Phoenix Daughters/Sonic
Affairs of the Heart

Chapter 1
A picture

Maria was on the roof of the ruins, she and everyone in the entire city who doesn’t support Hectria, now live. Many of the people could comfortably live in the ruins now that all of the booby traps were taken out, even though only a small section of it was made for living. It was interesting what having the city being frozen did too people.
“Hey,” Phenica, Maria’s second spirit, said. It was somewhat interesting that someone other than herself could live in one body. “Christa wanted to check on you, since I stated that you wanted privacy.”
“I’m not going anywhere outside the forest aren’t I? Tell her that I’ll be down in a few for her shift.” Phenica nodded and drifted away. A second could go outside her ‘host’s’ body if she wanted too. It was the only way for her to show herself to others. And right now, almost the entire city knew about her.
Maria wanted privacy for multiple reasons. The most predominant was her conflicted feelings that she had now acquired, in her romantic life. Since learning who her presumed soul mate could be, it’s caused nothing but turmoil in her mind. One thing was for sure; her feelings for Ryan were defiantly fading.
Something in the sky caught her eye. A big aerial battleship appeared on the horizon. She couldn’t miss it, against the night sky, it looked like the city. She definitely recognized the emblem on the side…the Eggman Empire. She had kept up with what it was up to. Every madman would be interested in New Phoenicia sooner or later, with its ancient history and magic-wielding residents. She smiled. From what she had heard of it, it would be a child’s play compared to Hectria.
“Phoenix Daughters!” she yelled out, using an amplifying spell. Almost in a heartbeat, Christa, Alex and Celica appeared. Maria’s parents, Angela and Antonio, her twin brother, Andrew, matchmakers Myra and Mira, and Celica’s adopted sister Dawn, hustled up using the stairs. Maria pointed towards the ship.
“So the crazy guy decides to show up.” Alex, a badger, remarked. “So what’s the plan leader?”
“Personally, I’d go for a welcoming committee to go and ‘greet’ him but…” nodding towards Andrew, “can things be taken care of here?” Maria asked.
“Everyone can be aroused at a moment’s notice.”
“Ok.” Maria walked over to the edge of the roof. “Alyonda!” Alyonda, an ancient spirit that rests within a phoenix bird, flew up from her nearby perch. “Did you get that?” Maria asked.
“Word for word. I’m betting I know what my role here is. Transportation ready!” She was a very handy transportation by air, and she didn’t seem to mind. Anything for the decedents of her cherished daughter, Tatlia.
“I guess I’ll fly.” Celica said. Thanks to a gift given to Maria at activation, she, and anyone she chooses, could transform between a human and an antro or could chose a hybrid form. Celica’s form was a fruit bat.
“Christa, you’ll be with us, but be on the alert for any signs of activity from Hectria.” Christa, a mermaid, was the best at magic and could easily tell if something involving magic is active in New Phoenicia.
“Right!” She was the first to get on Alyonda. Alex followed with an arm steadying Maria. Celica was right on the edge.
“Hey Maria?” Dawn asked. She had a photo in her hand. “Is this the Sonic the Hedgehog guy with you?”
“Where did you…yes it is.” Maria must’ve dropped it when she went to the edge. “Thanks.” She held her hand out for it but Dawn refused.
“Is he the reason why…?”
“Careful, or even when you do activate, I won’t let you get the gift.” Maria snatched the photo away from Dawn.
Dawn just grinned. Angela whispered to Dawn, “Whenever his name popped up in the news, Maria would stop what she was doing and listen.”
“Let’s go.” Maria said to Alyonda, not noticing the giggles that busted from Christa and Celica.