The Crystals of Younderknot

Well here I go…

Italics = personal thoughts

All the characters are owned by Archie Comics

This is my first story and is mostly just Sally and Fiona as I want to start off small and see if I'm any good at this. It's written mostly from Sally's perspective. They are considered rivals and this take place sometime after the last issue with Fiona (just broke out of jail with Scourge).

Elias Acorn
Sally Acorn
Fiona Fox

Elias and Sally are walking down the hall in the castle fortress of a far off province of the Republic of Acorn called Yonderknot

Sally: sighs "I really don't want to go to this, I don't know anyone here" (she checks herself on the strip of mirror surface on the wall as she walks with Elias. She is wearing a full length gown and heels which are driving her nuts.

Elias: (somewhat distracted in thought and barely catching what Sally said) "Don't worry you will be fine Gerald said he will pair you with very special friend who will keep you company tonight during the ball. I forgot her name, oh wait its "Bettina". He says she is super smart and thinks you two will be perfect together."

Sally: (mentally processing Gerald) "Who is Gerald?"

Elias: "You don't remember? Dad said you played with him when you very little. I know him and he's a nice guy, a bit on the chubby side now… but anyway he says Bettina is new to Yonderknot… he talked about her doing some sort of mining technology restructuring. It was hard to follow all that mining lingo. Anyway he said she's smart and worldly."

Sally: "Mining? (rolls her eyes and says sarcastically) that sounds so exciting…" (NOT!)

Elias: "Look, mining in Yonderknot is the mainstay for the population so please be kind about it"

Sally: "I understand, I will try to be interested" (I just hope they have some stiff drinks to help me out)

Elias: "Just be nice to her, with the way he talks he must like her"

They get to the end of the hallway and a butler steps forward to guide them in to the Grand Hall entrance. The Younderknot Ball is already underway with the room filled the local elites of this sleepy little providence of Acorn. The social elites of Yonderknot are all in the mists of laughter and merrymaking and its special occasion to have a prince and princess visiting. The butler motions to Elias about a group of men sitting around a long table who are socializing in a ruckus jovial manner. Elias smiles as he sees the group of fellows and turns slightly to Sally.

Elias: "Well I'm off, Gerald is the heavy set fellow over there in blue and silver uniform, see the red plume on his hat? He will take you to wherever Bettina is… Oh and have fun!"
Sally: (looks at the group of jovial men and instinctively knows an "old-boys" crowd when she sees it) "Yeah thanks… " (sighs and turns to see Gerald . She gracefully walks towards him, putting on her big smile as any princess knows you must make the most of your first impression, especially if you don't even remember him)

Gerald is speaking to a couple of fellows when his royal minder taps him on the shoulder and motions to Princess Sally who is approaching. Gerald looks at Sally and a big warm smile fills his face as he nods and greets her.

Gerald: "Welcome… Welcome Princess Sally, you look so lovely dear. I hope your trip here was well?"

Sally: "It was very pleasant, the countryside leading up to the mountains is very beautiful"

Gerald: "Ahhh yes, everyone loves how the mountains look from a distance" (he pauses as his royal minder butts in with a disturbed look on his face)

Royal Minder: "So sorry to interrupt you Master Gerald but your father keeps asking for you"

Gerald: "OKAY, okay just give me a moment…" (turns to Sally) "I would like to introduce you to my little "Bettina" before I'm so rudely pulled away." (motions to another royal minder a short distance way) "She came to Yonderknot on business and she did such a fantastic job demonstrating this new mining technology. I find her so fascinating. I think you will like her." (His muzzle in a big smile as he gazes at the lady the minder is guiding towards them)

Sally about trips on her heels as she sees the lady approach. The lady returns a big smile at Gerald and as she casually glances over at Sally.

Sally: (taken by surprise) "Fiona!?" (said in a half statement half question way)

Fiona: (looks at Gerald and then to Sally) "Your highness I am Bettina Killion, I am very pleased to meet you" (Said in a fake accent with an air of sophistication. She the bows to Sally in courtesy)

Sally: (it's got to be Fiona- her fur is tinted little different… a shade or two lighter…fur dye no doubt… but the muzzle features.. the body type.. it's her! ) "Gerald I hate tell you this… but you have made a big mistake… this is Fiona Fox… she is a dangerous criminal. She runs with Scourge."

Gerald: (Stares at Sally for brief moment before Fiona jumps in)

Fiona: "Your highness must clearly have me confused with that terrible miscreant…. Gerald remember me telling you about this horrible situation of mine?"

Gerald: (Snaps out of his stare) "Oh yeah yes.. yes.. Sally believe me Bettina here is not this Fiona you speak of, she showed me footage of this Fiona and while she looks remarkable like her she is in fact not her. Bettina is so much more sophisticated than whoever that Fiona is"

Fiona: (nods and looks back and forth at Gerald and Sally) "It is such a pain for me where ever I go her reputation follows me and soils my reputation, I was so happy the people here are soooo accepting and understanding of my plight"

Sally: (eyes Gerald with a look of disbelief and then quickly notices the men that Gerald were speaking to look at Fiona and then at Sally and mutter something to each other. Sally eyes quickly shift back to Fiona who stares back at her with a big smirky smile)(Do I cause a scene and try to arrest her? Crud! I don't know where Elias is at)

The royal minder tugs at Gerald's arm again and Sally hears Gerald's father's name being whispered into his ear.

Sally: (quickly assess the situation stacked against her, she is alone here among strangers in a far flung province of the republic and these people apparently haven't been keeping up with the outside world. Fiona has Gerald wrapped around her finger. These people know she is Princess Sally Acorn, however they have never met her in person before. They know this "Bettina Killion" for at least a short time. This all boils down to not much leverage on her side, she needs to make Fiona screw up and reveal herself. Sally turns to Gerald and smiles) "Gerald… maybe I was a bit too hastily in my judgment, my flight here did give me some air sickness."

Gerald: (looks at Sally and then at Fiona; a bit perplexed and confused) "I was so hoping you two could spend time together…. with you (motioning to Fiona) helping Princess Sally with the charity works."

Fiona: (Her eyes widen in clear surprise) "What?"

Sally: (Quickly cuts in) "OH! I would love for her to stay and help me"

Gerald (now being tugged at again by the Royal Minder) "Oh very good then! (he smiles at Fiona) "Ta ta dear" (as he quickly walks in the direction of his father's table)

Fiona quickly shoots an agitate look at Sally as Sally smirks back at her.

Sally: "It's so nice to meet you Miss Bettina Killion, your business is in the mining industry I hear…. how fascinating…"

Fiona: (darts her eyes around the room and then at Sally) "Yes, your highness. I work for a consulting firm demonstrating new mining techniques. They will bring efficiency and safety to the workers in the mines"

Sally (I need to get her to drop this ridicules act and get her to tell me what she is up to) "Really? You … Thinking about the people's safety…"

Fiona: (ignores Sally's verbal barb) "Would your highness care for a drink? It is very odd that you are here alone"

Sally: "I would love to Fiona and no I'm not here alone (She keeps looking around, what does she have planned?)

Fiona leads Sally a short distance to a man holding a tray of various drinks. On the way there Sally quickly does some thinking. (Fiona's in a gown and high heels too, this room is huge and filled with people, I don't think she will try to run right now, I need to make her slip up and tell me something, what can I use to trip her up?)

Fiona: (turns and presents a glass to Sally) "Your drink your highness"

Sally (This better not be poisoned you traitor) "Thank you Fiona"

Fiona: (Keeps her fake smile up, clearly ignoring the fact that Sally keeps calling her by her real name) "To You… your highness" (toasting her glass in the air – Sally raises her glass to meet Fiona's and watches as Fiona downs all of hers in one gulp)

Sally: (fakes drinking the spirits just in case… )(I've got to trick her into dropping this act) "You know how I know it's you? Your scent… I know I have smelled it on Sonic."

Fiona: (takes the bait and looks very coy at Sally) "Oh that will hold really well in a court of law… " (then switches to a high pitched Sally imitated voice) "your honor… I know it was Fiona… I smelled the same scent on my off and on again boyfriend… you're going to have to do better than that your highness "

Sally: "When did you find out I was here?"

Fiona: "Only when you walked into the room, the people here all turned to look. They have never seen a princess in Younderknot before." (Fiona's glances past Sally for moment) "One of the charity tasks we have to perform is to pass out signature books and pens, I hope you wrist is up for a lot of writing"

Sally: "My wrists are fine….. I use the speed bag every day" (said with a glare in her eye at Fiona)

Fiona: (Smirks at Sally's little boast) "Your highness uses the gym, how strangely unroyal like"

Sally: (That fake accent is good…. In an annoying sort of way) "Yes… I train to beat criminal traitors like you Fiona"

Fiona: (Gives Sally the look of "Bring it on" and looks past Sally once again) "Oh look the children of Younderknot approach, please dear, no talk of violence in front of little children"

Sally spins around and is sees a dozen kids approaching and quickly smiles as the kids beam up at her with astonishment at being so lucky to meet a princess. Their all dressed up special for the night in brightly colored outfits and the girls have pretty ribbons in their hair. She turns to look back for Fiona and suddenly can't find her.

Fiona: "Here your highness" (as she suddenly appears on Sally's other side which startles Sally and causes her to clinch a fist)

Fiona holds up a little book and a pen for Sally to take. Sally, clearly angry at this little effort to unnerve her snatches it from Fiona's hand. Fiona eyes Sally with nod towards the children which causes Sally to realize she needs to maintain composure and smile at the little ones. Sally autographs the little book and does a little chit chat with first child in the line of kids. She watches as Fiona does her little task of handing out signature books and pens and being very friendly and nice with the kids asking them what color of pen and book they would like. She also gives them instructions to keep them lined up for the princess to talk to in an orderly fashion. A parent of one of the kids comes by and chastises their child in Gramaic to which Fiona replies back in Gramaic (rather fluently) that their child is fine and nothing is wrong. Sally has been taught Gramaic as part of her royal upbringing and is surprised by Fiona's sudden ability. Once the children all have their books signed Fiona tells them to form a double line and they sing a little song for Sally to hear. Many adults around the grand hall watch with delight as their child sings to the princess. Sally claps politely and smiles when they are finished, but she makes sure Fiona stays in her sight at all times. Fiona tells the kids that the princess "meet and greet" is over and they turn and leave. The butler with the drink tray comes by again and both ladies take a drink and sip staring at each other.

Sally: "I must say Fiona, you have stepped up your game… I didn't think you had any ability in clandestine operations at all, are you still with Scourge? This doesn't seem his style at all"

Fiona: (with a coy smile) "I thought of this on my own, those rough neck boys are off on some "guy trip". I found a needle in a haystack… some of this was planned, and some of it was by pure chance, but hey you got to go out and take if you want it. Do you understand princess?"

Sally: (steps a bit closer and stares at Fiona) "Whatever you got going on here… it's going to collapse like a house of cards"

Fiona: (locks eyes with Sally) "You're so arrogant, what are you going to do? Take me down right here in the middle of the room, look at all the people who keep looking at you"

Sally: (glances away from Fiona to a group nearby and sees a lady there smiling back at her, she smiles back and look at another group, again she sees more people looking at both her and Fiona)(I don't see Elias, making a big scene might not be a good idea)

An older girl from the children's group that was just there suddenly appears before them both and bows to Sally and then smiles at Fiona. She says "I beg your pardon Princess Sally, I just wanted to say something to Bettina before my curfew and I have to leave. (Turns to Fiona) I saw your presentation to all the leaders and they were so impressed by your knowledge. It really brightened our hopes for a better tomorrow with all the new technology. I hope to be so smart like you, the way you just knew how to answer every question. Thank you so much."

Fiona: (stares…stunned by the girl's complement ) "Well it was my pleasure, thank you dear"

The older girl gives her a big warm smile, bows to Sally, turns, and walks away

Sally: (steps closer to Fiona as she stares at the girl walking away) "Oh my… if she only knew how much a fake you really are."

Fiona: (snaps out of her gaze) "My presentation wasn't fake, I worked very hard on that, everything said there was true"

Sally: "You're still a traitor and a thief"

Fiona: "She doesn't know that, let her aspire to be that person, would you really want to hurt her with the truth?"

Sally: (gives Fiona a confused look) "You may have fooled these people right now but it will all come crashing down, even if you did good deeds here they will only turn rancid. Tell me what you're after here Fiona"

Fiona: "But that would take all the fun out of it"

Sally then spots Gerald coming back with a disturbed look on his face he and he has four burly guards behind him.

Fiona: (Smiles as he approaches) "Oh dear Gerald you are back, I'm so happy!"

Gerald: "I don't how to tell you this but my father seems to believe you could be the real Fiona, I tried to tell him he was mistaken. I really tried. They want to take you to someplace safe till we get this sorted out. Please dear… don't be upset. I'm sure this will be sorted out".

Fiona: (Lets out a little gasp and gives Gerald a worried face) "Right Now? What will these people think of me being lead out like this?" (looking at the guards)

Sally: (it all comes crashing down now Fiona) "Do you know where Elias is at" (said to Gerald)

Gerald: "He's with my father" (then turns to Fiona) "Don't worry I will walk you out, no one will suspect a thing, it will be like normal you and me… a walk to the elevator. Will you be able to do that my dear?"

Fiona sniffles and nods, holds out her hand and Gerald tucks it in next to his as they walk away together. The four guards follow them. Sally watches an instinctively walks after the group, (this game is afoot and not over yet)

The people they pass around the grand hall all smile and nod as Gerald walks by with Fiona. Except for the four guards walking behind them this isn't anything unusual as they have seen Fiona with Gerald together a lot lately. They get to the elevator and the doors open, Gerald and Fiona walk in and two of the guards walk behind them. The two remaining guards turn around and then give a startled stare at Sally who has been following them unnoticed by them. The guards look at each other and then step aside leaving a clear path into the elevator. Sally quickly deduces they were just escorting to the elevator and knows she better get inside before the door closes. Sally quickly steps in the elevator and sees a second pair of doors opposite the one she walked in. This is the kind of elevator that opens on both sides. The two guards that walked in turn to look at the princess but don't do anything as who's going to question a princess? Then one guard looks away from Sally and just looks straight ahead at attention. Sally can smell a bit of alcohol in the air and isn't sure which guard has the bad breath. Then she sees the other guard smile at her.

Sally: (Oh this great… he's toasted on duty! Worse is they aren't watching Fiona)
Fiona: (Standing by the far elevator panel box behind Gerald and facing him, she starts balling)"Gerald what's going to happen to me? I didn't do anything."
Gerald: (is trying to calm her down) "Don't worry, we will sort this out. We will set things right"
Sally: (watches this display from Fiona with disgust, how she can dupe men is quite amazing. Fiona lets out a cry and turns to face the wall behind her ) (Gerald is in for really rude awakening soon)
Gerald: "Bettina my dear, why are your shoes off?"
Sally: (is hit with a sudden sinking feeling, she realizes they are isolated, Fiona has her heels off, and she is now facing the panel of switches for the second set of doors.)

Fiona hits the emergency stop and power button to the elevator and the elevator comes to a very sudden stop and the lights go out. Immediately the emergency lights kick on and a dim illumination fills the elevator. During this time Sally has tried to step forward knowing the Fiona was about to spring her trap but the sudden stop combined with the high heels sends her crashing to the ground. The non-drunk guard moves to help Sally up. A shriek comes from Gerald as he shakes and drops to the ground.

Fiona: "Sorry sweetie, nothing personal"
Sally: (screams at the guard trying to help her)"NEVER MIND ME, GET HER!"

The non-drunk guard turns and goes after Fiona attempting to grab her but she grabs his arm and twists it into a hold and with her other hand she jab a short rod up against his neck and blue arcs of light flicker as a quick repetitive clicking sound fills the air. The guard grunts and slumps to the elevator floor. Sally works quickly trying to take off her high heels. The drunken guard helping Sally stands up and charges Fiona, she side steps him and uses his own weight and momentum to slam him into the wall face first. Fiona then stabs her short rod into his neck and once again blue arcs flicker against the dim lights and this drunken guard goes straight down to the floor. Fiona spins her body and her arm with the rod is grabbed as her body suddenly presses up against Sally. Fiona and Sally briefly stare at each other in the dim light.

Fiona: "It's just you and me now, princess"
Sally: "You're going down!" (pushes Fiona up against the wall)

Fiona pushes her back and swings the electro rod at Sally. Sally dodges the first swing and catches Fiona's hand on the next swing. Sally's training on disarming kicks in and she twists Fiona's wrist which causes her to drop the electro rod. Fiona punches Sally in the ribs causing Sally to lose her grip on Fiona, the pair briefly separate and then Fiona does a heavy kick into Sally who manages to partial block it as almost hits in the same spot as the punch to her ribs. Sally swings a couple of times at Fiona who dodges and evades them. Fiona then sweeps Sally in the leg which causes Sally to fall to one knee. Fiona moves in to punch but Sally suddenly surges up and head butts Fiona in the face. The point of the royal tiara gouges into Fiona mouth and causes her to let out a painful scream. Sally presses forward her advantage and swings hard at Fiona who side-fades this attack and Sally passes by her. Sally quickly turns but plants her foot on a guard on the floor which causes her to stumble, Fiona catches her off balance with a punch to the face. The slightly stunned Sally swings back but her arm is caught by Fiona who pulls her around by her arm, slams her leg to back of Sally's leg to create a pivot point, and uses that to throw Sally back against the wall.
Sally hits the base of the wall with her head and slumps. In a flash Fiona is on top of her grabbing her by her neck, she hesitates as she realizes Sally is knocked out. "I win princess!" says Fiona as she stands up breathing heavily.

Fiona retrieves the electro rod and turns the elevator back on. While the elevator car is going down Fiona feels something loose moving around in her muzzle. She digs around and finds a chipped tooth. "You chipped my dam tooth Sally" she says to the unconscious Sally as she tries to look at her face in the semi reflective wall. The elevator gets to the floor Fiona wants and the doors open. Fiona walks by Sally slumped on the floor with her head on wall. She stops and drops the chipped tooth down into Sally's cleavage. She smiles and says "Say "Hi" to blu for me Sal" and leaves.

Sally wakes up with a severe headache as guards are carrying her. She tells them to put her down and she sees Elias.

Elias: "Are you alright Sally?"
Sally: "I want to get out of the stupid dress, ugh! Where's Fiona?"
Elias: "We don't know, but come this way" (He leads her down the hall into a room)

The magistrate of Youngerknot is there with Gerald (who is his son). Gerald is crying and says he doesn't understand what happened. Sally shakes her head but knows he was duped by Fiona and it's not really his fault. Then one of the technicians tells the magistrate that the video is ready. He asks everyone to leave except Sally, Elias, Gerald and a couple of advisors. The video is from the Security camera in the elevator.

Sally stays stoned faced as she watches the battle in the dimly lit elevator again. She flinches when she sees herself hit the floor and Fiona on top of her. (Oh I want a rematch so badly!) goes through her mind. Her eyes widen as she watches Fiona turn the power back on and the lights show all the unconscious bodies lying in various spots of the elevator. She watches as Fiona pauses over her and drops something. She turns to see all the males look at her and then down at her cleavage.

Sally: "Hey!" (covers herself up and turns away and all the males quickly look away. She fishes out the object and then clinches her fist around it.

Elias: (comes up behind her) "What did she drop Sally?"
Sally: "It's a parting gift from Fiona…"
Elias: "A what?"
Sally: "Look, it's just a tooth (She shows everyone) she is trying to get in my head"
Elias: (looks at the magistrate and then to Gerald)
Magistrate: "If your highness permits it I would like to erase this video"

Elias looks at Sally who looks back and nods. Sally closes her fist around the chipped tooth again.

Sally: "Do we know why she was here?" (said to the men in the room)

One of the security advisors looks at the magistrate and he nods back.

Advisor: "We did find our vault looted and some of money and jewels were stolen. But all of the rare items were on display at the great hall for the special event. She didn't get those items. We just got off the phone with the mining company she said she worked for, they said the real Bettina Killion works in the promotional department and recently someone stole all the materials from a promotional display at a trade convention. We are also checking all the mining equipment she had shipped in. She used Bettina's identity to order us that equipment on credit. The mining company said this is actually normal business practice and often it's hard to get a hold of Bettina because she is traveling a lot. Of the equipment that has gotten here nothing is out of the ordinary with that."

Sally: "You probably won't find anything there… she said it herself she used that as a front to come in, but it seems like an awful lot of lot of work for just a heist."

The magistrate and the security advisors begin to mumble among themselves and then come to an agreement.

Advisor: "She was probably after these." (He produces a box and opens it) "These were found about a month ago and we sent word to your people in New Mobotropolis as to what they were. But we never heard back from anyone. We don't know what they are."

Sally (looks in the box, it contains a jumble mass of crystal fragments which look a bit like chaos emeralds but they are of many colors, she nods) "Yeah… that would be what she was after. What are you going to do with them?"

Magistrate: (sighs and finally speaks) "I know we are a far away province from the kingdom"

Elias: "It's a republic now"

Magistrate: "My apologizes Prince Elias, I knew you were going to come for this event and was hoping to give them to you. I felt weird about them so I didn't keep them in the vault where all the valuables were looted, I guess I was just lucky I did that. Can you please take them? I don't think I want this kind of trouble here" (He looks at Gerald who looks down and sniffs).

Sally and Elias look at each other and agree to take them.

On the flight back Sally cleans up her face and changes her cloths. She sees no bruises are showing and she doesn't really want anyone to know about her loss to Fiona. Right now she wants to keep the information on the box of odd crystal fragments a secret. Somewhere in the communication lines Fiona was tipped off about them. She walks in the Freedom Fighter headquarters and sees Sonic and the gang. They greet her with hugs and hellos. Sally tells them about Fiona's act, heist, and about the secrete box of crystals and warns them not to tell anyone. The one thing she does not mention though is her fight with Fiona, but she does show the tooth for them to see. She tells them that Fiona "must have bitten off more than she can chew" which causes most to laugh. Bunnie chimes in that it's sort of gross and asks if Sally is keeping it as a "souvenir". Sally is repulsed by the idea and chucks it in the garbage. "Let's all go out to eat" suggests Sonic and they leave the room. Outside, Sonic looks around and calls out "Tails! Where are you?" Tails emerges from the Freedom Fights headquarters and waves "over here, I'll be there in a minute" He looks down at a tooth he is holding in his hand and then stashes it away before anyone notices."

The End.