Love's Resistance

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Love's Resistance

Chapter 13

Queen Aleena stayed long enough to help Sonia get moved into the Montclair Mansion. There wasn't much to do as Sonia had given up many of her belongings when she joined the Underground.

Aleena hugged her daughter as she prepared to leave. "Are you sure you'll be okay my dear?" Aleena was cursing herself for, ever, leaving her children. If she had been near, perhaps her daughter wouldn't have to face the hardship of repairing a broken heart.

Sonia returned the hug. "Yes Mother. I will be okay. Nevertheless, please, try to visit now and then. Don't just stay hidden away."

Aleena nodded. "I will do my best to visit as often as possible darling. Take care of yourself. You too boys," she gave Sonic and Manic meaningful looks before hugging them both. "For now, your duty is to look after your sister. Fight Robotnik as you can but she is your priority."

Sonic stood up straighter at his mother's words. "You got it Mom. Sonia comes first." It made sense. Robotnik, however foolish it would be, could try and do something when he finds out she's living within reach. They would need to be there as much as possible to run interference.

"Yeah, we'll take good care of her," Manic promised as he held tight to his mother. He didn't want to let go of this.

Aleena mussed Manic's hair. "I love you, all of you." She put her hood back over her head as she looked over her shoulder. Swift as can be, she ran from the mansion.

Sonia sighed as they watched her go. It felt nice to be able to hug her mother and have a real chance to talk with her. "Okay, how long do you think it'll be before Robotnik discovers we're here?"

1 hour later the doorbell rang.

Manic looked at the sheet of paper in front of him. "Okay, who had an hour?"

Sonia started for the door but Sonic dashed in front of her. "Let me sis." He looked out the peephole. "Bummer Majores, it's Sleet. And I think he has something, a piece of paper."

"Well open the door Sonic. Remember what I said about Sleet and Dingo?" Sonia told him.

"Yeah and do you remember how I said that it's stupid to just take them at their word, especially Dingo's?" Sonic opened the door. "What do you want?"

Sleet glared down at them. "I want to speak with your sister."

"Come in Sleet," Sonia was determined to be civil since Dingo had been so nice to her. "Don't mind Sonic, he's just overly protective."

"Good then he'll understand what I need to tell you," Sleet's tone was harsh and cold as he entered. "I want you to stay away from Dingo." He said simply.

Sonia frowned. "What? How dare you..."

"Dingo isn't listening to me so I have to tell you instead. I will not see Dingo hurt because of you, do you understand?"

"Whoa, Sleaze, why do you think you have any right to tell my sister who she can be friends with?" Sonic demanded. "Not even I have that right and she's MY sister."

Sleet's harsh glare hit Sonic. "It was because of her that pathetic noble died. Association with any of you will only get him hurt and I won't allow it."

"Pathetic noble?" Sonia wasn't going to argue that he wasn't right but, "How dare you! Bartleby was the kindest, sweetest, bravest man I've ever known!"

"Look here hedgehog, I wish I could say I feel bad for him, but I can't. I believe that we reap what we sow," Sleet stated. "Burpleby was a cowardly aristocrat who paid Robotnik off for imminence and let other innocent lives be lost. His money cost thousands of kids their parents, whole families destroyed! He brought his demise on himself. And it's only because of him that Dingo is being so hard-headed."

Sonia couldn't deny that Sleet's animosity made some sense. It was the Montclair fortune that funded the roboticizers and Swat-Bots. "What do you mean, because of him?"

"Your lover dared to ask Dingo to promise to look after you if something happened to him," Sleet clarified. "Because of this, he's not using his head. He won't do it, so you will. You have to demand that he stay away from you. Do you understand?"

Sonia nodded though she really just wanted to tell him where he could stick his head. "I will take your feelings into account."

Sleet realized that would have to do. Dingo was beyond the point where he could ethically control his every move. And this hedgehog was not well-known for keeping innocents out of her problems. "Oh," he seemed to remember the paper in his hand. "Here!" He thrust the abused piece of paper at her. "This is what Robotnik next. Normally I wouldn't tell you anything, but the last thing Mobius needs is a godlike Robotnik."

Sonic gaped and took the paper from Sleet before Sonia could. "A godlike Robotnik? There's a thing of nightmares."

Sleet moved towards the door. "If anything happens to Dingo, I will hold you personally responsible!"

His cape billowed as he stomped out. Sonia, Sonic and Manic watched.

"Wow, I didn't know he cared about Dingo that strongly," Manic said. "Now what's this about a godlike Robotnik?"

AN: Sorry this is so short. I really just wanted the scene with Sleet. We'll find out his issue soon. Let's just say his issue with Bartleby is a lot more personal that he lets on. Since the Underground knows about them, he can also afford to be a little more overt in how he gets them information and even be a little more open about how his point of view.