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To her great surprise, Sally found that her planning session went by much faster than she had first thought. Usually she would be up until the early hours of the morning. Instead, she was finished just after night fall.

"I have to thank Misha tomorrow." She promised herself. "I needed that break." Sally looked over at the chess board, still left out from her match earlier that day. Modesty aside, she knew it wasn't often that someone bested her in a game of chess. That alone spoke highly of Misha's skills.

Sally sat back in her chair as she considered Knothole's newest resident. He was obviously intelligent, gifted in several areas, and clearly wanted to help in whatever way he could. His admission that he knew his own limitations meant that he had a better hold over his own ego than several other boys Sally could name.

She sighed. On the other hand, he wasn't what she would call stable. The doctors refused to give Sally his test results, something about doctor- patient confidentiality. But she could infer based on what she'd seen of him so far, that Misha had a slight-personality quirk. Or rather, that he had several personalities with quirks.

Misha would simply go from one state of mind, one personality, to another so fast that one would think that he did have multiple personalities. It wasn't that he just had mood swings. His entire character seemed to be in a state of flux. Like today, he seemed boyishly cheerful, energetic and even charming. When they first met...Sally shook her head. Predicting the weather would be easier than gauging Misha's mood or attitude at any given moment. At least storms having weather fronts one can track and predict. With Misha, there were no such warnings.

Even more troubling than that was his open disdain and even hatred for the monarchy. Sally shuddered, she could still hear his maddened rant against the House of Acorn. It scared her, and she wasn't easily scared. Sally was more than a little bit disturbed at his equating her father and Robotnik. Did that mean that he would switch sides if her father was somehow released from the void?

She shook her head. No, not even her most cynical, jaded tactical sense could seriously entertain that notion for more than a second. Misha may not be loyal to the crown, but that didn't diminish his loyalty to Knothole or to the fight for freedom in the least.

As for his.alleged personality shifts, they were a flaw, but no more serious than Sonic's brashness, Antoine's ego, or anything else of that nature. A problem, but one that could be dealt with.hopefully. Sally wasn't a counselor but she felt that exposure to other people would probably help curb Misha's more extreme tendencies.

That issue resolved, Sally couldn't help but think that she'd forgotten something. She mentally slapped herself. "I have to read to Tails!" Hurrying out the door, Sally ran over to Tails' hut but stopped short when she heard voices coming from inside.

It sounded like Misha, but it was almost as if he was trying to superimpose an English accent over his Russian one. Sally stood at the door as Misha read to Tails. She listened in to the story Misha was reading. It wasn't one she was familiar with.

" 'Ah, go boil yer heads, both of yeh,' said Hagrid. 'Harry--yer a wizard.' " Misha read in his pseudo-English accent. Tails was sitting up in bed, clearly excited by the story. Sally just stood at the door, neither of them noticing her. After another five or so minutes, Misha closed the book and set it aside.

"Good night Tails."

"Night, Misha." Tails mumbled as he snuggled into his pillow. Misha smiled and ruffled his head fur before quietly leaving.

"Misha?" Sally whispered after he went outside. He jumped in surprise and whipped around.

"Bozehmoi, Sally! You nearly scared me out of my fur!" Sally grinned.

"Sorry. That was awfully sweet, what you did for Tails." She couldn't prove it in the dark, but she could've sworn she saw Misha blush.

"Well I thought that you might keep yourself busy all night so I thought I'd put Tails to bed. I used to read for my little sister, Katya."

"Thanks. Say, what book was that? I don't think I've ever heard that one before."

"Oh that? It's a human book actually. Part of a series of fantasy novels I stumbled across. I thought Tails might like them, all things considered, I think I was right."

"I think so too." Sally agreed. "I want to thank you again for reading to Tails. And for letting me know when I overdo it."

"Anytime." Sally just yawned.

"I'm going to turn in too. I suggest you do the same. We'll talk more tomorrow. Okay?"

"I may do just that. See you tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night."

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