Chapter 4

"Very good, Bunnie! Now, up we go with the new one here."
Tristina's ears perked up at Antiones voice. curious, the hedgehog pushed her wheelchair to the edge of the meadow where the freedom fighters were working. Slightly in front of Bunnie and Antoine were large wooden platforms with two small wheels on either side. On top of the platform, held by two wooden planks, was a large wooden and metal pole. at the end of the pole was a large bowl shaped object. Tristina wheeled closely, examining these curious devices.

"Why Antoine, I do declare what would I do without all your help?" said Bunnie, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, its nothing really." said Antoine, waving his hand as though Bunnie had just paid him a great compliment. Bunnies frown, if possible, deepened. "Do tell." she muttered. As Tristina drew nearer, still staring at the devices, Bunnie noticed her. "Well Hi there, Tiffy girl! Hows that new wheelchair working?" "Hmm?" Tristina asked, looking to Bunnie. "Oh, It suits me just fine, thank you." Tristina then looked back at the wooden platform. "What are you all doing with these large devices? Ive never seen anything like this before." said Tristina, brushing her light blue fingers over the sanded wooden platform.

"These are called Catapults, Tiffany." said Rotor, who was near one of the platforms wooden planks. "They're used for hurling large rocks or other large objects at a enemies castle. we're just keeping them on hand in case something ever happens." explained Rotor. Tristina nodded and looked back to the catapult as Bunnie called out. "Sally, have y'all figured out why these silly throwing arms keep breaking?" Bunnie asked. "We're working on it, Bunnie." Sally called back, and Tristina noticed her standing with a large, yellow and grey monitor on a sturdy pole and four small black wheels. "Nichole, Search databanks for entry. variable, catapult. allow for an extra one thousand pound capacity and begin creation."

"Working" replied the computer. "Ooh, your really beautiful when you work, Princess Sally." said Antoine in a romantic voice. How did he get from over by Bunnie to over by Sally so fast? Tristina wondered, turning her head slightly. "Antoine, don't call me princess. out here, the only royalty is mother nature." Tristina was taken aback by this comment. Sally never complained when I've called her Princess. the hedgehog thought. How strange. "Mm. To me, you'll always be royalty." said Antoine, kissing Sally's brown furred hand. Tristina rubbed her hand on the back of her neck, unsure of what to do. "Ah, ha!" said Rotor, kneeling down to look at the underside of the arm of a catapult. "Yes!" said Sally.

"The Cotter pins!" the two said together. Sally left the computer and approached the catapult Rotor was on. Tristina wheeled closer to listen in. "They're made of wood." said Rotor. "So when we increase our payload weight, they break!" "They've gotta be metal." Deciding that it was enough of simply listening in, Tristina spoke up. "Sally, can I he-" a thunderous boom sounded across meadow as Sally gasped. "Its Sonic" she said with a smile.

Tristina looked up with a smile as Sonic slowed to a stop in front of her and Sally. Her smile faded, however, when she noticed Sally had her arms crossed and was tapping one boot. Meanwhile, Antoine was sniffing the air with a frown equal to Sally's. "I thought I detected a foul odor." she heard him mutter. As Sonic raced past him however, he sent Antoine into a one booted spin. "Ant, Ant, Ant." said Sonic, stopping next to him. "You look a little green." Sonic continued, gently tugging on one of his tufts of facial fur to get him to balance himself. "Actually, you look better green. you should keep it."

Tristina bit her lower lip to keep herself from laughing. Sonic's smile, however, faded as he turned to the impatient Princess. "Yo Tiff." said Sonic. Tristina gave a single nod to acknowledge her fellow hedgehog. "Uh Oh, Sal. whats wrong?" Sonic asked, although it was more of a statement than a question. "I thought you were going to help." Sally demanded. "Didn't I help yesterday?" Sonic asked. "With exception, no." said Sally, with a sideways glance to Tristina. Tristina nodded, catching the cue from Sally not to butt in on this argument. "No?" Sonic asked, shocked. "Is there an echo?" asked Sally in a light voice. Tristina let out a quiet snicker. "What about the day before yesterday?" Sonic retorted. "Sonic! are going to help us?" Sally demanded. "I was, I can, I am." Sonic replied in a slightly cocky voice. "Thank you." said Sally, implying that was all she needed to hear.

Sonic, however, was not finished. "I was built for speed and born for danger, speed is my middle name and danger is my game!" "This is not a game Sonic!" Sally heatedly snarled. Tristina wheeled back slightly from the two. "We need metal cotter pins for the catapults." Sally explained, her voice switching from furious to surprisingly patient. "Cotter Pin? whats a Cotter Pin?" Sonic asked, suddenly confused. Tristina reached down and picked up the wooden pin. "This is a Cotter Pin, Sonic." she explained kindly. "I knew that. Cotter Pins. C'mon, Rotor, Tiff, we gotta do the ring thing." said Sonic, grabbing Tristina's wheelchair handlebars. Tristina spared the Princess one apologetic glance before being pushed off at sonic speed by Sonic.

"Here we are." Sonic announced as he skidded to a stop. Tristina noticed a sturdy looking log leading out over a beautiful...yet small...pool. "Hey Sonic!" Tristina turned to see Tails flying up to them, using his twin tails like a helicopter. "Hi Miss Tiffany!" said Tails, landing with a slight thump beside her. "Hello Tails. Good to see you again." Tristina replied. "Sonic, you mentioned a 'ring thing' back in the meadow. what did you mean?" Tristina asked, wheeling up as close to the waters edge as she dared. "you'll see in a moment, Tiff." Sonic explained, grinning broadly. "Is it time yet?" Tails asked, peering anxiously over the end of the log into the water.

"Any second now." said Rotor, peering with Tails at the tiny pool. Tristina gasped as bubbles began to appear more rapidly from the center of the pool. "here it comes..." said Tails as Rotor picked up the fox kit by his waist and lifted him over the pool. Sonic stepped back a bit, and -with his back to Tails and Rotor- opened his backpack. suddenly, a bright golden light emitting from something emerging from the water assaulted Tristina's vision. "Gah!" Tristina cried, squinting and raising her hand to shield her eyes. "I got it!" Tails cried. as Tristina's vision adjusted, she noticed Tails was holding onto a brilliant yellowish gold ring. "Hey Sonic, how come your the only guy who can use the power rings?" Tails asked as he deposited the ring in the waiting Sonic's backpack. "My Uncle Chuck invented them for me so I can bring down dorks like Robotnik." said Sonic. "amazing." Tristina whispered, staring in awe at Sonic's backpack.

"I hate creepy old Robotnik!" said Tails as Rotor sat the kit down. "Don't we all." said Sonic as Tristina grinned. "yeah." said Rotor and Tristina at the same time. the two looked at each other, then laughed. "Oh, Rotor. I've been meaning to ask you." said Tristina as she wheeled along side him as he walked. "where exactly did you get all the parts to build my chair?" "From Robotropolis." said Rotor, his eyebrows shooting up into his yellow cap. "I thought would have been obvious." "so you built my chair from scratch? where did you get the leather and velvet from?" "Robotniks laundry." said Rotor with a small smile. "Robotnik has a laundry bot?" Tristina asked, her own eyebrows arching in surprise. Rotor merely laughed. "Well, sure! Have you ever noticed that, despite the stink of Robotopolis, Robotnik and Snivley never stink of bodily odor?" Tristina grinned, then laughed heartily with Rotor as the two walked to the sliding tree.

As they arrived at the sliding tree, Sonic was already tapping his foot impatiently. "Did you get it?" Sonic asked as Rotor tossed back another whole salmon. "Yep." said Rotor, holding up a cotter pin. "get six of these, but they have to be metal." said Rotor.

Sonic glanced at Tristina, who smiled pleasantly at him. "Be cool Sonic." said Rotor, holding out his fist. "way past." replied Sonic, first bumping his fist on top of Rotors, then touching forefingers and finally hooking their pinky's together and pulling them apart.

"Oh, Tiff. I got you these as well." said Rotor, pulling out a pair of black heavily padded black gloves. "so you don't burn your hands when you wheel." Tristina nodded, smiled, then revved up and hurried after Sonic. Meanwhile, Tails was further along the path flying to Robotropolis. Suddenly, the young kit slammed into a tree. the collision from the tree sent the young kit tumbling backwards in a furry brown ball. shaking his head, Tails grumbled angerly about the setback and, twisting up his tails, took flight again. Moments later, he crashed into another tree and was - once again - sent tumbling backwards.

"Stupid tree." Tails grumbled as Sonic skidded to a stop behind him. "Tails, what are you doing?" Sonic asked as Tristina skidded to a stop beside him. "Going to the big city." said Tails proudly. "I'm excited for you, little bro," said Sonic, zipping infront of Tails. "But thats no where near cool." he finished, picking up Tails by the scruff of his shoulders and setting him down again. "How come?" Tails asked curiously.

"Because the big city is crawling with swat bots, who are just waiting for you to come to town, so they can roboticize you." "T-they are?" Tails asked fearfully. "Sure they are. look what happened to Tiff!" Sonic said, jerking his head to Tristina. Tristina frowned and crossed her arms. "very funny, Sonic." she growled. "Okay." said Tails, turning around. "but its a long way back to Knothole. so if a buzz bomber gets real mad and gobbles me up, I bet you'll feel just terrible." said Tails, walking dejectedly back down the path. Sonic gasped and appeared to think about this.

"Sonic, I can stay in the village for this trip. Why don't you take Tails instead?" Tristina offered, motioning with her head to the dejected kit. "You sure Tiff?" Sonic asked. "Sal does want to give Rote's new chair a field test." Tristina frowned at this. "Wont it be even more difficult with two of us?" she asked.

"Okay, Okay, you can go." said Sonic, zipping around in front of Tails yet again. "But listen, you stay in my backpack and guard the power ring, got it?" Sonic said to Tails. Tails smiled happily. Tristina smiled happily for the kit, then began to wheel back towards the village.

"Hey Tiff, aren't ya coming?" Sonic asked. Tristina shook her head. "Please?" Tails called. "Maybe next time, Tails." Tristina called, waving goodbye. Sonic shrugged, then said "Come on, Tails. we gotta juice!" Tristina smiled as Sonic revved up and took off, Tails letting out a whoop as he did so. still smiling, Tristina revved up and took off for the village, deciding to test the wheelchairs capabilities on the way back.