He stood there and continued to stare at me in amazement. "Why wouldn't I come after you? You said yourself that our lives would be empty without each other."
"I KNOW what I said!" I replied in frustration. "But there is no sense in getting us both hurt when one of us could go and warn Knuckles and the rest of the Freedom Fighters! I'm the one he wants! You're the one who needs to warn the others."
He pulled me into a hug. I tilted my head up and kissed him. Then I pulled away and jumped into the air.
::I hope I'm doing the right thing,:: I thought and sighed. ::I hope Tails'll be all right.::
* * *
"Queen Aria, Dr. Robotnik is fast approaching the Floating Island," I said.
"Yes, I know Zoë," she replied.
"The fox-hog is willing to sacrifice herself to save Tails and the Freedom Fighters," added Tobias.
"She is not yet ready," replied the Queen.
"But your Highness, she will surely be captured by Robotnik!" I said in frustration. Should we not save her, just to keep her from Robotnik?"
"Hold your tongue!" snapped the Queen. "She has one more test to pass, then she will be ready! Until that time, do not question my orders! Is that clear?"
"Yes, your Majesty," I said, looking at my feet.
"Now, you and Tobias go to your quarters and remain there until you are required here on the bridge. Understood?" she said, a little more gently this time.
"Yes, your Highness."
"You are dismissed," she said, and began a conversation with one of her advisors.
I walked out the door, Tobias close behind me. "Do you mind if I walk with you, Zoë?" he said.
"Not at all," I replied.
"The Queen has been so harsh lately, hasn't she?" he said, walking beside me.
"Well, she is your mother," I said.
"I know," he said and fell silent for a moment.
"Why is she focusing so much of her attention on this particular person? Why not the hedgehog, or Princess Sally Acorn?" I asked.
"I don't know," he replied, although I knew he wasn't answering the question entirely truthfully. I fixed him with a non-believing stare and he finally gave in. "Well, mainly because of what Robotnik did to her, and she is watching her development. I guess she finds the fox-hog either a threat to us or an opportunity. Probably more the latter than the former."
"I see," I said softly and halted in front of my quarters. "Well, until later."
He nodded. Then he took my hand in his and kissed it. He left and I entered my quarters.
I walked over to the mirror and sighed. I wore a plain blue jumpsuit with the insignia of the Royal Fleet on it. The Queen had assigned me to this mission because of my experience of dealing with rebels and such. I assumed that she could only want to me to help her deal with Haley, the fox-hog.
I ran my fingers through the fur on my head. My feline features were small and delicate looking, even though I had tried hard over the years to rid myself of that image. My black fur wasn't as shiny as it usually was, and I was in serious need of a shower.
"Oh, well," I said to my image in the mirror. "Things aren't all bad." The image of Prince Tobias entered my mind and I grinned. "Nope. Things aren't bad at all." I laughed and went into the bathroom to take my shower.
* * *
"Haley, wait!" I heard Tails call from a distance, but I ignored him, flying towards the ships with a speed almost fast enough to out-run (or in this case, out-fly) even Sonic.
::I've gotta get them away from the Floating Island!:: I thought. ::And Tails...::
I stopped and hovered in the path of the three ships. "You've been learning well, Haley," called Robotnik's voice over the loudspeaker.
"Yes, and certainly nothing from you," I replied coolly. "What do you want?"
"We don't want anything," he replied. "Just a little chat."
"Buttnik, you did not fly all this way just for a little chat," I snapped. "Don't lie to me. Tell me the truth."
"We want to take you back to the lab for tests," replied another voice, one that I didn't recognize at first. "Some simple tests, and then we will let you go."
"Shut up," snapped Robotnik. "You will not negotiate unless under my orders. Is that clear, Sir York?"
::Sir York?:: I thought to myself. ::Sir Alfred York?:: Then it hit me. Sir Alfred York had disappeared entirely one summer day after he had visited my house three years before. No one had ever found any trace of him besides a note stating that he was going and that he would not be coming back. He was a good friend of my mother's since college, and he and I used to get along so well. I was shocked. Why was he behind this?
"We must catch her now, Dr. Robotnik," said Sir York. "Sometime this century would probably be good."
"Then catch me if you can!" I said and flew between the ships and away from the island.
They turned slowly, which worked to my advantage. I had a good head start on them by the time they headed in my direction.
"Haley, surrender while you can," said Sir York. "I promise no harm will come to you."
"Honestly Sir York," I said to him telepathically. "You of all people should know me better than that."
"I do," he replied out-loud. "But I can guarantee that Dr. Robotnik will not harm you."
"No, you can't," I said grimly to myself.
The three ships broke apart and started to begin some kind of spiral. I stopped for a moment and watched. Then, they sped up until they were gray blurs. I resumed my flight. A few moments later, I realized that there was silence behind me. I stopped and turned around. The three ships were stationary in the air, and they seemed to be watching something. I looked down at the ground. Leaves and small trees were being torn from the ground and the other trees, and moving about in a spiral, like a tornado.
The tornado rose higher and higher into the air. Then the ships turned and it roared in my direction. I turned and pumped my tails around as fast as they could go. I tried to call upon the speed that had come to me so easily earlier, but it wouldn't work! I dodged and twisted around in the air, but it followed every turn that I made. Eventually the winds pulled me into the twister and I flailed helplessly around and around the funnel. I yelled for help until my throat was raw and my voice was hoarse.
Something flew in and grabbed me underneath the arms and yanked me out of the spiral of air. Instantly, the wind ceased to blow. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I remembered my orders to Tails. I looked up and shrieked. A metal version of Sonic had a hold of me and was flying up to one of the ships.
"Sonic!" I yelled. "What are you doing?!"
The glowing eyes looked down at me. "I am not Sonic," it said.
I struggled against the robot, even though I knew it would do me no good. Eventually I stopped and lost my focus on everything and lost myself completely in my thoughts. Before I realized it, I was chained to a chair in Sir York's ship.
"Very good, Mecha Sonic," he told the bot. "You may now return to Robotnik. Inform him that I will be holding her until we reach his fortress."
I snapped back to attention. The bot flew out the door. The door shut and Sir York paced slowly in front of me.
"Haley, sweetheart," he said softly. "What has he done to you?" He reached out a hand to brush my fur. He jumped a little when he got pricked with one of my quills.
I growled a little and he pulled his hand away. "What do you intend to do with me?"
"I'm here to make sure you don't get hurt," he replied. "But so far I don't seem to have been doing a very good job."
I sighed. "Sir York, what Robotnik did is not your fault."
He shook his head. "Yes, it is. See, I created the technology that enabled him to do this. I created the one that pulled you from Earth, and I created the one that turned you into this. I knew he had pulled a specimen from Earth and performed an experiment in them, but I had no idea it was you until it was too late. I'd heard from rumors alone that a young human girl was living among the Freedom Fighters. After I found out it was you from one of the robots, I made sure that whatever Robotnik did, I was informed."
"Why did you do it?" I said. "I mean, why the hell would you give an insane man technology that would harm others?"
"There are greater forces at work here than either you or I can ever imagine," he said, leaning close. "All I can say is that they've had their eyes on you for some time." He looked out the viewport. "Ah, we've arrived!"
The ship descended into a relatively small hangar, just barely big enough for us to land in. Sir York shackled my wrists behind my back and we walked out of his ship. Then Robotnik and a swarm of his SWATbots greeted us.
"Welcome again Haley," he said with a sneer. "We hope you will enjoy your stay."
"Save the pleasantries for when I kick your flabby ass, you disgusting pig," I replied.
He lifted his fist and brought it down hard across my face. For a few moments the only thing I could see were stars. I stumbled, and Sir York caught me and held me up until I blinked the stars away.
"Sir York, bring her to a cell until I have need of her," ordered Robotnik. "And when you have finished your task, report directly to me."
"Yes sir," he replied and shoved me back to my feet. Then he pushed me all the way to the door. When the door closed behind us he began to talk to me telepathically as we walked down the hallway with the holding cells.
"That was very stupid of you Haley," he said.
"Oh, believe me, he did worse before," I replied.
"I'm going to work on finding out what he wants with you. Until that time, lie low and don't piss him off," he said and we stopped in front one of the doors. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to get you out."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry about me," he said. "But the most important thing is to get out of here and get you home."
"But why can't I stay here, on Mobius?" I said angrily, almost saying it out loud.
"Because you are in danger and if the Freedom Fighters try and protect you they will be destroyed!" he said and stopped in front of one of the doors. He entered a combination into a panel on the wall and the door slid open. He shoved me in the cell.
"Be careful Sir York," I said.
"I will, young Haley," he replied and the door slid shut.
* * *
"She WHAT?!" yelled Knuckles.
"She used herself as a diversion to lure Robotnik's ships away from the Floating Island," I said grimly. "She ordered me not to go after her before she left." I smiled a little, and then it went away. "Sonic is gonna be pissed."
"I'm more worried about the Princess's reaction," he sighed and began to walk to the edge of the island. "Come on, let's go tell the others."
On the way to the edge of the island, we were surrounded by a group of feline creatures. My fur stood on end as the gap closed behind us so we had no way out.
"What do you want?" I yelled and a cloaked figure approached us.
"You will not go after the fox-hog," said the figure. She lowered her hood as she spoke. "She will be able to save herself."
"How do you know?" demanded Knuckles.
"You just need to trust us," said a voice behind me. I turned and watched a black feline woman walk and stand next to the cloaked person.
"If you can't trust us, then you will remain our prisoners until the fox-hog is ready," said a masculine voice, and a tan cat went and stood on the other side of the cloaked figure.
"Who are you?" I said meekly, my fear trying to edge it's way into my voice.
"I am Queen Aria, ruler of all felines and head commander of the Royal Fleet," said the cloaked one. She put a hand on the shoulder of each of the two people standing next to her. "This is Prince Tobias and my second-in-command of the Fleet, Lieutenant Zoë."
"What does this have to do with Haley?" snapped Knuckles. "What does she need to be ready for?"
"In our legends, our prophets foretold of one who would end all evil on Mobius forever. However, this person would not be born of this planet, but would someday appear in the form of a creature not well known to the inhabitants of this world," explained the Prince.
"That person would go through much pain and suffering before she could go destroy this evil and restore the whole of Mobius," explained Zoë.
"And you believe this person is Haley?" I said in awe and all three nodded.
"When she escapes the fortress of Dr. Robotnik, she will be ready and we can transform her back into a human form and send her home," Queen Aria said quietly.
I stumbled. ::Home, send her HOME?:: I thought, tears jumping into my eyes. ::No! She can't go home! She has to stay on Mobius with me! THIS is her home!::
The Queen put her hand on my shoulder, but I shoved it off. "It's for her own good, young fox."
I glared at her and the other felines. "No! You can't take her away! I need her here, with me!"
"Fox, she will go home. There are things she needs to do on Earth before she can ever return to Mobius," said Zoë.
I sat on a boulder and Knuckles sat next to me. The Queen walked over to us and stood in front of me. She put her hands on my shoulders. "She will do what she must, but then she will return. You two will not be apart for long. You must have faith in us, young fox. If you do not, then all could be lost for you, and for her."
I sighed and gave in. "Fine," I said and turned away.
"But you may go to the Freedom Fighters and tell them what happened. However, you are to forbid any course of action that might be taken by the hedgehog or the Princess," said the Queen. "Agreed?"
"Agreed," Knux and I answered.
"Good, you may leave now," she said and turned to Zoë. "Walk with them to the edge of the island to make sure there will be no interference."
"But...!" Knuckles protested.
"According to our calculations, this island should be floating somewhere near your village as we speak. Now go," ordered Tobias.
"Good-bye, your Majesties," I said softly.
"Good-bye, young fox," replied the Queen.
Zoë walked in front of us and lead us to the edge of the island. Knuckles was on edge. This island was his home and yet someone was escorting him around. He wasn't too happy about it.
Zoë turned to me. "You're friend doesn't seem to like me much," she said amusedly.
"Well, I can't blame him," I replied. "He doesn't need an escort to find the edge of the island."
Knuckles made a kind of huffing noise, and went to the lead, now walking ahead of us. Zoë laughed.
"Tails is correct," said Knux in frustration. "I don't see why I need to be lead around a place that I've lived in all of my life."
"It's for safety's sake," replied Zoë. We stopped at the edge. "This is where we part. Our paths will most likely cross again. I hope that when they do, you will think of us as friends." She turned and walked away.
"Well, let's get going," I said and jumped off the edge of the Floating Island.
Knuckles glided down slowly as I flew. We landed in a small clearing no more than a quarter of a mile from Knothole.
I sighed and we walked the distance silently. As we emerged into Knothole, Bunnie and Antoine were just running errands around the village. She had a load of stuff in her arms when we ran across her.
"Oh ma Gawd, sugah fox! What are ya'll doin' here?" she cried.
"Hi to you too, Bunnie," I replied.
"We need to see Sonic and the Princess," Knuckles said.
"Right away Knux," said Bunnie and threw the stuff in her arms at Antoine and took off.
"Well, ees'eent zat nice?" he snapped at her retreating back.
In a few minutes Bunnie came back with Sonic, Aunt Sally, and Rotor in tow.
"What happened?" said Sonic. "Where's Haley?"
"She got captured, Sonic," I said softly. I went on to explain how she had gotten herself captured getting Robotnik away from the Floating Island. I explained our encounter with the feline people and their queen and all about their legend. I left out the parts about how she has to leave Mobius. I just couldn't talk about it.
"But we have to go get her!" said Aunt Sally.
"No!" said Knuckles. "We were ordered not to."
"By the felines?" inquired Rotor.
"Yes. They said that she needs to do it herself," I replied.
"Nicole, what do you think about all of this?" Aunt Sally asked of her computer.
I SAY THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE FELINES. SHALL I LOOK THROUGH THE ROYAL RECORDS AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY KNOWN HISTORY OF THE FELINES?
"Yes," said Rotor.
Nicole was silent for a few moments. THE QUEEN ARIA THAT YOU SPEAK OF IS UNKNOWN TO THE RECORDS. BUT, THERE WERE RUMORS OF A FELINE RACE OUT THERE, BIDING THEIR TIME AND WAITING FOR THE ONE PERSON IN THEIR LEGENDS. THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE I CAN TELL YOU, SALLY, MAINLY BECAUSE YOUR FATHER RARELY MADE CONTACT WITH THE FELINES.
"Okay, thank you Nicole," said Aunt Sally.
"What are we going to do while we sit here and see if Haley can rescue herself?" demanded Sonic. "I for one do not like this idea in the least."
"I know," I said. "I don't either."
"We don't even know that when she leaves here if she will ever return," replied Knuckles.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Sonic said. "Back up! What do you mean, she has to leave?!"
"Exactly what he said," I said, a lump rising in my throat. "She's going to have to leave Mobius."
"Why does she have to leave hair?" demanded Antoine.
"They said she has to go back to Earth and complete some things there. They said she will return, but I'm not so sure," Knux explained.
Sonic whirled around to face me. I looked at the ground, unable to look him in the face. "Why didn't you tell us this earlier?" he demanded.
"I don't know," I said meekly, kicking the ground with my foot.
"Tails, you left out information that is probably potentially vital for us to get her back safely!" explained Aunt Sally.
"Oh, back off the sugah fox," said Bunnie. "Can't ya'll see he's upset? You'd would be upset if ya'll were in his shoes."
::Thanks Bunnie,:: I said gratefully to myself.
"Okay, we need a plan of attack and now," said Sonic.
"Didn't you hear what the felines told us not to do?" said Knux with a grin.
"Yeah, but I'm not gonna let her get hurt by old Buttnik. I don't trust him not to roboticize her," he replied.
Then we started working on the plan.
* * *
"Wake up!" called a voice from the door of my cell.
I opened one eye. Snively, Scratch and Grounder were all standing at the door.
"Oh, what the hell does ol' Flabby Butt need that he sent you to interrupt my peaceful nap?" I said.
The door opened and Scratch and Grounder both came in and pulled me off the bed and threw me to the floor.
"Well, so much for the pleasantries," I snarled as they grabbed me by the arms. With a force that caught me by surprise I ripped my arms from their grasps and sent them flying against the wall.
I got up and loomed over them as they cowered in the corner. I heard a low hum behind me and turned. I was face-to-face with a gun barrel, and Snively held the gun, shaking and sweating.
"Don't make me shoot you," he said, his voice squeaking with uncontained fear. "Get away from Scratch and Grounder."
I almost laughed at the pitiful sight, and I also almost felt sorry for him. Being Robotnik's nephew didn't help his image any and I didn't have to probe his mind to know that he was afraid of him. It was more out of pity that I didn't resist him; I could easily have gotten away if I'd wanted to.
But I had a score to settle.
I followed Snively down the hall after he got Scratch and Grounder out of the corner of my cell. I refused to let him bind my hands, and it took a few minutes of convincing him that he really had nothing to fear from me. He had no outright malicious intentions towards me, so I had no problem with him at the moment. He kept the gun pointed at me, "Just in case," he said.
We stopped in front of a door and he pressed a button. The door slid open and we walked in. Scratch and Grounder left to go do whatever useless task they had been told to do after retrieving me.
Robotnik sat in a mechanical chair, facing away from the door. "Sir York, put her in the chair."
Sir York walked from a corner in the room and grabbed me roughly by the arm.
::Don't resist, just come quietly,:: he said telepathically.
::I know that,:: I snapped angrily. ::What's he planning now?::
I felt his hesitation and his fear before he sealed his feelings off with a mental block. ::I'm not sure,:: he said as he was strapping me roughly into a cold metal chair.
::Well fine, I'll ask him then!:: I said in frustration.
"You know, Buttnik," I purred. "Its kind of hard to talk when your back is facing me, and I don't think that you so thoughtfully had my escorts bring me down here to sit and be your decoration."
He turned and faced me. The usual look of animosity was gone, but was replaced by one of quiet amusement.
"See this little device?" he said, waving a little remote around in his hand. "This is my most creative invention yet."
"What, you actually figured out how to program a VCR?" I laughed.
"I'm not aware of what a VCR is," he snapped, not hiding his frustration very well. "But this will help me find the location of those pesky Freedom Fighters!"
"How is it going to do that?" I said skeptically.
"Like this."
He held up the remote so I could see and pushed a small red button. A huge jolt of electricity surged through my body and I screamed in agony. I writhed and squirmed and shrieked until he let go of the button.
"Like my little play toy?" he said, with a sick grin on his face. "It's my newest electro-torture device."
"You're sick!" I snapped and spat at his feet. "I'll die before giving them to you."
"I think a couple more hours of torture will change your mind," he smiled. "I'm having quite a lot of fun watching a bitch like you scream."
"Kiss my ass Robotnik!"
He got up and walked to the chair and got a few inches from my face. "I'd be nice if I were you." He stood up and walked around a bit, gloating. "You're just like them now, a fellow rodent. I thought you were human, Haley."
"Not anymore."
"Robotnik, is this really necessary?" demanded Sir York.
He turned around suddenly and grabbed Sir York by the neck.
"What do you care? You said before she was nothing more than a useless animal!" he snapped. "Why the sudden increase in sympathy?"
Sir York choked a bit as Robotnik increased his grip on his neck. "I feel nothing for her! I just think that maybe you should leave her like this for the Freedom Fighters to find."
Robotnik let go and he fell to the floor and started a small coughing fit. He turned to me.
"When your little friends get here, they're going to view an interesting display of my mechanical genius!"
I snorted, trying not to laugh. "Yeah, okay! Somehow I don't think roasting me is the best way to show it off."
"Maybe not, but it'll give them a taste of my power!" he declared. "And maybe if you're real good, I won't completely destroy you."
He pushed the button and gave me a quick jolt of electricity to make me jump. He walked to Sir York and jabbed him in the ribs with the tip of his boot.
"YOU can make sure she's watered and fed, etc., but she is NOT to leave that chair."
"Yes sir," Sir York replied.
"I KNOW what I said!" I replied in frustration. "But there is no sense in getting us both hurt when one of us could go and warn Knuckles and the rest of the Freedom Fighters! I'm the one he wants! You're the one who needs to warn the others."
He pulled me into a hug. I tilted my head up and kissed him. Then I pulled away and jumped into the air.
::I hope I'm doing the right thing,:: I thought and sighed. ::I hope Tails'll be all right.::
* * *
"Queen Aria, Dr. Robotnik is fast approaching the Floating Island," I said.
"Yes, I know Zoë," she replied.
"The fox-hog is willing to sacrifice herself to save Tails and the Freedom Fighters," added Tobias.
"She is not yet ready," replied the Queen.
"But your Highness, she will surely be captured by Robotnik!" I said in frustration. Should we not save her, just to keep her from Robotnik?"
"Hold your tongue!" snapped the Queen. "She has one more test to pass, then she will be ready! Until that time, do not question my orders! Is that clear?"
"Yes, your Majesty," I said, looking at my feet.
"Now, you and Tobias go to your quarters and remain there until you are required here on the bridge. Understood?" she said, a little more gently this time.
"Yes, your Highness."
"You are dismissed," she said, and began a conversation with one of her advisors.
I walked out the door, Tobias close behind me. "Do you mind if I walk with you, Zoë?" he said.
"Not at all," I replied.
"The Queen has been so harsh lately, hasn't she?" he said, walking beside me.
"Well, she is your mother," I said.
"I know," he said and fell silent for a moment.
"Why is she focusing so much of her attention on this particular person? Why not the hedgehog, or Princess Sally Acorn?" I asked.
"I don't know," he replied, although I knew he wasn't answering the question entirely truthfully. I fixed him with a non-believing stare and he finally gave in. "Well, mainly because of what Robotnik did to her, and she is watching her development. I guess she finds the fox-hog either a threat to us or an opportunity. Probably more the latter than the former."
"I see," I said softly and halted in front of my quarters. "Well, until later."
He nodded. Then he took my hand in his and kissed it. He left and I entered my quarters.
I walked over to the mirror and sighed. I wore a plain blue jumpsuit with the insignia of the Royal Fleet on it. The Queen had assigned me to this mission because of my experience of dealing with rebels and such. I assumed that she could only want to me to help her deal with Haley, the fox-hog.
I ran my fingers through the fur on my head. My feline features were small and delicate looking, even though I had tried hard over the years to rid myself of that image. My black fur wasn't as shiny as it usually was, and I was in serious need of a shower.
"Oh, well," I said to my image in the mirror. "Things aren't all bad." The image of Prince Tobias entered my mind and I grinned. "Nope. Things aren't bad at all." I laughed and went into the bathroom to take my shower.
* * *
"Haley, wait!" I heard Tails call from a distance, but I ignored him, flying towards the ships with a speed almost fast enough to out-run (or in this case, out-fly) even Sonic.
::I've gotta get them away from the Floating Island!:: I thought. ::And Tails...::
I stopped and hovered in the path of the three ships. "You've been learning well, Haley," called Robotnik's voice over the loudspeaker.
"Yes, and certainly nothing from you," I replied coolly. "What do you want?"
"We don't want anything," he replied. "Just a little chat."
"Buttnik, you did not fly all this way just for a little chat," I snapped. "Don't lie to me. Tell me the truth."
"We want to take you back to the lab for tests," replied another voice, one that I didn't recognize at first. "Some simple tests, and then we will let you go."
"Shut up," snapped Robotnik. "You will not negotiate unless under my orders. Is that clear, Sir York?"
::Sir York?:: I thought to myself. ::Sir Alfred York?:: Then it hit me. Sir Alfred York had disappeared entirely one summer day after he had visited my house three years before. No one had ever found any trace of him besides a note stating that he was going and that he would not be coming back. He was a good friend of my mother's since college, and he and I used to get along so well. I was shocked. Why was he behind this?
"We must catch her now, Dr. Robotnik," said Sir York. "Sometime this century would probably be good."
"Then catch me if you can!" I said and flew between the ships and away from the island.
They turned slowly, which worked to my advantage. I had a good head start on them by the time they headed in my direction.
"Haley, surrender while you can," said Sir York. "I promise no harm will come to you."
"Honestly Sir York," I said to him telepathically. "You of all people should know me better than that."
"I do," he replied out-loud. "But I can guarantee that Dr. Robotnik will not harm you."
"No, you can't," I said grimly to myself.
The three ships broke apart and started to begin some kind of spiral. I stopped for a moment and watched. Then, they sped up until they were gray blurs. I resumed my flight. A few moments later, I realized that there was silence behind me. I stopped and turned around. The three ships were stationary in the air, and they seemed to be watching something. I looked down at the ground. Leaves and small trees were being torn from the ground and the other trees, and moving about in a spiral, like a tornado.
The tornado rose higher and higher into the air. Then the ships turned and it roared in my direction. I turned and pumped my tails around as fast as they could go. I tried to call upon the speed that had come to me so easily earlier, but it wouldn't work! I dodged and twisted around in the air, but it followed every turn that I made. Eventually the winds pulled me into the twister and I flailed helplessly around and around the funnel. I yelled for help until my throat was raw and my voice was hoarse.
Something flew in and grabbed me underneath the arms and yanked me out of the spiral of air. Instantly, the wind ceased to blow. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I remembered my orders to Tails. I looked up and shrieked. A metal version of Sonic had a hold of me and was flying up to one of the ships.
"Sonic!" I yelled. "What are you doing?!"
The glowing eyes looked down at me. "I am not Sonic," it said.
I struggled against the robot, even though I knew it would do me no good. Eventually I stopped and lost my focus on everything and lost myself completely in my thoughts. Before I realized it, I was chained to a chair in Sir York's ship.
"Very good, Mecha Sonic," he told the bot. "You may now return to Robotnik. Inform him that I will be holding her until we reach his fortress."
I snapped back to attention. The bot flew out the door. The door shut and Sir York paced slowly in front of me.
"Haley, sweetheart," he said softly. "What has he done to you?" He reached out a hand to brush my fur. He jumped a little when he got pricked with one of my quills.
I growled a little and he pulled his hand away. "What do you intend to do with me?"
"I'm here to make sure you don't get hurt," he replied. "But so far I don't seem to have been doing a very good job."
I sighed. "Sir York, what Robotnik did is not your fault."
He shook his head. "Yes, it is. See, I created the technology that enabled him to do this. I created the one that pulled you from Earth, and I created the one that turned you into this. I knew he had pulled a specimen from Earth and performed an experiment in them, but I had no idea it was you until it was too late. I'd heard from rumors alone that a young human girl was living among the Freedom Fighters. After I found out it was you from one of the robots, I made sure that whatever Robotnik did, I was informed."
"Why did you do it?" I said. "I mean, why the hell would you give an insane man technology that would harm others?"
"There are greater forces at work here than either you or I can ever imagine," he said, leaning close. "All I can say is that they've had their eyes on you for some time." He looked out the viewport. "Ah, we've arrived!"
The ship descended into a relatively small hangar, just barely big enough for us to land in. Sir York shackled my wrists behind my back and we walked out of his ship. Then Robotnik and a swarm of his SWATbots greeted us.
"Welcome again Haley," he said with a sneer. "We hope you will enjoy your stay."
"Save the pleasantries for when I kick your flabby ass, you disgusting pig," I replied.
He lifted his fist and brought it down hard across my face. For a few moments the only thing I could see were stars. I stumbled, and Sir York caught me and held me up until I blinked the stars away.
"Sir York, bring her to a cell until I have need of her," ordered Robotnik. "And when you have finished your task, report directly to me."
"Yes sir," he replied and shoved me back to my feet. Then he pushed me all the way to the door. When the door closed behind us he began to talk to me telepathically as we walked down the hallway with the holding cells.
"That was very stupid of you Haley," he said.
"Oh, believe me, he did worse before," I replied.
"I'm going to work on finding out what he wants with you. Until that time, lie low and don't piss him off," he said and we stopped in front one of the doors. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to get you out."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry about me," he said. "But the most important thing is to get out of here and get you home."
"But why can't I stay here, on Mobius?" I said angrily, almost saying it out loud.
"Because you are in danger and if the Freedom Fighters try and protect you they will be destroyed!" he said and stopped in front of one of the doors. He entered a combination into a panel on the wall and the door slid open. He shoved me in the cell.
"Be careful Sir York," I said.
"I will, young Haley," he replied and the door slid shut.
* * *
"She WHAT?!" yelled Knuckles.
"She used herself as a diversion to lure Robotnik's ships away from the Floating Island," I said grimly. "She ordered me not to go after her before she left." I smiled a little, and then it went away. "Sonic is gonna be pissed."
"I'm more worried about the Princess's reaction," he sighed and began to walk to the edge of the island. "Come on, let's go tell the others."
On the way to the edge of the island, we were surrounded by a group of feline creatures. My fur stood on end as the gap closed behind us so we had no way out.
"What do you want?" I yelled and a cloaked figure approached us.
"You will not go after the fox-hog," said the figure. She lowered her hood as she spoke. "She will be able to save herself."
"How do you know?" demanded Knuckles.
"You just need to trust us," said a voice behind me. I turned and watched a black feline woman walk and stand next to the cloaked person.
"If you can't trust us, then you will remain our prisoners until the fox-hog is ready," said a masculine voice, and a tan cat went and stood on the other side of the cloaked figure.
"Who are you?" I said meekly, my fear trying to edge it's way into my voice.
"I am Queen Aria, ruler of all felines and head commander of the Royal Fleet," said the cloaked one. She put a hand on the shoulder of each of the two people standing next to her. "This is Prince Tobias and my second-in-command of the Fleet, Lieutenant Zoë."
"What does this have to do with Haley?" snapped Knuckles. "What does she need to be ready for?"
"In our legends, our prophets foretold of one who would end all evil on Mobius forever. However, this person would not be born of this planet, but would someday appear in the form of a creature not well known to the inhabitants of this world," explained the Prince.
"That person would go through much pain and suffering before she could go destroy this evil and restore the whole of Mobius," explained Zoë.
"And you believe this person is Haley?" I said in awe and all three nodded.
"When she escapes the fortress of Dr. Robotnik, she will be ready and we can transform her back into a human form and send her home," Queen Aria said quietly.
I stumbled. ::Home, send her HOME?:: I thought, tears jumping into my eyes. ::No! She can't go home! She has to stay on Mobius with me! THIS is her home!::
The Queen put her hand on my shoulder, but I shoved it off. "It's for her own good, young fox."
I glared at her and the other felines. "No! You can't take her away! I need her here, with me!"
"Fox, she will go home. There are things she needs to do on Earth before she can ever return to Mobius," said Zoë.
I sat on a boulder and Knuckles sat next to me. The Queen walked over to us and stood in front of me. She put her hands on my shoulders. "She will do what she must, but then she will return. You two will not be apart for long. You must have faith in us, young fox. If you do not, then all could be lost for you, and for her."
I sighed and gave in. "Fine," I said and turned away.
"But you may go to the Freedom Fighters and tell them what happened. However, you are to forbid any course of action that might be taken by the hedgehog or the Princess," said the Queen. "Agreed?"
"Agreed," Knux and I answered.
"Good, you may leave now," she said and turned to Zoë. "Walk with them to the edge of the island to make sure there will be no interference."
"But...!" Knuckles protested.
"According to our calculations, this island should be floating somewhere near your village as we speak. Now go," ordered Tobias.
"Good-bye, your Majesties," I said softly.
"Good-bye, young fox," replied the Queen.
Zoë walked in front of us and lead us to the edge of the island. Knuckles was on edge. This island was his home and yet someone was escorting him around. He wasn't too happy about it.
Zoë turned to me. "You're friend doesn't seem to like me much," she said amusedly.
"Well, I can't blame him," I replied. "He doesn't need an escort to find the edge of the island."
Knuckles made a kind of huffing noise, and went to the lead, now walking ahead of us. Zoë laughed.
"Tails is correct," said Knux in frustration. "I don't see why I need to be lead around a place that I've lived in all of my life."
"It's for safety's sake," replied Zoë. We stopped at the edge. "This is where we part. Our paths will most likely cross again. I hope that when they do, you will think of us as friends." She turned and walked away.
"Well, let's get going," I said and jumped off the edge of the Floating Island.
Knuckles glided down slowly as I flew. We landed in a small clearing no more than a quarter of a mile from Knothole.
I sighed and we walked the distance silently. As we emerged into Knothole, Bunnie and Antoine were just running errands around the village. She had a load of stuff in her arms when we ran across her.
"Oh ma Gawd, sugah fox! What are ya'll doin' here?" she cried.
"Hi to you too, Bunnie," I replied.
"We need to see Sonic and the Princess," Knuckles said.
"Right away Knux," said Bunnie and threw the stuff in her arms at Antoine and took off.
"Well, ees'eent zat nice?" he snapped at her retreating back.
In a few minutes Bunnie came back with Sonic, Aunt Sally, and Rotor in tow.
"What happened?" said Sonic. "Where's Haley?"
"She got captured, Sonic," I said softly. I went on to explain how she had gotten herself captured getting Robotnik away from the Floating Island. I explained our encounter with the feline people and their queen and all about their legend. I left out the parts about how she has to leave Mobius. I just couldn't talk about it.
"But we have to go get her!" said Aunt Sally.
"No!" said Knuckles. "We were ordered not to."
"By the felines?" inquired Rotor.
"Yes. They said that she needs to do it herself," I replied.
"Nicole, what do you think about all of this?" Aunt Sally asked of her computer.
I SAY THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE FELINES. SHALL I LOOK THROUGH THE ROYAL RECORDS AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY KNOWN HISTORY OF THE FELINES?
"Yes," said Rotor.
Nicole was silent for a few moments. THE QUEEN ARIA THAT YOU SPEAK OF IS UNKNOWN TO THE RECORDS. BUT, THERE WERE RUMORS OF A FELINE RACE OUT THERE, BIDING THEIR TIME AND WAITING FOR THE ONE PERSON IN THEIR LEGENDS. THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE I CAN TELL YOU, SALLY, MAINLY BECAUSE YOUR FATHER RARELY MADE CONTACT WITH THE FELINES.
"Okay, thank you Nicole," said Aunt Sally.
"What are we going to do while we sit here and see if Haley can rescue herself?" demanded Sonic. "I for one do not like this idea in the least."
"I know," I said. "I don't either."
"We don't even know that when she leaves here if she will ever return," replied Knuckles.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Sonic said. "Back up! What do you mean, she has to leave?!"
"Exactly what he said," I said, a lump rising in my throat. "She's going to have to leave Mobius."
"Why does she have to leave hair?" demanded Antoine.
"They said she has to go back to Earth and complete some things there. They said she will return, but I'm not so sure," Knux explained.
Sonic whirled around to face me. I looked at the ground, unable to look him in the face. "Why didn't you tell us this earlier?" he demanded.
"I don't know," I said meekly, kicking the ground with my foot.
"Tails, you left out information that is probably potentially vital for us to get her back safely!" explained Aunt Sally.
"Oh, back off the sugah fox," said Bunnie. "Can't ya'll see he's upset? You'd would be upset if ya'll were in his shoes."
::Thanks Bunnie,:: I said gratefully to myself.
"Okay, we need a plan of attack and now," said Sonic.
"Didn't you hear what the felines told us not to do?" said Knux with a grin.
"Yeah, but I'm not gonna let her get hurt by old Buttnik. I don't trust him not to roboticize her," he replied.
Then we started working on the plan.
* * *
"Wake up!" called a voice from the door of my cell.
I opened one eye. Snively, Scratch and Grounder were all standing at the door.
"Oh, what the hell does ol' Flabby Butt need that he sent you to interrupt my peaceful nap?" I said.
The door opened and Scratch and Grounder both came in and pulled me off the bed and threw me to the floor.
"Well, so much for the pleasantries," I snarled as they grabbed me by the arms. With a force that caught me by surprise I ripped my arms from their grasps and sent them flying against the wall.
I got up and loomed over them as they cowered in the corner. I heard a low hum behind me and turned. I was face-to-face with a gun barrel, and Snively held the gun, shaking and sweating.
"Don't make me shoot you," he said, his voice squeaking with uncontained fear. "Get away from Scratch and Grounder."
I almost laughed at the pitiful sight, and I also almost felt sorry for him. Being Robotnik's nephew didn't help his image any and I didn't have to probe his mind to know that he was afraid of him. It was more out of pity that I didn't resist him; I could easily have gotten away if I'd wanted to.
But I had a score to settle.
I followed Snively down the hall after he got Scratch and Grounder out of the corner of my cell. I refused to let him bind my hands, and it took a few minutes of convincing him that he really had nothing to fear from me. He had no outright malicious intentions towards me, so I had no problem with him at the moment. He kept the gun pointed at me, "Just in case," he said.
We stopped in front of a door and he pressed a button. The door slid open and we walked in. Scratch and Grounder left to go do whatever useless task they had been told to do after retrieving me.
Robotnik sat in a mechanical chair, facing away from the door. "Sir York, put her in the chair."
Sir York walked from a corner in the room and grabbed me roughly by the arm.
::Don't resist, just come quietly,:: he said telepathically.
::I know that,:: I snapped angrily. ::What's he planning now?::
I felt his hesitation and his fear before he sealed his feelings off with a mental block. ::I'm not sure,:: he said as he was strapping me roughly into a cold metal chair.
::Well fine, I'll ask him then!:: I said in frustration.
"You know, Buttnik," I purred. "Its kind of hard to talk when your back is facing me, and I don't think that you so thoughtfully had my escorts bring me down here to sit and be your decoration."
He turned and faced me. The usual look of animosity was gone, but was replaced by one of quiet amusement.
"See this little device?" he said, waving a little remote around in his hand. "This is my most creative invention yet."
"What, you actually figured out how to program a VCR?" I laughed.
"I'm not aware of what a VCR is," he snapped, not hiding his frustration very well. "But this will help me find the location of those pesky Freedom Fighters!"
"How is it going to do that?" I said skeptically.
"Like this."
He held up the remote so I could see and pushed a small red button. A huge jolt of electricity surged through my body and I screamed in agony. I writhed and squirmed and shrieked until he let go of the button.
"Like my little play toy?" he said, with a sick grin on his face. "It's my newest electro-torture device."
"You're sick!" I snapped and spat at his feet. "I'll die before giving them to you."
"I think a couple more hours of torture will change your mind," he smiled. "I'm having quite a lot of fun watching a bitch like you scream."
"Kiss my ass Robotnik!"
He got up and walked to the chair and got a few inches from my face. "I'd be nice if I were you." He stood up and walked around a bit, gloating. "You're just like them now, a fellow rodent. I thought you were human, Haley."
"Not anymore."
"Robotnik, is this really necessary?" demanded Sir York.
He turned around suddenly and grabbed Sir York by the neck.
"What do you care? You said before she was nothing more than a useless animal!" he snapped. "Why the sudden increase in sympathy?"
Sir York choked a bit as Robotnik increased his grip on his neck. "I feel nothing for her! I just think that maybe you should leave her like this for the Freedom Fighters to find."
Robotnik let go and he fell to the floor and started a small coughing fit. He turned to me.
"When your little friends get here, they're going to view an interesting display of my mechanical genius!"
I snorted, trying not to laugh. "Yeah, okay! Somehow I don't think roasting me is the best way to show it off."
"Maybe not, but it'll give them a taste of my power!" he declared. "And maybe if you're real good, I won't completely destroy you."
He pushed the button and gave me a quick jolt of electricity to make me jump. He walked to Sir York and jabbed him in the ribs with the tip of his boot.
"YOU can make sure she's watered and fed, etc., but she is NOT to leave that chair."
"Yes sir," Sir York replied.