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"Love That Gives True Peace"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Chapter 6: “The Brokenstar Twins”

   When morning came, the fox children and their three heroes said their final, tearful goodbyes.  It was especially hard on Hidama, for the fox children were often his only source of joy and encouragement in his captivity, becoming much like younger siblings to him.  In the same way, it was hard on the fox children, as in their time of need Hidama had always been a soul source of comfort, and older brother, a guiding light, and it was going to be hard to go on without him.

   Yet the echidna didn’t leave without promising someday he’d return, and Jacob in return promised him that by that the time, the Northern Kingdom would be as glorious as it was in its golden years, and he’d also be a much better king.

   However, at long last, after tears shed, laughs laughed, promises made, and tight hugs exchanged, Shadow, Rouge and Hidama had no time left to tarry.  So at long last, after breakfast, the three took off on the trek south, the last league of the journey.

   With the fox children gone, Shadow moved at an even quicker pace than he did before.  Rouge took to flying just to keep up with him, which was easier for her as she was much faster flying.  Hidama had a bit of trouble at times; he’d run out of breath a lot, but so would Rouge, and Shadow would not protest a stop, but only after hours of hard running at an unarguably arduous pace.

   About midday, Shadow stopped to rest once more…rather, he stopped to allow Hidama and Rouge to catch their breath.  Rouge landed gracefully, and after panting a few moments, made her way over to Shadow, and asked, “For-forgive me Shadow, but why are you in such a hurry?  I know a run like this is nothing for you, but gosh, is there really such a need for this kind of pace?”

   Shadow glanced at her, his eyes shining, and he gave her a look of concern.  Half smiling, he shook his head and said, “Hidama’s enemies are far from few…we only took out half of the problem when Feldmort was destroyed.  Much as the echidnas of old were split in the ways of battle, some opting for magic and powers of the mind, and others, namely Hidama’s ancestors, chose physical combat, these mutant creatures were divided and yet united.  Feldmort was one of two brothers; he commanded the army that practiced magic and sorcery, so obviously there’s much left to deal with.”

   He paused; he and Rouge looked to see Hidama, his arm pressed against his waist, as he ran to a large boulder, bent over the side, and began to throw up.  Rouge clasped her hands to her mouth, and said, “Oh my…the poor thing.”

   Shadow hung his head and sighed; he looked up and said, “If left up to me, we’d go at a much easier pace, but this is all out of my hands.  Hidama’s been “alive” in the minds of the mutants for all these years, and yet they’ve just now caught wind of a second survivor, Knuckles.  I fear that Olermere is now only too happy to extinguish both of them, especially since they killed his brother, and I cannot risk them tracking us to find Angel Island, especially with Amy’s child coming and all.  Even at this rate it’ll be born just as we’re arriving there, so I cannot have a battle following us.”

   Rouge looked at Hidama sadly as he finished regurgitating and remained hung over on the rock breathing heavily and crying.  Yet once Shadow finished speaking, she looked to him and said, “Olermere?  Who the heck is he?  Is he that brother Feldmort has?”

   “Yes, Lord Olermere, Feldmort’s older brother.  While not as intelligent or sinister, he is still evil, with the same wicked and nasty intentions as his brother.  Infact, it was Feldmort’s army that destroyed the Angel Island echidnas, while simultaneously Olermere’s army attacked the Northern Kingdom echidnas, killing them all, and many foxes as well,” Shadow started.  Looking at Hidama, he continued, in a softer voice, “His army is powerful, but nothing Hidama and Knuckles can’t handle…it’s Olermere himself I fear.  Before he was mutated, he was a close friend of one of the Guardians of old, a direct ancestor of Knuckles and Hidama, and thus he had a great love for the Master Emerald, great knowledge of its unworldly power.  He was also the strongest warrior in the village besides the Guardian himself…yet his crimes corrupted him, his brother, and his followers.”

   Rouge, now intrigued in the story, sat down on a smooth boulder and said, “What happened Shadow?  It’s tragic to think anyone could be corrupted so badly that they became one of those horrible creatures, let alone the echidnas.”

   Shadow shook his head, smiling at her and leaning against the sheer rock wall behind him.  He crossed his arms and said, “Well, so greatly did he begin to lust for the Master Emerald, that one night, he threatened to kill his once dearest friend, the Guardian, for control of it.  He abruptly failed, even with his brother Feldmort trying to help him, and thus the two were exiled for their crimes.  However, before they could be exiled, the two tried one last, desperate time to capture the Master Emerald, or even destroy it, anything to keep the other echidnas from having it.  So the night before their exile, as it was taking awhile to move Angel Island to where they’d be dumped, they escaped, and tried to combine their powers, Olermere’s awesome strength and Feldmort’s sorcery, to destroy the gem.  Yet the Master Emerald saved itself, and in the wave of energy it expelled in trying to protect itself, the exposure mutated the two brothers into those loathsome forms you see them in today.  Even when Feldmort and his followers change shape, they always appear frightful, ugly, and mutant-like.  This only put more anger into their hearts, and they vowed not only to take back what was theirs, the Master Emerald, even though it wasn’t theirs at all, and to kill the echidnas for what they had done to them, cursing them to utter damnation as frightful mutants and pitiful creatures, plagued with emptiness and despair.”

   Rouge had her head in her hands as she listened, and said, “Gee whiz, how awful a fuss to make over the Master Emerald, murder, hatred, despair…it’s just terrible.  So now Olermere won’t rest until his revenge is complete…which is why it’s so important that we get Hidama home safely.”  She paused, and asked, “Speaking of which, how did they get their armies anyway?”

   “Mmm, it’s really very simple Rouge.  Any enemy of the echidnas or Master Emerald, doesn’t matter which, welcomed Olermere and Feldmort with open arms.  I’m not sure exactly what all these soldiers were before they were mutated, but they pitied the brothers, calling them martyrs, seeing the brutal treatment the echidnas gave them as the final insult.  Obviously after enough time had passed and the brothers had gained enough support and allies, they all took on the shape of their leaders, choosing the appearance of dark mutants, rather than healing the brothers, as another testament to the cruelty the echidnas and the Master Emerald had unleashed on them.  They’d much rather bear these hideous forms to put shame and ugliness on the once beautiful echidna race as part of their hatred of them.  Obviously you know what happened next; Feldmort’s army attacked Angel Island, kidnapped Hidama, and left everyone else dead, or so they thought.  They could not break the ancient security system at the time, but of course would return for it later…but yes, you know this part.  Olermere attacked the Northern Strain…and here we are.  Olermere will not rest until Hidama and Knuckles are killed, not until he can taste their blood and break their bodies, for all they are, are the descendents of the same fiend who cursed and abandoned him,” Shadow explained.

   Shaking her head in amazement, Rouge replied, “That’s just terrible…that they have so much anger in their hearts to hurt all these innocent souls, and hunt Hidama and Knuckles down to the death, just out of vengeance and hate.  They deserved what they got anyway, the horrible things.”

   The two fell silent as they watched Hidama struggle to his feet.  He straightened out his fur, shook his head a few times to let his hair blow, and readjusted his boots so they fit better.  At last he stood up, straightening his mitts so his knuckle-claws wouldn’t put holes him them, and at last fixing his cape so it would remain free of wrinkles, as it was already weatherworn enough.  Despite the fact that he had just thrown up, and openly wept out of exhaustion, he smiled, his eyes shining, ready to take on the road once more.

   Shadow smiled sadly, and shook his head.  “You’re damn straight it’s awful; it hurts me so to think how hard this is on him, and yet he’s able to keep a smile and hope burning in his heart.  I only hope he can see things through to the end, then perhaps he and Knuckles will finally be free from all this torment and woe they’ve had to suffer all these years.  They had everything ripped away from them…only innocent children, thrust out into the dangers and miseries of the world alone, with only the miracle of their friends and the inner strength within them keeping them from dying a long time ago.  I only hope things will be over for them soon; that they may final get that peace they deserve, more than anyone else in the world.”

   To that, Rouge could only reply with a nod.  Shadow smiled once more, and extended his hand to her, which she took, and he helped her to her feet.  They had all had a nice break while Shadow told his story; Through his explanation, a lot more about the history of these evil creatures was revealed, and while Rouge and Shadow didn’t know it, Hidama had heard much of what was said, and knowing half of it from stories he was told as a child, the fire of determination in his heart to defeat these mutant creatures burned ever stronger, unrelenting even in the face of adversity.

   So the three went back to their hurried pace, and over the next couple of weeks, they raced out of the jagged mountain passes and out on to open country, nothing but rolling hills covered in grass and flowers, with blue sky up above.  Shadow eyes remained fixed on the southern horizon, which as the hours passed became lined with trees.  With the birth of Amy’s baby only days away, the group of three were within this amount of time away from Angel Island.  With four days left, only a long stretch of plains and a forest stood between them and their goal.  On that afternoon, Hidama ran beside Shadow, and asked, “Are we aiming for that forest in the distance Shadow?  It’s unfamiliar to me.”

   Shadow kept up his lightning-fast run, and replied, “Of course…it marks the near end of our journey.  Come tomorrow evening, Angel Island shall only be three days away.  It’s not much further Hidama, of that you can be sure.  As for this forest, it is inhabited by a hedgehog colony…they were close friends of your tribe for many centuries, before the collapse of their alliance turned these hedgehogs against the echidnas.  Yet, I think you had friends among them if I remember correctly.  It is Valordian Forest.”

   Hidama slowed his steps just a bit, and as Shadow ran ahead and Rouge passed him, the echidna closed his eyes as he ran, and smiled, whispering, “Yeah…the Brokenstar Twins…I wonder whatever happened to them…after the massacre I never saw them again, but I know it must have been hard on them when they found out their father was killed in the attack.  I miss them so.”

   Now, the Brokenstar Twins that Hidama remembered fondly were his best friends from his youth.  Their father was one of the Captains of the Guardian, and thus a close friend of Hidama’s father.  Their mother, however, was not a member of their tribe; infact, she wasn’t even an echidna.  She was a hedgehog, and a member of the hedgehog colony that Shadow had mentioned.  Thus the twins were hybrids, inheriting their mother’s ears and eye color.  Everything else about them was purely echidna; they had the same body build and structure as their father, as well as hair style, eye shape, facial structure, and tail type.  They also inherited the bright yellow fur of their mother’s kin; they had unique markings as the result of this mix.  They had an orange stripe, similar to Shadow's on their heads, their ears were tipped in orange fur, as well as their dread-locked hair.  The tips on their hair were crowned by bands of red fur, while their tails were tipped in orange as well.  They had tufts of orange fur on their chests, and two more triangle shaped marks at their brows.

   Their uniqueness, however, set them apart in a negative way however.  The hedgehogs often threatened them with death, and thus spent most of their time on Angel Island, growing up there after their parents were wed.  They found acceptance from the echidnas, and were loved and treated like all of the echidna children.  They were best friends with Hidama, and found most of their happiness with their father’s kindred.  However, they still returned with their mother to her home for the fall harvest and planting in the spring to tend her gardens, and were fortunate enough to be with their mother the night their father and the echidnas were killed.

   They were the same age as Hidama, who was their best friend, not just on Angel Island, but anywhere.  It was he who gave the brothers the nickname, Brokenstar, due to the unique birthmarks on their hands.  Aranelion, the eldest of the two, had a mark on the back of his left hand in the shape of half of a five pointed star.  His brother Elianaron, the younger of the two, had the same shape on the back of his right hand, except it was the matching half to Aranelion’s half; when held together their marks formed the whole star, and one day, a young Hidama laughed and called them, The Brokenstar Twins, and that was how they were known ever after.

   Unknown to Hidama, was what happened to the boys after the attack.  Shadow had some idea, and when he was again questioned by Hidama only a few minutes later, he sighed, shaking his head and relented, telling Hidama what little he knew.

   Apparently, Knuckles remained undiscovered, as did the Master Emerald, for the security system kept the entire echidna village hidden from intruders; however, the twins had enough echidna blood in their veins to find their way through, past the bewildering effects of the ancient security system.  They could not find Knuckles, who was still hiding in the bush Hidama left him in, clutching his brother’s cape and weeping after what had happened.  The brothers immediately ran to find their father, but broke into tears when they found his bloodied body close to the body of Knuckles and Hidama’s father.

   Their father, named Armundae, loving Hidama’s father as a brother, and fulfilling his duty as the Captain of the Guardian, had died trying to defend him; yet before he passed away, he scrawled out three letters, one for Aranelion, another for Elianaron, and a final one for his beloved, the twins’ mother, Aerealei.  In the notes, he bequeathed his mighty sword, The Akrenar, to Aranelion, the same sword he had used in those last, desperate minutes of his life.  He left his two daggers, Tempest and Twilight, to Elianaron, so that they could use them to protect those that they loved, as well as themselves and each other.  The boys were only eight at the time, but tearfully took their father’s weapons, as well as his body, back to the home of their mother’s kind.

   They buried their father in a small garden outside of their home in the forest village and tried to move on, learning the ways of their mother’s people.  However, they began to thirst for revenge against the death of their father, their best friend, and the echidnas in general, who were half of who they were.  When they turned ten, they began to train with their father’s weapons, and yet, their mother’s kin were a quiet people, and shunned all forms of fighting in general, whether for sport or war, and obviously hated the twins enough already, still threatening to kill them the first chance they got. The two boys slowly alienated themselves from the rest of the village.  Feeling more alone than they ever had, and after they were brutally attacked and nearly murdered, they finally decided they were leaving for good, ready to face the world alone than stay one more day in a place where they were only tolerated to keep peace.

   One night shortly after their twelfth birthday, they took their father’s cloak, which they had kept after his death, and ripped off the sleeves, tying them into headbands, Aranelion tying his under his left ear and Elianaron tying his under his right ear.  Another thing they did was to tie bandages on their tails, not to show injury or heal it; rather, they promised to wear them in memory of their father, their best friend, and all the echidnas, and would never remove them, not until full revenge against these evil creatures was attained, and even so, they would always wear them simply in remembrance of their father.

   So before the following dawn, they kissed their mother goodbye, telling her this was simply something they had to do, and not to worry, for they would always love her, and come back to check on her often, which they still did to this day.  She assured them she too would always love her sons, and would always be there to support them; she admired their strength, the same strength of their father, and knew everything would be alright.

   And so the years passed, and the twins became recognizable by their unique appearance, wearing blue headbands, black pants with red belts, and teal shoes with light green stripes down the middle, with a sharp blade on the back of each boot.  They became drifters, and as time passed became strong and frightful opponents of evil; they’d fight off any enemies they came across, defending the innocent people of the world, getting by however they could.  They found kindness and acceptance from many strangers, but no matter what, their intentions were still clear: They would avenge their father and his kin, even if it meant death.

   That was where Shadow stopped his explanation, for by the time they reached the forest, he said, “And that’s all I know of them sadly.  They can be anywhere at anytime, and you’d be lucky to run into them without getting hurt…they’re fiercesome fighters, and will strike first and ask questions later.”

   The sun had almost set as they settled in a grove of trees near the edge of the woods.  They got a fire started and tried their best to make themselves comfortable.  The temperatures were warm and the air was dry; it was much more comfortable than the nights they spent in the mountains, and that they were glad to have returned to several days before.

   Long after Rouge, and even Shadow drifted off to sleep, Hidama remained wide awake.  He slowly rose to his feet, and wandered into the woods just beyond their camp, unaware of what awaited him in the dark.  He came to a clearing in the woods and stopped to gaze at the stars above; yet, before he could begin to rest and let his mind wander, he heard sounds coming from the thicket of trees behind him.  He turned around, ready to fight, but as his “attackers” came into the moonlight, he froze, in awe of who he saw before him.

   They were two yellow echidnas, at least they looked enough like echidnas; they had hedgehog ears, bright yellow fur…blue headbands and bandages on their tails.  Could it be that…these were his old friends, the Brokenstar Twins?  “Aranelion?  Elianaron?  Is that you…after all these long years?  Show me that it is really you and not some evil illusion clouding my sight,” Hidama cried.

   The two figures fell equally silent with shock.  They lowered their weapons, a sword and pair of daggers, with the swordsman stepping closer and saying, “Yes…we are the Brokenstar Twins but…please…Hidama, if it is really you…oh glorious wonder that you are still alive, breathing so that I may see you with my own eyes once more outside of dream and wish.  Oh Hinsei Hidama…is it really you?”

   At this point, Elianaron stepped next to his brother, and the three exchanged looks, before jumping into a tight group hug, tears being shed by them all.  Amidst the tears there were many words spoken; the three were in complete shock and awe that they were together again after all these years.  The twins showed Hidama their birthmarks, and Hidama, with his knowledge of the past enough to convince the twins he was indeed the eldest son of the guardian.

   After an hour or so of walking and talking, Hidama finally finished his part of the tale.  “And so I am freed, and one of my enemies destroyed, with one that remains.  I’m heading home now…but am sure that Olermere will strike soon, and thus battle is inevitable.”

   “Hidama…Shadow has briefed you on our doings since that day…we thought you had all been slain, and saw no sight of your brother Knuckles, so we’ve lived with that grief on our hearts all these years…with the burning desire to seek revenge, not just for you and father, but for all the echidnas.  And even now, we still intend to keep that promise,” Aranelion started.

   Hidama froze, and turned to look at his friends.  Elianaron smiled, stepped forward and said, “Though Olermere’s army is not the one that devastated Angel Island, he is still part of that vicious group, and we still intend to keep fighting until they’re all destroyed…so I’m sure you know what we’re going to do.”

   Aranelion walked up to Hidama, placed his hand on Hidama’s shoulder, and said, “We want to fight with you…fight alongside you when these mutants come to call.  We want to capture the revenge we have long sought for, and we’ll protect you until the bitter end.  Finally we shall fight side by side as we were destined to from birth.  I shall draw the mighty Akrenar against our foes and one by one they shall fall.”

   Hidama’s eyes filled with tears, yet before he could speak, Elianaron stepped next to his brother, and spoke, “Yes, and so shall Tempest and Twilight sing in battle.  We’ll destroy these mutants for good, not just for revenge, but so that our father and the other echidnas may rest in peace, and you and Knuckles be free from their torment once and for all.  What do you say Hidama?  For the echidnas…”

   Holding his clenched fist out towards Hidama, Elianaron looked to his brother for an answer.  Aranelion nodded and smiled, placing his fist next to his brother’s, upon which, they both looked to Hidama smiling confidently.  The echidna only allowed a few happy tears to fall from his eyes, before shaking his head, drying his tears, the strong smile returning to his face.  He replied, “Indeed, you are my best friends, and I am beyond shock and awe that you are alive and we are together again, and yet, there’s no time for joy.  Let’s stand together, and finish this nightmare for good.”

   He extended his clenched fist to meet the fists of his friends, and that night, a new bond was forged, rather it was one reforged and made stronger.  The circle of friends, finally reunited after being separated for twelve years, formed a team they called, The Guardian Souls, and while this was of little importance at this point, later The Guardian Souls would become some of the greatest heroes the world would ever know, and one of the few it would vividly remember.

   It was at this point that the first lights of dawn began to reach the sleepy sky, and now the three returned to where Shadow and Rouge were still sleeping.  It wasn’t long though, before Shadow, being the early riser that he was, awoke to the three telling stories of their youth by the fading fire.  After getting over his initial shock at seeing the Brokenstar twins, he was more than happy to have two more allies.  After Rouge awoke and the sun finally peeked over the horizon, the group of five took off south once more.

   Shadow was happy to see Hidama’s spirits lifted some more; he could tell that Hidama was only getting stronger, back to where he should be, and was pleased that the Brokenstar Twins would be along for the ride, for he knew full well the threat Olermere’s army presented, ten times greater than Feldmort’s legions, and as they pulled out of the forest, Shadow gave a worried and concerned eye to the jagged mountains they were leaving behind, knowing that in those crags and mountain passes, Olermere’s kingdom lay hidden, but was now bustling with activity, as the news that the last survivors of the echidna clan still lived, both of them the sons of the Guardian, reached Lord Olermere’s ears.  The mutant king was now hell bent on revenge, not just for his brother, but for the hurts the entire echidna race has exacted against them, and it was the beating hearts of Hidama and Knuckles that he was determined to crush and stop with his own bare hands, no matter what it took, or who he had to kill; he would taste their blood before all was said and done, and recapture the Master Emerald, the object that was the source of all this death and destruction, and held the fates of so many lives in its existence alone.

Description
"Love That Gives True Peace"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Chapter 6: “The Brokenstar Twins”

   When morning came, the fox children and their three heroes said their final, tearful goodbyes.  It was especially hard on Hidama, for the fox children were often his only source of joy and encouragement in his captivity, becoming much like younger siblings to him.  In the same way, it was hard on the fox children, as in their time of need Hidama had always been a soul source of comfort, and older brother, a guiding light, and it was going to be hard to go on without him.

   Yet the echidna didn’t leave without promising someday he’d return, and Jacob in return promised him that by that the time, the Northern Kingdom would be as glorious as it was in its golden years, and he’d also be a much better king.

   However, at long last, after tears shed, laughs laughed, promises made, and tight hugs exchanged, Shadow, Rouge and Hidama had no time left to tarry.  So at long last, after breakfast, the three took off on the trek south, the last league of the journey.

   With the fox children gone, Shadow moved at an even quicker pace than he did before.  Rouge took to flying just to keep up with him, which was easier for her as she was much faster flying.  Hidama had a bit of trouble at times; he’d run out of breath a lot, but so would Rouge, and Shadow would not protest a stop, but only after hours of hard running at an unarguably arduous pace.

   About midday, Shadow stopped to rest once more…rather, he stopped to allow Hidama and Rouge to catch their breath.  Rouge landed gracefully, and after panting a few moments, made her way over to Shadow, and asked, “For-forgive me Shadow, but why are you in such a hurry?  I know a run like this is nothing for you, but gosh, is there really such a need for this kind of pace?”

   Shadow glanced at her, his eyes shining, and he gave her a look of concern.  Half smiling, he shook his head and said, “Hidama’s enemies are far from few…we only took out half of the problem when Feldmort was destroyed.  Much as the echidnas of old were split in the ways of battle, some opting for magic and powers of the mind, and others, namely Hidama’s ancestors, chose physical combat, these mutant creatures were divided and yet united.  Feldmort was one of two brothers; he commanded the army that practiced magic and sorcery, so obviously there’s much left to deal with.”

   He paused; he and Rouge looked to see Hidama, his arm pressed against his waist, as he ran to a large boulder, bent over the side, and began to throw up.  Rouge clasped her hands to her mouth, and said, “Oh my…the poor thing.”

   Shadow hung his head and sighed; he looked up and said, “If left up to me, we’d go at a much easier pace, but this is all out of my hands.  Hidama’s been “alive” in the minds of the mutants for all these years, and yet they’ve just now caught wind of a second survivor, Knuckles.  I fear that Olermere is now only too happy to extinguish both of them, especially since they killed his brother, and I cannot risk them tracking us to find Angel Island, especially with Amy’s child coming and all.  Even at this rate it’ll be born just as we’re arriving there, so I cannot have a battle following us.”

   Rouge looked at Hidama sadly as he finished regurgitating and remained hung over on the rock breathing heavily and crying.  Yet once Shadow finished speaking, she looked to him and said, “Olermere?  Who the heck is he?  Is he that brother Feldmort has?”

   “Yes, Lord Olermere, Feldmort’s older brother.  While not as intelligent or sinister, he is still evil, with the same wicked and nasty intentions as his brother.  Infact, it was Feldmort’s army that destroyed the Angel Island echidnas, while simultaneously Olermere’s army attacked the Northern Kingdom echidnas, killing them all, and many foxes as well,” Shadow started.  Looking at Hidama, he continued, in a softer voice, “His army is powerful, but nothing Hidama and Knuckles can’t handle…it’s Olermere himself I fear.  Before he was mutated, he was a close friend of one of the Guardians of old, a direct ancestor of Knuckles and Hidama, and thus he had a great love for the Master Emerald, great knowledge of its unworldly power.  He was also the strongest warrior in the village besides the Guardian himself…yet his crimes corrupted him, his brother, and his followers.”

   Rouge, now intrigued in the story, sat down on a smooth boulder and said, “What happened Shadow?  It’s tragic to think anyone could be corrupted so badly that they became one of those horrible creatures, let alone the echidnas.”

   Shadow shook his head, smiling at her and leaning against the sheer rock wall behind him.  He crossed his arms and said, “Well, so greatly did he begin to lust for the Master Emerald, that one night, he threatened to kill his once dearest friend, the Guardian, for control of it.  He abruptly failed, even with his brother Feldmort trying to help him, and thus the two were exiled for their crimes.  However, before they could be exiled, the two tried one last, desperate time to capture the Master Emerald, or even destroy it, anything to keep the other echidnas from having it.  So the night before their exile, as it was taking awhile to move Angel Island to where they’d be dumped, they escaped, and tried to combine their powers, Olermere’s awesome strength and Feldmort’s sorcery, to destroy the gem.  Yet the Master Emerald saved itself, and in the wave of energy it expelled in trying to protect itself, the exposure mutated the two brothers into those loathsome forms you see them in today.  Even when Feldmort and his followers change shape, they always appear frightful, ugly, and mutant-like.  This only put more anger into their hearts, and they vowed not only to take back what was theirs, the Master Emerald, even though it wasn’t theirs at all, and to kill the echidnas for what they had done to them, cursing them to utter damnation as frightful mutants and pitiful creatures, plagued with emptiness and despair.”

   Rouge had her head in her hands as she listened, and said, “Gee whiz, how awful a fuss to make over the Master Emerald, murder, hatred, despair…it’s just terrible.  So now Olermere won’t rest until his revenge is complete…which is why it’s so important that we get Hidama home safely.”  She paused, and asked, “Speaking of which, how did they get their armies anyway?”

   “Mmm, it’s really very simple Rouge.  Any enemy of the echidnas or Master Emerald, doesn’t matter which, welcomed Olermere and Feldmort with open arms.  I’m not sure exactly what all these soldiers were before they were mutated, but they pitied the brothers, calling them martyrs, seeing the brutal treatment the echidnas gave them as the final insult.  Obviously after enough time had passed and the brothers had gained enough support and allies, they all took on the shape of their leaders, choosing the appearance of dark mutants, rather than healing the brothers, as another testament to the cruelty the echidnas and the Master Emerald had unleashed on them.  They’d much rather bear these hideous forms to put shame and ugliness on the once beautiful echidna race as part of their hatred of them.  Obviously you know what happened next; Feldmort’s army attacked Angel Island, kidnapped Hidama, and left everyone else dead, or so they thought.  They could not break the ancient security system at the time, but of course would return for it later…but yes, you know this part.  Olermere attacked the Northern Strain…and here we are.  Olermere will not rest until Hidama and Knuckles are killed, not until he can taste their blood and break their bodies, for all they are, are the descendents of the same fiend who cursed and abandoned him,” Shadow explained.

   Shaking her head in amazement, Rouge replied, “That’s just terrible…that they have so much anger in their hearts to hurt all these innocent souls, and hunt Hidama and Knuckles down to the death, just out of vengeance and hate.  They deserved what they got anyway, the horrible things.”

   The two fell silent as they watched Hidama struggle to his feet.  He straightened out his fur, shook his head a few times to let his hair blow, and readjusted his boots so they fit better.  At last he stood up, straightening his mitts so his knuckle-claws wouldn’t put holes him them, and at last fixing his cape so it would remain free of wrinkles, as it was already weatherworn enough.  Despite the fact that he had just thrown up, and openly wept out of exhaustion, he smiled, his eyes shining, ready to take on the road once more.

   Shadow smiled sadly, and shook his head.  “You’re damn straight it’s awful; it hurts me so to think how hard this is on him, and yet he’s able to keep a smile and hope burning in his heart.  I only hope he can see things through to the end, then perhaps he and Knuckles will finally be free from all this torment and woe they’ve had to suffer all these years.  They had everything ripped away from them…only innocent children, thrust out into the dangers and miseries of the world alone, with only the miracle of their friends and the inner strength within them keeping them from dying a long time ago.  I only hope things will be over for them soon; that they may final get that peace they deserve, more than anyone else in the world.”

   To that, Rouge could only reply with a nod.  Shadow smiled once more, and extended his hand to her, which she took, and he helped her to her feet.  They had all had a nice break while Shadow told his story; Through his explanation, a lot more about the history of these evil creatures was revealed, and while Rouge and Shadow didn’t know it, Hidama had heard much of what was said, and knowing half of it from stories he was told as a child, the fire of determination in his heart to defeat these mutant creatures burned ever stronger, unrelenting even in the face of adversity.

   So the three went back to their hurried pace, and over the next couple of weeks, they raced out of the jagged mountain passes and out on to open country, nothing but rolling hills covered in grass and flowers, with blue sky up above.  Shadow eyes remained fixed on the southern horizon, which as the hours passed became lined with trees.  With the birth of Amy’s baby only days away, the group of three were within this amount of time away from Angel Island.  With four days left, only a long stretch of plains and a forest stood between them and their goal.  On that afternoon, Hidama ran beside Shadow, and asked, “Are we aiming for that forest in the distance Shadow?  It’s unfamiliar to me.”

   Shadow kept up his lightning-fast run, and replied, “Of course…it marks the near end of our journey.  Come tomorrow evening, Angel Island shall only be three days away.  It’s not much further Hidama, of that you can be sure.  As for this forest, it is inhabited by a hedgehog colony…they were close friends of your tribe for many centuries, before the collapse of their alliance turned these hedgehogs against the echidnas.  Yet, I think you had friends among them if I remember correctly.  It is Valordian Forest.”

   Hidama slowed his steps just a bit, and as Shadow ran ahead and Rouge passed him, the echidna closed his eyes as he ran, and smiled, whispering, “Yeah…the Brokenstar Twins…I wonder whatever happened to them…after the massacre I never saw them again, but I know it must have been hard on them when they found out their father was killed in the attack.  I miss them so.”

   Now, the Brokenstar Twins that Hidama remembered fondly were his best friends from his youth.  Their father was one of the Captains of the Guardian, and thus a close friend of Hidama’s father.  Their mother, however, was not a member of their tribe; infact, she wasn’t even an echidna.  She was a hedgehog, and a member of the hedgehog colony that Shadow had mentioned.  Thus the twins were hybrids, inheriting their mother’s ears and eye color.  Everything else about them was purely echidna; they had the same body build and structure as their father, as well as hair style, eye shape, facial structure, and tail type.  They also inherited the bright yellow fur of their mother’s kin; they had unique markings as the result of this mix.  They had an orange stripe, similar to Shadow's on their heads, their ears were tipped in orange fur, as well as their dread-locked hair.  The tips on their hair were crowned by bands of red fur, while their tails were tipped in orange as well.  They had tufts of orange fur on their chests, and two more triangle shaped marks at their brows.

   Their uniqueness, however, set them apart in a negative way however.  The hedgehogs often threatened them with death, and thus spent most of their time on Angel Island, growing up there after their parents were wed.  They found acceptance from the echidnas, and were loved and treated like all of the echidna children.  They were best friends with Hidama, and found most of their happiness with their father’s kindred.  However, they still returned with their mother to her home for the fall harvest and planting in the spring to tend her gardens, and were fortunate enough to be with their mother the night their father and the echidnas were killed.

   They were the same age as Hidama, who was their best friend, not just on Angel Island, but anywhere.  It was he who gave the brothers the nickname, Brokenstar, due to the unique birthmarks on their hands.  Aranelion, the eldest of the two, had a mark on the back of his left hand in the shape of half of a five pointed star.  His brother Elianaron, the younger of the two, had the same shape on the back of his right hand, except it was the matching half to Aranelion’s half; when held together their marks formed the whole star, and one day, a young Hidama laughed and called them, The Brokenstar Twins, and that was how they were known ever after.

   Unknown to Hidama, was what happened to the boys after the attack.  Shadow had some idea, and when he was again questioned by Hidama only a few minutes later, he sighed, shaking his head and relented, telling Hidama what little he knew.

   Apparently, Knuckles remained undiscovered, as did the Master Emerald, for the security system kept the entire echidna village hidden from intruders; however, the twins had enough echidna blood in their veins to find their way through, past the bewildering effects of the ancient security system.  They could not find Knuckles, who was still hiding in the bush Hidama left him in, clutching his brother’s cape and weeping after what had happened.  The brothers immediately ran to find their father, but broke into tears when they found his bloodied body close to the body of Knuckles and Hidama’s father.

   Their father, named Armundae, loving Hidama’s father as a brother, and fulfilling his duty as the Captain of the Guardian, had died trying to defend him; yet before he passed away, he scrawled out three letters, one for Aranelion, another for Elianaron, and a final one for his beloved, the twins’ mother, Aerealei.  In the notes, he bequeathed his mighty sword, The Akrenar, to Aranelion, the same sword he had used in those last, desperate minutes of his life.  He left his two daggers, Tempest and Twilight, to Elianaron, so that they could use them to protect those that they loved, as well as themselves and each other.  The boys were only eight at the time, but tearfully took their father’s weapons, as well as his body, back to the home of their mother’s kind.

   They buried their father in a small garden outside of their home in the forest village and tried to move on, learning the ways of their mother’s people.  However, they began to thirst for revenge against the death of their father, their best friend, and the echidnas in general, who were half of who they were.  When they turned ten, they began to train with their father’s weapons, and yet, their mother’s kin were a quiet people, and shunned all forms of fighting in general, whether for sport or war, and obviously hated the twins enough already, still threatening to kill them the first chance they got. The two boys slowly alienated themselves from the rest of the village.  Feeling more alone than they ever had, and after they were brutally attacked and nearly murdered, they finally decided they were leaving for good, ready to face the world alone than stay one more day in a place where they were only tolerated to keep peace.

   One night shortly after their twelfth birthday, they took their father’s cloak, which they had kept after his death, and ripped off the sleeves, tying them into headbands, Aranelion tying his under his left ear and Elianaron tying his under his right ear.  Another thing they did was to tie bandages on their tails, not to show injury or heal it; rather, they promised to wear them in memory of their father, their best friend, and all the echidnas, and would never remove them, not until full revenge against these evil creatures was attained, and even so, they would always wear them simply in remembrance of their father.

   So before the following dawn, they kissed their mother goodbye, telling her this was simply something they had to do, and not to worry, for they would always love her, and come back to check on her often, which they still did to this day.  She assured them she too would always love her sons, and would always be there to support them; she admired their strength, the same strength of their father, and knew everything would be alright.

   And so the years passed, and the twins became recognizable by their unique appearance, wearing blue headbands, black pants with red belts, and teal shoes with light green stripes down the middle, with a sharp blade on the back of each boot.  They became drifters, and as time passed became strong and frightful opponents of evil; they’d fight off any enemies they came across, defending the innocent people of the world, getting by however they could.  They found kindness and acceptance from many strangers, but no matter what, their intentions were still clear: They would avenge their father and his kin, even if it meant death.

   That was where Shadow stopped his explanation, for by the time they reached the forest, he said, “And that’s all I know of them sadly.  They can be anywhere at anytime, and you’d be lucky to run into them without getting hurt…they’re fiercesome fighters, and will strike first and ask questions later.”

   The sun had almost set as they settled in a grove of trees near the edge of the woods.  They got a fire started and tried their best to make themselves comfortable.  The temperatures were warm and the air was dry; it was much more comfortable than the nights they spent in the mountains, and that they were glad to have returned to several days before.

   Long after Rouge, and even Shadow drifted off to sleep, Hidama remained wide awake.  He slowly rose to his feet, and wandered into the woods just beyond their camp, unaware of what awaited him in the dark.  He came to a clearing in the woods and stopped to gaze at the stars above; yet, before he could begin to rest and let his mind wander, he heard sounds coming from the thicket of trees behind him.  He turned around, ready to fight, but as his “attackers” came into the moonlight, he froze, in awe of who he saw before him.

   They were two yellow echidnas, at least they looked enough like echidnas; they had hedgehog ears, bright yellow fur…blue headbands and bandages on their tails.  Could it be that…these were his old friends, the Brokenstar Twins?  “Aranelion?  Elianaron?  Is that you…after all these long years?  Show me that it is really you and not some evil illusion clouding my sight,” Hidama cried.

   The two figures fell equally silent with shock.  They lowered their weapons, a sword and pair of daggers, with the swordsman stepping closer and saying, “Yes…we are the Brokenstar Twins but…please…Hidama, if it is really you…oh glorious wonder that you are still alive, breathing so that I may see you with my own eyes once more outside of dream and wish.  Oh Hinsei Hidama…is it really you?”

   At this point, Elianaron stepped next to his brother, and the three exchanged looks, before jumping into a tight group hug, tears being shed by them all.  Amidst the tears there were many words spoken; the three were in complete shock and awe that they were together again after all these years.  The twins showed Hidama their birthmarks, and Hidama, with his knowledge of the past enough to convince the twins he was indeed the eldest son of the guardian.

   After an hour or so of walking and talking, Hidama finally finished his part of the tale.  “And so I am freed, and one of my enemies destroyed, with one that remains.  I’m heading home now…but am sure that Olermere will strike soon, and thus battle is inevitable.”

   “Hidama…Shadow has briefed you on our doings since that day…we thought you had all been slain, and saw no sight of your brother Knuckles, so we’ve lived with that grief on our hearts all these years…with the burning desire to seek revenge, not just for you and father, but for all the echidnas.  And even now, we still intend to keep that promise,” Aranelion started.

   Hidama froze, and turned to look at his friends.  Elianaron smiled, stepped forward and said, “Though Olermere’s army is not the one that devastated Angel Island, he is still part of that vicious group, and we still intend to keep fighting until they’re all destroyed…so I’m sure you know what we’re going to do.”

   Aranelion walked up to Hidama, placed his hand on Hidama’s shoulder, and said, “We want to fight with you…fight alongside you when these mutants come to call.  We want to capture the revenge we have long sought for, and we’ll protect you until the bitter end.  Finally we shall fight side by side as we were destined to from birth.  I shall draw the mighty Akrenar against our foes and one by one they shall fall.”

   Hidama’s eyes filled with tears, yet before he could speak, Elianaron stepped next to his brother, and spoke, “Yes, and so shall Tempest and Twilight sing in battle.  We’ll destroy these mutants for good, not just for revenge, but so that our father and the other echidnas may rest in peace, and you and Knuckles be free from their torment once and for all.  What do you say Hidama?  For the echidnas…”

   Holding his clenched fist out towards Hidama, Elianaron looked to his brother for an answer.  Aranelion nodded and smiled, placing his fist next to his brother’s, upon which, they both looked to Hidama smiling confidently.  The echidna only allowed a few happy tears to fall from his eyes, before shaking his head, drying his tears, the strong smile returning to his face.  He replied, “Indeed, you are my best friends, and I am beyond shock and awe that you are alive and we are together again, and yet, there’s no time for joy.  Let’s stand together, and finish this nightmare for good.”

   He extended his clenched fist to meet the fists of his friends, and that night, a new bond was forged, rather it was one reforged and made stronger.  The circle of friends, finally reunited after being separated for twelve years, formed a team they called, The Guardian Souls, and while this was of little importance at this point, later The Guardian Souls would become some of the greatest heroes the world would ever know, and one of the few it would vividly remember.

   It was at this point that the first lights of dawn began to reach the sleepy sky, and now the three returned to where Shadow and Rouge were still sleeping.  It wasn’t long though, before Shadow, being the early riser that he was, awoke to the three telling stories of their youth by the fading fire.  After getting over his initial shock at seeing the Brokenstar twins, he was more than happy to have two more allies.  After Rouge awoke and the sun finally peeked over the horizon, the group of five took off south once more.

   Shadow was happy to see Hidama’s spirits lifted some more; he could tell that Hidama was only getting stronger, back to where he should be, and was pleased that the Brokenstar Twins would be along for the ride, for he knew full well the threat Olermere’s army presented, ten times greater than Feldmort’s legions, and as they pulled out of the forest, Shadow gave a worried and concerned eye to the jagged mountains they were leaving behind, knowing that in those crags and mountain passes, Olermere’s kingdom lay hidden, but was now bustling with activity, as the news that the last survivors of the echidna clan still lived, both of them the sons of the Guardian, reached Lord Olermere’s ears.  The mutant king was now hell bent on revenge, not just for his brother, but for the hurts the entire echidna race has exacted against them, and it was the beating hearts of Hidama and Knuckles that he was determined to crush and stop with his own bare hands, no matter what it took, or who he had to kill; he would taste their blood before all was said and done, and recapture the Master Emerald, the object that was the source of all this death and destruction, and held the fates of so many lives in its existence alone.