"Me?" the vixen questioned her aloud.

"Yes, you," Sally retorted in a rather content tone.

The eastern wing of the building had been done for months, and the offices already bustled with life. Running the makings of an independent state required no shortage of work and dedication. All manner of Mobians scurried about outside the queen's office, fielding phone calls and banging away on keyboards. It took a moment for the gravity of the squirrel's request to set in.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Look around Fiona," the queen sighed. "Anyone who resembled a statesman from my father's time is dead or too old to do what needs to be done."

"But surely there's someone you trust more?"

The squirrel laughed, "It really depends on what you mean by trust I suppose. I can't depend on anyone else in a room alone with him the way I can with you. I've seen how you talk to him. Ixis would chew up and spit out and anyone else I send his way. He respects you, hell, he might even be afraid of you."

"So you're making me an ambassador?"

"If it makes you feel any better, I think it sounds just as crazy as you do when you say it out loud."

"And Tails?"

"Tails?" Sally raised an eyebrow.

She had been slipping more lately. She had only ever used his real name to tease him, but the need had long since worn away. The two-tailed fox was next to her every time she went to bed or woke up. The normality of it all was as soothing as it was maddening.

"Miles," the vixen corrected herself.

"I know who Tails is. I also know better than to try to separate you two. I think I've learned my lesson at this point. You can make whatever arrangements you like. Take him with you if you want, or don't. I want this to work for you, whatever that means."

The better part of half a war could have been avoided if Sally had welcomed her into the fold the first time. Instead, the queen was determined to keep like-minded kin at arm's length.

"All this could have been avoided," the ruby fox muttered in a subtle protest.

"Look around, Fiona," the squirrel motioned to the building they were in. "You think one more freedom fighter in our ranks a dozen years ago would have made this big of a difference? You think we would be sitting right here, in a home that's truly ours if I had taken in one more stray? Even if I look back now knowing I made the wrong choice then, I'd still make it again if I knew it got us here."

Fate was a funny thing like that. Perhaps nothing would have worked out as well it had if Sally hadn't forbidden Miles from working with her. As tempting as it would be to re-imagine her life where she didn't spend every waking breath at the beck and call of a sadistic madman, it was also selfish. What the red fox had suffered through, what everyone had suffered through, finally paid off.

"Yours," the vixen corrected her. "Your home." Fiona still didn't feel welcome here.

"I know you and I have never really gotten along," Sally lamented, "so I can only begin to imagine how hard all this is for you. I would be every bit as apprehensive as you are now if I were in your boots. The least I can do is try to right the wrongs. This is every bit as much your home as it is any other Mobian's."

It wasn't hard so much as it was foreign. Fiona had spent her life in the gutters, clinging to hope one table scrap at a time. Any semblance of a promise of a better life was frequently shattered before her eyes, and the idea that she could now hold it in her paws frightened her. The never-ending fear of destroying something that seemed so distantly fragile kept her up at all hours of the night.

"Do I have a choice?" Fiona decided to ask.

Most conversations with the queen felt one sided, but this one felt different.

"If I said yes would it make you feel better?"

The vixen shrugged. This wasn't something she wanted. Although that had been true for most things in her life. Struggling every day just to stay alive left little room for ambitions beyond making it through the next.

"What did Miles say when you ran it by him?"

"I didn't."

Fiona's eyes widened. The queen rarely ever did anything involving the vixen without first consulting Tails.

Perhaps she does finally trust me.

"Fiona," an increasingly exasperated squirrel continued, "I know we didn't start out with the strongest of relationships, but I can't help but be reminded daily that you, on more than one occasion, swallowed your pride to work with me. Despite touting yourself as a selfish person who would put their own interest first if given the choice, you have done nothing but the opposite even though I gave you every opportunity not to."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that you're the closest thing I've ever had to a sister. I've argued with you for the sake of arguing, done things to spite you because I could, and you've always put that aside to help me. If that isn't family, I don't what is. And if I'm not mistaken, family is something that runs in short supply around here."

Fiona could feel tears coming on. She was not accustomed to Sally speaking so highly of her. The squirrel's attitude had long ago changed, but it was rare that she expressed it.

"So, I guess this is the part where I say yes?" the vixen laughed through the water pooling in her eyes.

"I guess so," Sally smiled.

"And my counterpart?"

"I don't have the foggiest of ideas about who Naugus will choose to represent his interest. That is if he chooses anyone at all. For the first time in a long time, I've found myself at what I'm tempted to call an advantage."

Fiona understood. Sally had the red shadow on her side. Ixis would be hard pressed to find a human other than himself who had any report at all with Sally Acorn.

"So now what?"

"Now we both go get ready. Guests should start arriving in an hour and I want you there to meet them."

With little more than a nod, the vixen returned to her feet and exited the queens' office. The carpet lined halls were nothing like decrepit tunnels of Knothole; and the grin on her face was far from the wry smile she had always used to hide her emotions. Instead she could feel a wave of relief wash over her as if she had been freed from a lifelong burden.

But there were no words that could be spoken by Sally, or anyone for that matter, that would bring them back. Their names and faces had begun to fade, but their number remained, a stain on her soul that couldn't be washed away. Fiona had always been content with the idea that she did what needed to be done so that she could keep on fighting. Now that the dust had cleared and she was left standing with the spoils, the vixen couldn't help but wonder how the universe had decided that it would be her.

Why do I deserve this? Why do I deserve to live and they don't?

Stepping outside, the red furred fox filled her lungs with damp heavy air. The space between the buildings was overrun with forest. This truly was a city built amongst the trees, but it was by design. This city looked as if it were right out of a story book, filled with magic and potential.

The opposite of Capital City, she reminded herself as she strolled along the river rock sidewalk. The sidewalks in her former home were littered with garbage or worse. Here, it was scarcely more than moss that took up residence between the round stones.

There were of course the larger more fundamental differences too. Capital City was supposed to be enigmatic, a journey towards realizing a dream. However, no one ever mentioned the only way to achieve them was to lie, cheat, and steal; every success was built on a falsehood. And yet part of her missed it, pined for the perfection of imperfection.

There is an order in chaos, the vixen pondered as she reached for the door of her home.

Carved into the pine door was the same set of initials they had found on a tree deep in a remote forest more than four years ago. Each letter wrapped in half a heart that together symbolized something that could not be torn apart.

Fiona pushed her way inside knowing full well somewhere inside would be a concerned two-tailed fox.

His tepid footsteps announced his approach, "What did she want?" the kit asked as his eyebrows raised cautiously.

It was clear from the tone of his voice that he feared the worst.

He doesn't need to know yet, Fiona couldn't find a way to tell him that wasn't the case.

But she understood his concern. Sally had already forbidden Sonic from the festivities. He was still too polarizing of a figure to be included in such a sensitive event. The Hedgehog's power was difficult to explain, and so rather than have everyone's attentions split between a Mobian that could traverse the country in just a few hours and world peace, Sally had opted instead to have him sit the event out. She could have just as easily asked Fiona to do the same for any number of reasons.

Rather than keep him waiting any longer, she let the words fall out of her mouth, "I'm to be the Kingdom of Acorn's ambassador."

Tails eyed her for a moment, looking for any clues as to how she felt about this new development.

"That makes sense," he replied in a matter of fact way. "I doubt anyone else could deal with Ixis and his administration the way you could."

Fiona didn't want to be that person anymore. She didn't want to be the expert on bad people, but life had paved this path and she could do little besides walk it.

"Someone dropped this off for you," Tails continued as he hoisted a dry-cleaning bag into the air for her to see.

Even thru the clear plastic she had no trouble recognizing the dress. It was the same one she had wandered thru a desert before showing up to knothole dehydrated and half dead in. The one that had been stained with the blood of a dictator.

"Who kept that?"

The kit shrugged as he handed it to her, "It wasn't me, which means it was probably Sally."

Few would recognize it, but those that did would be reminded of what she did.

Is that the message Sally wants to send? A message of fear?

Fiona worried as she pulled the garment over her head that slipping it on would be like slipping into her old life. A life where she controlled so very little.

Or does she want her very own pet fox?

"I'm done being a chess piece in someone else's game," she nearly sobbed at the sight of herself in the mirror.

"Then don't be," Tails answered sympathetically. "I don't think Sally gave you this position to make you do what she wants."

"What do you mean?"

"You've demonstrated to her that you can be a crude negotiator when left to your own devices. The whole point of an ambassador is to represent the best interest of our nation without constantly having to ask permission. It seems like Sally is finally giving you an opportunity to make your own decisions."

My own decisions… her whole life the line between those that she made and were made for her had been blurred to the point where Fiona was still having trouble telling the difference.

"You'll come with me, right?" the ruby vixen asked with more emotion in her voice than she intended.

I need you.

"You don't even have to ask."

With another deep inhale, Fiona let one more worry go. The kit was the one thing that had kept her grounded all these years.

"And what in the hell are you wearing?" she asked finally haven taken note of the kit's rather prominent attire.

More than a handful ribbons adorned his breast, and no thanks to her time in Julian's Dominion the number of stars atop his shoulder was not lost on her.

Tails chuckled for a moment, "You're not the only one who had their outfit selected for them… It was my fathers, or so I'm told. He was commander of the special forces."

"Your father was a General!?" Fiona said in astonishment.

"And now, it seems, so am I," the two-tailed fox replied reluctantly. "Of an army that doesn't exist and hopefully never will. I'm done fighting, but if wearing this silly costume reminds people who they're up against if they choose to pick one, I'll do it."

Fiona smiled, there is still some smugness left in him.

A TV droned on in the background, a monotone voice doing its best to lend emotion to what sounded like a rather dull documentary.

"Watching another boring movie?" She teased him before stepping into the den to view the screen.

To her surprise she found her own face plastered across the screen.

"They've been doing a whole series on the Resistance today. Tonight, is a big night and it's hard for a lot of people to understand who all these new faces are. They spent close to an hour on Sally alone and have been switching back and forth between others for a while now."

"I was never part of the Resistance," Fiona sighed.

"Sure you were, maybe not officially, but I'd say you earned your place in this story as much as anyone else."

"What else have they managed to get wrong? Are we all still monsters?"

"Not much, actually," Tails responded eagerly. "I'm not sure if this is Ixis' doing or that the networks no longer feel the need to feed into the anti-Mobian fear. We don't come out smelling like roses, but we're certainly not made out to be the beasts everyone heard about before."

"The fox best known by the residents of Capital City as the 'Red Shadow' had a rough start in life," a poised female voice narrated over the decade's old newspaper clippings and mug shots. "Her parents were gunned down in cold blood right before her eyes."

Fiona fought the urge to wince at the old memory being picked over like a scab that was nearly healed. But she couldn't' tear herself away.

"The man who did it, set free." The voice continued before the screen cut to a face hidden in a shadow.

"I was drunk, high, and looking for a fight" a distantly familiar voice said bluntly. "But the president saw to it that I was pardoned for everything. He applauded me for murdering them. I've never regretted anything more in my life. That fox… she could have killed me if she wanted to, but she chose not to, she chose to be a better person. I was more of a monster than she ever was."

You! Fiona wanted to scream but thought better of it.

"See," Tails quipped, "not a monster."

"Whether Fiona choose a life of crime or found herself forced into one is up for some debate," the narrator continued, "but it wouldn't be long before she met another even more well-known fox, Miles Prower."

"I can turn it off," the kit began as he reached for the remote.

"Please don't," the vixen replied as the screen played security footage of the two of them robbing a Capital City bank.

Those were the days, huh Fi? Reckless and full of hope.

"Found at nearly the top of every most wanted list in circulation for the last decade, this two-tailed vulpine was as feared as he was crafty. But tonight we're going to take a closer look at what he was really like, and you will hardly believe what we found."

Coastaries' picturesque scenery washed over the screen as the emboldened voice continued, "In exclusive and previously suppressed footage we're able to show you that this so-called 'monster' has a soft side."

"But I guess I'm still a monser…" Tails chuckled.

No you're not, she was certain she said aloud, but silence filled the room as she found herself glued to every word.

"Just moments before this child would have been gunned down in the streets by Dominion soldiers, none other than Miles Prower threw himself between the boy pictured here and certain death. But don't take our word for it, watch this heroic scene play out for yourself."

Fiona remembered that day like it was yesterday. She longed to feel the warmth of the sun and the sand in her paws as she danced amongst the waves with the kit she loved.

What I would give to live that again.

"Tonight, live from Acorn Palace, we have with us Taylor. The very same boy who was saved that day."

The dazed and freckled face belonging to a teenager stared nervously into the camera.

"Can you tell us, Taylor, what was it like? Were you scared when you were face to face with one of the most feared mobians?"

"I… I was pretty young. I barely remember it. I barely remember him. All my friends think it's so cool that I ran into him and that I'm still alive, that I lived to tell about everything. But I can tell you… I don't think I was ever scared of him. It was the Dominion shooting at me, not him. Miles Prower saved my life when no one else could."

"What will you say to Miles if you run into him tonight?"

"Thank you," the kid replied before the reporter pulled the mic away.

"Countless other first-hand accounts tell similar tales."

It was ruby fox's turn to laugh, "I see what she did there."

"He flew, no one believes me, but I know what I saw." another pre-recorded interview began, this time with a grey bearded man. "And then he took out this big robot with just one shot form an itty-bitty pistol. It was something to see I'll tell ya. The damn thing would have probably blown up half the neighborhood if he hadn't come along. Ain't never seen anything like that before, but this little fella, he knew what needed to be done and he did it. Didn't hurt no one either. There was a whole crowed of us just watching him and he didn't pay us any mind. Stone cold killer, hell no, not him. Hero is more like it."

It was Tails' turn to grimace.

"What?" Fiona asked.

"That was the day I thought I'd never see you again."

It was odd watching parts of their lives told back to them as if it were some spectacle.

"You might be wondering what other familiar faces you can expect to see at tonight's unveiling of the re-built Kingdom of Acorn. Join us after the break to find out."

The screen cut to black before Tails tossed the remote back onto the couch, "That's enough of that. If we're not there on time Sally will skin one or both of us."

That much, Fiona could believe. Sally was under all types of pressure to be everything to everyone. Tonight was beyond a big night. It was the biggest night.

One for the proverbial history books and now I too must play a part.

It was the long-promised day. Sally got her Kingdom back and Ixis got the keys to immortality. Of course, that second part wasn't exactly spelled out on the invitations to the ceremony they were holding. In fact it wasn't mentioned anywhere.

"Are you worried?" she asked the kit as they stepped out of their home.

"About Naugus? A little. It will take him years to replicate everything, but he will."

"Problem for another day?"

"Problem for another day," the kit agreed.

The palace was only a few blocks from their tiny suburban townhome. Nestled between rows of trees, it was difficult to figure out where the forest ended and structures began.

Fiona did her best to nudge the kit towards the back entrance, away from the onslaught of media and onlookers, but two-tailed fox refused.

"We need to be seen. Just this once, I promise."

The vixen was not a fan of having cameras pushed in her face; and given the age of the photos the media had been using of her, they would be clamoring to get fresh ones.

Looping her arm beneath his she pulled Miles in tight. It felt silly to be scared of something so trivial, but Fiona had never been able to get over seeing herself as monster.

If that's how I see myself, what does the world see?

"Hey," someone shouted, "look over there it's Miles Prower and the Red Shadow."

It's Fiona, she wanted to complain, but knew it couldn't be helped. Legends scarcely died.

The flashbulbs burst into a dizzying display of fireworks, forcing her to bring both paws to shield her eyes. Before she could even react to what was happening Tails had slipped from her grasp and she found herself standing alone, encircled by her prey. The questions came faster than she could parse, but when one of the reporters had finally thought to use her name, the vixen was able to focus.

"Fiona," the man began, "you've worked for some of the most powerful men in the world, what do you plan to do now that you're free?"

Be polite, Fiona, the ordinarily sarcastic fox reminded herself. This is for the Kingdom.

"Julian strapped a bomb to my neck," she reminded all the cameras. "I wouldn't say I worked for him so much as I did my best not to die. So, it shouldn't be much of a surprised when I tell you that I think Ixis will make a much better president."

The crowed laughed lightheartedly.

This is isn't that hard, she decided before continuing, "I have had enough adventure for two lifetimes and I'm only turning twenty-eight later this year. If it was up to me I'd curl up in a hammock on a warm beach and read a book until it got too dark to see the letters. However, her majesty has asked me to represent her interest in Capital City as Ambassador. And thus, it seems I still have some adventures remaining."

"Fiona!" another reported begged, "can you tell us about your outfit? It looks eerily similar to what you were wearing the last night Julian was seen alive."

She couldn't help but let a canine dangle in the camera flashes, "If all of you will excuse me, I seemed to have lost two fox's worth of tails, can anyone point me in his direction?"

In a surprising turn of events the media parted way, revealing Miles shaking a scrawny boy's hand.

"You're welcome," Tails replied genuinely before motioning her over.

"Was that the kid from TV?" she whispered in his ear as they walked up the palace steps arm in arm.

"Yup."

"What did he say?"

"Thank you."

"Just as original as he promised he would be."

"He meant it," the kit assured her as they both looked back to the crowed who had already begun to mob the next arrival.

"Is that Jake?" Fiona said, unsure what to make of a man she hadn't seen for the better part of a decade.

"And Mara," Tails pointed to the short woman who was barely visible amidst the crowed.

"I never thought I would see him again…"

"Boss?" the man said in all too familiar of a tone as he bound up the stairs. "Boss!"

"Damn it Jake, you don't work for me anymore. Call me Fiona," she replied gruffly even as he pulled her off the ground and into a hug that would have crushed a lesser person.

"He told us you would be here," Mara giggled. "Jake has been anxious ever since."

"Who told you?"

"Naugus," Jake replied as he motioned back towards the otherwise distracted reporters. "He invited us… or err well he invited Mara on the account of he wants to make her an Ambassador and all. I'm just a plus one, but hey I get a full pardon and free booze too."

I can work with her, Fiona decided. But what's Ixis' angle? Why her? This was never her line of work.

"That makes sense," Tails said for the second time that day, "The only human to ever receive an invitation to Knothole. I can't think of anyone better. I'm sure Sally will be happy to have you both here."

Oh right, there's that. Ixis had found himself the one and only human Sally had ever taken a liking to. Even if she wasn't as tough as the battle-hardened freedom fighters she would be surrounded by, the queen would more than likely think twice before telling her no.

That's as good as Naugus was ever going to get.

"So you guys really did it, huh?" the man motioned to the castle looming above them. "Naugus filled us in some of the stuff that's happened while we've been gone. Really feels like I've been living in a desert island these last couple years."

"It's been interesting," Tails replied, clearly skeptical of how much the former dominion agent knew.

"Boss… err… Fiona," Jake tried not to laugh at himself, "maybe when this whole shindig is over, we can grab a beer like old times and you can tell me about everything else I missed out on?"

"I'd like that," she replied softly as Miles lead her through the antechamber and down a red carpet that seemed to stretch in to the horizon.

"Find us after?" the man shouted quietly after her.

With a wag of her tail and a sly grin haphazardly thrown over her shoulder, Fiona was confident her old partner would understand her response.

Having friends in high places was finally beginning to pan out. Earlier in life it had let her do little more than roam the city she grew up in. Now she was sitting at the head table in the most anticipated event in over a century. The vixen pulled out her chair just two spots down from the queen.

"It feels like everyone's watching us," she whispered in the kit's direction.

"They are," he assured her in a way that did little to calm her nerves. "But only until Sally shows up."

Which wasn't long. Fiona had grown up with fairytales and stories of princesses whispered to her as she fell asleep. Although it had occurred to her she hadn't ever seen royalty in real life, or at least not the kind her parents told her about at bedtime.

The squirrel was everything her imagination had conjured. Normally dressed plainly, Sally was wearing a dress designed for a queen. Every stich was purposeful, it's color exquisite. If Fiona hadn't seen her just an hour ago, it would have been hard to believe it was the same Mobian. The squirrel's hair fell in perfect curls just above her shoulders with a tiara holding any stray locks behind her ears.

Strolling down the red carpet, it was hard to tell if the queen was walking or floating. She waved and nodded in all directions as everyone stood in a show of respect. Her smile was as bright as the vixen could remember. Whether this was a performance, or she was truly happy was hard to discern, but Fiona doubted the squirrel would have issues fooling anyone.

Taking her seat next to Tails, Sally sighed a breath of relief.

Strangely the vixen could relate to the predicament of having to put on a performance, although never for nearly as many people.

Almost as soon as she sat down, Ixis rose. This whole night seemed to be operating on a script she was not aware of. The crime lord strode over to the podium at the center of the great hall.

"When the Queen asked me to begin tonight's ceremony, I truly felt honored. This is not my home, and I'm most thankful to have the pleasure of greeting everyone here for this splendid affair. She of course assured me I didn't get to go first because I was better looking, something about age before beauty, and this balding head leaves little up for debate."

The man paused for the giggles that followed and picked up as soon as they subsided.

"No, she insisted because of everything my administration has done. Ladies and gentlemen, it would be wrong of me to take credit for this alone. It is all of you that deserve her thanks, for without your support, the place we stand now would still be but ash and brimstone."

An eerie quiet followed the truth of that statement.

"Our previous leader broke something so thoroughly that it required us to buy it. So, here we are, replacing what was lost, fixing what was broken, and mending relationships that need never have been sullied. Why? Because that's what the hard-working men and women of our country do; we recognize our mistakes and hope that those we've wronged respect us more having the courage to right them."

It was Fiona's turn to laugh, albeit to herself. Hearing this man speak about principles as if he had ever lived by them was beyond amusing.

"Queen Sally has assured me that the Kingdom of Acorn's appreciation will be shown with more than just words, and I believe her. I hope, just like all of you do, that this is the dawn of a new era, one where we can look to each other to improve the world. It is without further ado, I would like to welcome the queen herself to the stage."

A quiet applause followed the man's words. He had said what needed to be said and sounded quite decent while doing it. If Fiona didn't know better, he had hired one hell of a PR firm to write that for him.

"Good evening everyone," the squirrel began pleasantly after reaching the podium, "and thank you all for coming to his momentous event. It's quite something isn't it? And no, I'm not talking about the fact that there are Mobians sitting next to humans and everyone is getting along."

There were some chuckles.

"Can you feel the magic? This city is quite stirring if you ask me. Quiet enough to get lost in, yet so full of life that you'll never feel alone. President Naugus has done a marvelous job at helping us realize our dream. We owe both him and his constituents a debt I hope to repay sooner rather than later."

There was more laughter and even a smile from Ixis himself, although Fiona was sure they were all laughing for different reasons. Naugus was notorious for making people pay up on time, Fiona had seen to many of them herself, but there was an obligation that few outsiders knew of. The vixen had little doubt the former crime lord could barely wait to receive what was promised to him all those years ago, so much so that a smile inexplicably escaped an otherwise rock like façade.

"Seeing our home restored to its former glory has brought tears to my eyes on so many occasions; and I sincerely hope that each of you will stay long enough to find something unique and beautiful so that you too can share in the joy I feel."

"We have much to share with the world, but it wouldn't be fair for me to tell you about something that isn't mine. I would like to introduce one of our Kingdom's most talented minds, someone you've no doubt heard a lot about, General Prower. His work will help reshape the world we live in, and not just ours, everyone's. Please welcome someone I've long considered family, Miles Prower, known to many of you as Tails."

The vixen looked at the fox sitting next to her with eyes full of surprise. When were you going to tell me? She longed to ask him. But before she could the kit had slipped away to find his place on the stage. Fiona wanted to feel hurt that such a big undertaking was never once mentioned, but in some small way she understood. Sometimes you need to tackle things on your own.

"My father," Miles began timidly, "Amadeus, was a General in his late Majesty's army, commander of the special forces and royal guard. I would be tempted to say that I've been fortunate to follow in his footsteps, to have the opportunity to dedicate my life to a cause that I believed to be greater than myself."

His voice hung for a moment in the still air, echoing off the marble floors.

"But war is not something to embellish. It's the physical manifestation of our worst instincts. I stand before you today a veteran. I, however, do not wish to be known for the battles I have fought, but rather the ones I will."

Fiona had never known the kit to be the speech giving type, but he was certainly doing a superb job of reminding her that he was good at everything. Every person and camera clung to his words, desperately waiting with bated breath for the next to leave his mouth.

"There exist among us all, a common enemy. This enemy is merciless and indiscriminate, striking without provocation or warning. Mobian or human, it comes for us all."

Murmurs rose up through the crowed as they discussed the identity of this mysterious foe.

All of his work on the Inhibitor, she felt the need to reminder herself.

"I wish to invite everyone to join me in the battle against any and all diseases, infections, and illnesses that threaten to strip life from those whose time has not yet come. We've spent the last five years developing a cure so powerful that there is no adversary it has not conquered. No longer will our wars be fought the battlefield, but rather in the infirmary."

Tails had told her as much. There wasn't anything that a properly tuned variant of the Inhibitor and Julian's research into biomechanics couldn't fix. The whispers had slowly faded into gasps of astonishment. The entire world was tuning in to this event, unsure of what to expect of the creatures they had been told to fear for so long.

Perhaps they will find some hope.

"For too long families have been torn apart through senseless acts of violence. With the help of President Naugus there is now a lasting peace between our nations. It will be from this day forth the sworn mission of our kingdom to ensure that no family needlessly suffer a loss on the frontlines or in the bed of a hospital ever again. Let our commitment to the health and prosperity of all serve as our end of the olive branch."

What was no doubt interpreted as the finally of his speech was met with a round of tepid applause. But Tails' voice rose up once more with as much confidence and conviction as Fiona had ever heard him muster.

"It is my distinct honor to open the Kingdom of Acorn's borders to Mobians and Humans alike. Our medical facilities will be open to all, free of charge. Should you find yourself or a loved one in need of care, join us and let us conquer our foes and fears together."

The roar was near deafening. Everyone was on their feet clapping. Even Fiona found herself putting her paws together, smiling at the marvels of his accomplishments.

With what looked like a sigh of relief the kit made his towards Ixis to shake his hand. Her years spent growing up in the darkest part of the city afforded her to see what she suspected so many others did not. Amidst the formality was an exchange, a promise kept. The kit was subtle, sliding a disc into the crime lord's pocket, so quickly Naugus himself may not have even noticed.

"When were you going to tell me that you were giving a speech today?" the vixen asked as the fox returned to his seat beside her.

"Now seems like a good time," he smiled.

"Just giving it away for free are we now Princess?" an angry mad did his best to quietly interject.

"It's Queen now," her retort was forceful but said with a delightful smile for the cameras.

"Think of all the money we could have made…" Ixis yelled in whispered tone.

Leaning in Fiona cut him off, "we did you a favor."

Under normal circumstances she would have expected to see Sally shoot her a cross look, instead the squirrel looked three different types of relieved to have someone else step in and handle things.

"A favor?" the man guffawed. "When you helped me become president, that was a favor. When you start giving away the same thing you promised me for free to everyone who walks through the door, that's a problem."

"How much money have you spent re-building our palace, Ixis? You think your constituents appreciate you handing away their tax dollars with nothing promised in return? To their former enemies no less? Well, here's their return," the ruby fox motioned to the stage, "Here's where they see how their leader empowered us to help save the world, together, again. I'd call making you look even better a favor."

The man did little more than grumble in protest. Out of the corner of her eye, Fiona could see Sally smile before lifting a wine glass to her lips. The vixen recognized a smug look of satisfaction anywhere.

She made the right choice, Fiona decided. I am good at this.

"Besides Ixis, you'll find everything you need on the disc I saw Tails hand you. And I'm talking about the stuff that doesn't just help you get better, but keeps you that way for a long, long time. We're not giving that away to anyone but you."

"I certainly hope not," the man replied.

It wasn't a threat, but it was meant to sound like one.

"I'm sure Miles would be happy to answer any questions you have," Sally added. "He'll be joining Fiona in Capital City."

"So many friendly and familiar faces in my back yard, I can't wait," the now president smiled before returning to his seat.

The night was not quick to wind down. Questions and cameras attacked them from all angles until Sally finally made her retreat. Whether the press had grown weary or no longer saw the value in staying once she had left, it was hard to determine.

"How 'bout that drink, boss?" someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Jake, it's late," Mara complained on the vixen's behalf.

"I agree," Tails did his best to stifle a yawn.

"I won't be long," Fiona assured the kit with a soft kiss.

Retreating out to the courtyard, soft yellow lights glowed on the wood lattice dangled above them.

"We could have used you," Fiona said coyly as she withheld the instinct to skip across the limestone path.

"How was I supposed to know he cloned himself," the man replied as they arrived at bar nearly buried in the castle's ivy.

The bartender chuckled slightly when he saw the pair of them sit down, "you two look like trouble."

"Trust me, we used to be," Jake assured the beady eyed mole with a smile.

"What can I do for the two of you?"

"Club soda," Jake said rather softly, as if to hide this little omission from the ears of a fox.

Fiona eyed him with a cautious glance, "Make that two."

The bar tender nodded before filling two glasses to the brim.

"And here I was worried you were going to give me an earful," the man laughed at himself.

The vixen smiled at him, "You skipping a beer hardly has the makings of the end of the world."

Jake grinned as he clinked his glass against hers, "Weird isn't it?"

When you were partners for as long as they had been, a lot could be left unsaid but still understood.

"Unfair even," she replied.

"I mean how did two ruthless city dwellers like us make it out of that mess?"

"And end up... happy?" she added for good measure.

"I know you and I used to joke about fate," Jake paused.

"You might have joked about it," Fiona clarified. "I lived it."

"Do we deserve this?" The man asked before bringing the tasteless bubbles to his lips.

"I try not to ask myself that every day, because I think we both know the answer."

There was a moment of silence between the two as they contemplated their place in the world.

"Miss Fox," someone said from a darker corner of the bar top.

There was only one person who called her that.

"It's Misses Prower now, Johnny," she rolled her eyes at the guardian, "that is if you really want to be formal about it,".

"And if I don't care?"

"Fiona hasn't gotten old yet."

The man laughed as he brought a snifter of scotch to his lips.

"What are you doing here?"

"Free drinks," he replied hoisting the glass in the air.

"If I recall, your little den has those too."

"I thought we were friends, Fiona? Can't an old friend drop in and say hi?"

"Hi," she replied before attempting to turn back to her old partner.

"When were you going to tell me that you found it?"

"Found what?" the vixen asked nervously, unsure of what she may or may not have found.

"I think you know."

Strangely, she did know. The man had dipped in and out of time half his life. It was in no small part thanks to his abilities as a Guardian and of course the Nightshade. He wanted to know about the tree, the tree that confirmed the existence of other worlds that overlapped with their own.

"The tree?" the red fox hesitated.

"Is that what it was?" the lanky man asked as he scratched at his five o'clock shadow.

"You tell me? You're the one who asked."

"They're always different."

"What are?"

"The little things that anchor us to everything else, to time itself. Rarely are people fortunate enough to discover them or even know they have if they encounter them."

"What's the big deal?

"What's the big deal about discovering something from another time, another world? You tell me, Miss Fox."

"I told you, call me..." the ruby fox sighed but couldn't bring herself to waste her breath further.

"You see, Fiona, Guardians are often the only ones who can peer into the expanse and see what could have been, or at least unassisted."

"If I recall, you had plenty of assistance."

"Mmmm," Johnny nodded in agreement before lifting his glass again in a mock salute, "but you're missing the point."

"Hey boss," Jake interjected as he leaned in to their conversation, "this guy bothering you?"

"No, Jake, he's fine."

"Kind of seems like he's getting on your nerves."

"The grown-ups are talking," Johnny mocked him.

Jake made a move to push his barstool back, but Fiona was quick to put a paw to his back to hold him in place.

"I'm surprised you don't remember me," the Guardian smiled. "Although you didn't ever return to our den after that little incident, so I guess I shouldn't be that surprised."

Jake's eyes went wide as he slowly withdrew himself from the conversation.

"Johnny, I'm not as young as I once was," the fox lamented, "I can't stay up all night and wait for you to arrive at the point of this conversation."

The man smiled insincerely, "Since the source was kind enough to set me free, I've spent much of my time looking into all the things I couldn't before, trying to make sense of it all."

"All of what?"

"Everything. Time, this world, Guardians. Fiona," the man paused for a moment, "have you ever found it strange that moments we wait for, hope for, beg for even, often find us when we least expect them, while the moments we're never expecting are often right underneath our noses just waiting for us to trip over them."

She nodded, while growing more impatient.

"You don't just find your anchor point, even with the help of Nightshade, never mind the fact that not everyone even has one."

"The point, Johnny, what's the point?" an exasperated fox begged.

With a frown, the man gave in, "our little two tailed friend is a Guardian."

Fiona chuckled, "last time I checked he doesn't spend his days in dark cellars guarding a… what did you call them?"

"Chaos stones."

"Right, one of those."

"You see the thing about time for Guardians is that it isn't linear. Something that's true in the future can also be true now, which certainly helps explain his abilities."

"Wouldn't the power ring have..."

"Miles hasn't been bound to the source yet."

"But you just said..."

"Trust me... or at least don't say I didn't warn you, he will become a Guardian."

"Johnny, I appreciate the concern," Fiona sighed, "I really do, but I'm not sure this makes sense. Besides, I'm the one who found the tree, not Tails. Hell, when you listen to him tell the story of the other me, I'm the one who found the tree then too."

The man's eyes went wide, "perhaps I was mistaken," he allowed.

"Glad we got that all cleared up."

"Did you touch it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"The tree, did you touch it?"

Fiona was growing increasingly nervous with each nod of her head.

"Did you feel anything?"

It took her a moment to remember the day, to recall the moment she reached out and ran her paw across the bark. Her feelings had been mixed, filled with apprehension and disbelief, but those had subsided almost as soon her finger began to trace the outline of the carving.

"I… I felt happy, content, at peace."

"That's what the other you felt when they touched it. It connected the two of you like a bridge between time and space. I guess I was partially wrong about which fox will be a Guardian."

The vixen struggled to swallow, what? No! Don't you say it. Don't you dare.

"It seems like the two of you share that fate," Johnny smiled as he upended the remainder of his glass.

Why can't my life be normal?! Even for just a moment.

"It's not the little things that get us in the end as so many like to pretend," Johnny mused. "Those are just distractions that we're obliged to see. No, it's the larger ones, creeping up behind us so slowly we never notice them. If you choose to ignore the little things, you might just see the big ones. Take it from someone who knows..."

Fiona couldn't find the words to respond as the man got up to leave.

"Do enjoy the rest of your evening Miss Fox," the man smiled wryly in her direction.

Both of us, Guardians, Fiona struggled to keep the thought to herself. Now what?