#and how he uses his Shield of Light in the Sonic Channel story to protect the planet against the Eclipse Canon!

[true-blue-sonic]

I’ve always been fond of the idea of Silver learning to replicate attacks of his friends with his powers: Espio’s shuriken and kunai and Amy’s Piko Piko hammer and Knuckles’ punches and maybe even something similar to Shadow’s Chaos Spear, all created from pure psychokinesis.

Not only would it give him so many more opportunities to showcase his powers than mostly Pick Up Item And Yeet It, it would show he’s learned from his friends and he carries something of them all inside him, and I love that thought a lot❤

[mrneighbourlove]

Fall of a Dynasty: Ch 8. The Hardest Choices

The hostile takeover was more chaotic than Jaster expected. Going through the Imperial Capital and up to the palace, the man was able to convince some to fight for his cause. To take over the Empire from a cowardly Zannah. His main and equipped fighters included the Theron he swayed to his side, monsters Exodrum provided, and a secret weapon the god gave him. Attacking the palace, he sent citizens first to attack the palace guards as more experienced soldiers took aim. “Faster! We shall rewrite Hasai history through fire and blood!”

As they were making their way into the courtyard, a portal open horizontally up, and a group of strangers dropped down. ‘Jaster Fett’ only needed to recognize his sister to know he was in danger. With a whistle, he directed his militia. “There’s the Empress! Kill the False Emperor! Free the Empire from her weakness and madness! I will secure the throne room!”

Zannah saw most of her guards were either dead, busy fighting others, or spread out. They’d be on their own. “Manaco. Prove yourself to my daughter. Griffith, you go find Annuciata’s blimp and get it ready to fly. Leere, Zizi. You deal with the traitors and the confused citizens. The rest with me.”

Rinku drew the Master Sword and a shield. Griffith and Athena grabbed some swords of the fallen off the ground. Leere channeled her magic, conjuring the undead beneath the ground. Zannah took a few deep breathes to ready her fire, and charged barefoot as a mob started to close in with swords, pitchforks and fire balls.

"Ever see what happens when two Lorleidians combine magic, Zannah?" Zizi was not happy about the empress shoving her through the portal. She should have had the chance to at least say goodbye to her husband. Yet, what was done was done. Manaco knew what his mother was insinuating and gently took her hand.

"What do you get... when you combine fire and earth?" Concentrating her magical energy, her earth and his fire started to mix. Nihilus had to be contained. He could not leave the palace. "Magma."

Then a loud whoosh, the ground shook and it started to get unbearably hot...

“Zizi, don’t you dare burn down my palace! This is where Athena and Manaco will live!” Zannah jumped over the start of the magma, saving a guard from being killed by a Theron with a jump kick. Her brother was already disappearing into the palace with a small detachment of guards.

Athena and Griffith felt the heat, even as they launched and reflected fire at the enemy. They knew who to kill, and who to maim. Citizens who were confused and angry, and the murderous soldiers.

"It's a fucking building, Zannah. No matter what happens to it, we cannot let your brother out. We have to contain him if we hope to have a chance of Rinku cutting him down." Zizi was not budging on this one. "If you're going to have a little faith in rekindling a friendship instead of just tolerating each other, then trust me!"

“It’s built history where I raised my family.” Zannah roundhouse kicked a basilisk in the face. “Not to mention there are innocents inside this building. Just-“ Zannah launched a lightning bolt down the throat of the beast. “Don’t burn it down! I trust you to be safe!”

Leere successfully conjured her a few Floor Masters to terrify and grab militant citizens. “Come on! We can trap him inside the palace!”

Magma lined the outside of the palace. No one was getting in or out without serious damage. Due to the contents being molten rock, no Hasai who could wield fire magic could extinguish the heat. Manaco then started his fight. Years of training were currently going to pay off now. He never had a desire to be a warrior... but he had the desire to protect his family. He used his magic to set himself ablaze and then started taking down enemies. A Vatra's fire could never hurt the user.

Zizi decided to deal with trouble the old fashioned way. Nothing worked better than a quick crater in the ground to hold traitors in place.

Griffith kissed his sister on the cheek, giving her good luck as he fought his way to the docking hanger. Athena looked to Manaco, eyes raised as she joined Rinku and her mother towards the palace. “Manaco! Come on!”

Manaco followed after the twins, leaving a trail of scorched footprints in his place.

“Don’t you need a sword?” Athena shouted behind her as she stabbed a man in the chest to defend herself.

Manaco simply snatched a foe by the throat and within seconds, all that remained was a pile of ash.

"Swords are overrated, 'wife'. Much more fun to simply disintegrate." Even now, he had a sense of humor.

Athena didn’t laugh, simply worried about their lives.

Outside, Leere got back to back with Zizi, each using their respective abilities to restrain the separatists. “So ‘Earth Sage’. You ever think that you’d be helping the Fire Witch like this? More important question, don’t you Kahli is going to kill you for bringing Manaco here?”

"Leere, you know as well as I do that I didn't bring Manaco here," Zizi created a sizable crater and trapped many enemies within it. "Manaco followed his damn dick here."

“Zizi. Your daughters fuck around like bunnies. Least he-shit!”

Leere pulled Zizi down as they went behind cover from a volley of arrows being shot from above. With the clench of her fist, a wall master took hold of the archer, dragging him into shadows. “That was too close. Least your boy seems to be finding a steady career. Did I tell you I’m expecting a daughter?”

"Urboro is the one that likes to fuck and she's within her right to have a fun night with whoever she wishes." Zizi yelped when Leere pulled her to the side and blocked out the arrows. "And you should talk, I know how much you loved to party with the old snake." The Zemlja then arched an eyebrow. "... you're not pregnant so I'm assuming Sunny is. If you're going to have a kid, then you're definitely going to have to take some precautions around a farm. I thought my plantations wouldn't be too bad, but my kids still found a way to get into trouble."

“My party days are long behind me Zizi. And yeah, Sunny’s the one who’ll carry my kid.” When Zizi tilted her head in confusion, Leere explained it with one word. “Magic. But let’s focus on staying alive.”

Meanwhile, as Zannah raced through the palace with Rinku, Manaco and Athena, there was a small ticking from above them on the roof. Rinku was in the middle of cutting down another Theron to heed the noise. Looking up, Zannah leap forward as she was separated from the others. Between them, T0-D landed, two shimmering blue guardian swords drawn.

“Tod! You too?!” Zannah leaked heartache in her voice.

“Confirmation: Reprogrammed. God of War. Must obey. I-I-I’m sorry.” His eye suddenly turned from red to black. “Voice commands shutting down.”

The android swung with lightning fast speed at Rinku and Athena, both women needing to protect themselves. Athena gritted through her teeth as she struggled in a lock of blades. “Mother. Go!”

Manaco was busy keeping the pathway clear for the women. There seemed to be an endless supply of Hasai ready to throw away their lives for this brother of Zannah's. Idiots, the lot of them. Could they not see that sometimes a love of power would only lead to ruin? When T0-D suddenly appeared out of nowhere, Manaco knew the fight was suddenly getting serious. The robot was a deadly fighter. He could not allow T0-D to touch him. Stories from his father, Covarog, and Malik were enough to know that one wrong strike could mean death. As the robot tried to push back Rinku and Athena, Manaco zoomed in behind T0-D, kicking out the robot's legs. Rinku had the weapon to use against Nihilus and had to go with Zannah.

Rinku gave Manaco a nod of understanding, running off. “You better stay alive kid!”

T0-D immediately kicked himself off the floor, his talon feet giving Manaco a hard kick in the chest. Athena was quick to get between them, firing a stream of fire at him. “Manaco! Don’t use the same strategy twice. He’ll learn and use it against you.”

"Then exactly how are we supposed to beat him?" Manaco asked his to-be wife. "... I don't suppose I can melt him into a pile of slag."

Athena tried to launch fire directly at T0-D, but the android countered by spinning his joints at sonic speeds, both blades rotating with the motion of a turbine. The flames were nearly propelled to the sides. The swords cut sparks into the floor as he walked towards the Hasai. “Do what we must.”

T0-D suddenly opened up a path within the spinning. Just enough for his head to light up and fire a Tesla bolt at the pair, dividing them apart.

Manaco had to think quickly. Neither of them had the speed like T0-D did, so avoidance was key. Yet, if his limbs were disrupted, the two of them could possibly subdue him. Zipping out of the way of the bolt, he then told Athena, "We have to make sure he can't hurt us. We need to take out his arms."

Hearing that, T0-D replied by activating two more arms. Clicking on the handles, two more Guardian blades lit up. Athena looked to Manaco quickly, giving him a deep scowl. “Fight with your actions, not words.”

Throwing her sword at T0-D, Athena took a risk by disarming herself, but she channeled her magic, and tried to blast the android apart with large bursts of fire. “You’ll only get on chance. Go on my signal.”

T0-D danced around the fire, taking multiple swings at Manaco.

There had to be something that he could use to stop the arms from spinning. Manaco took a quick glance around the room. There were several old weapons on the wall, but some still too ancient or not useful in this situation. Then, he settled on an old morning star. The chain on it could prove useful but... would it hold? He dodged once, then twice, and rolled forward, jumping onto the wall, and grabbing the weapon. Evading yet another strike, Manaco had to calculate the exact right moment to get close. Not only did he have to worry about the sharp blades, but he had to make sure Athena had enough time to react. Almost... almost... there!

Manaco leapt into the middle of the arms, getting nicked in the process, but managed to wrap the length chain around T0-D's arms... and pulled as hard as he could. He gritted his teeth, putting a foot on T0-D's leg and strained. "Athena! Now!!!"

Athena changed her attack to lightning, pouring her power to short circuit T0-D’s weapons. “Take out his limbs!”

With a yell, Manaco pulled as hard as he could, the spikes ripping through T0-D's wires and disengaging a few of the limbs. The Vatra then used his extreme heat to weld the joints on the others, so they could not move.

T0-D shambled about on the ground, silently unable to fight back, only rage filling him.

Athena didn’t even take a breath to stop the mission. “We need to go now. Can you move?”

Manaco grunted as he released the chains and panted heavily. He had avoided major damage, but was still injured.

"I'll be fine." He used his own fire to seal his wounds for the time being. "We need to go help your mother."

Zannah and Rinku had finally cornered the formers brother up by the observatory. Having chased him through the palace and killing every lackey thrown at him, they were finally ready to finish this little separatist movement. All he could do was sick the last view guards he had left on Rinku while Zannah danced around them. “It’s over Nihilus.”

The man tried to swing a dagger at her, but the Ocho ducked low, and swinging a fist upwards encased in fire, she physically punched his hand off. The man screamed, stumbling backwards onto a deck. From outside, even Zizi and Leere could make him out. “And now, you die again.”

“Wait! Stop!”

There was something in his voice that indeed made Zannah stop from executing him. A closer look at this Jaster Fett, and the woman’s mouth went dry. Despite what the decades that passed between them, Zannah could still remember all the vivid expressions of her brother. His joy, his anger, and most importantly his fear. “Seras?”

Rinku killed the last guard, pausing as the two siblings shared their little reunion.

Seras clenched his stump, sweat dripping down his face. Although given a brand-new body, he still had the same energy that he had as a teenager. “Yes Zannah. It’s me.”

The twin sister shook her head, disbelief filling her. “It can’t be you.”

“Why? Because it would be so much simpler for you to kill our older brother?”

That struck a nerve with Zannah, but in a different direction. “What? It was so much simpler for you to kill your twin sister than?”

Seras clenched his teeth, cartelizing the stump with his fire. “Of course. You watched me die so long ago on the plains of Hyrule Field. You took control of the Kikai Empire, when it should have been my birthright. You got to live while I was burning in hell! Exodrum tortured my soul for my failure in battle. When the god suddenly came to me with the opportunity to return to the land of the living and seize the Empire for myself, I took it. Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t anyone?”

Manaco heard the commotion up ahead and reached out and grabbed Athena by the shoulders. He motioned for her to be quiet and the two of them listened in on Zannah's conversation. All of them assumed that it was Nihilus who had returned. This was not going to be easy for Zannah...

Leere was motioning for Zizi to slowly lift them up with vines to the balcony to rejoin the others.

As for Zannah, her eyes nearly glazed over. This was one last cruel prank of the gods against her. “Seras. I mourned you. I built a legacy that you might have cherished. And now that you’re back, now that you’re alive, you tried to have me killed?”

“It’s the Hasai way. And it’s what Exodrum and his allies wanted.”

“Fuck the Hasai way! Fuck Exodrum! You’re my twin brother! My brother! I loved you! I was the only one who did!”

A long silence filled the air between them.

Zizi watched the scene unfold as did Leere. The situation just went from bad to worse. This was Zannah's twin brother, not her psycho elder brother. How was this going to be taken care of? She glanced at Leere with a frown. This was supposed to be a quick mission, not one of debate. Manaco, on the other hand, only saw one objective; to kill Seras. He had caused enough devastation to the Hasai people. More of this would only bring suffering to the innocents. Taking a deep breath, Manaco outstretched his hand, and whispered to Athena, "We can't let him hurt our people any further... do you agree with me?"

“Yes, but...” Athena was conflicted.

Leere whispered to Zizi, still out of earshot of the others. “This might not be Nihilus, but he was still a sociopath. He scared Kanisa and took joy in those he killed.”

Seras sighed, smiling from ear to ear. “You know Zannah, it’s nice to see you grow up to be such a fine, beautiful, as well as capable woman. Can’t we simply just divide the Empire amongst ourselves, for the betterment of our people, or the betterment of-HKK!!!”

To everyone’s shock, Zannah still carried out her mission. In a quick movement, she superheated her hand to drive it through Seras’ chest, grab his heart, and squeeze it into paste. The man’s eyes nearly exploded out of his sockets as he spat out blood. “Sister?”

“Oh god. Oh sweet merciful heaven forgive me.” Zannah, traumatized by her duty, pulled out too fast. She didn’t even remember to grab him. The last look Seras gave her was a similar one she saw the first time he died. Fear. Yet even worse, there was sadness now. His body tumbled backwards, falling off the balcony and onto the pavement down below. Leere has to pull herself close to Zizi as they watched the body fall past them and hit the ground.

Zannah crumbled to her knees, clenching her bloody arm, shivering with the upmost guilt and heartache. Small sobs escaped her as she broke down. This was the second time she had to see her twin brother die. And being the cause of death directly this time was too much to take. “I’m sorry. Oh god I’m so sorry.”

Zizi was not expecting Zannah to suddenly kill Seras. As Leere grabbed her, the Zemlja held tight to her friend. To kill her own brother for the sake of the people... what was going through Zannah's mind? Manaco, too, was shocked. He glanced at Athena, not knowing what to say.

Athena was horrified. It happened so quickly. She didn’t have words.

It seemed that Rinku did. She walked over to Zannah, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss Zannah...”

The tired Ocho didn’t respond as Zizi hoisted herself and Leere up.

Zizi said nothing. She had no idea of what to say. There was nothing she could do to make Zannah feel any better.

Zannah’s senses only came back to her when she heard the Danjurian blimp come flying by. “...Athena. Manaco. Fly over the cities and declare marshal law. Declare your decree as Emperor and Empress.”

Manaco really did not like being told what to do. Yet, for once, he was not going to argue with Zannah. Holding Athena's hand, he followed her to announce the decree to the citizens.

Griffith threw a ladder down to them so they could climb aboard. Annuciata made devices that could amplify their voices. As the pair traveled over the Hasai capital, nearly the whole island had gathered to see who would come out on top of the civil war. Taking Manaco’s hand, she waited as Griffith flew into view. “Citizens of the Kikai Empire! The usurper is dead! His allies are dead! But hope survives! I, Princess Athena, will be taking the throne from my dear mother. Together, with my new husband Manaco, a Hasai of Hyrule, we shall lead you to a bright and rich future as Emperor Manaco and Empress Athena of the Empire! Now return to your homes! Peace needs to be established!”

While Manaco and Athena were occupied announcing the victory to the Hasai people, Zizi watched Zannah crumple with her grief. The Zemlja supposed she was lucky in that aspect. She never had lost a family member to death. True, her mother passed, but... did that really count? She never knew her mother or her father. All she had was her sisters. Now, Zizi had a husband and many children. Her family was growing... and she never thought of losing any of them. She prayed to the spirits that she'd die before any of her children would. Zizi could not stomach the thought of watching one of her babies pass before her... or her husband. Yet Zannah had to kill her own brother. Watch him die. Twice.

"You and I didn't get along at first. We didn't like each other. But then, we came to know friendship and that... that was broken, I know. But this... I know I once told you I wanted you to experience my pain but... not like this. Never like this." Zizi cautiously put a hand on Zannah's shoulder. "I'm... I'm sorry about your brother, Zannah."

“It’s ok. You don’t have to pretend. I got exactly what was coming to me.” Zannah sounded so... hallow. So broken. She truly believed that she deserved this. Was this not what fate wanted otherwise?

"No matter how horrible someone has been," Zizi pulled her into a tight hug. It still hurt what Zannah did to her family, did to Kahli. She was not sure if that feeling of mistrust would ever go away. But the right thing to do was to go on for the sake of her son and Athena. There would be no more strife. The next generation depended upon it. "No one deserves suffering or pain. I... I forgive you..."

Zannah hugged tightly back, tears swelling in her eyes. “I’m sorry Zizi.”

“Pathetic. Even in victory.”

The voice froze Zannah to Zizi. From a fire place, a corpse that had tumbled in rose up, flames leaking from the eye sockets, mouth, and cuts Rinku gave it. It was a frightening Avatar indeed. “I gave you a challenge to rise up to. You succeeded, and yet here you are, grovelling like a dog. Perhaps your daughter will serve me better.”

Leere and Rinku instinctively stood to protect the others. “Get back you vile bastard.”

"It's not pathetic to have emotions, you... you... conceited, power-hungry egomaniac!!!" Zizi held Zannah tighter when Exodrum appeared. "Why don't you just simmer down to a dull spark and stay that way!!!"

“Hmm, perhaps I should take Zolori under my wing?” A wolf like growl echoed around the room. “I own the Hasai. I am their god. They are my war bound children. As God of War and Fire, I burn away weakness. Zannah. You are weak.”

"A god should love their children, should take care of their children! The only reason the Hasai follow you is fear! And that's not true admiration! They're only doing it for survival!" Zizi spat at Exodrum. "Zannah isn't weak! You're the weak one! You're a coward! You use nasty tactics to get what you want and if someone dares to step out of line, then they're not your perfect, brainless, soldier! You're no god!!! You're just a... a... a fucking piece of ember that managed to set a fire! You're no true flame! No deity! You're an imposter!!! You're the tyrant!!!"

“Get back you bloated carcass.” Rinku swung the Master Sword defiantly.

This seemed to get a raise out of the deity, as with a raise of his hand, he blasted the group with a steaming torrent of air. “Silence your tongues. No mortals can judge me.”

"But I can." Vatra had appeared in the room. There she was in all her glorious beauty. A figure completely composed of the hottest fire. "Zemlja is not the only one that the Earth Sage prays to. You forget that half of her children are of flame."

Exodrum couldn’t believe his eyes, quickly shedding the mortal body to become a being of pure fire. “No.”

Behind Vatra, another spirit appeared. This one was of Hyrule, holding a more concrete form of an eagle. Under its claws it held an orb of light. This was Eldin, a spirit of light. “Exodrum. You hold no sway over the Hasai no more.”

“Lies! Lies from spirits no one cares for!”

"You are to be nothing, Exodrum. You abused your position." Vatra sounded very angry. "The deities are supposed to watch over their people. We have all seen failure at some point. Yet, you, on the other hand, take pleasure from the torment of the Hasai. No longer will they be under your guidance. Today, that stops. The new Empress and Emperor prayed to me. I will now watch over the people as well as my Lorleidian children. You," She gestured. "Go away. And don't you dare come back."

“No! You have NO AUTHORITY!”

Eldin opened his wings, blasting Exodrum with holy light. “Zannah gave the Empire to Hyrule. As such, its people and lands will also be protected by the Holy Goddess. You are banished by Hylian and Lorliedian decree.”

“Curse you both! I’ll have my subjects back!”

"I'll cease your burning before you come back to these people whom you have mistreated." Vatra warned Exodrum. "Flee. And do not return."

The light of Exodrum scattered, with Eldin protecting the mortals as the fire flew in all directions. Once the flames settled, Eldin looked to Zizi and the others.

“Earth Sage. You have done well here. So too have the other Sages. You will soon meet the others. Fate will bring you together for a great purpose. They will be chosen, as you were chosen. Walk with tranquility of the Forest.” Eldin squawked an eagle’s cry as he vanished into light, leaving the women and Vatra alone.

Zannah still held onto Zizi’s arm, taking slow breaths. The days events physically exhausted her. Was it even supper time? She didn’t know anymore.

Vatra still remained. There was a lot of upcoming work to do. Still, she had a task to complete now. "Zannah... a word?"

“Alone?”

"Yes. Unless you prefer the company."

“I’ll be fine.” Zannah said that more to reassure herself then the others, but she meant it for all. Rinku gently took Zizi by the hand to let her know it’d be ok to leave. Once the other three closed the door to the observatory, Zannah’s shoulders dropped as she sat back in a chair. “I don’t suppose you’re going to overlook my faults? Worried you favour Zizi and still feel I need more punishment.”

"While each and every being on this planet has faults, it is unjust to judge a person based upon their wrong doings. Yet, that being said, there are those who revel in those faults, and use it to hurt others." Vatra was like Zemlja, in a way. She was wise and just as old as the earth spirit. Yet, unlike Zemlja, she had a temper. "You have certainly pushed your luck."

“Your point?” Zannah looked briefly at the blood of her brother, still fresh on her arm, a coating against her blackened hand.

"My point is... despite what you have done, you did somehow manage to learn humility." Vatra gazed at the woman. "You learned that you can never be the strongest, the most powerful. There will always be another who is stronger. And lastly, you also learned that you can be hurt just like the others you've hurt. You learned a very hard way. I deem that lesson enough."

“I have a feeling you’re not here just to lecture me? Gods can use pastors and priests for that.”

"No, I am not here just to lecture you. I am also here to tell you I will watch over your people." Vatra promised Zannah. "A shrine will be erected here to where they can pray to me if wished."

“Anything else?” Zannah was becoming more and more disheartened by the second. “Or does the pretty spirit want to move on?”

"Zizi told me you fear of being damned." Vatra asked. "Is that what you truly think of yourself?"

“I’m a killer. I’m a betrayer of friends. I just murdered my own brother. So yes. I do believe my soul is well beyond damned. My children are grown adults now. Part of me is scared to start aging again. Because I know the second I punch my ticket out I’ll be right back in the clutches of Exodrum. Or maybe I’ll be lucky and go to whatever your version of hell is.”

"A Lorleidian will only be damned if he or she turns his back on their people, or us spirits. It's a high offense, one that is not forgiven." Vatra then reminded Zannah. "There are even those who are deemed the worst have a chance a redemption. I think you have found yours in apologizing for your wrongs and trying to make for a brighter future."

Zannah looked Vatra in the eyes, shrugging her discontent away. “You have anything else to say or give me?”

"Is there something you wish to know? Followers of any of the Seven Siblings may ask, and if within our abilities, will be granted an answer."

“Can I be given a free pass into heaven? Can I be freed of my guilt? Can I get a kiss from her flaming goddess?” Zannah said the last request in a bitter sarcastic tone. “What advice can you give me? I’m done ruling. I’m done being a Demi god. I’m just a tired, worn woman who wants to settle down the rest of her days. I’m no sage. I’m no preacher.”

"Only you can make your way to the heavens, and only you can absolve yourself of guilt. And a kiss usually pertains to a blessing." Vatra then assured Zannah. "Life has been difficult for you. Yet, I assure you, it will get better. Will you take my word for it?"

“I suppose that’ll be a start.”

"You will live out the rest of your years with Annuciata and you will be blessed with grandchildren one day. Not all hope for the future is lost."

“We’ll just have to see, won’t we?” Zannah stood up, granting the goddess a respectful bow.

"Until next time, Zannah." With that, Vatra vanished.

Zannah sat back into her chair, unsure on how to continue with the future. Long term at least. When the other women entered, she took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “Zizi. Rinku. Leere. I think it’s time I have one last formal meeting with your sister, Earth Sage.”

"...?" Zizi looked a little puzzled. Why would Zannah want another meeting with her? Yet, she expressed no objection. So, she took a seat next to the woman.

“I think it’s only fair I transition my power to Athena officially in front of Zarazu and Annuciata. The other countries can get mail if they are foolish enough to decline an invitation.”

"...? I'm surprised that you want to do that." Zizi held up a single hand. "No offense, but... you just lost Exodrum."

“No. I just killed my brother.” Zannah stood up, overlooking the balcony. “Thinks it’s time to reassure the others a more civilized ruler will be taking over.”

She looked hollowly down at the corpse of her brother.

"... you did what you had to do, Zannah. It was him or your people. Your family." Zizi reminded her gently. "Sometimes... family can be the ones who hurt us the most."

“Funny that. I was doing the hurting...”

________________________________________________________________

Previous Ch.https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/621742371644850176/fall-of-a-dynasty-ch-7-first-steps

Final Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/621742911768477696/fall-of-a-dynasty-ch-9-new-lineage

Crossover with @ridersoftheapocalypse

[true-blue-sonic]

How would you describe Silver's personality now?

I think the biggest change I've been going through over the past year or so is that I've begun seeing Silver as a much more self-reliant and serious character. When I look at my fic New Beginnings, for example, Silver is heavily dependent on Espio and acts quite childish and insecure. And that's an insecurity the games handle much more nuanced than what I wrote, in my opinion. Like, in Japanese in '06 Blaze doesn't call Silver insecure when he's alone; instead she uses a term that describes someone running wild without thinking the consequences through, iirc. To me, that shows Silver as someone perfectly capable of taking initiative and knowing what he wants, as opposed to doubting himself constantly and not knowing that, so to say. And in Belong, my very first fic, he's also quite down and pessimistic about the future being in ruins. Considering the fact Silver's reaction to Blaze sacrificing herself in his place was wiping at his eyes a bit, I think he'd react with much more desire to make things right rather than be upset about things being wrong.

With that changed perspective in mind, I'd say that the main cornerstones of Silver's personality are:

His strong sense of justice (he will move heaven and earth to make a wrong situation right);

Bravery and never giving up even in the most dire of circumstances, endless determination for tasks both small and big. Not immune to moments of self-doubt when the circumstances have become truly dire or his worldview has been shaken entirely, but he easily finds his determination again and keeps going until the bitter end without ever giving up;

A sense of optimism and faith in himself that he can turn even the most impossible situation around;

Perceptive and good at combining little details and things that don't exactly add up to find the truth (most notably in the Rivals games, also a bit in TSR). Doesn't fall for the same trick twice (Eggman Nega in Rivals 2).

Bluntness and rudeness (especially to those he deems against him, but also friends on occasion). Will be short with and rude to people, mock them, disregard them, and shoot down their statements without listening if he thinks they're in his way. Not afraid of telling people to shut up (Rivals 2). Notably, even Sonic noted Silver got on his nerves once and Knuckles explicitly calls Silver rude (Rivals 1).

In a similar vein, haughty about his abilities and strength. Not above trash-talking and sneering at people he deems below him, and one-upping others. It helps that his PK is a terrifying force to be reckoned with (e.g. Meteor Smash in Generations or him stopping a beam from the Eclipse Cannon with his Shield of Light in a Sonic Channel Story, or lifting up tons of weight from a broken stone bridge with his PK for some time in another).

A rather black-and-white worldview which makes him overly honest, because what he's saying is the truth. However, The TruthTM tends to be quite outrageous with him involved, so people don't always believe him. Cue bluntness and rudeness, haha.

And kind! Silver's got a heart of gold underneath his ruder traits. He'll never let anyone suffer if he can help it. He wants to protect the smiles of the people in the future above all and is helpful and sweet towards his friends.

I'd say those are the main ones!