Chapter 6: Dark Day, Black Night
Last Chapter:
No sooner than the words had left her mouth than a massive pillar of fire appeared and Blaze appeared bleeding, with her clothing in tatters.
Aero rushed over to her as she lay there prone and bleeding profusely, "young Blaze what happened?"
"Th-they came out of a portal of some type," Blaze responded, "they didn't say anything but just started attacking. Snow is fighting to hold them back but needs help."
"Who is attacking," Pyra asked.
With eyes wide Blaze stared at their leaders and said the words nobody on earth ever wanted to hear again, "Black Arms…"
That was the last thing the violet cat was able to say. Her eyes rolled up into her head as she lost consciousness. Bunnie immediately rushed forward and started taking care of her multiple wounds.
"I need to get her back to my tent," Bunnie said, "her wounds are many and deep. She'll die if I can't get her there."
Tails frowned and stepped forward as his Chaos Crystal started to glow bright yellow, "let me see if I can help you Bunnie. I've seen Snow do this several times and I'm a Kitsune just like him."
"Ok suga-Tails," Bunnie replied, "I trust you."
Tails continued to concentrate and placed one hand over his Crystal and the other on Blaze's forehead and cried out, "Crystal Heal!"
While this was going on an Ice Blue bird appeared and landed on Fiona's shoulder. She reached her hand up to it and heard Snow's voice, "I've sent this incase Blaze didn't make it. We are under attack by the Black Arms. There seems to be no end but I am holding them at bay for now. I need help immediately. All the Apprentices were out of the gathering place and are unaware but all the Hunters were in the clearing milling about and were caught by surprise. There are only three of us fighting fit after the initial attack."
Fiona's eyes went wide and she looked at Aero who nodded, "Ariel, Swift and Rain with me. We must get to Snow now! There are only three full hunters fighting fit. All the apprentices were out of the gathering place when the attack started. Chase, you're the swiftest sprinter we have. Round up all of the Apprentice Hunters and get them to the clearing."
Aero and Pyra looked at each other as Blaze suddenly jumped to her feet and shot off like a bullet, any evidence of injury gone and Tails on her heels. "We'll get all non-hunters to the cave of safety," Aero stated before Pyra and himself raced off with Bunnie on their heels. Fiona looked at those around her and led her patrol toward the battle zone. When they arrived at the gathering place the only ones still on their feet fighting were Snow, Tails and Blaze. With a battle howl the four Apprentice Hunters launched themselves into the fray.
As the battle wore on everyone was starting to look the worse for wear. Snow swiped his brow and muttered, "Fuck this shit." Snow backed up and called out, "Blaze and Tails fall back to me. Fiona, Rain and Swift hold them for a few moments. Fiona, it's time to go ahead and show what you can do. You know what I mean. Rain you're Aquakinnetic, start using it!"
Rain smiled and started firing off gouts of water at the Black Arms Grunts like missiles.
Fiona pulled a crimson colored pendant out and placed it around her then called out, "Crystal Lances!" Multiple crimson spears appeared and started impaling any Black Hawks she could fire at. Swift for his part changed to his Wereform and started fighting with the Black Arms Brutes with big fists, strong enough to demolish buildings.
Tails and Blaze pulled back and stood next to Snow. "What are we doing Snow," Blaze asked.
"Taking it to the next level," Snow answered, "Blaze summon the Sol Emeralds to you. I know you're their guardian." Blaze did as instructed and they continued to float around her. "Now both of you join hands with me," Snow started, "I'm going to use an ancient Kitsune ritual to push us into Super Tails, Super Snow and Blazing Blaze." The other two nodded indicating they were ready.
"The servers are the seven chaos," Snow started, "Chaos is power, Power enriched by the heart. The heart is the controller. The controller serves to unify the seven chaos. I am a Kitsune Warrior. Bearer of the Chaos Crystal. Here me Chaos and grant me and my allies the power to stem the tide of darkness!" No sooner than the snowy fox finished, the seven Sol emeralds and the two Chaos Crystal's started glowing brighter than the sun. When the glow fade Snow and Tails stood there, fur pure gold, eyes glowing red, two Flickies hovering on each side of them and a golden aura surrounding them. Blaze stood the looking like she had been completely lit on fire. The three of them looked at each other then nodded and joined the fray.
Snow and Tails immediately jumped up curled into balls and started darting around like haywire saw blades, carving a path of destruction through the ranks of the Black Arms troops. Blaze rocketed to Ariel's side and started shooting gouts of fire at the unfortunate Grunts that got in her way then turned to Ariel, nodded and shot of to elsewhere in the battle. Rain let out a fierce battle howl as she used her claws to carve up a couple of grunts that got too close. Ariel had a Brute come up and take a swing at her.
"Did anyone ever teach you that it's unwise to piss off a vixen," Ariel said in a sing-song voice as she started to transform, "it could be the last mistake you make!" She then lashed out at it and decapitated it soundly. Swift walked up to a large log and effortlessly lifted it and held it like a giant baseball bat.
"BATTER UP," he shouted as a group of Black Hawks flew toward him. The next thing anyone hears is an earsplitting crack as Swift's improvised bat connects and sends the whole group into orbit.
"IT'S GOING," Snow shouts in response, "GOING, AND IT'S OUTTA THE PARK! HOME RUN SWIFT!" Everyone busts out laughing as Fiona sends another wave of Crystal Lances at a group of Gold Hawks and detonates all three of them. "STRIKE THREE," Snow cries out, "YEEER OOOOUT!" Everyone laughs again. The fighting soon got heavier, Swift found himself fighting a rather intelligent Brute.
"What's a matter little hedgehog," the Brute stated taunting in a gravelly voice, "running out of steam or are you just that puny and use…" It didn't get to finish as Swift gathered up the last of his remaining strength, grabbed it by the ankles and proceeded to slam it into the ground and every other thing he could.
After about ten minutes of doing this Swift power slammed it and grunted, "puny and useless my ass." He then passed out from exhaustion and changed back to normal.
'I don't know how much longer I can keep this up,' Rain thought morosely as she continued to fire jets of water at the grunts rushing her. As she continued her vision slowly got cloudy, 'can't hold on.' The last of her strength and energy used up Rain finally succumbed to exhaustion and passed out.
Sally was surprised not to have heard from Tails all day, especially after running into Snow. She walked up the trail to Tails' workshop in Mystic Ruins lost in thought and speculation. Before she realized it she was at the door and was surprised to find everything closed up and off. She was about to leave but a note taped to the door caught her eye. Curious she pulled it off and looked to see who it was to. As she looked and saw Tails' handwriting she started noticing it was addressed to her and Sonic. Quickly opening the letter she read it:
Dear Sonic and Aunt Sally,
Sorry I am not there to say this in person but I need you guys to look after my place for me. The key is under the mat. Sally, before you worry I am fine. I have gone off to start a new life with Snow and Fiona in the same place as they have, the Were Tribe. For the first time in my life I am free, not just from my melancholy but also from my consistent attachment to tinkering and isolating myself. I owe the thanks for it to Fiona and Snow. If she wouldn't have nipped me and Snow hadn't shown me the true freedom inherit in the life of a Werefox then I would probably not be writing this but probably writing a suicide note instead. Hopefully we will see each other again someday.
Sincerely,
Miles 'Tails' Prower
Sally stood there for a few moments as what the contents of the note were sunk in. When they finally did she numbly retrieved the key and walked into the house to call Sonic.
On the third ring Sonic answered, "Hey lil' bro what's up?"
"Sonic," Sally replied with her voice cracking as she was about to cry, "it's Sally. Get hold of Shadow, Chris, Cream, Amy and Knuckles then get over here." Without another word she hung up the phone and sat down on the couch with a picture of Tails and Snow in it hugged to her and let the tears flow. After hearing what Sally had said Sonic immediately called those she had specified and dashed over to Tails' home.
"What's the matter Sal," Sonic asked as he sat next to her and held her while she cried.
"What's going on," Amy asked with concern as her and Shadow walked in with Chris, Cream and Knuckles in tow. Sally immediately calmed herself and read the note left by Tails to everyone. By the time she had finished Rouge walked in and frowned.
"I'm sure that those two little darlings are fine Sally," the bat said reassuringly.
"I'm not sure," Sally replied, "I've heard horrible things about the Were Tribe."
"Don't believe everything you hear on the news," Rouge fired back defensively, "I have it from a reliable source that the Were Tribe never hurt anyone unless in self-defense."
Sally looked at Rouge with suspicion in her eyes, "What do you mean, 'reliable source'?"
Knowing that she had said too much Rouge hung her head and replied, "Last night I had three members of the Were Tribe staying at my place after I ran into Snow. He asked me to let them stay there. Their names are Bunnie the Wererabbit, she's the Tribe Healer and Fiona the Werefox and Blaze the Werecat who are Apprentice Hunters. They explained the tribe to me and that they were on a journey to a new home."
At the mention of the name Bunnie Sally's eyes went wide and she said, "Did the one named Bunnie speak with a southern drawl?"
"Yes," Rouge replied.
"I'm sorry Rouge. I know Bunnie and if she is in the Were Tribe then I know you're right and that Snow and Tails are safe," the Squirrel replied.
"Well," Sonic replied, "it don't matter to me if they're safe or not. I'm going to look for them. Starting in the Mystic Forest." Without another word Sonic dashed out the door. Shadow and Amy looked at each other. Shadow picked up Amy and dashed after him to prevent him for doing something stupid.
They had all been fighting for quite some time now and the remaining fighters were starting to become fatigued and exhausted. Fiona and Tails were fighting side by side. No longer able to maintain his Super form Tails landed next to Fiona and reverted back to his usual self.
"How are you holding up," he asked the red vixen next to him as he slammed his namesakes into the grunt he was fighting and knocked it out.
"Can't hold out much longer," she replied, exhaustion evident.
"Neither can I but we have to try," Tails replied. Fiona nodded and they both continued to fight.
'I hope Chase arrives with the other apprentices soon,' Fiona thought as a group of Golden Hawks appeared.
"Help," Ariel cried out as she slipped up and was grabbed by a Brute and it started to drag her toward the portal.
Snow immediately shot over and cannonball into the brute forcing it to let go. Wasting no time he cried, "Crystal Saber!" An ice blue sword of pure chaos energy appeared in his had and he sliced the Brute in two.
"Thanks Snow," the green vixen exclaimed happily.
"I'll always come back for you," Snow replied as he took off, leaving Ariel staring after him in confusion.
"We need to do something quick Snow," Blaze said as the fox appeared next to her, "I'm running out of energy!"
"Do you think you have enough for one last massive attack," Snow asked.
"Yeah, I do," Blaze replied, "What's the plan."
"I'll launch a powerful Crystal Blast at you," Snow replied, "Charge a powerful fire attack and use it with my blast. It should create a powerful inferno like blast or if you prefer we can charge up and launch the attack together."
"Let's do it together Snow," the violet cat responded as she started to gather pyrokinetic energy.
"Alright," Snow replied as he grabbed her hand and started to do the same but infused his with chaos energy. Blaze was thankful the color of the glow around her masked her color, the physical contact with Snow had her blushing.
Once they were ready they called out as if they were of one mind and body, "Crystal Inferno Blast!" No sooner than the words left their mouths than a massive shockwave left them, instantly incinerating anything in its path.
"Pretty impressive eh fire kitten," Snow asked as he reverted back to normal, completely exhausted and panting.
"Yeah ice fox," Blaze replied as she too reverted back to normal. As one both passed out, still holding hands.
The fighting suddenly stopped and Ariel, Tails and Fiona looked around in confusion. Suddenly Black Doom appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Fiona, Blaze and Ariel. The girls were unable to put up a fight anymore. "I told you after we left defeated that I would be back one day to take my revenge on you foxes for our defeat," Black Doom said.
"We beat you once and we can do it again," Snow fired back, finally having come back to.
"Ah, but this time we'll fight on my turf," Black Doom replied, "that is, if you ever want to see these three again." With that Black Doom and his remaining forces retreated back through the portal with the girls calling out to Snow and Tails. The portal closed as Snow and Tails looked at each other, silently swearing they wouldn't rest until they got them back.
It had taken most of the day to figure out who was still alive and who would be mourned. Most people who had survived the attack had many injuries, Snow and Tails included. Both of them sat staring into the fire, tails dragging the ground and bodies hunch in sorrow. Sonic, Amy and Shadow had arrive an hour after the fight ended and sat by them now. Aero and Pyra walked up and sat down with them.
"Young Tails," Aero started, "Pyra and myself have talk and we have listened to the account of Snow." Tails looked at the leaders expectantly.
"We have decided to extend to you an invitation to join the tribe," Pyra finished, "if that is still your wish."
"Like hell he is," Sonic replied indignantly.
"Shut up Sonic," Tails snapped, causing the blue blur to flinch, "Chief Aero, Chieftess Pyra, I would be honored to join the tribe."
"Very well," Pyra replied, "there is now reason to rejoice."
"Then maybe we should see if we can add one more reason," Aero stated, "Young Snow, have you and your brother decided on what we asked you."
"Tails and I share thoughts," Snow replied, "I knew the answer form the first time you asked and that is that we would be honored to call you mother and father."
"Then we truly do have much reason to rejoice," Pyra exclaimed.
"No we don't," Tails replied with the shake of his head, "the dark day has ended."
"But the black night has only begun," Snow finished…..
AN: Well what do you guys think? I know it's kinda a sad ending to the chapter but I'm sure everyone will enjoy the next chapter. Please Read, Review and Enjoy and look out for: Chapter 7!