Night had descended upon Misty Lake, and the mood of the evening was tranquil. A slight breeze stirred the nighttime fog, and the water was nearly still. The large amphitheaters gave a feeling of protection. Were it not for the contented croaking of the lake frogs, Sonic may have slept for a few moments longer.

Everything hurts.

His arms were sore from swinging a sword, his legs were sore from running with the weight of a sword, and his head hurt from being hit by a sword.

Stupid swords. I haven't felt like this since that time I jumped off the Egg Carrier. That definitely wasn't the smartest thing to do back then…

"Ah, Sonic! You have awakened at last."

Speaking of stupid swords…

Caliburn was currently in the hands of an approaching Merlina.

Sonic sat up with considerable difficulty, stretching his sore limbs. He felt a cloth wrapped against his forehead and guessed that was the spot where he was hit. Disliking the itching feeling it gave him, he ripped the cloth off.

"Are you feeling all right Sonic?" Merlina asked with concern.

Wiping the sleep out of his eyes, he nodded.

"You were struck sharply on the head, Sonic. I am extremely grateful that you are alive, but I am puzzled why King Arthur allowed you to be so. Mercy is not in his nature anymore…"

"Because he thinks I'm not a threat," Sonic spat. "He said that I couldn't stop him."

"And he's right too," Caliburn said callously.

Sonic turned to him angrily, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you are an unable knave! You lack the proper fighting skills to face him! That is the only reason he allowed you to live!"

"Well it's your fault!" Sonic yelled, "You're a sad excuse for a teacher!"

Merlina intervened, "Please stop! This quarrelling is not the way to help matters!"

Remembering the presence of a third, both immediately quieted down.

Caliburn, in a much cooler voice said, "At least give proper thanks to Merlina for dressing your wound."

Peeved at Caliburn, but knowing he should express some gratitude, Sonic sighed, "Thanks a lot for doing that Merlina."

She smiled, glad the heated atmosphere had lifted. "It was no trouble at all. I should be the one thanking you for saving my life a second time. I'm just sorry that—" she fiddled with the shaft of her scepter nervously, "—I couldn't heal the scar."

"Scar?" Sonic asked apprehensively.

He ran over to the side of the shore and looked into the water at his reflection. What he saw caused his pupils to dilate in bewilderment. A long, ugly cut traveled diagonally from his eyebrow to the other side of his forehead. It was bright red with freshness and lightly pulsed in tandem with his heartbeat.

DANG IT! King Arthur's gonna pay for this. Trying to kill me is one thing, but messing with my handsome profile is just crossing the line!

He fingered the offending mark. It was tender, but not painful. Merlina walked up beside him and handed over Caliburn.

"Let that mark be a small reminder of whom we are up against," Caliburn said sagely.

Sonic felt no need to respond.

"As long as he possesses that scabbard it may be impossible to defeat King Arthur," Merlina said with a note of despair.

"Then how can we get rid of it?" Sonic asked.

"We must ask the scabbard's former owner for that information." Caliburn answered thoughtfully.

Merlina's eyes lit up, "Of course! Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, I mentioned her earlier. She must know how to nullify its power. Her domain is a large pool in the Deep Woods. I advise for that to be our next destination."

Caliburn agreed, "Yes, let us make our way there, then. Onward my young knave!"

"Oh for the love of…stop calling me knave! I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Caliburn replied without missing a beat, "Very well then, I shall call you Knave the Hedgehog."

Sonic rolled his eyes, "Whatever, you oversized letter opener."

The wood was thinning; sunlight shone more prevalently through the sparser barrier of leaves. It was warmer also, the cooling fog of Misty Lake long left behind. Bright red flowers popped up between the grass in some places, giving the scene a more lively appearance. The beauty was sadly lost on Sonic, who was distracted by the incomprehensible mutterings of Caliburn.

Annoyed, he asked, "What're you goin' on about now?"

Caliburn looked startled, "Oh, well, it is a bit embarrassing you see…my edge seems to have grown blunt. Being stuck in that rock for so long has taken its toll."

Sonic laughed, "Not the sharpest tool in the shed, huh?"

His quillions lowering like eyebrows, Caliburn replied, "That is because a gentleman should not have such an edge."

Sonic gave a mock-offended look, "Gentleman? Who're you calling 'gentleman'?"

Amused by Sonic's expression, Caliburn let the matter drop, "We will have to make a detour to Castle Town before we go into the Deep Woods. Seek a blacksmith among the locals; I must be presentable when we meet the Lady of the Lake."

Sonic rubbed his chin and then nodded, "Alright, that sounds like a plan, what do you think Merlina?"

He turned around to her and saw her picking one of the bright red flowers, "Merlina? Hello…?"

Her eyes were glazed over and she was whispering to herself so quietly that Sonic almost didn't hear, "Why? Why do flowers bloom when they know they are destined to wither?"

"Hey Merlina!" Sonic snapped his fingers.

She jumped, concealing the flower inside her robes, "Oh, I'm sorry Sonic. What did you say?"

Confused by her behavior, Sonic asked, "Everything alright? What were you talking about there?"

She looked down, avoiding his eyes, "I was thinking that, in a way, King Arthur is quite lucky for the scabbard of Excalibur to have come into his possession."

He looked at her incredulously, "Lucky? That thing took over his head and made him a monster!"

"I mean," she meekly clarified, "The scabbard has made him immortal, he does not have to fear of death. All of us mortal beings, even this flower," she pulled it out, "we will all succumb to death eventually. It is so sad…"

Sonic understood. He had seen this fear and sadness in many others, including himself.

She's scared of dying.

She sighed, "I just wish there were a way…" her sentence hung awkwardly.

To not die?

"Hey, c'mon," he said, trying to cheer her up, "We all gotta go someday, but we should do our best by making that day as far away as possible. That won't happen with King Arthur around. Now, what do you think about going to Castle Town first to sharpen up dull-blade here?"

Caliburn frowned.

Seemingly distracted by here previous train of thought, Merlina said, "That would probably be best, as a blunt sword is quite an inefficient weapon. I am sorry to say however, that I may not join you. I am still a wanted criminal and would be recognized in town. When you are finished, go to the Deep Woods from there. Do not worry about me, I shall remain in hiding."

Sonic gave a thumbs-up, "Okay, then I guess it's so long for now. Stay safe!"

And with that, he took off in the direction of open plains. Merlina pulled out the flower again, noticing with a breaking heart that it had already begun to droop. Her mind steeled with resolution.

Yes, perhaps there is a way…

Fun Author's Note: Hrrmm, what's going on in Merlina's mind?

Le Gasp! I have shamelessly used a very cliché plot device! For those who are too nice to pick it out, it's Sonic's scar! I mean, come on, that has to have been done a novemdecillion times right? However, I promise to make it as non-cliché as I can! *salute*