Tloj: Couldn't resist the kinda cliffhanger. :P People are owned by whoever owns them!

"Sarah, will you marry me?" I ask.

Sarah looks absolutely stunned. Then she starts to cry as she drops down to me, trying to crush me in a hug.

"Yes... thank you, yes!"

I put the ring on her ring finger and smile. "I'm no longer your master."

She rubs her arm, "I know... but if anything happens to me you'll know where to find me."

"Of course I will. You'll be right by my side." I stand and pull her to her feet before grabbing my rings and giving them to her. "Your turn." I grin.

She smiles as she slides the one with the blue gem on my ring finger, and the red one on the same finger of the opposite hand.

"Let's try these things out then, shall we?" I take a step back before raising my arms up and across my body in an X, and the gems glow before the rings turn into light, flying around me like fireflies before going into my hands and becoming swords.

I smile, and with a thought they become Sai's, then daggers, and then a pair of claymores.

The smith leans on the table, "Those are magic so you don't gotta worry about running out of metal to morph. Also they won't become anything you can't lift, or anything other than a bladed weapon. Now, whatcha paying for those?"

"How much do you think they're worth?" I reach into my hair.

"Well I usually charge a lot for quality weapons like this, a couple thousand apiece."

"Then I'll pay a lot. How much?" I pull out a few gold rings.

"Two thousand each, a bargain price."

"Deal." I reach into my hair and pull out the proper amount, handing it to her.

She nods, "Much obliged, come back anytime."

Reave smiles, "Congratulations."

"Thank you. Now I want to look at the guns." I smirk.

Reave nods, "I think that's on my route, Crystal is looking for some poison."

I let my rings return to their normal forms before picking up Aether, who was pouting about being dropped.

Sarah rubs his head, "Sorry little guy."

We walk away as Antonio orders from the lady.

We walk with Reave, and spot the gun shop. His sister is currently at a stand just across from it at a stand filled with venomous animals.

We walk into the gun shop, and I look around.

All around us are various pistols, assault rifles, and a few special weapons that fit into other categories. I walk up to the counter and ask, "Do you make custom firearms?"

"Sure, what you looking for?" A male echidna turns to face me.

"You're the first male I've seen here." I blink. "I'm looking for something light that packs a lot of punch. Maybe a pistol that can switch between semi-automatic and full-auto?"

He nods to himself slowly, "That'll take a while, but it's doable. You want two of 'em?"

"Yes. If you can make them able to use elements as well as lasers and any size bullets, that would be awesome." I nod.

He laughs, "No magic here I'm afraid, never had the head for it. I do have some pretty cool tech though."

He reaches under his counter, and pulls out what looks like a glass bullet. "This here is a S.S.R. a Shock Shrapnel Round. Each one blows to pieces on impact, and microbes inside it activate the pain receptors of whoever is on the receiving end. Good way to drop guys fast if you got these loaded in an automatic."

"Sweet. I don't suppose you can make custom clips that can hold, oh, enough that I won't need to reload for a good ten minutes just holding down the trigger?"

He pulls a Gatling Gun off the wall, "Chain fed, holds a few thousand rounds in the backpack, fires six rounds a second."

"Definitely heavy duty." I nod. "But pistols are what I want. Maybe with drum magazines that hold a thousand per?"

He frowns, and pulls out a sketchpad, "Well with pistols you'll have a lower rate of fire, but I can still do the backpack feed for a modified Uzi or something. Here."

He draws up a quick sketch of it, and shows it to me.

"That'll work." I nod.

"Alright then, I can have it ready for you by tomorrow, or the next day."

"Okay, thank you." We walk out. "Now, if only there was a place to purchase power-ups for my C.E.A." I joke.

Crystal looks over with a raised eyebrow before turning back to the lady at the poison stand. The vendor has a long bluish-silver snake wrapped around her shoulders that tickles her face with its tongue.

We walk over. "What's for sale here?" I look at the various toxins.

The vendor, who does have spellcaster tattoos, winks at me. "I trade in exotic, venomous animals. I can sell their venom to you as well. This beautiful creature here is a Black Mamba, the fastest, and most venomous land snake in the world."

"...Um...Why is it called a Black Mamba if it's not black?"

She touches the tip of its head, and it opens its mouth with a hiss. The inside is pitch black.

"That's why," she responds. "For those who get bit that mouth is the last thing they see. Two drops can kill you in under two minutes if you don't have the antidote handy."

"If I were to coat bullets or blades with it, how much would I need?" I ask.

As if to answer my question she lifts a good sized rat from a tank, and holds it up by its tail. Faster than I can blink the snake nabs it from her, and with a single squeak the vermin stops moving almost instantly.

"Woah."

"As I said, two drops is plenty."

Crystal rubs her chin, "I have a Hidden Blade that injects toxins, I'll take a few bottles."

The vendor takes out glass vials the size of soda bottles, "One for both of you?"

"Sure."

"Two thousand rings each, that's about a ring per kill."

I fork over the rings.

She slides a bottle of the venom to each of us.

Sarah looks down at her ring, "This tribe is an armory..."

"Conveniently. Hopefully this stuff will work against Fear." I say.

Crystal puts her's in a pocket, "It will work fine on Nage, that's fine by me."

"Speaking of the Nage, how do you hide your chi like you did?" I ask.

"Chi reacts to emotions, simply do not feel any."

"Of course." I sigh.

Crystal pauses, and then looks at me. "Forgive me if I'm blunt... I wasn't always."

"It's okay. I know death changes people." I bow my head.

She puts a finger under my chin, and raises my face to look at her.

"As I told my brother, never regret living. I thank those I lost for making me strong enough to survive, and in doing so they live through me. The same goes for you Hero."

I think of Chrys, and smile. "Thanks."

She smiles back with a nod.

I put the bottles away and look at Sarah. "So, any shops catch your attention?"

She eyes a clothing shop. "...Please?"

"Sure!" I smile.

She hugs me, and we head over to check it out. She looks around at the clothes, "Oh... what to pick..."

"Anything that isn't as skimpy as or more skimpy than what you wore earlier would be great." I deadpan.

She blushes, "D-don't pretend you didn't like it..."

"True, but clothes you can wear in public help," Reave reasons.

She nods, and looks around again. It's a bit odd seeing traditional tribal wear next to modern jeans, and stuff.

I look around and get myself some T`s and jeans.

She picks up a t-shirt. "Excuse me, where's the changing room?"

"There isn't one," The vendor calls over her shoulder before turning back to the streets.

"Uh-oh." I frown.

Sarah sighs, "Right, the "Look but no touch" rule... oh well I guess." She looks around again, and picks up a lacey looking bra.

"I can cover you." I offer.

"Thank you," she pecks my cheek. Reave considerately turns away while Crystal helps me provide a Mobian Curtain.

"Okay, you're clear." I look around.

There's some rustling behind us, and she taps my shoulder when she's done.

She wears a black blouse with short frilly sleeves, and a matching skirt with white leggings. She shrugs, "I can't help it, I like skirts."

"You at least need some shorts or pants. Just get one, for me?" I ask.

She lifts the skirt slightly, "I'm wearing leggings, they'll hide my panties."

"I guess that'll do."

She cheers, and hugs me. "Thank you!"

I smile. "Sure."

She twirls, "But doesn't it look cute-OMICHAOS!" She goes over to a wall, and pulls down a little drawstring backpack, "I could carry Aether around in this, right?"

I nod, "It looks like it."

She opens the back near the ground, "C'mere Aether!"

He pads over, and crawls into the bag. When she pulls the string his head is visible as she puts it on her back.

"Perfect fit." I nod.

She giggles, "How much?"

"Fifty rings."

I pay for it and our clothes.

Sarah looks like the happiest girl in the world as she twirls in her new clothes.

"I need to get a job." I scratch my ear.

That brings her up short, "I can too, since I'm still legally your slave. You can vouch for me to work at some mansion or something as a cook."

Reave frowns, "And if your papers were to be voided?"

Sarah rubs her arm, "They'd take away my chip, and he'd pay them a release fee."

"No. I'll find a job. It shouldn't be too hard." I smile. "Thanks though."

She pouts, "But I'd like to help."

"You can sell food. I`m not willing to let you be a slave again." I say firmly.

"I'm not," Sarah says. "You can set the rules for people who borrow me, I'll just be a servant. Difference is that I get paid."

I think about it. "Okay, I guess I can allow that..."

She kisses me, "Thank you!"

"I need to get you a better maid's outfit, though. One that won't attract perverts." I say simply.

She nods, "Right, but one that makes me look cute, okay?"

"You'll help me find one then."

She nods, and we see an explosion in the distance.

"Uh-oh. That's either an attack, or Spike just got dumped."

"Let's find out," Reave sighs as we jog over.

"FORE!"

*BOOM!*

It's Spike alright, but apparently he's playing golf using his sword, and live grenades that Smoke sets up. Luckily he's not aiming at the tribe though.

He's about to set another, so I turn into Fire Hero and throw a spark at it, and it blows up in his face.

Spike whirls, "WHAT THE HELL MAN?! I'm practicing!"

"For WHAT, exactly?" I deadpan.

"For an attack," Smoke says like it's obvious. "We used to do this all the time. Wanna take a swing, see how far you can hit it?"

I stare at him. I roll my eyes and sigh, "Sure, why not?"

Spike steps back, and Smoke clicks his claws to light the fuse of another grenade.

"So, is the goal to hit it as far as I can, or aim at something?" I morph one of my rings into an actual golf club.

"Distance," Spike replies. "But nothing crazy, this is about control."

The back of the club gains a thruster that activates, and I whack the grenade in a straight line all the way to the far side of the sand dune in the distance.

Spike rolls his eyes, "Yeah man, I knew you had some power, but just how much can you control the shot. Let's say... aim to the tip of the dune three to the left of that one you just hit."

I adjust my stance and do the same thing again, and the grenade curves and hits the targeted dune.

* BOOM!*

"Awesomeness!" Spike slaps me on the back.

I smile. "Thanks. Your turn."

Spike sighs, "Okay... but seriously Smoke, anyone?"

Smoke rolls his eyes, "I told you, if you want it you gotta go back there and get it! Why would you bother though? I thought you met that Sonia chick."

Spike stabs his sword into the sand, "Yeah but... it's not like that. Sonia... she's a real nice girl, I can't do that to her. You had tons of one night stands while we were growing up."

"Still do," Smoke says as he tees up another bomb. "Your point?"

*THWACK!* Spike watches it sail through the air, and into an airborne explosion. "I just wanna know what it's like, see if I could even do it, y'know?"

"Well bro, considering you still got your V Card I'm not exactly betting in your favor."

"Save a slave. Mine because my soon to be wife." I hug Sarah.

Spike sulks, "Easy for you to say... and even easier for me to do. Yo Smoke, know any abused slaves?"

"What, you think I keep a list?"

"Yes."

"You know me well," he reaches into a pocket. "What kind of girl you looking for?"

"Assuming I know Spike, which I don't, I'd assume someone well endowed and possibly dominant." I smirk.

Spike glares at me.

Smoke looks down the list, and snickers. "Alright, I got maybe eight on this list, care about interspecies?"

Spike snatches the list, "Screw you, I'll just save 'em all, and see if any of them click."

"Good luck; if they're like Sarah, they're going to get attached no matter what you do."

Smoke raises an eyebrow, "Yeah, right."

Spike rolls up the list, "You just watch, I'll be a lady killer."

"You already are bro, I've kept count."

Spike glances at his sword, "You know what I meant..."

"Be sure to threaten a few owners if they remind you of a jackass gorilla." I wave.

Spike nods, and stuffs the list in his quills. "Well... I better wait until the quest is over though, and I better go apologize to Julie-Su."

"I'd say good luck, but you're in the negatives." I grin. "You should buy some lucky charms to get rid of some of your bad luck first."

"I feel an ass-kissing joke coming on," Smoke says.

"Up yours," Spike growls as he heads back for the tribe.

I chuckle and whack another grenade.

* BOOM!*

Smoke looks Sarah over, "Sometimes I just love my job."

"Watch how you look at my wife." I state, slamming a grenade straight up in the air, and it explodes before getting too close to us.

Smoke shrugs, "I can look, but I won't touch. Remember who put the both of you in the same room?"

"She wasn't mine then." I say simply.

"Yeah, but now if I asked a favor what would be stopping you?"

"It would depend on the favor."

"Well you know I'd never ask something that would threaten your family... unless it was a do-or-die emergency."

"So is this hypothetical, or are you asking me if I'll do a favor for you?"

"Hypothetical," Smoke responds.

"Hm. You can look, but touch and die." I spin my club before smashing the ball past the dunes and into the distance.

Smoke claps, "Welp! I'm gonna go watch Spike get his butt handed to him. Come with?"

"Absolutely." The club morphs back into a ring, and we walk back into the tribe.

We walk around for a bit until we see the princesses following Knuckles. Spike comes around the corner, and heads right for them.

"Conflict T-minus five, four, three, two, one." I state.

Spike raises a hand, "Hey Knuckles, gotta talk to Julie-Su for a sec."

Julie-Su glares at him. "What do you want?"

Spike meets her glares steadily, "Could you get off your high horse for a sec? I trip in some sand, run into you, and you shot me already."

"Into my ass." She states.

"So what?" He throws his hands in the air, "It could have been your foot, leg, arm, or I could have just knocked you over, I had no way to control that! Would you still have shot me then?"

"Yes." She states.

Spike scowls, and summons his sword. Before anyone can react he stabs it into the ground. "Fine then, you wanna be that way? I call Trial by Combat, no weapons." He even takes off his precious gloves.

"If that's what you want!" She smirks and unholsters her pistol, dropping it on the ground.

Spike cracks his knuckles, "The name is Thorn "Spike" Rose, the Demon of Poisoned Rose."

Judging from a few expressions of lookers-on, word of the Gauntlet has gotten to this tribe.

"The pleasure is all yours." She states dryly.

"Didn't even flinch," Spike notes. "I'm gonna enjoy this..."

Smoke scratches his head, "...Okay, I'm not betting either way."

Shade steps out of the way with the others to give them some room.

She cracks her knuckles. "So will I. Only the Guardian has proven himself to be a worthy male to me."

Spike chuckles, and then suddenly he blurs. He can't get the best traction in the sand, but he's still plenty fast as he drives a fist into her face.

She takes a few paces back before grabbing his arm and yanking him off his feet, kicking him in the ribs to the ground a few feet away.

Spike rolls, and lands on his feet, "Heh, that tickled." He dashes for her again, running a short circle to kick up a small sandstorm before punching her in the throat.

Smoke taps Knuckles's shoulder, "Just a reminder, who you left in charge of the Master Emerald made this guy a fighter."

Julie-Su plants her foot firmly in his solar plexus, backflipping before shooting forward and striking him three times in rapid succession in the throat.

He chokes, and goes to one knee while coughing.

Smoke's eyes widen, and he takes a step back. "Uh-oh, this could get ugly..."

She disengages, walking to her pistol and holstering it, stating, "Good match. You are forgiven."

He gets to his feet, "Don't... know what the f*ck you're talking about..."

He turns with a smile, and a wink, "That was me playing."

"You obviously have more to offer. You survived three blows to the throat that would kill a normal man." She states. "Your teacher taught you well."

Spike smiles as he gets his gloves, and yanks his sword from the ground. "How's about we get serious? Honestly you've got my blood boiling right now."

"Really? You want a serious duel?" She smiles slowly.

He nods, and props his sword on his shoulder. "Got a place with solid ground? Can't go full-out standing in kitty litter."

"I can." She smirks. She presses a button on her blaster, and it turns into a longsword.

Spike gives a low whistle, and twirls his blade, "Okay then, wanna put stakes on it?"

She takes a few practice swings. "Sure. What do you propose?"

He taps his lip with a sword, "Hm... what can I hustle out of a princess...?"

"She's waiting." She taps her sword against her shoulders boredly.

"...Meh, how about an I.O.U. Whoever loses owes the winner a favor."

"Fine." She cuts the air, bringing her sword in front of her."En Guarde."

"Do I look French to you? Just fight." He laughs, and his word flashes for her neck. They kick up sparks as the two collide.

She turns her blade slightly, breaking the struggle before slashing upwards.

Spike crouches low as he spins, driving his knuckle spikes into her gut with a back-knuckle strike.

She doubles over and coughs blood, falling to a knee before slamming her free fist into his right kneecap.

"AGH! SUNUVA- just kidding!"

He strikes her in the face with a knee before bashing the back of her head with an elbow.

She roars, driving her sword into his gut while sweeping his legs out from under him, pinning him to the ground while punching him in the face over and over.

Spike drives a knee into her crotch hard enough to send her flying over him while he rolls to his feet. "Sorry if I broke something!"

She hisses while rolling to her feet as well. She shifts her sword into its gun mode and firing lasers at him.

He smiles as he whirls his sword in a circle, deflecting lasers. "Reminds me of the first time I did this, only they had a mind-reader on their side."

She charges forwards, her gun changing back into a sword, and she takes a swing, disarming him and stabbing him in the chest before it changes back into a gun with the sword still stabbed into him, pulling the trigger ten times in rapid succession.

Smoke yells, "DON'T MOVE!"

At first I think he's talking to Spike as he drops to the ground, but after a minute I'm proven wrong. Slowly Spike gets to his feet, wounds bleeding slightly since lasers char their wounds shut. His sword reappears in his hand, and when he stares at Julie-Su... his eyes are empty. No emotion, I'm not even sure there's a soul in this man.

His eyes roam over everyone around us, his expression blank. Smoke look genuinely afraid.

Julie-Su doesn't move, her face a mask of calm.

Smoke steps forward, and Spike's eyes lock on him. Smoke takes slow, deliberate steps as he approaches Spike. "Easy bro, there's no threat... no threat... think of puppies, bunnies, all that cute fuzzy shit..."

His words are lost on Spike, I can see that much.

"How do we turn him back to normal?" I whisper.

Spike's eyes snap to me.

...I can't tell when my blood hit the sand. Spike is just standing in front of me, sword raised. I feel burn on my chest, and hear Sarah's scream. Spike, and Smoke both almost blur out of sight as I fall back on the ground.

I slowly put my hand to my chest and look at my bloodied hand in disbelief.

Mien-Dee is by me in a flash, her hands glowing as she sets to healing me.

Off to the side I catch a glimpse of Spike with his sword in Smoke's stomach, sticking out of his back. Smoke groans as he holds the sword in place, and shoots his other hand to Spike's neck. He must hit a nerve point because Spike suddenly stops moving.

I groan and slowly raise my hand, the fur around my wrists changing to cyan before I shoot an ice beam, freezing him solid. My fur turns back to normal as I fall unconscious.

Tloj: Oooooh snap! Another cliffhanger! R&R, F&F! If you want a new chapter... just note that reviews are what makes me post them faster, not faves and follows. :)