A Fissure Among the Factions (c) 01-02 by me, A. Fleury

All "Sonic the Hedgehog" characters and related indicia (c) and TM Sega/Archie/and DIC.

Used without permission.

This document may be freely distributed, as long as it's not altered in any way.

Ok, peoples, this story contains: violence, swearing, and a lil bit of sexual things.

This story is the third in the New Season series, therefore it takes place after the New Season and For Whom the Gavel Pounds. This is split into two parts. The funny thing is, I split it so I wouldn't be writing so much; both parts were supposed to be pretty short and quick to write, but *sigh* I ended up getting long-winded as usual, so this first part here is rather *long*. Hopefully the 2nd part won't take so long. :D

I love comments so like... email me already. Cu_Chulainne@yahoo.com

A Fissure Among the Factions

Part One : The Theft

~I've been meaning to tell you

I've got a feeling that won't subside

I look at you and fantasize

You're mine tonight~

- Eric Carmen "Hungry Eyes"

"You failed."

He turned to see the looming form of his uncle, shadowed, only those red pupils glowing.

"You failed."

He spun on tiny booted feet to see the owner of this second voice. He saw sharp teeth, a misshapen form... the wizard, Nagus.

A snarl touched the little man's face. "You..." he hissed at both of them.

They stepped forward, matching each other's footsteps to advance on him.

"Shall we... crush the worm?" Nagus asked with a mad giggle.

"Yes, crush the worm," said Robotnik in a hollow tone, both fists clenching.

"You crush him," came a third voice, and the small man felt hot breath on the back of his neck, "And I'll hang him." He didn't have to turn. He recognized the cultured voice instantly. King Acorn...

"Leave me be!" he cried, but surrounded by these three threats, he had nowhere to go...

Hands grabbed his arms from behind, pulling them sharply behind his back. He struggled in King Acorn's grip, eyes widened as Robotnik and Nagus moved closer, malicious smiles splayed across their faces.

"Crush the worm, crush the worm..." mad chanting rose to a fever pitch, just barely drowning out the screams as bones broke and blood spilt under their onslaught...

"Crush the..."

***

"NO!"

A tiny body flailed its arms, falling with a thud onto the wooden floor.

He blinked, tangled in the blanket, blinked again, clearing the cobwebs of sleep away.

He was in Bunnie's hut; had been dreaming from his bed on the couch. He wrapped arms around himself, mummering reassurances... he was safe... he was safe...

"Are ya'll alright, sugah?" came Bunnie's pleasant voice; she was sitting at her little kitchen table, drinking...what else, he mused, but carrot tea...

"I'm fine," he replied.

She blinked mossy green eyes and smiled; so dazzling it made the sunlight filtering through the window look weak.

"That's good sugah...what do ya'll want for breakfast?"

He shook his head, knowing he ought to be used to it by now. For the two months he'd been here she'd pampered him like a brand new pet. He had a feeling it would last too, it was just her nature to be overly kind.

"The usual, I suppose," he shrugged and proceeded to disengage himself from the blanket. After doing so, he folded it neatly and draped it over the back of the couch.

There was a knock on the door. Bunnie opened it and smiled at the skunk who stood there.

"Well good mornin', Geoffrey, what a surprise..."

The tiny one scowled from his place by the couch as Geoff's murky blue eyes locked with his; he oughta be used to this too...the big brute checked up on him every morning.

"Is everything all right, Ms. Bunnie?" Geoffrey sat at the table after Bunnie beckoned him to enter. "Ya know if ole Snively ever gets bothersome, I'll take 'im off your hands."

"Oh no, Snively's no problem at all!" Bunnie cheerily mixed some ingredients into a bowl, and slapped the mixture into a pan.

"Whatcha making?" asked Geoff, then turned to give Snively a sneer as the small human seated himself at the table.

The expression was returned accordingly. "Why don't you get out of here?" It shot out in a nasty tone.

"Why don't you go *hang* around somewhere else?" Out came a black finger, poking Snively soundly in the chest.

"Boys, boys," chided Bunnie, "Stop all ya'lls bickerin' an' grab some cakes while they're hot."

"They look mighty good, Ms. Bunnie," Geoff was all charm and smiles this morning as he took three pancakes from the pile.

"Yes, very," said Snively, giving Geoff a sour look, taking his usual two and adding a bit of syrup. The skunk had smothered his in the sweet liquid and it dripped off his fork as he began to eat.

Bunnie took two for herself, smoothing butter over, but no syrup. She'd just barely settled herself into the chair when knocking came again from the door.

"Come in!" she called, rising from the seat.

"Goooood morning, mon ami!" came a crooning accented voice and in bounded the French fox, pouncing upon Bunnie and scooping her in a hug. She laughed and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

Geoffrey, munching pancakes, couldn't help but notice the scowl that touched Snively's face as he watched the display of affection.

"Awwww," he taunted, leaning forward. "Whatsa matter, ya want a piece of that bunny tail?"

Cold blue eyes settled on him, scowl deepening, Snively pulled back his fork and let a sticky hunk of pancake splatter the skunk's face. "Keep your sick fantasies to yourself."

Geoff growled and was on his feet in seconds. Antoine turned and smirked; both to Geoffrey's sticky face and Snively, whose shirt was now in the skunk's grip.

Snively sighed and tried to squirm away, but it was a chiding glare from Bunnie that made Geoff release his grip.

The tiny human sighed again... these three were the ones he knew best in Knothole. Him and Bunnie, well, they got along, she liked him. He looked down at his plate...yes, his feelings stretched past liking, and he looked towards Antoine.

They shared a mutual distrust of each other, Antoine held him in contempt, for the fox knew of the small human's feelings towards Bunnie, and he didn't care for it at all.

"Aw, sorry Ms Bunnie, but Snively's bein' an ass as usual," said Geoffrey sweetly, smiling as Bunnie and Antoine took seats at the table.

"Oh shore, shore," Bunnie rolled her eyes and took a bite of her pancake. Antoine whimpered and Bunnie fed him the next bite with a wide smile.

Snively couldn't bear to look at that much longer; he felt jealous and didn't care for the sensation...he'd never been one for being competitive over women. But he couldn't help it, teeth clenching as her sweet fingers stroked the fox's cheek...

He forced himself to look away, gaze locking on the skunk. Now there was an emotion he was familiar with, dislike, hate rather. Geoff glared back; the feeling was mutual.

They eyed each other coldly for a few moments, then both resumed eating.

"So what's all goin' down in the village today?"

Geoffrey took a bite. "Rope-makin'," he said, eyes resting on Snively.

"Your weak attempt at humor fails to impress." A heavy scowl touched Snively's face and he was strongly tempted to hurl the plate at Geoff; he'd had his share of lynching jokes, and even worse, the thin ice he treaded on whenever near the ornery Acorn King... the monarch wanted him swinging from a rope, more than anything else in the world.

Geoffrey stuck out his tongue. Bunnie sighed, but a nudge from Antoine distracted her and she fed him another bite. "Ya'll are eatin' all of mine, getcher own!" she said amidst giggles.

"Now really, what's happenin'?" she asked Geoff.

The skunk rolled his eyes. "Oh, the usual. The pincushion is running round like a moron. And everyone thinks it's really somethin' special." Eyes rolled again. "And I think Sally," there was a very noticeable lick of the lips given, "is talkin' about some new mission or another."

Antoine shivered a little. "Oh I am hating missions!"

Geoffrey smiled around a mouthful of pancake. "You're sucha chickenshit, Antoine."

The fox sniffed. "I am not being a poultry poop!"

Snively stifled a laugh and shook his head, setting his fork carefully down onto his empty plate. Bunnie giggled and ruffled the fox's golden hair. He sniffled and smoothed it back into place. The small human stared down at the puddle of syrup that remained on his plate, then picked it up and carried it over to the sink, washing it off and replacing it back in the cupboard.

Geoffrey sighed and stood up, rubbing his white belly. "That sure hit the spot, thanks ta ya, Ms Rabbot."

"Oh, it was nothin'," She smiled sweetly, "glad ya liked it."

Geoffrey eyed Snively as he took Bunnie's empty plate away, and shoved his own towards the Overlander. "Here."

Sniv gave him his typical sour look and took the plate. While the water ran, and dishes became clean, Geoffrey leaned back in his chair and turned his eyes onto the two lovebirds. "So, ya'll up for the mission?"

"Depends on what it is." Bunnie sighed a little. "Seems whateva we do, it just ain't doin' nothin' ta help."

"Hey now," Geoffrey shook his finger. "At least we're showing him we ain't gonna take his shit."

"Maybe. But we need ta hurt him. Not just annoy him."

Geoffrey snorted. "We do hurt 'im. Just not bad. Maybe if a certain someone gave us some tips about him."

Snively crossed his arms over his chest. "Like what, stinko? He's magical, and mean...that's all I can say."

Geoffrey stood up. "Call me another name, needlenose, and I'll have ta hurt ya... an' don't gimme that crap, ya could tell us things about the city, ways to get inta secret files an' crap."

"I would," Snively retorted, "but that bast..." he cut himself off before completing the insult, "...King Acorn doesn't like me going on missions. Thanks to you lying to him about me."

"Cruiky! I thought you gave away Knothole, what the hell else could I do?"

"Piss on that!... you knew very well I hadn't... you just... just have some vendetta against me."

Geoffrey was steadily moving closer to the small human. "And why shouldn't I? After what your kind have done. After what YOU'VE done."

Bunnie made an 'ahem' noise in her throat, but both men were seemingly ignoring her, practically in each other face's now; Geoff's flat black nose pressed to the human's pointed one.

"Oh, but that's all in the past now..." Snively acknowledged her by a roll of his blue eyes in her direction. "Right, Ms. Rabbot? I'm a good boy now..."

She twitched an eyebrow... she didn't believe he was evil... no, but 'good boy' was perhaps a step too far. "Ya'll are alright, but ya shouldn't be startin' fights."

"Me?" Snively looked innocent. "It wasn't me. Commander Stinko here is just a bigot."

"BIGOT?" Geoffrey's teeth shone in a snarl and he gave Snively a hard shove, knocking him to the floor. A magenta boot descended and pinned him down hard with the heel in his stomach. The human gagged and tried to wiggle away. "YOUR KIND DESERVE TO DIE!!"

"Fuck you." It was spat out.

Geoffrey snarled further, and his boot lifted, only to slam down again. Snively's eyes went wide as air rushed out, lost, and he could only gasp and squirm under the skunk's boot, now pressing down hard onto his delicate ribcage.

"HEY NOW!!" Bunnie's metal feet were loud as they stomped across the floor towards the two. "YA'LL KNOCK IT OFF OR GIT OUTTA MY HOUSE! I WON'T HAVE ANY OF THIS ROUGHNESS IN HERE!"

Geoffrey smirked just slightly, then bowed. "My apologies, Ms. Rabbot. I'll be leavin' now." Then he straightened up and strode out the door. Antoine's eyes followed him as he went and he shook his head.

"He eez a brute."

"Yeah," said Bunnie, helping Snively up. He sank down into the couch, one hand resting on his stomach, and gave her a little nod, coupled with an apologetic smile.

She shook her finger sternly at him. "You antagonize him, sugah, and then act surprised when he bites."

"He's an asshole..."

She shook her head. "Ya'll better watch yer mouth too, I ain't likin' that kind of language."

His eyes narrowed, but the look on her face made him look down at the floor, mumbling, "yes, Ms. Rabbot, sorry..." He didn't want her mad at him.

A sigh came from her and she turned away, and went to Ant's side, taking his hand. "We're gonna go see what that mission is about. Ya'll might want to check it out too." They were out the door, with Antoine flipping a snide "Bonjour Snipley," over his shoulder.

Shoulders heaved as he too sighed, watching them leave, then his head flopped wearily against the couch back. He closed his eyes for a long moment.

Knothole. Living here. It seemed to be such a treacherous affair. Yes, he was mostly safe under the thatch roofing of Bunnie's hut, but outside? The people still gazed at him with suspicion, some with malice. He'd been caught while out walking about the village one night and they'd thrown him into the dirt, kicked him in the ribs. Spitting their curses and flinging out the word 'Overlander' as if it were the very epitome of evil.

And King Acorn! He was the worst by far. His sharp eyes seemed to follow Snively's every movement, waiting silently like a patient cat for the mouse. He was waiting for a slip-up, anything, anything to get his noose around the human's slender neck.

'A noose of all things.' A dry laugh echoed in his head. 'How primitive, you think they'd have something more... futuristic.'

But what was so futuristic about an execution anyhow? Whether it be death by noose, or sword, or laser pistol or fists or gas or whatever the hell other ways there could be to kill something... it all boiled down to the same thing... the taking of a life.

So what the hell did it matter? King Acorn just seemed to prefer using the rope.

He twitched a little and rubbed his neck, almost feeling the cruel tightness of the rope there again, cutting off his air, chafing his skin so hard it left rope burns that had stayed for days.

He opened his eyes and gazed around the hut, taking in the wooden walls, the paintings and decorations on the wall, then down to the flowered print of the couch he sat on. He just wanted to stay in here. It was safe.

But he couldn't. He'd tried and he'd always get dragged out eventually. 'Oh, we need you for a mission'. 'Oh, you should try to blend in and mingle'. 'Oh, you won't ever be trusted if people don't get to know you'.

He growled to himself and slid from the sofa, booted feet hitting the floor. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed he was looking alright. Today he was wearing a green vest that didn't quite reach his waist, opened over a light gray shirt, and dusty brown cargo pants. So it didn't exactly coordinate color wise, but he had to make due with whatever Bunnie found for him.

His hand found the doorknob and twisted it. He drew in a deep breath and then stepped out.

He blinked as the bright sunlight hit his face, and his feet moved softly along the dirt and grass ground, past the main gardens and towards the meeting hall.

Outside, there was a small group consisting of Sally, Sonic, Bunnie, Antoine and Geoffrey. Lounging against one of the trees was the large dragon Dulcy. He skirted around her carefully; she had a cute childlike personality around most; around him she wasn't exactly nice.

"...get the backup. Group B... the main," Sally was saying, and Snively rolled his eyes, taking a position near one of the trees, leaning his shoulder against it. They were going after the generators again, it seemed. Couldn't they ever think up anything new?

"You hit the generators, he has them back up in hours, a day at the most. It's useless."

Sally and Sonic turned their heads in unison, both gazing at him in annoyance.

"You have a better plan, Snobley?" Sonic demanded.

He lifted an eyebrow. "All you do is overload the generators. Why not destroy them completely...?"

Sally snorted. "Oh, sure, like we have the power to do that. We don't have enough explosives!"

"Then get enough."

"Like how?"

He smiled; an annoying quirk of his lips. "That's your problem."

"Look." Sally's tone was stern. "We don't have time for your bullshit, Snively, now either help us or go away."

"I'd rather not." He remained leaning there. Sally glared at him and turned her attention back to the others. "Ok, Group A... Bunnie and Antoine. Group B, me and Sonic, of course."

Geoffrey was making a hmmmmm noise and then spoke aloud. "Could you like... put a virus or somethin' into the generators to screw it up?"

"Possibly," said Sally.

"What for?" asked Sonic.

"To screw it up, duh," the skunk poked the hedgehog, who poked back. It seemed a fight would break out, but Sally stepped between them.

"Knock it off. Putting a virus in, overloading, either way, he'll be crippled for a while."

"Big deal," Snively threw in. "Crippled? So what... you never move in for the kill..."

"And how," Sally turned to him once more, "exactly are we supposed to do that? HUH? We can't destroy the entire city! We move in when the generators are down, we wreck some factories, we do what we can."

"And he rebuilds, and then you wreck, and he rebuilds, honestly... this is what drove me mad when I was a Robotroplian... the same old thing, over and over. Except you people don't get beaten for it."

"Oh can the poor mistreated lackey shtick," the Princess growled. "I'm tired of hearing your sob stories."

Snively scowled... he rarely complained about how harsh his life had been in Robotropolis. A comment slipped out here and there but that was it, and his eyes narrowed. "I'll can it if you stop your pathetic whining about how Nagus always has the upper hand. He has it because you don't know how to lead your group..."

Her blue boots moved quickly towards him, till she was only a few feet away, and then she stood with hands on hips. "I've led this group since I was 7 years old, and I don't need any skinny punk telling me what to do. Especially since you're one of the ones I had to fight against." She shook a finger at him. "And we brought Robotnik down, and we brought you down, and we got my father back, so don't you DARE say we haven't done anything, YOU BASTARD!!" Her voice rose to a fever pitch, and her eyes blazed, teeth snarled in fury.

He couldn't resist. "You just got lucky."

Sally wasn't usually crude. She usually could control herself. But her temper fled at that moment and she tackled him, fists flying out to pommel him. Sonic rushed over and pulled her off, clasping his arms around her.

"Yo Yo, Sal! Calm down!"

Snively gazed up at her with a demure smile, sprawled on the ground. "My, my Princess... is that the kind of control you exhibit over your group as well?"

She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath, then clutched Sonic's arms. "I'm alright now, Sonic."

He released her.

She looked coolly at the small human. "I would appreciate it if you kept your comments to yourself, but it's just your nature to be a complete ass, so I'll just ignore you from now on."

He smirked, standing up. "Whatever you say, Princess... just don't expect to drag me on any more missions..."

"We don't need YOUR help. So stop flattering yourself."

Bunnie excused herself from Ant's grasp, and took ahold of Snively's arm, leading him out of earshot. They stopped by the power ring pool and she sat on the log there and just stared at him. He looked out over the water.

"An' what was that all about, huh?"

"Just doing what I do best."

"Ya'll really need ta drop this bad attitude."

"Why should I?" he demanded, glaring over at her. "And why the fuck do you care?"

She stood and her hand drew back, but his own darted out and clamped upon it. "What are you going to do, Ms Rabbot? Hit me? You're just like all the others..."

She looked down at the ground. "No. Ya jest... ya jest..." She sighed. "Ya taunt, sugah, like Ah said before, ya antagonize people ta the point where all they wanna do is strike out."

He sat down on the log, but not next to her, rather, right on the end and stared down at the dirt. She was right, wasn't she? He knew he made people angry with him, and he knew they usually resorted with violence.

But dammit, he'd never been able to talk around Julian. If he spoke his mind, if he even dared argue, it was a slap in the face, a punch to the belly, a screaming barrage of insults on how wrong he was and how right Julian ALWAYS was.

And that was it. He mumbled as he looked down at a patch of moss. "I can't help it. It just comes out. I guess... I guess I'm just frustrated."

He felt something soft enclose his hand; Bunnie's fingers. "Ah know it's hard, sugah... but they'll come ta accept ya'll. It'll jest take some time."

"How much time?" He looked up at her with a wrinkled brow.

"Ah don't know."

"King Acorn will never let it go..."

"He will, sugah, ya jest have ta prove ta him that ya'll are good now, ya have to show him ya'll are really a Freedom Fighta now." She winked. "An' a good start would be not ta insult his daughta!"

"The Princess," he mumbled again. "She's prissy... I can't stand her."

"Hey now, that's mah friend, an' I know she can be pushy, but she's got a lot on her shoulders, hon, she has a lot of responsibility, a lot of worries, an' its hard for her. An' you stood there an' basically told her all her work was pointless and flawed. That ain't nice, or fair, now, ya'll know that."

Her hand was loosening from his and he almost whimpered. He didn't want her to let go. He wanted her closer, and gazing up, staring into those light green orbs, he felt a strange tightening in his stomach. God, she was beautiful.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'll try harder. But just for you, Ms. Rabbot." He managed a smile.

"Thank ya'll sugah." She beamed, and patted his hand before releasing it. He stood up, much too quickly, and his arms acted on their own accord, wrapping around her in an embrace.

"No, thank you," it was whispered against the silken fur of her graceful neck, and he fought back the vicious urge to kiss and nibble there. "You're the only one who's kind to me, and I'm grateful for that, I really am..."

She laughed a little and shifted her shoulders. "Alright sugah, no need to get all mushy on me!"

He let go and blushed furiously, eyes traveling out over the water again. There was an awkward silence, then her voice crept out.

"Ah better get back ta the meeting. See ya later at dinner, alright?"

"Yes." He nodded, but didn't look at her, not until she was walking away. His eyes wandered over the sway of her hips, the exposed portion of her back from her purple bodysuit, the glint of light off her roboticized limbs. So uniquely beautiful.

Then he shook his head.

'Stop thinking about her like that. For God's sakes. She's an animal.'

But he couldn't deny it, the ache in his body, the way his breath quickened.

He had a bad case of bunny-love.

**

He supposed the mission had gone well. They were all out there, celebrating.

But for what? Nagus would only have things up and running again in a few days. And it would be like they'd done nothing.

He watched from the shadows of the forest, sitting cross-legged under a tree on a bed of moss. The Freedom Fighters were gathered around a fire, talking, laughing, eating.

Snively wasn't hungry. Bunnie hadn't been able to fulfill her promise of dinner, but he'd found enough leftovers in her fridge to satisfy his hunger. She always cooked way too much. And Antoine was constantly bringing over his French dishes, which were always quite tasty.

Nobody noticed he was gone. He could do anything he pleased, and right now, his thoughts turned to the still waters of the power ring pool. They would be in turmoil in a few moments, as the golden ring of pure energy arose from them, and his hand would be there to catch it.

He already had two of them. He gathered them discreetly, one time when no one was guarding, and one time when Antoine was there on duty, but asleep. He snickered, some guard the French Fox was, falling asleep while on watch.

But he'd done that too, back in Robotropolis. 'At least Frenchie didn't get put in the infirmary for it,' a whiny voice in his mind squealed, but he shoved it away and stood, heading down for the power ring pool.

A dark smile twisted his lips then. Ole Julian was now on the receiving end of the torment. Nagus was not a forgiving master, and Snively had seen him dish out the punishment generously upon his fat uncle. Oh, how Robotnik had writhed and begged under the onslaught of magical power. Oh, how Snively had smirked and snickered at that...God, it felt good to see Robotnik get a taste of his own bitter medicine.

'He must be getting it tonight. Hmmmm, I wonder what Nagus is doing this time? Electric magic?'

That was the wizard's favorite. Crackling static energy around that crab-claw of his, cruel lighting bolts, zapping charges of pure white light, and he engulfed his victim in sizzling pain.

Snively twitched a little, blinking, and suddenly shivered. He saw flashes of light. Bad memories. Robotnik had sometimes tortured him with electro-shock... and it hurt so bad and... NO!

'Stop it... that's over now... he can't get you anymore... he can't...'

"GAH!" His vision was assaulted by a flare of golden light, so bright it made his eyes hurt. He heard the bubbling of water and then realized it was the power ring!

He charged forward, booted feet splashing into the water, and his hand shot out, clamping around the ringlet of energy before it could drop down into the pool. He held it in both hands, gazing at it. It was a beautiful thing, shimmering gold, and he tucked it inside his opened vest. Then he zipped it up, hiding the ring from sight.

He didn't know why he wanted them, exactly. But they were powerful, and if he could tap into that power somehow... well it would help him when it came time to bring these Freedom Fighters down and assume his rightful position of leading Robotropolis.

So he headed off to Bunnie's hut to hide the ring in the bottom drawer of Bunnie's wardrobe, where he kept his clothes. She never touched them. It would be safe there...

@

**

'This is hardly my idea of a good time.'

Robotnik was not a happy camper.

For one, he was losing weight. That was not a good thing. The weight loss was caused by the fact he had much less time to eat, and the rumble in his belly had become more painful than irritating as of late.

For two, he didn't care for his new title, which consisted of 'slave.'

For three, he didn't care for the words he had to speak to the wizard... "Master."

Living under Ixis Nagus was no party for the ex-tyrant.

And days like this were the worst. For the 'accursed beasties' as Nagus so hatefully referred to them as... had destroyed pieces of Robotropolis yet again. They preyed upon the factories and power stations like a disease intent on killing its host, no matter how hard that body tried to fight back.

"How do they do it?" the wizard rasped. He was perched atop Robotnik's old green throne; had long ago claimed it as his. Robotnik could not sit. There was no chair for him, and his feet ached, and no amount of shifting his weight could make the pain go away.

"I don't know, master," the fat man answered wearily. The wizard's brow twisted into a frown, as Robotnik knew it would... Nagus didn't like that response. Robotnik scowled slightly, but what the hell else could he say? He *didn't* know. He had never understood how the beasties had managed to destroy so much, and lose so little.

Nagus's claw clanked as it came to rest upon one of the metal armrests of the chair. Robotnik shifted nervously, for his eyes caught a faint glow beginning to emanate from that claw.

A slight tremor struck his body, and he felt that sickening sense of fear spread over him; a feeling he had grown to hate. The way it made his stomach quiver, the way it made his throat taste acidic, like he was going to vomit, the way his breathing quickened and his heart began to pound so violently he swore it would break through his ribs. But oh... he couldn't stop it. He knew what that glow meant; it was magic... and not just magic, but sorcery of the most punishing fashion.

"Is that your answer *every* time, Slave?! I believe you need to extend your vocabulary and your thinking!!" The wizard snarled, voice going mocking. "If you even have a brain in that fat head of yours!"

Robotnik just gave him a meek look, an apologizing pout on his lips, but inside he seethed. But the anger soon fled, replaced by severe trembling and stuttering words as the glow around that claw intensified.... Nagus was angry... oh no...

"Now give me a proper answer, or..." Nagus half-rose from the chair.

"Master... the beasties... they... they..." he struggled for words... "have luck on their side..." He offered lamely.

"That is quite a long lucky streak!" the wizard's rasping voice rose to a shriek, and Robotnik cringed. "DON'T YOU AGREE?!"

"Y-y-yess, Master... but we...we...will get them soon, Master... they have to fall sometime..." He was starting to sweat, and his flabby backside was pressed up agasint the computer console.

"You say that so much I would almost begin to believe it..." the wizard's clawed arm was extending outwards, its aim at the large ex-tyrant. "But I know it is NOT LUCK!! IT IS YOUR STUPIDITY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ESCAPE!!!"

Robotnik shut his eyes. He didn't want to see it coming. But he could hear it, electricity sizzling the air as it blazed towards him, and then there was no more hearing, no more seeing, just feeling...

Pure pain... Writhing... barely aware of screams. That's how it always was.

But one thought did manage to weave through the stark red of agony... just one...

'NAGUS MUST DIE... THIS CANNOT CONTINUE!!....'

**

Bunnie's door had leaves carved in the upper corners. They caught the moonlight and gleamed momentarily as the door was pushed open by Snively's hand. He wiped his feet on the mat inside; if Bunnie caught anyone walking in without doing so, she gave them hell. So boots were wiped, and then removed and placed near the door. He padded towards Bunnie's bedroom in quiet sock-clad feet, but then paused.

He heard whispering, then a soft giggle. He put a hand to the bedroom door; it was ajar, and so curious eyes peeked through the opening.

But what had he expected? It was Bunnie, and Antoine, of course, and they were seated upon her pink-blanketed bed with the lamp turned down on its lowest setting, casting only a dim circle of light.

Bunnie's back was to him, he could see the strong muscles under the plush fur, and he blinked and gulped slightly... she was not wearing her jumpsuit. Antoine's hands were upon those strong shoulders, he was whispering into her ear, eyes closed and a smile upon his face.

Another gulp... Ant's hands had slid off the shoulders and onto more tender areas... well Snively could only assume that was so... but from Bunnie's soft gasp... he had the feeling he was right. A jolt went through him... jealousy so strong it made him shudder.

He turned away, teeth grinding. The sound seemed so loud in his head, but they couldn't hear it apparently. There was more giggling and gasping and the soft smack of lips sloppily connecting.

Oh God.. he couldn't stand it.

The small human moved towards the door of the hut... he was going to leave, dammit. How dare they... How dare they do this when they knew he could enter the hut.. how dare that fox touch...

'How dare Antoine?! He's her boyfriend... you are NOT! Get a goddamn grip on yourself...'

'FUCK YOU!' That other mindvoice... the jealous one... snapped back, and the two voices waged battle in his head for brief seconds, before their words were shattered as he let out a low growl and booted the front door soundly with his socked foot.

It was not a loud noise, but from the sounds in the bedroom, they had heard it this time.

Bunnie came into the living room only a few seconds later; jumpsuit on, albeit a bit rumpled. Her hair was mussed. "Oh, Snively, I didn't hear ya'll come in!" Her voice was slightly breathless, and he sneered.

Antoine emerged, looking similarly disarrayed, and made a grunting noise upon seeing the tiny Overlander. "Oh oui, Monsieur Snipley always pick thee best times to be falling in!"

"That's 'droppin' in', sugah..." Bunnie corrected softly, while Snively returned Antoine's annoyed frown with one of his own.

"Well, it's your house, Bunnie, I imagine you can do whatever you like in it..."

"And just what do ya'll reckon we were doing?" Bunnie's cheeks flushed a little, and one golden hand smoothed back her tousled headfur.

"I highly doubt you were playing Scrabble..." he answered with another sneer, and then to the couch he went, flopping down on it. "But don't mind me..."

Bunnie sighed. "Sugah, it was rude of us... Ah'm sorry..."

He looked down at the floor, silently cursing himself... 'FUCK!' He didn't want to make her embarrassed, or uncomfortable, and now he certainly had. 'Stupid bastard, Snively, when the fuck are you going to...' And then he chided himself yet again. 'NO! I will NOT feel guilty for making her feel bad! She is an animal, a stupid goddamn animal...'

"No, I should've knocked first," he muttered.

Antoine made another guttural sound and threw up his hands. "Bonne-et-belle... I am sorry, but I must be going to guard zee power ring pool now... I will see you another time, oui?"

"But Antoine... Ah thought Geoffrey was guardin' tonight..."

"Non, non... eet ees being my watch."

"Well ok then..." She sighed.

Another wave of guilt hit him, and Snively tried to fight it back. 'Probably ought to get my own hut soon. So I won't be interrupting their...' And then he remembered just what he had interrupted... Antoine's hands moving down her beautiful body... touching those places the little human's eyes had so lovingly wandered over, imagining.... 'STOP IT! Don't think of her like that...' But yes... a wicked sensation of glee was replacing the guilt... Antoine wouldn't be able to touch her now... not tonight.

'But neither will you...'

The door slammed shut as Antoine departed and he lifted his eyes to Bunnie. The rabbit stood looking at the door for a moment, then turned back to Snively with a cheerful smile on her muzzle. But he saw her ears drooping, and the disappointment in her eyes. She was sad to see him go.

"Well, looks like it's jest you an' me, tonight."

"Yes," he said quietly, and then leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. He jolted, remembering.. the power ring! Still concealed within his vest. "I... I believe I will change into sleeping garb now," he said, and she nodded.

"All rait, sugah."

He stood and made his way into her bedroom, shutting the door behind him. After a brief sneer towards the bed and its slightly rumpled covers, he opened the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. He withdrew an oversize t-shirt and dropped it onto the wooden floor beside him.

He cast a glance towards the door. Still shut. But Bunnie would never barge in on him.

He dug through the folded heap of his clothing to the bottom, where his pilfered power ring was placed, along with the other two already there. Then he closed the drawer and proceeded to change into the shirt.

Bunnie was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking her usual carrot tea. He flopped down on the couch once more, curling his bare legs up agasint his chest, a book in one hand. This was their usual nightly ritual; she drank silently and usually read or doodled ideas for mission plans, and he read.

The silence settled in. Usually this was welcomed; it was a warm silence, the feeling of unspoken kinship and comfort between two creatures content in their space. But tonight... the air was heavy, and tainted. He shifted more than once, unable to get comfortable.

The kitchen chair grinded on the floor as she too squirmed and then let out a loud sigh.

He raised his eyes from the page and eyed her. She was staring glumly at the kitchen sink. His gaze wandered the soft beauty of her face... the way that headfur swept softly onto her forehead, the way that one ear drooped and lay gently agasint her cheek, the pink button of her nose, the long elegant sweep of thick eyelashes.

'She's so beautiful....'

And no opposing thoughts came to counter. They couldn't. It was true.

'I love her...'

His eyes widened and he gasped. Those green orbs turned in his direction.

"Is somethin' wrong, sugah?"

'NO! No... yes.. she is beautiful... yes... but NO! I...I don't l-l-lo...' he couldn't even think the word again.... 'I DON'T!!'

"I DON'T!"

"Don't what?" She frowned.

He gazed at her with widened eyes, blinking... damn, hadn't meant to speak aloud. It had just burst forth; this phrase of denial. 'No... denial means it's really true... but that isn't true. I don't... I don't care for this animal. AT ALL.'

"I uh... I don't know what's uh..." he fumbled, his eyes almost wild as they looked for an answer. Then lighting upon the text of his book, he grasped one word there. "What's wrong with my head... I uh... I have a really bad headache...it's kind of driving me crazy..." He gave her a weak smile.

She looked genuinely sympathetic. "That's terrible, sugah! I'll make ya'll a cup of nice herbal tea.. .this stuff works wonders..."

He nodded, and mummered thanks, then gazed down at his book again. The words blurred; no, he was not reading now. It was so insane... the way that word... that horrid 'l' word had crept into his thoughts. It was just...

'Just what?' part of him jeered, 'just something you ate? The power ring affecting you from touching it for too long? Or maybe it's true. IDIOT! YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE!'

He threw down the book, and snarled. 'IT ISN'T TRUE!!'

Bunnie cast a startled look at him.

'MORON! STUPID BASTARD! You can lie to the world, you can lie to her, you can lie to your uncle, but DUMB IDIOT! You can't lie to YOURSELF!! YOU LOVE HER!'

Bunnie shook her head and tended to the whistling teakettle.

"Thanks..." he mummered, as she handed him the teacup on a flowered saucer... and shivered hard as one of her fingers brushed his...

It wasn't true... but...

He knew it was.

**

"Uncle Chuck says Nagus is coming up with another sort of plan. The details are kinda sketchy right now... but...Uncle Chuck's gonna stay right on and update us often, he says." The Princess was munching an apple as she delivered this news in the mess hall the following morning.

Snively sat alone at one of the long tables. It was usually so. He didn't visit the mess hall often for breakfast. But Bunnie had run out of pancake mix, so she, and Antoine, and their normal morning visitor, Geoffrey, were here too.

The skunk, fox, and rabbit were seated around the princess and their other entourage of friends. Snively sneered a little; he disliked most of them.

The Princess... so prissy, so bossy. Geoffrey... well it was a given; the guy was a complete asshole. The two-tailed child... he was annoying, and a brat. The dragon... irritating, and usually quick to trip him with her tail and then declare 'oops!' The fat walrus... well... he wasn't actually so bad. But the hedgehog! That accursed beast, with his pathetic jokes and his air of stupid smugness... which everyone else considered 'too cool'.

Right now he was complaining... ooooh, they didn't have chilidogs for breakfast. 'Oh... isn't that toooo bad....' Snively mentally gagged. Chili dogs for breakfast? The very thought was nauseating.

And the other freedom fighters... he didn't know their names, and didn't give a shit either. They were hated in his eyes. Enemies. And they felt the same of him. He could still feel the brutal hands of those Mobians who had attacked him that one night. He had only been out for a stroll. An innocent walk. And yet they had decided he needed just a little more violence in his already much abused life.

"Hey, Stinko."

Geoffrey's eyebrows raised at the hedgehog's voice. "Yeah, what, spineball?"

"Didja get the power ring last night? I might need it today."

Geoffrey took a minute to eat a bite of scrambled egg before answering the hedgehog. "No. Antoine took over my shift."

"Oh." The hedgehog shrugged. "Well Ant, did you get it?"

"Non."

"Whatdya mean 'non'?"

"Non. As in non I did not get eet."

"Well, isn't that great," the blue one rolled his eyes. "You didn't get it the night earlier either, Ant! Cause you were sleeping again!"

"And nobody got it yesterday evening either." Sally sighed. Uncle Chuck had built another power stone... to replace the portion they had given to Griff and the underground Freedom Fighters. Rings rose every 7 hours.

"No," Sonic shook his head.

"How 'bout we build a net or something to catch 'em?" suggested Tails.

"Good idea!" Sally patted the young fox's shoulder. "That is very smart, Tails, we should do just that."

"I'm on it," the walrus said. "I'll have it done today."

"Good, good..." said Sally, smiling.

Snively gazed down at his plate, frowning a bit. A net? They would surely notice missing rings now. And the idea of letting all that untapped power slip by... that power that could help him...

"Hey Sally..." the dragon's childish voice butted in. "I was going to sleep yesterday at my tree while you all were celebrating. Cause I was so tired and stuff... whew, that mission wore me out!"

"Yeah, so?" The hedgehog scrapped at his nearly empty plate.

"Well, I saw the power ring pool light up, ya know? Through the trees."

Snively raised his eyes again, focusing on the dragon's face. His fork stopped about halfway to his mouth, scrambled egg quivered and tumbled back onto his plate.

"Well I went over to see if I could catch the ring in time... and the waters were all bubbly and stuff. I was too late to get the ring by then, but you can see it float all the way down to the bottom, ya know. Cause it's all glow-y."

"Yeah, so?" Sonic raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I didn't see it at all!" The dragon blinked in her typical ditzy fashion. "It was like it came up, and someone took it. But no one did, cause Sally said no one turned one in yesterday night!"

"Hmmmm..." the hedgehog mused. "That's kinda weird. But maybe it was already at the bottom, Dulce."

"Naw, I don't think so. I wasn't that slow... it would've still been floatin' down, I'm pretty sure!"

Snively sighed and chewed a biteful of egg. So... she hadn't seen him. That was good. All he needed was that retarded reptile tossing him around. Not like she didn't do that already.... But if she had seen and reported him to King Acorn... he shuddered at the thought.

"Did anyone get a ring last evening during the celebration?" Sally demanded in a loud voice. The patrons of the mess hall acknowledged her words, but shrugged, their silence declaring an unanimous 'no'.

"Well. That's odd." The squirrel adjusted her blue vest with a slight frown. "Just get that net built ok, Rotor, please? Then we won't miss any of them."

The walrus nodded and Snively let his fork drop onto his empty plate. For a moment, the dragon's green eyes turned upon him and he almost cringed.

'She dosen't know. Don't make her suspicious'.

But it was only a second, and then she was chatting away again, this time a childish conversation with the young Tails. They both left rather quickly, with the hurried goodbye of 'It's too nice to stay in here! We're going for a swim!'

@

**

His breakfast was gone, and Geoffrey was bored. He idly twiddled his fork, listening to Sally drone on about something well...boring. And the hedgehog's voice constantly interjected, causing the others to laugh, usually. The skunk rolled his eyes.

He noticed then his quarry, his tag, his little furless 'charge' was gone. That little punk. He scowled and rose up, but had a feeling he knew where to find him. Down by the lake. The human spent many hours there, just staring out over the water as if he was just building himself up to finally plunge in, and drown...

Sure enough, when Geoffrey neared the water, he saw the tiny human standing by the shore. It was hard to spot him at first, for he was hidden from the path's view behind a stand of trees. Tails and Dulcy's playful screams and yells rang out from the water.

Geoffrey came up behind him.

"You're out here *again*?" he demanded. "You sure are a quick eater."

Snively turned, locking Geoff with a baleful gaze. The skunk didn't flinch; he'd grown accustomed to such murderous looks by now. He was only glad that the ole 'if looks could kill thing' was just a phrase.

"Now now, Sniv, don't look at me like that, that's kinda uh rude, don'tcha think."

"Fuck you." And the human's gaze returned out over the waters, searching, although from Geoff's standpoint, there was nothing there. Just a bunch of trees and water, and the kids, but the human didn't even glance their way.

"What's your obsession with this place?"

Snively remained silent.

"Well answer me."

There was more silence.

A snarl and a cuss of 'faggot' and an annoyed Geoff gave Snively a hard shove, knocking the human into the water.

He yelped and skittered out as if the water burned, then looked down at his soaked pants and shirt. Blue eyes widened in fury. "You fucking bastard!" Snively clenched a fist and actually took a threatening step towards the skunk, but seemed to rethink his actions as Geoff clenched his as well and answered the step with a few of his own.

Geoff was much bigger than he. So Snively scowled, and backed off. He had attacked the skunk before. A while ago. And Geoff had gleefully answered his challenge by beating the shit out of him. Snively sighed. If only he was bigger. At least for a day. How they would pay...all of them here who chose to torment him... His eyes narrowed and he turned away from his watcher, eyeing the water again.

Geoffrey scoffed and looked out over the pond. "I wouldn't be surprised if you had something to do with those missin' rings." It was just an idle comment, but the skunk's eyes widened a little, and he realized he could very well be right. He studied the human intently, but Snively gave no indications of guilt. He seemed to be ignoring Geoffrey now, sitting down upon a large rock with a little wet squelch of his boots.

Geoffrey snorted. "Jus' remember, mate, I'm keepin' my eye on you."

"Oh Geoffrey..." The human looked back at him, a small smile upon his lips. "I feel so honored..."

**

The living mind was a mystery to him. An intriguing paradox that he felt the urge, so strong it was nearly a lust, to explore. To shine light into the darkness where most would not dare to venture, and to illuminate those ancient places long forgotten.

Oh, and he wanted to do so much more than divulge secrets, he wanted to test. He was like that in everything. He wanted to push limits, so to speak, to see how much a mind could hold, could do, could create, before it broke. And the opposite too...see just how empty a mind could become. How barren and unproductive. Although the former interested him more; he liked power the best, especially the unsubtle, overblown kind.

But that's why he was dubbed crazy.

Nagus chuckled. "What little those fools know..."

'Crazy...unlike I...' Robotnik thought contemptfully. No, he'd never considered himself crazy. In fact, it was the opposite. He was sane, he was beyond sane, he possessed a kind of stableness and enlightenment no others could ever reach.

At this moment, the fat ex-tyrant had one arm extended behind him, dragging a chair along.

'Enough is enough with this standing all day...' His feet were so sore. Continuously. His ankles ached from supporting that heavy weight for so many long hours on end. Robotnik hated to stand. He hated even more Nagus's theft of his throne.

Many murderous thoughts came to his head, and lately he'd been seriously considering carrying them out.