Beauty and the .EXE

Chapter Nine: Days in the Sun

In another part of the forest, Jet was still trying to lead Eggman and Knuckles to the castle. But Jet couldn't remember which way he had gone the first time. Hearing the wolves howl in the distance, Jet was certain he was going the right way.

"No! I'm sure this is the way," Jet said, confident, "Do you hear those wolves? That means we're getting very close to the castle."

"Look, enough is enough," Eggman said, really starting to believe that everything Jet has been saying was complete nonsense, "We have to turn back."

Jet stopped their wagon when he was sure they came across the tree which had been struck by lightning. But it had fixed itself somehow. Jet still believed that they were going the right way. Seeing that Jet might just be crazy, Knuckles asked Eggman if he really wanted to marry into Maddie's family. But, alas, Jet was trying to remember what happened the night he met the .EXE and tried to point them in the direction of where the castle may be. But Eggman had enough by this point.

"I am done playing this game of yours," Eggman said stepping off the wagon, "Where is Maddie?"

"The .EXE took her and she..."

"There are no such things as .EXEs," Eggman interrupted Jet, "Or talking teacups. Or magic! But there are wolves, frostbite, and starvation!"

Seeing that Eggman was looking his cool, Knuckles stood up, getting Eggman to calm down. Eggman took a deep breath and turned back to Jet with a smile.

"So, why don't we just turn around? Go back to Villeneuve," Eggman suggested, "I'm sure Maddie is at home, cooking up a lovely dinner."

"If you think I've made all this up then why did you offer to help?"

"Because I want to marry your daughter!" Jet looked at Eggman, surprised at his confession, "Now, let's go home."

"Maddie is not at home. She is with the..."

Eggman took Jet by the collar, "You say .EXE one more time, I will feed you to the wolves!"

Knuckles left the wagon, taking Eggman off of Jet. Knuckle got Eggman to calm down, making him think back to the war with all the blood, explosions, and the widows. This calmed Eggman down and he turned back to Jet.

"Jet! Please, forgive me, old bean," Eggman apologised, "That's no way to talk to my future father-in-law, now, is it?"

"Future father-in-law?" Jet asked.

"Yeah!"

"You will never marry my daughter."

Enraged by this, Eggman punched Jet, knocking him out. Knuckles saw that coming from a mile away. Not wanting him to interfere further, Eggman tied Jet up, placing him near a tree. Since Jet wouldn't give Eggman his blessing to marry Maddie, he was leaving her father to the wolves, hoping that they would finish the job. With no father around, Maddie would only have Eggman left to take care of her.

Knuckles was starting to think that this whole plan of Eggman's was a bit extreme, even asking if he would consider a much less gruesome alternative. But Eggman just asked if he was coming back to the village with him. Knuckles just joined Eggman back onto the wagon, leaving Jet to the wolves. Meanwhile, back at the castle, Maddie was trying to treat Sonic's wounds. But he wasn't taking it well. Just as Maddie dabbed a wet cloth onto one of his wounds, he yelled out in pain.

"That hurts!" Sonic told her.

"If you held still, it wouldn't hurt as much," Maddie argued.

"Well, if you hadn't run away, none of this would have happened!"