Sonic The Hedgehog: King Acorn's Triumphant Return
written by Holly-Beth "Vixie" Kraft (Vixie L@aol.com, Sage Luka@aol.com, 
Bunnie1235@aol.com)
Mighty Fox Copyrighted by Doug LoConti
~
Don't think me rude, but could some people actually put Vixie in their 
stories? C'mon guys, I'm a Freedom Fighter too!!!... ::Tears well up in eyes 
like Serena:: Waaaaah!
~

	"Mike? Did I ever tell you how much I cherish you?" Vixie said, nuzzling 
her Mighty Fox.
	"You don't need to. I adore you just as much..." said the male fox, 
rubbing his head on his vixen's.
	"Oh, Mighty!  You make me so happy..." Vixie ended in a sigh.
	The couple sat nuzzling under a huge tree on the outskirts of 
Knothole.
	"Vixie? Mighty?" shouted a voice.
	The two foxes straightened a bit to hear a desperate voice calling 
their names.
	"That's Sally's voice!" said Vixie.
	"Let's go see what's wrong!" Mighty said, helping Vixie up and holding 
her hand as they began to run.
	When they found Sally, she was near tears.
	"Please, come to my hut. I'll tell you there." said the princess.
	Vixie and Mighty exchanged a confused glance, and hurried off after 
Sally.

	Sally's hut was filled with only a few choice residents of Knothole.
	"Sally?" Dulcy asked.
	"Yes?"
	"Are you gonna be okay?" whispered the dragoness.
	Sally just nodded, and walked to the front of the audience.
	"I have wonderful news. It was quite shocking to me, you will find it 
equally inconceivable."
	Sally tried to start, but started to cry. Sonic nodded her to go on 
with a smile.
	"...My father...King Acorn...can be brought back from the Void..." 
Sally whispered happily.
	When Vixie and Mighty first saw Sally, they thought something terrible 
had happened, but with Sally, one could never know. As soon as they heard 
what the princess had uttered, they were speechless. That was until Vixie 
started to shout, 'Long live the King! Long live King Acorn!' in a jovial 
voice. Soon the whole hut was chanting as well. Villagers passing by the hut 
also began chanting, although not knowing why. They loved the King as well, 
but none had heard of the news concerning him.
	"When can we rescue your father Sally?" asked Mighty Fox.
	"Well, as soon as Rotor finishes his Life Force Transfer Machine."
	All turned to Rotor.
	"When, Rotor?" asked Tails.
	"I need one more part." Rotor said sadly.
	"Well, where eez eet?" Antoine questioned.
	"Well, the only place to find it is in Robotropolis."
	"Hey, if it's for his Majesty, I'll go to any length!" said Vixie.
	Rotor sighed.
	"Well, there's the problem. Robotnik has it in his control room to the 
portal. The control room was sealed off to make sure that no one ran a 
recover program to find the retrieval files. Do you guys know how many 
Swat-bots are guarding that thing?! Geez...we have less than a fourth of a 
chance of getting in there!"
	"No prob'! I can handle any Butt-bot that gets in my way! Ya just 
gotta see the technique I've been working on with my staff."
	"A wooden staff isn't gonna do much good on a titanium alloy robot, 
Vixie." said Sally.
	"Yeah, but try using a metal one!" Vixie smiled, referring to her 
newest staff.
	"Vixie, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather do this job. He's my 
father, and he's my responsibility." Sally said.
	"At least let me go with you." Vixie pleaded.
	"I'm going too." said Mighty, putting a firm hand on Vixie's shoulder.
	Sally smiled, brushing the fur under her eyes dry with a hand.
	"I appreciate this, you guys." she said.
	Vixie bowed regally.
	"Anything for the house of Acorn." she said solemnly.
	The rest of the room bowed before the princess. Even Sonic, the person 
Sally least expected to bow, had kneeled with a lowered head.
	Sally was speechless for the first time in many a year.

	The crisp April morning brought a chill to the princess's nose. Sally 
waited next to Dulcy for the two foxes to come along. Just then Sonic raced 
by.
	"Sal, you know where Dulce will be waitin', right?" said the overly-
hyperactive hedgehog.
	"Of course I know, Sonic Hedgehog. After all, it WAS my plan!" Sally 
rolled her eyes.
	"Hey, jus' chill Sal! No need to take a bite outta me!" Sonic said, 
"all I'm doing is double checkin'. Which happens to be what YOU usually do." 
Sonic said, ending his sentence with a tinge of bitterness.
	Sally slumped when she realized the temper she had give her main 
squeeze.
	"Son', I'm sorry. You know how my emotions can get out of hand. I'm 
just really uneasy about this mission. What happens if it turns out like the 
plan we made to retrieve the Neutralizer? I'd have failed Daddy..."she 
trailed off.
	"Sal, ya gotta stop thinkin' about the bad side and start lookin' to 
the bright side. We'll get your father from that Void no problem!" said the 
hedgehog, looking dreamily into the pools of azure that were Sally's eyes.
	Suddenly, a girl's giggles could be heard.
	Dulcy looked to the sky.
	"It's gotta be the foxes..." she sighed.
	"We heard that!" said Mighty Fox, squeezing his vixen.
	Dulcy blushed.
	"Ya know," blurted Sonic, "you two better get hitched when you're 
older, cuz I'd hate to miss seeing these little antics you have."
	"What do you mean by 'antics?'" Vixie said, raising an eyebrow.
	"All these games of hide-and-go-kiss, hug-tag, and all this other 
stuff. You guys have GOT to be mates. I can see it now!"
	Vixie and Mighty Fox looked at each other and laughed merrily.
	"Let's go guys! Enough poking fun at me and my vixen." said Mighty, 
glad to change the subject.
	"All aboard for Dumpsville, Robotown, Ickyland and all points south!" 
Dulcy said, lowering her back for the passengers.
	When everybody had sat down, Dulcy lifted off.

	The flight to Robotropolis hadn't been that bad, but the arrival was 
worse. The group brushed themselves off and helped Dulcy regain her state 
of sanity.
	"OoooOOooOoOOoh...but I don't like asparagus, Ma..." she mumbled.
	Vixie scratched her head.
	"I think she bonked her melon harder than we thought..."
	Soon all of the Freedom Fighters were inside of the old War Ministry 
wing in what was left of the Acorn Palace. File cabinets were cluttered 
about, papers burped out of their drawers. It seemed deserted.
	"I remember this place. My father used to tell me never to go in this 
wing, for I wouldn't like what I'd see here. Well, if he only knew what I've 
been cursed to see already..." sighed Sally, as she examined a diploma on 
the wall.
	"Don't be sad, Sally. We'll get your father yet." Mighty said, placing 
a reassuring paw on the princess' shoulder.
	"Let's hope." she said glumly as they walked further down the 
corridor.
	It was quiet except for the patting sounds of shoes on concrete.
	"Y'know," said Sonic cautiously, "Rote said this place would be 
overflowing with bots, but I have yet to even see a single one!"
	"Hmmm..." Sally said, watching the vixen sniff the air.
	It was then when Vixie stopped.
	"Uh...far be it for me to be the harbinger of doom, but we're being 
watched..." she whispered to her friends.
	"Huh? How?!" Sally whispered desperately.
	"Look VERY slowly, as if you're looking at your surroundings."she 
said, pointing behind her.
	Sally turned nonchalantly, and saw a spy-eye in the corner of her eye. 
Turning back, she told Sonic.
	"Sonic, there's slight problem. There's a spy-eye watching us. Do you 
think-"
	Sonic whipped around and saw the bot hovering above them.
	"Later, Robuttnik!" he said, smashing is brutally with a large curtain 
rod he had picked up.
	"SONIC! You are SO stupid! Now those bots will come after us for 
sure." Sally shouted disgustedly.
	"Maybe they won't, Sally. Snively doesn't always watch all of the 
monitors." Mighty said.
	Suddenly, a patrol of Swat-bots appeared in front of them.
	"Then again, I could be wrong." said the fox.
	"RUN!" shouted Vixie.
	"No wait! I'll get these guys! No problem!" Sonic said, twirling up 
into his famous Sonic Cyclone. The whole brigade of bots, amid many papers, 
was swept up into the twister. When Sonic finished, not a Swat-bot was left 
standing.
	The three remaining Freedom Fighters were still hiding behind file 
cabinets.
	Mighty held Vixie tightly to his chest, while Sally peeked over. There 
was nothing more than a breeze left in the hallway, so they slowly rose.
	"Wicked cool, Sonic!" smiled Vixie.
	"C'mon! We've gotta get to the control room before anything else comes 
our way!" said Sally, running down the hall.


	"Here we are! Go to it, Sonic." Sally said quietly.
	Sonic was about to go into his patented Buzz Saw,but paused. He took 
Sally into his arms, and held her in front of his face.
	"Sal, I'm really glad you'll see your father again. Just want you to 
know, I'll do anything for you, asking nothing in return." kissing Sally 
lovingly.
	By then, a tear had fallen from Sally's eye.
	"Thank you Sonic." said the Princess, hugging her true love.
	"Here we go!" the blue blur said softly with a smile, juicing up.
	Within seconds, a hole had been chiseled in the cement wall.
	Vixie ran in and searched for the part.
	"I found it!"she said, triumphantly.
	"All right! Way to go, Vix!" Sonic said, slapping Vixie a high five.
	"Let's get back to Knothole!" Mighty said.
	The four exited the facility after thrashing about 50 Swat-bots and 
many other machines. Vixie lost a bracelet and Sally had tripped over a 
wire, but neither were hurt. The trip back to Knothole was a breeze except 
for Dulcy's landing.

	"The envelope please?" Sonic said, tapping his foot.
	"That should do it, you guys. Now Son' we need to open the Void. 
Sally, do you have the coordinates of the vortex?"
	Sally nodded.
	"Nicole, if you will."
	"Coordinates are 32' 46' NNW." droned Nicole.
	"Okay. When we get there, the Void will only be open for a few 
seconds. Think you can make it inside before the opening is too small?" 
Rotor asked Sonic.
	"Get crucial...of COURSE I can!" Sonic huffed.
	"Let's go." Sally said.

	Mighty, Rotor, Bunnie, and Vixie rode on Dulcy's back, as Sonic, 
holding Sally, sped alongside her.
	"We're here, Dulcy!" shouted Sally, turning her head.
	"Goin' down!" the dragon said.
	"That's what I'm afraid of..." whispered a smiling Mighty Fox, holding 
Vixie's hand.
	Dulcy's landing was one of her better ones, being that she only spun 
around instead of scraping her knees. Still, the dragoness's landing habits 
needed work.
	"Prepare to open the Void, guys," Sally said, with a proud smile, 
"...Nicole access file 'warpgate.exec' and prepare to activate in five 
seconds."
	"Yes, Sally." said the AI.
	Five seconds later, a winding portal spread out before the group.
	"So this is the Void!" said Vixie, holding her fur out of her face.
	"C'mon! We have to go in now, or we won't be able to access it again!" 
yelled Sally.
	"Juicin'!" Sonic shouted, picking up Sally and the Life-Transfer 
Machine, then heading into the Void.
	The rest of the Freedom Fighters stood and watched as the two leaders 
were sucked into the other dimension.
	Bunnie walked over to Rotor and leaned on him.
	"Ah sure do hope Sally-girl will be okay... She's the best friend 
Ah've got..."
	Rotor assured his love with an arm around her neck.

	When Sonic and Sally reached the ground, Naugus stood before them.
	"Welcome back, friends."
	Sally gasped.
	"How'd you know...?"
	"Ahh...the mysteries of magic crystals are hard to explain. I suggest 
going to Ambermane for the answer." chuckled the sorcerer.
	"We've come to-"started Sonic, but was cut off by Naugus's hand.
	"I know. I shall summon His Majesty." said the magician, disappearing 
into the air.
	"I told you, Sally. I told you'd we'd get him back, and I was right." 
Sonic smiled.
	Sally kissed Sonic on the cheek.
	"Bless you, Sonic Hedgehog..." she said in a whisper.
	"Sally?" said a voice out of nothingness.
	"Daddy? Where?..."
	King Acorn and Naugus appeared side-by-side.
	"Oh Daddy!" Sally said, running to her father.
	"Sally, my child, we are together again." smiled the monarch, hugging 
his daughter. The reunion was cut short by a soft voice.
	"Ready Sally?" Sonic smiled.
	"Yes, Sonic, I am. Daddy? Naugus? Are you ready to return to Mobius?" 
Sally cried.
	"We are." replied the King.
	Sally held onto her father as Sonic Saluted him with a low bow.
	"Hold on, we're going for a long ride. Grab on, Naugus." said the 
speedy hedgehog.
	Naugus, stood for a moment, then shook his head.
	"I'm not sure I want to go back, blue one. With what Julian has done 
to the land, I think I cannot stand it."
	"But Naugus, you're the only one who can strike fear into Robotnik's 
heart!" cried Sonic.
	"I know...but.....perhaps I should go, hmm? If I ever get a hold of 
him again, he'll pay double the price."
	"There is room for you in Knothole, Naugus. The Great Forest is still 
untouched. Please, join us." said the princess, holding out her hand.
	The mage took it.
	"Then I will."
	Sonic smiled as Naugus grabbed a shoulder.

	Vixie and Mighty sat on the ground, huddled up. It was colder out now 
that the sun had set.
	Dulcy yawned, and fell asleep.
	Bunnie sat on a log next to Rotor.
	"Hey...what's that?" she said, looking into the Void.
	At what seemed like a far distance away, the cy-bunny could make out a 
blue speck.
	"Sonic! My stars! Rotor, fire up the starter machine!" Bunnie cried.
	"Okay." said the walrus, twisting some knobs.
	Sonic the Hedgehog jumped out of the sky with the P.O.W.'s on his back 
and a Princess to go with them.
	"His Majesty!" cried Mighty, startled.
	The fox and his vixen stood up and bowed.
	Dulcy fell from her tree upon her hearing the Sonic boom, and had 
already begun to bow.
	Bunnie and Rotor each put a hand over their heart and regally nodded 
their heads.
	"I have returned."


End Part One


	There was much celebration over the following days. Every citizen of 
Knothole helped in the building of a palace-hut for the King. Sally sat with 
her father outside.
	"Daddy, I'm so glad you're back...and this time we'll never part 
again." said Sally, looking into her father's loving eyes.
	"Yes, my child." said the King.
	"I never thought I'd see this day." whispered Sally.
	"Sally, I'd like to tell you about your mother."
	"Mama?"
	"Yes. I'd like to tell you her story." said King Acorn.
	Sally nodded for him to go on.
	"I met your mother at a palace ball your Grandpa Francis threw. She 
looked just like Cinderella. We talked, danced, and we soon fell in love. 
Six years later we got married, and you were born. Shortly after, your 
mother became very, very ill. Many healers were brought from around the 
globe, but none could ease her pain. Soon, things took a turn for the worse, 
and your mother died. You were two at the time, so you must not remember it, 
but the whole kingdom mourned the loss of Rebekka-Lyn Acorn.
	"Your mother was a very wonderful woman, and I wish she could have 
seen how beautiful you've become. You know, I could've sworn I had seen you 
look like this before...I just don't remember where..."
	Sally swallowed.
	"I wish I could have gotten to know her. She seems like a wonderful 
person." Sally said, turning back to the subject. She was glad her father 
did not remember the day twelve years ago when she and Sonic traveled back 
in time.
	"She was. And I still miss her."
	The princess and her father were quiet for sometime before the king 
spoke again.
	"What of Sir Charles, Sally? Is he doing all right?"
	"He's still working undercover as a spy. He got caught once by 
Robotnik, so now he uses a Worker-Bot costume to gather our reconnaissance 
information. We've gathered many important things from him." explained 
Princess Sally.
	"Does he come to Knothole from time to time?" asked King Acorn.
	"Once in awhile he does. We could arrange for you to see him again."
	"That would be nice. I haven't seen him in eleven years."
	"Sally! Sally! You've gotta come quickly. Sonic's awful sick!" shouted 
Vixie, running into the room.
	"Sick? From what?"
	"Don' know, but it looks real bad!" said the vixen.
	"Let's go. Daddy, we'll be back." the Princess said.
	"Wait, Sally. I am going with you."
	"But..."
	"No 'buts', Sonic helped me, and I'd like to help him." said the 
ruler.
	"Yes, daddy...C'mon...I'll show you to his hut." Sally agreed softly.
	The three ran towards the village center.

	"Aww man..." said Sonic, groggily.
	"It's gonna be okay, sugar-hog. We're takin' good care of you..." 
Bunnie said, placing a washcloth on Sonic's head.
	Suddenly, King Acorn, Princess Sally, and Vixie Lamenta walked into 
the hut.
	"Sonic was teaching me how to strike better with my bo, when he just 
fell down, delirious. I don't know why, but he did. I've never seen him like 
this before." Vixie explained, as she watched Sally sit on the side of 
Sonic's bed.
	"Sonic?...Sonic, can you hear me?"
	"...Sal? What's wrong with me?..." whispered the hedgehog, nodding 
off.
	"He's very sick, you guys...we need to find a doctor fast." said 
Sally.
	"What about Sasha?" Bunnie wondered.
	"She's in Mist and can't be disturbed." Vixie replied, sadly.
	The princess lay a hand on the blue blur's head.
	"He's burning up."
	"If we don't get him to a doctor soon, Sally-girl, he may die from 
that fever." Bunnie said solemnly.
	Sally leaned over and hugged the hedgehog, then began to cry softly 
over his unconscious body.
	"I love you, Sonic. Please don't leave me..."


End Part Two


	Two weeks later, little had changed. Sonic had been unconscious for 
the past five days, and he still was.
	Sally kept vigil beside her love. She constantly wet washcloths and 
lay them on the hedgehog's brow in a futile gesture to suppress the fever.
	"Bunnie, what are we going to do? All the mages are in Mist, Bookshire 
can barely figure out what happened, and there's nothing left to get along 
by herb-wise," Sally's eyes began to swell with tears, "and...he might 
die..."
	"Sally, Ah'm tellin ya he won't. Our little sugar-hog is the toughest 
critter on two legs, an' he's been through everythin'." the rabbit soothed.
	"...Sally..." said a very meek voice.
	Sally whipped to face Sonic.
	"Sonic! Y-...you're awake..."
	"...Sal...you've got to promise me something..." said the hedgehog in 
a whisper.
	"Anything!" she cried.
	"...if...worse comes to worse...promise me you'll nev-...n-...never 
forget me..." said Sonic.
	"Sonic Hedgehog, don't you dare talk like that! You'll pull through!" 
Princess Sally smiled weakly.
	"...you said it yourself...I may not make it..."
	"...Sonic..." started the squirrel, then she slowly closed her mouth.
	"...well?..."
	"I promise..."
	"...thank you..." groaned Sonic, drifting into sleep's awaiting arms.
	Princess Sally began to cry, and Bunnie ran to comfort her.
	"Oh, Sally...don't give up hope..." said the rabbit, her hands on the 
princess's shoulders.
	"We may be able to help..." said a voice.
	"Daddy! Naugus!...you can?"
	"It is worth a try." said King Acorn. He then nodded to Naugus to 
begin. 
	Naugus stepped forward and thrust his arms toward Sonic.
	"From the mists of time and space, I call upon the power of the Chaos 
Crystal to heal this hedgehog." shouted the sorcerer, watching the lightning 
from the sky that coursed through his arms and into Sonic's still form. 
Sonic's back arched as if in pain, and Sally started to dart to his side. 
Bunnie held her back.
	"Your Majesty, Princess Sally...it has been done." Naugus said, 
returning his hand and claw to his sides.
	"Sonic?" said Sally, leaving Bunnie's side and approaching the 
hedgehog's.
	"Sal?...What's goin on?" said Sonic, holding his head.
	"Oh Sonic! You're gonna be okay!" Sally cried, kissing him on the 
cheek.
	"Whoa-ho-HO! I DO feel better!" the blur blur said, his eyes lighting 
up upon receiving the kiss.
	"The sugar-hog is back all right." smiled Bunnie.
	Sally then turned to Naugus, "Oh thank you, Naugus...thank you so 
much..."
	"Thank not me, thank the Crystal." said the sorcerer.
	"What is the Chaos Crystal, Naugus? I've never heard of it."
	"The Chaos Crystal is the key to our existence, Sally...but it 
doesn't surprise me that you know nothing of it. Let me explain.
	"Years ago, when the universe was young and new, there was great 
distress coming from other distant universes, causing terror on every plane. 
When it looked like our Universe could no longer hold back the feelings of 
anger and hatred, there was a great light. It was from this light that a 
crystal emerged. That crystal was the mythical Chaos Crystal. The power of 
the gem destroyed the evil, saving our ancient ancestors from madness. The 
Chaos Crystal has remained in limbo since that terrible day, and power has 
been borrowed from it to heal the sick.
	"The spell I used can no longer be used on Sonic, for the crystal will 
only save a person once. That, my Princess, is the history of the crystal." 
orated the wizard.
	"That's amazing Naugus. Truly amazing."
	"That thing saved me?!" Sonic said, getting off the bed, now acting as 
if nothing had happened.
	"It sure did, sugar-hog. That crystal cured a pretty bad fever." 
Bunnie said.
	"Hey...if the Crystal destroyed the evil, how come Robuttnik is still 
around?" Sonic said, scratching is brow.
	"The evil from the other dimensions was a dark force, not a being. The 
Chaos Crystal can't protect against evil beings."
	"Can the power of it be controlled, Naugus?" asked King Acorn.
	"Nobody knows, Sire, for none have found it."
	"Let's just hope jelly-belly doesn't get his grubby gloves on it."
	"We shall see, hedgehog..."

	"The Chaos Crystal, Snively. Behold the keeper of the universe."
	"Wonderful, sir." replied the lackey.
	"Do you have any idea of what we can do with this powerful jewel?"
	"No sir. Remember the first rule of the evil lackey?"
	"Oh yes. Stupidity. Well, allow me to explain anyway. With the 
crystal, I'll be able to create my biggest Roboticizer ever. And with this 
Roboticizer, I'll be able to Roboticize every living thing in the Great 
Forest, including that miserable rodent and his beloved Princess."
	"Purely evil, sir." wheezed Snively.
	"Why thank you," Robotnik huffed, "I know."

	Sonic and the gang sat under the old oak trees near the outskirts of 
Knothole.
	Nina Waterwoods suddenly ran up, holding an urgent message.
	"It's from Sir Charles! And it doesn't look good, either." Nina said, 
handing the document to Sonic. Sonic ripped it open and read it.
	"Oh no!"
	"What? What is it, Sonic?" questioned Sally.
	"Robotnik's got the Chaos Crystal!"
	Much mumbling began amongst the villagers
	"I cannot believe this..." Sally sighed disgustedly.
	"What?" asked Sonic.
	"Every single time we settle down, Robotnik ruins the peace! I hate 
that awful man!"
	"What Julian has done cannot be reversed...but we can end it." said 
the King.
	"How?" asked his daughter.
	"That is to be discussed in the war room." King Acorn replied with a 
confident smile.

	End Part Three

	"Jack up the security in front of each ventilation duct, Snively.  We 
want those Freedom Fighters to use the welcome mat." said Robotnik.
	"We don't have a welcome mat, sir...your laws prohibit them!" replied 
Snively.
	Robotnik slapped his forehead.
	"You really take that first rule seriously, don't you?" Robotnik 
growled, growing quite impatient, "Show me the surveillance footage so we 
can erase the morning's batch for tomorrow's viewing."
	"Yes, sir. Right away."
	Snively ran to the console to select the right buttons. Unfortunately, 
he had spilled some WD-40 on the floor, and slipped, smacking head-first 
into the floor panels.
	Dr. Robotnik muttered something vile under his breath about his 
lackey, while Snively reciprocated the deed by saying something about the 
Doctor.
	Robotnik and Snively watched the surveillance tape for the next half-
hour, not noticing the Freedom Fighters sneaking behind them.

	The Freedom Fighters skulked behind Robotnik's chair, watching him 
constantly and moving as slow as they could. Sally was in front, and began 
to open the door to the treasure chambers. It was in this area that Robotnik 
kept his newly found possessions.
	Slowly, the chamber door opened, after having Nicole de-scramble the 
lock combo. Neither Snively nor the grand tyrant himself noticed the Freedom 
Fighters crawling through the entrance.
	Once inside, Sally had Vixie work 
on locking the door enough so that Robotnik would at least have some time 
trying to open it. That, of course, was if their plan failed.
	Sonic went to the head of the troupe towards a large iron pedestal. On 
it, was a crystal only nine centimeters long, and two centimeters wide.
	"THIS is the thing that saved me?!" exclaimed Sonic.
	"It can't be!" Sally said, referring to a display of the gem.
	"It must be a fake!" Bunnie said.
	"Don't know, but I better do a scan to make sure," said Sally, 
"Nicole, do scan operation number 927433-b on crystal. Also, when doing the 
requested scan, do a schematics check on our weekly access files received 
from Sir Charles for the object in question."
	"Processing, Sally."
	As the others waited for Nicole, Vixie walked into the room.
	"Did a double lock, Sally!"
	"How?"
	"Some old programming tricks I gathered from Mighty," she said, 
leaning on her fiancee, "I made it so the door will require two combinations 
to open."
	"Good job, Vixie! We'll be able to check out what else is stashed here 
with out worry of an intrusion." smiled Sally.
	"Specially with that four layered titanium-steel alloy door. No one 
could even blaze that wall."
	Suddenly, Nicole came back to life.
	"Chaos crystal is protected by a beam which induces immediate 
Roboticization. Physical contact is not recommended.
	"I also found such plans for this pedestal in Sir Charles' files. When 
activated, the crystal detonates and destroys the room."
	"Thank you, Nicole." replied Sally.
	"Now what?" asked Bunnie.
	"We look into all of these rooms. Let's split up, you guys." said 
Sally.
	The team broke up and each selected a room.
	That was only until Rotor called out, and they stopped.
	"What did y'all find, Rotor?" Bunnie asked.
	"I think this is it, you guys...it has a strange force pulling me..." 
Rotor said, entranced.
	"To your doom! Rotor, back away!" cried Sally, pulling the walrus away 
from the silver pedestal.
	Rotor snapped out of his trance.
	"Wha-? What's going on, Sally?"
	"Rotor, that crystal brainwashed you! That beam probably was a 
Roboticizer ray, too!
	"We'll NEVER find that STUPID crystal! Robotnik must have known we'd 
be after it! I bet it isn't even IN this room." Vixie grumbled.
	Mighty came up and put his hand around Vixie's waist.
	"Hey, just take out Whisper and do the ol' scan program I installed."
	"Yeah, you're right!" said Vixie, taking off her yellow backpack, 
"Heya Whisper! What's going down?" she smiled, looking at her red AI unit.
	"Ready for your order, Vixie." said Whisper.
	"You know your job! Scan perimeter for the object in question."
	"You got it!" said the machine.
	Sally looked towards Nicole.
	"Why can't you ever be that upbeat?" she said quizzically.
	"Personality exceeds my programming requirements. I cannot be any more 
cheerful than I already am."
	The princess just rolled her eyes.
	"Scan complete, Vixie. No match found."
	"I knew it!" exclaimed Vixie.
	"Robotnik suckered us a-gin'! Where do we look now?" sighed Bunnie.
	"You know...I thought I saw something on the Control Panels when we 
snuck by Snively and Robotnik...it was white and glowing. I guess I thought 
it was a button, or something." said Rotor, rubbing his chin.
	"That may have been the purpose altogether, Rotor!" Sally said.
	"We'll never get the dumb thing NOW!" whined Sonic.
	"Oh yes we will!" said Mighty.
	"Say what?"
	"We'll get that with a patented Mighty plan!"
	"Cool. Whaddya got planned?" grinned Sonic.
	"A diversion." chuckled Mighty Fox.
	"That's it? A stupid diversion?"
	"No, it's more than that. All of us except one will run around the 
chamber, and find hiding places. While Robotnik tries to keep track of 
everyone, one of us grabs the Crystal." explained Mike proudly.
	"A little rough, Mighty, but that's all we can do on such short 
notice." said Sally, shaking a fist in determination.

	"GO!"
	"Wha-?" said a bewildered Robotnik.
	Freedom Fighters began to run around like wildfire, especially Sonic.
	Rotor was dangling by his hands on an electrical pipe, sticking his 
tongue out and making a rather large raspberry.
	Bunnie hopped around the room with her ears contorted all out of 
shape. 
	"Nyah-Nyah! Have you been slacking on your diet plan, Chubby-kins?" 
Vixie said, tying Robotnik's red moustache in knots.
	Mighty began to scramble the control panels, humming a cheerful tune.
	Sally took a paintbomb and smashed it against the monitors, ruining 
their screens.
	Sonic dashed around in small circles, holding Snively by the collar. 
The little man had begun to get very sick, and ended up expelling the 
contents of his stomach on the Brain Room floor.
	"Poor little guy..." snickered Sonic.
	Mighty had fully overloaded Robotnik's computer, adding a virus he and 
Bookshire had been working on. He then ran over to the 'button' and took it.
	"Got it guys!" he shouted.
	Vixie ran up to Robotnik's face.
	"Got what we wanted, Chrome-Dome! Gotta boot it!" she smiled sweetly, 
running out of the room and waving.
	All the Freedom Fighters were gone in a flash.
	Robotnik sat there for a few minutes, a blank look on his face. When 
he came to, he wasn't too happy.
	"SECURITY!"

	"That was fun!" giggled Bunnie as she ran down the corridor.
	"Sure was! I never had such an adrenalin rush in all my life, it was 
GREAT!" said Mighty, jumping.
	"I'll say! I've never seen ol' Moon-head look better!" Sonic said with 
a laugh.
	Suddenly, a huge patrol of Swat-bots ran in front of the troupe.
	Vixie let out a startled gasp.
	"FREEZE PRISONERS!"
	"I think we took a wrong turn, you guys..." Rotor gulped.
	"Back it out!" shouted Sonic.
	The scene behind them was practically identical.
	"I don't think 'up's an option" the hedgehog said, rolling his eyes.
	"Well," started Mighty, uneasily, "What're we waiting for? Let's get 
em!"
	Mighty Fox then began to run towards the Swat's bellowing a war cry. 
He pulled back his fists and started punching.
	Vixie ran off and fought beside her only love.
	Tout de suite, the rest of the gang joined in.
	Punches and kicks were shared with the guards, and the battle couldn't 
have been sweeter for the Freedom Fighters. By now, they were used to 
Robotnik sending his mere pawns after them. They weren't very bright, and 
were exceptionally bad at sneaking up on unsuspecting victims, being that 
their titanium-alloy armor clanged incessantly when they walked.
	"Geez, Robotnik mustn't think too highly of us! These Swats' are 
pushovahs!" laughed Bunnie, internally damaging a bot with a fist to the 
solar-cell plexus.
	"That's for sure...I'm practically getting BORED!" sighed Vixie, 
uppercutting a bot and sending it reeling.
	All too quickly, the Freedom Fighters had finished demolishing the 
corps.
	"That was pointless..." muttered Mighty, dusting his paws.
	"C'mon, let's get out of here before Robotnik sends another patrol 
after us." stated Sally, running out the main entrance.
	Sonic shrugged and ran after Sally.

	"What should we do with this, daddy?" asked the Princess to her 
father.
	"It should be destroyed if at all possible." said King Acorn.
	"I could do it...but it's very risky. I would be sending it into 
another Universe, knowing not where it's destination lies." said the 
sorcerer, Naugus.
	"What if it got into another's hands, Naugus?" asked Vixie.
	"That is what I cannot be certain of. I doubt any will know of what to 
do with it, but there is possibility." he replied.
	"Then we should keep it in Knothole?" queried Sally, unsurely.
	"No. It must not be in this Universe. We must send it."
	"I'm sure no one will find it." said Sonic, smoothly.
	"Yeah, just send it into space!" Mighty added.
	"Well, I will try." Naugus ended firmly.
	The people in the hut dissipated so that Naugus could begin his work.

	Vixie and Mighty meandered towards the meadow holding hands.
	"It's really wonderful, isn't it, my love?"
	"What?" asked Vixie, cocking her head and looking at Mighty.
	"Sally's father is back, and now we have a great ally in Naugus. The 
Chaos Crystal is no longer with Robotnik, and everything is perfect." said 
the fox, to his girl.
	"We still are at war, you know."
	"Theoretically perfect." grinned Mighty, correcting himself.
	"Well, it just may as well be perfect...I AM with you, you know. It 
couldn't get any more perfect than that." said the vixen, looking dreamily 
into Mighty's beautiful blue eyes.
	The two leaned forward to engage in a long kiss. When they broke, the 
two went back to sauntering around the meadow.
	"What a beautiful night." Vixie sighed, musingly.
	"It is, isn't it?" replied Mighty.

	Somewhere nearby, Sally and Sonic were sharing a similar moment.
	"Sally...I'm so happy for you. Your dreams have come true. Now all we 
need is to defeat Robotnik." Sonic said, quietly.
	"I know. Sonic, I've never been happier. Thank you so much..." she 
smiled.
	"We'll beat him one of these days, Sal...I promise you that."
	Sally just smiled and looked at the giant crescent moon rising in the 
sky.
	"One day we will, Sonic Hedgehog...and it will be with you at my 
side."

The End