07/07/2008 - Just fixing up a few errors and mistakes, nothing plot-changing. And yes, chapter 4 is on it's way!

11/03/2008 - So, another update! Quite a big chapter this time full of new ideas and forboding. Also here you will start to get a taste of the style of warfare I want to keep- I'm making a real effort not to go the way of making mobians fight like modern humans. Instead I want to play around with ideas much more in the realms of history and fantasy, so I'm interested what you guys make of the Royal Acorn Army.

Many thanks to Asher Tye and SoloWing, both of whom were kind enough to leave excellent feedback last time. For everyone else, please take just a minute to tell me your thoughts- any and all feedback is relied upon, and indeed craved!

Chapter 3

Makeshift Legion / Plans / Loathe and Love

"So you're all probably wondering just what you're doing out here in the Great Meadow," Griff said to the assembled Freedom Fighters of Knothole and Lower Mobius. Sixty-one mobians in all, standing in a loose line, each looking just as confused as the mobian next to him. "And, honestly, you'd be right to; this is kind of a departure from the norm, but bare with me and I'll explain everything."

The Freedom Fighters were gathered close to the edge of the Great Forest, its tree line and the safety it promised merely meters away. He'd chosen this space specifically for a reason as the forest would provide too little room to practice, so instead they stood with their feet soaked into the grass as a cool wind gusted about them. Rotor watched from nearby, a pile of large curved rectangular frames near his feet, old equipment from the days of the Royal Army, lovingly restored to working order by his skilled hands.

"You've all been briefed on the Apocalypse Cannon and the threat it represents, and you all know too that Princess Sally has been hard at work for the last few days planning out our mission to destroy it in minute detail. And, she does have a plan in mind – a sound plan in my opinion – but it will not work unless we all do our part. My duty for the next few days is to make sure that you all know your part, to be able to do it in your sleep if you have to, because when you are under the stress of combat, no matter what hell is being thrown at you, you will at least still have this training to fall back on."

There was a general acknowledgement from the group, still unsure of what he was going to ask of them, but Griff nodded in approval all the same.

"Okay, so let's start with our part in the plan. Gather round." A stick in hand, he began to scrape a rough map into a patch of dirt for all to see, a line marking the Robotropolis perimeter wall with others to indicate where buildings were predicted to be, as well as an overall rendezvous point further into the city.

"The Princess has decided that we attack here," he said, tapping the stick on a point on the wall. "She chose it on account of it being both close to where the Apocalypse Cannon is believed to be, and being close to a number of prime targets to hinder Snively's ability to operate. However, if you notice here…"

Between the wall and the meeting point in a plaza was a completely open space, totally devoid of structures of any kind. An open no-mans land, a death trap.

"This area is a killing zone. It runs completely around the city, is patrolled regularly by swatbots, and is covered by a network of security cameras and blaster turrets." He paused to let the seriousness of the task sink in. "Our job is to get the demolition team from the wall to the rendezvous point safely, quickly, and as efficiently as possible so they can go in there and do their thing. And after that… well, we just have to go and raise hell."

"Won't… that attract a lot of attention?" a cat spoke up from the group.

"The Princess believes there are too many of us to sneak in quietly, so we're not even going to try. In fact, she's betting on us drawing as much attention as possible." Freedom Fighters glanced at each other, alarmed at the direction Griff was going as the goat continued. "The attack will be split into three teams; the north flank, south flank, and us; the centre. Now, tell me, how many of you have been in the Royal Army?" Three or four mobians raised their hands, and Griff felt his mouth twitch into a thin line.

"Good. Some of you know how to use one of these, then. As for the rest… well, you're going to have to learn pretty quick." He gestured towards Rotor, who ambled over with one of the frames in his hands. Griff took the frame- it came from his neck to his knees when held by a grip in the centre, his hand covered by a metallic bump. A button was hidden on the grip, and with a flick of his finger a transparent red energy field snapped into life and filled the inside of the frame.

"This is a tower shield. Standard equipment in the Legions, you've probably heard of them before but I'll go over their use anyway just in case. As you can see, when activated it protects the front of my body from attack. It can handle anything ranging from low tech projectiles right up to man-portable blaster cannons- for example, Jester, if you could?"

Griff turned the shield towards a mongoose, a Lower Mobius Freedom Fighter of many years and indeed one of the soldiers of the former Legions, who stepped from the group and drew a pistol. He took aim and fired, a bolt of light lancing out and striking the red energy field. Instantly it reflected back with a crack- a number of Freedom Fighters jumped at how close the returned projectile came to them, snapping back downwards into the ground.

"Well, there you go," Griff continued with a nod towards Jester. "See what I mean? The idea of these is that each soldier carries one into battle; in the army when legionaries stand shoulder to shoulder they form a wall of shields, making them almost invulnerable to incoming fire from the front. It's a standard formation and tactic, and worked well throughout the Second Great War."

"So… we're going to make a shieldwall and just walk across no-mans land?" another of the ex-soldiers, a lynx, asked.

"Yeah, that's pretty much the idea."

The lynx nodded. "Right," he said and swallowed audibly. "Griff, I can almost see it working… if we had more trained legionaries here. It takes discipline and nerve to pull off a shieldwall, and that isn't something you can just learn overnight. If just one of us runs and breaks the formation, then that'll be it, game over."

"That's true," the goat acknowledged, "but I don't expect you just to get it tonight. Lucky for us, we have three days instead."

"Uh, that isn't quite what I meant-"

"I know, I know," Griff interrupted the lynx before he could finish. "But, unfortunately if we are going to play our part then it's all we have. We can't just sit and wait for Snively to start using that gun of his – rumour has it he's got everything he needs now to get it up and running – so let's get to it. Get yourselves a shield each, and we'll go over some basic manoeuvres…"

Not one of them noticed her, but it was only a short distance away where Sally watched as Griff begin to drill the Freedom Fighters. Concern was stamped all over her face.

"Do y'all really think this is gonna work?" Bunnie asked from beside her, rubbing her arms.

"I hope so Bunnie," Sally replied, "but I'm open to alternatives."

"Well ya know me Sally-girl, I have complete faith in ya. If 'in y'all are sayin that it's the only way, then ah'm behind ya."

Sally smiled at her friend. "Thanks Bunnie."

"Oui," Antoine added, "Your strategies, ma Princess, are being most sound. I am again once honoured that you have been picking me as your bodyguard!"

Sally glanced at the coyote, "Don't mention it, Antoine…"

"But ma Princess! I must be-"

"No,really, don't mention it," she interrupted, causing Bunnie to giggle quietly. "Come on, the others will be waiting by now."

The trio left the meadow and the Freedom Fighters as Griff began to drill them on the arts of formation and manoeuvre, walking through the foliage of the forest towards Knothole chatting idly as they went. It didn't take long to arrive back in the village whereupon they made a beeline for Sally's hut, the headquarters of the operation.

Knothole itself had changed over the last few days as various resistance groups had made their way to join the assault. Temporary quarters had been placed wherever the space was available to cope with the swelling population, and suddenly the streets were full of mobians as they went about their business. At first it had been an inspirational show of unity, a sight that had made Sally's heart swell with pride, until the inevitable effects of each Freedom Fighter group being a separate entity had reared its ugly head; politics had invaded Knothole with about as great a welcome as Robotnik himself. Upon arrival each group had quietly begun to vie for position within the battle plan and though not one of them would admit it in the open, it was there, the competition to prove themselves the most influential of the resistance in their monarch's ear. Suddenly Sally found herself not only presented with the Herculean task of planning and preparing a workable battle plan, but getting each group to settle into their role within it and work together.

It had been just four days since Snively took the Chaos Emerald.

To Sally, it felt like four years.

They soon arrived at the princess' hut, where inside discussing strategy over a paper map of Robotropolis stood Ari, Lupe, and Sonic. The three looked up as Sally, Bunnie and Antoine entered, and nodded in greeting.

"Sal, how's Griff?" Sonic asked as she joined them.

"He's just started. Looks like everyone's taking to the plan about as well as we could expect."

"The Wolf Pack is, of course, ready and willing to play it's part," Lupe said.

"I know, thanks Lupe," Sally replied. The Wolf Pack had indeed made it's use clear early on. Since their arrival in Knothole, they had taken on the majority of the reconnaissance missions to Robotropolis making use of their superb infiltration skills, locating a number of potential spots for the Apocalypse Cannon to be housed. A day later and they had had it narrowed down to just one, an open space between dark skyscrapers, once a park but now a hell of upturned dirt and rubble.

"Okay," she continued, "what about Pollo and Dirk?"

"Just south of the village," Ari answered. "They're briefing their own groups on their roles. Looks like you have your auxiliaries, Sally."

She flinched at the term, keenly aware of what the titles meant; a comparison to the Royal Acorn Army. In the days before Robotnik the army had consisted of 20 standing Legions with innumerable Auxiliary support, the two parts working together to form a cohesive whole.

Sally hated terming the Freedom Fighters so, but knew why it was necessary. After all, she had come up with the idea in the first place- the renowned Royal Army was a point of pride for all who lived under Acorn's rule, and she had been careful to use this as an advantage. The moment she described the battle plan to the Freedom Fighter factions, grouping the three main assault teams under these titles, they had begun to fall into place with ease. Each quickly got a bearing on and accepted their part in the overall scheme whilst military veterans from before the coup felt a moment of respect as their skills were called to the fore. It had worked perfectly.

"Yo Sal?" Sonic asked, breaking her moment of reflection, "Remind me again why we're bustin' in like this? What's wrong with sneakin' it like we always do?" They had been over this, multiple times, and whilst she understood why Sonic was so concerned about it she was starting to tire of explaining it repeatedly.

"Because, Sonic, there are too many of us to have a reasonable chance of getting in unnoticed. We can barely manage it now when there's four of us. This time, we have over a hundred!"

"So why don't jus' four of us go?"

"There is too much security," Lupe pointed out. Having seen it, she'd know better than anyone. "Even the Wolf Pack could not get past. Swatbots were everywhere, and I am sure combots too. It was like a wall of steel."

"Exactly," Sally concluded, "and Snively seems to be wising up to the old idea of using you as a decoy. The only reliable way to get him to pull security away from the Cannon will be to create a threat that's too big for him to ignore… and if he thinks that we've raised an army intent on removing him from power, well, he's bound to react."

"An' if he doesn't?"

"Then we go on and remove him," Ari concluded. "It's win-win for us."

Sonic folded his arms. "Hmph. I still don't like it Sal- it's too risky."

Ari replied simply, "War is about risks."

Sally found herself watching the ram. Out of all of them, it had been he who had been most keen on the idea. And it made sense, for there had been a time when Ari had been a lieutenant of his own cohort within the Legions. Griff had been a sergeant, just one rank beneath, and she supposed that that had gone a long way to explaining why they had been in command of their own resistance groups.

Ari had asked her why she hadn't assigned him command of the central assault instead of Griff, and there had been two reasons for it; the first, being that half of the 'legionaries' were Lower Mobius Freedom Fighters who had served under Griff anyway, but the second was much more delicate- vital even to the potential success of the plan. But that information was solely on a need to know basis, and indeed was the reason why she had gathered her most trusted allies to her hut whilst the others remained in the field at work.

"Anyway, I'm glad you could all make it here on such short notice," Sally said, forcing the conversation to where it needed to be. "Now it is absolutely vital that what is said here isn't to leave the room. Do you all understand?"

They all paused, surprised at the serious tone her voice had suddenly taken before nodding agreement. Sonic cocked an eyebrow.

"Good, because this is very important. Now, we know that Snively has a ridiculous amount of security around the Cannon, and that our primary objective is to draw as much away from it as possible. That way we'll open a path for a bombing team to move in and sabotage it. The only question is, who is going to be on the bombing team…"

"I'm in Sal," Sonic immediately volunteered, which was no surprise at all to the princess.

"No, Sonic," she replied. "You need to be with the main force- you, out of all of us, can post the biggest threat to Snively. You have to be in the attack to draw his attention away. Instead, I'll be carrying the bomb, and Bunnie and Ari will come with me."

"Way uncool Sal!" the hedgehog responded immediately whilst Ari and Bunnie exchanged looks of bewilderment. "That's way too dangerous for just the three of ya! An Snively will be watchin' out for ya like a hawk!"

Sally sighed, "It's better than having too many of us. Three should be able to sneak in undetected. And besides…" she waved the group in closer and hushed her voice, "I have a plan…"

They spoke in hushed tones, and as Sally revealed the icing on the cake of the master plan grins formed on the faces of each and every Freedom Fighter. None could deny to acknowledge her brilliance; such a simple idea, one that would be easy to pull off, one that was guaranteed to make Sonic's attack in particular all the more effective…

They spoke on it until midday, engrossed on working out all the details and potential problems. Afterwards facilities and installations were picked and assigned as secondary targets so as to cause as much collateral damage to Robotropolis as possible, should things not quite go according to plan; the more damage caused then the more stretched Snively would be, and ultimately the easier it would become to destroy the Cannon.

By the time they were done the plan was complex, more than any had expected, but each mobian left the hut feeling more confident in what was to happen. Afterwards only Sonic and Sally remained, and the squirrel kept her eyes on the map as she and Sonic went over the minor details of their own personal goals.

"I keep thinking there is something I've forgotten," she said. Something important- maybe there is a better way which won't be so dangerous."

Sonic sighed. "Y'know, Ari's right. Everythin' up ta now has been a risk, an this ain't no different. We're at war, n' everyone's had to accept that that they might not make it, otherwise they wouldn't be here."

"I know, but... You understand what I mean, don't you?"

"Sure I do," he said, moving over and placing a hand on hers. "But there ain't no point in worryin' about a mistake you might have made. Heck, y've been around planning this thing in every way fer ages, working out all the kinks. And the Freedom Fighters with us are smart, they can all handle and think fer themselves. You've done enough already, more than any of us so far."

Sally looked at him, surprised, and allowed a small smile to crack.

"Sonic Hedgehog, that might be the smartest thing you've said this year."

Sonic grinned and struck a pose, "Hey, never underestimate The Hedgehog,Sal."

Sally returned his smile and cast a glance out the window. Yes, Sonic was right- she had put so much thought into this that it was the best she could make it. There might be mistakes- but staring at it constantly wouldn't help. She needed some rest.

--

It was under the cold grey sky that same day that the Knights Hospitaller made their grand entrance to Knothole. Merlin, at the head of the column, rode slowly forward with a posture born of pride, ignorant of the light spots of rain that ran off his travelling cloak. Beneath he wore a tunic of red and yellow in the manner of his Order's heraldry over tough leather breaches, his armour discarded and stored safely in the saddlebags of his steed. His weapons remained however, secured by the thick belt that ran twice around his waist, and his forearms were covered with a set of elaborately decorated leather gauntlets as his hands clutched the reins. He wore an expression of stern authority, fitting for a knight of his rank, and eyed the town suspiciously as they approached.

Abraxas, his steed, walked forward steadily with dignity and a suppressed power born of years of intensive conditioning and selective breeding. He crushed fallen leaves and bracken under hoof as they entered the town, alerting the attention of mobians nearby, and Merlin raised his muzzle to sniff the air. There was a crispness about Knothole, a cold bite that made it clear that autumn was here. He frowned- cold weather like this had the tendency to make his scars ache.

Abraxas snorted towards what had to be Freedom Fighters, hard at work training themselves in what looked like hand-to-hand combat. Merlin suppressed a smile of agreement, merely reaching round to pat his neck reassuringly.

"I see them," he muttered. To his eyes, they looked more like peasants than soldiers.

Merlin watched their faces, judging their reactions as best he could whilst keeping a carefully neutral expression himself. Very few Mobians recognised them for what they were, which wasn't surprising in the least; Auroran Knights hadn't bothered to involve themselves to any great extent in the politics of Mobius since the Second Great War.

Merlin brought his company to a halt with a raised hand. Balian, as always, found his place by his side, just as the fox cleared his throat and spoke to the small gathering crowd.

"My name is Sir Merlin Prower, and I am a Castellan of the Holy Order of the Knights Hospitaller. I am here with my fellow knights in the name of the Blessed Goddess Aurora, and I wish to meet with Princess Sally Acorn. Who here will take me to her?"

The gathered Freedom Fighters began to mutter amongst themselves, until one stepped forward. It was a ram, well built and powerful, and Merlin looked down at him with interest.

"Well that depends on what you want to see her about," the ram said. Instantly Merlin returned a disarming smile, almost like it was second nature.

"Yes, of course. Forgive me; what is your name, Freedom Fighter?"

"Ari," he replied, chin up, refusing to be intimidated by Merlin's height advantage.

"Ari, well met, it is an honour. Do you speak for her?"

"I do, right now. So why are you here?"

Merlin pondered the question, taking his time by dismounting from Abraxas and stepping forward closer to the Freedom Fighter.

"We received word a few days ago that Princess Acorn had called all available Freedom Fighters to Knothole to make an assault on Robotropolis, to destroy Robotnik's evil forever. We are here to honour our allegiance to the Kingdom of Acorn. We want to help."

Ari nodded, tapping a hand to his chin, and glanced back to the crowd. "Well, the more the merrier," he replied. "You're Knights Hospitaller? You know… I've heard of your kind before, my father mentioned you once. You were involved in the last Great War, weren't you? Rumour has it you got trashed."

Merlin bristled at the insult, intentional or not, and felt rather than saw his knights restraining themselves from snapping back. But he hid his anger as well as he could, and stared Ari in the eye for the moment. "Aye, we fought in alliance with Acorn. We lost many brave knights true, but they died with honour, for Aurora and for Mobius. You would do well to treat their memory with respect."

Ari blinked and held his hands up, "Alright, sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just a bit curious is all, where have you been since Robotnik showed up?"

It wasn't a good start, and personally Merlin wasn't too surprised. Balian he knew would be willing to explain, but as far as the fox was concerned he had more pressing matters at hand. He stared at Ari once more for a moment, simply replying, "Perhaps we will talk of it later. But first, Ari, I must speak with Princess Acorn."

"Ah can handle that," a southern-accented voice chipped in, diffusing the situation. Merlin looked over to see a rabbit approaching, one bearing the bizarre disfigurement of a collection of robotisized limbs. He nodded towards her.

"I would be thankful, my lady. How should I address you?"

"Mah name's Bunnie, sugar. But what did ya say yr name was again?"

He told her, quietly making a mental note of her reaction to his name. Most interesting; it meant something to her he was certain, and wondered if he had some lingering fame from his time associating with King Acorn's Royal Court. Or was it something else? As he watched, her expression turned from surprise to a brief flash of concern. And then it was gone, lost in a fake smile, and she turned and ventured deeper into Knothole Village.

Merlin glanced back towards Balian, wondering if he had noticed it too. By the looks of things he had, his eyebrows raised in interest, and nodded towards the fox slightly in acknowledgement.

Merlin raised a hand and gestured for the company to dismount. They did so, each keeping his steed by the reins, and moved into a loose group to await Princess Sally's presence.

'Now let's see if she's worth the effort,' Merlin thought to himself as a cold wind ran through the village.

--

"So watcha thinkin' of havin, Sal?" Sonic asked as he and Sally made their way towards the dining hall. "I'm goin for a mondo pile of chilidogs, can't be beat!"

Sally glanced at him and rolled her eyes as he licked his lips loudly. "Disgusting," she muttered, "not chilidogs, that's for sure. Some fruit I think, good for the brain. Hmm, maybe you should have some, I think you could do with it."

Sonic snorted. "Who, moi? Hey I don't think so, Sal."

"Well, I do."

"And I don't!"

"And I do!"

Sonic grinned and began to laugh. Sally soon giggled too, feeling a wave of tension flowing out of her. It was a stupid argument, but it wasnormal, and Mobius knew she needed it right now.

The arrived at the hall, which had gone up into overdrive over the last week as more and more mobians had arrived. It was, as usual for these days, filled with hungry Freedom Fighters taking breaks between their training and planning, and the atmosphere was breezy openness full of chatter and jokes.

They gathered their meals from the counter, as planned with Sally taking mostly fruit and Sonic an unhealthy amount of chilidogs. They found a table with ease, Freedom Fighters recognising them and respectfully making room. A few spoke to them, and like the leaders they were both Sonic and Sally replied with confidence and reassurance. Sally in particular didn't feel assured herself, but then the Freedom Fighters didn't need to know that, and were better off that way.

They exchanged small talk as they ate, Sonic being very careful to steer the topic away from the attack on Robotropolis whenever possible, and all was well until a third voice made itself known.

"Sonic, Aunt Sally!" called Tails, accompanied by the gentle 'fwip-fwip' of his twisting namesakes as he swept down through the doorway towards them. Sonic called out a greeting as he gulped down the remains of a chilidog (causing Sally to turn up her nose in disgust. Where were his manners?). "I've been looking all over for you for ages," Tails continued, dropping to the floor next to their table, "where have you been?"

"Sorry T2," Sonic replied much clearer without the chilidog in his mouth. "We've been kinda busy…"

"Yeah, I'll say," the fox said looking around at the packed hall. "What's goin' on, Aunt Sally?"

Sally paused, surprised that he didn't know. Of course Rosie had kept him away from the general meeting when the Freedom Fighters has been told of the Apocalypse Cannon, but she'd expected that he would have wormed the truth out of someone by now.

"Hasn't Bunnie told you…?" she asked carefully. The rabbit had been assigned over the last few days as Tails' immediate caretaker, replacing Sally from the rota the two shared of looking after him.

"No, I only see her in the evening and she keeps telling me to ask you. But Rosie's lessons have kept me busy, an' I couldn't find you whenever I looked. …I've missed you, Aunt Sally."

Truth be told, she'd missed him too. But she couldn't bare to tell him what she expected to happen at Robotropolis, and what would happen if they failed. How would he take it, what would his reaction be? It was the main reason she'd ordered Bunnie and Rosie to keep him so busy… and the reason why she had been careful to avoid him all week.

But it couldn't have lasted forever, so she mentally braced herself for what was to come.

"I know honey, and I'm sorry," she replied. "I've missed you too." Tails smiled.

"So what's going on?" he asked. "There's Freedom Fighters everywhere, an' it's like they're preparing for something." Abruptly, his eyes lit up and his voice quickened. "It's something big, right? Are we going to take on Snively?"

"Yes… Yes, we are, Tails." The boy certainly didn't catch the meaning Sally had intended, his enthusiasm continuing unabated. He switched over to Sonic.

"Really, you mean it? For real? We're actually going to defeat him this time?"

"You know it, T2!" Sonic smiled with a thumbs-up. "This is the big one, we're takin needle-nose down for good!"

"Awesome!" he exclaimed, pumping a small gloved fist in the air. "Freedom Fighters forever! So, what's the plan?"

"Tails…" Sally began, "this is not going to be a normal mission. It's not recon, and we aren't going to be blowing up any particular factory… We're going to attack Snively's headquarters. It's going to be very well protected, and I know that not even Sonic is going to find it easy."

Tails' ears drooped, and his excitement began to drain away. He seemed to know just where this was going, but held on anyway.

"So… what am I going to do?" he asked.

"Honey, you're going to stay here with Rosie-"

"No!" the kit interrupted, stamping his foot in sudden anger. Freedom Fighters from surrounding tables looked over briefly, but quickly turned away and pretended not to be listening. "No, I'm not! I'm a Freedom Fighter now, you said so yourself! I'm going too!"

"Tails, no. It's too dangerous!"

"I don't care! Mobius is my home too, and you always take Antoine with you! And he doesn't even want to go!"

"That's because Antoine is a trained Royal Guardsman," Sally pointed out. "Tails, you're only ten years old! If you go, there are terrible things you will see and do that will affect you for the rest of your life. I don't want to put you through it."

"I can handle it Aunt Sally! I can, honest!" seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere, he switched tracks to look at his hero who, so far, had managed to stay out of it. "Sonic, please tell her! Tell her I can go!"

Sonic glanced at Sally, who shot him a glare. He was stuck in a limbo; on one hand, he knew that Tails was quickly becoming a more than capable Freedom Fighter. The events at Drood Henge had proven that; but it was true that he was still a child… and this mission promised much more danger than usual.

"Tails, I'm gonna have to side with Sal on this one… She's right, this is gonna get mondo ugly. If anything' goes wrong then you'll be in real danger, an' I mean serious danger. 'Sides, someone's gotta guard Knothole, an' it has to be someone who knows what's what! You're perfect for the job, Big Guy!"

Tails wasn't buying it. He looked at Sonic with betrayal written all over his face.

"But you said, Sonic…" he muttered, "you said I was a Freedom Fighter too. It isn't fair! Why do you keep lying to me?" Sonic froze, unsettled by the accusation.

"We're not lying to you Tails," Sally tried, her patience beginning to fail her. With the stress of the last few days, this was not something she was prepared to handle right now. "We just don't want to see you getting hurt!"

Tails glared at her, and she knew that the argument could only get worse. Silently she prayed he would stop, but it wasn't to be.

"But I won't get hurt! I can look after myself!"

"Bequiet, Tails!" she abruptly snapped, startling the kit into silence. The background noise of the hall also fell, unnoticed by all. "You willnot be going with us! This will not be a game, this will not be an adventure! It is not something for a child! This is a war, Tails, do you understand? A war!"

Just as quickly as she lost it, Sally regained her self control. Her mouth snapped shut with the click of teeth, and suddenly she felt a great well of shame as she saw the hurt in Tails' eyes. The boy stepped back, his eyes becoming noticeably wet.

But then the situation was interrupted in the form of Bunnie entering the dining hall, who darted over calling her name.

"Hey Sally-girl? Y'all are gonna want ta see this," Bunnie said. Sally blinked, her mind still focused on Tails, who took the opportunity to run from the hall.

"Tails!" Sonic called after him, but the fox ignored him. Bunnie watched in surprise.

"Hey, what's goin' on? Is sugar-fox okay?"

"Sal, that was way uncool," Sonic said darkly. Sally grit her teeth and took a deep breath.

"What's wrong, Bunnie?" she replied, her words clipped and to the point. Bunnie looked after Tails briefly, tempted to follow, but realised that Sally's tone of voice left no room for argument.

"Well- uh, it's some fellas makin a big ol' ruckus over the other side of Knothole. They're askin for ya by name." Sonic immediately perked up. "Ya both need to come on over an' see."

"Some bozos causin' trouble? What do ya mean, Bunnie?"

"Naw Sugar-hog, these folks ain't causin no trouble… But they're sure makin a scene."

The group quickly left the hall amongst the stares of other Freedom Fighters, and Sally gave a glance look round to see if she could spot a certain fox in the street. "He hates me," the princess muttered with a sigh.

"There was no need for that, Sal," Sonic said.

"I know, I just…" she said, feeling terrible. "I'll make it up to him once this is over, I promise."

"Yeah well, I'm gonna go see him now-"

"Doncha go yet, Sugar-hog!" Bunnie interrupted. "Jus' wait, y'all need to see these fellas!"

Sonic clearly wanted to go after the fox regardless from his body language alone, but Sally clamped a hand firmly on his shoulder before he could disappear. "Wait, Sonic, just a minute," she said. Then, partially in her duty as leader of the Freedom Fighters and partially to escape her own guilt, Sally leapt on the opportunity to change the subject. "Bunnie, is there anything we should know about these people?"

"Well I ain't got much to tell ya, but yeah, there is one thing. An' I hate ta say it, but it's relating to sugar-fox back there. See 'im, there?" She pointed as the subject of the conversation came into view. "Look familiar at all? He says his name is 'Sir Merlin Prower'… An' I'm sure y'all can get the rest."

Sally stopped, and grasped at Bunnie's shoulder. "What?" she hissed. "His name is 'Prower'?"

"S'what he says, an he brought it up," Bunnie replied, understanding the princess' concern. "I haven't mentioned lil' ol' Tails to 'im at all."

Sonic had also caught the link, and thoughts of the upset fox were momentarily put to one side as he eyed the cloaked newcomer who seemed completely oblivious, deep in conversation with another mobian in similar dress.

"I gotta weird feelin' about this, Sal," Sonic voiced his opinion. "D'ya think it's Tails' dad?"

"I don't know, Sonic," she replied. "Bunnie, has he asked about him, at all?"

"Not one bit. But ya know speaking ta him, all I can think is; that there is Tails, thirty years from now."

They lingered for a few moments, each of them looking in wonder at the fox.

"D'ya know Bunnie, I'm startin' ta think you're onto somethin' there," Sonic said quietly. "D'ya think Tails might know who he is?"

"No," Sally said too quickly, catching her friends' attention and pulling them back behind a hut. "No, we can't let him know… At least, not yet. We need to find out more about these people first," she added, reaching down to the computer holstered in her boot.

"Nicole, give me anything you have on 'Sir Merlin Prower'."

"One entry found, Sally," the machine droned. "Sir Merlin Prower, Castellan of the Holy Order of the Knights Hospitaller. Had active relations with the Kingdom of Acorn between 3214 and 3223, including close involvement with the Royal Court and King Maximillian Acorn. Was last seen in the Kingdom in 3224."

"Just before the coup…" Sally muttered. "Is there any information on his family?"

"Negative, Sally."

"That could mean anything, Sally-girl," Bunnie pointed out. Sally nodded, still thinking.

"Nicole, what about these 'Knights Hospitaller'? Who are they?"

"Accessing, Sally… The Holy Order of the Knights Hospitaller, one of a number of secretive religious Knightly Orders that are believed to have been founded in the mid-1300s. They are heavily indoctrinated with the Auroran Faith, and historically show regular co-operation with the Kingdom of Acorn in comparison to other known Auroran Orders; recent examples include the First Great War in 3166, and the Second Great War in 3216."

"Yo Nicole," Sonic interrupted, "if they like helpin' the Kingdom out so much, where've they been since 'ol 'Buttnik showed up?"

"Unknown, Sonic, my main hedgehog."

"Well I guess there's just one way ta find out," Sonic said, his legs already jumping into motion.

"Wait, Sonic!" Sally snapped, "We have to be careful with this. No one is to mention Tails to any of them, just in case."

"What?" Sonic replied, pausing. "But Nicole says that it's cool, Sir Merlin knows your father!"

"Sugar-hog's got a point Sally-girl," Bunnie added. "How would you be feelin' if King Acorn walked on into Knothole one day and no one told y'all?"

"Look, Bunnie, Sonic. I understand what you mean, but I will not risk Tails on a coincidence. The only link is their name, that's all- just how many 'Prowers' do you think exist across Mobius? There could have been thousands before Robotnik. We need to be careful and not get his hopes up, do you understand?"

"Yeah, I understand Sal. But jus' so ya know, I don't agree with it," Sonic grumbled. Together they rounded the hut and approached the group, who upon noticing them all stood straighter and bowed.

Sally approached at a steady pace, her expression carefully neutral. "Sir Merlin Prower," she greeted, "on behalf of the Freedom Fighters and the former Kingdom of Acorn, I welcome you and your companions to Knothole."

"Well met, Princess Sally Acorn," Merlin replied, returning her gaze with an easy smile. "It is an honour to meet you once again."

Sally stopped before him, quickly taking mental notes of his body language and appearance. Like Bunnie had said, he did indeed resemble Tails, though whether that was due to a family link or simply because they were both foxes was up for debate. He was relaxed, moving with a practiced grace in the face of royalty that spoke of years of past experience, and conveyed a calmness in his stance that was quite welcoming. A favourite of the Royal Court indeed; the charisma he displayed matched Nicole's information perfectly.

"Forgive me; have we met before?" she asked.

"Yes, a few times actually. You do not remember?" A voice behind him barked a short laugh, and a tiger moved up beside the fox.

"Her Royal Highness would have been four years old at the time Merlin, it is hardly surprising," the tiger said with a grin. Merlin responded with a chuckle of his own.

"Aye, of course. Princess Sally, may I introduce my brother in arms, Sir Balian." Sally nodded towards the tiger, taking stock of him. The tiger was big, easily matching Ari in terms of bulk, and his travelling cloak only made him appear even larger. He bore an expression of pride, perhaps more welcoming than Merlin, but appeared to know his place standing slightly behind and to the side of the fox.

"It is a pleasure, Sir Balian. And this is my comrade," she said with a gesture to her left, "Sonic Hedgehog."

Both Merlin and Balian's eyebrows raised as Sonic shot to Sally's side. "The one and only!" he chirped, "The True Blue, comin' atcha!"

Merlin smiled. "The famous Sonic the Hedgehog. We are indeed honoured. Stories of your glory have travelled across Mobius, I trust that most of them at least are true…?"

"Hey, you kiddin? No-one lies about thisHedgehog."

"What brings you to Knothole, Sir Merlin?" Sally interrupted before Sonic could run loose into a tirade of his own heroism.

"Ah. Neophyte Astelan," he said gesturing back to one of his knights, a cat who bowed at mention of his name, "happened upon a communication that you sent five days ago. From it we learnt that you were calling any available Freedom Fighters to Knothole for a matter of grave importance… That you are going to attempt an assault upon Robotropolis itself, with the aim of defeating Robotnik's evil once and for all."

"That's right," Sally nodded. "The attack begins at dawn, two days from now."

"Then we are just in time. We crusade here to join the liberation of your Kingdom."

Sally nodded, suspicious. There had been many times they had encountered mobians willing to help who all turned out to have very different agendas… Granted, most (if not all) had redeemed themselves in the name of Freedom, but this time the potential link to Tails made her all the more careful.

"May I ask why?" she questioned, and Merlin blinked, apparently caught off guard. He said nothing for a moment, the knights looking at each other.

"You reject us?"

"No," Sally quickly added, "No I'm not refusing your help, but I have to wonder why you are suddenly turning up now. We've been at war for ten years, and haven't heard anything about you. Now suddenly we're seeing knights everywhere, first in the Great Unknown and now here."

"Perhaps you refer to our brother Order, the Glorious Templars of the Brotherhood of the Sword?" said Merlin. "They were destroyed to a man merely days ago by Robotnik's nephew… and in all honesty your Highness, yes we do hope to avenge their deaths. But we also hope to save Mobius. Until now, there have been too few of us to do it alone, but now finally you are rebuilding your army." Sally was sure she flinched at the way he described the Freedom Fighters so, but if he noticed he made no sign of it. "With our help, you stand a very real chance of removing Robotnik's evil forever."

She nodded, her mind running a mile a minute. Memories of how the Templars had fought in the Great Unknown came rushing back, and Sally found herself posed with the question; despite her doubts, could sheafford to turn away warriors like these? Amongst a force of civilians and levies, a group of ten highly trained disciplined warriors might be just what was needed to cement the Freedom Fighter alliance together. But not only that- they would form the ultimate counter to Snively's combots, and the perfect mix with Griff's assault group. "Alright, I understand… And what is the price of your help?"

"Only that you accept our aid," he replied. "The Blessed Goddess Aurora willed us to be here, and so we obey."

"…and that's it?"

"That is all we ask."

Sally glanced back at Sonic, who didn't seem to share any of her suspicion at all.

"Hey I like you, Merl," the hedgehog said with a grin. The fox didn't appear the least bit impressed with the nickname, a barely visible frown flashing briefly across his face. "Ya just wanna smash some 'bots too, eh?"

"…something like that," the knight replied.

"Well y've come to the right place alright. This is gonna be intense, so any help is welcome, right Sal?"

"Right, Sonic," Sally said curtly, and gave him a sharp kick to the shin. "Sir Merlin," she continued, stressing the fox's name for the hedgehog's sake, "I am told that your Order has helped my father's Kingdom before…?"

"That is correct, your Highness. My Order has always held the greatest respect for the Acorn bloodline, and we share a long and glorious history."

Sally thought for a moment. "I don't remember my father ever mentioning you." Merlin stared at her for a moment, and she was taken aback at how intense his eyes could be before he gave a curt reply.

"Well that does not surprise me."

"Why not?"

Merlin's jaw clenched almost imperceptibly. "Your father and I had a disagreement. That is all."

"May I ask what about?"

"A personal matter. It is not your concern, your Highness."

Sally studied Merlin carefully, alarms ringing in her head. Finally, her suspicions were being confirmed. A carefully formed mask of respect was cracking, and behind she was reading a number of select details about the Knight Hospitaller, and the first – and perhaps most important -- was that Merlin was a very good actor. Whilst his posture and attitude pointed towards him being entirely on the level, she could see by the shift of his weight and the tightness of his jaw that this was a very touchy subject. There was bad blood here between the knight and her father, and that concerned her greatly.

"I am sorry to hear that Sir Merlin," she said, "but that must have been at least ten years ago. Perhaps you should try to make amends with him? He is alive, though trapped in the Void… But he is a good man."

"Is he," came the flat reply. Sally couldn't help but notice how Merlin didn't care to ask what the Void even was.

"Of course, he cares about his people more than anything. What has he done to upset you?"

Merlin's mouth tightened into a thin line. "If he is indeed alive, I would suggest that you ask him yourself, your Highness. And whilst you are at it, ask him about my nephew, Miles," he snapped, his words as cold as ice. Balian quickly stepped forward and placed a hand on Merlin shoulder, pulling him away from the Freedom Fighters and whispering something into the fox's ear. Instantly Merlin calmed, the façade of calm diplomacy returning, and regarded the princess in a new light with a deep breath.

Meanwhile, the knights completely missed the look of astonishment that struck all three Freedom Fighters. "Well I think that answers your question, Sally-girl," Bunnie muttered, as Sonic's mouth dropped open. Whilst it had been suspected, the sudden confirmation took them all by surprise and they were barely able to cover it up before the knights turned back to them.

"Forgive me, Princess Acorn. I spoke out of turn, and meant no offence," Merlin apologised. "It is just a sore spot for me… and I realise that you and King Maximillian are two very different people." It took a moment for Sally to find her voice.

"No, I'm sorry too Sir Merlin. I shouldn't have pressed the issue… But – if I may ask – what do you mean about your nephew?" The fox stared sharply at her with his piercing blue eyes, and for the second time Sally began to feel like she were a bug under a microscope.

"It is not important. Please, forget it, Princess Acorn. Now if I can get back to the matter at hand… Politics aside, will you accept our help? All we ask is for the opportunity to avenge our brother Order and serve Mobius."

Sally glanced to Sonic, who clearly had more to ask, but if the fox didn't want to talk about his nephew then they had to respect his wishes. But she resolved to find out more, later, and for the meantime settled for a smile that she hoped didn't look as wooden as it felt.

"Yes, we accept. Sonic is right; anyone is welcome if they want to join the fight for freedom. Welcome to the resistance."

"We are honoured," Merlin said, but Sally couldn't help but feel like his tone was a little too rehearsed to be genuine.

--

Two more days passed, two days of intensive drilling and training for the Freedom Fighters. Two days for Sally to work out the kinks of the battle strategy, to make sure that each and every Freedom Fighter knew their part, to hope and pray that everything would go as planned.

Each day, Griff unleashed a hellish regime of repetition and discipline. The mobians under his command gave him their all, questions on 'why' quickly giving way as they began to learn how to trust each other with their lives in a way most of them found to be alien. An obstacle course was set up within the Great Forest, eventually involving live fire, and again and again Griff would order his unit to advance in the face of the barrage. By the end of the first day, the Freedom Fighters had begun to jokingly refer to Griff's mobians as the '21st Legion', a point of pride for the quickly cementing unit.

A short distance to the east of Knothole, the firing range was filled with flurries of blaster fire as Freedom Fighters honed their aim. Indeed, Griff's legionaries would frequent the field whenever possible to get used to hitting a target with a pistol whilst simultaneously wielding a tower shield- no mean feat, and even the veterans took time to get back to the level of skill they had once possessed. It was here that Antoine spent most of his time, determined not to prove useless when the moment came, and so for hours he stood with a pistol outstretched in one hand and the other tucked up around behind his back, snapping shots downrange. And it helped too; by the time he called an end to his practice his aim had clearly improved at greater and greater distances, and whenever he took a break he sat with the feeling that he had truly accomplished something.

With the arrival of Merlin and his company of Knights Hospitaller, Sally had made sure that Tails was to be kept busy and far away from their haunts, having confided in Rosie the evening of their arrival on the argument the two had had. Still burying herself in her work, she said that she didn't have the time to make up with him during the day but promised that she would later at bedtime the night before the attack; it was a promise designed to cheer him up that she would, definitely, visit him to read a story. But Tails just didn't appear to care, a reaction that Rosie knew to be false.

Considering themselves a separate entity to the Freedom Fighters, the Auroran Knights had found their own means by which to keep occupied. An area close to the Great Meadow was commandeered by Merlin to allow for their own form of sparring, and they spent much of the day there practising the craft of war.

The Neophytes observed the Initiates in action as much as participating themselves, standing to one side and observing their senior's work closely, learning from the moves the knights made and applying such techniques mentally to their own form. Their relevant masters, Sigismund and Bethor, separated themselves from the Initiates early to join the two boys and provide traditional one-on-one tuition in the form of a sparring duel; a technique that had on more than one occasion in the Order's history proved to be a brutal, and sometimes fatal, method of training.

But these Neophytes were learning well, having been at their masters' side for years and were well on their way to developing their own technique. Astelan in particular was on the road to creating an aggressive form though apparently still had a way to go; whenever he over-reached a strike Bethor would easily step out of the way and kick him to the ground, a reoccurrence that Azrael found amusing right until the point that Sigismund punished him for his failings in exactly the same way.

It was the day before battle that Sally Acorn observed the Hospitallers unnoticed from beneath the trees a short distance away, much like her observation of the 21st Legion two days before. Kicking her feet in the dirt, she was still indecisive about what to do with Merlin Prower. She and Sonic had spent the previous evening discussing in depth the possible relation between the knight and Tails; whether or not to make each one aware of the other, and if they did what would come of it.

Secretly, Sally was terrified of the prospect of Merlin wanting to take Tails away. Partially it was fear of the chance of her never seeing the boy again, but even more so was what would happen to Tails if he didtake him; even now Merlin now stood fencing off against another knight, their swords crashing against each other with the wicked crack of steel. Sally wouldn't allow Tails near Robotropolis for fear for his safety… Would Merlin share the same priorities?

Despite this, Sonic had won the debate through his good heart. And the hedgehog had been right; his argument revolved around the fact that, had his family arrived in Knothole and left without anyone telling him of their presence, he would feel more betrayed then at any other time in his life. He wasn't prepared to do that to Tails, even if he had had the best intentions, and when Sally put herself in the same situation she realised that he was right.

Eventually, they had agreed to tell the foxes. It was the right thing to do. For Merlin because he had the right to know as potentially Tails' only living relative, and for Tails could make his own choice on what to do about it. She would just have to deal with the outcome when the time came.

She wished Sonic were here; having him around would boost her confidence immeasurably, but it couldn't be helped. He was currently running recon around Robotropolis for last minute details that could affect the attack, and when it came down to it that was still more important than the fate of just one young fox… Even one as important to her as Tails.

Taking a deep breath, Sally took the plunge and walked out into the clearing towards the Auroran Knights.

Balian was the first to notice her, and bowed a greeting. Just like on the day of their arrival the knights were a striking alternative to the Templars they had witnessed in the Great Unknown, this time baring no heraldry but instead being clothed in various leathers, their weapons thickly belted at their waists. Gone was the vague robian image the Templars had possessed, and the result was a far less intimidating presence. Sally found herself feeling much more relaxed, and returned Balian's greeting with ease.

"Sir Balian," she said, and the tiger smiled politely.

"This is an unexpected pleasure, your Highness. Do you wish to speak with Sir Merlin?"

"I do. Is this a good time?"

"Of course, just one moment…"

The tiger stepped away and approached Merlin, quickly catching the fox's attention. They exchanged a few words before separating, and Sally soon found herself face to face again with the older mobian.

"Princess Sally," he said, his fur a little damp with sweat. Once again Sally was struck by the feeling that something was just slightly off; once again, she was struck by the intensity of the fox's stare. "To what do I owe this honour…?"

For a long moment, she was taken by the urge to make something up, to pretend that she was here on a different matter entirely. But she pressed onwards with an iron will born of years of guerrilla warfare, and forced herself to speak the words she had dreaded so much. The only consolation she could find was that she was not doing this for Merlin; she was doing it for Tails, for what greater gift could there be than to reunite a loved one with their family?

"I need to speak with you on a… private matter, Sir Merlin. Can you come with me…?"

The fox's eyes bored into her. Abruptly, he nodded in response. "Very well, my lady, lead the way."

She took him deep into Knothole, threading through the groups of mobians making their last-minute preparations, until they arrived at her hut. They entered, and he unbelted his weapons and propped them up against the wall.

"What is it you want to talk to me about?" he asked, his curiosity apparently sparked. Sally took another deep breath, knowing that there would be no going back now. As much as the mission tomorrow, she silently prayed to whatever gods watched from above that she wasn't making a mistake.

"It's about your nephew, Miles…"

--

A full hour passed before Merlin returned to his comrades, looking somewhat pale beneath his fur. Balian intercepted him before the knights saw his state, concerned for his Castellan. It had been ten years since he had seen him like this.

"Merlin?" said, catching the fox's attention. "What did Acorn want?"

Merlin stopped, looking at the floor for a short time before replying, simply, "Miles is alive." Balian took a sharp intake of breath, understanding fully how important this was to his friend.

"He lives? How, you told me he died with his mother?"

Merlin grit his teeth, forced back again in his mind to a sight that he would rather forget. "I found Rosemary's body, remember, Balian? She had taken Miles with her, and when I couldn't find him, I assumed… And I know to never assume, but how could he have survived for so long in a river, alone?"

"Merlin, come," Balian said, drawing the fox to the tree line away from the Hospitallers. By now one or two had noticed the return of the Castellan, but Balian waved them to continue with their exercises. "The company is occupied, so you have time. Tell me everything."

"Acorn told me… it was Sonic who found him, floating downriver. He must have travelled for miles before they found him. It's a miracle. Aurora herself must have been looking over the boy."

"Aye, if it's true then he has friends in high places, I think. You said yourself that Aurora sends what we need… And she guided us here, did she not?"

"She must have. This doesn't feel like coincidence. And after this battle, if King Acorn is still alive and returned to the throne, imagine his reaction! The Freedom Fighters have looked after Miles for the past ten years, and from the way Acorn spoke it seemed like she saw him almost as her own child…" Abruptly, Merlin paused and barked a hollow laugh. "Such an irony, Balian! Miles Prower survives against the odds only to end up being raised by Princess Sally Acorn, and neither of them have any idea of the history between their two families! What are the odds? It's like fate itself brought them together. What would Maximillian say, if he knew?"

Balian didn't share the other's mirth. "I would suspect, after what you have told me, that Maximillian would try to have the boy, shall we say, 'removed'."

Merlin's laughter died out as the tiger's words sank in, a dark anger taking over. He said nothing for the longest time, instead staring off into the distance.

"That's not going to happen," he said finally, his tone laced with quiet promise. "I swear it. I won't fail Miles like I did Rosemary."

"So… what will you do?" Balian prompted. Merlin frowned in thought.

"I don't know," he finally admitted. "What do you think I should do?"

"I think you should see him, for a start. Make sure that he is really your nephew, and that this isn't just a misunderstanding."

"It can't be a mistake, Acorn knew too much-"

"Don't get your hopes up, Merlin! Don't trust Acorn's words alone, go and see him for yourself. Make up your own mind if he is really the one."

"If he is… Aurora guide me, what do I do?"

"That, you will have to decide for yourself old friend, when the time comes."

--

That evening Tails waited for Sally with a frown, not knowing what to expect. He was still angry, both at the denial of his involvement tomorrow (and the quickly dawning fact that he wasn't really a Freedom Fighter at all), and the feeling that everyone except Rosie had spent the day avoiding him. It drove him up the wall in frustration, and made him just want to scream to get someone's,anyone's attention.

Sonic had visited him briefly last night but he had pretended to be asleep, still hurt that he had taken Sally's side on the situation. He hadn't done that for a long time, and Tails had honestly believed that Sonic out of everyone was the one to get him taken seriously. But apparently not, and that had just made him madder as the hedgehog had stood over his bed, trying to get his attention.

His eyes were fixated on the door, locked in a stare as if he were trying to force it to give away who might be on the other side. How long would he have to wait? Would she be here soon? Would she even come at all, or was the promise of her visit as much of a lie as his 'rank' as a Freedom Fighter?

He toyed with the idea of feigning sleep again, but that would only be avoiding the issue.

The door twitched, and Tails jumped despite himself. Slowly it opened, and Sally Acorn, to the fox's mild surprise, stepped inside.

"Hey, Tails," she said in greeting, meeting his eyes.

"Hiya Sally," he replied, keeping his voice even and his face blank. 'Aunt' was carefully clipped away as he refused to show his childishness to anyone, her most of all.

She stood uncomfortably in the door for a minute, neither saying anything, feeling upset at the sudden loss of the 'Aunt' prefix. And Tails felt much the same, unused to being so angry.

"Are you still mad at me?" she asked, and the fox glared at her in response. He folded his arms and looked away, completely unaware of how young it made him appear.

"Uh-huh," he muttered.

"Tails" she princess said, walking into the room proper and sitting in the chair next to his bed. "Tomorrow, things… might not go well for us." She paused, realising how bad that sounded, "I mean, you shouldn't worry! Sonic and I, with Griff and Ari and Lupe… we've planned this mission inside out. We have everything covered, but… just in case…"

She glanced at the fox, who wasn't looking at her but was obviously listening with his head bowed.

"If something goes wrong, you get Rosie, and you run. Don't wait and don't come looking for us, just run. Rosie knows where all of the other Freedom Fighter groups we know of are based so she will make sure you are safe, so… promise that for me, please?"

"Okay, Sally," he replied quietly, then suddenly, "Why now? Why are you only attacking Robotropolis like this now?"

Sally paused, unsure of what exactly to say. She couldn't tell him of the Apocalypse Cannon – she just couldn't do it – and so instead replied cryptically, "Because if we don't stop Snively right now then something terrible will happen, and we might never get the chance again."

She glanced at Tails again, surprised this time to see him looking back at her, his expression unreadable. His mind, meanwhile, was just staring to catch up with quite how serious this attack was- this was no mere raid, and the need to become involved swelled inside tenfold.

He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he just sat here and did nothing whilst Freedom Fighters fought for their freedom.

It was such a strange and dark thought for a ten year old, one who, despite Sally's best attempts to the contrary, was growing up too quickly.

"Tails," she said, changing the subject, "I've got a confession to make… I'm not here to read you a story."

The boy tensed, and raised an eyebrow slightly. Sally took a deep shaking breath, and Tails realised that whatever subject she was approaching was very important.

"There's someone you need to meet…" she stood, and walked to the doorway with her back to the fox, "and I've brought him here so that you can have some time together before he joins us tomorrow. His name is Merlin, and I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on." Only now did she turn, and Tails was surprised to see how nervous she was all of a sudden. "If you need me, I'll be outside."

She opened the door and spoke a few words quietly to someone beyond, too quiet for him to pick up on, and then disappeared from sight.

Replacing the presence of his 'Aunt' Sally, was a grown adult fox. Merlin, Tails presumed, and he stared at the newcomer wondering how he could have upset the princess so.

Merlin for his part gazed at the boy with all the calm he could muster, his heart beating a heavy rhythm in his chest. After a moment he spoke.

"Your name is Miles Prower?" he asked.

Tails scrunched his face in embarrassment of his real name, but the interest of how the fox knew it was the more pressing issue. Had Sally told him? Why would she do that?

Merlin took the moment to watch the boy's reactions with interest, studying him closely. He could see that he moved with a quick confidence, no doubt the influence of Sonic, and already seemed to be piecing together where this was going. Acorn appeared to have taught him well, which sparked a jolt of jealousy though him; but there was one thing that he identified that made him realise that this was indeed the boy he had thought dead. It was his eyes, orbs of such a deep cobalt blue that shimmered with intelligence and wonder, that may as well been taken directly from his mother.

And whenever he looked at them, all Merlin could think of was Rosemary Prower.

"I… knew your father," Merlin continued. "A good mobian, Amadeus. We had a very different view on life, but none the less we were close."

"My father?" Tails echoed. "You knew my father, how?"

Merlin did not react, but merely watched for Tails' expression.

"Artemis was my brother. I am your uncle, Miles."

The kit didn't say a thing. He just stared at Merlin with his mouth agape, stunned. The older fox realised he had felt much the same way, so gave him time for his mind to catch up. He walked slowly across the room, eventually sitting on the end of Tails' bed and bowed his head. When he spoke again it was slowly, so that Tails would not miss a word.

"I am Merlin, Castellan of the Holy Order of the Knights Hospitaller. I have at my command here in Knothole seven Initiates and two Neophytes of my Order, and we are here to stand by Princess Sally Acorn as she makes her assault upon Robotropolis." He paused, looking over to the kit, whose wet eyes stared right back.

"You're… you're really my uncle?" Tails stammered.

"Aye, I am. Merlin Prower. I am the brother of Amadeus Prower, your father, and your mother Rosemary was one of my dearest friends."

"Wha…" the kit spluttered, not knowing where to begin. For his part, Merlin felt far more uncomfortable than he had expected. But really, what had he expected? He had never met the boy before, he may as well have been an Overlander- it wouldn't have made much difference.

But, he did feel a connection of a sort. It had been a long time since he had felt so protective of anyone; the last he could remember had been Rosemary.

"But where are my parents? Where have you been all this time?" Tails asked, finding his voice. Merlin sighed, knowing these questions were inevitable.

"I will tell you the truth, Miles. Your mother… I am sorry, but she was killed shortly after you were born. And as for your father, I haven't seen him since Robotnik rose to power. My best guess is that he was robotisized, but I can't tell you for certain because I honestly don't know."

"My mother… she's dead?" Tails said, tears overflowing. Merlin reached over and put his arm around his shoulders in comfort, drawing the boy closer as he took a hitching breath. Though Tails had never known Rosemary, he had still held out hope of meeting her one day, and the lack of knowledge of her fate had given him hope that she might still be safe. It was a terrible thing to accept, to realise that he would never see his mother at all. "How?"

"She died during the coup, protecting you. It's thanks to her that you made it so close to Knothole. She saved your life Miles, so have no shame about it. She did not die in vain; she died so that you would live."

Merlin closed his eyes as Tails cried for the mother he never knew. The older fox stayed with him throughout, providing support, and only when the kit settled back down did he speak again.

"Miles. I thought you were dead too. Had I known that your friend brought you here… then I would have come sooner. As far as I am concerned Sonic is a hero for that alone, and I thank Aurora for guiding him."

"Aurora?" Tails sniffled, wiping his nose on a glove. "Who's Aurora?"

Merlin took a deep breath, wandering how to sum up the Lady in such a way so that the boy would understand. The Auroran Faith he knew was something of a mystery to most of Mobius, its details kept within the Knightly Orders and away from the prying eyes of the public. Not for any reason sinister; the Pious Knights of the Order of the Silver Shield especially had attempted to found a Church outside the walls of their monastery many times, but the only mobian who could truly appreciate Aurora for who she was and what she represented was one of her knights.

"Aurora is my Goddess," he said finally. "Many thousands of years ago, she led her people into battle against the evil of Chaos, slaying the demon Mammoth Mogul and his beasts. In doing so she tamed Chaos and turned it's power into good, uniting all of Mobius and bringing about a golden age of prosperity."

Tails looked up at the knight. "Rosie never mentioned her…"

"Who is Rosie, your teacher?" Merlin guessed, and Tails nodded in reply. "It isn't surprising, lad. But you know Aurora's name, now; treat her with respect, and she will guide your path."

"Aurora…" Tails breathed. "So… you're an Auroran Knight? What is that, Uncle Merlin?" the older fox smiled at the name, finding that it gave him a surprising warmth. Guilt ten years past was lifting away, and he felt all the better for it- it was like waking from a long sleep. "Aunt Sally has read me stories about knights, with swords and stuff…"

"Aye," Merlin said, standing and facing the boy. He wasn't wearing his armour but, like many knights he found the idea of being without weaponry for any length of time – sword especially – to be repulsive. So even without his suit of battle plate the belt remained, and holstered there were both his blade and pistol. "We are not quite like in fairytales- I don't imagine many of them use one of these," he commended with a hand resting on the butt of the gun. "However…"

Merlin's hand strayed to grip the leather-bound hilt of his bastard sword. With one motion he drew the blade from its sheath, and it let out a balanced scrape of metal on metal as it was revealed. The sword glistened in the light of the room, its surface perfectly smooth, the silver hilt reflecting the light like ice.

"This is Nemesis," Merlin said, holding the weapon before him so that Tails could see. "It was a gift from your father, made by the finest smiths in the Kingdom of Acorn. In an age of guns and electricity even a weapon like this can find use in the right hands because, more than anything, it is a universal symbol of justice. That is what it represents. Do you understand?"

Tails nodded hesitantly, reaching out to touch a finger to the flat of the blade.

"Aurora herself founded our kind before she ascended to godhood. We follow her example, defending Mobius from whatever threat it faces. We helped to establish the Kingdom of Acorn twelve-hundred years ago. We fought against the Overlanders during both Great Wars, and we have fought Robotnik ever since he made his coup over King Maximillian Acorn."

"…like the Freedom Fighters," Tails added. "Right? That's what Freedom Fighters do, they protect Mobius." Merlin looked at him for a long moment.

"Yes, to an extent." Tails immediately brightened.

"Hey, I'm a Freedom Fighter, Uncle Merlin! I'm just like you! Aunt Sally made me one when I came up with a plan to trick Robotnik…" But then his ears drooped and his enthusiasm drained, and he continued without anywhere near as much confidence. Instead Merlin was surprised to see a spark of anger, "But she keeps leaving me behind. It's like she doesn't take me seriously."

"I don't think that's it, Miles," Merlin replied. "She seems very protective of you. I imagine she only wants to see you safe."

"I know, but I want to help… This is my world too, right? Why can't I help to protect it?" His expression darkened. "And now I know Robotnik killed my mother… I have to do something."

Merlin returned Nemesis to it's sheath, watching the kit with interest. He found Tails' words to be fascinating; words Merlin knew well, and he replied with his honest belief. "Revenge is a noble ideal. I understand your need… I myself seek revenge, as you do," the fox added. "I have done for over ten years."

"Against Snively, Uncle Merlin?" The knight twitched.

"Partially. Snively… has destroyed a fellow Order of Auroran Knights. He killed every last one of them, and then defiled their memory by stealing their most guarded relic…"

Tails' voice lowered to a whisper, taking on an almost conspirational tone.

"What did he take, Uncle Merlin?"

In the back of his mind, Merlin knew that he should end this topic here and now; it was dangerous to tell the lad what they pursued in case he were to pass on the truth. What if Acorn tried to take the Chaos Emerald for herself? But he felt strangely trusting of a boy he had only just met, and with alarm he realised that his mouth was going to continue before his brain could stop it.

"A Chaos Emerald, lad. The most precious relic for any Order of Auroran Knights. Aurora used them to tame Chaos, and each Order has guarded an Emerald ever since so they would not fall into the wrong hands. And now the Templars of the Brotherhood of the Sword have failed in their duty… it has fallen to us to rectify it." Tails nodded sagely.

"Now remember Miles, you are sworn to silence on this! A Chaos Emerald is incredibly dangerous, and we cannot risk anyone taking it from Snively but ourselves. Do you understand?"

Tails nodded again, a little giddy about being let in on such a secret. Despite himself, Merlin smiled and ruffled his head. He wanted to stay longer, to tell the boy about his parents and what a wonderful couple they had once been… But the knight had duties to attend to, and rest to gather before tomorrow.

And, he needed Balian's advice.

"Good. Now, Miles, lad. I must return to my company to prepare for war. But I would like to speak to you again. Would you like that?" A small smile appeared on the kit's face.

"Sure I would, Uncle Merlin! Tomorrow?"

"Yes, but early! The assault will commence at dawn, so I will visit before sunrise. Go to sleep and get plenty of rest, because you will need it."

Tails nodded, pulling his covers up to his muzzle.

Good lad. Sleep well Miles, I shall see you in the morning," said Merlin, moving to the door to take his leave.

Outside, Sally caught a brief glimpse of Tails settling down as the knight opened the door. She had waited with her arms wrapped around her waist, unable to tell if she was shivering from the cool night air or from her own nerves, fighting desperately against the urge to eavesdrop. Merlin retained his usual calm as he looked at her, closing the door behind him, and stopped facing the princess.

"Thank you," was all he said.

"…he's the one?" Sally asked, almost a rhetorical question, but she needed it to be confirmed none the less.

"He is. That lad is Miles, my nephew. Does… that upset you?"

She felt awkward. Looking at the knight, despite once more that excellent façade he put up, she could tell that he felt much the same way.

"I'm not upset, just…" she sighed, not knowing what to say. "Merlin, until yesterday the Freedom Fighters had no idea he had any family left. We still have no idea where he came from. And now that you suddenly appear, I don't know what to say to him… or what he will want to do."

Merlin looked at her for a long moment before replying, "Are you worried I might take him with me?"

Sally caught the hidden tension in his words, and tried to remain as diplomatic as she could. "I'm worried he might make a mistake. We brought him up to try and preserve his innocence, but he keeps insisting on getting involved in the war- it's like he sees it as an adventure. And you… look at the weapons you carry! Your life is war! Sir Merlin, I'm worried he might get the wrong impression of you."

Merlin's expression hardened, and his reply terse.

"You raised him, but make no mistake; you are not his mother. You are not his blood. That boy has a legacy to live up to, and I intend to see that he fulfils it."

The knight's words sent a cold shiver down Sally's spine, though she didn't know what part of it hurt the most. The truth was that Merlin was right; she was no relation to Tails, but he was, and the law of the former Kingdom of Acorn stated that the last blood relative of an infant would be the one given custody in such a situation.

But,a legacy to live up to? What did he mean?

"You want to make him into one of your knights," Sally said almost without thinking.

"I will do what his father would want. But don't worry, Your Highness," Merlin continued. "It will be what is best for him. I swear it."

Her mouth feeling like it was suddenly full of cotton, Sally could only watch as the knight left for his quarters.

Had she just made a terrible mistake?

Sally walked to the door of Tails' hut, and was about to knock when she realised that the lights had already gone out. For the very first time she had second thoughts about disturbing him, and it was a terrible feeling.

Tails was slipping away from her.

She didn't know how long she stood there, but the sickness in her stomach made her unable to do it. She couldn't face the kit, so instead walked back to her home with her shoulders slumped.

She could only be glad that at this time and this close to the assault, no-one was awake to see her.

All except for one…

"Sal?" came a voice as she walked through the door of her home. Sonic stood behind her, knowing immediately something was wrong, and that it was not just stress eating at her. "What's up?"

"When did you get back?" she asked instead, wondering how long he had been watching.

"Just a few minutes ago… N' don't try to avoid me, what's wrong?"

She waved him inside and closed the door, "I've told Merlin like we agreed. And…" She fell heavily into a chair by her desk.

"And?" Sonic prompted.

"He wants to take Tails with him."

--

Merlin strode away towards the quarters assigned to him and his knights, his mind filled with possibility and confusion.

Such wonder! He still found the irony of the situation staggering, but couldn't deny the great swell of fear he felt for his nephew. What would King Acorn say of Miles' relation to his daughter? What would he do with the boy?

Balian waited outside of their assigned quarters and Merlin smiled at his friend as he approached, the light of the hut behind long since extinguished. Like the fox he was without his armour baring only his weapons at his waist, and stood patiently with his hands held before him.

"So… Is it Miles?" Balian asked. Merlin nodded his reply, and Balian smiled. "Then I am glad for you, old friend."

"Thank you," the fox replied, returning the smile. "Who'd have thought it?"

The two began to walk slowly side by side, no particular destination in mind, speaking quietly as they went. It was a cold night and the fresh air was invigorating.

"What do you intend to do about him?" Balian said, "Did speaking to him help?"

"Aye, it did. I can't leave him here for Maximillian to see."

"Indeed? So where will he go? From what you say, it seems that Princess Acorn is quite fond of Miles… Will she let you take him away?"

"Oh she's trying to give Miles the choice. Commendable, but we both know that there is really only one option, and he's not old enough to understand the consequences if he refused it."

Balian said nothing for a while, already seeing where this was going.

"Merlin, he can't just stay at the monastery indefinitely-"

"He can if he is my neophyte."

Balian stopped and stared at his friend.

"You've never taken on a squire, Merlin. And are you surehe's the one? He will live with you night and day, you will have to tutor him in all aspects of his life. Can you cope with that?"

"Don't lecture me on it Balian, I know what will be expected of me."

"Really? With all respect, I don't think you do Merlin. Bethor tutored Astelan for years before choosing to officially take him, and Sigismund? He and Azrael have known each other since the boy's infancy. You've known Miles for maybe ten minutes, and I'm worried that you might think him to be something he is not."

"And what would you have me do, Balian?!" Merlin snapped. "Leave him here for Maximillian to destroy?"

"Of course not! But you should think carefully on this matter. Don't rush into it! Get to know Miles before you decide on anything for certain, and if he does not have that quality, that spark of faith in Aurora, then we must find another option."

Merlin grit his teeth, only a growl of frustration making itself known. Heknew this, really, and had spoken similar words himself to other initiates before they chose their own neophytes. And ultimately he knew that Balian was right, and he hated it.

But what could he do? He could not, would not, abandon Miles here! Honour had to be satisfied. Rosemary's son had to be saved!

"You don't approve of my decision."

"Of course I don't. I can't, I don't know the boy, and you don't either. And you know Marshall Tobias will say exactly the same."

"But what if… What if he could prove his valour? He has the potential. I've seen it in his eyes. I know it. He yearns to prove himself Balian… and if he does, then he will be worthy, will he not? And then you will back me up before Marshall Tobias?"

Balian took a deep breath. "If he shows himself worthy in my eyes, if I can see that you and he have a connection, then yes, I would back you up…" Suddenly, he eyed the fox suspiciously. "…Merlin, what are you plotting?"

"Tomorrow, Balian? Miles is coming with us."

--

Trapped in a cold metal medical room, Snively trembled with pain and humiliation.

The diminutive human lay in a bed covered from the waist down with a sterile white sheet, only his left leg emerging where a medbot worked diligently on the wound. The painkillers the machine injected were helping, but not completely; a ghostly fire was burning from his calf, and Snively had to force himself to look away.

'How dare they!' he thought viciously as the medbot inserted a particularly sharp needle. 'I am the supreme ruler of all Mobius, how dare they fight back! They should have been begging for their lives!'

And that was perhaps the biggest insult of them all; not at one had point had the knights, or even the Freedom Fighters, offered a truce or their surrender. Not once! It made his blood boil that his enemies didn't appear to be afraid of him at all, especially The Hedgehog who mocked him so gallantly, and as he lay immobile on that hospital bed it just made him all the more determined to destroy them all.

The only consolation was that the Templars' efforts had been in vain. Not even the most famously skilled Auroran Knights had been able to hold him at bay forever, and soon he assured himself the Freedom Fighters would follow suit. Even now his prize was being installed into his masterpiece, the Apocalypse Cannon.

Snively gave a sharp order and instantly a nearby monitor lit up, showing him progress on the immense weapon. Finally, it was on the very verge of completion. Only the muzzle of the gun was visible protruding from a huge iron turntable, but beneath, for a few hundred meters straight down like the web of some huge tunnel spider, ran layer upon layer of gantry frames and wires. And, at the very base, in a room beneath the loading breach, a cylinder of glass awaited the final missing piece.

A combot moved in, delicate cargo nestled safely in it's hands. Snively made sure to watch as the machine stepped to the chamber, the glass sinking smoothly into the ground at it's approach, and placed the Chaos Emerald on a pedestal in the centre.

But Snively was not the only living being observing as his Cannon inched towards completion. For two mobians elsewhere in Robotropolis watched via a ghostly screen of pure magic, their bodies wracked in pain, limbs twisted into a luminescent crystal. One had long since given in fully to the transformation, a fox of noble birth whose eyes stared unseeing at the vision before him. As for the other, only force of will kept his change at bay, but slowly and surely that what remained of that will and sanity was slipping away.

"Our salvation!" he wheezed, a beast of a figure, "It has come, at last!"

He gave a sweeping movement with his gnarled arms, and the frozen crystalline figure of King Maximillian Acorn rose inches into the air.

"We must be there at the moment the human unleashes the Emeralds power! Come, there is no time to waste! Soon, sire, I shall have vengeance on those who would leave me to rot in the Void… Amongst them your wretched daughter, and you shall bear witness to it all!"