(life and death POV)

"well here comes a shot at being evil."

"-oh great-"

"isn't it?"

(four year old POV)

The night before was bad as my first night since the massacre. Miserable. I groggy get up to see if Sarah is awake yet only to find that it's still dark out. After seeing this I got up to look at my surroundings to notice that it was not the root system of a tree but a similar material from the memories stone and metal. The darkness of night did little against my eyes as I fully took in my new room black draped the walls with a crimson highlight running through the center of the walls stopping only at the door and windows which were now rectangular with some see through rock in it that was divided into twelve equal smaller squares. Then I turned my attention to the bed as I pulled myself out of it. It was a soft mattress with even softer blankets with the same black and crimson design as the room. "well I didn't expect this when I was asked if I could leave tomorrow." I say out loud.

"So I take it you wanted to meet me first." I whip around not expecting anyone to answer me. The owner of the voice was slightly camouflaged in the walls but the white glove with golden bracers and odd white and red shoes with similar bracers gave him away mostly.

"I take it you are Shadow the Hedgehog?" I ask.

"Yes." he replies.

"And this is the village of darkness?"

"Yes."

"Why is it so different from the one Tikal was in?"

"Well Each village grows and is shaped by it's guardian or guardians." shadow walked towards the window pushing it open in time for a white bat dressed in a black suit with white gloves and heeled boots that had a pink heart on the toes along with a heart on the chest of the suit. "The two of us are the guardians of this village. But for safety reasons we divided the village in to two main districts both are a tad dangerous but Rouge's district doesn't allow people 18 years or younger without an adult."

"Why is that?"

"Because most of it are for adults only like alcohol, drugs and... other adult things."

"…Ok so where is Sarah I haven't seen her here?"

"Oh the early bird, she already filled me in along with Tikal after I warped the two of you here. As such Rouge here already got her a home and as for teacher your looking at him." I was unhappy with her sudden disappearance but as long as she's safe.

"So I'm to be your student?"

"Correct, but before we get into your training we need to see where you are. Follow me to the training area" with that shadow left the room as I followed him out into a larger room that had a medium sized table with four chairs to the right of the path I entered was a room that was tiled white with several metal contraptions in it most of which I saw from my real home. To the left was the bathroom shower toilet and all. After quickly getting used to what maybe my new home. Ran to catch up with Shadow only to find that he didn't stop to see if I was following. slightly angered I walk back to see if Rouge was still in 'my' room. Thankfully she still was.

"Hey miss Rouge can you show me to the training area? I… sorta got caught up in memories." I look at the ground saddened.

"Sure hun. But, first…" she walks over puts a hand on my shoulder "Stiffen up that upper lip and stop thinking about the past. You'll never see a future." she walks over to the door and turns around. "Also anything you need for the training? Weapon, armor, anything?"

"Oh right," I run around looking for the zanbato from my father only to find it missing. "Uh-oh." I utter from beneath the bed "Come on, where did Shadow put it." I pop up of the other side squeezing out in a comical fashion. I quickly turn to the larger room outside of the bed room hoping to find a closet, finding it next to the door that lead to the outside world. I opened it in a hurry.

"Did you forget something?" only to fall back on my ass.

"Teacher! What the hell was that for!" I shouted the response was a kick that sent me into the wall.

"rule #1 you never curse at me the result will be a beating worse than the last. Rule #2 don't get separated for any reason the result..." he zipped up in front of me "get beaten to unconsciousness." he grabbed me and through me into the wall again this time I went through it and landed in the next wall behind the bed. after a few seconds gravity began to pry me off and into the bed as I lost consciousness. "that's all for the first day pupil."

(8 hours later)

I tried to get up but my back felt like I fell into a building or the building fell on me. In several pained attempts I managed to sit up only to hiss and howl in pain followed by me falling back into bed helpless. I heard the door opened and I turned on the bed to see the person only to see both Shadow and Rouge with Sarah in between them. "What are you doing here Sarah" I managed to say.

"She's paying her friend a visit only to find him unconscious in his bed" Shadow answered.

I smile and say "Well I would ask for the next lesson but it appears my back's been shattered from the first one."

Shadow gave me a smile as well "tell you what, I'll give you a healer and a week and then we'll continue. For now sleep and thank who ever you want that you survived the first lesson."

My smile was evaporated by worry "so how many actually survived?"

"Seven. the other elders were at one point trained by me."

Really… wait does that mean you trained the assho-AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" I roared in pain with whatever breath I had left from the treatment and my back's opinion of it. With no strength left I fell back to utter blackness.

(life and death POV)

"-i hate you-"

"what? you want me to hit you again?" pulls back foot

"-n-n-no but could you please take the gag off. please-"

" no cursing or anything got it"

"..."

'takes of the gag'

"well in any case i'm skipping 10 years ahead and the 2000+ beatings he'll get along the way"

"WHAT?"