A blue arctic fox was lying on her back on a small hill about fifteen miles from the dark city of Robotropolis. Her mismatched eyes were half closed as she gazed at the city, wondering what it had been like before the days of Robotnik. She wore a dark blue t-shirt and a black vest, as well as a set of black sweats. She also wore a set of blue and white shoes that were perfect for running. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and her twin tails were tucked under her to make her appear normal. She sighed as she noticed the dark cloud growing over the once beautiful city that had once been the capital of the Kingdom of Rings. She had been sent to this Robotropolis to keep watch on one of the royal princes that were still alive, a green hedgehog named Manic Hedgehog.

"ACE! Are you even listening to me?"

The blue fox glanced over to where the hedgehog in question was. 'Now how does that saying go? Speak of the devil and he shall come?' She sighed and sat up. "Yes, I am, Manic."

"Alright, then what'd I say?" Manic Hedge was a relaxed kind of hedgehog usually, but when you needed him, he could be serious, just like his brother, Sonic. At this point, Manic was concerned about two of his best friends, both of which were girls.

"You want me to get Vixen, and then both of us meet you back here and we go meet your bro and sis over in Knothole near the Kingdom of Acorns city of Robotropolis. After we meet them, you want me to use my special skills, knowledge, and abilities to see if I can find out what happened to Vixen's family, which will be no problem as I can tell you right now where they both are located." Ace Lunar Dreamstar, as she called herself, just gave the bewildered hedgehog a smirk. "What? You know that I'm skilled at finding what I need to, and my main goal has always been returning the royals to power."

Manic blinked and then rubbed the back of his spikey green head. "Ah, jeez… alright… anything you can tell me now that's useful?"

Ace smiled kindly to the young hedgehog as she stood up just shorter than him. "Of course, Manic. I can tell you that your parents will soon be reunited with you and your siblings. I can also tell you that your father is closer than you think and that we should pick him up when we get Vixen Gears." Manic's eyes widened in shock. He had yet to hear about his father since the whole time people were mainly talking about his mother. "I can also say that Vixen's little brother can also be considered your little bro thanks to how he and Sonic get along."

"WHAT?"

Freedom Fighters

Deep in the dark sewers of Robotropolis in the Kingdom of Rings, a faint clanking is being heard. A pale orange and yellow furred fox wearing a tool belt, a brown set of broken goggles, and a dirty pink jacket. Her light sky blue eyes were dull from war, but still had a light as she made her way to the sound's source as quietly as she could. A soft smile reached her face as she came upon the younger fox known as Ace. "Heya, Ace, wazzup?"

Ace smirked. "Manic wants us to meet his family, and I need to collect his dad from the sewer system." Ace tended to speak in a language all her own sometimes, as though she did try to speak like others. Manic and Vixen could understand her more than anyone else because they had been friends with her since she was a child, though she was still a teenager now. "You in?"

"Why not. So, who's his dad?"

"You know the Jack of all trades?"

"The recluse thief that only likes us kids? Yeah, so?"

"That's him, King Jules Hedgehog, or rather, Jules the Hedgehog."

"Go fig."

"Exactly." Ace smiled and let out a small chuckle. "I'll meet you at the meeting place. I'm going after the Jack."

"Meet you there."

***Freedom Fighters***

"Yo, Jules, you in or am I barking down the wrong sewer pipe?" Ace grinned as she heard something drop. She then dodged a small boomerang like object. "Hehe, ya missed old timer!"

"I'll give you old timer, Ace Dreamstar!" Ace dropped to the ground before the tall green hedgehog could grab her. It helped that she was still smaller than most Mobians her age. The older Mobian tripped over her and was sent spiraling across the sewer. "Ow." He muttered after landing upside down on the sewer walkway.

"Nice landing, your majesty." Ace mocked with sarcasm as she extended a hand towards the green hedgehog.

"Shut up and explain how you know who I am." Ace smirked as she helped the king of Rings up.

"Let's just say that it's my job to know where and who you royals are. You're the father of Sonic, Sonia, and Manic Hedgehog, one of which happens to be my best friend, so I'd really like it if you would get over your fears and come on."

"What fears?"

"That he'll hate you for not telling him." Jules shook his head. He knew this fox was trouble from the moment that he had met her. She was too smart for anyone's own good. "Now come on. We're going to meet Sonia and Sonic tomorrow as well as some other important rebel leaders. Are you coming or not?"

Jules frowned at the girl but sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Ace smirked. "I knew you'd see it my way."

***Freedom Fighters***

Ace was grinning as she walked into the secret rebels' base in the kingdom of Rings. Behind her was a disheveled tall green hedgehog wearing a dark brown cloak. Manic looked up at him with some concern. "Don't ask, Manic. I'll explain it once we get to Knothole." Manic nodded slowly as he realized that the Jack of all trades sounded like him in a way.

"Right." Manic then looked towards his two fox friends. "So… we all set to go to Knothole?"

"Yep." The girls chorused.

Jules sighed, nodded and took his hood down. "Fine, but we are being careful, right? Robotnik's gonna love the chance to…"

"Yeah, we know. Don't worry, your royal kingliness." Ace chuckled as Manic and Jules looked at her annoyed. "You and Manic are top priority in our group while us foxes remain unknown, trust me though, I know we'll make it without much trouble."

"Knock on wood!" Vixen chuckled as she grabbed a piece of wood she carried around for such an emergency.

"You are so superstitious."

"Only around you, blue girl. Honestly, you are such bad luck when you say that phrase."

"Yeah, but at least with this I know what I'm talking about, and I know that we'll find your little brother if we go meet Sonic and Sonia." This made the orange fox shut up as the four of them started on their trip to Knothole in the kingdom of Acorns.