At Gizoid Base Wave was watching Slinger board the Hurst. Slinger then entered Sonic's cabin where he was meditating "You wanted to speak with me?" "I've got something to show you". Slinger sat down opposite "What's this about?". Sonic then held out the darksaber, "A lightsaber?" "Not just any lightsaber". He ignited it and the sight of the blade shocked Slinger "It can't be" "So you recognise it?" "That I do. It is the darksaber a symbol for the leader of the House Lion and later the group known as the Diamond Cutters". Sonic handed it to him "I didn't know Wispons developed a type of lightsaber" "We didn't. This was one of a kind. Legend tells that it was created a thousand years ago by Kodos, the first Wispon ever inducted into the Shinobi Order. After his passing, the Shinobi kept the saber in their Temple. That was, until members of House Lion snuck in and liberated it. They used the saber to unify the people and strike down those who would oppose them. One time, they ruled all of Planet Wisp wielding this blade. This saber is an important symbol to that house and respected by the other clans. I imagine Wave was excited to recover it". Sonic chuckled "You wouldn't know it. After we got back to Beryl, she gave it to me for safekeeping and hasn't brought it up since". Slinger sighed in understanding "She doesn't want the responsibility". He stood up "Sonic, if Wave can wield this saber, she can reunite one of the most powerful houses in all of Planet Wisp" "You're talking about raising an army" "With Wave leading it".
Wave was sitting on her bed looking worried when G-merl entered and beeped "Who all is there?". G-merl beeped again, Wave sighed "Everybody, huh?". She walked past G-merl, petting his head as she did, and she entered the common room where the others were waiting. She turned stoic "I won't do it" "So you do know what the darksaber is" Slinger said. "I know it caused my family nothing but trouble after Scourge took it" Wave responded. Slinger stepped closer to her "Scourge used it to divide and conquer our people. You can wield it to do the opposite" "Wield it? You're crazy. Sonic, tell him he's crazy". Sonic sighed "Consider what he has to say" "What?" "I don't think it's a coincidence this saber came into your possession. You may not be a Shinobi, but you can learn to be proficient with the blade". Wave rolled her eyes "I am proficient, with many types of blades and blasters and explosives, but that is a lightsaber" "The combat training is not as important as what blade represents" Slinger told her. Wave sighed "Right, right, you want me to lead my Clan. I don't know if you realize this but I'm not that popular with my family these days" "That can change" "No, it can't! You don't know what you're talking about". Slinger stood right in front of her "I know that family is important to you just like it is to all Wispons". Wave pushed him back "I have a family, here, on this ship. I don't need them" "But we do" Sally said. Wave turned to her "If there's a chance that you can rally an army of Wispon warriors to our cause. I have to ask you to do it" "Sally" "Family history can be painful. Believe me, I know. But we can use those warriors for our attack on Emerald Hill". Sonic nodded "Sally's right. We need to ask you to do this, but that doesn't mean you have to". He held out the darksaber "You can walk away and forget about it". Wave stared at the saber before sighing "Alright. I'll do it. Just give the saber". She took it but Sonic didn't let go "Listen. Once people know you have it, you will be challenged. You need to be able to defend yourself" "Okay, I'll try my best". Tails smirked "First lesson, don't try. Just learn" "Do you want me to use it on you" Wave said only half joking. Sonic still didn't let go "Wave"; Wave stared at him for a moment before "Okay". Sonic released the saber and Wave held it up before igniting it".
Wave, Sonic and Tails was in a speeder travelling away form the base "Hey, why can't we just practice back at the base?" "It's better out here. Fewer distractions. Keeps your mind focused" "And it's safer for everyone else. You'll do less damage" Tails joked. "I'll damage you if you don't shut up" Wave told him angrily. They arrived at a flat piece of land and they began unloading survival gear. Wave and Tails carried a heavy box "You know when Sonic said he'd trained me I thought sword fighting would be involved" "Don't worry. He was the same with me". Sonic walked past them "Yeah, look how well you've turned out" "Is he serious?" Wave asked. Tails shrugged "I can never tell". Sonic came back holding two sticks "We should get started. Wave stood up "Uh, try not to sound so excited". Sonic threw her a stick much to her confusing "Hey, what's this?" "Training saber" "It's a stick". Sonic moved to a clear area "Before we start with the real thing, I want to see your technique" "I already know how to fight with a stick" "Then this should be easy for you". Tails watched as Wave took a stance and charged forward. Sonic easily dodged her attacks and pushed her back with the Force "OH!" Tails said mockingly as Wave landed on her back. Sonic walked up to her "That might work on a stormtrooper but not me". Wave got back up, but Sonic grabbed her wrist, kicked her in the stomach and put the stick to her neck "And that's your head. Every mistake is a limb lost. The blade is never at rest". Wave stood up "Okay, let's go again" "No. You better practice with Tails first" he threw Tails the training saber. Wave looked angry "Why" "Tails, teach her the forms". Wave stared at him "Sonic" he ignored her and walked away. Tails took a starting position and Wave reluctantly copied.
This went on for days until the two were completely in sync. Sonic was watching when her commlink activated "I read you, Sally" "It's been a couple of days. I wanted to see how things are going" "Ugh, slowly. Tails' still taking her through the basic forms with the training sabres". Sonic could tell Sally was rolling her eyes "Training sabres. You mean those sticks you and Tex made?" "I'm being careful" "Were you careful with Tails? I don't remember him fighting with a stick". Sonic sighed "Well, maybe I'm trying to do things differently this time" "Or maybe because she doesn't have the Force you don't believe she can do this". Sonic shook his head "No. The Force resides in all living things. But you have to be open to it. Wave is blocked. Her mind is conflicted. She's so expressive and yet so tightly wound. She's so…" "Wispon". Sonic sighed "Very" "I'll be sending out supplies. Is there anything that you need?" "Patience, understanding". He heard a slight snigger "I'll see what I can do".
Later Sonic was watching Wave and Tails fight "That's not gonna work" "Working so far" Wave said as she continued her fight. Tails smiled "I think you're doing well" "Opinion noted". Slinger then landed next to Sonic and dropped some crates "I've got your supplies". Wave tried a strong strike, but Tails dodged and knocked her to the ground. Slinger crossed his arms "You're overcommitted" "Oh good. Anyone else have an opinion they want to share?" "Let's take a break" Sonic said. Wave threw here training saber to the ground in frustration. Sonic ignored it "Tails, hep unload the crates". Slinger picked up a box and handed it to Wave "Word is, it's been tough going. I brought you something since your partially in this mess on my recommendation". Wave raised her eyebrows "I'm sorry. Partially? How about completely?" "To make up for that, you can have these". He opened the box revealing multiple prism shaped crystals and a pair of wrist wrings "Whoa, prisms. Where did you get these?". She took them out as Slinger looked pleased with himself "Ricochets and power boosts. The rings have a weaker version of the Ivory whip. Designed to combat the abilities to the Shinobi. Go take the fox down a peg or two".
Wave smiled and thanked Slinger before picking up the training saber. She walked over to Tails who saw the prisms "What're those?" "More than you can handle" "Oh, yeah? Well, maybe I won't go easy on you this time". The two fought again but Wave then hit one of the prisms against the ground and threw it at Tails. It created a shockwave pushing him back. She then charged forward and hit Tails in the stomach before knocking him to the ground "And that's your head". Tails' stood up "No, that's my pride. Where'd you get those" "Special delivery". Slinger chuckled but Sonic stepped forward "Hey! Is this a game to you?" "No game, just outsmarting my opponent. Care to take a shot!". She fired an electric rope from her wrist that wrapped around Sonic. He calmly cut through it, pulled Wave towards him and put his lightsaber to her throat "History lesson. The Shinobi won the war with Planet Wisp. These tricks will amount to something maybe save you from time to time, but they won't keep you alive in the wrong room. Only training and discipline will do that". Wave stood up and walked away "The only thing I'm learning is that Tails must be really gifted to learn as well as he has from a lousy teacher like you". She walked into the forest to be alone, she sat down near a tree and watched the sun "Hey". Wave sighed "Not now, Tails" "Look… I just wanted to say I know what it's like. Believe me, Sonic's not the easiest teacher to have but… he means well". Wave scoffed "Does he? Do any of them? I know how to fight. I believe I can learn to use that sword. I just don't want everything that comes with it" "You mean your family?". Wave lowered her head "I'm a disgrace to them, Tails. A traitor" "But that's not true" "To them it is. You don't know. No one does. I don't want to talk about these things! How can I lead my people? How can I go back there and face them?". Tails sighed "I'm sorry, Wave" he walked away but quicky glanced back "At least you have parents to go back to". He walked away as Wave watched him looking guilty "Tails, I…" she kicked a tree in frustration before going in a different direction. As she left the tree morphed in Ixis who watched her.
Sonic was speaking to a hologram of Sally "Teaching Tails wasn't easy, but you did it well". Sonic sighed "Not always. I've let him down" "Teachers make mistakes. I'm sure you'll find a way to get through to Wave" "It was different with Tails though. He was eager, I was the one holding back". Sally crossed her arms "And that's not what you're doing now?" "No" "And yet, you still won't let her train with the darksaber". Sonic shook his head "Look, Wave is a capable warrior. In some ways, more so than Tails, but she can't or won't find balance within herself. Until she does, wielding an actual lightsaber". Sally shook her head "By letting her pretend with that stick you're only encouraging her not to commit to this". Sonic sighed in frustration "You're not listening to me. If I let her use the darksaber, she will get hurt". Sally was now getting angry "She's already hurt. Her family hurt her more than any sword could. You don't see it because she doesn't want you to" "But you can?" "Because I know what it's like when people you love don't believe in you. When they let you walk away. Remember how hard it was for her to trust us". Sonic sighed "What do you want me to do?" "Give her the sword. Let her own it and who she it. Help Wave face her demons" "I don't know, Sal". Sally nodded "I know you don't. But this isn't about you".
That night Sonic was meditating in front of his lightsaber. Tails and Slinger sat at a heater watching him "I didn't think she'd be gone this long" "She'll return and then we'll see". They both took a drink "I know she can do it, but it just seems like Sonic is asking her to learn everything at once. She just needs more time" "Time is a luxury; one the galaxy seems to be running out of". They then saw Wave "She's back". She walked over to Sonic who removed his mask and hood "I owe you an apology" "I can say the same". Sonic stood up and held out the darksaber, but Wave looked apprehensive "Uh, maybe I should practice more first" "Taki it. It's yours". She did and ignited it "Whoa. It's heavier than I thought" "Energy constantly flows through the crystal. You're not fighting with a simple blade as much as you are directing a current of power. Your thought, your actions, they become energy. They flow through the crystal and become part of the blade". Sonic ignited his "The blades will be drawn to each other. Block high!". He tried to strike but she blocked it and they were in a saber lock "There's pull. Can you feel it? That sword is old, heavy, but powerful. Respect its strength. Block low!". They kept going "High… Middle…. High…. Low… Middle… Good. Let's work on a series. Are you ready?". Wave stepped back "Yes" "Remember the forms Tails taught you. Take ready position. We'll start slow".
He stepped forward "One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Six". Wave managed to block the attacks. "Okay. Faster. One, two, three, four, five, six". He repeated and Wave was able to keep up. Sonic sped up until knocking Wave on her back, "You're making it easy on me. Ready position. One, two, three, four, five, six". Wave smirked "The blade feels lighter" "You're connecting with it. It's becoming a part of you". Wave tried to strike but Sonic pushed her away "But you cannot rely solely on the blade. You must use all your skills together. Ready position". Sonic immediately hit the saber out of her hand "You'll have to do better". Wave used her wrist whip to pull the saber back, she again tried to strike Sonic, but he tripped her up with the blade damaging one of her rings. Sonic stood over her "You're not fighting me; you're fighting yourself and losing". Wave grunted and tried to attack him, but he dodged it "You're not committed to this. You should quit" "I don't quit. I never quit!". Sonic continued to dodge "Really? That's not what it looks like". Sonic kept pushing her back "You did run, didn't you!?" "No!" "But that's what your people believe isn't it?". Wave growled and kept trying to hit Sonic "You ran from the Empire. You ran from your family" "Lies!" "So, what's the truth!?".
They were in a saber lock and Wave lowered her head in shame "The truth… is that… I left to save everyone. My mother, my father, my brother!". She started angrily hitting Sonic forcing him to back up "Everything I did was for family… for Planet Wisp! I built weapons, terrible weapons. Then… then the Empire used them on Planet Wisp. On friends, on family. People that I knew. They controlled us through fear". She scoffed "Planet Wisp. Fear of weapons I helped create. I helped enslave my people. I wanted to stop it. I had to stop it. I spoke out! I spoke out to save them. To save everyone!". She kicked Sonic down and held the saber over him "But when I did. My family didn't stand with me. They chose the Empire. They left me. Gave me no choice". Tears formed in her eyes "The Empire wanted to destroy worlds. And they did". She fell to her knees. They destroyed mine". She started to cry, Sonic sat up and put his hand on his shoulder "The Empire rules with fear. And not everyone can be as strong as you've been. Your family is in a prison of their own making. It's up to you to help them out of it". Wave stared at him before standing up "But how? Why… Why would they believe me Why would they follow me?". Slinger got up and walked towards them "I know this might not be what you want to hear. But for what it's worth I would follow you". He kneeled down, "So would I" Tails said before kneeling as well. Sonic smiled "You've come a long way in a very short time. Where you go from here is up to you. But know, this family will stand by you no matter what you choose". He kneeled as well as Wave stared at the darksaber.