merendinoEmilano: Sage… I don't really have plans for her. I could see a few moments, but I don't really have a story planned for her.

/*-*/

Sonic hated marching. It seemed slower than running, and he frankly found Sally's refusal to "Let him scout ahead" to make everything boring. It wasn't that he didn't want to hear everyone talking about their favorite bar or sweetheart at home. He just thought that marching in a cluster was boring. It didn't help that Whisper was always marching ahead of him, scanning the hills.

"So, how good can you see out of that mask?" Sonic asked her.

Whisper didn't answer, as usual. Sonic didn't take it personally, but he still found it a bit annoying. Some Good conversation would be nice. Sonic saw Fiona, marching with the rest of them. Apparently, she wasn't taken by Nagus, and Sonic was grateful.

Still, he caught her glances. Sonic decided to walk up closer to her, and smiled, "So… How have you been?"

Fiona seemed to jolt at him, "Oh… I've been good." She seemed a little… suspicious.

"It's… uh, nice to see you again." Sonic smiled, trying to get something out of her.

"Yeah, it's… good to see you too." Fiona wasn't looking at him. Sonic couldn't ignore that.

"Are we good?" Sonic asked, forcing his smile to grow.

Fiona blinked, before giving Sonic a sly smile, "We're good. We're just marching again to fight ourselves, nothing too bad about that."

"You don't want to fight Nagus?" Sonic didn't think she would be wrong for it, but he didn't think Fiona had any good opinions of Nagus

"I just think it's funny that we're fighting Nagus while Eggman is still causing problems. And it happens to be for the princess who lost her throne." Fiona kept that forced smile on her face, but her tone was pretty accusatory.

"It's not for Sally's kingdom, it's because Nagus is being a tyrant. He's hurting people." Sonic explained, hoping that she would see it his way.

Instead Fiona shook her head, and mumbled, "Sure it is."

Sonic found himself disappointed. Not angry, he couldn't really hold it against her. "I guess we're just going to have to disagree. Anything exciting happen to you while you were gone?" He asked hoping for some good news.

Suddenly, a black and white lemur jumped in front of them. Whisper raised her rifle at the lemur.

"Guys, big army, over hill! STUFF!" Tangle shouted panting from the trees, as she doubled over. Tangle had been sent to scout ahead as they pushed north to secure the city after Elias convinced Sally that Apalsa wouldn't be ready.

They'd sent off a messenger to tell Johan to pull the attack. He obviously hadn't responded yet. The message probably hadn't even made it yet, but Sonic quickly found himself hoping for Johan to come out of the woods somewhere.

Sally came up and the formation seemed to come to a halt as the princess asked, "What? What did you see?"

"A big army… A REALLY BIG ARMY. Lots of guns!" Tangle jumped up and down, using her tail to make shapes. Sonic still wasn't used to that little ability she had. Still, it was pretty awesome.

"A big army, why are they here?" Sally gasped in surprise as her face contorted to panic.

"Don't blow a gasket." Fiona grumbled, pulling her rifle on her shoulder, "Come on, princess, give us a plan."

Sally glared at Fiona, and Sonic saw her teeth grit. He quickly jumped in and spoke, "Come on, Sally, you're the smart one, you can think of something."

Sally looked at Sonic and seemed to get to a more neutral Stance before nodding, "Tangle, did they see you?"

The lemur looked up with a nervous smile, "I… uh, don't know." She gave a sorry smile and raised her shoulders in a shrug.

"How do you not know? Did you not look behind you?" Sally raised her voice.

Tangle shrunk down, "I was jumping through trees, I don't know if they saw me or not."

Sonic could see Sally struggling, not with Tangle, but herself, "Ok… Ok, Everyone, dig in for a firefight!"

Sonic got to work, helping Fiona dig into the ground. And by help, Sonic meant he was shoveling dirt while Fiona filled packed it down around the holes being dug. They connected each of their holes into a makeshift trench.

Unfortunately, the sound of Whisper's large rifle shook them out of their work trance, and Sonic realized they were under attack. Sonic looked up to see her laying down, pulling the bolt back and throwing another large shell in before firing again.

"Whisper, come on, Get in here!" Sonic shouted at her.

She stayed put, and reloaded, before firing again. The position was with Whisper on the hill, overlooking a potentially massive force. To her back, the hill dipped, and Sonic, Fiona, Sally and the vanguard were at the front, digging trenches.

If Whisper had waited, Sonic and the Freedom Fighters would have been found in the middle of preparation. Unfortunately, that also prevented them from catching the enemy by surprise… but Sally knew that already. Sonic had a feeling she did.

"Whisper, Get back!" Sonic shouted as the dirt began to pick up around Whisper. Her cloak seemed to help her blend in with the road, but Sonic Still didn't like her odds.

"Sheesh, She's extreme." Tangle mumbled. If it were any other circumstance, Sonic would have laughed.

Sonic heard the sound of metal striking metal, and heard a yelp from Whisper. Sonic watched her roll back down the hill, clutching her mask. Sonic didn't see a breach, but he did see a dent in it.

"Anything injured? Are you alright?" Sonic asked her, noticing her breathing was heavy. She looked at him though her mask, and slowly calmed.

"They are coming. Disorganized." She whispered at him, still panicked.

Sonic looked up at the top of the hill, and saw Fiona ready her rifle. Tangle pulled out her rifle, and had a clip in her tail ready.

They waited. A head popped over the hill, and rifles began to unleash their volleys. Several bullets flew up, and there was no saving the first few who dared to climb.

The next few were shot down to Sonic's horror. These were… mobains, just like Sonic.

He jumped out of the trench and zipped up to the wounded enemies. As he leaned down to grab the wounded soldiers who were shivering, Sonic realized he was also at the top of the hill. A bullet grazed his back, but Sonic picked up an injured wolf, and carried him back to the trench, before jumping back out.

His heart was pounding as he remembered the feeling of when he was shot. That cold feeling as he laid there, bleeding out. Sonic shook his head, and kept running. He couldn't kill them, but he could save them.

Sonic ran back up to the hill to see a wounded ox laying there, "H-help me, please!"

Sonic picked up the large mass and began to walk down the hill, worn down from the weight of the large cow.

Eventually, he dropped the bull in the trench.

"Prepare to rush the hill!" Sally's voice shouted, and the soldiers walked to the ends of their rows.

Sonic panted, before rushing up and grabbing who ever he could. A bullet struck his shoulder when he stopped, and Sonic had to start pushing the bodies down the hill.

He actually found it was easier to do that as his own men came up and took the hill, before firing down it.

"Sonic, get some medical attention NOW!" Sally barked at him as Fiona glanced at his wound.

Sonic realized that his shoulder was gushing, and only in that moment did he start to really feel pain. Sonic ran forward and found someone with a toolbox, "Hey um…" Sonic gestured to his shoulder as the soldier looked at him.

It was a mobian goffer, who nodded, "Ayup." Was all he said and opened the tool box. The Goffer pulled out some pliers and some whiskey. Sonic braced for the pain.

The goffer offered Sonic the bottle. With his good arm, Sonic took a swing, and handed it back. Sonic nearly vomited from the crudeness. It was definitely strong, but that was all the whiskey had going for it.

The goffer chuckled, and poured some on the pliers and needle he had put in the tongs that had thread wrapped around it, before pushing through the skin.

Sonic yelped as Sally ran over to him, "Are you ok?"

"I…I'll be good." Sonic smiled at her trying to be confident as the thread began to tighten.

Sally looked down, and Sonic could feel her cheeks being flush as she asked, "H-hey… after this little… conflict, what do you say we… get married? Maybe settle in and have a few kids." Sally looked at Sonic with a hopeful smile.

Sonic jumped up at those words. Kids? Sonic gulped. "We're… We're moving a little fast for that… Uh."

"Please try to stay calm." The goffer muttered at Sonic and Sonic sat still.

"I thought you liked fast?" Sally stated, not in a joking way, but more as if she was… accusing Sonic.

Sonic felt the needle re-enter his shoulder, "I mean… would you give up leading the freedom fighters?"

Sally looked shocked now. Sonic waited. She forced an angry smile, "If Someone capable were to step up and take my place, then yes, I would give up command of the freedom fighters."

"And who would that be?" Sonic asked, jolting as the needle continued to stitch him up.

"Someone like me." Sally stated firmly, before turning back as the sound of gunfire picked up.

/*-*/

Fiona pushed up the hill and leveled out her rifle. She lined up the sights with a young fox who had taken cover behind a tree. She felt her finger get closer to the trigger as the fox turned, his gun shaking in his hand.

Fiona stopped as she saw the terrified eyes in the poor boy. He was a scare fox who was all alone on this field. He didn't want to be here.

But he was there, and if she didn't pull the trigger, he might kill one of their men.

Fiona steeled herself by closing her eyes. Please, Jesus, don't make me do this.

Fiona opened her eyes and saw the fox was still sitting there, leveling his shaking rifle out. He would miss, right? Fiona couldn't take that chance. She took a deep breath.

PRRRITCHING!

Fiona jolted as the wolf's long rifle into the tree, creating a small explosion that sent shrapnel all around. The fox lay on the ground, with several small pools coming from his chest. Several of his friends were crying and whimpering on the ground, clutching parts of their body.

Fiona saw the wolf load a second bullet, wrapped with a yellow tip, before closing the rifle bolt.

"PUSH UP!" The Princess shouted, and Fiona saw men pushing through the forest. Both had several bodies dropping from the constant gunfire.

Fiona rolled over and ran behind a tree to take cover as another bullet exploded behind a tree, sending bits of metal everywhere. She panted nervously, as the two forces began to clash with each other.

She saw people taking cover, and no one wanted to push any further, as the bullets that flew through the air were reduced to being shot from cover, minus the wolf who seemed extra intent on hurting her enemies.

Fiona still leveled out her rifle, and grit her teeth, before firing at a goat who had hidden behind a tree, as if preparing to ambush them. He dropped as Fiona pulled the bolt back.

One of theirs fell in front Fiona, and she could only stare at the corpse. Things were not going great.

"PULL BACK NOW!" Sally's cry went out, and Fiona's fellow soldiers stopped, and pulled back.

Fiona stayed where she was as the men ran back. The wolf still lay there, prone with her rifle out. Strangely enough, Fiona saw the commander panic and shout orders from his horse as the wolf lined up her shot.

Fiona leveled her rifle at the noble who seemed to bark orders as his men tried to push up the hill. The wolf pulled her trigger, and Fiona heard the sound of the rifle as it fired, rippling through the air. She saw the noble drop and the army panic. Some rushed the hill.

"PULL BACK!" Sally's orders came through, and Fiona ran back down the hill. Clearly Sally didn't want them up there.

Fiona realized as she ran down and saw the trenches that had several soldiers now taking cover in them. She saw Sonic looking rather worse for wear, stitched and patched up.

The wolf slid in and nodded at Sonic, who looked rather horrified. She finally turned to Sally as Fiona walked into the third row of trenches, "The commander is dead, they are panicking." The wolf stated coldly.

"YOU SHOT A NOBLE?" The princess shouted, making Fiona feel pretty glad that she didn't shoot him herself.

The wolf remained silent.

Sally growled, "YOU CAN'T-"

"Come on Sal, she was trying to help." Sonic gasped and the princess jerked around at her boyfriend. Boyfriend… that one made Fiona burn a little angry.

The princess did soften, and Sonic didn't like the news either as was evident on his face. Still, the princess said, "Do not kill nobles. We need them to keep the stability of the kingdom."

"They're retreating!" Shouted a soldier waving a hat through the air, "They're running to the capital!" The soldiers cheered all around.

Did they really win the fight?

Sally scowled, "Why would they retreat to the capital? The city of Ophellia is closer by more than half the distance?"

Sonic sat up, and Fiona found herself asking that question.

Sally was clearly frustrated… when a messenger arrived, "THE WOLVERINE HAS TAKEN APALSA!... And… Defeated an army of three thousand! He has begun an advance on the capital!"

The princess perked up as everyone but the wolf jumped in surprise, "WHAT!"

/*-*/

The morning came with Johan returning from a tactical scouting motion. True, he did not sleep well after examining the area, but that did not matter. He could rest later, there was work to be done.

Johan saw the men gather their dishes and put them up, "Get ready to move, we are heading north." Johan growled to the men who looked up at him in surprise.

Lanolin stood up, "We're heading north, get ready to move!" She repeated. The men and women seemed to nod.

"Gather your shovels and ammo." Johan barked, and Lanolin repeated his words. She then looked up at him sheepishly.

Johan gave her a nod, before walking out and finding the watch tower which was held to alert the militia. He approached the guard who stood outside, "Assemble the militia."

The man ran up to the watch tower and rang the bell, signaling the city to scramble with the morning light.

The wolverine watched as men scrambled from their houses, foxes and wolves, bears and beavers, out with simple clothes and simple rifles. They stood in attention, looking for the threats as probably over a hundred men, with a few added or removed.

It would seem promising, until Johan noticed that their rifles seemed primitive in the nature, being breach-loaded. The men seemed even less disciplined than Johan's recruits. Still, they were bodies, and Johan knew how to make the most of them.

"Gather anything to dig with, and meet me at the north gate. Bring tools." Johan felt the need to clarify.

Johan met the militia and his men outside the north gate. He had his uniformed soldiers and the militia, both of which were not trained to shoot rifles at long range. Yes, his troops had rifles that could outrange the breach loaded weapons that militia had( and so Johan assumed his enemy had), but that meant nothing if they could not hit their targets.

"We will march north, follow me." Johan growled, and turned around. He walked towards the forest that was north.

He had scouted the perfect spot the night before. A place where range would not be an advantage, and inexperience could be… lessened.

As they walked, Lanolin came up to Johan's side, "Why are we leaving the city?"

Johan growled, "You do not trust me? Why are you following me?" The question didn't matter, she should have known that.

"I-I do trust you. I just don't understand why we are leaving the safety of the walls and buildings for… out here?" Lanolin bleated quickly, and nervously.

"Walls do not provide safety. They provide time, time for your defender if you can hold, or time for your attacker. Walls only serve to contain you, a sitting target for our enemy." Johan did not have much desire to explain further. It would be easier to show them.

Eventually they arrived at the turn. The road rose over a hill, and curved left towards the city. Johan stopped and turned around to face all of his follower, "Now, we dig."

Many stopped and looked around at each other, "like… a trench?" Asked one of the bears from the militia.

"No, Dig holes in the ground, in the forest." Johan growled at him.

They looked at him curiously.

Johan growled, "Dig holes."

"Are you serious?" Lanolin asked, as if he were asking them to move a mountain.

Johan growled, "Dig holes in the forest. Deep as than yourselves. NOW!" Johan barked, louder, "Why do you think I had you bring the shovels?"

The men ran into the forest and began to dig.

Johan walked up on the hill and began to scan the area. If the enemy arrived soon, Johan would engage them as he would. AS he thought about it, Johan wondered if the weapons would even hurt him? he could endure, surely.

Another thought pierced Johan's mind. That the enemy would not come, and that he had wasted time ordering his men to dig fighting positions. It was a possibility, but the cost being wrong by following his doubts was greater than the cost of trusting the princess.

"Do we have to dig this? I'm getting sweaty already!" A couple of wolves whined, these were soldiers.

"Sweat now or bleed later, either will rid me of your complaining." Johan snarled back at them. They seemed to take a moment to think about what Johan was telling them. They shivered and went back to digging.

Some of the militia had brought axes with them. That was Helpful, Johan supposed. He could hear the sound of dirt and mud being dug up. Johan made sure to look over his shoulder to check on the men. Several were sweating as the sun climbed to… mid-day?

He was not sure, but he did notice many of his men stopped working to take a break. It was hotter, and many were probably hungry. Johan also saw some who were simply standing around.

"Why are you not digging your position?" Johan snarled at a group of foxes.

One jumped up, "We don't have the shovels. The city doesn't exactly need a hundred and twelve shovels, so we don't have them on hand."

"Then go back to the city, and bring back food and drink. Enough for three days." Johan barked at them.

The men ran off, hurried in a panic. Johan trusted that they would be back without too much worry.

Johan saw many were taking a break, exhausted, but after a few hours of work, Johan would allow it.

Johan's ears, however, still heard a shovel, digging through the dirt. Johan saw Lanolin, still digging through the dirt, covered in mud and sweat. She was huffing as she pushed herself to her limits. Lanolin was practically soaked in sweat, which weighed down her uniform, hugging her curves and likely exhausting her further.

Still, Johan was impressed by her drive, and how she worked diligently, trying to get the work done.

Johan walked down, and looked at the hole that the young sheep was in, brown and white moving together. It seemed like the hole was deep enough, "Enough, this will do. Take a rest."

He found himself curious. Was she trying to impress Johan? Trying to win his favor? If so, she was succeeding. Johan would give her favor for her efforts.

Lanolin slumped back against the muddy hole she was in. Johan looked up at the trees that were overhead, and grabbed branches. He snapped off several wide ranged, leafy branches.

He then began to jam the branches behind the holes, covering them. Lanolin's face disappeared underneath the leaves. Her entire form was covered in the shade, right as the men came back with food.

Johan should have told them to keep working. He would let them eat first. The men did bring back a large supply of food. As they ate, Johan kept watch, with little sign of the enemy approaching.

Lanolin walked up to him, and offered him up a carrot, "You aren't eating?"

"I will eat when everyone has had their fill." Johan growled, keeping his eyes on the hill. Yes, he was hungry, but he could afford a few minutes of hunger to save lives.

Lanolin sat down next to Johan and opened her box of food,

"Why are you eating near me?" Johan growled, feeling frustrated as his stomach was tempted once again. Still, temptation built discipline.

"I… I don't know." She sounded oddly sad, as thought the coming fight and ambush was not going to be glorious and sang about.

"Do you desire to return to your child?" Johan cocked his head at her, hoping to find the source of her ailment.

"N-no, I don't." She growled defensively. This prompted Johan to look further.

"Do you not care for your child?" Johan asked, cocking his head. He knew there were those who did not see the value of the life they had created.

"I-I do…" Lanolin muttered, slumping down. Her arm seemed to shake in front of Johan.

"Do not be afraid. I will not harm you for the truth." Johan growled at the sheep. She looked up at him with bright blue eyes. She was very young, and had broken the Saxon rites, which forbade fornication until the age of 20.

She shook her head and sighed, "I don't… I'll get back to work." She stood up and ran back to her fighting position.

Johan found himself only more curious than before. She had made a good impression on Johan already, with her diligence and duty. Johan would not mind her serving by his side.

Johan saw Lanolin pass her shovel off to a militiaman, and the militia began to dig out their holes. A few more holes were dug, and Johan took a break from watch as he walked down to tear down more branches.

As the fighting positions became complete, they began to complete faster, as if each finished one inspired the others to work harder. Then Johan began to notice why. Several soldiers simply climbed out of the holes and helped their brothers.

Some grabbed their axes and helped cut off branches from inside the forest. Eventually, all that remained of the work was the large mounds of dirt.

Johan began to push the dirt onto the road. He sprinkled bits along the stretch of the road, stomping it in to make soft pits to slow any charge or movement. The bulk he moved to the edge stretch, where the turn would lead into the city gate. He pushed it up, making a rough wall of dirt, with several holes in the top.

Johan gazed down at his men, walking down in front of the wall of dirt. He saw no one, everyone seeming to be under a branch or grass or bush. While not perfect, most enemies would not be fast enough to detect the ambush before it was too late.

Johan walked up to the top of the hill, and awaited his enemy. The sun set, and many began to climb out of their holes. Johan turned around, "Remain where you are." Johan growled, and the men turned to look up at Johan with horror.

"Why, we could go back, get a bath and sleep in a nice bed." Whined one of them.

"And on your return, your enemy would descend upon you, and reveal your brothers. Remain in your holes." Johan growled, staring down the men.

"H-How are we supposed to sleep." Whined another. Johan grew frustrated with these weak men.

"Sleep in the hole, eat in the hole." Johan growled, stamping his foot on the ground.

They grumbled, but returned to the muddy ground. Johan closed his eyes and went to sleep. He felt himself in foggy memories. He remembered charging a Dark Guard emplacement, being shot. The shouts of men and bullets filling the air. A utility axe being swung.

"OUR KING HAS ARRIVED!"

Johan's eyes opened at the morning. He stretched his back, and stood up, before immediately turning around and seeing the shoe imprints in the ground. Several had left their holes in the night. Johan growled, and snarled, but did not wake his men, as their soft bodies would have had some trouble sleeping with discomfort.

Johan kept his eyes on the road, and waited, even as his belly ached and the idea of eating some of his men was crossing his mind. Johan could see a bridge in the distance, and there was likely a river with fish. Johan began to walk down the hill and towards the bridge.

He was giving up the high ground that would allow him to see an approaching enemy, but He was hungry, and Johan saw a means to alleviate that hunger.

He stooped over the river and saw fish, ever oblivious to the danger that lurked overhead. Johan raised his paw up, and calmed any excitement he felt. Johan closed his eyes, and took a breath, before plunging his hands below the water.

Johan grabbed a fish and pulled it out, before tearing into it, eating the bones, skill and all of the meat. He then looked over the river and saw more fish moving up the stream ever so slowly. Johan gather his fill, before returning to the hill where the men resided.

Johan happened to arrive as several of the militia were in the process of returning to their fighting holes.

They froze as they made eye contact with the Wolverine. He was frustrated, but he decided to resign the situation to their choice, "So be it, if you should die because you defied my wishes, then so be it. I have done all I can."

And with that Johan sat back at the top of the hill, and waited. He waited, for a whole day. Clouds rolled in, and a light rain came. Nothing dangerous, or capable of causing flooding, but enough to cool the ground, and make some water in the holes.

Johan saw very little of Lanolin, even when several of the men would come out of their holes to eat. Perhaps he had offended her. If so, it was a shame she could not confront the truth.

Johan waited as his patience began to wear thin. His patience was almost worn to its limits when Johan saw what looked like a formation marching towards their position.

"GET READY, THEY ARE COMING!" Johan barked behind himself.

Yet as they approached, Johan found it to be a shame not to at least meet his enemy beforehand.

Johan walked down from his hill, and approached the formation. As he did, a strange badger-like creature rode forward on a horse.

Johan stopped about twenty feet from the noble, and the noble did the same.

"Greetings, I trust you are the wolverine whom I've heard so much about." Shouted the strange-badger-creature.

"I am here, and I am your enemy. If you should continue towards the city, my men will descend upon you, and destroy you." Johan growled at the young noble.

"Right, and how many men do you have?" laughed the young badger-creature.

"All that I need to win." Johan growled. He would not give a direct amount to his enemy, but he also would not lie.

"You won't tell me your numbers yet you insist I flee?" The noble laughed, before shaking his head, "I can not. Still, I must tell you that his majesty would ask you to join him."

Johan cocked his head, "I will not return. If you should survive this battle, then you should tell him that I no longer have a use for him." It was strange for Johan, but he would not go back now. It was time to follow through.

The noble laughed, "Arrogance, I suppose I should expect it. Now what?"

"I will return to my defenses with my men. If you should pursue, you and your men will be defeated. Some may live, but you will not take the city." Johan growled, before turning around. He bounded towards the defenses he had set up.

Now, if the noble were foolish, he would pursue. Johan eventually made it back to the top of the hill, where he ran down and climbed on top of the dirt mound he had set up.

The fighting positions looked more natural than before, the light rain seemed to have smoothed out the edged of the holes that had been dug.

Johan waited and for a few moments, he believed they had turned and retreated. Unfortunately, his enemy was foolish and out to waste his men and resources. The soldiers marched forward, followed by their noble.

Johan watched as they slowed their march to walk across the uneven ground. Johan growled, "If you continue, you will die!" He barked at the approaching men.

As he barked at them, the fighting positions had small glints coming out of them as barrels from rifles appeared.

The enemy soldiers didn't seem to notice them, far too busy minding their footing on Johan's uneven ground.

Johan growled, "So be it, you will die!" He jumped over the hill, and at the marching infantry, who quickly tried to set themselves up in a firing formation. At the same time, the fighting positions opened up, firing from all sides upward towards the mass of soldiers.

Johan closed the distance as the first cluster seemed to drop, and the noble panicked from the back of the lines. The Cry went out, "They're in the trees!"

Johan however, quickly closed the distance on the formation that had set up to shoot at him. Johan bounded forward. Despite the fact that his men were not effective at longer ranges, they were doing well thanks to the ambush tactic.

Johan to an extent felt frustrated with himself, having to resort to such a tactic, but it was necessary given the resources that he had.

The fighting position kept his men concealed, and the formations were quickly done away with. Johan didn't even have time to attack the first cluster of enemies. He actually slowed down as he marched over corpses and prepared to pounce on the second cluster.

He did not bring his armor, and this would come to be a problem. Johan jumped up and landed in the center of men shooting at him. The bullets actually stung lightly against his hide. Nothing too great to endure, but it was annoying.

Johan grabbed an enemy rifleman, and threw him into the dirt, breaking the soldier's back. Johan kicked two men behind him, and bit another soldier's arm off. As the formation broke apart, Johan looked to the third.

Where a bullet quickly came into view. It struck his left eye, which despite his thick hide and natural, was not protected. Johan yelped, and howled as his vision blurred on his good eye. It struck with a lightning pain that he could feel in his brain. There was also a burning from the area around his eye, along with small cuts from where the bullet exploded.

Worse yet, Johan was shocked from the hit, snarling and whimpering from the pain. How cowardly he was, driven to such a weak state. He did not need his eyes to be dangerous, yet here he was flinching!

Johan also heard less fire coming from the fighting positions as more bullets struck his chest and side. Johan's weakness had created hesitation. And his eye would not stop burning!

Johan had enough, he grit his teeth, and plunged his claws into his left eye, before pulling. He could feel the blood dripping out of his snout, but so be it. Hesitation was death, and he would not hesitate.

Finally, the eye snapped out, Johan forced the socket shut. He panted as the world seemed to have frozen, his enemies trembling as Johan growled deep in his throat, "KEEP FIGHTING!" Johan barked.

The fighting positions began to fire at the formations. Johan's skull still hurt, and he heard a ringing in his ears, but Johan jumped at the next formation, which began to collapse as they ran into the forests, only to be shot by Johan's men.

The noble attempted to run away, but he was shot off his horse as Johan ran at the cluster of enemies, folding under the weight of the shock and impact of being encircled.

"We're outnumbered!"

"There's ten-thousand of them!"

Johan pursued the enemy as they ran over the hills, catching a few, and one in particular. The one who had shot Johan's eye. He saw the smoking rifle, and Johan jumped on the beaver. Johan was ready to tear him to pieces… but that would be a waste.

Johan pinned him down, before climbing off the fool, and turning around to see his men, having suffered no losses, gazing up at him. Several were horrified, but a few were inspired by his appearance. Lanolin approached Johan with a cloth, and handed it to him, looking at him with a look of pain.

"Do not pity me, I did what was necessary." Johan growled at her.

"I know." She whispered up at him, and Johan wiped his face to the best of his ability. Still, being blind in one eye was probably not as necessary as Johan had originally believed. He needed to shock himself back into place, and Johan had done Just that.

His nose began to work, and Johan jerked his head at the militia captain, "Go, return to the Princess and tell her that the city has been secured. I will move to take the capital from the pretender's dead hands."

The militia captain nodded, and ran back to the city. Johan turned and saw several wounded enemies, "Go, give the order to attend to them, and loot whatever doesn't live." He ordered Lanolin, who nodded and went down to the men to explain what they were supposed to do.

Afterwards, they set off. In a brief moment of frustration, Johan realized he had forgotten the artillery that his men had developed. No matter, they would make do, if Johan had to tear down the gates himself.

They arrived at the capital three days later in the night. The forest that surrounded the capital city provided good cover for Johan and his men. Still, Johan was a large target, and had to stick to bushes. He knew that.

As Johan watched more closely, he noticed someone in particular on the walls. Eyes connected, and Johan realized he had been spotted. He did not move, however, as the white fox disappeared off the wall.

Lanolin whispered, "Did we get spotted?"

"Yes." Johan growled, "Do not alert the men. Wait for me to give them the signal."

Johan waited until a white fox and blue bear approached, Gewis and Oscar. Lanolin was quiet as Gewis came closer, although, Johan could hear her breathing increase. She was close to panicking.

Gewis smirked, "Well, I'm glad I saw you before the attack."

"You will not tell them about us?" Johan cocked his head.

Gewis looked at Johan's face, "Wait, what happened to your eye?"

Johan blinked as Gewis looked horrified by Johan's state. He was simply missing an eye, nothing more, "It betrayed me, so I tore it out." Johan growled.

"Uh… Right, I won't tell them about you. Oscar and I were waiting for you to show up." Gewis shifted nervously, "You made quite the impression on the soldiers."

Johan growled.

"Listen, I'll be quick with you. Most of the penal brigade wants to leave and join. We know how this goes if we don't." Gewis explained, looking back at the wall, "Nagus also seems to have missed you. You should hear the halls at night. He keeps demanding "That bastard wolverine" come down and fix it."

Johan grunted, "As he would, no matter."

"So you aren't coming back. You could pull a lot of weight, get a bunch of land." Gewis offered, before smiling, " but you wouldn't do that. You've got a plan, don't you, and you need him gone, right?"

Johan was about to answer when he heard Lanolin begin to whimper. Johan turned and saw she was backed up against a tree, scared out of her mind…. While starring at Oscar. Her legs were forced shut as she seemed to panic, with her rifle in her lap pointing at the bear.

"H-" Oscar was about to shout before Gewis threw a hand over his mouth.

Johan growled, "Lower your weapon." Johan turned to see Oscar's face, he looked shocked and nervous, and a bit guilty.

"N-no." Lanolin whispered in light voice. She was terrified.

Johan growled, "Lanolin, lower your weapon." She was going to get them all killed.

Oscar blinked, "Lanolin… No way… how are you doing since…" Oscar trailed off, his hands rolling nervously.

"STAY-" Lanolin seemed to choke on her own words.

"Oscar, We need to head back." Gewis growled, and Johan nodded. If things continued, Lanolin would snap and give away their position.

"Prepare for my return. I will return soon." Johan growled.

Gewis nodded. He and a guilty Oscar left.

Johan turned and looked down at the sheep, who was shuddering alone.

"Why did you freeze?" Johan growled at her.

Lanolin slowed her shuddering, but looked at the ground.

"I will ask again in time. Prepare to move." Johan growled and returned to the men.

/*-*/

Battles are actually happening now. Sonic and Fiona are struggling with how to handle fighting their own. Sally continues to struggle with her secret, and the Wolverine continues his advance, missing an eye, but still determined. What will come next?

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of the chapter. This one was a little longer, so some feedback would be nice. If nothing else, tell me what I can improve on.