Deprivation

Chapter 1


Author's Note: Again I am updating! Wonderful, no? I intend on writing chapters during the weekend, though I must admit, I haven't a clue how chapter two'll go. Suggestions are nice. Suggestions are appreciated. Also, please forgive me. This chapter may not be realistic. I may not have my facts straight. I have seen SatAM, but I'm no expert on it. I attempted. I'd really prefer not to see a grossly long review explaining all the things I did wrong. I know this isn't perfect. Know I tried. My grammar and spelling may not be perfect, so know I only read through this once. I can't catch everything. I'm not an expert editor, I'm afraid. Please enjoy and do review! I like feedback; it's the reason I keep writing.

Disclaimer: Do I need to provide a further explanation?

"Where is he?"

If every minute seemed like an hour, a century would have passed by of waiting. Every moment her stress level would rise; every moment anxiety and worry would be one step closer to taking the best of her. Patience never seemed to fail in a situation like this, but the leeway that had been was slowly, but surely, disappearing. Within the short duration of five more minutes, Princess Sally Acorn would be tempted to explode in fury and frustration; the effects of immense pressure.

But these temptations could be easily ignored.

Blue boot tapping at the usual 'meeting' spot in Robotropolis, a notorious junk pile, she stood in silence, murmuring and cursing to herself as time continued to fly at its extraordinarily slow rate.

Her pensive blue orbs gazing about secretly at the polluted wasteland, there was a slight pull on her heart strings. This had once been a gorgeous, peaceful city. Though she had been young, deep within her memories she could recall some minor details. The bright colors; the clean air; and even though her last memory there had been at the age of five, she knew that this was the complete opposite of what had been. Robotropolis was the polar opposite of Mobotropolis.

Reparation wouldn't come easy after the war. Though she hadn't done much planning, with all the damage, it was obvious to her that it would take years, perhaps even decades to fully restore the city to its former condition…

Those discouraging thoughts she fought back into the more hidden section of her mind, putting what was in front of her back on focus. She let out a soft groan, arms crossed. Oh, he better have an adequate excuse for this…

Bam!

To her relief and dismay, a sonic boom was heard in the distance. Nonchalant and cool, a blue blur sped in her direction. "Come 'n get me, SWATbutts!" he raved, trying to ward off a troop.

She watched a bit shocked, anger rising. Was he aware of the situation at hand? Had he completely forgotten the objective? This WASN'T a game and once again, Sonic the Hedgehog was treating it like one. That inattentive OAF!

He made a set of elusive quick turns, confusing some of the small troop and leaving the others in the dust. By the time he had reached the princess, he had seemed to lose all of them with his immense amount of speed. He stopped and grinned. "Hey Sal!"

"Sonic Hedgehog, WHAT were you doing?" She didn't look at all happy to see him.

"Just havin' a little fun. Lighten up, Sal. I got rid of 'em, didn't I?"

She sighed, a bit defeated. This wasn't the place to argue. As long as he completed the objective, it didn't matter. "Did you get the information?"

"The what?"

"The files, Sonic! The information I needed. The information on that machine-"

"Well, uhh…about that…"

"You didn't, did you?" There was a knowing tone in her voice, as he shrugged.

"Well, I sort of tried 'ta cream 'da thing instead. I figured with a few rolls…"

"You figured?"

"Whoa, whoa, let me explain Sal! Don't need 'ta explode like a volcano here! I kept cool. I couldn't get any damage 'ta 'da thing so I juiced after a while. Man, it's got one heck of a shield, Sal!"

"I know that, Sonic. That's why I needed the files; that's why I planned this. Weren't you listening when I explained-?"

"Sort of…" he murmured.

"Sort of? Sort of isn't enough, Sonic!" She placed a paw to her head, trying to ease some of her newfound frustration. "You need to take this seriously!"

"Yeah, yeah, I WAS takin' it seriously with 'ze French loser' always barkin' in my face. So it was my genius plan 'ta leave Antoine in charge of gettin' the files…"

"You left ANTOINE?" Though their conversation was barely above a whisper, Sally's tone raised a bit. She stopped herself, knowing she couldn't afford to keep this going much longer. "Aren't you forgetting something, genius?" she inquired, eyes rolling.

"What?"

She didn't even answer for him because rushing over to them in a mad sprint was the item itself.

"M-my prinzess!" it called out. "My prinzess!"

She knew at this point the easy mission she had set was a complete failure.

It was amazing the three made it out with their fur still attached, or so decided Sally. The night sky shimmering above Knothole, the princess was not enjoying it by usual means. After the failed mission, she had immediately resorted to having another planning period. She needed that information. It was impossible for her to carry out her full plan without it. She needed to know the exact location of the machine's weak point. The door to her hut closed shut, she was already at work. It was plain expectations. Being the brain of most operations, she was used to it. Being one of the leaders, it was required. Though she often received much 'publicity' for her role, the workload that came with it was hardly worth the exchange. Being the head of an organization was more then simply fame, though fame Sally had never experienced in excessive amounts.

In fact, she was nearly against it. It wasn't fame that she received, it was respect. Her title she was almost discomforted with everyone using. For now, she was an equal. If anyone received the greater amount of 'publicity' and 'popularity' it was Sonic. He did earn it. He was one of the strongest members. Without him, the Freedom Fighters would be weakened tremendously. She could only presume the great 'True Blue' was enjoying himself currently. He was probably in the mess hall, eating a massive barrage of chili dogs; without a care to what had happened that evening.

As she continued to work with the aid of her palm computer, Nicole, she suddenly heard a knock at her door.

"Aunt Sally?" a small voice called from outside of it. "Sonic said you were in here…"

Heaving a sigh and making her way over to the door, she paused before opening it.

"He said you were really upset…" the little voice continued. "He told me I should come here and make you feel better…"

Well, he did do something redeeming every once in a while, though it wasn't nearly enough to confiscate the stupid action he had performed earlier. "I'm busy, honey…" she stated, opening the door. There, standing with a small frown on his face, was Miles Prower, a little orphaned fox Sonic had found when she was a child.

"But Aunt Sally, you promised you'd read me a bedtime story tonight…"

Her blue eyes watched him with some compassion. The poor child had lost both his parents to Robotnik before he could even know them. The poor child was trapped in the middle of a huge problem that no one his age should endure; the poor kid was trapped in a war. The thoughts broke her heart, and with a sigh, she gave in.

Taking one last glance between her work and the fox, she knew which one mattered most. The other could wait.

Taking a step out of her hut, she studied him. Granted, she could use a break. "I did, didn't I?" The words lingered in the night air. "So where did I end off last night?"

The little two-tailed wonder grinned fondly at his 'aunt'. She was the closest thing he had to a mother. "The prince finished his long quest, Aunt Sally…" he started to explain, as the two made their way to his hut. "And now he was starting his long journey back home…"

The duo entered, the fox immediately getting into bed. She retrieved the book, watching him with a small smile. Opening it to the page she had left off, she began to read once again. This was one of the more laidback activities of her day. Often times she wondered what it would have been like to hear her father read to her. Would he put forth the effort she did? Or would he be too busy, like she was on some nights? Questions that lingered in the back of her mind; the what-ifs that could go on for all eternity. They never seemed to fade, only multiply. For every question or concern came two others; all similar.

The past had to be put aside, but however, it wasn't forgotten. The thoughts and wonderings of her mind were solely private; though there wasn't a moment she ever doubted that everyone else in the village was experiencing similar ponderings. Rotor, Antoine, Bunnie, and even Sonic were in the same situation as she was.

It didn't take a brain to know morally, everyone was in conflict.

Improvising made the story last a little longer then usual and almost seem like a play. The fox did enjoy her change of voices. It was a form of entertainment that plain reading could never surpass. The time flew by quickly as the fairy tale progressed and finally, coming to the last page and sentence, Sally stopped before she read it. Sleeping in the bed was her adopted 'nephew', safe within the realms of dreams. It warmed her heart to see his innocence, though pained it in little progressions to know it would soon be lost. Already he was interested in being a Freedom Fighter. As sheltered as she'd like to keep him, soon she would have to release him. He would, at the right time, be a useful addition to the team but for now, she wasn't going to give in, no matter how much he (or Sonic for that matter) begged her. A child did not belong on a battlefield, and as far as she was concerned, Tails was more of a child then anyone.

Shutting the book, her eyes twinkled at the resting fox. "And they all lived happily ever after…" she whispered softly, heaving a sigh. Such an ending was impossible to have in reality. "Good night, Tails…" Kissing him once on both cheeks, and then the tip of his nose, she set the book back to its proper place and exited his hut.

Even after a hard day, it was impossible to say love wasn't there.