Chapter 2

Tristina's eyes fluttered briefly, then snapped open to reveal a simple, wooden hut with similar looking table, chairs, as well as a nightstand. Tristina rolled her head on the surprisingly soft pillow to see the two tailed fox she had seen earlier in Sonic's backpack.

"Hi." the kit chirped, his face lighting up. "I'm Tails. Whats your name?" he asked, his twin tails flicking in rhythm behind him. "Tiffany." said Tristina, not feeling quite comfortable giving her true name. "Where are you from? Are you another Freedom fighter?" Tails asked.

"That's what we'd like to know, little bro." said a familiar voice. Tristina and Tails looked up to see the blue hedgehog Sonic enter with a stern looking ground squirrel. Tristina immediately lowered her gaze to her legs and gulped. something about the ground squirrel made Tristina feel as if she were in the roboticizer all over again.

"Tails, could you give us a moment, please?" the ground squirrel asked kindly. "But..." "You can come back and talk to the lady in a Sonic second, little bro." said Sonic, smiling. "Okay." said Tails in a defeated voice, sliding off the chair. "Bye Tiffany." the fox said, smiling slightly as he waved. Tristina smiled. "goodbye, Tails." she said kindly.

As Sonic escorted Tails to the door, Tristina returned her gaze to her blanketed legs. she heard the door close and didn't dare to look up. "Tiffany..." Tristina looked up at Sally and immediately felt a calm acceptance coming from her. "Id like to ask you a few questions if I may." Tristina nodded slowly, and gave a cautious smile.

"Before I ask you any questions, I need to tell you something Tiffany." said Sally. Tristina frowned at the Princess's sad smile. "your legs... I'm afraid they short circuited before Sonic and Rotor brought you here. We tried everything, but the wiring...we cant repair it. I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid your paralyzed from the waist down." Tristina stared at the ground squirrel as her words washed over her.

"No..." she whispered, ripping the blanket off of her legs and staring at her mechanical limbs. "no no no NO NO!" Tristina shouted, beating her hands on her now useless roboticized legs. Tristina doubled over, sobbing, as she continued to beat her legs. "would you...would you like a few minutes alone?" Sally asked. Tristina glared at her, bearing her teeth. After a moment though, Tristina's face softened, then blushed.

"My apologies, Princess. I...your only trying to help, and I'm not exactly being fair." "Its cool." said Sonic with a partial grin. "Any time I've had a bad day, all I can think about is trashing more of Ro-butt-nik's swat-butts too." Tristina smiled at this, then stared at her legs. Tristina closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and composed herself.

"Ask your questions, Princess. I will answer what I can." said Tristina calmly, looking at Sally. Sally nodded, then took out a notepad and a pencil. "Very well. my first question is, who are you?" "My name is Tiffany, as I told your little friend." said Tristina, nodding to Sonic. she noticed Sally frown slightly, but nodded all the same and continued. "Very well. can you tell us where your from, Tiffany?" "A distant land called Mikanus. I had to flee after my family was killed by a rival tribe." said Tristina.

"So...how'd you run into 'Buttnik?" Sonic asked. Tristina thought for a moment, frowning. "I...I don't remember." she said honestly. "the last thing I remember is waking up in a glass tube and seeing my legs turn...into this." Tristina said, nodding to her robotic limbs. Tristina watched as Sally continued to write, while Sonic frowned in sympathy.

"May I ask how you escaped?" Sally asked gently. "I'm not sure of that myself, Princess." Tristina admitted. "all I remember is flames started to shoot up from the floor after I woke up. the little man that controlled the machine...I think he was called 'Snively'...said a system had overloaded. the next thing I knew, there was a explosion and half the chamber collapsed. so, I took the chance and ran. I didn't even dare look at my legs until I got to your forest." said Tristina. "no swat bots tried to stop you?" Tristina couldn't help it. she smiled broadly in spite of herself. "No offense, Princess, but have you ever tried to stop a bowling ball going at sonic speed?"

"sonic speed?" Sonic repeated. "You can run at sonic speed?" Sally asked. "well...I could, before..." Tristina nodded to her legs in emphasis. As Sally finished writing, Tristina groaned and held her head. "are you alright?" Sally asked. "My apologies, Princess. I guess I'm still a bit tired." Tristina admitted. "We'll leave you to get some rest. Thank you for everything you have told us." "The little fox...Tails...he said he wanted to come back in." Tristina reminded them. "I think you should get some rest, first. You shouldn't strain yourself." said Sally. "I just don't want to disappoint the child." explained Tristina. "we'll take care of it." assured Sonic as he opened the door. Tristina sighed, then rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.

"Can I see Miss Tiffany now, Aunt Sally?" Tails asked as Sally opened the door. "She needs some rest right now, Tails. but as long as you promise not to wake her, you can sit with her." said Sally. "Okay. I promise." chirped Tails as he rushed to re-take his seat by Tristina's bed. Sonic spared the two a smile, then quietly closed the door.

"So what do you think, Sal?" Sonic asked as they walked away from the hut. "I find it hard to believe she has sonic speed, Sonic." said Sally. "but...maybe shes telling the truth. how else could newly roboticized legs short circuit to that degree?" "yeah, it is Mondo weird." agreed Sonic, frowning. "but that's not what bothers me." continued Sally. "I think she was lying when she told us her name."

"so what should we do?" asked Sonic. "She doesn't seem too dangerous, and Rotor didn't find any tracking devices or anything when he searched her. If she was telling the truth about her family, then I don't think she has anywhere else to go. she may as well stay here for a while." said Sally, shrugging. Sonic frowned at this, but nodded.