Note: I wish to dedicate this chapter to Shadrougeforever, a dear friend and fanfic writer who has recently been through a very tough and heartbreaking stage, but is also the one who inspired me to write on Fanfiction! Keep your chin up hun!
Also, I wish to give credit to Meian16 for his help in writing this chapter! Thank you so much my dear friend!
Chapter Four
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Great Forest, a female white bat flew above the land, scanning the landscapes then focusing her eyes on the large metal city of Robotroplis, her aqua eyes narrowed as she looked upon it.
What used to be the beautiful city of Mobotroplis was replaced with metal buildings, all erupting smoke and oil like constant volcanos, polluting the air and poisoning it.
Even from miles away the smell was overpowering, and she hovered before taking out binoculars so she could have a better look.
The added vision was enough for her to see what was going on from afar and she could see many robots patrolling what used to be the streets of the once great city.
These weren't just giant swatbots serving Robotnik, but she could see smaller robots, or rather Robians, and she felt a twinge in her heart and stomach, knowing very well that these were once Mobians, and forced to undergo the transformation in the Roboticizer, their flesh replaced with metal and their free-will taken away.
"Robotnik…" she said in a low menacing voice "How many more will suffer your cruelty? For your lust for power? It wasn't enough you slaughtered and enslaved the Mobians, but others as well, including my brethren?"
She watched a little more, then she tapped an earpiece she had in her ear.
"Rouge the Bat to Knothole Communications, come in!"
"Receiving you loud and clear Rouge?"
"Tails!" Rouge said, "I'm reporting in from the outskirts of Robotroplis."
"Anything to report?" an almost squeaky voice mixed with some deepening sounds was heard, the sound of a teenage boy's voice sounding less of that of a child, and more of a young man.
"Nothing different from my last scouting mission!" the bat replied, "That is not to say there may be trouble stirring within, but so far nothing out of the ordinary."
"Very well." Tails was heard on the other side "Report back to Knothole!"
"Roger that! Over and out!" Rouge replied.
She cut off the communication then looked back at Robotroplis with a glare before flying back towards Knothole.
She couldn't help but think of how Robotnik had taken so much from her, her friends, her family, and her home.
"One day…" She thought to herself as a small tear fell from her eye, "One day."
Before long she arrived back in Knothole, she landed before the entrance which was guarded by a couple of Echidnas.
Walking up to them, she could see their eyes glaring at her behind their tribal masks.
"Welcome back." One of them said emotionlessly to which Rouge nodded in thanks and they stepped aside to let her in.
Walking past, she could feel their eyes burning into her, and she looked ahead trying to not let their unfriendly glares get to her.
She had been in Knothole helping the Freedom Fighters out for two and a half years, and despite showing her loyalty, there were many that didn't trust her.
She knew the reason why, and she couldn't deny it, but that was during the Golden Age of Mobotroplis, which was long gone, and now she was in the same plight as all of them.
But she knew that many never forgave or forgot.
She soon arrived back in the main village, and she saw Rotor talking with Sonic.
Upon seeing her arrive, many Knothole residents gave her looks then turned away, yet Rouge kept on walking, and she approached Sonic and Rotor to which the blue hedgehog and the walrus turned to her.
"Ah Rouge." Sonic turned to her "You're back."
"Indeed yes." Rouge nodded "Your communications officer Tails requested I report back."
"Any activity from Ro-butt-nik's polluted city?" Sonic asked, his voice was a slight snarl.
Rouge couldn't help but smirk at that nickname.
Sonic never referred to Robotnik by his title, but always called him offensive names as a play on his name.
"Not much different from what I have seen the past few days." Rouge replied, "The city still releases its poisons into the air, and the robotic soldiers and slaves walk the streets, and that disgusting slob I do not doubt is still hiding himself in his fortress, too much of a coward to step outside!"
Rotor glared.
"I should have known." He said, "He is not one to come out and fight his own battles!"
Rouge nodded in agreement then her eyes scanned the area.
"Where is Sally?" she asked, "She is normally with you when reports come in from the scouts."
Sonic turned his head to Sally's hut which stood a distance away near the centre of the village.
"She's resting." He replied, "She was stressed earlier and me and Rotor suggested she take some time out."
"Dr Quack is also with her." Rotor added, "More than likely lecturing her for burning herself out."
Rouge sighed as she looked at the hut then saw Dr Quack leaving the hut and walking over to Rotor and Sonic.
"It seems the doctor is returning with a verdict." The bat reported as the yellow mobian duck walked over with a clipboard.
"I keep telling her she needs to rest more." Dr Quack tutted "But the princess is indeed stubborn!"
Sonic turned to the duck.
"Stubborn is one word to describe her." He agreed "Yet she is driven."
"But she will be no use to us as leader if she keeps burning herself out!" Dr Quack grumbled "I swear, the headaches I get with her sometimes!"
Rouge chuckled and crossed her arms.
"She is a strong one." She spoke.
"Stronger than anything." Rotor agreed "Yet she should take the good doctor's advice once in a while!"
"Chances of that happening are often minimal." Sonic said.
"Oh yeah! Like you slowing down for once?" Rotor nudged Sonic's shoulder "Always a miracle to see you slow down one of these days!"
Sonic gave a playful glare at Rotor.
"Now don't you start!" he said nudging Rotor back.
"He's right you know!" Mighty an armadillo joined in "Sally's often telling you to slow down and think!"
Sonic turned to the armadillo and raised an eyebrow.
"Now you're joining in huh?" he asked.
As the three mobians started to banter playfully, Rouge decided to step away and go back to her hut.
As she did, the hedgehog, armadillo and walrus didn't notice her.
She walked to her hut and stepped inside before taking a few deep breaths.
After a few seconds of making sure she was alone Rouge walked over to a chest of drawers that sat under the window of her hut and opened it.
Inside were some of her possessions she had with her, she found a velvet purse under some weapons, and she opened it revealing a golden amulet with tiny different coloured jewels within it.
She then sat on the floor with her back to the wall and lowered her head onto her knees clutched the amulet close to her chest.
Before long the tears flowed, and she let her emotions out.
She would never cry in front of the Knothole residents, she promised herself she never would.
She didn't like to show she was vulnerable in front of the others, she prided herself on being a strong character, a famed fearless huntress and treasure hunter, just like her family and brethren, but they were long gone, and all she had left was this amulet that her parents had given her.
It had been two and a half years, but she remembered when she had fled when her brethren were attacked by the Swatbots, and her parents had ordered her to flee, which she didn't wish to, but she did, with the promise she would save them.
It was then a few days later she had stumbled upon Knothole, but the greeting she had received was not a welcoming one….
Flashback
The sun was setting on the horizon, and Rouge was feeling tired.
She had been running and flying for several days, her wings and her feet were sore, her clothes were torn, her arms and legs were scratched from brambles and dry tree branches.
Clutching her bag of possessions close to her, she looked around for somewhere to shelter as it looked like it would rain through the night.
Licking her lips, her mouth felt dry, and she knew she needed to find a water source, she knew there was a stream not far away and she needed to find water before she settled for the night.
Using her good ears, she listened out and she soon heard rushing water, and her spirits lifted realising there was a stream or a river nearby.
After five minutes, Rouge reached the stream and she collapsed at the water's edge, she lowered her lips to the water and took a few sips, feeling relieved when her dry mouth was quenched of thirst.
She lay there for a moment looking at her reflection in the water and she saw how dirty her fur was and her hair was matted.
She dipped her hands in the water and splashed her face with it, and soon the ripples were stained with brown as she washed herself.
Yet, the sounds of the rushing water and her splashing herself clean weren't the only sounds that filled her ears as she soon heard something else.
Narrowing her eyes, Rouge lowered her hand to her thigh and put her hand around a knife she had strapped there.
But before she could remove her weapon, a spear appeared and hit the ground next to her and she jumped back in fright.
As she did, she saw three figures appear, all sorting tribal masks and carrying spears and bows and arrows.
As she studied them, she soon realised what they were!
"Echidnas? In the Great Forest?" she thought as she stood up and glared "I thought many of them stayed on Angel Island!"
"Stay where you are! Don't move!" a voice was heard behind her, and she turned to see another echidna appear holding a bow and arrow and aiming it right at her.
"Stay right where you are!" the Echidna growled again as he stepped closer.
Rouge glared and crouched in a fighting stance, yet she knew she couldn't fight them all especially when they had their weapons aimed at her.
Looking at the four echidnas that surrounded her, the bat knew the best option was to flee, even though she didn't want to fly away like a coward, she really had no choice.
As the Echidna's stepped closer to her, she opened her wings then flapped them hard launching herself into the air.
"Hey!" she heard the echidna's shout.
Rouge flapped her wings harder and sweat ran down her forehead.
She had escaped capture once, and she wasn't going to let it happen this time!
She soon heard the sound of weapons being thrown and she felt the breeze as some arrows flew past her and she winced as she felt one graze her leg!
Rouge cried out in pain, but she kept flying on.
But she didn't get very far as one of the echidna's threw a weapon consisting of a rope with two heavy balls on the ends and it wrapped around her left arm and wing and thus she was unable to fly and she dropped like a stone!
Unable to stop herself from crashing she hit a few branches of a tree and a shrub before falling to the ground!
Groaning in pain, she tried to get up and untangle her arm and wing, but she found herself surrounded by the Echidnas!
One of them grabbed her by the other arm and yanked her up.
"Thought you could escape huh thief?"
Rouge winced then she felt one of the other echidna's grab her other arm and take off the rope with balls freeing her arm and wing, yet he held her tightly.
"There's no doubt about it! She's one of them! Those bat Rogues!" she heard them talking.
"I thought they vanished after Robotnik attacked? Fled to the Outlands I heard!"
"Well, not all of them!"
"What do we do with her?"
"We'll bring her to the princess! She'll know what to do!"
It was then Rouge felt herself get dragged through the woods, two of the echidna's holding her arms and wings in their tight grip whilst one walked behind with a spear to her back and the other with a spear to her neck, making her attempt to escape impossible.
Before long they made it to Knothole, and Rouge saw the wooden village hidden within the forest and as she was marched through it, many residents stopped what they were doing to look.
"Hey! The echidnas caught someone!"
"A spy? A scout for Robotnik?"
"No Way! It's one of those Rogues! The Bat Thieves!"
"I thought they were all gone?"
"Not all of them!"
Rouge struggled in the echidna's grip until she heard voices from ahead.
"Who is it? Who have their caught?"
Rouge looked up and her eyes widened as she saw Princess Sally appear before her, alongside her best friend Bunnie Rabbot.
"Who have you caught?" Sally asked then she looked upon Rouge and her eyes widened.
"No way!" she cried "It can't be?!"
"We found her in the woods, about two miles away by the stream!" one of the echidna's reported "I believe you might know her, judging by the look on your face, my lady."
Sally frowned as she looked at Rouge who struggled in the Echidna's grip.
"I am familiar with this one yes." she replied, "She's the daughter of those thieves and treasure Hunters, Quicksilver and Ebony Bat! Rouge!"
Upon hearing her name, Rouge looked at Sally with a leer, her eyes narrowing into slits.
"Lady Sally, what do you want us to do with her?" asked one of the echidnas.
Sally frowned at Rouge then gestured with her head to a hut near the edge of the village.
"Take her to the brig! I wish to speak with her!"
"As you wish!" the Echidna nodded and clicked his tongue to the other echidnas, and they dragged Rouge towards the hut.
"Do you think you could ease up a bit?" Rouge asked, "I'm a delicate flower you know?"
"Shut up and walk!" one of the echidnas spat and dragged Rouge towards the hut.
"Quite an attitude this one!" Bunnie remarked to Sally as they reached the hut and opened the door.
No sooner did they enter than the echidnas took Rouge into a cell and planted her in a chair before tying her up tightly.
Rouge winced as her hands and legs were tied to the chair.
"Even when I ask nicely, you guys are still being rough with me?" she asked "Is a bit of chivalry too much to ask for?"
One of the Echidnas kicked Rouge's chair and scoffed.
"Why should we show niceties to you, thief?"
Sally coughed and held up her hand.
"Please! No need to be so rough!"
"We went through a lot to capture this one Lady Sally!" the echidna growled "Don't let this façade fool you!"
"Façade?" Rouge asked shocked "I don't even know the meaning of the word!"
The Echidna growled and held up his fist to punch her, but Sally stopped him.
"Please!" she breathed "Just tell me, is she secure enough?"
"She is yes!" the second Echidna reported.
"Then please leave us to talk!" Sally requested.
"What!?" the echidnas asked in unison.
"My lady!" the first one exclaimed.
"Trust me!" Sally reassured them as she raised a hand "Just wait outside the door, I will call if I need assistance!"
"Are you sure about this my lady?" asked the second echidna, skeptical to leave the cell with Sally and Bunnie with Rouge.
"Yes, I am!" Sally said sternly "Now please, I wish to speak to Rouge alone."
The echidna's sighed but they reluctantly agreed and left the brig, yet before they closed the door Rouge called out to them in a sing-song voice.
"Bye Boys! Thanks for the chaperone!" she then turned to the ground squirrel and rabbit with the robot limbs.
"So, girl talk huh?" she asked.
Bunnie glared.
"I'd watch my mouth if I were you chick!" she growled.
"Oh, you're here too?" Rouge asked the rabbit rolling her eyes "I though the princess wanted to talk one on one!"
Sally turned to Bunnie and patted her shoulder.
"Bunnie, please!" she then turned to Rouge and knelt before her.
"Okay Rouge, I know very well who you are, and I am aware of your family and your people, especially your parents, the way they kept trying to steal from the royal treasuries!"
Rouge scoffed and glared.
"Well, if you know who I am, then what are we speaking for? After those guards did the damn near impossible which is to capture me, it would be in your best interest to go ahead and lock me up!"
Sally sighed and placed a hand on her forehead.
"Don't make this difficult!" she sighed "I want to know why you are here, from what I remember, your people fled to the outlands after Robotnik attacked Mobotroplis, and now you are here, are you alone? Or are there others?"
Rouge narrowed her eyes.
"You could say there are others!" she replied "But I'm the only one left in a since!"
Sally raised an eyebrow and Bunnie crossed her arms.
"Not that it's any of your business! But the rest of my family, the ones who were able to survive that massacre, they were captured and imprisoned!" Rouge spat.
Sally's eyes widened and she cocked her head on one side.
"Wait!" she said as she stared at the white bat "You mean to say, you're the last of your people? They were murdered or enslaved by Robotnik?"
"Bingo!" Rouge nodded her head "Hit the nail on the head Princess!"
Sally stood up speechless and stared at Rouge, but Bunnie frowned harder.
"Why do I get the feeling you seem rather cool about it?" the rabbit asked "The fact your people and family were murdered and you're all like 'Hey! It's just another day!"
Rouge snarled at Bunnie.
"Don't misunderstand!" she growled "I'm doing what I can to survive and get by! But mark my words! I can and will free my family!"
Sally sighed and knelt before Rouge again.
"Can you explain what happened?" she asked "What happened to your family and how did you escape?"
Rouge glared.
"And why should you care?" she asked.
"I only want to know what happened!" Sally replied, a voice starting to show irritation "And you might not believe me, but I want to give you a chance, but first I want to know everything!"
Rouge frowned harder.
"Give me a chance?" she asked skeptically "A chance at what?"
Sally looked into Rouge's eyes.
"Rouge, if you and your family were victim to Robotnik, then I can help you find those who have survived if they were taken to Robotroplis, as well as get justice for those slaughtered!"
Rouge stared at Sally for a long time.
"Those slaughtered." Sally continued "If we can recover them, we can give them a proper burial!"
Rouge scoffed again.
"I'm no fool Princess!" she spat "You obviously know what it is I do, and the lineage I am from! Why would you want to go out of your way to help someone like me? Why even give it a thought?"
Sally took a breath and pinched the ridge of her nose and Bunnie sighed exasperated.
"Rouge!" Sally gasped "I know about your lineage! I Know of your parents! Quicksilver and Ebony! For their crimes, my parents wanted them executed, but they're not here anymore!" she sighed sadly.
"The Golden age of Mobotroplis is over! We're in the middle of a war against a brutal and merciless man! Robotnik! He took everything from us! He took my parents! The Kingdom! Our freedom! Everything we hold dear! Yours included! It doesn't matter what life you lead! I'm giving those whose lives were ruined by that murderer, a chance to fight back! To take back what's theirs! And I'm offering you the same chance!"
Rouge stared at Sally and let the words sink in.
After a few seconds she nodded.
"You bring up a good point." She spoke.
"We're all in the same boat!" Sally continued "We all want the same thing! I want to take back our home! And I'm leading those who want the same thing! It doesn't matter if they were part of the kingdom or not! If we want to win this war, we have to stand together!"
"You said it, Sally Girl!" Bunnie grinned clapping her hands.
Rouge looked back at the ground squirrel and nodded.
"Alright then." She agreed "But first." She said "Think you can untie me? I'm feeling a little restricted here!"
Sally frowned and shook her head.
"Sadly no!" she said "Not until you tell me everything, and until I feel I can trust you!"
Rouge glared and bared her teeth.
"Playing hardball huh?" she asked.
Sally then started to get angry, and she pointed at Rouge.
"Look Rouge!" she snarled "If you want to do this the hard way, then I can just leave you here for twenty-four hours to think it over!"
"Ooohh touchy!" Rouge drawled "Well look at it this way Princess! Trust goes both way! For me to tell you what you want to know, you must be willing to trust my word when I say I won't do or try anything!"
"I am willing Rouge!" Sally argued "And I'm Sally! Don't call me Princess!"
"You want it?" Rouge spat "You got it! Now then, care to untie me Sally?"
"No!" Sally barked "I'm still not convinced Rouge! If I release you, you understand if you try anything! There will be no mercy!" she added with a snarl.
Rouge scoffed and smirked.
"Of course!" she replied sassily.
Bunnie glared and stepped over to Rouge, her metal feet making the ground vibrate as she moved, and she grabbed Rouge's throat.
"That smirk does not fool me!" she growled.
Sally quickly went over and placed her hand on Bunnie's wrist.
"Bunnie! Calm yourself!" she ordered to which the rabbit removed her hand reluctantly.
"Look Rouge!" Sally said, "You're not making this easy for yourself!"
"Relax and apologies!" Rouge gasped "It's just the way I am! But rest assured I'm not going to try anything! I'm not exactly in the best spot to do that now am I? I gave you my word and I'm sticking to it okay?"
Sally frowned and crossed her arms.
"Why should I even continue this interview?" she asked.
"Alright! Alright!" Rouge said quickly "Forget untying me! I suppose I'll just have to adjust! You want to hear what I have to say? Fine! I'll talk!"
Sally stepped closer to Rouge, still skeptical.
"So, you want to speak huh? Fine! I'll listen! But if you continue to be difficult, I'll just leave you here!"
Rouge took a breath and wiggled in her seat to get comfortable.
"Well, you know a good bit about the history of my family." Rouge began "How we were forced to flee to the Outlands and became thieves in order to survive?"
Sally nodded as she listened.
"Well, it didn't just start with us! My generation is descended from a long line of revered and feared thieves! As I'm sure you know, as did your family, my parents were among the best in my family's history at what they do!"
"I am aware yes." Sally replied.
"I was trained by them and learnt all I know and then some from them! Soon I along with many others made names for ourselves, rose up the ranks and became renowed thieves in our own rights, things went well for us for a while, as we looked to take back what was ours until…."
Rouge paused as she took a breath.
"Until the day came when we were discovered, and Robotnik sent his goon Snivley to invade us!"
Sally glared.
"Snively!" she growled "That bastard's little minion!"
Bunnie clenched her metal hand as she listened.
"We fought back and stood our ground to the best of our abilities! But they had us outnumbered! Many of my friends lost their lives that day! And the others, myself included were enslaved! As they prepared to take us from the Outlands, I was able to escape with help from my parents, I was the only one able to escape!"
Sally took a breath as she listened.
"The Swatbots…" she said, "They show no mercy." She looked at Rouge again.
How did you escape the Swatbots?"
"My parents caused a distraction that helped me get away." Rouge explained, closing her eyes as she tried to hold back tears.
"That was the last I saw them, and I don't know what happened to them afterwards, they told me to run and don't look back…and I did as I was told!"
Sally and Bunnie were speechless, and Sally shook her head, tear filling her own eyes.
"Rouge." She gasped "I…I'm so sorry!"
Rouge swallowed hard as she tried to hold back her tears.
"I lost a lot of my family and friends, so many died that day!"
Sally looked at Bunnie.
"We've all lost friends and family due to Robotnik, and he won't stop." She sighed as she looked back at Rouge.
"I'm so sorry, I really am."
"One way or another." Rouge growled "I'll make him pay for what he did to my family! I swear it!"
"We all want the same thing Rouge!" Sally said "All of us!"
Bunnie nodded in agreement.
Sally then stood up straight and looked at Rouge in the eyes again.
"Now I'm aware of what happened to you Rouge!" she said "I want to help you! I'm willing to offer you sanctuary here."
Rouge's eyes widened.
"You what?" she asked.
"All of us have lost everything!" Sally explained "Me, Bunnie, the Echidnas and many more! And you are no different! We all want to take back what's ours from Robotnik! If any of your people are still alive in Mobotroplis, we can help find them, and those who have died, we can make sure they're given a burial!"
"You can do that?" Rouge asked, after giving it some thought about Sally's offer.
Sally nodded fervently.
Rouge was silent for a moment, then she looked up at Sally.
"Fine!" she agreed.
"But!" Sally raised her hand "You must understand the rules here as well, and given your past, you will be watched…until you have proven your loyalty…I don't just give anyone a chance without precaution."
Rouge nodded in agreement.
"If you agree to these terms?" Sally said, "Then I will untie you!"
"You got it!" Rouge agreed.
Sally walked over and produced a knife and stood behind Rouge to cut her cords.
"I don't want anyone else to suffer because of Robotnik! And you are no exception, Rouge! If we want to win this war, we must stand together as Freedom Fighters!"
She then cut Rouge's cords and the bat stood up rubbing her wrists and stretching her wings.
"Finally." She said under her breath, but she stumbled as the pain from where the Echidna's had shot her in the leg spasmed as she stood up.
Sally walked over and held the bat's right arm whilst Bunnie took the other.
"Come Rouge." Sally said, "We'll get you settled, as well as take you to Dr Quack about that leg wound."
"Thank you…" Rouge breathed.
End Flashback
Rouge looked down at her leg where she had been shot. She still bore a scar there, even though it hadn't crippled her thankfully.
She was grateful the Princess had given her a chance, and she had proven her loyalty, even showing her skills as a huntress and a spy as well as a capable fighter, but most in Knothole didn't trust her, especially the Echidnas.
Rouge tried to not let it bother her, but deep down it did, and she wished greatly she wasn't alone in her pain, that there was someone else she could trust and confide in.
Looking at the amulet and kissing it, she stood up and walked over to her bed before laying down and deciding to get some rest before she was called on another mission.
So now we've met Rouge the Bat, a little about her past, and her part in joining the Freedom Fighters as well as her role within the group, even though she's not trusted.
I plan to write more flashbacks with her as the story progresses.
Also, does anyone have any ideas on what her amulet might be? Anyone who guesses gets a cookie!
Again thanks to Meian16 for his help!
