Chapter 7

Several Freedom fighters whooped and cheered as they carried Sonic, Sally, Bunnie and Rotor across the bridge into Knothole. Tristina refused to allow the villagers to carry her as well, but she allowed a canine to push her across the bridge in her wheelchair.

"Thanks for saving my life tonight Bunnie." said Sonic earnestly. "Sometimes a metal body comes in handy." replied Bunnie, smiling as her left ear hung over her left eye.

"But I've still got somethin' a robot'll never have...a mind and a heart of my own." Tristina smiled and nodded to this compliment then looked down as Sonic and Bunnie tapped each others fists and gave each other a thumbs up.

I hope someday, my 'metal body' comes in handy too. Tristina thought, smiling to herself.

Later in the afternoon, Sally approached the ring grotto to find Tails sitting with his muzzle in his hands. his eyes did not waiver from the blue glassy water. Sally stood in the shelter of the nearby trees, staring at the kit and thinking about when the kit had 'tested' her doppelgänger...

"Tails, its story time." Sally had heard her double report. "Cool, you read stories really neat-o Sally!" said Tails excitedly.

Sally's eyes widened as she stared at the static filled screen. "Once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-giant-and-he-was-a..." The robot rattled off. "Nuh-uh." said Tails. "Remember last night? we started that one." Tails continued with a rustling of sheets.

Sally smiled in a fondness for the child as she heard Robotnik boredly drum his fingers on his command chair. Then there was a rustling of paper as someone, Sally presumed it was Tails, turned the pages. "Remember? It was about the Princess and the meanie witch. Theres where we left off." said Tails, his sheets rustling.

"Oh yeah, I remember now." said the bot, "The-witch-said-So-my-pretty-you-can't-escape." "No no, that's not the witch" came Tails reply. "So, my pretty..." said Tails, imitating Sally's 'witch voice' "You cant escape."

the bot cleared its throat, then with a 'snap' of a book said. "Um, its um, its kinda late, Tails. Its time to go to sleep. G'night." Sally could practically hear the kits heart breaking.

"Hi Tails." said Sally, stepping out of the shadow of the trees at last. Tails gasped and turned on the log, then stared as Sally approached him.

"It's really me." said Sally, reaching out to touch the kits shoulder. "Honest." she said, gently brushing the boy's shoulder with her hand.

Tails' black eyes carefully looked over Sally, then looked off to the side, frowning. "Come here you." sighed Sally before lightly kissing the cub on his left cheek, his right cheek, and finally, his tiny black nose.

"Sally!" Tails cried, throwing his arms wide. "It's really you!" the kit then leaped into Sally's arms and hugged her.

Sally pulled back for a moment and wiggled her fingers at Tails, saying "That it is, my pretty!" in the scary witch voice before resuming the hug. "Hold it, Tails." called a familiar voice. Tails and Sally looked up from their hug to see Sonic walking towards them, smiling.

"I'm still not sure that's the real Sal." "Oh really." said Sally, getting up from the log and putting her hands on her hips. "Then I guess I'll have to prove it." Sally stated matter-of-factly.

approaching the hedgehog, Sally planted a loving kiss right on the hedgehogs cheek. "Well?" Sally asked, smiling as she held his shoulders. "Shes a fake!" said Sonic as Sally stared at him in shock.

"C'mon Tails, we gotta juice!" Sonic declared, revving up as Tails grabbed his hero's hand. "All right!" Tails laughed as Sonic took off. "I'll show you 'fake' Sonic hedgehog!" Sally declared, taking off after the two.

The End