The Star Heart

A long time ago, the people of the kingdom of Knothole lived in peace and prosperity, but everything changed when an evil and powerful wizard, called Eggman, attacked the kingdom with his golem army. The King of Knothole summoned three heroes to protect the kingdom and its people, three heroes with the power of speed, flight and strength. Together, they fought against the wizard Eggman and his golem army. Eventually, they defeated his army and but when they were about to deliver the final blow, Eggma casts a spell, which doom the kingdom of Knothole forever, at cost of his own life.
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One thousand years later, a team of archaeologists have found the kingdom of Knothole, buried under tons and more tons of sand and now, they are digging to find the majestic castle. The ones in charge, Fiona Fox - a red fox with a pale yellow front, muzzle and tail-tip, fanned-out hair style with a yellow bow in the back, blue eyes, wearing long white gloves, yellow boots and brown belt - and Nicolette the Weasel, or Nic for short - a purple weasel with matching hair, which was long enough to wear in a ponytail, white fur in her belly, wearing a blue tank top, gloves, belt, hat, all colored brown and blue and white boots – were standing side by side, watching the lost kingdom being unearthed.

The red fox was having a hard time dealing with the scorching sun, trying to protect her eyes with her hand while her head cook like an egg. “Man! This sun is killing me!” She complained.

“I said to bring a hat, but no! You had to be the Miss 'I-don't-need-hat-I-can-handle-the-sun'” Nic the Weasel shoved this in her face. Since she was wearing a hat, her head and eyes were protected from the sun.

“I really hope this is worth.” Fiona said, impatiently.

“Are you kidding? With the money she will give to us, we will spend the rest of our lives drinking coconut water in Adabat!” Nic, very excited, spoke again about the huge reward they will win for complete the job.

Both Fiona Fox and Nic the Weasel were, in fact, treasure hunters, hiring by Breezie the Hedgehog, a very powerful and very rich business woman, to find the lost kingdom of Knothole and bring all your treasures for her private collection.

“You and your coconut water…” Fiona smiles as she make fun out of Nic's desire for coconut water. “I will go back to the tent, and you?” She announced as she turns around and walked back to the big tent behind them. Nic didn't have to say anything, because she followed her longtime friend back to the tent.

Their tent was big and green, inside there was a metal table with two large maps on it, one was modern and the other was a copy of a map from the area one thousand years ago. There was yet another table with sonar equipment, which is being using to map the underground area. Suddenly, Nic's cell phone rang, she picked it up and answered it; it was Breezie, the rick hedgehog who hired them.

“Hello, Miss. Breezie” Nic greeted her.

“How is going the excavation? Have you found the castle yet?” Breezie asked through the cellphone. She was in her office, gazing upon the big city from the headquarters of Breeze Media, located in Station Square. She was a green hedgehog with blue highlights in her quills, wearing a very expensive red and white business suit, red high heeled shoes, two gold bracelets in each wrist and a pair of white gloves

“Everything is going fine, Miss. Breezie. I believe that one more week and...”

“No, no, no, no, my dear, I don't think you understood me.” Breezie rudely interrupted Nic. “I'm funded this entire expedition with my own money and you two haven't found nothing of value yet. I'm losing my patience, Miss. Weasel.” She declared in an intimidating tone

“Well, Miss. Breezie, we…”

“I will give you until the end of the day to bring me some good news” Breezie interrupted Nic rudely, yet again. “Or else, I will anonymously send this little security footage of you two robbing a jewelry store to GUN.” She revealed.

“How did you…?!” Nic was shocked, and Fiona was very worried.

“Goodbye, Nic” Breezie hung up the phone.

“Nic, what happened? What did she say?” Fiona asked very concerned.

Nic almost fell on the table, if she hasn't used her arms to support herself. But before she could say something to Fiona, one of the workers comes in all excited. “We found it!” He announced, which surprised both the ladies.

Fiona, Nic and the rest of the workers ran to the east side, where a bunch of people were gathering around. They opened the way through the crowd by pushing some workers and finally reach the middle, where there was a stone structure extremely similar to a tower, with a small entrance, which must be where the window was. Nic entered the tower structure and noticed there was a spiral staircase that goes deep down; a broad smile formed itself on weasel's face. “We found the castle!” She shouted out loud; everyone, including Fiona, shouted for joy.
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After get some equipment in the tent, such as flashlights, grappling hooks, walkie talkies and bags, Nic and Fiona entered the tower, passing the hole where a window used to be, turned on the flashlights and began to walk down the spiral staircase. “I can’t believe we found it!” Fiona said surprised and excited.

“I can't believe how lucky I was!” Nic said, equally surprised, but very relieved. “Phew! Now Breezie won't have to give us away to GUN.” She accidentally said this out loud.

“Wait, what?”

“Eh, never mind!” Nic said so. “We have found the castle, let's see if there are still some treasure around here.” She said. Although it was enough to keep Fiona quiet, she still wanted to know about the conversation between Nic and Breezie. They continued to walk down the spiral staircase, until they eventually reach the bottom. They looked around with their flashlights and saw partially intact red carpets on the floor, one was leading to a large door, while the others two were in two stairs, which lead upstairs. “I bet the middle one lead to the throne room.” Nic supposed.

“Upstairs must be the royal bedroom” Fiona concluded.

“Let's split up. You check upstairs, I check the throne room, call if you find something, got it?” Nic ordered

“Got it” Fiona understood and so, she began walk up the stair the left, while Nic goes straight to the throne room.
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Fiona reaches upstairs, where she find a door and two more stairs to upstairs, she decides to open the door first. She soon learned that she has found a bedroom, judging by the covered bed, the carpet and the dressing table, this must be the royal room. The red fox didn't take long to grab the walkie talkie and tell this to the purple weasel right away.

“Hey, Nic! Guess what? I found the royal room!” Fiona said though the walkie talkie, kinda shoving on Nic’s face.

“What? Already? But I'm still trying to open the giant door!” Nic replied, kinda upset.

“Do you want to switch?” Fiona suggested, which in fact, it was a prank.

“Yeah! I do!” Nic fell for it.

“Too bad!” Fiona said and turned off the walkie talkie, laughing of her own prank.

Next, the red fox walked to the dressing table, where she find a jeweled gold comb and didn’t hesitate to put it in her bag right away. She opened the drawers, which has nothing of value, but she does find a journal. Fiona decided to pick it up and open it, on the back cover it was written the following: Princess Sally Alicia Acorn. It was then that the red fox learned that this was actually the princess' bedroom, which didn't make too much difference. She decided to read the princess' journal and opened it in a random page.

With the help of the flash light, she read the following in the journal page: “More people are dying because of Eggman's curse, even with his spirit locked away, he still is causing pain to my kingdom. I remember when we were surrounded by beautiful green trees and by a river, how I miss those days”

Suddenly, Nic called for Fiona. “Fiona, come in. I got good news!” Her voice was heard through the walkie talkie.

Fiona picked the walkie talkie with her free hand, while the other was still holding the journal. “What is it?”

“I finally entered the throne room!” Nic announced very proud.

“What do you see?”

“Well, I see some flags, carpet and a throne that I swear it will break if I sit on it” Nic answered. “And you?”

“I found a jeweled gold comb and the diary of a princess that used to live here.” Fiona revealed what she found, while she give a little walk across the room

“Does the diary's cape is gold plating or has jewels on it?” Nic asked

“No, but I think I am going to stay with it” Fiona replied as she turn two more pages in the journal.

“Okay, fine. We talk again once we done.” Nic said.

“Right.” Fiona turned off the walkie talkie and attached it in her belt

She read in the next page the following: “The kingdom of Knothole is doomed. Despite the effort of our brave heroes, Eggman won, in the end. Yet, our hero of speed firmly believes he will return one day. He convinced the other heroes, my father and myself into contingency plan for his return. Once all three heroes have passed away, their powers of speed, flight and strength will be sealed in the Star Heart, along with my own. If the wizard Eggman does indeed return, I shall emerge and receive the power inside the Star Heart, so I can fight and defeat this terrible evil and rebuild my kingdom.”

“The Star Heart…” Fiona instantly became fascinated about this Star Heart. Whatever this thing was, must be very extremely valuable; the red fox turns the next page, hoping to learn the exactly location of this Star Heart. As she continue to read the journal, she leans back against the wall, without know that she accidentally pressed a button, which make the wall besides move aside, revealing a secret path. Fiona examined the path with her flashlight and realized there is a stair leading to somewhere down there. “Star Heart must be down there.” With that thought in mind, Fiona put the journal inside the beg and soon began to walk down the stairs.
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Meanwhile in the throne room, Nic had searched all over the place, only finding some swords, shields and some gold coins in the floor. Now she was searching in the king's throne itself, but was doing any better than before. “Are you serious?” Revolted for not find anything else, she turns the royal chair forward, which break in the impact against the stone floor. She stood still for some seconds, breathing heavily until calm herself down. “Good thing we found the castle, it will buy us more time to find more treasures to Breezie” Just like what happened to Fiona, when she leans back against the wall behind the king's throne, she has pressed a button by accident, making the wall move aside, which reveal a secret path. Nic was surprised by such sudden thing, but very glad too. “I can't believe how lucky I am” She said to herself grinning.

Nic lights the way with her flashlight while walking down the stairs. She was thinking there was some sort of secret chamber with a huge pile of gold and jewelry and maybe some other things of value. The purple weasel eventually reaches the bottom, where she bumped into a giant vault, after ten centuries, its metal door had rusted and fell off. She whistled impressed. “This is undoubtedly the biggest vault I've seen!” She declared, following by her entering into the secret chamber.

Meanwhile, Fiona has found another chamber, where there were three giant statues, one of a hedgehog, one of a two-tailed fox and another of an echidna, all of them were with an arm raised and with the hands together. Right over there, there was a pedestal with a big gold star, which was still shinning after all these years. The determined red fox launched the grappling hook up high and successfully attached it into the statues' hands' edge. After quickly check was well firmly, Fiona began to climb up the rope, without look down and hoping she wouldn't slip by accident; eventually, she managed to reach the top and now stand before the pedestal with Star Heart.

Back with Nic, she illuminates the place with the help of the flashlight and realized the chamber was empty, except for a single pedestal in the middle of the room, with what seems to be a big black egg. The purple weasel didn't want believe that, after all that time, money and effort, this was the Knothole's greatest treasure. So she decided to approach the black egg and check out one thing.

Returning to Fiona, she approached it carefully, suspecting if there was some sort of trap. She came closer and closer and then, she simply picks up the Star Heart. The red fox waits for a couple of seconds and nothing has happened; she sighed relieved, knowing there was no sort of trap.

When both Fiona Fox and Nic the Weasel picked up the treasures at the same time, the Star Heart and the black egg began to glow. Without explanation, the chamber Fiona was, was lighted up by many torches in the wall, the statues' eyes also began to glow, fearing it was a trap, Fiona quickly tries to put the gold artifact back in the place, but it was too late. The Star Heart shoots some sort of powerful laser beam that hit Fiona's chest at close range. In the other chamber, the black egg begins to crack and shake violently. Immediately thinking that something would pop up and grab her face, just like that alien movie, Nic threw the egg toward the dark, only hearing the sound of breaking.

Fiona couldn't feel nothing but the pain and burn in her chest, she fell backward off the edge. She closed her eyes, but still saw a light, that's it, it's the end for her. But then, everything stopped. The red fox slowly opened her eyes and realized she was still in the castle, she didn't die or anything like that. Next, she got surprised when took notice that there was a star tattooed in her chest and it was glowing too. The surprises doesn't end there, because soon enough she felt something with her tail, as if it was moving without her control. Fiona looked back and it was very surprised by what she saw, her tail was spinning very fast, just like the blades of a helicopter, which was causing her to, against all the possibility, fly. “WHAT?! How is this…?!” Suddenly, the star tattoo ceased to glow, immediately followed when her tail stopped spinning, causing her fall flat on her back on the stone floor.

Obviously feeling pain, the red fox sits up with a certain difficult, while rubbing her back in an attempt to ease the pain. Next, she pulled her own fur to examine it. “What is this?” Fiona wondered. “Is it some kind of curse?” She supposed.

Next, she noticed that the Star Heart was on the floor, close to her. Not wanting to come back with empty hands, Fiona decided to stand up, a little slower than usual, thanks to her backache, and walk in order to get it. Then, the gold artifact began to glow yet again, the red fox tries to protect her eyes from the sudden glow. Suddenly, particles come out the artifact and materialized an armored knight with an acorn symbol in its chest, right before her eyes. Fiona can't help herself but being amazed by that, however, once the knight in shining armor lay eyes on the fox, things started to get tense. “No! It can’t be!” The mysterious knight was shocked for some reason. Strangely, the knight had a female voice. “The Star Heart should have given its power to me!” It shouted out, still shocked. “I don't know what kind of sorcery you used to steal the powers that were sealed inside the Star Heart, but I swear for my kingdom, for my father and for the bravest hero who sacrificed themselves to save all of us, that I will retrieve these powers!” Just like how the knight was, magically, materialized, a sword also materialized in its hand.

“Bad day!” Fiona thought to herself. She turned around and tries to run to the exit, but the door, by itself, closes right in her face. “Oh, crap!”

“There is nowhere to run, your coward thief!” The armored knight rushed to attack her with the sword.
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Back with Nic, she also met up with a very mysterious figure, a male human, bald, fat, with a carrot-like nose, ugly mustache, eyes covered by medieval goggles and wearing a red and black robe. “Finally! I am free!” He spoke very happy. “But who should I thank for it? Is it you, young weasel?” He asked while staring to her.

Nic was very confused, she have no idea who is this guy neither where he came from. Maybe she should talk with him, he doesn't seems to be dangerous. “Uh, who are you?” The purple weasel asked

“You have no idea who am I?” The weird looking man got outraged, all of the sudden. “How can you never have heard about the great wizard, Eggman?!”

“Sorry, uh, Mr. Eggman, but I think you've been gone, at least, for one thousand years” Nic revealed him this fact, as she step back, a little nervous.

“One thousand years?” The weird guy, who calls himself Eggman, was honestly surprised. But soon enough, an evil smile appeared in his face. “So this means that those pesky heroes are dead! And that the world is completely unprotected against me! HAHAHAHAHA!” He began to laugh like a true mad scientist.

Scared, Nic ran to the exit and began to walk up the stairs, while still running, in order to get away from that crazy dude. “I need find Fiona and get out of here!” She thought to herself.
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Meanwhile, Fiona Fox was running across the chamber with the violent knight right on her tail. For someone in, what is safe to assume, a heavy armor, it can run pretty fast and doesn't seems to be getting tired yet. “Stop running, your coward! Try to at least have an honorable death!” The knight shouted.

“First: I don't want to die! Second: I'm not a thief, I am a treasure hunter!” Fiona replied as she look back and see the knight getting closer to her; she quickened her pace even more.

“Words won't change who you are, thief!” The knight swung the sword, almost cutting off the fox's tail, if she hadn't grabbed it and pulled it out the danger. By doing that, Fiona remembered she can fly now. She focused, the star in her chest glow again and soon enough, her tail started to spin in high speed. Almost right away, the red fox took flight, getting out the reach of that crazy knight and its sword. “I met the original owner of this power, every second you use his power, IT'S AN INSULT TO HIS MEMORY!” The knight shouted angrily, while its sword dematerialized and rematerialized again, but as a whip; which shocked Fiona.

The flying fox tries to fly away, but the knight launched its whip and laced her leg. “Let me go!” Fiona demanded as she struggle to free herself.

“Not until you give back everything you stole!” The knight demanded.

“Fine! Here! You can have everything!” Fiona decided to throw the bag, with everything she got, on the floor; both the jeweled gold comb and the diary of the princess come out the bag when hit the floor.

“My comb? My diary! You read my diary?!” The knight was anger than before and tried to pull her down.

Fiona have no intention of give herself, so she tried again to fly away, hoping the knight would let her go eventually. It was a true tug of war between them, while the knight's heavy iron boots were well planted in the stone floor, the red fox was still able to drag it very little. Suddenly, a rock was thrown and hit the knight's helmet, both Fiona and knight look at the direction of where the rock was thrown. It was none other than Nic the Weasel.

“Let go of her, buckethead!” Nic shouted demanded as she get another rock and threw it against the knight, who this time was able to protect itself with its arm.

“Nic! How did you get in?” Fiona asked. “The door was locked!”

“Serious, Fiona? You are the one who is flying and is being attacked by a freak knight in shining armor! I should be the one making the questions around here!” Nic shouted again, sort of answering Fiona’s bad time to make a question, while picking up another rock and throwing against the knight.

The knight once again protected itself with his arm, next, it noticed that the fox was distracted and decide to, rather pull her down, spin her around and unlacing her leg, which caused to fly and hit against Nic; both ended hitting the wall.

“Nice rescue...” Fiona, a little dizzy, said sarcastically, she was lying on Nic’s lap.

“Get off me!” Nic demanded. Fiona got off the weasel’s lap and sat down next to her, just in time to watch the knight running toward them with a sword.

“This ends here, your thieves!” It shouted while running. Suddenly, a giant crab, which was made out of rock, emerged out the ground and captured the knight with its big claw. Soon after, a giant spider, also made out of rock, emerged out the wall behind the Fiona and Nic, capture them and then suspended itself a few centimeters above the floor with a web stuck in the ceiling; others rock monsters, such as ladybug, hornet, caterpillar, bat also emerged out the ground, wall and ceiling.

While the two treasure hunters and the knight struggle to free themselves, with no sign of success, an evil laugh could be heard coming close. “After one thousand years, I finally have the pleasure to meet you again, Princess Sally.” It was none other than the evil wizard knowing as Eggman, who walked into the chamber. “Tell me, Princess, what is the feeling to realize that all that effort was in vain?” He asked, knew it would affect the knight; now revealed to be a princess, actually.

“Release me that I will show you how much I will strive to cut out your bald head!” The Princess/Knight challenged Eggman, who responded by removing her helmet, showing her as a brown chipmunk and then proceed to slap her in the face.

“Persistent as your father and almost as annoying as that blue hero!” Eggman declared. “But in the end...I won, Princess.” He said arrogantly as he turn around and walk.

“Don't get so full of yourself, Eggman! We all knew you would return one day.” Princess Sally revealed. “Unfortunately our contingency plan has failed.” She declared as she looks toward Fiona with hate.

“Ah, yes! Those two.” The wizard Eggman decided to address himself to Fiona and Nic. “Both of you will be rewarded, you for free me...” He addressed to Nic. “…and you for, somehow, steal the only thing that could stop me.” He now addressed to Fiona. “Release them” He ordered and so, the rock spider released both of them; Nic and Fiona landed on their feet.

“Fiona, are you okay?” Nic asked worried.

“Yeah, I’m fine” Fiona replied.

“What are your names?” Eggman demanded to know.

Both Nic and Fiona gulped nervously when he addressed to them again, knowing that they were surround by a rock monsters, leading by this crazy and powerful wizard. Their only option to survive this encounter is to do what he say. “I-I-I’m N-Nic, sir. Nic the Weasel.” The purple weasel was the first to reveal her name.

“A-and I am Fiona Fox…sir” The red fox was the next one.

“Nic the Weasel, tell me what you want that I shall grant it. This is my thanks for setting me free.” Eggman declared, smiling evilly

“W-well, Mr. Wizard Eggman…now that you mention, since Fiona and I are treasure hunters, maybe you could…”

“Say no more!” Eggman interrupted. Then, he launched a ray beam, from his hand, toward the statues of the three heroes who defeated him. They were magically transformed into solid gold; which surprised Nic and Fiona and let the princess horrified. “Take those gold statues, melt them or simply cut them into pieces. I will even give you some of my golems to help you” He told.

A very wide smile formed itself on the weasel's face. “Oh, thank you! Oh, powerful Eggman!” Nic pretty much kneeled down, like a servant, to thank the wizard; which surprised Fiona and let the warrior princess disgusted. “Thank you!” She stood up and ran to the massive gold statues.

Next, Eggman decided to address himself to the red fox. “Fiona Fox…” He said as he touches her shoulder. “…since now on you have inside you the only power that can defeat my golem army and myself, I will offer you something different, but much better.” He declared.

“Don’t listen to him!” The Princess Sally finally decided to speak up, but by doing that, the crab rock monster squeezed her a little more.

“Join me, Fiona Fox. And together, we shall rule the world” The wizard Eggman proposed.

Fiona couldn't believe what was proposed to her, take over the world? A dream that many villains, both real and fictional, always had, but have never been able to accomplish it. With her new powers and this wizard's golem army, doesn't seems so impossible to accomplish it. “Well… I'm flattered with this and to be honest...”

“NO!” Princess Sally cried out of despair. “Please, for the love of God, do not accept!”

“Oh, shut up, princess!” Fiona decided to yell at the chipmunk in shining armor. “A minute ago you were trying to cut my head off!” She mentioned.

“I was only trying to save the world! But I failed…” The princess wailed.

“Well…” Eggman spoke, he held out a hand, waiting Fiona to do the same.

The red fox thought about this for a moment, analyzing all the ups and downs and , eventually, came to a conclusion. “As much as rule the world sounds good, I will have to pass.” Fiona gave her answer by refusing the wizard’s offer, which displeasing him and gave the princess some hope. “I much prefer to be rich and chill out in a nice beach with my friend over there.” She declared and then started to walk to where Nic was. “But good luck taking over the world!” She wished to the egg-wizard.

“Coward!” Princess Sally shouted angrily to the fox, who simply decided to ignore her.

“How unfortunate...” Eggman said, visibly upset about Fiona's choice. “…but if you aren't with me, then you are against me! Golems, attack her!” He ordered.

The rock hornet was the first to attack by shooting a sort of lightning attack from its sting, which don't hit Fiona, instead, hit the floor, causing a blast that launched her away just a little. The red fox fell flat on the floor, but quickly get up, just in time to notice the rock ladybug rushing toward her like an angry rhino. The star tattoo in her chest shone, allowing her to use her flight power; she got out the way, but unfortunately, the rock ladybug continued to rush, right where Nic was.

“Nic!” Fiona flew as quick as she could and surpassed the golem. Nic doesn't notice the big rock ladybug coming straight toward her, because she was on the cellphone, talking with someone about the huge gold statues. The flight fox grabs the weasel by the arm and lifted her off the ground, getting her out of the golem's way; the rock ladybug didn't stop until hit hard against the echidna statue's foot, which make break its head, consequently. “Nic! We must get out of here!” Fiona shouted as she tries to reach the exit.

The rock hornet returned, this time behind her, and tried again to shoot them down with its lightning attack, but Fiona dodged, which caused the rock bat to be hit and destroyed in the process. “Why they are attacking us?” Nic asked confused. “What did you this time?” She soon started to blame her foxy friend for it.

“Nothing!” Fiona replied as she dodge yet another lightning attack. “Except that I said I didn't want help him take over the world.” She added as she dodged yet again.

“Oh, Fiona...” Nic palmed her own face, knowing exactly where went wrong. “The next time a powerful wizard, who can summon an army out of nowhere, ask you to join him, just say yes!” She scolded her.

“I will try to remember next time!” Fiona, sort of, agreed.

They were reaching the exit, the only thing between them was the rock caterpillar, but due its short stature, might not be a problem. However, the monster stood up, blocking the path and roared. “Turn around! Turn around!” Nic said in panic.

Fiona, the flying fox, does exactly that. But the rock spider shoot its sticky web and hit her tail, causing it to stop spinning and thus, making both the fox and her weasel friend to falling straight to the ground, the glow in her chest ceased. From that height and with that speed, they can die when hitting the stone floor. But then, they were save another rock bat, which grabs them in midair and slowly take them to the ground; only to be dropped soon after.

“Watching you pathetically trying to escape from your doom was very amusing, to be honest.” Eggman said as he approaches them; his golem army had surrounded them. “But your suffering has just begun”

“What's your problem? We don't want be part of your crusade to take over the world, neither we wants interfere” Fiona said.

“Haven't you understood yet? He is a monster! He doesn't care about anyone but himself!” Princess Sally, who was still being held by the crab monster, answered that question.

“And you, Princess Acorn...” The wizard Eggman addressed himself to the princess in shining armor. “…you haven't suffered enough, in my opinion.” He said, then, the crab golem threw the princess on the floor, to where Fiona and Nic were. “Your death will mark my triumphal return! HAHAHAHAHA!” He laughed manically as his rock monster approaches the three girls.

“Can't believe that's how we are going to die!” Nic said in panic as she, Fiona and Princess Sally, who then summons her sword and gold shield, congregate themselves in one place; the red fox scratched her purple weasel, unintentionally. “Ouch, you scratched me!” Nic complained, she moved her arm away and rubs her hand on it.

“I did not!” Fiona denied, kinda outraged, only Princess Sally noticed that the star on the fox’s chest glowed. “I wears cloves! How can I-?!” When she showed her hand to Nic, in order to prove she didn't scratch her, she noticed that there two spikes on the back of her hand; in her other hand was the same thing.

“I know this! You have unlocked another power: divine strength!” Princess Sally explained what happened.

After learn that and take a good look on her own hands, now with sharp spikes, Fiona was filled with confidence and a sly smile took form in her face. She knew what she have to do. The rock caterpillar advanced into attack, so did the red fox. Then, with one punch, Fiona destroyed the monster head, beating him; which let both Nic and Eggman surprised and brought a little smile to the warrior princess' face.

Next, the rock crab monster attempt to crush Fiona with its huge claw, but the fox stopped it with both hands. She freed one of her hands and punched the crab's arm, separating from its body, the monster screamed in pain. Then, Fiona used the monster's own claw to stab it in the face, destroying it. It's seems Fiona was winning this battle, but that changed when the rock spider shoot its web on her, tying her up, and the rock bat captured both Nic and Princess Sally with its claws.

Then, the rock hornet gets ready to shoot Fiona with its lightning attack. But the red fox managed to rip the web with her strength, she jumped on the spider's head and force it to shoot its web against the hornet, the web prevented the monster insect from attack. Next, Fiona pulled the web down, making the rock hornet to clash against the spider, destroying them both.

Nic and the princess still need to be saved, so Fiona rips the web in her tail, allowing her tail to spin really fast. The fox took flight, right toward the rock bat and destroyed it with both hands. She quickly grabs her friend and the knight that tried to kill her by the hand and carefully take them to the floor. The battle isn't over, the rock ladybug once again rushed against Fiona, but this time, she didn't think in fly away. Instead, she decided to use the roundhouse kick to destroy it, finally bringing this fight to an end.

“Whoa, Fiona! That was the most awesome thing I've seen!” Nic praised her fox friend, truly impressed.

At that moment, the star on Fiona's chest ceased to glow. “Is this gonna be like a lamp for my powers, or what?” She wondered as she pulls her own fur to examine it.

While they talking, Princess Sally realized that Eggman is gone. “Eggman! Where is he?” She cried out. She ran to exit, followed by both the fox and the weasel, and walk up the stair, until reach her old bedroom. They proceed to out the room, walk down the stair, getting to the hub area. “Cursed! He got away!” The princess knelt on one knee and punched the floor out of frustration. “But at least, there is hope now.” She stood up and stares at Fiona.

“Why are you looking me like that?” Fiona asked, a little scared.

“Fiona Fox!” Princess Sally placed both of her hands over Fiona’s shoulders. “I know we got off on the wrong foot, but you need to listen to me: only you can defeat Eggman and his golem army” She told to her.

“Whoa, whoa, princess!” Fiona moved away from the chipmunk in shining armor. “You didn't hear what I said back there? I don't want get involved in this dungeons and dragons real-life edition. Nic and I just want be rich and chill out in a nice beach.” She explained.

“And now that we have those gigantic gold statues, I can't even see a reason to work anymore.” Nic added.

“Well said!” Fiona agreed with Nic and they do a high five.

“Okay, let me put it that way.” Princess Sally breathed as she joins hands, in order to not punch those two greedy thieves. “Eggman will stop at nothing until achieve his goal of world domination. He will destroy every city he comes across, he will capture, torture and kill every man, woman and child who dare to oppose him. You said you want to chill out in a nice beach, right? Well forget that. Eggman will turn every beach in wasteland, the sands will become as dark as his heart and the sea will become as poisonous as his mind. And mostly of all, he will not rest until kill you or your weasel friend, in the worst way unimaginable” She made a speech, which made them shiver a little and begin to better reflect their decisions. “So either you defeat this manic for good, or he will kill you. How is it going to be, Fiona Fox?”

Fiona and Nic took some time for think in something to say back. “L-let him try. I have powers now” The fox one finally said something.

Princess Sally hit her own face, hardly believed that the savior was this shameless fox, who really need a good punch in the face; but there still was a last resource she could use in her favor.  “Okay, just come with me.” She said. Then, she guided both Fiona and Nic to the real royal vault, full of gold and jewels. “Here. You can have all this, if you promise to help me defeat Eggman, once and for all.” She declared.

“Okay, Princess. I will help defeat that weird guy.” Fiona finally accepted the noble task to defeat the evil wizard, Eggman.

“Good. But I will tell you: won’t be easy” Princess Sally warned.

“Yeah, yeah…now, how are we going to transport all this gold out of here?” Nic wondered with a big smiled in face, imagined all the things she could do with this fortune.


To be continued?