Illona shook her head in disbelief. Espio raised an eyebrow. Extending a hand, he pulled her to her feet, then dipped and retrieved the fallen book. He gave it to her and promptly was knocked over by a bumblebee and a twin tailed fox. "Sorry!" The fox shouted; Espio put a hand over the kid's mouth and hissed, "This is a library!" "Sorry!" the fox said, much quieter. "Who's this?" The bumblebee asked. Espio frowned and replied, "This is -" He looked at Illona. "I'm Illona." "-Illona. Illona, these are the most annoying pranksters in the AABR; Charmy," He pointed to the bumblebee, "And Tails, the mecha wiz." The little fox waved shyly. "Nice ta meetcha!" The bumble bee said enthusiasticly. She smiled; she had always liked kids. Espio was looking at the book he had gotten for her; she hadn't had enough time to hide it. "'The Light And Other Gifts ?"She blushed and hid it behind her back. Espio looked at her carefully. "Are you -" He said, and was interrupted by the arrival of Sonic. He looked tired. "I...just...managed to... escape...." he panted. He looked up. "Oh... hi... Espio... Charmy and... Tails...." "Sonic!" Amy's voice drifted across the library. Sonic sighed and ran off. Espio looked closely at Illona. She did have a certain glow about her.... Maybe a fight was the only way to find out. just outside the school was a fighting ring the school leased for the students. "Illona?" Espio asked. "Yeah?" "I challenge you to a fight!" "Excuse me?" "I have a theory that I would like to test. Do you accept?" he grinned. tonight will decide. And, if i'm right, I may win a powerful ally.
Illona stared. He seemed perfectly serious. She sighed for the third time that day. "Fine."
"YOU ACCEPTED!?!?!" Sonic shouted. He started playing with his food; he was really scared for her.
"That was before I knew he was the best fighter in the school!" Illona snapped back.
"Why are you so worried, anyway?" Cosmic asked slyly. Then she winced; she had forgotten that Amy now policed Sonic on his interest in girls, or his lack thereof.
"Yeah, why?" Amy pouted.
Sonic groaned. "Because, Amy," he explained patiently, "She is a close friend and I don't want to see her splattered on the fighting platform!"
"Gee, thanks for your faith in me." Illona grinned at the outraged look on his face.
Then the bell rang. Illona shrugged and started walking out. I'll show them who's the best around here!
Espio was already on the platform, waiting for his opponent. A crowd of people were gathering already, probably wondering who the unlucky victim was. He grinned. She probably has a Light. I'm 90% sure. he mused. The only way she'd make it out of here is if she uses it. Then he saw her and he smiled. Either way, tonight's another win. for me, that is.
She blushed as she walked toward the platform. People started to whisper. He's fighting a girl? What is he thinking? She mounted the steps and the crowd hissed. Espio stood tall. "Would a hedgehog like you know the rules of combat? Like the first one fallen off loses?"" He said, goading her. Her eyes flashed fire. Sonic, on the ground, cringed. I'd hate to be Espio.... Illona called out, half to Espio, and half to the crowd, "Let's see how easy it is for a hedgehog to beat a lizard, you annoying cold-blooded jerk!" The crowd cheered. She adopted a fighting stance; he pulled out a giant shuriken. Knuckles, the self appointed ref, shouted, "Start!!!" Espio threw his shuriken, expecting an easy win - But she leaped a good fifteen feet and flipped twice, landing easily on her feet. Espio's jaw dropped; The crowd fell silent in surprise. "Oh, poor little boy," she said in the same tone of voice he had just used on her, "Is it hard to learn your place?" And she did a flying kick, striking him on the side of his head. He fell over, and the crowd gasped. He stood back up, blood running down the side of his face. Snarling, he twisted in the air, going invisible, but she simply used her light to make infrared sight available. She punched him, and he nearly fell off the platform. When he was teetering, she used her power: she created an acupuncture needle, and threw it into his ankle. he fell off. The entire grounds were silent. She turned her head and, looking down at her friends, said, "I thought you guys told me he was hard to beat!" Knuckles shouted "Win, Illona!" and the crowd went wild. Down on the other side of the platform, Espio watched the needle dissappate without leaving a mark, confirming his thoughts. And he smiled. Now, it's time to play nice. That, and she's adorable. He stood up and walked off.
