Hello! Welcome to my very first story! :D
Thank you for clicking on this lovely story! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. ^^
Special thanks to my dear friend Comrade Athelwine for encouraging me to write this story and for contributing his ideas! :D You're the best!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic characters! They belong to SEGA!
~ o - Chapter 1 - o ~
The tower of empty buckets and washing utensils fell to the floor with a clatter. I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing it was a wrong move. I felt the angered eyes of my mistress burning holes through me. I could easily image her stiff shoulders, her pursed lips, and her clenched fists. An image I had grown very familiar with, she always had an excuse to be mad at me. This time, I handed her one on a silver platter. I suddenly wished I could fold in on myself and disappear.
"You insolent wench! Look at the mess you've made!" the tall brown fox screamed in her usual high pitched voice.
I flinched as her voice scratched against my ears. Oh, how I hated her voice. When she screamed, it sounded like someone was suffocating the life out of an innocent bird. Her normal voice wasn't much better. It was so fake, but not surprising for it matched the rest of her personality. She was nice to her husband, the sweet sugary nice that was accompanied with a light touch that was meant to be endearing. Then, when her rich husband was away for business, the beast came out to play. Her screams could be heard across the ten acres of land she owned. Everyone would cower and hide from the beast. I was not one to hide in the face of brattiness. Which was why I was her least favorite peasant of the house, and possibly her least favorite person in the world.
"I'm going to call Kenneth and get you whipped for your clumsiness!" the brown fox continued to rage as she began to pace the room.
I collapsed into a full bow, my forehead against the cold tile floor. I waited silently, my eyes stinging with tears. The scars on my back began to ache. From shoulder, to mid back, to hip. The whippings he gave me were deep and thorough. Each time the whip scraped across my back, another drop of loathing would be added to my pit of hate for the mistress, Vita.
"I should send you off the the coal mines for this! You could rot in a pile of black soot for all I care! You're nothing but a waste of space!" she gesticulated largely with her arms and in the process knocked over an unlit candle that was on the table.
I growled inwardly, pushing away her harsh words. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the edge of a broken plate. I tightened my hands harder against the floor, imagining the feel of driving the sharp edge across her throat. How satisfying it would be to silence the helium-filled witch once and for all.
I watched her feet as she paced around the kitchen in her expensive slippers. Her long bright orange dress swayed as she paced hastily. Gazing up further, I saw her face twisted in anger and deep thought. Her wood-colored eyes were narrowed at the walls around her, as if searching for more insults to throw at me. Growling in frustrating, she crossed her arms and turned her back to me.
"I'm done with you! Get out! Get out and don't come back until morning! I will speak with Kenneth about your punishment," she threw a hand over her shoulder as if she could literally toss me out of her life.
And how happy I would have been if she actually could. I rose from the floor and dusted my black, knee length dress and straightened the white belt around my middle. Annoyed with my lingering presence, she marched to me and towered over me intimidatingly. Although, her attempt was futile for I was a couple inches taller than her. She was shortish and round, her legs were like tree trunks. I was tall and thin, with seventeen year old perfect curves that I knew envied her.
She stood on her toes to glare me in the eyes, as if to intimidate me. I stared blankly into her eyes, noting the aging lines around her eyes and the thick eyeliner she used to make herself seem younger. I could have said so much. I could have reminded her of the lines under her eyes or the gray hairs that were emerging in her black hair; but I stayed silent. No use digging myself into a bigger hole than I was already in.
"Get out!" she screeched in my face.
Her voice was the equivalent to nails on a chalkboard. I scurried out the door without a second thought. Behind me, the door slammed, shaking the entire home.
I took in a breath I had been holding the entire time. Absently, I brushed away the excess dirt on my black maid's dress and straightened the small white apron. I lifted my chin to glance at the fields, only to see the farmers had ceased their working to gaze at me. All of them were frozen either in mid-plow, carrying their supplies, or guiding their horses. I could feel all their curious eyes on me, heavy with judgement. The courage I had to face Vita dissipated. My shoulders slumped and my heart sank as I looked at all the faces that gazed at me. Disappointment, disgust; some of them turned their heads away. This kind of treatment wasn't unusual, though. I was the dangerous one. Associate with me and they would surely share the wrath of Vita and her harsh punishments. I was shunned and left to do most chores by myself. I was constantly lonely. Always the odd one out.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. There was no doubt they heard the clatter I made and -more accurately- Vita's banshee screeches. Word of my clumsiness would spread through the Wilder household like wildfire. Klutz, Butterfingers, Gawky; I should just add them to the rest names I've been pinned with. I'll put it on the list directly under 'Stubborn Little Bitch'.
Lowering my head once again, I walked quickly on the dirt path leading into the forest. I felt their eyes following me. Their whispers already began to arise.
"Amy has angered the mistress again, what will become of her?"
"That was the last straw. I bet she'll be sent to the whorehouse now."
"That girl has no self-restraint, she's a danger to us all."
I found myself running now. My tears brimming and my throat clenching. I had to get away from their prying eyes and their hurtful words. I ran into the thick of the forest to hide my shame. Branches whipped at me, bushes scraped my ankles and caught my dress but I continued to run, to a place I knew I would find solace.
~ o ~ o ~
Minutes later, huffing, I came to a familiar large tree. Unlike the other trees, it had orange leaves and it's trunk was white but thick and sturdy. It was a Firelily, a very rare tree, and one of the only things I had to myself.
I dropped to my knees and cried, my body racking with sobs. I crawled over blinded with tears and leaned my head against the tree.
Why did I have to be so headstrong? I'm a peasant -I'm property of the Wilder household. It was no place to be obstinate. I'd be lucky if they kept me as their servant after that stunt. Being defiant only hurt me. I had no respect, no future. And I hated it. I hated it to my very core. I was not born to be this. I was not born to be a slave to someone else. I have my own rights, my own opinions. But who would listen to a poor girls opinions? I am a female after all. I never had a place in a society of king and queens. I bring corruption to everything but cooking and cleaning. I wouldn't have the depth of character needed to rule in this world. I had a female eye, too practiced in gazing at itself, to see the truths of the world.
I scoffed at the thought. I had a society built up of lies and yet my terrible existence was true.
"Amy?" a deep gentle voice said behind me.
I turned, wiping away a tear on my cheek. Pushing aside some bushes, a tall echidna with red fur cautiously eyed my position against the tree. His silver armor glinted in the sunlight as he approached me. His amethyst eyes looked over me with genuine concern.
"Hi, Knuckles," I said with a sniff.
He came forth and kneeled before me, his large arms wrapping around me. His metal armor plates scraped each other in the process.
"What happened this time, kiddo?" he asked as I laid my head on his chest.
It wasn't the most comfortable position, being against the cold metal of his chest plate, but I'd prefer this over anything else. Knuckles has been my best friend since I was sold to the Wilders as a maid. He was a peasant as well. I was twelve, him thirteen. We would run around the property freely, playing games and doing chores together. He was my only friend. When I was fourteen, a man came to the house and asked for Knuckles specifically. It turned out, Knuckles was a descendant of a famous knight by the name of Sir Gawain. He was taken that day, to train and become a knight of the castle. I spent three years working alone for the Wilder residence. Fortunately, his training grounds were not too far from the Wilder house, so I would look forward to talking to him every other week.
"I upset the great bitch again," I wiped my dripping nose on the heel of my hand, "she expects me to do a thousand things at once. Some of the things she asks me to do aren't even possible! But try explaining that to her. I'd get more understanding from a brick wall."
Knuckles patted the top of my head. "I'm sorry, kiddo. I know how hard it is for you to work for the Wilders." He petted my head and my eye lids began to feel heavy. Oh, how I wished I could just stay here and never return to the house. Never need to return to my life. Just stay here with my best friend forever.
"You're a headstrong girl," he said through an emerging smile, "but you need to know how to survive. This is your place in the world, you're just going to have to live with it."
I know his words were supposed to be comforting, but they only seemed to break down my spirit. This was where I was destined to be. A peasant; a slave to the Wilders. Scum on the underbelly of society. I would never be respected, I would never have my own property, I would never even have a husband. I would be Amy Rose; Wilder property.
"Knuckles, I overheard some other workers saying they were going to sell me to the whorehouse," his arms tightened around me. "I can't do it, Knuckles. I just can't!" I said as another wave of tears overcame me.
Knuckles hugged me tighter and shushed me. "Please, don't cry anymore. Everything will be fine. Just do as your told and the mistress won't bother you," he said.
I gently pulled out of his arms to face him better.
"And the mistress won't send me to the whorehouse?" I asked as I looked up into his eyes.
"Keep your big mouth shut and she won't," Knuckles said with an curving smile.
I couldn't help but smile as I pushed his shoulder playfully.
"Easier said than done," I mumbled.
I collapsed against the trunk of the tree and sighed. The sky was still a solid light blue, the sun was just past the middle of the sky. The air was a perfect warmth. One of those days where I could easily fall asleep in a fluffy bed of grass. I felt Knuckles prop his body against the tree as well. A comfortable silence built between us. I spread out my legs and wiped away the excess water on my cheeks. My destiny was set, there was no use crying about what could never be.
"Amy, there's something I came to tell you," he said softly.
I whipped my head around to meet his face. His eyes were averted and his hands rubbed together nervously in his lap. I shifted so I was sitting more upright, a knot of concern forming in my gut.
"What is it, Knuckles?" I asked.
He sighed, "It's about the Knighting Ceremony."
The color drained from my face.
"You made it in?"
He nodded defeatedly as he stared at the grass in front of him. I studied his profile, the air from my lungs escaped through my gaping mouth.
Knuckles was going to go to the Knighting Ceremony and finally become an honorary Knight of the castle. He would pack up and leave the training facility to live with the other castle Knights. I would never see him again.
"When are you leaving?" my throat was constricted with more tears.
He ran a hand through his red dreadlocks and squeezed his eyes shut.
"The ceremony is tonight."
My heart sank, another wave of tears threatened to overcome me. I felt numb everywhere.
"And when were you expecting to tell me this?"
The hurt was blatant in my choked words. I felt betrayed, for I knew he had the date a month in advance. Having to shake it out of him last minute was not a good note to leave on.
He looked directly at me and I could see the regret in the lines of his face.
"Today. Amy, I swear I will find a way to contact you. Are you not happy that I'm finally achieving what I've trained to become?" he said.
"Of course I'm happy for you. But I just feel like you're abandoning me here. We won't see each other. We won't talk to each other face to face. You're going to be a castle guard, and I'm just a-"
I couldn't force myself to say the word. I knew what I was. I was nothing. He was at a higher class than me. A few days in the castle would change his mind about me. Why would a noble guard like himself associate with a dirty peasant girl like me?
I stood up from my place against the tree. I couldn't sit any longer, I needed to pace to get my frustration out. Everything was falling apart around me and I couldn't do anything to fix it.
"Amy, you're my best friend. I won't forget about you," Knuckles was standing as well, "If you're going to hate me for this, then fine. You can hate my guts because right now, I hate my guts too. But I'm only going to ask one thing of you before we go our separate ways and you loathe my existence."
I didn't bother to look at him. I folded my arms and stared deep into the forest.
"Come with me."
My ear twitched in his direction. I stayed glued to where I was.
"Come with me to the ceremony. I'm allowed to bring one guest and I wanna bring you," he continued. "Now's your chance to see outside the house and the market."
I soaked in his words. My curiosity swelled inside me. Seeing the great walls of the arena, all the people in the stands, and most importantly see the great castle with it's white walls towering majestically over everyone.
"Fine," I said before I could debate with myself any further, "but don't expect me to forgive you so easily. You're still leaving me."
Knuckles walked toward me and let out a breath that collapsed his shoulders in relief.
"Amy, I will find a way to contact you. I promise," he said sincerely.
I turned around and hugged him, taking in the coldness of his armor and the security I felt in his strong embrace. I knew deep inside I wouldn't feel this for awhile.
He broke away from the hug. "I think it's time we make our way to the arena. The ceremony starts in an hour and a half."
I watched him as he hastily made his way back to the bushes where he came. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why so early? Aren't they only going to give you a certificate and let you be on your way?" I asked.
He froze in his tracks and turned to look at me over his shoulder. He studied my expression of concern for a moment, then sighed again.
"It's not that easy," he said as he let go of the bushes he was pushing aside.
I stayed silent.
He rubbed his forehead as if he had a sudden headache and looked away, "I have to prepare to fight two other Knight trainees. That's how you become inaugurated."
My eyes widened at this.
"The last one standing wins," he said more to the tree next to him than to me.
My fists tightened at my sides.
"What kind of barbaric cruelty are they encouraging in the Knighthood? To beat each other until the other's legs are broken is sickening! Is that what you are going to do to a fellow trainee?"
How could the castle ever allow such an act? They always seemed to promote peace and cooperation in the kingdom. Had they looked the other way for this one ceremony?
He sucked in a deep breath.
"It's what needs to be done. That's what happens in war, Amy," he said more sternly.
"But they allow people to watch this savagery? Have you invited me to watch your own demise?"
The image of him being impaled with a knife flashed in my mind. I cringed at the thought and pushed it away. He had to be kidding. I couldn't bear to watch my dear friend bleed out at the hands of another trainee. Were people really greedy enough to murder a fellow trainee? To crush good people to become victorious? What has this world become?
He quickly turned around and took me by the shoulders. His large, mitten-like hands were huge on my skinny shoulders. His eyes pleaded for understanding.
"I just want you in the stands to cheer me on. I can handle myself out there. Whatever happens, I swear I'll see you after to convince you that I'm fine. You can nag me all you want then."
All I could do was look into his eyes. Those eyes of amethyst that sparkled when he chuckled and never turned dark even at night. He seemed to confident, so sure of himself. Wether his confidence was feigned or not, I still felt a sense of security.
"The moment appendages start coming off, I'm looking away, okay?" I sighed and stared at the ground, "I can't stand war."
A smile, a hug, and a thank you later, he was pulling me through the forest to his destiny. The warm air rushed past me and flipped my long pink hair back away from my face. I attempted to follow his long stride over the bushes and around rocks but found myself falling into my own stride. I studied his broad shoulders, his long torso, and the way his red dreadlocks flung back like a mess of tentacles. A pang of concern ran through me as I imaged his shoulder cut or his arm in a cast...or worse. I shook the thoughts from my mind and focused on the moment. If only things could stay this way. Him pulling me to see the world, two best friends, running away from our tragic lives. But we both knew how things were. Wether I was ready for it or not, things were going to change. And I had a feeling there was more change than I was accounting for.
~ o ~
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