Tloj: Everyone in the story is owned by who owns them!
Several minutes of speeding, and an insane police chase later Spike squeals the car into a parallel park in the Warehouse District.
"Like a glove," he says in an Ace Ventura impression as I look around for a crowbar to loosen Sarah's grip on me.
"You know, those guys are going to ask a lot of questions when we get back." Antonio says.
Finding nothing that could help me, I think for a second before kissing her again.
She relaxes a little as we step out. Sonic is waiting, having decided to run instead of ride.
"So let's have a look at our ride," Sonic says with a smirk.
Spike nods, and punches a code into a keypad by a warehouse door. Sonic looks inside, yelps in surprise, and jumps into Knuckles' arms Scooby-Doo style.
I look inside, and I see a Semi truck the size of a good sized building. It's a little banged up, and someone has taken spray-paint to the front license plate. The letters G.U.N. are crossed out, and are replaced with B.F.T.
"What DOES that stand for?" I ask.
"It's my Big Fucking Truck," Spike says proudly.
"Ah."
"How fast does it go, and can it fly?" Antonio asks, studying it all over.
"Is the Pope a Catholic?" Spike smirks, "The trailer has all kinds of doodads like these two huge rockets, and three buzz saws on long arms."
"I remember," Sonic groans from where Knuckles dropped him.
"Impressive..." Antonio looks like he's about to drool.
"Alright, let's go." I say.
"Yippie-yie-kai-yay!" Spike climbs into the driver seat.
Sarah whimpers, but Millie helps me coax her into the truck.
"Just hang on to me. Everything will be fine." I assure.
"I hope." Sonic gulps.
Spike turns the key, and the engine snarls like a jungle cat.
"I swear to Chaos, if this think does any barrel rolls, I will find some way to kill you." I threaten Spike.
"Nope," he says cheerfully, and the truck slowly pulls onto the street. "Ready? Next stop the North Pole! I finally get Santa's autograph!"
"Uh-oh." I turn into Fire Hero, and make my spikes melt through the metal, securing me in place. I hug Sarah tightly and brace myself.
*VRRRROOOOOOM!*
...
Maybe an hour later we hit the frozen ground of the far north. Spike presses a button, and the twin massive rockets retract into the trailer.
I pull out of the wall and stand, letting go of Sarah and looking out the window. "Woah. That's a lot of snow and nothing."
Millie looks, "Don't be fooled. I talked with Cinder, and she says the Tundra Tribe echidnas are masters of hiding, and ambush.
"Like me!" Antonio says excitedly.
"I got this. Stay here until I say so." Knuckles says, hopping out.
We all watch as he steps into the snow.
He calls something, and waves.
A figure in black approaches. From where I stand I can see glowing purple eyes, and a rune of the same color shining on the forehead. Two appendages stick out of the head like horns.
The two converse for a few seconds before Knuckles looks back and motions to us.
We hop out and walk over, Sarah holding onto me for warmth.
The helmet on this figure collapses into her neck, and a female echidna with a headband smiles at us. "Welcome to my home, I am Shade."
I bow. "I am Hero, son of Lien-Da. These are my friends."
Shade stares at me with raised eyebrows, "Lien-Da's son... that is a bold claim, how are you certain?"
I raise my C.E.A., and press two buttons. The message starts up and starts playing again. "I got this eighteen years ago. It's hard to fake." I say.
Shade takes my wrist, and studies it. "...Interesting...so why come to me?"
Knuckles steps forward. "We need to get to Lien-Da, and she has an army with her." He explains.
She smiles, "So you come for the only army that wouldn't attack her on sight... You do realize it's my father who commands them, not I."
"Yes. That's why they brought me." Knuckles smiles. "We know you would give us permission, but your father needs a little persuasion."
Shade sighs, and rubs her neck. "Father has been particularly spiteful of outsiders lately, but he refuses to provide me with an explanation."
Reave narrows his eyes, "Have there been other outsiders as of late?"
"The kind with creepy black cloaks," Spike supplies.
Shade snaps her attention towards him, "What can you tell me?"
Millie steps up to my side, "How about a trade?"
Shade looks down for a second. "...There have been a few times such intruders have attempted to breech our borders, none have survived. All have fallen victim either to the landscape, our protective enchantments, or my father himself."
"They're after this." I point to my device. "They think it can help them conquer the world or something. They're my mom's forces, but they're claiming that they aren't under her command."
Reave raises a finger, "That may, or may not be true at this point. It's one situation we have speculated."
Shade crosses her arms, "I always believed Lien-Da had a softer side we never got to see. I do not believe she would send lethal force after her son, even a half-blooded one."
"That's what I believe, at least." I lower my arm. "If the Guardian and I may at least have an audience with Enerjak, I would be very grateful."
She rubs her chin, "...Father has decreed no outsiders are allowed... however even he cannot deny the Guardian. Knuckles may bring at most two companions, and I would advise them to be battle-ready."
"Hey Antonio." I look at my brother.
"Cool, I get to meet a deity!" Antonio cheers.
Spike pouts, "But...but..."
"Hey, if I were to pick anyone else... It would be Reave, not you. Sorry dude." I apologize.
Spike sits off to the side with his back to us, and his knees pulled to his chest, "Master Assassins get all the fun..."
"Hey, you can come with me if we need a session with Eggman. Deal?"
Spike gives a thumbs-up, but doesn't move.
Reave crosses his arms, "Have a safe journey... and remind me to get a professional babysitting job after this quest."
"Be careful, I just might for real." I chuckle.
Knuckles looks at Shade. "Please, take us to him."
Shade nods, and puts her helmet back up, "Alright, follow me..."
"Right."
Antonio tugs on his belt and says, "Let's go!"
Shade leads us through the glaciers and past a few polar bears with black marks on their foreheads.
"Huh. Weird." Antonio muses.
"Those are our main defenses," Shade explains. "Some of our spellcasters bond with the wildlife here to the point they almost share minds, that's how we know when we have intruders, and when they have been dispatched."
"Spellcasters. Huh." Antonio nods.
"So, is your civilization visible, or is it underground or something?" I ask curiously.
"Neither," Shade says with a smile in her voice. "We live in homes of ice covered with snow. It's so well camouflaged that we need very little help from magic to hide it."
"Cool." I say, impressed.
She steps around a mother bear, and stops. "We're here." She mutters something with a wave of her hand, and the air in front of our eyes shimmers. Now I can see small shadows in the snow, making it easier to spot the houses. Also, as if from midair, I can see Echidnas moving about. Children play, adults talk, and a few I pick out as warriors have their eyes locked on us."
"Cool..." Antonio and I whistle.
Shade lowers her helmet, and they salute her by thudding their fists over their hearts.
"Is that a greeting for echidnas? I don't want to get in trouble for not doing that." I say.
"It's a sign of great respect," Shade explains, returning the gesture. "Normally one of lower stature will salute this way to acknowledge one of higher stature."
"Oh, okay." I nod. "So where is Enerjak?"
The guards look surprised that I'd even say his name.
Shade sighs, "My father does not mingle among the common folk as I do, he instead keeps to himself unless needed."
"Makes sense, I guess." Antonio says.
Shade looks around, "But... once he learns I brought you here, and allowed you to see us then he'll come to confront the four of us."
"Ah." I say, looking around.
"Child, who are these intruders?" A meteor hits the ground in front of us.
She goes to one knee while the surrounding Echidnas bow with their foreheads to the snow. "Father, these are the Guardian, and his companions."
He stands. He is a red echidna in black and gold armor, with a sneer all over his face. "What do you want, Guardian? Is the Master Emerald not enough for you?"
"It does not belong to you, we've been over this." Knuckles states coldly. "I am here for your help."
"MY help?" Enerjak lets loose a bone-rattling laugh. "Why in Chaos do you need MY help?"
"Father," Shade says calmly. "They come on behalf of Lien-Da's son."
"Lien-Da has no children!" He scoffs.
"I am her child." I state.
He stares at me. "What did you say, scum?"
I look him in the eyes. "I am Lien-Da's son."
"Oh? And I don't suppose you have proof?" He asks.
"This device." I press the two buttons, and let the message play.
I study him carefully as it plays out, and to his credit the only movement he makes is his quills blowing in a small wind.
"Interesting. So what is this power the hedgehog blathers about?" He asks, staring at me.
"I can copy any power I can see for five minutes without this device. With it, I am unsure of my limits." I say.
"That is very impressive. Why do you need my help?"
"You have an army; we do not." I say.
He laughs again. "And what will you exchange for the services of my army?"
"My brother and I can perform any challenge you demand of us." I motion to Antonio.
"This outsider scum is your brother? Ha! How pathetic!" Enerjak scoffs.
"I'd love to see you come here and say that." Antonio states.
"What did you say, scum?" Enerjak floats over.
"I said, call me scum for a third time and see what happens." Antonio growls.
Shade stands, "Please no, consider the tribe!"
Enerjak and Antonio have a glaring contest. "I will grant you my army if you can beat my daughter in a fight to knock-out." He looks at me.
"Done." I say.
Shade blinks, and then bows, "If it is your will Father."
"And it is. My people, back up or be trampled!" Enerjak orders, floating into the sky.
"G'luck bro." Antonio says.
"Thanks." I turn to Shade and bow. "Sorry about this." I apologize.
Shade nods, "I detest unnecessary violence... but for this I consent to fight." Her helmet comes up, and two purple blades of energy appear in her hands.
"Great, swords." I sigh. I cross my arms across my body before flinging them aside, my body bursting with fire. I start floating as I feel wind blowing through my hair.
"Not simply swords," Shade clarifies. "My Leech Blades drain the lifeforce of my opponent, and add it to my own."
"Then this power will be useless." I press a button on my C.E.A., and shift back to normal. "Hey bro, before I die... how about a high five?" I look at Antonio.
"Sure bro!" He trots over and gives me a high five.
My device beeps, and I smile. I had left the face up, and guessed correctly.
I turn back to Shade. "This power will do." I slam the face down.
TAILS DOLL!
My clothes shift into a cloak as my fur turns red with black highlights.
Shade's eyes narrow, but I get the impression she's smiling. "Honor dictates as close to a fair fight as I can muster. Are you ready?"
"Yes." I flick my wrists, and two daggers appear in my hands.
"Good," She comes at me, and it's clear she's no stranger at hand-to-hand combat.
I take a test swipe at her, disguising it as an attack.
She grabs me by the wrist with a few fingers, and cracks me across the face with her knee.
I rear back and punch her across the face hard, sending her flying.
She spins in the air however, and lands on her feet, throwing one of her blades at me. I feel a strange feeling as it barely grazes past me, like the smallest bit of my strength is being eaten away.
"So that's what that feels like." I spin a dagger and throw it at the blade, destroying it. I disappear and reappear, sweeping her legs out from under her and punching her, burying her in a few feet of dirt and snow.
I dodge backwards as a longsword of purple energy erupts from under me, and she leaps out after it. She twirls it expertly in her hands, and slashes at my chest.
I spin and deflect it with my cloak, backhanding her before shooting my laser vision at her.
She defects it with a Leech Blade in a reverse grip, and kicks snow up to my face.
I twirl again, and the snow misses my face. I turn to her and take a deep breath, blowing a giant blizzard. It knocks her off her feet, and she crashes into a wall of ice. It cracks behind her, and she looks back as it begins to fall. She manages not to get buried, but one piece the size of a car tire nails her in the head, and she slumps to the snow.
I dash over and toss the ice away, shaking her. "Are you okay?" I ask concernedly.
"Congratulations, you have completed the challenge!" Enerjak says grandly, landing.
Her helmet falls back. The ice didn't penetrate, but she looks thoroughly concussed.
I pick her up and face Enerjak. "Where is the doctor?" I ask concernedly.
"Forget about her. You are a powerful successor! Forget about your mother, and become my champion! I will give you my daughter's hand in marriage!" He offers.
A young female echidna with intricate tattoo around her eyes walks over with a bowed head, and offers to take Shade from me.
I give Shade to her as I stare at Enerjak for a long second. "I beat your daughter, and your first thought is to discard her and give me riches. What kind of father are you?"
"She is fine, She has survived worse." Enerjak waves his hand.
"I want the army. Besides, I have a girlfriend already." I state.
"But my girl is the most powerful echidna in my tribe! How could you not want her?!" He asks, baffled.
I think it over. "I wish to see her when she wakes up and talk with her before I make a decision."
"Of course! Come, we shall have a feast!"
This arouses a cheer from the surrounding Echidnas, and I notice the woman who took Shade from me is caressing the fallen warrior's head with glowing hands.
I walk over. "Is she okay?" I ask.
She nods, "Quite..."
Quickly Shade opens her eyes, winks at me, and goes back to pretending to be out of it all while her father is distracted.
I stand and walk to Enerjak. "Go ahead and go to the feast. I would like to speak to my brother in private."
"Of course, of course!" Enerjak turns and flies away.
Knuckles smiles with his arms crossed, "You've earned the favor of a god, congratulations."
"I don't like that god though. He reminds me of someone I met who helped me start this adventure." I clench my fists.
Knuckles raises an eyebrow, "He's not called The Proud for nothing. Gods are arrogant, but Enerjak takes it to a whole new level. I think you'll be interested to know he's put each of Shades suitors to the same test you just passed... as the only one ever to win. Good thing she didn't want you dead."
"Suitor... So what you're saying is, he's gonna make me marry Shade, regardless of whether or not I say no." I frown.
Knuckles shrugs, "It means if you don't then she'll probably die single. She's /that/ good a fighter."
"..." I look at Shade again.
She's sitting up, and shaking hands with her "medic." A few children run up to her with concerned looks that dissolve into smiles as she rubs their heads with laughter.
"She's so happy. Even though she lives every day like a slave, she continues on. She is a true leader."
Knuckles nods, "And you know... Echidnas are polygamous. I'm sure Sarah would accept her."
"We'll see." I turn and look the way Enerjak went. "Best not keep a god waiting."
On the way I notice several other Echidnas with eye tattoos, on both genders.
"Hey Knuckles, what's with the tattoos?" I ask.
"Those are the spellcasters," he explains. "Once their instructor has deemed them competent then they're marked like that."
I'm impressed just how many of them there are... almost anyone higher than my hip has them!
"Hey Antonio, they've got magic powers." I smirk.
"Maybe they can give us a good luck curse like in video games!" Antonio chuckles.
"That's called a Blessing," Shade says from right behind us. "A gift from the more experienced spellcasters if you gain their favor."
"You hear that Antonio? Don't mess with the white Mage."
Antonio laughs.
I look back at Shade. "Does your father offer you away so freely every time there is a suitor?"
"There is method to the madness," she explains. "As princess of the tribe my hand is the most sought after, so since I was a puggle he Blessed me with power, and made me the strongest fighter here. In truth I suspect he was saving my hand for Knuckles, but a Seer long since told me mine is not the hand he will cherish."
"Huh, there goes any plans Antonio has for pairing you two. He's fond of doing that."
"Don't bash it until you fail to do it, bro." Antonio smirks.
Shade raises an eyebrow, "Well if Knuckles were to best you in combat he would have claim to my hand, assuming Father gave consent."
"Iiiinteresting." I look at Knuckles.
"What are you talking about over there?" He asks suspiciously, too far away to hear our conversation.
"Nothing!" Antonio calls quickly.
Knuckles narrows his eyes, but says nothing.
Shade raises an eyebrow with a smirk, "Do you detest the thought of me as a bride so much you wish to pass me off as one might a prized steed?"
"It's not that you're not an attractive girl, far from it. It's just that I have a girl back with the truck. I doubt my adoptive mom would be as okay as echidnas are with polygamy." I say honestly. "And you're making me feel bad, I've had my share of dealing with slaves and slavery and masters just in the last few days. I want to save you from this, but it's not like I can fight a god and win."
"You don't have to," Shade says. "And I am only a slave to life, as we all are. Even if Echidna society were more modern, and aware as I've witnessed I would still have my obligations as a princess."
"I still think your father should be removed from tyranny. If nothing else." I walk into the banquet room.
"Rise, for our new champion!" Enerjak says grandly, standing and applauding.
The other roar an agreement, and a massive purple echidna almost knocks me on my face with a pat to the back.
Shade laughs, "Thrash, be easy on our champion."
"He can take it! He's the champion!" He chortles.
I cough and brush myself off subconsciously, before walking up to an empty chair and sitting. Antonio and Knuckles take the next two available seats.
"So, what kinds of adventures have you been on?" Enerjak asks, helping himself.
"This is my first one." I say.
"A prodigy," one of the warriors shouts, earning whoops, and laughter.
"I can always make something up, I hear I'm great at that." I smirk.
"Very well then; I am interested to see what you can make up." Enerjak motions for me to go ahead.
"Okay. I was surrounded on all sides by men with spears and swords, no way out, and backed into a corner. I was alone, no backup; they had all died. One of them charged me, and I took him out with a single punch, grabbing his spear and using it to make my escape! I stabbed it into the wall behind me, and used it to catapult me high into the air. They attempted to skewer me, but I caught the spears one by one and threw them back, killing all but one before landing."
"What happened to the last one?" One of the echidnas in the back asks curiously.
"He backed out like a wimp and killed himself." I say simply.
Amused snorts, and looks of disdain meet that final answer. Talk of disgrace murmurs through the audience.
"Weak sauce bro." Antonio snickers.
"Hey, like I said, I made this story up. What do you want, me to fight an entire army with my bare hands and kill them with their limbs?" I snort.
"I did once," says a familiar voice that belongs to a certain brain-dead hedgehog.
Shade whips her head around, and immediately warriors are on their feet as the rest of our group walks in.
"Dammit Spike!" I slam the face of my C.E.A. and disappear, reappearing in front of him as Tails Doll Hero. "These are the rest of my team, they won't hurt you or I'll hurt them." I glare at him.
Spike puts a hand in my face, and pushes past me, ever the idiot who has to be the center of attention...
"So which one of you is Inner-jaket?"
"I am, insolent warrior." Enerjak stands. "I would correct you, but your leader vouches for your protection."
"Screw him," Spike says, waving. "Wow... you're shinier than I thought you'd be."
"And you are dimmer than I imagine you believe yourself to be." Enerjak states.
Spike tilts his head, and Reave pinches a nerve ending on his neck that knocks him out.
"Apologies Lord Enerjak, he was simply too curious. He also lost more than a few brain cells in the Gauntlet."
Shade raises an eyebrow, "The illegal fighting tournament?"
"I have heard stories of the place. I am amazed he survives still, even after the thrashings of Poisoned Rose." Enerjak muses.
"He was a member," Reave says as he sets Spike up in a chair. "This is Spike, I am Reave. The Bunny is Millie, the mongoose is Sarah, and I believe you know Sonic perhaps?"
"Sonic, the insolent rodent." Enerjak floats over. "I had hoped to never see you again."
"Feeling's mutual, Flapjack. Still trying to get some Chaos Emeralds, which prefer me over you?" Sonic smirks.
"I've given up that tirade, hedgehog. I have enough energy to dwarf the sun, just like the Master Emerald." Enerjak boasts with a sneer.
"But unlike the Master Emerald, you open your mouth." Sonic pushes past him. "Talk to my hair, Jackie."
Enerjak grits his teeth, but does nothing to Sonic.
Wow. Sonic just dissed a god. He really is stupidly brave.
Spike sits up suddenly, "I'M UP!"
As opposed to Spike who's just plain stupid...
Shade looks weirded out, "How did...?"
Reave explains, "Going unconscious is the bodies way of preserving brain cells."
"Ah," she says with a smile.
Spike gawks, "FOOD!" He snatches a leg off of Thrash's plate.
"Oy! That's mine!" Thrash growls.
"Ease off him; his goal in life is to make specific people's lives a living hell." I sigh, walking up to Sarah. "So why'd you guys come?" I ask her.
Sarah smiles, and hugs me, "Spike wanted to ride one of the polar bears like a rodeo bull, but then he smelled food... it was a long flight so we thought it was okay."
Spike puts an arm on the table, "Wanna arm-wrestle for it?"
"Figures." I sigh. "Well, you guys are here now. Pull up a chair." I walk to Enerjak, Sarah in tow. "This is... my wife. I cannot except your daughter's hand in marriage, but I will be your daughter's champion if you desire."
"Ah, so this is the wife of Hero?" He frowns. "But she isn't an echidna! Why are you mingling with outsiders?"
"He was raised among them," Millie supplies, and then laughs with the rest of the Echidnas as the table breaks under the pressure of the arm-wrestling match.
Sarah blushes deep red at the word "wife," was that too much?
"You are truly a weird echidna, Hero. But as long as you will come whenever I need you to be my daughter's champion, then by all means, I accept." He floats back to his spot at the table.
"Sorry about that... but he wanted to make me marry his daughter. Did I go too far?" I turn to Sarah worriedly.
"I-i-it's fine," she says, eyeing Shade thoughtfully. "...She doesn't seem like a bad person."
"She's a wonderful person. I'm just not sure if polygamy is right for me." I say with a shrug.
She smiles, and kisses my cheek. "I knew you were the right one."
Spike pulls out a Viking hat, and jumps on the table, "WHO HERE WILL CHALLENGE ME-gurk?!"
Reave grabs him by the neck of his shirt, and slams him back onto the floor.
"Party on." I chuckle.
Spike hops back up, "Aw c'mon Reave, these guys love to fight! Plus I was raised, and taught by an Echidna so I almost am one, right?!"
"Close, but no cigar." I say as we walk over. "Raised by one doesn't mean you share her DNA."
"No, but I got her mad skills!" Spike summons his sword, "C'mon, anyone?!"
"Put. The sword. Away. And come down here." I hiss, no longer in a playful mood.
"You are NOT my father," he replies in a Darth Vader voice.
"I WILL come up there if you don't come down." I state, placing my hand on my C.E.A.
Spike stares at it, and then sits with a pout too much like his sister's.
"Thank you." I pull a chair out for my "wife."
She sits, and I scoot her in.
I sit next to her, and Enerjak says, "Now, if there are no more interruptions, I will allow the champion's teammates a chance to tell exciting stories of their exploits, if they so desire."
Spike raises a hand, "ME FIRST!"
"By all means. And please stay in your chair." Enerjak states.
Spike smiles, "Alright... Way-back-when during the Gauntlet Smoke, Cinder, and I had decimated our competition to get to the final team, the chumps in charge of the tournament. Over the past few years we'd sweat, bled, and broke bones to get there, and you know what? Cinder had decided she had enough."
Spike stands, and pumps a fist in the air, "At her signal Smoke, and I attacked the crowds, slaughtering them all. it was raining rivers of blood like some kind of storm with their screams as loud as thunder. The opposing teams were blinded by greed, and more concerned about their paying customers than they were about death herself standing across from them in the arena.
"She grabbed the leader first, a monkey named Kuro, and ripped his head right off! That got the attention of his burly bros, a polar bear named Shaman, and a gorilla named Cornfed. She slung his body at them, blinding the motherfuckers with his blood, and in one strike ripped both their hearts out of their bodies!"
"Dark." I murmur.
Enerjak leans in, listening intently.
Spike sighs in satisfaction, "We broke off a few pipes, and mounted their heads on the walls, and Cinder declared herself the winner. Afterwards though she sent out the word that Poisoned Rose was permanently disbanded, and the Gauntlet permanently dismantled."
He roots around in his quills, and produces a gold gauntlet with a different colored gem on each knuckle, "And she let me keep this, the trophy, in memory."
"Well done." Enerjak claps. "I must admit that was much better than I thought it would be!"
Spike takes a bow, and puts the gauntlet back in his hair.
"Anyone else?" He tears a chunk of meat from a hunk of beef.
Reave slowly stands, "By your leave, I will share a tale."
"You have my permission." He waves a hand.
Reave sighs, "I am Reave Nightshade, born into a Shadow War. For generations my clan has fought a clan of ninjas called the Nage. Each side for hundreds of years sought one goal: to prove their clan superior to the other."
Reave flicks his wrist, and shows his hidden blade, "I hail from a clan of assassins, bond by a strict creed that I still live by, though I no longer hold allegiance to this feud."
"Impressive, a Nightshade? Go on." Enerjak says.
"When I was a Kit I had two sisters, one elder, and one not even a year old. The Nage sent their own into our home... and killed my youngest sister on sight."
Shouts of indignation arouse from around the table. Why would they care so much for an Outsider?
Shade leans over to me, "The harming of a Puggle... a child in any way is one of our strictest taboos. Anyone found guilty would be slaughtered on sight, regardless of their tribe, or political standing."
"Wow." I say, amazed.
Reave holds up a hand, and they grow quiet so he may continue. "My eldest sister, Crystal woke the instant the deed was done. I was awake the second they clashed. She was a good three years older than me, and more skilled by far, but against this master of death she was quickly overpowered. She was saved by the arrival of our mother however, and the assailant was quickly dispatched."
I hold Sarah with one arm, more to comfort myself than anything.
Reave looks down, "Mother had been grievously wounded in the battle, and died the next morning. As son to the Head of the family it was my duty to one day guide the family in this war." he shakes his head, "But I knew I was the wrong warrior for the duty. Instead I honed my skills, and left without looking back. The last time I saw my sister was when she gave me the blades I now wear. The war could be over by now, I have no way of knowing."
The room is quiet as he sits.
Enerjak says nothing, chewing his food while thinking.
"Enerjak's going to say something about how he would've seized the chance to be the ruler, I just know it." I murmur.
Reave closes his eyes, "My clan considers me a disgrace for leaving, but I know my heart. I would never have been ever to take the measures it requires to end this war. To slay babies, mothers, and families before they have a chance to fight..."
"You did the right thing." Antonio says.
I nod in agreement, and wait to hear Enerjak's next words.
"While killing of children is wrong, I would've taken the opportunity to change the game, make it a game to win, without the bloodshed of innocents!" He raises a goblet high.
The others raise their drinks in agreement, and Reave replies, "Which is why men like you lead, and I do not."
"That is a valid point!" Enerjak agrees.
Sarah sniffles, and dabs her eyes with a napkin.
I give her a hug as Enerjak asks, "Any more stories? No? An applause to our guests for sharing!"
Spike waves, and Reave nods as the audience claps.
Spike elbows Thrash, "So how about it? Wanna toe with me sometime?"
"Sometime, just not tonight." Thrash jabs his spoon at Spike's arm with a smirk.
Shade smiles, "I think my father approves of your friends."
"Glad he does, I thought for sure we were all gonna die when Spike strode in." I sigh.
"If I didn't know better I'd say he was born among a tribe," Shade says with a laugh in her voice. "He seems the popular one right now."
"He was raised by an echidna. For all I know, he knows more about echidnas than I do." I say.
"Doubt it," She laughs as she points to Spike trying to stuff a whole polar bear leg in his mouth
"He was never one for etiquette; that's not a deciding factor for him." I point out.
Shade shrugs, and offers me a plate of steaming potatoes with cheese.
"Thanks." I put some on my plate, and pass it to Sarah.
She accepts some before passing it down the line.
The feast continues for an hour before Enerjak decides to speak. Shade whispers to me, "I think he'll choose to let his armies follow you into battle."
"My people, as you can clearly see, we have sat with outsiders, and they have not harmed us. These people have earned our trust, and we will protect them if they come seeking shelter. Our champion is now as much a member as my own daughter, and like a son to me now. You will follow him into combat if he demands it, just as when Shade has done in the past. There will be consequence to those who do not follow him, and praise to those that do. Rise and congratulate, our new member!"
They jump to their feet, and raise their weapons with an almighty roar that shakes the room.
I look around, a touch embarrassed but greatly honored. I look at Sarah and smile.
She smiles back, hands on her head to keep herself from going deaf.
I close my eyes and give her a kiss and enveloping her in a hug.
...
Later we are on the edge of the village, and Shade is with us, "Where will you go now?"
"To go see Mom. I want to see her and get this crazy adventure over with." I say.
Shade nods, "Do you wish me to accompany you? She has always listened to me when I had to step between her, and her sister."
"That would be great." I smile at her. "Thank you."
Shade nods, and a young girl about sixteen or so walks up with a pack over her shoulder, and the tell-tale tattoos around her eyes.
"Who's this?" I look her up and down.
She bows, "Mien-Dee, an honor."
Shade nods to her, "One of our most talented spellcasters."
"How do spellcasters work? I've read stories and stuff, but I doubt books are always true."
"Mostly I provide medicine," she explains. "But if need be I can use the energies around me to protect myself with nature."
"Which makes you vulnerable in a city," Reave sighs.
Mien-Dee smiles, "No, even modern constructs use natural components which I can call upon."
"Well then, we could use you very much. Antonio claims he can do everything, but I'm not trusting his medical skills unless I have to." I chuckle.
"Hmph, you're just jealous I probably could, because I'm the Tails Doll." Antonio sniffs.
Shade cracks her neck, "Well we should be off. How did you get here?"
"A truck. Hey Spike, could you not scare us with your driving this time?" I ask hopefully.
"Maybe," Spike says innocently as he leads the way back to the truck.
"Sarah, hold me." I groan. "I think I just jinxed it."
"I would hold you anyways," she says as she wraps her arms around me.
I again stab my quills into the walls of the truck, and brace myself.
...
The ride this time is less bumpy, apparently Spike got most of the "fun" out of his system up north.
"Thank Chaos!" I sigh when we stop.
Spike smiles, "I said maybe man, but this isn't exactly a jet you know."
"Antonio can put a jet setting on it." I hop out and look around.
The jungle air is warm, and humid. I notice Mien-Dee looks uncomfortable here, probably not used to anything 80 degrees below zero.
"How close are we, Shade?" I look back.
She looks around, "Not far... be on your guard, these forests are an attraction point for Werehogs, and other such beasts."
"Really?!" Antonio disappears.
She nods, "The tribe here considers them sacred animals, and have actually bonded with a few of them. Because Werehogs are so powerful the Bonded are considered only slightly less than royalty."
"Aw..." Antonio comes back, disappointed.
I turn into Fire Hero. "It's starting to turn dark out. We either need to find them, or find a good place to camp for the night."
"We should camp," Shade says. "It's risky, but what lies ahead may be even riskier."
Mien-Dee presses her palms to the ground, and begins to mutter. The ground rolls, and vines in the trees twist into hammocks. A pit forms in the ground for a fire, and the fruit bearing trees around us lower their bountiful branches.
I snap my fingers, and a flame appears on my finger.
Antonio disappears, then reappears, dropping wood into the pit.
I flick my flame into the pit, and it lights.
Shade nods, and starts gathering extra wood. Reave helps Spike unload tents from the trailer while Sarah, and Millie set them up.
Antonio leaves, and comes back with berries and other fruit. "I can get some meat if you guys want some!" He offers.
"Please," Spike calls over, smacking his lips. Frankly I have to agree, it had been a long flight, and jet lag is starting to catch up.
He disappears, and comes back a few minutes later with meat from a grocery store. "Here you go!" He says cheerfully.
Shade frowns, "...if you can do that then why did we have to fly in that deathtrap?"
"I can only fly myself and one person. And that one person doesn't get a comfy ride." Antonio says as if it was obvious.
"Point taken," Shade says. "But it was a fair question."
"It's okay."
Spike takes a strand of raw meat, and swallows it whole, and Sarah makes a face in response.
I take the rest of the meat and place them directly in the fire, one at a time, using my fireproof hands as pans.
"Thanks," Sarah says with a shudder.
Spike shrugs, "What? you get more protein with it raw."
"You also get sick, unless you're Shadow or a Werehog I have proof for both." Sonic states, pulling a hot dog bun from his hair and placing his strip of meat in it like a hot dog. He lathers chili onto it before taking a bite.
"Well I've never gotten sick," Spike says.
Reave nods, "It's true, he's been exposed to so many diseases his immunity system is remarkable."
"Yeah. I'll bet Amy wouldn't approve at all, though." Sonic chuckles.
"Hey, I'm the oldest so she has no sway over me!"
"Dude, I'm technically the oldest. The girl is always the boss, no matter what age they are." Sonic states, biting into his "dog".
Spike droops his ears, and mutters, "Not true..."
"True for you, because you moved out. Amy is in charge of MY life when she's with me."
"She takes after our mother," Spike sighs.
"Remind me to never meet your mother if I ever have to marry Amy." Sonic says, finishing his hot dog.
Spike smirks, "She wasn't so bad, but our dad was the nightmare. We get our temper from him."
"Correction: Remind me to never meet your parents." Sonic shudders.
"Hey, mama was a sweetheart who'd smother you with cookies, and kisses," Spike defends.
"My mom does that anyways. It's no improvement." Sonic shrugs.
"You wanna start something Bub?" Spike summons his sword.
"I will fry you both." I say simply.
Sonic shuts his mouth.
Spike puts away his sword.
"Thank you for your cooperation." I say, finishing my food.
"Robocop," Spike coughs into a fist.
"How about you go to sleep so I can kill you during the night?" I deadpan. "Or, you can stay awake and watch the camp. Someone's gonna get guard duty."
Reave stands, "I'll take first watch."
"Thanks, Reave." I smile. "Tomorrow we'll go see my mom. Good night, everyone."
Spike passes out on the spot, and Sarah crawls into one of the tents. Millie gestures for me to follow as she climbs into one with Shade, and Mien-Dee.
I walk in with them. "You wanted to see me?"
Millie boots me out, "I meant "go to your wife!" Geez!"
"Ow! You need better signals, geez!" I walk into Sarah's tent, rubbing my head.
Sarah looks up, and kisses the bump on my head gently. "Better?"
"Much." I smile. I lie down on a sleeping bag with a sigh.
She slides into the bag with me, and wraps her arms around me gently, "Good night Hero."
"Good night, Sarah." I kiss her cheek before closing my eyes, going to sleep.