Shadow: Hey, you managed to update on time.

Trinity: Yeah, I had my document prepared before hand for this.

Tails: Oh good, you thought ahead this time.

Trinity: You say that as if I didn't try to update my onther story on time...

Tails: You didn't.

Trinity: Lies!

Shadow: You didn't? You're a bad author...ess.

Trinity: Nun-uh! I'm a good girl! Honest!

Shadow: No one believes you.

I own none of the Sega characters! Honest!


Chapter 3– Bandits

For the next three days, Tails worked extra hard on making a permanent ring for Shadow. When he wasn't sleeping, Shadow was meditating. After a disastrous attempt at helping, Shadow tried not to disturb Tails' work, or make his things go bonkers. So he spent his waking hours outside, next to a mysterious lake. It was here that Tails found Shadow meditating on the forth day.

"It's finished!" He announced, landing next to Shadow. Shadow opened one eye and glanced at the kit. "And boy, let me tell you how hard it was! I sure am glad that I studied the properties of your bracelets back then, because if I hadn't, I might not have ever gotten you to wake up in the first place!"

"Kid?"

"I mean, yeah, I could have just done all the studies when I found you, but those reactions would have happened and then I wouldn't know what to do! And then there's the fact that this material is hard to come by. It's not like the rings themselves suppress your powers."

"Kid!"

"You're energy just somehow fuses with the material that the rings are made up of and then, you yourself gain control over it. So the rings aren't suppressing the energy, it's-"

"MILES PROWER!"

"Eep!"

"I know all of this already," Shadow said with a sigh. "Just, give me the ring."

"Well, I was kinda hoping to wait until you were asleep to transfer the ring. I mean, I would have to take off the temporary one, and it would be useless if you destroyed yourself."

"Then why did you bother me?" Shadow growled.

"Fine, don't be happy for me." Tails said, sticking out his tongue. "I'll just toss it into the lake!"

"Then I'd just-"

"You can't use Chaos Control! You'd risk using too much energy and blowing yourself up!" Tails said triumphantly.

"…throw you in to go get it for me."

"Er…I wouldn't…rats."

"I win." Shadow said with a chuckle. He caught a glimpse of gold. "Is that it?"

Tails held out his hand, and Shadow took the ring. It was rather different from the simple loop he had on. In his palm, there was a golden cylinder that was half the length of his ear. There was a clasp for the piercing with a thin opening running the length so it would fit snugly on his ear.

"You like?" Tails asked, watching the expressionless face of Shadow. Shadow looked from the ring to the two-tailed kit.

"I like a lot. Good job," he said with a small smile. Tails beamed.

"So! Do you want it now or latter?"

Shadow closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. Tails was about to intervene, when Shadow reached up and quickly removed the temporary ring. Tails' fur stood on end as the air was charged suddenly with Chaos energy. He watched, frozen with battered breath, as Shadow planted the new ring onto his ear. He didn't move again until Shadow opened his eyes and grinned at the kit.

"Let's head bock for now," He said with a little smirk.

"Huh?" Tails said, breathing normally again. "Why would you want to back?"

"I'm hungry."

"Again?! What's up with that? You use to never eat anything. You didn't need to. And now you eat like Sonic."

"Shut up and feed me."

"Fine, fine. I'll make you some soup or something," Tails said, heading toward his workshop. "It's not like I have anymore food anyways."

"Sorry."

"No you're not."

"You're right, I'm not," Shadow said with a smirk. His smile faded and he sniffed the air. "Tails, hurry," He said, breaking into a run.

"What?"

"I smell smoke!"

Tails' eyes widened. Spinning his tails, he gained altitude and went straight up through the branches. When he cleared the leaves, he could see the smoke rising between the hill tops, where he was sure his workshop was.

He took off, flying right above Shadow with his toes skimming the tree tops below. By the time they arrived, his entire workshop was engulfed in flames. The frame had weakened from the heat and the whole structure was ready to collapse. Tails stood and stared while his third home was destroyed before his eyes.

"Why, look-y here!"

An amused, gruff voice reached Tails' and Shadow's ears. Shadow spun around to stare at a pack of dirty mountain bandits. Standing in front was a short boar, one that was so fat, his shirt looked ready to rip across his stomach. He was the filthiest of all, and Shadow wondered how he didn't smell the filthy leader before he saw him. Next to him was a scrawny lizard, just as filthy, wearing rags that barely clung to his frame. More and more bandits appeared, snickering and sneering, to surround Shadow and Tails in a circle.

"I do believe we found the owner of this lovely estate!" The boar said in his gruff voice, his tone rude and mocking. "Let's give these little city boys a mountain bandit hello!"

Shadow stood coolly watching the rams and lizards surround him. He was on his guard for any underhand tricks, but he wasn't too worried. He could take out the entire mob without much effort after all. He was more worried about the kit next to him. He hadn't even responded to the voice of the leader or the villains closing in around him. His big blue eyes were watching his home burn, watch his hobby and only paying job crumble under the collapsing walls.

"Which one of you did it?"

Shadow heard Tails' whispered question. Shadow was surprised to hear the kit's voice laced with venom. He was sure that none of the bandits could hear him over their laughter. He glanced nervously at the kit, sure he was going to do something stupid in his rage. The kit had his eyes squeezed shut, his head bowed. He looked ready to cry.

"WHICH ONE OF YOU DID IT? WHICH ONE OF YOU BURNED MY HOUSE?" Tails roared at the crowd. "ANSWER ME!"

Several bandits jumped back in surprise at the out burst. The scrawny lizard glanced nervously over to the boss. The rams and lizards exchanged looks before regaining their composure. They circled around the boy holding their crude axes and spears at the ready. The boss even swung his war hammer onto his shoulder before speaking again.

"Does it really matter? It's not like every one of us didn't want to see your house burn," The fat boar smirked. "It was an eye sore."

Shadow had his attention on Tails completely. Taunting Tails was uncalled for. Shadow reached out to touch the boy's shoulder and clam him. He snap his hand back quickly as a spear was thrown, whizzing through the air between them.

Shadow growled. He had enough of these bandits. He turned to the boss and glared up at him. His scrawny second gave a little cry of fear and began backing away.

"Those eyes say you want to tangle. Well, boy, I hope you're good. I would like to show off my-"

A massive explosion cut him off.

-0-0-

Tails rolled on to his back and stared up at the clear night sky. Half of him felt the cold chill of the night, while the other half could feel the warmth of a fire. Tails turned his head to stare mindlessly at the dancing tongues of light. In one ear, he heard the crackle of the burning wood and in the other the hooting owls and crickets. To the soothing sounds of the outside world, Tails turned his back to the fire and slipped back into peaceful sleep.


Shadow: Nng, you used that reviewers information and called Tails a kit.

Trinity: Of course I did! If I didn't what would be the purpose of having reviewers? Sure I don't listen to all of them, but still...

Tails: But pup sounded better for this story...

Trinity: Yeah, but...It's correct now. So let's not complain.

Shadow: I WANTED TO CALL HIM A PUP! A cute, little-!

Trintiy: (earases his mouth) I said no complaining.

Tails: If you don't review her, Shadow may never get his mouth back! SO REVIEW!

Shadow: (gets on his knees and makes a begging motion)