John Victor Foxfire: Thanks for your honest feed back( This sound really unpersonal in my head, and I don't like that. I just don't know what else to add). Sonic's life is only going to get worse, unfortunately for him. The "Yet" part wasn't intended to be a flag or anything. I don't have a clear story I have more of a… bullet point list that changes as time goes on. He might stay, he might leave. The poster wasn't intended be any big statement or anything. Tails and Sonic were just gone when the photo shoot happened. I like that you are reading into this though, I write a lot of chapters with the expectation that my readers might think a little deeper and see that a single line has huge implications.
line break to ease flow
Sally has her reasons for bringing in Geoffrey, and they are explained this chapter. They way you read into Tangle was pretty spot on, although she is really after adventure. I didn't have romance planned in her spot of this story. Tangle is there to give Sonic infectious energy, and bring him out the slump and not be so dark. I felt bad that I essentially kept sucker punching him. I have another set of gloves though… Fiona's dream has a meaning, but not quite what you think it is. The shriek was purely because I never actually just wake up from a dream, my brain has to scare me awake. That's all. She continues to be torn or split down the middle between her life with Scourge, or a new life with her family. She wants to be a Freedom Fighter but the last time she was it did not end too well…
Line break to ease flow
Johan absolutely had fun, but also shared the ideals of Saxon culture that will be elaborated on. I also needed to give Johan some slaves to help repair his ship for a future event.
Merendinoemilano: I brought in Metal Sonic to present a threat, and also introduce Johan to the idea of mechanical copies. That might be important in the future .
/*-*/
Sonic tapped his foot impatiently. Tangle sat down, belly up from food, "Look that was good food and all, but I just want to join the Freedom Fighters." At least her explosive energy had somewhat died down.
Sonic frowned, "I thought she'd be back by now. Maybe she left to go somewhere that's actually pretty far?"
"So I came all the way here for nothing?" Tangle groaned, rolling out of her chair. She didn't actually get up, instead groaning. Her belly was bulging from her clear lack of moderation.
"I did most of the running." Sonic snorted, listening to her moans of what he was pretty sure was her dying from eating too much, "I guess I'll just let you in and tell Sally once she gets back."
"You can do that?" Tangle raised her head quickly, seeming to temporarily shake off her stomach pains.
Sonic thought for a moment. Officially, no, he could not just allow someone into the Freedom Fighters without Sally's approval. Unofficially, Tangle could be a pretty useful member, and no one was going to argue with him over this decision.
"It'll be good." Sonic shrugged, "Let's go get a room set up."
Fortunately, they had built a set of rooms for new members. Ten rooms to be precise, eleven counting Amy's absence.
Sonic felt pain as he passed her room. She was still gone. Sonic didn't feel right, giving Tangle Amy's room. So he gave her the next one down.
"What, that last one looked empty!" Tangle grumbled as she dragged her feet across the floor.
"That one… isn't ready for anyone yet." Sonic tried to wave it off.
Tangle looked at him, and looked like she was about to complain, but then shrugged, "Alright, I guess a little walking won't hurt."
"Why did you eat so much?" Sonic asked seeing how miserable she was.
"I'M NOT FAT!" Tangle's energy returned so swiftly and she got defensive.
"I-I didn't say you were." Sonic almost laughed at how quickly Tangle returned to being energetic.
Tangle blinked, "Uh… right, so that food was really good. Way better than what I ate at home." She seemed to kick the back of her foot with her other foot.
Sonic opened the door to the empty room, "What did you eat at home?"
"Beet soup, canned beets, beet casserole." Tangle grumbled before walking inside, and looking around, "kinda bare isn't it?" She tried to put a smile.
"I mean, we all like our own style of room. So we let everyone bring their furniture and mementos and stuff instead of placing everything. There is a bed though, I washed the sheets, so they are clean." Sonic smiled, giving a thumbs up.
Tangle nodded slowly, looking torn between underwhelmed and grateful, "What's your room look like?"
Sonic raised an eyebrow and shrugged, "Alright, follow me." Sonic led her down the hall into his room. He opened it to find the blue walls, the bookshelf, the guitar.
"Wow…" Tangle muttered walking into the room, "I guess I wasn't expecting you to be reader."
Sonic blinked. Out of everything, she focused on the bookshelf. Sonic waved it off with a smile, "Well, I wasn't for a long time, but my mom got me into a book about the legendary hero Arthur the Hedgehog, no relation. I guess I got into a lot of fantasy and fun little books."
Tangle blinked a couple times, "Wow… you're a NERD!"
Sonic snorted. He walked right into that one, "We can't all be perfect. Did you pack anything, by the way? I didn't see you carry a bag."
Tangle blinked, "Oh… Uh… yeah, I packed three outfits. They're in my vest." Tangle tugged her best to reveal three layers.
Sonic nodded, "Right… ok. Well if you need anything, just ask." Sonic smirked.
"Uh… is that it?" Tangle seemed surprised.
"What were you expecting?" Sonic almost laughed at her response.
"Well, I don't a training course or something?" Tangle smiled weakly.
Sonic shook his head, "We don't exactly know what we are going to go up against. I just run and do my thing, and it always works out. Don't worry about anything like that." Sonic shrugged.
Tangle nodded slowly, clearly not convinced, but she left Sonic to his own devices. He thought about her for a moment. She seemed nice, his kind of friend. The energetic, eager for action and adventure kind. Sonic slumped back and looked up at the ceiling. Tangle… his gut told him she was pretty alright. She'd probably pull the old "Sonic-Special" of forgetting to use stealth, but she also seemed like she had the energy to get herself out of trouble.
Sonic snorted, before feeling the rumble in his stomach. He'd been so concerned with distracting the newest freedom fighter that he'd neglected his own belly.
His stomach made another rumbling sound, "Yeah, yeah." Sonic complained back to his belly, "I'll get you some food, shut up." Sonic jumped out of bed and zipped into the kitchen. He opened the Freedom Fighter Fridge and pulled out a meat pie. Sonic decided to forgo heating it up, in favor eating it like a candy bar.
Unfortunately, eating meat cold made it extra chewie, and Sonic had to really tear hard into it. The meat still held its flavor though, so it wasn't all bad.
Once Sonic finished, he decided to walk down the hall once more. He heard grumbling coming from the new recruit's room.
Sonic knocked on the door, only for it to move on the first knock.
"What was I thinking? I don't even have a second shirt, they're going to think I am a total loser." Tangle's voice grumbled, "Maybe I can leave in the night. If the leader doesn't show up, she won't notice I am gone, right? No… Come on Tangle, you can do this, just knock em dead, and they won't even look twice." Her energy combined with the shakiness in her voice told Sonic that she was probably not ok.
Sonic cleared his throat. Tangle's head shot up strait, and slowly turned to see Sonic smiling innocently in the doorway.
"H-how much of that did you hear?" Tangle gulped, looking panicked.
"I don't think you're a loser." Sonic tried to brush past the question, and really just keep her from wanting to leave. Instead, Tanlge paled.
Sonic stepped in, "Hey… what ever it is, we'll help you with it. We work together here." Sonic held his hands up to hopefully calm her down.
Tangle shook her head, "You don't understand, I'm POOOOOOR!" She groaned.
Sonic blinked. Was that it? Sonic smirked….then snorted… and couldn't stop the roars of laughter that erupted from his chest.
Tangle looked wounded, "It's not funny."
"It's hilarious." Sonic laughed, "Half us came from dirt poor backgrounds. Heck, my dad was a sergeant. Do you know how much we needed my uncle? Bunnie was practically an orphan, Tails was an orphan for a while." Sonic scratched his stomach in the hopes that the tickles would stop.
"Wait… you're poor?" Tangle asked hopefully.
Sonic snorted, "I mean…" He was cut off by the sound of the Freedom Fighter Doorbell. Freedom Fighters knew the code, so the only people who would use the doorbell were… citizens.
Sonic held up a finger, "Be right back."
He ran to the entrance, and opened it. Before him stood… an elk.
"Good Evening, I am looking for a "Lord Sonic the Hedgehog." I am here to discuss the manor of his residence." The Elk had a very formal accent.
Sonic blinked, "I don't care, just pick something." Sonic didn't want to sound annoyed, but he had other issues to deal with at the moment.
"So you are lord Sonic?" The Elk asked.
"Yes, get me a mansion that'll let me do what ever I need to do. I'll pay whatever, just get on it." Sonic groaned, "I don't need something overly fancy, simple works. Just enough room to run and do what ever I need to do. Ok?"
The Elk pursed his lips, "I have just the idea. You will positively love it."
Sonic nodded, "Great, I'll check it out sometime later, ok, bye."
"Goodbye my lord." The Elk laughed, and Sonic closed the door.
This time, it was Tangle who cleared her throat. Sonic slowly turned around.
Tangle grumbled, " "dirt poor" huh?"
Sonic smiled, "Ok, I've risen the social ladder a little. But you do that when you help everyone out. People like you and help you out."
Tangle nodded slowly, before shaking her head, "I don't… I don't think I belong-"
Sonic snaped his fingers, "You are fine! Sheesh. I wouldn't have fitted in if this was a "rich only" club. Tell you what, you tell me what you want, and I'll get it for you." Sonic smiled. He actually liked her, and didn't want to see her so discouraged.
"I don't want charity! I just want to help out." Tangle growled.
Sonic raised his hands defensively, "Ok… then let me help you. You need clothes right?"
Tangle blinked, and lowered her head, "Yeah… but-"
"You need shoes and decorations right?" Sonic asked, perhaps a little smarter than he should have.
"Yes…." Tangle sighed in defeat.
"Good. You can pay me back by watching my back." Sonic smiled, "That way it's not charity."
Tangle sighed, "Fine. But no lording this over me."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Sonic smiled. Tangled eyed him suspiciously.
Sonic zipped into to town. He was looking for a very particular group of workers. Sure enough, he found the shoemaker, or as Sonic learned when he first came into town, a cobbler. The cobbler was at his stand, showing off a nice sturdy pair of leather boots. Sonic decided to wait for him finish displaying the various perks of that particular pair of boots.
Sonic began to tap his feet as the haggling went back and forth. Finally, five Mobiums was agreed upon. Sonic stepped up, "Hey, I need you to get tailors, yourself and anyone else who makes stuff to wear."
The cobbler blinked, "I have shoes to sell-"
"Yeah, and I got a person who needs a new set of shoes, and shirts, and shorts, and a lot of stuff. Go to Freedom HQ, that base in hillside, and bring your stuff." Sonic smiled, and zipped off to the carpenter's guild.
The old fox perked up, "W-What? Oh, hello Lord Sonic, what can I do for you?"
"I need you to come and set up some stuff for a room, can you do that?" Sonic asked quickly. He had a massive smile on that he couldn't help since he had been running.
The Fox blinked, "Why of course, where would you like me to examine?"
Sonic smiled, "Freedom Headquarters, the building in the side of the hill."
"I am aware. I will gather my apprentice, and we will go right away." The old fox laughed.
Sonic zipped back to the Freedom Fighter headquarters, and skidded to halt in front of Tangle, who was lying down on her bare bed. She perked up, "Oh wow…. That was fast."
"They are on their way." Sonic smiled, really hoping she wasn't about to leave. He didn't like the idea that Tangle had that they were some rich-elite organization. They were just trying to help out.
Sonic and Tangle waited in awkward silence. Sonic asked, "So… got any family?"
"I have my parents, my aunt, my uncle, three cousins, four second cousins, sixteen distant relatives, and half of the village." Tangle groaned, "And they all look kinda like me."
Sonic snorted, "Tough break."
"Yeah. My dad actually couldn't tell me apart from my little brother." Tangle groaned, "Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?"
Sonic shook his head, "I never had a little brother, at least not from my mom or dad."
"Yeah… well.. it sucks being confused for a sibling of the opposite gender." Tangle rolled over.
Sonic heard the knock at door, "Well, that sounds like our stuff." Sonic didn't even wait for her to respond. He zipped over to the door, and pulled it open.
Sure enough, the Tailors, cobblers and carpenters were all there. Sonic smiled, "Alright, come on in."
He led them down the hall, to a wide-eyed Tangle. "Alright, I need new clothes, and furniture for her."
The cobbler immediately walked in and lifted Tangle's foot up to measure. Tailors came in with measuring tapes.
Sonic heard several questions to Tangle, but he only made out one, "Do I look like I have the body for a dress?" out of her.
Sonic chuckled, and the next few days actually passed with ease. Tangle got a new wardrobe, mostly just shorts and vests, a new set of shoes, a dresser, night stand, and comforter. For personal touches, Tangle asked for handle bars to be put in the ceiling.
Still, she seemed comfortable, just in time for Sally to get back. Sonic and Tangle were running around, basically playing a game of tag for "training".
Sonic dove away from Tangle's tail, right as the door opened. He looked up to find the former princess standing over him, looking disgruntled.
"'Sup Sally?" Sonic laughed. His adrenaline was pumping, because despite Tangle's lack of speed to match Sonic, her extendable tail offered a different kind of challenge. She could set up her tail to trip him, or use it to distract him from her movements.
Sally didn't seem interested at first, "Eggman attacked Mobotropolis. Where were you?"
Sonic smiled, "Uh… here. I got-"
"WE NEEDED YOU THERE!" Sally shouted angrily, "The city is half destroyed now. We don't know how many people were injured."
Tangle walked around the curve of the base, looking slightly nervous.
"I am sorry, I didn't know." Sonic stated calmly. He couldn't have known, so he didn't feel absolutely terrible, but he still felt a little guilty.
"That is what I have to tell the people of mobotropolis? You're sorry?" Sally exclaimed, getting irritated. As was their dance, Sonic began to irritated as well.
"What do you want me to say?" Sonic growled back at her.
"I want to know what was so important that you couldn't show up to help us!" Sally growled back.
"I was thinking! I was talking, and Uh… I brought a new recruit… she's really interested in joining the Freedom Fighters." Sonic's anger took a back seat as he came to realize that this was not a good impression to start Tangle off with.
Sally groaned, "Oh wow… you were thinking? About what? I-…" Sally slowly turned her head as her brain finally caught up with her mouth. She seemed to finally notice Tangle, who was trying to avoid eye contact.
Tangle simply raised her hand while looking at the ground, "Hi…"
Sally sucked in her lips, "Hi… I- well…. Welcome, you are interested in joining the Freedom Fighters?" Sally asked to confirm.
Tangle nodded, "Yeah…"
"Well, we are looking for new members all the time…. I'm sorry, we were just having a little disagreement… I promise we aren't like this all the time." Sally raised her hands defensively.
Sonic nodded, "We aren't… this was my bad."
Tangle sighed in relief, right as Tails walked in, with Johan in Toe. Her eyes wandered from shock at Tails'…well… tails. Then to Johan, where she spouted, "You're huge!"
Johan produced a low rumble from his throat, "Yes… and?"
"Wow… You all are amazing." Tangle blinked.
"You should have seen us in action. Johan was a beast in Mobotropolis!" Tails threw his hands up at the Wolverine.
Sonic shook his head, "Wait… You two were there without support?"
Tails got serious all of the sudden, getting agitated, "Yeah, we handled it."
Sonic felt worried for a second, "Are you alright?"
Tails growled, "I'm fine! Sheesh. Johan had my back."
Sonic blinked, and looked at Johan, "Thanks for keeping my little buddy safe." He never thought he would thank Johan for protecting something, but here he was.
Johan snorted, but didn't respond. He instead trudged in, dragging a sleigh of meat and goods. Sonic felt Tails get really angry. He turned to his little buddy, "What's wrong?"
Tails growled and pushed past Sonic, "Nothing."
Sonic licked his lips nervously. Tangle blinked, "Wow, everyone is so tense."
Sally frowned, "Yeah… It would help if someone showed up when we needed him."
Sonic growled, balling his fist, "I-" He took a moment to catch his breath. This was still Sally, and he still cared about her. Sonic shook his head. He wouldn't debate her, but he also wouldn't take it lying down.
Sally frowned, and seemed a little surprised, in the most unpleasant way. She sighed, "Alright… I want to go after the last Chaos Emerald. I still have that feeling."
Sonic nodded, but remained quiet.
Tangle on the other hand jumped up, "Wait, the Chaos Emeralds are real? Seriously?"
Sonic snorted, "Yeah… you've got a lot to learn about."
/*-*/
Fiona ran around the corner of the mansion once again. She was on her third lap. The Guards gave her a nod as she passed her old room. The Mansion provided a great fitness routine. The long hallways, combined with stairs that went up and down gave Fiona's legs a great chance to stretch and get flexible.
She rasped, but kept running towards the window. Fiona needed to rebuild her stamina she had lost from being rather idle. Fiona looked out the window and jumped. She didn't have fear or panic in her heart anymore. With her arms outstretched, Fiona grabbed the branch, and flipped over.
Fiona finally landed, and took a break, panting while hunched over. She was awesome. She had just completed her little course in record time. Fiona walked back to her room, and slumped down on her bed. Fiona felt her legs instinctively curl around her body, her tail following suit. Fiona stared up at the poster of the Freedom Fighters.
Perhaps she had a chance. Something to occupy her time while Scourge got a rescue team together. Or maybe… she was done with that life…
Fiona snorted at the thought. She closed her eyes as her heart rate settled… only to feel something pull on her bed spread. Fiona opened an eye and saw little red fur crawling up to her. She felt Alister lay down next to her.
"Aunt Fiona… are you taking a nap?" Alister asked looking over her.
Fiona mumbled, "Was about to."
"I'm tired." Alister stated, and slumped back against her.
Fiona almost laughed, because most children didn't want to sleep at all. Still… Alister's little hugs made her feel amazing. Frederick, as flawed as he was… was still her brother, and he loved her. Olivia…existed, but wasn't entirely unpleasant to be around.
She found those doubts creeping back into her heart. Fiona hated it, because once she decided to stay, she knew she would end up getting hurt. Fiona wasn't going to live through that again.
/*-*/
Johan wandered around the inground fortress that these creatures had built. He did not expect another annoying voice to join them. He listened to her talk about her home, which was a land of agriculture. Johan found her description of it to be rather expansive. There were forty houses, for ten clans. Most of the clans took up agriculture.
Johan scowled at the thought. It was not that agriculture was without its uses, but Saxons saw the effects on men. The strong grew comfortable, and became weak, decrepit and frail.
The Village this "Tangle" described seemed to grow mostly root vegetables. They had some meats, but not an abundance.
Johan was fascinated by how she moved her tail. Tangle seemed to be better with her tail as opposed to her arms. The tail seemed to have no limit to its flexibility, being able to fold and bend as she needed it. In time, Johan would hope she would become a great warrior to challenge him.
Something was tugging at his attention. Johan could feel conflict in the air, but he could not see visible violence to participate in. he scanned the room and saw the princess and the Garden Defender, exchanging glances.
This was a strange dynamic they had. Johan had noticed a pattern. Sally would project nubility at Sonic, while also attacking Sonic's mental security. If it were actual violence, Johan could understand the idea of fighting a potential spouse to determine their value, but this seemed to be an emotional battle.
Sonic would endure the attack, and fail to notice her projection. He would instead return the attack, not with romantic or carnal desire, but with the belief that he had been wrongfully attacked. He would finish with distancing himself from the princess.
And yet, they would return to each other's side, more distant from the efforts. Perhaps Sonic did not want the Princess. Perhaps the princess was a fool.
Johan decided to inquire, after the new monkey left. He approached Sonic first, who had walked outside. He spoke clearly and directly, "Why are you here?"
Sonic turned to Johan, "What? I live here?"
"Why? You do not enjoy it here. You and the princess fight amongst each other quite often. You are clearly frustrated with her. Why do you continue to serve her?" Johan cocked his head. He couldn't figure it out. Saxon chiefs had to be mindful when arguing with their warriors. A warrior who felt wronged could leave, and take their skills elsewhere.
Sonic frowned, and looked Johan accusingly. Johan did not understand his hostility, "Because we stick together. No one is going split us up." Loyalty. The fifth pillar of Saxon culture. Loyalty was the culmination of strength, to overcome one's desire to flee, to betray, to abandon. Loyalty was the strength to overpower the devil's temptations.
Johan nodded, "Yet you feel violated."
Sonic ran his tongue over his lips in defeat. Johan saw him turn to face horizon, "I guess I kinda do. She just doesn't get it. I didn't ask to be a noble. I didn't ask to have to be her servant at her beck and call-" That was a strange set of words. "I didn't ask for all of this responsibility."
Johan cleared his throat, "You are too lazy to hand your duties?" Diligence and Ambition, the second pillar of Saxon culture. To pursue all things with all of one's fiber and soul, to accept nothing less than to be the best they could ever be. The Strength to produce results.
"I don't mind responsibilities." Sonic groaned, not defensively, but almost worn, "I just want to be able to run when I want to run, to go where I want to go. I guess that sounds weird to you." He slumped down.
Johan however, felt terrible. He was wrong, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth. The primary pillar of Saxon culture: Freedom. That any man with the strength and will may do what he wants, without a false authority denying him his right.
Johan growled, "I apologize."
The Garden Defender perked up, "What?"
"I apologize. I had believed you were outraged out of laziness. Freedom is something that we Saxons understand well. I misunderstand, and I was wrong." Johan bowed his head in respect.
"Wow… I don't know what to say…" Sonic blinked, "I did not expect you to apologize to anyone… ever. I guess we're fine, I didn't think anything of it."
Johan nodded, "You should raise your grievances with the Princess. She will either respect your issues, or you should find a new leader who will."
Sonic snorted, "Nah… we'll be fine."
Johan cocked his head. This seemed to be an issue that ran deep. Still Johan could not force him to confront it. Every man had his mountain to climb, and to interfere direct would deny the man the right to grow.
He crept back into the fortress that houses the children who were called "Warriors". Johan's nose told him of the strange rodent's presence. His scent conveniently followed the princesses. Johan followed the trail to the princess's room.
"-real here, you didn't call me here out of pity now did you?" The rodent's voice almost seemed to mock.
"I had my reasons for calling you here." Sally's voice was slightly angry, but still in a calm range.
"You had a plan… You don't like me on a personal level." The rodent snickered, "Something tells me that your plan didn't quite go like you'd hoped."
"I brought you here because we need all the help we can get. If you aren't going to help…" The Princess groaned at the end, clearly unable to follow up the ultimatum.
"I'll be staying in my room. See you around." The door opened, and the arrogant look on the black and white rodent's face held only for a second, followed by a second of panic as he came face to face with Johan.
Johan eyed the forearm he had bitten off. It had been replaced with a wooden substitute.
The black and white rodent grit his teeth, in an effort to look intimidating, but the eyes did not lie, he was terrified. "Savage." The black and white rodent muttered.
"Indeed." Johan grinned, ensuring his teeth were on full display, "You're arm tasted fair." Johan enjoyed shift of nervousness as the critter scurried away.
Johan pushed into the door, " I want to speak."
"What about." Sally groaned in exhaustion.
"You brought that rodent here. Why?" Johan growled.
"Geoffrey? I brought him here because we need all of the help we can get." Sally muttered, even her voice not believing the story.
Johan growled, "You are lying. He does not serve any useful purpose. He only seems to create problems for your allies."
"Why do you care? You don't care about any of us." Sally barked back, before frowning, and shrinking in regret. Did she believe she had offended him?
"Sorry-" She started.
Johan intervened, "You are correct. I do not care about any of your well-being or personal comfort. You are not wrong. The exception being to the rabbit names "Cream", who I am entrusted with guarding and protecting to adulthood."
Sally licked her lips, "But?"
"I care if issues you have created will require me to put less faith in my temporary comrades. The people of this group you call the "Freedom Fighters" have been upset over Geoffrey's presence. He can not swing a sword, or wield a weapon thanks to the injury I gave him. Instead, your followers are divided, and outraged. So… why is he here?" Johan affirmed, getting annoyed by how much time this was taking.
Sally frowned and looked down, "Sonic."
Johan cocked his head, "He is here."
"No… Sonic and I were involved." Sally explained, but did little explaining much. Involved?
Johan cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out what she meant.
"Sonic and I were romantically active." Sally explained sighing in annoyance.
Johan blinked, "You are not married?"
"Well no… but I was thinking about. I hope that we both were. When Sonic and I were dating, Geoffrey was his rival." Sally tried to explain, but again, lost Johan. Dating? Rival in what?
Sally saw his confusion, "Sonic and Geoffrey were both trying to get me to love them. But recently, Sonic has been getting distant. I thought he had fallen for someone else, so I brought Geoffrey here. Sonic always tried his hardest when Geoffrey was here before, so I figured I'd bring Geoffrey back."
Johan was somewhat familiar with the idea of competitiveness. Saxons were competitive by nature, as their second pillar did not an explanation. The idea that someone could perform better when threatened or challenged was natural. Even alphas in nature would be more fertile when threatened, and produce children when under pressure.
What Johan was not in favor of was the unnatural forcing of two territorial challengers together. Johan respected Sonic. He would still kill the Garden Defender, but Sonic had courage and spirit, things Saxons could usually agree were virtues. Geoffrey was manipulative. His posture and speech made that clear. Saxons hated manipulation, the idea of treachery and trickery.
Johan scowled at her, "You manipulated one your followers to attempt to force him to pursue you?"
Sally recoiled slightly, "You make it sound bad."
"It vile, disgusting. Attempting to trick someone's body into romancing you, which within itself is vile without marriage, is disgusting. You have disregarded his say in the matter, and have provoked his anger. Now we all endure the consequences." Johan snarled.
"I Know!" She groaned, "I love him… I really do. But I can't seem to make up ground. I can't go back on my decision without letting everyone know my original reason. I'm stuck with this. I don't understand why it failed!"
Johan snorted as he calmed down, "I know why it failed. You actively betrayed Sonic and his feelings. You attempted to manipulate him instead of being direct. You chose to cleverly anger him, and did so remarkably. You, in his eyes, invited his enemy into his territory. Before, the two simply occupied the territory, or in this case, your affection. Sonic won, and now, you recreated a battle he did not want. If you had been direct, things would be different." Johan corrected. He was being nice. Hopefully she would learn from it.
Sally frowned, "I can see that I made a mistake now. It's not hard. How do I fix it?"
Johan found himself on the defense. He wasn't sure. Most Saxons knew their warriors enough to avoid these conflicts, instead of resolving them. Johan turned around, "I am do not know. Solve it directly, do not attempt to be clever or manipulative. Sonic and the others are losing faith in your leadership. I see them falter with your orders. You need to prove that you are capable of leading effectively once more."
Johan left her to her devices. Hopefully, she would fix the issues.
/*-*/
Alright, So… I'm glad I got this chapter done. A couple of things came up and I thought I wasn't going to get this done in time. Christmas is also coming up, and I got my bachelor's degree in Information Security and Assurance.
I'd love to hear what you all thought of this chapter. I keep trying to work ahead, but I have trouble making chapters shorter.