Crossing the Line

A Sonic Underground fanfiction

Summary: Bartleby is arrested and Sonia goes to his rescue alone. But not all is as it seems and tragedy brings the war to its conclusion and the people are free. But at what cost?

Prologue

The last two years in Robotropolis had been the hardest two years Sonia Hedgehog had ever known. Fighting against the despotic dictator Robotnik was taking its toll on her. Her only solace was knowing that across the city, her dear fiancé was safe, sipping a cup of his favorite rose bud tea and thinking of her as much as she thought of him.

That morning, she woke up to a message from their mother on her nightstand. She sighed. "Another day, another pointless mission." She went out to the kitchen. Her brothers were already getting breakfast. "Look alive guys. Mother says Robotnik has a ruby mine that he's planning to use for making more weapons."

Sonic popped his chili dogs in his mouth. "Well then, let's go destroy it. Maybe we can take some of the rubies for ourselves."

Manic swallowed his own meal and a whole cup of coffee. "I'll get the van, meet you out front."

They drove out to the location on the map Aleena had sent with the message. Sonia compared the area with the map and walked around until stopping. "It should be right about…" The sound of crumbling earth made her jump back just in time for a drill to make an opening. "Here." When the drill backed off, they climbed into the hole.

The entire cave glistened with bright red rubies. Sonia whistled. "Mother wasn't kidding. These rubies are huge." She pulled out a scanner. "And these are ultra high-grade. If Robotnik gets ahold of these, we won't stand a chance. On the other hand…" She broke one of the rubies off and put it into the barrel of her gun. "We should go see Cyrus and Trevor for supplies."

On the way to their more technologically-savvy friends, Manic turned on the radio. "Breaking news! Lord Bartleby Montclair of Dresden County was arrested last night on charges of treason. If found guilty, he will be roboticized. His trial has been scheduled for tomorrow morning."

Sonia gasped and turned up the radio. "What? Oh… no, no, no…"

Sonic put his hand on hers. "It's okay, Sonia. Robotnik wouldn't roboticize his bread and butter. He wants you to do something stupid."

Manic nodded. "He's right, Sonia. Robotnik is just setting another trap for us."

Sonia trembled. "Maybe so but… if we don't go… what if he's not bluffing? What if…." She cupped her face. "I couldn't take it if Bartleby was roboticized. I've already lost Lady Wyndermere. I can't lose him too."

"You won't. Robotnik won't roboticize him," Sonic insisted. "Let's just focus on the mission. I bet the next thing we'll hear is "new evidence proves him innocent." He attempted to comfort her. She was the strongest of them, physically, but when it came to Bartleby or any of her aristocrat friends, she tended to fall apart.

Sonia forced herself to calm down. "You're right… we should focus on the mission…" She looked away. "Bartleby…"

—————

In his cell, Bartleby shivered with cold and fear. He had just been drinking his tea when the swatbots broke down his door. The plea process had been excruciating and terrifying. "What's going to become of me? How could Uncle do this to me?"

He looked up as the door opened. "You have a visitor." The SwatBot announced.

He saw the shock of pink hair and stood. "Sonia? What are you doing here?" He asked as he opened his arms to her.

"I've come to rescue you. I have to get you out of here." She hugged him and tried to pull him to the door.

He stayed. "Sonia, I can't. I have to find out why Uncle is doing this. I didn't do anything but he must think I did. He must think I did something terrible." He pet her hair. "But you must go. Before he sees you. I can't risk losing you."

"And I can't lose you. Please, Bartleby. I can't let you be punished for something you haven't done!" She insisted. "Even if… even if it's something you should have been doing." She said. "The resistance could use someone like you."

"Sonia, you know why I could never join the resistance. You say you're happier with them and I believe anything you tell me…" Bartleby explained. "But I cannot betray him." He kissed her forehead. "But that's why I'm so confused. He obviously thinks I did." They sat on the bench, just holding onto each other. "I'm frightened." He admitted before laying his head on her lap.

"It's alright, Bartleby, I won't let him harm you. No matter what. I'm here for you now," she pet his blond hair. "I won't let him roboticize you."

She stayed until close to midnight but they both knew she had to leave eventually. "I'm sorry, but I'll be back. I'll get you out of here. I promise." She kissed him.

He forced himself to smile at her, not wanting her to worry. "No, you must not come back. I cannot leave without making this right and I can't let you be caught." He returned her kiss.

They shared several more lingering kisses before she forced herself to leave the prison. Neither of them knowing that they were being watched.

—————

When Sonia returned home, she was greeted with angry glares. "What?" She demanded. "He needed me. He's terrified." She tried to explain. "We have to save him tomorrow."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "We have the ruby mine mission tomorrow. Speaking of, you ducked out right before Cyrus could instruct us on using his drill and then you stayed out until midnight. What if you were caught?"

She poured herself a glass of wine. "I wasn't caught. I made it there and back just fine. And he needed me. He's never been through anything like this before."

Manic groaned. "Sonia, don't you get it. That's the point. He's a nobleman. We can't save him. He needs to figure it out for himself." He sighed. "We understand you like him but you're not part of that world anymore. You're one of us now. There's nothing we can do for him."

She sat down hard as her brother's words registered with her. "So, you're not willing to help him because he's a noble? Because he's not one of us." She drank down her wine. "I understand. I'm going to bed." She glared at her brothers briefly before going to her room.

Sonic shook his head. "I don't like this. She's too attached to those snobs. She doesn't get it. They are the enemy. That Bartleby's the worst one of them all. This is all just a trap and he's in on it. I bet you anything. Let's go to bed."

——————

The next morning came all too quickly for the brothers. They had to get started on the mine mission early. The sooner Robotnik lost those rubies, the safer they could sleep the following night. He knocked on Sonia's door while Manic loaded up the van.

"Hey, Sonia! Time to get going! The mine won't blow itself up!" He called out. He listened at the door and frowned and tried to open the door. "Manic, come pick this lock. She's being a stubborn princess."

Manic dropped the box he was carrying and came over. It only took a few minutes for him to get the door open. "Sonia, you awake?" He pushed it all the way open and groaned. "Ugh, she's gone." He found a note on her pillow. "It's from Mom."

Sonic took the note and read it aloud. "Sons, your sister and I talked. She is going on a solo mission to rescue Lord Montclair. You both continue with the ruby mine mission." He shook his head. "I guess Mom gave her blessing, whatever. Let's get going."

Manic started up the van. "Are you sure? Sonia's walking right into a trap, we both know it."

"Mom said she could go…. Sonia will be fine. She can take care of herself," Sonic assured him. Even as he said it, he couldn't help but notice a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.

—————

Sonic turned on the video feed in the truck to the news. The trial was starting. He glared at the fop who was putting his sister in such danger.

"Before we begin, Your Honor, I want to change my plea. To guilty!" Bartleby declared to the surprise of everyone in the courtroom.

Manic slammed on the brakes. "What? Why would he do that?" He asked.

—————

Robotnik's mouth fell open as he peered down at the lad. "Bartleby, why ever would you want to plead guilty?" He whispered.

"Because I am guilty. Because I would fight you before I let you hurt my Sonia," he vowed.

The old man gestured. "She dumped you, jilted you in favor of her brothers. She never loved you, she loved your money and position."

Bartleby gulped. "She never dumped me. She postponed our relationship until the war was over. The only thing keeping us apart is you. And if my love for Sonia is treason for you, then do it. Roboticize me. Because I am guilty."

Robotnik looked out at the gallery. "Very well then… I have no choice. Bartleby Montclair, for your crime of treason, I must sentence you to…"

The door exploded inward before he could continue, a SwatBot hit one of the benches, sizzling from the attack. Sonia stood at the door. "Let him go, Robotnik!"

——————

"Ahhhh!" Manic cried out as the screen went snowy.

The picture came back but only the outside of the courthouse. "Our reporters inside tell us we are having some technical difficulties. We'll be back inside shortly…"

Manic shook his head. "We have to hurry with this mission. I have a bad feeling."

Sonic nodded. "We will. Destroying a ruby mine can't be that difficult."

——————

"Ahhh, Princess Sonia, right on time…" he sneered. "Your lover just admitted to being a traitor to my empire. What do you plan to do about it?"

She pointed her upgraded keyboard-laser gun at the man. "Bartleby is coming with me." She put herself between them.

"Sonia, darling, you should not have come. It's a trap!" Bartleby whispered to her. "You need to go. Forget me."

She shook her head. "I'm not leaving you. You're the only one who's ever loved me unconditionally. And I'm not leaving you again. I love you." She looked at Robotnik. "You already took Lady Wyndermere from me. You're not getting him too."

——————

In the drill machine, Cyrus waited for them. "You guys took long enough. I was watching the trial while I waited, until the video cut out."

Manic nodded. "Then you know why Sonia's not here." He said as they took their seats.

"Yeah…" his voice was quiet. "Can't believe she went to his rescue again. What does he have that I don't? So, we're going to burrow down this tunnel to get to the mine." He redirected their attention to the mission.

The drill cut through the earth as Trevor followed behind in another vesse. Through the makeshift tunnel they bored until they reached a larger tunnel with a river running alongside it. The path was littered with the unrefined gems. When they reached the larger room of the mine, where the rubies were being refined for use.

Trevor collected several of the rubies for their own use while Sonic, Manic and Cyrus laid the bombs at strategic points throughout the mine. Every few minutes there was another bot for them to destroy.

Finally, they got back into the drill and Trevor led the way to the surface just above the mine. Cyrus picked up the microphone on the drill. "Alright, everyone, hold on to your drawers and don't piss in 'em." He pushed a button on the console and the ground before them crumbled, burying the mine and its contents forever.

Sonic pumped his fist. "Yeah! Sonic Underground 1, Robarfnik 0! Yeah!" They got out of the vehicles and danced with joy for their minor victory.

Manic was mid-air when he noticed something in the distance. "Guys look. That's an awful lot of smoke over there."

Sonic looked and the pit of his stomach seemed to fall out. "Please tell me that's not coming from the courthouse." He ran to the van and turned on the video. "No… no!"

"This just in, the courthouse has just collapsed. The cause is yet unknown…"

"We have to get to the courthouse," he was about to lead the way in a panicked run but a figure in a familiar cloak stood in his path.

The figure dropped her hood. "My sons, my brave and loyal sons…" Aleena opened her arms to them.

Manic ran to her. "Mom! It's great to see you but we have to hurry. Sonia's in trouble…." He stopped when she touched his cheek.

"Your dear sister, my darling daughter has given her life to bring peace and freedom to our people…" she hugged her youngest triplet. "In the battle, she ensured that Robotnik would never harm another living person. Ever again."

Sonic shook his head. "No, that's can't be. We can still save her. We have to go dig her out. She's stronger than that." He would have dashed away if not for his mother's hand.

"I'm sorry, my dear. There's nothing we can do. Except go to the palace. We mustn't let her sacrifice be in vain. We must reclaim our kingdom." She hugged him in an attempt to comfort him.

When he felt wetness on her cheeks, he knew his mother spoke the truth. "We should have gone after her. I'm sorry Mom, we failed."

Aleena pet his spikes. "No, my dear. You did as you were supposed to. She wanted to do this. She felt Robotnik had gone too far and he needed to be stopped in whatever way necessary. Now, we must honor her sacrifice and announce our victory. We need to free our people."

Manic took his brother's hand. "That's what she would want us to do now."

Together, flanked by their two friends, Aleena and her surviving children made their way towards the city. The war was over…

———————

Sonia's head ached and her leg was on fire as she regained consciousness. There was a weight on top of her and she tried to shift it.

"Ohhhh…" a moaning made her open her eyes. Bleeding from his head and covered in debris, Bartleby lay over her.

Then she remembered. "Bartleby! Oh my stars, Bartleby."

He moaned again as he looked down at her. "Sonia… are… are you alright?" He asked, his voice soft and his breathing labored.

She nodded and kissed him. "Yes, yes my darling. You saved my life." When the ceiling fell in, he pushed out of the way and shielded her with himself. "I can't believe I didn't see this for what it was. It was all a trap…. By the resistance…" She reached up to stroke his cheek. "I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you. I never should have joined them."

He smiled at her. "You wanted to get to know your brothers, to find your mother. Even to free the city. All of these things, I understand. They're a few of the many reasons that I love you." He kissed her forehead.

She smiled and grit her teeth as her leg hurt again. The large piece of concrete was feeling heavier and heavier against it. She tried to get her strength to lift the it off of them. She had to stop after several minutes of futility. She reached for her medallion, maybe she could call to her brothers for help. Her fingers found the jewelry and she felt her heart sink. "No! No! My medallion's broken! I can't get us out of here! Help!" She screamed.

Her mink stroked her hair. "Don't worry, my love. Uncle will find us. He will dig us out. I know it. He's looking for us right now. We just need to be patient." He kissed her forehead again.

Sonia nodded. "You're right… Help will find us…" She tried to calm down. She knew he had to be just as scared as she was. He was just pretending to be calm for her. "We'll be alright…" She didn't know if Robotnik would care enough but her brothers would come. She just knew they would come.

Bartleby sighed. "Until then, we can just… savor the first time we've really been alone in the last two years." He chuckled. "I mean, we're in a rather interesting position anyway."

She laughed despite their predicament. "Oh Bartleby, I've missed our time alone. I've missed you. You're the only one I could ever really count on."

He smiled. "I love you, Sonia. My happiest moments were always with you. Even now, I am about as happy as I have ever been just because you're here with me. I would… I would give anything… to be with you… forever." He coughed softly.

"When we get out of this… we can be. I'm not leaving you again. I want to be with you. To marry you and have a family with you," she promised. "We will never be apart again."

He tried to reply but was interrupted by another coughing fit and she saw blood on his hand from covering his mouth. "What?" She began looking over him for injuries and felt herself grow cold when she saw a metal spike from the wall piercing his gut. "Bartleby, you're hurt." She realized they were laying in a small pool of blood and her entire lap was soaked. How long had he been bleeding?

"Help!" She screamed again, praying someone could hear her. He needed help now. "Someone help us!"

He breathed heavily. "It's okay, my dear… it'll be alright…" He forced himself to smile, fixing his eyes on her, memorizing every inch of her in this moment.

Sonia wasn't to be calmed now. "Sonic, I'm waiting!" She shrieked. "Help!"

"Keep screaming!" Another voice called out. "I hear you! Help me find you!"

"We're here!" She screamed back. "Bartleby, please, please. Hold on, help is coming," she begged him. She breathed a slight sigh of release as the pressure disappeared from her leg and the wall pieces were lifted off of them. She saw the metal piping slip out of Bartleby and the blood poured faster. "Hold on, please…" She tried to put pressure on the wound. She looked up to see their rescuer. "Robotnik?"

The man said nothing, only took Bartleby from her. "Bartleby!" He put the young man on one of the surviving benches.

The blond looked up at him. "Uncle, I knew you'd find us." He forgot why exactly this had happened. All he cared about was his family. "Where is Sonia?" He looked around for her.

"You can see her in a few minutes, I need to see your injuries," the old man attempted to examine him but Bartleby stopped him.

"Please… Uncle… I need to see her…" he begged as he coughed up more blood.

Stubbornly, the man persisted. He examined the wound in the boy's gut and looked into his eyes. He stepped away to let Sonia come over. Sleet and Dingo stood to the side. "His liver is gone," he whispered just enough for them to hear.

Sonia took his hand. "I'm here, Bartleby. I'm here. You should let him treat you…" She looked back at Robotnik. "Aren't you going to save him?"

"There's… there's nothing I can do. His liver was destroyed…" his normally gruff voice was shaky and soft. "Bartleby, I'm sorry… this wasn't supposed to happen…"

The pink hedgehog shook her head. "No… no… There has to be a way… Bartleby, you can't leave me," she squeezed his hand. "You have to stay with me. What about our life together? We were going to have a family…"

The nobleman gazed up at her. "My love, I will always be with you. Even if you can't see me. I'm with you. I love you. Please, look after Dresden… for me. And uncle too… I know how you feel about him… but he's the only family I have." His voice was growing softer.

Sonia's lip shook and she nodded as she pulled him into her arms. "I promise… Bartleby, please… please don't leave me. Please…" Tears fell down her cheeks.

His hand brushed the tears from her face. "Don't cry my darling. Please, let me see your beautiful smile. One last time…" Every breath was shorter, shallower. His eyes were becoming glassy.

She forced herself to smile for him, holding him close. "I love you, Bartleby. I always have and I always will."

"I… will always be here…. No matter what…" he promised as he released the breath he was holding, his eyes closed and everything became quiet.

"Bartleby? Bartleby? Please… please wake up. Please don't leave me," she sobbed desperately.

The building began to shake. Robotnik looked around. "Damn! It wasn't over. We have to get out of here. Come." He told her. She didn't respond and he could see shock setting in. "We have to go." He put her hand on her shoulder. Instinct wanted to leave her there and just save himself and the rest. However, Bartleby had only died saving her life and his last request echoed in his mind. He wasn't stupid. She pulled away, unable to even consider moving.

Sleet stepped forward and put two fingers in between her neck and shoulder blade and pinched. She slumped over unconscious. "Dingo, pick her up." He took Bartleby's body. "Lead us sire, we will follow."

Robotnik painstakingly dug through the wreckage, towards the exit. The courthouse shook with every step but he managed to dig them out just time for the rest of the structure to buckle and fall in.

He looked in the direction of the palace. Aleena had won this battle. The time had come to retreat for now. "Enjoy your victory, Aleena. I still have a valuable chess piece and I will be back…" The nobles shivered at their leader's deadly tone.