"She went into the city, that's all I know." Rotor said as he suddenly found himself before Sonic and Tails themselves. Tails had noticed that Sally hadn't been around in the past few hours, and called for Sonic, learning about the fight in the process. "But why?" Tails pondered, glancing to Sonic who was standing against a wall with his arms folded, clearly still not in the best mood. "I don't know. Nicole was reaming her over the attitude issues, and it looked like she was getting through to her. Nicole offered to look into Sally's mind and clear things up... When they finished, Sally got up and ran off to try and save Bunnie herself. Said she was trying to make it up to you, Sonic." Sonic glanced up from the floor and stared at Rotor. "Wait..huh?" He asked. The fight he had with Sally was one of the worst, he didn't think that she would end up changing her mind so quickly. "I don't believe it. Geoffrey probably told her to do it." "Why would Geoffrey say that?" Tails asked. "He hates you, and he wants her as far away from you as possible. He's kind of a jerk like that." "She's his lapdog now, I don't know." Sonic sneered. "What I do know is that she threatened to arrest me, and you too, Tails." "And what did you say to make her say that?" Tails asked. "These arguments never get that bad without both of you escalating it." "It's..not important, Tails." Sonic said, huffing. "The point is, she's changed. I don't know what she's trying to do, but I don't buy it." "And it looks like Nicole tried to change her back... and... overstepped the mark a little..." Tails said. "Besides, she could be hurt, or worse... I know you're mad at her, and I understand, she hurt all of us... But that doesn't mean we let something bad happen to her." "If nothing else, this failure will cause the council to crack down on us. THey'll blame our methods for getting her captured." Sonic sighed. "We're not going to tell them about this. If they find out, we're all going to get put away." "We won't tell them until Sally and Bunnie are back here, safe and sound." Tails said. "And we have proof that our way gets results." "You two are going to have to do this one yourselves." Sonic sighed. "What, why?" Tails asked. "I know you're mad at Sally, but Bunnie's there too, and Sally is trying to make amends!" "I..I just can't, Tails." Sonic shook his head. "You and Rotor can go, but I don't know if I can trust Sally after what she did this morning." "Oh..." Tails lowered his head. "Sorry, bro." Sonic huffed. "Part of me feels like I'm not doing the right thing, but I just can't shake the feeling that this some kind of trap." "Well... What if I go scout ahead, alone?" Tails asked. "I won't go in too deep, I'll just do a couple flypasts. That way, we can get a birds' eye view." "That's fine." Sonic nodded. "Just be careful out there." "I will be, Sonic." Tails grinned. "I can handle myself." "Alright, I trust you." Sonic smiled. With that, Tails revved up his namesakes, and flew out of the building. *** Meanwhile back in Robotropolis, the Princess and Fiona had been transported deep inside the city after being knocked out. Inside of an unknown location, the two ladies found themselves strapped up to metal tables with thick straps around their wrists and ankles. Along with them, was the half-robotic Bunnie Rabbot, who had been transported from a prison cell. Fiona and Bunnie had come to hours ago, Sally however was still knocked out. Neither of them were in the best of states. Bunnie was exhausted from the long hours spent cooped up, while Fiona's particular history with such environments was causing her some trouble. "Fiona! Please calm down!" "N-no! Gotta get out! Can't stay, can't, can't!" She hyperventilated, struggling and squirming against her restraints. "No, stay away from me! Please!" "Sugah, please! You ain't gettin' out of these straps, I already tried.." Bunnie said sullenly. "H-help me! Help me please!" She sobbed. "Ya gotta calm down, hon!" Bunnie pleaded. "They'll be comin' back any moment!" That seemed to get Fiona's attention, and she paused, looking at Bunnie. "I..." She murmured, tears streaming down her face, Bunnie smiled reassuringly. "It's alright..we gonna get outta this." "I'm sorry..." SHe murmured quietly. "Don't be." Bunnie smiled, though she was unaware of what their fates were exactly. "I-I shouldn't have left you... He... He..." Fiona closed her eyes tightly, cringing. "He what..?" Bunnie asked, concerned. "He... he beat me... Bunnie..." Bunnie gasped, staring at the vixen sullenly before tugging at her bonds. "SCOURGE!" "Everything... All the things he told me, the promises, the hope that I wouldn't have to fight anymore, the love... It was a lie... Moebius is a hellhole... He's a monster... " She began to cry softly. Bunnie sneered as she witnessed her friend sobbing, wishing more than anything that she could break out of her bonds and hug her. "We'll get outta here, Fi. Ah promise." She said softly. "They'll be back...they're going to do things to us..." Fiona whimpered. "J-just like before..." Bunnie gulped, knowing exactly what Fiona meant. It clearly had tormented the vixen even years later, and now it was happening again. "That... Ain't gonna happen, Fi. Our friends'll rescue us before they get the chance." "They'll rescue you and leave me here! They hate me!" Fiona sobbed. "They won't do that." Bunnie replied. "Amy don't like ya much, but she's a kid, she ain't the brightest, and she's mostly just jealous that Sonic liked ya more. She didn't like me until Ah fell in love with Ant. And even if some o' the others wanted ta leave ya here, Sonic wouldn't make that mistake again, and Tails would lecture everyone until they were pamperin' ya. Little gah's still smitten." Fiona sniffed. "Th-they don't hate me?" "'Course not. Ta be honest, most of us kinda... pitied ya. Wished there was more we coulda done to stop ya from goin' with the green varmint..." "I'm sorry...it was a mistake.." Fiona sobbed. "One that I'm willing to pay for...I'll let them..do their experiments on me..you two try to escape.." "That ain't the way we work, Fi." Bunnie said. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Well, almost everyone. You, definitely." "Th-thank you.." Fiona nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I-I can't let him hurt you.." "Ain't a lot either of us can do until the others get here, I'm afraid... But if they happen to undo these straps, you grab Sally-gal, and I'll punch 'em where it hurts." Fiona nodded. "Y-yeah, okay." She looked over at the still-unconscious Sally, blushing at what had happened just moments before her capture. "Somethin' the matter?" The cyborg raised her eyebrow. "W-well..." The vixen blushed. "I don't know if I should tell you.." "Y'all can tell me anythin', Fi." Bunnie said gently. "Ah'm all ears." Fiona squirmed a bit in her restraints. "S-she..kissed me." "Wait, what?" "Sh-she was acting like she was drunk or high or something..." "Huh?" Bunnie questioned. "Sally-gal wouldn't do that kinda stuff.." "Maybe the bots tried to sedate her, and she had a reaction of sorts... SHe hasn't woken up, after all. She definitely wasn't in her right mind..." "Ah..don't understand...like she was hypnotized or somethin'?" "Yeah, maybe..." Fiona said. "She certainly wouldn't have kissed me otherwise..." "Wonder what got inta' her...we'll find out when she wakes up, ah guess." "Can we not tell anyone else about this? For her sake..." "Sure thang, Fi..." *** Within the confines of her own mind, Sally floated in a pink haze. Every time she inhaled it, it made her feel wonderful. "Wh...where am I now?" Sally wondered, inhaling the haze dutifully. an image flashed by her, but she didn't recognise it. "Wh..what was that?!" Fight... "H-huh..?" This isn't you... Sally looked down, and realised that she was dressed in her stuffy shirt and pants. "What...n-no!" Sally looked down. "I changed!" YOu did... You have to change back... You need to be yourself again... "Who is this?!" THe images became clearer: Nicole, Sonic, Tails, all of her friends, even Fiona. "O-oh.." Sally blushed. "What..what are you all doing here?" "We're here to help you." "But..I don't need help!" "I tried to free you, but you're not out of the woods yet, Sally." Nicole said. "You just have to fight a little harder..." "Wh..what do you mean?" Sally questioned. "The hypnosis is still affecting you... You have to break free.." "Hypnosis..?" "YOu've been hypnotized, Sally... Remember the therapy? You didn't let it wear off before you came here." "But..I did what you told me to!" "I tried to stop you, but I lost control. You have to do the rest for yourself, Sally." "H-how?" "Go deeper, find the source, and above all, snap out of this daze." "The..source.." Sally pondered. The haze began to clear, as her clothes began to turn back to her jacket and boots. "What's going on?" Sally wondered. "Now I'm back in this.." The haze and her friends faded, leaving ehr standing in Knothole, rubbing ehr head. For the first time in weeks, her mind felt completely clear. "That was weird..." Sally mused. "But... it all makes sense now... The council must've hypnotized me... But how?" Sally sighed, clenching her fist. "Maybe I'd better ask. But who... Maybe Nicole?" She began to walk around, taking in the fresh air. "Where did she go off to? I want some answers.." Sally began to walk down the street, trying to find her friend. "Maybe she's still at the lab..." Sally kicked in the door of Rotor's lab, not even concerned at the moment if he was in there at the moment. "Nicole!" She spotted the handheld on a table, open, with the screen glowing, she ran over to it, and picked it up. "Nicole, I-" "Sally, listen to me. This is all in your head, and I'm not there at the moment. If you see me, it's a memory. This... is a message. A confession. Sally, I'm sorry, but I'm to blame for your shift in attitude. Your father put override codes into me, in case I got out of control and had to be reined it, but, being his old-fashioned self, he gave the codes to Geoffrey, rather than to you. While the codes are active, I am forced to follow any commands given by the one who inputted the code. Geoffrey has been forcing me to hypnotize you into becoming his puppet. It took all of my strength to undo as much of the hypnosis as I did when I gave you your therapy session, and that's why I couldn't stop you from running off afterwards: I had no power left. However, you're not out of the woods yet: Geoffrey's spell is still in here. You have to destroy it." "Nicole..." Sally gasped, looking around the room in shock, clearly this was just her inside of her own head again. "Geoffrey!" She barked. "The spell will look like you in here, but in a form that Geoffrey would prefer you to take. She will probably appear an an appropriate place, as well." "I-I gotta find her...or..m-me.." Sally scratched her head. "I can't believe this.." "Good luck, Sally." Nicole said, before her screen darkened. "Maybe try the council building..." Sally took off towards the building immediately. "Jeez...how am I going to do this..? Wait, Geoffrey doesn't want me to fight... maybe she'll be weaker..." The squirrel quickly bolted into the door. "Okay, I just need to find..me. Shouldn't be too hard.." As she walked through the corridors, she heard... music... and her own voice singing along to the tunes. "Bingo." She whispered and began to follow the music. It seemed to be leading her toward the main audience chamber, where she carefully pushed the door open. 'Alright, Sally-girl. You can do this..no matter what happens, just don't freak..' She thought as she crept through the door. The figure inside surprised her. The corrupted Sally seemed to be suspended on piano wire, as if she were a marionette. Her style, however, was the most surprising. "Oh...oh no.." Sally covered her mouth in shock, not wanting to accept what she was seeing. It was herself, but apart from her face and voice, it was the only means that Sally could recognize herself. She wore a frilly pink dress, adorned in a polkadot pattern, with a hoop skirt that rolled down to the floor. Around her waist was a pearl white apron tied at the back. The squirrel's auburn hair was tied up and curled at the sides, and her eyes were colored a deep blue from the eyeshadow. "Hello, dearie?" The corrupted Sally smiled happily. "Did you come to be enlightened at last." "N-no, I came to stop this..." "Oh no, we can't have that. You need to learn to be a good girl, before you can become the genuine Sally Alicia St. John." She shook her head. "I'll never be like you!" Sally growled, looking disgusted at herself. "I'm a Freedom Fighter!" "No, you're just a little girl playing adventure games, putting everyone's lives in danger." The corrupted Sally brushed off her apron. "You'll be much happier this way." "Get out of my head!" Sally lunged at her, but the alternate Sally danced out of the way. "It's time you learned your true path..." She smiled, as more piano wire extended from the ceiling, and coiled aroung Sally's wrists, ankles, middle, and neck. Sally groaned as she fought against the tight restraints. "N-no! Let me go!" "DOn't be afraid, Sally..." Her mirror self waltzed over to her, pulling her into a gentle hug. "Let me show you your beautiful future..." The corrupted Sally kissed her, as her head began to swim. *** Meanwhile in the real world, Bunnie continued to fight against her own restraints as she heard footsteps approaching. "I-it's him!" Fiona whimpered, eyes widening again as she looked to her friend for support. "Jus' stay strong, Fi." Bunnie reassured her. "O-okay...." Fiona nodded, smiling weakly at her friend. "Sonic and Tails will be here soon..." Suddenly a crass voice could be heard through the hall. "Thanks for the new slaves, Snivs. They're much more useful than Fiona already." "I really do wish you wouldn't call me that..." The short man's nasal voice echoed back. "And please, don't tell me what you're doing with them." "Heh, much more than with my former girl. Stuck-up bitch." The green hedgehog replied, tugging at a leash connected to the collars of two echidnas, the dazed slaves following along mindlessly. "Yes, it's difficult to be stuck up with no real brain functions" Snively sighed. "Don't have to worry about mouthing off from either of these two. I'd say it was a fair trade." Scourge said as he walked Knuckles and Julie-Su along behind him, the pair having been captured days ago and brainwashed to the point where they were simply mindless slaves. "How'd you turn the bonehead into a chick, though?" "I got a bit sick of him trying to break out...fortunately there were some machines that could fix his testosterone problem and make him a docile model of femininity. Isn't that right, darling?" "Yes, Master." The female Knuckles droned. "Dude, you gotta call me when you do this to the blue prick." Scourge grinned. "I wanna see that." "After I initiate my master plan, I believe I could make that happen. It would be amusing to have him as a pet..." Snively pondered, "and don't call me that either." "I call people whatever I like." Scourge snorted. "Nobody's gonna stop me." Sinvely simply huffed. The green hedgehog was fortunate in his captures of the former and current Freedom Fighters that he was on the doctor's good side. He could afford to let him think he was in control for now, as long as the hedgehog was out of his hair soon enough. "Let's pay the inmates a visit, shall we? I need to give the Princess another checkup, she still hasn't woken up." "Yeah, alright. I can't wait to say my goodbyes to Fiona." Scourge chuckled. "Leaving already? I thought you'd want to see the intelligence leave her eyes." "Pfft- Intelligence? There ain't nothin' in that head o' her's. All she'd need is a blonde dye-job to be a regular bimbo." His chuckles descended into rictus laughter. "But I get yer meaning. They gonna get the same treatment as these two? Ya don't strike me as the sort to want fucktoys, and especially not Mobian ones." Snively shook his head as he arrived at the lab, looking down at the three restrained Mobians. "Oh, I have different plans for these three, especially the Princess.." "Care to tell me what they are?" "And spoil the surprise?" He smirked. "I may not have my uncle's addiction to making a scene, but I can appreciate the theatricality. Stick around, and you'll get to see these three thoroughly debase themselves, and then thank me for the pleasure." "Now yer talkin'!" Scourge said as he rubbed his hands together. "Get on with it already!" "We have to see if the Princess is ready before we begin her treatment." He replied, opening the door to the facility. Bunnie and Fiona glanced at him. Scourge chuckled as soon as he saw Fiona, glaring at her. "You look much better like this, babe!" "I... I..." She whimpered, looking away. "You leave her alone ya mud-dwellin', bottom-feedin' scum-sucker!" Bunnie snarled, voice going low. "Yer've done enough to her already." Scourge simply laughed. "Big words from a half-robotic freak. You're just almost as bad as her, just because you stick up for a worthless piece of trash like her." "Sorry, but yer so far below me that nothin' that'cha say is gonna matter to me. Th'only piece o' trash in this room is you." She narrowed her eyes. "Even Snively's got some standards." Scourge rolled his eyes. "Whatever, at least I didn't get captured!" He spouted angrily. "True, Ah am stuck in here, but Ah went down swingin', and Ah know Ah could take y'all out with a single attack." "But you can't, you're all tied up!" Scourge laughed. "So shut the hell up! Hearing you talk is almost as bad as when Fiona opens up her stupid mouth." "Ah'll be outta here soon enough." She closed her eyes smugly. "Yeah, as a slave!" Scourge scoffed, "Right, Snivs?" "Please, stop calling me that." The man sighed. "And... No, not as a slave. As something... lower." "Wh..what'ya mean?" Bunnie asked. "You'll see... First, we check on the Princess." "What'da think yer gonna do to Sally-gal?" Bunnie's eyes widened. "She..she's still knocked out!" "Exactly. Whatever is afflicting her may react poorly with my experiment. We can't have that, can we?" "Ex...periment...?" Fiona whimpered. "What are y'all plannin' on doin' to us?" "Well, I shouldn't say...but since the Princess is knocked out, we have some time.." Snively smirked. "I am going to take you, and reduce you to the fetid little animals you are. My new compound will... "Feralise" you." "Wha...wha?" Bunnie asked in a stupor, meanwhile Fiona quickly began to panic. "I'm going to rob you of your higher functions, leaving you in a state of animalistic ignorance. The ones I like, I shall keep. The ones I don't care for, I shall release. The ones I despise, I shall send to the labs." "Ya...Ya can't do that!" Bunnie whimpered, tugging at her bonds. "That..that's..." She suddenly felt a lot less confident than before, not even Robotnik could come up with something so torturous. "Oh, don't fret." The short man grinned. "You won't be hurt. I'll even make sure your organic parts are back... You can live a simple, feral life in the forest, not a care in the world... Ignorance, as they say, is bliss." "But...my memories..my free-will!" Bunnie shouted. "Ya ain't gonna get away with this! My friends will be here any second!" "Just do it already!" Scourge shouted. "I'm sick of hearing her voice." "I am checking on the Princess." Snively grunted, walking over to Sally's slab. "So just inject her! She's already out, what does it matter?" Scourge tapped his foot impatiently. "If it makes her braindead, she ends up in the incinerator. It's no different to leaving her feral and sending her off to eat nuts and shit behind trees!" "No! The serum is only intended to be used on conscious patients. There are too many variables at play if she's injected in her current state, and I'm not going to risk anything when it comes to the good Princess Acorn.. We'll wait for her to wake up before we test it." "No, please! Take me instead!" Fiona cried out. "Nobody will miss me... I'm already worthless... Even if it doesn't work, you just kill me... Sonic's not going to go nuts and kill you over me. He will if anything happens to her... Let it be me instead..." "Well, look who's decided to be talkative all of a sudden!" Scourge smirked. "What do you care what happens to the... Sugar-Queen? That's what you called her, ain't it? Wait, don't tell me... You enjoyed that little sloppy tongue-dance she gave you? That it? You going to get dumped and immediately latch onto blue's perfect princess?" "Th-that's none of y-your business..." "Hah! I knew it! You're nothing more than a slut going from person to person in the hopes that they validate your dumb ass! You're a disgrace!" Scourge smirked. "Maybe I am..." Fiona said sullenly. "But what does that make you? A pathetic shell of a man, who can only pick up sluts and bitches brainwashed into obeying him! Not even that, you had to pretend to be someone else to get me to give you the time of day! You're just a jumped-up bully with Daddy issues! ... ... And you can't control me anymore..." Bunnie turned to Fiona and smiled with tears in her eyes. "Atta gal..." Scourge meanwhile felt his eye twitch and his blood begin to boil. "You fucking bitch! I gave you everything you have! Everything! This is how you repay me with your big fucking mouth? You're nothing! Go crawling back to the Freedom Fuckers, see you end up in jail where you belong. Oh wait, you're not getting out of this! You're gonna be an animal eating their own shit!" "Yeah, this is how I repay you... For brainwashing me with your lies until I ran away from the only good home and honest friends I ever had to worship your maggoty behind! For taking me to a world that made me sick and weak to just be there so you could do a piss-poor job of being a king and get thrown out by Tails' evil twin in under a week! For blaming everything on me and beating me for it until I was too scared to do anything without your permission!" The vixen hissed. "Hey Snively, why not just test that animal serum on Scourge? It might improve his intelligence and his manners." "You fucking bitch!" Scourge shouted, snatching the serum from Snively. "I'll show you! I'll show all of you!" With a wail, he slammed the needle right into Sally's arm, the serum quickly emptying into her bloodstream. "No!" All three of the other conscious figures yelled in unison, as Sally writhed on her slab, the green visible through her veins. "Heheh...say goodbye to your little lover, you lesbo." Scourge sneered at Fiona. *** Within Sally's mind, the kiss of the puppet had turned her whole world pink again. 'M-more pink...' Sally moaned. 'I-I have to fight.." "But fighting is bad!" The puppet's voice met her ears. "Good girls don't fight!" "Shut up!" She squealed. "Get out of my head!" "It's my head too! Honestly, youjust don't know what's best for you, do you?" The puppet sighed, holding her like a confused child. "Don't worry, though. Our husband does all the thinking for us!" "L-Let go of me! I have a mind of my own!" "But you don't need it anymore. Geoffrey doesn't want you to think, and you were doing such a good job of obeying him before. I'm rather upset, seeing all that progress undone." "He...was brainwashing me....unfair.." Sally groaned, tugging at her restraints. "No, he was fixing us!" The puppet giggled, snuggling her again. "That silly little rebellious streak had to go, and Daddy certainly wouldn't want his little girl marrying a fool like SOnic. We have to be a good princess, so we can be a good queen. And the best way to be a good queen is to be a good wife, and let our husband do all the thinking for us!" "N...no.." Sally whimpered, slowly losing her will to fight as she was snuggled. It felt oddly..comforting. "G-good...princess...." "Yes, just snuggle up with me and let me make you a good princess again." The squirrel could feel her last chance at free-will fade as she was cradled, bound her her own puppet-self's arms. "Good princess...must...impress daddy.." Sally smiled, snuggling into the puppet. "That's right... Let's make you look right."The puppet waved her hands, making Sally's clothing vanish. "Yes...A good wife...should look nice....for her husband.." Sally droned. "See, you do remember!" THe puppet praised. "Now, in here, you needn't worry about your friends being suspicious. SO no shirts and pants, you get to be a real wife!" "Yes...of course.." Sally spoke. "Good wives should wear...dresses.." "Exactly, let's find you a lovely, pretty dress!" "I would like that very much.." Sally's lips crept into a smile. "I knew you would. WOuld you like one like mine?" "Yes, it is especially lovely." Sally grinned, snuggling into the puppet. She waved her hand, and the dress took form around her. "This..feels much better." Sally smiled. "Doesn't it, though?" "It feels so nice to not have to worry anymore. My husband can do all of it for me.." Sally smiled. "Do I look nice enough for him?" "It's a start. Let's take care of your hair next." "Yes, it is rather unkempt. I'm so embarrassed!" "Don't worry, I'll have it all sorted. A lovely beehive, just for you." "Yes, so stylish. Geoffrey will love it!" Sally squealed. Her hair began to grow, pulling itself into shape. "Indeed he will." "My only mission is to make him happy." Sally cooed. "Oh please, Sally. Let's not call it a mission. You're a princess, not a soldier." "You're right...husband wouldn't like me talking that way, would he?" "No, he wouldn't. You need to learn to phrase things better, Sally." "I'm sorry." Sally nodded. "I want to be perfect for him." "Indeed you do." The puppet smiled. "Am..am I good enough for him, yet?" "Almost, dear." "What else do I need?" "Your makeup, of course." "Oh, yes! I want to look so pretty for Geoffrey." "Exactly!" The puppet smiled. "Do you know what would look good on you?" "Eye shadow, and lipstick!" "Is that all it will take?" "What else do you suggest?" "Well, maybe some blusher, mascara, eyeliner, and my nails too?" "Oh, that would be nice!" Sally smiled. "I knew you would agree." The puppetsmiled, waving her hand again. Sally purred, watching the puppet's hand. "Yes, make me pretty!" The makeup began to appear on her face. The blush came first, a bright reddish orange. Her eyes were next, black mascara etching underneath her eyes. Her eyelids were coated with a soft, baby blue, and her lips began to turn magenta. The nails were next, matching the color of her eye makeup as they slowly turned a bright blue. "Blue? I don't really like blue..." "Which color would you prefer?" "SOmething more feminine and soft, I think." "How about yellow?" "Yellow is good." "Good girl." The puppet smiled and waved her hand, turning Sally's nails a soft yellow. "You're learning, my dear." "Thank you." She cooed, curtseying. "See, you look much better already!" "Thank you, my friend." Sally smiled. "I'm happy to help you become the best wife you could possibly be." The puppet smiled. "Now, I think you're ready for the next step." "What is that?" Sally asked excitedly. "Well...I need to reprogram you. To make you completely subservient to our husband." "Oh, then do that, please!" "You will forget all of your former friends, you'll see them as dangerous renegades who must be taken care of..you'll be entirely submissive to your husband...from now on, he'll make the decisions." The puppet smirked. "Just close your eyes, dear." "Yes, yes I will!" Sally smiled, closing ehr glazed pink eyes. "Good girl..." The puppet waved her arm. "Soon, you will be just like me.." "Yes... it sounds... wonderful..." Sally murmured. Suddenly, the piano wire wrapped around her wrists, tugging them above her head as more wrapped around her thighs and ankles. "Just let yourself go...become a puppet like me..." Sally let it happen, feeling the strings lift her off the ground. Her form went limp. "Yes...soon our thoughts will become one." The puppet mused, the strings wrapping around Sally. Her rouged lips smiled widely. "You are Sally Alicia St. John...your husband's puppet." "I am Sally Alicia St. John... I am my husband's puppet..." "You are entirely subservient to him. You will obey his every command." "I am entirely subservient to him... I will obey his every command...." "You will be a good Princess, and in time, a good Queen." "I will be... a good Princess... I will be... a good Queen..." "Fighting is dangerous and unladylike, you will stop immediately." "Fighting... is dangerous... unladylike... and I will stop... immediately..." "Your former friends, the Freedom Fighters, are a nuisance. They will be dealt with." "My... ... ... former... friends... the Freedom FIghters... are a nuisance... They will be... ... dealt with..." "You love your new life." "I love... my new life..." "Good." The puppet grinned wickedly, a golden ring with a large diamond suddenly appeared in her hand. The strings on Sally's wrists jerked her arm forward. "When I put this on you, your transformation will be complete.." "Yes... Complete..." The puppet slowly took Sally's outstretched palm with one hand, holding the ring with the other. She began to slide it on her finger. Sally smiled mindlessly, letting it happen. "Welcome to your new life, dearie." The puppet said as it fixed the ring on Sally's finger. "Yes..." Sally murmured. "I've enjoyed our little talk, Sally. It's time for me to go now...you've already taken my place." The puppet finished placing the ring on Sally's finger, the corrupted Sally beginning to disappear. However, as she did, a green haze filled the air, and the puppet stumbled, suddenly looking afraid. "Wh..what is the meaning of this?" The ring on Sally's outstretched finger began to decay, as did her new clothing. Her eyes demisted, and she shook her head, trying to clear her mind. "Ugh..." Sally moaned. "What..what happened?" "N-no, stay w-with me, Sally!" The puppet cried out. Her eyes focused on the twisting mirror image of herself, and she glared angrily. "N..no!" Sally groaned, the strings on her limbs beginning to loosen and snap. "What...did you do to me?" "No! I made you perfect!" The puppet screamed. "You can't break away now!" "Get out of my head!" The squirrel roared, punching the puppet. Her hand rammed straight through the dark mirror's chest, and she splintered apart. "Don't do this! You were so close.." The puppet disintegrated into wooden chips. "Yes, and I'm glad I'm not going back." "Foolish girl! We could have been so happy..." "I'm happier the way I am." Sally replied. "You're not even real." "You could have lived a life with no worry...where our husband took care of everything.." "Worrying comes with the territory when you're the heir to the throne and the leader of a black ops team. And Geoffrey couldn't lead a parade." "Th...think this through..." "I have, and you want me to stop thinking." Sally replied, stepping on the splinters. "No! You need to be a good wife and princess!" "You are a very old-fashioned figment, and Nicole regrest being forced to make you. Now get out of my head." "Foolish girl!" The splintered puppet began to fade away. "Phew... glad that's over..." Sally rubbed her head, only for the sound of rushing water to meet her ears. "Oh no, what the heck is that?" The ceiling of the room cracked, and a glowing green fluid began to ooze through, dripping viscously onto the floor. Sally quickly took some of the goo from the floor and placed her finger into it. It twitched, and then began to expand over her fingers. "Ah! What is this..?" The slime began to fill up the room, as the goo on Sally's hand spread up her arm. Sally quickly tried to pull the goo off of her arm with her free hand, but it expanded over that as well, beginning to spread up her other arm. "Echh..." Sally squirmed. The floor was covered now, and as the level rose higher, it began to eat away at her boots as it began to grow over her legs. "What is this stuff? This can't be it.." Sally whimpered as she could only struggle now. The goo shifted, pitching her backwards into the pool. The squirrel could only glug as she was submerged. Yet, as it began to flow into her, the ocean of green began to change colour. Slowly turning brown, then red, then finally pink. "Mffghmm.." Sally glugged, feeling herself losing control. A figure began to form in front of her. Sally squinted underneath the goo, trying to make it out. "Sally..." The figure cooed, reaching out toward her. The squirrel panicked and tried to swim away. "Don't panic..." Sally suddenly paused and turned towards the figure, who appeared to walk closer, taking on a familiar shape. Sally suddenly didn't feel afraid and let the figure come closer into view. The image of Nicole smiled back at her. For a moment, her eyes turned the sickly green that the glow had initially been, her clothing disappeared, and her fur became wild and unkempt. Then she flickered again, and now wore the same outfit as the squirrel's puppet counterpart, before she returned to normal, albeit with pink eyes. Sally stared into her eyes, managing a smile back. "You don't need to be frightened... I'm going to help you..." "H-help..?" Sally asked, relaxing a bit. "Yes... Snively's poison will destroy who you are without my protection." "O-Oh...Okay, then." "I am redirecting it... Embrace me..." "I-if you're sure.." Sally nodded, approaching Nicole and embracing her. The lynx flickered between the two other forms again, as she leaned in to kiss her. "O-Oh.." Sally blushed, returning the kiss. A daze began to wash over her. "Mmm..." The squirrel moaned as she fell into a trance. The pink-eyed lynx smiled, and picked her up. Sally was powerless to resist as she smiled. "Let's save you, Sally..." Sally nodded, still entranced. "Hmm, you could do with some... physical changes..." "Yes...physical changes..." The Nicole image placed her hands on Sally's backside. Sally let it happen, smiling. Her rear began to swell up. "Ohh.." Sally moaned. "Don't worry, darling... It's all natural." Sally nodded. "Not an ounce of silicon in your perfect form." "Yes...not an ounce.." Her rear was now rounded, heart-shaped, and perky. Sally looked at it and grinned, it felt...right. "Mmm... good." Nicole smiled. "Now... let's make that waist a little more waspish." Sally nodded. "Yes, of course.." Her hands moved to the squirrel's midriff, squeezing it in. Sally cooed at the sensation. "Feels good, doesn't it?" Sally nodded, a bit smitten. "Now let's take care of your legs..." She smiled, running her hands down them. Sally shivered, nodding. "Far too much muscle, here... lets get rid of most of that." "Yes, too much." Sally agreed, nodding. Her legs slimmed down, becoming shapely and slender. Sally grinned, enjoying the sensation. "Feels good, doesn't it?" "Yes, thank you so much." Sally smiled, embracing Nicole. "You're welcome. I think we'll do the same for your arms." Sally nodded. "They are much too muscular." "Indeed." NIcole nodded. Sally smiled, feeling better already in her newly sculpted body. "Mmm, that's better... Just one more thing to fix." "What is that?" Nicole placed her hands on Sally's breasts. The squirrel blushed bright red. "Doesn't this feel good?" "Oh, yes!" "What if they were several sizes bigger and twice as sensitive?" "C-can you do that?" "I can." Nicole grinned. "P-please...do it." "As you wish." She began to massage Sally's breasts. "Mm.." Sally moaned, as her chest began to swell up. "Oh my.." "Yes, that feels good, doesn't it?" "Oh, yes...mhhmm." Sally moaned. "And it's feeling better all the time." "Mmh..yes.." "GOod girl." Sally moaned, closing her eyes and letting Nicole do what she pleased with her body, feeling her breasts get more sensitive by the moment. "I think an E-cup will suit you." "Yes...E-cup.." Sally smiled, as Nicole took her hands away. Sally's bust began to increase wildly, stopping at a more than conservative limit. "Mm, perfect." Nicole smiled. "Now, for your face." "My face?" "You need some cosmetic fixes." "If you say so." Sally blushed. "Let's make those lips a little bigger." "Yes, that would be lovely." Sally puckered. Nicole grinned, and kissed the squirrel, running her hands over her transformed body. Sally's lips quickly plumped up. "Mmm, you're good." Sally smiled, moaning through her new lips. "Now, how about that hair..." "My hair?" "It's very short, don't you think?" Sally nodded. "It should be longer?" "Oh yes, much longer." Sally nodded. "Yes..do what you please." "Of course." Nicole smiled, conjuring a brush and setting to work on the squirrel's locks. Sally nodded, enjoying the feeling. Every stroke made her tresses grow, gradually reaching past her shoulders, down her back, until it tickled her inflated backside. "Oh my, it's so long.." Sally smiled, running her hands through it. "And silky-soft too." Nicole petted her. "But I'm not sure about the colour..." "Oh no? What should it be?" "Why, blonde, of course." "I hear blondes have more fun.." "It's true, you know." "Then I want it.." "Good choice." Sally smiled. "Please, make it blonde!" "As you wish." She added something to the brush, and set to work again. Sally purred as she was brushed. "Almost done." "I can't wait!" "We'll have to dress you after this." "Yes, what should I wear?" "Let me worry about that." Sally nodded. "Of course. I trust you." "Good girl." Nicole said, as she finished the alterations to her hair. Sally ran a hand through her new blonde locks. "It's so pretty.." "Indeed it is." Nicole smiled, stroking her. Sally giggled, enjoying it. "Now, let's dress you." "I'm not sure how many clothes will fit me!" "Don't worry darling. We can have something made." "Oh, that sounds wonderful." "Yes, it does. Custom, especially for you." "How nice!" "Indeed!" Nicole smiled, as she began to create the outfit. "I can't wait!" "I'm afraid you'll have to." Nicole smiled, petting the squirrel. "Of course!" Sally smiled. "Why not rub against me." Sally nodded and did so. "Mmm, good girl." "Yes, I am!" "Let's start with your lingerie and work up from there." Nicole mused, as a frilly pink bra appeared on Sally's chest. "Oh, so pink.." Sally moaned. "I think it could be a little more see-through..." "Oh, yes!" Nicole snapped her fingers, and the fabric became see-through. "Wow!" Sally squealed, astonished. "GOod, isn't it?" Nicole cooed, as a thong began to form on her crotch. "Oh, yes!" Sally looked down, smiling. "Pink and see-through, just like the bra, of course." "Yes, of course." Sally moaned. "It feels so nice.." "I knew you would like it." Nicole smiled. "Now, just a little more..." "What next?" "Stockings, I think." "Oh, those would feel nice.." "Indeed they would. Lovely white silk, clinging to your legs..." "Mm, so comfy.." "Yes, imagine that..." Nicole purred, slowly shaping the garments around Sally's feet and upwards. "Mm...feels soo good." "Yes, it does." The lynx smiled, as they came all the way up to the middle of her thighs. "Oh, they're so high.." She squealed. "Of course, you have to tease your lovers." "Oh, yes." Sally smirked. "But you have to appear innocent and soft." "Yes...of course.." "Good girl." Nicole kissed her again. Sally smiled, blushing. "What's next?" "Would you like a beautiful dress?" "Oh, yes!" Sally squealed. "I lovely pink one..." "How elegant!" "Very elegant." Nicole nodded, hugging her. Sally moaned, cuddling her friend. "Let's see... if it cuts off at around the height of your stockings..." "Oh..yes." "Hmm... detached sleeves... Puffy and round, of course." "Yes, of course!" "And of course, the dress itself only comes up to your breasts." "How raunchy.." Sally blushed. "The correct word is beautiful." "Yes, of course!" "Good girl." Nicole smiled. "Hmm, let's make it nice and tight." "The tighter the better.." "Indeed!" Nicole grinned. Sally moaned. "Mm. Nice and tight." "It needs some decoration too.." "What do you suggest?" "A nice jewel on the chest, for starters..." "Pretty.." "Indeed. Gold trim around it." "Mm. Beautiful.." "White trim for the rest of the dress." "I love it!" "I'm glad you do." "Mm, put it on me!" "I shall." Nicole smiled, as she created the outfit around Sally. "Ohh.." Sally waited, feeling the outfit come onto her new body. Nicole smiled, and embraced her.. "Mm.." Sally moaned. "You're almost done." "What's next?" "Shoes and gloves, of course." "Ohh, that sounds nice." "I think a lovely pair of heeled slippers will suit you." "Mm...heels.." Sally moaned. "Yes, I think you'll look nice with them." "Put them on me!" Of course, have a seat." Nicole formed a beanbag behind her. Sally did so, strutting around in her new form before sitting down. NIcole knelt beside her, and produced a pair of shoes. "Oh.." Sally looked at them in a gaze. "Do you like them?" "They're gorgeous!" "THen here you go." Nicole smiled, slipping them onto her feet. Sally blushed as she wriggled her toes. "COmfy?" "Yes..." "Excellent." "Now are you going to put gloves on me?" "It's not polite to assume, Sally but yes." "Sorry." Sally blushed. "Good." Nicole stroked her cheek. Sally blushed, moaning. "I think long, white silk gloves will be best for you." "Yes, so comfortable.." "Indeed." Nicole petted her. Sally let herself be petted, enjoying it. "You're so close..." "I can almost feel it..it's...relaxing." "Hold out your arms." Sally did as she was told, waiting in anticipation. NIcole slid one glove slowly up her arm. Sally squirmed, enjoying the comfort. "Yes, it's good, isn't it." "Yes!" "Now for the other one." Sally held out her other arm, wriggling her fingers. Nicole carefully slid the glove on. Sally moaned in delight. "Your outfit is complete. Now we just need makeup and a few accessories." "Ohh...makeup!" "Yes, Sally." "What kind should I wear?" "Let's go with pink." Sally nodded. "Sounds lovely." "Now, some for your lips..." Sally puckered her lips and smiled. Nicole ran a tube over them. Sally closed her eyes and waited, enjoying the feeling. "How does it taste?" "Delicious!" "Good girl." She cooed. "Now your eyes." Sally smiled and did so, clutching her eyes shut happily. Nicole carefully painted her eyelids. Sally giggled and remained still. Nicole then carefully applied mascara to her. Sally moaned and squirmed abit. "Now keep those shut while I do a little blush." "Mm-hm." Sally nodded. Nicole lightly dusted her cheeks. Sally giggled as she waited. "That's perfect." Nicole cooed. "Thank you." Sally smiled, enjoying the feeling of the makeup on her face. "Just your jewels now, my love." "Jewels? For me?" Sally cooed. "Of course!" Sally squealed. "Thank you!" Nicole slid a bracelet on each of Sally's wrists, and a necklace around her throat. Sally shivered at the feeling around her wrists and throat, blushing. "And just one last detail..." She put a golden tiara on her head. "Ooh!" Sally moaned. "How beautiful!" "Yes." Nicole smiled. "Thank you so much.." Sally moaned. "You're welcome, darling. I have but one more gift to give you..." "Oh?" "The complete bliss of total ignorance." Nicole smiled, eyes filling with pink spirals. "Kiss me, Sally, and surrender your intelligence. Become the empty-headed doll you deserve to be." Sally quickly went into a trance, nodding slowly, her mouth hung open. "Empty headed..." She smiled, leaning in to kiss her. Nicole kissed her, and gradually, Sally's mind blanked. The squirrel's intelligence went into a freefall. "Yes... nothing, but love to drive you..." "Yes.." Sally droned. "Good girl... Just a happy little bimbo..." Sally's painted lips crept into a smile. "No more stress... nothing but bliss." "Bliss.." "And now... you're free..." "Free..." "It's time to wake up, my lovely bimbo princess." "Wake...up..." "Yes..." Everything began to fade to white, Sally finally felt all of her stress and responsibilities fading away. Finally, the heavy feeling of the trance left her, and she began to wake up. *** "She's waking up!" Snively shouted, looking on his computer. "You've dodged a bullet here, Scourge, but do not pull that again." "What does it even matter anyway?" THe hedgehog rolled his eyes. "S-Sally?" Fiona ventured. "Sally-Gal, can ya hear us?" Sally twisted on the table when her eyes opened, glowing pink. "What?" Snively glanced at his computer readings again. "Unbelievable." "W-what's happening to her!?" Fiona screamed, as the bonds on the princess' body began to crack. "The virus is being manipulated somehow..." "So, er... it is going wrong, then?" Scourge smiled awkwardly. The bed itself split apart, as Sally began to float above it, her entire body being consumed by the energy. "What's happening?!" Fiona panicked. "It's some kind of energy... psionic, by the looks of it..." "Huh?" Scourge asked. "All the psychic juice that was in her head is now being turned outwards! Heaven help us if she can actually control it..." SNively murmured, turning pale. "Scourge, euthanise her." "You don't have to ask me twice!" Scourge said, approaching Sally. "NO!" The two girls screamed, only for the floating debris to explode outwards and crack the hedgehog over the head. He stumbled back, as Sally became little more than a slowly-morphing silhouette. Then a bolt lanced out of the glow, and struck him in the forehead, and he slumped to the ground. "What's the meaning of this?" Snively growled. Gradually, Sally's chest grew, her hair lengthened, and her hips grew wider. "S-Sally-gal?" Bunnie asked nervously, Fiona simply stared. Her muscle mass began to wane, even as her clothing began to change shape. "Interesting.." Snively said, looking over his notes. "Sally... please say somethin'..." The squirrel's clothing began to form into the clothing that Nicole had put on her in her fantasy, the jewelry appearing on her wrists and around her neck as her face glowed with the thick makeup. She was smiling, eyes devoid of their usual intelligence. "Umm... hi?" "S-Sally..?" Bunnie asked on the table. "Are ya alright?" "Oh, I'm, like, better than alright!" She giggled, as shewalked toward the rabbit. "Huh..? S-Sally...this ain't like you.." Bunnie said nervously. "Well, it totally is now!" "Wha...?" Bunnie asked wide-eyed. Sally giggled, and hugged her. "Don't worry, I'll, like, get you out of that trap." "Hmm.." Snively pondered. "Sally. Come here." "Oh? Okay!" She smiled, strutting over to the man. He smirked. "Down on your knees." "Okay!" Sally dropped to her knees. "Sally, no!" Bunnie cried as Snively laughed. "Just as I suspected..." He mused. "You will do anything asked of you... Come with me, Sally. We can worry about your friends later..." "Like, okay!" Sally smiled as she crawled on her hands and knees. "You can stand up if you like." "Alright!" Sally hopped to her feet, her bracelets jingling. "Now, come along." He grinned, leading her out of the room. "SALLY, DON'T!" Bunnie wailed until they both were out of sight. "Ungh... Shouting's not gonna help..." Fiona murmured. "What happened to her?" Bunnie asked, "she's so...different.." "I... I couldn't stop staring... It's like she... did something to me..." "Huh?" Bunnie glanced over at her. "She was so... beautiful... And it all looked natural.... even her roots were blonde..." "Well...she was a lot diff'rent, I suppose.." Bunnie mused. "But she just...obeyed..like it was nothing." "Whatever they put in her must've drained her completely..." "No...we gotta get the old Sally-gal back.." Bunnie whimpered. "I can't... Just loooking at her sent me into a daze..." "Ya gotta fight it, Fi...I dunno what he did to Sally, but he might do tha' same t' us!" "If we get out... You run and get the others... I'll stay here and distract them.." Fiona said softly. "I'll only slow you down and make things super-awkward." "No..we do this together...even if it means we both become like..that.." "Don't throw yourself away for me... If you stay, we're both doomed. If you go, you can get Sonic... Taking me with you will just waste time explaining why I'm there and stopping Amy from braining me with her hammer. Besides... I'm not worth the trouble anyway..." Bunnie sniffed. "D-Don't worry 'bout it...we'll get out of this..." "Just... get going when we get the chance... Maybe this is my chance to redeem myself... make amends..." Fiona lowered her head. "But... if you can't fix me... just tell the others that I'm sorry." "Y-You're a real hero, Fi...I ain't gonna forget that.." "No... I'm not..." Fiona closed her eyes. "You'd be willin' to sacrifice yourself for us...I know they don't like ya much, but after this, no matter what happens, they'll respect ya...maybe even love ya. I know I will.." "Please... don't make this harder...." "No. You're my friend, Fiona. I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to ya." "Bunnie... Thank you..." Bunnie turned to her and smiled. "Everythin's gonna be alright, you'll see." "I really hope so..." Bunnie simply smiled reassuringly before thinking, "Me too.."