"He will heal in time," Merlina told everyone as soon as they were all in the castle.

Silver was on Merlina's healing bed, still unconscious but his body had no bruises, thanks to the wizard's healing spell. Arthur was in front, staring down at the albino with concern as Merlina stood beside the wounded one and his Knights stood beside him.

Mephiles was behind them. Yes, he wanted to see Silver but not like this. Never like this. He wanted to see the Silver that was awake and happy, cuddling him and giggling whenever he kissed his cheek.

Not the Silver who had the possibility of dying.

With that, Mephiles tried to hold in his tears then he turned and ran outside. Arthur noticed this and ran after him, with none of his Knights realizing that he left.

X

"Why'd you leave?" Arthur asked as soon as he caught up to the other hedgehog, who sat down in the garden, twiddling with something in his hands. "I thought you wanted to see your friend…"

"Silver…is more than a friend to me, Arthur…" Mephiles sighed, his tears beginning to roll down his cheeks as he clutched the box in his hands.

"Pardon?" Arthur was taken back before taking a risk to sit beside him. "What do you mean?"

"Silver…is not my friend. He's…my boyfriend…"

Arthur was surprised. But then, not quite shocked.

Sonic had told him a little thing about his world. He told him that same-sex relationships were accepted in their world and that he himself had a boyfriend.

"O-Oh…" Arthur nodded slowly to process the info. "I-I see…"

Mephiles sighed. He stared down at the box he had then carefully opened it.

Inside was a small silver ring with a huge topaz in the middle, glistening at the the sunlight above.

It only took one shimmer from the gem reminded Mephiles too much of Silver's golden eyes. It made him burst into tears. He held the box to his chest and just let his tears flow.

Arthur's ears pinned to his skull (NOTE THAT ARTHUR LOOKS LIKE SONIC), guilty as he watched the other cry. In his mind, he wanted to comfort him but he knew that even if he tried, the grey hedgehog wouldn't stop crying.

Finally, his mind made a decision and he placed a hand on the other's shoulder.

"Mephiles," he began. "I know you're upset about all this but don't worry. Silver will live. I promise you that,"

"This…is all my fault," Mephiles sniffed his tears. "This would never happen if it wasn't for my army…my legions…"

"You can blame yourself all you want, Mephiles, but it won't change what just happened in the past,"

"I-I know…" Mephiles sighed. "It's just that…my best friends Shadow Fleetway and I, planned this vacation to be…perfect,"

Arthur raised an eye brow. "What do you mean by…perfect?"

"We would stay here in a week. Settle in the camp at night then by the next three sunsets, we would each get the turn to explore the forest. On a nearby mountain, we would kneel down on one knee and propose to them, declaring how much we care for them and how much we want to be with them. The rest of the days would depend on their answer. If they said yes, the rest of the days would be filled with joy and happiness but if they said no, it would be filled with patience to give them time. Either way, our lives would have changed from simple to amazing…"

"Oh…" Arthur could just watch as the hedgehog stared off into the heavens, obviously lost in thoughts as a pink blush raced through his cheeks. "So…things didn't go as planned?"

Mephiles nodded, his expression darkening. "Yes, unfortunately. The Black Knight and my army betrayed me and attacked us last night. Nearly taking our lives…"

He sighed and closed the box then he kept it in his quills and folded his arms. Arthur nodded in understanding.

"Don't worry, Mephiles," he reassured him. "Once my knights and I get our strength back, we WILL defeat the Black Knight and get back your friends. I promise you that,"

All of a sudden, he was pulled into a warm embrace, dark blue-striped grey arms around him as the other hedgehog hugged him warmly and tearfully.

"Thank you…Arthur."