Alice could only watch. She watched as the doctor went in and out of her mother's bedroom.

For Sonic's safety he was moved to the guest bedroom. The doctor didn't know what Sally had and couldn't risk him getting infected by it.

The little Princess poke her head in the doorway to see what was going on. Sonic was by his wife's side, he refused to leave her.

" I'm alright Sonic.. 'cough'..." The Queen told him " I should be back to myself in no time".

" I...I know but..." Sonic didn't know what could happen if he lost Sally, He couldn't imagine a life without her beautiful face, her lovely blue eyes and her smile!.

" Shhh.." Sally stopped him from talking, the hedgehog reached out to her hand and placed it among his cheek. the two looking into eachother's eyes. each trying not to think the worst.

...

But Sally never got better! Her condition got worse! She couldn't go outside and be with her family! It hurt her very much to be cooped up in the castle.

/ /

"Here mommy" Alice said one day while visiting her mother, she had a small bouquet of flowers she picked.

Sally smiled and put them on the bedside " thank you sweetie" she was able to say without coughing. But the queen felt it in her throat, she tried her best but the coughing fit happened.

" Mommy... Mommy!" Alice cried out. The doctor came rushing in, He had to escort the little princess out.

" No" Alice cried " Mommy!" but the doctor closed the door on her.

/

Then Sonic received the dreadful news... Sally wasn't going to live!

No! It couldn't.. It can't be this way! The king couldn't bear the thought of Sally dying. " YOU'RE LYING!" He yelled in anger, he grabbed the doctor by his coat " SHE WILL LIVE!"

" Your highness please" The doctor told him " I've tried everything but this is something I can not cure!"

" THEN FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN!" Sonic threw the doctor aside and stormed off. He refused to believe that his wife will leave them, He simply refused!

...

Sally sat up on her bed, Alice was with her, the queen stoke her daughter's turf of hair and the little hedgemunk laid curled up in her lap.

" Mommy..." she was told the news that Sally was going to die " please don't go..."

" I..I know sweetheart" Sally comfort her " I want to live as well, I want to see you grow up! I want to be there for your father and everyone else..." her voice was very horace " but this is life, everything that is born will die, it's just how life works"

" But.." the little hedgemunk sat up " Can't we just..." she looked down at her tiny hands " tell life to wait a bit longer?".

Sally chuckled and ruffled her daughter's hair " I'm afraid that not how it works" she said " you see were like an hourglass" she explained " our very life is slowly draining, just like the sand"

" but can't we just... flip it over?" Alice asked

"Yes... When the sand does ruin out we do flip them over... but with us when our sand is at the bottom we are... Reborn and we repeat the cycle in our next life"

Alice wipe her eyes, she was kinda understanding what her mother was saying but she still did want her to leave. Sally pulled her daughter to her holding her in her arms.

" I love you my little daughter" she said " I love you, your father and every one I came to know.. I will miss you all but..." she sighed " I have no regrets..." she looked down at her child " Can you do be a favor?"

Alice nodded, anything in hopes her mother will get better.

" Be strong, Help your father and most importantly... Smile" she said brushing back the child's hair " you may grieve for my lost but after that I want you to smile!"

" I...I try mommy" Alice told her " I'll try..."

And with that... Queen Sally Alicia Acorn, passed away!

...

Next Chapter.. Alice and how she copes with out her mother.

Plus a familiar face will appear...