Warning, lemonade was spilt on these pages, expect slight citrus fallout
Episode 3 Secrets part 2
Tikal was shocked by Loki's words. She realised just how little she knew about the catboy's history [yet she still lives with/is dating him, don't ask]
"What? How did it happen?" Tikal was genuinely concerned for her friend.
"It's late, you should get some sleep, I need a walk." Loki was being evasive [duh], and true to his words left for a walk by himself. Tikal let him go, knowing he wouldn't talk about it yet,but they had tomorrow, she would find out more then. Retiring to her room, she tossed fitfully in bed before falling into an unquiet sleep.
Loki walked the streets of Station Square, confident in the knowledge that he was more thancapable of looking after himself should the need arise. He also knew that tomorrow Tikal would have to know the truth, and that he would relive it through his telling, but that was tomorrow, tonight he had the simplcity of the empty streets, and the quiet night.
Horatio slept. While sleeping he felt himself being drawn to a familiar place. The landscape around him took shape, and although he couldn't name it, everything was like home to something deep inside him. The temple steps, he knew, lead up to an altar, and beside the altar was wher he had met the Echidna. Taking a deep breath, he began to climb them. It was strange for him not to be at the top, usually that was where he always found himself, but this time the whole dream felt somehow different.
Reaching the top, he was on firmer ground, as he expected, she was there.
"Why was I at the foot of the steps?" Horatio asked her.
"I needed some space." she seemed more distant, somehow less real, or maybe he was.
"Why didn't I see you last night?"
"Always you ask questions. I have no more answers than you!"
"Where are you? I need to know this."
"I think I'm very close to you. Do you know this place? It doesn't look like this now, but it ties us together."
"Give me a straight answer! Where do you live?" Horatio was angry now.
"I don't want to talk to you anymore. This dream is over!" This was a declaration. To Horatio the floor became less real. He began to fall, the fall seemed to last for hours, until suddenly he felt himself hit his bed, fully awake.
"Damn her! Who is she?" he sat and turned onhis bedside lamp. "That temple, maybe there's a clue there. Thats something for tomorrow." Eventually he slept again, a deep dreamless sleep.
In the dreamworld, Tikal [we all knew it was her, right?] shook with rage. She looked around the temple grounds. Slowly it decayed. Buildings fell, plants grew, it was soon an unrecogniseable ruin.
"So falls Echidnopolis." she said sadly. She now knew his name, but how could he be a part of her? She knew that they were almost the same, and yet how could he be responsable for the death of anyone. If they ever met in person, then she may know more about him, but first she would hear what Loki had to say about their joined past.
Tails couldn't sleep. It was part worry about his new school, and part winding down from the previous day. The excitement that he was part of a group of real good guys had just hit him. hearing noises in the kitchen, he decided to go and talk to Ame.
"S'matter sweet, can't sleep?" Ame asked him as he entered, "Well it is a big day tomorrow, how bout I fix you something?"
"Uh-huh," Tails nodded "I gotta ask, what's going on between you and that Luc guy?"
"O.k. Time to come clean. He's my boyfriend, well, we have an on-off relationship."
"Come clean? Wait, your boyfriend?"
"Yup, I'm homo [it had to be said, for all those slow people], you know what that means right?" Tails nodded, they both left the kitchen holding mugs of hot milk. "And thats why i had to leave town, i was asked by Mayor White."
"What? Everyone thought you left on your own accord. Why did he tell you to leave?"
"To avoid the scandle of me sleeping with his son, Marc. He was sent to military school [great solution lolh], I was asked to leave. Only the Whites and my family know about it."
"Wow. If anyone back home knew..."
"You'd be called home, Mayor White would loose some credability, and I'd loose face. This stays between us, 'k?"
"Sure. Wow, right."
"Well, g'night foxyboy." Ame went to bed leaving Tails to his hot drink and this new revalation.
The next morning, as Amy rushed around getting ready for school, Loki and Tikal sat trying not to stare at each other, both waiting for Amy to leave so that they could get down to the seriuos buisness that both knew had to happen. Finally dressed in her short black skirt, a short sleeved white blouse, and wearing a purple and blue striped tie [sorry, it had to be purple and something]tied short, on her feet she had senible shoes and long white socks.
"You not going today, Tikal?" she asked when she saw that her sister [adopted, we'll get to this later] was wearing jeans and a baggy t-shirt.
"I'm not feeling up to it today." her normal response, she hardly ever went to school.
"Well at least get some breakfast at Ame's"
"Maybe later." Tikal was trying to hurry Amy on, but she didn't get the hint.
"Loki, coming?" today he was wearing baggy jeans and a Dragonball Z shirt
"Just let me save." He was on his Dreamcast again [Loki doesn't attend this school].
"Can't wait, I'll be late." Amy went to Ame's for a quick breakfast.
"You by yourself today?" Ame asked as she came into veiw of the kitchen. Tails was eating toast, and dressed in a similar uniform, but wearing trousers, a long sleeved shirt, while his tie was done long.
"Those two may be across soon."
"Well here you are," Ame came out of the kitcen holdind a plate with a short stack of pancakes, and a glass of orange. He was wearing flared purple jeans, and a sweatshirt so long sleeved that they coverd his hands when his arms wre by his side. "Not left yourself long to eat these." Finishing quickly, Amy lead Tails out for the bus.
"And now I have a full day of nothing to look forward to." said Ame to the empty room.
"You can't leave what you said any longer yo know" Tikal began working on Loki again. "Please tell me what happened with Horatio."
"It's not realy important. " Loki wanted to tal about it, but he didn't want to burden Tikal with all of his troubles.
"Loki, you can tell me anything, thats one of the beter things about dating someone, we can share problems. You can tell me anything and I will still love you." Tears were appearing in thecorners of her eyes. Loki wiped away one of them with ther back of his hand. Looking into her eyes, his resolve crumbled.
"It's a long story, and there isn't a happy ending, yet." he hugged Tikal and said, "I'll tell you, I can't bear to see you cry." [screen goes wobbly for flashback]
As you know, Loki began, I was sent to a boarding school. My parents couldn't really connec with me on any level, so they thought it'd be better to let me 'make it on my own' in a school. I can't complain about the school, it was the bet, well for a school anyway. I didn't get on with many people in my year, and we were discouraged from socialising with any other years.
I kept myself to myself really, I did my work, got good grades but hated every minute of being there. The problems really started at holiday times. Almost everyone was either sent home or collected by family. The first major break arrived, six weeks away from this place, or so i thought. My parents were in Australia, there was nowhere for me to go, so I had to stay on at school.
During the break, the school was almost empt, save for a few teachers, and about twenty pupils. That was when I first met Horatio. We gatherd together in a main hall so that the skeleton staff could give us the rules for the time we had. Classroms would be locked, but the I.t. labs and library would be open normal times. The playing feild were off limits, but the gym would be open three days a week. All boring basic stuff. We were also told to stay in groups ofa least two, and as there was only me from my year, and Horatio from his, we were left alone as the rest got into groups.
Even then he was an imposing figure. Always cold in public, never showing anyone what he reall thought. Atheletic and a genius too [sounds hot, huh?]. This guy was impressive to say the least.
"Well, looks like we're stuck together." he initiated a conversation, his voice was almost hypnotic, "I'm Horatio Robotnik." His name was kinda a legend around the school, and thats when I realised who was standing before me.
"I'm Loki [insert surname here, if you want one]," I extended my hand, which he ignored.
"Gym's open, I'm going for a workout, want t see if you can keep up?"
"I'm game." Laughing, Horatio lead the way.
Ivo Robotnik sat behind his besk. Infront of him was spread all the information about the Chaos Emeralds that both he and DR Kinbotor had amassed. It ranged from vague legends about te gods to detailed biological charts of Echidnas.
"Feel free to browse through any of the information." he told he S.L.A. Metalix scanned and logged all the information quickly.
"Impressive." he said, "But why show us this?"
"I believe you are also seeking the Emeralds?"
"We may be" from Shadow who was reading with Super Sonic.
"I also want the Emeralds, to study. Just think of the benifits to all if that power could be harnessed!"
"You want us to help you find them? What do we get out of it?" Super Sonic was blunt.
"If I could have them, then I could unleash their power, enough energy for all. What more cold you want?"
"Each of us seeks those Emeralds for their power." Metalix answered.
"Using my macines I can release enough power for all of you, and still have enough for my studies." Robotnik was having to think quickly, bu luckily he was a good liar. Each of the S.L.A. thought about his offer.
Metalix thought, his funds would be a valuable asset, also his production line would allow me to create order through cloning myself. Once we have the Emeralds it will be an easy task to become sole possesor of them.
"I agree to your terms." was all he said.
Shadow thought, following one maniac is as good as following another, but this guy would be easier to steal the Emeralds from, and I can always turn him against those two idiots.
"You have my allegence, for now." was Shadow's answer.
Super Sonic thought [wow!], I don't trust him, he has a habit of killing his alies, but I don't trust my other partners either. I do have leverage on the 'good doctor' though, and I can always take out Metalix and Shadow if needs be, this may work.
"Sure, got nothing to lose." he answered.
Robotnik thought, fools, all of them, though the Emeralds have more than enough power to do as I said, all of it will be mine! But out loud he said,
"Then I'll have rooms made up for you, and tonight you will meet my Chaos Research Division!" He walked over to a bar, "But now a toast to our success.!" They toasted this, each thinking of ways to get rid of each of the others [you can really feel the trust, huh?]
The gym was empty when we got there, Loki's tale continued. Everyone must have ben in the computer room or something. The gym had all the best equipment, rings, ropes, vaulting boxes, mats and some high tech stuff like rowing machines, exercise bikes, treadmills, weights. Gym clothes were kept in our lockers, so we both changed then began to work out. Basics first, racing on the bikes and treadmills, Horatio was in great shape, he beat me on both, the rowing machine was a closer contest, but he still won.
"What next then?" the 'warm up' over, I decided to try my luck on the thing I was good at.
"How 'bout we climb?" I said pointing to the ropes. No-one had ever beaten me on them. I supose I'm a natural climber.
"Sure, another race it is." We took up our positions and started. I was up and down in the time it took him to reach the top. When he was on the floor again, he gave me a strang look. He wasn't used to being beaten at anything. He said nothing to me, but began to work alone on a weight machine, while I did floor work. My feline agility made me a natural gymnast [go catboy!]. Horatio's eyes didn't leave me throughout.
Since we were together for the rest of the break, almost everything became a competition between us. Most things he would win, but every little victory of mine semed to overshadow all of his, in his eyes anyway. As we went on, I supose i became just as copetitive. I wanted to show everyone that this person they idolised wasn't perfect. He always ghad his loyal following though, most were his 'lackies', though some were scared of him, some with good reason, he is a scary person, but he isn't invinceable, as I proved to him several times.
Tails was enjoying his first day. So not many people had spoken to him until they saw Sonic and Amy with him, but after that, quite a group built up around the three of them.
"What you have to remember," Amt had told him in private, "Is that you have something that no-one else does."
"What's that?" Tails really wanted to meet everyone.
"Mystery! [very 'Clueless', i know] No-one knows anything about you. The fact that you know me, Sonic, Knux and Rouge tells everyone that you're pretty cool, plus you're smart, you can fit in anywhere!"
When classes started, tails reprted to the headmaster's office, as instructed in his acceptance letter. In the outer area a robotic secutarsy told him to wait as the principal was busy. Finally Tails was called in.
"Welcome to Kinbotor Memorial High!" an impressive, almost booming voice greated him. "I am Dr. Robotnik [unexpected huh, well, not to loki.] It is a pleasure to recieve such a talented individual into my school."
"It's a pleasure to be here, sir." said Tails in a small voice.
"Well I'm sure you don't wnt to miss your classes, so here is your timetable," he handed Tails a small sheet of paper, "A map of the buildings and grounds, each room is marked on," another sheet, bigger than the first, "And now I'll take you to your first class, Science I believe."
"Thank you, sir," Tails responded. While walking, Robotnik kept talking,
"It is unusual for us to take transfer students, but your test scores made it impossilbe for me to say no to the request. You'll find my schol has all the things that someone of your intelligence could need. But here is your class, I'm sure you will fit in." Tails nodded and went into the room. "And I'm sure I'll find a use for you my young genius," Robotnik said to himself once hewas alone. He walked back to his office chuckling slightly at his own obscene joke.
As time went on we became more like rivals. Loki was reliving his own story. I'd compare old test or exam scores from his previous papers, against mine, to see if I'd done better, or how much worse. I knew he was doing the same. It semed though, the more time we spent as rivals, the closer we became to being to being friends, or as close as either of us could come to true friendship.
During term time it was an acidemic contest,he'd set stanards with his prior scores, usualy I'd get slightly lower, but I beat him in art and media at least half the time. However at the end of term, when almost everyone had gone home for the holidays, and as neither of us were ever collected or sent for, we spent the time sparring, racing, showing off complex arial feats on the rings or from vaulting. He was more than a match for me in most areas, but in agility, i wiped the floor with him. I was never sure if he enjoyed having someone worth competing with, if he liked being beaten at something for once, or if he was just waiting for me to mess up, so that he could outdo me. I never messed up, so never gave him the chance.
In the final holiday, before I left the school, the first week of a three week break, we were working out. He was lifting almost his own weigt as if it was nothing, I was showing off on a new piece of equipment, some paralelle bars. He was constantly looking at me. I though it was because I had taken so naturally to the new exercise, but I was only partly right.
After the workout, we showered, a stanard practice. The gym had a big communial shower that we both used. I had finished washing the sweat off when Horatio came up to me and stood right behind me. Turning I saw a strange look on his face. He pushed me against the wall, prese himself close to me and kissed me. My shock fled in a moment and I returned the kiss. One of his hands wove into my hair, the other tracedmy spine up and down. When we parted, my hand brushed his cheek, while the other went to his hip. Seeing his longing, I kissed him, more passionately. We parted for a second time, but his kisses continued down my neck, onto my shoulders and chest. His kisses were like fire.
"We shouldn't be doing this." I gasped out. Horatio stopped, looked heartbroken and backed away.
"I'm sorry," he said, and he made to leave.
"Not here anyway," I finished. At that I saw him smile, not the fake smile e normally put on, but a real smile that lit up his entire face. "Anyone could catch us."
"My room has a lock," he volunteered nervously.
"Tonight then, if we go now it'll look suspicsios." He agreed, and we both knew that the day would drag, but the night would be worth the wait. [ok, not something yo tel your new girlfriend, so he told her they kissed, nothing more]
Amethyst was walking around Station Square. Something had been praying on his mind , and to lift his uneasiness he had decided to go grocery shopping. On his way he had stopped at a coffee shop to clear his head, but nothing seemed to help him. After buying the essentials, Ame began the walk home.
Suddenly something hit him. It wasn't physical, more of a mental shock. Dropping the bags, he fell to tje floor in a faint. He was only half awre of the group of people that gathered around him. It was only good luck that one those peole was Luc.
"Okay, everyone back off, he needs air!" he commanded the crowd. Turning to his falen love he said, "Ame, you okay?"
"He needs a doctor," caled someone.
"Phone for an ambulance" another voice.
"Just get me home," whispered Ame.
"Help me get him into my cab." called Luc.
"And who're you? You family?" a third voice.
"No, I'm his boyfriend!" Luc was direct as always. After some murmering Ame and his shopping were put in Luc's car.
"You sure you don't need a doctor or something?" Luc asked as they were driving.
"Just get me home, please." Ame's request again.
"Sure, home." No more was said during the drive.
We were in each others company all day, and that made the wait harder. Although this wasn't said to Tikal, it still went through Loki 's mind. The day passed with both of us distracted by the other. We tried to lose ourselves in activities that we both liked. I drew, mainly pictures of Horatio [hint loki,hint], he wrote, mostly sentimental garbage. We both read, or tried to. After dinner [well, the evening meal, i'm being posh] homework time was shedueled. We sat apart so we could both get some actual work done, but after that it was pretty much time for lights out.
Most of the rooms were doubles. I shared with some complete goth jerk, Horatio with a stuck-up rich brat. Both were at home, so it wasn't uncommon for us to share. Once lights out had een called and checked, by the light of a small lamp, we crossed the room to each other.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked as we embraced. I could only nod as I was lost for words. He broke off to lock the door, then returned to kiss me. He quickly pulled off my pjama top, then removed his own. Our hands explored each others bodies. The rest of our clothes joined the pile on the floor. He lay me down on his bed and began kissing me lower, and lower. His face returned to mine and our kiss was pasionate, fierce and longing. I spread my legs wantonly, and he entered me. If his kisses were fire, his body was ice. i drew him closer to me for the warmth i needed. Where our flesh touched it was ectasy. he fell into a gentle rythm, constanly asking if i was ok, fearing that I would flee. His pace quickened, and he exploded inside me, as I released over our joined
bodies [nosebleed, sorry, japanese joke]. We lay in each others arms, exhausted, and we both slept happily.
Tails had excelled in Science, grasped complex Maths easily and was a natural at History. He didn't let anyone know how easy these things came to him, that was how he became friendless at his last school. At lunch he examined the fod Ame had prepared for him. It was Oriental themed, with sushi and noodles being overly present. Not feeling adventurous enough to try this, he found Sonic buying food in the cafeteria.
"Hey, Sonic!" he called
"Hi kid, you not eating?"
"Not sure I can trust the food." he showed Sonic his lunch.
"Oriental special, huh?"
"Wanna trade?" Tails was hopeful
.
"Sure, I'll take the spicy noodles for my fries, but it's Amy who loves Ame's sushi." Thet trade, then found Amy who was sitting with Klonoa. After a little more trading, Tails had a meal he was comfortable with, while everyone else was happy with his packed lunch.
"Tails, you are sooo smart!" Amy suddenly said. She turned to Klonoa, "This guy has the best head for figures!"
"And experiments," said Sonic "You should do tat tutor thing for extra credit, and after school clubs. Not like you'll need the extra cred though."
"Guys, you're embarassing him!" Klonoa stood up for Tails.
"I might go for that Sonic, it'd be a good way for me to say thanks to the school, for having me. Where do I sign up?"
"Robotnik's office," Amy was full of helpful info. "Who knows, you could end up teaching one of us. [future sub plot? watch this space]" She mouthed Sonic then laughed. Seeing this the rest joined in.
Most nights that holiday, we slept together. Loki's tale was almost finished now, and he still obsured some facts for Tikal's sake. It wasn't just the sex, but the closeness, emtional and physical, that came with it. Publically we stayed rivals, or friends, or whatever we were. No-one questioned this, it was part of his power. Just when it seemed that all was going right, things fell apart. The final week of that break, I recieved a letter from my parents. They were movin back to New York, where my dad was born. I was to go with them, I had no choice in the matter.
Horatio reacted badly to the news, and became withdrawn, and more competitive. I left him to himself and prepared to leave. I was only give two days before i'd be dragged halfway acros the world. I had little time to do anything apar from pack, and say goodbye to those few peope who I knew. The day came, waiting in the reception area for my parents, the time seemed to strech into hours. I hadn't been able to find Horatio so had to leave without saying goodbye. Suddenly from outside I heard a massive crash. Running to the window I didn't know what to expect.
Outside there had been a head-on collision between two cars, one of them my parents. I flew outside, but my worst fears were realised. Both of them had been killed. Someone had gottenout of the other car, I recognised him as one of Horatio's 'lackies'. He ws bleeding badly, so I ran to see if there was anything I could do to help. He had collapsed when I got to him, and he was saying, "I did it for him, now he'll be happy, I did it just how he told me," over and over. He didn't survive long, and was dead before help could arrive.
Later in my room, Horatio came to see me. He hugged me and said,
"So you'll be staying on here then?"
"Not sure," I was still in shock.
"Where else can you go?" he was almost insisant, "Stay here with me."
"I don't know if I can. This is where they died. Every time I go outside I'll be reminded."
"You will stay here, this was too much trouble for you...." he stopped, but he had already said enough.
"You did it?" my voice was full of rage and hate, "Get out of my room!"
"I did it for us," he said as he left. I got out of there that night. I had my plane ticket, and my bags were already packed. When I got to America I wandered, I had enough money for placs to stay, and I kept moving on until I met you and Amy. Thats the end of my story so far.
Tikal had sat through this quietly. She got up and hugged her boyfriend and said,
"Lets see if Ame'll fix us some food, huh?" Loki nodded and they both left the apartment just as Amy and Tails were walking down the hall, on there way back from school.
"Hey guys, going for food," Tikal said "You joining us?"
"'K," from Amy, but let me get changed first." She went to her own apartment while everyone else went with Tails. As they opened the door they heard Ame say,
"I'm fine, and don't tell the guys!"
"If it happens again I'm dragging you to a doctor." Luc replied.
"Don't tell us what?" Loki asked.
"Doctor?" from Tikal.
"Forget it. Who wants pizza? I'll order a couple." Going to the phone, it rang before he could use it.
"Hi, Amethyst here, how may I direct your call?........What?.....Thank you.....Goodbye." he replace the handset.
"Who was it?" Luc saw Ame going paler than normal [and i'm pretty pale to sart with].
"I know why I fainted earlier," said Ame quietly.
"You fainted?" from Tails, Loki and Tikal.
"Huh? Why?" Luc's was confused.
"My grandmother died today. I'm the last White Wolf of the family"
so this cliffhanger isn't quite as big as the last 2, yet. it will become more important, honest!
Ame-chan
E-mail Ame.
on to episode 4
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