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It show signs of countless years of weather damage. \"The Purple Tail Temple. Looks like they've finally decided to take us more seriously this time and stationed a number of Kitsunes around the perimeter to keep an eye out for us.\"\n\n\t\"This is going to make things a lot more difficult than the others,\" commented Oak. \"Before we just had to deal with the temple guardian. We had the numbers advantage then.\"\n\n\t\"Looks like there's a four five tails and a couple six tails and one four tail,\" she observed.\n\n\t\"That's a lot of tails,\" said Squall. \"Are we going to have to fight them all?\"\n\n\t\"We won't be able to get far if we did that,\" explained Marle. \"It'd be best just to split them up and lure them away from the temple. That's what you two will do. In the meantime, I'll enter the temple and take care of the temple guardian and obtain the Purple Tail.\"\n\n\t\"Well, it shouldn't be too tough for us to keep those seven kitsunes busy for a while,\" replied Oak. \"But they'll come running back as soon as they realize that we're just a diversion. Can you beat this temple guardian on your own that quickly?\"\n\n\t\"If I remember correctly,\" she recalled. \"This one is named Verse, and she has a rather tricky illusionary Art.\"\n\n\t\"If you get trapped in her illusions you might not be able to find your way out,\" added Oak. \"It might be better to take care of the Kitsunes outside first so we can support you.\"\n\n\t\"That won't be necessary,\" Marle replied confidently. \"I doubt this one will take all too long.\"\n\n\n\t\"Marle?\" thought Tails as he stared at her picture while following Nova towards his classroom. \"Is it true what you've been doing? Is this what you meant when you said you were an archeologist? Did you plan to use me as nothing more than a getaway driver once my plane was fixed? What are you really after?\"\n\n\t\"You're so deep in thought,\" said Nova catching Tails off guard with a slap on the back making him jump in fright. \"Whoa! Very deep in thought.\"\n\n\t\"Uh, yeah,\" answered Tails attempting to calm down.\n\n\t\"You've been staring at the wanted picture since I gave it to you,\" he commented. \"I think I know why.\"\n\n\t\"Y-you do?\" asked Tails only growing more nervous as Nova grinned at him.\n\n\t\"It's written all over your face,\" he snickered. \"You got a crush on her. I didn't know you had a thing for bad girls.\"\n\n\t\"She isn't really bad,\" Tails blurted out. \"Uh, I mean, she doesn't look dangerous or anything.\"\n\n\t\"You didn't deny that you have the hots for her,\" pointed out Nova.\n\n\t\"And I do not have a crush on her!\" cried Tails crumpling the paper in frustration.\n\n\t\"Relax, I'm just messing with you,\" he laughed. \"I just wanted to try and cheer you up before we got into class.\" Grabbing a nearby door handle, he opened the door revealing the classroom. The class was arranged like a university classroom with benches that stretched from one side of the room to another each bench a couple steps higher than the one in front of it. There was a large screen that displayed what was written on the chalkboard below it. The teacher lecturing the class was the same kitsune from before Mr. Lecture.\n\n\t\"Oh, Nova, Tails, welcome,\" he paused his lecture to greet them. \"Are you feeling better now, Tails?\"\n\n\t\"Uh, yeah,\" answered Tails feeling a bit embarrassed with everyone now staring at him. He gave a nervous wave as he could hear everyone's whispers.\n\n\t\"I still can't believe Tails is here and now he's in our class.\"\n\n\t\"If Mr. Lecture didn't interrupt his battle with Dyne I bet Tails would have kicked his ass.\"\n\n\t\"You think Tails will give me a ride with his tail copter when class is over?\"\n\n\t\"Forget that, I want to get a ride in the Tornado. You think he brought that with him?\"\n\n\t\"Everyone still seems to be a big fan of yours even after you got tossed around like a ragdoll,\" Nova whispered to Tails.\n\n\t\"Uh, yeah,\" said Tails.\n\n\t\"The lecture has started so Nova please take your seat and Tails can I please see you up here for a moment?\" called Mr. Lecture.\n\n\t\"Coming,\" answered Tails making his way down to him while Nova took a seat with another vacant spot next to him so Tails could sit next to him. Tails walked down the steps feeling a bit creeped out by the dozens of eyes watching his every move like they could jump from their seats to smother him at any moment. \"Did you need something?\"\n\n\t\"First, I was hoping that you had an autograph for me?\" he asked.\n\n\t\"Heh,\" scoffed Dyne to himself. \"Even after losing he's still seen as some big shot. But it shouldn't matter. He'll be revealed for the fraud he truly is.\"\n\n\t\"Oh, right here,\" replied Tails handing him a piece of paper he had signed his name on. Mr. Lecture took it and gazed upon it with excitement before composing himself and pocketing it.\n\n\t\"Now, can I assume you are here for lessons on Kitsune Arts?\" he asked.\n\n\t\"Yeah,\" answered Tails. \"To be honest, I don't really know very much about them or about Kitsunes. So I'd really appreciate it if I could participate in a few classes while I'm here.\"\n\n\t\"It'd be an to let the Legendary Tails sit in on some of my classes,\" he replied. \"We were actually going to be doing some review work today so you've come at a very good day. Just take a seat and we'll resume class.\"\n\n\t\"Right away, sir,\" Tails said hurrying back to take his seat next to Nova.\n\n\t\"Now, as I was just saying,\" Mr. Lecture resumed. \"KItsunes are foxes that possess multiple tails. It is not quite known why a fox suddenly gains a new tail and becomes classified as a Kitsune. It also varies when this phenomenon occurs, though typically it occurs during a young age. Upon receiving their second tail a Kitsune is able to uncover their own magical potential even earning more tails up to a total of nine. Why nine is the limit? That is another of those yet resolved mysteries, but there has never been evidence of a Kitsune with more than nine tails, the last to reach that many being the Great Kitsune himself. Today, temple guardians and Chancellor Zeal possess the most tails of any Kitsune on Sekkai with seven tails each. Now, is it true that depending on a Kitsune's color affects what kind of abilities they can learn?\"\n\n\tNova raised his hand right away and answered before he was even called upon. \"Yes it does. For instance my fur is red so I specialize in fire Arts.\" After he finished his answer he had a smug look on his face confident that he was correct.\n\n\t\"First,\" responded Mr. Lecture. \"That answer of yours is absolutely incorrect.\" Hearing that, Nova slunk in his seat as the class snickered as his error. \"Second, please wait till I call on you before giving an answer. Now, would someone else like to give an answer?\" He looked around the room for another volunteer. \"Ah, Dyne, please answer the question.\"\n\n\t\"Obviously that is a preconceived notion,\" he answered. \"For some, they believe it to be true and as a result base all their abilities around what they believe to be their element. That is not a terrible idea if one creates arts that support one another, but having diversity is another way to go.\"\n\n\t\"That's a very good answer,\" praised Mr. Lecture. \"Indeed, our Arts are based off of what we choose them to be and once we create an Art for one of our tails it can never be changed or altered so it vital that each one is chosen with the utmost care.\"\n\n\t\"I guess I should have chosen more carefully then,\" murmured Tails. \"My Tail Copter is great, but my new one isn't all that great.\"\n\n\t\"It isn't that it isn't strong,\" said Nova. \"You just need more practice with it. You need to get control of you TP and build it up more.\"\n\n\t\"TP?\" asked Tails hearing about it for the first time.\n\n\t\"Tail Power,\" explained Nova. \"Look, Mr. Lecture is talking about it now.\"\n\n\t\"Tail Power or TP as it is abbreviated is the magical energy that all kitsunes possess,\" he explained. \"It is what we use to use out Kitsune Arts and without it we cannot use any of them. When one overexerts their TP by using too many Kitsune Arts it can result in sudden fatigue and disorientation. In other words, it can leave you very tired. Any questions?\" He looked around for some hands and the first to raise theirs was Tails. \"Yes?\"\n\n\t\"Does the amount of TP depend used depend on the Art used? Like a strong Art will require a lot and a weaker one won't cost as much?\"\n\n\t\"A very good question,\" Mr. Lecture replied. \"Strong and weak Arts is another preconceived notion. Since there are many different types of Arts that can be used for many different situations, let's narrow it down for now and focus on using Kitsune Arts in a battle. If two Kitsune attacked one another with Arts there are many factors to take into consideration. I'm sure you are all aware of type advantage and environment can also play a roll, but more important that that is Tail Power. The minimum amount of TP required for an Art depends on how much control has over their TP. So, a Kitsune with good control could use an Art for much less TP than a Kitsune who has poor control over their TP, however the more TP used, the stronger the Art will be. One might then conclude that a Kitsune with the best control over their TP would almost always come out victorious in a fight, but another factor that has to be taken into consideration is the amount of TP one possesses. More TP means one will be able to use their Arts more and use more TP with their Arts to increase their power. Even with poorer control over their TP, a Kitsune with greater reserves of TP can still come out on top. So you can see why it is vital that a Kitsune works to learn to better control their TP and increase their overall amount as well.\"\n\n\t\"So Kitsunes don't just improve by gaining more tails and picking Arts for them,\" noted Tails as he wrote the information Mr. Lecture said down. \"Then I can improved my current techniques and any new ones I could learn.\"\n\n\t\"Now, one might wonder,\" continued Mr. Lecture. \"How does one increase their total TP? How does one even calculate the amount one has? A process has been developed to relate TP to a numerical amount for how much one currently has and what one's maximum TP is. We'll perform the test on some volunteers in a moment, but first, who knows how one works to increase their max TP?\" Looking around, he called on another student.\n\n\t\"While there are ideas and theories, that have varying results from one Kitsune to the next, the only consistent method is by training it like any other muscle in your body. By pushing it as much as you can you will be able to increase the max capacity and even help to improve the time required to recover TP.\"\n\n\t\"Exactly correct,\" replied Mr. Lecture. \"It warms my heart to know you are being so diligent with your studies. This calls for a special lecture. I'll give you all my award winning lecture on proper tail grooming!\" The room was quickly filled with a chorus of groans, but Mr. Lecture was too busy grinning ear to ear to notice.\n\n\n\t\"That's the wanted Tanuki!\" cried one of the Kitsune guarding the Purple Temple. \"Don't let him escape!\" Oak jumped around doing everything he could think of from sticking his tongue out and slapping his rear at them to taunt them till the nearby Kitsunes were in full pursuit of him.\n\n\t\"The Kappa's on this side!\" shouted another from the other size of the temple. \"Keep them away from the temple at all costs.\"\n\n\t\"Looks like we got their attention,\" muttered Squall. \"Better start leading them away.\"\n\n\t\"You Kitsunes think you're so strong!\" taunted Oak at the top of his lungs. \"I bet you can't even catch me!\"\n\n\t\"Catch them and make them so we can make them tell where their friend is! We need to get back the tails she stole at any cost!\"\n\n\t\"Even better than I could have hoped,\" chuckled Marle watching from a distance. \"All seven has run off after them. I'd thought that at least two or three would have stayed behind to guard against me.\" Walking out of her hiding place and towards the Purple Temple she looked around making certain she was alone. Turned to look into the darkness of the temple entrance she smiled. \"This can only mean that the Purple Guardian anticipated our tactics, but instead of preparing countermeasures she's chosen to challenge me one-on-one. If that's what she wants, I don't see why I shouldn't meet her head on.\"\n\n\tWalking into the temple, it was just as the others had been, dark despite the time of day save for the torches providing some slight illumination, dust and cobwebs, abundant, and the musty smell of the ages. Marle proceeded cautiously, hesitant of where her opponent was or when she was going to strike, if she hadn't already.\n\n\t\"Purple Guardian!\" she called out. \"I know you are somewhere around here! Your name... it's Verse, right? I'm Marle and I'm here for the Purple Tail. There is no sense in playing hide and seek. Keep me waiting too long and I'll just level this place to the ground. You know I won't hesitate to do that.\"\n\n\t\"You sound quite sure of yourself,\" Verse answered back. \"You do realize that you'd end up getting crushed if you did that from in here. As for hiding, I haven't even started fighting yet. First, I'd like to talk. There are some things I'd like to confirm first.\"\n\n\t\"You're a lot different than the other guardians I've already met,\" commented Marle as she entered into the main room where Verse was on the opposite side of the room near where the Purple Tail resided. Light leaked into the ceiling from above where a part of the roof had collapsed. Looking at Verse, she had light blue fur and hazel eyes. Her hair gave her head a round shape and she had different colored hair clips in it. She was dressed in bright white skirt and tank top with light blue trim with matching sandals. Amazingly she wasn't covered in dirt despite the environment they were in. \"The ones I've met so far were all old, but you don't sound much older than me.\"\n\n\t\"I haven't been a guardian for nearly as long as them,\" she admitted. \"For most, it takes countless years to reach seven tails, but I've already made it that far. You have four tails now, correct, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Black. All four of them are have yet to pass the job down to someone else, but looks like you've made that task moot. I, however, don't intend to end up as them. You won't beat me.\"\n\n\t\"They all believed I didn't stand a chance, but I've proven myself stronger than they expected and I'm even stronger than I was when I attacked the last temple,\" bragged Marle. \"And besides that, I have researched you and know you specialize in illusionary Arts. I am ready for anything you could try.\"\n\n\t\"I am well aware of that,\" she responded. \"But I've done the same for you. I know about your two partners and have had them removed so that it can just be the two of us. I also know your abilities. Your blue tail can create a barrier and your green tail can manipulate the earth. Then there is your newest tail, capable of focusing your TP into a powerful beam of energy.\"\n\n\t\"Impressive,\" Marle stated giving a soft clap. \"Though one thing puzzles me. I used my Barrier to help obtain the Yellow Tail, but I've never used Terra Eruption in a fight yet and Tail Beam I just got recently. How did you know what my Arts were?\"\n\n\t\"Because they aren't yours!\" she snapped. \"Those were the Great Kitsune's Arts! You stole them just as you stole the treasures he's left for us. All of that is unforgivable!\"\n\n\t\"I don't care if I'm forgiven or not,\" scoffed Marle.\n\n\t\"But there is one thing you have done that's even more unforgivable,\" she continued. \"That other Art you have with your black tail, to take away the tails of your fellow Kitsunes. It baffles my mind that you would even consider that. And curious still, that was not one of the Great Kitsune's Arts. Why is that?\"\n\n\t\"That's my secret,\" replied Marle picking up some stones that were on the ground. \"Now enough with the pleasantries. Time to fight!\" Marle threw a stone at Verse. When it hit her, it passed through her body. \"Or rather, you have already started fighting.\"\n\n\t\"It is my duty to protect the Purple Tail,\" she stated her voice now echoing around the room making it impossible to tell where she was hidden. \"I will do what I must to ensure you never lay a hand on it.\"\n\n\t\"More like you are too frightened to have me near you,\" retorted Marle. \"You are afraid that I'll take your tails away.\" Throwing some more stones, she aimed randomly at the center of the room and then all over the room after that.\n\n\t\"Ow!\" cried Verse as a rock suddenly hit something invisible in the room. \"Got me right in the nose.\"\n\n\t\"That worked out better than expected,\" Marle admitted. \"Now I know where you are.\" Taking a step forward, Marle was about to approach where Verse was hidden, but walls suddenly burst forth from the ground turning the room instantly into a maze. \"Another illusion. Nice try, but an illusion isn't very effective when one knows it isn't real.\" Walking into the false wall, Marle bumped her nose attempted to walk through it. \"Ow, my nose.\"\n\n\t\"My illusions are more than smoke and mirrors,\" explained Verse. \"They don't just target your sight, but all your senses including your sense of touch. If you touch them you can feel them. And...\" The temple began to shake violently as the stones on the walls burst out in humanoid shapes. Marle counted half a dozen in front of her and could only imagine how many more were elsewhere in the labyrinth. \"If they hurt you, you will really be hurt.\"\n\n\t\"I already figured that out,\" replied Marle rubbing her nose. She took a few steps back as the stone figures surrounded her. \"Looks like getting this Tail will be a lot more trouble than the previous ones.\"", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Chapter 5: Tails 101


\t"There it is," said Marle from atop a hill looking down at an old temple covered in overgrown vines and moss.  It show signs of countless years of weather damage.  "The Purple Tail Temple.  Looks like they've finally decided to take us more seriously this time and stationed a number of Kitsunes around the perimeter to keep an eye out for us."

\t"This is going to make things a lot more difficult than the others," commented Oak.  "Before we just had to deal with the temple guardian.  We had the numbers advantage then."

\t"Looks like there's a four five tails and a couple six tails and one four tail," she observed.

\t"That's a lot of tails," said Squall.  "Are we going to have to fight them all?"

\t"We won't be able to get far if we did that," explained Marle.  "It'd be best just to split them up and lure them away from the temple.  That's what you two will do.  In the meantime, I'll enter the temple and take care of the temple guardian and obtain the Purple Tail."

\t"Well, it shouldn't be too tough for us to keep those seven kitsunes busy for a while," replied Oak.  "But they'll come running back as soon as they realize that we're just a diversion.  Can you beat this temple guardian on your own that quickly?"

\t"If I remember correctly," she recalled.  "This one is named Verse, and she has a rather tricky illusionary Art."

\t"If you get trapped in her illusions you might not be able to find your way out," added Oak.  "It might be better to take care of the Kitsunes outside first so we can support you."

\t"That won't be necessary," Marle replied confidently.  "I doubt this one will take all too long."


\t"Marle?" thought Tails as he stared at her picture while following Nova towards his classroom.  "Is it true what you've been doing?  Is this what you meant when you said you were an archeologist?  Did you plan to use me as nothing more than a getaway driver once my plane was fixed?  What are you really after?"

\t"You're so deep in thought," said Nova catching Tails off guard with a slap on the back making him jump in fright.  "Whoa!  Very deep in thought."

\t"Uh, yeah," answered Tails attempting to calm down.

\t"You've been staring at the wanted picture since I gave it to you," he commented.  "I think I know why."

\t"Y-you do?" asked Tails only growing more nervous as Nova grinned at him.

\t"It's written all over your face," he snickered.  "You got a crush on her.  I didn't know you had a thing for bad girls."

\t"She isn't really bad," Tails blurted out.  "Uh, I mean, she doesn't look dangerous or anything."

\t"You didn't deny that you have the hots for her," pointed out Nova.

\t"And I do not have a crush on her!" cried Tails crumpling the paper in frustration.

\t"Relax, I'm just messing with you," he laughed.  "I just wanted to try and cheer you up before we got into class."  Grabbing a nearby door handle, he opened the door revealing the classroom.  The class was arranged like a university classroom with benches that stretched from one side of the room to another each bench a couple steps higher than the one in front of it.  There was a large screen that displayed what was written on the chalkboard below it.  The teacher lecturing the class was the same kitsune from before Mr. Lecture.

\t"Oh, Nova, Tails, welcome," he paused his lecture to greet them.  "Are you feeling better now, Tails?"

\t"Uh, yeah," answered Tails feeling a bit embarrassed with everyone now staring at him.  He gave a nervous wave as he could hear everyone's whispers.

\t"I still can't believe Tails is here and now he's in our class."

\t"If Mr. Lecture didn't interrupt his battle with Dyne I bet Tails would have kicked his ass."

\t"You think Tails will give me a ride with his tail copter when class is over?"

\t"Forget that, I want to get a ride in the Tornado.  You think he brought that with him?"

\t"Everyone still seems to be a big fan of yours even after you got tossed around like a ragdoll," Nova whispered to Tails.

\t"Uh, yeah," said Tails.

\t"The lecture has started so Nova please take your seat and Tails can I please see you up here for a moment?" called Mr. Lecture.

\t"Coming," answered Tails making his way down to him while Nova took a seat with another vacant spot next to him so Tails could sit next to him.  Tails walked down the steps feeling a bit creeped out by the dozens of eyes watching his every move like they could jump from their seats to smother him at any moment.  "Did you need something?"

\t"First, I was hoping that you had an autograph for me?" he asked.

\t"Heh," scoffed Dyne to himself.  "Even after losing he's still seen as some big shot.  But it shouldn't matter.  He'll be revealed for the fraud he truly is."

\t"Oh, right here," replied Tails handing him a piece of paper he had signed his name on.  Mr. Lecture took it and gazed upon it with excitement before composing himself and pocketing it.

\t"Now, can I assume you are here for lessons on Kitsune Arts?" he asked.

\t"Yeah," answered Tails.  "To be honest, I don't really know very much about them or about Kitsunes.  So I'd really appreciate it if I could participate in a few classes while I'm here."

\t"It'd be an to let the Legendary Tails sit in on some of my classes," he replied.  "We were actually going to be doing some review work today so you've come at a very good day.  Just take a seat and we'll resume class."

\t"Right away, sir," Tails said hurrying back to take his seat next to Nova.

\t"Now, as I was just saying," Mr. Lecture resumed.  "KItsunes are foxes that possess multiple tails.  It is not quite known why a fox suddenly gains a new tail and becomes classified as a Kitsune.  It also varies when this phenomenon occurs, though typically it occurs during a young age.  Upon receiving their second tail a Kitsune is able to uncover their own magical potential even earning more tails up to a total of nine.  Why nine is the limit?  That is another of those yet resolved mysteries, but there has never been evidence of a Kitsune with more than nine tails, the last to reach that many being the Great Kitsune himself.  Today, temple guardians and Chancellor Zeal possess the most tails of any Kitsune on Sekkai with seven tails each.  Now, is it true that depending on a Kitsune's color affects what kind of abilities they can learn?"

\tNova raised his hand right away and answered before he was even called upon.  "Yes it does.  For instance my fur is red so I specialize in fire Arts."  After he finished his answer he had a smug look on his face confident that he was correct.

\t"First," responded Mr. Lecture.  "That answer of yours is absolutely incorrect."  Hearing that, Nova slunk in his seat as the class snickered as his error.  "Second, please wait till I call on you before giving an answer.  Now, would someone else like to give an answer?"  He looked around the room for another volunteer.  "Ah, Dyne, please answer the question."

\t"Obviously that is a preconceived notion," he answered.  "For some, they believe it to be true and as a result base all their abilities around what they believe to be their element.  That is not a terrible idea if one creates arts that support one another, but having diversity is another way to go."

\t"That's a very good answer," praised Mr. Lecture.  "Indeed, our Arts are based off of what we choose them to be and once we create an Art for one of our tails it can never be changed or altered so it vital that each one is chosen with the utmost care."

\t"I guess I should have chosen more carefully then," murmured Tails.  "My Tail Copter is great, but my new one isn't all that great."

\t"It isn't that it isn't strong," said Nova.  "You just need more practice with it.  You need to get control of you TP and build it up more."

\t"TP?" asked Tails hearing about it for the first time.

\t"Tail Power," explained Nova.  "Look, Mr. Lecture is talking about it now."

\t"Tail Power or TP as it is abbreviated is the magical energy that all kitsunes possess," he explained.  "It is what we use to use out Kitsune Arts and without it we cannot use any of them.  When one overexerts their TP by using too many Kitsune Arts it can result in sudden fatigue and disorientation.  In other words, it can leave you very tired.  Any questions?"  He looked around for some hands and the first to raise theirs was Tails.  "Yes?"

\t"Does the amount of TP depend used depend on the Art used?  Like a strong Art will require a lot and a weaker one won't cost as much?"

\t"A very good question," Mr. Lecture replied.  "Strong and weak Arts is another preconceived notion.  Since there are many different types of Arts that can be used for many different situations, let's narrow it down for now and focus on using Kitsune Arts in a battle.  If two Kitsune attacked one another with Arts there are many factors to take into consideration.  I'm sure you are all aware of type advantage and environment can also play a roll, but more important that that is Tail Power.  The minimum amount of TP required for an Art depends on how much control has over their TP.  So, a Kitsune with good control could use an Art for much less TP than a Kitsune who has poor control over their TP, however the more TP used, the stronger the Art will be.  One might then conclude that a Kitsune with the best control over their TP would almost always come out victorious in a fight, but another factor that has to be taken into consideration is the amount of TP one possesses.  More TP means one will be able to use their Arts more and use more TP with their Arts to increase their power.  Even with poorer control over their TP, a Kitsune with greater reserves of TP can still come out on top.  So you can see why it is vital that a Kitsune works to learn to better control their TP and increase their overall amount as well."

\t"So Kitsunes don't just improve by gaining more tails and picking Arts for them," noted Tails as he wrote the information Mr. Lecture said down.  "Then I can improved my current techniques and any new ones I could learn."

\t"Now, one might wonder," continued Mr. Lecture.  "How does one increase their total TP?  How does one even calculate the amount one has?  A process has been developed to relate TP to a numerical amount for how much one currently has and what one's maximum TP is.  We'll perform the test on some volunteers in a moment, but first, who knows how one works to increase their max TP?"  Looking around, he called on another student.

\t"While there are ideas and theories, that have varying results from one Kitsune to the next, the only consistent method is by training it like any other muscle in your body.  By pushing it as much as you can you will be able to increase the max capacity and even help to improve the time required to recover TP."

\t"Exactly correct," replied Mr. Lecture.  "It warms my heart to know you are being so diligent with your studies.  This calls for a special lecture.  I'll give you all my award winning lecture on proper tail grooming!"  The room was quickly filled with a chorus of groans, but Mr. Lecture was too busy grinning ear to ear to notice.


\t"That's the wanted Tanuki!" cried one of the Kitsune guarding the Purple Temple.  "Don't let him escape!"  Oak jumped around doing everything he could think of from sticking his tongue out and slapping his rear at them to taunt them till the nearby Kitsunes were in full pursuit of him.

\t"The Kappa's on this side!" shouted another from the other size of the temple.  "Keep them away from the temple at all costs."

\t"Looks like we got their attention," muttered Squall.  "Better start leading them away."

\t"You Kitsunes think you're so strong!" taunted Oak at the top of his lungs.  "I bet you can't even catch me!"

\t"Catch them and make them so we can make them tell where their friend is!  We need to get back the tails she stole at any cost!"

\t"Even better than I could have hoped," chuckled Marle watching from a distance.  "All seven has run off after them.  I'd thought that at least two or three would have stayed behind to guard against me."  Walking out of her hiding place and towards the Purple Temple she looked around making certain she was alone.  Turned to look into the darkness of the temple entrance she smiled.  "This can only mean that the Purple Guardian anticipated our tactics, but instead of preparing countermeasures she's chosen to challenge me one-on-one.  If that's what she wants, I don't see why I shouldn't meet her head on."

\tWalking into the temple, it was just as the others had been, dark despite the time of day save for the torches providing some slight illumination, dust and cobwebs, abundant, and the musty smell of the ages.  Marle proceeded cautiously, hesitant of where her opponent was or when she was going to strike, if she hadn't already.

\t"Purple Guardian!" she called out.  "I know you are somewhere around here!  Your name... it's Verse, right?  I'm Marle and I'm here for the Purple Tail.  There is no sense in playing hide and seek.  Keep me waiting too long and I'll just level this place to the ground.  You know I won't hesitate to do that."

\t"You sound quite sure of yourself," Verse answered back.  "You do realize that you'd end up getting crushed if you did that from in here.  As for hiding, I haven't even started fighting yet.  First, I'd like to talk.  There are some things I'd like to confirm first."

\t"You're a lot different than the other guardians I've already met," commented Marle as she entered into the main room where Verse was on the opposite side of the room near where the Purple Tail resided.  Light leaked into the ceiling from above where a part of the roof had collapsed.  Looking at Verse, she had light blue fur and hazel eyes.  Her hair gave her head a round shape and she had different colored hair clips in it.  She was dressed in bright white skirt and tank top with light blue trim with matching sandals.  Amazingly she wasn't covered in dirt despite the environment they were in.  "The ones I've met so far were all old, but you don't sound much older than me."

\t"I haven't been a guardian for nearly as long as them," she admitted.  "For most, it takes countless years to reach seven tails, but I've already made it that far.  You have four tails now, correct, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Black.  All four of them are have yet to pass the job down to someone else, but looks like you've made that task moot.  I, however, don't intend to end up as them.  You won't beat me."

\t"They all believed I didn't stand a chance, but I've proven myself stronger than they expected and I'm even stronger than I was when I attacked the last temple," bragged Marle.  "And besides that, I have researched you and know you specialize in illusionary Arts.  I am ready for anything you could try."

\t"I am well aware of that," she responded.  "But I've done the same for you.  I know about your two partners and have had them removed so that it can just be the two of us.  I also know your abilities.  Your blue tail can create a barrier and your green tail can manipulate the earth.  Then there is your newest tail, capable of focusing your TP into a powerful beam of energy."

\t"Impressive," Marle stated giving a soft clap.  "Though one thing puzzles me.  I used my Barrier to help obtain the Yellow Tail, but I've never used Terra Eruption in a fight yet and Tail Beam I just got recently.  How did you know what my Arts were?"

\t"Because they aren't yours!" she snapped.  "Those were the Great Kitsune's Arts!  You stole them just as you stole the treasures he's left for us.  All of that is unforgivable!"

\t"I don't care if I'm forgiven or not," scoffed Marle.

\t"But there is one thing you have done that's even more unforgivable," she continued.  "That other Art you have with your black tail, to take away the tails of your fellow Kitsunes.  It baffles my mind that you would even consider that.  And curious still, that was not one of the Great Kitsune's Arts.  Why is that?"

\t"That's my secret," replied Marle picking up some stones that were on the ground.  "Now enough with the pleasantries.  Time to fight!"  Marle threw a stone at Verse.  When it hit her, it passed through her body.  "Or rather, you have already started fighting."

\t"It is my duty to protect the Purple Tail," she stated her voice now echoing around the room making it impossible to tell where she was hidden.  "I will do what I must to ensure you never lay a hand on it."

\t"More like you are too frightened to have me near you," retorted Marle.  "You are afraid that I'll take your tails away."  Throwing some more stones, she aimed randomly at the center of the room and then all over the room after that.

\t"Ow!" cried Verse as a rock suddenly hit something invisible in the room.  "Got me right in the nose."

\t"That worked out better than expected," Marle admitted.  "Now I know where you are."  Taking a step forward, Marle was about to approach where Verse was hidden, but walls suddenly burst forth from the ground turning the room instantly into a maze.  "Another illusion.  Nice try, but an illusion isn't very effective when one knows it isn't real."  Walking into the false wall, Marle bumped her nose attempted to walk through it.  "Ow, my nose."

\t"My illusions are more than smoke and mirrors," explained Verse.  "They don't just target your sight, but all your senses including your sense of touch.  If you touch them you can feel them.  And..."  The temple began to shake violently as the stones on the walls burst out in humanoid shapes.  Marle counted half a dozen in front of her and could only imagine how many more were elsewhere in the labyrinth.  "If they hurt you, you will really be hurt."

\t"I already figured that out," replied Marle rubbing her nose.  She took a few steps back as the stone figures surrounded her.  "Looks like getting this Tail will be a lot more trouble than the previous ones."", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Tail's Tails Ch.5 Tails 101", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "text/plain", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "0", "rating_name": "General", "ratings": [], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "0", "views": "60" }