Chapter Three

The Party

The next day at the palace Alyssa walked down the Grand hall steps, she had been dressed in her best ball-gown, a night-time blue satin dress with sleeves that hung off her shoulders and blue heeled shoes, her hair was curled and her gold tiara was delicately placed in her hair.

Sonic was waiting at the bottom of the stairs with Sally; he was wearing his royal red robes with his gold crown whilst Sally was wearing a burgundy red gown with matching robes with her gold crown encrusted with rubies. When they saw Alyssa walk down the steps they both gasped "my Alyssa" Sonic exclaimed "you look absolutely stunning" Alyssa blushed and walked down towards her father, "you look just like an angel, my dearest" said Sonic smiling at his child. Alyssa blushed, she then saw Gabriel come from a door at the other end of the hall, with his parents, Antoine and Bunnie following him.

He was dressed in a smart black outfit with gold shoulder pads and edgings' making him a lot like a soldier, his father Antonie was wearing a similar uniform except it was blue and Bunnie was wearing a long lavender dress with her blonde hair curled and flowing behind her head with a lavender rose in her hair.

"Ah Alyssa" said Gabriel, "you look wonderful" "Indeed!" said Antonie "a really beautiful princess" "Ah Gawd!" said Bunnie "looksa like Heaven's missin' an angel!" Alyssa blushed and tried to smile at Gabriel, she walked towards her father and he stroked a bit of hair off her face. "You do look stunning" he said "are you ready to proceed into the ballroom?"

Alyssa nodded, "yes father" she whispered, Gabriel held out his hand in a dramatic way to Alyssa, "allow me to escort you my princess" he said, giving her a toothy grin. Alyssa chuckled uncomfortably. "Thank you Gabriel" she said "but please do call me Alyssa"

Gabriel nodded and looked up at Sonic who smiled at them both, "you two wait her, till it's time for you to be announced" said Sonic, he smiled at Alyssa and Antoine and Bunnie smiled at Gabriel. "You two make a good couple" said Bunnie, she stroked Antonie's arm. Gabriel smirked and stood up straight, and Alyssa forced a smile.

They then stood back whilst Sonic and Sally walked into the ballroom, two stewards shut the door after Bunnie and Antoine went in after the King and Queen, Antoine then looked at Alyssa, "you sure are a pretty woman Alyssa" Alyssa smiled at Antoine despite the fact she wanted to get away from him.

After a couple of minutes, they both heard an announcer announcing them both, Gabriel then placed his hand over his mouth and checked if his breath was fresh, Alyssa nervously fiddled with her tiara, as they got ready the door to the ballroom opened and a green frog nodded at them," It is time now Alyssa" he said, Alyssa then walked in with Gabriel, cringing slightly as the coyote stood in a stance as he walked linking his arm around hers.

They then got to the ballroom everyone clapped and cheered seeing the arrival of the princess, some Mobians looked at Alyssa and smiled, "doesn't she look gorgeous?" some people said "what a beautiful princess!" Sonic and Sally also smiled at their daughter as she walked into the room.

Alyssa blushed, then she looked across to Gabriel who puffed up his chest and tried to make everyone notice him, "lucky bastard!" said a few men as they walked past, "linking arms with the princess!" Gabriel smirked and continued to puff up his chest as he walked. Alyssa wrinkled her nose as he continued to preen. King Sonic then made a speech about Alyssa then announced that she and Gabriel take the first dance.

Gabriel yet again made gestures as if hoping everyone would notice him; Alyssa tried to smile as she reluctantly got into position to dance with him. Gabriel placed his hand on her waist and held her hand; Alyssa looked at him nervously as they got ready to dance. Then the music began to start and Gabriel then began to lead the dance.

Alyssa went along with him and glided in time to the music, as she danced, her hair flowed around his shoulders and her dress swirled around her feet, as she danced she looked around at the other people watching and admiring her. She could also see the Chief enforcer Knuckles dressed in a smart black suit standing with his lover Julie-Su who was wearing a peach coloured dress which went well with her pink fur.

Nearby she could see Lara-Su their daughter and her best friend dressed in a pink dress looking really uncomfortable as she was standing with a young brown male fox Alyssa didn't know. Alyssa smiled; she knew Lara to be a tomboy and hated wearing a dress even when it came to special parties. Lara saw Alyssa and smiled back, her eyes sparkling over her spectacles.

After a few minutes, Sonic and Sally got up to dance, then Bunnie and Antoine then Knuckles and Julie-Su, then Mina Mongoose stepped onto the dance floor with Tails and Amy started to dance with Rotor. As they danced, Alyssa looked across to her father who smiled at her.

When the dance was over, King Sonic called the party to a halt and everyone stood at the sides, Alyssa then stood before Sonic and Sally at their thrones, Gabriel stood with Bunnie and Antoine and Lara-Su stood with Knuckles and Julie-Su.

Alyssa knew it was time for her coming of age ceremony; Tails brought forward a black box with gold edgings, Sonic then opened it revealing a gold necklace with a pendent bearing the Acorn Monarchy symbol. Alyssa smiled at its beauty then Sonic walked over and placed it around her neck.

"This gold necklace is a symbol of your coming of age" said Sonic, "it symbolizes your maturity, responsibilities to the kingdom and your line to the throne, may you bring peace, and good honor to the Kingdom?" Alyssa smiled "I'll do my best father" she said, everyone then applauded her.

"And now to celebrate this happy occasion" said Sonic, he raised his hands and nodded at the musicians, "may the party continue!" Everyone cheered as the music came on and everyone began to let their hair down. Alyssa then turned to Gabriel, "thank you Gabriel" she said, "you sure are a good dancer, when you were dancing with me earlier" Gabriel smiled "well thank you princess" he said, "I was of course born to dance"

Alyssa bit the inside of her lip, but she forced a smile, "indeed" she said, she then turned to see Lara-Su who was beckoning to her to come over Alyssa smiled again at Gabriel then began to dance happily and went over to join Lara, as the two girls danced, Alyssa held Lara's hands as they spun around together.

As they danced, Lara asked Alyssa about Gabriel, "so he fancies you eh?" asked Lara, "uh huh" said Alyssa, "but to tell you the truth, I'm not to keen on him" Lara laughed "I can understand why" she said "he sure is vain!" "And self centered" said Alyssa, "and conceited!" Lara then took Alyssa's hands as they took to the floor to dance again.

So Alyssa has been honoured for her coming of age! But hows Angel doing in the Land of the Rebels preparing for his coming of age?

I'm back on DA again thank goodness, I just wish I knew who suspended me! and why!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!