AN: Story's Shadow and I are back again. Hope everyone enjoys this 2nd update. We got two chapters out in two days, hope ya'll enjoy.

-Faunia, Imperial City, Years Ago

Cassie walked a little behind Jacob, her ears drooping as she stayed close to the Hedgehog. He was a year older than her yet had been with Sensei Metatron for a few years. The Wolf trusted him to run a few errands in the city while he met with the Wolf Council about something he'd promised he'd inform them of later.

Jacob turned to see the Cat seemingly hide behind him.

"What's wrong?"

"...I-It's nothing..."

"We're just running to get some food for the food storage. We won't be long."

"A-Are you sure?"

Jacob smiled at her.

"It's ok, sensei gave us the day off. He just requested this quick trip before we return to his estate. We're safe here regardless."

The Hedgehog pointed to a few of the guards.

"See, the emperor always make sure everyone is the city is safe with his soldiers on guard."

Cassie turned to see a few of the soldiers watching the merchant streets and the people wandering through. Her ears perked up at seeing a Cat amongst their number. The Cat saw her and winked at her. Cassie smiled a little at this before following Jacob. The Hedgehog stood before a merchant's mobile store.

The Osprey grinned as he held out a slab with a large fish.

"Caught from the pristine water of the bay under the Melody Mountain. Spent an entire day fishing, caught some beauties. Delicious raw and cooked."

Jacob turned to see Cassie practically licking her lips. The Hedgehog chuckled.

"How much?"

The Osprey opened his beak to speak then saw the insignia of the dojo of Metatron.

"Students of Metatron Arch?"

Jacob looked at his robes, having seen that the sigil hadn't been fully covered.

"Oh...forgive me, that was supposed to be-"

The Osprey held out a bag filled with fish.

"Please, Sensei Metatron helped me with an illness months ago. This is the least I can do for any of his students."

Jacob smiled.

"Sensei would be greatly, he just says we should pay for the hard work of fishermen and other merchants when we can."

The Osprey smiled.

"Maybe next time. Just tell him that the old bird with the bad cough who loved fishing wished to gift him and his students with this."

Jacob bowed his head.

"Thank you."

The Osprey bowed his head.

Cassie followed Jacob after he took the bag.

"Does everyone like Sensei?"

Jacob laughed.

"Many do, yes."

"Not everyone?"

"No one is fully loved by all. Still, Sensei's insignia is known and respected by many in the Imperial City, including the emperor and his family."

Cassie's eyes widened a little.

"Really?"

Jacob nodded.

Cassie grinned a little.

"Amazing."

-Metatron's Estate, A Few Hours Later-

Cassie and Jacob walked along a natural trail that led from the dojo. The Cat smiled as she looked up at the sun.

"I hope we get more days off, I like walking this trail."

Jacob smiled.

"I often come out here to find serenity or calmness at least. Feeling the warmth of the sun and the soft ground under my feet reminds me of the trails back home."

"Really?"

The Hedgehog nodded.

"My family's home rests near a valley with plenty of underground and above ground trails we often took to go on little adventures."

"Why aren't you home now?"

Jacob's smile slowly receded.

"Some people are paranoid by certain people's gifts and lives...I came here to set an example that we were more than they thought."

Cassie nodded.

Her ears twitched and she stopped moving. Jacob turned to her, her ears were straight up.

"Did you hear that?"

"I think so...it might just be-"

The look on Cassie's face completely changed. Jacob stopped moving when he saw her completely frozen, her eyes widened and her ears were flat and positioned sideways. The Hedgehog turned to where she was looking. Two people were in front of them, both were Cats who both glared at Cassie.

Cassie started to sweat yet Jacob saw her claws slowly come out..

"M-Mom? D-Dad?"

Jacob's eyes widened at hearing this. Cassie's parents made their way over, their ears flattened. Cassie's father spoke first.

"Not surprising you moved onto another boy."

Jacob's scoff was undercut by Cassie's mother's hiss.

"Hardly surprising given her sinful urges."

Cassie's lips trembled as her teeth started to show.

"G-Go away...I'm not your daughter anymore."

The mother scoffed.

"You still are to our shame given what you've done."

Jacob opened his mouth only for the father Cat to continue.

"Why are you on Sensei Metatron's land? Are you trying to steal from him or steal away one of his students?"

"...I am one of his students."

Cassie's parents' eyes widened as they hissed, the father responding.

"He must not know of your sin, otherwise he wouldn't dishonor himself by taking you in."

Cassie frowns while her mother continued.

"If he only knew how weak you are, how so easily led to depravity. You could never be a real student of his."

Cassie scoffed.

"Yet here I am, a real student of his."

Her parents' claws emerged as their hands tightened into fists. The father smirked for a moment.

"How can a student of Sensei Metatron be so corrupt that she can bare living a lie under his roof. One who has to hide to conceal her sin."

Cassie's eyes twitched as she started to breathe unsteadily. Her parents scoffed as they grinned. Her mother spoke.

"So that supposed veil of honesty comes crumbling down once her failures are spoken loudly."

Jacob took a step forward.

"Stop! You're just as heartless as she told me!"

The Cats turned to the Hedgehog, frowning. Cassie's father grumbled.

"What?"

"She told me about what you did to her, what you think you know, and how you responded to her secret. How can you dare believe you speak for the Gods, the ones who teach love and passion is true to being who we are yet you preach hatred! The goddess of passion openly and fiercely loved her lovers yet you think she instilled one couldn't be open about their desires? What they felt? You have twisted the word of the Gods!"

The Cats' ears turned back as they hissed louder. The father spoke first.

"We have lived by the scriptures our entire lives! We know what the Gods believe and instill in all of us!"

Jacob scoffed.

"Do you commune with the Gods themselves? Do you know their actual words? Have they spoken their will to you?"

Cassie's parents raise their hands, claws outstretched. Jacob's eyes narrowed as he started to focus his power at them.

"ENOUGH!"

They all turn upon hearing the growl. They see a dark form behind one of the large trees on the trail. Cassie's parents hiss in the direction of the one who called out, as the stranger in the dark robes walked out from behind the tree. Her father grumbled.

"This is a private conversation. Who are you?!"

The person pulled down their hood as he walked over to stand in front of his students. Metatron's eyes narrowed upon his students parents, his fangs in full view.

"You spoke my name. And this isn't a conversation, this is blatant harassment. Like my elder student, I know what you did to your daughter. You will not threaten her whether I'm present or not. And I will not have the word of the Gods twisted by mouths who spout nothing but hate and dishonor."

He stood over them, casting them both in his shadow.

"She is my student and she is under my protection. Now though, I hardly think she needs it now with the gift she has discovered."

He smiled and winked to her. Cassie's smile returned as she held out a hand, from it fire emerged and danced in her palm. The Cats' ears perked up then flattened. Her mother started to snarl.

"M-Magic?! By the Gods, that's the taint of The Shadow! We will warn everyone you-"

Metatron's snapped his jaws in front of them, which silenced both of them instantly.

"You will do nothing but either beg her for her forgiveness and try to make up for what you have done...or leave and never try to hurt her again."

Cassie's father shook as he opened his mouth to respond.

"If you don't, either I will take this as a personal threat to those under my care and defend them as I see fit or I shall I inform the Wolf Council of the threat you pose. Lady Rajani, a very devout follower of the goddess of desire and vengeance would be most interested in dealing your punishment for what you've said and done. Or maybe she'll find it fitting to send word to the emperor. He doesn't tolerate hatred amongst the people of Faunia, especially those who claim to be faithful servants of the Gods."

The two Cats shook as they slowly backed away, their ears dropped completely. Cassie's father tried to speak as he shook with terror.

"W-We promise we'll go...we'll never come back."

Cassie's mother added to this.

"W-We'll never do anything to draw the wrath of the Wolf Council, Lady Rajani, our his highness...we promise."

They both looked at Cassie, who was crying yet stood proudly as Metatron rested a hand on her shoulder. He smiled at her then turned to growl at them. They fled. Cassie turned to Metatron and Jacob.

"Y-You both didn't need to do that."

Metatron smiled and knelt down beside her.

"You're a part of this family now. Know you're loved and protected here."

Cassie smiled as she began to cry then turned to Jacob. The Hedgehog smiled at her as he spoke.

"Always."

They then hugged.

-Secret Warriors HQ, Present-

Cassie awoke from her literal catnap with a smile on her face as she rubbed the sleep out of her golden eyes. After she, Jacob and Meta helped train the Secret Warriors, they had returned to their temporary living inside the Secret Warriors base, and Cassie had decided to take a short nap.

'Finally I get a good memory while I dream.' Cassie mused to herself as she swept her legs over the side of the bed and proceeded to do several long stretches to limber up and get ready for whatever would happen the rest of the day.

While she limbered up her mind was still on the happy memory. It was a memory that no matter how many years had passed, she still remembered it with fondness. She still found it amazing that Jacob so quickly came to her defense and stood his ground on her behalf.

'I never had any siblings when I was growing up. Jacob is the closest to a brother I've ever had, and I'm honored that he considers me a younger sister to him, even though I'm just a few months younger than him.'

As Cassie smiled and let out a small chuckle, an interesting thought entered her sharp mind.

'I used to have feelings for Jacob, romantic feelings. Time and... uncontrollable circumstances forced those thoughts into my subconscious mind, but are they returning now?'

Cassie couldn't help but ponder that question. It was one she wanted to find the answer for, yet wasn't sure how to find it.

'Jacob and I got so close over those 15 years of being on the run and going from place to place. After we rescued Meta, the three of us became a family again. Meta is more of a father to me than I ever had, and Jacob and I are close as we can be without being a couple... but I might honestly want more.' Cassie mused silently.

As Cassie prepared to leave her bedroom, a final thought entered her mind.

'I do believe I have romantic feelings towards Jacob, does he feel the same way about me? I hope he does... because I... think I love him. I just wish I knew how he felt. If we are to die defending this world, I don't wanna die without knowing, I've gotta ask him, and soon.'

Cassie made up her mind and quickly left her living quarters. She had to know if her silver quilled best friend felt the same way towards her that she was feeling towards him. For better or for worse, she would let him know her feelings, and ask him if he felt the same way.

-Meanwhile-

Imperious' assassin watched from a distance as Vixen, Vulpine, and the Secret Warriors excited out of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York City Headquarters and could be seen discussing whatever they had been summoned there for. He saw his two targets: Riri Williams and Doreen Green. He knew that while he could most certainly take on the entire group, doing so wouldn't be the smartest approach, if he wanted to fulfill his masters orders.

After a few minutes and much to his delight, the group all seemed to scatter and either break off into smaller groups or go off on their own... and Doreen and Riri had broken off into a group with the Secret Warrior Patriot... that group of three made his cold heart inwardly smile with cruel delight.

'Patriot will be easy enough to knock out of the fight, leaving me to face my targets all alone. This is gonna be fun. Time to give them a gift from the Dragon Emperor...'

To Be Continued...

AN: So Cassie is gonna confront Jacob and confess her feelings to him: for better of for worse? Do you guys think it will be for better or for worse? Imperious' assassin as well have been gifted a golden opportunity and is going to strike, you'll see his attack next chapter... and it's long lasting consequences.