Deprivation

Chapter 5

Author's Note: I've finally written another chapter. Lovely, no? In this chapter, I attempted to tie in the title name, bring the story to a slight climax, and bring out the upcoming 'arguement' between Sonic and Sally in a unique way. I don't know how unique this really was. I can't say this is really my best work. After a while, I got tired of writing, though I hope I got everyone's characters right. This may seemed rushed too, though I didn't really get that impression when I reread this. Also, I only edited this once and changed a lot of the sentence structure around. I'm pretty confident that I missed a few spelling and grammatic errors, so please bear with me. Again, I have direction for the next two chapters so sooner or later, they will be written...I'm thinking some time in mid-November. Nonetheless, enjoy this. Suggestions are always appreciated if you have new ideas for plots or anything of the like. I also apologize if everyone's emotions seem exaggerated. I have the tendency to do that. Regardless, please review.

Disclaimer: It's elementary. No need to explain what's already been.

Little white dots sprinkled the ground as darkness conquered the cloud infested sky. The afternoon and evening had slithered passed without much notice, or at least for Sally Acorn, who had unusually spent her time in her hut 'planning', or more so thinking. After that afternoon's little scene, the princess had resorted to keeping her composure rather than exploding in the midst of possible exposition. In fact, she ignored the opportunity altogether, finding other things to do. She had the tendency to bury her feelings in times of high stress to keep calm. It at this point was a natural habit. She had spent her entire afternoon continuing this activity, finding work easily. She had used to Nicole to do more research, thus using this to add modifications to her already seemingly-flawless plan. This work came unusually hard due to one problem…

She couldn't focus.

The more time she spent in her hut, the more it became impossible to hide the pain that hedgehog had left her. Thoughts pounded the interior of her head, slowly driving her to the point of insanity, or at least she decided. If her emotions shared the characteristics of one of Rotor's 'homemade' bombs, they would have exploded into millions of pieces at that point; dispersing themselves throughout the village of Knothole and even all over Mobius, for that matter. It didn't matter how many attempts she made to clear her mind or how much work she shuffled in front of herself...

It all went in vain.

And there she sat, quiet, trapped in the realms of her guilt-struck mind and as always, she put the blame of the incident on herself. How could she have been so idiotic? How could she have been so mindlessly lenient? How could she have let her guard down so much? It was as reckless as Sonic's first attempt on her prior mission in Robotropolis; forsaking Antoine in attempt to make headfirst collusion with the machine itself.

And it'd be a wonder if that hedgehog hadn't committed more brain damage to himself.

Her eyes rolled at thoughts such as these. He wasn't anything more than a duce, honestly. An airhead who forgot to think at all times. It intrigued and baffled her, how during those past few walks she had seen him as a modest genius; a philosopher; an intellectual; a revolutionary…someone who observed and analyzed the world around them rather than obsess over when the next chili dog serving would be and whether he himself would have to waste his precious time and energy making them.

And it struck her in less than a 'sonic second'; how that hedgehog was so impossible; how he was insanely incorrigible.

Nothing would change his world. Nothing would repair his dissolute nature. Nothing would switch his fixations; nothing, not a word she said would make him think any more about serious manners.

It was these thoughts that heated her again. Deep breaths did nothing to relieve her. The more she thought about that hedgehog; the way he had manipulated even her sent her anger to new heights. That hedgehog; that downright silly, irresponsible hedgehog!

He was sly, she'd give him that, he was slick; oh, he was smooth. Smooth enough to deliver her flowers in the dead of the morning; slick enough to use flirting to woe her and bend her to his ways; sly enough to hint these actions in and smear them in the midst of the rest of his slang. He gave her the attention she wanted from him and for the last few days, he had made it real.

Real brains; real smiles; real compliments; real concern…

If that was how he wanted to play, she'd join in. Two could play his game, and it was her intention-no, it was her plan to consult the predicament in that manner. In a sense, she was weakening his own guard by giving him what he wanted. In a sense, she was getting back at him; giving him a taste of his own bittersweet medicine. At the right time, she would deliver the verdict rather than a bouquet of wild flowers. And that verdict was obliviously punishment...

Silence filled her hut as her research became forgotten. Already working the words she'd use in her head, she was once again distracted. A sharp knock on her door had snapped her out of this and getting up, she answered it half-heartedly. The blue speed demon was smiling outside of it.

And she, ignoring her raging anger, smiled back. All according to plan; all according to plan, were the steady reminders in her mind.

"Yo Sal…" He greeted.

"Hey Sonic…" She returned.

"So uhh…whatcha been doin'?"

"I've been using Nicole to get some additional research done, along with develop a decent back-up plan. It's typical work at this stage; I'd think you know the routine by now. I take it you were busy eating chili dogs?"

"Yep! 'Ya know me, Sal. I just got Ant 'ta make me a big batch!"

"Reallllllly?" She let the word drag out, in attempt to give it a more sly tone, just like that of her companion's on various occasions. "Do you think your stomach could make room for seconds? I'm thinking I'm in a 'chili dog mood' tonight and well, with my appetite, I could never finish a whole platter. I was hoping maybe you could lend me some of yours and share?" Her desire for that junk food was undoubtedly fake and she could tell he wasn't exactly 'buying' it. She needed to expand. With a small sigh, she leaned in a bit closer, lowering her voice. "You've been something lately, Sonic…" she continued honestly in a near whisper, reaching over and caressing a cheek briefly. "It's the least I can do."

And somehow, those words did the trick. A smirk reappeared on the hedgehog's face, as he gained back his confidence. "Chili dogs, Sal? Is it my birthday or somethin'?"

"No, I just thought that, well…maybe it's time I loosen up a bit. Let my guard down…take your advice? Honestly, Sonic, we have tomorrow's raid nailed…I can already feel it." She nearly shuddered at the sound of gushing in her voice on the last statement. Nonetheless, she continued, keeping the smile pasted on her face. "We might as well celebrate early with the snowstorm coming up. We may not have time to later."

"I like 'dat kinda thinkin' Sal…snowstorm, eh?"

"Well, it is snowing, isn't it?" A wink; a horribly sly wink.

"Yeah, but Sal…hmm…I can't help but get a bit suspicious. My heart says yes, but my head's sayin' no. I've got a mondo strong feelin' 'dere's something up with 'dis, Sal."

"There's nothing 'up' with this. I've finish most of my planning. And as you said before, even the most worked need breaks."

"But Sal…"

"But nothing…" she hushed him. "So are you going to take my offer? It's a yes or no question, Sonic and frankly, I think I already know the answer…" Her voice took a more flirtatious tone as the hedgehog cringed.

"Sal…"

"Even someone with that low intellect of yours can answer. Let me do the thinking for you. Chili dogs plus Sonic equal…?"

"Sal, 'dis isn't you."

"What an observation! Care to expand on it, or is it too much work for that opaque brain of yours? I wouldn't want to give my handsome, hedgehog hero a headache."

Her bitter sarcasm seemed to break his confidence.

"Sal!" he repeated, frowning.

"What? I'm listening…" She let her attention drift purposely, eyeing the snowflakes and heaving a 'dazed' sigh. "They're beautiful, aren't they? They remind me of my childhood…before the war. Before I even knew about Robotropolis…"

"You're changin' 'da subject!"

"No worries, no troubles…my, what I wouldn't give to have that time back! Being able to play rather than work…"

"SAL!" Anger.

"Having my father comfort me, being a child…I think I forgot the feeling. I think I forgot the innocence…"

"Sally?" Confusion?

"The basic thinking…"

"Mobius 'ta Sal!" Annoyance.

"The lost principals, imagination, the need to do nothing…I think it's been erased like three fourths of your mind." She was silent. "But there isn't anything I wouldn't do to have it back…even if only for a day..."

"HELLO, PRINCESS?" Pure annoyance; pure, pure annoyance…

"We can call it deprivation; the entire concept of losing your childhood to something that-that well…well, is beyond your control. And I'm watching it, Sonic Hedgehog; I'm watching it right now being taken from someone else…"

"What are 'ya talkin' 'bout, Sal?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, genius." Her interlude ended bitterly.

"W-wait a sonic second! Y-Ya know 'bout me 'n-?"

"I know. And how COULD you Sonic, after what I told you?"

"Sal, you're takin' 'dis 'da wrong way. It was a mondo freak dirt hockey accident, I swear!"

"I don't want to hear your excuses, Sonic! I'm not stupid. He was in your backpack the entire time!"

"But it was just a raid-"

"Just a raid! Y-you're putting him on a BATTLEFIELD, hedgehog! You're putting him between life and death. He could've died!"

"But he didn't!"

"I don't care whether he did or didn't I DON'T like the fact you made him take the risk and I DON'T like the fact you've been abusing MY trust. You're a good actor, Sonic Hedgehog, but only an ACTOR. You need to STOP playing pretend and-and grow up! And since you're such a great actor, why don't you start acting YOUR age like the rest of us do, bright one?"

"Say what!

"You heard me. It might be a challenge, but I can give you motivation. Every goodactor has motivation."

"Motivation? Have 'ya lost it, Sal? What are 'ya gonna do?"

"There's plenty I'm 'gonna do'. Until you start acting like you're not a child, Sonic Hedgehog, I'll treat you like a child. I'm forbidding you to go on raids because as a child, you're not capable of handling the responsibility. You're entitled to guard duty, however, which starting tomorrow you'll have for the next month straight. Good night and good luck, hedgehog, because as much of a fan as I am of your performances, it's going to take more than another bouquet of flowers to win back my trust." She shut the door to her hut, leaving him standing there.

The snow seemed to be falling a lot heavier.