Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this haunting glance into the future… especially for the ones who take charge.

~保護者~

"What the Future Holds"

~保護者~

As they entered the massive woods that had once been tiny little Leaf Forest, known for its ability to mess with people's minds and get them hopelessly lost for seemingly no reason at all, Tails couldn't help but wonder. Specifically, he wondered about who could have been here and why. This place had a reputation, after all, and always had. So many people had gotten lost within these trees and never come back out. Why would someone be here? Was it someone with nefarious intentions? "Are you sure it's not someone dangerous, Shadow?"

The hedgehog gave him a bland look. "I meant what I said."

"Just double-checking," Tails sighed. "It's just… hard to imagine why anyone would come way out here, so far from the cities… much less someone who isn't out to get one or all of us."

Toru frowned and crossed his arms. "I don't get why anyone would come out here to begin with. There doesn't seem to be much of anything, except for your house," he responded, glancing to Tails.

"Yeah, that's exactly my point," Tails was quick to agree. "There isn't anything else out here. It's just my house and workshop. ...Unless you count the lake, but most people wouldn't even consider taking a trek out here just to see a normal lake."

"Well, I guess we'll be figuring out soon enough," Toru sighed. "How close are they, Shadow?"

Shadow gestured vaguely ahead of them. "They are beyond that thicket and moving slowly in random directions."

"Lost, then," Tails surmised. "That's what happens out here. Something about this place attacks people psychologically. ...Erm, most people. Point being, though, they're possibly hallucinating danger on top of being lost. It's happened to all the others I've seen wander through here."

Toru frowned. "Then they might act defensively," he sighed. "Do you know if they've got anything dangerous on them, Shadow?"

"Nothing," Shadow responded simply. "She has gadgets of some kind, but nothing more."

"Then I guess we should approach cautiously, regardless," Toru murmured, slipping into the thicket quietly. Shadow followed along with crossed arms, Tails trailing somewhat cautiously behind the pair of them. Toru found his way through and frowned at the sight of a brown fox idly tapping away at a screen with a very concerned expression on her face.

Seeing another fox, an experience Tails had only had maybe four or six times in his life up until now, caused Tails's eyes to light up with surprise. Any reservations he'd had flew out the window and he hurried over to the young woman with a quick call of, "Hey! Hey, are you okay?"

The fox jumped several inches off the ground, unintentionally launching her handheld device into the air. This left her to scramble to catch it, barely able to do so without stumbling over her own two feet and bumping against a tree. "Gah, who are you-" Her very terrified eyes suddenly sparkled with recognition at the sight of Tails (knowing him from his reputation as the world's greatest inventor) and she quickly stowed her device onto a clip on her belt. "Oh my god it's you! I came here looking for you and I got lost because of the forest, which I knew might happen if I wasn't careful but then I just de-"

As Shadow quirked an eyebrow, Tails nervously laughed and said, "Oh, uh… Well, it's not- it's not exactly safe out here. Your head will clear up once you're inside. I mean, if you want…?" His fumbling caused Shadow to huff at him before he simply turned and began walking back to the house on his own.

The fox girl's eyes lit up with excitement and she nodded, stumbling over her own words at the offer before she blurted out a, "Yes!" Toru raised an eyebrow in amusement, clearly understanding that this girl was very excited over meeting Tails.

Another nervous laugh, then Tails reached out and very gently took her by the arm. "Here, step this way. I know it doesn't look like it, but there are lots of roots and things under all these plants. It's way too easy to face-plant, and I've done it before. It hurts." He sort of laughed at himself.

She very obviously froze up at the contact before rapidly nodding again and following behind him with no reservation. "I know all about that. I've walked around town before and accidentally tripped over people's feet or my own. Sometimes I accidentally run into things too, like light poles or sometimes even walls-" The girl realized that she was basically outing herself as a clutz and shut her mouth, laughing sheepishly. "Well, uh… Yeah, I'd know…" she summarized.

Smiling, Tails led her fully out of the thicket and began leading her back toward his house. "Oh, um, sorry, but I didn't get your name."

"Oh! I can't even believe myself-" the girl was quick to smile, albeit nervously. "My name is Wery. Kinda like wary, but with an 'e' and not an 'a'."

"My name - my real name, that is - is Miles," he divulged as they walked. "Most people call me Tails because of these," he waved his namesakes a little for emphasis, "but you can call me whichever name, really. I don't mind."

Wery seemed absolutely starstruck for a few moments before nodding again. "I guess I'll stick to Tails. It's how I refer to you normally-" She clammed up, realizing that she almost started rambling again. "Well, uh, like, in conversation when talking about tech and stuff cause I don't know you any other way except now I do-"

Toru sighed. "You're nervous. You should collect yourself a little more."

Seemingly ignoring that, Tails pointed ahead and said to Wery, "That's my house. It's nothing much, just a two bedroom one-room place, but the lab is much better. If I ever have a chance, I'll show it to you, since you apparently like tech." He tossed her an easy smile.

The female fox stumbled over her words, clearly not expecting such an honor before giving a bright smile and a wordless nod. Toru managed a small smile and shook his head. "Tails. How long do you think it'll be before the effects of the forest clear up, once she's inside?"

"No more than a few minutes, if that," Tails answered. "For some people, it's pretty instantaneous."

Toru nodded before walking over and leaning close to Tails. "So… you realize that she's losing herself since she's met you, right? Or, am I just crazy?"

"I… wouldn't say crazy," Tails hedged with a nervous chuckle. He led the way up to the door and opened it up before ushering Wery in. She was quick to move inside at this, already moving to look around as she stepped into the home. Toru followed her, quickly stepping off to the side to observe what happened. Already, this girl was showing far more emotion than he was used to seeing in outsiders, much less a chameleon.

Once they were inside, Tails directed Wery to sit and at the same time asked, "Shadow, do me a favor? Some water might help her, if you don't mind." Shadow wordlessly disappeared into the kitchen. Tails, meanwhile, took a small device off of a nearby table and tossed it to Toru. "Here, this is a teleporter. It's got more than enough power to take you back to the Highlands, if you don't want to stick around anymore. I've got a few things to do before I go back, especially now that I've got to check up on Wery's condition to make sure she's alright."

Toru nodded, glancing over the device before seeming to understand how it worked. "Gotcha. If Shadow's ready to go back, may as well take him with me," he explained, shrugging.

Shadow returned right about then and passed Wery the glass he was carrying as he blandly stated, "I am not hanging around here."

"I didn't figure," Tails laughed. "I know you don't like how cramped it is in here. Go ahead and go with him, I won't be offended." Toru motioned for Shadow to come over, standing up straight. The hedgehog simply walked over without another word. The chameleon then idly waved to the two foxes and used the device to teleport himself and Shadow back to the Highlands.

Wery looked to Tails, setting the glass down and blinking a few times. "So, uh… sorry for getting lost in the forest…" she murmured, glancing away.

"It's no big deal," Tails told her. "It happens." He paused, then asked, "Why were you out there, though? Haven't you ever heard about what it does to people?"

"I uh…" Wery looked at the ground. "I was actually looking for you."

Surprised anew, Tails inquired, "Really? Why?"

"Well, that big attack that happened to the planet…" Wery pulled a few devices off her belt and set them down beside her. "I can't really fight, but I know how to make things, and I was kinda hoping that I could get advice or something so I could make stuff that protects me better."

"That's pretty brave of you," Tails told her. "I'd be more than happy to help, but… we can't spend a lot of time on it right now. See, that attack… it was part of a much larger conflict that my friends and I are involved in, and unfortunately it's not over yet by a long shot. I'll have to return to my friends before too long."

It took her a moment to fully process this before she gasped. "Wait, so there's more coming?"

"We're hoping that more won't be coming here, no," Tails was quick to assure. "Personally, I'm really hoping we'll find a way to keep most of the conflict off the planet. Maybe even take the fight to our enemies, if possible. Though, that may be riskier than it's worth."

"Well, to keep them off the planet a barrier could help, but they'd likely just work their way through it over time…" She entered deep thought, rising to her feet and pacing. "That wouldn't really work to keep them away for a large amount of time, unless you had a serious power supply to keep fueling it."

"Barriers won't be enough," Tails sighed. "The most powerful barriers on this planet were shattered pretty easily by one of our enemy's forces, and nothing I can make compares to those barriers at all. Our best bet is to take ourselves away from this planet, if we can, so that the targets everyone is after aren't… you know. Here."

Wery nodded slowly. "And from there it becomes a matter of how you're going to handle the oncoming threats, especially since they seem so varied in skill and powers, which makes it far harder to make something that handles it all. Sometimes borderline impossible, but… hm," she frowned deeply, grabbing her devices back up and clipping them back to her belt. "I suppose that you'd have to instead focus on multiple things capable of handling the various risks involved."

Shrugging, Tails stood. "Right now, I have to focus on some more specific issues. My ship was destroyed with most of my weapons and other tech in it, so I have to quickly gather what I have left out of my workshop. Or, lab, whatever you wanna call it."

"Oh! Do you want help with that?" Wery asked quickly, turning to him and blinking a few times.

"Sure, if you want to lend a hand," Tails answered with a smile. "I wouldn't object at all."

She nodded. "I'd love to help!"

"Okay," Tails answered easily. "If you're feeling better, then let's go. There's an entrance to it in the house, but it's sort of blocked by boxes on the other side of the door. We'll have to take the outside entrance."

"That sounds fine," Wery answered, smiling brightly. "Let's go." Tails led the way outside without another word and at a slightly quick pace. He really did need to hurry.

~保護者~

After Toru and Shadow had returned to the Highlands, a brief conversation with Aniko led Toru to begin heading toward his home. He had reason to believe his mother could aid in this war, as little as he wanted to drag her into it all. As he traveled, the chameleon found himself wondering what his father would have been doing in this same situation. He ultimately didn't allow himself to think too deeply on that, if only because he arrived home in good time. A light hop was enough to carry him into the building, his gaze falling on the very woman he sought as she sipped tea. "Mother. We need to speak on an urgent matter."

Almost blank eyes turned to him and regarded his words with faint curiosity, but nothing more. "As you wish. Take your seat, and some tea if you desire."

The onyx-colored chameleon obliged, sitting down by her and pouring himself his own tea. "You are aware of the war." This was posed not as a question, but more as a statement or assessment. "We need everyone we can get to be involved in this."

"I am aware."

"Will you help?"

She took another sip of her tea before setting the cup down gently. "No."

Toru froze up for a moment with a frown, his fists curling. "I'm sorry, but what did you say?" he demanded lightly.

"I said that I will not be involved in this war. If it kills me, so be it," she murmured, blinking once at him. "Why do you even care? Is it your battle to wage?"

"There is far more at stake than my own life, your life, or the lives of anyone we care about. This war is about existence itself falling apart."

"Our kind was capable of bringing that manner of destruction and turmoil about at one time. What is so different now? Will a force not rise up to fight it?" she asked, turning more fully to face him.

Toru resisted the urge to stand up, a level of anger flickering into his eyes. "There is a force that is rising to fight it, but they are not yet capable. They need help."

She shook her head at him. "You are fighting a war that does not involve you. Why care?"

"There are people that do not need to die by this that will if we stand idly by and let things occur as they are. The God of Demons is rampant, sending his legions to murder the few that are able to very actively make a change. Another ancient force is here to try and tear apart existence as it is, and now they've taken Espio, awakened his Darkness, and left him in a horrible position where he could turn and kill nearly anyone. Does this not sound like something to be involved in?"

The woman stared at him for a moment before pushing herself to stand. "Pour me another cup of tea. I will retrieve my weapons."

Toru sat, dumbfounded. His mother, Ekai, had always been… emotionally detached, but so skilled at rousing the feelings of others to learn of their intentions. He'd let his guard down and gotten so heated because it was his mother, but… this left him thinking. Is there something else I am beginning to fight for…? Why did I even get so upset to begin with?

~保護者~

"Are you not all so fortunate…?"

Sitting up straight, Silver looked around at everyone around him. The only one who wasn't currently in sight was Espio (who was sitting within a tree in such a way that leaves concealed him), but everyone else was visible. They all looked just as caught off-guard as he was, indicating that he wasn't the only person who had just experienced this. Nevertheless, he asked, "Did… you guys hear that, too?"

No one else had a chance to say anything. That disembodied voice did that for them. "My lady wishes for me to share the future with you all… to use my magic and clairvoyance to show you precisely how much your efforts have helped you."

Suddenly very nervous, Lucas tugged on Sein's arm and whispered, "What's happening?" At the same time, Shadow started carefully scanning the area for any sign of an enemy being present… but there was nothing. No one else in the village even seemed to be aware of anything going on over here.

Sein wrapped an arm around Lucas carefully, pulling him close and frowning. "I don't know, but stay close to me," he murmured softly, glancing around. Espio jumped out of the tree about then, coming to stand protectively beside his sleeping children.

Meanwhile, Shei quickly signed to Aniko, "There is no one physically here. What do we do?"

Aniko stood straight and signaled for him to be patient. "We'll likely find out soon enough who they are, or what they want."

When the voice didn't immediately speak again, Silver turned to face Shadow. "Uh… I don't suppose you're sensing anything the rest of us aren't?"

The darker hedgehog blinked once. "No."

Armaris was fast to return to the group within her Darkness, ready for anything to occur. "This has to be something from somewhere else. Telepathy, or something like that."

Silver pursed his lips together, then took a chance and looked over at Espio. "From what I've been told, didn't… uh, she refer to her leader as 'my lady'?"

Though his eyes narrowed slightly, Espio showed no other outward reaction beyond this. "She did," he confirmed simply.

Sein walked over with Lucas held tightly in his arms, frowning. "Then, it's most likely someone from their Army."

"It seems likely," Silver sighed. "...And, um, why is this person being so quiet now? Should we be worried?"

"Just wait for now," Toru answered. "They don't seem intent on attacking… yet."

Lucas's eyes went wide. "Yet?" he echoed, already terribly frightened. "Are we gonna get hurt?"

"No," Sein answered. "I won't let that happen."

The voice suddenly spoke again. "Some of you have no business being part of this. You can just… leave." Without further warning, there was a brief flash of light. When it vanished, Shei, Espio's kids, Lucas, and Silver, Calypso, Kath, Rose, Cyril, Li, and Novei had all vanished.

Sein's face immediately contorted with anger, clenching his fists. "Where the hell did you send them?" he demanded harshly. Other members of the group reacted with similar intensity, albeit without screaming at a disembodied voice.

Said voice laughed. "They are in no danger right this minute. Worry more about yourselves. You cannot leave. My power will not let you move." Another laugh. "I have little gifts for each of you… but who to start with?" Energy suddenly lifted Sein off of the ground. "How about you, since you have been so unafraid…?"

The hawk gritted his teeth. "Do your worst to me, if you dare," he muttered.

"I will not harm you… physically," the female voice all but purred. "However… I do have some things to show you. Those people you love so dearly, the members of your family who you keep so close to your heart… they have futures. They all do. None of your efforts as of now have changed their fates. Do you wish to see?" Sein's angry frown only grew at this, and he said nothing in response.

She made good on her threat upon seeing that he wouldn't say anything else to her. A vision was forced into his mind, showing at first nothing more than blood on the ground. As the vision cleared, clumps of once pristine white fur could be seen, creating a trail to where Azerel lay lifeless and dead beside his old friend's leg. Kath lay there beside him, practically torn apart and clearly just as dead as the wolf. The two were surrounded by ravenous demons, some with blood still dripping from their teeth and claws as they moved in to feast. But she at least spared him from having to see that part.

Sein fought with his emotions at seeing all of this, wanting to keep any intense concern or fear at the sight of Azerel and Kath so… brutally murdered at bay. "What the hell are you showing this to me for?"

No response came. Instead, she simply forced the next vision into his head. In this one, Alana lay pinned against a cliff face, too badly injured to move much as she fought to push the hulking body that was pinning her in place away from her. Seconds after the start of the vision, however, another demon came and started tearing her apart just as had happened with Kath. The vision ended just in time to see the Sein within the vision come and kill the demon… but by then it was too late.

The hawk's muscles tensed and he fought a few tears back, shaking his head. "Tell me!" he shouted, now beginning to actively try and resist whatever was happening. There was no way that letting it happen was good, that much he could tell.

This time, the voice deigned to answer him. She didn't actually answer the question, however. "Now, how about that precious son of yours…? Do you wish to know what becomes of him, too?"

"What do you want?" he demanded, aura flaring around him angrily.

She forced one last vision upon him. This time, it showed Jet laying on the remains of some large rock floating within the depths of space. He was motionless, his normally white cloak torn asunder and stained deep crimson. His eyes were open but unfocused and unseeing as a battle raged around him, one that kept all his friends and allies so preoccupied that they didn't even seem to realize what had happened. Then the vision ended.

Once more, Sein fought to keep himself under control after being shown this vision, his muscles tensing as he closed his eyes. "Who the hell do you think you are?" he muttered. With no response forthcoming, the unseen person simply threw him aside. The hawk landed neatly, but ultimately dropped to his knees as he tried to keep himself from losing himself to his emotions.

Armaris was grabbed next and left hovering in the air just as Sein had been. Unlike before, she made it so her voice could only be heard by her current intended victim as opposed to by the whole group. It was a pattern she would continue from here on. "Your turn… kitten."

"Don't fucking call me that, bastard," Armaris muttered already bracing herself for whatever was to come.

The vision forced into Armaris's mind was dark at first. Hardly anything could be made out through what seemed to be a thick, black fog that felt impenetrable. It slowly cleared and the sight became clear. Ylden sat on his knees, eyes obviously demonic. And just like that, it was over.

Once finished with her, their mysterious attacker threw Armaris aside, just as she had done with Sein before. She grabbed Shadow next and began forcibly sharing a vision with him as well.

The vision Shadow was shown was deceptively simple. His father, adoptive mother, brother, and nephew lay on the ground around him, all dead... and he got the distinct sense that the impossibly catastrophic battle raging in the background was to blame. He hadn't been in time to save any of them, and the force that had ended their lives was now racing toward him. Rendered numb by his discovery, he lacked the strength to dodge and the final blow was struck.

Once he was cast aside, slamming forcefully back-first into a tree, Aniko was grabbed and hoisted up into the air. Unlike with Shadow, she was actually spoken to. "You… you were trickier to understand. The things you fear… are not so apparent to the untrained eye. But I believe I have a gift that can change your little attitude just fine." Aniko frowned deeply and narrowed her eyes, unmoving and wordless. The voice continued. "I have two snippets of the future to show you. The first is a certainty if things continue on their current path. The other… let us call it a delightful possibility. And your boy is at the heart of it all." Aniko only frowned deeper, practically glaring at this point.

The first vision was shoved into her mind without further ado. It was brief and simple, but what it showed was nothing less than horrifying. Espio had Armaris pinned against a tree with a dagger buried deeply in her profusely bleeding throat, eyes golden in color as he watched the life fleeing from her eyes. Leaning closer, he muttered something to her that she was unable to reply to. He then twisted the dagger, reveling in her final pain, before he ripped it free and kicked her body away without remorse just as the vision ended.

Aniko tensed momentarily, but she ultimately continued to say nothing. Despite how this worried her, how much it made her fear for Espio's future, she refused to give any sort of satisfaction from her reaction. Seeming unperturbed by this, her attacker simply continued on to the next vision she had in store.

In this vision, Espio could only be seen for a very brief moment in time. His eyes glowed from within, clearly demonic, as he sat on the God's throne, clearly deep in thought over something. There was nothing more than that to be seen, but the implications were enough.

Yet still, Aniko remained wordless and now she had concealed her emotions, the only thing she allowed to show being mild discontent. She was thrown away without a care. The woman grabbed Espio next, almost seeming to grin as she warned, "Your turn."

Voice low, Espio defiantly muttered, "Piss off."

The woman let out yet another laugh. "I think not. You see, I have such fortuitous news to share with you. While your friends' futures are rather miserable, your future is quite the opposite. I daresay it is perfect for you."

She hoisted him up higher into the air and turned him around so that he was forced to see all the people down below. In that same instant, he suddenly saw the village lying in ruin, littered with the bodies of its every inhabitant, no matter how young. He stood in the midst of it, covered in blood and visibly lacking any remorse. His eyes spied a lone survivor, an older child of maybe thirteen or so. Eyes cold, he stalked over and ended them with a single stroke of his sword.

As he fought to force this image out of his head, she murmured practically in his ear, "Now focus on your little friends. I know you can see it... the great many ways you might one day take each of their lives, and the lives of all the others who are not here." Closing his eyes, as it turned out, did nothing to make the visions cease. They remained as vivid as ever, in spite of his efforts to block them out. "And then there are all the weak little lives that populate this planet... They would be so easy for you to destroy. But I know you and how you work. I know what it is that you truly desire."

"You know nothing," Espio snapped.

"I do," she all but purred. "You enjoy a challenge. A battle where your skills are truly put to the test and your own safety is on the line... you crave such experiences. It is only natural that you do. And so many of your allies would provide you with the very challenge you seek. Who knows, perhaps even a select few of the planet's other residents can do the same."

She forced more visions into his head, more visions of bloodshed and inflicting suffering on all manner of people. Some he knew, some he didn't, but there was no escaping that fact that it never seemed to matter. Throughout each vision and even after they ended, he simply couldn't shake the feeling that he had... enjoyed the killing. All of it. Every second of it. He strove to banish the thought, however, much to her apparent amusement.

"How much longer will you continue to resist yourself, I wonder? You have been entertaining these thoughts on your own, Espio, for some time now. All I did was reveal the variety of ways that you can cause your ideas to come to fruition. Is accepting your power and letting yourself finally kill not what you truly want?" She let out one final laugh. "I recommend you think on that."

He was thrown onto the ground and, finally, Toru was taken and lifted up. This time, the woman sounded more… puzzled. "You… I am unsure as to why you are to be included in this group. Perhaps my lady sees you as a growing threat?"

"You're damn right I'm a threat," Toru answered easily, crossing his arms. "Have fun fucking with me, since that's what you seem to be enjoying."

She suddenly flipped him around so that he was dangling in the air by a foot like a ragdoll. "You do not feel worth my time… I refuse to waste energy on one such as yourself. But I will say this much. Your little interest… I do not foresee a long, happy life for him. In fact, I suspect he will be gone soon, perhaps even very soon. Consider this my only warning for you."

"Watch and see. I know enough about this to understand that what you've shown us isn't set in stone. I will fuck this over for you, and we will get revenge for your little mind games," Toru answered, despite his situation.

"But will your efforts be enough to change their fates?" she coolly challenged. "Or will your actions only seal them? That is something you must consider when toying with the future."

"You're trying a little too hard for my liking to mess with me. If you're done here, get lost and give us the others back."

The voice only laughed and gave him a little upward toss. When he started to fall back down, he was snagged by the tail… which was an extremely sensitive appendage for a chameleon. "You are an interesting one. That you bear even the vaguest interest in the son of our enemy makes you… more so."

"Yeah, yeah," Toru sighed, wincing deeply at being snagged by the tail. "You're not the first to call me interesting and definitely won't be the last. I'll say it once more. Bring the rest of our group back."

With one last toss, the mysterious woman batted him aside like a ball and then seemed to finally disappear. Just like that, whatever force had been holding everyone mostly still faded away. Toru landed on his feet, rolling to save himself from any injury (no matter how mild), and quickly moved back to the others. Espio was close by, and he picked himself up before helping Aniko to her feet (since she was right beside him). A good ten feet away or so, Shadow stood as well. Armaris had maneuvered herself into Espio's shadow for the time being as opposed to joining them all physically.

Sein hit his fist against the ground angrily, throwing himself to his feet. "Damn them," he snapped at nobody in particular. We have to find the others if they don't get brought back. Don't focus on what was shown, only on the present. As if on cue, the rest of the group was transported back to them, with most of them landing in an uncomfortable pile. Thankfully, the children wound up on top of the pile. Sein was quick to rush over and collect Lucas carefully into his arms, holding the young boy tightly and close to his body. "I'm so sorry that they took you… Are you okay?"

The young boy nodded slowly, plainly confused but somehow not scared. "Uh-huh…"

Wincing, Shei carefully sat himself up so that the children were in his arms. Espio was, understandably, very quick to take them, leaving his father free to sign. "What happened here?" he demanded.

Sein answered, gritting his teeth. "That person used their clairvoyance and magic to show us visions of things that could happen in the future…"

Seeing the state that this had obviously left everyone in, Silver was quick to ask, "We're okay, but are you guys?"

Toru chose this moment to walk up, arms crossed. "I'm fine. The others are upset, understandably, because they were likely shown something intended to bring them anguish. She refused to 'waste time' on me, though."

Upon hearing all of this, Silver jumped to his feet. "Wait, seriously? You can do that with clairvoyance?"

"Apparently," Shadow muttered.

Sein sighed. "I… fuck," he muttered under his breath. "What they showed me was absolutely awful. I can't even talk about it…"

"Is this stuff… anything that can be changed?" Silver asked him. "I mean, visions of the future are never concrete, right? Any little thing can change the future, and all that?"

Toru nodded. "Absolutely. We can affect the future with our choices, which is what I intend to do. They're not getting away with this."

"What happened?" Lucas asked Sein, looking up at him. "I don't understand."

"Someone used their powers to show us things that would upset us, stuff that could happen in the future if we don't do something," Sein explained softly. "They want us hurting so that we can't stop them as easily."

After a short and confused pause, Lucas sat up straight and demanded, "Is daddy okay, too?"

"He'll be perfectly fine. They seem to have only gone after the people here," Sein answered with a smile.

"Um… what do we do, exactly?" Silver piped up. He looked around. "...Any ideas, Uncle Shads?"

"I seem to recall asking you not to call me that," was all Shadow said in response. He picked a bit of tree bark out of his fur.

Toru sighed softly, glancing over the rest of the group. "We need to figure out what everyone was shown so that we know what to even watch out for," he answered, crossing his arms. "But that means we'll have to hear what you guys saw." He gazed at Sein, Shadow, and Aniko in particular, but still let his attention fall on Espio and Armaris as well. "Espio, do you think you can sit with the cat for a few minutes while we get everything moving?" Since she was in his freaking shadow, Espio simply glanced down at it and then silently took a seat. The onyx chameleon then turned to the others, specifically Sein. "Any kids that don't need to be subject to this probably shouldn't be nearby. I don't want them to hear it."

Sein nodded slowly, turning his attention back to Lucas. "I'll need you to not try and listen in on what we're talking about, okay? I know you're probably really curious, but I don't want you upset."

Shei walked over and signed to him, "I will take the smaller children elsewhere. He should come with."

The older hawk nodded. "Thank you. If you need me for anything, let me know." He gently ushered Lucas along to follow Shei for now, a frown on his face. Shei simply nodded, collected Sako and his newfound sister from Espio, and then left with the three of them.

Toru glanced over everyone once more before letting his gaze fall on Sein. "If you don't mind, I'd like you to speak first. They seemed to have really gotten under your skin, so talking about it may help in more than one regard."

Sein began to nod, understanding the intention behind what Toru said. "What they showed me was the future of the people I love the most. Kath and Azerel, his wolf companion, were both… brutally murdered and the demons were going to eat them. I… didn't see that part, but then they showed Alana pinned against a wall by another demon. I didn't make it in time to save her from that, and…" he lowered his gaze, placing his face in his hands. "Jet… he was dead as well. Nobody noticed… or they were too busy with a battle going on at the time. It was awful." Though some people were visibly in shock over this news, no one spoke for now. They were courteous enough to hold their tongues and spare him any further questioning.

The onyx chameleon was silent, setting a hand on his shoulder and staying there for a moment. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Just for now, we need you present here so we know what's going on. I don't wanna be rude, but can you hold yourself together just until we're all done talking?" Sein gave a wordless nod, something that certainly concerned Toru. Though, it wasn't enough to make him stop. He then glanced to Aniko, a frown on his face. "What were you shown?"

Aniko's eyes clouded with some sort of emotion that obviously left her hesitating. However, she ultimately made the choice to speak, gulping softly. "I was shown… two visions of Espio. One was… him, sitting on the throne of the God of Demons. He was clearly a demon, but I didn't see anything else in the vision."

Toru noticed that the woman obviously didn't want to say the other vision, leaving him to sigh. "Aniko," he murmured, frowning still. "Tell us the other one."

"Espio attacked Armaris," she hesitantly explained. "He killed her, and simply tossed her away after." As she had expected, she felt Armaris's aura change in many painfully negative ways. Espio subtly scowled and turned his head away, immediately making a concerted effort to tune this all out.

Now Toru understood why she had hesitated so much, slowly nodding before glancing to Espio and making the realization that he was trying to tune this out. "I hate to drag you into this after hearing that, but what were you shown?"

Rather than speaking, Espio made a quick one-handed sign that basically meant, "Nothing." He gave no further reply.

"Alright." Toru expected this, but he certainly wasn't pleased by it. He turned to Shadow hesitantly, crossing his arms. "What about you?"

Shadow was quiet for a moment or two, but surprisingly relented. Although, he didn't go into any great detail. "My family was killed. That was all I saw."

Now came the last person he wanted to drag into this, Armaris. He could tell she was upset by how her Darkness threatened to explode outward or do something. The fact that she was containing it impressed him somewhat, but this wasn't the time. "Armaris. Would you mind telling us what you saw?"

A choked voice emanated from Espio's shadow, her eyes briefly visible. "They corrupted my father. He was turned into a demon."

Toru nodded gently, slowly moving to sit down and begin thinking. This seems to happen when everyone ends up alone or somehow separated. The refusal to attack me leaves me to believe that this was all meant to unnerve the group, which makes me wonder how high the chances are that these futures occur. As it stands, though, sitting and doing nothing makes it far worse and letting them suffer through despair over the possibilities only increases the chances that these futures do occur. He lifted his head and looked to the others. "I'm not going to give a motivational speech, but those fuckers won't decide what happens. Whatever they showed us, we'll stop it from happening."

Finally, someone who wasn't directly involved spoke up. It happened to be Silver. "Without knowing what series of events lead up to all of this, though… there's virtually nothing we can do to purposefully avoid any of these visions becoming reality."

"So we just need to do the opposite of what they want us to do," Toru answered. "They showed this to us for a reason, the same reason she didn't bother wasting time on showing anything to me. They want to get into our heads, so we can't let them control us that way."

"Easier said than done," Silver sighed. "All of this is pretty demoralizing, if you ask me."

The chameleon nodded. "I understand that. It's going to fucking suck, knowing that these things could happen. But if we just sit idly and let them have their way, it's surely going to go how they want it. We have to try, if nothing else."

Calypso suddenly strode over the group from where she had been hanging around by the fringes of their small camp and said, "We have had plenty o' time to rest. T'ings not gonn stay quiet much longer. Now time to prepare. T'at all there is to it." She directed her focus to Aniko. "You be in charge of your people now, eh? T'ey be gat'erin' all around here. It time to take charge and prepare t'em for combat."

Li piped in. "Which means that I've gotta get moving and get to a forge so we can get them all ready, which I am more than ready to do despite the injury to my hand. Just say the word, and I'll get to it as fast as possible."

Hearing this, Shadow took Tails's teleporter from Toru and tossed it to Li. "That has ample power to get you to A'latria. Jet's forge is there." He fumbled with it for a moment, accidentally having tried to catch it with his aforementioned injured hand.

Aniko took a breath and nodded. "Go, wolf. I rely on results from you for the preparations. I will begin fully mobilizing my people and get them ready for this war," she murmured, pushing herself to stand. Li nodded and teleported away with Novei using the device.

Walking back to where she had been, Calypso grabbed Kath by the wrist and yanked him to his feet, effectively startling him out of his thoughts. "You go to Babylon, make sure t'e queen and her forces be mobilizin' also. We not able to win this war out t'em."

Kath crossed his arms, but nodded. "Fine." He disappeared without another word.

Sein pushed himself to stand again. "For now, I need to stay here and watch over things. I'll be going back to Babylon when they need my help, though, which is soon."

Calypso rounded on him with sudden intensity. "No, you go now. T'e time be approachin' faster t'an you realize. You go now."

The hawk turned to her, frowning. "I'm going to say bye to Lucas first. I'm not dragging him into this bullshit, but he deserves to know that I'm going."

"No. He stay wit' me. He no see his fat'er like t'at. He be safer here." She waved him off. "Say your goodbye." Sein nodded and vanished quickly, intentions obvious from this point on. After that, she turned to Silver. "When he leave, you go wit' him. Your mental power may be needed." With a mumbled agreement, Silver rushed after the hawk.

Rose walked up to Calypso, a soft frown on her face. "Is there anything you would like for me to do as of now?"

With a meaningful glance toward Espio and Armaris, Calypso almost seemed to sigh. "Stay wit' t'em. T'ey be volatile, and so be t'eir emotions. Early intervention may keep t'em in control if somet'ing start to happen. You t'e only one here who can help."

The cat gave a gentle nod and smiled. "Thank you." Without another word, she walked over toward Espio and Armaris, sitting by them with a few feet separating the being of Light from the pair.

Once she was settled, Calypso shifted her focus onto Shadow. "You have business elsewhere, eh?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow. "It be important, too. Go deal wit' it. I keep watch here until others return."

Shadow's ear flicked and he pushed off the tree he had been leaning against with a simple nod and went to go retrieve his guns from where he had set them down. Toru glanced to Calypso, raising an eyebrow. "Do you need me to do anything in particular?"

She gave him a peculiar sort of knowing look and shook her head. "No," she answered with a slightly meaningful glance toward Shadow. "Go where you want."

Toru rolled his eyes at her and moved to follow Shadow, crossing his arms. "So, where are you heading to?"

Crimson eyes glanced his way, then shadow answered, "A military base to the south. I need to check up on it and the people who are there."

"Mind if I come along?"

After a very brief pause, Shadow admitted, "No." He finished checking over his guns and grabbed the tiny portable teleporter he kept that specifically only transported him to the base in question. Then, since there was no other option to take Toru along, he briefly grabbed Toru's shoulder before pressing the button to take them away.

"So, first thing I'll say is that I understand little of everything I'm looking at," Toru admitted, his gaze shifting around to view his surroundings.

"That is irrelevant," Shadow answered, tucking his device away as he started to walk down a corridor. "You are unlikely to encounter technology very similar to this beyond these walls."

Toru nodded slowly, moving after the hedgehog without much hesitation. "Is it that advanced?"

"In a manner of speaking. The reason lies more with the fact that there are no other modern militaristic establishments on the planet. This is the only one, so tech like this remains here and only here."

The chameleon nodded again slowly. "Gotcha. Sounds about right, considering what I've seen." With a simple nod, Shadow led the way through the base to where he needed to be. So much had to be done...

~保護者~

7,904 words this time. Hope you all enjoyed, and many thanks as always to Blazing Winds for all of his help and support. Posted (at about 11:20 a.m.) 06-06-20.