Thorns are like Chains

by Hemlockhue

Summary:

The Rose Paladin has finally been assigned on her first solo crusade and all hell breaks loose.

Chapter 1: Faith

“The lord prays that you make it back in one piece, Amy Rose.”

Rosie Woodchuck draped the laurel of thornless roses on the paladin’s brow as she knelt down to meet the nun‘s eye level. “The lord isn’t the one that keeps my sword sharp, Rosie… I’ll be fine, I promise.” She brushed a strand of gray hair out of the woodchuck’s face before leaning in and squeezing her with one last hug.

“The princess wishes to speak with you.” Rosie murmured, causing the hedgehog to flinch for a moment though she still kept her warm smile as the woodchuck pulled away to reach into her leather handbag and dig around.

Amy straightened out the crest of flowers on her head, carefully adjusting the petals so they wouldn’t be crushed between her ears. She looked up once more, seeing that Rosie had pulled out a small pouch with gold thread wrapped around the mouth. “I have a gift! So you know just how grateful the convent is!” She excitedly pushed the item into her hands, stepping back and waiting for her reaction as Amy unwrapped it.

The velvet casing gave way to a little gold rose, the pin on the back signifying it was a brooch. Amy admired the craftsmanship, tracing the petals and noticing the tiny ruby sitting right in the middle.

“Rosie… this is…” She was speechless.

The old nun beamed at the smile spreading across Amy’s face. “You like it? We commissioned the jeweler a while back, he was more than happy to comply.” Rosie happily kissed her cheek, wrapping her arms around her neck and holding her tight. Amy felt her eyes begin to water, letting the woodchuck take the brooch and pin it to her tunic. 

“Beautiful. Just beautiful.” She heard Rosie murmur, causing the hedgehog to turn away and try to hide the blush dusting her cheeks.

Amy glanced over to the hallway, noticing a familiar face leaning against the door frame. She grinned, tapping Rosie’s shoulder to direct the old woodchuck’s attention to the middle-aged rabbit and her daughter whose head popped out from behind not a few moments later.

The little rabbit suddenly ran to Amy so fast that her skirts billowed back and forth as she crashed into her arms, snuggling her cheeks against her tunic. “We’re escorting you!” She excitedly exclaimed as Amy lifted her up onto her shoulder. “I’M escorting her, you are supposed to be in bed.” The bigger rabbit sighed, exercising great care in her step as she glided over to them. Despite her simple clothing, she had a very regal aura that accompanied her every stride. 

Amy felt a little embarrassed by her disheveled clothing and shaggy quills but the mother rabbit didn’t make her usual fusses about her appearance, only taking her by the arm and guiding her to the door. 

The hedgehog waved to Rosie as all three of them traversed into the hallway. 

They walked in silence for the first couple moments. “So, another crusade? What are you finding this time? A grail? Perhaps some cursed bracelet? I pray it’s not another one of those beastly dragon eggs.” The mother rabbit asked, facing Amy who could only shrug her shoulders. 

“Sorry, Vanilla. Confidential I’m afraid.” 

The hedgehog ignored the look of worry coming over her face, focusing all attention on the tiny bunny that wobbled alongside. Being vertically-challenged, the hem of her dress dragged along the floor and was covered in grime. A pain to wash out for sure, but rolling them up would only delay the inevitable.

“Mother, she’s the Rose Paladin! It’d go against the Queen if she even said a word, it’s a very important job.” The little rabbit piped up, bounding forward so she could glance at the gold acorn emblem hanging from her neck. “I know, Cream. I know.” Vanillas replied, leaning forward and patting her daughter’s head.

A prickle of guilt attacked Amy’s insides as the little bunny started to go on and on, suddenly releasing a fountain of endless praises of her achievements.

“You’re by far the best warrior that the Princes— er, Queen has ever knighted! If only I could have just half of the devotion you carry…” Cream trailed off, fantasies of crusades and glory carrying her high above the clouds. Amy and Vanilla shared glances, that unabashed innocence bringing a smile to both their faces.

Then, in an instant , a set of foreboding mahogany doors tore the pink hedgehog away. “It’s already time?” Amy murmured, turning back and seeing how far they walked. 

It pained her to do this again. 

Even now, the cold nights and near-maddening silence followed her every step. The hedgehog was not thrilled to be thrown into such a vicious cycle, but alas there was nothing she could do to prevent it.

Taking an even deeper breath, she faced the mother-daughter duo and enveloped them both in a tight hug. “I will return, whether it be laden in glory or a casket.” Amy whispered to Vanilla, causing the aged rabbit to tense and murmur back, “I care not what you find, I’d choose your life over a king’s ransom any day.” 

Amy Rose would’ve nearly bawled if not for the loud creak of rusty hinges.

The doors to the throne room were slowly pulled open, the mechanisms alongside the walls exhuming great exhausts of sparks and flint. Amy bowed to Cream and Vanilla, watching them silently pad away and turn a corner before the hall grew empty once more.

…

The throne room was silent at first.

There was no noise, no rustle of papers or clothing, she couldn’t even hear the occasional skitter of mice that ran inside the cobbled walls. Perhaps they too could sense the wariness that seemed to stink up the place.

The closer Amy Rose drew, the clearer the throne came to be. Proud and polished from a distance, though on closer inspection only seemed to sag under the shadow of the spires that were lined against the back of it. 

Discomfort swirled around inside at the view of the old king on a portrait across the room.

Amy never really liked him. It was he who took her away from his home after all. 

She was handpicked as a playmate for his young daughter many years ago. Her parents quickly advised that it be better to comply rather than cause a ruckus and get beheaded. The king had a rather nasty temper and often soothed himself by public execution every now and then. Amy breathed a sigh, supposing that he was wrinkling his nose with his ancestors now.

“Amy.”

The hedgehog spun around, seeing a familiar mop of red hair and blue eyes. She quickly knelt down on knee, instinctively reaching for a sword that was actually sitting with all her other equipment down by the stables. 

“My queen.” Amy replied back, keeping her eyes on the floor. It was always good custom to wait until a noble had addressed a knight before they could make eye contact.

It was a couple of seconds before a hand suddenly touched her shoulder. “My personal guards are all in the basement drinking themselves silly, don’t think you have to be so formal.” Sally Acorn smiled, stepping back so Amy could stand.

The crown of flowers on her head nearly slipped off, dropping petals left and right as she rose up to meet the Queen’s gaze.

Such blue eyes she held.

They weren’t icy, like that of the old king’s portrait, but instead shined with a natural brilliance. 

Oh how Amy hated it.

It was a terrible feeling, the guilt nearly making  her vomit whenever Sally called for another crusade. Alas, her compassion was stronger every time and urged that she keep up the facade— just until she could gain the courage to leave. Sally must’ve noticed the slight tension in her shoulders because she quickly grasped the hedgehog by the arms and pulled her into a hug. Perhaps the Queen thought that she needed some reassurance.

“Geez Sal, you squeeze any harder and she might pop.”

Amy’s ears pricked, her rib cage suddenly enclosing itself around her heart so fast that only a gasp for air could escape her lips as she stared at the guest leaning against the back of the throne.

Sonic the hedgehog was not much taller than her, though the color of his eyes were much more vibrant and had a mischievous sparkle. His blue quills were groomed downwards, the bristles forming five unified spikes that mirrored her admittedly much shorter cut. He had a smirk plastered across his face as he trapsed up to both of them, waving a friendly hello to Amy.

A light giggle erupted from Sally before she backpedaled to her suitor, intertwining her fingers with his and leaning her head against his shoulder. The pressure in Amy’s chest only grew more and more, watching the two of them act so happily.

So in love.

She fought the rising storm collecting in her stomach, discreetly looking away to the tapestries that decorated the walls for some sort of distraction.

Sally called for her attention again, taking her and Sonic’s hand to lead them out into the hallway. “It’s just like the old days, isn’t it? Should we chase each other through the hallways again?” Sally laughed, nudging Amy with her elbow. The pink prickle tried to maintain her smile as she only shrugged. “If that is what you wish.” Her tone of voice never changed, keeping a calm, serene cadence to cover up any tension she was feeling.

Just then Sonic bumped her shoulder, swinging one arm around her back and giving her a one-sided hug. “You’re so grown up, going on this crusade all by yourself… you gotta be careful! I won’t be there to catch you anymore.” The blue hedgehog said, lightly slapping her back and grinning so wide that Amy could see his canines.

Her stomach twisted as his arm left her shoulder, that part of her body pulsating for a moment from his touch. What a pathetic knight she was, longing for someone so far out of her reach.

It was a secret Amy kept for much of her childhood. She was fairly sure that they both had an inkling at some point, but she made sure to squash any doubt when she became a squire. All those feelings of inferiority, jealousy, frustration, she channeled into her training. So much so that she had the bruises and broken bones to prove it.

And then Sally just had to send her on those damned crusades with the very person that she tried so hard to forget.

Amy’s fists clenched and unclenched, an unnatural agitation beginning to barrel its way to the front of her mind. This was it, the moment where the dam would finally snap on her emotions and she’d lose her composure.

The image of a certain someone suddenly flashed across Amy’s mind and the voices of Sonic and Sally became miles away.

She imagined being in the arms of that person, the scent of ash clinging to their clothes and mingling with the earthy smell of the forest. Her body began to relax, melting into the imaginary touches of her psychic suitor. All that anger, all that frustration, was released in one quick breath as she slowly came down from that high.

“Amy, are you alright? You’re not sick are you?” Sally pressed a hand against her forehead. The hedgehog gently pushed the Queen’s hand aside, smiling all the way.

“I’m just fine.”

Chapter 2: Weeds

After some more hemming and hawing from Sally, Amy Rose finally was dismissed to gather her things. 

She felt great relief wash over her body as soon as she left the throne room, her muscles untightening so fast that she nearly slumped over onto the carpet. 

Petals suddenly became strewn all over the carpet as the slight weight from her head disappeared. She watched the flower crown crash in between her feet, wobbling up and down for a moment before finally settling. Amy stared at the mess, stepping one foot forward and crushing the clump of unraveled stems. The current of juices that flowed from beneath stained the carpet, causing a darkened foot print to form and intermingle with the gold leaf pattern all along the sea of red thread.

For a moment, Amy Rose just stood there. 

Her mouth quivered as if she was about to break out into a sob while her fists clenched and unclenched. Hot tears began to spill down her cheeks, staining the collar of her shirt.

She hated how much she cared.

It took a good couple seconds for her guilt to kick in and make her frantically scoop up the mass of crushed flowers run down the hall. 

Thank Chaos, everyone was out drinking or celebrating the anniversary. 

Amy couldn’t imagine the embarrassment of anyone finding her like this, much less asking her what was wrong. Everyone else could cry their eyes out, but not her.

The last thing the kingdom needed—

No.

The last thing Sally Acorn needed was to see her dear friend in so much pain.

…

Amy avoided the main entrance, instead taking a left at the corridor and trodding into the gardens. There was a old rusty gate next to the tool shed that, as a child, she used to sneak into the training grounds. She was full grown now, but instead of squeezing past the iron bars she could simply lift the latch that kept it locked. 

It was padlocked at some point, but barely anyone used it. There were big, sturdy walls around the entire territory, so perhaps no one ever felt any need to keep it locked. 

The rusty hinges painfully screeched as she pushed the gate open. Once upon a time, so much pushing would’ve only caused it to squeak. 

Her muscles said otherwise as she held the iron bars back with one hand. And then, like a vanquished foe, the gate let out a metallic whimper as it started to set itself back into a closing position. 

Amy watched it recede back and for a moment, she felt a little better.

It was a good testament to her growing strength. 

Behind the gate was a thicket, continually growing alongside the castle wall. What once was a paved, dirt road had now become overrun with dandelions and bramble bushes. There was still a faint path among the jungle, and if one didn’t mind a few scratches here and there, it was quite the pleasant walk.

Amy followed the grassy outline, carefully avoiding the wildflowers that grew so profusely. They were constantly weeded out in the garden for the betterment of the other plants, but it was a bit of a shame to see a wheelbarrow full of shriveled daisies parked just outside the garden.

Eventually, the path ended at another small gate.

The smell of horses and straw hung in the air, causing the hedgehog to stop in her tracks. It was quite a contrast switching from cool, night air to farmstead. 

The gate led into the stables where the horses were lined up. She could hear music and singing from the outside, infectious laughter filling the air as she trudged past the various stallions.

Someone must’ve thought the horses deserved to celebrate too with the amount of apple slices and chamomile leaves stuffed in their feeding bins. The only stable with any equipment was the one at the very end. 

Amy walked up to the stall, resting her elbows on the wooden sill.

The horse across from her chewed silently, every once in a while using its giant head to nip at its own ankles. 

Anyone could tell that this steed was of noble birth. It towered over most of the other stallions in the stable, had hooves the size of her head, and the temperament of a widowed heiress. 

It gave a lazy snort, rearing its head away as she slipped inside the stall. Slowly, she brought her fingers up to its chestnut skin and gently pressed her palms against the fur. She felt it flinch underneath her touch, though it stayed still instead of stepping away.

A significant improvement from her first encounter.

She vividly remembered the amount of bruises that this horse had gave her when she first tried to ride it. It threw her off so many times, the concussions that followed lasted for days. 

Still, at the very least it didn’t view her as a threat.

Amy spotted the end of a carrot sticking out from its food bin. She kept one hand on the flank of the courser, grabbing the treat and waving it in front of the horses snout. It quickly took interest, directing both its glossy, brown eyes on the carrot before leaning forward and chomping at the tip.

“Your not leaving yet, are you?” A light voice spoke from behind her.

Amy turned her head, finding a short-statured orange fox standing outside the stall. He wore a pair of spectacles on top his head that shoved up the tuft of fur that usually covered his forehead. His overalls was littered in oil stains, save for the little bandana tied around his neck. A pair of tails stuck out from behind him, swaying back and forth.

“I wasn’t going to leave without saying goodbye, Tails. You’re the last one on my list anyway.” Amy responded, walking forward to grab the saddle.

The fox smiled, reaching behind him to pull out a rolled up piece of parchment. The ribbon tied around it was a deep red, complete with a singular primrose intertwined within the strands.

Amy nearly dropped the saddle onto the horses back, though caught herself and gently nestled the leather on its shoulders. She knelt down to quickly buckle the seat in place and then rushed over to the stall entrance. She grabbed the scroll from him, unraveling the ribbon and tucking the flower behind her ear.

With unrolling the parchment, her heartbeat skyrocketed seeing the words written across.

 

———

Prim,

South Wall. Midnight.

Thorn

———

 

“He’s here? I thought he said he’d be unable to write for awhile.” Amy murmured, reading over the words again.

Tails uncomfortably looked away, his tails twisted together. “I was out gathering firewood and he surprised me… he told me it was urgent.” The fox started to tug at his whiskers, opening his mouth to say something else though he backed out last minute.

“What is it?” Amy asked.

Tails looked down at the ground, wringing his hands together. 

“I don’t think you should go…. What if someone finds out?” He said.

Amy’s fingers tightened on the letter, causing the edges to wrinkle as she rolled the paper back up. Her brain went a million miles an hour, starting to imagine the faces of her friends and family contorting in disgust.

“Who would find out?” Amy prompted. Suspicion prickled at her spine as she narrowed her eyes at the fox in front of her.

Tails’s ears began to droop under her gaze. 

“No one! At least, not by me.” He assured her. 

Amy let out a breath of relief.

“I just… I think everyone’s noticed how distant you are now. Sonic’s been asking around about you… he’s worried.” The fox continued, leaning against the stall door. He watched her attach the bit to the stallion’s muzzle and handed her the reigns.

“What do you suggest I do then?” Amy snapped, whipping around and snatching the reigns from his hand. There was much more she wanted to say but she held her tongue as Tails awkwardly averted his gaze.

“… You could tell him.”

Amy violently threw the reigns over the saddle, hooking the ends of it around the stallion’s bit.

“I’d be accused of treason.” She rebuked.

Tails reached over the stall to grab her shoulder. “But, you don’t know that for certain… maybe if you just talked there’d be a way to—“

“Do you not understand? I’ll be killed!” She shouted back.

Fear seeped into his gaze as the ferocity of her voice caused him to stumble so far back that he accidentally stepped on one of his tails.

Amy slapped her hands over her mouth, realizing she gone too far. She rushed over the fox, helping him up and dusting off his fur while apologizing profusely. “Are you okay? Chaos, I’m so sorry!” She sat him down on nearby bale of hay.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Tails repeated, patting her arm as she circled around him, checking for scrapes. His two tails though were still twisted up in a knot, the extent of his worry still lingering in the air.

He reached up to her arm, pulling Amy to sit at his side. 

They sat in silence, staring out the stable entrance.

Amy watched the shadows of dancing serfs flicker on the castle walls, the booms of laughter beginning to sound like foreboding drums off in the distance.

“I think… I think I’m a terrible person.”

Tails was startled by this confession, his blue eyes widening in surprise. “What makes you say that?” He asked, curling one tail around her. The night air was rather chilly this time of year.

“I lie a lot, for one. I hate how I lie, for two…” She trailed off, letting her body relax against his. Her eyes closed, zoning in on the heave of her own chest as the world slowly trickled away.

“Well, I think lies are okay sometimes.” Tails said, fixing his gaze on the shadows dancing against the ground. 

“They make things just a little less painful, don’t you think?”

Chapter 3: Meeting

Deep within the surrounding woods, something stirred.

More accurately, a Shadow stirred.

He pulled the bow’s drawstring back, though it held no arrow. One would call the archer ridiculous for holding an empty quiver,  but then again, they didn’t yet see the flicker of green light in his fingertips.

Shadow breathed, slowly counting to “3” under his breath.

He didn’t exactly know what his target was. It was too dark and the foliage made a good cover. An acid green light erupted from his hands, circling his gloves before branching off to form a single arrow. 

The hedgehog briefly glanced forward once more, focusing all his attention on a singular patch of leaves.

He let the bow string fly, rocketing the glowing point into the darkness. The tail whistled, guiding him to his chosen target before it thunked.

Shadow leaned down, using the arrow’s green light to examine the kill.

“Just a rabbit.”

The arrow dissipated as soon as the hedgehog touched its pelt. He turned it over, admiring the splotches of brown along its back before picking it up by the leg.

Slowly, Shadow retraced his steps to the campsite he had set up.

Nothing fancy, just a couple of twigs for fire and a small bindle of supplies. He couldn’t risk a flame since he was so close to the southern wall, but after Amy’s arrival they’d move closer to the river.

Shadow felt a bit lighter at the thought.

He hung the rabbit on a nearby branch, using a hunting knife to drain what was left of its blood. A gruesome practice, but he doubted that his soon-to-arrive guest liked to chew on bloodstained meat.

The sky was dark, illuminated only by the bonfires spread across the city. Shadow saw colored lanterns hanging from the walls, peppering the cold stone with blues, greens, and pinks.

“…fools.”

Shadow knew of the occasion.

The people always made a fuss whenever they sent some great herald to die. He couldn’t fathom why anyone would be so fond of such a practice. Whenever he had to say goodbye, there were always tears to be shed. 

The strokes of the hunting knife grew more intense. 

If they honored their champions so much, why treat them like sacrifices?

“Woof, what’s got your tunic in a bunch?”

Shadow’s ears pricked up. On instinct, he threw several green flints into the open air. His quills were bunched up, stark and tall like several wood stakes.

“Show yourself!” He demanded, readying his hand to summon more.

A few moments passed before something moved.

Damn this darkness. Shadow squinted his eyes, trying to pinpoint what was stalking him.

The figure stepped out into a patch of moonlight.

“Sheesh, I was only trying to be polite. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of bein’ a spy, doesn’t it?” Said a sultry voice.

Shadow released a sigh.

“Polite? What’s polite about stalking someone? I could’ve kill you!” He snapped, wiping the hunting knife against his pant leg.

Rouge the Bat rolled her eyes. “Calm down, I’m here on business. The kind that pays.” Her eyes sparkled, reflecting her borderline obsession with jewelry.

“Hmphf. Satisfying your kleptomania?” Shadow scoffed. Any other time he might’ve been passive, but tonight was too private.

Rouge stretched her wings, letting them unfold and flap in the night air.

“More like someone else’s. Did you know that there’s a lot people out there who love holy artifacts? I mean, back then it was all chaos magic this, or demon sword that.” The bat circled around Shadow’s body, examining his work.

“Geez, who taught you how to skin an animal? Give me that.” Rouge lifted his dagger, unhooking the blade from his belt. She turned to the flesh, carving quick strokes along the tendons. 

Within minutes, the bat had scaled twice the amount of skin that Shadow had.

“Man, you need a refresher. Make a deep cut and then shave away.” Rouge lifted the rabbit’s fur, showing the layer of membrane between skin and muscle before using the knife to cut it away.

“See? Now you.” She handed the blade back to him.

Shadow swallowed, wondering if it was too late to ignore her presence. He sheepishly readied the knife, turning to the rabbit and beginning to copy her demonstration. Rouge nodded her head in approval, reaching her hand forward and patting the top of his head.

“Well done, my dear. Now, if you could just work a little faster—“

Shadow shrugged her off. “Rouge, please, I’m not a child.”

“So, canoodling with the precious ‘Rose of New Acorn’ is all just mature adult thinking?” She asked.

“How do you—“

“Easy to pick out your girlfriend in a crowd. If you’re looking to keep things secret, I recommend you don’t bring your little crusader into a mercenary den.” She giggled, resting her elbow on his shoulder.

“Is this an intervention?” Shadow muttered.

Rouge’s gaze softened. She pulled away, settling against a nearby tree trunk. 

“What are you thinking, Shadow? I mean, you’re not the type to just throw yourself into things. You’re careful, and you’re a heck of a lot smarter than you look.” 

The hedgehog bit back a snide remark.

“What answer are you looking for?” He cut through the last piece of rabbit fur, letting the entire pelt slide onto the ground.

Rouge tilted her head. 

The ends of her mouth curled down as she said, “One that doesn’t make me worried.”

The look on Rouge’s face was one of concern. It stung more that she thought this was all some sort of phase. 

“You’re not one to worry.” Shadow replied.

The bat reached out, gently squeezing his shoulder. 

“No. I’m usually not.” Rouge sighed, her voice quickly returning to a more flippant cadence. “It’s a horrible feeling really, why should I have to worry about you? You’d think an ex-soldier would be able to keep it in his pants.”

Shadow’s cheeks flushed. “She’s more than that.”

Rouge laughed, eyes lighting up as soon as she saw the splotches of red spread across his face.

“Oh my god, no way! I’ve got to meet this girl! If she can make you all shy and quiet, then she must be something!” The bat turned her head to the woods, eagerly searching for his lover to pop out of the glen.

“Now’s not the time for—“ Shadow stopped upon hearing a twig snap.

In an instant, the two creatures huddled together. Shadow armed himself with more emerald daggers while Rouge raised her wings, ready to take flight if the time called for it.

Shadow narrowed his eyes, sizing his strength to face the second interloper.

“Hello?” 

A soft, twinkling voice echoed throughout the woods. Shadow lowered his hackles. He raised his head, tilting his ears towards the voice.

“Rose?” He called.

Stealth was lost. Shadow scrambled over the bushes lining his campsite, looking left and right for a familiar mop of pink hair.

“Rose?” He shouted.

The air was silent, only breathing a cool night wind. The hedgehog wondered if he had imagined it.

“Shadow?”

The hedgehog turned towards the voice, seeing a great stallion standing just a few paces away. It was beautiful horse, glossy chestnut coat and flowing hair. Probably carrying a noble, or someone of great importance. 

Shadow’s gaze drifted to the rider.

Ah yes, there she was. 

Amy Rose dropped down, her pink quills swaying from the movement. She leaped across the clearing, rushing in front of Shadow so quick that he could barely muster out a breath as she embraced him.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Amy rested her chin on his shoulder. Shadow felt a rhythmic thrum in his chest, each beat growing ever so loud the longer she clung to his side.

“Were you waiting long?” Her voice was so comforting. 

He could feel her hands caressing the spines on his back, gently stroking each quill until his face had a volcanic eruption.

“No!” Shadow quickly stepped away, collecting himself. 

“I mean, no.” He cleared his throat.

Amy laughed. She trekked back to her noble steed and taking the reins. “I’m flattered you’ve pushed for our meeting so soon, it would’ve been boring if it was just me on the road.”

Shadow and Amy walked to his campsite, holding hands as they pushed past branches and bush.

Rouge was still there, sitting on the ground next to a roaring fire. 

The skinned rabbit was roasting on a spit, exuding a most delicious scent. Shadow felt his mouth water and the very thought of sinking his teeth into the flesh. Smoke pooled into thin wisps, circling into the air and twisting like ribbons.

Rouge waved to them both, standing up for a greeting.

Amy froze, frantically looking to Shadow for an explanation.

“She’s not from New Acorn. Don’t worry.” He kissed the pink prickle’s cheek before letting her hand go.

The Bat sauntered over, eyeing Amy up and down with great curiosity. The pink hedgehog was clearly uncomfortable, averting her gaze.

“Knock it off. She’s not one of your jewels.” Shadow scolded the bat.

Rouge only scoffed, though gave Amy her space. “I’m just surprised is all. You’re a lot smaller than I thought.”

Shadow glared at her again.

“Sorry, sorry. That was rude.” The bat admitted. “My socials skills are bit… what’s the word… rusty? Kinda hard to be formal when everyone’s been on my hide the last few days.”

Amy tied her horse’s lash to a branch. “That must be rough. Why would anyone be after you?”

Shadow saw the smirk on Rouge’s face before she began to dig into her bag. He mouthed a “why are you doing this to me” but the bat was too busy rifling through her pocket to notice.

Amy’s eyes widened as Rouge pulled the biggest, brightest, greenest gemstone from thin air.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” The bat mused, pulling the trinket close to her face to admire her reflection. “Stole it from a crumbling alter. Some guy called it a relic, but it’s basically an emerald.” 

Shadow held in a sigh as Rouge kissed the gem’s surface before tucking it out of sight.

“What she means is she’s tired.” Shadow turned the rabbit over, letting its other side roast. 

“And she was just about to leave, right?”

The bat blew a raspberry his way, but ultimately submitted. She stood up, stretched her wings, and then started to bid them both a goodnight.

“Well, I’d loved to stay and chat, but there’s a queen’s treasury I need to be looting.” The bat lashed her wings up and down, exercising them for flight. “Say, I hear that the Rose and her majesty are pretty tight knit. You wouldn’t happen to know where she keeps her jewelry, would you?”

Shadow immediately stood up. He marched on over, ready to tell the bat off for her flippancy.

Amy was faster.

“We’re not close.” The hedgehog said. Her face was stone, leaving not a hint of affection nor hatred.

Rouge seemed surprised, then she shrugged. 

“Fair enough.”

Rouge the Bat cracked her knuckles, planting her feet into the ground as she did so. In a single swoop, she launched herself off the ground, sending a blast of wind that made the campfire flicker.

The hedgehogs watched her fly over the moon. She hovered with the stars then dived, disappearing behind the city walls.

“She’s charming.” Amy said. 

Her horse nickered, pawing one foot against the ground. It nuzzled her head, shifting its nose against her cheek until Amy scratched its ear.

“I apologize. She talks big, but she means no harm.” Shadow used his hunting knife to shave off slices of roasted meat. 

“You must be hungry.” He held out a piece for her.

Amy accepted, sitting down on the ground. She sank her teeth in, breaking off a sizable chunk to chew. The firelight washed over her fur, giving a nice apricot glow compared to her usual pink. 

The two sat in silence, every once in a while staring up at the sky.

At some point, it all was maddening.

“I know that you don’t like meeting so close to the city. And, if it weren’t for Rouge I would’ve built us a camp by the river.” Shadow tried to fill the space with words, but tonight it was like talking to a wall.

Amy Rose was quiet for the first time in an almost year long affair.

“What’s wrong?”

The pink hedgehog said nothing.

“Rose?” Shadow set down his food. He inched close, grabbing her hand to kiss.

When Amy looked up, Shadow finally noticed how puffy her eyes were. Her bottom lip was dewey and ripped, like she had incessantly chewed on it for the past minute. 

“I’m tired, Shadow.” She said, swallowing her food.

“I know.” The hedgehog replied. 

He brushed a thumb across her cheek, wiping away the few tears that slipped from her eye. 

Amy melted into his touch.

“You’re so kind. What did I do to deserve you?” She mumbled out, touching her lips to his and planting a soft kiss.

Shadow could barely utter a response.

His face felt hot, and sweaty. Very not romantic. He could sit there, trying to remember his own name but Amy brought him back to earth with another kiss.

“I love you.” 

That caught his attention. Shadow stared at her, wondering if he had passed out. 

This had to be a dream, right?

“Yeah. Me too.” He wanted to smack himself.

Amy laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. They laid down together in the grass, looking up at the night sky.

“Why did you come here so early?” She asked.

It was Shadow’s turn to be dodgy. Uneasiness creeped up his back, making his movements feel stiff and heavy.

“I want to ask you something.” 

Amy raised an eyebrow. “Okay, what is it?”

Shadow avoided her gaze, rounding the constellations with his eyes until he had counted them all.

“If you could leave this place— forever, I mean, would you?”

Amy was silent for a moment. Shadow mustered the courage to glance at her face. She looked as if she was pondering the thought, her green eyes staring at nothing in particular.

“If I had the means to.” She finally answered.

Shadow’s heart, very steadily, thumped. “Then, what would those means have to be?”

“My friends are there. Cream, Vanilla, and… well, I don’t think I could just disappear on any of them.” She folded her hands, gently tapping her boots together.

“I see.” Shadow replied. 

He tucked the question away for another time. 

A hand suddenly enclosed his fist, drawing his crimson eyes to her face again. “Tell me about our first meeting.” Amy said, braiding her fingers with his. 

“Why?”

“Because. You’re a much better narrator.” She snuggled into his body, resting her chin on his chest fur. “And, I’d rather think of something else right now.”

Although perplexed, Shadow complied. 

He shifted his arm so it sat comfortably underneath her head.

“Um, it was winter. The ground was red from blood. I was barely alive, dragging myself through ice and snow until I could no longer.”

Amy’s sighed, wrapping an arm around his torso.

“And you were coming back from another expedition, separated from your company, pursued by a rival crusade. You tried to hide underneath a frozen log.”

“A stone slab.” She corrected.

“Right, right. A piece of stone. I had fainted, too numb and tired to continue any further. You saw my body. How could you not? My armor was all black back then.”

Shadow cringed at the thought of his old uniform.

“You looked very scary, don’t worry.” Amy kissed his cheek. “Keep going, this is my favorite part.”

”And for some reason, you decided to help me.”

“Not for some reason, you were in trouble!” Amy frowned. A smile spread across Shadow’s face as he continued.

”You could’ve left me, but you didn’t. Instead you carried me to the nearest inn and nursed me back to help. I was skeptical that someone so kind could even exist, yet you were right in front of me.”

He felt her sigh, rustling the row of fur along his sternum.

”I was scared. And hurt. But, despite that you stayed with me. Helped me. And when I thought life couldn’t be more surprising…”

Shadow trailed off.

“I love—“ He turned to Amy Rose

Her eyes were wide; alert.

Shadow shot up, directing his attention to whatever had caught her by surprise. Her horse was whinnying, nervously jerking its large head in every direction.

“What is it?”

Amy’s breath grew quick. She was staring at a singular bush, searching the crevices for an intruder.

“I thought.. I-I—“ 

An arrow suddenly whizzed past Shadow’s ear.

It cut through skin, leaving splatter of blood on the ground. Shadow shouted, cradling the side of his head only to realize it was just a graze.

Amy was already on her feet, scrambling to her ride.

Damn the fire. 

Shadow threw some dirt on the flames, smothering the embers though he knew it was too late. The woods were too noisy, each step echoing out through the campsite like thunder. 

Amy was struggling to keep her stallion calm, trying and failing to shush it. The horse neighed, startled by the voices surrounding them. It reared its legs, ready to trample whatever was making the noise. 

Shadow leaped forward, cutting its lash and forcing its head to the ground.

“C’mon!” He shouted, reaching for Amy’s hand.

An audible ‘swif’ just barely alerted the both of them. Their hands retracted, separating just as a dagger cut the air between them. Lights began to flood the glen, popping in and out of view. Shadow tensed, noticing the sheer number of bodies that stalked among the trees.

The black hedgehog fell back, pulled by the panicking steed. He scrambled to regain control, wrapping the leather straps around his knuckles and planting his feet in the ground. 

The horse could very well twist out of Shadow’s grip if he gave even an inch. 

“Amy, we need to go!”

She didn’t move. Her body was stuck, frozen in time like she was in a painting. Her mouth was agape in what could only be a silent scream.

A blue hedgehog, much alike to Shadow in stature, had emerged from the bushes, armed with a silver sword. 

His eyes were wide, perhaps trying to register the last few minutes. The rest of his alliance had revealed themselves, herding the two hedgehogs into a tight circle.

How long were they there?

Shadow didn’t think a little fire could warrant the attention of the Sonic the Hedgehog.

Someone must’ve told him.  

Shadow’s ear pulsed, stinging from the touch of night air. He eyed the only archer in the group, a rough-looking skunk with piercing blue eyes.

“Amy…” Sonic walked forward.

Shadow’s eyes darted around the clearing, wracking his brain for some way to escape. 

They couldn’t run or ride the horse, Sonic would catch up all too easily. Turning himself in was not an option. To fight would mean to pit Amy against her people, and he could never do that to her.

Shadow slowly summoned a green dagger, hiding the glow behind his back.

“How could you do this?” The skunk suddenly piped up. His bow was already drawn, aimed right at Shadow’s chest. “You’re the Rose of our kingdom, yet you flaunt around with the filth that took our king!”

Shadow swallowed. 

For a moment, he was wrapped in cold wind, holding a sword so heavy that it threatened to drop into the bloodstained snow.

“He’s not filth, Geoffrey!” Amy shouted.

Whatever daze she was in had vanished, leaving a blazing fury that threatened to scorch the entire forest.

Sonic the Hedgehog quickly grasped the skunk’s shoulder, pulling him back into the group. He nodded to the others, whom slowly receded a few paces behind lowering their weapons as they did so.

“Let’s just calm down. Obviously, there’s a reasonable explanation for all of this, right?”

He sheathed his sword and held out his hand for her to take. It seemed almost robotic, like he had done it many times before.

Shadow felt her body stiffen.

He so desperately wanted to grab Amy’s hand and run, but restrained himself to a venomous glare.

“I knew something was going on with you. I just didn’t realize that…” Sonic trailed off, briefly glancing over to Shadow. “He’s tricking you somehow, isn’t he? Otherwise you wouldn’t… you couldn’t—!”

He sounded hurt. 

Shadow gritted his teeth, stepping beside Amy and taking her hand. Mostly it was to steady his nerves, but a tiny part of him enjoyed the blossoming shock across the other party’s faces.

Shadow then looked at Amy, and she looked at him. In that moment there was only one solution.

They bolted.

Amy ran for the horse, hopping onto its back. Shadow threw an array of green flints, catching the soldiers by surprise. The skunk shouted, probably some vulgar insult, before it began to shoot a flurry of arrows.

Shadow hiked a leg over the horses rump, barely avoiding a steel flint to the face and lined himself behind Amy’s saddle. 

Without a second to lose, she whipped the reigns.

The horse took off, all that excited, fearful, tremendous energy building up in its muscles finally exerting themselves. 

It was like riding a wild river.

Shadow hugged Amy’s waist, not daring to turn his head to their attackers as they blasted through the trees. Leaves and twigs became passing glances, the trees were mere whispers of fog. Nothing held any shape, nor structure.

Except Amy.

If only he hadn’t spotted a whirl of blue fur running beside them. 

Shadow summoned his green daggers, readying to throw. Ready to end Sonic’s hold on Amy’s hand.

And yet, he hesitated.

He couldn’t separate the blue hedgehog’s limbs from his body. He could likely injure him, or worse. 

Unfortunately, he didn’t have to decide.

Somewhere, in the trees, an arrow flew. Probably from the damned skunk. It flew, and Shadow could barely see it coming until it was right at the side of their steed.

And then, Sonic the hedgehog leaped.

It was leap that seemed desperate, like it was last minute, like it wasn’t at all something the damned hedgehog planned to do.

A scream erupted from Amy’s throat, echoing out into the sky.

Chapter 4: Running

They left him there.

He stopped an arrow for them, and they just left him. 

Amy Rose clenched the reigns of her horse,  noticing the stains of orange beginning to bleed into the horizon. How long have they been riding? Her pelvis hurt, her legs were cramping, and her eyes were stinging from all the crying she had done.

Why did she do that?

Surely, any rational person would’ve taken his hand and follow along.

Her heart ached.

She watched her dear friend crumple to the ground with an arrow in his side, and then just left him along the leaves. She didn’t doubt that he was rushed to the nearest infirmary, but the look of surprise on his face was seared into her mind.

Sonic finally knew. 

Sally was going to find out no matter what.

The news would spread like wildfire. Most likely by the party. And even if Sonic could somehow keep them quiet, it would never change the fact that she decided to consort with Shadow the Hedgehog.

Amy quietly glanced to the face on her shoulder, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.

Shadow the Hedgehog. 

There was no town where he wasn’t uttered in hushed whispers and cautionary tales. He was the outlier, the worst of what could happen to man’s name.

Shadow the Hedgehog. 

The Beast of the Red Dawn, the Sleepless Soldier, the Sword of Black Doom, and a million other monikers that Amy couldn’t begin to recall. Admittedly, Shadow was terrifying; ebony fur with scarlet stripes running down each quill. His mouth was almost, if not always, turned down into a grimace.

Amy imagined him at the helm of an army, decorated in black armor with a glittering sword tied to his waist. She could see him staring across the weathered battlefield, narrowing his red eyes.

Amy shook her head, focusing on steering her horse.

Shadow’s breath heavily beat against her shoulder, causing a series of her pink quills to bristle up. The morning was cold, evident by the fog expelling from her mouth.

“Are you alright?” Shadow rested his chin on her shoulder.

Amy sniffled.

“Oh.” Shadow then turned his cheek, staring out into the landscape.

The sun was just beginning to peek from out the green hills. Even with such little sunshine, the valley still managed to take her breath away. The dirt road they were trotted down flowed between the farms they passed, stretching like a dirty river across the land. Fields of wheat, corn, and barely were neatly bracketed into fenced acres. She saw farmers begin to exit their homes, tending to their livestock and prepping their crops for harvest. 

Amy gently squeezed the horse’s side with her legs, urging it to trot faster.

Being awe-struck wouldn’t change the fact that they were probably being hunted down. Sure, they had a head start but how long would it be before Geoffrey St. John incited a whole riot?

Ugh, Geoffrey.

The little weasel (metaphorically speaking) was always an egotist. Albeit, one that was annoyingly loyal to the crown. Luckily for Amy, he never tried to push rank, but she had seen the aftermaths of many spats.

Still, said weasel was a good shot.

Sonic’s fallen body came to mind again, causing a lump to form in her throat. Amy Rose whipped the horse’s reins, wanting to feel the wind bite at her face.

Shadow’s arms tightened around her waist, fitting her spine against his chest as they tore across the valley. Away from the city, away from the little farms and villages, away from the terrible noise that she once insisted was a pleasant melody.

The horses’s gallop eventually receded back to a slow trot, shoulders sagging from the two riders on its back.

Amy took it as a sign to hop off. 

She pulled the reigns, stopping the horse’s walk completely. Shadow let her waist go, leaning back on the steed’s rump as she removed her foot from the first side-strap before getting off in a single push. 

The ground beneath felt like stone, especially after not walking for so long. Amy flexed her ankles, trying to lose the tension in her feet. Shadow thumped onto the ground beside her. He rubbed his backside, much more stiff than when he had jumped on.

“Maybe you should invest in a tandem saddle. The ride was a little bit, uh, intimate.” Shadow said, waddling over to a nearby fence post and leaning against it. The number of fields surrounding the road were atrocious. But, it made good cover for someone on the run.

Amy collected the horse’s reigns and began to lead it up the road. 

The next time she looked up, she finally took note of the giant cut stretched along the cuff Shadow’s ear.

“You’re hurt!” She exclaimed, throwing the reigns aside and running to him. Shadow tried to calm her down, but the pink prickle overpowered him easily. “You should’ve told me as soon as we were in the clear, what if it gets infected?” 

Amy quickly cycled through her supplies, pulling a roll of bandages and ointment from her horse’s side pack.

“I’m fine. It’s a cut, I’ve been through a lot worse.” Shadow began to stand up, but Amy stopped him again. Her eyes were full of worry, yes, but also frustration. 

“I don’t care how many wars you fought, or assassins you’ve killed, either you sit here and let me dress your cut, or I drag you all the way back to New Acorn to get treated.”

She planted a hand on his shoulder.

“So, Beast of the Red Dawn, what shall it be?” She growled.

Shadow glared at her. He was annoyed, she could tell, but infections were no joke. It could very well turn gangrenous, and he’d wouldn’t be as handsome with a missing ear.

With a firm grunt, he relented, letting her treat the wound.

There were flecks of dirt and other debris mixed with the blood, though Amy did her best to clean. She felt the hedgehog flinch a couple of time when she applied the smelly medicinal paste to the lesion, but he stayed still like a good patient.

“See? Was that so hard, tough guy?” Amy half-teased stepping back to admire her handiwork.

Shadow flushed. “I could’ve done it on my own! I’m not some—“ His voice was beginning to dip into a growl while his pupils transitioned to slits.

Amy stepped back. 

For a second, he really did look like a beast.

“…some…” His voice wavered as soon as Amy shrunk back. His gaze softened and he let out a small sigh.

“Sorry.” He murmured, touching his ear. “I’m— This, is new for me.” His lips slowly curled over his canines, receding back to the mute frown he had held moments before. 

“It’s alright.” Amy insisted. With her initial surprise put aside, the outburst wasn’t anything new. This situation was stressful, strange, bizarre she would even say. 

Amy then realized that she had dropped the reigns of her horse. 

She startled herself, thinking her ride had bolted. Instead, the stallion had simply trotted to a patch of grass, nibbling on the green strands. It neighed dismissively, shaking its flank and flicking off pieces of grass.

The pat few hours have been a blur to say the least. But, she’d never forget Sonic’s body lying in the grass, or his face when she refused to take his hand.

“I wonder who told him.” She blurted out.

Sonic loved celebration, or more accurately, loved the attention. There was no rational explanation as to why he would miss such an event just to stalk the city walls. Sure, they had a campfire going, but in those circumstances it was procedure to have a scout investigate first.

Why did Sonic decide to send himself instead?

Amy thought of Tails first. It made sense, he was a brother to Sonic. She knew she couldn’t count on his discretion forever. 

But, he also wasn’t the type to break someone’s trust, either. 

“I figured it was the Fox.” Shadow replied, as if reading her thoughts. He shoved all his things back into his bindle. “That child was the one who suggested code names in the first place.”

Prim and Thorn. 

Amy remembered feeling so smart back then, but thinking of it now, it was just plain corny. She sighed, “Still, I don’t think he’d do something like that. He’s a good friend, more than I ever deserved.” She reminisced about their times together, feeling a burn begin to build behind her eyes.

She was never going to see him again.

“Regardless, it happened. Now, it’s just us. Shadow reached for her head, braiding his fingers with her and squeezing gently. 

“Only us.”

Amy’s heart fluttered with how much emphasis Shadow put on “us”.

“Huh. Has a nice ring to it.” The pink hedgehog muttered, feeling her sadness lighten just a little.

The morning sun was now above the hills, washing all the fields with its golden rays. The wind thrashed, throwing Amy’s pink quills into a frenzy. It smelled of fresh pine, probably blown in from the forest of evergreens that plagued the mountains.

“Then, where shall we go?” Amy asked.

“Wherever. The mountains, the hills, the seas, nothing is out of reach. Say the word and I will follow.” He knelt before her, grasping her wrist and kissing the back of her hand. 

It shouldn’t have surprised Amy. She knew of his former knighthood, yet she couldn’t stop the squeak that erupted from her lips. 

Shadow seemed so serious.

Amy felt a rush come on, making her knees buckle and her head spin. For a moment, she wanted to tackle him to the ground and kiss him right there. The shadows of passing clouds broke her out of it, leaving the air to shift from romantic to awkward.

“Right! Well! Um, good job!” 

Nice save.

She should write a book. “Top Five Things to Not Say to Your Partner After They Make a Declaration of Love” by Amy Rose. The hedgehog covered her face, stumbling away to save her dignity. 

Shadow’s deep chuckle filled the air, making her heartbeat all the more prominent.

“So, my love…” He said, walking to her stallion and petting the top of its snout. “Mountains, hills, sea, where shall we go?” 

Amy bit her lip. 

The wheels in her brain were beginning to spin. She looked to the set of mountains in the distance.

“What about Mercia?” 

Amy turned to Shadow, seeing that he graduated to scratching behind one of its ears.

“Mercia? You’re home?” He asked.

Amy nodded.

Shadow knew to some extent of her family, though she never spared more than the odd detail here and there. Her stomach swirled, echoing the torrent of fear, homesickness, and sorrow that clouded her mind. She hadn’t been to Mercia in a long time. Not since the funeral.

“I have a cousin. It’s been a while, but we left on good terms.” The faint memory of mint-green hedgehog came to mind. One that was quick on his feet and a masterful archer. 

Shadow’s ears perked. “A cousin?” He tilted his head, curiosity seeping into his gaze. 

“Uncle. From my mother’s side. We barely ever talked, the last time I saw him he was at the—“ Amy cut herself off. Ignoring Shadow’s ever-growing curiosity, she cleared her throat.

“Anyway, he’s family.”

The two became silent, walking to the mountains that seemed to grow no closer. Amy scolded herself for clamming up. It was a bad habit of hers. She had struggled with keeping her emotions in check with Sonic, and then suddenly letting them run loose with Shadow.

As if he sensed her worry, Shadow looped his arm around her shoulder.

“Mercia it is then.”

Chapter 5: Jaded

“Ooooooh, I would look so good in that.”

Rouge pressed her snout against the store window.

She eyed the sapphire and ruby earrings sitting on one basket of a gold scale. It was love at… how many windows did she pass by? At Sixth sight? Seventh?

Whatever. 

Rouge was a woman of quality, a woman of taste, a woman of culture! She could spare a few minutes to look at the beautiful displays, couldn’t she?

“Excuse me!” Shouted the store owner.

Rouge backed away, quickly flipping her hands behind her back and taking an extreme interest in her shoes. Her wings tittered, reflecting just a shred of her initial enthusiasm.

“I’m sorry miss, but we’re closed! Celebrations and all that.” They gestured to the dancing peoples and wine-guzzlers in the square a few paces away.

Rouge sighed, “Yes, yes. I was just looking.” Internally, she breathed a sigh.

The store owner nodded apologetically. As they were about to turn heel, they suddenly stopped and spun around again.

“Actually miss, you look rather familiar.”

Uh-oh.

Rouge cleared her throat, keeping her cool whilst racking her brain for an expert excuse.

“I do? Well, my father was the sort of rat bastard to spread his seed everywhere he stepped. Met every woman on the face of the continent before he disappeared into thin air. Speaking of which, he and I didn’t get along too well. Left me to fend for myself with a spoon and crust of bread for my supper—“

The store owner heard enough and quickly waved her off with a ‘never mind’, ducking back into their store.

Rouge smiled, patting herself on the back for being such a nuisance and high-tailed it down the street. Luckily for her, the only posters strung up were the ones for the tonight’s festivities.

Her employer thought of everything.

Seeing a group of uniforms strolling her way, Rouge turned a corner into a narrow street. She swerved around passing children and food carts, keeping to the walls to avoid getting swept away by the crowd.

She stopped at the end of the street, taking a look to giant castle sitting right in the very middle of the kingdom.

Oh, what a wonderful night.

The stars were bright, children were dancing and singing, and the air was chock full of all kinds of savory smells.

If she had the time, Rouge might’ve joined in on the fun.

She pulled a raggedy piece of parchment from her pocket, unfurling it to gaze at her objective once more. She didn’t know why her client was so dead set on such a boring trinket, but Rouge knew better than to ask questions.

“Leave and let go”, that was her morning mantra. 

If she spent every moment worrying about some miscellaneous thought, then she never would’ve made it as a thief. Still, there were times where she was tempted to act outside from her little rule. 

Rouge scolded herself.

Nope, nope, nope. Shadow’s a grown man who can make his own grown man decisions. 

Even if said decisions utterly stupid. 

Falling for a Paladin of all people? Why couldn’t it had been some boring farmer? Hell, she wouldn’t bat an eye if it was a rich sucker who had nothing better to do, but Amy Rose? The Pillar of the Acorn Kingdom? The girl who sworn allegiance to the same man that nearly took his life?

What was Shadow thinking? The hedgehog had his fair share of baggage, and unfortunately wasn’t the type to trust people. It took her how long do get him to spill his name? What was so special about that girl?

Rouge huffed, walking ahead and hiding herself behind a conspicuously placed hay cart. 

Distractions were deadly, the bat reminded herself. As good of a thief she was, the mere change of thought could determine whether she still walked out of this city alive.

Rouge took a breath, stepping forward into the bustling crowd and making her way to the arched castle gate.

With the celebrations, She half-hoped that the security was a bit more distracted. Her teal eyes glanced up to the towering walls that protected the castle.

Stone—ashlar, maybe? The edges were expertly carved and pretty darn smooth.

Rouge crossed off “scaling walls” as an in and out solution. She had her wings, but with the crowd, it’d be harder to fly up unnoticed. The arch that sat above the wooden doors might provide cover, but that was only if she chose to run straight out the entrance.

Her breath heaved.

The gate was growing closer and closer, casting long flickering shadows onto the ground. Rouge made sure to keep an eye on the soldiers that strayed near the large wooden doors.

The bat began to make her steps lighter, locking her eyes on the tallest spire of the palace and proceeding.

Her heart thumped, and she oh so loved it!

The bat had to stop herself from skipping. She always got like this before a job. She couldn’t help it, the adrenaline, the excitement, the pure release of energy when she always got away. 

She was an addict, and she’d gladly admit it!

The guards station on either side both looked bored. They nodded to the passing guests and citizens while sneaking glances at the partying crowd.

Poor shmucks, this was all going to be so easy.

In her excitement, Rouge accidentally let out a little ‘woohoo’. 

Well, not exactly little, it echoed a far bit.

She was halfway under the arch, which unfortunately made one’s voice sound like a thousand.

The bat quickly quieted herself and waved at the guards who had turned her way. She winked, adding in a little flirtatious, “Sorry! The lights and dancing, you know?”

Whether they believed her or not, Rouge couldn’t tell. The visor over their helmets covered much of their eyes whilst their mouths maintained a mute frown. Still, their heads stay turned as she made her way across the entrance.

Rouge gulped down her nervousness, making the smile across her face wider and swaying her hands back and forth.

She wasn’t a thief. No, not at all. 

Just a jolly, happy-go-lucky visitor from the Hinterlands! Yes, and she was here… uh, to celebrate! Yeah! On vacation to be precise!

Rouge rushed across the threshold, entering into the courtyard.

The bat waited for some sort of response, some shout of recognition, but it never came. No spear tip pressed against her spine, no “Rouge the Bat you’re under arrest for yadda-yadda”, not even a little breathy “wait a minute” before the alarm bells rang. 

As nerve-wracking as it was, the bat chalked it up to the festivities and continued forward.

The courtyard was filled to the brim with partying serfs.

All the servants had abandoned their positions to dance and drink the night away, throwing up piles of shredded paper into the air while chatting about the latest castle gossip.

Rouge swiped a glass of ale from one of the sitting tables, listening in on some of the conversation.

“And, have you heard about the Lady Rabbit and Mr. D’Coolette? Poor man was shaking like a leaf when he asked for her hand!” One of the maidservants, a black cat with violet eyes, excitedly nudged her identical friend’s shoulder. 

The first cat giggled as soon as she saw the look of amusement on the other cat’s face.

“Old news, Sasha. Perhaps you have run out of things to talk about it.” They said, taking a long sip from their glass.

Sasha gasped, mockingly throwing their hand against her chest.

“Oh. Then, I guess you don’t want to hear anything about the Paladin either…” She cheekily started to turn away, leaving the other servant in a state of curiosity before they grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“I didn’t say that at all, continue!” They insisted.

Rouge was also intensely interested and quietly leered closer, turning one of her gigantic ears towards the duo.

“Okay okay, so, you know that Miss Rose just started another crusade, right?” Sasha started, reducing her voice to a whisper. Rouge strained her ear, tilting her head to the words that flew from the cat’s mouth.

“Of course.”

“Well, one of the seamstresses approached the Queen Consort! I was getting more liquor for the celebration and was coming down the hallway. Apparently, they think she’s in trouble!” Then, perhaps feeling watched, Sasha quickly glanced in Rouge’s direction.

The bat was already out of the way, having changed spots to a nearby table.

The cat gave the courtyard one more glance around before continuing. “And, get this, I think it’s happening right outside the castle! Didn’t take a horse or nothin’! Just went straight out the back gate!” Sasha gestured over her shoulder to the brass fence a few paces away.

Rouge eyed the loose padlock dangling from the fence’s side, leaving a a barely sizable space to squeeze through.

The consort was out of the castle already?

Rouge was planning on knocking over a potted plant or two, but that was much better. Too bad it was the Paladin, and possibly Shadow caught in the crossfire.

Rouge might’ve felt bad; maybe even worried, but the thought of a happy client and a heavy purse made her shrug it off.

“Oh well. I’ll see him again.” She said aloud.

Shadow was a survivor, just like her.

Rouge took one more sip of ale, steadying her nerves. No more stalling, she had a job to do.

The crowd was rambunctious, the stars were high, and best of all, she had the fiery nectar of the gods guzzling around in her stomach. 

Rouge made a bee-line for the castle entrance, using the passerby shadows and music to mask her presence. 

She wasn’t supposed to be a thief, not really.

Her white fur and soft teal eyes were more meant for a demure lady, one that didn’t have to scour the streets for pennies nor commit some real questionable deeds to scrape by. 

Rouge ducked her head down and backed up against the stone wall, waiting for a chance to slip inside without fuss.

Very briefly, the chattering and happy voices swayed her for a moment.

She did miss the days where nothing mattered. 

The doors creaked open, revealing the next mass of servants come to join the party. Rouge cocked her head, making sure that the entrance was overrun. Within a single breath, she slid through the doors, swerving over to a nearby corner just as they clicked shut.

She exhaled, privately complimenting her stealth before continuing on.

Now, where was the Queen’s bedroom? Her employer was quite wordy and stressed that she needed to follow instructions to a tee. The recon was so exhausting that Rouge didn’t feel the need to bring a map.

She went over the directions in her head.

1. Head to the throne room.

Rouge saw the pictures of past kings and queens hanging on the walls. She grimaced at the last couple monarchs; their reputations and legacies were mostly brought up in war.

2. Turn right at the embroidered sigil of Acorn.

Rouge stopped at the third hallway, noticing a blanketed flag hanging from the ceiling. She never understood why the Kingdom of Acorn actually decided to have an acorn on its forefront. It made sense, she supposed, but didn’t leave much to imagination.

Rouge checked for any lingering servants or newly-crowned Queen, but found nothing.

3. Take the hallway up to the stairs.

Just as her client had said, a set of stone steps laid at the end of the hall. Rouge pattered down the corridor, taking note of all the little trinkets that were displayed on walls or wood pedestals.

Nothing of too much extravagance, but the  blue gloves with little rhinestones caught her eye.

Surely, they wouldn’t notice if one little pair of mittens were missing, right?

Common sense said “yes, of course you moron!”

But, her heart?

Rouge stared at the gloves longingly, imagining all the kinds of outfits and jewelry she could wear with them.

She sighed, achingly pulling herself from the clutches of true love and climbing up the stairs.

4. The bedrooms will be guarded. Go to the third floor and search for the armored Tiger statue.

Rouge flew up the stairs, doing just as her employer had drilled into her skull.

The second floor came with a lot new smells and tastes, which she assumed was the kitchens. 

Her mouth watered at the thought of some hot food.

Rouge stopped at the top of the third flight. With great caution, she looked out from behind the wall. Her heart jumped at the sight of the suits of armor against both sides of the hallway, before she realized they were all empty. 

Rouge walked past them, searching for any stone tigers.

The metal suits were soon replaced by small statues, each carved with exquisite detail. There were ravens, otters, lions, hell, even a tiny little armadillo, but no tigers.

The bat’s hopes might’ve been completely buried if not for the beginnings of a striped gray tail just peeping out from the behind of a granite basilisk.

Her heart raced with anticipation as she followed the tail deeper into the corridor.

The stone tiger was there, standing up and right with a short sword pressed against its chest. The ends of its blade hilt and some of the feline’s stripes were stippled with gold paint, probably worn away as the years went by.

5. Grab the ends of its sword and pull it up. Wait three seconds then push the wall behind it.

Rouge rubbed her hands together, flexing each of her fingers before wrapping them around the sword handle. With a muted “hhhhhng” she pulled the sword from the stone scabbard.

If she waited longer, she could’ve been crowned king.

The sword hung in the air, allowing the mechanism inside of it to utter a soft click before it sunk back down into its scabbard. Rouge quickly planted her body against the layer of brick, pushing with all her might to reveal whatever was behind it.

The wall let out a guttaral groan, echoing all the way down the hall and part ways into the stair. Rouge cursed under her breath, beginning to bash her body against the stone, hoping for an opening to appear.

Just as her ears picked up the boots and murmurs of the palace guard, the wall finally gave way. 

Rouge fell forward, crashing onto a cold, hard stone.

She quickly turned to the door, making the moves to close it. She then realized it had already swayed back into place like it had never opened.

Grumbling, the bat dusted herself off.

6. Keep one hand on the right wall, follow it until you see the broken ladder. There’s a trapdoor a few feet above it. 

It was pitch black, but that wasn’t a problem for Rouge, a creature of the night.

The bat hummed, tracing the lines of cement with her fingers and letting her eyes adjust to the lightless corridor. 

There wasn’t much to begin with, mostly spiders and the occasional cockroach. She did hear the odd chatter every now and then, but in a secret passageway, could one expect to hear anything else?

The broken ladder was just a few more seconds ahead, sitting in smashed pieces in a circular chamber. Rouge kicked away the splintered wood, spreading her wings and fluttering to the little trapdoor right above it. 

She gently pushed it up, feeling no fabric nor iron bars stopping the motion.

Rouge tilted her head, raising her ears to detects sounds of footsteps or conversation. When she heard nothing, the bat continued until the trapdoor lay fully flat on its opposite side.

The room was dark, illuminated only by the blasts of fireworks arising from the city square.

Rouge hiked her legs over the wood planks, pulling herself out the passageway. She circled the room, checking for any lingering guards. The bat rested by the window, pulling out the piece of parchment and examining her prize again.

A dagger; four inches, maybe five with a fine-pressed steel blade and a handle encrusted with blue stones. 

“Hardly ever used” her client had stressed.

Rouge squinted, trying to read the insignia on the handle, but the bursting fireworks kept distracting her.

7. The knife is well-hidden; a family heirloom if you will. Check the drawers, behind the mirror, anything that’s not nailed down.

Rouge frisked the line of hanging dresses, searching all the folds and wrinkles for a velvet blue scabbard: nothing.

The mirror: nothing.

The floorboards: nothing.

The smocks and tunics were also a bust, which left her with one other option.

7.5. If it comes to it, search the bedroom. There’s a small nest of belongings that the Princess keeps under her bed. Be quick, but be precise— she may be naive, but she’s not stupid. She’ll know if someone’s been rooting around.”

Speaking of which, her employer had a rather intimate knowledge of the Princess, didn’t he? It was in Rouge’s nature to snoop, but the thought of her paycheck outweighed whatever curiosity she held.

The bat quietly inched towards the door, squinting through the crack.

When she deemed it safe, the bat pushed the closet door ajar and trotted in. She checked the bed, first and foremost, finding a small chest shoved right under the center of the frame.

Thank god her arms were so gangly.

Rouge pulled it towards her, frowning at the metal lock keeping it shut. The bat set the chest onto the bed, heading straight for the bedroom dresser and rifling around the drawers. 

She wasn’t looking for anything specific, a hairpin or needle would do.

Rouge wenched her arm into the lowest drawer, grumbling about the absurd lack of jewelry before her fingers brushed against something sharp. 

A smile spread across her face.

Rouge dragged the trinket out into the light, finding a thin, silver clip between her fingers. She bent away the sides, making a crude lock-pick and marching towards the chest.

She twisted here and there, sometimes having to readjust the pin. 

It took all but a breath for the lock to suddenly click and fall softly onto the bedsheet. Rouge exhaled, slowly lifting the chest lid and peering inside.

The blue dagger lay undisturbed in a pillow of velvet. 

Rouge reached inside, unsheathing the leather cover and taking in the luster of its stones and the blade’s sheen. Someone was routinely keeping it polished.

The bat strapped the blade to her thigh, smoothing out the folds of her dress.

Her wings tittered as she checked herself in the queen’s mirror. She had to look unassuming.

Admittedly, Rouge got carried away.

She started noticing things like her ruffled fur and slightly wrinkled clothing. There were scoots of dirt along her sleeve, no doubt from when she crashed to the passageway floor.

Just as she was dusting herself off, her sharp ears picked up the rapid shuffling of feet.

Rouge quickly locked the chest, shoving it back under the bed. She noticed a small wedge between the high bed post’s and the rafters, shimmying in between as the bedroom door unlocked.

The Queen came marching in, face wrought with pure panic.

She was extraordinarily young, maybe just 18. 

Her flaming red hair was a mess, and her blue eyes were watering. She looked positively distressed and Rouge had a very good idea why.

“My Queen!” Another voice cried from beyond the door.

Rouge retreated further, keeping her body flat against the bed post. 

A rabbit suddenly rushed in, closing the door with slam as it settled by the Queen’s side. Her two long ears were done up in orange ribbons, matching the dainty dress and embroidered apron that hung from her body; a seamstress.

“She wouldn’t…” The Queen choked out. Her breaths came in rapid succession as she leaned against the desk in apparent shock.

“She did.” The rabbit confirmed.

Rouge felt the strangest pang of sympathy for the two of them. She knew what it was like to lose trust, to be absolutely shattered. She had been both the stabbed and the back-stabber.

“No! No, Ms. Rabbit you must’ve been mistaken!” The Queen insisted, looking at herself in the mirror.

“She’s the sweetest, most caring, most… most…”

The Queen trailed off.

“My dear, I don’t know why, but she did.” The rabbit said, her voice old and weary. Rouge observed the motherly care and affection in her voice as the rabbit sat the Queen down.

“I… had my suspicions. She was distant the past year. I just never thought it would be…” The rabbit paused, her hand drifting away from the Queen’s back. She reached behind her, producing a leather bindle stuffed with papers.

“I was cleaning out Am— Ms. Rose’s room, and she found this.”

Rouge’s eyes followed the leather bindle, seeing it slowly pass from the seamstress to the Queen, settling on the dresser. She could feel the tension almost crackle between them.

The Queen’s hands trembled as she slowly untied the string. The bindle flopped open, revealing a myriad of parchment and trinkets; most likely mementos exchanged between Amy and Shadow.

“They date back to almost a year. I… talked with the stable boy and it seems that they were rather intimate.” The rabbit said, quietly.

Rouge gently shifted her wings, slowly drawing them towards her body. The door was open, but she couldn’t just fly out. They’d notice her scaling down the bannister. Her best hope was to stay hidden until they left.

The dagger felt cold against her thigh.

The rabbit reached a hand out, touching the Queen’s shoulder. Rouge caught a glimpse of her face as she turned to the rabbit. Her big blue eyes were misty; she was on the verge of tears.

“I just… I can’t believe it.” The Queen begin reading through the letters, her face growing more and more distressed. “Is she, entranced? Drugged? Has some mal spirit overcome her? What has he done to her?”

Rouge’s inside prickled at the clear disdain in the Queen’s words. Sure, Shadow was hard-headed at times, but he wasn’t a monster. 

The door creaked once more, this time opened by a small-ish otter.

“My lady, everyone is waiting for you.”

Rouge thanked her lucky stars. Her back was starting to ache, and she absolutely hated being in the vicinity of spiders.

The Queen dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, managing to remove much of her visual anguish. Her eyes were still puffy, but from far away it wasn’t that noticeable.

“Yes. I’ll be there. Sonic will be back at any moment, perhaps she can explain herself.”

All three women then muttered amongst themselves, exiting through the door in single file before the room grew quiet once more.

Rouge dropped from the high bed canopy, sighing in relief.

She felt the dagger strapped to her side, reminding herself, again, that she had a job to do. Still, her pesky feelings ramped up, making her wonder what exactly was about to happen.

Would Shadow have another bounty on his head? 

Would he be the scapegoat once again?

“Where ever you are…” Rouge muttered aloud. It was a futile attempt to plead to the heavens, but sometimes it’s all the bar could ever do.

“You better know what you’re doing.”