Author's comments:

I finally figured out how to do one of these. >.> Anyway, now I don't have to submit a review to respond to the readers. Go me. But anyway... I've checked out your profiles and don't worry, I'm going to look at all your stories! Just give me some time... school is in full force right now, but it gets out in two weeks.

The Ultimate Life Form: Sorry if you don't like the humans vs. animals thing. Some of this reflects my beliefs on modern issues and at times I'm not too subtle.

Kyra the Hedgehog: Thanks for all your helpful comments! What do you mean by "help with the ideas"?

shadowtheultimatelife: Wow, your review made my day. . Welcome to I hope you get some fanfictions of your own up!

Shadow's Dark Angel: Thanks for sticking with this! Don't worry, Shadow's going to get some good parts... thinks Sometime soon. D

The Chaos Crew: I checked your profile and I stand humbled before such a Sonic expert. bows I can only say I've played both Adventure games, several of the originals, and parts of Heroes... but I hope you don't think this story totally skews the Sonic universe. Well, I guess it does, but you know what I mean. .

Sorry this took so long! You'll have more soon! I'll shut up now so you can read.

Sonic made his way through the crowded streets. There were many metiyas hurrying around on errands and he was unsure as of where to start. Finally he decided to try to find that frog they had saved the other day.

As luck would have it, he found the frog almost immediately. He was walking with head bowed, carrying a basket filled with fresh bread and wearing a threadbare, tattered cloak.

"Hey," said Sonic quietly. The frog looked around, saw him, and dropped his basket in surprise. Quickly he bent to pick up the pieces of bread which were now scattered on the streets.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, but I really think you should be treated better," continued Sonic quietly, so no one else would hear. They were not attracting any stares yet. "Look at you. Beaten. Cold. No proper clothes or food either, right?"

The frog paused once in his picking up, but then continued even faster as if the hesitation was a sign of weakness.

Sonic was encouraged. "But I can change all that. You'll have a good place to sleep at night, better medical treatment, proper food and clothing, the like! All I ask is for you to join me."

This time the metiya looked fearfully at Sonic. "I... I can't, sir."

"Why not?" asked Sonic.

"It would be betraying my master, sir. And if he found out, he would beat me most terribly, sir."

"But he wouldn't find out!" objected Sonic fiercely. "I have others on my side, others like you! We are fighting for the freedom of metiyas! We won't let anyone beat you."

The frog finished picking up the bread and straightened. He looked into Sonic's eyes and saw the truth, the deep conviction there within. Something in the metiya seemed to give way, and he slumped slightly.

"All... all right." And it was as if a burden had been lifted, and he seemed stronger. He met Sonic's eyes.

"Lead me, and I will follow. For freedom!"

Sonic could have jumped for joy. They were on their way!

Meanwhile...

Tails moved uneasily through the streets. He couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching him, following him. He looked behind him. There was no one except for the usual assortment of humans and metiyas, no one who looked like they would be following him. He continued, but cautiously.

Behind him, a shadow detached itself from an alley and glided away, indistinctly following Tails, blending in with the crowds.

Tails made up his mind to talk to the first metiya he saw. Soon he was given a chance. A dog carrying a sack of something was walking slowly through the streets. A man near him looked at the metiya and snickered. Suddenly the dog tripped over the man's foot, falling to the street amidst jeers of laughter and catcalls. Then they ignored him.

Tails walking quickly over to where the metiya was picking himself up. "Do you, um, need any help?"

The dog looked at him with fear. "N-no."

"Hey listen, I can help you, whether you need it or not. Your masters treat you terribly, don't they?"

The metiya was silent.

"I can take you to a place where you'll be free, have good food and clothes, and can make your own decisions. No one will hurt you there, I promise."

The dog looked at him. "That sounds too good to be true."

"It is," assured Tails.

They stood there for a while, the dog considering. Finally he dropped the sack he was carrying and smiled - a faint, ghost of a smile, but it was there.

"Meet me at the old forest outside of town," Tails said in a low voice. The dog nodded and bounded off.

Tails stood for a moment, surveying his work happily. Wouldn't Sonic be pleased?
He didn't notice that he had his back to a dark alley.

Suddenly a hand appeared from the darkness and wrapped itself around Tails' mouth.

Tails tried to scream but couldn't. Strangely, no one noticed as another hand took Tails and pulled him back into the dark alley out of sight.

In the meantime...

Knuckles wandered through the streets, looking for metiyas. Of course, there were plenty there, but he was looking for one that might be easier to convince to join the revolution.
He got his chance shortly. A tiger was picking up some junk on the streets and meticulously putting it into an almost full bag. He was almost done when a human came along and "accidentally" bumped the bag. It spilled its contents over the streets. The wind picked some up and flung it all over the place. Pretty soon all the junk was scattered again and the bag was empty.

"Whoops, sorry there old chap!" chuckled one of the men and tripped him. "Oh dear, just an accident, I assure you." He made no move to help the tiger and went off laughing.

The metiya looked at the man's retreating back, and his eyes burned with hatred. He then slowly went back to picking up the newly scattered trash.

Knuckles hurried over and asked him quietly, "Bet you didn't like that, did you?"

The tiger glanced at him. "What's it to you? Come to make more fun of me?"

"No," said Knuckles hurriedly. "I came to offer you help." He picked up one of the bits of trash, a half-eaten piece of meat, and dropped it in the bag. The metiya stopped working and looked at him.

"There is a place where metiyas can come, and we will protect you. You'll have good food and clothing and treatment. No one will come after you and punish you, because we won't let that happen."

The tiger stood up. "Is this true?" he asked, and a note of wonder was in his voice.

"Yes," said Knuckles, and in his voice was truth and sincerity.

"Then I'll be a slave no longer," cried the tiger. He dropped the bag, attracting many stares in the crowded street. People began to murmur and point.

"Come on, let's get out of here," muttered Knuckles. They shoved their way out of the growing crowd.

At the base...

Gabriel and the others questioned Thayne for five hours and got nothing out of him save muttered threats and vague hints about how "Hashlar will beat this rabble". Needless to say, it was not fruitful.

"How about we try being a little more... persuasive, sir?" asked Saermore. He hefted the spear he was holding suggestively.

"No, Saermore, I do not wish to torture the humans, despite how they have tortured us. I wish to show Thayne that we are above humans," responded Gabriel, shaking his head.

Saermore looked disappointed. "The opinions of this human matter to you?"

"I have no wish to cause another being pain unless it is absolutely necessary, as it will be in the fights to come. We will figure Hashlar's fortress out ourselves."

Saermore looked grumpy, but did not object.