o3o: Sonic's lack of pain wasn't supposed to be cool or edgy. Pain is just an alarm system so our brain knows that we have sustained damage. The brain will, at some point, decide that the pain simply isn't helping, and will focus on basic functions, usually before death. Fiona is going to need a lot of help, but that's for later. I'm going places with Lanolin and Oscar… I'm not sure how the places I go will be received. Guess I'll have to wait and see. Johan and Elias… there's a lot to be explored, so stay tuned.

Fallout Boy(CH 36): Darn, I actually could have made that joke. That's on me.

/*-*/

Fiona stood again on the pathway, the dark and light bricks converging once again, leading up to the fork in the road. Fiona walked along, with the jungle shouting and screaming wildly from it, and the forest remaining ever peaceful. As she walked, however, Fiona saw red lights moving through the forest. Machines were slowly moving towards the trees, crushing them under metal feet and steel wheels.

"HELP ME!" Fiona's ears perked up. In the jungle, Fiona heard… Sonic calling out to her. He was in pain, and needed her help! Fiona turned to rush towards the jungle with all the speed she could muster.

As her foot tried to cross from the path into the mud, she slammed into a hard, invisible wall. Fiona couldn't break through it for some reason. She slammed into it again, and as she did, Fiona heard the machines getting closer, and closer… ever so slowly.

Fiona looked ahead, realizing that there was a fork coming up in the road. The hooded figures were there, awaiting her decision.

So Fiona ran towards them, her mind already made up. She was not going to abandon him, not like she was abandoned. Fiona felt a force actually trying to hold her back, but she wouldn't be stopped.

She quickly arrived at the fork, where the white hooded figure and the black hooded figure stood. Fiona could see a battle raging in the forest, and hear the screams of her beloved hedgehog.

The white hooded figure spoke first, the void shaken and unidentifiable, "They need you. Robotnik will have his vengeance, and he will not rest until the kingdom is conquered."

Fiona didn't care. She wouldn't abandon Sonic.

The Dark hooded figure seemed to relax, "Come on, You know exactly why you need to take the darker path. A few people you don't know or care about could die, but You care about Sonic, not them. They don't know you, they did make you feel special. He did." The figure stretched out its hands, as if preparing for an embrace.

Fiona nodded slowly. She didn't know if she could trust the darker path, but at this point, the possibility was too great to pass up.

"Exactly, a possibility to save one, or the guarantee to save many. Sonic would know the right decision." The White hooded figure scolded, "These people have families that need them. Their lives could be in your hands."

Fiona would have moved along, if not for the fact that her mind flashed to Frederick and Alister. She imagined hundreds of Alisters, waiting for his aunt, uncle, father, brother to come home.

"They need your experience, you history with fighting. Sonic can survive a little longer, while a rescue plan is made… if he is still alive." The white hooded figure offered, giving Fiona a feeling of spite and anger.

"You know the choice Sonic would chose. He would sacrifice the world for a single friend. Would you do the same for him?" The black hooded figure offered.

Fiona knew the black hooded figure was right. Sonic would risk everything if she was in trouble… right. The creeping doubts of her abandoned prison sentence crept into her mind. But it wasn't about when Fiona was abandoned… it was about what she did right now.

Fiona sighed, and took her first step on the dark path.

Fiona's eyes bolted open to hear a loud lemur cheering at the table, holding up her rifle, "I mean, I was like, blam, and the badniks were like, blow. I mean come on, think of what I could do with two rifles?"

As if to prove her point, Tangle held up her two hands as if both were holding rifle, with her fingers on the trigger, and shouting, "Blam-blam-blam-blam!" One the lemur finished her outburst, she turned to the one across from her, the wolf Whisper, "So… what do you think?"

Whisper's mask hid any emotion she felt on the matter. Her shoulders, however, betrayed the disappointment in her eyes, "Foolish." She mumbled quietly, and stood up, seeming to sigh out her nose as she did so.

"W-what? Come on!" Tangle jumped up to follow and annoy the wolf some more, "Don't I look really cool in your head."

"No." The wolf growled in minor annoyance as she began to walk off.

Fiona shook her head and blinked as the Lemur continued to complain and groan about the wolf's lack of awe at her "totally awesome battle moves".

She stood up and stretched her back from the table she was at. They had made their way back to Roja, and a lot of soldiers were finishing the basic training that had been interrupted. On the bright side, many of the soldiers were receiving their first rounds of armor.

The husks took time to melt down, but most of the soldiers now had basic protection from most weapons. It was an upgrade, no doubt, one that reassured Fiona of her decision to leave.

Fiona walked out the door of the door to the shooting range. It was strange, the effect that another week of training had on the men. They were acting better, moving faster. The horse was still causing trouble, but he had a small presence… Fiona hoped.

Still, the men were starting to get good with their rifles. Their training was paying off in other ways as well. The soldiers were now somewhat organized as they moved, and there was an air of respect… and even pride among them.

Fiona walked through the training areas, and worked her way to the command center. There, she found Elias, Bunnie, Antoine and the little rabbit Cream… along with the Wolverine of course.

"I have no detection of any Egg Carrier fleets nearby. No Sign of Eggman… or Sally." The AI alerted them of the lack of forces.

Bunnie and the coyote were really invested in the AI's information. Elias, the young prince, seemed to be more focused on Johan, who was focused on the little rabbit he was tasked with watching.

She showed off the flower necklace which the wolverine cocked his head at in acknowledgement. Cream slumped down, as if hoping for a smile or compassion from the large beast.

"Marshal, do ya have sumthin to say?" Bunnie hinted at.

Johan growled, "There is nothing to talk about. The army is training, getting better with weapons. We should exploit this time while we can." Johan turned to face the other Freedom Fighter Officers.

Elias Acorn grumbled, "I Take issue with your prisoners walking around like free men."

"They are free to move as they please. I take no issue with that." Johan growled, lowering his head down to nudge Cream. She poked him in the cheek.

"What if they desert us and rush off to freedom, helping our enemy." Elias countered, angrily glaring at the beast.

"Then rest easy knowing that if they desert, I will make sure they do not die." Johan growled in a threatening way. Fiona never thought words about letting someone live could sound so much worse than killing someone.

Maybe it was best to the stick to the beaten path and follow orders. Fiona recalled Lightning's torn form, in front of her. She shouldn't push her luck against him.

"You can't threaten and throw your weight around like that!" Elias growled at the beast.

Johan his head to face the prince, "You do not like me."

"No, I don't-" Elias started angrily.

"I was not asking you a question." Johan growled, again, reducing the prince's words to a simple observation, before moving Cream somewhere.

"What are you doing?" A voice that Fiona hadn't heard in a few weeks asked. She turned and saw the yellow fox, looking truly terrible. His fur was deflated, and his tails drooped.

"I'm just listening in." Fiona stated calmly.

"Are you spying on us?" The Fox sighed, sounding so glum.

"No… a little. Are you ok?" Fiona actually felt a little worried for the little guy.

"I lost my older brother because I wasn't there…. I'm not ok." Tails mumbled, before turning around and seeming to walk back to his room. Or he would have, if not for Johan standing in the doorway.

"Fox, I have need of your skills." Johan growled at Tails.

Tails turned to him, and gave a quiet, empty nod, "Ok…. What do you need?"

Johan smiled, and led them outside. They marched over the hills and entered a clearing, a very large, straight clearing that was level to the touch.

Tails walked with him. The entrance of the clearing has a hangar set up. It was primitive, but what was inside was something that made even Fiona curious.

There was a large, two engine plane. The thing was truly massive, with wings the length of five Tornadoes, two large engines. It's length was four… five Tornadoes. There was a fully enclosed cock pit with room for probably twelve mobians, or five humans. The Plane had two wheels coming from each wing making up the landing gear, with a smaller wheel in the back of the plane. There was a glass dome in the back as well, which was completely enclosed.

As they walked, Fiona saw two massive bombs right next to the giant plane. There were red echidnas standing by.

As the Freedom Fighters approached, the echidna's perked up, with a red female one stepping up to walk with Johan, "We don't have the ability to give it good armament or defenses, but we have completed the design."

Johan gave a nod of approval at the massive plane, "Does it fly?"

"It works at ground level. We haven't tested it, yet, but we believe that Eggman doesn't know about it yet because of how low of a profile we have kept it." The Red Echidna proposed rather happily.

"What do you want me for?" Tails mumbled, his voice sounding so defeated.

Johan growled, "I will need you to fly this beast for our next plan." He stood on his hind legs and turned to his officers, "Go, gather your men and return here."

Fiona waited carefully as Bosphor grumbled about moving and "menial labor".

"I can't fly this thing." Tails cried out in horror as he gazed over the massive plane in front of him.

"You have flown more than anyone else here. You are the best fit to fly the Greif." Johan growled firmly at the fox.

"No, you don't get it! I crashed… I lost Sonic, I couldn't-" Tails began to frantically pant as tears welled up in his eyes. He was breaking down fast.

Johan seemed to have no time for that, however, and snapped at the young fox, "Banish your sorrow and regret. They serve you ill now, only blinding you to what needs to be done. Honor the dead by fighting in their name!"

The little fox looked up at him… and sighed, "I guess you're right." Tails was not inspired. He sounded hopeless, broken down. He needed someone to pick him up. Tails walked off to the side of the Plane. His steps were slowly becoming more determined, and his shoulders rose a little. Maybe the words were doing something for him.

Fiona followed along as the echidnas moved around. There were less of them, and Fiona wasn't sure why, unless they were off doing another project. She had a more pressing matter to deal with anyway, "Tails, are you alright? You need to let some stuff off your chest." She stated that last sentence to keep the little fox from backing out.

" I don't want to talk to you." Tails growled at her. Fiona recoiled slightly. If anything, she had a right to be mad at him, not the other way around.

Fiona turned around and walked to the opposite side of the plane, and sat down. Fiona scowled angrily at him. She thought he was actually growing up and maybe learning to forgive and forget.

Eventually, the armies showed up, walking in somewhat organized blocky formations. They each came to a halt, with fierce looks in every mobian's eyes. Some had moved to different armies, but they were all still here.

Johan roared over the army, who remained silent in the face of his gaze, "I have called you all here, because I wish to destroy our enemy's will."

The Female echidna stepped forward, holding pack. She set it down pulled out a smaller box, big enough for Fiona's foot to fit in, both in height and width, "We are trying to find… and bomb Eggman. We need a team to go behind enemy lines and place this beacon. Afterwards, you will need to move away, and activate this recovery device."

She grabbed a larger pack, and pulled out the bigger box, "Once you do, we will pick you up."

Johan stepped forward and growled, "Now, who will go and face our enemy?"

Fiona didn't waste a second, "I volunteer!"

It was an easy solution. She would leave with the intrusion brigade, and they go into Eggman territory. She would just so happen to get lost, and find Sonic. Then come back and be hailed as a hero.

What if he isn't alive? Fiona's head spoke a fear that was in her heart. It was a possibility that she was simply delusional. Fiona shook her head and grit her teeth. Lord, I have trusted you before, and I'll trust you now.

Johan and the echidnas looked at her with surprise, but the wolverine gave his nod off approval, "Very well, who else join her."

Fiona saw Oscar step forward, "I'll go. I can carry the beacon."

Sticks stepped up, "I'll go too. I can guide them through the rough lands."

A pig stepped forward, and held up his hand, "I'd like to go."

"That's a four-man team." The Echidna woman called out, "Make your preparations and get ready to leave by tonight.

Tonight? That was fast, not that Fiona was opposed to the idea. It just meant they would have very little time to pack and plan for the journey.

They moved out and quickly gathered whatever resources they would need. The pig and Sticks packed food, water and fire making kits.

Fiona packed clothes, some food, and medical kits. Her time as a medic was hopefully not going to be useful, but if Sonic was as bad as he sounded, then she didn't see an alternative. She also packed a knife and some ammo.

Before she went to meet up with the rest of the group, Fiona cleaned her rifle. It had become muscle memory to her, wiping and cleaning the rifle. She put it on her back, and then went out to meet up with Sticks and the others.

Yet, as she was walking down the road with her bag packed, Fiona heard the bickering two.

"This is just like you! You get hurt and play the martyr despite the crap you put me through!" Lanolin growled at Oscar as he continued walking.

"I'm not talking about this right now." Oscar grumbled as he kept walking, looking forward as he did, "This is going to have to wait."

"What?" Lanolin seemed to burn even hotter in frustration, and ran in front of him, "You don't get to leave and decide when we discuss this!" She blocked his way in the alley, and Fiona saw a flash of aggressive frustration in Oscar's eyes.

His fists began to shake violently, clinging to his pack as Lanolin pointed a finger in his face, "You started a fight! You don't get to run off and play the victim, hoping for me to feel sorry for you!"

"I don't want that." Oscar growled, his breath growing ragged. Fiona began to move in.

"Really, my son tries the exact same tactic when I yell at him!" Lanolin growled, raising her voice angrily, "You feel like you're a just a poor victim of some girl's rage and that everything should go your way!"

"IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!" Oscar slammed his fist into the side of the wooden wall, a loud crack being heard which Fiona couldn't tell if it was his fist or the wall.

Lanolin lost all of her courage at his outburst, his arm over her head as Oscar leaned against the wall, "It's about me. I'm leave, and I have issue that I need to fix. I don't care if you miss me or don't, I need to get this fixed!"

Fiona stepped forward as Lanolin looked terrified under his arm, "Is there a problem? Do we need to settle things with the Wolverine?"

Lanolin's breath was picking up as she shook.

Oscar turned to Fiona and sighed, "Just a little disagreement, nothing major." He removed his arm from over Lanolin's head, and then looked down at her face. She slumped to the ground, shivering and panting. Her hand had tried to reach for the knife on her back, but had fallen short and was used purely to keep her sitting up.

Oscar gulped and looked down at his feet, "I'm sorry… this is why I need to go… I'm sorry, for everything."

He walked along with Fiona, and she took a moment to look at him, then to Lanolin. There was more to these two than she knew.

The team met up at the entrance of the town. There, a red echidna was waiting with a small… car? Motorcycle? It was weird. It had a front wheel like a motorcycle, and two rows of treads. It had a dock that could fit three mobians and a large box of ammo on the back.

"Alright, you're all here. So, This is a quick all terrain vehicle. I don't know exactly where you are going to go, but this should get you through marshlands. There are no replacements for this, so try not to lose it." The Red Echidna pointed to the vehicle.

"W-Wow, we get this?" Fiona smiled, looking at the dock which seemed quite spacious for a quick trip.

"Yeah, there are two cans of gasoline in the tread guard, but try not to run out of fuel." The Echidna pointed out, circling the small vehicle, "There are helmets on the front with goggles, you don't want to lose them, or you'll be enjoying windburn in your eyes."

"We got it." Oscar grumbled, ready to be off. He didn't want to stay around any longer than he had to, Judging by his eagerness to get out.

The red Echidna woman walked up to them, and handed Sticks a map, "We believe the operation's center is somewhere around here. I was never important enough to go there, but we've circled a rough area of where we think it is. Don't lose your recovery beacon."

Stick Sighed, "Bah, I don't need your civilized stuff. I have the instinct of the forest to guide me." She sneered at the map, then at the little motorcycle.

"Well, then let one of your team members hold it." The Red Echidna woman sighed, agitated.

Sticks handed the map to the pig, and he stuffed it inside his uniform pocket.

"Best of luck." The Red Echidna woman smiled at them.

Sticks climbed of the back, with Oscar and Fiona. The pig went up to drive, and they set off on their adventure.

Fiona turned to Oscar as Lanolin came out just before they lost sight of Roja, "So… what's going with you two. You got some history you want to fill in?" Fiona shouted as the wind flew through their fur. The helmets were a must absolutely.

Oscar shook his head, and looked away into the forest as they passed through, "Nothing I want to talk about. Leave the past in the past… Please." He called out.

Sticks and Fiona exchanged glances, before looking back in silence. Sticks looked suspiciously at the bear.

/*-*/

Johan ran more drills with the men. They were becoming effective with their weapons, both firing and reloading. His body was eager for battle. Johan's mind drifted to the cat who defied his power. He would punish her for her arrogance when he found her.

Johan continued a set of push ups he had started. His body was getting stronger with each day. Time was good to him.

"The infiltration team has been sent out. We sent them with a custom vehicle that on our engineers built." The Red Garden Defender sighed as she approached Johan, "We've given them five days to get the beacon set."

Johan growled and gave her a nod. Ezra blinked at Johan as if her were, "Why are we wasting really big bombs on a long distance target that we won't even affect, probably."

Johan looked down at her, and cocked his head, frustrated at her confusion. Could she really not see it?

"This attack will either kill our enemy, the Egg man, or it will provoke him to an attack. He is rash and quick to anger. He will fall prey to his own faults." Johan growled, showing the young girl why this was so important.

"You really think a blown up base will make a genius lose his cool?" Ezra asked Johan quietly.

"It will. He will feel insulted, and come seeking revenge." Johan growled at his head artisan. Johan turned and began to walking towards the trenches that were dug out.

The men climbed out and charged up a hill. Some began to slow down halfway up the hill, trying to push themselves up higher.

"How are you so sure? Eggman is unpredictable." Ezra demanded from Johan.

Johan growled, "Because I would have to avenge the insult." That silenced her, and she looked away.

The training continued, as Johan felt no desire to allow the men any time to grow weak. He watched them carefully, and gave pushes when the soldiers needed them.

Then, Johan was met by a soldier, who came running to him as the sun began to dip down across the sky. The soldier calmed himself as Johan awaited his explanation for his rush.

The soldier caught his breath and exclaimed, "There's someone at the headquarters, a really important king or something."

Johan raised and eyebrow, before nodding, and growling, "Very well, I will go greet this king."

He walked back to the Headquarters, with soldiers looking unnerved. Who was causing such a morale impact?

Johan then saw the figure. A Monkey man, who wore a crown and held up a staff. He was talking with the boy-prince. Johan growled from above them, "Why do you seek me?"

The monkey turned, and gave a weak smile, "I'm sorry, I was looking for the leader of the Freedom Fighters. I wanted to help her."

Johan waited patiently, and the boy-prince spoke for him, "He's… the leader… right now. Sally is… in Eggman's hands."

The Monkey looked pained, angry, and sad, "I see… Well, I am Monkey Khan, and I am here to help."

Johan growled at the monkey, "And who are you?"

The monkey sighed in agitation, "I just said-"

"I heard your name, but who are you? What can you do for us?" Johan growled as soldiers came around. Johan crawled down to look the monkey in the eyes. He glared into the small creature's soul.

The small creature recoiled from Johan as if shocked by Johan's lack of reverence, "I am Monkey Khan, the king of the Dragon Kingdom. The Raiju clan has been a problem for my kingdom for… a long time, but they have been an especially large pain since the collapse of the Iron Dominion."

Johan growled, "Enough! What can you do for us?" Johan grew tired of these pointless details.

"I want to help stop Eggman." The Monkey demanded, snarling in anger.

Johan turned to the boy-prince, "Why is he so important that he deserves my attention?"

"Well, He's very powerful." The boy-prince Elias explained, " He can keep up with Sonic. Khan is also a god of the wind-"

The word "wind" had left the Prince's lips, and Johan fist struck the monkey's chest and sent him through the air.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The boy-prince shouted at Johan.

His blood boiled with a hunger for battle. This creature was a god? Johan was eager to test this god's strength. "Come now, you god! Show me your strength."

Johan walked upright towards the monkey who held the status of a god.

"W-what? I'm not here to fight you!" The monkey begged, rising to his feet from the bottom of the next hill over. Soldiers began to gather around, watching at a distance, but they did not interfere.

Johan approached the monkey with his fist raised, "Prove your strength to me! Show me you are worthy of worship if you dare to stand with the gods!"

"I'm not going to hurt you!" The small creature shouted at Johan, jumping out of the way of Johan's fist as he brought it down towards the wind god. Instead, Johan's fist collided with the ground and ripped up with

"No, you are not." Johan growled, unsheathing his claws. The wind god of these creatures was hardly impressive.

Johan swung his arm around and grabbed the monkey by the leg. The monkey shrieked, and swung a staff down on Johan's hand. He did not feel much pain, and pulled the monkey into the air and slamming him onto the ground.

The monkey screamed in pain, as thought Johan were actually hurting him, "Come on, show me your strength! Make me kneel!" Johan roared at the weak god.

The monkey panted and rose to his feet. He snarled at Johan with an anger burning in his eyes.

This was going to be fun. The monkey swung his staff at Johan, and a gust of wind flew at his chest. There was actually some force in the wind, but Johan was strong enough to take it.

He stepped forward, putting more effort with each step. The wind was strong, but not match for Johan's strength as he push up to the monkey.

The weak wind god jumped at Johan and swung his staff, "I'll show you!" he shouted, striking Johan's head with a swift blow. Johan's head cocked to the side, before he straightened it out.

The monkey went in for another strike, this time going for Johan's side.

Johan had enough. This creature was not worth his time. He lunged his claws forward and grabbed the monkey's body, raising him before slamming him down onto the ground. Then Johan raised him up again, and slammed him down, again.

The Monkey shrieked before going silent as his mouth lost all air. Johan raised him up once more, and dropped him onto the ground.

"ENOUGH!" The boy prince shouted at Johan, "You're attacking our allies! You can't do that!"

Johan turned to look at the weak creature below, "I don't recall him at the capitol where your people died valiantly for your home. He was no where to be found. He is a weak god, not fit for my worship." Johan growled and turned forward, walking towards the main building.

A messenger came from the main building as Johan walked, "We have a message from Echidnapolis. They are under attack!"

Johan cocked his head at the messenger as Ezra came up to him, "What?"

"Echidnapolis. It's the capitol of Angel Island and the rightful capitol of the Dark Legion. " Ezra explained, sounding rather quick to action, "If they take the island, things will get very bad for us."

Johan turned his head to face her, "Why?"

"Echidnapolis is the rightful capitol of the Dark Legion… or so I've been told. Which ever legionnaire controls it will have the support of most of the legions." Ezra quickly explained.

"So, if we take control of the city, our enemy's army will collapse?" Johan asked, cocking his head.

"I… don't know. It's possible that the capitol will do nothing. But-" Ezra started. Johan had heard enough.

"If the enemy collapses or stands firm, I have promised my support to you. We will need to take the island." Johan gave the order as the prince walked up to him, "Gather my men."

The boy growled, but turned around

Ezra nodded, before looking back at the wooden hangar, "I have an idea."

/*-*/

Everyone is moving out. Fiona is heading off to find Sonic, resulting in the army suffering a loss of an experienced soldier. Johan has had his attention pulled away from the kingdom, but not without pounding a Monkey Khan into the ground.

Alright, I'm back, and we are hitting the books to get further along.

Please leave a review, and tell me what you think about what happened, what is going to happen, and/or what you'd like to see improved. If you do want an improvement, please give me an example like a line in the story that could have used some work.