then you know what must be done."

She arced up to peck at Johan's eyes. Johan brought his paw down on her throat, crushing it. He felt… angry that such a good warrior had to die. Still, she died with her mask on, stoic and proud till the end.

"They're armed and ready to fire!" A Sand Blaster called out.

"Screw this, Everyone, pull out!" Jack called, jumping in a car that happened to have several barrels in the back.

Seven cars zipped out of the gate. Half of the Sand Blaster force. But the other half… the other half stayed.

They looked at Johan, nervous, but still putting faith in him. Johan Saw Sonar walk over, and kiss Neph on the forehead. She seemed disturbed, but she looked up at him.

"Alright, what's the plan, they are coming to fight us." Sonar growled, her fist shake.

"Tend to your friend below. We will drive them from our Quarry!" Johan called out. That is exactly what they did. Men ran to man the guns. Sonar listened and went below. Johan would absolutely have a… talk with Jack at the end of this.

/*-*/

Dang, I was not looking forward to killing off Neph. So, to my non-English readers who are using a translator, Johan miss speaks Nephthys name in his thoughts. If you have trouble with a translator on a word that starts with "n" then it is likely a misnomer of her name.

SO, with the Egg Army firmly without solid command, their assault will continue, next chapter.

I am interested to see what you all thought about this chapter. Please leave a review and tell me what you thought, or Private message me if you have criticism that you don't want public. I won't tell, I promise.