The following takes place before Shadow disappears from the White Abyss**** ((Please listen to "If Only" from the movie "Descendants" as you read to set the mood))
The days scrolled by interestingly enough. Tails was a constant by Kharis' side, helping Aleena and the others teach the young woman turned Mobian how to walk and adjust to her new body. Kharis didn't mind it, she enjoyed spending time with the little 8 year old kit and often she spent the time brushing his fur for him after a bath while he regaled her with tales of their adventures.
They did some digging, curious about her new form and it's mixed DNA. The rabbit ears she received were closest in appearance and texture of a Cashmere lop bunny. Her tail reminiscent of an Active Abyssinian.
Her fur was so soft, like that a of new born bunnies. So much so was it that she often had to deal with being petted by her friends. She didn't mind, though it made her blush heavily each time.
Cream was another companion, who like Tails, spent most of her time at the Royal Family's home other than the Thorndyke's just to be close to Kharis. Everyone guessed that the little bunny felt more comfortable with Kharis, missing her mother so much. When Kharis wasn't bogged down with studies and etiquette lessons alongside Sonia and Amy, she could be found reading stories to the children in the gardens. Though more and more as the days passed, Kharis went into town less and less...
Especially after going to the small middle school where she once taught. No one knows what happened but she had came home late that day looking like she had been crying although she never gave them the reason why.
It was a few days later that everyone found out, meeting up at the Thorndyke mansion to discuss the changes that had happened with the appearance of the Mystic Ruins and Angel Island. Kharis had gone outside with Cream to make flower crowns while Tails and Mr. Chuck ran some tests on the Diamond Heart.
Sonic was looking over, after a wrestling match with Manic when the green hedgehog tried to mess with the Blue Blurs trademark quills. Aleena had just confessed about the strange goings on with Kharis and what had happened that day.
"Oh, that's cause some stupid woman down at the school yelled at her and they banned her from stepping foot on the premises again." He piped up, releasing Manic from his playful choke hold.
"WHAT?!" They exclaimed, everyone focusing on the now scowling hero. "Yeah, I was out on my run when I saw it. I saw her walking towards the school, so I jumped up into a nearby tree to see what was happening. It's not safe for her to be by herself after all with Egghead still running around..."
"At first it looked like everything was fine, they were of course startled by her new appearance but the children still seemed to adore her. The Principal, well I guess it was him since he was so old...was really kind and genuinely seemed to be happy she was at least alive and well despite her change. But another teacher was pretty...suspicious."
"What do you mean by that, bro?" Manic asked as he sat up rubbing his neck. Everyone was on edge of their seats, waiting with baited breathe.
Sonic scowled deeper, eyes flashing almost dangerously. "One of them came up and yanked a child out of Kharis' arms when she was giving them a hug..."
*Flashback*
"Kaitlyn what was that for?!" Kharis asked in shock, her arms stinging from the force the other woman used to yank the young boy out of her arms. "Your dangerous you stupid woman! How dare you show up here?! Are you trying to hurt us? Are you trying to kill the children?"
Kaitlyn was a robust woman in her mid-40s, happily married with two children of her own and a kind, meek husband. She was the senior teacher at the school, having taught there for 20 years. Her pinned black hair, conservative clothing and sharp tongue demanded respect from everyone and harsh punishment if not given.
She was also one of those who always taunted and tortured Kharis, saying the woman was too inept and childish to be a good role-model for the children. Now she towered over the woman's smaller 4' body with her 6' height.
"N-no! I didn't think tha-" "Right, you didn't think. You never think, you ignorant fool." Kaitlyn berated with a sneer before it turned into a cruel smirk. "In fact, it's almost a good thing you came, now we can tell you in person."
"T-Tell me...what?" Kharis stammered, now left alone with the woman and the Principal. He spoke up, his kind eyes full of sorrow behind his thick glasses. "I'm afraid what Mrs. Ambrandor is referring to is that unfortunately we have been...forced to cancel your contract permanently..."
"You...mean I'm fired? I mean...I know I was gone for quiet a while but..."
"It's not due to your absence my dear, I can understand that. If it was up to me, you would have not been terminated at all. But the Board of Directors for the Educational system here in our country have...deemed you a High Risk target for that madman. They don't want anyone hurt or killed if he decides to attack a school where your employed so...they...have ...banned you from stepping on the grounds or being employed at any teaching institute."
The principal had tried to break the news as gently as possible, though Kaitlyn's sneer added fiery salt to the fresh wounds. Kharis just nodded, her face blank as her body felt numb. She bid goodbye to them for the last time, the Principal apologizing again.
Sonic witnessed it all from the tree, growling as Kharis' fragile form disappeared down the road.
*End flashback*
"That's horrible..." Aleena whispered weakly, her dainty hands covering her mouth in shock. Amy was furious, already holding her hammer. Sonia gazed numbly down to the floor as Manic growled alongside his brother.
Tails was close to tears alongside Chris, and Chuck had to avert his head with a pained expression. After everything Kharis had already been through, to loose her job and be banned from ever stepping foot on any school grounds again?
"She..." Sonia started, breaking the silence that had settled over them like a dense, foreboding fog. "She once told me how teaching children had been her dream...She always looked so happy when I talked to her about it..."
"I...think I'm going to go play with Cream and Mama..." Tails stated quietly, running out the door and down the steps towards the garden where the girls were playing . Amy followed him, the group sitting there in silence once more as the word Tails used sunk in. The kit really looked up to Kharis as a mother figure, which made sense seeing as how the poor boy was an orphan for so long with only Sonic as a big brother figure and then being met by Kharis' own motherly personality.
Aleena went and pulled her own children into a tight embrace, knowing that not only herself but they needed it right now.
"So...think we can find out where the old hag lives and give her a scare?" Manic asked, once released from his mother's desperate grip. Chuck immediately began the search on his computer as Aleena admonished him, but the hedgehog triplets were set for revenge for their friend.
A few days later the news was covering the special of a small suburban home that had been egged, toilet papered and the words "BEWARE THE WITCH INSIDE" that had been burned into the front lawn. Not to mention the few very expensive and even priceless pieces of jewelry and artwork that had been stolen...
"Kharis, have you been eating right?" Aleena asked in concern one Saturday afternoon as the two shared a small bit of refreshments in the garden. They sat in delicate lace designed white chairs with Deli Spirals for snacks. The Queen drank tea, while Kharis sipped on Sprite in her own soft white, fine china cup as the scents of roses, lilies, lavender and camellias swept their senses.
Today was also the first day in which Kharis was free from the companionship of Tails and Cream, the children hanging out with the others back at Chris' home. So the two were enjoying their rare moment of solitude as Sonia and Manic were off with Sonic.
"P-Pardon?" The young woman whimpered weakly, her medium brunette hair bouncing and waving as her head snapped up. It had been bare a week since she had finally managed to return to her human form. Despairingly she had hoped the others would not have noticed...but she had put on a few pounds from all of the stress. Often she found herself snacking idly as she read or studied, and within the last few days she noticed her stomach had grown.
Embarrassed to be seen like that around the Royals and their perfectly slim figures, Kharis had taken to wearing thicker clothes that were baggy in the hopes they would not catch on. Seems she hadn't tried hard enough as the Queen gazed at her critically while she pulled her light pink cardigan tighter around her.
"It seems you have gained weight at an alarming rate, the maids informed me earlier about how often you had been snacking as you poured over the books in the library after our lessons. While I am curious as to what has exactly spurred this sudden obsession in your studies, I am far more concerned about your health."
The queen did not even need to state the question in words, the silent command to explain a heavy compulsion in her sweet voice as her Sea green eyes stared into Kharis' own Hazel.
"I...I don't know what to do any more...Teaching children was my life, my dream ever since I was a teenager. Now I can no longer do so, as the rumor has spread much like a cancer of the dangers that follow me. I can no longer step foot on the grounds of a school, and many people who see me in town lock their doors in a hurry or avoid me. I can understand that their afraid."
" I mean, who wouldn't be after seeing someone who lived and worked in the same town, grew up and raised in the same country, come back transformed into a different race entirely and be targeted by a madman obsessed with machines and world Domination? You have so kindly proposed to teach me the ways of a true lady, but I am still so childish, insignificant and ...barbaric... that I fear I bring you shame each day."
"And...my Heart...it's so powerful now that I confess I am afraid as well. My body is reacting, every hour I can feel my bones shift and muscles tense to return to that other form. And with everything that has happened, now that I have had the time to truly stop and think...I...I don't know who I even am anymore...My body has never looked the exact way I wanted it to, but it was mine and the one thing that always allowed me to know who I was. Now it's changing and I can feel the strange flow of power in my veins...it's no longer a body I recognize..."
The Queens eyes turned stormy, unbeknownst to the young woman across from her who had lowered her head in shame after her lengthy confessions. Aleena had feared this, that such changes so quickly would break the human woman's already fragile hold on her self confidence and esteem. She had to give Kharis credit though, even Aleena had not noticed the woman's gain in weight until the maids had brought it to her attention. The woman was crafty and far to good at hiding the things that truly bothered her. It had taken her son to tell them about the mishap at the school! Though perhaps, Aleena reflected guiltily, she too had been more preoccupied with her children to stop and notice the subtle changes.
"Your not alone, during the war I often felt inadequate and helpless in the face of the tyrannical Dr. Robotnik. If it was not for the fact I had to continue fighting for my children...There would have been no doubt that I would not be sitting here today."
"I had lost my Kingdom, my husband, and even my children. Many a nights I had turned to the blade, thinking...wishing I could end it all. The only thought that kept me from ending it was one day being reunited with my little ones and saving our Kingdom...our Planet...from Dr. Robotnik's tyranny."
At that Kharis' head snapped up, eyes wide in shock that the powerful, graceful Queen just implied she had thought of committing suicide before. The Queens gaze was level, but there was a depth of despair Kharis shuddered to imagine. A well of guilt lodged itself in Kharis' heart...hearing such a thing from Aleena made her problems look so...stupid and insignificant.
"Perhaps a change in the schedule is in order. You've come far in your Etiquette lessons that I do not believe a break would hinder you. We will start again with exercising daily and focus our efforts on you and your Heart to help find a balance between you. Starting with a visit to Angel Island and the Master Emerald."
Aleena announced, sipping her Rosemary tea as if to finalize the arrangements. Aleena had to find a way for Kharis to be at ease with herself once more, or her and her Heart would fall to ruin.
The Heart was a very magical jewel, and through it others could get a good idea of how Kharis felt, though Kharis had kept it hidden from sight almost obsessively since the incident with Victoria...It had a strange power they couldn't figure out, and that mysterious power had to be handled with the utmost care.
Dim and cloudy when she was upset or confused, clear and glittering when she was peaceful or happy...it wasn't just her heart made physical, it was her very soul given tangible form, and radiated a normally small amount of energy compared to the Chaos Emeralds. But Aleena knew it was far more powerful now than before Kharis was kidnapped, fueled by a large wave of both positive and negative energies from the Chaos Emeralds because of Robotnik. It could even be because of those chaotic energies that were poured into her so cruelly that her attitude and moods were in such a painful, downward spiral.
In truth the Planetary Queen had very little idea on how to work with such a case, so she prayed that the Master Emerald and its Guardian could help find the support Kharis needed.
Aleena had already lost one sister before, and had lost her dear brother for years due to his Robotization...She lost her husband...she had to give up her children and miss their entire childhood...She couldn't lose Kharis.
*DreamScape*
"So your on a ..plane...going towards an Island that floats in the sky?" Shadow asked, laying his head idly on the sitting woman's lap and playing with the cords on the housecoat she wore that ended with little white Pompoms.
She nodded, glad he finally understood what she was trying to say after trying to explain what an Airplane was...She made the mental note to get a few books on them to bring to the Dark hedgie.
Honestly, why was it so hard to grasp the concept of an Airplane when the man had grown up on a Spaceship from what he had told her? That just didn't make any form of sense to her.
She glanced around with a contented smile gracing her pale pink lips as she idly stroked her fingers through his soft, relaxed quills. Surrounding them were books she had been reading to them. She brought mainly Fairy Tales, but he didn't seem to mind and had even taken to quoting Aladdin!
She had found it so cute, though he got embarrassed and had chased her around 'threatening' he would kill her if she ever told anyone such a thing. She knew he was kidding of course, the smirk on his face saying such.
Though after her talk with Queen Aleena, Kharis shared those worries with Shadow as well, and whimpered as his quills went on edge and stabbed into her legs. He relaxed them immediately as the smell of blood began to pervade the air, her legs now sporting slim, shallow cuts and pinpricks.
"Damn them for making you feel inferior..." He cursed.
It was ironic, as he had used the same sentence when she had told him what had happened at the school. He was the only one she openly confessed such a thing to, but hadn't told him what all was bothering her until now...after she had first confessed it to the Queen. Something told her he was upset at that fact as well, not being the first she told to about the rest of her problems though she didn't understand why.
"It wasn't them Shadow! It's my own inadequate tendency! Their just trying to help me..." Kharis defended, and Shadow just scowled more. With a sigh, knowing he couldn't do much right now as he was trapped in this White Abyss, he reached over and grabbed a book of "Old Victorian Mannerisms for the Nobility and Higher Classes".
She hadn't meant to fall asleep with the book, never meant to bring it here but it seemed she had passed out while studying so it was brought along by accident. Every book she brought stayed here after the initial act of bringing it, so she didn't have to worry about falling asleep awkwardly with a pile of books.
Useful, as it gave the Ultimate Life Form some entertainment while she was back in the waking world. "Well then, if the so called Queen is going not going to continue the lessons on Poise, Grace and Posture to help you exercise and become better in-tune with your Heart, shall we practice privately?" He practically purred as he sat up to capture her eyes with his half lidded ones, his smirk confident and alluring in it's dark edge.
It gave the desired effect, as her cheeks flushed a bright red and she curled in on herself slightly, pulling her knees closer to her chest. She was trying her hardest to not look directly at him while stuttering, leaning away from him as if to escape those captivating eyes.
Shadow found he loved teasing her, and never passed up the chance to do so as he chuckled at her reaction. They never failed to amuse the dark hedgehog as he once more had to get up and chase her down as she tried to flee in her embarrassment.
He was finding he enjoyed her being pinned beneath him as well, though it never lasted long with his smaller body much to his ire.
_
Kharis had fun trying to explain the cuts and pinpricks the next morning as they landed on Angel Island, and while the wounds healed within the hour, she had to deal with the suspicious gaze of the hedgehog Queen.
It was only Kharis and Aleena right now, the children staying back in Station Square to hang out with the others. Aleena had thought it would be better if it was just them as Knuckles wasn't to hyped about having too many visitors on his island. Not that Kharis could blame the Echidna. So as it was Aleena left Kharis upon the Altar of the Master Emerald and ordered her to meditate, as she and Knuckles went off to discuss some things in private. Knuckles wasn't thrilled about leaving Kharis there and leaving his post, but he consented after the Queen informed Knuckles about needing the help of a professional for Kharis' situation.
Knuckles knew where to go, and with a critical eye to the nervous young woman, led Queen Aleena to some underground ruins near the Hidden Palace Zone where some ancient scrolls he had managed to recover were stored. This left Kharis all alone with the Master Emerald, which she sat and leaned against as the gently beams of the morning sun filtered through the clouds and warmed her. Unbidden she felt tears begin to leak from her eyes, and she curled up to cry silently. How selfish could she be? She should never have told the queen how she felt, should never have spoken up. It was like growing up all over again, with people saying she was rude and ill mannered.
She knew the Queen had been through so much, her and the others. But Kharis still openly dumped her problems on the woman...what was wrong with her? How much of a burden was she wanting to be?
She even dumped her insignificant problems and woes on Shadow, who had also been through so much. ...
"I shouldn't even be here..." She murmured despairingly. She was not expecting an answering voice.
"What makes you think that?" Came the sweet voice that floated from behind her.
Kharis jumped up, startled and scared. Other than Knuckles, Aleena and herself no one else was supposed to be on the island. Her eyes scanned the surroundings desperately, on edge as her hand flew to her pocket of her long coat that hid the Heart.
From behind the large Master Emerald, a sweet looking pale orange female echidna emerged. Kharis had to rub her red eyes quickly, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her at first.
It had almost looked like she had been see-through for a second there!
"Oh please do not be afraid! I did not mean to startle you!" She said, her hands up in a non-threatening manner. "My name is Tikal. I...live here. Though the Guardian doesn't know, so please don't tell him yet! I'm ...terribly shy you see...I'll introduce myself to him soon enough.."
Kharis couldn't see any deceit or sense any ill will from the young thing, so slowly calmed down. Her earnest sky blue eyes were so much like Tails as well...honest and hopeful and so full of innocence.
"U-um...okay. Though I thought Knuckles was the last of his kind? I bet it would make him very happy if you introduced yourself to him..so he wouldn't be so alone..." Kharis said gently, once more taking her seat as the young Echidna settled beside her. Her wardrobe was so strange...tribal she could guess.
"There...are reasons on why I can't. But tell me...why are you so upset...?" Tikal asked, her face serene and concerned.
"I-It's nothing, sweetie. I'm perfectly alright!" Kharis stated, forcing a smile to grace her lips so as to not make the young girl worry.
"Please do not lie to me, one does not cry and wish she was gone for 'nothing." Tikal stated, and unknown to Kharis used the energy from the Master Emerald to 'push' the command to tell her into the elder beside her. It reacted easily with the Heart to get the results she wanted.
Without fully understanding why she felt so compelled to tell, Kharis spilled everything to the girl beside her. Once done, she panted before slapping her hands to her mouth in despairing shock.
Now she was telling a complete stranger her troubles? What the hell was wrong with her?!
She squeezed her eyes shut, tears beginning to leak out once more though was startled for the second time as she felt the light almost non-tangible arms of the girl beside her wrapping around her.
"So you think you shouldn't be here...you shouldn't be interacting with everyone, shouldn't be in this story you've found yourself in...but you know the difference?"
At this Kharis blinked, looking up at Tikal. The Echidna female winced, her heart hurting for the adult beside her in which she was holding. Kharis' face looked so young and fragile, confused and curious for what the mobian had to say.
"This is your story. Everyone and anyone knows the story for your friends, perhaps things did work differently in another world, one where you did not exist, one where perhaps the Royal family were not reunited and things were experienced in different ways. But this story is your own. Your experiencing this, no one else."
"And no one understands that, no one stops to try and notice the problems your facing. If this was a book one would probably write you off as you describe yourself, weak and insecure. But what they and you don't understand is that you've been battling this for months. Your so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. So who cares what others think? Who cares if others write you off? You should know the truth, and those who care for you the most do as well."
Kharis blinked, the waterfalls of tears drippling down once more. Tikal was right.
Perhaps those who hated her...who wrote her off...they just didn't know her as she was. They would rather see about Sonic and his adventures with the others, but instead they got her. But why should she care?
Slowly, the Heart began to shine once more, the cloudy dullness fading away to it's beautiful clear coloring once more as Kharis' mind began to clear. She had friends who did care about her, even when others didn't. At some point she seemed to have unofficially (or officially if Queen Aleena had her way...) adopted young Tails as her son. And even more importantly...she had herself.
Tikal was right...this was her story. No one else's. She was herself, no matter what happened to her body or what happened around her. She was her...She was Kharis...and her Diamond Heart was hers alone and that was the one thing that could never change.
Perhaps the issues she was facing weren't totally fixed yet, but at least a core of it was for now. Kharis could get by bottling the rest up to deal with later.
Tikal was happy, able to help the young woman to a degree. The damage was far from healed, but now Kharis was on the right step. She let the woman go as Kharis stood, shrugging off the heavy coat as the Island warmed up more. Her dark green dress fluttered with it's light fabric in the soft breeze, dotted with little flowers all over. It was one of the gifts she had received in her new wardrobe the family had picked out for her, and was one of her favorites.
Of all the irony, it was one that Manic had picked out, which she found out later on as Sonia teased him after Kharis stated she loved the dress.
She dug out the Heart, smiling sweetly to Tikal. "I better start meditating before the Queen returns. I don't want another lecture.." She said with a giggle, and soon bid her new friend farewell.
Tikal pretended to go down the steps of the tall shrine, though she disappeared the moment she was out of sight, returning to her home inside the Master Emerald. She was content for now, and while Kharis meditated outside, Tikal focused the energies of the Master Emerald into the Diamond Heart from the inside. It was the only thing she could do to help, hoping with all her heart it would give Kharis the strength to handle whatever could come next.
It was only a few days later when Dr. Robotnik shattered the Master Emerald and unleashed it's other occupant, Chaos.