An Evening with Memories;

On a mildly cool evening, with the nocturnal life fantasizing the night with endless music, preparations was taking place within the castle's corridors. Silver rushed by every room to ensure that Blaze was no where near for the time being, as he rushed to the kitchen and greeted the awaiting chef; a large, dusty brown bear who relaxed lazily on a rocking chair.

"Hello," Silver greeted softly as he inched closer to the chef, "Can you perhaps have this prepared?" He slipped the male bear a picture of what seemed to be a pastry, and waited patiently for his response.

The bear yawned and glanced at the image and smiled. "Sure, child, how many?"

"Two is enough, thank you kindly good sir, and if you could possibly prepare them in a basket?" the ivory hedgehog asked with expressive gratitude.

"A simple task," the chef snickered, "Come back in about an hour."

"Perfect!"

Silver slid out the door and hurried off, trying to stay well hidden between hallways and doors. As he rushed towards his room, to his surprise he spotted Blaze walking quickly in his direction, carrying what seemed to be a large package. Silver cringed as he attempted to hide himself, and found himself silent. It pained him to know that assisting her wasn't a current option, and bit his lip.

A few moments later, Blaze cornered into a room and shut the door. Silver heaved a sigh of relief and rushed further down the hall, and thrust himself into his room. "That was close," he blurted between breaths, "I can't risk such a precious surprise. Okay, suitable attire, suitable attire..." he repeated under his breath, clumsily approaching a large closet that stored many different options of formal wear. He had worn many of them multiple times, which he currently detested since he wanted a more appealing look rather than a repetition of the past.

With that thought in mind, he paced out of his room and into a dressing room, where he usually brought his attire to be hemmed or placed on. "Ah, Vanity, are you in here?" he called out shyly, creeping through the door.

"Ah, Silver," a sleek, creamy-white cat purred as she padded out of her closet, "What do you need, child? May I help you with something?"

"Greetings Vanity," Silver greeted sheepishly, "Um, there is going to be a special occasion regarding the princess and I, and I was wondering if there happened to be anything that may be more of, uh, different appeal?"

The cat's piercing green eyes narrowed towards him playfully. "You and the princess?" she questioned slyly, "Are the two of you courting?"

Silver's eyes shrank in sheer embarrassment and began playing with the bells near his chest. "Well, I, uh- you see,"

"Say nothing of it child," Vanity chirped in victory, "I understand the feeling- you want a more attractive appearance, yes?"

"I, uh, suppose... if those are the words you'd like to put them in."

"There's no need for bashful regards, dear, 'tis a natural expression of love." Vanity said breathily as she eyed Silver up and down. "Okay, dear, allow me to treat you to a small makeover, yes?"

Silver smiled modestly and peeped, "I won't look too different, will I?"

Vanity grinned cheekily and chuckled, "Of course not, Silver, allow me to bring out the best in you with a... how you say, a little more spark."


Bustling madly about her room, Blaze is presently tending to the kingdom's complaints.

Blaze flitted about in her room, demonstrating an intense feeling of exasperation and stress. She tore several sheets of paper and tossed them into bins, rushing back and forth from her desk and the piling trash. "These complaints are becoming unbearable," she hissed silently, "Taxes, theft, taxes, theft, and an exclusive amount of TAXES!" she spat blatantly as a burst of her fiery energy emanated from the palms of her hands.

"Alright Blaze," she stammered breathlessly, "I need to focus, there has to be a legitimate problem in this pile, so I'll just look through them calmly." She grabbed one of the feathers and dipped it lightly in a container of ink, and began writing notes and bits of information she knew her father could attend to.

As the hours passed by, the princess found herself piling up the last of her paperwork and setting them down on her desk. She yawned loudly enough to jolt even her tiring senses, and slowly made her way to her bed. "It is 7pm," she read her clock lazily as her eyes began closing, falling into a deeper sleep than she expected.


Silver gave a sheepish grin as he stared at his coequally bashful reflection, staring down his revised look. Vanity managed to put an ensemble together of matching colors of blacks and grays, which brought out the most in Silver's brightly tinted fur. The woman also styled his quills to sweep back, farther than his previous appearance at the funeral, and groomed his larger quills to curve towards the front from his back.

"Do you suppose she'll like it?" he asked quietly, observing the small details to his newer look.

"Ah Silver, you're a handsome hedgehog, if she sees you like this, I'm sure she'll love it." Vanity assured lightly, patting his shoulders.

"Thank you, lady Vanity, I appreciate your keen eye for specific wardrobes, I am in your debt."

"Fret nothing of it, Silver, view it as a gift."

Silver bowed respectively and rushed out the door and raced against the clock to receive the pastries he had been expecting. He darted into the kitchen where the chef smiled and held the basket in his direction. "All done,"

"Thank you, good sir!" Silver thanked happily, "Rest well!"

The chef nodded and watched as Silver took the basket and began walking stiffly towards Blaze's room down the hall.

Beads of sweat trickled down the ivory hedgehog's forehead, the thoughts of this night rushing into his brain. He knocked on the door lightly as he pushed the door open slowly. "Blaze?" he whispered, "Are you… oh my," he sighed breathily.

The princess was sprawled out across her bed, sleeping heavily and peacefully. Silver quietly placed the basket on her desk and kneeled beside her bed, nudging her arms softly. He pressed his lips lightly onto her hand and chuckled lightly. "My beautiful princess…" he whispered warmly into her ear.

Blaze's eyes slowly lifted to meet that of Silver's, and a noticeable blush pumped warmth into her cheeks. "Silver… y-you look… dashing…" she cooed airily, "I missed you today… what brings you by?"

"Would you mind if I cradled you in my arms and perhaps bring you with me someplace? It's outside the castle, but I assure it's not far from here." he asked soothingly, as he nuzzled her forehead. Blaze purred cutely as she nodded, "Yes… however I'm not properly dressed for the outdoors."

Silver shook his head and dug his hands beneath her and slowly lifted her up. "The nature of your beauty doesn't originate from your appearance at all… as long as you lift your head high in the air and bring forth your lovely laugh and enjoyment; you're just a precious in every way." He responded poetically, using his tail to lift the basket by the handle as he carried her in his arms.

Blaze cuddled her head against his jacket comfortingly and pressed her eyelids against his downy chest fur. "You're such a Romantic," he giggled lightly, "You're going to have to write me a poem someday."

Silver smirked and said, "A poem about your beauty? I'm sure there are no real words to describe that."

"Oh, Silver…"

"What, was I too typical?"

The two shared each other's laughs as Silver exited the room, and soon the castle. The two admired the beautiful scenery as they walked beyond the great wall that enclosed the castle's property. Blaze smiled brightly to experience a full scale night show. The leaves of the trees brushed across the bowing grass, and the lakes shimmered with light as the moon presently reflected its beauty among the environment.

As they continued to walk, a meadow came into view. "This is the place," Silver alerted the sleepy princess, who nodded rather dazed. Silver approached the soft grass and stopped near the center of the waving wild flowers.

"What a beautiful meadow…" Blaze said quietly as Silver set the basket down. He gently sat himself on the soft grass and rest Blaze's head on his lap.

"Isn't it?" he agreed firmly, yet softly, "This is the meadow where I got the flowers from a few years ago, remember?"

Blaze nodded and rolled from her position so that her face looked up at Silver. "Yes, I do!" she chirped, "That was so sweet of you."

Silver smiled, soon thereafter chuckling. "You know, it was my grandmother who introduced me to that little trick," he inquired jocularly, "I was having a terrible day that day, failing to beg for anything or anyone to help our family. So I rested on a haystack in a shack that I called home, weeping for a miracle to happen."

Blaze's expression faded into a more serious and sympathetic look. "Really, Silver?"

The ivory hedgehog nodded. "Yes, life gave me many trials those years of my childhood. Crying felt like a chore everyday, and begging was my life. Although crying was a form of my releasing sadness, which evidently made me feel better afterward… although one day, my grandmother gifted me with such a pleasant surprise. She had plucked wildflowers from this very meadow, and shrouded my living space with lovely scented flowers."

Blaze smiled warmly at the thought, and nodded for him to continue.

"When I opened my eyes to greet the flowers, I asked her why she had brought in all of these beautiful flowers… and I'll never forget what she said…"

"What did she say?"

"She told me that flowers are a pure form of natural beauty and expression. Not only do flowers have an astounding outer beauty, they have an inner form that is just as gorgeous as their outer, and that was the scent they carried."

"How lovely…" Blaze mused dreamily.

Silver looked down at the cat lovingly and said, "This is why I often compare you to flowers, Princess, because not only are you beautiful, you contain a beauty that exceeds any appearance. Although, you as a whole flourishes more beautifully than any flower."

Blaze blushed brightly and cupped his left hand in hers. "Silver… I-I can't…" she lifted herself from her laying position and tackled him to the ground in a loving hug. "I can't express how beautiful your words can be sometimes! You truly are a Romantic!" she laughed, "You're such a blessed soul…"

Silver chuckled and rested his weight on his elbows as Blaze hugged him tightly around his neck. "I can't hide the truth," he confessed honestly, "That's how expressive I can be."

Blaze smiled kissed his forehead lightly before bouncing back and sitting down in front of him. "What's in the basket?" she asked curiously.

Silver smiled and gave the basket to Blaze. "It's a common, delicious pastry that you might know of."

Blaze gasped and opened the basket, pulling out one of the pastries inside. "A glazed, strawberry danish! How thoughtful of you, Silver!" she squealed lightly, taking a large bite into the beckoning treat. Silver laughed and took his own and began eating it.

"These flowers are something…" Blaze murmured between bites, laying her right, bare hand and placing it on the soft grass.

"Indeed," Silver agreed lightly as he completed his light dessert. "I hope you consider this worthy enough to start our relationship… I worked very hard to prepare everything in time."

Blaze smirked smugly and eyed Silver from toes to quills, "I can see that, I really can't tell you how dashing you look. I take it Vanity assisted you with that rather attractive quill style, hm?"

"Everything I wear is of her taste," Silver responded shyly, "I-I'm glad y-you think so."

Blaze smiled cheekily and laughed. "Are you not comfortable with that word, Silver?"

"What word?"

"Attractive?"

Silver grinned sheepishly and waved his hands in defeat. "I-I guess… I've never taken that view of myself in all honesty, Blaze."

The princess giggled and nodded. "Well, if you need to hear it from me, then you must! You are attractive, just like flowers. Attractive male flowers," she laughed hardly.

Silver grinned, lowering his eyelids as he brashly commented, "Are you saying I smell good, too?" in a darker tone. The two laughed loudly and harshly for a good few minutes, spitting compliments about each other's appearance all the while.

"Silver, I can't stop laughing! HALT!" she yelped loudly in his face as Silver rolled onto his back laughing harder. Eventually the laughing subsided, and the two lay next to each other, cuddled amongst the grass with their hands clenched together.

"Silver?"

"Yes?"

"What has become of your grandmother?" Blaze asked hesitantly.

"Oh, she passed away shortly before I began begging near the castle." He sighed, "But it's okay, I view nearly the same way you view your mother's passing."

"That's good, at least."

Blaze rolled onto her side and stared at Silver quietly. She began patting the material of his jacket and soon cuddled closer to him. The ivory hedgehog smiled as she began sleeping lightly on his arm. Silver plucked a few flowers beside him and showered them over her face. One in particular fell on her rising chest, near her neck, which made it appear as a choker. Silver smiled warmly and placed a kiss on her puckered lips, and proceeded to lift her up and return her home, leaving the basket to remain in the center of the meadow.


Inside the throne room…

The king paced insecurely as he read over a letter clenched tightly in his hands repeatedly.

"Good day his Majesty of the western territories, I am here to present an invitation to the kingdom of Litha. As a friendly gesture, it would be an honor if the princess of your kingdom would kindly meet out own prince, and perhaps we could conjoin our powers to rule fairly over both lands. If you decide to meet with us, please arrive in our kingdom three days from now.

King Venice

The lion's left hand coursed through his mane as he pondered the thoughts of his daughter and her jester, since they recently began a relationship. "What am I to do…"

Soon enough, he came to the conclusion that the marriage of a prince was brought forth as a crucial factor to the kingdom's welfare. However, taking in his daughter's emotion into more thought, he devised a plan to meet the prince without much conflict.

A/N: Ooh, pretty intense, yeah? Will Blaze remain with Silver? Or is the kingdom's welfare going to interfere with their flourishing love? To top it all off, who's the prince? All that and more to come! Hope this makes a good come back!