Chapter 3

It was starting to get dark and Bartleby's anxiety was growing by the minute. Where was she? Was she alright? Should he go to Robotnik? If she was captured he may be able to negotiate her release. After all, there was very little his godfather wouldn't do for him.

He was about to go do just that when he heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. He hid in an adjacent alley and felt his heartbeat return to normal when he recognized the van. "Thank Heavens!"

Sonic got off the van first, followed by Manic and finally…

"Sonia!" He called out as he made his presence known. He approached slowly.

Sonic reacted first. "Whoa! What are you doing here Bartlebutt?" He stepped in front of Sonia protectively.

"I need to talk to Sonia," Bartleby told the glaring hedgehog. "Please…" This he directed at her.

Sonia looked into those pleading eyes. He must be here because of the invitation. He hadn't given up on her yet. A part of her felt deeply loved and even cherished by that thought but she also knew better.

"Bartleby…" She began.

He held up his hand. "Please, I need to talk to you, alone."

"Not on your life dude," Manic stated. "Whatever you need to say to her, you can say to us."

Sonia knew her brothers only wanted to protect her and they didn't like Bartleby much. "What's wrong Bartleby?"

Bartleby realized he wasn't going to win this one. "I… I suppose there's really no point in asking. I suppose I was foolish… but I have to know." He held out a copy of the invitations he'd sent out.

Sonic snatched the paper. "What's this? Sonia had one just like it. What's a… de-deb… what?"

"It's the Debutante Ball, Sonic," Sonia surrendered. "Bartleby, I want to go… but… I can't…" She turned her back on him. "Robotnik will… then you'll… I can't…"

Sonic looked from his sister to Bartleby and back. "So all this boo-hooing over a silly dance? I don't get it."

"Dude, you and me both," Manic agreed.

"It's not just some silly dance Sonic!" Sonia snapped.

Bartleby nodded. "It's every young lady's dream. It's the day single ladies are introduced to society; the day engagements are announced and celebrated, the first dance of the Season. Moreover, it's a Coming-Of-Age ceremony."

"When a noble lady is no longer considered a child," Sonia explained. "And it's so romantic and beautiful. It would be the most important event of my life. And I can't go!" She ran past them all and into the hideout in tears.

Sonic and Manic gaped while Bartleby took his chance to go after her. He paid no attention to the state of the place and found her room. The door was open and he could see her crying bitter tears. She must be upset if she forgot to close and lock her door.

"Sonia…" He sat on the bed beside her. "Please don't cry. It's really not that big of a deal. Like your brother said. It's a silly dance."

"Just go away Bartleby. Don't you understand, we're done! We were over when I joined the Resistance," Sonia's following sobs told Bartleby everything he needed to know.

Bartleby pulled her up from her pillow and into his arms. "I understand but I'm not going away. I know how you can go to the ball and… well, you shouldn't go alone… I promise you'll be safe with me. Robotnik won't touch you if you're with me."

"Yeah right!" Sonic announced his presence. "More like you'll give her to Robotnik to make a dirty buck. Forget it!"

"No!" Bartleby stood to his feet, getting in Sonic's face. "The day I betray my Sonia to harm is the day I die! And if I say she'll be safe, she'll be safe!"

"Are you really willing to risk being roboticized to prove that? Of course not!" Sonic stated. "If you won't turn her in for money then you'll do it to save your own hide!"

"Bartleby, Sonic stop it. Sonic, you seem to forget that Bartleby clearly knows where we are, so where are the SWATBots?" Sonia asked, countering her brother's distrust with logic. "Your theory has more holes in it than a sunken ship. Bartleby, Sonic's just concerned about my safety."

"If I can assure you that Robotnik will never even know that you're there, will you…" He couldn't finish, afraid of the answer. "Please…"

Sonia looked at Sonic, who tapped his foot. "Show me how you'll do it and maybe we'll talk."

Bartleby answered by grabbing a trinket from his pockets. "Why this of course," he placed the carnival mask over Sonia's eyes.

Sonia looked at her invitation and realized that Bartleby had already thought of her safety. "It's a Masquerade! Bartleby, you're a genius!" She threw her arms around him with excitement. "Yes, yes, I'll go with you!

Sonic sighed. "Um sis, when is this thing? We also have a mission to worry about remember?"

Sonia realized her brother was right until Bartleby asked. "Surely you can do without her for one evening. Doesn't she deserve a night off after all her hard work?"

Sonia put a hand on Bartleby's shoulder. "Of course I do Bartleby. But my help could also make all the difference. Robotnik has a new weapon he can use to roboticize Freedom Fighters. From what we understand, he's planning to use it tomorrow night. The night of the ball… I'm sorry."

Bartleby smiled, though he seemed to have something else burning in his brain. "Is that all? And if I could convince him to possibly put any attacks on the rebellion off until after the ball?"

Sonic looked at Sonia. She so obviously wanted to go and he wanted her to be happy. "Except if you say that, no matter what you don't say, he might be able to take a hint. Maybe… maybe Sonia should go after all." Sonic had an idea. "I don't like you Bartleby. But can you promise you'll protect her?"

Bartleby pulled Sonia close to him. "With my life."

"Then, I guess we will need a distraction tomorrow night. Robotnik is probably counting on you to show up with the Airhead here," Sonic ignored Bartleby's indignant "Hey!" and continued. "He'll be too busy looking for you to keep a close eye on the you-know-what."

Sonia beamed. Her brother was making a way for her to go too. She put her own arms around Bartleby. "I'm actually going! The debutante ball! Thank you Bartleby!"

Bartleby felt his heart soar to hear her so pleased. "Anything for you my dear."

Sonic put his hands to his hips. "Hey! You can let her go now." He pulled Sonia away from the mink, making distance between them. "And you'll treat her with respect, you got that?"

Bartleby rolled his eyes. "I'm not a barbarian. I know how to treat a lady. I will be here tomorrow at five o'clock to pick her up." He took Sonia's hand and kissed it gently. "Until then my sweet."

Sonia felt happier than she'd felt all day. She was going to the ball after all. She was going with Bartleby, even if she knew it had to be just as friends. They were over. She would need to make that clear.

"Hey sibs," Manic interrupted. "Cyrus said to come back. He needs us to practice for tomorrow night."

Sonic nodded. "Sonia, you can chill out here. After all, you need to get ready for tomorrow night."

Sonia jumped up and down. She hated making her brothers do this without her but she wasn't really. She would be keeping Robotnik busy. "I need to get a dress. I'm going to the Robotropolis mall." She grabbed her wrap.

"Okay sis, be careful though," Sonic warned her. "Come on Manic."


"Good job planting the device guys," Cyrus said when Sonic and Manic arrived. "Hey, where's Sonia?"

"Sonia's getting ready for her part Cyrus. She's going to this big noble to-do at the palace. She'll be a distraction for Robarfnik," Sonic told him. "So what do we do now?"

Cyrus frowned. "The palace? What's going on there?"

"Something called a debutante ball. Sonia really wanted to go and this friend of hers is taking her as his date," Manic explained. He noticed Cyrus' frown deepen.

Cyrus took a deep breath. "Now we need to find out which one of you is the better pilot. Here's the simulator."


Sonia fished through the multitude of ball gowns on sale in anticipation of the following evening. "Wow this one sure is nice," she said pulling out an ice blue gown.

"Oh that would look lovely on you," said a soft, female voice beside her. A familiar voice causing Sonia to almost drop the dress. The cloaked woman put a finger to her lips. "I wanted you to have this for tomorrow evening. I wore this at my own debutante ball." A purple hand passed a small rectangular box to her daughter. "I'm so proud of you."

Sonia accepted the box. "Thank you…" She whispered. "Mother." She hugged the hedgehog queen.

Aleena accepted the hug. "You should never hesitate to follow your heart my dear. Always remember your heart will never lead you wrong. No matter what it's telling you to do."

Sonia was confused. What was her mother trying to tell her? "I'll remember."


"Simulation complete: 100% casualty rate Manic," Cyrus put a hand to his aching head. "Neither of you could do that thing. We need Sonia to try it."

"She's got plans Cyrus, I told you that," Sonic said. "Can you fly this thing?"

Cyrus wasn't happy about it but, "yes, I can fly it. But Sonia should be here. She doesn't belong with those Aristocrats. She'll be in danger and we need her here."

"Well, she's where she needs to be for this plan to work the best Cyrus," Manic said. "So we need you to fly it."

Cyrus couldn't argue but even though he heard Sonic say Sonia was only going with this other guy as a friend… he couldn't help himself. It hurt. A lot.


At the mansion, Bartleby gladly welcomed his godfather for tea. "So everything is set for the ball." He said with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.

Robotnik liked seeing that expression though no one else would ever know it. "Indeed. I must say, making it a masque was a stroke of brilliance. Nothing like a classically, elegant masque ball. What are you going as Bartleby?"

Bartleby pulled out the uniform passed down from generation to generation since his great-great-grandfather. "I'm going as the Great War Hero Silas Montclair."

Robotnik nodded his approval. "Of course. Your ancestor was the best general the Möbotropolis Army ever had. He saved the King and Queen of the era from assassination by spies from a neighboring kingdom. And… were you able to ask your young lady?"

Bartleby beamed even brighter. "I was but she asked that she remain anonymous. It was the only way she'd agree to go with me. I promised to protect her with my very life. I do hope you…"

Robotnik waved his hand. "Of course I understand brat. I expected that. As long as she is with you, she will be safe."

Bartleby breathed a sigh of relief. "I appreciate it Uncle. How was the Quarter today?"

"They'll be better when I can finally rescue their poor brainwashed children. For now however…" Robotnik sighed.

"Someday Uncle," Bartleby reassured him. "Someday, you will restore peace to the kingdom, and the people will know the truth. I promise. It will happen."


AN: Will Sonia be able to have a peaceful night at the ball? Will Bartleby be able to reach Sonia's heart. Will Sonic, Manic and Cyrus be able to stop the Predator?