PRE AUTHOR'S NOTE!: Originally I posted on accident a not as polished version of chapter one, its fixed.

Author's notes: Usually I do these at the end of the chapter but this time I think I should do it before hand. Hi! If you know me, you know me. But if you don't... I've been working on a crack crossover taken seriously for just about a year. Chapter 19 of that is being worked on, but I started on this and it's helped me get more back into the swing of writing from my hiatus. I regret that I cant forseeably continue the 15k every two weeks I started with, because life is more important... But it is what it is, keeping up with work school and social seems like a good idea. This one's probably going to be shorter chapters, but we'll see how that goes. This work is an IDW / SatAM freedom fighter AU but technically takes place in the same universe as my crossover "Run Think Shoot Live" but takes place at a time point that has like no reference to the crossover bits. If you do want more of this story then check my profile, there are a few bits in that story that go over events in that. I may be retconning some things in that story to fit this one a bit better but we will see. As always, reviews are not necessary but are ever so welcomed; let me know what ya like, what ya don't and if you see anything that needs fixing. Have a wonderful day!

P.S. This should be pretty self contained but as your not allowed to re-post things on FF dot net, If you do want to catch up on just the bits before this on my other story, run think shoot live; here are the parts.

Chapter 8 the subchapter that takes place year 3224 is Sally's experience of the coup and meeting a young fox kit for the first time

Chapter 10 the first subchapter is a look at some of Sally's experience raising Tails

Something New But Familiar - RTSL Prequel - Chapter 1: Departure

Mobius - Knothole - 3227th cycle ( 3 season cycles after the coup )

"Wait for me! WAIT FOR MEEE!" The young fox kit yelped, bursting through the door and stumbling onto the overgrown porch of Knothole Manor. A young mobian boy stood, panting on the cracking concrete porch. He was a young bright orange fox with white accents, dressed in an acorn crest graphic T. A shiver traveled up his spine as the morning air chilled him, it was early spring in the Great Forest, early enough that the cold season's frost still lingered in the morning hours. The little boy spun around, looking for his playmate. He squinted his eyes as he gnawed his cheek, looking up and down the paths of scattered evergreens and redwoods. He glanced down the house's side path and saw his friends tail swoosh around the corner."Wait Tangle!" He shouted, twin tails swishing quick as he almost tripped over his own feet, trying to catch up with the excitable girl.

The young lemur turned to see her approaching friend, halting her cartwheel and righting herself on the first terraced garden above the communal fire pit. She was a short haired lemur of different shades of gray, wearing a large bright orange t-shirt that was tied to the side over her gymnastic leggings. She gave an enthusiastic wave "Come on Tails! We're gonna miss seein Whisper off for her first real mission as a Freedom Fighter!"

She did a backflip off the ledge, causing the little fox to gasp and scurry over to see her recovering from a good but not so perfect landing. "Tangle! You did a flip! How did you do that?!"

The Lemur quickly recovered her stance to a perfect T, smirking up at the curious pup peering over the ledge. She saw a spot of yellow and looked past his head, glancing up to one of the Manor's balconies. A Blond wolf was looking down, glaring at her. The lemur grinned. "Whisper! You're going to be late for your own goodbye!"

Miles turned, looking up to the balcony as his ears perked. "Hey Whisper!" He enthusiastically waved.

The yellow wolf smiled as she glanced to the little fox. "Morning Tails." She returned her disapproving glance to the lemur. "Tangle, I saw how you landed... You could have split your head open. Look before you leap, and don't do it backwards."

Tangle gave a dramatic yawn. "Come on Whisper, why you gotta be so serious now? Its like... all the time! It's not like I havn't seen you practice your own stunts. What happened? We used to paint the town red!"

Tails's nose scrunched in confusion. "Why would you paint Mobotropolis red? That seems really hard..."

Tangle laughed. "Its an expression little dude!"

Tails paused, waiting for the lemur to continue. He stepped closer to the ledge to peer down at her. "What does it mean?"

Tangle shrugged. "I don't know, but my uncle used to tease my cousin Jewel about it whenever she went out with her friends."

There was a pause before the wolf smirked at the memory of her playmate's family, a weight seeming to lift off of her. She glanced down to her friends from the second floor and smiled. "We can still paint the town red! The difference is, I look before I leap!" She gave a wolfish grin. "Guess who got a set of vibra-arrows!" She said as she raised a bow, pausing before she loosed a shiny tipped bolt below.

"Woa…" Tails gaped as he hopped to watched the projectile sail, a shimmering silver cord trailing from a gadget on the teen's belt. With a thunk the arrow pierced the base of a nearby tree.

Tangle gave a bemused scoff. "Says the girl firing blindly–"

"Ehem!" The eastern wolf interrupted. "I'm not blind firing." She said matter of factually. "There's nothing down that way." She finished cinching the cord to one of the manor's pillars, then hopped up to the ledge of the balcony. The eastern eyed wolf was a young teen, her fur a creamy yellow with her muzzle a dark tan. She wore a green plaid jacket over her tank-top and loose fitted blue jeans. "Plus, I…" She paused, putting emphasis on herself. She smirked. "Don't miss!" The blond wolf slung her fiber bow across the wire, jumping from the ledge and sliding past her two friends to the forest below.

Tails started jumping ecstatically, watching his friend zip-line to the forest floor. "THAT'S SO AMAZING! WHISPER! YOU COULD BE LIKE THE REAL ROWIN WOLF, THATS SO COOL! YOUR JUST LIKE A REAL FREEDOM FIGHT-AHH!" He yipped as he tumbled, foot slipping off the ledge.

Tangle's eyes bugged as she darted forward, trying to catch him. "AH! OH NO NO NO! CAUCHA CAUCHA! GOTCHA!" She screamed as she grabbed the 6 small cycle old, catching him from the meter and a half fall. She let out an exasperated breath, little knees almost buckling beneath her as she quickly set the younger mobian on his feet. "Tails!" She exasperated. "Don't be like me, you're not built for it!" She shook her head. "I mean are you okay little dude?!"

The boy was blushing, shaking a bit. "Y-yeah, I think I'm okay…." He paused, then gave a determined nod. "Yeah, I'm fine." He said, a serious look on his little face.

Both mobians heard rushing footsteps, turning to see Whisper. The wolf's eyes were wider than usual, clutching her heart in one hand, her bow and the special arrow in the other. "You're okay." She stated, letting out a relieved breath. She remembered the burden that her age brought, and let her more serious persona retake her. "Lets…" She glanced towards the path to the forest's hidden entrance. "Let's not tell Princess Sally about that."

Tails paused before nodding. "Yeah, Mom would freak." The little boy exasperated, both girls ears perking, glancing at each other at the title drop. The little fox didn't seem to notice as he pressed forward. "I'll be more careful." He smiled. "Thanks Tangle! You're a lifesaver!" He started running for the safe path down to the base level of the fire pit.

Tangle finished letting out a breath, taking a step towards the next ledge but pausing to see Whisper pursing her lips at her. The lemur frowned. "What's with that look?" She gestured to the impromptu zipline above them. "You're really going to continue lecturing me after you pulled that stunt?"

The just turned teen wolf glanced at the young boy before hesitating and turning to cover her blush. "You're right." She looked back, giving a hard stare to the lemur. "So we both be good role models, real ones."

Tangle got an annoyed face. "Psh, we ARE good role models!" She waved a hand dismissively, her other perched on her cocked hip. "I'm a lemur." She pointed to her butt. "This tail is for balance, don't hate me for being beautiful!" She splayed her arms as she kicked a spin, gesturing to the trees around them. "And this is the Great Forest, things are GUNNA happen… Besides, we're kids, that's what we do."

"I'm 13, I'm not a kid anymore." The blond wolf insisted before frowning. "And No more backflips off cliffs! Tails shouldn't be dancing next to the burm anywa..." Whisper's eyes widened as she trailed off. The lemur vaulting a front flip, rolling and springing a perfect Y finishing pose beside her.

She broke her perfect stance. "You are still SOO one a us." She playfully elbowed her friend's sensitive side, causing the older girl to squeek. "Lighten up, he was just excited and I caught him. Things are cool! Be cool like I know you are!" She smirked, giving a victory sign. "Don't worry about it Sistah!" She said as the young fox finished running up to them, doing a somersault onto the fluffy grass and panting as he came to rest on his back. The lemur slung her arm around her honorary but now annoyed sister's shoulder. "Besides! You're going on your first mission with Sonic and Sally! You're a real Freedom Fighter now! Tell me you're not jazzed about that!" Tangle smirked and winked. "Just wait, a few more cycles and I'll be able to join you! Maybe I can convince Rosie to let me start next cycle when I'm 11!" She paused. "Instead of having to wait that LONG!" She strained, other hand flexing a grip in-front of her face.

Tails perked, raising his head from his spot as he finished catching his breath. "You guys think I could come!?"

Tangle let go of her sister's shoulder and hopped over to the little fox to kneel, ruffling his hair and gently pushing his head into the cool grass. "Sure squirt! Maybe if you're still a squirt at that point, I can sneak you out in a backpack!"

He giggled, pushing her hand away as he rolled onto his stomach. "Stop it Tangle!"

Whisper rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh. "That sounds like such a BAD idea... Don't even joke about it." Whisper stressed as Tails ears drooped. She glanced at the young boy to give him a pensive but knowing smile. "Sorry Tails, you know that wouldn't fly with Sally or Rosie."

The little boy rolled to his butt, then got up, staring down at his cherry red sneekers. "Yeah, I… I know… I just want to help."

Tangle yawned, resting her arms behind her head as she started dramatically marching towards the randevu point. "You been runnin laps and doin pushups like I said?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder.

Tails ear's flattened as he avoided her glance. "Uhh... I'm working on it." He fidgeted as he began twiddling his fingers. He looked to her and noticed the growing distance. "Wait!" He yipped, running to fall inline behind her march.

Whisper sighed, beginning her pursuit of the two, her long legs making quick work of the gap. She slowed her pace as she met the little boy's side, turning to smile at her young friend. "Have you found any interesting books in the manor's library recently?" She smiled. "The mission I'm going on will have us at the northern courthouse, there's a library right next door that my dad used to take me to when I was a kid. Is there any kind of book you'd like me to look for?"

Tangle sharply turned to walk backwards, pouting at her friend. "Your still a kid!"

Whisper rolled her eyes. "When I was his age." She corrected.

Tangle gave a sigh. "Ugh, Boring…" Her eyes lit as she got a thought. She pointed a demanding finger at her best friend. "Hey Whisper! If you find any good comics, grab em for me!" She said before smiling and turning to cartwheel ahead of them."

The young fox blinked at the lemur before turning to smile at the yellow furred wolf, his ears perking and twin tails starting to wag. "I just finished a book about electronics! Maybe I can make some gadgets for you to use!" He said, making a finger blaster and popping invisible bots as they walked. He turned to smile at her. "Any sciencey book!" He got more excited, eyes starting to sparkle. "OH! Did you hear? Rotor found the combination to the basement of the hanger he's been using for his shop! There's a server room down there! We got computers if we can turn em on!"

The wolf closed her eyes and smiled, nodding knowingly. "Computer books too then, I'll keep an eye open."

The two tailed the gymnastically inclined lemur, weaving through the small village of cabins and some of the huts that a few of the older teens wanting freedom had been working on. They were still in the safe part of the forest, outside the rim of warpzones that protected them from unwanted invaders. They shortly made it to the stump that signified the barrier of warpzones and the secret entrance to Knothole Village. There were some old petroleum fuel cars and some more modern power crystal bikes and carts.

There was a brown coyote with a patch of blond hair wearing faded royal guard apprentice blues, sitting on a stump. The knee high coat was now a jacket on the lanky teen, wearing a plain shirt and navy blue cargo shorts beneath. He let out a audible sigh as he boardly flipped through a foreign cookbook. One of the petroleum fuel trucks had its front lid open with a walrus in front of it, the older teen stood wrist deep in the engine compartment, intensely focused on his task. He wore work stained shop overalls and seemed to be a bit thin for his race. The coyote looked up from his book, snapping it shut as he smirked at the arriving group. "Ahh, Madam Whisper and… Tangle? Oh and is that young Master Prower!" He looked a bit perplexed at the last two.

"Hey Ant!" Tails shouted, waving enthusiastically at the older teen.

"Comings to say your farewells I presume?" The accented coyote smirked as he glanced down to his archaic mechanical wrist timepiece. "Early birds catch the worms… Or close enough." The coyote scratched his head, looking a bit frustrated. "Morning light is not the most precise of meeting times but… it is still happening I suppose." He let out a frustrated huff. "Could have slept an extra hour, but enough of my own frustrations." He smiled at the blond lupine girl. "Madam Whisper, thanks for showing up early, we are still waiting on my Princess and the Sonic."

Tangle cocked her hip, giving the 16 cycle old coyote a funny look. "Why you talkin funny again Ant? And is that seriously a cookbook? Why you readin a cookbook?"

The coyote blushed, stiffening a bit. "P-preserving my Father's culture." His accent lessened.

"Someone has to do it. I have no idea if Robotnik invaded my motherland to the north." He huffed, a little annoyed. "I practice the phonemes and syntax, nothing more. You can understands me." He said, the accent growing stronger again.

Whisper poked Tangle's sensitive side, causing the younger girl to jump. "Leave it be, it's harmless the way he talks." The older girl softly chided.

Tangle gave her friend an annoyed look. "Alright Ms. Pokey." She glanced at Antoine, a nervous grin forming. "Sorry Ant, just curious, didn't mean anything by it."

Antoine relaxed, glancing to the Lemur "It is fine…" He let out a sigh, returning up his book again. "So, come to send us off then?"

Tangle slung an arm around the slightly taller wolf's shoulder, beginning to rock back and forth. "Yep! Came to say bye bye and good luck to everyone!"

"Is that little ol Tails I see? Morning, Button!" They heard a southern burrows accent break in. Tails turned to see his Aunt Bunnie limping into the small clearing. She was a tan rabbit with a cream colored muzzle, her right arm and both of her legs were scuffed and dulled metal. She wore a soft leather vest over a faded pink shirt and tan shorts over her metallic legs. Her ears were droopy and her hair was done up in a loose braid. She was lugging a leather backpack by the strap as she limped into the small clearing.

The little boy smiled. "Hey Aunt Bunnie!" He paused as he realized her limp and frowned. "I thought you were stayin in bed till ya got your new legs?"

Antoine quickly rose from his spot at the stump, culinary book dropping and lying forgotten as he rushed over to his girlfriend. "My Bunnie! Your spine!"

She got a slightly frustrated look as she put up her hands to gently push him aside. "I'm mighty fine Ant. Believe me, I need to get out of the manor. I've rested a few good days and my lower back's feelin lots better. Besides, I know where my limbs are, and you don't."

The blond headed coyote frowned. "I have an idea and ze directions, it's not my fault your father never let me visit..." The lanky teen grumbled.

Bunnie shook her head, giving an exasperated sigh as she moved past her boyfriend to sit on the stump and stretch out her mismatched legs. "Paw Paw was still suspicious of city folk, you know how it was… could say that bout half the burrow folk. Bout everyone in the south west where are rabbits, hares, hedgehogs and ground squirrels." She began gnawing on her lip. "We've talked about this Twan, daddie was old fashioned... He didn't like that you were different, or that you were a pred on top of that..." She gave a nervous blush. "But its not like he wouldn'tah gotten used to the idea..." She slowly slumped. "He woulda come round..." She bit her lip, a conflicted look growing. "Boy…" She whispered. "I hope him and Ma are doin alright…" She closed her eyes before shaking her head, taking a slow and deep breath to ground herself.

Antoine had his own conflicted look as he paused. The hesitation broke as he slowly stepped closer to his girlfriend, a gentle resolve softening his features as he placed his hand on her left shoulder blade. "Me too, there's a chance that this can all still work out... so don't loose hope." He whispered as he began to gently rub. "That's why we're both here, don't worry my flower." Her long ears perking as she glanced to give him a soft smile.

Tails gave a slightly confused look between Bunnie and Antoine. "Wait, why would Ant being different and a predator make your Paw Paw not like him?" He brought up a finger to his lip, mind remembering the new word. "Preds... like meat." He glanced to a slightly mortified looking Bunnie. "But Aunt Bunnie, I've seen you eat meat... Same with Aunt Sally." He turned to Whisper who was just looking uncomfortable, Tangle giving a curious look in the background. He turned back to Bunnie. "What's wrong with predators?"

Bunny was stiff on her seat. "Uhh. Well Sweet-pea. Um, Nothing! Uhh..." She winced, giving a pleading look to her grimacing boyfriend trying to avoid her gaze. She gave a small frown. "Lotta help you are..." She mumbled before her mind grabbed onto one part of the question. "You're Aunt Sally and I are more herbivore then omnivore and have a preference for greens and grains." She quickly blurted, raising a teaching finger as she puffed up to continue. "But just like how you gotta eat your greens to stay healthy and growin, we gotta eat our proteins to help keep strong. You are what you eat shug, its how your body grows and fixes itself."

The little boy slowly nodded before an idea hit him. "Does that mean if you eat nanites your limbs could heal? Why'd they break like that anyways?" He pointed to the collapsed segments. "Isn't metal supposed to be super strong?" He jumped to the side mimicking some of her martial arts. "Can't you go toe to toe with swatbots because of your limbs? That's so cool! Maybe someday I can get strong limbs like-"

"NO!" Bunny blurted, every head snapping to her from the scream. The rabbit looked really conflicted, Tails eyes wide and ears flat at her outburst. She pressed forward. "I'm sorry to shout sweetpea, but..." She looked really uncomfortable, her arms crossing over her gut. "Tails honey, that's not how nanites work and it breaks my heart to see you wanting these hunks of junk over your own natural paws."

The little boy looked down to his little hands before looking back up to flinch at his aunt's hurt gaze. "I don't understand. I thought you liked how strong you are?"

She bit her lip, avoiding his eyes. "I like that I can move... and the strength is a plus." She hesitated, ears drooping further then normal. "If i could have my own arm and legs back... I'd do it in a heartbeat." She met his gaze as the worry etched her face. "Button, the only reason I have these things is because the old ones were so nerve damaged they could hardly move or feel anything." A memory hit her. "Which reminds me, if and when your ready to venture into Robotropolis, don't go for a dip in the canals." She glanced down at her metal hand, slowly flexing her digits. "It's where... That's where they were thinkin the Blight came from... but there's no tellin what's seeped in there now."

The little boy processed what she had said, giving a concerned glance to his flicking second tail. "Oh, the Blight..." He said as the gears continued to turn in his head. He gave a frustrated huff as he plopped his butt down on the grass, tail's twitching with agitation behind him. A silence seemed to encompass the group. The little boy looked up at the canopy above him, ears flicking and turning to the sound of some non mobian avian chirping in the distance. The little boy gnawed on the thoughts, giving a hmm. He turned to look at Antoine, tilting his head in question. "Why didn't Bunnies Paw like you, Ant? Aren't you and I preds?" A finger crept up as the little boy checked the slightly sharper corner teeth in his mouth, remembering what he had read. "vas wat the boof said." He turned, finger in his mouth as he glanced back to Whisper. The girl was glancing away, trying to avoid his eyes. "Whisper too?" He shrank back a bit then turned to the other teens. "Is because of our teef?" He said, pulling the finger from his mouth. His ears flattened as she quickly glanced, meeting eye contact for a second before wincing and continuing to look away. "What?" He questioned, turning to an again mortified looking rabbit and uncomfortable looking coyote.

"What have I done..." The tan rabbit quietly eeped, short hackles fully raised. "Sally girl, I'm so sorry..."

Antoine cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Young Tails." He waited for the child's full attention before continuing, he grimaced before dropping the practiced accent. "There are many races across mobius... And many old stories of tribes long gone." The coyote paused as he started to sweat, to tell the boy or not... he was 6, was that too young? "U-umm..." He stammered, the sweat intensifying, maybe this was a conversation for Sally to have with him. He shook his head; no, he could handle this. He could do it in a way that was appropriate for the kit's age. "Look, some of those old stories of our race are not the most... flattering..." He gestured to the Canines in the group then turned to somberly look at Bunnie who was staring at the ground, looking ashamed. "And some Mobians let those old stories... color their actions...BUT!" He rose a pointer. "Not all of them." He smiled as he grabbed his girlfrined's hand to gently squeeze. She looked up, returning the squeeze.

The little boy glanced away, still looked confused but nodded his head. "okay?" He looked back to the Coyote. "What stories?"

The coyote's expression broke, hackles raising as he nervously shook. "ZAT, WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT ASK FOR YOUR AUNT SALLY! NOT ME!" The coyote yipped, Bunnie pulling her hand away to put her face in her palms and groan in mortification.

Whisper, tired of the uncomfortable atmosphere felt a spark of inspiration. Thinking of a way to steer the uncomfortable conversation in a productive way, she walked up to the little boy. Tapping his shoulder and kneeling to come eye level with the kit, She waited for his curious gaze. She smiled as he turned to her and her tail softly began to wag. "Mobotropolis was a cross cultural wonder before Robotnik took over." Having his full attention she continued. "Mobotropolis was one of the first cities to realize we're all Mobians, and not different species." She gestured to the teen couple in front of her. "Even though its more common here it can still make some people uncomfortable."

The little boy slowly nodded. "I guess that makes sense..." He pondered.

The wolf sat back, bringing her knees to her chest as she hugged them. "My mom was a wolf of the plateau tribes, my dad a cat from the far east." She looked up to the canopy, light streaming through the leaves above. "Neither could really bring the other home, so they moved out west... well... to here." She fidgeted at a stray memory, smile flattening to a line as she remembered a visit to her mothers tribe. Comments of her being a half breed abounded among the adults and some of the children. She forced a smile, turning to the little boy. "I don't think this is anything you need to worry about right now, do you understand?"

The little boy slowly nodded. "I think... so?" He said, pitch getting hire and head tilting more with each word. The confusion was still evident on his face.

She put out a fist for him to bump. "Things cool?"

The little fox lit up, meeting her fist bump and giving an enthusiastic nod to his elder playmate. "Yeah, things are cool!"

Whisper got up, dusting her knees as she noticed Bunnie silently clapping a bow from her seat on the stump. "Thank you." She mouthed, causing the wolf to blush.

"Sure thing." The lupine teen whispered, momentarily shrinking in embarrassment. She noticed Tails looking at them curiously and quickly turned to Bunnie. "So, where'd you live Bunnie? Where are we going?"

The rabbit straightened her back, returning to her cheery demeanor. "Well, it's one of the underground apartment complex on the north eastern block, right before the fancy folk neighborhoods."

The kit tilted his head in wonder. "You lived underground, Aunt Bunnie? Wasn't it dark?"

She smirked at her honorary nephew. "You otta try it before you give me that look shug." She gave an enthusiastic nod, closing her eyes. "Us folk of the earth, we like our dens cozy, lot-o rooms for all the brothers and sisters." She let out a breath, starting to kick her misaligned legs in boredom. "Besides, I want to grab some other stuff from my room."

Antoine walked up to his girlfriend and winced at the shape and damage to her legs. "That reminds me, you're still growing. Will the new leg be tall enough? What if it's too tall?"

She gave a lazy raspberry. "Twan, they don mapped my genes. I'm 17 and this is my final growth spurt, it'll be fine. Besides, as long as they're both the same height, it don't matter." She turned to the young fox still looking a little concerned at her.

*SLAM*

The group looked over to the walrus closing the truck's engine compartment. "Done." Rotor glared over to Antoine. "Don't make more work for me Ant! you see the RPM dial, don't redline the engine! It's not a sports car!"

The coyote gave a nervous grin and chuckle. "But of course! Whatever you ask, Rotor! but you know, sometimes circumstances require..." He shrank back, the Walrus's glare intensifying. "I... will keep that in mind. Thank you, sir Rotor."

The older teen grumbled before turning to look at Bunnie. "Oh! That reminds me, Bunnie. If your headin out, your probably gonna wanna look for some more number 30 oil for your joints. I'm about out, and we don't want another cooking oil incident." She slumped, cupping her cheeks with her hands. "Yippee…"

Rotor walked up to her, cleaning his hands with a rag. "Don't be like that, Bunnie... and you gotta look at the numbers! That's probably why your leg gon and bust in the first place."

She rolled back, laying on the stump as her ears flopped to the side. "I get it, the new limbs are gonna be a fresh start. Don you fret, i'm learnin." She groaned as she brought her hands up to cover her face. "I don't need to hear this again Rotor, you aren't the only one who gave me a dressin down for that. I also got a port infection lecture from Rosie... With picture's she'd found." She gagged.

Rotor gave a tired nod. "Whatever you say Bunnie, just making sure." He said as he knelt to begin putting his tools away in their box.

Bunnie sighed, wincing under her fingers. "That wasn't fun to clean... and goin without legs for..." She grumbled to herself. "Nevermind. Look, I made a mistake... But things worked out okay!" She gave a deep sigh, glancing to the side. She noticed Tails looking hesitant, she smiled at her honorary nephew. "Come to see me and your Aunt Sally off, Button?"

He gave an enthusiastic but concerned nod. "Everyone!" He paused, ears wilting. "I miss you guys..." He shifted his stance back and forth, tails starting to nervously twitch and swish. "You just got back too…"

"Sonic and Sally just got back." Whisper mindlessly interjected as she moved to sit on a sunny patch of grass to wait.

Bunnie nodded. "That they did, mighty glad they're goin out of their way to help me with my arm and leg."

Antoine's ear twitched. "The help is much appreciated." He grumbled, clearing his throat. "We are also making a stop deeper in the city, the northern courthouse next to the library. Our princess wants to look for infrastructure plans. We are going to plan our first power plant hit if things are to go well."

Bunnie propped herself up, looking at the scruffy but prim coyote with wide eyes. "The court house?" A slight smirk tugged on her lip. "That's good, been meaning to make a stop by there for a while." She averted her gaze from Ant, bringing her flesh hand up to scratch behind one of her limp ears. "Rosies been buggin me about somethin, so I want to find some documents so she'll leave me alone."

Antoine narrowed his eyes, an ear twitching in agitation. "Does she need your health records?" He rose a chiding finger, other hand to his hip. "If this was needed, we could have–"

Bunny gently pushed her boyfriend, causing him to stumble in place. "Nothin you need to worry your pretty little head about Ant, things are fineeee." She let out another sigh as she glanced to Tangle, the young lemur was pacing around the truck and eyeing the power crystal bikes to the side. Bunnie shifted uncomfortably before glancing to Rotor. "Hey Rote. Make sure you escort Tails and Tangle back when we leave."

The walrus looked up from packing his toolbox. "What?" He glanced to the saddened lemur and curious fox, then nodded. "Uh, yeah. I can do that."

Tangle quickly composed herself, suavely leaning against the truckbed with her arms crossed over her chest. "Whaaaat? Psh, I can handle myself; I'm 10!"

Bunnie gave a dry laugh. "I see you eye'n those bikes, shug." She rolled her glance back to Rotor. "Best be take'n the keys to them as well when yah scoot." She smirked as the walrus nodded, moving to remove the keys from each bike.

Tangle's expression broke as she frantically waved her arms. "W-what? But what if we need to escape from the forest?"

Tails's ear twitched. "Wait, don't we escape into the forest? Not..." He looked at the exasperated and annoyed lemur. "Out?" He glanced to his cheekily smug looking aunt. "But the warp zones?" He sounded confused.

Bunnie laughed at the kids in front of her, causing Tangle to facepalm and Tails to cutely tilt his head in question. "No joy rides while we're gone. When we're back, we can take the bikes out for a spin."

Tangle flopped onto the grass. "Ugh, whatever…" She pouted. She looked up. "You sure, you know me! You can trust me! I won't crash it! Just one joyride! Sally doesn't need to know!"

"What don't I need to know?" A confident feminine voice cut in.

Whisper smirked, swaying back and forth in her spot as she grinned at her frowning friend. "Ohh, ur so busted." She mouthed, causing Tangle to give a blah face and roll and flail in the grass in a silent tantrum.

While that happened, Tails turned on a dime, his little face lighting up. "Aunt Sally!" He belted as he ran up to meet his paternal figure entering the stump clearing. She was a brown chipmunk with tan accents, her hair was auburn red and her smile was bright. She wore a blue unzipped hoodie over a black tanktop with faded blue jeans.

Sally smiled, kneeling down to meet her charge's hug. "Hey pumpkin, you're up early." She gently squeezed him, returning the hug.

Tails continued to hold the hug. "I wanted to say goodbye and good luck to Whisper." He pulled away, looking a bit worried. "You won't be gone long, right?"

The red headed chipmunk smiled then shook her head. "If things go to plan, then it should only be a few days." She smiled. "Rosie's going to take good care of you, be strong for me? Okay?" She poked his nose, causing the fox to smile and giggle.

*BOOM*

*WHOOSH*

The group spun to see a azure hedgehog, perched top the truck, quills all frizzed up from a recent towel scrub as he spun a power ring on his pointer finger. He was dressed in his freerunning gear, long sleeved sport clothing with the ends taped around his wrists and ankles to prevent drag, a leather backpack on his back. "Yo!" He greeted, giving a wave to the group before turning to Sally. "Sal gal, how come I gotta get the power ring?" He paused. "Like… Everrry time..."

She cocked her hip. "Because you're the one that uses them." She smirked, voice getting playfully haughty. "Besides, don't complain. Or do we need to have some swimming lessons again?"

"Royal lessons. " He whistled, rolling his eyes in disinterest. He gave a wavering whistle as he slowed the spinning ring on his finger "Wew… Sounds fun..."

She gave him a playfully annoyed look, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh really? Come on, you can't say it was that bad of an experience."

He stopped spinning the ring, catching the glowing gold wristband as he he gave her a flat glare. "Sal, you woke me up that morning with a bucket of cold water."

She snickered. "You can't say you didn't have it coming, all the stuff you pull. I'm within reason." She said, smugly in the right.

He gave an OK sign with a hand as he made a mockingly appraising look. "Classy Sal, really shows off your royal heritage." He gave a shiver. "Oil and water don't mix." He smirked at his long time friend as he ran his fingers through his quills. "And this hog is slick."

She gave a choked laugh. "Oh brother… keep your cheesy lines to yourself." She sighed, shaking her head as she turned to begin an exercise stretch. "Well, it's your job to dive for the rings if you want to use your freaky powers for long without passing out." She paused her stretch to turn and grin at her best friend who was giving a mock offended look.

"Freaky? What's freaky?" He half shouted as he waved his hands above his head. "Well everyone ELSE seems to appreciate them." He smirked, bringing up a foot on the cab and balancing an elbow on his knee as he leaned back. "Fastest thing alive, I'd say." He smugly said.

Tail's perked up. "Way fast!" He shouted up to his role model, pumping his fists as he jumped in place. "You were going so fast Sonic! I think I heard a boom! Do you know what that means?!"

Sonic grinned down to his honorary brother. "Let's hear it, big guy."

Antoine rolled his eyes as he sat crisscross in the grass, resting his cheek against a fist. "Oh brothers…"

Tails continued to jump excitedly. "That means you were faster than sound!" He yelled. "Sonic BOOM!"

The hedgehog slid from his spot top the truck, landing on his feet and meeting the little boy's fist in a bump. "Glad someone appreciates my talent." He turned to Sally, gesturing to the little boy. "See? He thinks i'm neat. Doesn't his opinion count? Come on, you gotta respect T2's opinion." He smirked, knowingly.

Sally rolled her eyes, a smirk tugging her lip. "Of course I do, but someone's got to keep that ego of yours in check. It might as well be me."

Antoine hopped up from his spot on the grass, dusting his coat and loudly clearing his throat. "E-HEM!" Everyone looked at him, causing him to falter from the unexpected ease. He collected himself, tugging his collar to clear off any more dust. "Now zat everyone is here…" He paused before snideing under his breath. "And you have all kept me waiting for over an hour…" He returned to full volume. "Should we be going on with the mission, yes?" He turned to his girlfriend, tilting his head in her direction. "And I assume ze Princess knows you will also be in attendance?"

Sally's eyes widened at the news. "You're coming Bunnie?"

The south western rabbit gave an enthusiastic nod, pulling a worn brimmed cowboy hat from her bag and poking her ears through the holes. "Course shug! Rosie said if I was feelin fit, I could resume my chores."

Antoine got an offended look. "CH-CHORES?!" He stomped up to the innocent looking rabbit. "ZIS IS NOT CHORES!" He paused, expression wilting. "Bunnie… you have to be careful of injuring your back… I spoke to Rosie, and your offset legs–"

She hopped up, transitioning from one foot to another. "I just gotta be mindful, and this is a chore! Maw and Paw couldn't afford all those surgeries! I'm 17! I'd be shipping off to bootcamp this year if all this mess hadn't happened! Them limbs were expensive!" She plopped her butt back on the stump as she crossed her arms, giving a huff.

Sally stepped in, placing a hand on Antoine's shoulder and gently pressing him to move back from the rabbit. "Antoine, please calm down."

Antoine put his hands up. "Fine, fine. Whatevers..." He grumbled as he turned to go sit back on the grass.

The chipmunk let out a frustrated breath before turning a disapproving look to the cyborg rabbit. Bunnie to her credit, looked like a kit caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She gave a nervous grin. "Heh, we good?" Bunnie asked.

"Don't use that debt I forgave as an excuse to skip off when you're injured." The chipmunk chided as she stepped closer to her friend, her court lessons taking over. "I don't know if you realize, but using something I forgave for your own gain is disrespectful." She chided, causing her friend to flinch.

Bunny kept looking to the ground. "Yes, I'm sorry. Don worry, It won't happen again." She said finitely.

"I don't need you putting yourself in a compromised position." The teen princess continued, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Now, things are fine between us... but I want the truth." The chipmunk leaned forward to get in her friend's field of view, giving her a reassuring but knowing smile. "Do you actually feel up to this, or are you just itching to get out of the forest?"

There was a pause and Bunnie took a breath, puffing up. "Shug, I'm as fit as a fiddle!" She deflated a little, ears drooping a bit lower as she nervously smiled. "I just gotta be careful running more than usual…" She perked up, gently kicking her heels against the stump. "But I gotta be careful running in general with the muted nerves." She clinked her metallic knuckles against her kneecap. "I'll be fine, and this still could be considered a chore–"

"Enough." Sally interrupted, sounding done with the situation. The annoyed look melted as she shook off the demeanor of her training then smiled. "I don't need any more justification." She paused then nodded. "If you're really up for it, then I'm glad." The chipmunk's smile grew nervous. "To tell you the truth… some of the underground complexes can get confusing… I'm glad you're coming."

Bunnie turned to her boyfriend who just looked fed up and annoyed. She grinned and popped up, running over to gently poke his shoulder. "See Twan? You worrying for nothin I tell yah!"

He rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue. "I tell yah…" He sourly mimicked under his breath, getting up and trudging over to his packed dufflebag to sling over his shoulder. "Mock my concern for you…" He grumbled under his breath, causing the girl's eyes to widen as her ears fell.

She stumbled forward into a jog as she tailed him. "Wait, Ant! I wasn't mockin yah!" Her eyes widened as she realized something, her nose twitching as she got peeved. "Now wait just a darn tutein minute, come back here!" She yelled as he ignored her, entering the driver side of the truck to slam the door behind him. She carefully limped to the passenger door, wrenching it open to startle him. "Oh no you don't, Mister! We're dealin with this right here and now!" She yelled as she hopped in, slamming the door behind her. The party glanced at eachother as muffled bickering started up.

Sonic clicked his tsked, dramatically shaking his head back and forth. "Trouble... in... paradise..."

Sally sucked the air between her teeth. "Ehhh... They'll probably be fine."

Tails looked between the hedgehog and chipmunk. "Are aunt bunnie and Antoine alright?"

She turned to her charge, putting on a bright smile. "It's going to be alright Pumpkin, it just sounds like a miss-communication. Remember, they care for each-other, its just a bump in the road." She turned back to the truck, resting a hand on her hip as she sighed. "Well... They'll have a while to talk it out." She smiled to the hesitant kit. "Don't worry, Sweetie. Things are going to be fine." She reassured, causing the worry in his face to melt.

The azure hedgehog closed his eyes as he rose a finger to his chin, giving a knowing nod. "True, true..." He lifted an eyelid as he smirked at the red head. "You ready?"

She gave a wide smile as she leaned forward, cocking her hip to the side as she stared him down. "Oh, you know it!" She leaned back, bringing up a hand to count. "Got my knives, got the spray paint, few grenades... Oh! Nicole's all charged and I marked up the maps we'll be using, backup routes included!"

Whisper stood up from the grass and walked up to the older girl. "I'm ready too." She smiled. "Thanks for finding me those new arrows."

Sally relaxed her stance as she nodded, returning the smile. "Glad you like em, those should be able to pierce metal. I wanted to make sure you had something you were comfortable with, with this being your first time in the city–"

"This isn't my first time in the city." The young wolf interrupted. "I grew up in the city, and was living in the outskirts during the swatbots laps of age enforcement." Whisper shyly stated, clutching her short bow.

Sally got a pensive smile. "B-be that as it may… This is your first time since all Mobians are being targeted." Sally's attention drifted, she put a hand up to scratch behind one of her ears. "We've actually been seeing scavengers pushed further and further away from the city. Robotnik's been getting more serious." She closed her eyes, shaking her head. "Anyways! Your job is to watch, learn, and when I give you an order... I don't want to hear any arguments; this is life and death."

Whisper nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Rotor came up besides Tails. "Alright big guy, piggyback time." He said as he picked the little boy up, lifting him over his head and to his shoulders. "Shop talk's startin, time to say our goodbyes!"

Tails face filled with disappointment as he held to the walrus's head. "Awww... It was just getting good! Why can't we stay longer?"

Sally paused her talk with Whisper, stepping over to Tails. "I'll miss you sweetie. Don't be too much trouble for Rosie." She said as she reached up for his cheek, giving him a gentle rub.

He closed his eyes, nuzzling into her touch. "I won't Aunt Sally, I'll be good."

She smiled as she brushed her thumb on his cheek one more time. "That's my boy." She glanced down to Rotor. "Thanks Rotor."

He gave a short nod. "No problem Sally." He turned to Tangle who was nervously eyeing the bikes. "Come on Tangle, tell ya what. You wanna learn how to fix one? I got one needing some work in my shop, you fix it and it could be yours."

Sally shook her head. "Maybe in a few cycles, but not now." She interjected.

Rotor blinked. "Scratch the last part, later it could be yours."

The lemur shifted her stance as she gnawed on her lower lip, looking unsure. "Umm, maybe later..."

The walrus nodded. "Later's cool. Come on, lets get you two back to Rosie."

The little girl's shoulders sank. "Bleh, ugh... fine." She said as she trudged after Rotor and Tails.

Whisper watched her friends leave before turning to Sally and Sonic. The elder teens were starting to pack the back of the truck, packing the sparse bags into the back. She skipped over to join them. "I'm ready." She said, hefting the strap of her koi pattern backpack.

Sonic leaned around Sally to see Whisper, placing her things in the back of the truck. He gave a thoughtful look. "Hey Whisper, you sure you want to use your nice backpack? Wasn't that from your folks?"

The blond wolf paused, looking down at her old school bag, then shook her head. "I have other sentimental things. I want to use this one properly." She said, giving a determined nod as she started climbing the back into the truckbed.

Sonic shrugged to himself before stepping up on one of the tires then into the back of the truck. He let out a yawn, stretching as he sat down on a flattened cushion. "Suit yur self."

Sally walked around to knock on the driverside window. The couple inside paused their talk and antoine started to roll the handlebar for the window. "Salutations, my Princess." he greeted, a tiredness to his voice.

Sally tilted her head, leaning to also look at Bunnie. "Things okay?" She asked the two.

Bunnie nodded. "We're workin on it." Her cheeks got hot. "I guess i was being a little too pushy."

"And..." The coyote interjected. "Mwa attitude was a bit out of line." The coyote interjected, putting a hand out to ask for the map.

Sally's smile was relieved. "Okay, cool." She nodded, handing over the folded map. Her look got serious. "We're going to be heading to the courthouse first, I've marked our route. Pull over if you have any questions, kay?"

He puffed up. "Understood my Princess! Your guard is honored to serve! We depart on your signal!" He saluted, causing Sally and Bunnie to sweatdrop.

"Thanks Ant." Sally gave a small wave as she shrank back. "You know you don't have to take it that seriously." She quickly turned, hopping into the back of the truck. She steadied herself on the uneven footing, turning to Sonic and Whisper. "You guys all set?" She asked as she knelt to her knees.

Sonic was impatiently tapping his fingers on the ledge of the truckbed, clutching his sheathed vibra sword against his lap with the other hand. He turned to lean partially out the truck, looking in front of the car. "Like the day I was born, Sal." He smirked, turning his cocky gaze to her. "Lets go cause Buttstink some headaches."

Whisper hugged her hip quiver to her chest as she shifted to make herself comfortable on one of the mats. "Ready." She quietly replied, nodding.

Sally nodded to herself before turning to knock on the driver compartment window in signal to Antoine. The truck started to squeel, timing belt screeching as the workhorse vehicle started up. They started to roll forward, bumpy as the road ahead of them was mostly rocks and mounds. Sally carefully crawled over to sit next to her best friend as he padded out a spot for her. Sitting next to the hedgehog, she let out a content breath, looking up to see the streams of light cut through the canopy above.

Sonic raised his knuckles towards her, tilting his head in her direction. "Do it to it?" He asked.

She rose an eyebrow and smiled at the joke, a catchphrase from their shared favorite childhood cartoon. "Do it to it." She confirmed, returning his knuckle bump, the smile on her face ever growing.

Chapter 1 end.