"People's Council of Mobia, rise for Alicia, High Queen of Aero, wife of King Maximillian."

All the councilmembers rose from the seats lining the perimeter of the glass council dome. The queen strode through the council doors like a living ruby, her dark hair piled in pools on her head, her iridescent scarlet gown and jewelry drapes flashing beneath the sunlight. Her entourage followed close behind, fanning out in a circle around her.

The queen took her seat on an ancient stone structure set high over the rim of the People's Council ring. The throne was big enough to seat five Mobian chipmunks. Below, all seven Mobian nations and their regions stood in their places around the ring.

Alicia lifted her head.

Her slight shoulders heaved as she looked out on the council. "Thank you, guardians and ministers of the Mobian peoples. You may be seated."

The councilmembers sat down again, their heads bowed.

"We have many matters to attend to and resolve today," the Queen said. "Some of which have been waiting for resolution for far too long. But first…"

She hesitated, pinching her lips together in thought. Her brow hardened.

"First, I call the attention of this meeting to an immediate urgent matter," she said. "…a trial."

The People's Council stirred in surprise.

"A trial in which the accused holds a rank that requires the People's Council to stand as jury," the Queen finished. "Will you receive this burden, Mobia, and swear to hear, ponder and vote in faith and honesty—as you have been allowed to do under the jurisdiction of the Ruling Family this last half century?"

"Received," the council said again, bowing low. One or two whispered to each other.

"I call Dr. Ivo Nikolos to stand before this council as the Bearer of Charge…and, as for the Charged…I call the active Ringweilder of Mobia, known by all as 'Sonic.' Son of Lady Aleena."

Robotnik stepped into the People's Council ring and the dome. Six combots followed behind him in neat rows, hauling two bound prisoners between them—a fifteen year old blue hedgehog and a twelve year old fox with two tails.

Sunlight flashed across the edges of Robotnik's metal body as he mock-bowed to the council. "Mobians."

Behind him, the combots thrust the two prisoners to their knees. Tails almost fell on his face, but he caught himself and stared up at the rest of the council with wide, dazed eyes. Sonic glanced up as well, then dropped his gaze to the floor, jaw still clenched. Blood caked the ECcord around his upper arms, where the combots had dragged him.

"Dr. Nikolos, you may present your charges." Queen Alicia said. Her voice faltered a moment.

Robotnik clasped his still-enlarged hands behind his back and strode across the Council floor. "Thank you." His red eyes gleamed. "I am not pleased, Mobia."

The Council held their silence, frozen. Everyone present felt the terror waiting to break loose on the room.

Tails' ears flattened back, despair registering in his eyes. Sonic didn't have a chance.

He bowed his head. Sonic crouched at the fox's side and stared at the floor, his gaze darkened.

"My city, Robotropolis, is a haven. A haven from the inefficiency and oppression and decay that all races have experienced from the dawn of time. Why some people do not understand that… I don't know. It happened on earth, so I'm not surprised it's happening here. It seems like wherever I go-" Robotnik pointed one of his long fingers at Sonic. "There is at least one ignorant, thick-headed extremist who opposes me."

Sonic did not move his head, but his gaze flicked up for a moment.

"All I want from you," Robotnik said to the council, "Is the chance to conduct my research in a safe, isolated place." His automated voice actually shook. "All I want is to protect what is my own...from saboteurs…"

A few of the People's Council members murmured in forced understanding, still staring at the mecha-human towering before them.

"I've wondered for some time if your Ringweilder was attacking my city behind my back." Robotnik's voice was low, "He and his little mutated sidekick. My suspicions have been confirmed. I have secured footage of the both of them inside Robotropolis, breaking into one of my labs, and fighting my combots."

Queen Alicia closed her eyes.

Murmurs ran through the dome.

"Who knows just how long they have been doing this," Robotnik said above the voices. "Instead of opposing me rationally, through law, as I'm sure any of you would have done, they went underground. Rebels of the worst sort, vandals, thieves, not to mention trespassers. Classic teenage stunts. It suites them, I'm afraid, but the consequences are dire."

"Sure that's what it was," Sonic hissed from behind Robotnik, his voice low and gritted.

A combot slammed his fist into the back of the prisoner's head. Sonic fell forward, gritting his teeth.

Tails glanced at Sonic from beneath his forelocks.

"—Please—not here," the Queen said, her voice shaking.

The Council looked up at her as if she was insane.

"-He hasn't been declared guilty yet." She finished, still averting her gaze.

"-Save your breath, Mobia," Sonic burst out, his eyes flashing as he pulled himself upright. "I'm guilty all right, 'cause you know what? I remember what this garbage can here did to my city, and I know what happens in those factories and that Roboticizer—Tails an' me know, and you can't just sit around when you know like we do-"

"Shall I gag you until you are asked to speak, rodent?" Robotnik said, spinning to Sonic.

"—I broke in a lot," Sonic continued, a mad gleam in his eyes. "I've broken into Robotropolis a lot—"

"—You can speak after Dr. Nikolos has finished, Sonic," Queen Alicia said.

"Gag him," Robotnik hissed to the nearest combot.

Sonic's eyes flashed. "Don't you get it?-He's gonna kill you all—!"

Combots snatched his arms and hauled him back. One held his head, while the other pulled out a metal gag mask.

Sonic hissed, writhing against their hold, talking as fast as he could, "—You all know who this nutcase is—look what he's done to you all, wouldja?—He's turned a room of adults into a bunch of cowering lackeys—you've all gotta fight him—please, your majesty—protect your people and—fight him before it's too late—"

The Council stirred. Robotnik clenched his jaw in a smile, one of his hinges clicking. "Shut up, rodent, no one is listening to you," he murmured.

The Queen stood up. "Enough. Ringweilder—be silent. And, Doctor, do not gag him. Yet."

Robotnik glared at her.

Everyone held their breath.

"I only think-we must hear both sides in proper time," She finished, fisting and un-fisting her clasped hands.

Robotnik's eyes brightened.

"I don't have anything else to say, your Highness." Sonic said, his head bowed, still held upright by the combots. "I'm done."

Tails watched Sonic with wide eyes.

They were done. That's what he meant.

All of a sudden, Tails realized why they were there.

The fox fell flat on his face in a bow. "Robotnik has missiles."

The room grew deathly quiet. The only sound was a hinge in Robotnik's neck as he turned to face the fox.

"I saw them—I saw hundreds in a cart—Robotnik can operate—"

"Dear Queen, isn't there some sort of rule about a mutate talking in an assembly of this prestige?" Robotnik hissed.

The Queen stared at the Doctor, her eyes round.

"I don't care," Tails breathed. "It's probably already too late—Eggman was going to program them, they could launch at any time, and it's going to be soon—I tried to stop him—"

A combot foot smashed down into the fox's back. Tails let out a gasp of pain. They may have popped his shoulder back in and wrapped him with bandages on the way over, but he was still in critical condition.

"Get off him!" Sonic snarled, trying to kick at the combots. They hauled him back.

"Dear Queen!" Robotnik repeated. He turned to the council, hands outstretched. "Is there not a rule about a mutate speaking in this place?"

His tone said it all. In that moment, every Mobian in the room knew that something was terribly wrong. And there was nothing they could do to stop it.

"Yes," a council member said. Lady Melwain. Several other members murmured in consent.

The Queen said nothing. Her face was white. She looked as if she might faint.

"—The word is Marx—there's enough to destroy the whole city—" Tails tried. Tears of pain streamed down his face.

"Silence!" a councilmember screamed. "Make him stop talking!"

Robotnik clenched his fist. A blaster emerged from his hand and he pointed it directly at at the fox's skull. The councilmembers reared back, their bodyguards stepping forward.

In a split second, Sonic blurred, his Speed on and wrenched himself free of the combots. He threw himself back over Tails, shielding him and facing the blaster. "If y' want it that way, it's gonna have to be a two for one deal!" Sonic blurted.

Robotnik hesitated. The combot still standing over Tails snatched Sonic's arm and tried to yank him free, but Sonic whipped his Speed back again, holding his place.

Human and hedgehog stared at each other, Sonic struggling with the combot.

Robotnik hissed in spite. He turned back to the queen, the gun barrel still locked on Sonic's chest. "Shall we continue with the trial?" His automated voice sounded pleasant.

"Is…" the Queen's voice sounded small. "Is there anything else you want to add to your charge?"

Robotnik paused.

He lowered the gun completely.

Sonic sagged against Tails, the muscles in his jaw working. The combot moved his foot from Tails' back.

"Well." Robotnik murmured. "Well, do you still need to see the tape feed as evidence, seeing as this delinquent has admitted to his crimes himself?"

No one answered.

"…No, I don't think we need them," Queen Alicia finally said.

Robotnik tapped the tips of his fingers together. "Good…you see, your highness… his actions go against…everything your people promised me in our truce. He is treasonous. A traitor. He has broken faith with both of us…or so I presume your people don't take his side, but how can I be certain? …Honestly, I am almost tempted to nullify the pact altogether…"

Queen Alicia stared ahead, her gaze distant and hard. She clutched the armrests of her throne with bloodless hands.

"—I say, you take the traitors and do whatever you like with them—Mobia does not condone their actions in anyway—am I right, People's council?" Lady Melwaine stood up.

"The words of a Mutate do not amount to anything in a court, let alone the People's Council of Mobia!" Lord Further added from the other side of the room. Terror rang in his eyes. "We…we do not…want to end anything with you, Doctor Ivo Nikolos…"

"Dr. Nikolos?" Lady Melwaine asked. "How… can our people make restitution for their actions?"

"Give them to me, and I'll take care of it," Robotnik said. "I will do as I said I would at last night's banquet. I will take the hedgehog to Robotropolis, where I will use him as a test subject to discover the nature of his gifts."

Tails raised his head. He looked up at Sonic, still crouching next to him.

Sonic's eyes were blank, unreadable, but Tails knew better.

Robotnik continued. "When he dies…probably after three months or so-his gift will pass and you will have a new Ringweilder-"

"No!" Tails screamed.

"Will someone shut up that creature!" a council member hissed.

"How could you—how could youcowards!" Tails cried.

"Silence!" the combot barked out from where he waited behind Tails. He stamped his foot again in warning.

"Brainwashed," Robotnik murmured, then turned to look down at the fox. "Luckily for the mutate accomplice, my brother needs his services, so he gets to keep his life. For now."

Tails choked. Hysteria flooded his eyes.

"If I'm going to be his slave," Tails gasped. "I'll destroy everything—everything—"

"Your Highness-" a council member protested.

"Please try to contain yourself, young mutate…em, fox," Queen Alicia stood up, her eyes flashing.

Tails let his forehead drop back to the ground. He closed his eyes against his tears, and ground his teeth together.

He happened to turn his head in time to catch the pointed gleam in Sonic's eyes. The hedgehog narrowed his gaze, and Tails could almost hear him speak.

What are you whining about down there? Seriously?

This isn't over yet, kid, so you better shut up, buck up, and get ready to move fast.

Tail's blue eyes widened.

Robotnik turned, smiling at the council. "The things children have to live through sometimes when they try play games too big for them…." His laser eyes flashed and he laughed at the council. "Games that even adults aren't good at playing!"

No council member dared to speak.

He licked his lips and hissed to the combots. "Take the test subject out." Then he nodded at the Queen with a grin. "And gag him."

The combot hefted Tails up to his feet and he almost fell off balance. Another two began to drag up Sonic.

The entire People's council rose. The Queen stood up last and folded her hands, her head bowed. "The Mobian People's Council agrees to give Dr. Ivo Nikolos the right to do whatever he desires to the current Ringweilder, known as "Sonic," Hedgehog, and his accomplice, a Mutate, Miles Prower, Fox, in restitution for their crimes against Robotropolis…and Mobia."

For a moment the queen fixed her gaze on the two prisoners. There was shame—and something else—in her eyes.

Sonic caught the look. He lifted his chin.

"I thank you for your cooperation, Mobia," Robotnik said, his tone almost mocking. He turned to his combots. "I will return to Robotropolis, tonight, so I can begin working with the hedgehog. The mutate will go to Julius afterwards—"

"Dr. Nikolos, Sir," Queen Alicia said, smiling. "Please stay with us a little longer. The Council has some concerns we would like your statement on."

Robotnik stopped.

"If you would please," she added.

Robotnik looked around at the council.

The Mobians and all their guards, servants, and attendants stared at him.

Robotnik smiled. "Then I think that would be perfect."

The words rang in the prisoners' ears as the combots dragged them out the doors of the council room and Robotnik shut the door behind them.


Happy New Year! You all have officially caught up with my beta, so more cliffhangers. :-P Hopefully I'll be able to update again shortly! :-)

Also, I'm on Instagram now! *explodes* I post random Sonic related (canon and retelling) kinda frequently along with other life things. If any of you guys have an IG and you'd like an extra follower, post your account name and I'll see if I can find you! Thanks again for reading. XD

~Connie/April