Dartanion recupero: She will end up with him, especially now, just with a rocky boat or two ahead.

o3o: Fiona and Frederick I was very excited to write about. Things are starting to get emotional with these characters, and that is fun to write.

Sonic has an arrogance to him, that makes him feel like he has to do everything, and that everyone else can't do anything without getting hurt. It comes across as compassion and sacrifice, but there is an arrogance to him. Fiona calling him out on that was nice…. While Johan was planning to conquer the world.

/*-*/

Sonic found his body to be ready to go as his eyes shot open. His bones were still sore, but his muscles were itching for some action, to zip across the kingdom once again. Sonic's eyes became fully open and the covers shot off his legs as he climbed out of bed.

Sonic popped his back and zipped over to the sink for some water, and poured himself a glass. Already, he was winded, and his legs were letting him know that his eagerness was costly. Perhaps he should have waited a bit before going all out.

Still, the water was refreshing…

"Oh, I see that you're awake and alive now." Fiona's voice sounded smug and happy, with a note of sarcasm just under the surface.

Sonic drank another cup, before gasping, "Yeah…. I'm feeling much better, ready to go." Sonic stated, throwing her a grin across the room.

Fiona raised an eyebrow, "Really, then step away from the sink." She stated with no attempt to hide the sarcasm this time.

Sonic looked down and realized that he had been leaning and supporting himself with his arms. He smirked back at her and closed his eyes, before throwing his hands up and backing away. His legs immediately began to burn from his morning outburst of speed.

Sonic let out a breath as he felt like he had just ran a small ten-thousand mile run. His legs wobbled and his bones shot sharp pains up his spine. Sonic barely staggered before Fiona appeared behind him with a super speed of her own, or rather, just being smooth and quick.

"Yeah, no, no running around just yet." Fiona smiled at him. Sonic leaned over his shoulder and grinned back at her.

"Awe, are you going to take care of me?" Sonic mocked, only to realize that with the way things had gone in the past, that was very likely.

"How'd you guess?" Fiona smirked over at him, before holding him closer. Something about the way she grabbed him felt… strange. It wasn't as though it would look suspicious, but he just felt like something was… different.

His spine vibrated in a shiver as she held him. Part of him wanted to stay in her tight hold forever. Another part of him wanted to run away as fast as he could.

Sonic's brain immediately shot a memory of him being bound up in darkness, with Fiona's lips on his own. He felt compelled to defuse the situation. As he opened his mouth, Fiona sighed.

"I talked with Doctor Quack, you're stable enough to let out, but you have to be watched." Fiona whispered to Sonic, sounding very proud of herself.

Sonic perked up, "I can finally get out of here?" Sonic was so ready to leave this stupid hospital… before realizing the last bit of her sentence, "So you're going to watch me?"

Fiona smiled, "At least until you can get back on you can take care of yourself without getting hurt. That means you still need to take it easy." Fiona glared down at Sonic in a scolding manner.

Sonic snorted, before slowly pushing away from the hug, and smiling, "Thanks… but I'm too good-"

"It's nonnegotiable." Fiona scolded, putting her hands on her hips, "I don't trust you to not kill yourself by running into a wall too fast." Her tail flicked up and down in an impatient way.

Sonic frowned, and moved back to sit back on his bed, "But the Freedom Fighters need me." Sally needs me.

"The Freedom Fighters are…. They'll manage." Fiona caught herself, but they both knew what she was going to say. The Freedom Fighters are fine without you.

Sonic scowled, before his angry frown turned into a sad, strangely exhausted one. He was energetic a second ago, but now it all felt like there was no point in moving. The world didn't seem to need Sonic the Hedgehog anymore.

"Everyone is hoping that you'll get better, ok." Fiona's voice softened and made Sonic feel even weaker, like she was trying to spare his feelings. It was strange, because if she wasn't nice, Sonic would feel a little hurt, but because she was being so kind, he thought she didn't believe in him.

"Yeah, I'll get better and I'll be back in the game in no time." Sonic forced a grin on his face. He could do it, he just needed to believe in himself. Sonic forced himself back off the bed in a stand, "I'm sure with you here, I'll be in great shape."

Fiona smirked back at him, with her tail doing a curious little twirl up her back, "Well, you know I am going to look out for you." She smiled at him before turning around to walk to the door, before briefly looking at Sonic, "Lay in bed until I come and get you."

Sonic grinned back at her, and sat back down, laying back to look like he had been resting, "Hey Fi, thank you. I feel great when you're around." Sonic smiled at her. She had been the best part about his stay… and she was going to help him rescue Sally.

Fiona's tail jolted up and shivered as his words reached her ears. She moved out the door, and her shadow loomed for a bit before she disappeared.

Sonic laid back and stared up at the ceiling. He remembered Sally… hurting him. It occurred in the briefest of flashes. Sonic jolted as his heart began to race, his arm began to burn as if a blade was cutting straight into him.

Then… he was back to normal, in the hospital bed… waiting. Sonic panted, clutching his chest. She had hurt him…

And he couldn't tell anyone. She was the key to the Kingdom succeeding. She was hope, and that meant he had to get her back. Sonic rubbed his eyes.

He remembered her words, how she served him a chilidog, how she cleaned him up. Was it all an act? No, it couldn't have been.

His arms burned once again, the blade seemed to appear and cut his body. Sonic groaned as his chest lit up and bled… before being just fine.

Sonic panted, before noticing his hand shaking, his forearm shuddering. He needed to go, to move, to go-go-go-go! He shouldn't be still for this long.

Fiona walked back into the door, "Doctor Quack was at least reasonable. He's coming to check on you every three days…. And I have some things to do around here." She sounded a little annoyed, but Sonic was too happy to care. He was out because of her.

It wasn't manipulation, because Sonic wasn't promising anything. He was just spending time with Fiona while he got back up to how he was before. Sonic wasn't leading her on… right? No, Sonic wouldn't do that to anyone… ignoring how their relationship actually started.

/*-*/

Fiona felt her tail swaying back and forth in excitement. Her heart was soaring. Sonic was trusting her, hugging her. Fiona felt so excited. It would be them and Christina… at least while Fiona wasn't training the newer medics. Her life was going great.

Not to mention she was given time away from Frederick's… more insistent demands that she find a husband and get married off. Fiona knew the politics, she was practically born to be married off. But Frederick would give her a raincheck for Sonic. He loved Sonic, practically idolized him in several regards.

Fiona felt her grip tighten, and Sonic gasp, "Ah… hey, are we cool?" Sonic asked as though he had done something wrong. Fiona's hand had subconsciously gripped in her frustration.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about my brother." Fiona rolled her eyes at that.

"Why are you like that? He's a nice guy." Sonic smiled at her, "Not the worst man you've had around you."

Fiona's breath caught at that.

"…Sorry, I thought it would be funny." Sonic mumbled, "Not a cool joke."

"Yeah, but it wasn't the worst joke you've made." Fiona smiled back at him, still holding him up to keep him from making any sudden jerks or lunges.

Sonic snickered in her arms, seemed bubbly and excited.

Fiona sighed, "Frederick has been busy playing match maker instead of… I don't know, running the duchy? He's getting really pushy to marry me off to some fat nobleman's son or an arrogant prick."

"Awe, don't make me feel too bad. I'll be fat with all of these warm meals, and then you'll want to leave me alone." The hedgehog couldn't resist with that joke, Fiona could tell. But a part of her wondered if he was serious about wanting her around. He had said so… so there was an opportunity waiting for her.

"Please-" Fiona snorted, rolling her eyes, "You're insufferably humble compared to some of these silver spooned… I guess I'm in no position to talk. I would have been the same way." Fiona had to reckon with that truth.

"No… I don't think you would have. I think… deep down you would have always had a rebellious streak." Sonic smiled at her, and his head leaned on her shoulder as they approached Sonic's manor, "You just would have been a little arrogant."

He gave her a little nudge with his head. Fiona rolled her eyes, and the walked up the steps towards the center of the massive house. Fiona actually felt a little tired for some unexplainable reason, "I'm… going to sit for a little bit."

She removed her arms from Sonic's body, and she felt dizzy, with a headache. She leaned against one of the pillars in front of Sonic's estate. She had been pushing herself too far, trying to look unphased to not sit in that stupid room anymore.

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard either." Sonic mumbled, putting a hand on her shoulder, "You might need a little more rest, just like me."

"I guess we need each other." Fiona flirted at him playfully with a wink.

Sonic smirked, but he didn't look too eager. Then again, he was rather coolheaded with a lot of their interactions. If he did like her, love her, then he wouldn't show it right off the bat. Or maybe she was being hopeful and naïve.

"Let's get each other back in shape." Sonic smiled at her, before hugging her back with his arms around her waist.

Fiona shivered from the closeness and excitement, "Yeah, I think we can really help each other." She brought her hand up to Sonic's, brushing his fingers in a test.

His breath hitched, but he didn't jerk away, or push her fingers off. Then again, he could just be nice, as he typically was. He would just simply pretend that he didn't notice, just to not hurt her feelings.

Sonic smiled on her shoulder, before mumbling, "Let's go take a nap."

Fiona nodded, and they seemed to carry each other up to the door. They walked inside the manor, with Fiona looking around at the surprisingly clean room. They walked up the railing, with Sonic groaning with each step, sounding strained at the top of the steps.

She lifted him a little bit more, only exhausting herself as they did. "Where are we going?" Fiona asked, panting.

"You're room first." Sonic mumbled, "You get to sleep first."

Ever the gentleman Fiona almost snorted. He was hardly gentleman material, but he was still incredibly nice, even when half dead.

They moved slowly down the hallway until they got to Fiona's room, which had clean sheets. Sonic noticed some of the bags of soldiers lying around.

Fiona explained as they both slumped on the bed, "We needed more room for soldiers." She mumbled, panting.

Sonic was silent, but his breathing could be heard. He was having a rough time moving around. Maybe Fiona shouldn't have pressured Doctor Quack into releasing him so soon.

"I guess it's fine." Sonic sighed, before trying to raise himself up.

"Wait… Just… lay here, with me." Fiona mumbled at him, moving her hand to grab his arms.

Sonic's face was one of concern. He wasn't quite ready for anything more. Fiona could tell it. But it didn't have to be making a move.

"Just… you don't need to move too much. We're both tired. Think nothing of it." Fiona smiled at him, giving him a glowing, fake, innocent look. She was going to enjoy it, no doubt. Fiona knew she would.

Sonic seemed torn, but only for a moment before his exhaustion won out. "Fine by me." He climbed a little bit more on the bed, and slumped. Fiona moved closer and realized he had immediately gone to sleep.

He was facing away from her while he slept, but Fiona still dared to move closer to his quills. She felt him roll over and wrap an arm around her. That was all it took.

Fiona's world went black for a second.

Suddenly, she was standing on a steel floor. She saw a very familiar human form, the fat Doctor sitting at a table. He seemed to be surrounded by the leaders of the legions and armies.

A green deer raised her arms, clearly tired from debate, "We must be able to communicate. They have broken our defenses, and we aren't able to coordinate to counter attack. You can't expect us-"

"I think you all just need more motivation… more…reminders… of who you should be grateful to." The fat Doctor scowled at her.

A yellow cat stepped forward, "Sir, while I understand your fears, I do not believe what happened was any of our doings. I believe that they simply found-"

"Is that what you want me to believe?" Eggman snapped, panting, "You expect me to believe those… creatines could find my secret base without help from one of you…" His eyes once again glared at the green deer.

The Green deer looked very nervous under the gaze of the Doctor, "I have not done anything to jeopardize your operations."

"Oh, I don't doubt that…" The Fat Doctor smiled at her, "You have every reason to be loyal…" His gaze turned towards the Large, Iron King. The bull was known for his immense strength and power… and a might right mentality, "I don't suppose you would try something like this… no, you're too set in your foolish ways of brute force and…"

"Mind your words well, Emperor." The Iron King growled at Eggman, his eyes glowing with an agitation.

"No, I was simply confirming your loyalty and honor… however stupid it may be." Eggman smiled, waving the Grey bull off, Which only seemed to anger him further.

The Golden cat stepped forward, "Sir, might I propose an idea for the traitor?"

Eggman turned to face the cat immediately, "Oh, pray tell, who is the traitor."

The Golden Cat smiled, and bowed his head in gratitude, "I believe our traitor may be Nephthys."

The room was silent, only for a moment. The Grand Masters and Leaders seemed to look at each other carefully.

The Golden Cat cleared his throat, "Allow me to explain. She has been absent from our meetings, she had advanced knowledge of our bases and defense, and she held… more reservations about your beliefs, Doctor."

"Hmmm, that is very interesting, the only issue is that she is dead. I put vital registers in your cybernetics, for various reasons. Her heart hasn't exactly been… working properly." Eggman tapped his fingers in his chair.

"But might I propose that she found some way to remove the cybernetic enhancements. Then she would be able to lea-" The Golden cat was cut off quickly.

"I assure you, she has not removed her improvements." Eggman glowered, "Which begs the question, which of you is the traitor?"

Fiona watched from the shadows, or so she thought, when a form walked up behind her. She turned around quickly, but was too late to stop the fists slamming down on her as the Iron King shouted in rage.

Fiona's eyes shot open, and the sun had cast a golden light through the window. The Room cast phantoms inside with the dust and particles in the air. Fiona swore she saw a few shapes, but after blinking a few times, her mind returned to normal.

She was stressed, that much was true, or she had been. Fiona's dream was… real, in so many ways. It felt like a vision into the past, or the present.

Fiona turned over and saw Sonic, still asleep, snoring like a baby, so peacefully. He seemed to be so comfortable up against her back. He did, however, have a nasty frown on his face. Sonic was probably struggling in a dream, being ever so weak, and having a truly terrible set of the last few months, between his internal fights, The Death Egg, his torturing…

Fiona brushed a hand down his face, "Sh… I'm here. I'll be here for you when she can't." Fiona whispered gently.

/*-*/

The men marched across the hills seeming to be in a different trance from Johan's Ulfheidnar state. They seemed to ignore any pain their bodies felt. Or rather, some did. Others were less joyful, but still proud of their work.

Johan marched in front, with the banners of seven armies behind him, the others following further back, securing the flanks, and dealing with the encroaching machine warbands. The Artillery pieces were being pulled in, with Lanolin, her Horse, and the blue bear, Oscar, followed behind, pushing the weapons along with the wheels, and where available, horse and cart.

Johan remembered the words of the Garden Defenders who had surrendered. The Eggman was quickly fearful and easily turned on his own commanders. The fool was quick to assume treason among his men, which would often lead to the very thing the accusation made. His efforts to deny his men the right to speak only made their attack less costly.

Now, the frontline was too large for any of the single armies to control, and their response was slow.

Gewis approached Johan, his anger being seen, "You'd think the nobles would be more willing to give us some of their horses. Instead, we're stuck pushing guns up a hill in the mud."

"They will provide us what we need in time." Johan growled. The king had given Johan his support for the attack. He would curb the excess of the fools, and supply his men with more resources.

"I don't think so…" Gewis grumbled, but did not voice anymore of his opinion.

Johan's ears perked up as he heard the sound of mud being push in front of them. He raised his fist to tell the others to stop moving.

The armies stopped slowly, each banner lining up.

Figures emerged from behind sleeping trees on the hill. Stoix the Badger stepped forward, "I saw a large base up ahead. It was deeper into the territory than where we crossed."

Johan frowned at this information. He saw two options, to surround the base and cut them off from supplies, or to attack the base. Both would take either time or manpower.

Johan decided quickly, "We will remove them from their hovels!"

His men cheered, and the other armies cheered, though most likely from the feeling of the first army, and not from know what he said.

"I saw prisoners being moved around. The Egg Man has been taking people from their homes." Stoix proclaimed, raising her spear, and slamming the but down in a battle-hungry stance.

Johan turned around and walked back to lift the artillery pieces. Civilized people commonly hid behind walls. He wanted to break those walls quickly, before anyone could call for aid.

Some of the men saw what he was doing, and aided him, pushing the artillery pieces up the hill. With the equipment up the hill, Johan returned to his men, and marched only for a few moments.

The reason for the stop was clear, that Stoix had not had to go far to find their enemy. The base stood at the center of a ravine. The road moved into the base, and in the distance, Johan could see a road leaving the base. There were large walls and towers which hid the inside of the enemy fortification. There were also towers, and smaller lasers on the towers, which seemed to turn and scan the area. Around the base was nothing, showing that the Eggman was not ready for an attack of serious force.

The artillery crews moved up, and Lanolin, along with her Horse debated the position of the artillery. The Horse pressured his commander with the injuries of the old attack.

Lanolin slowed herself, and was distant in her mind with those words, and she agreed. Johan growled in his throat. If he had wanted that horse as the commander, he would have chosen the horse. He also did not care for honeyed words, and salted insults, which the horse was adept in.

The men were in position, the artillery was in position, and the enemy knew they were there. Johan could see the gaze of the cowards inside the towers, scrambling to safe positions.

Johan looked around for the boy-prince. Where was he? Johan could not see him. The front could not wait, Johan gave the order for the artillery to fire.

The rumble of the guns shook the ground as each shell struck the walls, crushing the bricks and iron under the force of each blast. Johan gave the order for his men to charge.

They rushed down the hill towards the walls as more shells struck them, crushing even more, with a few tearing down the tower.

An opening appeared in the walls, which Johan and his men were quick to seize with their swift attack.

Johan ran down the mountain with his men following behind him, as the open in the wall widened. Only then did the enemy start shooting at Johan. As if they were woken from a slum, or by hope that they would be hidden from Johan's sight, they began to shoot directly at him.

Johan did not have a gun, but he had men around him who continued to fire until Johan climbed on top of the rubble of the walls.

The hooded soldiers were to his left and right. To Johan's left, there were six, two on the ground, scrambling to their feet with four standing up with shaking weapons in their hands. To Johan's right, there were fifteen men, with two crawling on the ground, having been knocked onto the ground by the blasts of the artillery, and two standing up. Three were aiding the standing and crawling while the eight remaining leveled their weapons more confidently.

Johan jumped into the enemy to his right, attacking the eight by swinging his arm, not feeling any real burning from the small lasers on his skin. Their small weapons were no issue for Johan's thick hide, as he swung his arms and knocked two back into the walls of a building within the base.

The remaining six turned around and ran, firing back at Johan. At this same time, Johan's men arrived at the rubble and were firing from the top of the mound. The artillery ceased, allowing the men on the pile to fire at the group to the left of the center building.

Screams could be heard inside the building, which meant Johan had found the kingdom's people in the base.

Johan chased down the active warriors, throwing one into the wall, and dragging his body up to tear the skin off his front, making the hooded Garden Defender screech in pain, before Johan tossed him at one of his allies.

Johan then roared at the enemy, with them continuing to shoot save the few who were knocked to the ground. Gewis shouted in the distance, "Keep Moving, STORM THOSE BUILDINGS!"

With the placement of their men, the artillery could not be used without striking their own pointlessly. Still, the men were able to move close to the buildings and start to open them. That was what it seemed.

Johan jumped on the hooded foes in front of him, stepping on one's chest. The male red Garden Defender continued to shoot up at him. That was courage, and will to survive. So he would serve Johan later.

Johan removed his foot and slammed his head into the Garden Defender's. The young man fell limp. He would serve later. For now, his allies would perish. Johan's gaze turned to the red Garden defenders as they ran across the red dirt. Johan chased them down and slammed into one, sending him on the others.

The Garden Defenders lacked discipline, and they scrambled around, gripping rocks when their weapons were close by, but just out of sight. Johan thrust his claws into one's throat, before walking over to another crushing his back, but not before feeling his foot pierced with several small spines.

Johan roared, before kicking the last two over and thrusting his claws into their rib cage as they threw around their rocks and weapons in fear. Johan pulled out one's right ribs, while crushing the other against the ground.

The metal soldiers moved out from a small building, deploying in formations of three wide and seven deep. Several lasers struck Johan's skin, but they were small and harmless. Johan rushed at the formation of the metal soldiers, slamming his full body into their tough forms.

He could hear the sound of bees flying, and look above to see floating metal wasps, shooting small specks at Johan, he was tempted by the Devil to test his strength against them, but he found them too easy to avoid.

The men took to shooting down the flying wasps, which when firing were quite still.

Other men were at the doors, trying to force them open. Johan ran over to the ones around the large building at the center of the base. The men saw him and immediately parted for Johan.

He grabbed the doors, and used all of his strength to force them open. The men rushed inside, and Johan joined them. He entered a grey room with a red line moving along the walls to another door, which was sealed.

His men were trying to pull the door open, but Johan walked over and did so. It appeared they were ready to seal this building with great effort. There must be valuable items inside, or it might the people who were taken.

Johan found his answer when he entered a long hallway with columns of bars, and doors breaking up at points where walls jutted out. The room was dark, seeming to have lot power, but Johan's eyes did the work for him. He saw several creatures forced into the prison cells, with foxes, bears, hogs and dogs, all forced into a tight space, with five or six per cell.

The doors opened, one by one as Johan stood at the center of the hall way. The people were scared, with their cowards blinding their minds to any true reason. They should have known that Johan was not here to kill them.

"Prepare to move!" Johan growled at the people in the cells.

Gewis looked up at Johan, "Maybe be a little nicer? These people have been through a lot." He mumbled.

"I ask that you guide them out." Johan growled before turning around and walking outside the building. The base was still standing, aside from the wall they had breached and the blood stains. This could be a good supply station to bring their weapons and ammunition to the front.

Gewis herded what must have been a few hundred creatures, along with more being brought from two other buildings. They had taken forty red Garden Defenders as prisoners, they would be useful slaves in Johan's service. They set up camp as the day turned to night. The army would be ready to move tomorrow, but they needed proper rest.

Johan sat in the building some of the soldiers were escorting the many people back to the kingdom. He felt good, but not as good as he should have. Their enemy had lost some men, so Johan considered it a victory.

/*-*/

With Sticks in Scouting, and The Army on full direction, Eggman is woefully unprepared for the rising strength of the Kingdom of Acorn. Arrogance and suspicion blind him to the threat. However, forces are still at work, even at home, working against the Conquerer's wishes.

Sonic and Fiona are recovering together, but even in this, there are schemes amok. And even with the best intentions, pain comes from trickery.

Please leave a review. Your reviews and private messages keep me fueled a fiery, and help me get through slower parts of writing. Thank you all for reading.