Chapter 3: Marle
"Morning mom," greeted Nova in a sarcastic tone while rubbing his neck. "Thanks again for letting me sleep on the floor and giving me a neck ache."
"I've made waffles," she told him.
"All is forgiven!" he drooled as he rushed into the kitchen and started loading up a plate and coating them in syrup. "Better tell Tails to get up before I eat them all."
"Tails got up a couple of hours ago and already ate," she told him.
"Already?" he asked surprised. "But I wanted to have another match with him."
"You know how I feel about fighting," she told him.
"I know, I know," he sighed stuffing a chunk of waffle into his maw. "Where is he anyway?"
"He went out of look for parts to fix his plane," she explained. "I asked if he wanted to wait for you to wake up to give you a hand, but he said he didn't want to wake you."
"Well, I'm awake now," Nova said. "I'll go give him a hand." Getting up he hurried out the door. A minute later he rushed back and sat back down. "Uh, after breakfast, of course." He resumed eating.
"There sure are quite a few crashed planes around," said Tails as he carried a bunch of salvaged parts in his arms. "I can see why the legend of the Mobian Circle started, but I wonder why nobody ever returned after crashing here. Guess if they couldn't fix their planes they had no way to get home. And looking around, this place is very nice. I would be tempted to stay here myself." He chuckled a bit, but was quickly silenced when he heard a monstrous roar. He dropped all the parts he found and fearfully rushed towards the source of the sound. "Then again, maybe they were eating by a monster!"
Tails kept running till he reached a cliff and spotted a large golem made of jagged gray stone. As it roared, it made the same sounds as before. It stomped forward and swung its arms at a black furred kitsune that was facing off against it. Her hair was braided and she was wearing khaki clothes. He also saw that she had four tails. One was black like the rest of her fur, but the others were green, blue, and yellow respectively.
"That's it big guy," she taunted the creature. "Stay right there. I need to give this new Kitsune Art of mine a try." Her yellow tail began to glow as she began to use her magic. Holding one arm out pointed at the stone creature, she braced it with the other as power filled her palm. As the power reached maximum, her entire hand glowed yellow. As she was about to unleash it at the golem, she noticed Tails behind it. "Someone showed up now of all times?!?" Raising her arm up toward the sky, she unleashed the powerful blast into the sky overhead.
"Wow! Incredible!" exclaimed Tails shielding his eyes from the intensity of the attack.
As the last of the energy left her palm, the girl kitsune panted and turned to Tails. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, she collapsed and fainted, her yellow tail's glow fading. The golem approached her unconscious body and growled some before lifting its arm to smash her. A strong blast of air hit it in the back of the head and caught his attention. Turning around, it got hit by another blast.
"Hey you!" shouted Tails. "Hard to not call you dense when you've got a rock for a head!" The golem scratched his head in confusion. "I'm still a long way from being able to trash talk like Sonic. Well, how about this!" Sticking his tongue out and sticking his thumbs in his ears he attempted to taunt the golem. This seemed to work as the golem roared at Tails and stomped his way towards him. Tails continued to taunt the beast and prompted it to attack. Slamming its hand down like it was attempting to swat a fly, the golem attacked Tails. Quick to dodge, Tails moved away before he was crushed and flew as quickly as he could towards the girl kitsune. Turning around to pursue Tails, the golem moved after him. Descending to the girl, Tails picked her up and hastily spun his tails to lift off once more. The golem attempted to snatch them up while they were still in range, but he missed and tumbled to the ground. He roared angrily as the two kitsune escaped.
"Oh, you're awake," said Tails as the female kitsune opened her eyes and started to sit up. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm- I'm fine," she answered. "Where are we?"
"Somewhere in the forest," explained Tails. "We should be safe from that golem creature."
"So, you were the one who saved me from it?" she assumed. "You have my thanks." She then whacked him upside the head.
"Ow!" groaned Tails rubbing his head. "Why did you do that for?"
"Because if it wasn't for you I would have just blasted that golem to pieces. You should be grateful I didn't just go through with it. And now I have to go and find that golem all over again."
"Wait, so you provoked that thing to attack you?" cried Tails. "Why would you want to do that?"
"To try out my new Kitsune Art," she explained. "I was trying to see how strong it was by using it on a strong opponent. At least I know I need to hold back a bit or I'll pass out after one use. Now, if you'll excuse me I am going to give it another try."
"But you should rest a bit longer," encouraged Tails. "How about something to eat?"
"Thanks, but I am fine," she replied adamantly. Her stomach then started to rumble, contradicting her words. "Well, maybe a little food would help."
"Ms. Lilly made me some cookies for a snack," said Tails taking a paper bag out. Taking out the cookies, he handed one to the girl and started eating one himself. "Mmm... she's really good a baking."
"They are good," she agreed as she ate hers. "Thanks, uh..."
"Tails," he told her. "My name is Miles 'Tails' Prower. And what's your name?"
"It's Marle," she answered. "So, do you live around here?"
"I'm not from around here, actually," said Tails. "I was investigating the Mobius Circle and ended up crashing here."
"Wow, small world," Marle commented. "That's what led me here as well. I'm an archeologist and I came to investigate the Mobius Circle and got stranded here a few months ago. During my stay, I've been doing a lot of research, but I still don't have any way to leave and report my findings."
"I can help you with that," said Tails. "My plane is in no shape to fly, but I'm working to repair it. When I do, I can fly you back with me."
"That would be great," she said. "But you better not take off and forget to take me."
"Don't worry, I promise," assured Tails. "Pinkie swear?"
Giggling a little, she nodded. "Ok, pinkie swear." Linking pinkies, the promise was made. As they did this, some trees were pulled out by the roots by the stone golem still very angry at them. "I thought you said we were safe here?"
"I did think he'd be smart enough to find us," cried Tails.
"Well, this works out for me," Marle said with a grin. "I can try my Kitsune Art on him this time."
"But have you recovered enough to use it now?" asked Tails.
"Yes, but I could use a distraction," Marle told Tails. "Keep him busy while I'm getting ready."
"Alright!" replied Tails determined. "I'll do it!" Swinging his tails, he attacked once again with a blast of wind. It turned its attention towards Tails as Marle began to ready her attack. Her yellow tail glowed as she built up the power. Running beneath its feet, Tails then took to the air. The golem turned trying to grab him, but he hastily dodged out of the way. "Almost ready?"
"I am!" she called out to him. "Better fly away!"
Heeding her warning, Tails spun his tails with all his might and zoomed away as Marle unleashed the attack, this time at her intended target. The energy of the attack, collided with the golem and shattered it to pieces. The attack continued, breaking down the rock chunks smaller and smaller reducing the smaller pieces to dust. As the attack finally let up, the only a few pebbles fell to the ground, the only remnants of the giant creature.
"You did it!" cheered Tails flying down to Marle.
"Yeah," she panted as her body went limp. Tails quickly caught her to keep her on her feet. "But it still took a lot of stamina to use."
"Just take it easy and rest," Tails told her. "You took care of the golem and that is what you wanted to do after all."
"Yeah," she nodded. "But I shouldn't be wasting time sitting around here. I'm sure my friends are getting worried about me."
"That attack came from over here," someone shouted from not too far away. "That must have been Marle."
"Marle! Are you there?" called another voice. "Achoo! Please answer! All this pollen is going to be the death of me!"
"Careful," the other guy warned. "You're spilling your water."
"Sounds like your friends have found us," said Tails. "Over here!"
"You probably should go," suggested Marle. "They are rather protective of me and might get the wrong idea if they see you with me."
"How protective could they be?" asked Tails.
"Hey!" growled a tanuki as he and a kappa spotted Tails and Marle. "Get away from our Marle!"
"Hey! Relax!" Tails tried to tell them, but they didn't listen.
"I'll cut you in half with my katana!" cried the tanuki pulling one of the leaves off his shirt. As he did it poofed in a cloud of smoke. Immediately, he leapt up and cleaved it down on Tails's head, but it wasn't a katana he hit Tails with, but a paper fan.
"Uh," replied Tails feeling awkward. "That didn't hurt."
"I knew I should have numbered these," grumbled the Tanuki.
"Don't worry, Oak," stated the kappa. "I'll take care of him." Running at Tails, the turtle-like creature swung its arms at him speedier than expected, but Tails was quick to back step each of his attacks. Dodging again, the kappa struck a tree with it's fist and splintered the wood timbering the tree.
"He's a lot stronger than he looks," thought Tails staring at the fallen tree. "Good thing he didn't hit me."
"Got you!" cried the kappa grabbing Tails by his tails while he was distracted. "You can't get away now."
"Good job, Squall!" said Oak as held his katana. Around his feet was a bunch of random stuff he had poofed up from the leaves on his shirt. His shirt was had a lot of bare spots in it now. "Keep him still and I'll take care of him!"
"Apparently they are that protective," cried Tails tugging at his tails, but he couldn't break Squall's grip on him and Oak was leaping up once again to attack Tails.
"Squall," said Marle. "Your shoelaces are untied."
"They are?" he replied bending over to look. "Wait, I wear sandals." Bending over, the water on his head spilled out and he couldn't move. Tails was able to pull his tails free just in time as Oak tried to attack him. He missed and the immobile Squall fell forward on top of him.
"Hey, Marle!" cried Oak. "Why did you do that? We were trying to protect you."
"I wasn't in danger," she told them. "Tails here was helping me out."
"So then you weren't after Marle?" asked Oak.
"Why would I?" asked Tails scratching his head.
"Tails, you'll have to excuse them," Marle explained. "They act like everyone is out to get me. It's nothing personal."
"Well, it's great that you have friends that care about you so much," he said. "Let me give you guys a hand." Tails attempted to help Squall off of Oak, but found him heavier than he looked.
"Let me give you a hand," Marle replied and together they managed to roll Squall onto his back.
"Thanks," groaned Oak. "It seems that every time this big lug spills his water I end up underneath him."
"I don't do it on purpose," he replied. "Now, could you get me some water for my head?"
"There's a lake not too far from here," commented Marle. "Uh, Tails, do you think you could go bring us a cup of it?"
"Sure," he said. "I'll be back right away." Running off, his spun his Tails and took to the air.
"Why'd you send him off?" asked Oak taking one of his leaves off and it poofed into a bottle of water. "You know I always keep extra water for Squall."
"So we could sneak away from Tails," she explained.
"But it doesn't look like he knew anything about us," said Oak.
"Lucky he didn't," she explained. "I didn't want to have to hurt him."
"You don't have a crush on him, do you?" accused Squall.
"Wh-what?" Marle cried blushing. "Of course not! He's just a nice, innocent kid. I just don't want to feel guilty about it. Now help Squall up. I did what I came here to do. Now let's head back to the hideout to rest and prepare for the next temple."
"We've got the data for the Purple Temple," explained Squall as Oak returned his mobility.
"Then the Purple Temple it is," she said. "Let's get going."
"My, you were out late today," Lily said as Tails walked through the front door. "Nova looked all over for you, but couldn't find you anywhere."
"Sorry," Tails apologized. "I made some friends, but when I went to get them some water I got lost. The lake turned out to be a lot farther away than I thought and when I finally did get back they were gone. Then I got lost again trying to get back here."
"Well, I'm just glad you're alright," she said. "Unfortunately, Nova didn't want to wait for you eat dinner."
"Hi Tails," belched Nova, rubbing his swollen gut. "I hope you stay with us for a long time. Mom cooks extra when we have guests."
"Don't worry," she told Tails. "I saved you some."
After eating, dinner, Tails and Nova turned in for bed. Once again, Tails was tucked into bed while Nova slept on the floor. With his stomach full, Nova was fast asleep before Lily came in to read them a bedtime story.
"I hope you had another wonderful day," Lily said to Tails rubbing his head.
"It was," yawned Tails. "A lot happened and I made a lot more friends. I know I've only been here a short time, but I've already seen a lot and I can't wait to see more of Sekai."
"Well, tomorrow Nova is going to take you into city and bring you to the Kitsune Academy. You'll be able to make a lot more friends there and learn a lot about Kitsune Arts too."
"I didn't think you liked Kitsune Arts," commented Tails.
"I dislike fighting and I don't like to see Nova getting hurt," she explained. "But Kitsune Arts can be used for much more than fighting. Here, let me read you another entry in Great Kitsune's Journal."
Life has been great for me and my wife Garnett. We have only been married a week, but we have been completely inseparable. Still, despite how much she had done to heal my battle weary heart, it still aches. Seeing so many familiar places where I have fought, the damage caused by my allies, my enemies, and myself, I can still recall every attack as they happened. The more I attempt to forget, the more I think about it. One night, I tossed and turned in bed unable to calm my mind. I was only calmed while Garnette embraced me. For the first time, she saw me cry.
The next day, I was feeling better, but I knew it was only temporary. Garnett knew this too and had an idea to help me. "Let us leave," she told me. "Go somewhere far, far away. To a place that a place where you can find your peace of mind. Better yet, make such a place."
Finding new hope in her words, we set out to do just that. Together we took a boat and sailed for three days on the ocean. No matter where we looked there was no sign of land. Then, using my Kitsune Art, Terra Eruption I raised land from beneath the waters and formed a small island. Once the land settled we walked upon the island that was our new home and it was there that we built our home, a quaint cottage. Living here, the memories of battle no longer haunted me and I found my peace.
Time passed and then others sailed to the island, many were other kitsunes, but there were tons of other species too. They had all lost nearly everything from the war and were in search of a new home. Word had reached them about the island I had created this island and they wanted to live here too. Once again, I used the power of Terra Eruption and expanded the land so that all of them could live here too. They built their own homes and in a few days a small community was created, but as we looked over the horizon there was a multitude of ships sailing towards us. It was clear that our small island was going to be getting much bigger.
