COA Chapter 4 - Meditations

The Title picture I made for Chapter 4 of The Cycle of Ages: A Chosen One (reload/remake project).

The Chapter is titled "Nothing Else" (formerly 'A Steady Fall from Grace' )
It can be found here:
[link]

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Aside from a mock fight (between OCs), Chapter 4 was a mostly action-less chapter. Tempest and Nail play a major part in it (after which, they fade mostly into the background), and it builds on their characterizations as a way of juxtaposing the two paths Tails has before him.

Nail (the echidna) represents a more mystical and spiritual understanding of the universe and Chaos Control, and an inclination towards restraint and pacifism. This is much more pronounced in the ACO rewrite than in the original. Nail constantly insists that Tails learn about obscure things that he claims are related to Chaos Control (like "Ixian magic" and "mesmerism" and "mind's eye" and "psychometry" and all sorts of other stuff - to Tails annoyance, as he sees it mostly as un-scientific superstition). Nail follows Athair's teachings, and he believes that the powers of the Chaos Emeralds are sacred and should not be misused.

Tempest, the other two tailed (kitsune) fox in the picture takes an opposite and ultimately utilitarian view of power: to him, it is simply something to develop and use. He tries to teach Tails that (among kitsune), those with strength greater than their peers have what is basically a divine right to dictate to them. While some violence is pointless (sadism, for example), it is only natural that some are destroyed by others, and dominated by them. His culture is based on strict order and unquestioning subordination.

Tails, who by this point is already firmly convinced that his intellect and power mean that he can not avoid a fight while those without his gifts risk their lives, ultimately rejects both notions. He comes to see Nail as cowardly and indecisive (despite having a few interesting if unorthodox ideas), and he pities Tempest for his rigid inflexibility and inability to adapt to new opportunities outside his cultural 'comfort zone.' It is his firm belief in duty and responsibility, as a consequence of power, that justify his actions in the battles to come.

Tempest and Nail are both OCs. Nail was originally conceived by Blackbird ( [link] ) but I dare say I've modified his character almost beyond recognition by this point.