Author's Note: So I decided to try something a little new. This story will be completely outside the AWAE universe, and indeed, outside the games' continuity entirely. Hope you all like this new endeavor.
Dawn was just breaking as a young rabbit maid, probably no more than twelve or thirteen years old, walked down an ornately decorated hall inside of the Imperial Palace, carrying a tray of pastries and fruits alongside a piping hot pot of tea. The ceiling was arched and buttressed beautifully, and various works of art depicting emperors of the past lines the stone walls. She paused at a pair of ornately craved wooden double doors with gold trim, and knocked four times.
"Breakfast, your Majesty," the maid called out before opening the door. Inside was a thick, plush bed with many pillows and a silken sheet, which was oddly tidy and neat. Nearby was a large desk, piled with maps and writing materials, and sitting at this desk was a grey hedgehog dressed in a purple robe that was meant for sleeping. He looked over at the maid, his eyes baggy and struggling to stay open. The maid sighed and laid the tray of food and drink on a side table near the door. "Milord…for your sake and the Imperium's, I humbly request that you rest your eyes now. This has been the sixth consecutive night that you have spent on perusing those maps. Anymore and I fear you will…"
Angered by this intrusion, the regally-dressed hedgehog rose to his feet and stomped toward the maid with an unsettling scowl on his face, with a metal rod in his hand.
"You are not my mother, servant! What sort of gall do you have to ask your master to do anything?" He raised the rod to strike the maid, but a weak cry suddenly brought the enraged monarch to his senses.
"No…no…you're right, little one. I haven't slept at all these past few days. I…must retire now." He lay the rod down on the floor and stumbled over to his bed.
"What shall I tell the ministers and Her Holiness?" the maid asked timidly as she grabbed hold of the handle on the door.
"Tell them that I am weary…today, and…to bar entry to the…palace for the…day," the monarch groaned before drifting off into slumber.
"Yes, your Majesty…"
The training yard at the center of the Dae'Nai citadel just on the outskirts of the capital was alive with activity as always. Knights of all ranks and races were either exercising their bodies, sparring with wooden or blunted metal weapons, or practicing their mystical arts on one another.
However, one Knight was content with lying on the grass and gazing at the clouds: a blue hedgehog with emerald-green eyes and a white headband set with an imitation gem of the same color. Nearby, a two-tailed yellow-orange fox clumsily practiced with an oaken quarterstaff. They were soon approached by a coyote with a thin mustache, short flaxen hair wearing a red and blue overcoat with red boots.
"Zere you are, Mauri-Ze! Zlacking off again, are you? Why can you not be more diligent wiz your training, like your friend Milos?" the coyote scolded him.
"Pft, I don't need to, Antoine," the blue hedgehog replied dismissively. "I can fight circles around any of you slowpokes. Besides…"
But before he could finish his sentence, the clang of a large bell issued forth from the nearby steeple, signaling that all troops fall in for inspection. With a sigh, Antoine ran off to join the line of knights, as Milos accidentally smacked himself in the nose with his staff, knocking him onto his behind.
"Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow…" Milos whined, clutching his nose. The blue hedgehog got his feet, helped his friend up, and briefly examined the damage.
"Hm, nothing the medics can't fix up, but you really need to swing less wildly," he replied.
"…Thanks, Mauri," Milos replied gratefully, still rubbing his injury. The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes and groaned.
"I told you to not call me that, Tails. I'm Sonic, remember."
"Oh…yeah," the two-tailed fox replied. "We better get in line or the officers will whip us good!" With that, he rushed off toward the gathering formation of young knights. Sonic, however, made no move, whistling idly.
A powerfully built wolf Mobian dressed in silver armor stepped in front of the perfectly rectangular formation of knights, unraveled a scroll, and began calling out names. The officer immediately noticed that Sonic was not in the formation, but kept calling names, as if he was relishing the chance to whip the troublemaker knight.
After several tense minutes, he began to call out Sonic's real name. But barely a single syllable had escaped his lips than a blast of air streak across the field as Sonic zipped into position in the very western corner in the rear of the formation.
"Here, Commander!" Sonic said with a great deal of smugness. The wolf growled and finished calling out the roll call. With that, he began to address his men.
"Men, a rare opportunity to become true Knights of Dae'Nai has presented itself," he began. "Her Holiness' granddaughter and heir, the Lady Tahra-Fi is looking for a few brave knights to escort her to the human kingdom of Soleanna. Unfortunately, the remaining Knight Commanders are either reinforcing the emperor's men in defending the southern border from the residents of the Dark Land there, or overseeing the building of our citadel by the western coast. Therefore it has fallen upon you junior knights to handle this task. Of course, Tahra-Fi will be handpicking her escort."
Immediately a murmur went through the formation of knights. Tails, who was standing right next to Sonic, looked up in excitement.
"You heard it, right? We could escort Her Holiness' heir! Not only is she important, but she's beautiful!"
"I also hear she's really full of herself and thinks she's better than everyone just because she's going to be high priestess," Sonic whispered, knowing what he was saying would get him in serious trouble. "I'd rather throw myself into a dragon's mouth than escort her anywhere. I can't believe she's the granddaughter of that sweet old Ilsea-Ka."
Suddenly, the double doors leading inside flung open, and a squad of five Dae'Nai Knights marched out, with someone in tow: a thin, purple female hedgehog with curved quills, sapphire eyes, and wearing a cerulean dress and lapis lazuli jewelry, finished off with silver shoes. She definitely had the look and bearing of a high priestess. Even Sonic couldn't help but admire how pretty she looked, though he had plenty of assumptions of what was behind this pretty face.
"Knights, line up and salute!" the wolf bellowed, and all the junior knights, even Sonic, arranged themselves in a single long row before saluting Tahra-Fi. The priestess-to-be stepped forward and surveyed the arrangement of knights. It didn't take long for Sonic, who was in a more casual pose, to catch her eye.
"You, blue boy," she said with a demanding tone, pointing to the blue hedgehog knight, and then beckoning him forward with the same finger. "Come here." Everyone, including Sonic, looked astonished at the young priestess' selection. With noticeable chagrin, Sonic marched forward.
He stopped in front of her and sarcastically saluted, continually shocking everyone present except Tahra herself. The two locked gazes for a minute or two, Tahra smiling smugly, and Sonic leering at her.
"You…you're the one they call the son of the wind, right?" she asked.
"What's it to you?" Sonic replied. "Why would you want a slacker like me over the rest of these perfectly good knights?"
"I'll tell you when we set out," the purple hedgehog replied before turning to the wolf. "I've made my decision. I will be taking Mauri-Ze as my escort."
"My Lady, I highly suggest you reconsider," the wolf pleaded with her. "This so-called son of the wind is nothing more than a rogue and a do-nothing!"
"My decision is final, Knight Commander. Or should I report you to the Grand Commander for insubordination?" The wolf scowled and agreed.
"I'll go on one condition…you take my buddy Tails along as well," Sonic replied, pointing to his friend.
"I don't see why not. The more the merrier, they say," Tahra answered.
"It has been decided. Sir Mauri-Ze and Squire Milos-Par will be accompanying Lady Tahra-Fi to Soleanna. You two, come with us. The rest of you…back to training!" The crowd, grousing and grumbling as they dispersed, did so. The Knight Commander and Tahra bade the two escorts to follow.