-Chapter 271-
Phoenix
At the revelation of who was down in that underground chamber, everyone was floored. At least three members of the Freedom Fighters ended up choking on their tea, one of them being Sonic. He spewed his drink across the table, narrowly avoiding hitting Hikari with the spray. He coughed for a bit, sputtering before finally finding his words.
"ZAN?! That jackass dragon who tried to sell us out to Eggman to save Cinder!? He was there?!"
Kat nodded with a grimace. "He was. But... things had changed since the last time we saw him."
Seiko glared at Sonic. "Spewing tea, let alone nearly hitting the princess? I didn't expect the Hero of Mobius to be such a lower-class lout."
"Is that really relevant to the current conversation?" Sonic deadpanned as Hikari politely handed him a napkin to wipe his mouth.
"Don't let Seiko's... prickliness get to you, Sonic-san," the princess assured. "She's actually quite nice once you get to know her."
"May I continue with the story, please?" Kat requested.
Seiko nodded, motioning for her to go on.
Flashback
Kat took a step back in shock as Zan chuckled darkly.
"Isn't this delightful? I've dreamt of this moment for a long, long time, but never had I imagined it would be this soon."
"Zan…" Kat shook her head. "How are you here? Why are you here?!"
"Why? I suppose you could say I'm here on a… medical sabbatical."
"Medical… then… that breathing… that's you?"
Zan coughed. "Yes… It is… It must fill you with pleasure...seeing me like this."
Kat shook her head. "All I see is darkness."
"Ahhh...yes… Of course… Let's fix that."
Zan snapped his fingers again, the room fully brightening. Kat's jaw hit the floor at the sight before her. Zan was sitting on a throne with several tubes in his body. He had numerous cybernetics connected to his torso, chest, and neck, including what looked like a cross between a chest-plate and a respirator linked to his chest and a collar-like apparatus on his neck, which had several, large stitches going down it, and a few false, cybernetic teeth. He had tubes connected to his arms providing him nutrients, as well as a few connected to what appeared to be capsules containing kongshi. Fiery, orange-red energy flowed through them and into the dragon. But what really caught Kat's attention was a familiar, grinning, mustachioed symbol on all of the tech.
"Sweet Gaia below..." the redhead gasped.
"Yes… A grisly sight, isn't it?"
"You've been cyberized... You…" Kat's eyes went wide. "You're an Egg Soldier!"
"Clever girl… but I am no mere soldier…" Zan grinned. "You should be honored, Kathryn Winters. You stand in the presence of the Supreme Commander of the Yurashian Egg Army: JIAOLONG ZAN!"
The exclamation led to Zan coughing violently and clutching his chest.
"Supreme commander maybe…" Kat looked him up and down, feeling some of her fear make way for pity, "But you don't have any strength to call your own. You can barely breathe, much less fight."
Zan wheezed, unable to refute her claims. "It's true… The Gold Ring… When that wretched cur Glint attached it to me, it locked away my precious flame. I came to that fat fool Robotnik in hopes that he could remove it. Unfortunately...he could not. The Rings–"
"Are powered by Pure Yang Energy," Kat realized. "Fueled by your own flame."
"Very good. Any attempts to remove the ring would cause ungodly pain. And what's worse–"
"It will kill your flame at the same time, leaving an empty void," Kat recalled learning as much from her lessons on dragons in school. It was one of the reasons such punishments were reserved for the worst of the worst.
"No matter what I did, my flame would be lost to me forever. But...there was another way. Though...it came at a great cost. My entire respiratory system and most of my throat needed to be removed and replaced with machinery. And since I am a dragon, the process has taken months." he gripped the armrests on his throne so hard, they cracked. "Twelve. Agonizing. Months!"
"Explains why you sound like my Yeye after thirty years of smoking," Kat deadpanned.
"But it was worth it…" Zan chuckled, ignoring her barbs. "I endured the cutting… And the stitching… And the pain… And for that… my flame has been restored! All I need now… is the proper fuel."
Kat perked. "The fire qi... You've been... draining all these people to restart your flame…"
"And soon, I will have enough to last for years."
All the color drained from Kat's face as she realized what he meant.
"No! No, no, no, no! No, not again! Never again!" She attempted to flee, but something attached itself to her back. The second it did, her body went completely rigid, falling to the ground as if she lacked the strength to lift herself off the ground. "What the… What is this?!"
A feminine chuckle reached her ears as Ember entered. "Oh nothing much. Just a little something to keep you from hurting yourself."
"Ember…" Kat scowled. "So you're with him?"
Ember kicked Kat in the gut, sending her into a coughing fit that led to her spitting up blood and ash.
"That's Ember-sama to you, peasant."
Sorry, I don't speak Ryu-ese, Kat spat in Ryuese.
Ember scowled, conjuring a flame. "Your impudence truly does know no bounds."
"Ember! Stop!" Zan snapped. "I need her alive!"
"Alive. She doesn't need to be intact."
"Go on," Kat taunted. "Attack me. Taint my meridians with pain and anguish. I would love to watch that overgrown lizard corrupt himself."
Ember glared but stopped. Kat smirked at that.
"That's a good birdie. Maybe your master will give you a cracker, Polly."
"I am going to enjoy watching the ryu suck you dry, ningen," Ember growled. "And once you're through, Cinder is next."
That made Kat's gaze harden into cold, deadly anger.
"You lay one feather on that girl, and I will roast you alive." After a second, the anger melted, replaced with smug satisfaction. "Then again, I doubt you'll get the chance, seeing as Zan's gonna betray you."
"Betray me?" Ember scoffed. "Please. I'm the one who provides him with fuel for his fire, and my kingdom is allied with the Empire."
"Correction, my dear," Zan cut in. "You were the one. And as for your kingdom, it will serve as an excellent base of operations for the Robotnik Empire's Yurashian branch."
Ember whirled on him at that. "What!? We had a deal!"
Zan scoffed. "And why would I lower myself to making deals with a lowly pheasant? Your kind was born to adorn my feast hall as the main course."
"You..." Fire began to swirl around her as her eyes began to glow. "Let's see how good a feast I make after I rupture your fuel tank!"
She threw a hand forward, forcing Zan to clutch his chest. As he dropped to his knees from the pain, Ember smirked.
"That's it...wiggle and writhe like the toothless worm you are, Zan!"
Zan's eyes widened and began to glow as well.
"Enough!" With an explosion of power, he snapped free of her grasp, sending her stumbling backward.
"What!?"
Zan grinned, cackling darkly. "Pathetic girl. Did you truly think you could control a child of flame with your paltry techniques?"
"No…" Ember shook her head frantically. "I- I am a descendant of the Great Phoenix! I am heir to Suzaku! I-"
Ember was suddenly impaled by something. She looked down to see a claw attached to a cord extending from Zan's mouth, connected to a siphon-like rod emerging from underneath his tongue. With a grin, the dragon began to speak in a perfectly articulate voice.
"You… are dinner."
Zan began draining Ember's qi, the pheasant's body withering and blackening as Kat tried to free herself from the immobilization talisman pinning her down.
"Come on, come on…" She focused, managing to roll over and smear the cinnabar the talisman was written in. The array broke and she got to her feet.
"Yes!" she cheered, only to have her celebration cut short by Ember's lifeless husk dropped right in front of her. She shrieked at the sight as Zan closed in on her.
"Leaving so soon?" the evil dragon asked. "I still have room for… dessert."
Kat only had time to scream before that siphon-like rod shot through her stomach.
Flashback End
Everyone stared at Kat as she finished her story, completely stunned. Knuckles reached over and carefully undid the lower buttons of Kat's shirt. Sure enough, right in the center of her stomach, amidst the claw marks she originally had, was a scar that could only be from getting stabbed by something very big.
"How are you not dead?!" Sticks demanded bluntly.
"How did he not completely drain you and kill you?" Seiko questioned, looking at the scars in awe.
"My Yin," Kat answered, closing her shirt. "I still had a lot accumulated, and when Zan tried to drain it, he got corrupted. He ended up spitting me out with just enough energy to survive, but… it was a close thing. He decided to just let me rot down there with Ember, declaring he had much more important matters to deal with. The last thing I saw before everything went black was him blasting his way out of the room and up into Suzaku itself."
"He just… left you there?" Knuckles whispered, clutching her arm tightly.
"Remember how I was after Metal stuck me in the siphon?" Kat shuddered slightly. "This was so much worse…"
"It was right around that time we showed up at the palace," Jian recalled. "Of course, by that point, Zan was on the attack, preparing to burn everything to the ground and enslave the survivors…"
Flashback
Bunker and the others looked up in horror as Zan flew up into the sky from the hole he blew in the palace roof. The minute she saw him, Dulcy took a step back in shock.
"It's him," she gasped. "So he did join the Robotnik Empire."
"Big dragon," Kaen said.
"We need to protect the common people!" Cinder exclaimed. "Get them to safety!"
"I'll find Kaitian," Yukiko told them. "I think I may know where she is."
They dispersed to do their respective tasks as Zan looked down at the city, grinning evilly.
"Look at all these worms," he spat. "I cannot wait to pluck them, stuff them, and make them into a new robe. But first…" He inhaled. "I think I'll grill them!"
Before he could unleash his attack, a stream of ice came flying in, hitting him in the mouth and freezing it shut. He spun around to see Dulcy flying in, icy vapor drifting from her mouth.
"You need to cool off, Zan!" she yelled.
Zan's eyes widened as he melted the ice. "Dulcinea… I had a feeling the Nest would send someone to investigate what's been going on here, but I never expected they'd send you."
"I'm more than enough to handle you, Zan. Now surrender."
Zan sighed, shaking his head. "Why must you always hurt me, Dulcinea?"
"Shut up!" Dulcy roared. "I'm done listening to you, Zan! You got into my head! Pulled me down to your size! Kept me away from the people who actually loved me!"
"SILENCE, WENCH!" Zan snapped. "I kept you from them because they were beneath you! We are dragons! The closest beings to gods on this forsaken ball of dirt! We have everything humans and other Mobians have and more! Why should we lower ourselves to their level and consort with their kind?!"
Dulcy scoffed. "Says the man who sold out to a human and is acting as his cyborg attack dog."
Zan growled before unleashing a stream of fire at Dulcy, only for Dulcy to counter with one of her own. At first, she was able to hold him back.
"Impressive, Dulcinea. But not impressive enough!" He focused, his flames growing more intense before overpowering her. Slightly singed, Dulcy cursed as Zan charged at her, swiping her with his claws. They clashed furiously in the air. Zan swung his tail at Dulcy, only for her to catch it, much to his surprise.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore, Zan," she growled. "This whole time, you only had as much power and control over me as I gave you. And you know what, húndàn (1)? I'm done giving you anything else."
She spun around, swinging Zan around by his tail before sending him careening into a building. He rose, literally burning with rage before roaring.
"Wú lǐ de jìnǚ (2)!"
Zan opened his mouth, revealing a cannon that was gathering fire qi. He fired a concentrated beam at Dulcy. Dulcy's eyes widened in shock as the beam came at her at blinding speed. She attempted to dodge, only to be struck in the left wing. She fell to the ground with a pained scream, her wing badly singed and the skin torn.
Zan chuckled darkly as he looked over the dragoness' prone form, a cruel smile on his face.
"Now this is where you belong. Beaten, battered, and lying at my feet," Zan planted a foot on her head. "You have no idea how long I've dreamt of this, Dulcinea. After all... you and that ningen brat are the reason I'm like this. And soon... you'll join her in the abyss." He paused. "Though I might be willing to spare you, provided you repay what you owe."
Dulcy glared at him. "I owe you...nothing."
"You owe me everything!" Zan roared. "My rank! My title! My honor! Even my own family!"
"You lost that yourself."
"You stole it from me! You and that gaijin brat!"
"All we did was show the Elders the truth." Dulcy grunted in pain as Zan applied pressure.
"Be silent, woman! All that I want to hear is you calling me Master!"
"Dulcinea!" came Bunker's voice. Zan was struck by a stream of water, knocking him off Dulcy. The cyber-dragon yelled in pain as Bunker ran over to check on her old disciple.
"Dulcinea! By the Ancients, are you alright?"
Dulcy looked up at her former mentor, weakly. "I'm... fine, Shifu."
"You..." Zan rose to his feet. "You filthy, insolent turtle! Always sticking your beak in where it doesn't belong!"
"I'd say I'm very much needed here," Bunker shot back.
"I will enjoy crushing you," Zan hissed, reading his mouth cannon. "Tonight, I dine on turtle soup."
"I've heard it said that we only gain wisdom through suffering-" Bunker got into a fighting stance "-and tonight I intend to make you very wise."
Zan merely glowered, firing a beam as Bunker charged.
-X-
Meanwhile...
In another part of the city, several Suzaku samurai were going about, raiding and pillaging.
"Go!" their leader shouted. "Take everything you can and kill anyone who gets in your way!"
They attempted to enter a home, only for the ground to open up beneath them, revealing a pool of lava. All but one fell in, who looked on in horror as his comrades burned alive, screaming all the while.
"What the hell!?" he uttered in disbelief, but he had little time to think as something struck him in the back, knocking him into the molten rock.
"Bad birdy," Kaen said.
"Very bad birdy," Jian concurred.
"My sister's troops." Cinder shook her head. "To think she would go this far… Disgraceful."
"She will get what is coming to her in due time, Cinder," Jian assured the young pheasant. "Right now, we need to focus on saving your people."
Cinder looked away sadly. "I'm sorry you all had to be dragged into this.'
Kaen shook his head. "Kaen Guardian dragon. Kaen protect pretty birdy and her people, no matter what."
"And I've already promised to protect you." Jian placed a hand on Cinder's shoulder. "Now, let's go. I doubt those were the only ones."
"Mn!" Cinder smiled, nodding in approval as her, right as a scream greeted her ears. "That came from the square!"
"Then that's where we're heading," Jian stated. "Let's go!"
And with that, they were off.
-X-
Back in the city square, a group of samurai had rounded up and corralled a large crowd of villagers.
"Alright, that should be enough," one said.
"Wh-What are you doing!?" one of the villagers demanded fearfully.
"Let us go! You can't do this!" Another pleaded, only to be cut down where he stood.
"Silence, peasants!" his attacker ordered, cowing their captives into submission.
With the rabble silenced, the samurai wiped the blood off his sword before making way for another samurai in more elaborate armor, indicating him as bearing a higher rank.
"Now that I have your attention, listen up!" the lead samurai shouted. "This is the dawn of a new era for Suzaku! Tonight, we begin our crusade to reclaim our former glory! As such, the Royal Army requires more troops. As such, one able-bodied man from every household is required to join! The rest will be put to work providing food, ore, and other resources! Anyone too old or weak to work will be put to death, so I suggest you start saying your goodbyes. And as for the women…" the samurai grinned evilly. "I'm sure we can think of some way you can…contribute to the cause."
The samurai chuckled darkly, several of his underlings joining in, to the fear and disgust of the captive women. A moment later, the lead samurai cleared his throat, regaining his serious demeanor.
"Now then, line up single file and prepare for-" Before he could finish, he let out a wet gasp, his hand going to his throat as he started gagging and choking.
"What the–?" one of the samurai looked on in shock.
"Captain?" another asked in concern.
The captain removed his hand from his neck, finding it soaked in blood.
"B-Blood?" he stammered. "Is that my bloo-!?" A sharp, metallic sound echoed through the square as the captain fell to the ground, revealing Jian, Cinder, and Kaen right behind her.
"Disgusting," the tigress scoffed. "It's people like you who made me turn down the path I did."
Jian looked over everyone present, making note of what she was up against. As she did, the samurai looked upon her in terror.
"It's her!"
"The assassin!"
"Iron Tail Jian!"
It was then that they noticed who was with her.
"Look! She has Cinder-hime!"
"And a ryu!"
"What!?"
"What's the princess doing with her!?"
"Stopping you!" Cinder's hands began glowing as she scooped up several handfuls of earth. Once she had enough, she began to mold and shape them into clay discs.
"Earth techniques?" Jian whispered in surprise.
"Take this!" Cinder shouted as she threw the clay discs at the samurai, which exploded on impact, badly wounding them with fire and bits of shrapnel.
"Wow!" Kaen said, his eyes starry with wonder.
"Impressive..." Jian breathed.
"By the Phoenix…" one of the samurai uttered. "The assassin has brainwashed the princess!"
"Quick, kill her! That should break the spell!" shouted another. With a yell, the samurai charged at the trio.
"Oneechan!" Cinder called out, snapping Jian out of her stupor.
"R-Right!" The tigress took a breath, her body glowing with an icy aura as she charged at the samurai, slicing and cutting them down with her iron tail. Kaen backed her up, his claws and teeth tearing through the armor…
"Shine, ryu!" (3)
…and breathing fire at those who he couldn't claw or bite through.
"I don't like you," the drake uttered, his eyes narrowed in contempt. "You're mean."
For a while, the trio managed to turn the tide, but the samurai's superior numbers and training began to wear them down.
"Damn!" Jian cursed. "There's just no end to them!"
"Oneechan! We can't keep this up forever!" Cinder cried as she unleashed more clay discs.
"Just hang in there, Cinder! We can do this! We just-" Before Jian could finish, an arrow hit her in the shoulder, causing her to scream out in pain.
"Oneechan!"
"Kitty!" Kaen ran to try and help Jian, only to be grabbed and restrained by a group of samurai.
"Stay down, ryu!"
"Princess, are you hurt?" one of the samurai asked. "Come with us. Your siblings are worried about you. It isn't safe here."
Cinder didn't move. She couldn't. Not after what she had just witnessed. All she could do was tremble, her breathing growing heavy.
"No," she uttered. "It's not safe… for you."
Cinder looked up, her eyes glowing. Suddenly, the earth began to tremble, to the shock and fear of everyone present. Smoke and fire began to gather around the young pheasant, assuming the form of a wispy, hazy phoenix.
"What the…?" one of the samurai uttered.
The villagers were just as shocked. "Is that…the Phoenix?"
The 'Phoenix' screeched in fury before charging at the samurai. Its eyes burning with rage.
"Ahhhh! It's a monster!" the samurai shouted.
"It's coming right at us!"
"Hold your ground!"
The soldiers prepared to defend themselves, but right as the attack was about to reach them, a lone figure leaped in front of them and cleaved the avian abomination in two, snapping Cinder from her trance.
The young pheasant gasped, blinking in delirium as she looked around. "Nani? (4) Why do I feel so lightheaded?"
"Cinder…"
Cinder looked ahead, and standing in front of the samurai she had been fighting was Flare, his sword drawn.
"Oniisama…" she breathed.
"F-Flare-dono!?" the frontmost samurai shouted fearfully. "Th-Thank the Phoenix, you're here! We–"
"Silence."
The samurai froze in pace with a wheeze. His eyes turned to Flare's katana, which was dripping with blood.
"F-Flare…dono…"
The samurai's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fell over, dead.
"Traitorous rat…" the Entei uttered in contempt. "I'd expect this behavior from the dragons, but from my own guardsmen?" His eyes narrowed. "Be thankful I killed you quickly."
He turned over to Jian, Cinder, and Kaen.
"You there, tora. Are you with the metal ryu?"
Jian shook her head. "This is the work of Ember, Entei-sama. She is attempting to depose you."
Flare's eyes narrowed in contempt. "As I suspected… Dammit, sister." He took a breath to regain his composure. "Iron Tail Jian, consider this a stay of execution. I need to defend my people from my sister's machinations. Protect my sister from harm and I may decide to spare your worthless life."
He turned to the samurai holding Kaen. "Release the ryu," he ordered.
Without hesitation, the samurai obeyed. Kaen fell to the ground and immediately rushed over to Cinder, protectively putting himself between her and the samurai. Flare raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what he was seeing.
"Omoshiroi," he said. "Perhaps there is some honor among the ryu after all."
"Cinder nice, bloo birdy mean!" Kaen snapped.
Flare narrowed his eyes before turning to the samurai. "You! Find all the traitors and kill them. Do so, and maybe I won't force you to commit seppuku."
"H-Hai, Flare-dono!"
As the samurai ran off, Flare turned toward the trio. "You know what to do. I suggest you do it." And with that, he departed.
"So he's a jerk, but he's not evil," Jian mused. "Good to know."
Cinder grimaced.
"C'mon, we should get going."
-X-
Back with Zan, Bunker continued to clash with him. The dragon unleashed more blasts of flame, but the tortoise was able to dodge them by using water to glide about the ground. Bunker threw her hands behind her, then released a jet of water to launch herself at Zan, delivering a diving kick right to his face. Zan growled, then made to grab Bunker's leg, only for her to unleash another jet to get away from him.
"Is this how you plan to defeat me, kame? Getting me wet?!"
Bunker smiled. "Just taking time to water the plants, Lord Jiaolong."
"Plants?" Zan faltered, feeling woozy and struggling to remain upright. Then, he noticed several, tiny yellow lumps dotting his body. "What? What is this?! What did you do to me?!"
Suddenly, the dots sprouted, wrapping Zan in vines and roots.
"Oh good, they're already beginning to sprout." Bunker mused.
"You...impudent...!" Some plants covered Zan's mouth, silencing him.
"Take a moment to relax, Your Lordship. It will be some time before the fatigue wears off." With that, Bunker made her way over to Dulcy.
"Shifu..." Dulcy managed.
"Shhh...don't talk… Let me take a look at you." Bunker began examining Dulcy's injuries. "Your wing is badly damaged and you have some minor skull fractures. Nothing to worry about."
Bunker gathered green and blue energy into her hands, forming into a shimmering mist. She released the mist over Dulcy, which began to rapidly heal her injuries. Dulcy sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Shifu."
Bunker smiled before perking, hearing Zan growl. They turned to see the mass of vines and roots binding him, which began to smoke and tremble.
"He's breaking free!" Dulcy cried.
"Impossible…" Bunker insisted. "The plants should have sapped his strength!"
The wood began to crack and glow with heat.
"Dulcinea, get down!"
"Guiiiiiiiiiii!" The cage of plants holding Zan exploded in a mass of burning shards, the force knocking Bunker and Dulcy back.
Dammit... Dulcy cursed.
"He is far more powerful than any dragon I have ever encountered," Bunker winced before clutching her leg, seeing a hunk of wood stuck in it. "Blast it..."
"Shifu!" Dulcy cried.
"You..." The two turn to see Zan emerge from the smoke and fire, cloaked in fire and rip-roaring pissed. "You will suffer for that humiliation, gui! Bad enough you tainted Dulcinea, but using me as a flowerbed!? I'm going to do what I should have done to you years ago!"
Bunker blinked. "Tainted?"
"It was you who stole her away from me in the first place! Filled her head with your nonsense and witchery! Turned her against me! Even after I convinced her to cast you aside, your influence continues to corrupt her!"
Bunker's eyes widened in shock. She turned to Dulcy, who looked away in shame.
"This is your fault! You are responsible for this!"
"No," Bunker shot back. "You did that yourself.
"Silence!" Zan breathed another beam of fire at her, which exploded on contact. "It is done."
The smoke clears, revealing Dulcy blocked the blast, her wings acting as shields. "What!?"
"You won't hurt her!" Dulcy's eyes glowed with fire and rage before she flew at Zan, punching him in the face.
"Dulcinea...you wretch!"
"Shut up!" Dulcy began pummeling him, punctuating each blow with a statement. "You disgusting… selfish… lying… egotistical… heartless, arrogant, evil, self-important bastard!" She knocked him to the ground, the cyber-dragon rolling out of the way of another attempted attack. "You filled my head with your lies! Told me you loved me! Said that you were 'protecting my honor'! But all you ever saw me as was a tool! Your own personal plaything! And to think, Cinder actually saw good in you!"
Zan growled loudly at that. "Shut up!"
Zan attempted another fire blast, but Dulcy avoided it.
"But no more. You won't treat me or anyone else like this ever again!"
Dulcy lunged at Zan, pinning him to the ground and striking him, but he managed to grab her arm and turn the tables.
"I. Am. Jiaolong Zan!" he screamed. "Ruler of Yurashia! Your Lord and Master! And you...will do...as I say!"
Dulcy hissed. "Never. Again."
Dulcy did a backward roll, throwing Zan into a wall. She then performed a hand sign and took a deep breath, gathering all the fire she could as her chest enlarged.
"Burn!" she screamed before unleashing a massive stream of fire.
"What!? No!" The fire enveloped Zan, who screamed in agony as Dulcy kept it going, torching him before falling to her knees, her energy spent.
"That… That felt good..." Dulcy looked at the fire. "What I ever saw in you, I will never know."
"Dulcinea..." came Bunker's voice.
Dulcy turned to Bunker. "Shifu...I..."
Suddenly, Zan burst out of the flames, tackling Dulcy to the ground.
"Dulcinea!" Bunker screamed as Zan began strangling her, looking positively deranged.
"Die...die...DIE!"
-X-
Yukiko, getting a faint signal of Kat's qi, hurried in that direction, running down the dungeon steps as fast as she could.
"Kaitian?!" she yelled. "Kaitian! Can you hear me?!"
She heard a faint wheeze from the room Zan was in. Throwing open the door, Yukiko gasped at the sight before her. Ember's desiccated husk lay on the ground, and next to it was Kat. While the girl was breathing faintly, she had seemingly aged decades, her face wrinkled and hair gray.
"Gaia below, no…" Yukiko turned Kat over, seeing her chest rise slowly and finding a faint pulse in her neck. Focusing, she performed several hand seals, reciting a mantra.
"Rin... Pyo... Toh... Sha... Kai... Jin... Retsu... Zai... Zen…" Yukiko's hands began to glow bright blue as she placed them on Kat's forehead and chest, continuing to recite the mantra as she directed the energy into Kat's body.
-X-
In her head, Kat was in that black void, curled up in a ball. The black tiger appeared, circling her.
"So… this is it then," it growled.
"Go away…" Kat let out weakly.
"If only I could," the tiger shook its head. "How pathetic you are. So this is how you want to go out? Is this the last act of defiance of Kathryn Winters? First human Guardian, Knothole Freedom Fighter? The Wild Kat?"
"You think I want this?" Kat weakly raised her head. "You think I want to die?"
"Don't you?" Kat froze up at that, and the tiger continued its cruel jabs. "It's time to be honest with yourself. The reason you're reckless, the reason that you've let everything happen. The reason that you jump in front of danger at every opportune moment… it's because you want to die. Fighting Robotnik, all your efforts to be a hero… it's all just been one big suicide note. Your way of going out in a blaze of glory, isn't it?"
"You… you're…" Kat's tongue felt heavy in her mouth.
-X-
As Yukiko focused on her qi transplant, Kat spoke weakly.
"Don't... wanna...die…" she wheezed out.
"Stay with me, Kaitian... " Yukiko pleaded. "I refuse to let you die here."
"Miss… Mama… Papa…" Kat shed a single tear. "Alone…"
Yukiko's eyes narrowed as she focused harder, her hands glowing brighter as she redoubled her efforts.
"You're not alone!" the miko shouted, hoping desperately her words would reach the girl. "You haven't lost everything yet! You have an Echidna family who loves you! Friends who adore you! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN?!"
-X-
In the void, Kat perked as Yukiko's words reached her. A red light then began to manifest beside her, and she found herself looking at a familiar pair of plated sneakers.
"Hey," Knuckles chided, "you gonna just lay around here? Get up."
"Knux?" Kat let out, slowly looking up at the manifestation of her brother. As she did, a second figure shimmered into existence next to him.
"And you call yourself a Guardian?" Locke shook his head. "I thought you were stronger than this."
"Locke…" Kat whispered.
Keith appeared as well, smiling at her. "We're waiting for you."
"Keith…"
More lights appeared, all of them manifestations of the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix reciting words of encouragement. The last one to appear was Sonic.
"You forgave me for failing," the hedgehog recalled. "Now it's time to forgive yourself. You couldn't fight back before, but you can now. So get up, and FIGHT."
Kat's eyes narrowed as he gave her a thumbs up. "Let's do it to it, Kat! Give 'em Hell!"
The tiger cackled. "Pretty words, but that's all they are. Don't waste your- URK!"
Kat's hands enclosed around the tiger's throat. Flames swirled around her as she rose to her feet, bodily lifting the beast off of the ground.
"You've tortured me for years… Haunted my nightmares. Chained my soul…" Energy began to flow out of the tiger and into Kat's arm, her eyes becoming burning flames. "No... MORE!"
She tightened her grip, the tiger roaring in rage and pain until it was crushed, exploding into black particles.
-X-
In the real world, Yukiko was thrown back by a blast of force as Kat's eyes snapped white open, burning blue with flame as her hair and age reverted to their proper state. A pillar of blue fire shot up through the ceiling as Kat let out a violent gasp, then a primal scream.
-X-
Back in the city, Zan was about to snap Dulcy's neck, when Kat's scream tore through the night, and the pillar of fire tore through the castle.
"WHAT?!" Zan shrieked.
All eyes turned to the hole, where out rose a massive, burning hot phoenix that was blue and white from the heat. And at the heart of this phoenix... was Kat, fully healed, and blazing with righteous fury.
"Kaitian…?" Bunker managed.
"Winters?!" Zan screamed. "Impossible! You… you can't be alive!"
All around the town, soldiers were either dropping to their knees or aiming their weapons at the Phoenix. Those who showed aggression were incinerated with a wave of its wing.
"Retreat!" Zan's sub-boss yelled. "Everyone, fall back!
"NO!" Zan roared. "Stand and fight!"
His men ignored him, attempting to flee for their lives. The Phoenix spared those that did
"Come back here, you cowards!" Zan shouted in outrage. "DON'T LEAVE!"
"Ryu…" Kat's voice echoed through the land, layered with power. "You have defiled this land long enough. Return what you have taken, or SUFFER."
"I will not be bullied by a human!"
Zan took a deep breath before unleashing flame at the phoenix. It in turn closed its wings, absorbing the blow in its superior fire.
"Very well…"
With a cry that rang through the night, the Phoenix flew at Zan, carrying him into the sky.
-X-
"Oneechan!" Cinder pointed at the Phoenix.
"What the...?" Jian blinked.
Flare's jaw dropped. "The Phoenix...but how?"
"Aunt Kitty?" Kaen managed.
-X-
Back in the sky, Zan clashed with Kat.
"Unhand me, you overgrown duck!"
Zan opened his mouth, readying his siphon. He shot it out at the Phoenix, only for it to burn him on contact. Before he could retract it, Kat caught ahold of it.
"How does that saying go? Oh, yes. What doesn't kill you... makes you stronger." Kat ripped the siphon right out of Zan's mouth, incinerating it.
"No!" Enduring the pain of his burns, Zan broke free of the Phoenix's grip. "Wretched cur! You may have destroyed my siphon, but I have enough flame to deal with you!"
Zan fired a flame beam at the Phoenix, who screamed and unleashed a torrent of flames right back. At first, they seemed to be equal in power, but the rainbow flames of the Phoenix began to absorb Zan's attack
"What!?" Zan shrieked.
"You think your stolen flame is enough to best me? The souls of those you killed for your power cry out for vengeance, and I shall answer their call!"
The Phoenix flapped its mighty wings, blowing Zan away.
-X-
Down below, Dulcy and Bunker stared in awe.
"Shifu…" the dragon breathed. "How is this..?".
"Kaitian..." Bunker whispered. "It would seem your adventures have done more for you than I realized."
-X-
"You..." Zan growled furiously. "Perish!"
With a flap of his wings, he flew at the Phoenix, but as soon as he got close, the great firebird waved a wing, essentially backhanding him out of the sky.
"Damn you!" Zan flapped his wings, stopping himself from falling further. He tensed his muscles, causing his cybernetics to glow, then let a roar as he was enveloped in a flaming aura. He took off like a bullet from a gun, the flames increasing his momentum, and rammed right into the Phoenix. The flaming bird managed to shield itself with its wings, but Zan kept pushing on, determined to break through.
"You will not best me!" the dragon declared. "I am a dragon! I am an emperor! I am JIAOLONG ZAN!"
"No," Kat said, her voice as cold as the Phoenix's flames were hot. "You are nothing."
The Phoenix screeched and flapped its wings, swatting Zan away once more before releasing several motes of flame that attached to the dragon and bound him.
"What!? No! What is this!?" Zan panicked as the Phoenix drew close, flaring at him. "This…This can't be possible! You're just a human! A HUMAN!"
"No. I am a Phoenix." Kat held out her hand and Zan's fire began to seep out of him, draining him of all his stolen qi.
"No! My power! My flame!"
"Your stolen flame," Kat corrected. "Never again will you breathe the fire of life."
"Damn you, Kathryn Winters! DAMN YOU!"
Zan fell to the ground, powerless and weak. She landed before him the fire around her taking the form of a sitting Phoenix, pointing towards the rising sun.
"Leave this place. Never return. And tell your Master that Yurashia will never bow to him."
Zan snarled before slowly getting up. "I will destroy you for this, Kathryn Winters. Vengeance will be mine."
With that, he flew off in the direction Kat indicated. She watched him go, then the flames around her petered out. Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed, right into the arms of Bunker as Yukiko emerged from the dungeon.
"Well…" the miko began, "That was unexpected."
"She finally did it…" Bunker mused.
"Did what, Sensei?"
Bunker gathered the girl in her arms, smiling. "She overcame her Yin."
Flashback Over
Everyone was absolutely stunned as Bunker told this part of the story. Eyes slowly drifted to Kat, who just blushed and rubbed the back of her head.
"Yeah, I have no memory of any of that." She paused. "Well, aside from the mental pep talk and finally making that shadowy tiger shut up. Everything after… yeah, I completely blacked out."
"Hence the amnesia Jian mentioned," Sally recalled.
"So is the tattoo some sort of big spiritual thingy then?" Sticks questioned. "Did it grow on your arm after your transformation?"
That got Kat and the Shijin warriors all laughing.
"No," Dulcy told her. "Nothing so spectacular. All her transformation did to her was have her sleep for nearly a week, a time that allowed me to finally come clean to Shifu about… something I should have confessed long ago."
Flashback
As Kat slept in the Healer's Pavilion of the Suzaku Royal Palace, Dulcy and Bunker were having a long-overdue heart-to-heart.
"There's no point playing stupid any longer, Shizun," the dragon admitted. "I've kept my distance from Shijin all the time... because of our last meeting five years ago. Zan got in my head, convinced me to leave the shrine, and keep my distance from you."
Bunker blinked at that. "And yet you did not return after cutting ties?"
"How could I face you again? I shouted at you and yelled at you, refused to listen when you told me what Zan was really like... and you were right about him all along. By the Ancients, I should have listened…"
"Dulcinea…" Bunker shook her head. "Did you honestly believe you were beyond forgiveness?" She placed a hand on the young dragon's shoulder. "I was never angry with you that day. I was sad because I was afraid that you'd lost your way."
"I did lose my way."
"And you pulled yourself out. You came back. There aren't many who possess that kind of strength and even fewer that have the courage to face their demons again."
"I..." Dulcy smiled. "I've missed you, Shifu."
"We missed you as well, Dulcinea."
-X-
One week later…
Kat was in the Healer's Pavillion, looking at her burnt arm. She recalled the tiger's taunts about wanting to die and found she couldn't refute them.
"Mobium for your thoughts, Kaitian?" Yukiko asked as she entered, taking a seat beside her.
"Yuki-furen, hey." Kat pulled her sleeve back down, sighing. "I was just… thinking about a lot of things. Things that my Yin forced me to recognize."
"The path from inner turmoil begins with a friendly ear." Yukiko placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mine are always open if you want to use them."
Kat nodded. "The tiger told me that everything I had been doing was basically one big suicide attempt. A way of going out in a blaze of glory, dying in a meaningful way, to... make up for not fighting back on the Death Egg. And…" She grimaced, turning away. "It was right. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but… I wasn't mad at Sonic for leaving us behind. I was mad at myself for not fighting back, for hiding like a coward, for not... for not saving at least one person…"
Yukiko looked at her sadly. "Oh, Kaitian…"
"I've tried moving on, but… it's hard…" Kat clutched her arm. "Especially when the reminder of my failure is literally burned into my skin."
"Albert and Yanli gave their lives so you could live. What would they think if they knew their little girl was tearing herself apart and wishing for death?" Yukiko reached over and gently turned Kat's head, lifting her chin and looking her in the eyes. "Your parents were some of the best people I ever knew, Kaitian. They had an amazing life, right? So... why make it about how it ended? What matters isn't how they died, but how they lived."
"I know that, and I want to remember the good, to rise above this." Kat clutched her arm tighter. "I just wish I could."
Yukiko looked over her arm, getting an idea. "I might have a solution."
-X-
Sometime later, Kat was seated as Yukiko set ink down, along with a needle and some sheets of paper displaying different designs.
"I hope you're not afraid of needles."
Kat shrugged. "After everything I've been through, I've long since gotten over it. Plus, this is so much tamer than Shizun's acupuncture set. Have you seen those things?"
Yukiko chuckled. "I suppose. Now, what design would you like?"
Kat looked over several papers, before coming to the image of a phoenix with a beautiful multi-colored glowing plumage, complete with a golden torso, neck, and tail, violet wings with a golden edge, and a green and red head with violet eyes.
"This," she said, tapping it.
"Ah, the Gaia Phoenix. Fitting."
"Well, if Cinder and Kaen's... ah…" Kat paused, trying to find the right words, "Colorful description of me kicking Zan's ass is to be believed, I can think of nothing better."
As they got to work on the tattoo, Yukiko continued to talk, offering advice to her young companion.
"You have indeed suffered a great loss, I won't deny that. But it's not your fault. The great circle of life has begun... but not all of us arrive together at the end."
"Yeah, I know," Kat admitted, leaning back slightly. "For so long, I thought I was alone, but I wasn't. I haven't been alone at all. I had Knux, then Sonic, then the Freedom Fighters, the Echidnas, the Chaotix…"
"Precisely. The hardest part of grief is thinking that the people who died are gone forever, but they're not. They'll live on forever in the hearts and memories of those who know and loved them, and they continue to watch over us from on high, bathed in Gaia's light." Yukiko looked up from her work to meet Kat's eye. "Albert and Yanli's love for you has not left this world. It's still inside your heart... and is reborn in the form of new love. Don't ever forget that."
Kat thought back to Knothole, her new Echidna family, and Keith. She smiled tears of joy in her eyes. "I won't. I won't forget ever again."
She then perked, an idea forming in her mind.
"In fact…" Kat removed her headband, holding it out. "Can you add a pattern like this in the design?"
"I think that can be arranged."
-X-
Later, Kat admired her tattoo in the mirror, the phoenix surrounded by Echidna tribal markings and covering up her burn scars. Kaen and Cinder stared at it in amazement.
"Pretty birdie…" Kaen let out.
"It's beautiful," Cinder commented.
"Thanks," Kat smiled. "I like it too."
"Can I?" Cinder asked.
Kat held out her arm, letting Cinder run her fingers across it from her shoulder to her wrist.
"It's amazing…"
Kat couldn't tell, but Cinder was actually tracing her meridian, feeling the flow of qi through her arm.
"I suppose you'll be wanting these back," Bunker remarked, holding out Kat's bracers.
"Oh yeah!" Kat took them, sliding them onto her wrists. "Where were they?"
"Among your things in the dungeon intake. Flare had them returned after going through-"
All of a sudden, the bracers exploded, raining debris all around the room. Everyone quickly covered their heads to avoid the spray of red-hot metal shards.
"Anyone order a fireworks show?" Jian deadpanned as they got back to their feet.
Kat stared at her wrists, blinking in surprise. "That... was unexpected. Is everyone okay?"
Murmurs of agreement sounded as they looked around.
"It appears your power is too much for Robotnik's technology to restrain anymore," Yukiko noted.
"So it would seem..." Kat picked up one of the shards. "That's a problem..."
"No it's not, Kacchan," Cinder spoke up, smiling at her. "I can have a new set commissioned for you. A far superior set that will help with your qi circulation while also keeping it suppressed."
"An excellent idea," Bunker agreed. "I suspect that those devices may have also led to some irregularity in your qi flow, given their origins. A new set from a proper craftsman will be much more befitting."
Kat thought it over before nodding. "Never really liked wearing those old ones anyway."
Flashback Over
"I got these a few days later," Kat explained, holding up her wrists. "Flare declared that they were a token of goodwill for our services in protecting his people."
"Well, they suit you a lot better than the old ones," Knuckles noted.
"Agreed," Sonic said. "They're much more you."
"I do have one question," Sally chimed in. "If Cinder is the princess of Suzaku, and if Ember is dead, then why is she here?"
Jian grimaced at that. "Because her brother wanted to have me executed. I did attack the palace and kidnap the princess after all. Cinder argued on my behalf, and Flare declared that if she chose to side with me, she would be cast out of the royal family and exiled along with me."
"Bastard..." Amy spat in disdain.
"I didn't even hesitate," Cinder declared, hopping out of her seat and into Jian's lap. "Oneechan is all the family I need. I don't care about being exiled, since I never liked Suzaku anyway."
"And, of course, I opened my temple to them both," Bunker declared.
"Considering what I've heard about Suzaku, especially after what Kaitian went through there, exiling Cinder was the best thing Lord Flare could have done for her," Hikari stated plainly.
"So what're you gonna do now?" Sonic asked, leaning on the table.
"We will return to the Shijin temple," Dulcy explained. "Cinder wants to train under Shifu to better control her abilities, and Jian will remain as her guardian. Both of them have also expressed interest in joining my warriors as well and fighting against Eggman."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Sally said.
Jian rose to her feet, bowing to Sally. "If you ever require our aid, you need only ask. We will happily lend a hand where we can." She turned to Hikari. "I offer the same promise to you as well, Your Highness."
"The Dragon Kingdom thanks you for your aid, Jian," Hikari bowed back.
"Well," Antoine said with a chuckle. "It would seem our little alliance of five has grown to six."
"Looks like," Bunnie concurred.
"And Kat," Hikari turned to the redhead. "Do try to visit sometime, without the need for medical leave?"
Kat chuckled, then she and Hikari hugged.
"I'll try," she replied. "Though that may be difficult, with all our Warp Rings going crazy."
"Warp Rings?" Seiko asked.
"These." Tails said as he pulled one from his pocket. "If we think about where we want to go and throw them, it opens a portal to that location. But lately, something's been wrong with them. Whenever we use them, we end up feeling nauseous afterward, and sometimes, they just crumble into dust."
Suddenly, the ring in Tails' hand did just that, to the fox's shock. "Not again!"
"Interesting..." Hikari said, tapping her chin in thought. "Tell me, these Warp Rings, are they a product of technology or mysticism?"
"Um…" Tails blinked, not sure how to respond. "Well, they're based on Power Rings so... both?"
Hikari thought a moment longer, then clapped her hands in realization. "If Power Rings are involved, I may know someone who can help you fix them."
"Really!?" Tails perked, looking positively ecstatic at the news. Seiko, on the other hand…
"Princess," she began ".You're not seriously considering-"
"He may be a tad...eccentric, Seiko, but he's well-versed in the scientific side of Chaos Energy. If anyone can figure this out, it's him."
"Still..." Seiko conceded, though remained unconvinced.
"Hey, if this guy can help us, I don't see what the problem is," Sonic said nonchalantly. "What's his name?"
Citadel Robotnik
Down in the Citadel's medical wing, a tall, lanky, Mobian dragon looked over some documents on a clipboard. He had light blue scales, antler-like horns, and long, sharp, black talons. He wore dark sunglasses and a black, Egg Soldier jumpsuit, and boots with holes in the front and back for his toes to stick out, his right foot having one extra toe than his left. Over his jumpsuit, he wore a white jacket with blue accents that resembled a cross between a lab coat and a Chu-nese robe.
Huaisang. a voice said in Chu-nese.
Huaisang looked up from his papers, allowing him to get a look at his patient: a very badly beaten Jiaolong Zan. The red dragon was lying in a hospital bed, his neck and chest covered in bandages and several tubes sticking out of his arms, and an annoyed look on his face.
You have been looking over those papers for almost thirty minutes, Zan griped. How bad is the damage...and how long will it take to fix?
Hmmmm… Huaisang grimaced. Your esophageal implants have suffered extensive damage, including a small pyro fluid leak in your reserve fuel tank. He flipped the page. You have three broken ribs, one of which has punctured your lung. Half of your tongue is simply gone. And you've almost completely reopened your stitches. I estimate you set your recovery back by about…three to six months."
"What!?" Zan shouted before clutching his throat in pain.
Huaisang shook his head in sympathy. That is what happens when you try to fight Phoenix just after surgery, Master.
Huaisang… Zan growled.
"Zan..."
Huaisang and Zan turned to the entrance to see Robotnik walk into the room, looking very cross.
Zan's eyes narrowed. "Doctor..."
Robotnik walked into the room. "You went off on your own, wasted Empire resources for your own personal vendettas, and then you couldn't even win. You were completely destroyed and by what? Some mythological bird?
"You accuse me of lying!?" Zan coughed, clutching his throat.
"The Phoenixes are extinct, so I find it hard to believe that one just happened to appear-
"Actually, sir," Huaisang began in Common, "This wasn't… Mobian Phoenix or… Mobini. This was… ningen… with power of… Phoenix."
Robotnik raised an eyebrow. "A what?"
"Ah...ningen...human."
"A human!?"
Huaisang nodded. "A girl about… fourteen years old with …red hair-
"With a headband, a metal bat, and prominent scars on her arm and head?" Robotnik cut in.
"Uhhh...yes?"
The doctor's eyes narrowed. "Winters… And here I was hoping the rumors of her demise were true. Dammit!"
"What shall we do… Doctor Robotnik, sir?"
"You, Huaisang, are going to do everything in your power to get your 'Master' up and running as soon as possible. And complete those Language Courses Agatha insisted on giving you."
"Not important," Huaisang snapped. "Have better things…to do than learn…filthy, Western tongue."
Huaisang flinched as his body sparked with golden electricity.
"Okay…I make…time," he corrected, earning a nod of approval from Robotnik.
"And you, Zan," he turned to the red dragon, "are going to be in a lot of trouble when he's done."
"What?!" he shouted.
Robotnik held up his mechanical arm, projecting a holo-screen showing several blueprints for Zan's cybernetics. "I took the liberty of looking over your schematics while you were under the knife and found that you had your physicians install several unauthorized implants behind my back. This one, in particular, caught my attention." he pointed to the blueprints for the siphon rod in Zan's tongue.
"I needed a quick and effective way to replenish my flame!" the dragon defended.
"Our forces in Artika have acquired plenty of fuel for your Flame Cannon," Robotnik barked. "I do not condone wanton slaughter! That's how heroes like Winters are created! You're lucky there are no other viable candidates for Yurashian Egg Boss! Otherwise, I'd have you shipped off to Soumerca with Drago and Razorklaw!"
Zan sweated, knowing full well what that meant.
Robotnik took a breath, massaging his temples as he regained his composure. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a meeting to plan. Enjoy your stay at the Citadel."
And with that, he made for the exit, shoving Huaisang out of the way as he did.
"Watch where you're goin', ya fool!" the blue dragon shouted, shaking his fist, earning himself another zap.
"Winters..." Zan glowered. "I know not how or when, but next time we meet, there will be no ashes for you to rise from."
Elsewhere…
From his castle in Suzaku, Flare watched impassively as his men worked to rebuild the city, one of his royal advisors at his side. They had a ways to go before all of the damage from Zan's attack was fixed, but progress was progress.
"Flare-dono, are you sure it was wise to banish Princess Cinder like that?" his advisor asked. "She was... well loved by the people."
"Cinder has chosen to degrade herself by declaring that filthy, tora assassin as her sister," the Entei replied. "I cannot overlook such behavior."
"Even so... she is still the best candidate for Suzaku's Flame. If she is not under Suzaku's banner–"
"I will find a way to harness its power," Flare cut in sharply. "Right now, we have more pressing issues to attend to. Has all of Ember's research on the Kongshi been destroyed?"
"Yes, Milord. It has all been reduced to ashes."
"And the soldiers who sided with her?"
"They have either sworn their loyalty to you or were executed. The former will remain under strict supervision."
Flare nodded. "Good. Then that leaves only one thing."
"Milord?"
"The girl," Flare began. "The ningen."
The advisor tilted his head in confusion. "What about her?"
"That power she held… could it be..." Flare shook his head. "No, that is absurd. It's locked away in the Dragon Kingdom's vaults. Not even the esteemed Master Bunker is allowed in there."
With that, Flare walked off.
"Flare-dono?"
"I need to think," the king replied. "Inform me if anything important happens."
"Yes, sir!" The advisor bowed.
Flare made his way down the halls of his castle, all servants he encountered stepping aside and bowing deeply as soon as they saw him. He paid them no heed, though. His mind was occupied with greater concerns.
"A human with the power of the Phoenix, the power of Chaos. A power they lost eons ago…" He narrowed his eyes. "This bears further investigation."
Flare made his way to a secluded part of the castle. Once he made sure he was alone, he pressed his hand against a section of the wall and slid it aside revealing a hidden staircase leading downwards. He descended the staircase, eventually making his way to the dark, dank dungeons where Kat had found Zan. Making his way to the back, he found a door being guarded by two soldiers.
"Open the door," he ordered. "I need to speak with the prisoner."
"Hai!" One of the soldiers drew his keyring and made to open the door. Once it was open, Flare stepped inside.
"Well now, isn't this a surprise?" a female voice said in a Ryu-ese accent. "The Entei himself coming all the way here. To what do I owe the honor?"
"I would show a little more gratitude if I were you, assassin," Flare said with a sneer. "I am offering you a chance to make yourself useful and redeem yourself for attempting to kill me."
"Is that right?"
Flare nodded. "There is someone I want you to investigate, a human. One with strange and unusual powers. Powers that rightfully belong to the Suzaku Royal Family."
"Investigation is the Shinobi Clan's wheelhouse. The Raiju are warriors."
"Maybe so, but you aren't really in a position to be picky. You can either accept this mission or spend the rest of your life rotting beneath my castle." the pheasant smiled. "And as a bonus, I will allow you to go after your former comrade. The one who stole my sister from me and left you to die."
The prisoner paused. "...who's the target?"
"Her name is Wang Kaitian, also known as Kathryn Winters," Flare explained. "I want you to keep an eye on her, determine the scope and source of her power."
"And once I do?"
Flare's expression became steely and cold. "Kill her."
Though he could not see her, Flare could practically feel the malicious grin his captive was no doubt giving.
"On second thought, I think this mission is perfectly suited for me."
"I had a feeling you would change your tune." Flare turned to his soldiers. "Release her."
The guards entered the cell and headed toward the back. A few seconds later, the metallic sound of chains falling to the floor echoed through the room, followed by soft footsteps.
"I will have my servants prepare a bath and a meal for you, after which, we will return your belongings and equipment."
"Very well..." the prisoner nodded.
Flare's eyes narrowed. "Remember, this is your only chance. If you attempt to flee-"
"I won't," the prisoner interrupted, a harshness in her voice. "I may be an assassin, but I have my honor."
"I will be the judge of that..." Flare told her. "For now, I suggest you get yourself cleaned up, Yamaneko Rantao."
"An excellent suggestion, Lord Flare. But please..."
The prisoner stepped into the light, revealing a Mobian lynx with orange-brown fur and orange eyes, a cruel, sadistic grin on her face. She had long, pointed ears with black tufts, the left of which had a nick in it, as well as black hair with bangs that hung over her face. Her fur and hair were dirty and disheveled from her imprisonment, but other than that, she showed no signs of starvation. Her only articles of clothing were a simple fundoshi and several cloth wrappings around her breasts, revealing several scars all over her body and a tattoo on her right arm: that of a sword with a jagged, lightning bolt-shaped blade over a billowing cloud.
"Call me… Conquering Storm."
Author's Note:
(1): Chinese for "asshole"
(2): Chinese for "impudent whore"
(3): Japanese for "die, dragon!"
(4): Japanese for "What?"
Conquering Storm's name, Yamaneko Rantao, is WindstarOsprey's invention. Her real name was never revealed, so he decided to give her one. And yeah, Huaisang is an OC based on Di Lung of Courage the Cowardly Dog fame.
Word from WindstarOsprey: And that concludes the Zan arc! Yes, we made him the Yurashian Egg Boss instead of Conquering Storm, like in canon. Archie barely did anything with him, so we decided to fix that. But don't worry, Connie, Stormy, or Rantao as we call her has not been forgotten. And to head off any questions about how someone who is supposed to be the leader of a powerful ninja clan got captured so easily…well, her's is a story of how she got married. A love story, if you will. A violent and brutal love story that ends with a lot of people dead, but a love story. But that's for another time.
Voice cast for this chapter:
* Rantao - Tara Platt (Temari in Naruto, Reina in Rave Master, Kali Belladonna in RWBY, Mitsuru Kirijo in Persona 3, Edelgard von Hresvelg in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Miriel & Flavia in Fire Emblem: Awakening, Anna Williams in Tekken, Setsuka in Soulcalibur, Yuri Watanabe in Spider-Man PS4)
* Huaisang - Tim Chi Ly (Di Lung in Courage the Cowardly Dog)
Please R&R. Until next time!
