Chapter 3: Unlikely Allies
Kira stared at her reflection in the shiny gold crown, glaring at it as if she were staring the king in the face rather than herself. After he had presented her to the townspeople, Shadow had Kira locked away in a room deep in the courthouse, allowing her only an hour to say goodbye. She was waiting for her first visitor as she let everything sink in. Furious, she threw the crown across the room, letting out a cry of frustration into a pillow. Just then, the door opened and her family stepped into the room. Jadzia ran into Kira's arms as Deanna knelt down by her side. Her father stood over her, and Kira couldn't read whether or not he was angry, confused or even if he was feeling anything.
"You shouldn't have gotten up there." he rasped.
Kira nodded. "I know." She whispered. "But I couldn't let him beat you up for not bringing me up there in the first place like you were supposed to."
"I was ready to accept the consequences, why didn't you let me?!" Troy growled. Kira was about to retort when she realized that she had no idea why she did it. She struggled to find a reason why she stepped in front of the whip, surfing through emotions that may uncover the key to this reason.
She sighed. "It was a "heat of the moment" thing." She said. "I was furious that King Shadow had the nerve to hurt you for protecting me, which was a stupid idea in the first place."
Troy fell silent at this, knowing that she was right. Jadzia nuzzled her sister as Kira stroked her hair.
"Don't be afraid." Kira whispered to her. Jadzia sniffled.
"But what if he hurts you? He was really mean to Papa, wasn't he?" she whimpered.
Kira nodded. "Don't worry." She said, forcing a smile for her. "He must like me if he wants me to be his queen. Maybe I could get him to be nicer." She knew that she was implying something that was almost impossible to do, but there might be a chance that she could get him to ease the village's hardships, if not erase them. "And anyways, the king has a lot of money, and if I could get on his good side, I could get Dad's cure." Another next-to-impossible thing to do, but if it would cheer her sister up, she'd say it anyways.
She smiled at her sister again as she wiped the 12-year old's tears away. "Everything will be ok." She said. "Mitch and Jake will bring you food, I promise."
Jadzia sniffled. "Ok." She whimpered.
Kira smiled and kissed Jadzia's head. "You'll be ok." She said softly.
Next to her, Deanna gently ran her hand through Kira's hair. Kira turned to her and saw the empty look in her eyes, and at the sight of this, she started growling.
"Don't you dare-!" she growled. "Don't start that again."
Deanna shook her head. "I won't!" she said. Kira wouldn't believe her word. When Deanna learned that Troy wouldn't last more than a couple months, she had shut down completely, not wanting to feel the hurt of his loss. Kira had tried everything to get her out of her depressing state of mind, but to no avail. It was only with the help of some powerful medicine that she had gotten better, but not by much.
"Promise me you won't leave them." She said. "Because I'm not going to be there for them, you have to be there."
Deanna nodded. "I promise, I won't shut down again." Kira put her sister down and hugged her mother.
"Don't cry." She said softly. "You have to be strong for Jadzia and Dad...and for me."
Deanna nodded. "I will, I promise." She said.
Just then, the door opened. "Time's up." Knuckles said. "Out." Troy stood up warily as Jadzia clung to her sister.
"We have to go, dear." Deanna said.
"No!" Jadzia whimpered. Kira kissed her sister goodbye as her mother pulled her away.
"I'll write to you as often as I can!" Kira said as the door was closed behind her family. Yet another impossible thing to do. Kira fell backwards on the couch and sighed, trying to keep control of her emotions.
As soon as the cries of her sister diminished, the door was opened again, and Mitch and Jake came in. Kira looked to them, and was about to say something when a half-sob, half-squeaking sound came out of her mouth.
"So much for strong." Kira thought as Mitch gently wrapped his arms around her and tried his best to comfort her.
"I'm fine." Kira whimpered, trying to keep herself under control.
"I know you are." Mitch said.
"He caught us hunting." Kira tried to explain in a hurried manner. "He said he was going to kill you two if I didn't become his queen! He's just-I-!" she couldn't finish her sentence and let out a cry of fury. "That bastard!" she screamed, collapsing on the couch. Mitch didn't say a thing, he just gently rubbed her back.
When Kira had been soothed enough, she lifted her head and took the tissue Jake offered her. "Ok." She said when she looked ok. "I'm initiating Code 14."
Code 14 was a pact that the trio had made, that if one of them died, or something else happened to them that prevented them from keeping their families fed and alive, the other two would help provide for the other's family.
Mitch nodded resolutely as Jake saluted her. "We will carry out the Code without any distraction!" he said. Just then he got distracted by something shiny in the room, and went over to inspect it.
Kira let out a slight laugh, one that was filled with sadness and amusement at the same time. Mitch rolled his eyes, and let Kira's head rest on his shoulder.
"Don't worry." He said. "We will take care of them. And if Jake gets distracted, I'll get him back in line."
Kira smiled. "Thank you." She whispered.
The door opened again and Knuckles ordered them out. Fear rose in Kira's throat as she realized this might be the last time she saw them. "Please, don't let them die!" Kira gasped, hugging Mitch with all of her might. The boys embraced her until Knuckles and Vector grabbed them by the arms and forced them out.
"We'll see you soon, ok?!" Mitch said.
Kira barely had enough time to nod before the next visitor came in. It was April, and she quickly sat down next to Kira and took her hand in hers.
"I'm not sure whether to be happy for you or sorry for you." She said.
Kira let out an amused huff. "Better not to dwell on it much." She said. "But consider me the unluckiest girl in the world."
April giggled nervously. "Well, don't worry about your family, ok?" she said. "My father said that he'll try and help them out. And I can go hunting with Mitch and Jake-"
"No." Kira said. "Mitch and Jake are already in trouble for hunting. The only reason why I'm Shadow's wife is because I got threatened with their lives. I don't need your life on the line too."
April bit her lip and thought for a minute. "Ok, but I can still help Jadzia with school, and your mom might need help around the house."
Kira was surprised as to the behavior April had about this. Normally, April would just sit around and try not to do as much work as possible, and now she was offering to go hunting, help Jadzia with school, and even help her mom with housework?! This was almost too good to be true.
"It probably is anyways." Kira thought as April chattered on. "Thank you April, I appreciate the help you're offering my family."
April nodded. "I have to go." She said. "But I want you to take this." She reached around her neck and unlatched a necklace that was chained about her neck.
"No, I couldn't accept that." Kira insisted.
"Oh, stop being so modest. You're the wife of a king now. You have no excuse to dress like a guy all the time, and this will make your eyes pop." April said, looping the necklace around Kira's neck. The necklace had a good-sized teardrop-shaped ruby with ruby and diamond flowers going up the chain. Not too flashy, but still very attractive.
April fastened it and gave Kira a quick hug. "Good luck." She said, standing up. She waved goodbye, opening the door and closing it, a gust of cold wind hitting Kira in the face. This was all too much for her, and she suddenly felt exhausted.
Suddenly, her hunting skills started telling her that she wasn't alone, and she found a letter opener (not sharp enough to inflict pain on herself of course) and threw it in the direction of the intruder. A gloved hand caught the opener, and the figure came out of the shadows.
Sapphire eyes met emerald, and the intruder spoke. "I'm sorry if I startled you, your highness, but I needed a minute alone with you." Sonic said.
Kira crossed her arms as Sonic replaced the opener. "Why are you here?" She growled, sitting back down.
"I'm here because I needed to tell you some things that I wouldn't have been able to say in front of King Shadow." Sonic said.
"Such as?" Kira said, venom thick in her voice.
Sonic knelt down in front of Kira and took both of her hands in his. "I wanted to tell you that that was the bravest thing I've ever seen anyone do." He said. "A little stupid, but brave. No one has ever attacked Shadow and lived to see another day."
"He crossed the line." Kira growled, not looking at him.
"I get that." Sonic said. "And I apologize for what I did to your father."
Kira's hard look softened and she glanced at Sonic. "Well, I was surprised that he took such a beating." Kira said. "Especially in the state he's in." She stopped herself. Just why was she telling him this? He worked for the man who had forced her into marriage! She should kill him for what he did to her father!
...And yet, she found that she couldn't hate him. His manner was so pleasant, as if he wanted to help her.
Sonic sighed. "You must think all of us from the city are evil." He said. "You must think I'm a pretty bad guy too." He stood up and went over to a globe. "I wasn't always working for King Shadow." He said, almost to himself as he spun the globe around. "I used to live in Knothole."
"I thought everyone in Knothole was killed." Kira said.
"Almost everyone." Sonic corrected her. "I was one of four or five that survived Shadow's takeover." He turned back to her. "He made me captain of the guard, Tails the bookkeeper and a few others he made servants of the castle." Kira saw a remorseful look in the blue speedster's eyes, and wondered how long he had kept this in.
"I'm sorry." She said softly.
Sonic looked at her and smiled, going over to her. "That's ok." He said. "I'm ok now." He patted her hands as Kira let out a long sigh.
"So what happens now?" she asked.
"After you've finished saying goodbye, we're going to take you to the castle, where you will be introduced to the people as their queen." Sonic said. "Then I imagine Shadow's first order of business will be to try and get you pregnant."
Kira could feel her face burning up, and a growl rising in her throat.
"I suggest that you rest as much as you can beforehand." Sonic continued.
"For what?!" Kira growled. "So that I can give him a good show?!"
"So that you can fight him off!" Sonic hissed, trying not to attract any attention.
Kira became confused. "Why would I try something as outrageous as that?" Kira asked.
"So that he can get sick and tired of you and let you go home!" Sonic said. "If you can hold him off long enough, eventually he'll become so frustrated that he'll divorce you and send you home."
Kira thought about it for a minute. "And that's going to work?" she said.
"More than likely." Sonic said. "Either that or he'll kill you."
"Well, that's nice." Kira said sarcastically.
Sonic shrugged. "It's worth a shot." He said. "The chances of you seeing your family again are slim. By trying to get him bored with you, the chances become greater."
Kira thought hard. Yes, it could work, but how long will it take? He had said that he adored her feistiness , so would he really be that bored with her? Kira pushed her hair out of her face and sighed.
"But on the other hand, if I can get on his good side, I could get the medication my father needs." She said.
Sonic shook his head. "I doubt that can be any more effective." He said. "The king doesn't like giving away things for charity. And besides, his "good side" covers an entire 1/1000th of his personality. To get there is an extreme challenge, to stay there is worse, and to change him is impossible."
Kira's eyes narrowed. "I shot two geese in the eye with one arrow today, and am now the king's wife." She said. "I think I can handle impossible."
Sonic shrugged. "You probably can." He said. "But you're going to need help."
Kira nodded. "I probably will." She said. She thought for a minute, and knew that Sonic was her only hope of making it through her time with Shadow. She would need to make as many allies as possible. She didn't like the idea of Sonic being her ally, a part of her still wanting to be on guard and not trust the blue hedgehog, and yet another part of her wanted his friendship more than anything. She wanted to trust him. He too, had been hurt by the dark king, more than her, and she knew that if she trusted him, he would be a valuable ally, guard or not.
"If you would like to help me, I would not say "no"." she finally said.
Sonic smiled and bowed before her. "It would be my pleasure to help you, your highness." He said cheerfully.
Kira smiled. "I suppose that would make us allies." She said. Sonic nodded, his ear twitching at the sound of footsteps at the door. He quickly slid into position by the door as Shadow entered the room.
"Hour's up." Shadow said. "Your things have been packed and put in the carriage." He looked to Sonic, who stood at attention. "Give her one last look at her home and then escort her to the carriage." He said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Sonic said as Shadow exited the room. Kira looked at Sonic with a glare, as if to say, "what the heck was that?!"
Sonic took her hand and led her out, his voice low. "If King Shadow sees us constantly conversing, he's going to get suspicious and think that we're having relations with each other." he explained. "He may not care much, but he's a jealous king. You and I will both be in big trouble if we're caught, so we won't be able to speak much, but I will be able to help you if you need it, ok?"
Kira nodded in understanding. "Looks like I'll have to time things accordingly." She said quietly.
"You will." Sonic said. "But it shouldn't be too hard for you."
Kira nodded, and as she exited the courthouse, she looked around. Her family and friends were gathered at the steps, the carriage right in front of her. She lifted her chin and went forward to accept her fate. She turned back to look at the forest beyond the courthouse. For a moment, she wondered if she would ever see the forest again, ever shoot another arrow from her bow.
Kira felt a hand on her arm and turned sharply to Shadow. He was pulling her into the carriage. She jerked her arm away and, having waved goodbye to her family, got into the carriage.
Shadow got in after her and Sonic hopped up on top in order to drive the carriage.
"Are we ready?" he asked.
"Yes." Shadow said.
"Not really." Kira thought.
"Ok. Next stop, the city!" Sonic said. He urged the horses to move forward, and the journey to the city began.
Kira leaned out the window in order to get a good look at her family, fearing that this might be the last time she would ever see them.
Shadow leaned back in his seat and put his arms behind his head. "Don't worry about them." He said. "It's pointless. It's not as if you're ever going to see them again."
Kira turned to him as Shadow closed his eyes and prepared for a nap. "Get some rest." He said. "You and I have a long night ahead of us."
He laughed and Kira glared at him.
"Well then," she thought. "Let the games begin."
