Deprivation

Chapter 7

Author's Note: It's been a month since I last updated and true to my word, I wrote another chapter. I'm not sure how great this one is in comparsion to the others, but's it's some plot movement...or maybe it's more of an elucidation to other events. Whatever you interpret it as, enjoy. Feedback is always appreciated, because I'm not sure altogether when this story is going to end and I could always use some suggestions for my writing. Forgive me for grammatic/spelling errors; I read this once and I can't catch everything. The next chapter should be up sometime in late January. Until then, keep it old school. ;) Happy Holidays, everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic or anything like that. I never will.

Snowflakes fell down on the Great Forest, twisting and twirling in the night breeze. They piled up gradually as the stars tried to twinkle above, blocked by the heavy gray clouds. Silence like a thick stage curtain covered the area, including that of the small hut-infested village of Knothole. Lights were off as the famous Freedom Fighters who lived there dreamed. Dreamed of better days; dreamed of a happier future and a just as happy past.

Dreams of hope and prosperity; dreams of peace. They played on like a broken record, reminding them of what they were fighting for in ways Princess Sally could not. Granted, she had always been a motivator; her confidence being a major impact on others'. If she lacked confidence in her own ability, it was hopeless anyone else (besides Sonic) would have confidence in theirs. In that instance, she was a trendsetter, but to what extent?

People fed on her as if she was their ruler. Her words were taken highly and could she blame them? In times of need, people needed someone to turn to. It was nature. The question was, however, who was she supposed to turn to if everyone else turned to her? If the war was lost, like her 'nephew' had suggested some time earlier, what would she do?

That was the question that kept her eyes wide open on that peaceful night. She sat up in her cot, her mind pondering the little questions in its usual fashion. What would she do? She needed some plan; a back-up; some clear notion of what she would lead them to in that scenario. Ideas poured to her head like water pouring into a clear cup. They built up; causing what seemed to be a headache. The more she thought about it; the further she went into the question the more it caused her pain. She had thought about it before, but never to that extent. What would she do if all her other Freedom Fighters were taken out?

What would she do if she alone?

Alone. Solitude. Her physical ability would never pull her through the prison of Robotropolis. Her mental ability, as much as she wanted to rely on it, wasn't enough to help her pass the many troops of SWATbots; the cruel metal fate that awaited her behind those factory walls. And would she lose sanity in the process of escaping? Would she lose her common sense without someone to talk to; would she lose her common sense when all else was lost?

These questions and others flooded, making it impossible for her to get any sleep. She could hear the sound of snow pounding on her hut's roof. The storm was bad. Tomorrow's raid would have to be cancelled. It kept pounding down, as it suddenly struck her how long it had been. Her prediction of a blizzard hadn't been exaggeration at this point. Tails would be so happy when he woke up, a blanket of snow dispersed all along the ground. His smile brought one to her own face as she rested her head briefly.

There was something about him; something about that child within him that seemed to warm her up. Those twin tails, that twinkle in his blue eyes…the little details that struck her whenever she'd read him a story in bed. Those little details that haunted her; those little details that reminded her so much of herself.

His quizzical blue eyes became her own in her dreams. The past played back like one of the True Blue's guard duty excuses; screaming in her ear that it had happened and there was nothing then she could do about it. Deprivation indeed; the way it stole her; the way it slaughtered the child she could've been.

And then came the thought of whether that child would've ever existed under the reforms of royalty. She could only imagine the education; the pampering. She could only imagine; only dread the person she would've become. A pompous princess; a smart, prim, pompous princess…the restrains her position would have on her; the freedom it would take away…

As much as she hated to believe it, she was half convinced that she would have more freedom as a combat leader now than she would as the politician she would've been had the war never occurred. Freedom was a sacrifice for duty. Her freedom was a sacrifice for duty which she would have no choice but to make someday.

But for now, she was a martyr. For now, her royal worries would have to wait because the war was still fair game. Power over Mobius; freedom was at stake far above her own. Emotions would have to be locked away at this point; or at the very least her own. There was a greater cause to fight for, and it wasn't who would have dibs the last chili dog.

After what seemed like hours of restlessness, the princess had finally driven herself into the sweet realms of slumber. A dreamless sleep awaited her, but any sleep was a rare treat. Unlike most mornings, dawn flew by without a sound. There were no knocks at her door from begging hedgehogs; no arguments or problems outside to greet her. There was only silence.

Something was up.

Her blue eyes slowly opened as she quickly slipped a robe on to investigate; more so the snowfall then anything else. Pushing her hut door open, she froze seeing the accumulation. Knothole had been treated to a blizzard alright and it was doubtless it would take days for the snow to clear out naturally. A light snow still fell as she stood somewhat stupefied. Scooping a bit of the snow from the ground, she eyed it. It was the sticky kind. This was the type of snow that would keep Robotropolis out of business for at least that evening; plenty of time for her to come up with that modified mission plan without Sonic. That hedgehog deserved every ounce of the punishment he was receiving for his immaturity. He deserved every ounce of her treatment for his deception, his lack of compassion; his lack of functional brain...

And then bang! A frown crossed her face as the feeling of crisp cold snow was brought to her cheek, then falling to the ground. "Very funny, Sonic…" she announced sourly, eyeing the snowball and then what seemed to look like an Eskimo, hiding behind one of the snow covered trees. He looked over with a smile. She stared over with an annoyed expression.

"Lighten up, Sal-" were the last three words she heard before she slammed her hut door leaving Sonic the 'Eskimo' out in the cold.

It was amazing, the way anger could separate friends. Two days ago, that hedgehog was someone else. That brain of his; their walks inspired her….the conversations they had; the dreams he shared. Had he thrown a snowball at her then, she would've laughed and sent a pile of snow soaring back at him. She would've made a comment on his sloppy aim; she would've slipped a remark out on his weak arsenal weapons. But now she refrained, planning to spend the greater part of her day trapped in her hut.

"This is hopeless! I need his speed!"

It had been hours with papers in front of her. It had been hours using Nicole to make a presentation; to come up with a decent combat plan. And it all went in vain.

What could she do when speed was the one element everyone else on her team lacked? Strength had its perks and flight was nice, but when it came to quick attacks; the kind which were need to take out what THEY were against; the only reliable member who could pull those types of stunts was that hedgehog and she couldn't use that hedgehog!

It was her own punishment; she couldn't be hypocrite to it; to her own words. What would she be proving? That her authority could be broken by some sixteen year old who acted one third his age? What would it be showing him; that by persistence he could get his way? By throwing a bouquet of flowers near her or a snowball in her face all their problems would fade?

Good Mobius, no!

Determined, she continued, letting out grunts every once in a while, her own frustration taking over. Her original plan had seemed flawless. Making a few modifications seemed like an easy task, but it wasn't.

Would a second opinion help? There was Rotor; possibly he'd understand, but lately she had taken a liking into showing her plans to-

Why did everything fall back to him? It was a curse, the way that hedgehog stuck to her mind. He wasn't a brain; he never used it. Having an intelligible conversation with the True Blue had been impossible a week ago!

And then everything else happened! That failed raid, what seemed to be him 'taking responsibility' and then back-stabbing her to follow his own crazy ambition. Using her to make a point…

He was a good opponent. Had he been on Robotnik's side, she would've been long dead the way he knew her weaknesses. But he wasn't which in some way was a relief. The thought calmed her slightly, until like a boomerang, everything else sprang back. The wound on her 'nephew's' tail, the way those two lied to her, attempting to preserve her feelings.

They failed.

It didn't take a fool to see a game was afoot, the way those two would laugh so nervously. The way they formed a slight clique, talking and chatting, keeping secrets and starting rumors about things such as 'freak dirt hockey' accidents.

But were they consistent; were they realistic? No. And that was THEIR weakness and she had used it.

The truth had come out but it still hurt. It was as if her feelings had been knocked out, rather then her body. The way they manipulated her to get to her power; the way they deceived her; the two people she was closest to, and how it stung! They were the two people she loved the most; two people who she thought she could trust…

Though she knew in her right mind the blame couldn't be put on the second, her poor 'nephew', she was still upset with him. Didn't he know better than to go along with that hedgehog? To take part in one of his antics?

Wasn't he mature enough to understand-weren't either of them mature enough to understand they were in war? Weren't either of them mature enough to understand that beneath that strong exterior she was vulnerable and had feelings too?

It didn't seem like it.

Returning to her plan, she eyed her palm computer. "Nicole, bring up-" She was stopped by a steady knocking on her door.

"Sal, open up!" A voice yelled from the outside.

"I'm working," she defended.

"Yeah right, open up!"

"Right. I am."

"Do 'ya want me 'ta spindash your door open?"

"Hmm…I don't know. Would you like to replace it?" She let the rhetorical question hang for a minute before she continued. "I'm BUSY, Sonic. You can tell the others the raid is off for tonight and to get some rest. I need to make some slight modifications on the plan anyway-"

"I thoughtcha said it was perfect!"

"It was perfect WITH you. Don't think I forgot my own punishment, hedgehog, you're not going."

"Aw, c'mon Sal! I'm sorry! I apologize! I'm on my knees, Princess, 'n 'dis is way past UNcool 'cuz 'dis snow is cold!"

She rolled her eyes, ignoring him. "Nicole, can you bring up the-"

"SAL! Look, I know you're mad, but 'da cold shoulder treatment is mondo uncool! I told 'ya I was sorry! I even found some flowers buried under 'da snow! Give me another chance! You've been workin' on 'dat plan all afternoon; I can make things cool between us again, just let me in!"

"I'm BUSY. Why don't you go back to YOUR hut and have YOUR OWN thinking session? YOUR mind could use it."

"Funny, Sal, now open 'da door or I'll open it for 'ya!"

"I don't think so. Good-bye, Sonic."

"'Ya never even said hello! C'mon, Sal, please…I'm serious when I'm tellin' 'ya 'dis! I want what we had back!"

"What did we have? A friend wouldn't LIE to me, Sonic. A friend wouldn't misuse my trust. A friend wouldn't play pretend…"

"But I wasn't pretendin', Sal! I meant all 'da stuff I said…"

"Oh please…I don't know where you got that fake brain, Sonic Hedgehog, but I think you should try to find it again without me. Maybe then you'll take a hint and realize I have WORK to finish."

"Sure, Sal, sure, 'ya do realize 'dat it's still snowin' hard out here 'n I've been standin' in it for you? I've been thinkin' all day!"

"You have my sympathies. I'm sorry your brain's been so overworked."

"Give it a rest, Sal. Just let me in…"

"I'm busy."

"…fine. 'Ya know, I'm stubborn too, Sal, 'n I'm not leavin' 'til 'ya open 'dis door! I'm waiting…'n 'ya know how impatient I am. But since I like 'ya, I'll give 'ya 'til 'da count of one hundred 'n 'den I'm burstin' 'dis thing open! One, two…skip a few…ninety-nine, one hundred! Hang tight, Sal, 'cuz I'm burstin' 'dis door!"

"You wouldn't! You make a move, hedgehog, and I'll see to it that you have guard duty for the rest of your life!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Take it easy with 'da punishments, Sal!" There was silence for a minute while she heard what she thought was his stomach growl. "Fine, I'll letcha finish your work…" he stated, a moment later. "My stomach's beggin' me for a chili dog anyway. But after dinner, I'm comin' back here! Mark my words, Sal, I'll show 'ya no brain of mine's fake! 'Ya may of won 'da battle, Sal, but I'll be back 'ta win 'da war!"