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Chapter 12

Sonic and Manic reached the mansion just in time to witness the explosion. "Sonia!" They screamed rushing to the site.

Fortunately, only that particular room had been affected. The bad news was it was completely destroyed and any path inside was completely inaccessible.

"Sonia! Where are you?" Sonic called as they searched the rest of the mansion, hoping she had escaped the blast.


Sonia shook Bartleby gently. "Bartleby wake up!" She called to him. "Please wake up." She coughed as dust from the debris choked her. She had attempted to move some of the rubble from around her but it was so tight that she could barely move. And the small range of motion she had threatened to bring the rest of the bigger pieces right on top of them. "Bartleby…" She kept her voice low to avoid using too much oxygen.

The mink stirred with a moan, a terrible ache in his head and back. "Sonia…"

"I'm okay," she assured him. "Are you alright?" She was scared. Scared that no one would find them. She had heard an indiscernible voice earlier but then nothing. Had that voice heard her call for help?

Bartleby looked up at her. "Yes my darling, I am fine," he lied. "What was that?"

"A bomb," she stated. "Robotnik hasn't really found Mobu Pinchu at all. He's found an ammunition dump from the Last Human War. Those art pieces were simply remnants from that time. And apparently that orb was a live one."

Bartleby gasped. "Oh my gosh! Sonia, I'm sorry. I was giving it to you, you could have been killed!"

Sonia stroked his hair. "I'm fine Bartleby, you saved my life."

"Sonia!" Came a voice from outside. She could barely hear it but she knew who it was.

"Sonic!" She called back. "We're in here!"


Sonic and Manic managed to get into the destroyed room. They had searched every room hoping in vain that they would find her.

"Sonia!" Sonic called out.

"Sonic, we're in here!" Came the muffled answer from inside.

Sonic smacked his forehead. "Bummer majores, she's definitely in there. Manic?"

Manic touched his medallion. "I'll try Sonic." The medallion became his drum set and he leapt into the seat. Carefully, methodically, he began tapping on the snare focusing on just barely moving the debris. He had to be exceedingly careful, lest he do more harm than good.

"Hedgehogs!" Sleet announced his presence. "Dingo, get them!"

Sonic summoned his guitar-gun and aimed it. "Chase us in a minute, Sleaze! We have a sister to save!"

Sleet ignored the hedgehog's command and used his remote to turn Dingo into a long, orange chain.

"Grab the hedgehog!" He ordered throwing the chain at Sonic who dodged and grabbed the end of the Chain-Dingo.

"Going my way?" Sonic quipped before pulling Chain-Dingo around Sleet until he had the two bounty hunters tied up. "There we go. Just sit tight now."

Sleet growled as he struggled. The remote had fallen from his hand. "I hate hedgehogs!"

Sonic returned to Manic who had managed to shift some of the rubble. "How's it goin' bro?"

Manic wiped his brow. "I can't go any further Sonic. If I move anymore, I could move the wrong thing and…" He put away his drums. "We'll have to start digging." He went to the task.

"Sonia, can you hear us?" Sonic shouted.


Sonia heard the drums and the shifting of the debris. Every moment went by tediously slow and every time she heard that groaning sound, she was terrified that they were about to be crushed.

"It's going to be okay my darling. I promise," Bartleby told her, sensing her fear. He thrust his own fear down for her sake. "I promise." He gripped her arm.

Sonia, surprisingly, found herself drawing comfort from her fiancé. Normally she was a strong woman. She was very capable of taking care of herself. But it didn't change that the situation was potentially deadly and thus scared her.

"Sonia, can you hear us?"

"Yes Sonic, I can still hear you! We're near the center of the room. Near the sofa," Sonia answered back. "Sonic and Manic are digging us out I think."

Bartleby grinned. "Perhaps… maybe they'll see… and realize that they… can trust me. With you that is. We could be together openly. Or at least openly with them." He felt hope fill his chest. It would please him if she could tell her brothers about them. He didn't really know why but he supposed it was because she cared for them so much that he wanted to gain their approval.

Sonia stroked his forehead. "I'd like that too Bartleby. But let's wait and see. Sonic can be stubborn about things. It's possible he could try to blame this on you in someway." She looked into his emerald eyes. "I would love it if they could know. I love you so much."

Bartleby gazed into her dark eyes, sparkling like a piece of obsidian. "I love you too." He kissed her lips.

Suddenly the mink felt a weight literally lifted from his back and the two instantly separated. They were already in an interesting position. He moaned as the pain in his back both eased and returned at the same time. Freed of the rubble, he fell to the side, off of Sonia.

"Sonia!" Sonic yelped as he jumped in to help her out. "Are you okay?" He ignored the injured nobleman in favor of looking over his sister.

Sonia stood gingerly. "I'm fine Sonic. Thanks to Bartleby. Is he alright? He saved me."

Manic looked at Bartleby who was lying weakly overtop the remainder of the debris. "You saved our sister?" His eyes seemed to go through a number of thoughts at once.

"Well… only a barbarian would allow a lady to come to harm," Bartleby stated weakly.

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Well thanks for that but Sleet and Dingo are right outside and we have to get Sonia out of here."

Sonia protested. "Sonic, we can't just leave him! He saved my life! Doesn't he deserve to at least be taken to one of our medics? He's hurt!"

Bartleby groaned. "No Sonia, your brother is right. I'll be alright… Robotnik still needs my money; he'll make sure I'm taken care of."

Sonia sighed and went to him. Aloud, she told him. "Thank you Bartleby, for saving my life." Those words made her kiss on his cheek look like simply a reward for his chivalrous act. In a whisper, she told him. "I'll come check on you tonight. You better be here!" She warned, indicating she meant for him to be alright.

Sonic grabbed his sister's wrist, then Manic's. "Okay sibs, we're out of here!" He bolted away from the Montclair Estate.


After Sleet was finally able to be free of Chain-Dingo, he changed his partner back and went to deal with Bartleby. It didn't surprise him that Sonic had ignored the aristocrat's selfless act to protect their sister. With help from Dingo, he was able to get Bartleby to the Scorpion then to the palace. There, Bartleby was taken to the infirmary.

"What happened?" Robotnik demanded as he examined his godson. He used a wand to easily x-Ray the boy's back for damage.

Bartleby moaned as he lay on his stomach. "The orb Uncle… it was a bomb. Mobu Pinchu… it's not really Mobu Pinchu… my expert told me that those artifacts are from an ammunition dump from the war that killed nearly all of your kind."

Robotnik gasped. The treasures he'd been so proud to find… had nearly killed the closest thing he would ever have to a son. "I was so sure… I was sold a map… the merchant said it was to Mobu Pinchu. Forgive me my boy."

"You didn't know Uncle," Bartleby told him.

Robotnik turned, thinking on the matter. "Another plan shot all to hell."

"Uncle, I still plan to pay you for that orb," Bartleby assured him. "It's not necessarily shot to hell."

"No!" Robotnik shouted. "I won't take money for an object that I misrepresented."

Bartleby chuckled. "Uncle… no it wasn't Mobu Pinchu. But it was from the Last Human War. Don't you think that's valuable? I do. So yes, I'm paying for the orb. I want to see the Quarter expanded as much as you do. So I insist on helping."

Robotnik eyed his godson. "You're lucky you didn't break anything brat. I would expect a nice big bruise though. Ice it for two hours every day. And take these." He handed Bartleby a bottle of painkillers. "Two capsules twice a day until they're gone. Can you stand up?"

Bartleby moved gingerly until he was in a sitting position before placing his feet on the floor. He felt a wave of relief that he was alright now that the adrenaline of the day wore off. "I'll do that Uncle. I should go. I think I need to rest."


Later that evening, Bartleby was resting in his home. He was surprised to find it completely repaired already. How? He supposed it didn't really matter. His parlor was once again intact, that was the important part. He wasn't surprised when the doorbell rang. His back tender, he pressed a button on the remote at his side. The monitor on his wall came on. "I'm here my darling, come on in. It hurts to move…"

The door opened and his girlfriend dashed inside, reaching his side in record time. "Bartleby, you idiot!" She cried. "Are you okay? Are you hurt badly?"

Bartleby put his arms around her. "I'm fine my love. Just a bad bruise on my back. Makes it hard to move."

Sonia finally let go of all of the emotion she'd struggled to bury all afternoon. "Bartleby, you could have died! We both could have! I could have lost you!" She bawled in his chest.

He rubbed her back. "I was scared too my love. I was scared that we'd never have the chance to make our dreams a reality."

She sobbed for several minutes before blurting out. "I don't want to wait anymore! There's no knowing if either of us will make it out of this war alive. I don't want to wait!"

Bartleby couldn't agree more. "I don't want to either. I could go to Robotnik… get you a pardon and we could marry and be together forever…"

Sonia shook her head. "Bartleby, I can't leave the Resistance or my brothers. There has to be a way we can… and still…"

"I think I can help," said a gentle voice as Queen Aleena appeared in the parlor.

Sonia and Bartleby both jumped at the queen's sudden appearance. Bartleby moaned as he experienced the regret of his small scare.

"Mother!" Sonia ran to the woman and hugged her. "What are you doing here?"

Aleena pet her daughter's hair. "I heard about what happened from the Oracle. Thank you Lord Montclair for saving my daughter."

Bartleby smiled with pride. "I love her Your Highness. I want to make her my wife, with your permission."

Aleena kissed his forehead in a motherly fashion. "You have it, brave boy. And I think I know how to help with that. Although… it won't really be legal… spiritual only."

Sonia pleaded. "What is it Mother? We'll take it."

"The Oracle could perform the ceremony, he is ordained by the Shrine of the Goddess Delphius," Aleena explained. "Then when the war is over, we could make it legal."

Bartleby considered the offer. Sonia wasn't ready to accept his idea of getting a pardon. He would respect her wishes a little longer. "It's perfect. Buy, how will we get there? Huh?" He asked as Aleena used her magic to teleport them to the Oracle's cave.

Aleena giggled. "Like that. And here, let me fix your pain." She concentrated her power on his back.

Bartleby felt the bruising heal and he was able to move without pain. He looked around the cave with interest. He didn't know how to react to the hunched over figure who approached them.

"Aleena, how good of you to come," the Oracle greeted her with an odd smile. "And Princess, it's good to see you. And your young man too. Hello Sir Bartleby Montclair. I am the Oracle of Delphius."

"Oracle," Sonia began. "Bartleby and I…"

"Want to be married but you can't really go through legal channels," the Oracle finished.

Bartleby scratched his head. "How did you know that?"

The Oracle smiled at the mink. "I like to keep an eye on my best students. Now, yes, I can perform the ceremony you require. But I'm sure the Queen warned you that it wouldn't be truly legal."

Bartleby held Sonia. "We'll take what you can give us. One day, we'll be able to bring our relationship out in the open. Until then we don't to wait for we are never truly promised a tomorrow."

Sonia swooned at his wise words. "No, we're not. Please Oracle."

The Oracle smiled. "Very well. But first," he pointed his fingers at the two.

Sonia's normal dress became a white, tea-length wedding dress with tulle skirt and beaded quarter-length sleeve bodice. Around the waist hugged a shimmering champagne sash. Bartleby's pajamas became a handsome white tuxedo with champagne cummerbund.

"That's much better," the Oracle declared. He pulled out a special book. "Aleena, would you be their witness."

The Queen hugged her daughter. "Of course I will."

"Very well then, we shall begin," the Oracle beamed.

Bartleby clutched his fiancé's arm as he recited his wedding vows. He wished his godfather could be there but he understood Sonia wasn't ready for the truth. He remembered his advice from the day before. "Don't put your happiness on the line on my account brat." He would heed that advice until the time was right.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the Oracle announced. "You may kiss the bride."

This, Bartleby did with pleasure, enjoying their first kiss as a married couple. The kiss lasted several moments.

Aleena felt a strange sensation in her chest. First there was sadness that her daughter was no longer a child. Next came the happiness that her daughter was so happy, and finally optimistic in her choice of lovers. It was an odd mix of emotions indeed. When the two parted, she stepped forward. "Congratulations to you both. Now, being your wedding night, I know you'll be doing some celebrating of your own. I recommend you be home before the sunrises my dear. I will cast a spell, causing your brothers to sleep a while more than they usually do but it's the best I can do."

Bartleby and Sonia shared a glance as they realized that it was their wedding night. A lifetime of waiting had come to an end and they would finally take their love to a more intimate level.

With a sly grin, Bartleby swept her up into the traditional bridal carry. "Well then my dear, shall we?"

Sonia laughed. "We shall. Thank you Oracle."

The Oracle chuckled. "Congratulations Princess." He pointed his fingers and they vanished. "I had better hide the marriage certificate my Queen. It was a pleasure seeing you again." The Oracle vanished.


Robotnik was going over the map he'd purchased, the one he'd believed was to Mobu Pinchu. "My godson… because of my curiosity…"

"Robotnik," a voice echoed as the Oracle appeared in the bed chambers.

Robotnik started and glared at the Oracle. "Oh, it is you. What do you want?"

The Oracle handed him a sheet of paper. "It just needs your signature to make it legal." Robotnik unrolled the paper and looked it over before signing. "I also must warn you. I am positive that bomb was not really from the war. I think it was planted…"

Robotnik's gaze snapped to the Oracle. "Planted! You mean a trap? For me?"

The Oracle nodded. "You know I've been living a lie for so long to protect my dear Queen and her children. I think the person who threatens them also threatens you and he's getting ready to reemerge. He's simply biding his time."

Robotnik put the certificate aside. "Him… question is, was I really the target or did he intend to get Bartleby?"

The Oracle shrugged. "Either would have been a victory for him. Bartleby is your source of money and you are the one standing in his way of the throne."

"He also knows that I was good friends with his mother and father who saw right through him," Robotnik shook his head. Bartleby was in danger. So was he. He went into his nightstand and pulled out a scroll. "I need you to keep this safe. If something happens to me, give it to Bartleby."

The Oracle took the scroll. "I am sorry things have gotten so out of hand Julian. I hope the truth can come out soon…" The Oracle vanished.


Bartleby carried Sonia into their bedroom and laid her gently on their bed. She looked him deep in his eyes, indicating she was ready for him. And they had all night…


AN: The plot thickens. REVIEW PLEASE!