Victor John Foxfire: Yeah, Sally is making emotion gains, but the temptation of restoring ones throne is… pretty fierce to say the least. I think most people would take that opportunity. Nagus is actually not a tyrant… if anything this story has proven he's little more than a figurehead, a fact he wants to change.

Fiona and Fredericks rescues did not occur on the same day. What happened was badniks were closing in during Sonic's attempt to rescue Fiona, and he doesn't do well in prolonged and enclosed fights. SO he left, and the result was Fiona holding a grudge. As for Tails…Well…. Interesting things have been building up, but his strength didn't come from Johan.

Also, I am uploading this chapter a day early because I might be out Saturday

/*-*/

Sonic finished his breakfast in the morning, his displeasure being undeniable. Sally was smiling at him, but he had made it very clear that he was not happy. She was a lying snake, who'd trample over anyone to get what she wanted.

Sonic scolded himself for that thought. She wasn't evil. He was angry, but she was trying to make up for losing the throne. Still… Frederick didn't deserve to suffer for that. Sonic found it…angering to say the least.

So when Sally smiled at him, he only scowled at her. She moved over, and Sonic simply sat in the chair, preparing for an incoming question. Sally's smile faltered, and it became increasing clear to her that something was wrong.

"Hey…I'm sorry we weren't able to help your friend." Sally frowned at Sonic, trying to sound sympathetic, and also treating him like a child.

"It's fine. I helped him. Nagus backed off." Sonic shrugged, trying his best to keep control of the conversation.

Elias perked up, "What? Why?" He sound so upset about it. Of course he would be.

Sonic gave his simple, idiotic smile, "Well, I went to him, and I said if he didn't back down, I'd invoke right of council."

Elias's face filled with rage, and Sally, recoiled from shock. She asked quickly, "Why would you do tha-"

Sally was interrupted by her brother, "What the heck, hedgehog! We had a plan." Elias's face was flustered and bulging. Oh he was mad alright.

"Well, I figured rather than to wait for Frederick to lose his land, I would just go and help him keep it by threatening Nagus and it worked. Is that a problem?" Sonic asked, playing the ignorant fool that Elias thought he was.

Elias growled, before roaring, "OF COURSE YOU IDIOT. WE HAD A PLAN." His shouting caused Antoine and Tails to walk in, and both eager to look at what was going on. Bunnie and Amy followed.

Sonic took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check, "A plan that would sacrifice Frederick so you could sit comfortably on the throne."

Elias's face soften, clearly surprised Sonic knew what was going on, but Sally's face was priceless. It had turned from mild anger, to a terrified prey who'd been caught in a trap.

"The council was nice enough to look up what was "Right of council" is, and it didn't take much to connect the dots." Sonic growled, he could feel the anger and mistrust building inside him.

Sally gaped, "There's an explanation for this." She was faltering.

Sonic snapped, "Alright, then explain." He waited. He wanted an explanation. Something to justify their plan. Something to make them less monsters and more understandable.

A silence followed, and sounds came from Sally's mouth, but they were just choking and gasps. She had no excuse, no explanation, no justification.

"Let's go." Sonic stood up. They were going Roja today to meet the wolverine. Sonic walked into the hallway.

He heard the patter of feet and Amy's voice let him know she was coming to be the peacemaker, "Hey… Maybe you guys shou-"

"NO!" Sonic snapped, causing Amy to yelp and recoil, "She's gotten away with a lot. I won't let her off easy this time. She crossed a line. We can talk after we are done."

Amy gapped, before nodding. She could understand that he was probably not in the right state of mind to talk.

Sonic waited at the door, they were going to walk to Roja, as he could only carry so many people. Sally, Antoine, Amy and Tails came up.

Sally opened her mouth, "Hey, I-"

"I don't want to talk right now. We can talk after we are done." Sonic shut her down. He was not in the mood.

They set out walking through the capital. Sonic received some waves from people he didn't remember or know. They walked through the town and set out on the road.

Sally Conversed with Antoine, "And you're sure that she was a Wolverine?"

Antoine nodded vigorously, "Oh yes-yes-yes. Very big, very intimidating. She was scary, but she caught the lying vixen for us. Oh yes-yes."

Sally nodded, "Alright, It's just they've been supposedly extinct for years now."

Antoine made a gasp, "Oh my princess, I assure you. A big wolverine, big and scary. But she was very forward and of very niceness."

Sonic tried not to be skeptical, but this was Antoine they were talking about. Considering no one has seen a Wolverine, Antoine just had to go off their descriptions and blurry footage. For all they knew, they were about to insult a bear.

But if something was happening, and a species that had been extinct for years somehow returned, then Sonic and Sally wanted to be ready to react. So they kept walking.

They left the city, and walked for a several hours before camping out under the stars. They found a spot by a lake, with reeds growing out of it. The grass was green and littered with large rocks that made hard chairs. Sonic simply ran around the lake a few times and drew some big to the surface, which they cooked.

Tails sat to Sonic's right, Amy to Sonic's left, followed by Antoine, and Sally, then back to Tails. They sat around a small fire, in silence.

Tails muttered, "So…Anyone got funny stories?"

Sally remained there, looking mildly guilty. Antoine frowned, "Would you believe Mr. Snively does not know of making Crepes?"

Amy blinked a couple times, "Those are like pancakes right?"

Antoine's eyes widen in anger, "No they are not of pancakes! Gosh, you peasants are so stupid."

"Hey!" Amy and Tails shouted. Everyone stood quiet.

Sally smiled, humorously. What was so Funny? Sally struggled to not giggle, "You know, Antoine, Sonic technically outranks you."

Antoine's eyes widened, "What? This can not be of truth."

Sally nodded, "He's technically a knight, while you are a nobleman's son. So he has more authority than you."

Sonic smiled, perhaps he was too exhausted to stay angry for the moment, perhaps it was sweet revenge for Antoine's snobbiness, "That's right Antoine. This chilidog eating, savage, barbaric hedgehog, is higher on the totem pole than you."

Antoine's face flashed between outrage, terror and denial. "No… this can not be." He muttered softly.

Everyone who wasn't a coyote laughed. Suddenly, a gust of swift, chilling wind blew from Sonic's left. He turned to the forest across the road. A familiar feeling crept into his chest as everyone went silent.

The wolverine was alive.

"I'll take watch." Sonic muttered.

Sally asked the question that was on their minds, "That thing is still alive. I blasted him with the biggest cannon the Legion had."

Amy shuddered, "He kicked me across a field. I can't go another round with that."

Tails nodded.

"Guys, just get some sleep, I'll take watch." Sonic commanded, "If something happens, I'll get you up."

Everyone looked at Sally and she nodded. They all laid down, and Sonic stoked the fire. He had so many emotions running through him, it was hard to focus.

Sonic listened to rising and falling of Tails' chest, the light snore he produced, the little whistle that came out of his nose. The little guy was going to be fine.

Amy was sprawled out in the most undignified of fashion. Her arms were spread out, one knee raised up, one sticking out to the side. A loud snore came from her mouth, and she was mumbling in her sleep. Sonic chuckled at she looked when slept versus how she acted awake.

Then there was Antoine, curled up, murmuring slightly.

Sonic saw a bush rustle, and He turned quickly, but it was just a pocky. He suddenly jerked around when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

It was just Sally, who smiled softly, "Hey…I'm really sorry about… Frederick."

Sonic blinked. Was she seriously doing this. Fine, Sonic let out a nasal breath, "I don't want to hear it."

Sally frowned, "I get it, you didn't think the plan was-"

"The "Plan" was horrible. The "plan" was selfish and stupid. I get that you make mistakes sometimes. We all do. I do a lot. I get you don't always understand how I'll feel about something. Those are little problems. What you did, though…" Sonic shook his head.

Sally frowned, "I know… I just wanted-"

"Your crown back. I know." Sonic dismissed, before looking down, "You weren't there when we got into the treasury. You didn't see his face when he realized he had his family's history… in that room. You didn't see the joy he felt when we walked under the paintings. You wouldn't have cared. You are terrible." Sonic stated, trying to control his tone to not wake the others.

Sally was teary eyed, trying not to cry. He was the bad guy, once again. That was fine, she had crossed a line.

Sally waited for a moment, before nodding, "I understand. I lost a lot of ground with that… I broke a lot of trust. I'm sorry. That's all I can say right now."

Sonic didn't forgive her. Not yet.

They set out in the morning, and continued. Nothing had happened, which meant that the Wolverine was far away, or too occupied to come and get them.

They continued on the road stopping to catch food along the way. After three days of walking, Sonic arrived in Roja, with the sun setting.

"I could have got us here in a few minutes." Sonic muttered.

"Oh, no-no-no." Antoine shook his head, "You are much too fast for my likings."

"Also, That would have been a long run, even for you." Sally smiled.

Sonic shrugged, "Ok, where is this wolverine you saw. I'd to have a word with him."

"Her." Antoine Corrected, "She was of very much female."

Sonic nodded, "Ok, whatever, take us to her." Antoine sighed, and began to walk.

They walked down into the market street, with all sorts of mobians engaging in transactions. Some were selling herbs, others meats and grains. Some of the stuff actually looked amazing. There was a bear selling fish down by a ruined manor.

Antoine walked up to the bear as he was finishing up with a customer. The Bear spotted Antoine, "Oh, Hello Freedom fighter man. Thanks for your help again…what brings you here?"

Antoine flashed a look of pride at Sonic, as if being called "Freedom Fighter Man" was a distinguishing title. Antoine slumped an arm on the carriage, "Well, My good friend. I've come to the inquiring's of that friend of yours to whoms of regarding the capture of the fox."

The Mobian bear blinked, and cocked his head, swaying back and forth before asking, "What?"

Sally pushed past Antoine, "Hi, Sally Acorn, we were looking for your friend who helped us capture Fiona."

The bear's eyes widen, "Ms. Acorn, It's an honor. You're looking for Sticks… well she's up the mountain. She comes down every few days to sell herbs and spices."

"The Mountain?" Sally asked. Sonic could see a few mountains in the distance, and a few all around.

"Mount Vanish. No one goes up there, except her. She's a tribal shaman or something like that, because she's the only one to ever come back. Widows and orphans go up there to keep the monster from coming down, and Well no one knows what happens…" The bear looked down.

Sally frowned, "Do you know what causes the disappearances?"

The Bear shook his head, "No, and I have no intention of finding out. I got a life to live. So wait here until she gets back."

Sonic frowned, "Where is Mount Vanish?"

The Bear looked at Sonic, and blinked a moment, "You're Sonic the Hedgehog… Um.. My name is Oswald. Why do you want to know."

"I want to kick some monster butt." Sonic smiled.

"NO, NO! Do not go up there. People disappear, you're the protector of everyone. If you die…" Oswald was terrified.

Sonic paused. This guy was genuinely terrified of the mountain. He sighed, "Can I stay at the noble's house, while we wait for her?"

Oswald winced, "That's going to be hard. We don't have a noble. We've asked for someone to come and help keep off raids from Robotnik. It's only a matter before he gets here. I guess the crown has been too busy."

Sonic frowned, "Do you know a place to stay?"

Oswald pointed down further down the street, "Take a right, and you'll find an orphanage. They take everyone. Please leave them something though, those kids have suffered enough."

Sonic nodded. As they walked, Sally spoke up, "I Feel terrible. Eggman's been quiet, but still, these people are on their own."

"Things would be better under your rule huh." Sonic muttered, as they turned to the orphanage. She got the message.

/*-*/

Fiona missed grass. It was strange how the little things in life brought her so much joy, but she really missed grass.

She'd been stuck in the same stupid cell for what felt like an eternity. But she could close her eyes, and hear her sisters, chatting about boys and wrestling and new dresses. She could the breeze parting around their favorite tree, where they sat and had a picknick. Her brothers, fooling around with her dad.

Gosh she missed freedom. She missed everything that Sonic took from her.

She shouted in her cell, angry, before drinking more water from the sink. She had to escape. So she began to formulate a plan. She'd earn Sonic's trust, and get out of here, once and for all.

That was her plan.

/*-*/

Johan jerked forward, snapping the small rabbit creature that dared to attack the crop. It squeaked in his mouth, until his teeth pierced the ribcage.

Johan munched on the small, sweet meat. This was a nice, mutual relationship he had with the rabbit girl. He would protect their crops, and they would treat his wounds. They didn't know about him yet… and for the time being, that was good.

It was better to have them indebted to him first. He would pay off his debt, and extract tribute from them, or kill them.

Still, the matter of a child was presenting itself as a problem. He couldn't kill her. The gods would curse him for it. Furthermore, she was currently very useful.

Johan crunched and swallowed. He heard the sound of movement coming from the house. The hare came stumbling out, his scent reeking of alcohol, his legs stumbling. He murmured something, but Johan's limit grasp of their language was not helped by the slurring.

Johan simply waited in the crop, surprised by how little the crop bent under his size.

The Hare pulled down his pants, and leaking was heard. Johan saw the man stumble about, before collapsing in the mud made by his own urine.

Pathetic Johan growled. The man was drunk without any accomplishment to warrant such a state. Most of the people here were useful… but this man was not. Still, if he understood the dynamic correctly, this man was the rabbit girl's father, and thus, he would not take action for his debt. Still, this man was proving to be more of an annoyance than anything.