Chapter Eight

Nightmare Date

When Alyssa ran out of the woods, she saw Espio standing in the middle of the open still looking for her and calling for her. "Espio!" she called, Espio then turned to see her, "Oh thank God Alyssa, your father sent me to find you, quickly, we must return to the palace at once!"

"What!?" cried Alyssa "why?" "Your father will explain" said Espio as he took her hand; Alyssa stared as Espio as he began to lead her back to Mobotropolis. "Is it dangerous Espio?" she asked, Espio nodded, "your father has told me that you must wait till he explains it to you" Alyssa was still confused yet she followed Espio back to the palace.

Back at the palace, Sonic was waiting for Alyssa and Espio to return, as he waiting Gabreial came into the room, "King Sonic" he said bowing to the blue hedgehog. Sonic looked at the coyote who bowed before him.

"Ah hello Gabreial" he said, "how is your mentoring?" "Very good your majesty, your tutors do a perfect job in preparing me for court" Sonic smiled, "your father and mother wanted me to prepare you" Gabreial nodded proudly, "and they do well" he said, "but your majesty, I come with a request" "a request?" asked the King.

"With your permission, I wish to take your daughter to dinner with me tonight" Sonic eyes lit up, "you wish to take out Alyssa?" he asked, Gabreial nodded, "yes sire, if it be ok with you" Sonic then grinned "why dear man it is, hopefully you and Alyssa will get to know eh other more"

Sonic then turned to a servant standing by the throne, "go and find Rotor, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Mina and Julie-Su" "yes sire" said the servant bowing before running out of the room. Sonic then turned to Gabreial and was just about to say something else when Espio and Alyssa appeared.

As soon as they walked through, Sonic stood up and walked over to Alyssa, "ah thank god Alyssa" he said, "you're ok" Alyssa nodded, "father…why did I have to come back, what has happened in my absence?" "Much I'm afraid" said Sonic "there is an assassin in the kingdom"

Alyssa's heart pounded "an assassin?" she asked, Sonic nodded, "we have to be extra careful now, one of the guards was murdered, the coroners are working on him now" Alyssa was worried, "are the rebels striking again?" she asked. Sonic nodded, "I have concerns Alyssa, mainly for your safety, being the King's daughter"

"But I can fight" said Alyssa, "Espio has taught me well" Sonic frowned "we will talk about this later, but now my daughter, Gabreial has asked for my permission to take you out tonight" Alyssa's heart beat harder "Gabreial?" she asked, Sonic nodded, "he has requested to take you out to dinner"

Alyssa tried to smile, even though she succeeded she felt her life about to end, "Oh God no!" she thought "Gabriel's taking me on a date?" she then looked across to see Gabreial standing with his proud parents, Knuckles was there with Lara-Su and Julie Su and Amy and Mina were there.

Sally then walked up to Alyssa, "you're going on a date eh sweetheart" she said, "I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun! Mina, Amy and Julie are gonna dress you up and do your hair, and Lara Su and Knuckles will be accompanying you to the best restaurant in the city"

Gabreial smiled at Alyssa who forced a smile back, "that's…that's great daddy" she said, she was in fact sickened at the thought, but she bit her tongue, she could feel her legs shaking as Amy, Julie-Su and Mina lead her upstairs to get her ready. She really did not want to go on this date, but she didn't want to upset her father so she just went along with it.

In her bedroom, Alyssa sat in front of her mirror in a daze as Mina did her hair, Amy did her make up and Julie-Su did her nails, "you're going to look so beautiful for your date my dear" said Julie-Su, "You're lucky that Gabreial has asked you out" said Amy "he sure is all you'd want in a boyfriend"

"Yeah right!" thought Alyssa, she began to blow on her nails to dry the polish as Julie-Su did her feet, "your father has always thought of the day you'd be going on your first date" said Mina, "from when you were just a child, prancing around in your pretty dresses, and now here you are, a beautiful strong princess, ready to go on her first date!"

Amy then went to the wardrobe and brought out a sparkling black dress, "oh yes!" said Amy looking at it and admiring it, the dress was long and had a trail with sparkling beads and rhinestones, "oh yes!" she turned to Alyssa "you should defiantly wear this one it's perfect!"

Without saying anything, Alyssa put on the dress, as she put it on, the ladies ohhhed and ahhed over her, Alyssa then put on some shiny black shoes, "Ah" said Julie-Su stroking her under the chin "you're ready!" they then lead Alyssa downstairs where Gabreial, Sonic, Sally and the others were waiting for her.

"Wow!" said Knuckles as he stared at the princess, "doesn't she look beautiful" Gabreial smiled as Alyssa descended the staircase, she felt like grimacing when she saw him; he was dressed in a blue suit with gold decoration with white breaches. Bunnie and Antonie were smiled and cooing over their son.

When Alyssa reached the bottom of the stairs, Gabreial held out his hand for her, Alyssa took it and shivered a little, Sonic and Sally smiled, and Sally had a little tear watching her beautiful daughter walk with Gabreial. Outside a carriage with horses was waiting for them.

As Alyssa was helped into the carriage by Gabriel she looked over her shoulder to see Sonic talking seriously to Knuckles and Lara-Su, saying that if any rebels went near his daughter, they were to be killed at once, or taken prisoner. Knuckles then told Sonic "you're daughter is in safe hands"

Later the carriage began to take Gabreial and Alyssa to the restaurant, as the carriage went on, Alyssa looked out of the carriage window at Lara-Su who was riding a brown horse, Lara-Su grinned at her, "don't worry princess" she said "father and I will protect you from rebels"

Alyssa smiled back "thank you Lara" she said, "well, I can fight too, but you are very kind, you and your father" after fifteen minutes they arrived at the restaurant, as they walked in the manager, a smartly dressed badger bowed to them and lead them to a private room away from the other dining guests.

Alyssa gasped at the way they had set up the area, they were on a balcony overlooking the city, and the table was covered with a pretty white cloth, sparking wine glasses, shiny silver utensils and pretty looking china. There was even a band to serenade them.

Alyssa loved the way the place was set up, "it looks lovely" she said to the badger, "your father did request the best for you your highness" said the badger. Alyssa smiled, the badger then stood aside, "Walter will be your waiter tonight" he said. As he spoke a raccoon waiter appeared.

He then pulled the seats out for the couple then poured some champagne into their glasses. Alyssa thanked him then took a sip of her champagne. Gabreial smiled at her over the rim of his glass, Alyssa tried to smile back but it was difficult. What made it worse was when the band started playing a romantic song to them.

Alyssa looked out at the sparkling city and her thoughts were drawn to Angel and when she almost kissed him, "I have to see him again, I know father's gonna be more cautious after that attack on the guard, but I have to see Angel again" she was then dragged from her thoughts when the waiter came back with plates of food. Alyssa got a fish dish with potatoes in a creamy sauce and peas and Gabreial got a steak with potatoes and peas.

As she ate, she could feel the waiter and the manager's eyes on her, as if waiting for Gabreial to propose, Gabreial was talking and talking, but Alyssa wasn't paying attention, the coyote was just talking about himself and more, she felt she was losing the will to live. She just prayed for the evening to be over.

Oh dear, poor Alyssa, must be such a nightmare! To date the man you can't stand! Oh dear!