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"My Boys"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl

Part Three: "When They Finally Found Their Way"

   Dylan and Meredith were enchanted by Aerealei as she told the story of her sons and their often difficult trek through life.  With their arrival in Starshine Town less than an hour away, they were eager to hear what happened to Aranelion and Elianaron as they sought out the mutant armies of Olermere and Feldmort in order to avenge the echidnas.

   Aerealei was aware of what little time they had left, so after finishing her sandwich, she slipped her book back into her carry-on bag, looked up at the young couple, and said, “I know we don’t have much time left, but hopefully it shouldn’t take too long to finish the tale.  It wasn’t until last year that they won the final battle.  Infact, my boys weren’t fortunate enough to destroy the mutant army that attacked Angel Island.  However, despite this, they would be part of large battle it took to destroy Olermere and his army.

   “You see, Aranelion and Elianaron weren’t concerned with finding Olermere.  Feldmort was their priority, but since the Greyfoxes could only give them ideas of where to find Olermere, the search for Feldmort was what would take up those next five years.  It surprised me when they had no success finding his hideout.  But they wouldn’t give up.  With renewed hope for finding Hidama and Knuckles alive, they forged on undaunted by each day that passed by without successfully finding their prey.

   “I mentioned that these were the most dangerous years of their lives, and with good reason.  Their friend Shadow the Hedgehog was captured around this time for his two chaos emeralds and was imprisoned with Hidama in Feldmort’s dungeons.  My boys were targeted by the mutants too.  Ever since those two mutant soldiers were slain by their weapons, both Olermere and Feldmort’s armies were searching frantically for them.  They were, after all, the last of echidna descent, besides Knuckles, to roam the world free, and simply by attacking those two soldiers in defense of their lives had put a bounty on both their heads.

   “So for the next four years, they began to search the entire continent for Feldmort’s base.  He hid himself well; we later found out he was within a few days journey from where Angel Island was when it fell.  It was in a canyon south of a vast wasteland of marshes where his base stood, and it was there that he held Aranelion and Elianaron’s friend Hidama since he was only eight years old, torturing him and breaking him down so he could be controlled by their magic in order to obtain the Master Emerald’s power and be made pure again.

   “I suppose my boys had never journeyed that deep into the southern canyons.  The choice to start in the Thornrush Mountains and work their way south and west worked against them in this case.  While they decided to avoid Olermere completely, they thought at first that maybe they stuck close together.  Those wretched mountains took months to search completely, and after moving on, it didn’t occur to them that the Marshbed Canyons would be the best place to look.  I suppose it was because they weren’t very familiar with the area.  If you go into them unprepared it won’t take long to kill you, and while the Thornrush Mountains are equally as dangerous…I suppose…”

   “The fact that Rockcreek Plains and River Springs are two cities close to the foot of the mountains offered them a base camp of sorts,” Dylan offered, “They could also radio back for help if something went wrong.  The Marshbed Canyons are the most isolated places on the continent simply for the fact that they are so far from civilization.  I bet you that’s why they were wary to search them.”

   Aerealei smiled, nodded and replied, “Those are very good reasons Dylan.  At any rate, they combed the entire continent for clues, stopping by to meet old friends that they had made in each city, trying to find any sign of Feldmort, his army, and Hidama or Knuckles.  It was around the age of sixteen that they finally discovered that Knuckles was infact, alive, and had not been captured.  While they didn’t find news of Feldmort, they did hear of a new hero, a blue hedgehog named Sonic, and his two friends, a two-tailed fox named Miles, nicknamed Tails, and a red echidna named Knuckles.  Among the group of three, Knuckles attracted the most attention, simply for his appearance.  Everyone assumed the echidnas were gone, and that Aranelion and Elianaron the only survivors to bear even a small drop of the ancient blood.

   “This shocked my boys to say the least, for while they remembered never finding Knuckles’ or Hidama’s bodies among the dead, they had assumed that were either of them alive they would be easy to find.  They just didn’t suspect that Knuckles had survived the night, wrapped up in his brother’s cape, right where Hidama left him, after he left to try and save their parents.  Knuckles later admitted he was almost too afraid to leave the bush, and only did so when he was driven out in search of food and water, which was barely a day after Aranelion and Elianaron had left with Armundae’s body.”

   Meredith’s eyes widened; “Wow, so they only missed each other by hours.  Hmm, wasn’t it Knuckles who took down Feldmort and his army?”

   With a nod, Aerealei said, “That’s right.  In the months leading up to Hidama’s birthday last year, Feldmort had finally discovered that Knuckles was alive, and a second son of the Guardian thwarted his plans to use Hidama and the Master Emerald for purification.  However, he soon discovered that he was fortunate enough to have captured the older brother, who, simply by being born first, could effortlessly wrestle away control from Knuckles, even when Knuckles was named the most skilled guardian to walk the world.

   “With that threat diminished, Feldmort decided to have a little fun in exterminating both Knuckles and Hidama.  Having ensnared Hidama with mind control, he decided that he would have Shadow lure Knuckles away in an attempt to rescue Hidama, leaving the Master Emerald with only Sonic and Tails to babysit it.  Of course, it’s not as though he commanded Shadow to do this.  He simply knew that Shadow was planning to reunite the brothers, and when his opportunity came, Feldmort put his plan into action.

   “It was shortly after Hidama had turned twenty; Knuckles and his wife Amy, who he married only months before this, were living comfortably on Angel Island.  Shadow returned to Station Square, for after leaving Hidama four years ago upon escaping Feldmort’s prisons, Shadow had finally overcome the desire to keep a promise to Hidama, a promise not to involve Knuckles in rescuing him, or even letting Knuckles know he was alive.  The last thing he wanted was to bring harm to his baby brother, and demanded through a rage that Shadow abide by this as well.  Shadow, however, could not ignore the promise he made to Hidama to reunite the brothers, and so after going on a mission with Sonic to check on Hidama’s welfare, he returned with Sonic to Angel Island, to bring Knuckles the news that his older brother had survived.”

   Folding his arms, Dylan spoke up.  “Gee, Hidama sounds like someone who takes a lot more on his shoulders than he’s meant to.  I’ve heard plenty about Knuckles, and already Hidama sounds like he and Knuckles are on opposite ends of the spectrum…in their differences I mean.  I’m sure when it comes to strength they are pretty much the same…right?”

   “That’s true Dylan,” Aerealei replied, “On both counts.  Because of how Hidama grew up, his soul was softened, humbled, and he grew into quite a different soul than his brother.  Hidama looked after all the other prisoners, including two fox children who were like younger siblings to him.  Hidama fought against his persecutors at first, but as he grew up, he began to accept his fate.  It wasn’t that the pain didn’t affect him; he simply began to believe it was what he deserved for being the one responsible for the attack on his kindred.  When he reasoned with himself in this way, the affliction was easier to bear.”

   Almost ready to jump up from her seat, Meredith cried, “Wait a second!  How was Hidama responsible for what happened?  He was just a kid!  I also thought that by now everyone realized that Olermere and Feldmort were lashing out in revenge!”

   Aerealei smiled and shook her head as Meredith relaxed.  She said, “Of course, we all know that Meredith, even Aranelion and Elianaron knew this by that point.  However, Hidama didn’t know the full history of his persecutors until it was too late.  Also, his name was translated into “Poor falling star” in the echidna language.  However, what he didn’t realize is that this simply meant he would play an important role in dark times to come; instead, he took it to mean that he was the cause of it.  He was the one who caused the star of the echidna heritage to come crashing down and fall dim and silent forever.

   “I mentioned he didn’t realize this until it was too late.  The mind control chip that Feldmort implanted into his neck could be turned switched on or off at Feldmort’s whim, and once he told Hidama that Shadow, Knuckles, and even Amy were coming to save him, part of what he said allowed Hidama to tie him and Olermere to the two echidna brothers that were banished generations before now for attempting to kill the Guardian and steal the Master Emerald.  Needless to say not only this, but Shadow’s failure to honor his wishes of leaving Knuckles out of his misery, threw Hidama into a rage, only to be cut short when Feldmort switched that mind control back on, and didn’t turn it off again, until the final confrontation went down.

   “I’m not sure if you heard about this adventure Knuckles was on, but as he, Amy and Shadow made their way into the Marshbed Canyons, Sonic and Tails waited on Angel Island, looking after the Master Emerald, not anticipating an attack.  Well, at the same time, Feldmort’s army went around Shadow, Knuckles, and Amy, arrived on Angel Island, and used mind control chips to ensnare Sonic and Tails, and steal the Master Emerald.  The ancient security system prevented Angel Island from crashing violently, and instead allowing it to glide to safety, but with the Master Emerald on its way to Feldmort’s fortress, the beginning of the end was near.

   “Amy was kidnapped after they were attacked by Tails, who, under mind control raced back to fight Shadow and Knuckles.  You see, Feldmort wanted her so she could force Knuckles to fight his brother by threatening her life.  After this, Knuckles and Shadow fought, and while Shadow went to free the prisoners, Knuckles stormed the fortress on his own.  The fox children helped set the rest of the prisoners free, and one of them spotted Feldmort’s army returning with the Master Emerald.  This terrified Shadow, who knew immediately what was coming down.  Once the prisoners were freed, he raced through the fortress to try and find Knuckles before it was too late.

   “Shadow ended up fighting and defeating the mutant that captured him and had stolen his two chaos emeralds, but was severely injured in the fight.  The fox children tended his injuries, and once he awoke they helped him through the rest of the fortress.  At the same time, Knuckles had found Feldmort and Amy in the stadium of the fortress.  The moment he spoke of defeating Feldmort and rescuing Amy and Hidama, Feldmort unleashed the possessed Hidama on him.

   “You’d think both brothers were evenly matched, but part of Feldmort’s hold on Hidama allowed him to grow stronger the more damage he took.  Knuckles was presented with an ultimatum; he did not want to hurt his brother, increasing his strength and putting him at even greater risk, but if he did not fight Hidama, Feldmort had Amy trapped in a cage, only inches from his grasp, where he could do with her what he wanted, should Knuckles displease him.”

   “Dang!” Dylan shouted, as it was his turned to be shocked.  Looking around and lowering his voice, he added, “What in the world was Knuckles supposed to do?  Surrender himself to Feldmort?”

   Aerealei shook her head, understanding his shock.  “Quite the contrary Dylan.  Knuckles realized simply defending himself from Hidama’s attacks would give Feldmort the fight he wanted, while he tried to get rid of that chip in his brother’s neck.  Things went alright for awhile, until Sonic came back with the Master Emerald.  As Knuckles watched in disbelief, Hidama took control of the gem away from him.  Now powered up by the Master Emerald and Feldmort’s dark magic, Hidama was overloaded with power, and became increasingly malevolent, even threatening to kill Feldmort.  At last, he finally took Knuckles down.  Shadow arrived too late, for Knuckles was crushed under the remains of a stone balcony once it fell on him.  When Hidama mocked Knuckles and asked for his last words, Knuckles spoke of love for Amy, and his brother, and this allowed Hidama to finally break free from the hold Feldmort had had on him for so long.

   “The chip, damaged after so many years, fused out of his neck, and freed him, in just enough time to see his brother pass away in his arms.  Shadow had predicted that someone would die, and it seemed that this horror had come true.  Hidama was heartbroken, but after Shadow made him realize that there was nothing that would stop Knuckles from saving him, there was no bad blood between Hidama and Shadow, and so they took Feldmort down together…destroying him with his final attack allowed for Hidama to take out the army as well.  Knuckles’ friends were inconsolable, but Hidama surprised them all by using a special power to offer his soul in exchange for Knuckles’.

   “Once Knuckles was revived, they realized that Hidama’s body was gone, and Shadow theorized that maybe his prediction did come true, even though Knuckles was brought back.  He knew that somewhere Hidama was alive, and while Knuckles and Amy went home to prepare for their baby, Shadow and the fox children went to find Hidama.  Around this time, Aranelion and Elianaron were home in Valordian for my birthday.  It just so happened that Shadow, his girlfriend Rouge, and Hidama passed through Valordian’s borders on their way back to Angel Island.  My boys were overjoyed to be reunited with their friend, and while they were let down that they missed taking out the army that killed their father, when they learned they would have a chance to help destroy Olermere’s more powerful and larger army, they were happy.  They traveled with the group to Angel Island, thrilled that they would finally get their revenge.”

   Aerealei sighed, lowering her eyes, and added, “Once again, they were happy to be getting revenge on these souls that helped to kill their father and the echidnas.  I only prayed that after this they would see the light…I prayed they would realize that you can never repair the past, and instead they should be building their futures.  Olermere’s army was ten-thousand strong, terribly strong and powerful.  While the past five years had brought many fights to my boys, they had never fought more than fifty or so at a time.  They had suffered many injuries…and as in their youth, they rarely came home either without an injury or a story to tell of ones they had suffered.

   “The worst injury came in battle in the foothills of the Thornrush Mountains.  Still on the trail of Feldmort’s army, a group of mutants attacked them, hoping to bring back their severed heads to their leader.  This was a nasty battle, for the mutants were well armed, and Aranelion and Elianaron had a difficult time taking them out.  Once the battle was over, Elianaron’s left leg was shattered.  He ran the risk of infection if not treated quickly, for he told me the saliva from his foes coated it once the battle was won.  Aranelion, however, could not help him.

   “Aranelion’s right foot was broken, and he was hit by at least three of their arrows, and also had a gash in his head.  Not only could he not help his brother, but he couldn’t walk.  At least two days away from the next city, Elianaron had to do his best to treat his brother and carry him on the way, ignoring the grim possibility that he could lose his leg in the end.

   “Still, Elianaron’s a strong one; they both are.  Carrying Aranelion the entire way, they arrived in River Springs in just under two days.  Aranelion’s wounds were treated, and Elianaron’s leg survived the trip as well.  This story rattled me to say the least, but they promised me that after this they were prepared for the worst the mutants could offer them.  Unfortunately, it was on this night that they faced Olermere’s army that they met the worst they would ever live to see.”

   Aerealei paused.  People on the car were beginning to get their luggage together, walking up and down the car, cutting off her view of Dylan and Meredith on occasion.  After waiting for the car to clear up, she smiled weakly, and continued, “Anyway, in the end it came down to them, Hidama, Shadow, and Knuckles, who Rouge had flown ahead to warn of the battle.  Rouge stayed with Amy, who went into labor with her baby that night, shortly after Knuckles left her to help his brother and friends finish this fight for good.  Not long after this, Sonic and Tails arrived on Angel Island, driven to see if they could help the search for Hidama in some way.  Rouge sent them to the battle site, within five miles of Angel Island.  Hidama and Knuckles were finally reunited, only minutes before Olermere and his army of ten-thousand arrived to confront them.

   “Olermere made it clear that once he destroyed the brothers for killing Feldmort, he would steal the Master Emerald, purify himself and his followers, and would then take the lead of the new Master Race, even trying to persuade Shadow to join them.  The battle began when Shadow disappeared with chaos control, revealing the two chaos emeralds he had recovered.  Sonic pulled into a spindash after this, and the battle started.  While Knuckles and Hidama took out large numbers, and Shadow, Sonic, and Tails tore through more flunkies, Aranelion and Elianaron treated this as a symbolic battle.  Every time they thrust their weapons into their enemies, they would call out the name of an echidna they once knew, only to lose them the night Angel Island was attacked.  They wouldn’t stop until they had called out every name from the youngest baby to die, to the oldest village elder who passed away.

   “Dozens of mutants fell to their father’s weapons.  At last they were getting their revenge; the battle went as well as it could have, without an injury on their side, until Tails could be heard crying out, taken down by a spear as he flew above the fray, trying to locate Olermere.  About this time, Hidama was thrown into a vicious battle with Olermere’s first captain Shoban.  While Sonic searched frantically for Tails, Shadow, who was now gravely injured, was thrown into a chaos-induced rage.  He would soon rip through the remainder of the army.

   “Before this could happen, Aranelion, who was distracted by Tails’ cries, felt a sharp pain in his back.  He was stabbed by the crooked blade of a mutant swordsman, almost identical to how he was hit by those pair of scissors that frightful day of his youth, and he knew it.  He told me he was afraid he would die, for this and other scenes flashed through his mind’s eye as the pain ripped through every nerve and blood vessel inside him.  He was only brought back to awareness when Elianaron came to his rescue, slashing the mutant with two crossed slashes from his daggers.

   “He pulled the sword out of Aranelion’s back, holding him and pleading with Aranelion to stay with him.  To this, Aranelion replied, ‘Gee…this is just like last time.  We’re surrounded by countless souls who hate us, I’m stabbed in the back, and you…you’re helping me again.  Only…this time I don’t think we can count on our mother to save us again.’”

   Meredith had tears in her eyes, and Dylan, while he wouldn’t cry, had a face racked with sadness.  Aerealei clenched her hands over her heart, and continued, “Oh, when I heard that he had said this…I…I was reminded of my prayer to Armundae…on how I couldn’t protect them anymore.  I was right; I couldn’t protect my boys on this night.  As Aranelion fell silent, Elianaron held him close, and then he saw Shadow rising into the sky, ready to take out any and all that stood in his way.  Elianaron ran to the outskirts of the battle, to a line of trees nearby, and stood with Sonic, who had now found an injured and unconscious Tails and carried him, just as Elianaron held his brother.

   “They watched as Shadow, unable to control the direction of his chaos-induced rage attack, as he plowed through what remained of Olermere’s army.  Once it was finished, Shadow was next to the end of his strength.  Elianaron and Sonic left Aranelion and Tails in the safety of the edge of the woods, as they helped Shadow over to the fight that had come down between Olermere and the two echidna brothers.  Shoban was dead, and now Olermere did everything in his power to kill Hidama and Knuckles, injuring them both significantly.  Shadow knew they needed to attack Olermere together, and so Shadow pleaded with Sonic and Elianaron to leave him and go look after Aranelion and Tails.

   “Shadow arrived only to see Knuckles and Hidama suffer the brunt of one of Olermere’s attacks.  Admitting he was too weak to help the brothers, he told Knuckles that he and Hidama needed to combine their strength, or they would never win.  As the battle continued, Shadow collapsed, near death, and a fire raged in the woods, ignited by lightning.  Elianaron and Sonic raced to douse the flames, but both paused to see Olermere fall, finally brought down by Hidama and Knuckles.

   “The battle was won…and yet, Elianaron would come away from it with a new lesson learned, one he would share with his brother immediately afterwards.  Elianaron watched as Hidama, after checking on Shadow’s condition, ran back to Olermere, who lay dying, and commanded that Knuckles stop mocking him as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

   “This shocked Knuckles, and all who heard it.  Hidama, after suffering under the malice of Olermere’s brother, was not in any want or desire to get revenge.  Sure, he was angry that his parents, and entire tribe were killed; he was angry that his brother had suffered alone, and that Aranelion and Elianaron had lost their father and suffered for it; he was angry at the depth of their torture of him and all they met, and still, he had no desire to make them suffer in the same way.

   “Instead, Hidama took the blame upon himself, for the actions of his ancestors.  He brought blame on the echidnas for not offering forgiveness to their kindred, valuing the welfare of the Master Emerald over their own brethren.  Of course, Olermere had tried to kill the Guardian, but what got he and Feldmort banished was their mutant appearance after trying to steal the Master gem once more.  The echidnas couldn’t find it in themselves and their glory to forgive Olermere and Feldmort, and instead sent them away to die.  The echidnas, Hidama explained, had brought this suffering on themselves, and it was the echidnas of Hidama’s time, as well as Olermere, Feldmort, and the mutants that had to pay the ultimate price for this.

   “‘It is the fault of us all…the fault of our nature, to jump to selfishness and concern for ourselves instead of others,’ Hidama said.  ‘Surely our ancestors brought this on by hurting Feldmort and Olermere by not extending forgiveness or kindness when they needed it most.  Yet I do acknowledge I too am deeply hurt by the scars the mutants have inflicted on us all.  I’m not condemning anybody here…what I am saying however, is that this chain of hate will continue to live even after Olermere dies…because hatred cannot be stopped by more violence like this, whether for justice of not.  These wounds can only be healed by love.’

   “Hidama had realized this as the days passed, and he wasn’t going to let Olermere pass away without healing the hurts between him.  Not only did he pardon Olermere for his crimes, but he also asked that Olermere forgive him, and all the echidnas, for the pain they put him and Feldmort through, pain…that had it been avoided, would have made all the difference in the world.  Knuckles too asked for forgiveness, both brothers weeping as Olermere passed away.  ‘I know I am apologizing for the sins of many, but I hope that somehow you can forgive us…maybe if we can forgive each other, we can go our separate ways in peace,’ Hidama whispered at last.

   “They were doing what even the most honorable of their ancestors could not; they were forgiving their enemy, even after so much bad had happened, finally bringing back the ideals Kashoku, the first echidna king, had wanted for his kindred all along.  Olermere realized he was hurting two souls that suffered as much as he and Feldmort had, and so not only did he accept their pleas for forgiveness, with his last breaths, he pleaded that they forgive him.  They realized that underneath his mutant exterior, they were speaking to one of their brethren, and it killed them inside to have to let him go, so quickly after they had finally come to resolution.

   “Hidama and Knuckles understood now that Olermere and Feldmort’s mutant appearance was only an example of what hatred and violence could do, even to a member of the so-called Master Race.  While it was too late to save Olermere, in just enough time they had finally healed the wounds that started this mess to begin with.  Finally, they could live their lives without the burden of the past weighing them down.

   “Elianaron realized this too, and he knew he and Aranelion had to do the same thing.  They had gotten their revenge, but realized it was wrong to crave it as much as they had.  The echidnas and their father were revenged, and now it was time for my boys to forgive their persecutors…and not just the mutants.

   “Aranelion and Elianaron came home so Aranelion could heal.  While they were home, they spent a lot of time at Armundae’s grave, talking to him unlike they had in years.  They told him about all they had done since his death, how much of the world they had seen, the friends they had made, and how they had grown up.  When it came to the subject of the mutants, they asked Armundae if he would tell Olermere that they were sorry, for they were sure that even he was in heaven.  Then, they asked their father to forgive them for thinking such malicious thoughts about the mutants, realizing they were no better than the echidnas that had banished Olermere and Feldmort all those years ago.  They were also no better than the hedgehogs of Valordian, driving my boys away simply for what they did not understand.

   “My boys were getting ready to go visit Hidama and travel with him, but before they left, they returned to Valordian Village for the first time since that fateful day when Aranelion was hit in the back with scissors, Elianaron beaten and stoned, and they were lost in the woods, left to die.  My kindred had not seen them since that day, and were almost in shock when they saw these two young males that now walked among them.  They knew that these were those same wretched twins of mine, but to see them again, to see them alive, was a shock.

   “It was then that my boys were asked where they had been, what they had done, and why they were back and walking among them again when they had their lives threatened all those years ago.  Aranelion and Elianaron told a synopsis of their travels, spoke of the battle they fought, and the reason they gave for their return, was to ask for forgiveness for whatever had angered the villagers so much to want to kill them.

   “This rocked the hedgehogs of my village, who knew very well why they had hated these boys.  They recognized they simply hated what they couldn’t understand, and realized that my boys weren’t that much different than they were.  They realized, just like Olermere, Hidama and Knuckles did, that they were only hurting their brothers, their kindred, and that this hatred was doing no good for any of them.

   “After so many years of toil, suffering, and fear, the hedgehogs of Valordian asked Aranelion and Elianaron for pardon.  Every man, woman, and child that was around to see these sins pled for forgiveness, and after all they had seen and all they had endured, this was something my boys were very happy to extend to all who asked for it.  I received similar treatment; after all this time, the love I shared with Armundae brought me peace, only it came in the form of our sons.  They showed my kindred what was done wrong, and the wounds of the past were soothed.  No longer was there any hate; things were the finally way they should have been all along.”

   The skyline of Starshine Town was steadily growing larger on the horizon, and Dylan and Meredith had gotten one awesome story told to them on the way.  However, with a smile, and a soft laugh, Aerealei appeared to have more to add to the tale.

   Before she spoke, Meredith said, “What a wonderful story; it’s hard to imagine such a moving and passionate tale could be true.  …That reminds me though, is that how they ended up in Starshine Town, traveling with their friend Hidama I mean?”

   “Well,” Aerealei started, “After so many months, Hidama became restless, and so right around his twenty-first birthday, he left with my boys to try and find peace.  After a misunderstanding they became separated, and Hidama found himself in Starshine Town.  While my boys searched for him for two months, Hidama found the love of his life and began to heal.  By the time Aranelion and Elianaron found him, he was ready to ask her to marry him and return to Angel Island with him, which she did.  This was just after his nephew Mikomi’s first birthday.  He found peace after this…and didn’t need to travel anymore, and at the same time, the twins realized they were getting tired of this too.

   “So, after this, they returned to Starshine Town.  They had made friends with Delilah’s, that’s Hidama’s wife, roommate, named Camillia the Cat.  They had a quarrel over her amongst themselves, and true to their nature, while Aranelion wanted to develop a friendship and romance slowly, Elianaron turned to charming her immediately.  She got them an apartment in her building, helped them find jobs, and paid for their new wardrobe.  They dressed the same all their lives, but this new start in Starshine Town found them striving to differentiate themselves from each other.  Elianaron played with a local band primarily at first, and worked at a music supply shop, while Aranelion quickly grew popular playing piano and singing at a local bar.  Now that Aranelion and Camillia are together, the twins have reconciled and they play dueling pianos together at Aranelion’s workplace.”

   Dylan chuckled softly, and said, “Ha, they fought over a girl.  Nothing separates brothers like a woman.”

   Meredith gave Dylan a look, and cried, “Oh stop it Dylan.  Those two are the closest twins…brothers, whatever, I’ve ever heard of.  You’re just jealous.”

   “Me, jealous?  No offense to Missis Brokenstar, but her boys are lacking one thing I have that they can never hope to acquire.”

   Crossing her arms, and looking away, Meredith replied, “Humph, and what’s that Dylan, bad manners?”

   With a laugh, Dylan glanced at Aerealei and said, “No…they’ll never have you to fight over, because you’re mine, and I’ll never let you go.”

   “Aww…Dylan,” Meredith murmured as she turned around.  He pulled her into a hug, and she returned it.  They almost didn’t notice the train slowly pulling to a stop, and looked to see Aerealei getting her two carry-on bags together in preparation to leave.

   “Oh Missis Brokenstar, thanking for sharing that wonderful story.  I’m sure both of them will have wonderful and prosperous lives for as long as they live,” Dylan said.

   “We have arrived at Starshine Town!  All passengers for Starshine Town make ready to depart!” the loudspeaker boomed.

   Aerealei shook her head, smiling at the young couple and said, “Thank you Dylan, I am just happy you enjoyed it.  It’s a story that had a happy ending even as it continues, and I’m sure you’ll be greeted with the same as your life together unfolds.  Do take care.”

   Smiling, Meredith waved and said, “We will Missis Brokenstar!  Wish them both the best, and the same to you!  I hope we meet again someday!”

   Upon hearing this, Aerealei, who was almost off the train, turned and waved to them one last time before stepping off the train.  There was a crowd of people around her, and she looked around for any sign of Aranelion and Elianaron.  Outside of the photo, this would be the first time she saw them sporting their new looks, and she trembled with happiness.

   “Finally they’re building their own lives Armundae,” she thought, “At long last they’re finding love and a bright future…just like we wanted.  You took great care of them Armundae, even when I couldn’t, and I’m so happy that I can be there for them again, and that you will continue to be there as well.”

   Suddenly, Aerealei heard a voice rise up over the chaos.  “Mom!  Hey Mom!  Over here!”  She looked in the direction of the voice, and saw Aranelion and Elianaron standing side by side, albeit on a bench, waving at her.

   Her heart went warm with joy as she made her way through the crowd.  Aranelion and Elianaron hopped down off the bench and ran to meet her, finally coming together in a group hug.

   “Oh Mom, it’s so great to see you again!” Elianaron said with a laugh.

   “Ditto!” Aranelion added.

   Pulling back from the hug, Aerealei gazed at them, both of them now a little bit taller than her, and said, “I know, I’m so happy to see you both.  I’m looking forward to you showing me all you’ve accomplished since you’ve settled here.”

   Taking her suitcases, Aranelion said, “Oh you’re gonna love Kawai’s, Mom.  We have the best boss and so many fans.  You still have to meet Camillia too!”

   Elianaron took his mother’s hand as they walked through the crowd and said, “Heh, I’m happy for him…both of them.  I know someday I’ll find my true love too.  You certainly did.”

   “Of course Elianaron…and my true love is still with me, although it exists in the two sons he left behind to look after me,” she replied.

   Aranelion replied, “Aww Mom, no wonder Dad loves you so much.  I’m sure Camillia will love you too.”

   At that moment, Camillia could see Aranelion and Elianaron walking with their mother to the parking lot where she had decided to wait.  She made up the rest of the distance between them, and with a smile, she greeted them, saying, “Oh Mrs. Brokenstar, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you.  I’m Camillia…and I think I can safely guess those two already explained me to you.”

   The twins glanced at each other helplessly, while Aerealei hugged Camillia and said, “Only in glowing terms Camillia.  I’m looking forward to getting better acquainted with someone who has done so much for my boys, and obviously cares about them both, albeit valuing one in a different way over the other.  It’s wonderful to meet you.”

   Aranelion finished putting his mother’s suitcases in the SUV.  After this, the four of them piled into it and began the drive home to the apartment building they lived in.  Camillia and Aerealei sat together in the backseat, and wanting to get closer to who would become her mother-in-law, Camillia asked, “So, Mrs. Brokenstar, how was your trip?  I know train rides can sometimes be boring.”

   By now, Aerealei had pulled out that photo of the twins once more.  She glanced at it, smiling, before looking up at Aranelion, who was driving, and Elianaron, who sat beside him as they sang together with a song on the radio.  She was overjoyed to see them finally living like they were meant to, living for their future, instead of trying to heal the past.  All the love she and Armundae had wished for the twins had finally come to be, and after telling the story of their lives to Dylan and Meredith, this reality hit home in overflowing abundance in her heart.

   Shaking her head, still smiling, she looked to Camillia and said, “It was a wonderful trip my dear.  On the train I met a lovely young couple, and was able to tell them a little bit about my trip and my sons.  On that trip, I was only reminded of the true reason I’m here.”

   Cocking her head to one side, Camillia asked, “What’s that Mrs. Brokenstar?”

   Holding the picture to her heart, Aerealei closed her eyes, sighing happily.

   “I’m here for my boys, to be there for them for the rest of this happy future…a future that they have finally been blessed to embrace.”

Description
"My Boys"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl

Part Three: "When They Finally Found Their Way"

   Dylan and Meredith were enchanted by Aerealei as she told the story of her sons and their often difficult trek through life.  With their arrival in Starshine Town less than an hour away, they were eager to hear what happened to Aranelion and Elianaron as they sought out the mutant armies of Olermere and Feldmort in order to avenge the echidnas.

   Aerealei was aware of what little time they had left, so after finishing her sandwich, she slipped her book back into her carry-on bag, looked up at the young couple, and said, “I know we don’t have much time left, but hopefully it shouldn’t take too long to finish the tale.  It wasn’t until last year that they won the final battle.  Infact, my boys weren’t fortunate enough to destroy the mutant army that attacked Angel Island.  However, despite this, they would be part of large battle it took to destroy Olermere and his army.

   “You see, Aranelion and Elianaron weren’t concerned with finding Olermere.  Feldmort was their priority, but since the Greyfoxes could only give them ideas of where to find Olermere, the search for Feldmort was what would take up those next five years.  It surprised me when they had no success finding his hideout.  But they wouldn’t give up.  With renewed hope for finding Hidama and Knuckles alive, they forged on undaunted by each day that passed by without successfully finding their prey.

   “I mentioned that these were the most dangerous years of their lives, and with good reason.  Their friend Shadow the Hedgehog was captured around this time for his two chaos emeralds and was imprisoned with Hidama in Feldmort’s dungeons.  My boys were targeted by the mutants too.  Ever since those two mutant soldiers were slain by their weapons, both Olermere and Feldmort’s armies were searching frantically for them.  They were, after all, the last of echidna descent, besides Knuckles, to roam the world free, and simply by attacking those two soldiers in defense of their lives had put a bounty on both their heads.

   “So for the next four years, they began to search the entire continent for Feldmort’s base.  He hid himself well; we later found out he was within a few days journey from where Angel Island was when it fell.  It was in a canyon south of a vast wasteland of marshes where his base stood, and it was there that he held Aranelion and Elianaron’s friend Hidama since he was only eight years old, torturing him and breaking him down so he could be controlled by their magic in order to obtain the Master Emerald’s power and be made pure again.

   “I suppose my boys had never journeyed that deep into the southern canyons.  The choice to start in the Thornrush Mountains and work their way south and west worked against them in this case.  While they decided to avoid Olermere completely, they thought at first that maybe they stuck close together.  Those wretched mountains took months to search completely, and after moving on, it didn’t occur to them that the Marshbed Canyons would be the best place to look.  I suppose it was because they weren’t very familiar with the area.  If you go into them unprepared it won’t take long to kill you, and while the Thornrush Mountains are equally as dangerous…I suppose…”

   “The fact that Rockcreek Plains and River Springs are two cities close to the foot of the mountains offered them a base camp of sorts,” Dylan offered, “They could also radio back for help if something went wrong.  The Marshbed Canyons are the most isolated places on the continent simply for the fact that they are so far from civilization.  I bet you that’s why they were wary to search them.”

   Aerealei smiled, nodded and replied, “Those are very good reasons Dylan.  At any rate, they combed the entire continent for clues, stopping by to meet old friends that they had made in each city, trying to find any sign of Feldmort, his army, and Hidama or Knuckles.  It was around the age of sixteen that they finally discovered that Knuckles was infact, alive, and had not been captured.  While they didn’t find news of Feldmort, they did hear of a new hero, a blue hedgehog named Sonic, and his two friends, a two-tailed fox named Miles, nicknamed Tails, and a red echidna named Knuckles.  Among the group of three, Knuckles attracted the most attention, simply for his appearance.  Everyone assumed the echidnas were gone, and that Aranelion and Elianaron the only survivors to bear even a small drop of the ancient blood.

   “This shocked my boys to say the least, for while they remembered never finding Knuckles’ or Hidama’s bodies among the dead, they had assumed that were either of them alive they would be easy to find.  They just didn’t suspect that Knuckles had survived the night, wrapped up in his brother’s cape, right where Hidama left him, after he left to try and save their parents.  Knuckles later admitted he was almost too afraid to leave the bush, and only did so when he was driven out in search of food and water, which was barely a day after Aranelion and Elianaron had left with Armundae’s body.”

   Meredith’s eyes widened; “Wow, so they only missed each other by hours.  Hmm, wasn’t it Knuckles who took down Feldmort and his army?”

   With a nod, Aerealei said, “That’s right.  In the months leading up to Hidama’s birthday last year, Feldmort had finally discovered that Knuckles was alive, and a second son of the Guardian thwarted his plans to use Hidama and the Master Emerald for purification.  However, he soon discovered that he was fortunate enough to have captured the older brother, who, simply by being born first, could effortlessly wrestle away control from Knuckles, even when Knuckles was named the most skilled guardian to walk the world.

   “With that threat diminished, Feldmort decided to have a little fun in exterminating both Knuckles and Hidama.  Having ensnared Hidama with mind control, he decided that he would have Shadow lure Knuckles away in an attempt to rescue Hidama, leaving the Master Emerald with only Sonic and Tails to babysit it.  Of course, it’s not as though he commanded Shadow to do this.  He simply knew that Shadow was planning to reunite the brothers, and when his opportunity came, Feldmort put his plan into action.

   “It was shortly after Hidama had turned twenty; Knuckles and his wife Amy, who he married only months before this, were living comfortably on Angel Island.  Shadow returned to Station Square, for after leaving Hidama four years ago upon escaping Feldmort’s prisons, Shadow had finally overcome the desire to keep a promise to Hidama, a promise not to involve Knuckles in rescuing him, or even letting Knuckles know he was alive.  The last thing he wanted was to bring harm to his baby brother, and demanded through a rage that Shadow abide by this as well.  Shadow, however, could not ignore the promise he made to Hidama to reunite the brothers, and so after going on a mission with Sonic to check on Hidama’s welfare, he returned with Sonic to Angel Island, to bring Knuckles the news that his older brother had survived.”

   Folding his arms, Dylan spoke up.  “Gee, Hidama sounds like someone who takes a lot more on his shoulders than he’s meant to.  I’ve heard plenty about Knuckles, and already Hidama sounds like he and Knuckles are on opposite ends of the spectrum…in their differences I mean.  I’m sure when it comes to strength they are pretty much the same…right?”

   “That’s true Dylan,” Aerealei replied, “On both counts.  Because of how Hidama grew up, his soul was softened, humbled, and he grew into quite a different soul than his brother.  Hidama looked after all the other prisoners, including two fox children who were like younger siblings to him.  Hidama fought against his persecutors at first, but as he grew up, he began to accept his fate.  It wasn’t that the pain didn’t affect him; he simply began to believe it was what he deserved for being the one responsible for the attack on his kindred.  When he reasoned with himself in this way, the affliction was easier to bear.”

   Almost ready to jump up from her seat, Meredith cried, “Wait a second!  How was Hidama responsible for what happened?  He was just a kid!  I also thought that by now everyone realized that Olermere and Feldmort were lashing out in revenge!”

   Aerealei smiled and shook her head as Meredith relaxed.  She said, “Of course, we all know that Meredith, even Aranelion and Elianaron knew this by that point.  However, Hidama didn’t know the full history of his persecutors until it was too late.  Also, his name was translated into “Poor falling star” in the echidna language.  However, what he didn’t realize is that this simply meant he would play an important role in dark times to come; instead, he took it to mean that he was the cause of it.  He was the one who caused the star of the echidna heritage to come crashing down and fall dim and silent forever.

   “I mentioned he didn’t realize this until it was too late.  The mind control chip that Feldmort implanted into his neck could be turned switched on or off at Feldmort’s whim, and once he told Hidama that Shadow, Knuckles, and even Amy were coming to save him, part of what he said allowed Hidama to tie him and Olermere to the two echidna brothers that were banished generations before now for attempting to kill the Guardian and steal the Master Emerald.  Needless to say not only this, but Shadow’s failure to honor his wishes of leaving Knuckles out of his misery, threw Hidama into a rage, only to be cut short when Feldmort switched that mind control back on, and didn’t turn it off again, until the final confrontation went down.

   “I’m not sure if you heard about this adventure Knuckles was on, but as he, Amy and Shadow made their way into the Marshbed Canyons, Sonic and Tails waited on Angel Island, looking after the Master Emerald, not anticipating an attack.  Well, at the same time, Feldmort’s army went around Shadow, Knuckles, and Amy, arrived on Angel Island, and used mind control chips to ensnare Sonic and Tails, and steal the Master Emerald.  The ancient security system prevented Angel Island from crashing violently, and instead allowing it to glide to safety, but with the Master Emerald on its way to Feldmort’s fortress, the beginning of the end was near.

   “Amy was kidnapped after they were attacked by Tails, who, under mind control raced back to fight Shadow and Knuckles.  You see, Feldmort wanted her so she could force Knuckles to fight his brother by threatening her life.  After this, Knuckles and Shadow fought, and while Shadow went to free the prisoners, Knuckles stormed the fortress on his own.  The fox children helped set the rest of the prisoners free, and one of them spotted Feldmort’s army returning with the Master Emerald.  This terrified Shadow, who knew immediately what was coming down.  Once the prisoners were freed, he raced through the fortress to try and find Knuckles before it was too late.

   “Shadow ended up fighting and defeating the mutant that captured him and had stolen his two chaos emeralds, but was severely injured in the fight.  The fox children tended his injuries, and once he awoke they helped him through the rest of the fortress.  At the same time, Knuckles had found Feldmort and Amy in the stadium of the fortress.  The moment he spoke of defeating Feldmort and rescuing Amy and Hidama, Feldmort unleashed the possessed Hidama on him.

   “You’d think both brothers were evenly matched, but part of Feldmort’s hold on Hidama allowed him to grow stronger the more damage he took.  Knuckles was presented with an ultimatum; he did not want to hurt his brother, increasing his strength and putting him at even greater risk, but if he did not fight Hidama, Feldmort had Amy trapped in a cage, only inches from his grasp, where he could do with her what he wanted, should Knuckles displease him.”

   “Dang!” Dylan shouted, as it was his turned to be shocked.  Looking around and lowering his voice, he added, “What in the world was Knuckles supposed to do?  Surrender himself to Feldmort?”

   Aerealei shook her head, understanding his shock.  “Quite the contrary Dylan.  Knuckles realized simply defending himself from Hidama’s attacks would give Feldmort the fight he wanted, while he tried to get rid of that chip in his brother’s neck.  Things went alright for awhile, until Sonic came back with the Master Emerald.  As Knuckles watched in disbelief, Hidama took control of the gem away from him.  Now powered up by the Master Emerald and Feldmort’s dark magic, Hidama was overloaded with power, and became increasingly malevolent, even threatening to kill Feldmort.  At last, he finally took Knuckles down.  Shadow arrived too late, for Knuckles was crushed under the remains of a stone balcony once it fell on him.  When Hidama mocked Knuckles and asked for his last words, Knuckles spoke of love for Amy, and his brother, and this allowed Hidama to finally break free from the hold Feldmort had had on him for so long.

   “The chip, damaged after so many years, fused out of his neck, and freed him, in just enough time to see his brother pass away in his arms.  Shadow had predicted that someone would die, and it seemed that this horror had come true.  Hidama was heartbroken, but after Shadow made him realize that there was nothing that would stop Knuckles from saving him, there was no bad blood between Hidama and Shadow, and so they took Feldmort down together…destroying him with his final attack allowed for Hidama to take out the army as well.  Knuckles’ friends were inconsolable, but Hidama surprised them all by using a special power to offer his soul in exchange for Knuckles’.

   “Once Knuckles was revived, they realized that Hidama’s body was gone, and Shadow theorized that maybe his prediction did come true, even though Knuckles was brought back.  He knew that somewhere Hidama was alive, and while Knuckles and Amy went home to prepare for their baby, Shadow and the fox children went to find Hidama.  Around this time, Aranelion and Elianaron were home in Valordian for my birthday.  It just so happened that Shadow, his girlfriend Rouge, and Hidama passed through Valordian’s borders on their way back to Angel Island.  My boys were overjoyed to be reunited with their friend, and while they were let down that they missed taking out the army that killed their father, when they learned they would have a chance to help destroy Olermere’s more powerful and larger army, they were happy.  They traveled with the group to Angel Island, thrilled that they would finally get their revenge.”

   Aerealei sighed, lowering her eyes, and added, “Once again, they were happy to be getting revenge on these souls that helped to kill their father and the echidnas.  I only prayed that after this they would see the light…I prayed they would realize that you can never repair the past, and instead they should be building their futures.  Olermere’s army was ten-thousand strong, terribly strong and powerful.  While the past five years had brought many fights to my boys, they had never fought more than fifty or so at a time.  They had suffered many injuries…and as in their youth, they rarely came home either without an injury or a story to tell of ones they had suffered.

   “The worst injury came in battle in the foothills of the Thornrush Mountains.  Still on the trail of Feldmort’s army, a group of mutants attacked them, hoping to bring back their severed heads to their leader.  This was a nasty battle, for the mutants were well armed, and Aranelion and Elianaron had a difficult time taking them out.  Once the battle was over, Elianaron’s left leg was shattered.  He ran the risk of infection if not treated quickly, for he told me the saliva from his foes coated it once the battle was won.  Aranelion, however, could not help him.

   “Aranelion’s right foot was broken, and he was hit by at least three of their arrows, and also had a gash in his head.  Not only could he not help his brother, but he couldn’t walk.  At least two days away from the next city, Elianaron had to do his best to treat his brother and carry him on the way, ignoring the grim possibility that he could lose his leg in the end.

   “Still, Elianaron’s a strong one; they both are.  Carrying Aranelion the entire way, they arrived in River Springs in just under two days.  Aranelion’s wounds were treated, and Elianaron’s leg survived the trip as well.  This story rattled me to say the least, but they promised me that after this they were prepared for the worst the mutants could offer them.  Unfortunately, it was on this night that they faced Olermere’s army that they met the worst they would ever live to see.”

   Aerealei paused.  People on the car were beginning to get their luggage together, walking up and down the car, cutting off her view of Dylan and Meredith on occasion.  After waiting for the car to clear up, she smiled weakly, and continued, “Anyway, in the end it came down to them, Hidama, Shadow, and Knuckles, who Rouge had flown ahead to warn of the battle.  Rouge stayed with Amy, who went into labor with her baby that night, shortly after Knuckles left her to help his brother and friends finish this fight for good.  Not long after this, Sonic and Tails arrived on Angel Island, driven to see if they could help the search for Hidama in some way.  Rouge sent them to the battle site, within five miles of Angel Island.  Hidama and Knuckles were finally reunited, only minutes before Olermere and his army of ten-thousand arrived to confront them.

   “Olermere made it clear that once he destroyed the brothers for killing Feldmort, he would steal the Master Emerald, purify himself and his followers, and would then take the lead of the new Master Race, even trying to persuade Shadow to join them.  The battle began when Shadow disappeared with chaos control, revealing the two chaos emeralds he had recovered.  Sonic pulled into a spindash after this, and the battle started.  While Knuckles and Hidama took out large numbers, and Shadow, Sonic, and Tails tore through more flunkies, Aranelion and Elianaron treated this as a symbolic battle.  Every time they thrust their weapons into their enemies, they would call out the name of an echidna they once knew, only to lose them the night Angel Island was attacked.  They wouldn’t stop until they had called out every name from the youngest baby to die, to the oldest village elder who passed away.

   “Dozens of mutants fell to their father’s weapons.  At last they were getting their revenge; the battle went as well as it could have, without an injury on their side, until Tails could be heard crying out, taken down by a spear as he flew above the fray, trying to locate Olermere.  About this time, Hidama was thrown into a vicious battle with Olermere’s first captain Shoban.  While Sonic searched frantically for Tails, Shadow, who was now gravely injured, was thrown into a chaos-induced rage.  He would soon rip through the remainder of the army.

   “Before this could happen, Aranelion, who was distracted by Tails’ cries, felt a sharp pain in his back.  He was stabbed by the crooked blade of a mutant swordsman, almost identical to how he was hit by those pair of scissors that frightful day of his youth, and he knew it.  He told me he was afraid he would die, for this and other scenes flashed through his mind’s eye as the pain ripped through every nerve and blood vessel inside him.  He was only brought back to awareness when Elianaron came to his rescue, slashing the mutant with two crossed slashes from his daggers.

   “He pulled the sword out of Aranelion’s back, holding him and pleading with Aranelion to stay with him.  To this, Aranelion replied, ‘Gee…this is just like last time.  We’re surrounded by countless souls who hate us, I’m stabbed in the back, and you…you’re helping me again.  Only…this time I don’t think we can count on our mother to save us again.’”

   Meredith had tears in her eyes, and Dylan, while he wouldn’t cry, had a face racked with sadness.  Aerealei clenched her hands over her heart, and continued, “Oh, when I heard that he had said this…I…I was reminded of my prayer to Armundae…on how I couldn’t protect them anymore.  I was right; I couldn’t protect my boys on this night.  As Aranelion fell silent, Elianaron held him close, and then he saw Shadow rising into the sky, ready to take out any and all that stood in his way.  Elianaron ran to the outskirts of the battle, to a line of trees nearby, and stood with Sonic, who had now found an injured and unconscious Tails and carried him, just as Elianaron held his brother.

   “They watched as Shadow, unable to control the direction of his chaos-induced rage attack, as he plowed through what remained of Olermere’s army.  Once it was finished, Shadow was next to the end of his strength.  Elianaron and Sonic left Aranelion and Tails in the safety of the edge of the woods, as they helped Shadow over to the fight that had come down between Olermere and the two echidna brothers.  Shoban was dead, and now Olermere did everything in his power to kill Hidama and Knuckles, injuring them both significantly.  Shadow knew they needed to attack Olermere together, and so Shadow pleaded with Sonic and Elianaron to leave him and go look after Aranelion and Tails.

   “Shadow arrived only to see Knuckles and Hidama suffer the brunt of one of Olermere’s attacks.  Admitting he was too weak to help the brothers, he told Knuckles that he and Hidama needed to combine their strength, or they would never win.  As the battle continued, Shadow collapsed, near death, and a fire raged in the woods, ignited by lightning.  Elianaron and Sonic raced to douse the flames, but both paused to see Olermere fall, finally brought down by Hidama and Knuckles.

   “The battle was won…and yet, Elianaron would come away from it with a new lesson learned, one he would share with his brother immediately afterwards.  Elianaron watched as Hidama, after checking on Shadow’s condition, ran back to Olermere, who lay dying, and commanded that Knuckles stop mocking him as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

   “This shocked Knuckles, and all who heard it.  Hidama, after suffering under the malice of Olermere’s brother, was not in any want or desire to get revenge.  Sure, he was angry that his parents, and entire tribe were killed; he was angry that his brother had suffered alone, and that Aranelion and Elianaron had lost their father and suffered for it; he was angry at the depth of their torture of him and all they met, and still, he had no desire to make them suffer in the same way.

   “Instead, Hidama took the blame upon himself, for the actions of his ancestors.  He brought blame on the echidnas for not offering forgiveness to their kindred, valuing the welfare of the Master Emerald over their own brethren.  Of course, Olermere had tried to kill the Guardian, but what got he and Feldmort banished was their mutant appearance after trying to steal the Master gem once more.  The echidnas couldn’t find it in themselves and their glory to forgive Olermere and Feldmort, and instead sent them away to die.  The echidnas, Hidama explained, had brought this suffering on themselves, and it was the echidnas of Hidama’s time, as well as Olermere, Feldmort, and the mutants that had to pay the ultimate price for this.

   “‘It is the fault of us all…the fault of our nature, to jump to selfishness and concern for ourselves instead of others,’ Hidama said.  ‘Surely our ancestors brought this on by hurting Feldmort and Olermere by not extending forgiveness or kindness when they needed it most.  Yet I do acknowledge I too am deeply hurt by the scars the mutants have inflicted on us all.  I’m not condemning anybody here…what I am saying however, is that this chain of hate will continue to live even after Olermere dies…because hatred cannot be stopped by more violence like this, whether for justice of not.  These wounds can only be healed by love.’

   “Hidama had realized this as the days passed, and he wasn’t going to let Olermere pass away without healing the hurts between him.  Not only did he pardon Olermere for his crimes, but he also asked that Olermere forgive him, and all the echidnas, for the pain they put him and Feldmort through, pain…that had it been avoided, would have made all the difference in the world.  Knuckles too asked for forgiveness, both brothers weeping as Olermere passed away.  ‘I know I am apologizing for the sins of many, but I hope that somehow you can forgive us…maybe if we can forgive each other, we can go our separate ways in peace,’ Hidama whispered at last.

   “They were doing what even the most honorable of their ancestors could not; they were forgiving their enemy, even after so much bad had happened, finally bringing back the ideals Kashoku, the first echidna king, had wanted for his kindred all along.  Olermere realized he was hurting two souls that suffered as much as he and Feldmort had, and so not only did he accept their pleas for forgiveness, with his last breaths, he pleaded that they forgive him.  They realized that underneath his mutant exterior, they were speaking to one of their brethren, and it killed them inside to have to let him go, so quickly after they had finally come to resolution.

   “Hidama and Knuckles understood now that Olermere and Feldmort’s mutant appearance was only an example of what hatred and violence could do, even to a member of the so-called Master Race.  While it was too late to save Olermere, in just enough time they had finally healed the wounds that started this mess to begin with.  Finally, they could live their lives without the burden of the past weighing them down.

   “Elianaron realized this too, and he knew he and Aranelion had to do the same thing.  They had gotten their revenge, but realized it was wrong to crave it as much as they had.  The echidnas and their father were revenged, and now it was time for my boys to forgive their persecutors…and not just the mutants.

   “Aranelion and Elianaron came home so Aranelion could heal.  While they were home, they spent a lot of time at Armundae’s grave, talking to him unlike they had in years.  They told him about all they had done since his death, how much of the world they had seen, the friends they had made, and how they had grown up.  When it came to the subject of the mutants, they asked Armundae if he would tell Olermere that they were sorry, for they were sure that even he was in heaven.  Then, they asked their father to forgive them for thinking such malicious thoughts about the mutants, realizing they were no better than the echidnas that had banished Olermere and Feldmort all those years ago.  They were also no better than the hedgehogs of Valordian, driving my boys away simply for what they did not understand.

   “My boys were getting ready to go visit Hidama and travel with him, but before they left, they returned to Valordian Village for the first time since that fateful day when Aranelion was hit in the back with scissors, Elianaron beaten and stoned, and they were lost in the woods, left to die.  My kindred had not seen them since that day, and were almost in shock when they saw these two young males that now walked among them.  They knew that these were those same wretched twins of mine, but to see them again, to see them alive, was a shock.

   “It was then that my boys were asked where they had been, what they had done, and why they were back and walking among them again when they had their lives threatened all those years ago.  Aranelion and Elianaron told a synopsis of their travels, spoke of the battle they fought, and the reason they gave for their return, was to ask for forgiveness for whatever had angered the villagers so much to want to kill them.

   “This rocked the hedgehogs of my village, who knew very well why they had hated these boys.  They recognized they simply hated what they couldn’t understand, and realized that my boys weren’t that much different than they were.  They realized, just like Olermere, Hidama and Knuckles did, that they were only hurting their brothers, their kindred, and that this hatred was doing no good for any of them.

   “After so many years of toil, suffering, and fear, the hedgehogs of Valordian asked Aranelion and Elianaron for pardon.  Every man, woman, and child that was around to see these sins pled for forgiveness, and after all they had seen and all they had endured, this was something my boys were very happy to extend to all who asked for it.  I received similar treatment; after all this time, the love I shared with Armundae brought me peace, only it came in the form of our sons.  They showed my kindred what was done wrong, and the wounds of the past were soothed.  No longer was there any hate; things were the finally way they should have been all along.”

   The skyline of Starshine Town was steadily growing larger on the horizon, and Dylan and Meredith had gotten one awesome story told to them on the way.  However, with a smile, and a soft laugh, Aerealei appeared to have more to add to the tale.

   Before she spoke, Meredith said, “What a wonderful story; it’s hard to imagine such a moving and passionate tale could be true.  …That reminds me though, is that how they ended up in Starshine Town, traveling with their friend Hidama I mean?”

   “Well,” Aerealei started, “After so many months, Hidama became restless, and so right around his twenty-first birthday, he left with my boys to try and find peace.  After a misunderstanding they became separated, and Hidama found himself in Starshine Town.  While my boys searched for him for two months, Hidama found the love of his life and began to heal.  By the time Aranelion and Elianaron found him, he was ready to ask her to marry him and return to Angel Island with him, which she did.  This was just after his nephew Mikomi’s first birthday.  He found peace after this…and didn’t need to travel anymore, and at the same time, the twins realized they were getting tired of this too.

   “So, after this, they returned to Starshine Town.  They had made friends with Delilah’s, that’s Hidama’s wife, roommate, named Camillia the Cat.  They had a quarrel over her amongst themselves, and true to their nature, while Aranelion wanted to develop a friendship and romance slowly, Elianaron turned to charming her immediately.  She got them an apartment in her building, helped them find jobs, and paid for their new wardrobe.  They dressed the same all their lives, but this new start in Starshine Town found them striving to differentiate themselves from each other.  Elianaron played with a local band primarily at first, and worked at a music supply shop, while Aranelion quickly grew popular playing piano and singing at a local bar.  Now that Aranelion and Camillia are together, the twins have reconciled and they play dueling pianos together at Aranelion’s workplace.”

   Dylan chuckled softly, and said, “Ha, they fought over a girl.  Nothing separates brothers like a woman.”

   Meredith gave Dylan a look, and cried, “Oh stop it Dylan.  Those two are the closest twins…brothers, whatever, I’ve ever heard of.  You’re just jealous.”

   “Me, jealous?  No offense to Missis Brokenstar, but her boys are lacking one thing I have that they can never hope to acquire.”

   Crossing her arms, and looking away, Meredith replied, “Humph, and what’s that Dylan, bad manners?”

   With a laugh, Dylan glanced at Aerealei and said, “No…they’ll never have you to fight over, because you’re mine, and I’ll never let you go.”

   “Aww…Dylan,” Meredith murmured as she turned around.  He pulled her into a hug, and she returned it.  They almost didn’t notice the train slowly pulling to a stop, and looked to see Aerealei getting her two carry-on bags together in preparation to leave.

   “Oh Missis Brokenstar, thanking for sharing that wonderful story.  I’m sure both of them will have wonderful and prosperous lives for as long as they live,” Dylan said.

   “We have arrived at Starshine Town!  All passengers for Starshine Town make ready to depart!” the loudspeaker boomed.

   Aerealei shook her head, smiling at the young couple and said, “Thank you Dylan, I am just happy you enjoyed it.  It’s a story that had a happy ending even as it continues, and I’m sure you’ll be greeted with the same as your life together unfolds.  Do take care.”

   Smiling, Meredith waved and said, “We will Missis Brokenstar!  Wish them both the best, and the same to you!  I hope we meet again someday!”

   Upon hearing this, Aerealei, who was almost off the train, turned and waved to them one last time before stepping off the train.  There was a crowd of people around her, and she looked around for any sign of Aranelion and Elianaron.  Outside of the photo, this would be the first time she saw them sporting their new looks, and she trembled with happiness.

   “Finally they’re building their own lives Armundae,” she thought, “At long last they’re finding love and a bright future…just like we wanted.  You took great care of them Armundae, even when I couldn’t, and I’m so happy that I can be there for them again, and that you will continue to be there as well.”

   Suddenly, Aerealei heard a voice rise up over the chaos.  “Mom!  Hey Mom!  Over here!”  She looked in the direction of the voice, and saw Aranelion and Elianaron standing side by side, albeit on a bench, waving at her.

   Her heart went warm with joy as she made her way through the crowd.  Aranelion and Elianaron hopped down off the bench and ran to meet her, finally coming together in a group hug.

   “Oh Mom, it’s so great to see you again!” Elianaron said with a laugh.

   “Ditto!” Aranelion added.

   Pulling back from the hug, Aerealei gazed at them, both of them now a little bit taller than her, and said, “I know, I’m so happy to see you both.  I’m looking forward to you showing me all you’ve accomplished since you’ve settled here.”

   Taking her suitcases, Aranelion said, “Oh you’re gonna love Kawai’s, Mom.  We have the best boss and so many fans.  You still have to meet Camillia too!”

   Elianaron took his mother’s hand as they walked through the crowd and said, “Heh, I’m happy for him…both of them.  I know someday I’ll find my true love too.  You certainly did.”

   “Of course Elianaron…and my true love is still with me, although it exists in the two sons he left behind to look after me,” she replied.

   Aranelion replied, “Aww Mom, no wonder Dad loves you so much.  I’m sure Camillia will love you too.”

   At that moment, Camillia could see Aranelion and Elianaron walking with their mother to the parking lot where she had decided to wait.  She made up the rest of the distance between them, and with a smile, she greeted them, saying, “Oh Mrs. Brokenstar, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you.  I’m Camillia…and I think I can safely guess those two already explained me to you.”

   The twins glanced at each other helplessly, while Aerealei hugged Camillia and said, “Only in glowing terms Camillia.  I’m looking forward to getting better acquainted with someone who has done so much for my boys, and obviously cares about them both, albeit valuing one in a different way over the other.  It’s wonderful to meet you.”

   Aranelion finished putting his mother’s suitcases in the SUV.  After this, the four of them piled into it and began the drive home to the apartment building they lived in.  Camillia and Aerealei sat together in the backseat, and wanting to get closer to who would become her mother-in-law, Camillia asked, “So, Mrs. Brokenstar, how was your trip?  I know train rides can sometimes be boring.”

   By now, Aerealei had pulled out that photo of the twins once more.  She glanced at it, smiling, before looking up at Aranelion, who was driving, and Elianaron, who sat beside him as they sang together with a song on the radio.  She was overjoyed to see them finally living like they were meant to, living for their future, instead of trying to heal the past.  All the love she and Armundae had wished for the twins had finally come to be, and after telling the story of their lives to Dylan and Meredith, this reality hit home in overflowing abundance in her heart.

   Shaking her head, still smiling, she looked to Camillia and said, “It was a wonderful trip my dear.  On the train I met a lovely young couple, and was able to tell them a little bit about my trip and my sons.  On that trip, I was only reminded of the true reason I’m here.”

   Cocking her head to one side, Camillia asked, “What’s that Mrs. Brokenstar?”

   Holding the picture to her heart, Aerealei closed her eyes, sighing happily.

   “I’m here for my boys, to be there for them for the rest of this happy future…a future that they have finally been blessed to embrace.”