Silver sat restlessly in the middle of the garden. The clear stream he was supposed to be focusing on babbled forgotten behind him. His legs twitched as he struggled to maintain the meditative pose Levi had taught him. Inner peace eluded him as he strained to hear what the others were saying. He could just make out their shadows behind one of the walled hedges. Tristen did not seem to have awoken yet.
Guilt simmered in Silver's stomach. He had not meant to hurt his friend. The outburst had been as sudden as it had been explosive. One moment the two hedgehogs were sparring as always under Levi's watchful eye, the next Tristen was lying face first in the grass with blood pooling from the wound on his head.
Silver didn't remember losing control. He had been growing increasingly agitated as he lost bout after bout. Tristen had always been faster than Silver. Whenever he got into a groove his sword became a blur as he struck with the speed and suddenness of the wind. Time and time again, Tristen would knock Silver's sword aside and score hit after hit.
It was a ritual in humiliation for Silver. He was a member of the royal family, trained in the martial arts since birth. His position among the legendary Knights Royal was already reserved by virtue of his high birth. Tristen was a mere commoner, a peasant's son who had been granted permission to come to the palace and receive special training after gaining renown for his performance in a local tourney.
The two hedgehogs were only a few years apart. Silver could not use his age as an excuse. With every match, his frustration grew, until he was practically shaking with rage. Tristen was gracious in victory, always deferring to Silver and showing nothing but respect. This only made Silver more furious.
Swordplay was the traditional fighting style of Soleanna, revered since antiquity. All the most famous warriors in the kingdom's history were masters of the blade. Silver knew the old tales by heart, but that did not mean he had a love for sword based combat. His own powers far exceeded the capacity of such limited weapons.
He could never beat me if I wasn't forced to hold back. Silver thought, his chest heaving. Tristen stood across from him, his blade held high in the stance drilled into them both by Levi. Silver was still exhausted from the last bout. He had lost three in a row, and each round was getting shorter and shorter. His own sword hung loose in hands. The blade felt awkward and cumbersome and Silver longed to toss it aside.
Silver glanced to his right. Levi paced back and forth with his hands folded behind his back. The fox's expression was unreadable. Silver wondered if Levi was disappointed in him. The fox rarely dished out praise, and could be extremely critical at times.
Levi clapped. The sound echoed through the palace garden. Tristen came forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. Silver slashed, forgetting what Levi had told him about panic striking. Tristen sidestepped the attack and drove his knee directly into Silver's gut. The blow knocked all the air out Silver's lungs. He had no way to defend himself against the next strike and Tristen gently brushed the edge of his sword on Silver's back as he fell into the soft grass.
"Again." Levi's voice cut through the fog.
Silver picked himself up, wincing as pain flared up in his abdomen. That had been his quickest defeat to date. Tristen held his sword above his head and stretched out his arms. He smiled amiably at Silver.
The two fighters walked back to their starting positions. Silver could feel his blood pumping in his ears. He glared at Levi. The fox had his back turned and wasn't even watching anymore. His attention was caught up in the ever more important squabbles of two birds flying high into the single tree of the garden.
Silver's rage mounted. He let his arms drop and didn't even bother with a defensive stance. Clap. Tristen did not go directly into an attack. Perhaps sensing Silver's rage, he approached more cautiously.
Silver kept his eyes on his teacher. Levi was still not watching them. Turn away from me will you? Green wisps of glowing aurora flickered around Silver's hands. His eyes flashed. With a shout, he threw himself at Tristen with reckless abandon. Though they were supposed to refrain from striking at full force during training, Silver put all his weight into his attacks.
Tristen lost ground as he tried to protect himself from Silver's onslaught. Clang. Clang. Clang. Their blades met and sent up fiery sparks. Silver pressed as hard as he could, willing himself to win at least one round. Tristen did not make it easy. He slipped past Silver's strikes, using his superior speed to avoid every blow. Whenever their blades met, Tristen would pull back, refusing to follow Silver's lead and fight at full force.
This only infuriated Silver even more. He hacked and hammered his sword until pieces of the metal chipped away. The sound of their battle crescendoed until it spooked the two birds and they flew away. This served to catch Levi's attention, as he finally turned back around.
Silver turned his head slightly, expecting Levi to call him off. But the master warrior said nothing. Silver's lack of awareness caused him to be late deflecting Tristen's next strike. He stumbled backward and tripped over a stray stone. Silver fell and his sword popped out of his hand.
"Point."
Tristen stabbed down to tap Silver on the head, but his hand was turned back. Silver floated into the air, carried by a sudden explosion of neon green energy. He held up both hands and released a blast of kinetic energy. Tristen flew backward and slammed hard into the tree. The impact was so violent one of the lower branches cracked and swung down, slapping hard into Tristen's head.
Silver saw the blood trickle down his friend's face. The overwhelming power drained out of him and Silver slumped to the floor. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Levi's towering shadow.
When Silver woke, Levi was crouched over him. A group of healers were tending to Tristen who lay on his back near the tree.
The outburst had left Silver completely drained. He could not stand up on his own. The muscles in his legs and arms were trembling. Levi led him to the center of the garden and instructed him to clear his mind and heart.
"I didn't mean to-" Silver's excuse failed before he could even finish.
"You have to learn how to control yourself," Levi snapped. "You could have killed him.'
Silver hung his head. "I know, I just-"
"Silence." Levi turned away, allowing his obvious frustration to show. "If you can't control your emotions you'll never control your powers. The purpose of these exercises were to help you deal with frustration and manage your feelings."
Eventually, Tristen regained consciousness and the healers took him away to rest. No one said anything to Silver as they left the garden. For his part, Silver dared not violate Levi's orders until he had permission to do so.
Guilt and shame served as his companions for the first hour of solitary mediation. He made a few vain attempts at clearing his mind and focusing on the sounds of the garden, but each effort proved futile. As more time passed, Silver found himself growing increasingly agitated. Why had Levi intentionally frustrated him, and then been angry when Silver lost control? What had he expected?
Silver's resentment circled around itself, devouring each bitter thought and generating more of itself until he was positively fuming with indignation. Levi didn't understand. Silver wasn't like the others. He was special, born with a natural power second only to his elder sister. Yet, he was never treated as her equal.
The sun failed and night fell over the palace, and still Silver was left alone in the garden. With each passing hour, Silver felt more and more certain that this was another test placed on him by Levi. He expects me to give up and come inside. Silver glared at the doors leading into the garden. His stomach rumbled with a piercing hunger, but he stubbornly remained where he was.
If hunger did not break him, then things took a turn for the worst when Silver felt rain drip gently on his head. He looked up and frowned at the overhanging storm clouds. Thunder rumbled and the clouds unleashed their store of water. The light drizzle turned swiftly into a howling deluge. Silver was soaked in seconds and he shivered in the cold winds.
Still he did not move. He watched the palace doors, waiting and hoping that he would see movement. But Levi did not come. Silver's anger could only sustain him for so long. His outburst had drained him of all his energy, and now he was wet, cold and starving. I can do this. Tears were filling Silver's eyes. He knew he would break soon. Silver would slump back inside with his head bowed and pride shattered. Levi would be there to greet him, and Silver already knew that the old master would not say anything.
It's not fair. He thought glumly. I didn't mean to hurt him. Silver had been upset about losing, and had allowed his anger to take over but that didn't mean…He stirred as part of him tried to move, while the other half of him remained sitting. His growling stomach yearned to give up this facade and go back inside. But Silver's pride remained resolute. Just a bit longer. I can hold out a bit longer.
The wind howled. Silver's fur was soaked and his teeth chattered against the icy sting of the wing. The grass beneath him was damp and the garden stream was steadily flooding over. Just a bit longer. Just a bit longer.
"What are you doing?"
Silver looked up. The silhouette loomed over him, hidden in darkness and framed by the stormy sky. Lightning flashed and illuminated the stranger's face. It was Blaze. She wore a heavy black cloak and covered her head with a hood. Her yellow burns glimmered faintly in the gloom.
"Sister?" Silver gasped. He had not seen her walk out.
"What are you doing?" She repeated.
"Levi told me to stay here," He answered.
Blaze shook her head. "No he didn't."
"Yes, he told me- He was trying to make me angry!" Silver felt the anger rush through him. "I didn't mean to. I was frustrated, but that was Levi's fault!"
Blaze looked down at her brother, as always her expression was completely unreadable. "Levi forced you to lose control?"
Silver shook his head. "No, but-"
"And he told you to stay out here all night?"
"He said-" Silver racked his brain, but his anger was making it difficult to think. He couldn't remember if Levi had actually told him to wait. "He told me to clear my head…"
Blaze's eyes flashed with an all too knowing glint. This indication of understanding only made Silver more frustrated. "Did you clear your head?" Blaze asked pointedly.
"No!" Silver's chest was heaving. "I didn't- I didn't need to!"
"And so he told you that you had to stay out here?" Blaze was looking down at him with a piercing glare that Silver wilted under. He knew he could not hide his feelings from her, no matter how hard he tried.
"I….I just thought-" Silver faltered.
"Your pride has kept you out here little brother." Her stern expression softened, and a warm smile replaced her previously dour mood. "What are you doing?" She said, now laughing. "It's freezing out here and it's pouring rain." Blaze pulled back her hood and allowed the torrents to wash down her face.
Silver broke. He could not stop himself from laughing with her. Standing took some difficulty as he had twisted his muscles until they were locked. Blaze helped him and the two of them raced for the palace door. Once they were under the safety of the awning, Blaze shook off the excess water and ruffled Silver's hair. "Why do you do these things to yourself little brother?"
Silver was too abashed to be angry at her for treating him like a child. He blushed slightly and kept his eyes down at his feet. "I thought…I thought Levi was angry at me, and that he wanted to test me. I guess I figured he would come out sooner or later, but I guess he didn't even know I was out here."
Blaze frowned at him, but in an indulgent kind of way. "O he knew you were out here. If I were you I would avoid testing your stubbornness against him." She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to make everything a competition. Levi asked you to control your emotions, and instead you let your emotions keep you locked in that garden for hours."
"I know…I just…" Silver didn't have the words to express what he was feeling. The hunger and fatigue were slowly taking over.
Blaze did not press the point. She smiled and together they went into the palace dining hall. Silver feasted at dinner, and a good night's rest put much of the ordeal behind him. On the next morning, Levi and Tristen met him at the garden for a new day of training. Tristen's head was bandaged, but he did not seem ill disposed to Silver.
"I apologize for my actions yesterday," Silver told him with a respectful bow. Tristen accepted the apology and promised that next time he would not be defeated so easily.
"It's not all your fault," Levi told Silver. "I think I share some blame. I thought it would be best if you learned how to control your emotions before you honed your other abilities. Perhaps that was the wrong way to go." Levi reached into the folds of his robe and withdrew a small silver casket. He popped the lid to reveal twin bracers overlaid in gold. The bracelets shimmered faintly.
"What are they?" Silver took them carefully and marveled at their elegant sheen.
"Your sister asked Elder Stehpon to make them. They are inhibitor rings designed to help limit the outflow of your powers so you can control them easier."
Silver glanced wearily at Levi. "I won't be able to use my powers?"
Levi shook his head. "They only serve as inhibitors, you will still be able to use your powers, they will just be weakened slightly so they don't get out of control. From now on when you spar I want you to use your powers as you fight."
"Really?" Silver felt a sudden flush of anxiety. "I'm just starting to make headway in moving things around, I don't think I'm ready to fight."
"That's why these were made." Levi closed the casket and put it away. "I know Master Gaven has been teaching you how to move objects and project force fields, but it's time we blended your studies. In battle you cannot always control your emotions perfectly, there will be times when you have to use your powers while under extreme duress. These bracelets will help you practice in a way that is safe for you, not to mention the rest of us."
Silver frowned. He held the bracelets cautiously, wondering what would happen if he put them on. Suddenly, he felt eyes on him and he looked up. Blaze was watching him from an upper window in the palace. He smiled faintly at her. Hesitantly, he put on the first bracelet and then the second. Silver winced as the bolden bands glowed and then shrunk to close firmly on his wrist.
"I don't…" Before he could say anything, Silver felt a horrible lurching sensation in his stomach. He lost his breath for a moment, but then the sensation passed. Green sparks emitted from his fingertips. Silver raised his hands and focused his mind on a small stone in the garden. He tried to push his power outward and control the rock. Wisps of green light flashed out of his palms and then dissipated like smoke.
"I can barely do anything," Silver complained. In his studies with Master Gaven, Silver had already progressed to lifting objects much heavier than rocks.
"It's a start," Levi said firmly. "You aren't meant to wear these forever. Once you've gotten a better grip on your power you can take them off. Master Gaven said you just have to tap them twice and they will unlatch."
Silver wasn't sure what to say. He felt extremely adverse to the idea. His powers were his identity, the one thing that made him truly unique. Silver glanced wearily up at the window. Blaze was still watching him, her arms folded and her expression stern. She had gone easy on him yesterday, and Silver knew that if he complained again she would be less accommodating to his frustration.
He stared dejected at the bracelets and made a promise to himself to master his powers as soon as possible so he could get rid of them. I'll show you all. He said. I will be the greatest knight in history.
Chapter 155
Inhibited
The red stained sky darkened. Silver sat alone in the command pavilion, his eyes fixed on the golden bracelets still firmly attached to his wrists. In all those years since he had made that promise to himself, Silver had only ever taken the bracelets off twice. The last had been during the battle against Infinite. After watching Rayne, his friend and fellow knight die, Silver had thrown caution to the wind. However, even with the full brunt of his untamed power, Silver had been unable to deal a mortal blow to Mesto's puppet.
His body barely survived the outburst and Silver had been unable to help as the powers of the empire swarmed down on his sister. Though Silver had put all his effort into his training he had yet to fully master his powers. The bracelets were a permanent reminder of his failure and weakness.
The tent flap opened and Gawain stepped inside. The Knight of the Sky had removed his signature cloak and instead garbed himself in a somber black cape. "They are ready for you," He said.
Silver stood. His legs felt weak. He had not been able to get much food down. The terror of the Blood Moon still weighed heavily on his spirit. He had never been a superstitious person, but if there was ever a portent of doom the crimson drench of a blood soaked moon served the point.
Gawain helped Silver don his own black cloak, and together they went outside. Everyone in the Sanctuary had gathered in the central grotto. Five pyres had been set up and each was encircled by an honor guard. Citizens and soldiers alike wore black robes, their hoods raised to shield against the faint drizzle of rain which fell from a cloudless sky.
Silver couldn't help himself from looking up. The moon was not nearly as red as it was the night previously, but the sky was permanently stained with a red haze. Her blood will never fade from the sky. Silver thought. It will cover this world forever.
A raised stage had been set up in front of the main entrance into the Sanctuary. Sonic and Erenfel awaited Silver at the top. The priest wore an immaculate black robe hemmed with gold. Symbols connected with death and rebirth littered the sleeves. Erenfel's head was bowed and he was praying faintly.
Sonic stood alone, and did not bother with funeral colors. The broken shards of Caliburn were still strapped to his back. He was glaring down at the final pyre, his arms folded. "Is it right to give Priam one?" He asked when Silver stood beside him. "He betrayed her in the end."
Silver looked down. The five bundles of wood had been erected to represent the bodies of Rayne, Ivan, Jasmine, Priam and Blaze. Though none of their bodies had been returned safely to the Sanctuary, Silver felt it was important that he give the community a chance to grieve together.
"Priam was a priest of Solaris," Silver said simply. "Whatever his final fate, he should be remembered as he was."
Sonic turned his attention to the first three pyres. "Rayne, Ivan, Jasmine…it's my fault they're dead. If I obeyed Blaze then…" He turned to the final two pyres. "Then Priam would never have needed to sell us out…"
"There's plenty of blame to go around," Silver countered.
The two hedgehogs stood side by side as the crowd gathered. Silver watched the faces of his countrymen. He saw the empty, gloomy expressions on their faces. They're hopeless. He thought. Children clutched their parents' hands, their faces full of longing. Food stores were getting low. There would be no feast to honor the fallen. Helpers passed along bowls of stale stew and hard bread.
Images flashed of the banquet hall of the palace. Silver recalled with painful detail the lights and beauty of those nights, of the plates and plates of delicious food. "Had it all been a dream?" It was not as if there had always been peace. Even in those days they lived under the thumb of the empire. The royal family had been safe and happy, but the lives of the poor and nameless were just as desperate as they were now.
Soft bells echoed overhead. Silver stirred and saw that the ceremonies had begun. Healers in covered veils walked around the pyres singing in high, beautiful voices. Erenfel led the congregation, prompting them to repeat the words of mourning over the fallen dead.
The night was soon buzzing with the rhythm of song and chanting voices, but Silver could not hear the music. All sound blurred into discordant noise. The faces changed. He did not see the weeping faces of his people, but the snarling and hateful masses who had gathered to Blaze's execution. Singing devolved into shouting. The ringing bells changed into that of distant explosions. The sounds of a battlefield, clashing swords, flames and screaming echoed in Silver's mind. His heart thundered in his chest. Though he did not move he felt transported. Battle and mayhem threatened all around him, but Silver was frozen in place.
Sonic and Gawain stood to either side of him. Both Knights had their hands firmly tightened around their weapons. Silver knew that both of them felt as he did. The music was lost on them. They would never be able to mourn properly, not while the battles to come still loomed inside their hearts.
Erefnel then began to speak. He spoke of the deeds of the fallen, of their valor in battle and courage in the face of certain death. Rayne's list of titles and honors took the longest. Ivan, much beloved and respected by all the members of the scout regiment, was remembered for his humor and casual personality. Priam's last hours went unmentioned, instead he was remembered as the stalwart priest, a towering figure known for his commanding voice and absolute devotion to Solaris.
And then the priest faltered. Ordinarily, someone like Jasmine would not receive a place amongst fallen heroes. She was not a knight or a soldier, nor a priest. Jasmine had no titles nor feats in the field of battle. A crippling silence filled the grotto as Erenfel reached for something to say. Silver's stomach twisted as he thought of the girl. She was the very image of the innocent all knights swore to protect, and yet they had allowed her to suffer the worst fate of all.
The silence stretched until it felt as if something might burst. Silver watched Sonic out of the corner of his eye. Rumors had spread through the camp about Jasmine and how her dreams had led her to reach out to Sonic. If it weren't for her, perhaps Sonic would never have involved himself with the Thirteens and would have simply gone home.
Silver could tell that Sonic was thinking along those same lines. Jasmine thought he had come here to save us. At first, this had greatly annoyed Silver. Soleanna's hero could not be some stranger from another planet. It was his destiny to become the greatest knight of all. Only now did Silver fully appreciate how childish that jealousy was.
The last to be honored was Blaze. But what was there to say? She had been both princess and knight, and the very standard of their cause. When all seemed hopeless it was Blaze that served as the rallying point. She was the pride and vitality of Soleanna.
Erenfel did not bother to try and list all her titles and achievements. The priest bowed his head and led a hasty prayer to Solaris. Torches were brought forth and the pyres were lit. Silver watched the wood burn and started a countdown in his head. When the flames went out, it would be his turn to speak. He would need to transfer all the grief and sorrow, and turn that into power.
Time slipped away. Silver's legs felt as if they were weighed down by heavy stones. The fires burned unnaturally fast. A buzz of murmuring and whispers slowly broke the contemplative silence. Faces turned to the raise stage. Silver could feel the pressure of all those eyes. He twisted the bracelets on his wrist. Silver felt the sting of his own limitations, and felt his stomach twist into a knot. There is no way I can replace her.
The pyres burned out. Erenfel led another prayer and then stood back, motioning for Silver to address the crowd. He felt as if he were in a trance. It seemed to take Silver several minutes to walk forward. The muttering ceased. A huge silence filled the Sanctuary. Silver looked down and immediately identified several faces. Mary, the healer stood at the front of the crowd. Colto, an apprentice blacksmith who had worked in the palace before the outbreak of the rebellion stood nearby.
Silver took a steadying breath. Slowly, the unfocused blur of nameless gray faces sharpened into the concerned expressions of friends and neighbors. He relaxed slightly and felt the knot in his stomach begin to unwind. He knew these people, and more importantly they knew Silver. I can't pretend to be someone I'm not.
He closed his eyes and whispered a faint prayer before he started speaking. "Tonight is a night for grief and sorrow. These five pyres represent not just the individuals we lost, but the countless fallen. Who can name all the brethren that we have been forced to leave unremembered in the field of battle?" Silver's voice faltered slightly, but he did not let that slow him down. There was no point in feigning a commanding presence that would not convince anyone.
"Blaze is gone, but not all is lost. We are still here. I did not bring our forces back from Castle Town in order to surrender to Mesto. I think my sister wanted to see what was left of our people in the city. She gave them a chance to rally to our cause, but Mesto's grip was simply too strong. That leaves us with only one choice, and it is a road that is certain to lead to more loss and even more sorrow, but it is the only road left to us."
Silver allowed these last words to hang in the air while he looked out into the crowd. He weighed the courage of his countrymen in his heart, and wondered whether they had any valor left for one final effort. "We must take back the city. We will lay siege to Mestopolois and restore its true name."
"I do not know if we can win. But our only chance at a hopeful future, of lives worth living is too try. Mesto thinks he has taken everything from us, let us prove to him that we will not so easily fall into the abyss. Follow me, as you followed my sister. I can only promise you one thing, we will not disappear. What we do next will echo through history forever."
There was no applause or burst of excited cheering. Sonic stood nearby and watched with his arms folded, a feeling of deep misgiving settled in his heart. He was instantly reminded of the night when Blaze had promised to lead the Thirteens out of hiding. The call to war had been infectious, prompting nearly everyone in the camp to lose themselves in the fervor of the moment. Even Sonic had been temporarily lost in his own passions. It was only when he and Levi had a moment alone did Sonic start to doubt whether or not war could ever induce a positive response.
On that day, the Thirteens had been absorbed by the promise of victory, captivated by their trust and absolute devotion in their leader. Now there was only grim acceptance. This second leaving would not be a crusade energized by desires for justice and revenge, nor would this be some heroic conquest where a dispossessed people could reclaim their home. This was merely about survival. If they did not march then Mesto would eventually find them and kill them all.
When Silver finished he raised up his hand and everyone followed in unison. One by one they spoke aloud the names of the fallen. Sonic could not bring himself to speak. And just like that, the night was over. The Thirteens dispersed back to their tents.
Sonic climbed down the stage and found a large stone to sit down on. He found that his leg hurt less if he kept moving, but Mary had insisted that he sit as often as possible so it could heal properly. Sonic stretched out the muscle and winced as he felt a flash of hot pain above the break. He kneaded the skin with his thumbs to dull out the ache.
"Sonic." Gawain came rushing over to him. "The scouts have just come back from the city. You should hear this." The Knight of the Sky leaned down and helped pull Sonic to his feet. He limped slightly as his leg flared up, and allowed Gawain to help him walk over to the command pavilion.
Inside the tent, Silver conferred with what served as the new high council. Erenfel, Mary the healer, and Percy the leader of the scouts. Percy had not been present during the ceremony. His gray scout cloak was marked with fresh mud.
Everyone turned as Sonic and Gawain entered. "Percy, tell Sonic what you just told me."
The cyan furred hedgehog took a moment to catch his breath. It was obvious that he had just raced back to the Sanctuary at top speed. "There was an attack in the city today. Two imperial offices were destroyed and dozens of Mesto's prisoners set loose."
Sonic turned to Silver. "Did you-"
Silver shook his head. "We don't have any troops in the city anymore. I only just sent Percy and a few scouts to watch from the walls. I wanted to know if Mesto was mustering his forces."
"So there is a resistance inside the city?" Sonic asked hopefully.
"The attitude inside the city has completely changed," Percy explained. "Ever since the Blood Moon there has been a noticeable uptick in resistance. Several sentinels were destroyed in the marketplace and imperial soldiers had to barricade one of the roads. The Church of Solaris is completely empty, the people are avoiding the place as if it's cursed."
"And what about Mesto?" Silver asked pointedly. "What has he done in response?"
"Nothing." Percy shrugged. "No one has seen him. Last night he went into his tower and hasn't come out. Even after the attacks today the Hive was not sent out. Mesto hasn't done anything."
Silver, Sonic and Gawain exchanged looks of surprise. "And these attacks…" Erenfel began. "They are by our people?"
At this question, Percy frowned. "I don't know. After we saw the blasts I sent all my scouts over the walls to try and find out what we could. None of the expected suspects claimed credit."
"You don't think it may have been imperials?" Mary interjected. "There are still many of them in the city as well."
"You had to have found out something," Silver said. "Did you at least get a name or alias?"
Percy shook his head. "Whoever planned the attack was smart. But Mary may be closer to the truth. The two offices that were destroyed were holding mostly imperial prisoners."
"What do you mean?" Gawain ventured. "Like common criminals or people who Mesto deemed likely to sympathize with us?"
"Neither," Percy said. "These offices were holding members of the criminal gangs. Most of them have been wiped out by Mesto but there've been a few that have managed to survive."
Both Sonic and Silver shared knowing looks. "I thought Infinite wiped them all out?" Silver asked, voicing what Sonic himself was thinking. "I saw the Underking and his whole army decimated in a single afternoon."
"Criminals are like roaches," Percy said simply. "You can't wipe them out unless you kill every single one of them. Mesto took down the biggest player but he might have left someone with the numbers and fire power to do serious damage."
Sonic clapped his hand to his forehead. The force of the realization hit him so fast and clear that he laughed. "Of course! Lord Typhon!" Everyone in the tent looked at Sonic as if he had suddenly gone mad.
Before they could ask, he launched into a rapid explanation of his adventure to claim the Chaos Emerald. "I only just escaped that place with my life," Sonic finished. "But Typhon and the others were secure deep underground. Infinite didn't attack them and he killed the Underking too quickly for him to even find out about them."
Silver frowned. "Wait, so you're saying these criminals were going back to your planet and trading Sol Gems for human weapons?"
Sonic nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. Typhon's soldiers had guns and other equipment."
"But who were they trading with?" Gawain wondered.
Sonic shrugged. "I'm not sure exactly. But it doesn't really matter. Typhon's soldiers had the fire power, and if they felt Mesto was going to wipe them out it would make sense for them to go on the offensive."
Silver turned to Sonic. "We need to find out for ourselves. These brigands may be enemies of Mesto but that doesn't make them our allies. You said this Typhon tried to kill you even after you bested him in combat?"
"I wouldn't say he's the most honorable person, but he was extremely strong."
"It doesn't hurt that his army is already in the city," Gawain pointed out. "If his troops could let us through the gates we might actually have a chance."
"I can go," Sonic offered. "I think I remember how to get back to Typhon's hideout."
Silver shook his head. "No Sonic, your leg is still hurt. We can't risk you." He allowed a playful smirk to cross his face. "And this time you can't disobey me, I'm in charge now remember?"
Sonic sighed. "It would still be faster if you sent me. But I guess I could draw you a map."
"Do that," Silver agreed. "I've sat on the sidelines long enough. I will go myself and meet with this lord Typhon. I'll see if we can't come to some kind of agreement. And I'll-" He said before Gawain could interrupt him. "Will be going alone."
Sonic was surprised that Gawain did not argue the point. He crossed his arm and bowed reverently to Silver, showing him the same honor that he had demonstrated towards Blaze.
"Percy, meet back with your scouts and keep your eyes on the city. I'll sneak into the city through the secret entrance in Kingdom Valley."
With the plan in place, everyone crossed their arms over their chest. Sonic did the same, though he was left feeling slightly empty. Feeling out of place was starting to become an increasingly too familiar sensation. The last thing Sonic wanted to do now was to be left to sit idle in his despair and isolation. His hands itched to pull Caliburn free from its sheath and race directly to Mesto's tower. Before this was over, Sonic swore to himself that he would pay Infinite back for killing Jasmine.
"One last thing." Mary cupped her hands together nervously as she approached Silver. "I was wondering if you might tell me where you laid your sister to rest? Even if we can't access her body, I would like to take a few of my ladies and burn incense."
Silver frowned. "The grave is being guarded by imperials. I can't promise that they won't try to stop you, and I can't afford to send soldiers to protect you."
"I don't care," Mary said. "If the imperials have fallen so low as to stop us in our work then let the shame be on their head."
"Very well then," Silver allowed. "Do as you please."
With that the council was concluded. Sonic left the command pavilion and went to his own tent which was set up on the isolated path high up in the gorge. He had set it up near the white trunked tree where he and Blaze had talked the night they had first arrived in the Sanctuary.
That night Blaze had warned Sonic that he would find no adventures in Arvana, only war. She understood better than anyone that the complexities and dangers of the days ahead would challenge Sonic to the absolute limit of what he could handle. The simplicity of his adventures on earth were long gone, replaced by a dense fog of confusion and grief.
"If Arvana had to die for the universe to live at peace, wouldn't it be the noble thing to allow its destruction?"
Sonic had not understood that question at all. Such a nuanced consideration was completely beyond him. "all we can hope to do is listen to our hearts in the moment."
The futility of such an answer showed itself in its full gravity now. His supposedly one track heart had no answers for him now. All he felt inside was a sort of cold emptiness. He walked over to the white tree and braced his back against the trunk. The night darkened and Sonic rested his head back. He knew that he would probably not sleep much that night.
Almost as if he were seeing a living memory, Sonic saw phantoms of himself and Blaze sitting together. He remembered the warm touch of her hand in his, the invigorating fire that had burned into him when they had kissed. Now that warmth was gone. Spring seemed permanently delayed and winter destined to endure forever, a chill deep inside Sonic's being that would never fully thaw.
Merry Christmas!
AN: Insert Unnecessarily detailed review of Sonic 3 (Don't read if you don't want spoilers)
I loved it and thought it was amazing. A partial disclaimer is that I was surprised that the first two movies were decent, so that made me like them more than they probably deserved. Sonic 3 was the first of the trilogy to be a "good" movie in its own right, as in, I would have liked this movie even if it wasn't a Sonic movie.
The action is really good, and this is probably the closest thing we have to a live action DBZ movie. The super form fight is awesome, and having Live and Learn come on is a touch that had to bring a tear to my eye. Sonic Adventure 2 was the first game I ever wanted (Sonic Adventure was the first game I ever owned) and Live and Learn was my first ever favorite song (and probably still is)
I thought the Shadow and Maria relationship was really well done, I could not believe how well they did that and how efficiently they did, as it doesn't actually take up much screen time. My only gripe in regards to this, is that I think there needed to be a scene where after breaking out, Shadow and Gerald meet up and we see them reunite, discuss Maria, and then talk about revenge. Instead, the Shadow and Gerald thing is treated like a mystery for both the audience and team Sonic, but I think they should have let us "the audience" know and keep it a mystery for team Sonic. (Because we needed to see how both Gerald and Shadow have been hurting all this time about Maria, and they need to have that shared pain lead them to their plan)
I don't really judge a movie like this from a scene to scene point of view, but more on the basis of 'are there scenes that are really amazing and make it worth seeing this movie?' and to me this movie has lots of those. The human scenes were toned down, I think Sonic 2 was really impaired by the whole "wedding" side plot. I don't think Sonic 3 is hurt at all by the humans, even if those scenes aren't my favorite, they weren't too bad.
(I didn't love the power scaling though lol. I don't remember when Shadow gained teleportation without a Chaos Emerald. I guess I'm a bit behind on the lore. But Shadow should not be able to take down Team Sonic that easily. But that is a pretty minor complaint as it wasn't the focus on the movie. (but like Sonic 2 Knuckles easily beat Sonic, so why was he so weak in this one? Did he become Piccolo already?)
Also, I never really liked movie Sonic's personality, but I do think that in Sonic 3 that he is at least funny. I thought almost all of his quips were actually good. (Game Sonic doesn't get clowned by Shadow like that)
So overall, I would give it a 10/10, its the only one of the 3 that I want to see again, and will probably buy on blue ray.
But yeah, leave a review for Sonic 3 if you also loved it or if you didn't like it, or if you were 50/50 on it.
