Epilogue:
Julie and Amy fussed over Sally as the fiddled with the ruffles of the elegant white dress she wore and the crown of flowers resting on her professionally styled hair. "Its fine you two!" she laughed nervously. "I'm the one getting married after all," she reminded them.
Amy was on the verge of tears. "Oh, my Sonic and his princess are finally tying the knot!" she wailed. Although she'd come to terms with Sonic's love for Sally, she still referred to him as hers, a bit of a joke really.
"Yeah, we're proud of you. I'm glad you two worked things out after all," Julie agreed, ignoring Sally's words of desisting. "I mean it's a shame we never had that, erm, fling Knuckles wanted, but this is still an important day for all of us. Not only is it your marriage, but your coronation after Eggman's fall. Good riddance!" she added.
Sally blushed a little at the subject Julie brought up. True, she had considered it, but never got an opportunity after finally getting back with Sonic. He really did change. He never again deceived her or put himself unduly in danger. Knuckles of course wasn't all too happy about the outcome, but got over it and him and Sonic seemed inseparable when Knux accepted it. Sonic no longer seemed to blame Knuckles for nearly stealing Sally away from him.
As if summoned by speak of the devil, a familiar knock came from the door. "Come in," she called.
The door opened to reveal a bearded echidna in a traditional looking suit standing in the doorway. Knuckles strode in to the room and closed the door softly behind him.
"Knuckles," Sally greeted. "I'm glad you could attend."
"What? Did you expect me to miss my oldest friend's own wedding? And coronation to make it all the more special?" he asked, cracking a wide grin. His mechanical eye roved Sally's graceful form. "You're beautiful," he breathed. "Of course, you always have been, but the dress just proves my point."
"Thank you, Knuckles"
Amy decided to interject, "Wait. Should he be here before the ceremony?"
Knuckles gave a dismissive wave, "Ah, Amy, that's for the groom. Besides, surely you don't believe in old wives' tales?"
"Maybe they know what they're talking about on the subject of marriage. They are old wives after all," Amy defended herself.
"Touché," Knuckles conceded.
"Well what do you want?" Sally asked, "I know you didn't come to just debate the validity of urban legends."
"You're right," he told her. "I wanted to see you myself before you're married and become Mrs. Hedgehog."
Sally turned to face him. "Well, here I am. Not much has changed as you can see." She gestured her entire body.
Knuckles nodded as he stroked his beard. "You haven't aged a day… Sorry I can't say the same for myself," he joked.
"Oh, you're still handsome," she assured him and stepped off the stool, forcing Julie to abandon her work. "I wonder when you two plan to get hitched," she said as she indicated Knuckles and Julie.
Knuckles shook his head again and smiled, "Nah, we're not really the conformist type. We've decided we don't need a document that's says we love each other when we get by fine without it." Julie nodded her agreement.
"That's a shame," Sally said. "I was looking forward to torment Julie with details like she's been doing to me for days." She laughed and winked at the echidna.
"Looks like you won't have the pleasure," Julie retorted.
Knuckles glanced at his watch, "Well, it's only minutes before Sonic puts on the ole Ball-'n'-Chain. I've looked forward to this moment for a long time."
Sally punched his shoulder good-naturedly. "How dare you refer to me as a 'ball-and-chain!' It could have just as easily been you, you know?"
Knuckles grinned again as he tenderly rubbed the sore spot on his arm, "I know. I was just kidding. I'd be honored to have such a royal ball attached to my chain," he chuckled. "Although I suppose the people wouldn't appreciate a scandal involving a concubine," here he gestured to Julie, "from their first new King."
"Concubine am I?" Julie demanded, trying to keep a straight face, but failing.
"No; of course not, dear," Knuckles quickly soothed, as he winked at Sally. The chipmunk giggled as the echidnas pretended to be fighting. At least Knuckles found someone who made him happy. He deserved that after all he'd done for the Acorn Kingdom and, in a broader sense, the world even if most of the people didn't know the true story.
"I better get out of here, before I get attacked by crazy girls," Knuckles began as he started to back out of the room. "I need to go make sure Sonic doesn't try to escape anyways," he added, "As best man and priest, it wouldn't be fitting for me to let the groom go missing. Excuse me, ladies." With that, Knuckles left the room. Amy and Julie once again began fiddling with various aspects of Sally's outfit, the princess sighed but let the two have their fun.
At last, the wedding procession began. Knuckles stood behind the Master Emerald and Sonic was standing on his side looking rather regal in royal wear, since he would officially be taking on mantle of King of the New Acorn Kingdom. The guests, some former members of the Freedom Fighters and others common folk wishing to see this historic moment, rose to their feet respectfully as Sally began her way down the red carpet accompanied by Julie and Amy holding up her train. Cream the Rabbit skipped ahead of them, liberally tossing rose petals on the path. Tails watched her from beside Sonic holding a pillow with two rings resting on it.
Knuckles looked officious yet proud of having the honor of heading the wedding and coronation both of his closest friends. He had been named Steward by Sally the instant her royal line was recognized after Eggman's defeat. As such, it was his duty to oversee such events. Sally ascended the stairs and stopped opposite of Sonic. She smiled and he smiled right back, love clearly evident in his eyes.
"We are gathered here today to witness the union of these two souls under the eyes of the Gods. May Aurora bless her children and their marriage," Knuckles began and continued to recite the traditional passages of holy marriage.
At length, it came time for vows to be exchanged. Sonic was told to go first. Sonic produced the small black book in which he was supposed to write and recite his vows. Sally could see though the pages were blank except for a couple doodles at the bottom left corner s of the pages, making a flipbook of a sort. Trademark Sonic. "Sally, I know we had our rough spots and there were times when I tested our love, but somehow we came through. When I first met you, I must admit I thought you were some stuck-up princess who would be more of a liability than anything else. But over time, I grew feelings for you and I loved you like I never loved another other or ever since. I vow to run this kingdom to the best of my ability, but I will never forget the thing that matters most in my life: you."
Amy set up a wail in the crowd, but quickly controlled herself as she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. A handsome brown ferret male put a comforting hand on the hedgehog's back which Sally noted with some pleasure. Amy might've found someone after all.
Knuckles looked over to Sally as sonic tucked the book back in his vest pocket. Julie handed the chipmunk her book filled with nice, neat handwriting. She found the passage she wanted and proceeded to read aloud: "Sonic, you were my knight in shining armor from the moment I first laid eyes on you. I had always wished I would be able to marry for love and not an arranged marriage like my mother before me. With Eggman's takeover however, romance was forced to the back of mind as I hide for my life. But the way you courageously fought back with no regard for your own safety to see freedom restored to a broken land, made me reawaken my old dreams of true love. And while we've certainly had our share of trials and tribulations, I'm glad I had you by my side all through them. I never want anyone else to be by my side to help me rebuild what has been lost."
Knuckles nodded solemnly then with great relish started up again. "Now that the lovers have recited their vows to one another, I humbly ask the groom: What pledge do you give to Princess Sally?"
"A ring," Sonic answered. Tails walked up and presented the silk pillow to the hedgehog. Sonic plucked the gold ring with a Chaos Emerald shard embedded in it. He took Sally's bare hand in his own.
"And this Ring, do you give to Princess Sally as a sign and seal of the endless affection with which you will cherish her, and the unbroken fidelity with which you will perform to her the vows of a husband? Do you?"
"I do." With that, he slipped the ring on Sally's left wedding finger.
"Sonic, as you place this ring on Princess Sally's finger please repeat after me: WITH THIS RING I THEE WED; AND WITH ALL MY WORLDLY GOODS, I THEE ENDOW . . ."
"With this ring I thee wed; and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow my life and undying love." Sonic repeated and finished.
"Princess Sally what pledge do you give Sir Sonic?"
"A ring." Sally took the other silver ring and took Sonic's gloveless hand this time.
"And this ring, do you give to him as a sign and seal of the endless affection with which you will cherish him, and the unbroken fidelity with which you will perform to him the vows of a wife? Do you?"
"I do."
"Princess Sally, as you place this ring on Sir Sonic's finger, please repeat after me, WITH THIS RING I THEE WED: AND WITH ALL MY WORLDLY GOODS, I THEE ENDOW . . ."
"With this ring I thee wed; and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow my kingdom and its people as well as claim to the throne."
"I now pronounce you man and wife! You may kiss the bride," Knuckles informed them. Sonic threw back sally's veil and passionately kissed her amid whoops and cheers from the crowd. When Sonic and Sally broke the kiss, Knuckles walked back around the Master Emerald and presented the Sword of Acorn to Sonic. "Take this and with it, the throne of the restored Acorn Kingdom. May our ancestors smile down upon you."
Sonic bowed respectfully and took the sheathed blade in his hands. He drew it and touched the blade to Knuckles' shoulders. "Rise, sir Steward and Guardian of Angel Island." Knuckles stood and Sonic re-sheathed the powerful artifact.
Sonic turned to the crowd and took Sally's arm with free one and descended to join the reception. As the group stepped down the stairs, Julie leaned in to the newly appointed Queen and whispered, "If this marriage doesn't work out, me and Knux are still available."
Sally gave the echidna a startled look unsure of whether it was a joke or not. Julie revealed nothing as she greeted Amy approaching with the ferret in her arms.
* * *
Author's Note: Well, this IS the official ending of Promises. Hope you all had as much fun reading it as I had writing it! Please R&R and favorite this story if you liked it and be sure to follow my account if you'd like. Oh, and an OC makes a cameo here. Just so you know, I'm thinking that the brown ferret guy is me in the story: Garet the Ferret. Yeah, it rhymes. Anyways, I've assigned a couple songs to select chapters that I think fit the mood of that particular chapter.
Chapter 1: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift
Chapter 2: "Do You Remember" by Jay Sean ft. Sean Paul and Lil Jon
Chapter 3: "Forever Young" by Jon Stewart
Chapter 4: "We Don't Get Along" by Go-Go's
Chapter 5: "Ace in the Hole" by George Strait
Chapter 6: "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
Chapter 7: "Roll Up" by Whiz Kallifa (and overall theme)
Chapter 8: "Brokenhearted" by Karmin
Chapter 9: "Your Betrayal" by Bullet for my Valentine
Chapter 10: "Apologize" by OneRepublic and "All I Ever Wanted" by Basshunter
Epilogue: "Roll Up" by Whiz Kallifa (2nd time played at end)
Well, what do you think?