Hey Readers! Sorry for the late upload, I had some writers block, but I hope I've overcome it, but no promises!

Chapter Nine

An hour later, Sally stood at the head of the top table in the picnic area.

Around the table the key Freedom Fighters which included Bunnie, Sonic, Mina, Rotor, Antoine, Rouge, and Dulcy.

Also present were Knuckles the Echidna and his mate Julie-Su, as well as the Chaotix which included Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, and Mighty the Armadillo.

Also, Amy was present, seated between Mina and Bunnie, she was looking rather excited to be asked to the meeting and even more so because Sonic had suggested she join them.

"Okay, we all present and accounted for?" Sally asked as she looked around the table.

Everyone nodded.

"Great!" Sally said "Now, we're gathered this morning to discuss our next mission to Robotropolis but also to discuss the fact that the summer is ending."

Everyone murmured in agreement.

"As well as try and stop Robotnik and free the slaves, we also need to ensure our survival so we can continue to try and save others, so before we discuss our mission, let us discuss our organisation for the harvest."

"That's no problem for me Sally-Girl!" Bunnie piped up "Mah vegetables are growing nicely, give them another week and my root vegetables will be ready to harvest and preserved."

"That I don't doubt Bunnie!" Sally smiled.

"Same can be said for the crops outside the forest!" Espio spoke up.

"I so know where the berries grow the most in the forest." Mina agreed, "I can take some volunteers and go gathering!"

"Thank you, Mina! Espio!" said Sally, she then typed some notes into Nicole "When we're done here, I will rally up the residents and request volunteers to take part in the gatherings for harvesting, and the more help we have, it'll be done quicker."

"Absolutely!" Rotor agreed.

"I can circle the outer areas for food as well!" Dulcy offered.

"As can I!" Rouge agreed "Dulcy and I can take anyone who can fly to go on a search."

"That's great!" Sally smiled.

"Seems we got harvest in the bag then!" Sonic spoke up.

"Ah oui!" Antoine agreed.

Sally nodded.

"I suppose that was an easy one to discuss, all we need is to gather willing volunteers and send them to certain areas when we need to start harvesting." She said, "But I will arrange that later."

Everyone agreed then Sally looked at Nicole.

"Nicole gathered some information from another operation in Robotropolis." Sally spoke as she looked at her small handheld computer, "Robotnik is planning to unleash another attack in the North, there are villages in that direction still with Mobians hiding."

Rouge sighed.

"Another day in the Metal City for that Monster." She said, "Does he ever stop?"

"I'm afraid not." Sally sighed "But I have a plan to deter him from doing so."

"How Sal?" Sonic asked.

"I have two options." Sally replied "Dulcy." She looked to the dragon, "Using your wings, you can fly ahead with some volunteers to warn residents and prepare them for evacuation."

Dulcy nodded.

"I can do that Princess." She said fervently.

"As for the rest of us." Sally looked to the others "We can use the chance to enter the city and free more slaves as well as plant more explosive cannisters."

So, saying she looked towards Rotor who grinned.

"Got plenty to take on our mission!" he said.

"Excellent!" Sally praised.

"So, whose going with Dulcy, and who's going to Robotropolis?" Knuckles asked.

Sally looked at everyone.

Amy was looking hopeful, but Antoine was looking scared, which didn't surprise Sally as the coyote, even though he was a willing Freedom Fighter, he was a coward.

"I don't wish to delegate anyone to follow me into Robotropolis." Sally spoke "If it were up to me, I would go myself and I do not wish to risk any lives!"

"No way Sal!" Sonic barked making everyone look at him.

"There's no way you are going into that stinking city alone! I won't allow you!"

Sally smiled within as she knew how protective Sonic was of her.

"I won't allow you to either!" Amy spoke up.

"Agreed!" said Julie-Su and everyone else nodded and murmured.

"We all agree Princess!" Antoine said fervently "You is our leader, and our princess, we need you!"

"Thank you, guys!" Sally smiled "But in all seriousness, as much as you are willing to follow me, I don't want to risk your lives, whether you die by Robotnik's hand or become his slaves under a Robotic shell!"

"We all lost something because of him Sally!" Rouge said, "All of us! And we follow you and stand with you to reclaim what he took from us, and many of us want justice for the people he slaughtered!"

As the bat spoke those words, Sonic swallowed hard as the memory of his parent's murder was still fresh in his mind, even though it had been ten years, it still haunted him, and he missed them terribly.

Sally felt the same as she thought of her mother then she looked at everyone again.

"Okay, then I will ask which of you will follow me to Robotropolis, and who will assist Dulcy?" she asked.

"Those who are with me raise your hands, but keep in mind, if you wish to go with Dulcy, I will not condemn you, as each mission plays an important role!"

Almost everyone at the table raised their hands to follow Sally which made the ground squirrel blink slightly that almost everyone was willing to follow her, but she knew Dulcy needed help with her mission so she exhaled and decided who would be most valuable to which team.

About half an hour later, Sally had divided the teams into groups.

Dulcy was to be accompanied by Mina, Amy and the Chaotix, they were to fly to the North to make sure no Swatbots were making their way up there and to warn the villages of attack so they could either evacuate or stay and fight, whilst the others were to go with her to Robotropolis.

Amy was disappointed she wasn't going to Robotropolis and had pulled Sally aside to speak with her.

"Please Sally." She begged "Give me the chance to go and help, I know I can help!"

"Amy." Sally had tried to reason with the pink hedgehog, but Amy kept insisting.

"I have been training hard, I have taken every lesson from you, Bunnie and Julie-Su to heart!"

It was true, the pink hedgehog, as much as she was still young, and if not a little naïve, she had been doing very well in her fighting and training and welded a large hammer to her best abilities.

But despite all that, Sally felt she needed a little longer to train before being allowed in the field.

"Amy." Sally spoke gently "I'm not being mean to you, it's not that I don't admire your spirit, and you are such a strong girl! Strong, brave, and fearless for one so young."

Amy had smiled proudly at those words and Sally placed her hands on her shoulders.

"Your time will come Amy, but right now, I have a responsibility, not just as your princess, or your leader, but as your friend, and I want you to stay safe, and I'm relying on you to do your duty to the Freedom Fighters by assisting Dulcy, Mina and the Chaotix in warning those vulnerable to an upcoming attack."

Amy had then let those words sink in and she looked up at Sally.

"Understand?" Sally asked, "You understand what you need to do to help us?"

"I do." Amy replied and looked down, a little ashamed of her behaviour earlier but she soon felt Sally hug her close.

"You're a great ally to us Amy!" Sally promised "Never forget that!"

Amy looked up.

"Really?" she asked.

"Truthfully!" Sally replied fervently as she gently pulled away from the hug "Now, you go and get yourself ready to help Dulcy alright?"

"Yes Princess!" Amy beamed and feeling more confident, the pink hedgehog skipped away to look for Dulcy.

Sally watched her go, feeling relieved and she turned to find the others when she saw Sonic standing there making her jump slightly.

"Whoa Sonic." She said, "Gave me a scare there!" she chuckled.

"Sorry Sal." Sonic replied, "I saw you with Ames there, you're really good and patient with her."

"Thanks." Sally smiled "She's a good girl, despite her enthusiasm, she'll be ready for Robotropolis soon, I know it, she just needs to be patient."

"True." Sonic replied yet he chuckled to himself as he knew patience was never once of his virtues, but he tried.

"Anyway," he said, "We'll be ready to head out soon, and the residents have been called to the picnic areas again so hear about plans for the harvest."

"Thanks for that Sonic." Sally said gratefully "I'll go and address them now."

After ten minutes, Sally stood on the podium as she looked at the residents of Knothole, all of them looking up to her, waiting to hear what she had to say.

Looking at each and every one of them, Sally knew how they relied on her, how they respected her, and how they trusted her to keep them safe from the tyrannical reign of Robotnik.

"Citizens of Knothole." Sally spoke in a loud clear voice "As you are aware, summer is coming to its end soon, and before long we will need to gather for the harvest!"

The residents looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

"And as you are aware, we need to pull together to gather supplies for the winter months." Sally continued.

"Luckily, our crops have turned out well this year, Bunnie's vegetables are almost ready to be pulled, and the wheat and corn will need to be harvested soon, but we will need volunteers to search the Great Forest for fruits and nuts so we can preserve them and make jam."

A few cries of joy were heard from some of the residents as there were a few who enjoyed jam making or preserving vegetables.

"So, the sooner we start the harvest the better." Sally continued "on the notice board is a list of jobs needed to be done, and I would like each and every one of you to write your name under the job you wish to volunteer for, are we in agreement?"

At once voices were heard as well as a few nods of the heads.

"Thank you, friends." Sally praised then raised her fist "Let's do it, to it!"

"Do it to it!" the residents agreed then began to leave towards where the notice board was located so they could choose their job for the harvest.

Sally smiled then walked off the podium to the other Freedom Fighters who were waiting to begin their mission in Robotropolis.

"Well done, Sal!" Sonic praised making Sally smile.

"Thanks!" Sally replied "Now, let's get ready to move out!"

"You got it!" Sonic winked.

So a meeting has been held to discuss the harvest, as well as the latest mission to Robotropolis.

Amy is a keen one to join the others in Robotropolis, but she still has a way to go, and Sally of course has her best interests at heart.

Stay tuned for another update, hopefully sooner rather than later.