Author's note: Hey, sorry about the long wait. This will /hopefully/ be the last chapter that skips over years. I think there is one year skip in the next chapter, then the story takes place over about a week and a half. To all who care, Knuckle, Espio and Vector are the only characters from the game in this story, because this story will averlap "The Last of my Kind".

Chapter Two: Training the Heart, Breaking the Soul

Training: Year 5

"Okay," Marret called. Ceaira was standing in a ready position. "Morph!"

Ceaira closed her eyes and concentrated on the form she was meant to take. They were trying something simple. Since the hedgehog was very close to their looks, it was one of the first morphs the Keeper was taught. Ceaira opened her eyes.

Marret shrugged. "Try again, sweetie!"

Ceaira sat down. "I can't, Marret," she muttered softly. Marret smiled and walked over to her.

He placed an arm on her shoulder. "Come on, honey, just try to make it work. Morphing is a simple process, but it takes concentration."

"I am concentrating!" Ceaira snapped.

Marret hugged the child and sighed. "I know you are, but you can't give up because you didn't do it once. Come on, Ser, you can do it." Ceaira smiled. Marret only called her Ser when she was down like she was now.

She nodded. "Yes sir. I'll do it!" She stood up and Marret nodded.

"Ready, morph," he yelled.

Ceaira closed her eyes and focused on the shape she wanted. She felt her dread locks shrink and her spikes become smaller. She felt the bone in the spikes weaken and turn to blood vessels. Her fist spikes became smaller until they were gone. She also felt more spikes grow. After nearly a minute, she opened her eyes.

Marret ran to her and gave her a hug. "You did it child! I am so proud of you!"

Ceaira smiled. "Will it become easier?" She asked.

"Yes, it will."

Later that day...

"You did great today, Ceaira."

The duo was sitting in the center of the hut eating dinner. Ceaira smiled pride. "Thanks Marret."

"Well, I think it's time I tell you about the Red One." Marret brought out an old book.

"Red One?"

"Yes. It's an old legend created by the brother of the fifth Keeper." Marret sat down and opened the book. "Ah, here we go." He began to read.

"'My brother is the Keeper now, but that should have been my honor. I was the oldest, but no, my brother got to protect the Beast. I can not do anything but curse my brother and his creature. I do not know much about cursing, but I will do it!'" Marret stopped reading. "Well, he did just that. Most thought he was crazy, but many Keepers took heed to his curse."

"What was his curse?" Ceaira asked.

"Peace, child, I will get to that, but first, there is a story here." He settled back in his chair and Ceaira smiled and grabbed her fur pillow and listened. "Well, Maken was the Keeper's name and his brother, the one who gave the curse, was Jeremy. These brothers were like water and oil. They never got along. Being twins, they shared everything, but Jeremy was three minutes older then his brother, Maken. Their father was a great Keeper. They never really saw him, like you never saw you father, but not for the same reason. Their father was devoted to the Beast, unlike yours, but I was told not to tell you about your father."

Ceaira sighed. It was true; no one bothered to tell her about her father. She had never seen him, and Alix never saw her.

"As I was saying, before I got off topic, Maken and Jeremy were horribly to each other. Many times, their parents had to pull them off of each other because they got into a deadly brawl. Jeremy, one day became unworthy to be the Keeper. Sadly, when he began his training, he killed his mentor. At the time, the Tribe didn't know how to deal with such a crime; the only crime that was worse then that was the crime that Omtry committed to keep the Beast from destroying us.

"The council did the only thing they could think of. They said he was unworthy to be the Keeper of the Beast. Jeremy was taken out of the line and a new mentor was put in place. Maken became the Keeper and Jeremy became dangerously jealous and angry with his brother. He finally became mad with it. He decided to place a legend on the Beast and its Keepers. Now, back then, if it was said in a legend, then it would come true.

"Jeremy headed to Garere. She was the only one who could make a legend be feared by our people. She and Jeremy were good friends, considering she was one of the few that spoke to him after he killed his mentor. She agreed to help Jeremy and his quest for revenge.

"Jeremy thought long and hard on what legend to tell. Finally he came up with something terrible. Garere put it together. The old saying went like this." Marret closed his eyes, trying to remember the old verse that Keepers had feared for so long. "'Pride taken, love denied, the one who has been robbed will taste the sweet revenge he deserves. The mind will find what the heart cannot; love taken, pride gone, the one who is born with skin of fire who wields the power of Earth. Pain and suffering will follow death and heart ache. This is my song, his is my Legend.'" Marret sighed and opened his eyes.

"When the people found out about the Legend, the Keepers were frantic. If any child was born with red fur, they were quick to sacrifice it to the Beast as its occasional treat. As more people began to believe the Legend, the more confident they grew. Most wanted the Beast destroyed, but the Keepers worked as hard as they could not to let this Legend come true. So far, they have succeeded. If a mother ever gave birth to a red child, she was always quick to hide it, but not one has escaped the hands of the Keepers."

Ceaira smiled and yawned. Marret looked out the door. It was very dark out. "Good night, Ceaira. He whispered and blew out the candle in the center of the room.

Training: Year 7: Graduation

Marret smiled as he led Ceaira through the forest. "Seven years of training, and you finally get to meet the Beast. This is always the best part of being a Mentor," he said. Ceaira was walking beside the old creature with a wide smile as well.

Her training went almost perfect. Though Marret still never told her exactly what happened to her father, she never held that against him.

Alix wasn't one to be messed with. As a Keeper, he was one of the few that had tried to destroy the Beast and the only Keeper that didn't care when one child was born that had a red coat. Sadly, this child was taken by sickness at an early age. Alix wanted the Beast gone, and would have stopped at nothing to kill it; until Emily became heavy with Ceaira. Alix knew his chances were slowly failing. He disappeared the day the council allowed Ceaira to be the Keeper. For the past seventeen years, the Beast had no Keeper. The Tribe was unaware of this, but the Council and Marret knew of this. They concealed it. Sadly, Alix was a failure as a Keeper.

"Well, Ceaira. I'm really going to miss you," Marret said, stopping. Ceaira smiled.

They stopped to talk and reflect on the seven years of training. "Marret, this has been the best seven years I've ever had. Thank you." She walked up to him and gave him a hug. "You are the closest thing I have to a dad."

"This is really sweet," a voice hissed.

"Alix," Marret hissed. He recognized the voice, but the creature didn't step out. Ceaira looked around.

"Daddy?" She asked.

Three of the creatures stalked out. "You three know what to do. I'm sorry, Ceaira," Alix said. There was a rustle and he was gone. Ceaira looked at the three animals.

"What are you going to do?" She asked.

There was no answer. One lunged at Ceaira and held her down. "Get off of me!" She screamed.

The creature held fast. The other two attack Marret. "Get away from me!"

"Sorry, Marret, Alix can't let you train any more of us. The Beast will die!" One of them snarled.

Marret's eyes widened. "You mean…"

The one who had spoken nodded. He shrugged and said, "Sorry," and punched Marret between the eyes. The black and white creature had time for a brief scream before the fist spikes went past his skull and into his brain. The two creatures nodded and fled. The one on Ceaira let her up, but didn't go anywhere.

Ceaira walk over to her dead mentor. "Why did you do this?" She asked the one who was holding her.

He bowed. "Keeper, I am sorry. Those two were my older brothers. The forced me to come. They said that Marret had to die."

"WHY?" Ceaira screamed.

"I don't know! They want the Beast dead and Alix figured without the mentor, no more Keepers can be trained. I really don't understand it. Alix himself was a Keeper. They are meant to protect to the Beast. He is a bit stra…." He was cut off as the new Keeper attacked him.

Ceaira held his throat, cutting off his air. He mouthed his pleas to be let go, but Ceaira didn't care. She held him until he hung limp in her arms. She walked over to Marret's body. "They will pay," she hissed angrily. "I'll make sure of it!"