Warning: The following six paragraphs contain light sexual depictions. Please, if that offends you, jump six paragraphs down and you will be out of the woods, but know that this tiny part is a plot point for later on.
Please comment, review, and favorite, this story isn't really that long; it just contains many dream points that lengthens it a lot (surprisingly).
Please enjoy.
Blaze was laid back upon the satin sheets of her bed, her head bobbing slightly, and she bit her lip mirroring the slight pleasure her body was feeling right now. Her naked, humble breasts bounced gently along her mate's thrusts and her body reacted by wrapping her legs around her mate's waist and clutching the silky-smooth blankets beneath her fur. Her body felt somewhat pleasured and hot while her mind, honestly, was elsewhere from her physical desires.
The bed squeaked softly in the dimly lit bedroom belonging to the lavender princess of Soleanna. The windows were open letting the warm evening breeze dance with the translucent purple curtains. Labored grunts of passion came from Blaze's mate as they enacted intercourse for the night; sweat forming on the silver hedgehog's forehead. His muscles flexed as he held onto Blaze's waist as he repeatedly pulled his member from her flower then back again.
Blaze looked up at his labored face and blinked slowly, her mind sort of… distracted; shifting from memories to present day to ponderings of the inevitable future like a ping-pong ball. Her mind cascaded back and forth, pleasant memories of her childhood revolving around her best friend then back to the present to this very night as she and her mate made love, scratch that, had sex… then to the future. Her people and her family expect her to marry soon… Everyone knew who was going to wed Blaze and that'll be Silver the Hedgehog… She will soon start a long life with him; start a family of their own then raise them under this same roof she was banished from over a decade ago.
With her new titles of Queen she will have a plethora of stressful duties to uphold. She will therefore lose all freedom she may possess, and finally, she knew, she will then have to bend to wills other than her own to make the public happy and keep a good public opinion.
Quickly she pushed the aneurysm provoking thoughts away…besides, she could feel Silver becoming increasingly vigorous with his lovin', so she brought her wandering mind back to the present.
Blaze's mate bit his lip as he held Blaze tighter and began thrusting harder into her and the slight squeaking of the bed accompanied his movements with quickened squeaking. Blaze began to breathe harder as she could feel her body getting warmer, and with an expression of simulated sexual euphoria on the feline's face; she softly let out encouraging, lustful moans to help her mate along with his climax that was surely approaching fast.
Blaze awaited his climax and held her breath as Silver put in his final hard thrusts of pleasure and lust and unloaded his load into his lavender lover. Blaze mimicked Silver's look of ahegao and rolled her eyes back in pleasure and clutched her lover tighter as his member throbbed within her.
To the bed they both fell and into the company of the satin blankets they heaved for breath; their naked bodies next to each other in silence. Blaze continued to breathe slightly laboriously while Silver did the same but stifled it to speak. He turned towards her and dragged a finger lightly over her collar to under her chin then up to cup her cheek.
He breathed out and smiled, "That was amazing baby." He looked entirely exhausted; even his smile looked sleepy.
Blaze mimicked his smile and turned to him and blushed, "Yes… are you sleepy?" she softly ran an index finger down his arm and looked at him, already knowing his answer.
Silver smiled and chuckled, "Not at all…" he cuddled up to Blaze and rested a hand on her breast and smirking, then closing his eyes.
Blaze nodded and lay quietly until she heard soft, gentle snoring from his body. She turned her head slightly to look at him to confirm that he was in fact sleep, and he was soundly. She then slowly and steadily shuffled out from under his secular embrace, removing his hand from her body gently. Silver moved slightly and Blaze froze her actions and stared at him, holding her breath, daring not to breathe for he'll probably ask her what she was up to. Luckily he calmed down and fell back into deep sleep, his soft snores growing somewhat louder. Seeing that Silver finally fell back to sleep, Blaze shuffled the rest of the way from the bed and once standing on the floor she softly made her way over to the bathroom.
Blaze flicked on the lights and softly closed the door and locked it with a click, and as soon as that lock clicked a crestfallen expression materialized on her comely face and a frown became apparent upon her lips. She walked over to the medicine cabinet and reached for the shiny brass handles for the cabinet door. She paused mid-open and slowly closed it back, looking at herself in the reflection of the mirror.
Her golden eyes gazed over her still nude body; her hair was a mess, fur needed brushing, complete with a frown on her face. Looking lower she could see the darkened lavender furs where sexual juices have accumulated; they were not of her own… she definitely craved a bath right now.
As she looked into the mirror all she could see was a princess of lies. The brilliant bathroom lights illuminated her features and her mind illuminated her faults. Why was she playing this charade? Why must she feel this way every night of passion? Why must her mind stray from the present… she knew that answer well… she let her mind wander because she wanted to escape.
Every expression of pleasure was not her own, pertaining her mind, but instead her body's pleasure, body pertaining to her physical self. This one sided activity she endures every few nights at least a week with her boyfriend; fiancé, Silver the Hedgehog have grown tedious. Each night they initiate this activity with a movie, a dinner, and then the bed for at least a few minutes of missionary intercourse, and finally he would ejaculate into her then off to bed. And every time she almost sleeps through the movie, roll her eyes at the cliché routine, fake an orgasm complete with the faux claims of how good his performance is, and then wait till he's sleep and then finally sneaking off to the bathroom to look at herself and think.
Blaze let out a big sigh of disappointment and reopened the cabinet door to extract a pill bottle of vitamins and Plan B pregnancy avoidance pills. With a frown she took out an almost empty plastic casement of pills and took out one. She fills a small Dixie cup of water up then takes the pill then does the same with the vitamin, gulping down them both with a look of disgust. She hates taking those pills but since Silver complains about wearing condoms she must take them. And she doesn't want to bother Silver about it.
Blaze lets out a sigh.
She walked over to the bath and turned it on to fill then walked over to one of the many beauty product closets within the large bath and retrieved a few hair and fur shampoos and conditioners and some flower scented bath soaps. Blaze opened one of the many flower scented soaps and sniffed its summery smell, and once those relaxing flowery aromas hit her scent receptors a calming, reminiscing feeling washed over her like a velvet towel… and a small smile danced its merry way to her lips.
Blaze walked back to the bath and dumped a load of flowery scented bath soap into the bath. The bubbling bath water instantly turned the soap into a magnificent plethora of bubbles and filled the air with its lovely scent… and this made Blaze smile a lot.
The lavender princess, now with a bigger smile walked back to one of the closets with a bit more pep in her step; either it be from her eagerness to enjoy the bath, the whimsical, pink, soapy bubbles that floated aimlessly around the bathroom; illuminated by the light to produce hazy and alluring pink shades on the walls, or it was because of the memories that poured within her mind at the enchanting scents of the flowers… probably all three notions.
From the closet she extracted a soft, rubbery, spiky ball that deforms when the user applies pressure to it then retracts to its previous spiky-ball-roundness when the user releases pressure.
She held the squishy ball gingery then squished it once with a big smile on her face. She then finally returned to the lovely bath she prepared for herself and stepped in one leg at a time before fully submerging her body into the bath's gentle embrace. And oh so gentle the water was to her sore body, releasing tension in all the right places, and melting away her current problems away.
A deeply contented sigh escaped Blaze's lips as she gave herself up to the bath. A shiver of happiness washed over her fur as the bath water did and from that shiver raised a purr. The lovely memories of her past, around fourteen to eighteen years of age, quickly befell her mind thanks to the alluring scents of flowers around her. Her mind reeled as the nature-flowery scent sparked a loving memory: The scents of the flowery meadows of Mobius… the grassy lands of the plains… the cascading waterfalls and rivers and the bubbling of the natural springs… the palm trees, the warm weather, the peace, the tranquility, the lovely landscapes, the beauty of the world, the people of Mobius, her friends… Sonic… Sonic…. Sonic….. Her mind came to static.
From the static stood that strand of memories that revolved from that one name; Sonic.
As she lay with her head laid back on a small cushion in the tub, her eyes closed, her mind came back to static around that one name that she knew all too well. That name she was so used to hearing around her, that name she was so used to speaking… that name she have and will always refuse to forget even when she is old and close to the light- that name- the memories and the friendship of Sonic will be on her mind…
It's been five long years (too long) since she have last seen the iconic blue hedgehog; Sonic. Five long years have she have been pronounced Queen of Soleanna- officially when she finally marries, that is when her mother has agreed to step down from power. It has been five, emotionally stressing years since she have been isolated from her friends she had learned to make on Mobius, and five long years has her senses missed the tranquil flowery meadows of Mobius, the grassy plains, the people and the landscapes and her friends.
Her smile had slowly dissolved from her face as she thought about, again, about what she has left in Mobius… But I had a duty to fill… I have a duty to my people… I am Queen Blaze of Soleanna… I couldn't stay there, even if I wanted to, my duty comes before my feelings do; this is the role I play in my life.
She sank her body deeper into her bath, letting the soapy water lap up to her frowning lips. Blaze brought her knees up and began to softly play with her spiky ball mindlessly and let her mind wander. There were no sounds but the soft sloshing of water in the bath and the drip drops of the water from her fur returning to the bath. The bath gave her a sense of embrace- of which she is very appreciatory for, but still a frown held fast on her face.
She sat in silence. Her mind revolved in static around the fond memories that revolved around that name: Sonic. It was as if she was in her mind; everywhere in her mind was fuzzy, static-like, and without real form except within the center of the void of static… the center was the memories that if opened would explode into a million lights which consists of all the glorious memories that she had with Sonic.
She stared at her memory of Sonic, the static all around her as if she was submerged into a void of static; she stared at the warming memories in front of her. The soul-raising bundle of memories lured her over like an eager fisherman would a fish and she slowly succumbed to its enchanting lure in slow, uncertain steps. She wanted to unlock those friendly, happy memories… but did she really? Did she really want to unlock those glorious memories of Sonic? She'll definitely be happy if she did and she would be able to dwell within her mind and happily relive those bountiful memories with Sonic, all her friends and the beautiful landscapes that her mind, soul, and spirit craved so badly. But…
But she did not want to open those glorious memories…
She did not want to relive those memories as she tried to relax in her tub…
She did not want to relive those memories…
She did not want to…
Static slowly swallowed the heart swelling memories in its grey, shifting void and slowly pushed her out of her mind back to the present… back to her bath… back wearing a frown… back to feeling like something was missing from her side scrolling life, on the road to a single, predetermined path.
Blaze continued to sit in her bath not noticing how long she had soaked. 45 minutes? An hour perhaps? In actuality she didn't care, she was in her specialty made bath… the floral scents around her… she didn't care… the numbness in her heart only mirrored the numbness her mind.
Why would she torment herself by reliving the wondrous moments concerning her old… friend Sonic? If she relive those moments she will be happier than she have been in a while, and secondly those precious moments would only raise her spirits… but after that, then what? Her craving soul would only want more, her body would tremble and break from the strain her mind will put on her; pushing her to want to go back to him… Her mind is an ambitious one and one that is no stranger to determination. The heart is a compelling, stalwart voucher for emotions. If she started thinking about Sonic and all the fun and good times and friendship they shared she would lose it… ditching her roles as leader of her land and retreating back to the calm, frivolous lands of Mobius- the frivolous arms of Sonic the Hedgehog…
Love is a potent compeller of the heart; it can sometimes drive you to do some crazy things.
When Blaze's eyes closed that night she dreamed. She dreamed of being someplace that is not her own home. She dreamed of the uncouth cities and towns of Mobius; although uncouth and perhaps somewhat undeveloped, yet, she have never been to a place with so much tranquility and values; a staggering contrast to Soleanna. Soleanna is a beautiful place… a golden guild to the political and military oppression and constant threats from rival city-nations.
Detaching herself, she dwelled in her dream.
She was on a grassy plain, the sky was blue and vibrant, and the wind carried the dusty perfume of flowers and fresh water. The sun shone brightly in the sky lighting up the luscious world and setting everything ablaze, with light, with its warm fingers. In her dream the sky was also alit with stars and nebulas, painted into the sky like a beautiful, glossy picture. The stars and nebulas swirled creating a lulling effect on the cat. Despite the interstellar phenomenon she knew where she was dreaming about… this is Mobius.
She smiled, she knew that if there were rolling hills, grassy planes, and the scent of floral in the air Sonic wouldn't be far, so Blaze began to walk, a content smile on her face she transpired the rolling hills and the soft, springy plains.
As she walked sunflowers bloomed along the paths, stretching high into the sky, reaching towards the warming sun with greedy petals, but it was good. Her clothes transformed into a pastel lime green sundress with a slightly lighter floral patterns coating its garments. She was barefoot walking on the springy, soft ground. The pads under her feet felt cool as she walked on the blades of grass. The wind carried the lovely scents of flowers warning her that a wild flower patch was growing nearby- what else- she could also taste the natural tinge of fresh water on the wind, there is a spring nearby!
With indefatigable excitement Blaze began to jog towards the wind, its current flowing through her hair, its windy fingers undoing her red scrunchie that usually keeps it together. Her luscious hair-, of which she hasn't cut in years due to her status, flowed around her as though gravity didn't act upon it… each strand of her soft, lavender locks shining with sheen. An endearing smile spread across her face, her mind totally unraveled and relaxed her spirits high and soaring! She began to laugh, to chuckle, to giggle! Down a rolling hill she ran, her dress and hair following her as if as eager as she is to get to the flower patch and natural spring.
Blaze felt absolutely free, her heart… it couldn't take it anymore, she couldn't stop laughing, and euphoria fills her! In her fit of laughter and happiness she missteps and began to tumble down the rest of hill, her body feeling no pain as she bounced off the soft ground, rolling all the way down the hill. Her laughter never stopping, her happiness unbound. If she were to be trapped in this dream she wouldn't bat an eye.
Finally at the bottom of the hill she came to a soft stop upon abnormally large yet absolutely beautiful flowers that looked like a crossbreed between the world's loveliest flowers. Each of the stunning flowers smelled of comfort and seduced her mind to a larger dose of euphoria. The petals sang to her, the wind carried their tunes and the sun orchestrated them all, producing a magnificent rapture!
Their song of pure freedom spoke to her, urging her to join their song and prayer! The song seemed to crescendo as she began to prop herself up on her hands and knees to pick herself up and sing along. But before she could fully stand up she looked around above the enchanting petals of the flowers and looked up… She looked up to see there was another soul enjoying the glorious, jubilant performance of nature… but as she looked for a second more, a second more too late, her heart stopped…
She stopped.
Her mind came to static.
No other word can express her at the moment but simply stopped.
She stopped.
Standing on a small, rocky ledge next to the waterfall and looking down at the beautiful flowers was someone that made her heart jump and trip clumsily over itself. Her dream had paused as she had stopped, but once she began to continue the world began to play again, her mind and heart began slowly but returned to normal. Her heart then began to speed up, her mind began to reel, her body began to tremble, and her eyes began to water…
The figure on the small rocky cliff turned its head to look at her, it then smiled…
"Blaze…"
Blaze began to cry, her heart began to cry, her mind cried and herself; she opened her mouth to cry out to the figure but no word came from her mouth. The figure then stood up, his figure was bold against the sunlight… his smile still on his face…
"Blaze… Blaze…"
Blaze struggled to get up, her body wanted to shoot forward at the speed of light and become one with the figure but her body dared not move. She felt as though she was losing conscious… the world became darker, and the world became duller and blurrier… and the world disappeared from her intellectual grasp.
"MY QUEEN BLAZE- QUEEN BLAZE!"
Blaze snapped to the real world, and her senses flooded back to her. Her eyes opened wide and she noticed her hand was outstretched and the fur beneath her eyes was drenched in tears. In her left hand clutched her pillow, her hand had it pinned against her chest with her sharp claws. Her whole body was trembling as she became conscious of the world around her and realized that she was in her bed. Upon further evaluation she could also sense that a couple of her maids were on her bedside staring down frantically at their highness looking utterly alarmed.
Blaze quickly retracted her arm and sheathed her claws quickly then sat up in her bed, suddenly feeling embarrassed… She looked to the left at the two maids; their faces were stretched in fear. She would scold them for being in her private quarters while she was sleep, but right now she wasn't particularly in the mood for scratching ears. She simply looked at them and mustered her usual stoic expression. "Yes?" Blaze said simply.
"M-My Queen!" one maid cried out in panic, "Are you alright Queen Blaze?" The other maid looked to her coworker then back at Blaze equally as alarmed.
The second maid then spoke, her voice wasn't as panicky as her coworker's, who is new on staff, but still was saturated in worry. "You were crying out in your sleep again my Queen… we were afraid you were really hurt this time because you sounded… and looked more distressed than usual-"
Blaze gave them both a look that silenced them both. "Have anyone sent for me today?" she asked the second maid who is her personal maid, her name is Friday. Friday is a slightly chubby ferret with a pretty face and a voice that could sway mountains and have it dance.
Friday regained her businesslike manner and straightened her composer, noticing that Queen Blaze decided to drop the subject on her awakening thus they should too. "Yes your highness, you have a meeting at 3 o'clock sharp with the board."
Blaze nodded, "What time is it now?" she did not take her eyes off of her but noticed that the sunlight was peering through the window due west, it must be in the afternoon.
"It is exactly two-fifth teen thirty seconds." Friday recited promptly. "Do you want me to prepare a bath? Breakfast?" Friday responded as she put a hand on her Bluetooth device in her ear in case she needed to quickly inform the royal kitchen that the Queen requires food.
Blaze blinked a couple of times, her mind still burning with the image of that figure standing on the rocky cliff. She slowly turned to reach to take her blanket off of her but then realized that her blanket was on the floor in a heap. She blinked again trying to focus her mind and act as an upcoming queen would. She looked back to Friday. "No, thank you, I will prepare my own bath today." And although she did feel hungry, she shook her head regarding her latter question. "Food can wait."
"Yes, Queen Blaze." Friday nodded respectfully as Blaze finally rose from her bed. The two maids stood back to give her space.
Blaze gave herself a little stretch then looked back over to the bed noticing that Silver was not in it. Surprisingly, she didn't feel him wake up; she's usually a light sleeper. Then again it was good thing that he didn't awake her from her dream...
"Your highness…" Friday piped back up softly to ensure she had the permission to speak.
Blaze put her attention to her, silently gesturing for her to go on.
"Sir Silver has left the castle premises this morning around nine o'clock and he didn't state why. Do you want to leave a message for when he does return?" Friday continued, again putting her hand on her Bluetooth earpiece to note.
Blaze blinked, not even hesitating to answer. "No." finally she began to walk off to her lavish bathroom and closed the door behind her, leaving the two maids in the bedroom looking after her, their minds reeling.
Friday's coworker then let out a quick sigh then began to pick the satin sheets from the floor. Her quick hands folded them neatly, and when she was done, she held them at her side to look to Friday who was now removing the blankets from the large, exquisite bed, one corner at a time. Friday looked up from her work at her coworker (whose name is Jennie) who was looking at her slightly bemused. Friday finished folding the blankets she had removed then finally looked back at her coworker.
"Yes, Jennie, what is it?" Friday asked, her hand moving to another corner of a blanket to pull to the opposite side to fold.
Jennie peered towards the bathroom then back at her friend. She leaned in slowly and softly whispered out, "Who's Sonic…? And why was Queen Blaze screaming that name out in her slee-"
"We must not speak of that name." Friday said curtly, interrupting her coworker. Jennie was taken aback from Friday's tone and looked to Friday as if she was going to ask why. "Take these blankets to the washing room." Friday quickly shoved the blankets to her coworker and began to straighten up the room, not talking anymore on the subject.
But that unanswered question did linger within Friday's mind. Why was Blaze screaming out Sonic's name in her sleep… she was crying too… she was screaming and crying as if someone had died… Poor Queen Blaze…
[break]
"The male population has been decreasing for an accumulated three years now! How many of our men must die before they've all succumb to those trigger happy fools in that bloody war!" A stressed female voice rang out.
"Talks of peace are being negotiated as we speak-" a male voice tried to reason with the angry female.
"Peace?! There can be no peace with those barbarians out there! That's why we must strike hard with everything we got! Hey, you science nerds, how is that atomic bomb coming along?" The female voice yelled out again, this time using a softer yet still crisp tone towards the science board members.
The science board official narrowed his eyes at the angry female who is the Military General. "We are not working on any type of weaponry for you clowns in the Military division." The science board official spoke with annoyance laced heavy in his voice. "We build and research for the greater good of our cities and for the whole kingdom."
The military general scoffed at his retort but before she could shout back them the official Queen of Soleanna, Queen Aurora, held up her hand in silence and calmly looked to the many head board members. Her eyes were ice blue with a tint of green, and they were sharp as daggers yet calming as a mothers touch. Queen Aurora had a pelt of white with the lightest, palest tint of lavender speckled around her body. She radiated with power and beauty in equal measures, her power coming from her high ranking instead of actual physical power. She wore a beautiful, conservative day dress. But despite its dull plain colors, her outward beauty made up for it.
The Queen then lowered her hand, but still said nothing as she looked for a second at her daughter who sat beside her with a stoic face. Their eyes locked briefly and Blaze's mother smiled. "My daughter, as all of you know, is getting married this weekend, so please, let's bless this week with peaceful negotiations and conversation at these meetings here forth."
Blaze kept her stoic face and ignored all the looks that were now on her. She didn't mind that her mother used her news of marriage to silence the board members. It didn't even embarrass her that she did; she simply kept a straight face and kept quiet. Her mother smiled at her daughter and moved her hand slyly to her daughter's side and gave her a small pinch then gave her a look that only Blaze could decipher, and it was not a merry one.
Blaze then looked around her and nodded her head respectfully, "Thank you, all for your humble agreement. Now please… the meeting." Blaze said in a stern voice, urging that they continue the meeting.
The board members nodded back in respect, their expressions now happier. The science board spokesperson stood to deliver good news on their advances. "Last week we have thoroughly incorporated the-" Blaze slowly tuned out and became entirely numb to the meeting. Her mind began traveling elsewhere, away from this vapid congress to transverse her mind to her dream that she had last night.
Her mind spiraled around creating the sensation that she was spinning rapidly. Slowly her rotation gradually slowed and suddenly hues of blues and greens began paint itself around her, then hues of reds, and then the shades of black and white began mixing itself together producing a dream land reminiscent of Mobius landscapes. Beautiful depictions of flowers and butterflies and trees colored themselves in. Luscious green vegetation splashed everywhere; the greens are the hills and the plains, the springy grass everywhere. The waterfalls and the rocky cliffs became apparent and soon their beauty radiated at full capacity once the endearing sun blazed into the sky. Blaze felt a loving smile come on her face.
The potent scents of flowers and freshwater coursed around her and greeted her back to her dream with open arms. Enticed, the lavender feline started to walk towards the alluring scent of wild flowers, the fresh spring waters, and the sound of the waterfalls…
This path once led her to… that wonderful figure… in her dreams.
So she quickly, oh so quickly, followed that path.
Her mind became unstable for the slightest of milliseconds… she began to think of that wonderful figure that she seen.
As she further dwelled into her vivid daydream she started to feel euphoria rejoicing into her heart and her heart calling out to her mind that they have reached cloud nine. Her mind started to reel with ecstasy and her body felt light as she started to run over the soft blades of grass beneath her feet. Her feet basically flew over the ground because she was running so fast. Her heart was running too… desperate to that quondam happiness she used to feel those four years she spent on Mobius. With that… wonderful, wonderful blue hedgehog…
Her royal robe transmuted into a pastel, lilac sundress with small, cream colored polka dots around the bottom that gradually became lighter and lighter as the polka dots progressed up the pretty dress. Her red scrunchie inflated until it popped up as a big red bow that held her hair into a ponytail from the back of her head instead of the top. Her shoes evaporated away into comfortable sandals and on her arms small bangles of precious, colorful stones and fabric materialized.
She felt free again, freed from her duties while she dwelled in this world.
Soon Blaze came up to the rolling hill that dived into a meadow where the abnormally large flower basin sat with the waterfall and the rocky cliff. Her heart leapt with excitement, Blaze even did a slight hop of joy. Then, without even thinking, she sat down on top of the hill, laid onto her side, and then rolled the rest of the way down.
Blaze laughed and giggled as she tumbled down the springy grass, her laughs echoing into the sweet smelling air. Finally at the bottom she landed against the singing flowers and instantly she looked up towards the cliffs and scoured its rocky façade for that pleasant figure.
But the rocky face was empty…
She looked some more, her ears descending slowly with each passing second of fruitless searching. Blaze could feel hot emotion rising from her belly towards her throat as she couldn't see her blue beau anywhere. Her heart fell out of sync with her mind. Her mind was telling her that logically he wasn't there at all, and that she may just never see him again, while her heart pleaded that he's around there somewhere, he has to be here!
Where are you… please show yourself to me. Please, please, please… please… I miss you… I miss you… Son-… At that moment the memories of her and Sonic threatened to pour out and absolutely flood her mind. Her daydream became unstable again for a few seconds, its vibrant colors flickering.
The vibrant blue sky above then begun to rotate and slowly the world grew dark and the sky with it. The moon, magnificent and grand, rolled into place directly above her head, its silvery glow basking everything in its path with gloss. The stars in the sky twinkled brightly as the moon did, dancing their dance into the deep black above. Her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and slowly she looked around herself, her mind slightly bemused at the quick change of scenery.
The singing flowers stopped singing as they slept for the night, even the waterfall slowed to a trickle. The wind held its breath as though it too was waiting for the source of this dramatic change of scenery. The only sounds that permeated the warm, still air was her own breaths and the soft sound of feet walking in grass… but she was staying still.
Her ears snapped up at the sounds of footsteps and cautiously she turned around slowly, her guard up and ears pricked. Her eyes scanning the area around her for the intruder in her daydream state. Slowly the footsteps came closer and soon she beheld a heart stopping sight.
Basked in the silvery brilliance of the moon stood a blue figure holding a lovely flower of a brilliant hue of lavender, his expression was merry and his eyes were filled to its brim with greeting. Blaze could only muster a tiny inhale of breath… he is just as beautiful as she had last seen him… her breath couldn't be held up any longer, a shuddering breath escaped her and her body trembled. Tears escaped her eyes, heat welled up along with her emotions, and as if her own heat actually bothered her, she started to fan herself quickly, her breaths coming in and out quickly. She continued to stare at the oncoming, pleasant figure… pleasant hedgehog… her heart sped to race faster and faster. Happiness and sadness and a multitude of other conflicting emotions bull rushed her sanity and then, and then…
"Our imminent Queen enjoys our news of good will!" The educational board member exclaimed happily.
Blaze was instantly snatched out of her dream and coerced back into reality. Her eyes flew wide and quickly she blinked them, and with each blink her mind and her vision refocused more. Her mind rebooted itself and her heart beat slowed to its regular tempo. Her daydream faded slowly from her; its warmness dissipating from her body, replacing with the chill that is the present. She was still sitting in the council room with everyone now looking at her with a few stray tears leaking from her eyes with a small smile on her face derived from her daydream.
The board members all looked at Blaze with a smile thinking their good news had brought a smile to her face when in actuality that notion is wholly faux. Blaze's mother beamed with pride and she softly laid a hand on her daughter's shoulder. Blaze small smile melted away into a stoic expression once again and she gave the fellow board members a curt nod. The board members beamed as though they've just been praised and soon they began talking again.
Blaze and her mother; less so of the former, listened to their conversations about improving the land and its policies on subjects such as foreign policy, gangs growing rampant in the slums, and the war.
But as all the members talked about important matters Blaze was desperately clawing at the remnants of her daydream…
[break]
Later that day Blaze were walking slowly down many of the long, long red carpeted hallways of the castle while looking outside of each window she passed. The sunlight's rays warming her face with each pass of the windows.
Blaze was thinking, her mind reeling, and her breath slow. Currently she was thinking about many things and they all ran into each other bombastically: her current state of mood, her wedding this weekend, how everything will change once she fully is crowned Queen, how much she misses Mobius, and finally the main thing that's been eating her away from the inside… that blue hedgehog that must not be named…
Why have my mind been revolving around the past… why, why do I torture myself for these multiple daydreams and reminiscing of Mobius and of So-… Blaze's mind swayed for a moment. I should be moving on, those wonderful memories need, too, to stay in the past… But I can't, I can't let those memories go, what am I saying? No. I need to stay in the now… I am complacent about how things are… Blaze's mind pondered all of the events and happenings of the now and imminent future… her heart could tell her thoughts that that claim that she was satisfied with how things are is absolutely faux. I have to do this- become Queen, marry Silver, and stay isolated from my friends because it is my duty… this is the life I was coerced in, this is the way it should be… for my people… for my mother… for my fiancé…. for… me?
Suddenly Blaze stopped walking as she looked out the window. In the distance were pearly white clouds, stellar blue skies, and the orange, blazing sun. The ocean also sat off in the distance, its waters untamed and yet peaceful. But off into the distance even further was a small, remote landmark, but she knew that place well… the island where the Sol Emeralds are kept… the island that she was banished to when she was a child.
For some reason she couldn't take her eyes off of the island; her eyes locked on the landform as though they both were engaged in a stately staring contest. Her heartbeat picked up speed for a split second and she took a long breath. Her mind veered off from being reeling back to static. Her heart swayed to and fro while her mind told the heart to calm down and think logically, but the heart is a strong voucher for emotions. Sometimes no matter how illogical something seems, the will of the heart is strong enough to sway even the most concrete of minds. … A broken heart even mightier…
Her mind still static she continued to stare at the island in the distance. The longer she stared the stronger the will of her heart took over. Suddenly…
FWOOSH!
Breaking her cogitative concentration, many birds of white and pewter flew up past the window and then into the afternoon welkin skies. Blaze blinked a few times in surprise and stepped back from the window and took her eyes from the island in the distance.
From down the hall she heard light, quick footsteps echoing against the stone walls. Blaze turned her head towards source of the sound and waited patiently, as if she already knew those frantic footsteps were for her. Finally her personal maid came scampering down the hall towards her.
"Queen Blaze!" Friday huffed and puffed, "Queen Blaze, we have been looking for you for hours…" she stopped in front of Blaze and bent over to catch her breath. Blaze absentmindedly brought her hand up to her chin and gently raised her up so that she wasn't hunched over gasping for breath.
"… Don't hunch when you're breathless, you'll only make it worse…" Blaze said softly to which Friday looked slightly bemusedly back at her before nodding her head in confirmation.
"Oh, yes, thank you your highness!" Friday gave her a quick nod of respect at Blaze's word of advice before she continued. "But will you please company me to your dressing room… We have six spectacular dresses that the Royal Dressmakers and Tailors have custom made for you." Friday finished ecstatically. The excited ferret (which is the animal Friday is) then took Blaze's hand and politely urged the imminent queen to follow her to Blaze's royal dressing room to try out the beautiful dresses that is promised to her.
Blaze followed along slowly… her mind sputtering with ambiguity yet she knew this must happen… for her people and for her husband, and for her mother's happiness.
Blaze let out a sigh.
[break]
"Oh, you look just stunning darling; stunning!"
Blaze swiveled to the left then to the right alternatively as she watched the lacy hemline as it sat all the way to the floor, its fabric never leaving the carpeted podium she stood on. The dress was beautiful but… Blaze slightly frowned at how it lacked, for a lack of a better word, "freedom".
Blaze's mother was smiling as she saw her daughter wear the ornate wedding gown. Aurora held her hands clasped together near her mouth as she looked on excitedly. The Queen of Soleanna absolutely loved the dress and wanted her daughter to wear it for her wedding. Blaze, however, disrelished the over-the-top gown and felt trapped in its silk, lace, and satin threads.
"Don't you like this one honey? It looks like the absolute best choice for your wedding." Aurora said, looking slightly stern at her daughter who frowned in the dress. A couple other people were in the room too: the seamstress, the dressmaker, a couple of maids, Friday amongst them, and a wedding advisor, they all looking hopeful at the dress.
Blaze looked to her then back down at the dragging hemline of the dress. She wanted to ditch the dress entirely but she knew of course she couldn't do that. So instead she let out a slight sigh. "Yeap." She said unenthusiastically, almost deadpan, "I like it… but, may I please try on the remainder of the dresses as well?" Her mother continued to look to her, a flash of authority gleamed in her eyes for a split second, Blaze saw this and continued quickly. "J-just because the dressmaker and the seamstress had worked so hard on the dresses; I only see that it is fair that I try them all out…" Blaze finished, she looked around at the people in the room. The seamstress and dressmaker both looked satisfied and they smiled at her words. Aurora then blinked a few times, her gaze going from her daughter to the two ladies that had worked hard on the dresses.
Aurora then tilted her head slightly to the side, looked at her daughter, and then smiled. "Of course sweetie, whatever you want, it is your wedding after all." Her tone changing slightly when she spoke the word 'is' as if she was saying it sarcastically.
Blaze slightly narrowed her eyes at her mother but before she could react she walked off towards the changing room and once the door closed she quickly slipped out of the dress. In the security of the changing room Blaze growled and frowned and wanted to scream in frustration but she knew she can't… I don't want this… But I don't have the power to go against this… I am merely a political tool… Blaze stepped into another dress and zipped the gown up and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her reflection stared back at her mimicking her frown. Blaze looked over herself to make sure her hair and fur was straight and tidy before stepping out. She ran a finger over her eyelashes lightly; she then rested her hand on her cheek whilst looking at herself. Desperately she wanted to break away from this- all of this, like a magic trick- poof, vanish. She wished she could leave this way of life… And go to Mobius…
Blaze blinked slowly… her heart rate slowed and her mind started to detach from reality… as she stared into- through the mirror, the changing room around her began to melt away into nothingness…
In the completely black void a warm wind began to blow. A soft song began to play from the void and from that song begat color. With hues bright and vibrant came a picture. And on that picture befell characters. And on the character's faces were smiles vibrant as the colors that surrounded her. She is now standing in the center of a static festival of some sort, people all around her and smiling and gleaming with happiness. The party patrons of the mystery festival were wearing similar clothing, and yet even though they were frozen in time, she could tell that some were in the midst of dancing and partying. There were lights of all colors strung from lines that flew from poles and a few trees. The air smelled of delicious smelling foods and the aromas of flowers everywhere.
Slowly the world around her began to play and eventually everything was running at normal speed again. Gradually the sounds of celebration and merriment doused the air with its glorious vibes and mirthfulness. Rhythmic clapping and stomping to the joyful, bouncy music played from a live band. Laughter and the happy sounds of children playing filled the air. All these sounds and sights of festivity swelled Blaze's heart and soon a blissful smile spread across Blaze's face and it was good!
Blaze felt the soft urge to join in the merriment; her heart feeling swayed by the positive emotions soaring around the vicinity. Blaze felt free; suddenly her dress had changed from a wedding gown to a… wedding gown? Although it had only transformed into a much free-er wedding gown with a higher hemline that stopped at her knees, and made of lightweight material without all the sequins and ornaments- she preferred this gown over all that she had worn today. But even though she was still wearing a wedding gown, usually in her dreams her outfit would change entirely, but in this instance she was still happy.
Tempted by the glorious music Blaze started to slightly shake her head side to side and moved her shoulders and arms with the music's direction. The music made her want to get down, and so she did. She danced and danced to her heart's content. She twisted and turned and twisted and turned until she twisted and turned into someone, knocking her off her groove.
Immediately Blaze turned to apologize but froze as she saw Marine. With a smile bright as a sun Marine turned towards her and grasped the feline's hands securely. "Congrats mate! I knew you'll do the righ' thing; followin' your heart!" Marine beamed at her but before Blaze could say something she danced her way back over to someone that made her eyes pop.
Tails was the person that Marine danced straight to. Tails was smiling charmingly and took Marine by the hand gently as a true gentleman would. He looked up to Blaze and waved with a big, toothy smile on his face, "Congratulations Blaze!" He then looked back to Marine and the two danced closely away.
Tails…? Then… this means… this means…
Suddenly Blaze could discern that many of her Mobius friends were present at the party, many of the females were wearing beautiful summer dresses or semiformal wedding dresses made light and flowing, while the men wore relaxed clothing as well: short or long sleeve dress shirts of different colors. Mina was the lead singer for the live band, Vector was playing the keyboard, Mighty was playing the bass, Manic on drums. She could see Rouge dancing, Cream watching, Tails swinging, Charmy flying, Shadow standing, Sonia laughing, Knuckles drinking, Sally conversing, and the list goes on and on. The only one that is missing is…
"Looking for me?"
Blaze could have melted into her heels right then. She let out a slight blissful exhale… She knew that voice, and she knew who only one guy that would dare say something so suave yet with a friendly-fun hint in it. A million thoughts and scenarios ran through her mind in one second, her head felt light and subconsciously her feet coaxed her backwards a few paces until she bumped into the speaker's chest. Her body tensed up and a shiver went up her spine… her tail instinctively wrapping itself around the leg of the blue hedgehog that she knew that was behind her. Son-
*Knock Knock Knock!*
Blaze jerked out of her daydream and in her shock she bumped into the wall behind her. The tingling feeling that persisted in the end of her daydream when she bumped into that wonderful voiced man faded away once she bumped into the wall. Sadly, the dream faded away all together and Blaze felt a frown sluggishly make its way back to her face.
"Honey, are you dressed yet? With as long as you been in there I would not be surprised if you had decided to fall asleep! Come on out in another dress now, Blaze." Aurora said through the door.
"…Y-yes mother…" Blaze said back, feeling slightly embarrassed wondering how long she had daydreamed.
Blaze quickly straightened up the dress that she now had on; a cute tea cup wedding gown, and once satisfied of her appearance she walked out the room with the long, ornate dress on a hanger held high so its hem wouldn't drag on the floor. I might as well hurry and get this over with so I can disappear back into my quarters.
Once out of the changing room, most of the ladies smiled bright as they saw Blaze in the cute tea cup wedding gown. The gown was light and Blaze couldn't even hold in the smile that expressed on her lips as she turned around and watched as how the hemline moved with her, its soft fabric felt free and flowing. The women in the room, save for her mother, complimented the dress and complimented the imminent queen on how gorgeous she looked in the lovely dress. The bright lights of the room beamed off its cream, white and silk and lace fabrics… she looked like the fire lily of Soleanna.
Blaze's mother, however, thought the previous dress would look better in a huge wedding like all royal weddings were. The big dress spoke of values and tradition and elegancy. Aurora would have scowled at the tea cup dress. That dress, in Aurora's opinion, spoke of an uppity-up princess who wants to frolic in the garden all day like a little girl. Aurora didn't like this dress to be frank. But she wore a smile anyways and looked at Blaze.
Blaze felt the dress's various fabrics with her fingertips thinking just how much she liked it. If I'm going to marry, I might as well be happy with the dress, if nothing else. She looked at her mother, "Do the dress satisfy you, mother?" Blaze held her mother's piercing blue gaze for a few seconds before her stare became almost soul-draining.
Aurora nodded a few times and continued to smile. But nothing else came from the elegant Queen's mouth. Blaze felt unsatisfied with her remark but before she could ask about it there were a knock at the door, and then without an answer the door opened and in walked a tall, smiling hedgehog.
Aurora turned her head with a glare but as soon as she realized it was Silver she smiled and stood from her seat. Silver smiled and approached her future mother-in-law and bowed his head politely, took her hand gentlemanly, and softly kissed the back of her hand in a sign of respect.
"Good evening, my Queen." Silver said still smiling. His golden gaze then cascaded to Blaze who was simply looking at the silver hedgehog. "Heh, no 'hey' Silver?" he chuckled and Blaze put on a light smile and fiddled with the dress and looked away from him.
"I'm sorry; I am just a bit tired from all of this I guess." Blaze said softly.
Aurora scoffed, "You just about recuperated yourself from that nap you took in the changing room."
Silver looked from Queen Aurora to Blaze with laughter in his eyes, "You fell asleep while changing your dress?" he asked.
Oh, I see, take up my mother's side; aren't you supposed to be my husband? Blaze's face fell back to its prevalent stoic expression and she eyed the two. "Yes, and you're right mother, I feel perfectly fine." To show that Blaze was not happy she slightly raised her chin a little. Her attitude went unnoticed by Silver; unsurprisingly, but her mother caught it but she kept her smile to stay calm.
Silver however was eyeing all of the beautifully decorated dresses including the one she had on. "Oh my, I really love that dress, wear that dress for our wedding, Blaze." Silver said pointing towards her.
Blaze put on a small smile and looked down at her beautiful wedding gown and softly twirled it left then right with her hands. "Yes, I was thinking the same-"
"No, not that one, that one!" Silver interrupted her and pointed to the traditional, unyielding, and ornate wedding gown that sat behind her on a hook. Blaze blinked then turned around to look at the over-the-top wedding gown and frowned. Oh…no…
Blaze's mother smiled and nodded approvingly then looked to Blaze, "Yes, I too think that is the best dress for you." She turned to Silver, "You have a wonderful eye for taste, son." Silver beamed brightly at Aurora's words.
Blaze couldn't believe this; still with her back turned to everyone she frowned deeply. Slowly she turned back towards them both, this time the unhappiness showing on her face, dissatisfaction sparkling in her golden eyes and a frown bold on her face. "Wouldn't you think that I should at least have a say in what I wear to our wedding; Silver?" She solely called him out and pressed the question onto him. Hopefully he'll say the right thing and commiserate her feelings about how she felt on this matter of the gown. Her mother was already forcing her to wed Silver, forcing her to wear that uncomfortable, ornate dress for political gain and appearance, now she has Silver wrapped around her finger.
"But think of all the people that are going to see that wonderful dress. Once they see the new queen of Soleanna walking on that marble balcony in that beautiful dress; the sunlight beaming through the large stain glass windows, it's light illuminating your beauty- trust me Blaze, its gonna be great!" Silver exclaimed happily, Blaze's mother nodding approvingly at his words.
Blaze said nothing now and looked down at her feet in silent anger and anguish. She now felt as though the last lock on her snare on her life have been locked jointly by her mother, her soon to be husband, and her duties. Blaze felt completely alone in this world. Her eyes grew hot but she pushed her emotions down deep within her stomach and lifted her chin. She turned towards her mother with a stoic face. "I am retiring to my bedroom for the night." Blaze stepped off the small, round stage she stood to present herself wearing the dresses, but before she could go far Silver stopped her.
Blaze looked at him with fire in her eyes causing Silver to slightly flinch. Aurora noticed her attitude and stepped between her and her fiancé. Blaze frowned and decided to restate herself. "I am retiring to my room now, mother." Blaze said through gritted teeth.
Silver then spoke, "But… I wanted to see you in that wedding dress." Silver said pointing to the ornate dress that sat on the wall by hanger.
Blaze then turned to the Silver hedgehog, her deep dissatisfaction written across her face. "I am not in the mood, honey…" she said through gritted teeth again, she withheld her anger and spoke in a low voice.
Aurora turned quickly to the remaining people in the room, smiled at them then turned back to her daughter but this time a deep frown posted grimly on her face. "I can't believe your audacity. Put that dress on this instant, your husband requested it, and these people came to see their future queen in that dress." Aurora spoke sternly. "Now, straighten your face."
Blaze did nothing and kept her frown as she stared at Silver. "Straighten..." Aurora said that one word with so much authority and force. "…Your face." Silver kept a surprised expression as Blaze's mother stared sternly at Blaze. Blaze couldn't dare bring her gaze towards her mother so instead she dropped her gaze to the floor. She could feel the emotions welling up within herself. But with a massive muster of strength she pushed those strong feelings of sadness, anger, defiance, and resentment deep within her belly once again.
Blaze then raised her head, this time with an ersatz smile and tilted her head slightly towards her fiancé and mother, the smallest twinkle of defiance dying out in her eyes. "Good, now go and fetch your wedding dress, take that party dress off, and put on that beautiful dress and put it on pronto. Go now." Aurora finished, her piercing blue eyes boring holes into Blaze's soul.
Blaze turned on her heel, and stalked over to the dress, took it off the wall and then finally enclosed herself into the changing room. Once the door closed; cutting the world away from Blaze, the lavender soon-to-be queen began to break down.
While clutching the ornate dress in her hand she broke down in quiet sobs of emotional pain as she allowed some of her cooped up emotions to flow out of her bosom. With a shaky hand she unzipped her dress and stepped out of its beautiful, flowing garments. Standing in her underwear and holding the ornate, large dress up to her body whilst looking into the mirror she began to daydream once more…
Right off the bat, strings came from the dark, deep ceiling and snagged itself to Blaze's members. Despite the oddity of this feature she ignored it for now.
Around her were dark cathedral walls, stain glass windows, and abnormally large, staring eyes. Beneath her feet was an elegant red rug with lavish, golden embroidery. The air felt heavy and still, and the air smelled… off. The ceiling seemed to stretch for miles above and its depths were filled with darkness. Blaze felt asphyxiated by the stillness of the air and the claustrophobia inducing darkness that seemed to ooze from the very stone walls.
Then, suddenly without her permission, her legs and body began to move down the aisle in slow, rhythmic steps. Promptly, from unseen speakers played a detuned version of the royal wedding march; its acoustical eeriness echoing off the walls into Blaze's ears. The bemusing music made Blaze feel apprehensive that something was going to happen and her heart began to race. What? What type of dream is this!? Blaze felt terrifyingly alone and scared in this obscure, ugly world. Th- This isn't Mobius… where is the happiness, where is the flowers and the great, blue skies? Why do I feel the same (in relation to how she felt prior to dreaming)! Where am I?
Blaze shivered in apprehension and fought to stay calm as she tried to make sense of the weird world around her. Blaze had a look of utter bewilderment as she continued down the aisle at a slow; steady pace… the music growing ever louder. She turned her head left then to the right to look at the awkward audience that stared at her with large unblinking eyes. Their faces were indistinguishable as the only feature that stood out were their large eyes that stared at her with glassy eyes full of scrutiny, doom, and judgment.
Blaze felt a shiver down her back with the sensation of her leaving something behind, and with that, she looked back towards where she started at, and with a realization cold as ice, she realized that there were a large iron door that was slowly closing… behind that door was the lands she knew well, behind that door was Mobius…
Slowly it started to make sense. The music grew louder as she drew closer to a single podium where two other figures stood at the front of the room. Blaze tried her best to struggle against the strings that snared her to some unseen force; the strings from earlier. No matter how rebellious she struggled, it was for not as the strings held tightly against her body. By her struggles she finally noticed that she was wearing the large, ornate dress that she resented. Its stiffness could be felt against her fur, its many decorations and layers weighed her down uncomfortably, and she, even in her dream, hated its conservative, traditional design.
The closer she got to the podium with the two other figures the detuned wedding march blared even louder. The audience eyes seemed to grow even more bulbous as the music cried Bloody Mary! Even the darkness on the cold, stone walls seemed to dance to the irregular music. Stop! Stop this! Please! Blaze commanded, she herself couldn't even discern whether she had said that out loud or in her mind for the music was so deafening. The music finally then came to an ultimate climax; its discording scream splitting Blaze's ears, exhausting her completely, ceasing her futile attempts to make sense of the whole situation and detaining her soul.
Finally with all of her power spent and the integrity of her ears reduced to none; the song's bony fingers etching of its permanent malison into Blaze's mind and soul, and the detuned music finally, thankfully, succumbed to diminution.
Blaze trembled, her mind affray, her bosom heaving, all accompanied with the scorching, cold sweat that seemed to soak her standing-up fur; she was undeniably, understandably, and inexplicably terrified of this nightmare she was having. Her eyes focused on the two beings she now stood in front of and suddenly their faces became apparent. The figure to her left she knew as the high priest of the Kingdom of Soleanna, while the figure in the front became someone she have yet met in her dreams, her fiancé, Silver the Hedgehog.
Blaze stared at Silver and he merely stood and smiled in his usually naive way, acting as if the world around him didn't bother him. That or he was so naïve that he did not realize the absolute message of this nightmare. The priest began to speak and recite the traditional martial blessings, his voice sounded dead and worn out.
Blaze frowned deeply and looked to Silver. "Silver-" she looked around her once more, "Can you not see the hideous, crooked things around here?" Blaze whispered harshly. The bulb-eyed creatures in the audience congregated into a single "shhh-ing" sound that welled into the air causing Blaze to flinch and stop talking.
Silver tilted his head slightly and looked at her bemusedly, "What in the name of Soleanna are you talking about, honey?" His eyes glanced around him seeing nothing wrong or out of the ordinary. All his vision divulged to him was gold and silver around him, his soon to be wife, red and purple curtains, and a brightly lit room filled with many, many people. Vibrations from string instruments, percussions, woodwinds, and brass instruments played softly and gloriously into the air, swelling into a big beautiful song around them.
Silver's vision was shrouded in a golden guild while Blaze's mind was free from the golden guilds and was not interested in the shades of nescience or the helm of benightedness.
Blaze looked at him becoming increasingly frustrated, "What do you mean you cannot see the obvious hideousness of this room?" she pointed around herself. The huge crowd of the bulbous was quick to shush her and she snapped her head to growl at them. "Open your eyes Silver! Can you-" Suddenly her mouth became shut and she tried to scream out of shock but no sound came from her now bound lips.
With her lips now sealed magically, she looked panicky. Silver looked at her, relieved of her desist of speaking, and smiled back. "Feeling better now honey?" he asked as the strings that bounded her body from the deep, dark ceiling above tightened making her stand as though she was totally relaxed and at peace.
Then as a response to Silver's question Blaze's head began to nod and smile amorously, but not from Blaze's own will.
"That's good." Silver then said, his smile pearly white. "Now be quiet, my love, we are about to be joined for life." Silver said with pride; his prideful smile spread across his face. The preacher then began to talk, and all eyes focused on the old, wrinkled man.
The preacher's dry, pale lips began to part as he began to speak. "We are gathered here today, on this happy and joyous occasion…" Blaze could have scoffed and she again desperately tried to escape from her unseen binds, but of course to no avail. "…To join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor…" The old man's sentence ran off as he took a big, wheezing breath. "...by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another."
The old man paused and took another labored wheeze from the dank air; Blaze feared that this old man would not make it through the traditional words. Within her mind Blaze was terrified, her mind wanted answers to why she was trapped in this hell of a dream, and why was she bound by invisible ties that stretched towards the ceiling. Blaze tried with all of her will to move; she wanted to run away from all of this, but her body did not heed her commands and her body remained still. She then focused her attention to Silver and noticed that he seemed absolutely and utterly happy; so happy in fact that his eyes began to water and he dabbed his eyes with a silver handkerchief. If the lavender feline could, she would have rolled her eyes.
"This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you." Blaze then felt a weird shift in her psyche, felt almost as though something was contaminating her. Although her outwardly appearance remained an ersatz expression of happiness and infatuation, her internal mind and soul felt incredibly low. The old man then looked to Silver, "Groom, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
Silver, although he looked as though he was about to burst with emotion, said with pride, "I do." The man nodded in acknowledgement then turned his frail shell of a body towards Blaze. "Bride, do you take this man to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?" Blaze wanted to cry out in detest at the whole episode but as those resenting thoughts surfaced there was an overwhelming wail from the bulbous eyed creatures from the audience. From their throats the words "I do" saturated the eerie air with an echo so voluminous she thought it may consume her.
The old pastor took the eerie wail as a statutory answer and nodded his head acknowledging. The old man then raised his sleeved arms into the air, Soleanna's Royal crest in one hand and Soleanna's sacred writ in the other. The man then parted his dry lips and then said, "Then by the power invested in me…" Wait! Do I not speak for myself! This is purportedly my wedding; can I not speak from my own mouth? Blaze thought furiously to herself. "…I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." As soon as the man finished speaking Silver took Blaze into his arms and placed his lips upon hers. The feeling of the kiss was usual but she didn't kiss back until the influence of the strings that bound her to the ceiling coerced her arms and lips to play along affectionately and entertain Silver's kiss. As their lips locked she looked up towards the dark ceiling where her strings were strung and with shock her eyes felt as though they protruded from their socket.
Above her within the depths of the ceiling was her mother with eyes of gold veils and wearing a shiny helm of benightedness on her cranium. On her face wore smile of deceit along with a mask. Blaze has never been so afraid of her mother before now. In her mother's hands held a marionette controller (the usually wooden brace that holds the strings to the doll). Blaze understood now, her mother was the one controlling her every movement this whole while.
Her whole role within this kingdom is nothing but a puppet show, and that's all it would ever be. Forever being controlled by her mother like a puppet, this is her life; this is how she was meant to live.