This tale is about Zip and Annie, the other two members from "Vixen in the Labyrinth". Zip is copyrighted by Jen Von Ohlsen and Annie is copyrighted by me. If you try to steal these characters you are headed for deep doo-doo! I hope everyone has had a way past April Vacation! I'd also like to tell you that I've created Mobotropolis in SimCity2k! It's good, so check it out! From now on, I've decided to add a quote to each of my stories. No particular reason, just cuz they're cute! This story's quote: "Death is proven to be 99% fatal in Laboratory Rats." "The Littlest Freedom Fighter" by Holly-Beth Vixie Kraft "Hey Uncle Antoine! Wanna play?" bounced Annie. "Maybe latear ma cherie. Ah have to go clean Bunnie's hut." the squire replied. "Oh..." said Annie, looking defeated. "I weel latear, I promeese!" he said. Annie didn't reply. She just revved up and zoomed off. Antoine couldn't help but feel a little badly for Annie. She had no kids her age to play with and Tails was too old. Annie was the littlest Freedom Fighter. Annie kept on running. She only stopped when she reached Sonic's hut. Surely he would play with her, he loved her! She knocked on the front door several times. No answer. Sally overheard her knocking and came outside. "He's on a training mission with Tails, Annie. He won't be back until tomorrow." she said. "Oh..." said Annie, letting a tear fall. "What's wrong honey?" said Sally. "No one will play with me, not even Uncle Antoine." she cried. "Aw, sweetie. They're busy, they can't help that. We don't want Robotnik to find us, do we?" the princess asked. "No, Aunt Sally." she mumbled. "I'm going to be busy with Rotor for awhile. After I'm through, I'll be glad to play with you! Do you like that?" "Yeah." said Annie impassively." "Cheer up honey. I know it's hard, but keep your head up! Go on and play, sweetie. I'll see you in a little while." replied Sally, walking off. After Sally was out of hearing distance was when Annie began to talk. "I'm gonna go to Robotropolis! I can kick some Swat-butt! That'd be REALLY cool!" she grinned, speeding off. In about ten minutes, Annie had arrived in Robotropolis." "Wow! Look how spooky it is!" she said awefully. She sped up and headed for a Swat-bot Programming Plant. There'll be tons of Swat-bots there!, she thought to herself." She was just getting ready to head into the plant when a Swat-bot picked her up. "Let me go! You're not supposed to catch me! I'M supposed to catch YOU!" she cried. The Swat-bot took the intruder straight to the little man himself. "Why, if it isn't a little girl!" Snively exclaimed. Thank Mobius that I'm as cute as I am!, thought Annie. "What are you doing here little girl?" he said sneakily. "I was looking-- that is-- I wanted someone to play with, so I came here to play with some Swat-bots!" "Don't you know they don't like to play?" he asked." "No, sir." "Oh well...I'm going to have to take you to Robotnik," Snively said flatly, "What is your name little girl?" "My name is Annie." she replied. "Come with me, Annie." ordered Snively, putting out his hand for her to take. She took the hand carefully and they began to walk to the control room. "What is this, Snively?" growled Robotnik. "Well sir, this is Annie. She's..uh...looking for someone to play with." said Snively, winking. "Oh....well...we wouldn't want to disappoint our visitor, would we? Hmm... can you run Annie?" Robotnik rumbled suspiciously. "Y-yes." "Good. I want you to run from here to the door. Do it, NOW!" Annie gasped and revved up. She shot off for the door extremely fast. "Snively, it looks like Annie Jane Hedgehog will be staying for quite some time." Robotnik whispered. He focused his attention back on Annie. "Come here, Annie." The scared little hedgehog walked slowly towards the giant chair. "Annie, I know how nobody wants to play with you. It's sad isn't it? But, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. If you will be my friend, I will be able to play with you forever!" smiled Robotnik. Annie's face brightened, and then went straight. "But, I thought you wanted to Roboticize me. You tried to when you put us in that maze or whatever it was. Plus, you Roboticized my mommy and daddy! And what about Zippy?" "Oh Annie, I want you to forget all those things and focus on having a full-time friend to play with! Wouldn't that be great?" said Dr. Robotnik. "I guess so..." mumbled Annie. "And we can get back at everyone that couldn't find the time to play with you. That would teach them to ignore you, wouldnÕt it?" he continued. "Well...yeah..." "And we can play forever and ever! You'll have so much fun, you'll forget about everyone else." "Even Uncle Antoine?" "Yes, my child." "Well...since I'll have a friend who won't ignore me, I guess it's all right." "Wise decision. Now, what shall we play first?" Robotnik chuckled halfheartedly. "How about 'go fish'?" "Sure! The cards are somewhere on the control panel. You go look for them, okay?" "Okay, Uncle Robotnik." she said. Snively crept closer to his boss. "Sir...what exactly do you plan on doing with the girl?" "Snively, Snively, Snively! You should have already figured it out! I'm BRAINWASHING her! With her speed, she can probably catch that stupid rodent! This could be the end of the Freedom Fighters as we know it!" "Excellent plan, sir. Do remember one thing, though. To earn her complete trust you must make sure that you never mention anything about her family. Before the coos, I took a class on psychology. There, sir, I learned the basics of brainwashing!" Snively replied. "Oh you did, did you? Well, in that case, I entrust you to make sure that I don't. And one more thing, Snively...you had better do a good job." Annie came running normally back over to the chair. "Found 'em!" she said. "Annie!...Annnnnie!" cried Zip. "What's wrong, Zip?" asked Bunnie, who happened to walk by. "Annie's gone!...uha-Have you seen her?" "Why no, sugar. I think Sal knows though." "Good! Come with me." said Zip. Bunnie held on to Zip's shoulders and they shot off from the treehouse. When they arrived at Sally's hut, the princess was outside. "Have you guys seen Annie?" she asked. "That's what we were gonna ask you!" Zip cried. "Oh my gosh! We've got to find her!" "Or she'll get caught by a Worker-bot, or worse!" said Bunnie. "Hang on guys, I'll get Dulcy to fly over the forest. I'm sure we'll find her." Zip said calmly. "Let's hope so, sugar. Let's hope so..." "I win! Yay!" grinned Annie. "Oh, not again! You're quite a clever girl, you know!" Robotnik said with a fake smile. Annie giggled. "You're the best friend I have ever had, Uncle Robotnik." she smiled. "Nothing Zip, not even a sign. I did see Sonic and Tails, and they should be back any minute now. I told them what was wrong and they said to gather everyone up to form a search party." said Dulcy. "And that's just what we'll do!" said Sally. Ten minutes later, Sonic and Tails having already arrived, the search party set out, equipped with laser guns. They search for what seemed like days without finding one solitary clue of Annie's disappearance. "Only one possibility left. And I think that possibility is a big bald lardo." "Oh no! Sonic, we've gotta save my sister! She's the only family I've got left!" Zip said, putting her hands on Sonic's shoulders. "Don't worry, Zip. We'll get her. C'mon everyone." The ones who decided to go were Bunnie, Tails, Nina, Vixie, Sally, Dulcy, Antoine, and Rotor. Zip took Vixie and put her in her backpack, Sally took her shoulders, Rotor grabbed onto Sonic, and Dulcy took Antoine, Bunnie and Nina, while Tails flew. The entire party set off on their horrible mission. "Uncle Robotnik? I'm kinda hungry. D'ya have any chili dogs?" "Chili dogs?! Why...uh...no..." Dr. Robotnik said confusedly. "Oh...Zip always makes me chili dogs..." Annie sighed. "Then why can't we? Snively?" growled Robotnik. "Yes sir?" he whispered. "My friend wants a chili dog, could you...PLEASE...make her one?" Snively was shocked to hear Robotnik use the word 'please.' He knew that he'd struggled to say it. "Right away, sir!" he said, and walked off to the kitchen laughing all the way. "Okay guys, we split up. Nina, Tails, Vixie, you take the air ducts since you're the smallest. Zip, Sally, Bunnie, Rotor, Ant, and Dulce, you come with me. We're going in to check the holding rooms.Ó said Sonic hurriedly. "Let's go!" said Sally. Tails, Nina, and Vixie ran to a vent on the side of the Death Egg, Vixie opened it and let Tails and Nina in, she went in last. The other Freedom Fighters walked over to Uncle Chuck's hideout. "That's terrible!" exclaimed Uncle Chuck. "I don't know how she could have gone unnoticed." cried Zip. "Sugar, don't cry. I'm sure we'll find her." Bunnie said, putting her hand on Zip's shoulder. "You're right...we will find her...Roboticized." Zip grumbled. "Do not be talkeeng like zat, Zeep. Look towards zee brightear side, no?" Antoine smiled. "In any case, let's find her." said Uncle Chuck, preparing the equipment. "I don't think we're gonna find anything in here," whispered Vixie. "We've got to try, Vixie. Annie is Zip's sister. I know what it's like to find your sister missing." said Nina. "You do?" said Tails. "Yeah. When I was about seven, my sister Carry got lost in the Great Forest. We searched for days and days, and we found her at last when we arrived home. She had found her way back and was playing a video game! I was so scared." she said. "Wow." whispered Vixie. "Shhh! I see Snively," shushed Tails, "and he's...*sniff* chili dogs?! He's making chili dogs!" "Annie MUST be here!" smiled Nina. "Let's burst out of the pipe and catch him!" grinned Tails, "Sonic did that when Snively caught me! If we hold him hostage, the bots won't fire at us!" "Let's do it to it! 1-2-3." whispered Vixie. Snively was bending over the cooler when three little figures hit him. "Hold him Tails!" cried Nina. "SECURITY!" screamed Snively. Soon the kitchen was teeming with bots. "Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" he shouted as the bot's took their aim. "Good move Snerdly! Now take us to Annie or your goose is cooked!" Vixie laughed. "Never! Never! Never!" wailed Snively. "Ya know...my wrists are still way sore from what you did to me! I think he needs a little punishment. Don't you think, Nina?" the vixen smiled wryly. "Oh yeah! In the corner Snerdly! And no false moves or you'll be paying with a laser!" she motioned to the fox with the wrist aimed at him. Snively did what he was told. Nina turned 180 and proceeded to skunk poor Snively. "It's too bad that the only tomato juice is in that chili! You're gonna stink for a year!....Ahhhh....I love being a skunk!" Nina grinned. "Good thing we're used to the smell, or we'd be goners too!" laughed Tails. "Now take us to Annie, or you'll get another spray of Nina's musk!" Vixie growled. "Yes...right this way." wheezed Snively, trying not to throw up. "The holdin' cells are all empty except for the bots we shoved in them. She must already be Roboticized." said a sad Bunnie. "I'm not geeveeng up hope yet! I, Antoine, will find her!" Antoine said bravely. "Get crucial, Antoine. You can't save anybody." growled Sonic. "Zat ees what you are knoweeng! Ah weel find her and bring her to you! Step out of zee way!" persisted the squire. Zip noticed Antoine's stalwart speech and stopped him before he left. "Uh Antoine," she said quietly, taking off a bracelet, "Take this with you. If your run into any trouble you can use it to fire a laser....be careful." she said, and gave Antoine a hug. "Ah weel, Zeep." was all he said, and then he set off down the corridor. After he was a good way down, Rotor spoke up. "He really loves Annie, doesn't he?" he whispered. No one replied. "Leave her alone Robotnik, or Snively is history!" yelled Tails. "Go ahead, he is not worth much." smiled Robotnik evilly. Snively furrowed his brow. "You worthless wart on the face of existence." he mumbled. "Go away! Uncle Robotnik is better than you guys. He cares about me!" "UNCLE Robotnik?" Vixie, Nina, and Tails said in unison. "You guys never played with me because I was too young. I was ignored and no one cared. Now Uncle Robotnik is my friend. And now I don't need you." scowled Annie. "What is wrong with you Annie? We're your friends!" Suddenly, Antoine burst into the room. "Leeve her alone you sinistear feend!" he shouted. "Uncle Antoine!" Annie shouted happily. She jumped off of Robotnik's lap and ran over to her friend. "Mon dieu! Hwat are you doeeng weeth Robotneek?" he asked. "He's my friend. He promised me he'll play with me forever! And he won't ignore me either!" she explained. "An-nie, do you not know zat we care about you? We love you, ma cherie! Robotneek ees lying! He doose not like you, he's brainwashing you!" Robotnik stepped in. "Do not listen to him Annie. He is lying. He doesn't want you back. He'll just begin to ignore you again and you'll be back right where you started. Make your choice." Annie looked at each one. Vixie, Tails, and Nina piled behind Antoine. "We're your real friends Annie. Come back with us." Vixie whispered. "Remember me? Good old Uncle Robotnik. Think of all the revenge we could cause! I'm your only friend Annie. Come to me." Annie stood and walked directly in-between Robotnik and Antoine. She began to walk over to... "ANNIE! You're back! Oh my goodness, I thought you were Roboticized!" Zip said, taking her sister back into her arms. "What happened, little lilac one?" asked Sonic. "I wanted to have someone to play with. No one plays with me." Annie replied. "Annie, you know we'd play with you, but we have to prepare ourselves constantly for a surprise attack. And I still don't understand why you ran away." Vixie said. "You guys always ignore me! You say that I'm too young to be a Freedom Fighter. I'm a big girl now, I'm six years old! Why can't I fight Robotnik?" she demanded. "You're still too young! Y'all need to train to become a Freedom Fighter, hon'." Bunnie said. "That's my point. You guys won't train me. So that's why, when Snively took me to Robotnik, I stayed. He had fun with me." Annie replied. "He was brainwashing you, Ann. He didn't mean anything he said. I bet he had plans on turning you against us so you could become a threat. He wanted to use you to get at us. He'd push you away, and your only friends would be those rusty old Bot-heads." Zip informed her. "But I'd still be treated like I was important. You can't deny that." persisted Annie. "Annie, you are important to us. You've got many qualities that have promise. You'll definitely prove to be an asset to us once you're older. You're fast, cute, and smart. You know the definition of words that kids your age can't even say! You know how to program a robot. And you also can trick people very easily with your charm." Rotor said softly. "Now prove THAT wrong." said Tails. "I guess so, but that doesn't make me feel needed. I want to go with you guys to Robotropolis and bust some bad-guys! I wanna run circles around Robotnik. Nevertheless, I have to wait til I'm older. Definitely NOT cool." she sighed. Sally spoke up. "Well, we can change that. All those in favor of considering Annie as a full fledged Freedom Fighter, raise your hands." One-by-one, every hand rose to the smoggy sky. "Then it's official! I proclaim Annie Jane Hedgehog the littlest Freedom Fighter." she finished. "Wow! Really?!" said Annie. "You're one of us now, kid." said Sonic. "YEAH! All right!" Annie responded with a giggle. "You would sacrifice your own nephew for a little girl? Do I not mean anything to you, sir?" "Shut up, Snively! You're useless! A disgrace!" roared the angry Doctor. "SIR," Snively said sarcastically, "I'm the only family you've got. I suggest you treat me like kin, or I may walk out of here one day and leave you to do what I do yourself, SINCE I'M so worthless." Snively hissed. "Is that a threat, Snively?!" "No, sir, of course not. It's a promise." was Snively's reply. The End.....?