Journey to the East 4/4
(Theme song - Pokemon Journeys: The Series (Season 23) - English Dub Opening)
(Abigail's POV)
*All of us were surprised to see Espio appear in front us. Khan's surprised turned into rage*
Monkey Khan: You! *he walked towards Espio, his Atom Bat glowing* You dare show your face to - !
*Sonic zoomed in between them*
Sonic: Whoa whoa whoa! Time - out!
Monkey Khan: He's a traitor to you and his team!
Sonic: And he's been a friend for much longer.
Monkey Khan: He attacked you! He punched you in the face!
Sonic: Yeah, he did. You and I have gotten into three times as many fights. By the logic, I should be stomping you into the dirt.
*Khan gritted his teeth*
Monkey Khan: Fine. Have it your way.
Sonic: I usually do.
Monkey Khan:*muttering* First you go soft on Robotnik, now this guy . . .
*Sally walked up to Espio*
Sally: Ken raises a good point though. You've made it clear you're in with the Iron Dominion. Why are you hear now?
*Espio bowed to her*
Espio: I don't want to debate semantics, but I am with the Shinobi Clan. I am only with the Iron Dominion through . . . Extending circumstances.
Sally: Knuckles mentioned something along those lines. But he wasn't sure what you meant.
Espio: I am not permitted to say much, but my Clan leader is willing to reveal everything. The Bride of Constant Vigil has been observing your efforts in trying to dismantle the Clan of Four Houses. I volunteered to guide you to a meeting with her.
*I was still willing to trust Espio, but Sally looked unconvinced*
Sally: I'm sorry, Espio, but your word isn't good enough now.
*Espio was quiet for a minute*
Espio: Very well then. No more secrets. I'll give you all what I have on each of you, removing any advantage I might have had.
*Sally, Tails, & I looked at each other, nervously*
Sonic: Secrets? About us? We're the heroes, Es. We're squeaky clean.*he walked up to Espio, smirking* But if you think that will warm us up to you, fine. Hit me with your worst.
Espio: The Sneak.
*For the first time, since I met him, Sonic was speechless*
Sonic: That was a one time thing . . . Just for laughs . . . How did you even . . .?
*Tails was next*
Tails: I haven't been a Freedom Fighter very long. What do you know about me?
*It was Espio's turn to smirk*
Espio: Captain Super Fox - Man.
*Tails froze with surprise*
Tails: Nobody was supposed to read that. I was just a kid . . . More of a kid.
*I walked up to Espio*
Abigail: All right, what have you got?
Espio:*his smirk grew wider* The stolen kiss.
*My face went completely red. I could feel the others giving me confused looks again*
Abigail: How did you know? I never told anyone.
*Sally was after me*
Sally: Well?
Espio: The location of your Royal Birthmark. *it was now Sally's turn to blush. Espio looked a little embarrassed himself* When Elias came back, I had to verify his claim, so . . .
Sally: No, no. We won't speak of it further.
*Finally, it was Khan's turn*
Monkey Khan: Can we skip me and go back to Sally?
Espio: No. For you, I'm afraid I can only confirm there are other Khans.
Monkey Khan: No, there aren't. I was an only child, and I know how my parents died.
Espio: That's not what I meant.
Monkey Khan: It's a pretty common family name. I'm sure there's lots of other Khans out there.
Espio: Not families! You! Others like you!
Monkey Khan: What others like me? I was the only one Robotnik managed to - !
*I was about to intervene, but Sonic beat me to it*
Sonic: Easy there, Monkey Boy, we've still got a continent to liberate and a city to rescue remember? *to Espio* So you've proved you've got dirt on all of us. What makes you think we can trust you anymore now?
Espio: Information is is everything within my Clan. I have left myself entirely prone to to you. The fact I know any of these things just comes from doing my job.
Sally: Which is what?
*Espio pulled out five blindfolds*
Espio: As I said, the Bride of my Clan will reveal all. Accept these blindfolds so I may take you to our secret Headquarters.
*Sally looked at Sonic, who shrugged. Sally then took one of the blindfolded & tied it around her eyes*
Sally: All right, Espio. We'll follow your lead for now.
Espio: Thank you, Princess. I promise you won't regret it.
*We were all wearing blindfolds as Espio led us to who knows where*
Sonic: It's bad enough we're going so slow, but I can safely say I'm totally lost now.
Espio: Good. That was the point. *we took off our blindfolds. we were now standing in front of a chasm in a cave. there was an opening to another cave on the other side* Welcome to the Way of the Blind. You will find my Master if you can reach the other side.
Sonic: Okay, cool - Wait! What do you mean "if"!?
Espio: I'm sorry. This is our way.
*He started to disappear*
Abigail: Espio, wait - !
*He was gone before I could stop him*
Sonic: Hmph. Ninja.
*Tails began spinning his two tails & went up in the air*
Tails: Don't worry, Sonic. I can fly us across!
*Khan grabbed his foot*
Monkey Khan: No, you can't . . . *he lifted his Atom Bat & lightning came out of it. it showed dangerous traps hidden among the stalactites on the ceiling of the cave* I've had dealings with the Shinobi Clan. They're experts in hiding traps in plain sight.
Tails: And I almost flew into that!
*Sally knelt down on the ground & picked up a handful of dirt*
Sally: "Way of the Blind." Invisible objects . . . Hmmm . . .
Sonic: Think you've got something, Sal?
*Sally threw the dirt towards the pit. But instead of falling into the darkness below, it seemed to be hovering in midair*
Sally: I though so! There's a hidden pathway across the chasm! *he turned to Sonic & noticed he had an excited look in his eyes* But I've got a bad feeling about this. It's undoubtedly a maze or laden with traps. If we take it slow, maybe we can . . .
*Suddenly, Sonic zoomed past us, holding an armful of dirt. He started laying it out in front of him*
Sonic: "Slow"? What is this "Slow" you speak of?
Abigail: Sonic! Be careful!
Sonic: "Careful"? So many foreign words today! *I gasped as he found a dead end* Whoops! *he then zoomed back towards us, covered in dirt* Espio may have had "dirt" on us, but now I have dirt on hie tricky little path.
*We all walked along the dirt path until we made it to the cave on the other side of the chasm*
Monkey Khan: I never knew you to play dirty, hedgehog.
Sonic: Leave the jokes to those of us with the wit Monkey Boy.
*Tails started brushing the dirt off of him with his tails*
Tails: We're about to meet the last leader of this region, you can't go in looking like that!
Sonic: Everybody's a critic!
Sally: Okay folks - focus. We've overcome their first challenge. Let's be ready for anything.
*We entered the cave & found Espio serving tea to a female light purple chameleon with 4 yellow horns & yellow eyes wearing gold jewelry, a green kunoichi outfit & a red sash around her waist sitting on a pillow*
Bride of Constant Vigil: Your trepidation is unnecessary. Come in and we will speak plainly.
*Me, Sally, & Khan bowed to her*
Sally: Thank you for seeing us. I am . . .
Bride of Constant Vigil: You can forego the honorifics, Princess. I am well aware of who you are.
Monkey Khan: Very well then. The Clan of Four Houses . . .
Bride of Constant Vigil: . . . Is evil, and it's support crumbles. I know you are hear to convince us to break away.
Sonic: I like your directness, lady. So? Will you drop the Iron Jerks?
*The Bride sipped her tea*
Bride of Constant Vigil: Yes. You have my word of honor. The Clan of Four Houses is no more.
Sonic: Sweet! That was easy. Thanks for your time. We know the way out.
Monkey Khan: WAIT JUST A MINUTE!
Sonic: You can't let it be simple, can you?
Monkey Khan: It's not that simple! We spent days traveling and risking our lives to convince each Clan's Bride! You had to leave your family and friends in the hands of those monsters! And the Shijin Warriors - !
Abigail: Ken? Take a minute.
*Khan looked ready to explode, but he calmed down*
Monkey Khan: I've heard the Shinobi Clan call themselves the Protectors of these lands. If that's true, why didn't you help us fight? Why did you side with the Iron Dominion?
*The Bride sipped her tea again*
Bride of Constant Vigil: Generations ago, we thought as you did. We've fought openly against other Clans to police the Free People of the Dragon Kingdom. We were nearly wiped out for our efforts. So we adopted our shadowy ways to survive. We learned to do more with less. *Espio poured her more tea* The Shinobi Clan is small. If we had chosen to stand and fight, the Iron Dominion and it's enslaved houses would have wiped us out once and for all. *she sipped her tea* The injuries your Freedom Fighters received proves my thinking was correct. We did as we have for generations: Watch and wait. But . . . *Espio put the teapot down on a nearby table* Sometimes action must be taken. Espio has shown me this by deviating so greatly from his mission.
Sonic: What mission? We all thought he was a native to Angel Island.
*Espio turned to his Master*
Espio: Well . . . With your permission?
Bride of Constant Vigil: Speak.
Espio: I was the most recent sent to monitor the Guardian of Angel Island.
Sonic: You mean you were spying on Knuckles this whole time.
Espio: More or less. Knuckles comes from a long line of Guardians called the "Brotherhood". The Brotherhood took it upon themselves to monitor Mobius for threats against Angel Island. My Clan didn't think such a powerful, species - centric organization should go unchecked. Each generation, one of us is chosen to keep track of the active Guardian to protect Mobius. My mentor was Valdez. He was monitoring Locke and his dealings with the Kingdom of Acorn. He helped me settle in Rainbow Valley and build my identity as just another local. I was meant purely to observe Knuckles and report any dangerous decisions he made. I was only allowed to reveal myself if the situation was dire - such as when Robotnik captured you all on Angel Island. I wasn't supposed to work closely with him. I wasn't supposed to join the Chaotix. I wasn't supposed to become his friend.
Bride of Constant Vigil: Espio has broken the taboo of his situation, but I cannot ignore that it has been the right choice.
Espio: Wh - What?
Bride of Constant Vigil: I order you to return to your station on Angel Island. You have permission to act freely and as you see fit.
Espio: Really!? I can!? YES! Thank you, Mo - *she glared at him & he cleared his throat* Ahem! Master. Please excuse my outburst.
*I hid a giggle*
Abigail:*in her mind* I thought I saw some family resemblance.
Bride of Constant Vigil: Before you go, retrieve the mystical Fan of Fen Xing and bring it to New Mobotropolis. Your friends will need it's power.
Espio: At once. *Espio ran past us & gave Sonic a high-five* See you back in the city!
Sonic: You better. You're way behind on your heroism quota.
*Soon, Espio disappeared into the darkness*
Bride of Constant Vigil: You may have broken the Clan of Four Houses, but your work has just begun, King of the Free People.
*Khan took off the Power Ring*
Monkey Khan: I know. *there was a bright flash & the Ring changed to look like his original crown* With this crown, I swear I will do my best to both protect my people and to honor the authority of the Clans. You have my word of honor. I just hope I can live up to the hype.
Sally: I know you will.
Abigail: We all do.
Bride of Constant Vigil: You will have my Shinobi Clan ensuring a safe departure from the Dragon Kingdom.
*Me, Sally, & Khan bowed to her again*
Sally: Thank you, Bride of Constant Vigil. We appreciate all you've revealed to us.
Sonic: Are you sure you can spare the extra muscle? I mean, you don't even have guards in here.
Bride of Constant Vigil: Oh? Did you truly believe I would leave myself totally prone to such powerful outsiders?
Tails: S - Sonic! Abby! Look!
*Sonic, Huck & I looked up & saw multiple Chameleon ninjas appear on the wall above us*
Sonic: Wh - Whoa! Okay, I admit it, that's pretty cool!
*We made it back to Stormtop Village & the next day, we got the Tornado ready to go home. Li Yuen & Li Moon came to say goodbye. Sonic stood on one of the wings. Me, Sally, & Khan bowed to Li Yuen. Li Moon gave Tails some food for the road & me some of the tea my Grandpa asked for*
Sally: Thank you for your generos hospitality, Li Yuen.
Li Yuen: It has been the honor of my village, and even more myself, to host such esteemed young people. I am certain you will return to us, victorious.
Monkey Khan: Yes. And I will return to you as soon as possible.
Tails, Huck, & I jumped into the plane*
Tails: The Tornado is prepped, Sonic! We're ready to go.
*Sonic gave him a salute & turned to Sally*
Sonic: Feeling a bit more confident than when we landed?
Sally: Much more. Let's go save the day.
Sonic: That's more like it! Let's do it to it! *soon, Sally was standing on the other wing & Khan was riding his cloud as the Tornado took to the sky* Next stop, NEW MOBOTROPOLIS! Hang on, Freedom Fighters! The calvary is on the way!
Note: Happy New Year everyone!