As the day went by Sally was focused on doing a good job teaching at Freedom while trying not to let her concerns about Fiona get in the way of her job. The students who were a math class that is being taught by a Mobian Woodpecker named Mr. Avery, were also focused on doing as good of a job as possible, however Emily and Herman couldn't help but noticed that something has been bothering Misty.
Herman: I sure hope Misty is okay...she has seemed a bit down lately.
Emily: I know...It kinda feels as if she's trying to hide something from us, but doesn't want to talk to us about it.
Herman: I wish there was a way to help her, and let her know that we will always be there for her...
Emily: Me too...She needs to know that she's not alone. It's really sad seeing her like this!
Herman: True, but I know that if we put our heads together, we can come up with a great way to help Misty.
Emily: You're right!
Mr. Avery: Alright class, cut the chatter and let's begin to dive right in with some Algebra!
The students took out their textbooks and began to start on the Algebra. Meanwhile, Back at Sally's Apartment Things really started to get tense between Hershey and Fiona. Hershey ran some bath water for Fiona and put in some bath bubbles in an effort to calm her down, but Fiona wasn't having any of it.
Hershey: Okay, the bath is all set! Maybe the nice warm water with some bubbles might ease some of the tension off of you, now get in.
At this point Hershey struggled to get Fiona in to the bathroom but was having difficulty.
Fiona: You can't do this to me! I'm not some little kid!
Hershey: Well they way you're acting, you might as well get treated like one! Now I'm not going to tell you again, you need a bath, you're really starting to smell.
Fiona: My personal Hygiene is not your business! I can take baths at my own time
Hershey: Not if it means being all smelly at the expense of others, now come on! You might even enjoy it! and I can even wash your clothes while you bathe.
Fiona: HEY! Get your hands of my clothes!
Hershey: *Tauntingly* Why? are you afraid I might find something you're not suppose to have?
Fiona: NO! In fact if I recall, the only thing I had was destroyed thanks to you and your little Friends!
Hershey: Uh huh, Sure! Now come on, You need to smell nice!
Fiona: NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!
At this point Hershey managed grab Fiona and Push her into the bathroom, then closed the door. Meanwhile back at the school, Sally has just finished grading the rest of the papers from the students' assignment.
Sally: I tell you, Nicole! Some of these kids are really putting a lot of effort into their work.
Nicole: True, but it seems that there is one student, who is really struggling.
Sally: I'm guessing you mean Rex? It doesn't really look like as if he's putting any effort at all. In fact now that I think about it, I have noticed some of his bullying behavior, however I am impressed with how Herman and Emily are handling it.
Nicole: It seems that they know that retaliation is never the answer, because that would make them no better than the bully.
Sally: That's a good way of looking at it. Well I may have to talk to the dean about this, because I think I know what we can do to help Rex.
Nicole: Sounds like a plan, Sally!
Sally: I want to help these kids fight for a better future! And I want to make sure they succeed!
And so Sally and Nicole left the classroom to head down to the Dean's Office, when they saw Danielle lost in thought!
Sally: Excuse me? Danielle
Danielle: *Screamed* Oh Sorry...I guess I'm still a bit frazzled about what happened this morning...
Sally: I understand, So is the Dean in? I need to talk to him.
Danielle: He just got back from Lunch, So I will let him know.
And So Danielle notified S. Goon that Sally wanted to talk to him, so He gave her permission to let Sally in.
Sally: Sorry to bother you, Robert but I need to talk to you about one of the students.
S. Goon: Oh yes, is someone giving you any trouble?
Sally: Well no...It's just that I noticed that he's struggling...Kind of like as if he's not putting much effort into his work.
S. Goon: I see...and who is the student in question?
Nicole: It's Rex, sir.
S. Goon: Oh yes, I know him very well. The kid's a bit of a troublemaker, he's been harassing students ever since he got here. A lot of teachers had struggled to put up with him.
Sally: I have noticed that, however the reason I'm here because I think I have a solution to help him improve.
S. Goon: How so?
Nicole: Well I'm willing to provide a tutoring session for him.
Sally: It's true, Nicole here can provide all information about everything including simple school subjects to the complex history of Mobius.
S. Goon: Sounds intriguing...This isn't going to cost me anything is it?
Nicole: Not at all...I'm willing to do this for the sake of a child's education.
S. Goon: Well that's good enough for me! I will talk to the boy first thing tomorrow and work something out.
Sally: Thank you, Sir!
S. Goon: It's no problem at all, you have a nice day.
After that Sally and Nicole exit out of the Dean's office and started heading back when Julie caught up with her.
Julie: Hey Sally! Nicole! Wait up, I need to talk to you guys.
Sally: Of course, what's on your mind Julie?
Julie: Well word around the block is that you apprehended someone by the name of Fiona Fox? Is that right?
Sally: Well yes!
Nicole: Did you know her?
Julie: Well...yeah...You see, She and I use to work together at a soup kitchen a long time ago.
Sally: No kidding?
Julie: Oh yes, she was a little shy at first but as I showed her the ropes she started warming up. We worked really well together and had a bit of fun, in fact she was really determined to make sure everyone had their bite to eat. about a few days later, she noticed a small child looking for scraps outside, so she took a small bowl of soup with a piece of bread and took it over to him.
Sally: That sounds surprisingly generous of her.
Julie: It sure was but for some reason, the person who was left in charge didn't take too kindly to that, so rushed over and took Fiona to the back room. I tried to grab her so I could stop him but he shoved me out of the way then slammed the door...after that all I heard were screams, stuff breaking and crying. After that, she came out of the room in tears. I'd comforted her to assure her that it would be okay, however she just started to run away and I haven't seen her or heard from her since.
Nicole: This is sad...no one should ever be punished for helping a child, people who work at a soup kitchen should be able to help all those in need.
Sally: Oh, Julie...I'm sorry to hear this!
Julie: Thank you! Ever since she disappeared, I was afraid something bad might've happen to her...
Sally: Well, you'd be surprised with what she's been up to lately.
At the moment Sally explained everything to Julie about how Fiona once joined the freedom fighters only to betray them and team up with Scourge and had alliances with the Suppression Squad as well as the Destructix. She even went on to explain about she was imprisoned by Robotnik at a young age and how Sonic accidently left her there. Julie was shocked to hear about all this.
Julie: This is really shocking! I knew that she had her own struggles, but I never held it against her. Believe or not, I had a bit of a checkered past myself. I wish I could've been there for her more.
Sally: It just so happens that she's taking the month program at the rehabilitation center on Saturday.
Julie: Well that's good news! If you do talk to her, please tell her, Julie misses her.
Sally: I'll see what I can do
Julie: Thank you Sally...it means a lot to me! I only hope she find her way back to the right path again!
Sally: Me too...
And with that Julie went back to the school swimming pool, while Sally headed back to the classroom.
Sally: I never expected Julie to have known Fiona.
Nicole: It really goes to show that life is full of surprises
Sally: It kinda makes me wonder if there's is more to Fiona than meets the eye. I remember her mentioning about how she had a lot of false starts years ago, but it seems that Julie had some fond memories of her.
Nicole: This is indeed worth looking into.
Sally: I wonder if anyone else in this town knew her?
And so the day continued on until the bell rang for the day, and all the students and teachers went out the building. Emily rushed out of the building only to see Erma waiting for her, catching her by surprise.
Emily: Hi, Aunty Erma!
Erma: Hey, Sweetie! I just thought I come by and walk you home from school.
Emily: Oh, that's great, Thank you.
Just then Sally, Larry, and Danielle caught up with the two.
Sally: Hey, Erma! It seems Emily is really happy to see you.
Erma: Well I don't see her very often, So I want to spend as much time with her as I can. And I see you met Danielle! She was the one I spoke to when I enrolled Emily here.
Danielle: Oh Yes! Erma! How nice to see you again! I hear your niece is making quite a good impression here.
Erma: So I've been told!
Larry: She has great potential!
After a while the group started walking home with Larry, Erma, and Emily going on a seperate road to get to their destination and with Sally and Danielle heading back to their apartments. and by the time Sally entered her apartment, She couldn't believe what she saw. The room was full of soap and water all over floor and seeing both Fiona and Hershey Sopping wet.
Sally: What's going on!? Hershey, What Happened!?
Hershey: Ask little miss vixen here!
Fiona: She was forcing me to take a bath like I was some small child!
Hershey: I thought it would help you relax!
Fiona: but then you tried to throw me into the tub!
Hershey: Only because you threw me in first!
Sally: Enough! Now I gotta clean this mess!
Hershey: I'm sorry about all this...I will help you clean!
Fiona attempts to leave but Hershey and Sally stops her.
Sally: Hold it! You're not going anywhere! You're staying to help clean this up!
Fiona: You're not my mom, Princess!
Sally: No! But since you're living under my roof, you need to abide by my rules! Now grab a mop and a towel and clean this mess up!
Fiona grumbled a bit while hershey handed her a mop. Though reluctant Fiona cleaned the mess she made, and after an hour the area was clean and spotless.
Sally: Now that wasn't so hard wasn't it?
Fiona: Yeah, yeah...whatever!
Sally: Don't take that tone with me, Missy!
Fiona: Well excuse me, Princess! *Fiona ran into her room and slammed the door*
Hershey: It seems that behind that tough foxy exterior lies a whiny spoiled brat.
Sally: Yeah...I'm sorry you had to put up with all that.
Hershey: Trust me, Sal! It's going to take a lot more than a rebellious teen to take this feline down.
Sally: At least I know I can count on you. I really owe you one!
Hershey: You're doing a lot for me already, so it's the least I can do.
Sally: That reminds me, Clyde came by earlier to give me this remote that goes with Fiona's collar, that way if she starts to get out of line, you can press this button.
Hershey: Oh you mean this one here in the middle? *Presses the button*
Fiona: OWW! HEY WHO DID THAT!?
Sally: Yeah...that one...and the dial next to it increases the intensity but don't press it unless it's necessary!
Hershey: Alright, I will remember that. *Presses button again*
Fiona: *Screams* I SAID STOP THAT!
Sally: Hershey!
Hershey: Sorry, it slipped...
Sally: This is serious, they don't want us using this a joke.
Hershey: Alright, alright I'll stop. Well see you later, Sal!
Sally: See you later, Hersh!
As Hershey left the apartment, Sally put the remote on top of the tv set then sat at a table in the kitchen area to come up with Tomorrow's lesson plan. Meanwhile as Larry and Erma was walking Emily home, she had something to ask.
Emily: Hey, Aunty Erma, may I ask you something?
Erma: Of course, dear! What is it?
Emily: Well it's about Misty, she's been feeling pretty down lately and Herman and I want to do something to help her, but I don't know what. I was wondering if you have any ideas?
Erma: Well, have you tried talking to her?
Emily: I have but it seems that she doesn't want to talk about it. I just want to let her know how much we care about her that's all.
Larry: I think it's nice that you want to help Misty, I know maybe you can make something for her in art class tomorrow?
Emily: That's a great idea!
Erma: Nothing says friendship quite like a handmade gift that's made from the heart.
Emily: I guess I can do that, but what can I make her?
Erma: Well, it can be whatever you want it to be, just as long as it's made by you.
Emily: Yeah, maybe I will make something for Misty tomorrow, Thanks Mr. Lizard, Thanks Aunty Erma.
Larry: Anytime, Kiddo! I can tell you really care about Misty.
Emily: I do, I just want her to be happy.
Erma: You have a good heart, Emily! That's one of the major factors of becoming a Freedom Fighter.
Emily: Thank you, Aunty Erma!
And so they arrived at Emily's house. Erma knocked the door, and a Mobian Ermine who resembles Erma only with longer hair arrived to answer it.
Erma: Oh, Hello Elaine
Elaine: Erma!
Larry: You must be Emily's mother, Your daughter is quite the student. I'm Larry, her Gym teacher!
Elaine: I see...
Emily: I got an A on my paper!
Elaine: That's great, dear! Now head inside and put your stuff away, Dinner's almost ready.
Emily: Okay! *Emily rushes inside the house*
Elaine: So how's risking your life for a never ending battle?
Erma: If you must know, things have been fine!
Elaine: I don't understand why you even do this in the first place? You know how many people get hurt out there!?
Erma: As I told you numerous times, we need to protect this planet from threats, whether it's Dr. Eggman, Ixis Naugus, or any other creep that causes trouble.
Elaine: Look it's bad enough that you had to go out there but did you really have to put my own daughter at risk?
Erma: She hasn't done anything yet, she's in training. That's what the school is for, so she can become a Freedom Fighter in her own right!
Elaine: Well isn't that peachy!? The last thing I need is for my daughter to get injured by who knows what!
Erma: It's not like she's going out there right away!
Larry: Hey look, there's no need to argue, it's getting late. Look, Elaine right? I understand your concern for your daughter, but rest assured she has shown to be quite the student. She has shown great potential.
Elaine: Well if you ever have kids of your own, then you would know what it's like to worry about their safety on a regular basis.
Erma: I worry about Emily's safety too, but I also trust that she does the right thing.
Elaine: I just don't know...
Erma:Come on Larry, there's no reasoning with her, let's go.
and so Larry and Erma left
Larry: It sounds like Elaine shows a great deal of concern for Emily
Erma: Yeah...but I just want to show her that there's more to a Freedom Fighter then just Fighting enemies, you know?
Larry: Yeah, I get it, but I can tell that you really care for Emily a lot.
Erma: Believe me, I care about her with all my heart. I just wish my sister can see that.
Larry: It sounds like you have a good heart as well. You and Emily really have some common ground.
Erma: *Blushes* Yeah, I guess we do, thank you.
Larry: Anytime, Erma! Anytime!
Meanwhile back at Sally's apartment she was ready to go to bed, but first she decided to check on Fiona. She peeped in and saw that she feel asleep.
Sally: At least she's asleep so maybe now I can get some rest too.
Sally headed to her bedroom, set Nicole on her dresser and got comfortable in her bed, and fell asleep in preparation for lies ahead tomorrow.