I hear some leaves rustling outside my tent, and wake up on the spot.
"Easy big fella..."
Spike?
I look at Sarah, and noting she's still asleep, I pull a pair of earmuffs and put them on her before softly getting out and peeking out of the tent.
Spike is facing down a beast three times his size, all fur, claws, and fangs.
"..." I'd call this crazy, if I didn't know Spike probably would do this on a daily basis if we lived in the forest.
Spike has his hands up in defense, "Easy does it... I swear I taste too tough..."
The massive Werehog lunges, and Spike jumps high, landing on its back. He grabs onto the fur, holding on for dear life as it bucks, and spins. After a minute he throws one hand up like he's riding a rodeo bull.
"...Hey Spike, why is there a Werehog in our campsite?" I ask slowly.
"Dunno, don't care, talk in a sec!" He continues to whoop as the Werehog rolls, but he still hangs on.
I look back to make sure Sarah is still asleep before stepping out, closing the flap.
"Down boy!" Spike rolls forward in a flip, and flips the Werehog on his back. he dusts himself off as the beast catches its breath. "Now how many people have you seen do that?"
Millie slips out of the tent groggily, punches Spike hard enough to knock him flat, and then goes back in to sleep some more. The Werehog decides to limp off into the forest.
I chuckle. "You'd be the first, and probably next to last after Antonio does it."
"Ish eh cookie time," he mumbles as stars circle his head.
I check my watch. I'd say it's time to look for breakfast.
I look up at the trees, where Antonio hangs lazily from one. "Hey Anti, find us some breakfast."
Antonio wakes up and falls out of the tree into a cat stance before dashing into the forest.
I hear Sarah in our tent, and a minute later she comes out with the earmuffs in her hand. "Since when did I sleep with these?"
"Since when Spike decided to perform his own Werehog rodeo." I thumb at Spike.
Spike sits up, and shakes the dizziness from his head. Reave returns to the camp with a hand-woven basket full of fish.
"Thanks Reave!" I smile as I turn into Fire Hero, lighting the fire again.
He sets the basket down, and Spike pokes a hand in.
"OUCH!" He jerks it back out, sharp-toothed fish on his fingers. "WHAT THE HELL?! YOU CAUGHT PIRANHAS!"
"They are indigenous fish," Reave says coolly.
"Aren't they mostly bone?" I shrug. "Never mind."
Reave helps me carves stick to roast them on as Antonio rejoins us.
"Found more berries!" He drops a few baskets of strawberries and blackberries.
"Thanks bro."
"Yeppidy!"
Spike finishes wrapping his fingers in bandages, and whimpers. "How can I roast a fishie with this hand?"
"I thought you like raw meat?" I smirk.
"Yeah, but I don't wanna make your wife vomit," Spike pouts.
"Fair point." I shoot a fireball at it, and it cooks perfectly. "There you go."
Spike licks his chops, and takes a bite. Out of the corner of my eye I see Millie come out, drawn by the smell of food.
"Hey Millie! We got fish and berries."
She nods, and comes over while rubbing her eyes. "Did you guys see where Shade and Mien-Dee went off to?"
"I didn't know they left." I blink.
"They went to the lake to the east." Antonio says.
"What are they doing there," Reave wonders out loud.
"Making out maybe?" Spike shrugs as he pokes Sonic, and Knuckles' tent.
"Doubt it, Shade's the princess."
"Your point?" Spike zips open the tent, and Knuckles punches him over the campsite.
"You know what? Never mind. They'll come back, and if they feel the need to tell us what they're doing, I'm sure they'll let us know." I start chewing on berries.
Knuckles yawns as he joins us, "Morning all."
"Good morning Knuckles." I greet. "Want some fish?"
He takes one with a nod of thanks, and bites out of it. "So how do you like the married life?"
"Oh, you'll find out eventually." I smirk, not letting the jab get to me.
He smiles, "Maybe so, once I meet the right girl."
"I still think Shade would be better for you than me." I shrug. "I'm happy with just one."
Knuckles nods, "Well then I'll tell her you said that."
"No need, we heard," Shade says as she walks into the campsite with Mien-Dee. They have buckets made of ice on wooden poles over their shoulders filled with water.
"Sorry if that offends you." I apologize, offering to take the water buckets.
"No, as I said before my father most likely has tried to preserve my hand for Knuckles." She smiles, "I asked a Seer before we left. He said that whether or not we do wed is our choice, but that mine is not the hand he will cherish most."
"Huh. Cryptic." I say thoughtfully. "Well, once we're done eating, we'll go."
Shade nods as she helps pour the surprisingly clean water into canteens. Sarah leans into me as she goes to take a bite of her food... only to find that the fish isn't on the end of her stick where she left it. Millie glares accusingly at Spike.
"Hey, my hands are clean in this," he protests, only halfway through his own fish. Sarah looks around on the ground for her breakfast and gasps. Not five feet away directly behind us is a small ball of fur eating her fish. The baby Werehog looks up at her with the most adorable eyes, and whimpers as she picks it up by the armpits.
"Ah! Kill it with fire!" Antonio starts charging lasers in his eyes.
Sarah quickly hugs it to her chest, "Stop that!"
Millie smacks him upside the head.
"Ow!" Antonio's eyes dim to normal, rubbing it as he scowls at Millie. "Gee, for a girl who's not my girlfriend, you sure like to hit me!"
She crosses her arms, and gives him a flat look.
"Ah!" Sarah giggles as the puppy starts licking her neck, and then looks at me curiously.
I walk over to her, and scratch the pup behind its ears. "I hope this little guy doesn't have any diseases, or you're gonna get sick."
Mien-Dee offers me my pack, "I wouldn't worry, they have a very strong resilience to disease, and poison. Not even their own venom affects each other."
I put it on. "If you're keeping that, we're taking it to a veterinary clinic once we get back." I say.
She nods, "Okay then... I wonder where the mother is though?"
Mien-Dee sighs, "Maybe dead."
"Or, Spike rode it and it ran away." I glance at Spike.
"Nah, I saw something on that that definitely doesn't belong on a mommy, and I don't think the daddy's are up for babysitting."
"Changing subject now, which way, Shade?"
Shade points, "One kilometer that way."
"Then let's pack up." I wave my hand, and the fire goes out. I change back into regular and start disassembling a tent.
Sarah squeaks as the puppy climbs on her back, hanging there like a backpack.
I chuckle and put the tent back in the truck. Once all the tents are put away, I say, "Lead on, Shade."
Shade nods, and we start to trek.
A few hours later, I'm starting to feel a bit lost. "We're still going the right way, right?"
Shade nods, "Yes, but we're being watched."
"Yeah, for the last few minutes." Antonio agrees.
That doesn't make me feel any better.
"How close are we?"
"Not close enough," Shade replies.
Reave is a bit rigid beside me, "I know this Chi... Nage."
"So... do we attack them first, or wait for them to announce themselves?" I slowly move next to Sarah, getting ready to defend.
"On my signal," Reave responds.
"Yes hon?" I look at Sarah. "The time? Let me check my watch..." I bring my hand to my C.E.A.
*Snick!*
"Now!" Reave whirls, and thrusts his hidden blade into what appears to be empty air. I hear a grunt, and a second later a green chameleon appears with Reave's blade in his gut. One throat slash later it drops.
"Nage move in groups of at least three," Reave calls out.
I slam the face down and turn Tails Doll, hooking arms with Antonio before we eye-laser the immediate area.
Spike tackles the girls down while Shade flips over our beams, calling up her armaments. Mien-Dee presses her palms into the soils, and closes her eyes.
Reave calls to the still standing trees, "Worthless cowards! Do you not even have the honor to face me as a true warrior?!"
In one fluid motion, my C.E.A.'s face pops up, and I slam it back down as I thrust a palm forward, charging a huge fireball.
Millie grunts as an invisible being twists her arm behind her, and presses a blade to her throat. Sarah screams as she gets the same treatment.
I turn and clench my fist, the flame extinguishing as the C.E.A. face pops ups again and I slam it back down.
ICE!
"Hold your breath!" I yell at them, shooting an ice beam and freezing the knife hands. It travels up the attackers' bodies and envelopes them in ice. I skate forwards, ice under my feet, and I tackle Sarah and Millie to the ground, their weight combined with mine cracking the ice hard foes into billions of pieces.
Reave glares into the trees, "...I can't sense any more Chi. Either they're all dead now, or the remaining Nage are very advanced."
"Either way we should make haste," Shade says.
"Hold the phone," Spike pipes up. "What if Hero's mommy is the one who sent these guys?!"
"Even if she's dealing with outsiders, I doubt she'd send any. She's got an image to maintain." I look myself over. Ice blue with white highlights, nice.
"A common trait of Nage, and Nightshade is discretion," Reave says. "The finest of either clan could silently dispatch an entire army without so much as a whisper."
"Well then, let's go before more show up." I order, looking at Shade.
She nods, and summons a Leech Blade so we can cut our way through the jungle. I glance at Sarah who is brushing frost off her new Werehog puppy.
"You okay?" I move next to her, my form fading to normal.
She nods, shaking a bit, "Yeah... a little cold though..."
The puppy looks up at me with an annoyed expression.
"You've got a thick coat, little guy. Don't give me that look." I rub her arms, transferring some of my body heat to her.
She smiles, and I see Spike snap an icicle from his quills, and suck on it.
Sarah looks at her puppy, "I wonder what I should name him..."
"As long as it's not Bubbles, Champ, Chuck Norris, Bubba, or Tom, I don't mind what you name it."
"I wasn't asking you," she says cheekily, and sticks her tongue out at me.
"Ha ha. You live in my house, Honey. How about Wash?"
She looks like she's about to laugh, "No... How about Atlas, after the titan from those stories from the human world? He was said to be the strongest so the gods made him hold up the sky."
I stare at the puppy. "Pass... How about... Blues?"
She pouts, "He's mine, and he's not even blue! He's a fine gold!"
"I know, I just thought it was cool... Pyrite? Galaxia? I dunno, I just think Atlas is a bit strong..."
"Well he will be strong when he gets older," Sarah says.
Weird, she usually doesn't argue about anything.
"Could you try another god?" I ask slowly.
She thinks, "Hm... Ares was the god of war... no... Hades is too dark for him... Apollo was the sun god, but that doesn't sound very macho... Poseidon maybe since Zeus is kinda cliché? I read somewhere that it literally means Earthquake God."
"How about Aether?"
"I don't know that one."
"I'm not sure if he's a god, but he's a deity of the upper atmosphere. He gives pure air to the gods, as opposed to normal air we breathe."
She looks down at the puppy uncertainly, "Well... okay then. Welcome to the family Aether!"
His respond is a tongue-curling yawn.
I chuckle. "You can put him in my pack if you want."
She's content to carry him though as we make our way to my mother's city.
When we get there my first impression is that they've simply adapted old ruins to suit their own needs, but a closer inspection, and a confirmation from Mien-Dee shows that these ruins were never abandoned by the echidnas. Two burly warriors stop us with spears, but once Shade presents herself they announce our arrival with horns.
Antonio watches the guards. "I could take them. How about you?" He whispers to Spike.
"With both hands behind my back," he replies.
A female echidna in green leather with a white hoodie cloak comes forward. The hood is down so I can see the tattoos of a spellcaster on her face. She has a quiver of arrows with two longknives sheathed in it. She appraises us calmly, and says, "I am Ari-Ell, and I will be your guide today Princess Shade. By custom you may bring two companions in audience."
Spike takes a breath with a raised finger, but Millie quickly claps a hand over his mouth.
"Hero, Reave," Shade looks over her shoulder at us.
I give Sarah a quick kiss and Aether an ear scratch before following Shade.
Ari-Ell leads us into the ruins while echidnas bustle about. It's very much like the Tundra tribe, but with a more threatening air to it. She leads us up a long stairway and into a room at the top of one of the square pyramids.
Inside is a massive room laden with gold, and my heart skips a beat when I see who sits in the throne.
Ari-Ell kneels, "Princess Lien-Da, Princess Shade has come for an audience."
She gives us a disinterested glance before looking at Shade. "Why have you come, Shade? I haven't sent any men to attack you."
Shade smiles, "Must an old friend need an excuse? But I confess, I did come to discuss... sensitive matters."
"I see. If it's sensitive, why do you have an outsider with you?" She stares at Reave.
"Princess Lien-Da, I've traveled far to see you." I say, taking a knee and placing a fist on my heart.
"You will have your turn commoner." She hisses, looking at Shade.
"Please Lien-Da, I believe you will not wish for this news to spread over your court." Discreetly she rubs her wrist, and glances down at me.
"Hmph. Now, what is it you want, commoner?" She glares at me.
"If I may be bold, I would like to make a crazy statement." I say.
She gives a sharp laugh, but stops when she sees I'm serious. "Then say it." She orders.
I raise my left arm. "Mom, I'm home for lunch."
She blinks and leans in. "Come closer."
I stand and walk until I'm in front of her before dropping back to my knee.
She studies the device coldly. "Where did you get this?"
I run a hand over my quills, tapping them with a finger as I do, "In here."
"What is your name?" She states.
"Hero, son of Warrior and Lien-Da." I press the two buttons, the projection playing.
As it plays, her face slowly unhardens and pales. When it finishes, she slowly says, "Hero? This is really you?"
"Mostly. I had to change my hairstyle." I smile.
"Oh Hero!" She falls from her chair and hugs me, tears running down her face. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
Shade smiles, and Reave keeps his eyes peeled for eavesdroppers.
"Mom, what happened to Dad?" I ask.
She pulls away and answers, "Your father is... around. Honestly he moves around so much I don't know where he is. But he was here two days ago to check on me."
"How do you look so young?"
She laughs. "Really? Warrior says he can see wrinkles and grey hair already."
"He's lying."
"I knew it!"
We stand, and she smiles.
"So why did you give me up?" I ask.
"It's not your fault. Warrior was always a bit paranoid; he didn't know what the people would think if they found out I created a hybrid. You know, pure blood and stuff."
"Yeah, about that. Why DID you marry him?"
"I met him during a mission for Eggman. He was a great combatant, even better than me. I suppose he was a charmer, because he was hitting on me the entire time we worked together." She smiles at the memory.
Shade walks over, "Glad you sent your subjects away, hm? And the "Outsider" Reave over there was contracted to help him find you."
"Good thing he went for you first, otherwise I would've never let him near me." She says with a smile. She turns to Reave. "Apologies for my behavior. The only outsider I've seen in years is my husband."
Reave bows at the hip with one arm crossed over his heart, "I was expecting such treatment... what we were not expecting were the Nage Clan on your borders." He looks up into her eyes, assessing for a reaction.
"The Nage? Oh great, he's at it again." Lien-Da sighs.
"Who?" I ask.
"One of my commanders, Fear Slogluiganoff. He keeps trying to take over my throne. The only thing keeping him from it is Warrior, albeit discreetly."
"Shit. Mom, he adopted me." I groan.
"WHAT?!"
"He married my adopted mom and helped raise me. He left when I was around two years old."
"This is bad." She paces back and forth.
Reave says, "To quote my best friend, 'No shit Sherlock.'"
Shade steps up, "Can we allow the rest of our group in? With the Nage out and about we must be careful."
"Yes. Do it quickly." She nods.
"Then I will alert our eavesdropper behind the statue," Shade says evenly, and a second later Ari-Ell steps into view."
"Ari-Ell? Why are you here? This is private." Lien-Da states.
She bows her head, "I had assumed these were potential assassins. I had thought only to protect you." She draws one of the longknives from her quiver, and extends it to Lien-Da handle first. "Please, deal punishment as you see fit, my princess."
Lien-Da waves her hand. "It is excused. Outsider, please take her with you to find your friends."
"Thank you, and my name is Reave Nightshade."
"Reave Nightshade? Hm, it is a pleasure." Lien-Da bows slightly.
Reave looks a bit taken aback, but follows Ari-Ell to the town outside.
Shade raises an eyebrow, "You are familiar with his clan I take it?"
"Of course, Warrior gave me a few history lessons. I'm interested to see this man's side of the story, though." Lien-Da smiles.
"It's not a pleasant one," Shade informs her. He shared it at Father's banquet when your son here "bested" me in battle."
"Well Hero, you're impressing all kinds of ladies, aren't you?" Lien-Da smirks.
I just groan, covering my face with a hand.
Shade rubs between my shoulder blades, "I knew Father would never assist him if he lost... however I would like to fight him in a serious match someday, even if I do end up his Second Wife."
"Second? Why you womanizer!" Lien-Da giggles.
I sputter for a few seconds before throwing up my arms. "You really are my mom, aren't you? Packing eighteen years of embarrassment into five minutes, and I doubt you're finished!"
She laughs. "I have eighteen years to catch up to, Hero. I didn't even get the chance to show your baby pictures to your first wife before you got married!"
Shade shakes her head in amusement, "That was me teasing Lien-Da, I don't believe they are officially married... yet."
"Not married yet? I hope you've been using a condom!"
"Ugh, Mom! I'm waiting until I'm married, geez!" I'll bet my face is as red as my Fire Hero form right now.
"Why? Warrior sure as hell didn't." Lien-Da giggles.
"TMI!" I shout, covering my ears protectively.
Shade laughs, and wipes a tear from her eye, "By the Master Emerald Lien-Da, in all the years we've known one another I don't think I've ever seen you having this much fun."
"I've lost my child for eighteen years, and I can tell no one of my husband. Of course you haven't seen this side of me." She smiles. "I hope to share it with you though."
Shade nods, "Of course old friend."
A warrior runs in, "Your majesty, there's ruckus in the city!"
"Shoot. I'm coming!" She reaches next to her throne and grabs a whip, hooking it to her waist. She dashes out, and we follow her.
What we find is Spike getting beaten by a bunch of kids with big sticks. Millie, Mien-Dee, and Sarah are playing with Aether who is just eating up the attention. Reave waves to us as Sonic, and Knuckles try something in wooden cups.
"Lien-Da, is that Mead?" Shade raises an eyebrow.
"Mead?" I look at Shade curiously.
"An alcoholic beverage," she explains. "I heard rumors that the Mead here is quite potent."
With perfect timing Sonic falls flat on his butt.
"Apparently, it's Mead." Lien-Da deadpans.
Sarah looks up, and smiles at me. Aether jumps into her arms as she walks over to us. Shade gives Line-Da a nod, "His soon-to-be wife."
"So you're the lucky girl." Lien-Da smiles. "I am Hero's mother, just don't announce it."
Sarah gasps, and bows to the dismay of a certain pup, "I-I'm Sarah... it's nice to meet you."
"Sarah? Hm, such a nice girl. I can't wait to get to know you and my son better when we're someplace private!" Mom smiles.
Sarah smiles as well.
"GET THESE PUNKS OFF ME!" Spike runs past with the kids still chasing after him, and several welts on his head.
Lien-Da shakes her amusedly. "Children, come here and stop hurting the weird outsider."
They "aw," but do as she commands.
Spike rubs his head, "Thanks lady."
"You can humor me by telling me why they decided to use you as a piñata." She states with a smile.
"How should I know?! One of them chucked a mango at me which I knocked away with my sword, next thing I know they're on me like sharks!"
"They were offering you fruit." She sighs. One of the children throws a mango at her, and she catches it without looking. "Thanks, children."
Spike's jaw drops, "...Y'know, they could have, oh I dunno, yelled "free food" or something!"
Reave elbows him, "Princess Lien-Da, this is my companion Spike."
Spike rubs his stomach, "Hey, don't leave out the best parts man! The Demon of Poisoned Rose, the world's best swordsman, not to mention the only man Cinder ever taught!"
"Never heard of you." She states.
Spike immediately starts to sulk in a fetal position.
Sarah pats his back, "Don't worry, you remember what they said right? Lien-Da doesn't have much contact outside the tribe so she's never even heard of the Gauntlet."
Reave chuckles, and says to my mom, "I think he's got a few war stories for your men, he loves telling them."
"Just a note for you all: you are not to mention my relationship with my son until I talk with the elders. As far as everyone is concerned, you are all guests of Shade. Okay?" She smiles.
"Even I knew that," Spike mutters.
Shade looks around, "Where's Antonio?"
I look around. "Anti, where are you?"
No response came.
Reave frowns, "He seemed a capable man... Hero, are you certain he is trustworthy?"
"As sure as I am that I'm a guy. Anti! Where are you?" I switch into Tail Dolls Hero and use his super-hearing to listen for him.
"Hero! Help!"
"Reave, Spike, Shade! Follow me!" I order, shooting into the jungle.
They're on my tail in a nanosecond, lethal as possible.
"Marco!" I call.
"Polo!" He responds.
"Marco!"
"Polo!"
I screech to a halt in a fighting stance.
"Ah! It's about time you showed up!" Robert Knux smirks.
Shade lands on my right, and Spike on my left. Reave doesn't show, probably doing what assassins do best.
"Anti, you okay?" I ask, spying my brother tied to a stake.
"I'm tied up like a trout. I'm peachy!" He chuckles.
"Shush." Robert turns to me. "I will go easy on you, give me the C.E.A. device, and I'll return your brother."
"And if I don't?" I challenge.
"Then I'll kill all of you and take the device." He says simply.
Spike rolls his eyes, "Seriously, do you bad guys rehearse this crap before you kidnap someone? Talk about sounding like a broken record."
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Robert says easily.
"I think I'll pass. Antonio?" I glance at Antonio.
"What? Oh, right." He snaps the bonds and lands, taking a fighting stance.
"How adorable." Robert laughs. "All right then, I guess I'll take the device by force." He shoots backwards, kicking Antonio in the jaw and sending him flying.
"SPOOOOOON!" Spike leaps forward... and then stabs his sword into the ground. He balances on top of it as he moons the echidna.
Robert kicks the sword out from under him before grabbing him by the face and slamming him into the ground repeatedly.
"OW! MOTHER-! SUNUVA-! KNOCK IT-! LAST-! ALRIGHTY-!"
He bends his back surprisingly far enough to lock his legs around Robert Knux's neck, and turns them over so he can smash a spiked fist repeatedly into his face.
He laughs and headbutts Spike, punching him in the gut before throwing him into a recovering Antonio.
I charge forward and shoot eye-lasers, and he counters with his own. Our lasers collide and explode, knocking us off our feet. I slam into the ground, my hair stabbing into the ground. Uh-oh.
He stands and brushes himself off. "That's all you've got, brothers? Shameful!"
Spike laughs, "I could say the same for you buddy! What's with the love taps? I thought you were trying to trash us, not make out."
He fades out and reappears, grabbing Spike from behind and tearing out one of his quill-styles.
"Ah that hurt!" He smirks, and suddenly sword appears, stabbing Robert right in the gut, "But you know what else does?"
Shade seizes the opportunity, and stabs two Leech Blades into Robert Knux's back.
"Your attacks? Not likely." He shoots eye-lasers at point-blank range at Spike's face, sweeping a leg straight up behind him, his foot slamming Shade between the legs.
Shade hisses in pain, and keeps holding on.
A shadow descends on them as Reave drops from the treetops, blades plunging for Robert's head.
Robert growls, taking a deep breath and shooting cold air at Reave, freezing him solid. Using the quill he pulled from Spike's head, he reaches around, stabbing Shade in the shoulder before starting to hammer it deeper.
Shade groans in pain, but there's a fire in her eyes that refuses to surrender. There's echidnas for you, even the ones who "don't like fighting."
Spike catches Reave, one eye closed from the heavy burns, "Hey Hero! Quit being a dumbshit over there, and kick his can!"
I tug one more time, pulling my quills from the ground before charging forward, shooting lasers and freeze breath at him. He glares at me and turns, placing Shade in my path. "Move!" I shout, stopping my powers and attempting to beat them before they hit her.
She lets loose a cry, and flips Robert over her, directly into the path of my powers.
Antonio smirks and does the same combo, and our combined freeze fire freezes him before shattering him.
"Yeah!" He cheers. "We won!"
I pull the spine from Shade's arm, tearing off my shirt and pressing it against the wound.
She nods, "Thank you... Mien-Dee will heal it when we return."
Spike walks over with Reave in his arms, "And us? I can't have a cat-cicle for my wingman."
"You should be fine, though your face will have a scar."
"I'll warm him up." I make sure Shade is holding the rag before I walk over, switching into Fire Hero. I place my hand on him, and slowly thaw him out.
Reave shakes the water from himself when I'm finished. "Thank you."
"Sure." I stare at the shattered remains of Robert.
Reave flings water from his tail at Spike, "So who was he?"
"He claims he was my brother's brother..." I lean over and study the remains. "If he is, then this isn't him."
"Ain't that a kick between the kickers," Spike sighs.
The pieces start twitching.
"Crap, wait. It's him." I place my hands together, slowly moving them apart as a fireball grows between them.
Suddenly frost gathers on the grass around my feet, streaking for the pieces. Ice gathers on them in bulk, and in seconds there's a glacier in the small clearing. I glance behind me, and see one worn out Mien-Dee.
"Thanks!" I smile.
She smiles back, and nods.
Shade frowns, "In this climate that will only hold for a few hours."
"And when he does, he'll regenerate. I know because I can." Antonio states.
"Then let's get back inside the city. He shouldn't attack innocents." I say.
Spike raises his hand, "Uh, any reason Shade can't phone home, and have Yellow Jacket bring him to the frozen north?"
"Unless he has superhearing, I don't think she can call him." I look at her. "Unless you and your father keep a cell phone, which would be against your no tech rule."
"We have magic which works just as well," she replies.
"Then do that. While I doubt keeping him on ice will stop him forever, it'll definitely be a while before he regenerates and breaks out." Antonio says firmly.
Shade nods, and uses a knife from Reave's hip to slash her palm open.
"Blood of my blood, hear me..." Her weeping wound turns into a fine red mist that swirls in front of her, and the face of Enerjak appears.
"What is it, daughter? I was enjoying some fine beef." He glares.
"My champion just slew one who made an attempt on my life... but said assailant is unkillable. Mien-Dee froze his shards, but we need a safe place to keep them as they are , Father."
"An unkillable foe? I shall be there in a few minutes." He smirks, his face fading out.
The blood flows back into her hand, and Mien-Dee heals it by running a glowing finger on the wound. She sets about fixing Spike's face next.
I turn into Ice Hero and place my hand on the glacier. I close my eyes and take a breath.
Hey, Robert. I know you can hear me, Antonio sometimes does this.
"What do you want, weakling?"
I smirk. You're in no position to call me a weakling, Robsicle.
"Whatever."
What do you need my device for, hm?
He falls silent.
Nothing to say?
"To you, no."
Maybe a few weeks on ice'll change your mind.
"Doubt it."
I jolt away as a demon lunges at me from the blackness, and I pull my hand off, severing the connection. I pant heavily, Robert's taunting laugh fading away.
Reave jumps a bit though the way he'd been standing he'd had no way of seeing me.
"Just what manner of creature is he? That Chi was so... malevolent..."
"...I have no idea, but I imagine the same thing from Enerjak." I shudder involuntarily. Note to self, don't do that ever again.
Reave shakes his head, "No, I felt the god's Chi. Massive, and boastful as it was it was nothing as sinister as that."
"And that's just my brother." I wince. "My 'father' is undoubtedly much worse."
"I have a sinking feeling that we'll find out," Reave sighs.
Spike is checking out his reflection in the mirror, and runs a finger across the wide scar over his right eye. "...You think Sonia will like it?"
"Ask Sonic." I say. I place my hand on the ice again, this time to keep the ice from melting any faster.
Shade rolls her eyes, and blinks. "I feel Father approaching."
I look up, and he lands, looking around.
"Where is this frozen man?" He asks.
"Here." I point to the glacier.
"He doesn't look tough at all. I'm ashamed of you, daughter. You should've been able to take care of him, if not our champion. Needing me to carry him in a cage, hmph." He lifts up the glacier.
Shade bows on one knee, "In my defense, I had comrades to cover for."
That hurts a bit, using us as an excuse not to have her dad look down on her.
"My leniency wears thin, Daughter." He flies away.
Shade squeezes her eyes shut as she stands with fists balled.
I take a deep breath. "Let's go back to the village."
Shade nods as we wordlessly make our way back.
When we get back, I look for everyone. "Hey Shade, do you know where the dining room is?"
"Please... do not speak to me..." She walks off.
Spike shrugs, "Just got burned by her dad, give her space."
"Okay... Hey Spike, which way is food?" I look at him.
He sniffs the air, and then points to a long building, "Banquet Hall sighted Chief!"
"Thanks." I look the way Shade went, and sigh. "Let's go then." We walk into the dining room.
I find Sarah in there tossing scraps of meat in the air for Aether to nab.
"Honey, I'm home!" I smirk and walk over.
She smiles up at me, and hops up to her toes to kiss me.
I kiss her and smile.
"So did you find this Antonio?" Mom asks.
"Yeah. This is Antonio Slogluiganoff, my brother." I introduce.
Her smile lessens. "Slogluiganoff?"
"He ditched me too." He says.
"Why do last names gotta be such a mouthful," Spike wonders out loud. "I mean, mine you can actually say! Rose!"
"My full name is Antonio Slogluiganoff, Jr. the Third. That's why I let my bro just call me Anti." Antonio chuckles.
"Still a mouthful," Spike complains, and Millie shoves a whole apple in his mouth.
"Hero, short and simple." I smile.
Aether sniffs at my mother's hand, and starts to lick it.
"Aw, such a cute little pup!" She coos, petting it.
He rolls over for her.
Mien-Dee smiles at me, "So your bride is a Bonded, hm?"
"Bonded? What's that?" I ask, confused.
"Those who have bonded with a Werehog, Princess Shade told you on the way in it was a near royal privilege among our kind."
"Oh yeah... I guess so." I scratch my head. "I guess I didn't think too hard about it."
Aether start attacking a roast pig while Sarah watches with giggles.
I watch it with amusement. "Kind of reminds me of Spike."
Spike coughs up the apple, "Damn straight, who in their right mind would leave a perfectly good pig lying around like that? Such a waste..."
I walk over and rip off a leg that Aether hadn't touched yet, and toss it to Spike.
He leaps on it so fast I wonder if he's part Werehog.
Reave walks up to my mother, "Have you any strategies to deal with our opposition?"
"The Nightshade? No, not really. Warrior's the combat expert; he tells me what to do, and that's what happens around here."
"No, and I am Nightshade. The Nage are after me, and as such I will deal with them as they come. I meant this Fear person."
"Ugh, Fear... I've only kept him out politically. He knows that eventually, I'm either going to have to get a suitor, or reveal Warrior." She scowls. "But if I reveal Warrior, then he'll overthrow me with the excuse of mixing blood."
Reave leans in, "Then if I may be so bold, make a claim to the purest blood." His gaze travels across the room to Knuckles.
"What?! Marry Knuckles?!" She sputters.
"He is of the purest bloodline, and the strongest of your kind, yes? How would the Echidna people as a whole react if the bride of the Guardian were threatened in any way?"
"I dunno... Warrior wouldn't approve..." She licks her lips nervously.
"If he truly cared then he would understand," Reave says soothingly. "After all, how would you react if your roles were reversed? That he had the chance to save your son, but had to perform actions neither of you enjoy?"
"...I'll talk it over with Knuckles." She smiles. "You're a very smart young man."
Reave smiles, "Thank you. For the past few years I've had to be the brain for two."
Spike bangs his head on the bottom of the table, and gets up with stars around his head. "Nana? Is it cookie time?"
She snickers. "I'll bet it's an honor."
"To be the babysitter for one of the most notorious street fighters? ...I suppose so."
"All of you, go ahead and enjoy lunch. I will talk with Knuckles." She give me a hug before turning and walking over to Knuckles, and the two began conversing.
Reave turns to me, "Perhaps I should have consulted with you before suggesting it?"
I nod, "I would've preferred it, yes."
Reave nods, "I apologize, I was simply seeking a quick end to pressing matters."
Mien-Dee looks like wants to bounce on her toes, "Perhaps the time of Union has come at last!"
"Union? Okay seriously, I just came into echidnaen cultures, I don't know these terms!" I complain.
Mien-Dee calms slightly, "Apologies. The Union was foretold long ago when every Echidna would be united under the Master Emerald to face a common threat, and then our empire would begin anew under the Guardian."
"Cool." I say, impressed.
Reave raises an eyebrow, "The three strongest, and most influential tribe have female leaders, though Shade is not technically in charge... Perhaps "Union" has a more literal meaning in this case?"
I look at him."Such as?" I ask curiously.
"Marriage," he says simply. "With all three princesses as his wives then the tribes would be united."
"Great, four moms, three dads, two brothers, and a cute mongoose with a puppy." I rub my head, a headache coming on.
Reave raises an eyebrow, "Four mothers? Who...? Ah, you think of Cinder as well?"
"My adopted mom, Shade, Mom, and Julie-Su." I explain.
Reave frowns, "Hm... I am not certain she would apply to politics, but then again neither do you. As far as the public is concerned you are simply one of the Guardian's companions."
"Just seeing how my life's gonna turn out in a year." I sigh.
Spike pats my back, "Hey man, we got your back, m'kay?"
"Y-yeah. Okay." I hug Sarah for reassurance.
She hugs back, and Aether climbs on my head.
I chuckle and reach up, picking him off my head and petting him.
He grumbles, and licks my hands.
"At least you two are normal." I smile, adjusting my grip so that Aether wasn't hanging.
Reave chuckles, "Well Hero... technically our contract is over, the job Smoke hired us for is done. We got you to your mother in one piece."
"And I thank you for your help. Thanks for sticking with us." I say, moving Aether to one arm and offering a hand.
He raises an eyebrow at the hand, "Oh we're not leaving quite yet. My enemies are now yours."
"Plus we haven't eaten this good in ever," Spike puts in.
I lower my hand. "So how do we kill your enemies, since mine seem unkillable?"
"The Nage believe themselves superior because they don't rely on shadows for stealth. This makes them arrogant."
"Interesting... They must be fast then."
"Indeed, but so are we. Simply look for what you cannot see in a fight with them."
"Cryptic. I guess powers would be a great help then; I know I can't beat you without them."
Reave puts a hand on my shoulder, "A little-known fact is that most of my kind are Chaos Compatible. We Nightshades however prove our honor by not relying on handicaps like that."
Spike holds up a finger, "And Cinder never let guns, or superpowers in the Gauntlet. She said something about the fruit of hard work versus natural gifts."
"Well yeah, but me? I depend on my powers because I have no strength of my own." I sigh.
Spike, and Reave share a look, and then their faces break into smiles. "We can help with that."
"Really? Am I going to want to commit suicide at any point during this training?"
"Yup," Spike says with a smile. "But once we're done you'll be thanking us."
Reave leans on the table, "Spike, and I are two very different warriors so we can provide two different perspectives. Between us you'll be able to find your strength."
"Okay... when do we start?" I ask.
"In the morning," Reave replies. "Take today to enjoy your reunion."
"Welcome to Hell," Spike says in a creepy voice.
"Joy." I mutter.
Reave laughs, "Don't worry, Spike was put through hellish training from a kid to get as strong as he is, but judging what we've seen of you thus far I think you can handle it."
"Really? Good." I look at the table of food. "Well, that food's getting cold! Let's eat!"
"Speaking my language!" Spike whoops, and uses his sword to cut up a pineapple.
The meal continues for nearly an hour before I see Shade walk in. She notices Knuckles with my mom, and heads over to join their conversation.
I give Aether some fat from my meat.
He snaps it up, and actually begs for more with big eyes.
"Oh, fine." I cut him some more fat with some meat, dropping it to him.
He snaps it up too, and looks up with a wagging tail. Sarah giggles, and passes him a big bone to gnaw on.
I chuckle. "This little guy's gonna be interesting to feed in a few years."
"He'll probably eat the people who try to kill you," Spike says nonchalantly. Sarah blanches at him, and then looks to me.
"Oh, I'll definitely train him for that." I agree. "Maybe make it a command so that he doesn't attack random people."
"Unlikely," Mien-Dee says. "Werehogs are very empathic creatures, meaning they're very aware of the emotions, and intentions of those around them. They're also quite intelligent."
"Oh, that makes it easier then. I wonder if teaching him tricks will make him feel degraded any..."
"Well he'll respond more to Sarah than you, but he senses her affections for you which makes him so fond of you."
Reave strokes his chin, "If he can sense emotions then I doubt Nage will be able to sneak up on you. Mien-Dee, you mentioned they had venom earlier?"
She nods, "It's very potent, only one in every thousand survive, and those who do go mad as they become Were-Mobians themselves."
"I like the way I got mine better." Sonic sticks his tongue out.
Spike stares, "Your...? Huh?"
"I was a Werehog a few years back when the Earth was broken up and Dark Gaia came out. At night, I turned into a Werehog." He explains.
"Sure, and I was raised by the Tooth Fairy."
He rolls up a glove, and underneath it, is a bracelet with a turquoise gem.
"My Precious..." Spike reaches for it.
Sonic backhands Spike's face. "No touchie. It belongs to Light Gaia, or Chip, as I called him."
"Why everyone gotta be hitting on me," Spike whines.
"Because you're so hittable." Sonic says simply.
"What I said to your mother," he grumbles.
"I can tell Sonia you said that about our mother." Sonic states.
"I'll be good," Spike squeaks.
"You'd better." He rolls his glove back down.
I chuckle and take a bite out of an apple.
Reave looks over at my mother across the room, "I wonder how it's faring?"
"No one's yelled yet, so I assume your idea is approved." I chew.
Reave nods, "Now you have two armies at your back, Hero."
"That's a bit overkill, I think." Antonio says.
He shrugs, "Perhaps not. If your mother is not the threat then we have no clue what is."
"We'll probably find out soon." I say.
Sarah leans into me, "Enjoying yourself?"
"Yeah. Especially since you're here." I kiss her cheek.
She purrs, and pets Aether as he dozes off in her lap.
Tloj: As said before, everyone is owned by someone. R&R, please!