Kingdom
Chapter 1 – A Run In.
Amy's POV, The Royal Castle.
"Miss Rose?"
The dark had brought me another sleepless night.
"Time to get up my lady. You have to get to class."
Opening my eyes to find myself laying in my bed. I glanced through my blurry vision to find Gavin standing tall over my bed.
"I don't wana go to school today." I stated as he smiled and pulled off my covers with ease.
"And I never wanted to wear this high collar suit but I have too."
"Ughhhh." I groaned as he slowly offered his hand.
In life my lady, you will see that there are many things you will not want to do. But even as this may be you will soon find out that these things are necessary for daily life if one is to thrive in society."
Gavin was a fox. A very old, yet noble fox. He was well in his fifties and very well kept. He wore a drenched black suit with a white dress shirt and a black tie. His worn brown fur blended in well as his old bagged eyes stared at me with a wrinkled smile. Gently taking his hand, he helped me up onto my feet.
"My have you grown miss Rose. It seems like only yesterday I was teaching you how to use the potty."
A small smile came to me as I rubbed my face in lack of better words. Every night for the past year had been a troubled one. I can't even remember when I was last able to sleep. Even with the best care in the kingdom, I found myself lost in agony.
"You have maybe thirty minutes till class begins miss Rose. I suggest we get you dressed. Your father would be awfully thrown for a loop if he saw you hadn't at least got on some pants."
Looking down to my legs, I remembered I liked to sleep in only my underwear and a thin, white laced blouse.
Slowly raising my gaze back up to the old fox, I replied.
"Father can relax. He has nothing to worry about when it comes to me Gavin."
Nodding Gavin questioned.
"What about the time when you went out after dark to go pursue that strange man with the wagon?"
"He was an adventurer Gavin. He promised to tell me some of his tales of outside the walls if I came with him on his errands."
"Is that what he said miss? Cause I believe according to your father, he was later found stealing noble wares from the venders. The guards said he had hidden it all in the back of his wagon."
Looking into Gavin's dark brown eyes, I replied in confidence.
"It was food he needed for his family back west in Evergreen. Ever since father disbanded the guards from that poor village the local thieves and gangs have been ransacking the fields. Barely anyone can provide a full meal, more or less breakfast for their kids now."
"Your father my lady had good reasons I'm sure for doing that."
"Sure he did Gavin. Kind of like why he never lets you have a day off after working for thirty straight years for the kingdom."
"I'm still in his debt miss Rose. And I couldn't be luckier to be where I am today if it wasn't for your father's great leadership."
During this conversation I was having, I had made my way over to my closet to try and pick out an outfit for the day. And once I had found the perfect attire, I began to get dressed.
"You can't honestly tell me Gavin that every choice my father has made you have been behind in full?"
Watching as I pulled up my gown, Gavin soon replied.
"Well of course not my lady. The king has made his fair share of mistakes. But so has everyone. Just because his are reflected towards the people does not make him a monster. He is doing what he can and I'm sure inside it is all meant for you."
Having trouble with the back zipper to my dress, Gavin came to my aid as I stated back into his wrinkled eyes.
"My father just needs to think about how his actions will affect the people more then how they will affect me. As far as I am concerned Gavin, the kingdom is more important. I never asked to be a princess."
"And I never asked to be a butler, but here I am Miss Rose. Now shall we get you to class?" Wondered Gavin as he ran his hands through my long pink hair.
Checking the length of my dress to make sure it was as far down as it could go I replied.
"Yes Gavin. We shouldn't keep them waiting."
Parting my bangs to the left, I picked up my dress and proceeded towards the door with Gavin coming to open it for me.
"After you my lady."
Nodding as he let me out into the hall, I laid my eyes upon the royal guards who waited outside my door as usual. Standing tall in full chain mail, with a long steel blade at their hips, I gave them a smile as they greeted me.
"Good morning your Majesty."
"Good morning." I replied as I followed Gavin down the long hall towards the classroom which waited beyond.
I lived in a castle. A royal castle for only the most wealthy and the most powerful families of Europe. Currently my father held the throne. He was a king. A very...well a very controversial king. Lately he has been making choices that have not been the best for our kingdom. The people down there need help and my father doesn't seem to really care. Ether way I have no power over his rules. In fact I am a rule more or less these days. He's been all over my case ever since I got caught with that so called "thief" he executed a few months back. Now its like I'm stuck here. Being a princess is not what I asked for in life. I just want to go out and have some fun. Sometimes I sit in my room and watch out the window at the people below. Even if their lives are down they always manage to have fun and enjoy what they have, which isn't much. The common family can barely support a child these days. And again it's because of my father. I love him to death, but I just wish he would do whats right for the people. He could do it to, but he hasn't yet.
As Gavin continued to lead me through the kingdom, I walked right into the one an only. My father. He came from his throne room with his royal centurions at his side. He was tall, dark, and very intimidating white hedgehog with green eyes. He wore his royal armor and his royal wares. A thick red and white silk shirt with a long black pair of dress pants. His hair was creased back and his personal ex-caliber rested on his side. That sword had killed many guilty men. Ether truly or falsely accused.
"There's my girl. How did you sleep?" His voice was as cold as his sword as him and his guards had stopped next to me and Gavin.
"I slept fine father. How are you?"
Approaching me, my father replied.
"I'm doing well. I was actually just on my way down to the courthouse."
"For what reason?" I asked in confusion as he placed his hands around the edges of my dress to try and set it straight.
"The peasants down there are demanding a hearing. They want change. I am going down there simply to say it can not be. I will not change what has been working for over thirty years now."
"But father, don't you believe we could at least do something about the crime going on in the region? Or maybe just try and provide them with some extra food?"
Looking into my eyes as he let go of my dress, my father carefully explained his response.
"Amy. As your father I will put it this way. We as a royal family must be above the common. The people down there need us. If we take away the crime, we are no longer needed. As for the food I'm understanding that much. I have the men preparing a shipment to be delivered in about an hour. It will be given to them I promise you."
"But you can't even bother to place some guards around the area?"
Nodding my father replied.
"It's all about the power tilting my girl. The criminals need the people, we need the criminals. No criminals, no royal family. Just rebellion. I will not stand for it. For your sake."
Looking deeply into my eyes, I replied.
"Yes father. I understand."
"Good." Looking over to Gavin who held strong, my father ordered.
"Escort my daughter down to the courtyard will you Gavin?"
"But what about school your highness?"
Shaking his head my father replied.
"I had it canceled, so that she may be able to go with you to find proper attire for the upcoming party we are having for our neighbors to the east in Overdrum and to the west in Evergreen. Their leaders will be coming here to discuss some issues the kingdom faces. I want my beautiful daughter to be addressable for the occasion."
Gavin quickly agreed with a nod as my father looked back to me to suggest.
"Try and find something a bit more princess like will you Amy?"
"Yes father." I replied as he smiled and looked back to Gavin.
"Take care of her Gavin. I'll be back in time for supper."
"Yes sire." Replied Gavin as my father then proceeded on his way with his guards. This was the one of the few times I've ever seen my dad getting ready to leave the castle. So many people want him dead. I'm afraid he could get hurt if he's out there too long.
Watching as my father left my sight with his men, Gavin came into my view to ask.
"Shall we miss Rose?"
Nodding with a smile, I replied.
"Yes. Let's go get this over with. Maybe we can even take a little detour Gavin?"
Gavin quickly chuckled to my request.
"We both know your father is against that miss. We shall proceed to Selena's bouquet. Get your perfect look down. Then come back home."
"Please Gavin." I begged as he looked into my eyes still smiling.
"Pleasssssse."
Letting out a sigh, Gavin replied.
"We'll see miss."
Giving him a smile back, I began to head towards the royal courtyard. Outside was the main bulk of the kingdom guards who were all preparing to escort my father into the village below. Gavin took his time to find us a wagon, but as soon as we had one ready; I got in to find my father proceeding out the gate with his convoy of troops. They protected him like a god. No one has ever been able to touch him. Yet I still worry.
"Are you ready Miss Rose?" Asked the wagon driver as Gavin got in next to me to reply to the man.
"We are. Take us into town to Selena's bouquet."
"Yes sir." Replied the driver as I fixed my dress inside the coach.
Soon following behind my father's convoy, we came to our different paths and I was lead away towards the west side of town.
Leaving the kingdom was like entering a different world. From my pampered life, to the struggles of the outside. It was two different things completely as we were watched by many. Anyone who saw this wagon knew it was royalty, or in my mind a target. Who knows how desperate the people are these days.
Nearing the bouquet, Gavin shouted to the driver above.
"When we get there you can feel free to go back to the castle for a bit. We may be a while knowing the princess here."
Rolling my eyes as Gavin smiled towards me, the driver replied.
"Yes sir. I'll be back within an hour. That should be ample time."
Keeping my eyes outside the wagon, I soon noticed the bouquet coming up along the street. The driver gently stopped the horses outside the building and Gavin calmly got out to get my door.
"After you my lady." He urged as I nodded and stepped out onto the street to see the crowds of people staring at me.
As soon as we were set, the driver made his way back to the castle and Gavin lead me into the bouquet. Selena was waiting inside of course. My father must have called ahead because she was already set to go. A gentle red echidna with a long past of family appearance. She was by far the best dress maker in the kingdom. And one of the only people my father communicated with outside of royalty.
"Ready to start my lady?" She wondered with a wide smile as Gavin answered for me.
"Yes she is Selena. Give us all you got this time. She needs to look fabulous."
Nodding her head, Selena replied.
"Then let's get started. My lady? Please step over here."
Following her commands, I obeyed and proceeded to the back where we began to locate the dress of my dreams. Or at least the dreams of my father.
Shadow's POV, The Commonwealth.
Sweeping the money into my waist bag, I look over my shoulder to find the store owner down on his back with a bloody nose and a pair of broken glasses. Along with a royal guard stumbling to get on his feet after being hit in the eye.
Zipping up my bag, I ran as fast as I could for the exit with him hot on my tail shouting.
"Stop that thief!"
With his sword drawn and anger at it's boiling point, he chased right behind me as I pushed through the crowds of scared people who made a path for the armed guard.
"Someone stop him!" He ordered as I turned the corner to run right into Silver who was waiting for the hand off.
Swiping the money into his hands, Silver walked with the crowd as the guard still held his focus on me. Unaware of the trick he just fell for.
Now all that was left was to ditch this guy and I would be home free.
Keeping to the streets, I kept looking back to see if I was gaining any distance, but this guy was fast. A built wolf in full guard gear shouldn't be able to keep up, but this guy just kept going. I needed to do something.
Approaching a vender, I tossed over his stand in the middle of our running path and continued my escape. Little known to me this guard was ready and hopped the stand and bolted straight for me.
"Shit!" I shouted as I made a left through a group of beggers.
Nearly tripping over a curb, I ran right for a set of stairs and up to find a nearby shack just high enough for me to run on. But as I went to look back, I found the royal guard charging shoulder first into my gut and onto the roof.
The second we hit the guard shouted.
"You're under arrest you thief!"
Bringing my shoulder up, I hit the wolf once again right in the eye and got back to my feet as he fell back on his ass.
Quickly kicking me in the ankle as I went to run, I knelt down in pain to watch as he went for his sword which had landed between us on the fall.
Immediately bringing my other leg forward, I kicked him in the side of the head and went for the blade as he fell to his side in pain.
Quickly pointing it at him, I let out a deep breath and stated.
"That money is going to a better cause then your broken king! One day you will understand that!"
Every instinct told me to kill him, but I knew I wasn't the type to do such an act. Dropping the sword, I leap off the roof and ran back onto the main road to run head first into a royal carriage. Luckily for me there were no guards and I decided to keep my pace and course and continued to straight towards it's path.
Unknown however, I was caught off guard as I collided right into someone coming out of the bouquet.
Stumbling to the ground due to the clash. I looked back to see I ran right into a young and most stunning pink hedgehog. Her eyes locked to mine as a man came out behind her to shout.
"My lady! Are you okay!?"
Panicking as he looked to me, I got back on my feet.
"Who are you!? Why did you...?! Not giving him the chance, I ran away as fast as I could not letting the image of her leave my mind.
Amy's POV.
He was black and red. A black and red hedgehog who looked no more then eighteen years of age and no further in life then the commonwealth around us. He looked to be beaten down and dirty, and I was going to address him before Gavin came out to shout.
"My Lady! Are you okay!?"
Ignoring his question, I looked right back at my encounter to watch as he got back on his feet.
"Who are you!? Why did you...?!"
He took off faster then anyone I've ever seen. Gavin couldn't even finish his sentence he was gone so quick.
I watch from the ground as he soon vanished into the streets.
"Miss Rose? Are you okay? Dear god are you hurt?" Asked Gavin in such concern as I nodded and replied calmly.
"Yes I'm fine Gavin. Who was that man?"
"Looked to be no more then the common criminal my lady. It's best we get back to the castle before anything else happens."
Helping me onto my feet, I got back into the royal wagon to watch as the driver began our ride home. With each gallop that came, I couldn't help but picture his face. Who was that hedgehog?
Let me know what you think. And no I will not be canceling King of Hearts or Zone 10. I'm just expanding my horizon with a different take of romance then I normally push for compared to Love Struck and Ace of Spades.
mT Shadow.