Taking up the Mantle

by Rinpoo

Much has changed in the past decade since the defeat of Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn. Robotnik's absolute power and cruelty are left unchallenged as the war escalates to greater heights. Can the youth of Knothole change the fate handed to them, or will they fall victim to this vile, decadent world of brutal tyranny?

24. Letters to Tails

Author's Note. Hey another chapter. Pretty exciting if not violent. I offered some spots that would be characters I created to some readers, so there you go, have fun with that.

The chapter was interesting to write, and was pretty much what I thought this would be from a long time ago.

I put an unbelievable amount of effort into Alistair's accent, balancing getting the accent the way it sounded in my head with making it legible. I am extremely happy with the result. So enjoy that shit lol.

As a side note. I am well aware animals have different blood types than humans. Chickens have over 10 different ones... I just used human ones for the sake of simplicity for the reader.

Singerj199's character Gregory joins the rebellion. You can read more about him in his own masterful story Shattered Skies if you would like to.

Hazel belongs to anonymous who wants to stay hidden from other people. Thank you for the monetary donation that went towards my treatment.

Legal Trash. Sonic and everybody else is copyright SEGA/Archie comics. Except for Max, Annie, and Sonia. I created them in my rattled brain; if you like my OC's, use them and let me know. It'll be fun; we will have tea.

Gregory belongs to reader Singerj199, and Hazel belongs to Anonymous. All interpretations and expansions of these character's backstories and alterations to fit into my world are 100 percent my work that they are free to use as they see fit.

Letters to Tails

Dear, Tails.

I am overwhelmed and frightened by the way in which my life has led me, and it only strikes me now that I should have never come back.

I find myself a leader of many animals now, yet I lack the confidence to do it. I feel like nothing more than an imposter in this position, and so I play the role, even if it hurts me.

The thought of you safely in your home brings me longing, not just for the peaceful splendor that the forest provides, but a longing to be near you.

I…

Never mind.

Just accept this letter as proof I am ok. Please?

Love, Cream Redford.

"…."

…

…

…

…

Eliot Lasil sat atop his fancily decorated floor. There was gore-soaked in around the elegant tiles while he held a beautiful bleeding dove in his arms.

Sorrow mixed with rage was written on his face despite being set against three violent opponents. Still, he threw caution to the wind and yelled furiously at them.

"You three fucking mongrels, you bastards! You… Because of you, Lyra is DYING!"

With a brief glance, an ax-wielding lion draped in damaged iron armor hoisted his weapon onto his shoulder and looked down from his bushy grey mane. "Aye, lad, shut yer fuckin' mout', ye hear me…? Eh' only reason ye ain't deid yet is cause carryin' yer heids back's more trouble an' it's worth."

Lasil just held his wing over her wound and cried out because of the tense events of the past several days. "How!? How could Cream do this to us!?"

The lion let out a hearty laugh and stepped in the blood, causing a slapping sound against his boots. "Ye tortured eh' wrong girlie, boyo…. She allied wi' Lynn, an' they both freed us all from eh' mines, an' noo, we come collectin' eh' debts owed tae us."

Lasil couldn't believe the recklessness of Cream doing what she did, but the power she now wielded because of it…. It was like in the blink of an eye, combat erupted, and several of the houses had been assaulted. Now, he was separated from all help and at the mercy of these brigands.

He glanced about, knowing that the lion would be of no help, but perhaps, the two much younger companions might see reason. "You there, wolf…. Please, you…. You can't let Lyra bleed out…. Please…."

The dusty-colored wolf silently stared at the once mighty Lasil pleading, and he clenched the crossbow to fire at a moment's notice.

"Don't trust him, Gregory…. It's a trick…." A teenage red panda draped in dirty rags cautioned.

After a brief thought, Gregory spoke aloud in a deep yet calm voice. "Alistair…. We were told not to harm them; we were given direct orders to bring them back after what was done with house Gotra…."

Lasil felt fear hearing that another house had already fallen, and at this point, he wasn't sure if he might be the last one standing.

Alistair glared at Gregory and then shouted in this thick accent. "Aye, ye're eh' bastard 'at shot er'! If I'd o' hurt er', she'd already be deid!"

Gregory shook his head and eventually responded. "Yes, I shot her before I knew she was unarmed…. We might not owe this piece of shit anything, but we do owe Lady Redford."

Alistair shook his head. "Fine, if Hazel says we ur' tae be taken' em' back, then so be it. If she still disnea' trust em, heids be comin' aff."

With a glance back, Gregory scrutinized Hazel, who now seemed uncertain about what to choose. It was true she trusted pretty much nobody, but Gregory made a strong point that she at least owed Lady Redford for freeing her.

"I…. Well, I think it would be proper to do as we were requested…."

The second she said that Alistair angrily swung his ax at the floor before Lasil, and the second it shattered the elegant tile, Lasil jumped out of fear.

"Hev' it yer way, ye brats…." Alistar said and grabbed hold of Lyra's wing. Lasil tried to frantically fight to keep her in his arms, but he was kicked off by the brutish figure.

With callousness, he dragged the unconscious dove along the floor, smearing her blood along the way. Eliot cried out in emotional anguish, but Alistair felt nothing for him.

With a subtle glance, Gregory spoke to Hazel. "Follow him, make sure he doesn't kill her…. I'll bring down this one…."

Hazel quietly nodded and then began to run after Alistair. Once Gregory was alone with Eliot, he grabbed hold of the disarmed bird, and began to pull him along.

After going along for a moment, Lasil eventually resisted, pulled away from Gregory, and then cried slightly. "Please, don't let my wife die…."

Gregory felt terrible deep down, but it wasn't really up to him. It was up to Lady Redford, and whatever judgment she passed would be the judgment he would carry out.

"Sorry…."

Lasil shook and then cried out again. "Well, if you do SOMETHING, I will give you anything…."

Gregory once more grabbed him, as he had little interest in monetary bribes. However, when Lasil spoke next, it gave him complete pause.

"I have weapons…. I collect lots of them…. I will give you them all if you, please help her!"

Gregory eyed him, and then he spoke out of morbid curiosity. "What kind of weapons?"

Lasil saw hope, and he spoke in an almost frantic way. "Artful weapons of ages past, modern ones, swords, decretive armors…. You name it…."

Hearing this, Gregory saw an opportunity. He might not be able to change Lasil's fate, but he could put in a word for them if the bird indeed had something better than this garbage crossbow for him….

"Show me…."

Lasil nodded, and walked in front of Gregory, while he kept the crossbow pointed at his head. If any such trickery came about, he would end him lickety-split.

Going through rooms, the two eventually made their way to a locked door. With a glance, Lasil lifted one of the paintings of Lyra on his wall and removed the key hidden behind it.

Jamming it into the door, he nervously jimmied it until it was unlatched. Once on the other side, he flipped a switch to provide light to the room.

To Gregory's surprise, Lasil wasn't lying. It was filled wall to wall and presented like an art museum. Not only were there modern weapons and decretive ones but ones that he recognized as well-maintained guns of antiquity.

He was floored, knowing that such pristine antiques were priceless…. With a quick glance over, he was immediately drawn to a weapon.

Lasil just watched as Gregory used his crossbow butt to smash the glass pane preventing him from immediately looting.

Placing his crossbow in the display, he retrieved a twenty-first-century gun. One he had never used before but had always been curious about when reading history books on the farm.

He examined the long, steel weapon intermixed with well-maintained wood. As he glanced back at Lasil, he then asked a question.

"Are there any slugs for this thrower?"

Lasil blinked and eventually nodded. "Y-yes, you do know your antiques…. That is a careful restoration of a millennia-old weapon. The ammunition is on display in the other case…."

Gregory looked and was excited to see different color shells for the "slug-thrower" on display. He smashed the glass with the wooden stock and quickly began looting it. It only took a once-over of the gun to understand, so the red-colored shells he retrieved easily popped into the loading chamber.

Eliot was fidgety, likely due to the uncertainty of his wife, but Gregory quickly found something else to his liking in the same display.

He quickly grabbed a brown military plate carrier adorned with pouches from a display mannequin and slid it over his leather tunic.

After that, he stuffed the remainder of the green and red shells into the pouches. He didn't know the difference between the two, but given their limited quantity, he knew it was prudent to take it all and worry about that later.

Once done, he put his hand on the wooden pump and pulled it, letting out a loud clacking noise as it readied to fire.

"Ar-are you satisfied…? Can we please…. please help my wife?" Eliot said.

Gregory held the gun up, rested it on his shoulder, and then spoke. "Alright, I will put in a good word to Lady Redford…. Though I will have the rest of this place looted, so I hope you don't mind."

"I don't care! Let's just go!" Lasil shouted and led the charge out of the room.

The two made their way out of the Lasil estate, following the trail of blood created by Alistair. With the targets in captivity, Gregory had but to keep his word and speak to Lady Redford.

Once outside, Eliot was shocked by the goings-on of the social district. His guards had either surrendered or lay dead in the streets. Even the safety of his ivory tower was not enough to shield him from the angry mob that awaited him.

Beaten, raggedy, and now heavily armed with knight attire and weapons. The miners had taken over the entire section close to the Redford estate. To Eliot's surprise, crude banners showing allegiance to Lady Redford were hoisted high.

Alistair was standing with his arms crossed and then eyed Gregory as he walked out. "Whit's at' get-up ye got thir lad, ye plannin' oan passin' oot candy fur eh' wee trick-o'-treaters?"

Gregory kept the gun in position over his shoulder so it would not be pointed in anyone's direction. He then looked over at Hazel, who was quietly stemming the bleeding of Lyra's wound with a rag.

"Hazel, go back up, there is stuff to be looted, and I think you should get the first pick. Let everybody else know about the supplies."

She stood up as Eliot came over and took her place, helping his wife.

"Well, ok, I guess…." She said in a subdued manner, it still seemed that she wasn't much of a social person, but given the tense few days, she couldn't really be blamed.

Gregory then acknowledged Alistair and gave him a response. "Yes, sir, giving to the trick-or-treaters sounds nice, sir."

Alistair cackled and then held his stomach with his firm hand. "Weel then, if ye wanna' pass oot eh' treats, A'll happily pass oot eh' tricks."

Eliot glanced around him while holding his wife's wound. He could see the frightened civilians of the district, though they were relatively unharmed. The miners had occupied or looted shops, and many of the rebels seemed to be enjoying new clothes, weapons, armor, and accessories.

After a moment, some miners came by with a stretcher made of wood and rags. They carefully lifted Lyra and placed her atop it, after which they began to walk while carrying her.

Eliot followed, and he quickly realized they were not headed toward the hospital but to the Redford estate. As he trailed his captors, he was floored by the streets littered with days old dead and the battalion of heavily armed miners the closer he got to Cream's home.

Eventually, Eliot stopped and nearly yelled in fear when he ran into the first personally gruesome sight along the way.

By the end of the social district, loaded onto two pikes, were Timothy and Lily Gotra's severed heads. Long since dead and staring blankly into the void. It made Lasil look away in sheer revulsion.

"…."

"Fit's a matter, bird-brain, ye missin' yer friends?" Alistair taunted. "Weel, don' worry, lad, cause' thir be plenty o' room for ye tae be joinin' em."

Eliot kept his mouth shut and just followed on behind his dying wife. The world so abruptly changed, and now that he'd seen what Cream was capable of, he recognized they all underestimated her.

Eventually, they passed fully suited guards in front of the Redford estate gates. He was led up by Alistair and Gregory while the rest scattered to do whatever they were planning next.

"…."

The walk up the steps revealed gore-spattered stones, which sent Eliot's imagination running wild. Everyone was tight-lipped, and he had but horrible sights and sounds to go off of.

Eventually, they reached the top, and the door had been entirely removed. In its place stood two more fully armored miners who glared at Lasil as he entered.

Once inside, Eliot could see Cream's elegant home was full of animals. Ones unable to fight, those that were injured, and what he perceived to be higher-ranking "officers" in her brigade.

When he stopped in front of the hallway he was greeted by Lynn, who was wearing a pristine set of commander's chainmail.

"Blah? What is goi…." Eliot began but was stopped by a vicious slap to the face, sending him to the ground.

"Ay, shut yer fuckin' mouth, an' show Lynn some respect!" Alistair roared.

Lasil was dazed, and he held the side of his face. Lynn glanced over at those placing Lyra on the ground and then pointed to Gregory.

"…."

Gregory stepped forward, and he spoke to the point. "Lasil has offered his collection of weapons and armor if we spare his wife from death."

Lynn looked down at Eliot and then simply nodded. After that, she left the living room area and went to the back door, where presumably, Lady Redford was.

Opening the door, she disappeared, and Eliot could do nothing but look around the home for information. It had clearly been ransacked at some point, but now it was littered with stolen provisions in stacks of crates.

As the rebels had mobilized, striking so suddenly and violently, they clearly used that momentum to take house Gotra by surprise. The more Eliot thought, the more he found where he might fit in this puzzle.

He was likely the next domino to fall, and Lady Sarah was not helping, given he knew she had substantial numbers at her disposal. It led to suspicions that she might be using this to be rid of all the houses and have her own matriarchy.

Whether true or not, Eliot couldn't be sure, but what he was sure of was he would rather look after his wife and his own interests than go down on the sinking ship of Radcliff.

"…."

As he thought, the sound of a door opening was enough to jostle him from them. Taking a look, he saw Lynn walking forward while carrying an elegant, gilded spear. One Lasil recognized as once belonging to Gotra.

When she stood over him menacingly, he felt fear, but when it was clear she was satisfied he was not armed, she stood aside to reveal Cream standing just behind her.

Eliot was shocked when he saw her, as not only did she look elegant and womanly in a new dress, but the dress was stained with gore and already wholly ruined.

Her expression was tired, and she bore a multitude of bruises and cuts on her face that had only just begun to heal. She had obviously been worked over, and if he had to guess, it was on Radcliff's orders.

"I…. Cream…." Eliot began but was quickly silenced by Gregory's interjection.

"Show Miss Redford the respect a noble lady deserves."

"I…. Yes, Lady Redford, I am sorry." Eliot spoke in an uncharacteristically humble tone.

Cream was unconvinced and just shook her head. "I finally have one of you here alive, so I will ask you straight. You know that Seth murdered my stepfather. Why did you let him get away with it?"

"…."

Eliot was frightened and shrank in on himself. Cream spoke in a way that unnerved him, and she carried more confidence than he'd ever seen from her. Perhaps Radcliff's failure to finish her torture routine in murder resulted in breaking the girl?

"I…" Eliot paused and then glanced at his wife, struggling to breathe on the floor. "Please help Lyra…. Please…."

Cream glanced over at the dove and then back at Lasil. "Answer my question…."

Eliot shook his head and refused.

Cream finally lost her patience and spoke frankly. "This isn't you, Lasil. You know you're an arrogant prick, so just be out with it."

Eliot grumbled and then decided there was no use in denial. "Because you have no place among the nobility, you are weak, and when one's master speaks on what to do with you, the rest of the flock listens."

Cream didn't break down, nor did she try to deny any of it. She merely glared down at him and retorted. "So, who is your master at this current moment?"

Lasil was hesitant, but after glancing around, he merely bowed his head pathetically and spoke timidly. "Lady Redford…."

When he looked up, he saw her smile and knew that she was getting satisfaction out of this after years of abuse and dismissiveness from him. Still, he tolerated it and repeated his request.

"Please…. Help Lyra…."

Cream nodded. "I will since you have pledged your allegiance to me. Though, just remember, there is no longer a house, Lasil. There is only house Redford."

Alistair became enraged and interrupted before Lasil could accept the tacit offer. "Eh' fuck he is a ally o' mine! I never agreed tae shite!"

Gregory was about to speak but stopped when the lion glared at him. "Ay, don' even think aboot speakin' up, lad, lest ye wan' tae have 'at gun up yer arse!"

Cream looked over at him and was becoming increasingly tired of his dissent. "Enough, I-He stays…."

Her stammering returned, and Alistair moved in front of her and glared down as Goliath would David. "His heid comes whit me, wench…. I don' care bout' fit's been done by ye. Ye ur jus' as guilty as eh' rest o' eh' fucks ere' as far as Am concerned."

Cream felt rage, the rage she had to continually bottle up through most of her life here. At first, she was going to let it go, but as Alistair continued disregarding her authority, she demanded he stop.

"Enough! Y-you will not kill him, and that is final!"

Lasil was as quiet as he was afraid. He was also shocked that Cream would argue against this behemoth for his sake.

Alistair just stood before her and moved his face in close to hers. "Dae ye know who yer talkin' tae, lass? I am eh' longest survivor in eh' damn mines, an' I hev more respect than anyone. If ye think ye'll be tellin' me whit tae dae, well, yer wrong oan 'at!"

Cream saw red, and she angrily yelled in Alistair's face. "Don't you speak to me that way! You owe me your freedom! You owe me your life! I am sleepless and covered in the blood of YOUR friends so that I could save their lives, you ungrateful swine!"

The room was tense, but even Alistair couldn't argue against those facts. Still, he tripled down and held his ax low intimidatingly. "Ye speak big lil' girl, but can ye back it up, ye cunt?"

The second she heard that filthy word being used to describe her, she instinctively raised her hand and punched him square in the nose as hard as she could.

Alistair didn't even flinch or move when he was hit, and Cream felt like she might have broken her fingers against his stern face. Still, she screamed loud enough to capture the attention of even the guards out front.

"DON'T YOU EVER SAY SOMETHING SO VILE TO ME AGAIN!"

Alistair stood there, and he didn't move or speak. He just watched Cream fume and hide the pain she'd caused herself by punching him.

After a moment, he raised his ax and rested it on his shoulder, then used his free hand to wipe away the blood trickle from his nose.

"Alright then, as ye wish, Lady Redford…."

Both Lasil and Cream stared at him, surprised, and she eventually spoke in her befuddlement. "I…. W-what? Are you serious…?"

Alistair moved away from her, placed his ax down, and leaned against her wall before speaking. "Ye finally proved yer worth a shite. If ye can personally stan' up tae certain death an' fight, then me ax is glad tae follow."

He was old, gruff, and set in his ways, but ultimately, he respected Cream's display of violence against someone clearly able to rip her apart with his bare hands.

After everything became slightly calmer, Cream distracted herself by ordering one of the miners to assist her in caring for Lyra. Gregory watched as Lasil stood by his wife and Cream examined her.

"…."

After some thought, Cream began taking measures to treat the dove's wound but stopped briefly to speak her mind. "It should be relatively easy to deal with the injury, though I am concerned about her blood loss…. We don't have much in the way of blood, so it would require a direct transfusion of her blood type…. Assuming you know it…. If not, then we'd need the hospital…."

Lasil nodded and then responded. "Yes… her blood type is AB…. Though, I do not share it."

Cream turned to Gregory and politely spoke. "I know I have…. Well, I have asked a lot of you so far, but would you mind asking around and finding someone that knows they have that blood type…? Tell them it would be a great favor to me."

Gregory didn't even need to think about it and responded in a gregarious manner. "Would be my pleasure, ma'am."

With that, he was off to do as he was asked, as he always did.

…

…

Hazel stood in the section of the social district that had been captured and watched the civilians and subdued house guards being led along in terror to the library. Many of them were uninjured, but those that were seemed to be being treated with basic medical supplies.

Thinking about everything, she was amazed that Cream had captured the loyalty of the mines so easily and quickly. For as much hate as they bore for those in power, it seemed her tireless personal effort to preserve their health was what really separated her from her kin.

Even so, Hazel was still wary of her, as she understood that kindness often hid sinister motives behind it. Still, now that she had some equipment, she felt more at ease to take care of herself.

The cache in the Lasil estate hadn't yielded much that interested her. However, she managed to find a short knife that was easy to conceal and a "special treasure" that brought her personal excitement despite its limited use inside a mountain.

Beyond that, the looted clothing store she had just visited offered many fashionable pieces of clothing that she picked from. Much of it was repurposed and repaired, but it was far better than tattered rags.

A simple grey cloak and a matching scarf, a dark pair of sneakers that were as quiet as they were comfortable, a black shirt with similar pocketed pants, and a belt with a fanny pack attached.

To her thinking, she could evade dangerous things by marring herself in shadows, and though she lacked much combat experience, she was pretty fast and agile compared to others, especially those in armor.

With a quiet breath in, she felt a ping of guilt over the fact that she lacked loyalty to all animals other than her sister, and ever since she had been removed from the mines, Hazel made it a priority to find her.

"…."

"Hey! Over here!" A miner screamed loudly, shattering her thoughts.

She glanced over to see a mining soldier collapsed on the ground with several bolts sticking out of them. As they leaked blood onto the ground, others around her rushed to aid them.

"What's happened!?"

"Are we under attack!?"

The collective panic rose while Hazel sauntered quietly to examine the scene. Everyone was so busy trying to help the wounded animal and figure out what was happening that they failed to notice what was dropped.

Quietly, she crept over when they moved the wounded miner and, with finesse, picked up a tied paper covered in blood.

Glancing at the seal, she could see the writing on it.

"Urgency, for Lady Redford."

With the thing in hand, she merely lifted her hood over her head and sprinted away from the scene to finish the delivery for her fallen comrade.

"…."

Cream casually cared for Lyra as the blood drained from the volunteer revitalized her to stable resting. She appeared more relaxed, and now that her wound was carefully patched, she needed rest.

Lasil sat on the floor by her side, unable to really speak. In truth, he still held resentment towards Cream, but it was intermixed with thankfulness over the treatment of his wife. At the very least, her years spent in early medical training had paid dividends.

When Cream was fully finished, she removed her plastic gloves and tossed them aside for cleanup. She seemed more than overwhelmed, but Lasil had to wonder where the resolve came from in these circumstances.

When she staggered away and held herself up with the wall, it became apparent how much she was suffering from her being the only one able to handle wounds on a complex level.

As Eliot turned to Lyra, he caressed her with his wing and could only think of things returning to normal. Though he knew they wouldn't, it was just a nice fantasy to remove himself to.

"…."

Within moments, Hazel came running in, and as Cream looked up and noticed her, she stood straight to make herself appear more presentable and firmer.

"Ah…. Uhm…. Yes, Hazel?" Cream said, pushing herself back into character.

Hazel reached into her cloak, and after rummaging through the fanny pouch, she pulled out the rolled paper and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Hazel…." Cream spoke, to which Hazel backed away and watched.

Cream untied, then unrolled the paper and began to read.

Lady Redford,

Seth Brinwald is nowhere to be found, nor is his mother, Lady Brinwald. However, we have managed to secure Aria Brinwald and captured or destroyed their estate defenses.

For the purposes of this message, house Brinwald has fallen, but unfortunately, there is a pressing problem. House Windser is extremely strong and has sent many well-armed guards after us.

Our numbers are dwindling, and we find ourselves pinned in no-man's-land between the safe zone and the hospital area controlled by Windser's forces. We have sent several messengers with letters in hopes one of them may find you.

Please send aid to secure Aria.

Sincerely, Jamie.

Cream rolled up the paper and just stared forward in thought. How she wanted Seth, how she wanted recompense…. It was something that had weighed on her mind since she had gained any sort of power.

With a bit more time, she began to feel a malevolence uncharacteristic of her. Aria was well loved by Seth, and with her now captured…. It meant that perhaps she could bring punishment upon their house.

"…."

The more she reveled in the meanness of the thought, the sadder she became. She eventually shook her head and then spoke to Hazel, who was standing quietly as if waiting for an order.

"Hazel, go find a commander willing to go and deal with Windser's forces…. Tell them to gather a group to head to no-man's-land. Jamie is pinned there with the youngest Brinwald. No matter what happens, I want Aria brought before me alive…. Is that understood?"

Hazel didn't move at first, but then she bowed slightly and responded without complaint. "Alright, Lady Redford."

Cream watched the young girl flee out of the door and then held herself high while speaking to those in the room. "I am going to rest for a moment or two. Come get me if anybody needs me…. Lynn, you keep an eye on Lasil and his wife…."

Lynn sat comfortably in a chair and nodded as she held her spear upright.

Cream walked elegantly towards her father's door, and once she reached the other side, she shut it quietly. The second she was completely alone with no eyes on her, she just pressed her back against it and exhaled.

A feeling of illness overtook her, and she wrapped her arms around her body in a desperate attempt to comfort herself.

As the tears began fleeing from her eyes, they left streaks of wet fur in lines down her battered face. Her sweet and unconfident nature was suppressed to the maximum degree in exchange for the charade of bravado and strength.

It took its toll on her, and all the guilt she felt had to be swallowed to give the illusion of personal wellness that simply did not exist in someone like her.

She cried and heaved in silence, wanting to scream, screech, and wail in agony. Cream wiped her tears, but the tenderness of her bruises made her moan in discomfort.

She needed her outlet, the one thing that made her feel better mentally….

With a sniffle, she moved away from the door and sat at her stepfather's old stationary. Taking an ink pen, she began to write on a piece of blank paper that lay atop it.

Dear Tails.

I find myself barely able to hold on. The feelings inside me grow darker and scarier, making me wish I was still in Knothole with you.

It might be challenging to believe, but things fell apart after you left, and while I had mentioned previously that I now led a group of animals, I had not mentioned how.

Strangely, it started as I was preparing myself to die. I had been imprisoned and beaten so severely by animals I once trusted. To my surprise, though, Max's guard showed up as hope was lost to get me to safety.

With large sums of money, she had bribed many greedy animals to get to me, and once out, we returned to my home before Radcliff's knights could kick up a fuss.

Lynn hasn't communicated much of anything to me but her name, though, I suspect she was instructed to keep me safe, given the violence present at my estate when I returned...

We tried to lay low there to formulate a plan, but she got wind that they were already on the hunt for us. We knew they'd come to my home looking, so we fled, and it was then that I had the only idea I could think of at such a critical time.

If all of the city wanted Lynn and I dead, then perhaps we needed people of our own to help us survive, so that is what we did.

Fast as ever, and with the last of the bribes, I had access to the miner's prison key, and Lynn had access to the mining equipment outpost. From there, it was quick, and with tools as weapons fighting rapidly erupted.

I…. So much has happened that I really cannot fit it all into one letter, but suffice it to say. When I get out of here, I am coming straight to you….

Well, if you are ok with having me….

That is, well….

I….

As Cream thought about her letter, tears began to hit the paper, and she dropped the pen, letting it roll until it fell to the floor with a clack.

It didn't take long for her to grab the parchment and crumple it in both hands. Once it was in a nice little ball, she tossed it in the bin beside her, already halfway full of crumpled balls she had imagined she sent to Tails.

She knew he would never read them, so what did it matter if she went where she was going in private? Even still, the act of writing to him brought her but a moment's reprieve in an increasingly stressful situation.

…

…

…

…

Alistair stood out in front of the Redford estate with Gregory while listening to Hazel tell him what Cream had said.

"So, yer sayin' she wants someone tae go an' smash some Windser faces, eh?" Alistair lifted his ax at the ready and continued. "Alright, we'll be taken' minen' company C, an' heid oan doon thir…."

As he said that, a group of more than two dozen fully equipped miners filled ranks by Alistair. A few ranged, some fully armored front men with wood shields and an infantry.

"Alright, Gregory, ye an' Hazel, wi' me. Eh' rest follow all orderly like!" Alistair shouted, to which the company cheered in response.

One of the men in the back then lifted up a flag dawning the crest of house Redford, the color patterns adorning it matching those of the Acorn royal family. The intermixing of it showed who they allied with and how Cream's association helped shape her current status.

As Gregory and Hazel silently joined Alistair in the front, the group began to march through the city with a purpose. By this point, they resembled a well-regulated militia instead of the prison miners they once were.

Looking around, Gregory felt a strange sensation marching through the captured city district. A place so close but once so far out of reach. He had been in the mines for only a year and thought he would never get out.

Looking back over at Alistair, he was struck with a sense of gratefulness. It was well known that he had been here for more than 15 years doing the most demanding time there was.

He struck so much fear into Radcliff's knights that a group of them would shackle him to the stone walls nightly. Gregory already had respect for his elders who had survived the coup and continued on, but Alistair, despite his righteous anger, was somebody he looked up to.

Alistair glanced back at Gregory and smirked, after which he spoke. "Ye scared, lad?"

Gregory thought and then eventually nodded honestly.

When he said that, Alistair grinned and used his meaty paw to slap him on the back, sending Gregory stumbling forward slightly.

"Hah! Good, use 'at energy an' channel it! It might be eh' difference between life an' death wan day."

As Gregory recomposed himself, he held his gun low and responded. "Yes, Sir."

"…"

Hazel stood behind them as they spoke, and she was apprehensive about going along with this. As they left the safe area that was occupied by their forces, it only further increased her wariness.

It wasn't until a little more that she became visibly shaken. The company halted movement, taking in the scene and leaving them silent.

It was like a ghost town here; the ground was littered with nothing but mining party B. Even those in full plate armor were struck down before making it halfway.

On either side of them were destroyed shops, with only a handful still maintaining enough power to cast light. Far off into the distance, they could barely make out a giant wooden barrier erected in front of the hospital.

A clear blockade by Windser's forces to prevent advancement. As Alistair squinted, it became apparent that none of them knew what had happened or what was in store for them.

The area was dead, and the long stretch between their current position and the enemy was vast.

"What the hell happened?" Gregory eventually spoke what everyone was thinking.

Alistair glanced to the side and then shook his head. "I cannae tell for shite…. Don' see any o' Jamie's company alive, though, I ain't turnin' back til' I get tae Windser…. Ye all be knowin' 'at…."

The company was quiet, none of them wanted to go further, but their loyalty to Alistair's personal cause was enough to steel them against cowardly behavior.

As silence permeated the group, Hazel eventually looked around and decided this might be the one time she could be helpful.

Reaching beneath the cloak, she unzipped her fanny pack, and after some brief rummaging, she pulled out what appeared to be a decorative spyglass adorned with gold.

Using her hands, she expanded it and peered through the looking glass to better understand what was up ahead.

"…"

Alistair eyed her and then looked down the long road. "Lass, I gotta' hand it tae ye, o' all eh' people here tae hev such a peculiar item, o' course, it'd be ye."

Hazel didn't respond as she carefully looked around. After a moment of shifting her head, she heard Gregory speak.

"You see anything?"

Hazel bit her tongue and then removed the device from her eye. "I see some of Jamie's company…. They are all in different shops along the way. I don't know what separated them, but they appear trapped."

Alistair shook his head. "So, whit's eh' deal then?"

Hazel took in a breath and spoke. "I saw soldiers at the far end in a formation, but I can't tell what they are doing."

She pointed to the distance and then looked at Gregory, who spoke to her.

"Give me the spyglass…. Let me see…."

She quietly handed it to him, after which he looked down towards the barricade. He could see many of Winder's guards armed, but they only carried puny short swords.

Aside from the front men, there was a line of armored combat soldiers behind them. Zooming in, he could see unidentified artillery leaning against the wooden barricade.

"…"

"Weel!?" Alistair said, clearly becoming impatient.

"They appear to be waiting for people to show up. They seem to have a strong ranged unit, but I am not sure if it is bows or crossbows, as they aren't carrying them…."

With his assessment, he looked at the scope and then handed it back to Hazel, after which he finished.

"We should proceed with extreme caution…."

Alistair began stroking his grey mane and then responded. "Alright, I wan' eh' fully armored shield bearers in front. Gregory, myself, an' eh' ranged soldiers in second. Hazel, eh' infantry, an' ranged defense at eh' ready in rear."

As he finished his command, the group configured in the way he described, with the heavily armored miners taking the front and walking with their shields raised.

The crossbow units and Gregory marched from behind with their weapons now pointed forward, using the units in front as protection from potential oncoming projectiles.

Hazel held her spyglass while the rest followed behind in case there was an enemy blitz and the ranged soldier's needed protection.

Moving together carefully, they crossed through dark shadowy areas of no man's land and began approaching the halfway point.

As they reached a lit section of shops, they could see Jamie in the distance and what was left of her soldiers frantically signaling to turn back and wait.

Alistair was not one to heed cowardly action, and he held firm in his decision to press on. As they drew nearer to Jamie, they could see mass stirring at the far end of the road.

The quick action caused Hazel to abruptly look through the spyglass and examine the soldier's actions.

She could see the once short sword-carrying soldiers now picking up what appeared to be weapons from against the wall. However, these weapons did not look like crossbows or bows.

As they got in a line and began to point in her direction, Hazel spoke in a befuddled fashion. "I dunno' what's goin' on. It looks like they are using weapons similar to Gregory's…."

The second Gregory heard that, he began to panic and shouted. "WHAT?!"

BAM!

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

A thunderous explosive sound erupted, sending black powder dusting into the air. Within a few seconds, a good number of the fully armored animals in front dropped to the ground dead.

The sudden loud noise caused Hazel's tail to shoot straight up, and she became breathless. In her sheer panic over the commotion, she began to run towards an empty shop, leaving her companions out in the open.

Alistair ducked down, and what was left of the armored miners tried to hold their shields up. As Gregory raised his own weapon, he immediately recognized that a new row of linesmen was taking the place of those that had just fired and that he was in an awfully exposed position.

"Fu-!"

BAM!

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

BAM!

Gregory couldn't even finish his word before he felt immense pain strike his abdomen, and he dropped to the ground from the shot.

The rest of the armored units fell to the ground dead, and many ranged units were taken once their protective wall was no more. Those who still stood used the opportunity to fire back with their crossbows in a frantic attempt to deter more attacking.

Alistair could see this was a death trap, and as a third line of soldiers began running in to send a third volley out, he roared immediately. "TAKE COVER! WE'RE AS GOOD AS DEID OOT HERE!"

With barely any time to act, Alistair leaped and rolled into a store, the mining ranged units tried to run in any direction they could, and the infantry had already disappeared into various shops along either side of the street.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

CRACK!

The next volley came and dropped anybody standing out in the open. The area at the far end was so clouded in black smoke and powder that neither side could see one another any longer.

As Alistair peered out of the shop, he could see how many men he'd lost already, and it didn't bode well for them. Especially now that he could see a plethora of Windser's lightly armored infantry approaching through the smoke.

"Fuckin' hell…." He muttered and squeezed his ax in his meaty paw.

Jamie was standing behind him, not speaking, and beside her was a terrified Aria on the floor. Eventually, Alistair glanced back and spoke.

"We're gonna' hev tae be fightin' oor way oot o' here…. I hope yer ready tae die…."

Hearing that, Jamie raised her spear and began approaching the broken window to peer out at the soldiers marching toward them.

"…."

…

…

…

Gregory lay in the street, his fur covered in his ally's blood and pain radiating through his midsection. It was apparent he'd been shot, but found it strange he didn't feel worse. With a glance down, he saw that where he'd been struck bore no hole save for the outfacing fabric.

It was at this point he realized that the armor he was wearing had stopped the round. With a glance over and unmoving, he could see Windser's soldiers approaching to attack the rest of the mining rebellion.

It was here he saw an opportunity. Lying in wait, he held the slug thrower in his paw but acted as if he were dead. The chaotic mess of bodies around him made it easy to not draw suspicion.

It was already too late when the melee infantry came into range. Gregory popped up rapidly from his limp position on the ground and placed the pump in his other paw; barely aiming, he set off a round.

BAM!

Fire flew from the end of the long-barreled weapon and caused surprising destruction to his first target. The spreading balls of buckshot shredded the first animal's leg, and the spread hit several other animals, dropping them.

"HOLY SHIT!"

"OH, GOD!"

Gregory pulled the pump back with a clack and began to fire repeatedly in a frenzy of destruction.

BAM!

Clack-clack.

BAM!

Clack-clack.

BAM!

Clack-clack.

BAM!

Clack-clack.

The red shells ejected with each pump, and after mowing down a sizable chunk of the first wave by himself, he could see the ones behind the massacre backing up in a hurried panic.

"RETREAT!"

"WHAT KIND OF AQUERBUS IS THAT!?"

With the brief moment of safety, Gregory pulled himself to his feet despite the pain and limped towards the shop Alistair stood in before collapsing to the floor, gasping for air.

Alistair smiled and bent down to look him over. "Weel, shite…. Here I thought ye were done fur…. Lucky bastard!"

Gregory gasped and forced himself to sit up, holding himself where he'd been dinged. "Ah… I thought I was, but this apparently stops those types of arms…. To think, I thought just the pouches were useful…."

Alistair glanced up and saw that the soldiers had all disappeared into the smoke. He then looked over at Jamie. "Now's oor ainlie chance…. Gregory bought us a wee bit o' time…."

Gregory shook his head and spoke from his spot on the floor. "We can't rush them…. I am sure there are more of those ranged weapons atop the barricade…. You'll be slaughtered…."

With a brief look around, Alistair was quiet, and then he smiled a bit once he glanced at a door in the back of the shop.

"We split eh' forces…. Ye an' some o' them who are left will draw their attention. A'll lead with Jamie into eh' connecting tunnels an' blindside em'."

Gregory used the windowsill to pull himself up, and then he glanced back at Aria, who continued to cry silently to herself in utter terror.

"The tunnels are one of the most guarded areas…. I know you are desperate to get to Windser, but that isn't the mission."

Alistair stood before Gregory and glared. "Then fuck eh' mission, I ain't lettin' 'at fat bastard go…. Not after whit he did… If completin' eh' mission is so important for ye, ye can make 'at yer priority."

Gregory thought and then eventually nodded. "Alright, we'll distract them, but bringing her back is a priority, so don't dally."

Alistair nodded, accepting the risks, and patted him on the shoulder. "Do whit ye need tae lad, an' so will I…"

With that, Alistair used his ax to cleave beyond the locked wooden door. Once he and Jamie were in the tunnels, it only took moments to collect more soldiers from each connected shop for the push.

"…."

Gregory exhaled and relaxed against the wall to recover from his pain. He felt lucky that he wasn't dead, but now Alistair had abandoned Lady Redford's task to complete his own.

He knew that many wanted and despised Windser, and with just a few things he'd overheard over time, he believed it was justified.

Still, there was a directive given by the one he owed, and despite his respect for Alistair, he was willing to abandon him if it meant securing the target.

When he looked over at Aria, he could now scrutinize her easier. It surprised him that she was so young, barely fourteen, if even that…. But who was he to judge? He just had to bring her to Lady Redford and bring her he would.

With a subtle glance out the window, he saw what was left of mining troupe C emerging from their cover, and it appeared they were already instructed on what to do while Alistair was fighting his way through the tunnels with Jamie and her leftover soldiers.

Quickly, he walked out the front of the broken-down tool shop and examined the distance before him. Now, another wave of knights was emerging from the smoke. Only these ones were covered head to toe in full-plated, reinforced, heavy steel armor.

Now that the clanking of their steps drew near, he realized that this was the fight that needed to be taken, despite their disadvantages.

"I'll guard the target; we need to hold them off long enough for Alistair to make progress," Gregory said.

The last of the mining ranged units began to ready their crossbows and quickly sent a volley toward the approaching heavy units.

Windser's guards raised their shields and blocked most of the projectiles, but a few were struck, and their armor was penetrated by the heavy bolts that flew.

As everyone reloaded their bolts, the mining infantry began to advance to intercept the approaching enemy squad before they could reach the ranged units.

Despite the difference in armor, the fact that the mining infantry was fitted with light armor meant they had much more mobility to deal with the armored foes.

As steel clashed and people began to yell, the ranged squad raised their crossbows again and let loose another wave of bolts at their enemy.

The armored guards had little trouble blocking the projectiles and pushed back the miners. Things were quickly becoming dire as ever more plated soldiers left the barricade and advanced on the small mining squad through the now dispersing smoke.

Gregory could see them now within range of him, so he lifted his weapon towards a fully armored guard and fired directly into their chest plate.

BAM!

CLINK!

An explosion erupted as the guard staggered and fell to the ground, placing his sword into the dirt and leaning on it. Despite the blast's power, it failed to penetrate the thick steel encasing him.

Clack-clack.

A shell hit the ground, and Gregory was worried when the buckshot's small pellets failed to dent and merely bounced off the plate.

Even with the knight stunned, five more slowly lumbered toward him.

BAM!

CLINK!

CLINK!

Clack-clack.

He fired another shot, hitting a spread of two. It staggered them, but still, it did minor damage.

"Shit!" Gregory cried as he went back into the store with Aria.

Things worsened as Gregory watched the last of the mining soldiers be overwhelmed by more guards.

Those that weren't outright killed began to flee in terror, understanding that they'd bought all the time they could.

The heavily armored guards began to close in on Gregory's position, and he popped out the window to fire another round.

BAM!

CLINK!

Clack-clack.

The shell fell, and he pulled the trigger again after stunning another knight.

Click….

The chamber was empty, and Gregory barely looked up in time to see a two-handed sword coming for his neck. He jumped backward and staggered, now utterly terrified by what was happening.

Aria screamed and placed her body against the wall while Gregory's violently shaking hands fumbled in his pouches for more ammo.

When he pulled, several red shells fell out of the pouch and to the floor, after which two of the armored guards entered the shop with their weapons raised.

When one of them swung their massive great sword at Gregory, he stumbled back and fell over the counter with a violent slam to the floor.

"Ah!"

Landing on his back and looking upward, he could hear the clanking of the heavy greaves against the wooden floor. Sliding his fingers into any pouch he could get to, he began pulling out green shells and shakily loading them into the chamber.

One.

Two.

As he was about to load the third one in, the first guard turned the corner around the counter and raised his sword. Gregory couldn't even think, so he instinctively pulled the pump and fired.

Clack-clack.

POW!

A distinctly different sound came out of the gun, but to Gregory's surprise, the shot crashed right through the plate armor, and blood began pouring out and down the front of the singular hole it created.

There was a scream of terror, and the armored guard dropped to the floor before Gregory. The second guard that approached swung quickly, and Gregory pointed the gun at their head.

POW!

The distinct sound echoed in the small space again, and it passed through the helmet with ease, killing them before they could even finish their attack.

Clack-clack.

A green shell fell from the chamber, and Gregory was quick to his feet. He looked out of the shop, and it seemed the other armored guards were hesitant to enter after watching their friend's head explode while in full plate.

Gregory began shoving green shells into the gun, and when he got about 4 in, he saw them start to advance.

Clack-clack.

He pulled the pump and aimed it at the first guard before him. "Move any closer, and you're dead!"

They halted movement and just stared at him from behind their full helms.

"That's right! I have enough to go all day!" He bluffed as he pulled out more green shells and began loading them.

Five….

Six….

Seven….

Eight….

With the gun fully loaded, he held it steadily in their direction.

"…."

The heavy guards quietly began to back away as they realized that dealing with this would require tact.

Once they disappeared from view, Gregory glanced over at Aria, who was shaking so violently it looked like she could barely stand.

With no time to lose, Gregory reached over and violently grabbed her by the arm, making her scream in terror.

"Ahhh!"

Gregory pushed her in front of himself and yelled at her callously. "Move your ass!"

She winced over his anger but didn't have time to do anything before he used the gun to shove her forward roughly.

She let out a cry but began to move towards the tunnel door. Within seconds, the two began traversing the dark tunnel system, which Alistair had already cleared.

…

…

…

…

Hazel stood quietly in the darkness of an unlit shop and watched the events unfolding. She'd seen Gregory disappear from across the way and now watched as Windser's forces moved around.

Keeping herself low, she could see four arquebusiers rushing past the shop carrying equipment. At first, she thought they were chasing down what was left of the mining company.

However, as she leaned forward and glanced out of the shop, she noticed they were going towards the safe zone of her faction while not in pursuit of anybody.

Looking back in the other direction, Winder's forces seemed to be securing the combat area. She was not privy to where Alistair had gone, but she knew Gregory was making his escape with their mission objective.

"…."

Pulling out her spyglass, she examined the 4 soldiers from a great distance, and when they entered two separate buildings, it raised her curiosity.

With a silent reservation, she crept towards the lone guards to try and find out what they were up to.

…

…

…

As Aria slowed down, Gregory became even more frustrated with her combativeness. He pulled his gun towards himself and, using the side of it, smacked her in the back to push her in the direction he needed her to go in.

She cried again and then began to run stumblingly until they were several feet further. Taking a turn, they found themselves in a dark sundries store that had lost power.

As Aria continued crying, Gregory grabbed her and shook her. "Shut the fuck up! You are going to get me killed!"

She quietly sobbed and held her breath even as he angrily pushed her into the wall to show he would hurt her even more if she didn't comply.

Now with her semi-subdued, he grabbed hold of her arm and yanked her towards the shop's front door. Peering out of it, he could see he was close to the end of no man's land and that there weren't any guards in his immediate vicinity.

With haste, he pulled her from the shop and began to drag her out into the open and towards the safe zone. It didn't take more than a few steps before a violent thundering sound erupted from above.

BAM!

CRACK!

CRACK!

BAM!

The sounds of gunfire erupted, and Gregory was struck in the shoulder blade.

He let out a scream of pain and collapsed on the ground. Just like before, the armor he wore protected him. Unfortunately, Aria's wailing echoing into the opening told him she was not so lucky.

"No…."

"FUCK!" Gregory cried out and then glanced upward from his spot on the ground.

He could see black smoke wafting from two above windows, and it became apparent that they had set this ambush after the event in the shop.

He wasn't close enough to Aria to help her, and as he struggled to overcome the shock of the second shot, he could barely make out figures from above preparing their weapons for a second go.

This was it; they were going to kill him, or at the very least, the screeching Aria. As fear gripped him, he found his death to be the least of his concerns, and his failure to complete his task to be the greatest.

"…."

….

….

….

As the guards from the windows prepared their slow-loading rifles to finish the job, they musingly laughed to one another in high spirits.

"I bet I was the one that hit him…." One exclaimed across the way.

"No way!" Another denied.

"Oh ya, well, I hit the girl…." The other said back to the window across from himself.

"Calm yourself, men!" The captain interrupted and then placed his rifle by the window, drawing his sword. "I will go report our success! Finish them as soon as you are loaded!"

"Yes, Sir!" They replied.

As the three came down from reveling in their power, two were completely unaware of the silent figure watching them load from the back of the dark room.

"…"

With quietness, Hazel held her breath, and as the one she stalked raised their gun, finally ready to shoot, she moved in directly behind him.

Grabbing hold of his mouth abruptly, she was quick to slide her knife along his neck. As he breathed and gasped, she held in his attempted yells and pulled him out of view of the window while the one was busy fumbling with his gun from across the way.

While the guard fought for his life, Hazel could hear the second one in the room with them rush from his arquebus towards her to rescue his friend.

She thrust his companion into the blade when he made a frantic stab at her. Then, as he struggled to keep up with her rapid, hard-to-see movements, she swung the knife at his neck.

Despite her sloppy hit, her speed and the fact that she surprised them, had rendered the guard's ability to think or plan nonexistent.

She dropped the guard she was using as a shield and then hovered over the one on the ground, struggling to breathe.

"…"

"Hey…. Where'd you guys go?!" She heard the guard from the other window yell but then became distracted again.

"Goddamn hunk of trash…. I can never get this shit to load!"

When the one gurgling silently on the floor ceased to move, Hazel hung low until she was close enough to the window to peek out of it.

"…."

She could see the third guard had finally finished loading his weapon and was holding it up with a smile of relief. Glancing down, she could see Gregory finally moving towards the sobbing Aria.

With haste, Haze reached beside herself and grabbed hold of the dropped gun on the floor.

"…"

"Oh, no, you don't…." The guard said, aiming the weapon carefully.

CRACK!

A loud bang erupted, and Gregory shut his eyes, preparing for another hit. When one didn't come, he opened them and was greeted with a guard toppling forward out from the window and landing a few feet away from him in the street.

Glancing up, he saw the black smoke wafting from the one window, but who had left it was nowhere to be seen. Gregory was extremely grateful, but once he heard the shouting of another enemy, he decided not to dawdle.

Rushing over, he quietly checked Aria's head but saw no severe injury. He saw a hole in her arm when he looked over her body.

She was bleeding profusely from where the pellet struck her and wailing like a banshee. Watching her cry in intense distress made him look at her for what she was.

A child….

Without much choice, Gregory held his gun under his armpit and lifted her into his arms with a painful grunt.

Quickly, he began to limp away from danger as fast as possible, leaving behind both his mysterious hero and the befuddled enemy commander, who ran back, continuing to shout out to his deceased friends.

…

…

…

…

Dear, Tails.

What am I? I thought I knew, but it seems I never did. If there was anybody that knew who and what I was, it was you.

When you accused me of being nothing more than a liar that day that feels so long ago, it hurt me, but now I have come to see that you were right. I am and have never been anything more than a liar.

I lie to everyone here, and I lie to myself…. I…

"…."

Cream stopped writing when she heard a commotion in the other room. Screaming and crying, the likes of which made her sorrowfully worried.

She placed her pen down, crumpled her half-finished thoughts, and then discarded them into the bin with the rest of her feelings.

She quietly rose and opened the door, to which she was met face-to-face with Lynn. The look on Lynn's face was one of distress, and not only was it unnerving from someone so strong, it only added to the howling and wailing in the other room.

Cream pushed Lynn aside and hurried down the narrow hallway. When she reached the crowded area, she could see Lasil bent over and trying to calm a screaming Aria.

Gregory sat on the floor and looked flushed. Cream looked him over and spoke as loud as she could over the crying.

"Are you ok, Gregory? What's happened….?"

Gregory grabbed one of the water bottles atop the table above himself, chugged a few mouthfuls down his gullet, and responded.

"Alistair went on to go after Windser…. I was ambushed bringing her back, and she was shot."

Cream looked over at the hysterical Aria, and her heart was gripped by painful shame. She knew she had wanted this; she had wished to have recompense through Aria. She had been thinking about how it would bring closure to her devastated life.

She was motivated by malevolence, and her hostility had wrought undue suffering. Shaking her head, Cream eventually spoke to Gregory again.

"What were the casualties?"

Gregory began unstrapping his plate carrier, and he responded once it was on the floor next to him. "Most of company C is dead. I can't tell you how many survived because we all ran in different directions when things went south…."

Cream accepted deep down that this was also her fault, but she hid her depression behind her Redford mask. "Lasil…. How bad is she?"

Aria wouldn't stop crying because of the pain, and Eliot glanced back at Cream, surprised she'd give a shit. "What does it matter to you?"

Cream stepped forward and glared, after which she pointed at him. "Tell me what I want to know now, or suffer consequences."

Eliot could see the look of anger and rubbed Aria's back. "I, she's been hit in the arm by one of Windser's forces…. Looks like an arquebusier got her."

"Arquebusier?" Cream said, unsure of what that meant.

As Gregory removed his leather vest, revealing horribly severe bruising where he was hit, he informed her. "An arquebus is a primitive gun used a long time ago…. It typically refers to a matchlock rifle…. Though, a lot of the weapons I saw were a mix of matchlock and flintlock…."

Cream blinked, surprised by his knowledge, but eventually ordered help from one of the miners assisting her. "Fiona, please run and get the last of the super limited stock of timed antibiotic solution and the pain reduction and anti-inflammatory mixture solution. Also, please get ice for Gregory's bruising…."

"Right away, Lady Redford, the cat said and rushed off to search the open crate of stolen medical supplies."

Eventually, Cream came over to Aria and touched her gently. Aria tried to pull away in her pain-filled terror, but Cream began speaking to her sweetly.

"Shh…. It's ok, sweetie…. I… uhm…. I'm a friend of your brother, Seth... I am here to help."

When Aria heard that, she tried to control her sobbing to speak. "I… Is… Brother… Here…?"

Cream merely shook her head "no," but could tell her lie had worked. She placed her hands above where Aria was bleeding and examined the wound.

Aria wiped the tears out of her eyes with her free hand and then spoke further through wheezing, cry-filled gasps. "I… is… my… arm… gotta'… come… off….?"

Cream could now see that much of her crying was the psychological damage inflicted on her, and she merely began to rub her back lovingly to comfort her. "No honey, just hang tight, and I will make it stop hurting… Ok?"

Aria eventually nodded and sucked snot back up into her nose.

"Ok…."

In a short time, Fiona returned with the medical gun and some ice. When Cream took the gun, she spoke to Fiona. "Tend to Gregory. Make sure he has no broken bones or severe injuries."

Fiona did as was asked, and Cream placed the gun next to Aria's upper arm. "Hold on, sweetie, this will sting a bit, but it will help."

The gun went off with the sound of a hiss, and Aira jumped and cried out.

"Ow!"

But within a few seconds, she began to feel the effects of the medication numbing her arm completely.

Cream detached the empty liquid vial on the medi-gun and started to screw a bluish solution vial into it.

"I… I can't feel my arm." Aria eventually said in a relieved but still upset tone.

"Yes, you are lucky, we found this in one of the supply stores…."

Aria looked down at her wound, and it frightened her to the point she started crying again, but Cream stopped her before she could become hysterical.

"Don't worry dear, the worst part was the pain. It seemed the round passed right through the meat of your arm. It should only require some stitches and a bandage."

Aria calmed down and quietly acknowledged what was said. "Oh…. Ok…."

Cream came over and placed the gun near her wound, eliciting some worry from Aria. "Wh-what's that for?"

Cream smiled gently and pulled the trigger as another hiss came, but there was no pain due to the numbing solution. "It is a delayed antibiotic solution; it will ensure you won't get an infection as you heal."

Aria was becoming ever calmer because of Cream's tone and willingness to walk her through everything.

Lasil watched her and still couldn't believe how Cream could act this way despite being the very reason Aria was shot in the first place.

He might be keeping his mouth shut for now, but ultimately his personality was getting the better of him as time ticked by.

Gregory was drinking his water as he held the ice to his chest bruise. He seemed well-off, mainly because the plate carrier was designed for more advanced ballistic weapons, and the flintlock-type rifles could only produce so much energy that needed to be dispersed.

…

As Cream diligently sewed up Aria, she distracted herself by looking around the home. She was old enough to understand that this was a base of operations but needed to be older to question the context or motivation behind the conflict.

The fact that Cream cared for her was enough to see her as good. Not that it mattered because she had never liked Windser and had feared for her safety around him numerous times he made dubious comments about her body.

She feared he would have harmed her if it hadn't been for Seth.

"…."

As time ticked on, she watched Gregory, resenting him for his cruelty to her. At the same time, though, she felt a gratefulness he brought her to Cream.

When Cream finished her sutures, she wrapped the bandages securely around her arm and spoke in an upbeat manner.

"There! All better!"

Aria smiled at her and nodded, moving her numb arm and feeling relief. After examining its motion, Cream moved back and spoke again.

"I am sure you are hungry and tired…. How about we take you to a nice place to rest and bring you some food?"

Aria nodded and then remembered her manners after so much turmoil. "I… Yes… Thank you, miss Redford."

Cream was surprised her surname was known, but Aria hopped off the table she was sitting on and was gently escorted to Cream's private room by Fiona.

When the child was finally out of the room and taken care of by Cream's assistant, Lasil finally confronted her after so long of biting his tongue.

"I don't know what you are getting at Cream, but you are a fool to think nobody sees through your pathetic act."

Gregory was about to intervene as he became belligerent but stopped when Cream glared and stood before Eliot herself.

"There, there's the asshole we all know you are. If you have something to say, say it freely, Lasil."

Eliot scoffed and waved his wing in her face. "You act high and mighty, but you are the reason Aria was shot! You are the reason for all this fucking misery! If you'd just died like you were supposed to, this place would be better for it!"

Cream stood there emotionless, and the room was quiet. She shook her head and eventually spoke. "I pity you, Lasil…."

Eliot looked around, expecting to be attacked, but when he wasn't, he lost his temper and arrogantly spoke. "Pity me? I pity you, you fucking urchin, y-you vagabond, you peasant! What right have you to pity somebody of ACTUAL nobility!"

Cream sighed and then looked down. "I pity you because, like everyone here, status and wealth are all you are about. You are hollow…. You are fake. You stand for a singular thing, and now that you feel you've lost it, you are lashing out in anger."

Lasil looked shocked and hurt, but his rage only intensified. "What do you stand for then, you tramp? Huh! What? This mining garbage that you've duped into defending you? Keeping you from the death, you rightfully deserve!"

"…." Cream thought hard, and she eventually responded earnestly.

"I don't know what I stand for…."

Eliot was surprised, and he found himself unable to respond to her humble answer.

"…."

"I am sorry your wife was hurt because of me, but I do not want to die, and I am sure if you were me, you wouldn't want to either."

Eliot was speechless and then looked over at his wife, who was resting soundly. Eventually, he broke slightly and tried to hold in his cry of sorrow.

"Why…?"

Cream looked confused and eventually tried to answer. "Because I am alive, and nobody wants to die…."

"No, you moron…." Eliot interrupted and then clarified. "Why did you spare us? I know you resent us all for what we've done, what we have plotted, so why let us live to do it again?"

"…."

Cream was quiet for a while and then eventually responded.

"Because I can tell you genuinely love your wife, and that means there's hope for you…. What good would it be to save her if you weren't here when she awakens?"

With that said, she turned away from Lasil, tired of the conversation. "If you have any more questions, ask them later…. I need…. I need to do…."

"…."

Eventually, she just gave up trying to excuse herself and walked away.

Eliot was left feeling guilty and merely looked over at his wife.

Yes, he truly loved her, as Lyra did him, and it now struck him that his lashing out in desperate, infantile rage was for exactly all the reasons Cream gave.

He had thought she was playing some angle, but it finally dawned on him that it was mere happenstance that led her here to this position of power.

He finally understood that it was ultimately Radcliff's devious machinations and cruelty that inevitably gave rise to someone like Cream, who was an animal like nobody else in Radcliff's oligarchical elite.

A good one.

"…."

…

…

…

…

Dear Tails.

I wish you were here…. I wish I selfishly had you to my very own. I realize that now in my utter struggle to hold onto my sanity.

Like a little girl staring from afar at her first crush, I can no longer deny or pretend I do not feel this. I think to myself, "what if?" and I feel elation in pretending.

What would it be like to run home from a school day and introduce you to my mother? To go to a school gathering for the first time and feel awkward as we try and determine how close is too close for a dance?

These are the things we can never know and experience, and I feel robbed. Why did the generations before us have it so good? Yet, we have none of it? Maybe…. Maybe I am just stupid to yearn for such childish things.

I feel if you were here, you would laugh at me as I say this, but not in a malicious way….

And I would look at you laughing nervously and think it was cute.

I… I just want to be a little girl.

I was never one, I realize that now…. I just want to be one.

I want to love you, Tails.

I'm sorry…. I shouldn't have said that.

"…."

Cream angrily crumpled the paper up, and instead of tossing it in the garbage where it belonged, she resentfully threw it hard against the wall, letting it bounce and land on the floor.

After that, she buried her face in her hands and sat alone by the candle on the stationary, feeling nothing but guilt for allowing herself to write that.

"…."

…

…

…

Time grew late as days went by, and exhaustion was at its peak for the rebellion. Cream had barely slept at all, and she found the stress of everything kept her chugging forward despite sleep deprivation.

When she exited her room and walked down the narrow hall, she was greeted by Gregory sitting on the floor and unloading his weapon by holding the loading door and pulling out the shells as he held down the pump.

Not too far from him was Hazel, who was utterly silent as she sat there drinking water with what appeared to be a primitive rifle in her possession.

Glancing about, Cream could see Lynn had taken over guarding the door, and Eliot had fallen asleep next to Lyra. Fiona, too was resting on one of the empty cushions on the balcony, while Aria stayed hidden and safe in Cream's room.

With a sigh, Cream sat on the vacant couch by Gregory and Hazel and watched them as they went about their business. When they eventually noticed her watching, Gregory was not shy about speaking up.

"Is there something wrong, ma'am?"

Cream looked down and eventually shook her head. "No…. I don't need anything…. I just…."

As Hazel watched her and Gregory put his unloaded weapon on the floor, Cream eventually finished her thought.

"You two are just so young…. I don't know how you got into this mess…."

They could tell she cared greatly, but Gregory tried to shrug it off to ease her. "Naw…. I'm sixteen, that's old enough…."

Hazel didn't comment, but she just stared at Cream in a way that frustrated Cream.

"Ugh…. This isn't right…. First Max and Annie, and now you too…. I can't take much more of this."

Eventually, Gregory looked over at Hazel, and when she glanced back, he spoke. "I don't know what you want me to say. It's not like I had a choice…. I was a prisoner of the mine."

Cream looked at him and then frowned. "You had a choice never to come to Radcliff…."

Gregory was silent for a moment, and he seemed sorrowfully in thought. Eventually, he responded. "Not really…. That wasn't my choice either."

When he saw he had Cream's attention fully, he quietly picked up his weapon and began loading red shells into it after unloading the green ones. "I grew up on a farm on the east side of rural Mobotropolis with my mother Jess and father Greg. My dad, he was a true woodsman, and my mom, well, she had a knack for plants and animals."

Gregory shifted the weapon and placed it down without cocking it to load. "Things were fine for some time, even after the coup, because of how rural where they lived was. Though things eventually became dire when I was old enough to help with all the work. You see, my father went out one day to gather wood for the coming winter and never came back."

Gregory let out a sigh, remembering that day, and continued. "Mom, she fell ill at some point during the colder months, and I knew she was gonna' die without aid. So, I set out to look for help, knowing there had to be some animals left that knew how to treat other people."

Cream could already see where this was going, knowing the full treachery of this place by now. "So, you ran into Radcliff's knights who promised you medicine…."

Gregory looked down, and she could tell he was holding back tears. "I…. Yea…. They promised me, led me here, and then…. I was put to work…. I…."

Cream reached out and placed a gentle hand on his unbruised shoulder, and he gasped and then cried slightly. "A hard day's work ain't nothing to me, but whenever I think about my Ma lying in bed wasting away in wait…... I just…."

Cream said nothing and allowed him to collect himself after the brief breakdown. He was soon sitting up and wiping the wetness from his furry face.

"I… Sorry, you had to see that, ma'am…."

Cream shook her head and removed her hand. "It's ok…. I have the feeling everyone's stories are similar…."

With those words, Hazel shrank away when Cream looked her way, but she eventually gathered the courage to speak. "Yeah…. My older sister and I were orphaned during the destruction of our village. When we ran into some adults months later that wanted to take care of us, we were overjoyed, but sadly, it didn't last long."

Hazel swung her feet back and forth, recalling everything, and then continued. "Put to work for three years…. We were together for two, but then my sister was taken to the city…. I… I've wanted to find her ever since."

Cream nodded with the new insight and stood up, now understanding their needs. "Well, I will order the soldiers to be on the lookout for your sister."

Hazel was skeptical, even if she was elated to have more help in the task. "I… Uhm…."

Her hesitancy was eventually silenced by Cream speaking confidently. "Don't worry, we're your friends…. If it is important to you, it is important to us."

"…." Hazel didn't speak but just nodded to the sentiment.

As Cream moved over towards the door, Gregory glanced up and spoke. "Where are you heading out to?"

Cream glanced back, and she seemed slightly distressed but ultimately told him the truth. "All surrendered soldiers and citizenry are being held at the library…. I…. I have decided I need to face them, for better or for worse…."

It was obvious that it might be difficult and hostile, but Gregory was quick to stand, followed by Hazel. "Permission to accompany you, ma'am?"

Cream was surprised at first but could see in their young eyes full respect. So, she merely grinned kindly and nodded to the request.

Gregory was quick to throw on his leather vest despite the pain it caused him, and Hazel hurried to her side, leaving behind the rifle she wasn't sure how to properly load yet.

When the two were ready, they headed with Lynn and Cream to face the denizens of the fallen social district.

"…."

…

…

…

…

Guards stood comfortably around Cream, and Gregory and Hazel stood behind her at the ready, just in case. Lynn stood in front of them all as the citizenry crowded inside the library and had looks of fear on their faces.

Once their attention was on Cream, they weren't sure what to say. They all know who she was and that she was partially responsible for their misery but dare not speak out due to the sheer number of armed animals protecting her.

When Cream stepped forward before the crowd, Lynn and the soldiers moved beside her. She looked them all over, and the fear and despair deep inside her were running amuck, but as she inhaled a calming breath, she took on the role of a leader.

"Greetings all…. I am…. I am Lady Redford, daughter of the deceased Sirus Redford. I have come to speak with you to ensure you that no harm will come to you and that if you wish to leave, we will allow you to do so."

The second she said that, the room's chatter exploded as animals began discussing with one another in a hushed, hesitant, and confused fashion.

When Cream raised her hands to get their attention, they silenced immediately, and she continued. "If you wish to leave, we will have you escorted to the end of the residential district, and from there, you may travel the rest of the way to Radcliff's blockade at the far end."

As Cream placed her hand on her chest, she spoke earnestly. "I am truly sorry for all the pain I have caused you all, but my house was betrayed by Radcliff, so I needed to fight for the honor and integrity of my life and my father."

The whispering began again but was silenced when a guard that used to be in command of house Gotra spoke up. "And what happens if we wish to stay here with you?"

Cream was surprised by the question, and she had to think about it. After a brief pause, she responded. "Well…. I… Well, I suppose if you wanted to do that, you would be able to continue your business in the social district and receive protection from our forces…."

The chatter picked up between all the animals, and Cream watched silently as they bickered and spoke to one another all at once. After some time, the guard that asked the question stood up and began to talk when everyone quieted down.

"I'd like to join ranks, Lady Redford!"

"Aye, Aye! Me too!" Another guard officer called.

Surrendered house guards began standing, and Cream spoke in a befuddled manner. "I… I really don't understand…. We killed your lords…."

Gotra's commander ignored her question and spoke loudly for the rest of those standing. "We know what Radcliff, Gotra, Windser, and Lasil have been doing. We are afraid of Lady Sarah and her criminal knight brigade, and always have been…. You and yours have gone out of your way to spare the innocent lives of the social district, and for that, we are grateful."

Cream was speechless and shook her head. "I don't know what else Radcliff and the houses have been up to, but Lasil has pledged loyalty to house Redford, so I will have no in fighting."

The guard nodded and looked down. "I wouldn't dream of it, milady. Just know that guards here are with you because the holy prince is with you…. Just point the way, Lady Redford."

The house guards seemed eager to be free of Radcliff's tyranny, and some of the civilians appeared to be more at ease now that some of their own were given permission to join the rebellion.

Cream looked at her mining soldiers, and many seemed accepting of them into the rebellion, given they knew the house guards were different than Radcliff's knights that terrorized them.

They could also see the benefit of more forces while being pincered between Windser's well-armed troops at the far end of the social district and Radcliff's excessive numbers toward the knight's quarters and bureaucratic offices.

Once the room was ok with Redford's orders, it was cleared of shopkeeps, soldiers, and civilians who wanted to stay with the safety of the rebellion. Miners quietly escorted those that were left from the building to be taken safely out of their territory.

As Cream calmed down, she found herself happy with the result and decision to speak to these people. After glancing around at the mostly empty library, she was struck with a sense of sadness.

It had been so long since she'd seen Severa….

She was worried about her but hadn't encountered her at all. There was a dread lingering in the back of her mind that what happened to her happened to Severa, which brought with it a realization that she might be deceased.

"…."

Gregory was browsing through the books as Hazel watched the room suspiciously, just in case something might happen.

Cream's entourage and Lynn picked up as she moved, and by the time they evacuated the area, Gregory was the only one left.

After several minutes of searching through the history section, he found a book with a title that would expand his special knowledge exponentially.

"Guns: Mechanics, Ammunition, and Recipes of the Old World."

After thumbing through it, he closed it and took it with him as he left to return to the Redford estate.

…

…

…

…

Dear Tails.

I'm sorry I haven't written you after the foolish things I said last time. I… Well, it doesn't matter…. I am writing to you now because it has been a few days.

I am worried about my commander, Alistair…. He hasn't returned. I do not know what is going on, but it is not like him to be gone for so long. Losing him would be an incredible blow to our safety and would destroy morale.

The citizens who stayed with us are becoming rather comfy as the miners warm up to them, but many express verbal concerns about loved ones in the hospital and the medical staff there.

I explained that Windser controls that entire area, and they seemed mortified. I do not know why everyone hates Windser, but he brings about the worst reactions in people.

Though, maybe I am just crazy….

I suppose it doesn't matter. Just know I am doing better and have gotten more sleep.

I can't wait to see you again.

…

Cream.

…

…

…

…

It had been over a fortnight, and the section of the city was slowly resembling more of its peaceful days. The dead had been cleaned and set ablaze, while the added military might of the defected soldiers bolstered the Redford army.

Flags bearing Cream's house insignia intermixed with the royal colors were flown from every shop, and the spirit of change had fully taken hold of the proletariat force.

Gregory had studied his book in this time and had taught Hazel how to use her weapon and load it. The book was so comprehensive it even explained how ammunition was produced for many out-of-date rifles and arms.

This allowed mass production of flintlock muskets to be used by the ranged infantry of the Redford army, as the powder and flint was easy to mine or create in the cavern.

Further exploring through the book and dissecting his own shells. Gregory could now concoct his own ammunition to supplement the scarcity of his supply.

He now knew the differences between the shells and even created his own experimental rounds using brass as the container to hold the contents.

Everything resulted in a once rag-tag uprising becoming a fiercely well-armed force. Even still, their stranglehold on this city section meant they had enough food and supplies to last months.

With everything now more stable, Cream finally felt a sense of relief. Neither Windser nor Radcliff had tried to make a move, and the small section of tunnels that connected the social district shops controlled by Redford were heavily guarded and enforced.

As she stepped out front, she could see Hazel practicing her shots with the musket and rapidly using her tools to reload it. A lot could be said about her bad aim, but nothing could be said about the speed at which she could reload the sluggish weapon.

Gregory was talking to smiths and those that had taken to mining for powder ingredients. He made sure they knew what they needed per the book and even used his hands to help craft the ammunition pellets that could be used in both the muskets and the creation of buckshot.

A heavy and thick barricade had been erected between the residential and social districts to keep Radcliff's knights at bay, while the opening to no man's land was now heavily patrolled by musketeers and crossbowmen.

It seemed there was nothing to immediately worry about, and Cream marched freely out into the cleared road that led to the shops.

It was almost like old times, at least in a sense she could see casual people waking about between stores and soldiers enjoying pleasantries that had long since been forgotten.

When she noticed Eliot sitting next to Lyra on the wooden sidewalk, she confidently approached them. When they both saw her, they stared, and Cream was the first to speak.

"How are you feeling, Misses Lasil?"

Lyra moved her wing but then smiled graciously and spoke politely. "I am doing splendid, thank you. My husband tells me you saved my life. As much as I am upset about the current circumstances, I am thankful you have a heart that beats."

Cream blinked, she had never spoken to Lyra in all these busy days, and it was striking how opposite she was to Eliot. Still, she felt bad for all that had occurred and apologized.

"I am sorry you were injured. I made it explicitly clear that it was not to happen, but it did anyway. I know things are tough, but I hope you make yourself comfortable until this is over."

Lyra just shook her head and spoke calmly. "No, the winds are changing direction, and I see now that we need to change course and fly with its powerful gust."

Cream smiled and found Lyra to be quite spiritual. Still, it seemed her presence had reigned in Eliot, and he was no longer bitter and outspoken like usual.

As Cream was about to speak again, she was interrupted by a soldier running up and calling out to her.

"Lady Redford!"

When the three looked over, he stopped before Cream and caught his breath before speaking. "Lady Redford…. Forgive the intrusion, but I come from the border of no man's land. A large group of soldiers is traversing down the road, and we need your orders."

Cream was fully attentive and then spoke. "Is it Alistair?"

The soldier shrugged and spoke again. "They are too far to tell, but many look to be dressed as Windser's guards from a distance."

Cream was uncertain, but after brief thought, she called Hazel, who quickly ran over from her weapons practice.

"Yes, Lady Redford?" Hazel spoke.

"Can you quickly go to no man's land and see the make-up of the approaching soldiers from the border?"

Hazel was quick to nod, and it wasn't more than a few moments until she was racing off with the messenger tailing, trying pathetically to keep up.

Once the interruption was done, Eliot stood up and spoke. "Do you really think you can handle Windser? He is not like other animals, is well armed, and has little pity for others."

Cream stared off into the distance in the direction that Hazel went and then turned to Lasil. Looking him confidently in the face, she answered.

"We will, there is no doubt…."

Eliot scoffed and mockingly spoke to her. "What do you think you are, Redford? A tactical genius?"

"Now Eliot, dear…." Lyra interjected in a judgmental tone when he became harsh.

Eliot winced and then let out a frustrated sigh before speaking more nicely. "Well, I hope you're right…. For all our sakes."

Cream glanced at Lyra; it seemed there was much more to Eliot than he showed in public. It made her curious, but still, she hadn't the time to pry on their intimate dynamic.

When no more conversation came, Eliot placed his wing on his belt and spoke. "Since you are so confident, count me in when the time comes. I made a vow, and if there is one thing I am not, it is an oath-breaking piece of shit."

Cream merely smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Lasil…."

Eliot waved his wing arrogantly and turned away from her rudely. "Don't get too full of yourself, Redford…."

"…."

…

…

…

Hazel approached the plethora of mining soldiers at the edge of no man's land. In the long distance, she could see waves of soldiers marching toward them.

The riflemen were standing with their muskets at the ready, and it seemed they planned to copy the techniques that Windser's forces had used against company C.

Hazel quickly raised her hand to inform them to stop and promptly retrieved her treasure from the little fanny pack. Once it was expanded, she looked through the spyglass to better understand the threat.

"…."

As she examined the forces, she bit her tongue and heard one of the linemen speak up.

"What do you see, Hazel?"

Hazel pulled the spyglass away from her eye and smiled brightly. "It looks to be Alistair…. He is near the front with what appears to be many of Windser's guardsmen, Jamie, and the surviving miners. Though, they don't look to be prisoners."

When she said that, the soldiers held up their weapons and allowed the guards to continue their approach. Alistair had been gone for so long that they thought he was slain, but now he was returning with a few of Winder's well-outfitted militia.

By the time Alistair was close enough to be seen by the naked eye. It didn't take long for people to see his bruised, cut-up, and gore-covered appearance. He looked like an old wildman carrying a gore-spattered ax, and the armor he once wore was discarded for his bare, muscular chest.

When Hazel approached, he grinned and lifted his ax so that it rested comfortably on his bare shoulder. "Ah, good tae see ye survived wee wan, an' tae think I had any doubts."

Hazel nodded and then responded in her usual timid manner. "Yes…. We thought the same about you."

Alistair laughed and shook his head, letting his mane shake about. "Bah, nonsense lass, ye know me better than 'at…."

Once Alistair finished laughing, he moved away from Hazel and stood in front of Redford's armed forces.

Now face to face with Alistair, the border commander spoke loudly. "It is good to see you, sir. I am happy we could determine who you were, so there was no mistaken combat."

Alistair grinned and glanced back at the guards that once served Windser, and he spoke. "I hope ye don' mind, but I brought back some soldiers who prefer tae be in wan solid piece as opposed tae two…."

The commander eyed them, and they seemed clearly subdued because of how easy it would be to stab Alistair in the back, yet they didn't.

When the commander looked at Alistair to speak, he found he didn't need to because Alistair seemed to know what would be said.

"Eh' lads an' lasses have had it wi' their lord, an' so they decided tae follow a real leader…." Alistair paused, placed two fingers into his mouth, and blew, creating a loud whistling noise.

"Speakin' o' fat arse lords, I brought us a guest o' honor tae be spendin' time wi' eh' mine workers."

After a few moments, a struggling, severely beaten Windser was pushed to the front to stand by Alistair. He seemed afraid but said nothing due to the circumstances.

The border guards were surprised Alistair brought him back alive, and Hazel was quite shocked as well.

"I never thought you'd spare Windser this long…. Not after what he's done to you…." Hazel said in a sadly subdued manner.

Alistair eyed Windser and placed his meaty paw on his shoulder like a friend might. With a bit of roughness, he squeezed his muscular hand to clamp down onto Windser, digging his ferocious nails in deep.

As Windser cried out in pain, Alistair held it and spoke. "Nonsense…. I know there be many people here 'at have suffered because o' oor friend here, an' I think we ought tae be keepin' Miss Redford happy…. Don' ye?"

As he finished, he released his grip, and Windser screeched while blood leaked down his fancy clothes. He then grabbed hold of his bleeding shoulder and was immediately grabbed and shoved by the guards into position behind Alistair.

Hazel could do nothing but nod, and it wasn't but a moment until the guard unit began walking into the safe area with everyone gawking as they traveled their way through.

It didn't take long for the other house guards and civilians that defected to approach. Once they saw Windser in a subdued manner, they yelled and even spat on him in disgust.

"Not so mighty now!"

"I hope they hang you!"

"Exploitative Monster!"

"Rapist!"

The sounds of rage filled the air and increased as they approached the Redford estate. Once the Miners caught word and glimpse of the oligarch, all bets were off.

They threw things, hollered, and even cried. Some tried to attack him but were restrained by Alistair.

"Hold back! We'll have oor justice. I promise ye 'is!"

The loud screaming, noises, and commotion attracted the attention of Cream and those around her. At first, she wasn't sure what was up, but when she saw Alistair marching forward, she knew he had somehow managed the impossible.

"I-Alistair! I thought you were dead!" Cream said with elation and then stopped the minute Alistair grabbed hold of Windser and dragged him atop an elevated wooden surface so that all could see them.

"Attention, all! I have brought ye a vile worm. Wan 'at's prayed oon eh' weak, eh' disadvantaged, an' eh' young! 'Is disgrace deserves all he has comin' tae em', but eh' way I see it, we all ur' owed eh' right tae watch his punishment!"

With his proclamation yelled out and a silence now fallen over the still gathering crowd. Windser was pushed forward so that he fell onto his hands and knees not too far away from Cream.

She stood surprised and was both hesitant and confused. Alistair had brought him back, and it seemed he would be killed regardless of what she said. Still, she felt it necessary to let him speak.

"Hold! I implore you to at least let him say his piece! Everyone at least deserves that much!" Cream shouted.

Alistair looked at her and then over to Windser without protest.

"…"

Windser was quiet, but when he saw Eliot next to Cream, he saw an opportunity to try to help himself and began to stand up.

"Look, I-I understand all your anger and frustration, but please, do not act too rashly in your decision of my life. I am well connected to Lady Radcliff and could tell you anything you wanted to know about her plans and strategies to be used against you." He said as confidently as he could muster.

That sounded beneficial to Cream, and she was in thought about the offer. It seemed to her, that Windser could be an incredibly valuable asset if what he claimed was true.

When Alistair heard that and saw Cream contemplating, he angrily grabbed Windser, shoved him roughly, then kicked him to the ground in a rage.

"Enough o' 'is shite!"

"Stop Alistair! He might…." Cream began but was silenced by Alistair's shouting roar.

"IF SHE IS GIVEN YE EH' RIGHT TAE SPEAK, THEN TELL ER' WHIT YE DID!"

Windser crawled back from Alistair but then saw the axe raising.

"TELL ER'!"

Windser flinched and swallowed his own spit, after which, he nodded slowly.

When Alistair lowered his ax, Windser stood on shaky legs and stared at him. "I… Well…. When you…."

Alistair roughly grabbed hold of him again and lifted his weight off the ground with one arm, after which he dragged him close to his face. "Address, Lady Redford…. If she wants tae spare ye, then she deserves tae know eh' kind o' scum she's sparin'."

With a toss, Windser was sent sailing and crashing onto the wooden planks they stood atop. When he eventually got back up, he was visibly pale and wondered how he would convince Cream to spare him after what he was to say.

"…"

Cream stepped forward and then spoke to him. "Speak Windser…. I just want the truth."

Windser nodded and then wiped the sweat off his brow. "I… uhm… I came to the mines and took Ailia…."

Cream looked befuddled, but Alistair spoke loudly before she could.

"An' jus' who is Ailia McGregor!?"

Windser shook and then breathed out heavily. "Your daughter…."

"Aye, 'at's right, ye pig, an' ye thought I weren't serious when I said I'd be comin' for ye."

Cream looked horrified, and it became clear to Windser that he had an uphill battle.

"Cream… I…"

Cream angrily interrupted him and spoke in a commanding tone. "That's Lady Redford to you, Windser!"

"I… Yes, Lady Redford…. Surely you can forgive me for my mistakes. It wasn't my fault that Ailia was taken away. I was just sent to collect her on Radcliff's orders…. Even Eliot will vouch for me." He spoke while eyeing Lasil for help.

Eliot was surprised to be invoked, but the look on Windser's face was pathetic and desperate. It seemed even Cream had turned against him, and after some brief soul-searching, Lasil decided Windser was poison both to the rebellion, and to his life.

"He is full of nonsense… He took her and tried to rape her, just like he does every other woman or girl he collects. Ailia fought against him and, like anybody that does, was shipped off to be killed!"

"Why, you lying bird-brained BASTARD!" Windser screamed as gasps and whispers erupted through the unknowing among the crowd.

"You are the one that rapes women, Lasil! You drank with me most nights and abused my staff many times, you lecherous scumbag!"

Eliot shook his head and pointed his feathered remiges. "Booze and games are what I like, but you know I would never commit adultery on my wife!"

As Cream watched them shout at each other, she recognized it for what it was. An attempt to sow discontent and misery the way the houses always did.

"Enough!" She screamed, causing the yelling to stop.

"I am thoroughly horrified by the allegations against both of you!"

Windser desperately reached his hands out towards Cream and spoke in a pathetically whining way. "Please, Lady Redford… These are all but allegations, and surely you cannot convict me without concrete proof…. They claim I did things with Ailia; I did not."

Cream stopped, and as she looked around the crowd, she noticed the sheer displeasure everyone was feeling. Her logic told her that she shouldn't let Windser die without valid proof, but as she looked at Alistair staring at her without a hint of emotion, she was doubtful.

Alistair seized the opportunity when he saw her struggling and spoke to her. "So, whit'll it be, Lady Redford… Ur ye wi' us o' against us….?"

Cream now understood that she might have a clean conscious if she tried to spare Windser, but she also had the growing intuition of a leader.

The pain of "her" people was compelling, and despite the nonexistent physical evidence, it seemed they were crying for justice.

As Windser stood there afraid. Cream raised her arm, and as an emperor might, she balled her hand into a fist and put her thumb down towards the ground.

Windser was shocked that Cream would personally issue his death, and he became enraged by the slight from someone so unnoble and weak. He then began to lash out against his former "allies."

"You fucking whore! You peasant pile of trash! I told Radcliff she should have shipped your ass off like the fox when you returned!" Windser screeched.

Alistair laughed loudly and grabbed hold of Windser's ruffled coat, but before he could be dragged, Cream shouted angrily.

"What did you say!?"

Windser spat in her direction and shouted back. "Oh, you dumb bitch, you and that faux prince ruined everything! I was…."

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO TAILS!?" Cream screamed, making everyone close to her back away as she fought against a wave of powerful emotions.

Windser smirked and figured if he must die swiftly, he would leave lasting pain on those who would do it. "The dimwitted fox was shipped off to Robotropolis by Radcliff and is likely dead."

Cream began to shake as it brought her immense pain to know this, and all could see it written on her face. "How… You, you monstrous bastard!"

Windser laughed mockingly and then pointed his finger at Lasil. "Just ask your 'friend,' he has always known!"

Eliot angrily stepped forward and shouted. "He lies!"

Cream scowled at Eliot and then turned back to Windser as he laughed at them.

"Kill me quickly if you must, but I told you I know everything, and if you think I'll ever talk now, FORGET IT!"

Alistair could see the discord Windser was causing, and he ultimately decided to put a stop to it by yanking Windser off his feet and throwing him to the ground like a fat ragdoll.

"Ah!"

Cream could barely control her emotions, and Lasil immediately tried to clear himself. "He is lying…. I had…."

"Shut up!" Cream yelled at Lasil and then pointed to Alistair in her madness.

"Make him suffer!"

The orders surprised him, but he grinned brightly. "As her Lady Redford commands~!"

Alistair picked up Windser, who was dangling off the wooden floor and making choking noises. Cream watched intensely as Alistair began to take his revenge the way he'd always dreamed.

While Windser struggled, Alistair spoke to him in a jovial manner. "Ah, I hear ye be likin' tae get some heid lad. 'At's good because soon ye'll find oot I dae also!"

With that, he slammed Windser to the ground. There was wheezing and gasping as Alistair circled him like a shark. At first, Windser kept his plan in place and began to verbally assault the lion.

"Y-you and your pathetic daughter! She was fucked over and over again, and you know what? She moaned like the whore she was every time!"

Alistair was unmoved emotionally and, with a single swing, brought down the ax against his leg. Sending out screeching, crying, and howling.

As Alistair dragged his ax, he pulled the leg clean away and spoke. "My daughter, even at fifteen, had more strength than ye ever will, an' ye'll be proved 'at today."

Windser couldn't pay attention and grabbed hold of where he was wounded. His wailing was so dire it might move the animals if he wasn't so despised.

Cream just watched, swallowing any negative feelings she might have, and for the first time, she witnessed brutal violence directly caused by her wishes.

As Alistair kicked Windser down, he quickly swung his ax to take the second leg, and when the crying intensified, the crowd began to cheer over the grisly display of cruelty.

They became transfixed on what was occurring, and collectively all sympathy was lost.

"Please! Ah…! Please stop!" Windser wailed, unable to hold his bluffing anymore.

Alistair had zero concern, and with another swing, his left arm was next. Another cry and a wail of despair, and he flopped around, then screamed as loud as he could.

"LADY REDFORD! MERCY! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MERCY!"

Alistair glanced over and saw Cream was unmoved by his pleas, so he lobbed off his last limb.

Now a simpering head on a torso, he no longer had any strength to yell or scream. He merely stared up as Alistair stood over him, clutching the ax in both hands.

When their eyes met, Windser could see the mercilessness in Alistair's.

"When ye get tae hell, tell em' Alistair McGregor sent ye!"

Winder couldn't move, and as the cheers hushed, Alistair brought down the ax violently on the despicable creature's bulky neck. There were horrific sounds and gurgling, but another swing of the ax silenced them.

After the dismemberment, Alistair grabbed the head and held it up for the crowd to see. When he did, everyone began to erupt in applause and cheers.

…

…

When things became calmer. Alistair threw the head towards Cream, and she watched as it landed before her with a splat and rolled slightly. She then looked up at Alistair.

"'At's for ye, an' from here oan oot, ye can consider yerself as havin' me full loyalty!"

Cream could hear the miners erupt into applause, and some of the ones close to her cheered her on. As she thought about the violence she had just absorbed, she now knew that violence could be easy if one was able to detach themself from the act.

"…."

Staring at Windser's head, she could feel nothing but happiness that it had happened, but as she turned her attention to Lasil, she began to feel rage again.

Walking towards him, he backed up and held his wings up. "What-what he said isn't true…. I swear…."

It was evident how scared he was; he was aware he was the last house alive any longer besides Cream's.

"Did you know?" Cream demanded an answer.

Lasil was quiet and then glanced over at his wife, who looked just as frightened.

Eventually, he looked down and answered honestly.

"Yes… Though, I didn't know it meant anything to you. Radcliff ordered it, and it was carried out by her knights."

As Cream stared coldly at him, so many thoughts crossed her mind, many of them violent, many of them that Alistair would carry out at her behest with glee.

Still, as she fought her compromised feelings, she eventually looked over at Lynn, who was standing by her. "Keep an eye on him. If he acts oddly, seize him and his wife immediately."

Lynn nodded, and Lasil breathed a slight sigh of relief. Before he could speak further, Cream turned away and began to march back into her estate. Not stopping for anyone who tried to get her attention.

"…."

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

Dear Tails.

It's true, isn't it? You're dead.

I didn't want to believe such a thing, but as I sit here writing the last letter I ever will, I am struck with emotionlessness.

Where once I felt lost, I now am found, and while my goals once were to get through the tunnels and escape to you. I now see that this movement I have come to lead is all I have left in my pathetic life.

Still, I intend to fight to the death in the coming weeks, as at least it means I will be able to see you again…. Maybe my mom too, if she knows where to find me….

I… I just… I miss you…. I really, really miss you….

I'm sorry I lied before…. I do feel… love for you.

Goodbye, forever and always.

Cream.