Alternative Freedom Fighters:

Season Two.

Chapter 6: Personal matters.

The next day...

Hessen am Main, capital of the Princedom of the Main, Kingdom of Mercia. 3:00 PM, Local and Empire City Time.

The sun shines on the picturesque buildings of the neighborhood known as "the Old Town", revealing a cultural richness comparable to that of Spagonia.

Fiona and Rouge are in a hotel, inside a luxury room, resting in a double bed; both are totally naked but their bodies are covered with a sheet. The red vixen is sound asleep after having made love, but the she-bat is awake, sitting on the pillow and using a netbook with a small video camera connected to it; occasionally, Rouge looks at her girlfriend, and then turns her attention back to what she was doing.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Rouge, are you awake?"

"Yes, Antoine. I'm coming."

The she-bat ends whatever she has been doing, turns off the netbook, disconnects the camera and hides it in a drawer, wears a robe, goes to the door and opens it, meeting with the coyote: he was waiting in the corridor, facing the door.

"What's new?"

"We will have a holo-conference in half an hour, mademoiselle. Par hasard, do you know where Fiona is? I have to tell her-"

Then, Antoine manages to see Fiona lying on Rouge's bed. The she-bat realizes this.

"Tony, I can explain it-"

"Non, ce n'est pas nécessaire. I wish you two good luck in your relationship."

Antoine is about to leave, but he remembers what Tails asked him before leaving for Shamar.

("Try to talk to Fiona about our relationship and our separation. That's the only thing I ask of you. Don't tell her what to do and what not to do, don't act as if you were my spokesperson, etcetera. Just get her to open up and tell you what's going on. Ask for help from Dad or anyone else if you deem it necessary. If you try but you don't achieve anything, don't worry about me: if you've made the attempt at least, I'll not be disappointed in you.")

"What's the trouble, steadfast tin soldier?"

"Rouge, I need your help for something. Mais we should talk in private. It would be better if Fiona doesn't listen to us."


Half a minute later, in another part of the corridor, Rouge and Antoine are talking in low voices.

"So Tails asked you to investigate why Fiona broke up with him."

"Oui, et I don't plan to leave that mission unfulfilled. Mais I'll need your help."

Rouge starts speaking in a... suggestive tone. "I think I can do something more-"

"Non." Antoine immediately cuts her phrase. "We won't try to convince Fiona to return with Tails. Il has made it très clear: Fiona's decision must be respected; de plus, il only wants answers."

"You're a killjoy."

"Merci, mademoiselle."

"Anyway, it's a shame that Fiona has broken with Tails. We two together will find out the reasons for the breakup; however, once that mystery has been resolved, I'll convince Fiona and repair the relationship between those two foxes, and I'll do it with or without your help."

"Alors be careful. Now Fiona trusts vous, et if she discovers you try to give her to someone else, things are going to get ugly."


Rouge returns to her room and meets with Fiona, who's still in bed but is already fully awake.

"Hi, Rouge! Is there any news?"

"Nothing important, only we will have a conference in half an hour."

The she-bat approaches Fiona, removes the sheet slowly and begins to brush the vixen's body with her hand.

"While we wait, we could... I dunno... test some toys." Rouge winks at Fiona, who bites her lower lip.

"That sounds like fun..."


About 25 minutes later...

On the ground floor of the hotel, at the buffet, Antoine and Amadeus are having a coffee. Bow Sparrow is also next to them: this male mobian sparrow, skilled in the use of bow and arrows, was the second-in-command of Rob O'Hedge when they fought as Mercian Freedom Fighters; now Rob is the King, and Bow leads the Royal Guard and is one of the most trusted subordinates of the young monarch; when Rob learned about the mission of the Marshal's team and that they were going to be in Mercia, he booked them the best hotel rooms in Hessen am Main and sent Bow Sparrow to contact them on behalf of the Crown.

Antoine: [to Amadeus] "Perhaps you et madame Prower have experienced crazy things during your dates... [brings his gaze to Bow] mais nothing compares to what happened to Bunnie et moi during our last vacation. I'll tell you..."


[About five or six days ago...]

[Soundtrack: Arrivederci RomaRenato Rascel, Pietro Garinei & Sandro Giovannini, version of Claudio Villa]

It is night in Spagonia, more precisely, in Tevere District. Antoine, dressed in a white shirt and wide black pants, is walking down an alley, carrying a milk container in one hand and a small plate in the other.

After the tense days ended with the Civil War and Sally's rescue, he and Bunnie had decided to enjoy a well-deserved vacation traveling around the world. However, it seems the cyborg rabbit girl wanted to make a dream come true, and her boyfriend agreed to fulfill her desire, naturally.

The coyote arrives at a large open space where an immense water fountain is found, an exact replica of the ancient "Fontana di Trevi" built by humans. A white small non-mobian cat is near the fountain, and Bunnie is walking inside of it, sinking her robotic legs into the water. She's wearing a black low-cut dress, and she also has a fur cape (artificial, of course) on her shoulders.

"Antonio...! Come here..." Bunnie asks her boyfriend, speaking with an accent of Spagonia.

The coyote tries to hold back a laugh. "I'm coming, mon cher."

He takes off his shoes, gets into the fountain with his clothes still on, and approaches Bunnie. Then he caresses her face slowly and gently with one hand while she, smiling, closes her eyes and tilts her head back a little.

"Bunnie?"

"Mhm?"

"Of all the fantasies you could have had, did it just have to be the fantasy of repeating that mythical scene of La dolce vita?"

"So what? I know you're also enjoying this."

The coyote makes a soft laugh.

"You know what?" Bunnie looks at her boyfriend again. "Let's skip all this and move on to the action."

"Es-tu sûr? If someone sees us doing it here, in this real monument to the ancient human civilization, we could get into serious trouble."

"I'll take the risk. And you?"

"Eh bien, I've taken even bigger risks at other times, alors... Oui, let's do it once and for all."

Both start to kiss passionately, and they also try to take off each other's clothes...

Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

The couple is interrupted by four individuals landing around them after apparently having fallen from the sky. The she-cyborg and the soldier look up and see how four green luminous portals close above them; then, they look down and see four known moebians coming out of the water: they're Alicia Acorn, Miles Prower, Patch D'Coolette and Boomer Walrus.

Bunnie starts to get mad. "You better have a good reason to come here and bother us-"

"We need your help" The then Princess of Moebius interrupts the rabbit girl. "We wanna take Scourge out of Moebius' throne."


[Going back to the present, at the hotel's buffet in Hessen am Main...]

Antoine: "Et that's how we got into that mission in Moebius."

When the coyote finishes his story, Rouge and Fiona enter the buffet and stand with the three mobians. Both are dressed in their usual uniforms.

Fiona: "Are you all ready for the conference?"


Fiona: "Sally?"

Antoine: "What happened to Tails?"

In a large enclosed room within the complex of the Römer of Mercia, the seat of government of the Prince of the Main, a group of Mobians are gathered: Fiona, Antoine, Rouge, Amadeus and Bow Sparrow. There are also people talking by means of holograms: Sally Acorn is speaking from New Mobotropolis, where it's just 9:00 AM, and Commander Tower is communicating from GUN's HQ, where it's 2:00 PM.

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Tails is fine, don't worry. He's busy with something, some machine surely."

Fiona: [whispers in Rouge's ear] "She's lying. She's hiding something."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "However, he asked me to tell you some things he discovered. First of all, Finitevus had completely emptied Moebius' Royal Coffers to pay all his subordinates. Actually, Tails didn't need to go very far to find out it: the Empress Alicia of Moebius broke into our Headquarters to demand that we torture and hang Finitevus as revenge for having left her empire in an economic crisis."

Antoine: "Understood. Thank Tails for our part."

Suddenly, Merlin Prower, Tails' sorcerer uncle, appears next to Sally, scaring her.

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "Good afternoon, princess."

Sally: [by means of a hologram, recovering from the fright] "Mr Prower, was that really necessary?"

Amadeus: "Hello, brother... Do you still have that taste for the dramatic?"

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "And are you still so stubborn?"

The Prower brothers laugh and are about to give each other a hug, but they realize they're communicating by means of holograms.

Amadeus: [embarrased] "Well... We will meet again."

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "Surely yes. [to Sally] Princess-"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Oh, stop calling me "princess" once and for all, please."

Merlín: [by means of a hologram, riéndose suavemente] "It's okay, Sally... I have information about Finitevus: he has opened a portal to a pocket universe very similar to the already disappeared 'Zone of Silence'."

Amadeus: "That 'Zone of Silence' was the dimension where Max and Naugus were forcibly exiled by Robotnik, right?"

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "Yes, but the original 'Zone of Silence' was re-formed as the 'Special Zone'; this new pocket universe of which I'm speaking was constructed in the image and likeness of it. When Finitevus opened a portal to that universe, I detected residual energy of Ixian magic."

Antoine: "Naugus."

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "However, Finitevus got someone out of there, and that individual was neither Max nor Naugus. I heard it was a reinforcement for that ' Great Finitevic Army", but then I had to escape so that they didn't know of my existence, so I couldn't find out who exactly that reinforcement was. Just in case, be very careful during the next missions."

Amadeus: "Don't worry about us, brother. Danger makes me laugh, you know."

Antoine: [rolls his eyes] "Oui, je had said the same thing once... [sounds somewhat depressed] Et je was about to be crushed by a huge gear of a generator a few seconds later. [to Sally] You remember it très bien."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Ant, stop thinking about those things. You were someone very different at that time. Anyway... I have other things to tell you, but I'd need Commander Tower and Bow Sparrow to leave. It's a private matter."

Bow Sparrow: "No problem." [leaves the room]

Tower: [by means of a hologram] "I'll be waiting." [his hologram disappears]

Rouge: "I think I should leave too."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "No need, Agent Rouge. In fact, I think you'd prefer to hear this. It's about the Civil War."

Everyone immediately becomes absolutely silent.

Fiona: [breaks the silence] "What happens with that?"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "The same day that Alicia 'visited' us because Finitevus stole all the money from her castle, Miles Prower of Moebius also came with her, but to share with us something he found out about Scourge: that green hedgehog had already hired Finitevus only a few days after he had usurped the throne of his homeworld, and both planned Scourge's visit to New Mobotropolis, that same visit in which the AFFs tried to stop him."

Antoine: *sigh* [sounds depressed again] "How can I forget it?"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Scourge and Finitevus had planned to take advantage of the disagreements we already had with each other for some time, and thus cause the Civil War for us to kill each other."

Everyone is silent again, looking at each other.

Amadeus: [holds his head with one hand] "I was a big asshole. I almost made my whole family and tens of thousands of soldiers lose their lives because of this, and about 500 soldiers of my side actually perished because of my stupidity."

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "Don't blame yourself, brother. None of you had to know. Scourge and that maniac echidna had planned all this."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "We were all big assholes, we were all manipulated by those two from the beginning, and in our side it also happened exactly the same as yours. Besides, you, your allies and your subordinates fought for a good cause and with conviction. That ain't very common, believe me."

Antoine: [cordially] "You didn't fight so bad either."

Rouge: "By the way, how did you resolve your differences after the Civil War? Within the Team Dark, Shadow and I still don't get along very well with Hope, and in the case of Shadow, he seems quite affected."

Amadeus: "The AFFs rejoined the KFFs, but Sally also made changes within the team."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Amadeus Prower's team didn't have an official leader: they made decisions together, they were all equal, even Amadeus himself. I've not been able to fully reproduce that form of organization within the KFFs, but I was able to take some things into account: now, I take responsibility for my team's actions, but we make all the decisions together, and I'm being more flexible and I'm no longer the absolute leader of the team. So far, it's working great-"

RIIIIING! RIIIIING!

Sally's cell phone starts ringing.

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Just a moment... [answers the phone] Hello? Hey, Rotor! How can I help-? Are you saying the Council wanna judge me for... what? But who came up with-?! Oh, of course, I thought so... When-? Tomorrow? Okay- At 7:30 AM?! Jeez, that guy does have anger for me... Yeah, I wish you luck too. See you." [hangs up the phone]

Antoine: "What's going on?"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Do you remember Hamlin?"

Antoine: "Oui, bien sûr. Does he want to make you a political judgment?"

Rouge: "Wow... You think really fast, steadfast tin soldier. [Rouge's nickname to Antoine makes everyone try to hold back a laugh] Right now I'm watching you, and I'm already imagining what Tails will be like in a few years."

The she-bat looks at her girlfriend and makes a mocking smile, to which the vixen responds by looking to the side.

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Hamlin is accusing me of treason. [to Amadeus, Fiona and Rouge] You see... When the MSS asked us for help to dethrone Scourge, we asked the Council for permission: while Rotor and Chuck supported us, the other Councilors opposed saying we should focus all our efforts on doing away with what little remained of the Eggman Empire. In the end, we had to disobey the Council and carry out the campaign to dethrone Scourge."

Fiona: "Wait a second: Only Chuck and Rotor were in favor of attacking Moebius? Does that mean that...?"

Amadeus: [somewhat disturbed] "My wife was against."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Actually, the one who initially opposed my idea was Hamlin: he hates me because I didn't let him become a full member of the KFFs, and he wants the team to be under the control of the Council... Rather, under his control. On the other hand, Rosemary argued Eggman was still very dangerous and he could resurface at any moment, so we had to end his Empire before he even had an opportunity to respond; it wasn't a bad idea, but she should have already known very well how dangerous Scourge is."

Merlín: [by means of a hologram] "My sister-in-law can be quite stubborn when she wants to."

Amadeus: [upset] "Merlin..."

Merlín: [by means of a hologram, ignoring Amadeus] "Don't worry, Sally. Rosemary's stubbornness can help you during the impeachment. Imagine her debating with Hamlin."

Antoine: [smiling] "Oui, sûrement will stay shaking in his seat."

Fiona: "Besides, you already have the support of Chuck and Rotor, and even if you only win Rosemary's vote, they'll be three in favor versus three against, and Elias will break the tie voting for you."

Sally: [by means of a hologram] *sigh* "I hope that's the case, Fiona... Let Bow and Tower come back."

Antoine opens the door for the sparrow to enter, and the communication with GUN's leader resumes.

Bow: "I guess it's my turn to tell you some news. First of all, Rob and Mari-An are very affected by what happened in Darmstadt am Main... although I think it would be a euphemism to say that, given that the King broke into tears a minute later... and they've immediately started plans to protect the exiles and ensure that they return to normal lives; the exiles will stay in Hessen am Main for the time being, and it's likely that a new city will be founded for them. On the other hand... [to Amadeus] A reinforcement team has arrived at Snottingham, and they'll meet with your team in Soleanna."

Fiona: "Who sends those reinforcements?"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "I gathered them and sent them after Tails proposed it to me."

Fiona: "Wait, wait, wait: Did Miles ignore what I said to him?"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "Fiona, he has good reason to think you all need reinforcements. Especially now that Merlin told us about the reinforcement brought by Finitevus."

Fiona: "Let's see if you get it: We! Don't! Need! His! F***ing! Reinforcements!"

Sally: [by means of a hologram] "I really trust the capabilities of you and the rest of your team, Fiona... [stares into Fiona's eyes] And I'm sorry that he suddenly seems so unpleasant to you, but that ain't relevant. He insists on sending reinforcements, and so do I."


Uncle Chuck's Restaurant, New Mobotropolis. 3:00 PM, Local Time, 7:00 PM, Mercia Time.

Tails and Zooey are on their first date, whose expenses were totally paid by the child prodigy (although Chuck himself had offered to make all the food for free). They've finished eating the dessert, and now they're chatting (and also laughing sometimes) while doing the after-dinner.

"You did have a fun and exciting childhood."

Tails makes a smug smile. "Yep, that's how I am..."

"Tails?"

"Yeah?"

"You still miss Fiona, don't you? You mentioned her every time."

"Well..."

"You don't have to deny it, I ain't gonna get mad."

*sigh* "You're right. When I was her boyfriend, our relationship was..." He begins to smile when remembering things. "Really special."

She pauses. "Hm, Tails? Why are you doing all this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"About inviting me to this date. It's obvious you still love that girl, so why did you wanna date me?"

Tails gives up. "Okay, you caught me... I wanna get over it. I've seen Sonic missing Sally and dating several other girls after breaking up with her. It's clear he had never gotten over the breakup, and I don't wanna end up like him. I wanna move on as soon as possible... and I think you're the best one with whom I can be."

*tsk* "But you're dating me just to get over your breakup with Fiona. A breakup that happened a little over a week ago."

"..."

"Look... Everyone in the city knows about the 'shady' past of Fiona, and everyone also knows exactly what kind of relationship you had with her: you two hadn't felt 'love at first sight' but you two had managed to become a happy couple; you loved each other very much, and you even had sex. And I want you to know that, in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with that; on the contrary, it ain't worth wasting it. You should try to fix your problems with Fiona.

"I doubt I can do it: I have no idea why she wanted to break up with me; besides, she only tells those things to people she absolutely trusts, and since we broke up, I guess she won't tell me her reasons, no matter what."

"I get it..."

"Now I'm beginning to think about this carefully... and I'm realizing that all this was just a childish fantasy. The idea that a simple misfit nerd, a little over ten years old, becomes the boyfriend of a femme fatale like Fiona. Ha.. Maybe I was fooling myself..."

Then, Zooey looks at Tails' eyes and realizes he's about to cry. Anticipating, she gets up from the chair and hugs the two-tailed fox, who immediately lets his tears flow.

[Soundtrack: Love of my lifeQueen]

*sob* "I'm a shit..."

"Don't say that, Tails."

"I'm sorry, Zooey... Sorry for lying to you... I love Fiona, I'll never stop loving her."

"I know... To tell the truth, that's one of the things that I like you so much for: you're capable of giving so much love to someone. Of course, I also fell in love with you because of your way of being: you're really adorable, charming, but at the same time you're so sincere, sensible, mature-"

"No, I'm nothing like that... *sob* Remember the Civil War, what I did then-"

"Yes, I remember it well... The father of a friend of mine died there. But you were being subjected to a limit situation, and the others weren't saints, much less our previous King, Max. Leaving that aside, I know you really are a very good mobian."

"And why do you tell me to go back to Fiona?"

"Because it's obvious you love her." She starts talking in a very serious tone. "And a relationship between you and me wouldn't work either: when Fiona and you were a couple, you two did things that I wouldn't be ready to do with you if I were your girlfriend; besides, we both move at a different pace, 'cause you're a Freedom Fighter while I'm a simple villager recently arrived from Furville, and... Just look at yourself!" Zooey is visibly worried. "You lost an eye, a hand, a foot, an ear and half a liver on your last mission, and it shows you were about to lose even your own life. I couldn't stay at home thinking my boyfriend could die young at any time."

"Yeah, I guess it's hard to try to have a relationship with me..."

"Also, what you felt... and you still feel... for Fiona can be anything but it ain't a childish fantasy: you saved her from that green monster that only knew how to kill, lie and rape; you were with Fiona in good times and bad times; you had a lot of patience for her, even more patience than I could have for Chuck... and that's saying a lot 'cause he really is very demanding with the food he wants me to provide to his restaurant... I prefer you try to solve your problems with her and be happy. You really need Fiona, and that won't change, no matter how hard you try to get over it or forget it."

He slowly undoes the hug.

*snif* "And what will happen to you?"

"I can still be happy being single." She makes a small smile and winking at Tails.

"Yeah, I guess... That's another of my problems: unlike you, I cannot be a normal child. I cannot live carelessly, I don't have that kind of ignorance that would make me happy..."

"In short: you feel like an adult in the body of a child."

"Yes, but my mind still has things typical of a child, and they ain't exactly the best things: a true adult would get over a breakup, but I can't."

"Tails, you dunno how many adults I knew who can spend even a whole year without get over a breakup. I have a cousin who's like that."

Tails makes a small laugh. "Well, you managed to cheer me up a bit, at least."

"Listen, Tails: if your relationship with Fiona hasn't improved at all after a few months, you can call me so... well, so we can spend some time together. But until then, don't give up. What was generated between you two is beautiful, it ain't worth it to spoil it; and taking into account Fiona's past, she really deserves someone like you."


Half an hour later, Tails returns to his workshop. Coincidentally, someone sends a message to his laptop. The fox opens the message, but he gets a big surprise.

Rouge had sent him a video that she recorded secretly. In that fifteen minute video, she and Fiona are having lesbian sex. Tails tries to ignore that video and take it out; However, without realizing it, he slowly sits down in front of the laptop's screen while watching that long homemade porn video, and he even starts to masturbate.

("I never believed a pair of lesbians could do so many things...")

"Do you like the video?"

The fox gets scared by the voice of Rouge, who makes a video call to him: she's on a plane that takes her and her teammates to Soleanna.

"You scared me, Rouge!"

"Yes, I understand you... considering you were caught red-handed. More precisely, with your hands in your big-"

"Stpo it, Rouge. Why did you send me this?"

"You know I love to play jokes on you, to see how you react. I also just realized something: you're smart, you claim to know a lot about many topics, including sex; but it seems you're the kind of people who think that, if neither of them has a virile member or an equivalent of it between the legs, having sex is impossible."

Tails remains thoughtful, ignoring what Rouge said. "I think I know exactly why you actually sent the video to me: you want me to be jealous of you and to try to win Fiona's love again."

"Fuck." Rouge says to herself in a low voice.

"Did Antoine tell you about the mission I entrusted to him?"

"That's right."

"And you misinterpreted that mission."

"C'mon, Tails... Don't you really want me to help you get your girlfriend back?"

"If I can be Fiona's boyfriend again, it won't be this way. Make fun of me as much as you want, but I'm gonna play fair."

"Okay, as you wish, killjoy. But I still have a surprise for you."

"Another homemade porn video of Fiona and you? A video that you probably recorded without Fiona's permission, like the previous video?"

"Actually, yes. But what does it matter?"

Then she sends him a second video.

"Have fun." As soon as the she-bat finishes speaking, she ends the video-call.

Totally alone again, he sets out to watch the second homemade porn video of Rouge and Fiona, which this time has sex toys included.