Esperanca Do Amor

Prologue

In the deep of the night, in his posh mansion, a mink lay in his big bed in deep sleep. His blonde hair cascaded over his pillow as he rolled over. His lips smacked a little as he moaned. "Sonia… Sonia, please… I need you… don't go…" Tears slips out of the corners of his closed eyes as he clenched then closed. "Sonia!" He screamed as bolted up, his eyes opening. "That dream again…" He wrapped his arms around himself as it faded and he could only sob in his loneliness.

The next morning, the mink sat in the parlor of his mansion staring at his cup of tea. He only barely registered the chinking of a spoon against china and a voice speaking to him. "What?" He asked as he realized he'd been asked a question. "I'm sorry sir…"

"What is wrong with you Bartleby?" The deep gravelly voice of the kingdom's present ruler asked again, his tone demanding a response.

Bartleby shook his head. "No sir, nothing is wrong. I just had a rough night. Too much caffeine kept me up." He lied though he turned haunted eyes away.

An orange furred jackal scoffed. "Bull. Your eyes are sunken in, your cheeks are pale, and you're getting skinnier by the day…"

Robotnik was about to tell off Dingo before realizing the observation was actually helpful. "You're not eating and the dark circles tell me this isn't the first time you haven't slept well. Now, I demand an answer. The truth."

Bartleby looked at the man. "I cannot tell you sir. I'm sorry. Please… I can't trouble you with my trivial, petty problems. You have enough to deal with…" He trembled with mental anguish. The tears were coming again, unbidden.

He frowned. "Bartleby! Tell me… the truth." He urged again, his voice becoming softer, attempting to be comforting.

The mink finally lost control of his emotions as he began sobbing out all of the pain he'd been feeling through the last year. The despot waited, putting a hand on his shoulder to let him know that he was safe. Once the sobs subsided, the man nodded. "Alright, are we able to speak clearly now? Tell me what is wrong."

"Very well… but please sir… please don't get angry… I can't help it and I have tried. I have tried so hard." He pleaded.

Robotnik sighed. "As you wish, speak your mind. You are safe here."

Bartleby's lip wobbled. "It's Sonia, sir… I still… I still love her. I love her so and I'm only half myself without her."

"Sonia? Hedgehog? No, that's a stupid question. I don't think you know any other Sonias." Robotnik said. "And why are you concerned that I would be mad about that?"

Bartleby was confused. "She's your enemy. She and her brothers are attempting to overthrow you. I was afraid you'd think that I'd betrayed you. But I love her sir and… we cannot be together. Because I would never betray you and I would never ask her to betray her brothers." He looked down. "So there you have it. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I'm sorry sir. I'm sorry."

Robotnik nodded as he stood. "Don't you worry about a thing now, Bartleby. Everything is going to be alright." He began to leave, whispering to the bounty hunter. "Dingo, you will stay here. Your job from here on is to stick to Bartleby like glue. If he is comes to any harm… you know the consequences."

Dingo gulped. "Y...y...yes sire. I'll stay with him, like glue. He will not be hurt on my watch." He promised.

Robotnik left the mansion with determination on his face. It was with that same determination that he entered the palace. "Aleena! I know you can hear me! Appear and speak with me!" He commanded.

The queen appeared as a hologram. "What do you want Robotnik. Are you ready to surrender."

He shook his head. "No, I wish you to give you a chance to save yourself. The same chance I gave you years ago."

The queen laughed. "And why would my answer be any different then it was before?"

"Because your children are plenty old enough to make their own decisions. I summon you and ask you merely as a courtesy. You can either agree now or I can go to them myself and make the offer." He said. "I promise, if I must resort to this, I will get what I want and you will end up with nothing."

Aleena smiled smugly. "Really? You believe my children will agree to any offer you make? Very well, you may certainly try." The hologram faded.

Robotnik nodded as though he'd expected that. "Alright then. I will. Sleet!" He barked. He had some work to do.

AN: Finally back in action after several years of nothing. I'm so sorry, I've just been juggling full time work and illness. Please review, I love concrit.