Consequences
Note: Let me just say, for the record, that I HATE Hamlin Pig!
(Theme song - Kim Possible by Disney Channel on YouTube)
(Abigail's POV)
*Right now, me & Sally were standing in front of the Council with two guards on either side of us*
Sally: I would like an explanation as to why it feels like we're under arrest.
Dylan: You're not under arrest. We . . . We've not pressed charges.
Rosemary: Yet. That is the purpose of this hearing.
Sally: What - !? We just got back from Moebius. How . . .
Hamlin: Precisely Princess. The charges under discussion are subverting the Council's authority and going rogue.
Sally: Treason. You're accusing us of treason.
Hamlin: The Council of Acorn voted to not take action against the Suppression Squad. The active Freedom Fighters were to focus on pressing the assault against Dr. Robotnik.
Sally: The Chaotix have been here to . . .
Hamlin: You led the Freedom Fighters into Freedom HQ and across Moebius. Yes or no?
Sally: . . . Yes.
*Hamlin then turned to me*
Hamlin: And you, Miss Catz. You were part of the invasion and actually went to Moebius. Yes or no?
Abigail: Well . . . Yes . . .
Rosemary: The Council voted also for Sonic's insurrection to be punished. Given that he met with both you and the King before leaving for Moebius, one begins to wonder if this isn't all one large royal conspiracy.
Sally: That's ridiculous! I created the specifics of Sonic's "punishment" and sent him on his mission under my authority as field leader,
Hamlin: Not under your authority as Princess?
Sally: No.
Hamlin: So you are saying you hold no power outside of being the field leader?
Sally: . . . I suppose so, yes, since my Father is the King.
Hamlin: So let me put this straight, you made your decision as field leader of the Freedom Fighters . . . A group that answers directly to the Council of Acorn. So you have admitted to us that you went against direct orders of your superiors and purposely let one of your own agents act of her own accord?
*Slowly, I felt a knot growing in my stomach*
Abigail:*in her mind* Now what?
Uncle Chuck: We need you to provide some answers, Princess. Otherwise it seems Hamlin's charges are . . . Accurate.
Sally: It was the Council's decision to punish Sonic. The specifics were left up to me. So any choice I made would have technically been approved by the Council.
Hamlin: The Council wouldn't approve actions that undermine it's own authority.
Sally: Then why did a councilor help with the help of the new Star Posts? That seems like support to me.
Hamlin: The Star Posts are meant to go to the Special Zone, which is an ongoing mission. That, and that councilor can fall under your command as field leader. You're just outlining how far your rogue actions went.
Sally: There was no larger invasion plan! An opportunity presented itself and we acted! Now Freedom HQ is ours again and the invasion from Moebius has been driven back!
Hamlin: The ends do not justify the means! If we accept that, then you can do anything in the name of the "greater good" and we become redundant!
Sally: Fine. Then I'm guilty.
Abigail: And so am I.
Hamlin: Well! In that case, I move that we . . .
Sally: But understand this, we will not go through this again. I will not act, I will not give any order, until I've had direct approval of the Council. Even if we're in the middle of a fight. You can discount any help from the Chaotix. They are free agents, beyond my control. I will refuse to give them any orders. Or - You can trust me. I've been defending us all my life. I wouldn't do anything to endanger my people.
Abigail: And even though I only been here less than a year, I would never put anyone in danger either.
*The King & Uncle Chuck looked at us proudly*
King Nigel Acorn: All for dropping the investigation and all charges leveled at Princess Sally Acorn and Abigail Catz?
Dylan: Yea.
Hamlin: Nay.
Uncle Chuck: Yea.
Rosemary: Yea.
Isabella: Yea.
Penelope: Yea.
*I breathed a sigh of relief*
Abigail: That was amazing, Sally! I thought Hamlin had you.
Sally: He did. I just managed to convince everyone to let me go. *to Hamlin* But it still begs the question: why? You used to be one of my best Freedom Fighters.
Hamlin: Substitute Freedom Fighters. Trained by the best, only to be forgotten and left behind every time.
Sally: You were never forgotten . . .
Hamilin: Don't placate me. I ran for office so I could finally make a difference in everyone's lives. If I can't fight for my people, I'll make sure you fight for them correctly.
*I put my hands on Sally's shoulders & glared at him. As he was leaving, my parents & Grandpa came running in*
Laura, Robert, & Lawrence: Abigail!
Abigail: Mom! Dad! Grandpa!
*All 3 of them wrapped their arms around me*
Robert: We heard everything from Charles, what were you thinking!?
Abigail: I was only helping my friends get out base back.
Lawrence: Maybe so, but did you even think about what would happen if that slim-ball, Scourge, had gotten to you?
Abigail: Okay. Maybe I wasn't thinking about that. But -
Robert: I don't wanna hear it! You are officially grounded for one full month! And that means no missions or dates!
*I was about to say something when my Mom stepped in between us*
Laura: Alright, that's enough. What really matters now is that she's safe . . . And sound . . .
*Suddenly, she clutched her stomach in pain & sunk to her knees*
Robert: Laura?
Abigail: Mom?
*Rosemary, who was leaving, turned back towards us. When she saw my Mom, her eyes went wide with worry*
Rosemary: Oh my goodness! Princess, have Nicole call the hospital, quickly!
Sally: Right!
*She took out her handheld computer*
King Nigel Acorn: Someone get the Mobo-Cruiser ready, now!
Lawrence: Laura, hold on!
Rosemary: Please, lay down. We'll be leaving for the hospital soon.
Robert: Laura! Laura!
*While everyone was running around, I stood there frozen, not knowing what to do. I snapped out of it when I heard my Mom let out another cry of pain*
Abigail: Mom!
*Soon, we were at the Hospital. Mom immediately went into the maternity ward*
Robert: A cesarean section!? But she's only in her seventh month!
Dr. Quack: This is an emergency, Robert. We have no choice.
*The next thing I knew, we were all in the waiting room*
Penelope: Dylan, would you stop pacing? You're making me nervous.
Dylan: Oh, sorry.
*Sonic & the rest of the Freedom Fighters then came running into the room*
Sonic: We came as soon as we heard! How is she?
Sally: We don't know. She just went into the operating room.
*I sat in my chair, shaking*
Abigail: What have I done?
Uncle Chuck: Abigail, don't worry. Your Mother's going to be alright.
Abigail: Because I wouldn't listen, I took matters into my own hands and made her worry. And now . . .
Robert: Sweetie, none of this is your fault.
Abigail: No! I was stupid. I just wanted to help make things right, but instead I made them worse.
Hamlin: Well, then let this serve as a lesson the next time you decide to - EEP! *he stopped when he saw everyone glaring at him* Uh . . . I'll just be quiet now.
*My Grandpa then kneeled in front of me*
Lawrence: Angel, I promise. Your Mother will make it. She's one of the strongest people I know. And I know that for a fact, because you're just like her.
*That made me feel a little better. I smiled & hugged him*
Abigail: Thanks, Grandpa.
*We stayed there all night. The next morning, Dr. Quack came into the room*
Dr. Quack: They're both alright. And it's a boy. *we all smiled in relief* Your Mother's resting now. She's had a long night.
Abigail:*crying* Thank you so much.
*Soon, we were all outside the NICU, looking at my new baby brother, who was in an incubator, through a window*
Tails: He's so tiny.
Dr. Quack: Well, he is one month premature. *I looked at him, worried* He's alright, Abigail.
*Bunnie put her hand on my shoulder*
Bunnie: Why don'cha go see yer Mom, Abby-Girl?
*I nodded & walked down the hallway. When I got to her room, she was sleeping. But she woke up just as I sat down next to her bed*
Laura: Abigail. I gave you all a scare, didn't I?
Abigail: Mom, I . . . I'm so sorry.
Laura: For what? Sweetie, nothing that happened today was your fault.
*I shook my head*
Abigail: But Mom . . . I went that mission without telling you. I made you, Dad, and Grandpa worry. And now this.
*I started to cry. My Mom just smiled & reached her hand out to me*
Laura: Sweetheart, come closer. *I took her hand & kneeled down next to her* It's true we were worried about you. After all, that's what parents do. They worry about their children. Even though you're all grown up, you'll always be our baby. And we're very proud of you. I also knew in my heart that your friends would save you.
Abigail: How?
*Mom gave me a wink*
Laura: Call it Mother's intuition. I think the reason your brother came early was because he couldn't wait to come out and join us.
Abigail: You think so?
Laura: I know so. *I smiled. that made me feel a lot better* Abigail?
Abigail: Yeah?
Laura: I want you to name your brother.
*I looked at her surprised*
Abigail: Really? Are you sure?
Laura: Of course. After all, your the only sister he has.
*I smiled at her & stood up*
Abigail: Thanks Mom. I think I already have the perfect name. *I gave her a kiss & walked back to the NICU. when I got there, I was met with a pleasant surprise* Shadow! Guys! *yep. Shadow, Rouge, Hope, & most of the Chaotix were standing outside the NICU. I ran up to Shadow & hugged him* What are you all doing here? What about the Master Emerald?
Rouge: The Princess called Shadow and told him everything. He insisted I come with him.
Robert:*muttering* Even though I told her it wasn't necessary.
*Shadow let go of me & gripped my arms*
Shadow: Are you alright? Did that green scum hurt you?
Abigail: I'm fine, Shadow. Really. *he then pulled me back in & hugged me tighter* Shadow?
Shadow: It's nothing. I'm just glad you're okay.
Knuckles: As for the Master Emerald, don't worry. Espio's guarding it as we speak.
Abigail: That's good.
*Saffron flew up to me & gave me a big hug*
Saffron: Congratulations on becoming a big sister!
Abigail: Thanks Saffron. And thank you all, for everything.
Sonic:*wink & a thumbs up* Anything for a friend.
*I then turned to my Dad*
Abigail: Dad, I thought of a perfect name for the new member of our family.
Robert: Really. What is it?
Abigail: Toby.
Robert:*nodding* It's perfect. *he looked back through the window* Welcome to the world, Toby.
*As everyone was giving their congratulations, I found myself wondering about my evil twin, Olivia*
(Present Time - Sonic's POV)
*That night, we were at Abby's house to celebrate Toby's birth. But my mind kept wandering elsewhere. I couldn't stop thinking about what Scourge told me as Zonic was taking him away*
(Flashback - 2 days ago - No Zone)
Scourge: Oh, and tell Kitten, I'm looking forward to our next "play-date".
(Present Time - Mobius)
*Should I tell Abby what he told me? And what did he mean by "play-date"*