Her dance had began, the tale of sadness conveyed in the dance was clear, it was immediate for him to see in her eyes was the true reflection of pain; as she had twisted and spun slowly her body seemed to be gathering in the lowest of points a chain of growing magic from his body. As the siblings seemed to connect more during her dance, she had stopped suddenly and brought her hand out to him.
"Come with my will you? I want to show you what happened." Lyndia was offering him a trip through her past now, what had happened after the great battle and what was to happen in all.
Without another word Wushan took her hand and was brought into her dance, he felt her left hand take his now half-claw and his lower back was supported by her; this made him blush since she used to dance like this with him constantly, showing him the method of the magic dance and how it worked.
Lyndia smiled and nuzzled his cheek, in truth she was feeling as if she were truly his sister again, but this this was possibly the worst thing that could be happening to her right now; how she wished that she didn't have to do this Her past had scarred her so.
(-Flashback-)
After the battle of the Great Wall was over, Lyndia looked to the last of the humans, she had cut him down them and their technology fell before the might of her and the Drakehedge Wall had not fallen, her people had won the day and she was still standing.
"Mother, I'm coming." She could sense that her mother was overanxious for her return, she was eager to return to her family all the same and had started to fly back, leaving the rest of the commanders to tend the wounded and then come home after that; she knew they'd be safe, to be truthful she was feeling a little invincible.
'Now, I know better than that, mother said to always be humble alright, but I can at least say I'm good.' She took some pride in being able to say that, however she had noticed in her flight that further down the wall something was going wrong; the battle that was still going? She had stricken down the last human in the center wall.
Her Meteor Flame was unleashed down upon those in battle, immediately the flame had incinerated all of the warrior-type humans; any of those that had been lacking any real magic ability, all but three of the magical humans.
Lyndia noticed that several of their warriors were wounded, but not dead and this made her blink; she had never known a Drakehedge to lose to some filthy humans, be they of the 'Arcane Enchanters' Cult or not, this was not something that her people lost. She came down immediately and swooped down on the humans.
Her immediate actions had left one of the three men dead, while she had uncurled from her tumble and sprang up, her sharp eyes immediately catching the stab of a strange dagger she'd never seen; immediately she evaded it and slammed her fist into the human's skull, compound fracturing his skull, spine, and body's support all together with her strength. She watched him crumble down and had felt in her sixth sense, the next part of the attack that was coming at her now as she was still thinking.
"Oh nay Drakehedge, you're taking this blow!" the man's grin was backed up as a massive hand of sparkling black force had grabbed her, there as he thrust the dagger into her lower side.
Though immediately after she felt the pain, she did not react to it and wrapped her tail around the man's neck; immediately raising him from the ground as she tossed the dagger to the ground and snarled at him, cutting off any air supply he once had.
"Filthy swine! What do you think you've gained? Any of your pitiful poisons will do nothing to me, you should know better than to assault the best of the Drakehedge." Her tone was spoken with rage, some mild annoyance at the wound though she figured she was fine, she let his throat up so he might speak before she killed him.
"Gah heh heh heh, you fool of a Drakehedge; the Knave of the Arcane have stricken ye! Be corrupt, turn on your people, this is the last of my clan's will and vengeance. We have gotten ye now, we may have lost the war and our touch to the Arcane; but ye will never be able to see your family again now. Ye will love them still, but corruption is absolu-aghh!" his voice was silenced with one simple wrench of her tail's twitch.
As the man's body dropped, she could feel it spreading inside of her; the magic spread quicker than she'd wanted to think and she was panicking. Immediately tears began to fall from her eyes as she shifted to her Hedgehog form, she sank down and held her eyes, whimpering gently now; the proud warrior princess of her people felt immediately helpless.
"Lyndia do not cry " that was the word of one of her wounded brethren, who'd heard the man and his curse upon her and the Drakehedge Clan.
"Look to know, you have beaten them all there is a way to save you, the way in the future; sleep now let there be a day of reckoning when the great powers gather and you can purge yourself of what you wish not to.." the warrior fell unconscious, but his words seemed to have reached her.
"I must go...mother will know what to do." she frowned and had taken flight again,s he could not give up hope yet, there had to be some way to change the way that this was coming out. She felt the magic powers coursing through her and slowly she began to feel the increase that was going into her.
'The Arcane...is powerful, this is what...those worthless human pigs had...' her mind was slowly starting to see the power, but she shook it off quickly.
"No...Mother..brother...and my sister, they are more important." she frowned at how easily she was succumbing to this evil power. She was almost home, she flew harder, and thus the power spread faster.
By the time that Lyndia had come home she was in some bad shape, her scales had faded half to black; forming bands along her shoulders and along her belly, she could feel the forming power.
"Mother..." she saw her mother coming towards her and felt the tears shedding, she couldn't be too late now...but she knew it was happening and that her mind was not going to remain pure.
She raced to her mother...dragging her feet, as she felt the power taking its hold on her mind; shifting her thoughts, forcing her into acts she would never normally think to commit; but she remembered that Drakehedge's words to her. 'The power of the Magicks would bring her salvation' the thoughts that would lead her today...and the rest was history for her.
(-End Flashback-)
Lyndia looked to her little brother and caught the look of such tears in his eyes, she gave a soft smile and embraced him now; this way he knew both sides of the story and while she was doing what she was. Her arms drew around his mid back and drew him closer, still dancing slowly with her brother; as she dipped him then, nuzzling into his quills.
"Well bro, do you think you can help me? I don't...I really don't want to fight you, I don't want to hurt the only brother I have, it would distress me greatly." her words were coming from her heart, this was causing her some pain even just to face down her brother; she knew he'd become strong but it wasn't enough to beat her the way she was now.
"B-but..that means you are evil right now, you have been corrupted, I do love you Lyndia; but...how can I trust your intentions?" He looked at her, the tears that hadn't falling still resting in the corners of his eyes; causing them to shimmer unfallen.
"You can trust yourself, you can trust your judgment...think on this bro, will you help me or won't you?" her tone was soft, but firm as she did want an answer from him.
"I can't...even trust myself deciding with you..can I?" he said as he shook his head. "I love you too much to trust my own judgment." he said the truth, it knew his heart was in the way; he was now seeing her and all of this was true; he knew she never lied, even now his nose was smelling all truth.
"It's a pity, though since you're going to have to part ways with me." she said with a little sigh, semi-frustrated by her brother's decision, but she was showing some restraint...she knew she couldn't hurt him seriously enough; even with the evil the bond was far stronger than that, since he was all she had left.
"W-what..?" though before Wushan knew it, he was being laid down in the cave slowly.
Lyndia smiled softly, hugging her brother tightly and then licking his ear. "We're going to see each other again..okay? But after I gather all the powers, do your job...stop me okay?" Lyndia strummed her fingers through his quill and then licked his nose. "Heh..., who'd have guessed...my little brother actually got strong."
Though that was the last Wushan remembered, he had fallen out cold after this, his sister's sleeping spell always left him with a little buzz.
- Several Hours Later -
Watching the obvious signs of the Hedgehog's body in the cavern, those soft green eyes glancing about the Hedgehog's surprisingly long quills; though what caught her eye was the sight of what was in his hair...yes glinting sparkling jewels.
"Well, something is going to be mine..." her tone was hinted mischievous, as her wings folded in subtle silenced while she crept over to the downed hedgehog; or so she had figured him for him.
As soon as her hand reached down towards Wushan's left quill to grab at the unique Dragonstar braid ring that was holding several of the quills together; she felt a firm grip on her wrist, holding her steady despite his eyes being closed.
"Tch..., trying to take something that isn't yours Miss...Bat is it?"Wushan's nose didn't fail him, in a damp cave his sense of smell was even stronger than normal; catching Rouge's scent and her species was a matter of smell and taking a moment to identify her.
"Hmph." Rouge seemed to be annoyed, she didn't want to fight for the jewels, but these...there was something about them strange; these jewels had drawn her in by glance and such things were all that common, not unless they were special.
"Tsk tsk, have you manners? Why not introduce yourself." Wushan had kicked off of the ground and landed on his feet, now turning to face her; his night vision letting him see more than a little fine even in a dark cave like this.
Rouge could see his eyes from here and was a little thrown off by the look in them, these were the eyes of a reptile...those glinting copper eyes were settled on her and probably seeing with sight comparable to her own. She saw him, with the little light in the cave.
"Hedgehog..? Hmm, you don't smell like a Hedgehog." her comment came from the fact that she knew the scent of hedgehogs, hanging around two of the more famous hedgehogs on Mobius let one know the smell pretty well.
"A thing of myth." he said in truth, since in this age you didn't come across Drakehedges, sure he looked young but that was nothing but a matter of appearance; his youth as due to the fact he was still quite young for a Drakehedge if at all. "I'm a Drakehedge." he said, doubting she'd understand it.
She looked at him and frowned, why would he kid about something like that? She remained where she was and looked at him more, then she tilted her head. "You fit the historical appearance of one... 'the body of the hedgehog worn as a costume, but the eyes of a monster staring you in the eyes', but you'll need to prove it." Rouge knew her history, how else could one find precious gems but in legends and myths?
"You surprise me Miss Bat, so I'll oblige you." Wushan grinned a bit, and then puffed out the fire from his mouth, a small steady stream of fire; a small blue flame that he caught in his hand; shaping it into a ball of fire that lit up the cave.
She stepped back a moment, not scared but shocked...he wasn't kidding was he? She smelled his blood, now that she thought about it...there was that strange smell there, on his side his fur was...from what she could tell burned away; she saw his scales...they like his fur were a Navy tone; but they glinted in the light, like jewelry.
"My my, you must really like shiny objects, so you're after my people's items eh? They'd fetch a pretty penny today, so I can't blame you...but let's face it ma'am; I won't let you get'em, so you gonna give up and go away now?" he grinned, knowing that this woman...she was hardly someone to just blow off; he could almost sense the maturity and wiles beading off of her.
"You are a funny Drakehedge aren't you? I don't want to just call you that...so." she walked up to him, boldly in her manner, non-seducing and with that strong willed flair of hers showing strongly as she looked him in the eye. "What's your name?" Rouge said almost demandingly, though with a small hint of coyness in her smile; as she met his eyes.
"It'd be Wushan Long, and your name miss? You are so bold." he stepped forward and closed the distance between them, there testing the level of her boldness; pressing their chests together for that moment, she would learn that Drakehedges lacked modesty.
She stepped back, well imagining him to be not just bold, but probably a pervert as well; most were and she took advantage of that, though she could tell by his focus and never wavering...this fellow was different. "Bold of you, kept your eyes on mine from the very beginning; are you a monk or something?" she was teasing now, crossing her arms under her chest as her wings adjusted lightly.
"Actually Yes...I was a Drakehedge Monk Knight, something continued separate in the world of Overlanders or Humes as we prefer to call them; but a must as a Drakehedge, sorry but your wiles are useless." he grinned, openly letting her know that her games would not work.
"Oh really?" She looked at his challenge, saw the grin on his face and drew a gloved finger over his chest, down the line of his muscles; admiring his figure openly, but then stopping over his stomach, pressing herself to him and looking to his eyes. No reaction..?
"Yep, hmm I admit you have a nice figure; but like anything in nature, beauty has its limits to where it will get you." He stepped past her hand, there had been no sign reaction of her touch or pressing to him; he made it look so easy. He gave her a look at him from the back well, he knew she was watching him since he saw the look on her face.
She couldn't help but be a little shocked at that, well she tried not to show it on her face; but eyes radiated some annoyance at how easily he ignored her and even a little huffy about him not paying her much of any attention. "I don't give up Wushan, not on what I set my sights on." she said as she watched him walk off, she had to admit he was all muscle and looked oddly tempting; she thought him somewhat exotic being a hybrid and the loincloth was scantily teasing her sight when he walked with a swagger she noticed.
"Ta ta." He said as his fur had merely shifted, freeing up his wings which shot out, the leathery set of wings was indeed similar to Rouge's own, with the difference of sharp spikes at the top of his wings; which shared the distinct navy color with the rest of his fur, with the insoles of the skin being copper.
"..." Rouge was in a little awe, he really was part dragon, she watched him take flight and was still sort of frozen there for a moment; before she shook it off and had walked to the exit, hoping to see him, she caught notice that he was already disappearing behind one of the skyscrapers of Station Square.
Though he was gone, she was still more than a little surprised at it all, but she gave a grin now and looked up at the moon. "Seems like I finally have a challenge, Wushan...you may be worth more than just your jewelry." her cheeks took a little pink blush, why was she? He was just another future victim of her wiles, but...why did she feel he was different? She ignored this thought and took flight herself, headed in her own direction, another part of Station Square; the south opposite of his direction.
- At Amy's Apartment -
"Oh...Wushan, you'd better be safe...you're making me worry...I'm gonna hurt you!" she seemed to be so caught up on the welfare of her new friend, she wasn't sure that she should have left him; that woman was his sister and she didn't know how, he was a Hedgehog and she was some kind of lizard; how were they related?
So many thoughts were rolling through her mind, she looked down at the dress and then hugged herself, shutting her eyes and sitting down on the couch with her closed eyes. "Toresule, he said that his master was doing fine; he said that he'd be sure to win...Wushan never loses he's told me." Amy was telling herself in an effort to keep calm.
Though just moments past as she was murmuring to herself the dozen reasons that Toresule told her that he'd be fine, she was seemingly in a trance over it as it were; when she heard a landing on her balcony, instantly she shot to her feet.
"If that's you witch...I'll show you!" Amy's tone spoke of her meaning business, right now she was ready to fight, though she paused...and dropped her hammer upon seeing Wushan, he looked mainly unhurt, except for the fact the beautiful silk he'd been wearing was gone.
"Amy, I'm back." Wushan said as if nothing had happened, waving to her lightly before grunting as he felt her slam into his chest; arms locked around his lower back in a tight hug. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" he seemed to be generally questioning her actions, though he had hugged her back.
"What's wrong? You dummy! You made me worry, I thought..that she, that girl beat you! Why were you gone so long? I knew I should've stayed..." she rested her on his chest, as if she had to be sure that his heart was beating still.
"I apologize for making you worry, but I told you I'd be fine, no one can beat me that easily. I didn't even get into the truth depth of my power and trust me if you stayed; she would've immediately tried to kill you. As an Alpha Female, my sister would not accept any challenge to her authority; you would be the key target to destroy, especially because it involved me." Wushan was speaking raw fact about his sister and how Drakehedge females were.
"Alpha Female? involving you? She's supposed to be your sister...isn't she? She isn't...trying to do you is she?" She seemed to be bothered and hoping that wasn't the case, sister? She didn't see it still.
"Do me? I have no idea how arrived at that, but yes she is my sister and the reason she'd see you dead is because you challenged her authority by trying to protect me; in essence asserting that you had some claim on me." Wushan hoped he cleared it up with that explanation.
"Claim on you?" her face turned rosy red, she immediately let him go and turned away; she realized that her face was in his chest a few moments ago, he was so strong...she smiled while she wasn't looking at him. "N-no I don't have a claim, but...I do care." Amy was trying to say she was worried for him.
Wushan did smile then, he was touched by her affection, they hadn't known each other long and still she had formed a bond with him; he doubted it was the fact he had a lot of money, she was wishing to protect him because he was her friend.
"I appreciate it Amy, I honestly do but such a thing is not necessary; I promise you that; I am okay." he said it reassuring to her, he used some magic to fix what damage his sister gave him; what was scaring him was the fact that he would encounter her again...and he wasn't sure that he could face her down once more.
"W-Won't you stay the night Wushan? please..? I want to make sure you remain that way, if anyone dares come here I'll fix'em." Amy was determined to ensure that he was safe, staying the night would prove this and she'd protect him this time.
Wushan had been ready to leave but he was amused by her wishes, he gave her shoulder a pat. "I feel safer already." considering he slept in the woods regularly, this would be a slight change; surely...he had a nice large Fortress home, but she would provide friendship that the enchanted Fortress could not.
So the matters were settled right now, Wushan had declined staying with Amy in her room, he assured her the couch was enough; though he noticed her blush, she was cute blushing that way, but of course he'd settled his feet on the couch and back on the floor, covered in the blanket lightly.
Within some few moments he was asleep and though Amy watched for what felt like forever, it was only 8 minutes before she came out in her nightgown, curling into his side and slipping under the extra blanket she covered them both with; she didn't know why but she wanted to be closer to her friend, she wondered if he knew...how charming his slightly innocent demeanor was. She liked his no nonsense attitude, getting right to the point; he was a truly wonderful person she thought.
"I think I might like you...Wushan, just a little; you might be comparable to my Sonic." she said it softly, before hugging into his side, though she was surprised she didn't wake him; she was sure to let her comfort come first, she settled in against him and slowly drifted off to sleep.
- At Rouge's Penthouse -
She was still getting over the whole incidient with this Drakehedge, getting over the shock of knowing that his people lived and that now she also had a goal that she had made for herself in that cave, she was impressed by this stranger of mythical proportions. She was confounded by his ability to deny her, found his lack of modesty a little sexy, it was something that he was making clear in his statement; he may have been archaic in his choice of dress, but there was nothing he was ashamed of, that was a little tasty to her.
"So, looks like I've a new victim..., though I should start looking." she reminded herself then, as she had slipped into the cushy wheeled computer chair, wearing her silken Nightgown as it was; she seemed to find the chair extra comfy and was enjoying the feel of absolute luxurious touch that the silk had on her.
But her mind returned to business as she looked to the computer screen, anything tied to Wushan Long had shown up; she wasn't surprised that the computer found very little on him, despite all of its sophistication and links to many networks around Mobius...not so much. "Hmm...junk, junk..., useless..." she murmured annoyed at the what was found.
Her eyes scanned the regular stuff she saw, a liscence with basic or false information he put in; not too surprising there.
There was a rumor only in the last article of information that turned up that caught her eye. She read the paragraph and grinned as she murmured to herself now, this was something that she wanted to check into.
"The Agency...hmm? Well that tasty tidbit is something that I will check on." Rouge's eyes seemed to take on a new glimmer, was she this interested in a stranger or his mythical jewels?
As she turned in the chair, she thought about it...so what was the Agency about? She decided that she'd seek them out the following day, though she had no idea what she was getting herself into; was it the world of the Supernatural that she'd be in direct contact with?
(End Chapter)
Well now I hope you enjoyed the Chapter, this came in response for the nice review I got, I'd like more xD, so please do write more, I appreciate it.
The next chapter will be more exciting, wait and see.
Till then Adieu
-Quentix.