Yay! Chapter 3! Y'know, for some reason, even if you guys don't review, I still want to keep writing. Still, I have to say, it's crazy fun, and it helps me relieve myself from the stress of homework! :) So war has unofficially been declared between the Kingdom of Acorn, and the Kingdom of the Ancient Walkers.
Bloodstained Ivory
Chapter 3: Awakening Whispers of War
Another stormy day. Shadow raised his eyes to the roof in a silent plea as he walked over to the infirmary. So far it had been three days. Three whole days without Silver! Three whole days!
Shadow opened the door, to find the four patients in their respected areas, the two-tailed kitsune studying the machines that Amy was hooked onto, and scribbling some things onto a piece of paper. Shadow's eyes ran along the scene. Espio looked like he was sleeping. Sonic was lying down, but his eyes were open. Silver was...sleeping.
Shadow strolled towards Silver. He looked down at Silver's face. Thankfully, it looked a lot healthier than it had been of late. He placed a gloved hand on Silver's cheek. Silver stirred, but di not awaken. Shadow smiled. He turned around to see Tails.
"How is she?" he asked quietly, so as not to disturb anyone. Tails looked at the sleeping girl, then at his notes that he had written down.
"Showing small signs of improvement, but not much. She's gotten four broken ribs, but they're healing nicely. Luckily her head wasn't hit, or the injuries could prove fatal. She's going to have a scar running along her back, but it shouldn't bother her too much unless she's obsessed with looking perfect," he said, a tiny smile on his face.
"Good." Shadow had inwardly sensed that she would survive, but after a few incidents, he doubted even himself. He snuck a look over his shoulder before leaning down to ask, "How about Sonic?" Tails grinned.
"He's definately in a better mood. He made me put a plaster on his leg. He said that he believed it would heal. Who knows where he could have gotten such a morale boost! But still, he's a lot happier than he was a few days ago." Shadow smirked. So his pep talk had done somewhat well.
"He walked out of the infirmary, and to the throne room. When he sat down on the throne, he could already see a figure coming to him.
"Knuckles?" The red echidna dipped down in a small bow.
"King Shadow, Someone left a threat note to the viscountess." Shadow's ears stood up stiffly.
"Threat? How so?" The red echidna shifted his weight from one leg to the other as he replied.
"Well, it said something about revealing secret entraces to the kingdom, or getting a decapitated head." Shadow was shocked at what he heard. They stooped so low as to threaten a lady?
"Well then bring her to the palace. She may temporarily stay, but I need to talk to her." Knuckles nodded, bowed and ran off. Shadow sighed.
War was getting dangerously close to officially starting. Now all he was waiting for/dreading, was the first blow. He was unprepared for war. He had been in a war before, and he knew what to do when in a war, but he didn't know how to conduct a battle system.
He was thinking about it, when a voice interrupted his train of thought.
"Your highness. You sent for me?" He could see the white bat, bending into a formal curtsy as his eyes fell on her.
"Viscountess Rouge. Knuckles told me." Rouge shuddered. She pulled out a white piece of paper from behind her back.
"Here's the note." Before taking it, Shadow had to ask.
"Was it signed?"
"The House of Acorn, King Shadow." The House of Acorn! Again! He walked down the stairs to get the note from her.
"So they are going to start a war," he muttered. He saw the white bat's ears perk up.
"A war you say? Allow me to fight!" He looked at her. He didn't comment though. If she was hiding anything that hinted his sister's person, she could fight. He took the note, and his eyes briefly scanned over it.
"Decapitated head?" She nodded.
"King Scourge would do that to a girl. I cannot believe Sonic is related to him! He killed Sonic's brother you know. Poor guy was practically in shreds when that sadist was done with him." An image of the gory scene played unbidden in Shadow's head.
"Please. You could have spared me the details," she smiled. "Well, you can stay here until the war is over, but if you get, or find any other notes like this, bring it to me." She bowed and walked of, Knuckles following her with all her luggage.
Shadow had to smirk briefly at the fate of the red echidna. He looked like he was about to topple over from the mountain of baggage he was carrying.
Shadow decided he would go and ask the kitchen workers for a small snack. Normally, he could've sent a servant or attendant to do it, but he didn't like ordering people around for silly reasons. He walked into the kitchen.
The smell of food being prepared hit his muzzle. He had to admit, it smelled mouthwatering. After all, why wouldn't it? The dishes were prepared by the best cooks in the land. He was greeted by Vanilla, who dipped into a graceful curtsy.
"Good day, your highness, is there anything I can get for you?" she asked politely. He thought about it for a moment.
"Well, I just wanted a small snack, but I was going to visit the infirmary next, so if you don't mind, just some things for me, Tails, Espio, Sonic, and just in case, Amy and Silver." Vanilla's face looked concerned.
"Oh dear, what happened to Ms. Rose? I haven't seen her for quite a while now! Normally if I could, I would go and visit, but I can't since I have to keep the kitchen under control."
"She got badly beaten while she was taking a walk, and she's got terrible injuries." answered Shadow. Vanilla temporarily put a gloved hand to her mouth. She turned around and took some things off the shelves and counters. She presented Shadow with a tray filled with small sweets.
"Here you go, King Shadow, please send my condolences to Ms. Rose." Shadow thanked Vanilla and left the kitchen. He headed for the infirmary.
"King Shadow!" Shadow was almost knocked over by the excited yellow-orange ball of fur that knocked into him.
"Tails! Please!" Tails stepped away and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Oh...erm...sorry!" Shadow smiled. He set the tray of sweets on one of the nearby tables before turning back to the fox.
"Now. What is the cause of such exitement?" he asked. Tails again began to get really exuberant.
"He's waking up! He's waking up!" the young fox almost yelled. Shadow looked confused for a moment, but then it dawned on him. He ran over to the bed where Silver lay.
Silver's eyes were slowly opening. Shadow caught a small glimpse of those beautiful amber orbs. He immediately pulled the younger hedgehog into a fervent hug.
The argent hedgehog's eyes took a moment to focus, but once they did, he hugged Shadow back just as fervently, smashing his lips to that of the ebony hedgehog's, hungrily. Shadow was internally laughing and crying at the same time.
"Silver! You came back to me!" he said happily, his face wreathed in smiles. "You came back to me! I would have never forgiven myself if you left me again!" he continued, enjoying the warmth flooding off the argent hedgehog in waves.
"Shadow...Oh Shadow I would never leave you...you know that!" Silver replied, a little quieter, but with just as much emotion. They embraced each other tightly.
"It is good to see a genuinely smiling face in the midst of darkness," said one voice.
"Wow guys! You look so happy! But still, don't get serious here, or I'm going to gag!" came another.
Shadow turned around to see Espio and Sonic smiling at them. Shadow smiled back. War or not, nothing would be able to faze the joy he was feeling. For the time being at least.
"Oh, excuse me! I'm sorry!" a small high pitched voice sounded behind them. Shadow turned around, and saw Cream standing by the door, and blushing slightly. His lips twitched.
"No it's all right," he said. She blushed and shuffled in, her hands behind her back. Tails shot a smile in her direction and she returned it. Shadow sensed her embarrassment, and turned back to Silver, taking his eyes off her. He could see her visibly relaxing, out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm sorry King Shadow, I heard about Ms. Rose, and I wanted to come visit her." Shadow smiled. He looked at Silver. The ivory hedgehog was already gaining back his strength, and was trying to sit sit up. Shadow supported him with one of his arms.
"Hey I can do it myself you know!" Shadow locked his crimson gaze with the amber one of the argent hedgehog.
"I know. But I'm not going to...I never will let you fall," Silver smiled and flicked Shadow's muzzle gently.
"I know that, but I never thought you meant literally!" Shadow smiled. He cradled Silver, and carried him towards the door. He opened the door with his foot, and went out. Before he closed the door behind him, he looked back at Tails.
"Help yourself," he said pointing to the tray of sweets. Tails grinned and nodded. Shadow closed the door behind him, and walked towards his dorm. Silver nuzzled Shadow gently.
"I can't exactly remember what happened. All I know, was I woke up, and you were still sleeping. I must've gotten hit on the head, because my head started hurting, and everything went black." Shadow shuddered as he remembered the scene when he had awoken.
"When I woke up, I saw that you had a large gash on your head. I broght you to Tails. He began to work on your wound. I went back to the room. Oh by the way, this rock with a note attached had hit you on the head. The note held a declaration of war from the Kingdom of Acorn."
Silver looked at him, but his eyes seemed faraway.
"Then it's war," he whispered. Shadow nodded.
"How it will start, or when it will start, I don't know. All I know is it will start. And when it does, we must be ready." Silver nodded. He twisted in Shadow's grip until Shadow let him go. He began to walk, but his legs felt weak. They buckled, and he almost fell were it not for Shadow.
"Aww, Shadow!" Shadow smiled down at the younger hedgehog.
"You're not yet strong enough. For the time being only," Shadow said. Silver sighed, rolled his eyes, and grasped Shadow's shoulders firmly, as Shadow again picked him up. The two headed towards the throne room.
Shadow set Silver down on the throne, and went to sit beside him. He reached into his headquills, and searched around for a bit before pulling out one of Silver's crowns.
"Oh and here you go," he said, as he settled the crown on Silver's brow. Silver accepted it, and they sat there quietly. Silver turned to Shadow.
"Hey, Shadow?" Silver asked, breaking the silence.
"Hm?"
"Do you think we should prepare for the war? I mean an unprepared kingdom is a vulnerable kingdom." Shadow smiled and stroked one of Silver's cheeks before gently pulling the argent hedgie's face to his in a kiss.
"I think that's wise advice, from a wise hedgehog," said Shadow, smiling happily. Silver blushed.
"Aww, come on Shadow! Your silver tongue will be the death of you!" Shadow gave a mock frown.
"Silver tongue indeed!" said Shadow, pretending to be mock hurt. Silver jumped onto him in a hug.
"Ahem," Shadow looked down to find Blaze, arms crossed, a single eye ridge raised, and smiling.
"Yes?" he asked. She walked up to him.
"It appears that the viscountess has come from a small stay." Shadow nodded.
"You heard about the note?" She nodded.
"I've come to request a council of war. We need to prepare," she said. Silver grinned at her.
"So you were thinking the same thing as me, or you were listening in?" She grinned back at him.
"Both." Shadow held up a hand.
"At midday. Meet me in the library." She nodded and left. He turned to Silver. "Do you have any preliminary suggestions?" he asked. Silver thought about it.
"Actually, no. Why don't we stop thinking too hard, and discuss it at midday?" Shadow smirked and nodded.
"Why yes, your highness," he said with mock-formality. Silver smiled.
"You're 'your highness as well you know."
"I know." Shadow unexpectedly embraced Silver firmly. "I missed you. I'm so glad you're back." Silver smiled.
"I'm not sure if it's possible, especially since I was unconscious, but through all that time, I missed you too."
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That was sooooo sweet! I'm gonna get a toothache! It's almost officially war. All they're waiting for is the first blow. When will it come? What will it be? I dunno. What do you think it will be? Review!