Breaking Point

Prologue

AN: A different take on my favorite pairing. There are so many ways to handle their love story. In this, I'm going to aim to be more neutral. We may never find out why Robotnik took over or what started the fight in the first place.

Summary: Starting right after "Bartleby the Prisoner" when Sonia helps Bartleby get away, he decides to take the bull by the horns. He's done playing games. Will she accept his proposal?

Prologue

Bartleby stared down the city's tyrannical ruler with the most menacing glare he could muster. The man had betrayed him. Had betrayed him so thoroughly that he could no longer find it in his heart to forgive him. "So, Your Honor, I'm changing my plea to guilty."

Robotnik looked at him with surprise. "What?" He demanded.

"You heard me. I'm changing my plea to guilty. You're right. I have been working with my dear Sonia. She is the only one who has ever really loved me. She and I are leaving the city tonight." He knew he was taking a real chance but he was through. He needed to call Robotnik's bluff.

In the mine drill, Sonia watched the trial with horror as Bartleby said those things. They weren't true.

Sonic looked at her with confusion. "Sonia, is that true. You're leaving tonight! With him?"

Sonia shook her head. "No... we never made any such plans... He challenging Robotnik! For me! Guys, we have to go. The Ruby Mine... it can wait. We have to go now!"

Manic nodded and turned the drill around, tunneling towards the city. He hoped they would make it in time.

Robotnik didn't know how to handle Bartleby's revelation. His eyes held such pain and betrayal. He realized that Bartleby had figured out his plan. "Bartleby..."

"Shut up old man! You're going to listen for a change! Because I finally have you pegged. All I am is a... is an ATM to you! Well fuck you! You want my money so badly! Fine! It's yours! The combination is 4077! Take it and may you have joy of it! But I am leaving the city with Sonia tonight." He got in the man's face. "What are you going to do about it, Godfather..." He whispered the last, practically spitting in his face out of apparent disgust.

Robotnik watched a single tear drip from his eye. He felt as though he had just belly flopped into the Mobian sea. He had no words or even the strength to do more than stare as the mink turned and stomped towards the exit.

The courtroom was silent as a tomb as Bartleby walked past Sleet and Dingo. He heard them asking the rotund dictator what they should do. He made it outside just in time for the Sonic Underground van to pull up. Once inside, he felt Sonia pulling him into her arms. "I'm so proud of you..." She whispered.

He nodded as he pulled away and threw up into a plastic bag that Sonic offered him. "I'm sorry my love... I'm sorry... I didn't want to lie like that but I had to call his bluff. He was using me to hurt you. He betrayed me and I can't forgive him this time."

Sonia pet his hair. "You did great Bartleby."

"Yeah!" Sonic said. "Welcome to the fight!"

The nobleman shook his head. "I'm sorry Sonic, but I can't join the resistance. My godfather had no problem betraying me. But I have a conscience. I can't betray him."

Manic gaped. "Your godfather? Whoa, no wonder you pandered to him. So what do you want to do. You know you can't go home now."

Bartleby nodded. "Oh, I meant every word. I'm leaving the city. Sonia, please, come with me. We can find a place of our own, far away from this fight."

Sonia looked into his eyes and saw a real fire there. He meant it. But could she really agree. "Bartleby... Mother..."

Bartleby shook his head. "Your mother is just as much responsible for this mess. She and Robotnik are both acting like children and it is time we stopped letting them. We've been playing war games that are getting neither side any closer to victory! The war will continue on forever unless we put a stop it ourselves!"

Sonia smiled as she heard the passion in his voice. She had never found him more attractive. "Oh Bartleby, yes! Yes. I'll come with you. I love you so much." She felt no shame kissing him as her brother watched and listened.

Sonic gagged as he shook his head. "Sonia... are you sure... We could find Mom any day now and end the war."

Sonia looked at him. "I'm sure Sonic. I've never felt more sure of anything before. Bartleby and I belong together. We are two halves of the same soul. Robotnik was wrong to use Bartleby to try and hurt me. But Mother is wrong to use me to hurt Bartleby. I know she doesn't mean to but... Bartleby is right. We've fought for too long and the war goes on and on. Everyday is the same. We are no closer to finding mother then we were two years ago when this started. It's time to stop playing war games and instead play games of love. Maybe then we can save Mobotropolis. So yes, I'm leaving with him. You two stay. Mother will surely come when she knows we've gone. I don't want her to worry." She smiled as she felt a weight lifting off of her chest.

Robotnik finally found the strength to go back to his castle. He kept hearing Bartleby's words in his head. It almost felt as though he'd floated out of his body and watched the scene unfold from above.

He sat in his overstuffed chair and sighed. "What have I done..." He had never seen Bartleby that angry before.

Manic drove their van to a hangar where Sonia chose a purple coupe-plane. "Sonia, where will you guys go?"

Sonia shook her head. "I don't know. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell you."

"She's right." Bartleby said as he loaded up the plane with a stolen provisions. "We are going to be completely neutral. We won't have our peace interrupted again. Either they will learn how to be adults or they will never have a place in our lives again. Personally, I wouldn't mind that last overly much."

Sonic nodded. "Well sis... if... Look... you can always come home. You always have a home with us. No matter what. We'll fight your corner to the others for you. When you get settled please at least let us know you're safe. We won't be able to win without you though."

Sonia nodded. "Sonic, war games aren't working. It's time for a new path. The definition of insanity is doing exactly the same thing and expecting a different result. Don't worry, if Bartleby is right then we hold the winning hand. I love you both." She began to cry, knowing she would miss them.

Sonic and Manic both hugged her, crying together before she boarded the plane with her lover. They watched as the plane took off into the night sky.

From his caves, the Oracle watched with a smile. "Good luck my dear. Here's hoping your plan works."

AN: Sonia and Bartleby have taken matters into their own hands. Will their plan succeed. Do they really hold the trump card.