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I am in your closet.

/*-*/

Sonic sat up in the hospital bed. Sally was sitting right next to him. He was hoping for an all clear so he could leave and get back to doing what he was doing.

Doctor Quack returned, " Alright, you've probably already guessed, but you are free to go. Please try not to strain yourself out there. I have enough patients as it is." He muttered.

Sonic jumped out of bed, while Sally smiled, "I'll keep an eye on him. We'll be doing a lot of work, but I'll take care of the sweet little baby."

Sonic snorted, "Thanks, Momma." The two laughed. Sonic winced suddenly, feeling the bruises in his chest. Right, he was still injured.

"We'll take it easy Doctor." Sally got serious. Sonic hated when he couldn't even make jokes.

"I want to see Amy before we leave." Sonic muttered, crawling out of the bed.

Sally nodded, and the two walked side by side. Sonic didn't miss Sally's tail wagging, or the sweet stride in her step. She was certainly in a good mood despite being tossed around.

Sonic thought back to the Wolverine, how he'd endured even fire arms. He was tough, strong, and aggressive. Knuckles would get along great with him.

Sonic saw the door open up, and Amy's head shift to look at Sonic. She was awake… and fine? Why didn't he come to check on her?

Amy didn't seem to care, and seemed to brighten up at the sight of Sonic. Sally turned with a somewhat nervous smile at Sonic.

He looked down at Amy, "Hey, how are you doing?"

Amy looked up and smiled, the grin visible even through the breathing mask, "I've been better. The food's not bad."

Sonic smiled, "Well, pretty soon, you'll be better and able to see our new base."

Amy blinked, "New base?"

Sally rubbed Sonic's arm. He got the message, "We can talk about it later."

"Don't forget about me." Amy muttered as they left.

Sonic slumped in the hallway. Doctor Quack walked by, and seemed to notice Sonic's down state, "Hey, Sonic, I thought I would let you know that Ms. Rose is stable. She'll still need to remain here while her ribs fix themselves, but she will survive."

Sonic gave a soft smile to hide his guilt, "Thanks Doc."

The Duck nodded.

Sonic looked at Sally, who had a soft smile, "Amy won't be going anywhere. We need to help get set up in your duchy."

Sonic felt himself get blasted back to reality. He was a duke now. He had to actually govern and try to lead. Oh gosh…

Still, he stood up, and grabbed Sally. They arrived in a matter of minutes, what would have taken four days with regular movement.

The blackened walls of building that resided inside the city revealed how little people had actually done in the past few days. The city was still scorched and charred.

Sonic set Sally down, looking at all of the people who were in the streets. So many Mobians seemed to be taking a nap on the ground.

Sally nodded at Sonic, recognizing the pained emotions on his face, "I'll go see how the headquarters looks."

Sonic walked up to the citizens who were lying down, "Hey, are you guys ok?"

"Fine, why?" Said a bear, not even bothering to look up.

"Well… you're laying on the street, I just wanted to know if you needed anything?" Sonic asked, feeling genuinely terrible for this homeless guy.

"Nah, we're just waiting for the builder's guild to come back so they can get started on the houses again." The Bear muttered.

A goat and sheep who were lying down nearby nodded in approval.

"Well, have you tried rebuilding your houses?" Sonic asked, replacing his sympathy with annoyance. The City was half burned and these guys were just acting like nothing was wrong.

The Sheep shrugged, "I don't know the first thing about building houses."

Sonic rubbed his temples. These guys weren't even trying.

Sonic grumbled, "Ok, but what if it rains? Don't you want a place to stay out of the weather?"

The Goat sat up and looked at Sonic, "I hope it doesn't rain."

"Well then we need to get started rebuilding the city." Sonic explained, "Because you'll all get caught up in the weather. Let's start clearing these grounds, and I can work on a hut for everyone."

"Or we could just take shelter." The Bear muttered, "There are plenty of places where we could lay until the builders get back. They'll probably build better stuff anyway."

Sonic balled his fist. This was so STUPID. But, he couldn't let them stay out here in the weather. He ran over to the end of the burnt houses, and began to move rocks and charred logs in the street.

He felt like people were watching him, and when Sonic looked up, he saw the Bear and goat sitting on the other side of the street, looking smug. Sonic wanted to take them out into the forest and leave them. But he had work to do.

Sonic had trouble moving some of the stones, and had to carry and set them down. Then he noticed a smaller, broken rock land by his feet. Sonic turned to see a small child throwing rocks out. The child stopped when she realized he had as well. She didn't speak, the small deer just looked at Sonic. She looking familiar.

Sonic's mind snapped back to when they were here last. She was one of the orphans at the orphanage. Sonic looked around, there were a couple helping. The head mistress was smiling on the other side of the street.

Sonic waved, before getting more of the rubble and moving it. The rocks were certainly heavy, but with the kids helping, the grounds were cleared in no time.

Now Sonic needed to figure out what to do. A boar walked up, "Um… excuse me, are you having trouble?"

Sonic looked at him, "Yeah, not sure what to do now. I need to get a house going."

"I'm a mason, I can make the foundation for a house from what I've seen."

Sonic blinked, "You can do that?"

"I can try. I would like to be paid, however." The Boar gave a nervous smile.

Sonic frowned. He didn't have money, but the city hadn't improved since the tax collector. People weren't goin- the Tax collector. If those taxes were still there, they technically belonged to Sonic, "I'll check something really quick."

He ran back to the burnt-up town hall. The room had been left open, where the guards and Taxman had taken shelter. Sonic walked inside, and saw the scorch marks on the various bags of mobiums. Some of the mobiums were burnt up. That wasn't good.

There were also necklaces and rings… Sonic would have to return those. But he had the money, so Sonic ran back to the Mason.

"I can pay you and your workers." Sonic clarified, "I'll pay three hundred mobiums for every foundation." Was that a fair price? Sonic wasn't sure.

The Stone mason nodded, "Alright, we'll get to work." He gestured, and two young Boars appeared.

Now for wood. The woods were technically his land right? That meant he could cut down some trees.

Sonic ran out of the city and towards the forest.

He saw some large trees on the outskirts. He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel terrible cutting them down, but he needed wood. Sonic curled up into a ball, and spun into the roots.

Thankfully, hedgehogs were burying animals, so that meant the dirt didn't mess with his eyes. Sonic came out with the large pine tree crumpling. Now what?

He didn't exactly have an easy way to transport it. Sonic walked around the massive, collapsed tree.

Help came from an unexpected set of hands. Sonic had begun to drag the tree about three inches over the course of fine minutes. After that, the sound of hooves and wheels turning made Sonic look up.

An old ram was sitting on a two horse carriage, and seemed to look mildly disturbed at the sight.

"Excuse me young man, did you have permission to cut down this tree?" The Ram asked, clearly upset about the ordeal before him.

Sonic panted, as the tree had taken a lot out of him, "I think I can… I'm pretty sure I can."

The Ram frowned, "Do you have approval from our lord?"

Sonic stopped for a moment, before nodding with a funny smile, "Yeah… I think he approves."

"We don't have a lord." Muttered the Ram, eying Sonic suspiciously.

Sonic smiled and stretched his back, "You do now. I'm the lord of the city and surrounding areas… what ever that means. I got approved a few days ago."

The Ram frowned, "Is this true?"

"Yep… I didn't exactly want this position, but Here I am. I need this tree to rebuild after the riots." Sonic muttered, placing his hands on his hips, "Unfortunately, this isn't exactly going well."

The Ram paused for a moment, "I can try and help with the log, my lord."

Sonic nodded, "Thanks."

The Ram got off the carriage and pulled rope out from the tarp. They tied the tree to the carriage, and Sonic pushed while the Ram drove the carriage forward.

The Log skirted across the road, onto the bridge. They got the tree back in an hour.

Sonic saw an orange fox waiting there for him. He had a leather outfit on.

"Are you overseeing the construction of these houses?" The fox asked, eyebrows bent, clearly thinking deeply about something.

The Fox had two smaller foxes of the same coat color, most likely his sons.

Sonic nodded, "Yep, are you the builder's guild?"

The Fox shook his head, "No, we're carpenters. We don't have experience with building houses, but we can make planks for the construction. We just ask for fair wages."

Sonic shrugged, "Fifty mobiums a house sound good?"

The Fox nodded, "Our water mill is working, we can split the logs."

Sonic nodded, and the three went to grab the log. Things were looking up for this city. Sonic actually felt a little sting of pride as everyone seemed to be working on these houses.

/*-*/

Fiona listened to the sound of banging and men shouting. She slumped inside the small house that she had been allowed to stay in. Everything was so loud.

"I spoke with Nagus and we came to an agreement. You'll be placed under my care." Frederick smiled, "I will be your chaperone while you serve out your sentence."

He had said that, and to be fair, here they were. He was sitting there, with a goofy smile on his face. Fiona should have been happy. Here she was with her brother… but her mind wandered, sometimes into rather indecent places. And she wasn't actually free, just under the care of a much nicer jailor.

Frederick cleared his throat. Fiona stopped looking out the window at the beautiful fields that she never realized she missed so much.

Frederick smiled, pointing to the rack of clothing that the weaver's guild had produced. Several fine pieces of clothing. Silk dresses with embroideries and frilled dresses with waist huggers. All fine and beautiful.

All so not Fiona. Fiona wanted her black top, and shorts. She wanted agile and free, not pretty and pompous. Fiona shook her head, "I'm not a show bride. Can I just have my old outfit back." It was a long shot.

Frederick explained why, "All of your stuff was burned in the prison. What did your old outfit look like?"

Fiona saw something in the Tailor's trunk. A belly dancer's outfit. Not entirely what she was looking for, but she walked over and picked it up, "It was kind of like this, but black and leather. I had shorts as well, something I could move in. really short."

Frederick looked absolutely horrified, "What horrible perverse fantasy did you appease."

"I liked it because I was mobile." Fiona growled, "I could move in it. This crap, forget it." She gestured to the fancy array of dresses.

The Tailor looked offended. Fiona felt kind of bad, "Sorry. Your dresses are beautiful, just not my style." Fiona apologized.

Frederick nodded, slowly, "If you want… something so… odd." He was trying hard not to say "whorish", Fiona could tell. "I will provide it."

Frederick gestured to the Tailor, who nodded and packed up his things, clearly upset that he didn't make a sale.

Frederick cleared his throat, "But can you please wear something more… formal, when we host parties and events."

Fiona sighed, "Sure." She guessed that was fair. She could deal with a dress for a few hours.

Her mind was elsewhere anyway. The blue hedgehog haunted her thoughts. Gosh she had been terrible to him…

She'd betrayed him out of so much spite… but she was a bad girl. That was her belief right? She liked being bad…

Those words were sour in her mouth, and painful in her chest. Fiona starred out the window, and sighed as the workers continued to lay more stone bricks. The framework of the mansion was built, a replica of the old house that used to be home for the family. Fiona saw a lot of builders at work.

"Ahem… Lord Frederick." A voice asked, coming in the door.

The Rat was cover in grease and plaster, and his clothing was no better.

Frederick turned to him, "Is there a problem?"

"Well, it is concerning payment, and the sudden influx of workers we have had." The head of the builders' guild explained.

"Influx of workers?" Fiona's brother asked, looking mildly confused. She guessed he wasn't expecting more employees.

"Well, the builders' guild in Roja had a hard time, and then riot broke out from taxes, and they left. Now They're here. They're looking for work, and I figured we could get your manor done in half the time with-" The Rat was interrupted by Frederick.

"Send them back. Roja needs them now more than ever." Frederick commanded calmly.

"But sir, We can get this done in half of the time." The head builder explained.

Frederick frowned, "My brother in Roja will be outraged if I take his worker's guild after a riot. I can't repay his kindness with this kind of treachery."

The head builder shrugged, scratching his head, "Well…Roja's a long way, and they don't have much money. We could hire them for now."

Frederick frowned, "Alright, I will pay the difference, once the house is completed. Then, we will go to Roja and do construction work. I will go and explain the situation." Frederick sighed, seemingly stressed and angry. He turned to Fiona, "I'm going to Roja, I'll need you to come with me."

Fiona nodded, "I guess I don't really have a choice." She shrugged.

"Please, at least put a dress on." Frederick rubbed his nose.

Fiona looked down and realized she was still in prison garbs. Not exactly a sight a noble would want to be seen with.

Fiona sighed, "Yeah, I guess you don't want the world to see your criminal sister."

"It's not-" Frederick pleaded, realizing what he'd said.

"Yeah it is. Fine, I'll find some dress." She looked at wardrobe, and found a red halterneck with an open top, "Your wife mind If I borrow this?"

Frederick shook his head, "I'll get her a new one. She didn't like that one anyway."

Fiona walked into a room in private. Frederick stood on the other side of the door, which was more privacy than she got in prison. Fiona looked out the window of the house they were staying in. She was on the second floor, and she could make the jump to freedom…. Or she could stay…

Fiona thought about it. She would need to leave with the prison outfit, or else she would probably break her ankle on the fall. If she jumped, she'd just get dragged back once someone saw a girl in a prison uniform walking around.

So she put on the dress, and gasped in discomfort. She walked outside, and her brother's eyes went wide, "You look… breath taking."

"A little tight on the chest, but I'll get used to it." Fiona muttered, "Also, don't ever say that to me again. It's weird."

"I didn't mean it like that." Frederick groaned, feeling embarrassed. Yep, still her less than confident brother.

The carriage appeared, with an old weasel as the driver. Two guards sat in the back. Protection for Frederick and… her. In the eyes of the public, she was a lady now. She was Aria… not Fiona in the eyes of the people.

As Fiona climbed on board the carriage, and the trot of hooves set off. The dynamic was weird with horses. There were technically mobian horses, were they cousins of the domesticated animals? Did mobian chickens not eat domesticated chicken? Fiona snorted as she amused herself on the road.

Frederick's voice snapped her out of the funny thoughts, "So… What has occupied your time while you were away?"

Fiona licked her lips. Away? Right… when she left the freedom fighters, when she was working Scourge.

Fiona thought up something, "I was wandering around. Working with my boyfriend."

"Ah… Yes…" Frederick smiled, "This boyfriend…. Was he legally troubled?"

Attempted invasion, dethroning, sabotage, attempted murder, actual murder…. "You could say that." Fiona chuckled, in a childish amusement, "What about you?"

Frederick smiled, "Well… After Lord Sonic freed me…. I ran into the forests," His smile faltered, "I hid there for days. I ate lowly, and I was certain my retainers were going to leave me. After a while, though. I found old equipment left by Robotnik. I assist the Freedom fighters' cell in the lowlands the best I could. Then, King Max returned, and I helped raise an army to dethrone Robotnik."

Fiona thought she'd heard about his return. She'd assumed it was rumors at the time, so she dismissed it, "How'd it go?"

They trotted past the old area of Knothole, leaving only the citizens there. The lights of the old Fortress had gone out, much like the Freedom Fighters' presence in the area. Fiona felt her heart pained at the sight of the drooping forest. She had no love for the Freedom fighters per say, but this was… sad.

Frederick sighed, "Terribly. I did not participate in the battle, and it might have been the only good thing for me. It was brutal, and King Max was crippled in the fighting. We lost a lot of good men." He seemed so sad, "If my father or brothers had been there, it would have gone differently."

Fiona smiled, and rubbed his shoulder, "Hey, take it from me, a girl who thought she lost her family her most of her life, I am glad you survived." She meant it, she actually meant those words. What was happening to her?

They camped out that night. Fiona was amazed… at how trusting Frederick was… No chains or handcuffs. She could leave, right then and there…

She rested her head on the rock. Her brother slept so peacefully, curled up. She smiled, this was what she was craving. Her family, and she wasn't quite ready to leave just yet…

They awoke and set off. Two days later, they arrived at the west exit of Roja, the beautiful city, with several newly erected houses over charred areas. Charcoal kilns seemed to be alight, and the city was hardly different despite the great fire…

Fiona stretched herself as the cart rolled into the city, "Finally!" She purred slightly as her back straighten from the ride. A Bear walked out and greeted them, "Greetings ma'am, may I help you off?"

The bear was looking for easy money. But he had a glitter on his wrist…

Fiona smiled, "Oh thank you." She took his hand. Of course, as she moved, she ever so slightly "Slipped" causing their grips to tighten. Click, slink.

The Bear panted, carefully setting her down, "Sorry miss."

"Oh it's fine, I'm just a little stiff, it was my fault." She looked at her brother, who passed the bear a handful of mobiums.

"I would have helped you without having to involve… him" Frederick muttered as they walked off.

Fiona smiled, "I didn't lose anything for his help."

In the center, several builders were… somewhat shody. They weren't built by architects, that was for sure.

Frederick looked at a passing peasant, "Pardon me, can I ask where your lord is?"

The peasant blinked, "Lord?"

"Yes, your lord." Frederick growled.

The peasant pointed over to the hill just outside east exit from the city. There appeared to be a digging in the hill, judging from the pile of dirt outside.

Fiona followed her brother. Wait, the ruler here was supposed to be her brother as well… right? Fiona scanned for a red fox.

Nothing, except a pompous chipmunk. Fiona growled as she recognized the former princess. She and the princess hadn't gotten along much… ever. The princess didn't like her because of the whole, "Betraying the freedom fighters" and Fiona didn't like the princess because she was always so close to Sonic. At least, that was how things used to be.

Frederick walked up to the princess, "Pardon me, is-"

"Oh Frederick…and you…" Sally had a happy face for Frederick, but made no attempt to keep the formalities with Fiona.

Frederick smiled, "Hello my princess. Is- ah, there he is."

Fiona looked up to see Sonic, panting after anther bag of concrete landed in a pile.

"Lord Sonic!" Frederick called, waving to Sonic.

Sonic stumbled over, "Hey…Freddy." He let out a breath. A swirling told Fiona that Tails was nearby, and the little guy appeared to be struggling to move a bag of concrete. They were building a new HQ…here. But they needed the Lord's permis- "Brother", "Lord". Fiona blinked as Frederick confirmed her suspicion.

"Lord Sonic, how are you enjoying your new estate." Frederick asked, seeming a little proud from the statement.

"It's a lot of work." Sonic muttered, "But I think we've got everything running alright. What's up with you? Why are you her-He-e?" Sonic stuttered when his eyes landed on Fiona.

Fiona didn't know what was so special as she looked do-…

The Dress had not exactly increased in size, so it had become more accustomed to her body. It hugged her voluptuous form rather tightly, and far too much for Fiona's comfort. Especially if she had to run in it.

She felt herself becoming suddenly bashful and covered her form with her arms, "Sheesh, I get it, I look good."

Sonic shook his head, "Right…why are you here?"

Frederick seemed a little off set by the interaction but smiled, "I came…because there may have been a misunderstanding with your builders' guild."

Sonic blinked, "Yeah, they left town."

"And they came to my estate." Frederick explained, "I am terribly sorry for temporarily hir-"

"Oh, ok." Sonic shrugged, avoiding Fiona with his eyes as he turned around to get ready to run.

"Ok? They are your guild. I can send them back if you'd like-"

"If they want to stay with you, fine. We've gotten along fine without them." Sonic shrugged, "I don't need them. We can build everything on our. Get your mansion done."

"What about your mansion?" Frederick asked, "How are you going to build it without architects?"

Sonic snorted, "I don't need a mansion. Even if I wanted one, I'll just have the guy's I've been working with do it."

Frederick blinked, "Well….this went fine… Do you have a Room for me and my sister?"

"I don't even have a room yet." Sonic laughed, and ran off.

Fiona sighed as they went back to the carriage, "You made him a duke?"

Frederick smiled, "Indeed. I thought it would be best."

"He's not happy about it." Fiona climbed into the carriage, avoiding the eyes of the bear who was searching for his wallet and watch.

Frederick frowned, "Why wouldn't he be happy about land. He can have status and balls, and actual sway over nobles. Who wouldn't want that?" He seemed to not understand.

Fiona didn't have the energy to explain, "Call it a hunch." She muttered as the carriage set off…

/*-*/

Johan stirred awake. His arms were bound… metal shackles… He gazed around the room. He appeared to be chain to a stone all. There was light coming through caged bars on the walls. The sound of movement and talking filled Johan's ears.

This room did not hide sound. His legs were bound, and there were black metal bars in front of his cell. This room appeared to be dungeon. Johan also noticed the disciplined guards standing, watching him constantly. They were angry and alert.

Fortunately for them, Johan found himself in a good position. He had access to the outside world through the barred windows. There was pliantly to learn, so why escape. He could kill them all later.

SO he bid his time, and listened…

/*-*/

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