The secret entrance opened, an enormous hole hidden beneath the trunk of an ancient tree, and everyone shuffled down the tunnel, those carrying the injured doing their best to keep their footing on the incline. Sonic was the first one in, and so he was the first to the bottom; the first to find Sally standing there with hopeful eyes and nervous, fluttering hands. "Sonic!" she exclaimed, running towards him and all but tackling him in a hug. Then she immediately pulled away, punching him hard in the arm. "Don't you ever do that again! You had me scared to death!"

"I'm okay, Sal," Sonic chuckled, rubbing his arm. His heart was fluttering again, but a little differently than it used to with her. He stared at her, drinking in the sight of her, and pulled her into another hug. But that was all he wanted to do. It was all he could do, for more and more people were filling the cavernous space beneath, setting the wounded down on the ground.

They pulled away from each other and Sally immediately moved over to Espio, shooting Sonic a look that said she would talk to him later. Sonic nodded, then turned around to find Rotor, Antoine, and Bunnie all standing with relieved smiles on their faces. "Welcome back," Rotor said, extending a hand for a fist bump, and the D'Coolettes followed his lead. Sonic obliged for each of them.

"So, who iz zis?" Antoine asked, gesturing behind Sonic, who turned to find Tails standing there.

"Oh, hey, kiddo," Sonic said. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't wanna be in the way," Tails replied with a chuckle. "And this seemed the most out of the way to me."

"Gotcha," Sonic said. Then he turned back to the three freedom fighters. "Guys, this is Miles, one of Shadow's crewmates. Miles, this is Rotor, Antoine, and Bunnie."

Bunnie leaned down, her enchanted wooden limbs creaking, until she was at eye-level with the fox. "Well howdy," she said with a smile. "How'd you end up on a privateering ship?"

Tails frowned. "How'd you know about that?"

"Yeah," Sonic agreed. "How did you know?"

"Espio told us ze 'ole story," Antoine replied. "One of 'is spirits came to relay information to us. Zen 'e came 'imself."

"Oh," Tails said. "So there was a three-step relay going on. From Rouge to Espio to…?"

"Just anozer spirit," Antoine replied dismissively. "We haven't seen 'im around since Espio arrived."

"Fair enough," Sonic said, just as Sally came over to the group. He smiled, but it melted when she didn't smile back, her eyes focused.

"We need to figure out a plan," Sally said. "And the first step is locking up those privateers in the meantime.

Sonic's eyes widened, and he almost felt Tails tense up next to him. He stepped in front of the fox protectively. "Whoa whoa whoa whoa," Sonic said. "Say what now?"

Sally frowned. "Sonic, we still don't know if they can be trusted," she said. "Yes, they helped break everyone out, but that doesn't change the fact that they have been working for Kintobor and–"

"Stop right there, Sal," Sonic said. "We're not locking them up anywhere. Besides, we don't have anything that could even contain Shadow. And they can help us! They have helped us, and none of them are on Kintobor's side!"

"How can you be sure about that?" Sally challenged.

"Have you spent weeks with them on a ship in the middle of the ocean?" Sonic countered. "You only know what Rouge has seen! You don't know all of what I've seen and heard, you don't know them!" Sonic was surprised at how angry he was. First his sister had doubted him, and now his best friend? He was sick of everyone treating the crew like a disease, and it was going to end now.

Sally sighed. "I haven't, but who knows what's a lie and what isn't?" she said.

Sonic groaned. "We're not locking them up!" he insisted.

"Yes, we are, Sonic," Sally replied. She reached around him towards Tails, and Sonic blocked her, grabbing her arm. She glared up at him. "What–"

"Just trust me, Sally," Sonic said. "If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and we'll deal with the consequences. But I trust them."

Sally looked up at him for a moment, then sighed, pulling her arm out of his grip. "Alright," she said.

Sonic heard Tails breathe a sigh of relief behind him as Sally turned around, her eyes scanning the crowd. She looked back at Sonic and the group and said, "You guys head for the meeting hall. I'll bring the captain with me.

They nodded and moved to comply, Tails following close behind Sonic, likely still a little freaked out. They made it to the meeting room, a table at the center covered in maps with scribbles drawn on them, the remnants of battle plans, very few of them successful.

It was a few minutes before Shadow entered the room, looking a little irritated as Sally followed him in. He glanced once at Sonic, then quickly away, and Sonic's heart sank.

"We need to put our heads together and figure out our next step," Sally said as she sat down at the head of the table.

They all took their seats around the table in the center of the room, Shadow taking a seat next to Sonic, still avoiding his gaze. Sonic made himself focus on Sally, burying the hurt in his chest as Sally spoke. "We've got about a third of our people back now," she said. "But we don't have nearly enough food or medical supplies to take care of them. And then there's the question of whether or not we should stage a rescue mission for those in the men's camp."

"Of course we should!" Sonic said. "Why shouldn't we rescue the others?"

"Because we could lose ze rest of our people again," Antoine replied. "It is risky. And assuming it goes right, we still wouldn't 'ave ze supplies we need to take care of zem."

"But we can't just leave–"

"We know you wanna save your brother, sugarhog," Bunnie cut in. "We all want to get everybody back. But what are we supposed to do if somethin' goes wrong?"

"It just won't!" Sonic insisted. "We can figure something out that's foolproof, I'm sure! But we have to–"

"Sonic," Shadow said, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder and finally making eye-contact as Sonic turned to look at him. "You know we can't guarantee anything. I know you're smarter than that. Now, with that said." He turned to face everyone else. "We don't have to bring in the entire army. We can bring in a stealth team. If our timing is right, we can sneak the prisoners out. But I suggest we do this sooner rather than later. When we were at the women's camp, all the mages were being rounded up and sent to the palace."

Bunnie gasped. "That ain't good," she said. "Well, Sally girl, he's got a point." She leaned over to peer around her husband at Sally, who sat at the head of the table, looking pensive. "If Kintobor is roundin' up all the mages, that'll make him all the harder to beat."

Sally nodded. "But there's still the problem of caring for the survivors we have now, not to mention the ones from the other camp. We'll need at least a few days to recuperate and obtain supplies. But you're right, all of you… We'll have to try. Rotor, can you coordinate with Espio and map out any ways into the camp?"

Rotor nodded dubiously. "I can try," he said. "But I don't know how long it'll take."

"I can help with that," Tails said, raising his hand tentatively. "I'm good with building plans."

Sally looked at him for a moment, then at Sonic, who nodded. "Alright then. Give it a shot," she said. "But we can't stay for more than a couple days. We need to get moving on supply raids as soon as possible. Antoine, Sonic, I need you two to scout for wagons and organize teams of at least five to take them.

"Got it," Sonic replied, standing from his seat.

"Wait, we're not finished yet," Sally said, and he sat back down. Sally turned to Shadow. "Espio has told me you seemed to be particularly close to Kintobor," she said. "Is there anything you know that might give us an advantage?"

Sonic tensed, wondering if Rouge had been spying on the conversation he and Shadow had had in the cell, heat rising to his cheeks, but Shadow only shook his head. "The Kintobor I knew was an illusion," the captain replied. "At least, as far as I can tell. I didn't even know any of this was happening until a couple weeks ago. I've been at sea for most of the past two years."

Sally sighed. "Alright," she said. "We'll just have to figure things out ourselves then. Meeting adjourned. Let's get moving."

"Oui," Antoine replied, standing up. He kissed Bunnie before making his way over to Sonic, gesturing for him to follow as he left the room. "Allons-y," he said impatiently.

"Be right there, Ant," Sonic replied. Then he turned to Shadow. "Thanks for backing me up," he said.

Shadow huffed quietly. "Don't mention it," he said. He hesitated, then asked. "Have you… given any more thought to what I said?"

Sonic sighed. "Well," he said. "It's gone from a hard no to an I don't know, but it's… still kind of a no. I mean, Amy talked to me about it a bit, but…"

"It's alright," Shadow said. "I never said you had to take the offer."

"No, I know!" Sonic said. "But I'm all… I don't even know."

"Is it really stressing you out this much?" Shadow asked.

Sonic shook his head. "What's been stressing me out is more related to my sister than it is you, but… You seem like you've been avoiding me too," he said. "Did I… do something wrong?"

"Not at all," Shadow replied. Then he sighed. "No, I was… ugh, as Rose would put it, 'sulking'. But what's going on with your sister, if I may ask?"

Sonic sighed. "She doesn't trust you, and it's just… a whole thing…"

"I say that's fair, I'm not very trustworthy if I don't like you," Shadow replied.

Sonic chuckled, and Shadow smiled softly. They stood there for several moments, butterflies swarming in Sonic's stomach as his eyes drifted to Shadow's lips. They looked a little chapped after days in the forest, and thinking about it, his own breath was probably horrible. But that didn't mean he wasn't tempted to lean in and kiss him anyway.

Instead he gave Shadow a smile and turned away with a wave. "Don't sulk too much," Sonic said. "Amy might take drastic action."

Shadow scoffed. "Sure," he deadpanned. "She's oh so frightening." He was quiet for a moment, then, "If you don't come back in one piece though you might be in trouble."

"Pffft, you should know me better than that, Shads," Sonic said. "I could do this in my sleep."

"Never call me that again."

Sonic laughed as he left the room to catch up with Antoine.

A few hours later, Sonic crouched next to Bunnie and Amy, muscles tense as they waited for a produce cart to pass by. It just happened to be the day before the markets in the city were replenished, so there were several carts on their way in to provide fresh goods.

The three of them were silent, ears straining for the sounds of horses walking on the dirt road. On the other side of the road were Tails and a sugar glider named Ella, both of them poised and ready to carry away the first crates off the cart as soon as it came within range.

Amy was kneeling close next to Sonic, her hammer up and poised, and with how little she moved she almost looked like a statue save for the occasional blink as she stared at the road. Bunnie crouched on her other side, one of her enchanted wooden legs thumping up and down softly in anticipation.

"Bunnie," Sonic hissed. "Leg."

Bunnie cursed under her breath as she willed her leg to stay still, shifting her position just slightly. Then, a long ear perked up, and she leaned away from Sonic and Amy to listen closely. "They're comin'," she said.

Sonic nodded, then tensed, ready to spring into action.

A few minutes later, he heard the thudding of hooves on the road, and waited until the cart was just a few feet away from where the five of them hid before darting out into the center of the road.

The horses reared back, spooked by his sudden appearance, and the driver—a middle-aged human—stared in bewilderment as he tried to get the animals under control. Just then, Amy and Bunnie rushed from their hiding place while Sonic used a knife he'd stashed in his boot to cut the reins loose, letting the horses flee.

Amy took to one side of the cart and smashed the wheels with her hammer, Bunnie doing the same on the other side with her legs. Sonic had been worried that her legs wouldn't be able to withstand the blow, but it turned out the wood was only a frame, with solid iron acting as a skeleton in the middle. The old cart wheels didn't stand a chance.

"Help!" cried the driver as Tails and Ella swooped down and grabbed the first two crates, carrying them away as fast as they could. "Thieves!"

Sonic, Amy, and Bunnie all grabbed a crate and took off, the driver chasing after them. Sonic couldn't go as fast as usual; he had to stay back and protect both the stolen goods and his friends, but to say he was tempted was an understatement.

Weighed down by the crates, the women were slowed down significantly, and the driver was gaining ground quickly. Within a few minutes he was practically on top of them, and Sonic's heart leapt into his throat as the man grabbed Amy by her quills.

"Let go!" Amy screamed, slamming the heel of her boot on top of the man's foot, but it made no difference. He reached for the crate, getting a hold of it and slamming it into Amy's face, eliciting a sharp cry of pain.

Sonic's crate lay forgotten on the forest floor as he curled and slammed into the man, knocking him to the ground in a daze. His vision was tinted with red as he stared down at him, sapphire quills crossing in fury. "How dare you hurt her!" he growled. "How dare you!"

He was about to slam into him again when he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Amy, blood streaming from her nose. "Sonic, let's go," she urged. "We don't have time for this. I'll be fine."

Sonic glared at the man, who flinched beneath his gaze, then nodded. "Bunnie! Think you can handle all the crates?"

"Easy peasy, sugarhog," she replied. "Hand 'em over!"

He tossed both his and Amy's crates towards her before scooping Amy up in his arms. Sonic and Bunnie took off running again, and Amy seemed shocked at first, then indignant. "I can run by myself!" she insisted.

"Not with a broken nose," Sonic replied. "Shadow'd have my head if I let you choke on the blood just for the sake of some veggies."

"I'm not some damsel—"

"I'm not saying you are," Sonic interrupted. "I'm saying you're hurt, and I don't want you to get more hurt. Besides." He smirked. "You fuss over me all the time. Let me fuss over you for once."

Amy pouted for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Sonic's neck to get a secure grip. "Fine," she grumbled. "But I'm fine, Sonic."

"Just hold on to me," Sonic said. "We'll get you checked out back at Knothole."

Amy sighed exasperatedly, but said nothing as they hurried back to Knothole with the stolen supplies.