Chapter 16

Manic stayed at the palace with Sleet to help keep things under control and see that guests got home. The ball had to end early and the guests could understand why. Sonic took Sonia and Bartleby to the hospital. The ambulance wasn't big enough for all of them. Dingo was thus elected to ride with the old man to protect him against any threat that might take advantage of his weakness.

The doctors worked tirelessly to save Robotnik from his second heart attack in a short timespan. While they did, Bartleby sat with his hands clasped and his head bent as though praying. Sonia hugged him. Sonic kicked at the floor.

"Sonia… did you know that it was Mom?" He finally asked, looking up at her. "That Robotnik was dating Mom?"

She nodded. "We did but not until Thursday night after we were married. Mom came… And she told us about Julian."

"Oh, Sonia. You knew. Why didn't you tell her? Why didn't you tell us? She was terrified." Sonic challenged her.

Sonia shrugged a little. "We didn't know much sooner than you did and we were afraid she wouldn't come if she knew the truth. And we thought you wouldn't approve. I mean, it's Robotnik and it's our mom. It's kind of a hard pill to swallow."

Sonic put his head in his hands. "Sonia! We're your brothers! We are on your side! You keep telling us to trust you and get your feelings hurt when we don't. But you don't get to say that when you're keeping secrets from us that concern us. If you want us to trust you then you need to start giving us a little trust. It's a two-way street."

Sonia looked down. Her brother was right. "I'm sorry, Sonic. You're right. I wasn't being very trustworthy and I didn't trust you or Manic. I'm sorry. I should have told you both as soon as we knew. I should have told Mom."

Sonic nodded and looked up as the workroom doors opened. The doctor approached them, wiping his brow. "Lord Montclair, Lady Montclair… I am happy to report that Mr. Robotnik is going to be fine. It was rough there for a bit but we got him and he's going to be alright."

Sonic released a breath he didn't know he was holding as Bartleby stood up. "Oh thank the source. May we see him?"

The doctor shook his head. "Unfortunately no. He is still unconscious and visiting hours are over. I am going to have to ask you all to go home and return in the morning." When the mink began to protest. "Bartleby, your godfather will not want you waiting here for him to wake up when none of us have any notion as to when he will wake. You need to go home and sleep. His guard will stay and protect him but you must go."

Sonia nodded. "We understand, doctor. Come on, Bartleby. Let's go home. They will call us if there's even the slightest change." She turned her eyes, daring the doctor to contradict her. He didn't. "Sonic, want to come with us?"

Sonic shook his head. "I'm living with Mom and Dad again. They need me close. I still can't believe it… He gave me back my mom and dad…"

"He's a jerk Sonic, but he's still just a man," Sonia said with a smile, glad for her brother's good luck. "But would you mind coming with us. Just in case we're called back to the hospital. Please…"

The blue hedgehog considered her request. "Ehhh, alright. I'll call them and let them know." He went to make the call.

When they arrived back at the mansion, Sleet and Manic met them there. "The guests were all concerned but we got them to go home. How is he?"

"He's still asleep but the doctor's got him out of danger," Sonia said. "I'm sorry, Manic. If we had said something maybe this could have been avoided."

Manic shrugged. "I don't know. Mom just wouldn't have come. I wouldn't have said anything either. How are you holding up, Bartleby?"

The nobleman sighed. "He's alive, he's going to recover but… this makes two attacks."

They went inside. Bartleby and Sleet went to his kitchens to prepare a tray of tea and food to help them sleep. Sonia and her brothers went into the living room, flipping on the light to illuminate the room.

"Mom!" Sonic's shout startled her and she looked to see her mother waiting there in her ballgown, ripped and torn during her flight.

The three hedgehogs rushed their mother, hugging her close. "Mother, you're here. Are you alright?" Sonia asked. "Why did you run away?"

Aleena shook her head. "You saw. He proposed. He's this Julian I've been dating. He knew it was me. This was all a trap. A way to make you feel sorry for him and capture me." She said with terror. "Now, we must go. The kingdom has chosen him so we must go and leave them to their fates."

The three pulled away and backed up. "Mom? What are you talking about?" Sonic asked. "We can't leave. Sonia's the next in line."

"It's a trap. Don't you see it? This has all been some trap. Some nefarious scheme." Aleena persisted. "And your husband is part of it." The queen looked at her daughter. "That website was all a trap."

Sonia blinked as she realized what her mother was saying. "You think Bartleby really set up this website to lure you and me into a trap? Mother, I thought you decided to trust him."

"Until tonight, I had. Sonia, dear. I know you want to think the best of him. I understand, but it's time that you come down from that cloud. Manic, you too. You don't find it an odd coincidence that you and I try that website and we each are paired with those who have tried to destroy us in the past?" She asked her peacemaker-son.

The kitchen doors opened, Sleet and Bartleby bringing out the tray in time to hear the accusations. "Queen Aleena, you're wrong," Bartleby said. "I collaborated with Princess Sally to create that website to give lonely people a way to meet other lonely people. I would never hurt my dear Sonia."

Aleena looked at him. "I'm not fooled by you, brat. My daughter is naive. My sons know the truth. Right, boys?"

Manic shook his head. "I know you're crazy, Mom. You're panicking over nothing."

"Do you know where we've been all night?" Sonia asked. "The hospital. Because after you ran off, he had another heart attack. You can't fake a heart attack. The doctors can tell the difference and this was real. We think he was genuine. But you ran. Come on. Come to the hospital with us."

Aleena looked sharply at her daughter. "You're naive. You're as naive as I was. It's easy to expect someone you love to treat you right but all too often they'll beat you to within an inch of your life."

The hedgehogs glanced at each other. "Mother, what are you talking about? Bartleby would never hurt me."

The purple queen froze for a moment before shaking her head. "Forget it. We need to get out of here." She said again. "I have a home for us in Acorn. We'll make new lives there. And you'll both find better matches." Aleena beckoned her children to join her.

Sleet grabbed Manic, who squeezed his hand. "You're not taking them anywhere. You can think and do what you want, everyone has the right to be an idiot, but you cannot make them leave with you."

Aleena waved her hand, freezing both Bartleby and Sleet. "Come now children." She said again, waving her hands.

Sonia shook her head. "No, Mother! I'm not going anywhere!" She said before sleep overtook her and she fell to the ground, followed by her brothers.

The two males could only watch helplessly as she vanished with the three hedgehogs. She would protect her children, even from their own naivete if necessary.

AN: Sorry this took so long. I had to rethink where I wanted this to go. The end destination is still relatively the same but I needed to divert from the original path as it no longer works. Please share what you think. I appreciate your thoughts.