Breaking Point

Chapter 2

AN: If you read, please leave a review. Tell me what you think. Even if you hate it, tell me. Give me opinions. Please.

Warnings: Mainly OOCness. Bartleby is a coward by nature or he was. In this, he's basically been pushed to his... well his breaking point, hence the title. He was at the point where he did not care what happened to him. He had just been betrayed by someone he trusted with his life.

Chapter 2

As the sun rose on the kingdom, Rotor escorted them to the castle. The king was apparently an early riser. As they entered the castle, they could see the outer walls were painted with a huge mural. "Wow! Whoever did that is a great artist." Sonia praised the work.

Rotor smiled. "It's actually everyone in the city who painted it together. And everyone signed it too. This is our kingdom and we love it."

Bartleby nodded as they followed him inside. When they were led to the throne, a kindly squirrel smiled down at them. "Welcome friends. I am King Maximillian Acorn of Acorn City. Welcome."

Bartleby smiled at the man. "Thank you good King Acorn, your welcome is most appreciated. This is my fiance, Sonia Hedgehog and I am Bartleby Montclair. We are from Robotropolis and seek to call this city our home now."

King Acorn listened to him as Bartleby told him the story. Every so often, Sonia would add a large portion of the story. Finally he nodded with understanding. "I see... That does sound terribly frustrating. Well, I have no problem granting you both citizenship and the marriage license you desire. However, I need to know if you want me to do something about your former home? It sounds as though your people are in duress."

Sonia nodded. "They are but... after a lot of talking on the way here, we figured out that a lot of it is their own doing. Robotnik could never have gotten to be such a tyrant if they had not backed down so easily. He was still weaker in the beginning when he took over. They could have risen up then and ran him out of town.They chose fear and they reaped what they sowed. We tried to save them but they did not seem to want to be saved. But my brothers seem to have gotten the hint and they've started cleaning the city and inspiring the others to do the same. Your offer is kind but at this point, Robotropolis can only be saved if they do it on their own."

Bartleby held her hand. "Yes, they still have a chance of making it now. We may never call it home again but... at least our leaving was not in vain."

Acorn smiled at them. He stood and went over to a desk where he withdrew a stack of forms. "All you need to do is fill these out. Basic forms to register you as citizens and establish you with the needed identification documents."

In the smaller city to the north, the Sonic Underground worked hard with the citizens to clean up the streets. Robotnik watched them from above with suspicion and confusion. He couldn't help picturing the expression on Bartleby's face that night. That was not the look of hatred and fear that he was used to, that self-righteous hate that the rebels had for him. It was the look of a boy struggling with both anger and sadness. His lip shaking and that lone tear. No one had ever worn that look over what he did to them. No one else held any trust or even any form of like for him. Everyone feared and despised him. He had been left alone for so long, his only friends the Montclairs of Dresden. Their deaths had led him to vow that whatever it took, Bartleby would have everything he had been denied and more. He would make sure that Bartleby grew up in a perfect world, free of pain and suffering. Somehow, he had missed that only Bartleby refused to see him as a villain, only he cared anything for him. Then he destroyed it all in a weekend.

It seemed to turn a switch in the man, a switch that allowed him to feel something other than anger and hate for the imperfect city. Then when he saw the hedgehogs inspire his city to begin doing this work that he refused to do, a strange sensation began brewing inside him.

Manic came over to his brother, his hair covered in white paint. He couldn't help the grin. "Wow... can you believe how much we've done in such a short time." He asked as they looked around the streets that extended from the palace walls. Already things were much cleaner.

Sonic smiled. "We're doing it Manic. We are freeing this city from Robotnik's clutches. We needed to free their hearts and minds first." He said as he saw something in the streets. He could swear he had seen a purple hedgehog before the crowds got in the way. "Hey Mom!" Sonic shouted, taking off after the person. "Wait!" He dashed as quickly as he could before he hit a wall covered in paint. "Owww..." He fell backward, leaving an impression of himself in the wall.

A purple hand reached down to help him up as a giggle was heard. "You really didn't to run that fast son. Are you alright?"

Sonic nodded. "Yes Mom, yes I'm alright." He hugged her as Manic joined them. "We both are. You're home."

Aleena smiled as she hugged her sons. "Yes, my boys. I'm home. And I'm so proud of you. Look at everything you've done. Where is your sister?"

Manic realized she must not have talked to the Oracle yet. "Mom... I'm sorry... Sonia isn't here. She married that rich guy, Bartleby. I would have thought you would know by now."

The hedgehog queen lowered her head sadly. "I was hoping the boy's statement on the news was a bluff... Well, it's alright now. Robotnik won't be in power for much longer. They'll be able to come home."

Sonic bit his lips. He didn't know how to tell their mother that Sonia wouldn't be likely to return. "Mom... I..."

Aleena pet his head. "It's okay Sonic. When we take back the throne, Sonia and her young man will be able to come home. I will gladly accept him as one of us if she loves him so. But first we must dispense with Robotnik. Let us go face him. Together."

Sonic shook his head. "No... no Mother. We don't want to fight anymore." At her expression of shock, he continued. "It wasn't getting anywhere. The leader is nothing more than a figurehead anyway. The city is ours to take care of. We don't need him in any capacity. And Mom... really... we don't really need you either."

Aleena's face became contorted with sadness causing Manic to add hastily. "We don't want a ruler. We want to rule ourselves. We don't just want to be free. We want to be independent. We want the freedom that comes from independence. Not a freedom that has to be granted by the powers that be."

She took in their words and could only nod. She would need to speak with the Oracle and with her foe. The concept was foreign to her. "Very well... I will leave you to it then..." She left, hurt and betrayed.

Sonic watched her leave with sadness in his eyes. "That was the hardest thing we've ever done... Isn't it..." He asked. He felt like he'd just stabbed her in the heart.

Manic nodded. "We had to do it. The fight is between her and Robotnik. So we will have neither. It is the best compromise. We have to do what is best for Robotropolis..."

Robotnik watched the exchange with mixed emotions. He should have gone down to arrest the fugitive queen but somehow he knew that wouldn't help him. Somehow it helped to know that the kingdom was also rejecting Aleena. But at the same time, he had seen the expression and felt a pang in his chest. He couldn't identify it.

Sonia and Bartleby happily filled out the paperwork and they were led out to the wall. A crowd was starting to gather as they were given a selection of paints. "Go ahead," Acorn said with a smile. "Claim your spot on the wall.You are one of us now."

Together they painted a replica of her medallion overlaid with his favorite favorite flower, the pink rose. "We did it Bartleby." She said. "We really did it."

Bartleby kissed her. "Yes. Our lives are once again ours."