LoM Book 7 Special Edition - Chapter Three

: CHAPTER THREE : THE FORBIDDEN CLEARING

    Coby yawned with boredom as he stared down at the pages of his thick history book. His mind wasn't on his schoolwork today. Glancing up, he could see bright sunshine streaming through the beautiful stained-glass windows of the Royal Library, casting sparkles of red, blue and gold onto the walls and the floor. It was a beautiful day, and he longed to be outside, to run through the clear autumn air. Now, on top of mentoring Amber and all his regular classes, he was training with Nihara, which forced him to stay indoors even longer each day. Being cooped up for so long made him stir-crazy, but at least he could release some of his pent-up energy when he was learning to fight with a sword. Nearly a week had passed since his ceremony, and he had already learned a lot -- mainly how to block and dodge. He couldn't wait until they actually began to practice some combat techniques.

    Suddenly Turq, who was sitting across from him, muttered something under her breath. At first he wasn't sure what was bothering her, but then he noticed a group of young men standing near the entrance of the library. Prince Eric was among them. They were keeping their distance, but they kept casting glances over at Turq as they talked amongst themselves. Coby narrowed his eyes in irritation. More suitors had arrived in Mobotropolis, and now it seemed like he and his sister couldn't go anywhere without running into them.

    "Just ingore them, Turq," he said quietly.

    "It's hard to when they follow you everywhere, like a bunch of stalkers," she growled. "They've been trailing after me all morning."

    "Maybe we should talk to the guards," Coby suggested, "you know, have them chase the suitors off whenever they start to bug us."

    "I'll chase them off myself if I have to," she retorted.

    Just then Aethon came strolling up to their table, carrying a huge, ancient-looking book in his arms. In all the years he had lived in the palace, Coby had never seen it before. It had intricate runes and designs etched into its dusty leather cover, and as Aethon went to set it down, several tattered pages fell out of it.

    "Aw, darn it," he grumbled, gingerly picking them up again.

    Keesho, who had been preoccupied with his studies, looked up with interest when he saw the battered old tome. "What have you got there, Aethon?"

    "Some old book about ancient legends," the black hedgehog replied, replacing the runaway pages. "I found it in the old section, with all the other ancient books. It looks like some kind of evil sorcerer's spellbook, so I wanted to check it out."

    "I thought you had a history paper to write, like all of us," Keesho reminded him.

    Aethon shrugged. "Don't worry, I've gotten started on it. Besides, there might be something interesting in here I can use."

    "Is it on the old legends of ancient Mobotropolis?" Turq asked.

    "Nah, I doubt it," said Aethon as he opened the book slowly and carefully, "I think this thing is way older than Mobotropolis. It's about myths and folklore from a lot of different places all over the world. Tales about gods, monsters, great heroes, stuff like that."

    "Can you even read it?" Coby asked, looking curiously at the brittle old pages. "The writing looks weird."

    "It's hard. Some of it is written in a funky old language. But the rest of it is normal."

    Aethon spent several minutes trying to decipher one page while the others continued on with their homework. "Wow, listen this story," he said suddenly. "It's about a god called Solaris, the Flame of Hope. He was worshipped in the Eastland over two thousand years ago, and it says here that beneath his eternal light, there was peace and prosperity. But then, as the Eastern kingdoms grew stronger and richer, they began to fight one another. Some people even lost their trust in the ancient gods, and tried to abolish the faith altogether. Solaris was enraged -- so enraged that he released the demon Mephiles onto the world, and darkness spread wherever he walked. Cities were plagued with disaster and illness, and people were driven mad by fear from the monster that haunted their dreams."

    "And Solaris did nothing to help them?" Keesho asked as he continued to scribble down notes.

    "No," Aethon shook his head, "Solaris had no pity for the people who had betrayed him, and he did nothing to recall Mephiles. He used his remaining powers to create a monster called Iblis, the Flames of Disaster, to punish the world. It says that the people in turn felt betrayed by the god that had once protected them," Aethon continued, "and so every effort was made to stop the destruction. They soon found that they couldn't defeat Mephiles or Iblis in battle -- the monsters just rose again from the flames and the darkness. And no matter where the people hid, the monsters found them. There was only one way to defeat them, and that was to seal them away forever. Mephiles was sealed away in the Scepter of Darkness, and Iblis was locked away in a Mobian soul."

    Coby felt a shiver run down his back as he listened to the end of the story. Turq looked over at him when she noticed the look on his face.

    "What, Coby?" she asked.

    "That reminds me of... of you-know-who..." he whispered, "Kovar."

    Turq, Keesho and Aethon seemed to freeze when they heard the name. Even now, after all this time, it still held a power over them. They could all remember Kovar... the God of War, the Evil One, the Lord of the Dead... Ten years ago, when they were very small, Kovar had somehow been summoned straight out  of legend. He had attacked Mobotropolis and plunged all of Mobius into an endless winter. He was a strange creature, half man, half wolf, and he possessed terrible powers. No one really knew how he had been ressurrected; there were rumors that it had been a follower of Robotnik. But it was said that Kovar's return had been prophesied for thousands of years, and that his sole purpose was to fill the world with war and destruction.

    But there had also been whispers of a prophecy... a prophecy that six children, six Chosen Ones, would defeat Kovar and protect Mobius for generations to come. It had soon been revealed who the six were -- Coby, Turq, Aethon, Keesho, Raena and Charon. To prevent the possibility of his destruction, Kovar had attempted to kill them again and again. And he had nearly succeeded once, when he had captured Turq and turned her into a slave. It was at this time that four ancient spirits had appeared to help the children face their terrible enemy. A desperate battle ensued, and many lives were lost. But finally, with the spirits' help, they had been able to lock Kovar away in an enchanted chest that would keep him sealed in darkness forevermore.

    Even though these dark events had taken place long ago, Kovar still haunted the children in their nightmares. He had caused so much devastation and terror during the years he had walked Mobius.

    "I know," Aethon nodded slowly, his eyes suddenly clouding with dark memories.

    "Do you know," Turq whispered, her voice trembling, "that I still have nightmares about the day he captured me? I can see it as clearly as if it happened yesterday."

    Aethon turned to her. "Don't think about that, Turq. It was a bad time, and we were all scared you'd never be normal again."

    "But I was," Turq said, "thanks to you and the spirits." She looked up at him, blinking in gratitude.

    It had been Aethon who had restored Turq's free will when she was under Kovar's control, by reminding her of their friendship, and their duty laid down by the prophecy to defeat Kovar.

    Aethon lowered his ears slightly and smiled. "It was nothing. But the point is you're back to your old self again, and Kovar is gone. He can't ever come back now that he's sealed."

    Coby wished he could have shared Aethon's confidence. Somehow he didn't believe that their troubles with Kovar were over. The evil god had been so powerful... Could anything truly lock him away?

    Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, the Prince stood up and stretched. "Come on, why don't we call it a day and go outside for a while? I'm pretty much done with my schoolwork anyway."

    "Yeah, me too," said Turq, quickly stuffing her papers insider her backpack. "Let's go."

    Aethon followed them as they started toward the doorway, thumbing through the old book as he walked. "I'd check this thing out if I could. It's a shame the library doesn't let anyone check out the ancient books."

    "If they did they would go missing real fast," Turq replied. "I bet they're worth a lot of money. Hey, you coming, Keesho?"
 She had just noticed that the tiger was lagging behind, hurriedly collecting his notes and his books.

    "Yeah, just a sec," he called, tucking the items into his backpcak. "Wait up!" He slung the pack over his shoulders and started running after his friends. At that same instant, a girl suddenly rounded the corner of one of the bookshelves.

    "Look out!" Coby shouted, but it was too late. Keesho crashed right into her, and there was an explosion of books and papers as they both toppled to the floor.

    "Ugh..." Keesho mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his head. He blinked his eyes open, and suddenly found himself face to face with a pretty white tiger, about his age. Her soft, snowy fur was streaked with black, and her blue eyes sparkled like chips of ice as she looked up dazedly.

    "Oh dear, I'm so sorry!" Keesho stammered, hastily scrambling to his feet. "Here, let me help you up."

    "Oh, that's all right," the girl smiled gently, taking his hand. "I'm sorry. I should have been looking where I was going instead of reading that book." She gestured to a heavy red book that was spread open on the floor.

    Keesho stooped down to pick it up for her. Suddenly he pricked his ears when he closed the book and saw its cover. "Oh wow, this is one of my favorite stories!"

    "Is it really?" the white tiger asked, her eyes brightening. "I haven't been able to put it down."

    "Yeah," Keesho nodded, "it's amazing! The author is just a genius!"

    "Yes, I had heard it was one of the year's bestselling books. It's even inspired me to write myself." She took the book as Keesho handed it to her. "Thank you, um...?"

    "Keesho."

    "Keesho?" she asked. "The one who lives in the palace with King Sonic?"

    "That's right," nodded Keesho, "I've lived with Sonic and Cyan since I was a baby. They adopted me."

    "Wow, it's an honor! That almost makes you a prince!"

    Keesho looked away bashfully, scuffling his foot across the floor. "Well no, not really... I'm nobody really..."

    "My name is Shea," said the white tiger, holding out her hand, "I just moved here to Mobotropolis."

    Keesho shook her hand shyly. "Really? Well, welcome to the kingdom! I'm sure you'll love it here."

    Suddenly he heard a faint snicker and he turned to see his friends walking up to them.

    "Come on, Keesho, you can flirt later," Coby said, grinning.

    Keesho blushed under his fur. "I gotta go," he said to Shea, "but it was nice meeting you. Sorry again for running into you."

    "Don't worry about it. It was nice meeting you too," she smiled as he turned to leave. Then suddenly she added, "Oh, here! Don't forget the notebook you dropped!"

    "Oh, thanks!" Quickly Keesho ran back to retrieve the notebook, waved one last time to Shea, then hurried back toward the others just as they were leaving the library.
As he caught up with them, he noticed that they were all giving him amused looks.

    "What?" he asked, bewildered.

    "Looks like you ran into a friend," Turq smiled teasingly.

    "Yeah, literally," Coby laughed.

    Aethon walked up beside Keesho and elbowed him with a grin. "She's pretty, huh?"

    "Oh, stop it," Keesho grumbled, pushing him away. "I was just trying to be polite. After I crashed into her like some kind of clumsy idiot..."

    "Something tells me you don't regret running into her too much," Turq gave him a poke.

    Keesho rolled his eyes, though he couldn't stop himself grinning in embarrassment. "OK, whatever, guys."

    As the four friends walked out into the palace gardens, they spotted Raena and Charon. They were lounging near a cluster of grapevines that grew along the wall, plucking lazily at the fruit and looking bored. Coby snickered inwardly when he saw them. It was something of a stereotype that all echindas loved grapes, and with Charon and Raena it certainly seemed to be true.

    "There you are!" Charon called when he saw them. "We thought you'd never be done studying!"

    "Yeah," Raena added, "what took you so long?"

    Raena and Charon didn't go to the school in Mobotropolis like the others did. Most of the year they lived at home, on the Floating Island, with their parents, Knuckles and Trau. But it was a lonely life on the island, and Raena and Charon didn't have many friends there. So every year they came to visit Mobotropolis for a few months, so that they could spend time with kids their age, and get out and enjoy themselves. This meant that they often had to wait all day for the others to get out of school, though.

    "Sorry," Coby said as he joined them, "we have a lot of homework what with exams coming up."

    "What'd you guys do all day?" Turq asked.

    Raena shrugged. "Nothing much. We helped Aunt Cy in her garden. She says I really have a knack for getting plants to grow. More birds and butterflies show up when I'm there, too, and she likes that."

    Raena had the power of Life. This not only enabled her to heal wounds, but to touch the life force in all living things as well. It was true that plants seemed to grow better in her presence, and that animals seemed drawn to her.

    "Yeah, and I got kicked out of that all-you-can-eat place down the road!" Charon said brightly.

    Coby stared at him. "Got kicked out? How?"

    "Because he practically ate the entire buffet table," Raena muttered, "and I mean literally, the entire table." She bumped her brother on the shoulder.  "What have you got to say for yourself?"

    Charon burped. "Hey, when something's that covered in food I don't ask questions. I just go."

    Turq snorted with laughter.

    Raena rolled her eyes. "Anyway... you guys wanna hang out?"

    "Of course! Let's go!" Coby said.

    Together they left the courtyard and made their way toward the main road. A cool breeze blew around them, whispering softly through the trees along the roadside, and sending down cascades of leaves and flower petals. Music drifted through the air, and all around them people were talking and laughing jovially as they passed one another in the streets. Life couldn't be anymore peaceful in Mobotropolis.

    "So," Coby said, spinning around toward his companions eagerly, "what shall we do?"

    Before anyone could speak, Charon suddenly ran over to a streetside stand that was selling doughnuts, cookies, and other treats. "Ooh look! We could get funnel cake!"

    "Really?!" Raena exclaimed. "Seriously, are you for real now?" She grabbed her brother and started to drag him away.

    "Well, I was hoping we could do something a little more... exciting," said Coby, walking backwards to face the others.

    "We could go to the theatre and see a movie," Turq suggested.

    "Aren't you tired of being indoors though?" Coby asked. "Look at this weather! It's great! If I have to stay indoors another second I'll lose my mind."

    "OK, then, Mr. Prince," Raena retorted, releasing Charon and folding her arms, "what do you propose we do?"

    Coby paused a moment to think.

    "I know!" he said suddenly, snapping his finger. "Let's go see if we can catch some fieldrunners!"

    Raena blinked back at him. "Fieldrunners? Those spikey little lizard things that raid gardens?"

    "Yeah, that's them," Coby nodded quickly. "Come on, it's fun! Aeth, Keesho and me do it all the time."

    Turq narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Is that right? I'm glad I knew about this. You guys better not be hurting these things..."

    "Come on, Sis, you know I would never hurt an animal. I promise, it's a perfectly harmless game. You've seen how fast fieldrunners are. All you really do is chase them. If you happen to catch them, then you let them go -- if you don't get your arms clawed off first..."

    "Oh boy," Charon muttered unenthusiastically, turning his attention away from the funnel cake stand. "Sounds like loads of fun. It probably takes what... five seconds to catch one of these things?"

    "Uh, no," Coby shook his head, "they're actually really hard to catch, even with superspeed."

    "Psh, whatever, you hedgehogs couldn't catch a cold, let alone a fieldrunner."

    "Oh yeah?" said Aethon, coming up in front of Charon and looking him straight in the eye. "Well if you're so high and mighty, let's see you catch one!"

    "Fine," the red-and-black echidna answered smoothly, "show me where to find them."

    "You can usually find them out in the farmland, near the outskirts of the city," Coby explained, "maybe Vren can give us a ride there."

    It didn't take long for them to find the great white demon. He was walking down the road toward the castle, carefully maneuvering his enormous frame around the crowds to avoid stepping on anyone. But as he drew closer the children were surprised to see how tired he looked. His head hung slightly, and his tail drooped. He blinked his eyes often, as if they were bothering him, and as the wind picked up they saw one or two feathers drift off of his wings. They looked at each other worriedly. Vren was such a strong, hardy beast. They had never seen him look so frail.

    "Vren," Coby called once the demon was within earshot, "are you OK?"

    Vren raised his head slowly when he saw them and smiled. "Oh, hello there, little friends. Yes, I'm fine. I was on nightwatch last night, and I'm just tired I suppose."

    Coby eyed him doubtfully. Vren didn't get tired easily -- he could run for days without rest. But as he thought about it, Coby remembered seeing Vren on guard duty for the past few days now. Perhaps even he could be overworked.

    "What can I do for you, children?" the demon asked.

    "Er, well, we were going to see if you could take us to the outskirts," Coby asnwered, "but if you're tired--"

    "No, no," Vren interrupted, smiling, "it's fine, I can take you."

    "Are you sure?" Turq asked uncertainly. "We don't want to trouble you."

    Vren raised his head proudly and spread his wings. "A little tiredness never slowed me down. Climb on."

    He lowered himself down as far as he could so that they could mount. For a second Coby hesitated. Vren looked almost tired enough to plop to the ground and fall asleep then and there. He didn't want to strain the demon, but he didn't want to offend him either. Vren had never liked to be fussed over.

    "OK, Vren, if you're sure you're up to it," Coby said, clambering up onto the broad shoulders.

    "Of course I am," Vren assured him, rising on all fours once everyone was safely astride, "and children, don't ever think that you are a burden to me."

    The outskirts lay about three miles outside the city, near the foothills of the Great Mountains. One long dirt road wound its way through the countryside, bordered by forests, open fields, and the occasional farm. Unlike Mobotropolis, the area was still and quiet, and except for the farmers themselves, there were very few people.
Vren glided down and landed in a golden field of tall grass, far away from the thoroughfare, and allowed his passengers to dismount. Once on the ground, Coby looked around. Just a short distance to the left, the land rose slowly to meet the edge of a forest. And directly ahead, he could just barely make out the huge red barn of an old farm.

    Grinning, he waved Charon over. "That farm over there is always crawling with fieldrunners," he said lowly, "they like to eat the wheat and the other crops growing there."

    "Right, let's go," Charon replied, hurrying through the grass.

    But as the others started to follow, Vren called after them.

    "Where are you kids going?"

    "Just exploring," Coby answered after a short pause. "We thought maybe we'd run around, sharpen up our Freedom Fighter skills maybe." He preferred that Vren didn't know what he and the others were up to. Chasing fieldrunners wasn't wrong, but Sonic would not approve of them trespassing onto farm property.

    Fortunately Vren seemed convinced. "Very well," he said. "I'm going to fly toward the mountains to see if I can catch some dinner. I'll meet you back here at sunset, all right?"

    "Got it, Vren," Coby nodded.

    Vren opened his wings and lifted into the sky once more. "Stay out of trouble, now," he howled as he soared overhead.

    The children waited until the demon was far out of sight, then began to creep toward the farm as quietly as possible. It was one of the larger farms in the area, surrounded on all sides by spacious fields and pastures. There were two other buildings beside the barn -- a small wooden cottage, and a grain shed with two towering silos. A few animals milled about in a small livestock pen, but most of them were too preoccupied with their feed to notice the six youngsters edging their way towards the wheat fields. Every now and then Coby glanced at the cottage. There were wisps of smoke rising from the chimney, but otherwise there was no sign of the farmer.

    Keesho began to look more nervous as they got closer to the fields. "Coby, we're not actually going on the farm, are we?"

    "Just as far as the wheat," Coby replied.

    "I really don't think this is a good idea," the tiger said, shaking his head. "The farmer will be pretty angry if he catches us so close to his crops."

    "I thought you said you've done this before," Turq said, perking her eyebrow at him.

    "I did a few times, but that was closer to the forest."

    "Oh, don't be such a 'fraidy cat, Keesho," Aethon chided, "it's not like we're doing any harm. Fieldrunners are considered pests, so we're actually doing the farmer a favor by running them off."

    "You'd better make sure to chase them away from the field," Keesho advised. "Wheat is a valuable crop."


    "Yes, mom," Charon rolled his violet eyes in annoyance. "Seriously, are there any of these things around or not? We're wasting daylight."

    Just as he was saying this, the group came over a rise and found themselves looking out across a golden sea of wheat, waving gently in the breeze. Almost immediately Coby spotted three fieldrunners nibbling at the stalks. They were peculiar creatures, with little heads, large, beady eyes, and round bodies, the backs of which were lined with blunt little spikes. Their forearms were miniscule, mere stubs portruding from their chests. The only thing they seemed good for was clutching the plants as the fieldrunner ate. Their hindlegs, however, were long, with enormous bird-like feet. They looked so absurd and disproportionate from the rest of the creature's body that it was near impossible not to laugh at the sight of them.

    "These things are fast?" Charon asked in disbelief. "They look like they'd trip on their own feet!"

    "Don't be fooled, " Aethon warned.

    "OK, here's what you do," Coby said, whispering so that he wouldn't frighten the fieldrunners, "sneak up to one, and lunge before it has a chance to run. If it starts running, you won't stand much of a chance. About the only other way to catch them is to corner them. Ya ready?"

    Charon yawned. "Ready as ever. To show you chumps how to hunt, that is."

    He walked over the rise and then ducked down into a patch of tall grass, where he stealthily began to creep forward. As he was doing so, a fieldrunner stepped right out into the open, chewing lazily on a few seeds it had harvested. Coby and the others crouched down behind the hill to watch.

    "This oughta be good," Raena sniffed.

    "I'm going to laugh if he gets bitten," mumbled Turq.

    "Shh," whispered Aethon, "he's right on top of it."

    They could just barely see Charon through the blades of grass, edging his way ever closer to the fieldrunner. It had its back turned to him, and the wind was blowing his scent away, so Charon found it all too easy to get within striking distance. Suddenly he sprang forward, arms outstretched to seize his quarry. At that instant the fieldrunner let out a loud shriek of alarm and bolted away swiftly, leaving Charon to crash into the ground. Squawking, the creature went racing away like a bullet toward the cover of the field. Gritting his teeth, Charon scrambled upright and dove to cut it off, but the fieldrunner just dashed right between his legs.

    "Why you little--!" he growled, plunging after it.

    The second he charged into the stalks, the wheat field erupted with shrill squeaks of surprise, and more fieldrunners came pouring out from every direction. Charon soon reappeared, chasing five of them directly toward his friends. Once out in the open, he lunged to grab one, but they scattered and ran arond wildly. He swung back and forth, his muscular arms swiping through the air to grab the panicked beasts, but it was no use. No matter how he twisted and reeled, the fieldrunners managed to dart out of his grasp. Their long legs and huge feet ate up the ground, and they flicked and flitted around him like flies. Soon Charon was fuming with frustation.

    Aethon meanwhile was howling with laughter. "To your left, Charon!"  he cried. "No, no, your other left! Now your right! Oop, there goes one behind you! Aww, you nearly had him!"

    "Shut up, Aethon, you're not helping!" Charon shouted as he rushed at three runners.

    Suddenly the creatures turned and raced up the rise, dirt and grass flinging from their claws.

    "Come on, Coby!" Aethon cried, leaping up and springing at them.

    Coby followed suit, hurling himself at a stray fieldrunner, only to have it slip out of his hands and send him rolling across the ground. Aethon dove at one, missed, and fell flat on his face. The bleating fieldrunner jumped on his head and scurried over his back to make its getaway.

    By now Turq, Raena and Keesho were laughing hysterically at the scene in front of them. Three young boys, all trained Freedom Fighters, who were chasing fieldrunners around like they were runaway chickens. Even though the silly things were bolting around and squawking stupidly, they continued to evade the boys as they floundered about the field to catch them.

    "You guys look absolutely ridiculous!" Turq cackled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

    "Now this is entertainment," Raena smirked. "Where's a camera when you need one?"

    The mayhem below continued until most of the runners found refuge further in the field or in the forest. But Charon wasn't ready to give up the chase yet. Pursuing the last fieldrunner, and too angry to concentrate on where he was going, he suddenly went crashing through the wheat. Coby and Aethon followed blindly, and within a second several stalks were trampled to the ground.

    "Wait, come back!" Keesho yelled frantically.

    "Not that way!" Turq shouted.

    "What's all the noise out there?!"

    Coby froze as he heard an angry voice in the distance. Blinking, he looked around. Spotting the flattened wheat, he suddenly realized where he and the others were.

    "Uh-oh..."

    Just then Aethon came charging past him. "Time to go!"

    Charon followed, and Coby took off after them. As they came tearing out of the field, he caught a glimpse of Raena, Turq and Keesho retreating up a hill and into the woods. He immediately swerved in the direction of the trees. The forest was the only place they could hide now. He could hear more furious shouts behind him, but he didn't dare look back to see if the farmer was chasing them. With the wind screaming in his ears, he pelted up the hillside as fast as he could and threw himself into the cover of the bushes. Aethon and Charon came skidding past him.

    "Oh man, we're so dead..." he heard Aethon groan.

    Panting from the frenzied flight, he looked up through the leaves and thorny branches and saw the old farmer standing at the edge of the field, swearing furiously as he looked down at the damaged wheat.

    "Just look what you miserable kids have done!" he hollered up to them. "Valuable wheat, ruined! My crops have been bad enough without you ruffians tearing them up!"

    No one said anything or moved -- they just stared back at him blankly, their sides heaving.

    Then finally, Turq spoke up. "We're sorry, we didn't mean to do any damage to your field..."

    The farmer looked astounded when he recognized the Princess. "Well, well, Princess Turquoise. I never thought I'd see the day when you deliberately caused trouble like this! I honestly expected better of you!"

    Turq winced, and Coby immediately leaped to her defense. "It's not her fault!" he shouted, jumping up. "I'm the one that decided to come here. We were chasing fieldrunners, and we accidentally ran into the field."

    The farmer stared at the two of them for along moment, clearly appalled. "So," he muttered, "both the royal children think they can run around on other people's property as they please, eh? I suppose you kids are responsible for killing my livestock, too!"

    Coby and Turq looked up in surprise at the accusation.

    "Killing livestock?" Coby gaped. "What do you mean? We've never gone near anyone's livestock..."

    "Someone has," snarled the farmer. "Just this past month I've lost nearly fifteen animals! They disappear in the night, and all that remains is blood and corpses!"

    Coby was horrified. He had lived around animals his entire life. He could never imagine doing anything like this.

    "I can't prove that you slaughtered my livestock," the farmer continued, "but now you seem like pretty likely suspects! Mark my words, your father will hear about this!"

    Coby lowered his eyes and sighed. Both his parents would be furious when the news reached them. And even in the outskirts, that wouldn't take long. Word spread quickly through Mobotropolis, especially when it involved the royal family.

    Suddenly the farmer gritted his teeth. "Get out of here! All of you! And don't ever let me catch you on my farm again! You can bet I'll find a way to make you pay for this!"

    "We apologize for the damage," Coby answered, trying to keep his voice calm. "We'll fix it in any way we can, sir."

    "Out!" the farmer snapped.

    Coby and the others quickly turned and ran into the forest. They didn't slow their pace until they had put a good distance between them and the farm. Above them, the sky glowed a deep red as the sun began to descend behind the mountains. Dark, gloomy shadows spread across the ground and the trees, broken only by a few patches of murky light. For a long while the companions walked without saying anything to each other, their eyes fixed downward. Coby kicked a rock into a nearby tree trunk. The silence was driving him crazy. He wanted to say something to his friends for leading them into trouble, but he couldn't find the right words.

    "Look guys," he sighed at last, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anyone to get in trouble."

    "Don't worry about it, Bro," Turq shook her head sullenly. "There's nothing we can do about it now."

    "I am so grounded for this," Aethon mumbled.

    "Aren't we all?" Coby asked, with a humorless laugh. He stopped and slumped into the bowl of two gnarled tree roots.

    "So, now what?" Raena asked, leaning against a low-hanging tree branch.

    Turq shrugged. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm in no hurry to go home."

    "It's almost sunset," Keesho pointed out quietly. "Vren's bound to come looking for us if we don't show up. Besides, we've got to go back sooner or later."

    Coby reluctantly agreed with him. Delaying their return would only make things worse, and they would be no better than shameful little children if they just hid there in the woods. He was about to climb to his feet again when a motion in the distance suddenly caught his eye. Looking up, he spotted someone slipping through the undergrowth, several yards away. The stranger was too far away to see the children, but Coby noticed they kept looking over their shoulder, as if they were afraid of being followed.

    "Hey," Coby whispered suddenly, narrowing his eyes, "is  that Storm?" He could just barely distinguish the dark gray muzzle and menacing eyes of their old enemy.

    His friends followed his gaze and instinctively sank down into the shelter of a thicket. They preferred to avoid the aggressive hyena whenever they could.

    "That's him all right," Aethon growled, "but what on Mobius is he out here, and all alone? Normally he has his band of cronies with him."

    "Up to no good, probably," muttered Turq.

    "He's got something in his hand," Keesho informed them suddenly.

    Coby squinted his eyes to get a better look. It was true. Storm was carrying a small, cylindrical object in his hand. Coby couldn't tell exactly what it was. Twice he saw Storm hold the object up, look at it closely, and then change direction, as if the thing were guiding him.

    "Some kind of compass, do you think?" Keesho asked, perplexed.

    Coby was just as baffled. "What kind of compass looks like that?"

    Storm soon vanished into the shadows of the forest. Coby watched him go distrustfully. He could tell by Storm's behavior that he was up to something, something he didn't want anybody else to see. Why else would he be so worried about someone following him into this section of the woods? People rarely came out here, and there was really nothing he knew of that anyone could hope to find. His curiosity and suspicions aroused, he carefully stepped out of the bushes and started to follow Storm's trail.

    "Where are you going, Coby?" Keesho asked worriedly, hurrying after him.

    "I want to see what he's doing," he answered. "I have a feeling it's something bad."

    "But we don't know that for sure..." Keesho objected, though he looked just as confused and concerned as Coby.

    "I'm going too," Turq announced, coming up beside her brother and looking hard at Keesho. "you can't trust Storm as far as you can throw him. You know that, Keesho. You've seen all the things he's done at school -- the fights, the threats, the vandalism..."

    "I know," Keesho said, lowering his ears. "I don't trust him either. But we have no idea where he's going. It could just lead us into more trouble if we follow him."

    "If he's causing trouble, I want something done about it," Coby retorted. "I've seen Storm get away with too many things. And with livestock disappearing, it's just a little bit weird that he's sneaking around. Come on."

    Before Keesho could protest, Coby and Turq took up the path Storm had been traveling and followed it into a tunnel of twisted trees. Aethon, Raena and Charon immediately went after them, leaving Keesho alone in the dark woods. The young tiger hesitated. Evening was falling, and the shadows were starting to thicken. He shivered as a cold wind stirred the leaves above his head. He didn't want to stay there, but he couldn't go home without the others. He had no choice but to follow them.

    Storm was no longer in sight, but it was easy enough to tell where he had been. Using his Freedom Fighter skills, Coby tracked him by finding his footprints in the soft forest soil, and the areas of trampled vegetation where he had walked. His path led the Prince and the others deep into the heart of the woodland, where enormous oaks and redwood pines reared into the twilight. Soon the sky was completely blocked out by the tangle of giant boughs above, and it became very difficult to see. The children stumbled over rocks and roots in the darkness as the land gradually grew steeper and steeper, climbing toward the mountains. The only thing that kept them on course now was a flashlight had stored in his backpack.

    An hour slid by, and the dusk finally faded into true night. Just when they were thinking about turning back, the land ahead dipped suddenly, and they found themselves on the edge of a deep hollow. It was an eerie, almost sinister place, guarded on all sides by thick patches of thorns, brambles and stinging nettles. The surrounding trees were all dead, with sharp, leafless branches that seemed to claw at the children as they cautiously drew closer. A silvery mist was rising from the center of the hollow, creeping through the undergrowth like smoke and adding an icy chill to the air. It was if the forest was doing everything in its power to stop them from going any closer.
Coby stopped and looked around nervously. A powerful sense of unease had just gripped him. This place was forbidden. He could feel it in his bones. An air of fear and death hung over it like a looming storm cloud, and he was sure he could feel eyes watching him from the darkness.

    "I don't like this," Keesho whispered. "it feels so haunted..."

    "He's right," Raena said, "I can sense death and decay here..."

    Coby was about to say something, but Aethon suddenly held up his hand and gestured for them to be quiet. Slowly he crept toward the very rim of the hollow, twitching his ears in irritation as the thorns snagged his cape. Perplexed, Coby followed him toward a bristling wall of brambles, treading lightly over the fallen leaves. Aethon glanced at him and mouthed, "Look."

    Coby peered through the branches and blinked in confusion. There, just below them, was Storm. He was standing in front of a gaping hole that burrowed into the steep sides of the hollow, and holding the same strange object Keesho had seen earlier in his hand. Quietly he began to whisper something as he looked down at the object, and Coby strained to listen.

    "...Dark Flame," Storm murmured, "guide me into the shadows... Show me where darkness resides..."

    All of a sudden the hollow lit up as a purple flame sprang up from the top of the object, flaring furiously. Coby stared in grim fascination. The object was a candle... some kind of bewitched candle. What other candle could burst into flame with a voice command alone?

    Meanwhile Storm's eyes suddenly opened wide as the dark fire sent shadows dancing across his face. "I've found you," he gasped, "this is where the meetings of old were held... But how do I revive you?"

    What on Mobius...? Coby asked himself, shaking his head in bewilderment. Had Storm gone mad? Who was he talking to, and what were these meetings he spoke of?

    Just then a loud howl sounded in the night. The children jumped, and Storm jerked his head up toward the sky. Something was flying directly toward them, just barely missing the treetops as it swooped down. Coby ducked into the shelter of the thorns, half expecting some kind of nightmarish beast to leap into the forbidden clearing. But then he suddenly recognized the great white body and golden eyes of Vren. Just as the demon came sailing down toward the hollow, Storm turned and fled into the woods. Coby tried to see where he was headed, but Vren landed heavily in front of him with a grunt, and sent the dead leaves flurrying wildly with his wings.

    "Uh-oh," Keesho muttered, backing away fearfully.

    Vren immediately swung toward them, his muzzle curling into the beginnings of a snarl. "There you are!" the air trembled as he growled. "I've been looking all over the Great Forest for you!"

    The children cringed in Vren's shadow, shocked by the fury in his voice. They knew he would be angry with them for not meeting him, but there was something strange about the way he spoke. He kept clenching his teeth, and every now and then Coby thought he heard a small groan escape him.

    "Vren," he asked cautiously, "are you OK?"

    "No I'm not OK!" he snapped, and Coby flinched. "My hunt goes bad. When I come to get you guys at the meeting place you're nowhere to be found. Then the farmer tells me you've torn up his crops and run off into the forest. I've spent the last blasted hour flying over the trees in search of you!"

    The friends gawked up at Vren speechlessly. They had never seen him lose his temper like this. Vren could get quite angry, but he was always fairly patient with them. Something else was bothering him. As they watched him, he took a step forward and winced. Then, as he lifted his other forepaw, he swayed slightly, as though he were having trouble keeping his balance.

    "Vren, are you hurt?" Turq asked in alarm.

    "No," he shook his muzzle slowly, "but I'm in great pain."

    "What happened?" the Princess persisted.

    "I don't know. I've felt ill for the last few days now, and it's been getting worse. My bones feel stiff and painful, and my belly aches."

    "Vren, listen," said Coby, "we're sorry we didn't meet you like we said we would, but we saw something weird and--"

    "You'll have to explain it to your parents," Vren interrupted grimly, "they're expecting you."

    Vren was right. Just as they were landing in front of the palace, the children saw Sonic, Cyan, Khare and Shadow waiting for them on the great stone stairway. Coby was especially aware of his father's eyes burning into him as he slid off of Vren's back. Trying to avoid Sonic's gaze, he turned and looked at the demon worriedly as he heaved himself to his paws with effort. Vren looked ready to collapse. The short flight back home had been laborious for him. He had hardly been able to get up enough speed to lift off, and the whole time they had been flying Coby had felt his muscles straining.

    "Will you be OK?" he asked.

    Vren sat down and hung his head, panting. He only looked at Coby and nodded wordlessly.

    "Where on Mobius have you been? We've been worried sick about you!"

    Both Coby and Turq winced as Sonic came trudging up to them. Without giving either of them a chance to answer, he glared and asked, "I heard we decided to trespass today, huh?"

    "Dad, we can explain--" Coby started to say, but Sonic cut him off sharply.

    "Oh, I'm sure you can. Inside. Now."

    With a sigh, Coby followed his father and his friends into the castle. He didn't know what they would be in more trouble for -- damaging the crops, or failing to meet Vren at the right time. He was sorry that he'd made Vren fly around searching for them when the demon wasn't feeling well, but he had had to find out what Storm was doing. Even as he thought about it, the whole incident still didn't make sense. Why had he gone into that dark section of the forest, and what had he been using that strange candle for? And why had the candle suddenly come to life when he had said, "Show me where darkness resides"?    

    Before long they were in the Great Hall, which was empty except for a few guards standing at their posts. Sonic, Shadow and Khare turned to face them, their arms folded and their eyes hard. Coby didn't see where his mother had gone. He guessed she had gone to see to Vren.

    "So let's hear it," Sonic said curtly. "Farmer Ben told me you ran into his field and trampled his wheat. Then you wandered off, and caused Vren to fly all over the woods looking for you. Is that true?"

    "Yes, Dad," Coby nodded, "but we never meant to do any harm. We were only chasing fieldrunners near the farm, and then they ran into the wheat, and we were too busy trying to catch them to notice what we were doing. It was an accident."

    "I see," Khare said, "and how many times has this happened? You trespassing on someone else's property and causing damage?" She was addressing all of them, but she was looking directly at Aethon.

    Aethon made no effort to hide anything. It was impossible to lie to Khare. "We've gone near the farms a few times while looking for fieldrunners, but we've never intentionally hurt anything."

    "Whether it's intentional or not, damage is damage," Shadow admonished, fixing his son with his fierce crimson eyes.

    "Going to that farm was my idea," Coby said as Aethon ducked his head. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking for trouble. I know that the farmer was having bad luck with his crops and his livestock."

    "I shouldn't wonder," Sonic growled, "with you kids running onto them like this."

    "Dad, I swear we had nothing to do with the livestock problem," Coby insisted. "He said his animals were being slaughtered. We'd never do anything like that."

    "That's right," Turq nodded. "We don't know anything about it. We didn't even know it was happening until today."

    "Even so," Sonic went on angrily, "you guys should know better than to cause this sort of trouble. Each and every one of you. Honestly, how old are you now? It's time you started acting more responsible."

    Coby laid his ears back and grumbled. He had heard that more than once in his life.

    "And would you mind telling us why you went off into the Great Forest instead of meeting Vren?" Khare asked.

    "That we have a good explanation for," Turq replied. "We saw Storm wandering into the forest alone. He was acting suspicious, so we went to see what he was up to."

    "Storm?" Sonic tilted his head slightly. "What was he doing out there?"

    "That's what we were trying to find out," Coby said. "We followed him to this creepy hollow somewhere deep in the woods. He was standing in the hollow and holding up a candle. He spoke to it, and said something like, 'show me where darkness resides,' and the candle suddenly started to burn with a purple flame."

    The adults fell silent and looked at each other curiously.

    "And you're sure this is what you saw?" Sonic inquired.

    "Yes, we all saw it with our own eyes," answered Coby. "I don't know what he was doing, but I don't like it. We all know Storm is a troublemaker."

    "It is strange," Sonic conceded, "especially the part about the candle. But he wasn't actually hurting anything, was he?"

    "No," Coby admitted grudgingly. "But I'm sure his intentions weren't good."

    "Maybe they weren't," said Sonic, "but we can't really accuse him of anything until we have proof. Right now you're the ones that have caused the trouble."

    "But--" Turq stammered.

    "No buts. You had your fun, but now it's time to face the consequences. Since you kids love to run around the farms so much, you can expect to work there for the next two weeks, doing whatever tasks the farmer sees fit."

    "Two weeks?" Coby exclaimed, and Raena snorted in disbelief.

    "By then you should have learned your lesson," Sonic retorted dryly.

    "For how many hours a day?" Coby asked.

    "At least two, depending on what needs to be done."

    "But Dad," Coby objected, "I already have Amber and sword training on top of school! I won't have time for anything else."

    Sonic looked hard into his son's eyes. "Then maybe next time you'll think more about your actions."

    Coby glared back at him, but said nothing more. He didn't like the fact his father was calling him impetuous; he had heard countless stories of how Sonic himself had been extremely reckless as a young Freedom Fighter. But he couldn't deny that trespassing onto a farm just to chase a bunch of fieldrunners was a bad idea. He had gotten his sister and his friends in trouble because of it.

    Suddenly Sonic waved his hand dismissively. "You can go now. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, because you'll be waking up bright and early tomorrow."

    He was answered by a chorus of grumbles and groans as the children filed out of the hallway, followed by Shadow and Khare. Coby started to follow Turq and Keesho upstairs, but Sonic stepped in front of him.

    "Except for you. You and I need to talk."

    With a sigh Coby turned and sat down on one of the burgundy sofas that lined the Great Hall. He would probably be there for a while. Turq gave him a sympathetic glance before she vanished up the stairway.

    Once they were alone, Sonic turned and looked at Coby expectantly. "Well?"

    "Look, Dad, I'm sorry," the Prince replied. "I don't have any excuse. I know what I did was stupid, but you don't have to worry. It won't happen again."

    Sonic seemed somewhat satisfied with his answer, and his voice softened a little. "Make sure it doesn't. At least you realize your mistake. Even so, I'm very disappointed in you, Coby. You never do this sort of thing."

    "We were just having fun..."

    "I realize that," Sonic said, circling him slowly with his arms folded behind his back. "I was your age once, and I did plenty of crazy things that got me in trouble too. But Coby, you're growing up. If you really are going to take my place someday in this kingdom, then you have to learn to think before you act, and consider who your decisions will affect."

    "I know..." Coby sighed, staring down at his reflection on the marble floor.

    "Trust me, I don't want you to grow up too quick. It's fine to have fun with your friends once in a while, as long as it isn't hurting anyone. But there's a time and a place for it. And you have different pressures on you, son. People expect more from you."

    "Because I'm a prince..." Coby muttered coldly, fingering the royal crest he wore on his left hand.

    Sonic stopped beside him and glanced at him carefully. "That's right."

    "But what if I don't want to be, Dad?" Coby exclaimed suddenly, swinging around to face his father.  "What if I just want to be a normal kid with normal problems? Everywhere I go, people are always looking at me and judging me, saying things like maybe I'm not fit to lead them. They point out every little flaw, every little mistake. It's almost like they expect me to be perfect!"

    Sonic held his gaze calmly. "No one expects that of you, Coby. The people of Mobotropolis will always watch and criticize. It happens when you're a leader. A war was fought to decide if I should become king. And believe me, there's still a lot of people that aren't happy about me being in charge.  But in these times Mobius is looking for strong leaders. We've faced so many threats to our kingdom -- Robotnik, Naugus, Kovar... They want to make sure that they'll have someone to guide them should that threat ever arise again."

    "And do you believe I'm that kind of leader?" Coby asked sullenly. "Do you believe I'll be able to lead Mobotropolis when the time comes?"

    "Do you?" came Sonic's response.

    Coby fell silent and lowered his eyes. "I don't know..."

    Sonic stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "Of course I believe in you. You've got a good heart, and you always strive to do your best. The citizens of Mobotropolis may criticize you from time to time, but they also respect you very much. Your mother and I received a lot of compliments about you after your ceremony."

    Coby shrugged, though he was surprised to hear that some of the people trusted him. There were times when it seemed they had nothing good to say about him or his heritage.

    A momentary silence fell over father and son as they stood there together in the Great Hall. For a while, the only sound that could be heard was the gentle babbling of the numerous fountains that adorned the adjoining rooms and corridors. Coby shifted impatiently, wondering if Sonic was finished speaking with him. Then suddenly he turned and lifted his head when he heard the castle doors groan and the echo of rushing footsteps. Within seconds Cyan appeared and came jogging toward them, her eyes dark with worry.

    "What is it, Cy?" Sonic asked.

    "Sonic, Vren is ill," she answered breathlessly, "we just had to help move him into the gardens. He says his joints are extremely stiff, his muscles ache, and that his stomach his hurting badly. He can't even stand up now."

    Sonic and Coby both stared at her in alarm.

    "Vren? Ill?" Sonic asked in disbelief. "But he's never been ill, not in all the years we've known him."

    "Is it really that bad?" Coby blinked.

    "He's not looking good at all," Cyan replied, shaking her head, "and he seems to be getting worse. The symptoms are so strange. Not even Dr. Quack knows what to do. But Sonic, we've got to help him somehow."

    Groaning to himself, Sonic turned and dashed off toward the eastern garden. Coby ran after him with Cyan at his side, still wondering what on Mobius could have made Vren so sick. He was a demon, a beast with strength and powers beyond those of any mortal Mobian. He could walk through fire without flinching, and cleave a tree in two with one swipe of his monstrous claws. Not even time could destroy Vren -- he was immortal, and he had probably lived for centuries without a single ailment. Surely he couldn't be as ill as Cyan had said?

    But when Coby saw Vren for himself, he couldn't believe his eyes. The demon was lying on his side in a sheltered nook of the garden, near a small stream, while Dr. Quack, one of Mobotropolis's best doctors, pressed a cool cloth against his forehead. Vren's legs were trembling, and his breathing seemed heavy and labored. As Coby stepped closer, he was shocked to see how many feathers littered the grass beneath Vren's wings, which were only half-folded. One magnificent primary, over twenty feet in length, lay on the grass a few feet away.

    Vren had looked ill before, but now he seemed an inch away from death.

    Suddenly the demon's belly convulsed violently, and with a groan he lifted his head, nearly knocking Dr. Quack over.

    "Vren, try and lay still," the doctor chided. "I know you're in pain, but we need to get this fever down."

    "He has a fever too?" Sonic asked.

    Dr. Quack sighed and replaced the coldpress. "Yes, and a bad one, too. Over a hundred and five. It came up fast."

    "It's this blasted pain in my gut I can't stand," Vren growled painfully. "I feel like I have claws tearing my insides apart..."

    "Vren, do you have any idea what could have caused this?" Sonic asked, coming up beside him.

    Vren shook his muzzle. "I don't understand it, Sonic," he said hoarsely, "I've never been this ill."

    "It sounds to me like something he might have eaten," said Dr. Quack.

    "Do you think it could be poison?" Coby asked, exchanging a worried glance with his mother.

    "That's what I would think," Dr. Quack nodded. "Though where he could have come across it I have no idea..."

    "The shark..." Vren said all of a sudden.

    "What?" asked Sonic.

    "The other day, when I went down to the seashore with Turq and Aethon, and saw all the dead fish... I caught a shark and ate it. Turq told me it might not be wise to eat it, lest it be carrying whatever poison had killed the other creatures. But I didn't think it would do any harm -- I can eat things that other beasts can't." The demon's head sank onto the grass. "I should have listened to her."

    Coby's eyes widened. He remembered what his sister had said about all the dead animals they had seen in the ocean. But until now he had concluded that red tide had killed them, and that there was nothing anyone could do about it. But there was no way something as simple as red tide could make Vren this sick.

    Dr. Quack turned to Sonic urgently. "If that's the case, then there is something very lethal in the waters of our oceans, and we need to figure out what it is, Sire."

    Sonic looked utterly puzzled. "My uncle has been taking samples of the water, but he's still waiting on some of the results. I need to speak with him."

    "What on Mobius could be doing this...?" Cyan whispered, and suddenly lifted her eyes to the sky.

    Coby followed her gaze toward the glittering swath of starlight, and was instantly reminded of the strange blue star he had seen on the night of his ceremony. There was no sign of it now, but even as he thought of it, a voice suddenly spoke deep within his thoughts.

    Beware, young Prince. Darkness is descending. Beware...

    Coby jumped and looked around, startled. The voice had sounded so close and so real, and yet none of the others had seemed to hear it. Sonic, Cyan and Dr. Quack were still discussing what should be done about Vren, as if nothing at all had happened. Coby blinked, shaking. What had just happened? The dark words were still echoing in his ears. Darkness is descending... What did it mean? Where had the ominous warning come from? There had been times in his childhood, when Kovar was wreaking havoc across Mobius, that he'd thought he'd heard a far-off presence speaking to him, but that had been so long ago. He had always wanted to tell someone about it, but how could he without sounding insane?

    Suddenly a cough from Vren brought the Prince out of his troubling thoughts. The demon winced as another spasm racked through his giant body. Cyan knelt down beside him and gently began to stroke the fur above his eyes.

    "I don't know," Dr. Quack was saying to Sonic, "but whatever this is, it has to be stopped. If it can make Vren this ill, I shudder to think of what it can do to a person... What if it gets into our drinking water?"

    Sonic scuffed his feet against the ground anxiously. "I'll have the shoreline and the coastal waters set off limits, and more tests run on the water. We've already put a halt to fishing and the sale of any seafood, local or imported."

    "I think Vren should be quarantined for the time being as well," Dr. Quack advised, "if he got this from eating something, it's probably not contagious, but we can't be too safe. I'll have to keep a close eye on you, Cyan and the children too."

    "Very well," Sonic nodded slowly. "We'll do what we must. Let's just hope Vren pulls through this quickly."

    The King walked over to Cyan and watched as she continued to run her hand over the demon's forehead. Vren seemed more relaxed now; his eyes were closed and his breathing had become more steady.

    "Can you heal him, Cy?" Sonic asked.

    "I'm trying," she answered quietly. "This poison is strong. But I can feel it dwindling slowly."

    Coby had always been fascinated at how his mother could cure any pain with a single touch. There was something oddly soothing and comforting about her presence, but it wasn't just because she was quiet and kind. She had the power to heal and control vital energies, much like Raena. As he watched, and she went on stroking Vren, the spasms slowly subsided and he drifted off to sleep.

    But sleep did not come so easily to Coby that night. His head was full of dark thoughts about Storm, Vren's illness, and the foreboding words he had heard on the night wind. It couldn't just be coincidence that this was all happening at once. Something was coming... Something that surely meant danger for his family, and perhaps the entire kingdom... But what?