Hey everyone! Sorry for such a long wait, but I'm here for an update, a birthday update. :3 Happy birthday to my sis, aqua9597! She asked me to make an update, so here I am! Please give her a happy birthday cheer and review and love the chappie!

Chapter 11.

Shadow's thoughts were running so fast, nothing made sense to him. After the king had explained about the past and the six knights who gave their lives to fight for those they care, yet one kingdom had fallen. Scourge wanted the princess for something. Even the king himself had no clue about it. Shadow tried to think of the possible way of why he needed them, but all his thoughts were glued onto the past. Nothing made sense now that so many years had passed.

As he made his way to the door of his chambers, he was about to grip the knob until his ears twitched hearing a sort of weird shuffling sound inside. Shadow, keeping his sword close to him, opened the door ready to strike whoever was inside. His ruby eyes glared at the bed where he heard the noise, but softened to see the pink woman sitting on his bed.

Amy held her head down to the floor sitting in a mannerly pose with her hands on her lap and legs crossed, her left leg behind her right. Her ears twitched hearing the door opened suddenly making the poor girl jump. Her eyes looked up from the floor to the surprised knight, "Sh-Shadow!" she gasped immediately jumping off the bed.

Shadow shook his head from his sudden surprise. He closed his door then made his way to the bed, "What are you doing in here?" he asked slightly annoyed. It wasnt meant to be mean, he just didn't want to deal with her this late at night.

Amy held her head down once more watching her thumbs twiddle around nervously, "...I couldn't sleep." she answered.

He looked up at her confused, "Excuse me?".

"I just couldn't sleep with all this happening. And...I've been getting these weird dreams lately." Amy confessed.

Now he was starting to listen to her, "What were they about?" he asked while having his back to her taking off his belts and sword setting them on the small table next to his bed.

Amy couldnt find the words to describe them. It looked so real, yet so weird to her, "I-I'm not sure." she said, "But I'm still worried about sleeping alone, now...is it alright if I sleep...with you?".

Stopping abruptly, Shadow's head swerved to face her now showing a much surprise look in his features, "What...?" he mumbled.

The young lady looked back up to see him stare at her like that. It made her blush both his surprise look and her question, "I just...I want to be near someone I trust.".

"No.".

Her ears drooped at his answer feeling herself shrink in her place, "...what?" she asked.

"I apologize, but I refuse to sleep with anyone. Even a friend.".

She knew it was hard to pursue a knight like this, but with her dreams and the kidnappings, it was starting to take it's toll onto her making the poor girl restless in bed, "Please? I can't sleep by myself tonight, it's only for one night!" she pleaded holding her hands in prayer.

Shadow sighed pinching his brow in annoyance, "Amy, I-!" he turned to tell her to leave only to see her large emerald eyes so large, it was like a lone puppy wanting attention, "-...uggh...fine." he groaned.

Amy's ears pirked as a smile was grown on her face, "Thank you so much!" she said happily and ready to get into bed.

"Hold it!" she stopped suddenly seeing the knight walk over to the closet.

Shadow opened the doors seeing clothes inside, plus blankets and pillows on the top shelf. He grabbed out two larger pillows being careful not to drop anything else inside, then closed the doors. He made his way over to the bed and placed them sideways standing up so it was like a wall to split them.

Amy only stared at him confused, yet saddened by what he was doing, "Um...now?" she spoke quietly.

The dark knight looked up at her while he started opening the covers for him, he nodded before slipping in carefully. Amy smiled lightly, then slowly climbed in making sure she doesn't move the 'wall'. She layed their heads on the pillows as their backs faced each other. Amy still felt sad that even tho she is now in his bed, she can't help, but smile a little knowing that Shadow has a soft spot for her.


In the princess's chambers, Alester made strict orders to guard each door of the castle, including the guests' room. He also had two guards stationed in front of Alicia's room making sure that no one would even get inside without their permission. Inside, Alicia was resting in bed trying her best to fall alseep.

She hated to be nervous about being kidnapped by a loonatic. Inside, she feared for what would happen if that kidnapper did take her. Her body snuggled in the silk sheets on her bed covering her lower body. Her wings were tucked nicely in her back and fur making sure she doesn't break a feather while she slept. Hugging her body was a satin red night gown that had tiny straps and ruffled lace on the rim.

She silently moved so she was laying down on her side. Alicia stared at the wall till her eyes slowly moved down to the corner of her room on the other side. There sat her bodyguard in a chair with his legs crossed and hands held together in a strange position. Espio was very good at keeping an all nighter when he meditates. It also helped him stay calm in case something happens so he can take care of it easily.

Alicia huffed a soft sigh trying her very best to fall asleep, "You know, less sleep is very bad for your health." she heard Espio respond.

Looking up, she noticed a small smile on his lips when he made that remark. She glared tiredly at him, "Your one to talk..." she argued.

Espio chuckled opening his eyes to stare at her, "Princess, you are safe while I'm here. Nothing will happen to you." he assured her.

With a soft sigh, the angel wolf princess could only nod in response. The chameleon knight could easily tell she was a little scared of this. But he made a promise he was going to keep till the day he is burried six feet under that he will protect her without fail. Keeping that thought in his head, Espio slowly closed his eyes and returned to his meditating.

Some time later, the moon was at it's peak making it like it was twelve o'clock. Alicia still couldn't find it inside to sleep. No matter how hard she tried. She had her body laying on her back staring up at the ceiling looking at the crystal chandelier abover her bed. The moon's glow beamed on the priceless gems hanging elgantly on the golden wire making several other tiny lights around the room like tiny stars.

Finally after so much time waiting, the young wolf maiden's eyes slowly began to close ready to at last be in a relaxing slumber. Tho to her sad luck, a small sound of her window shutting opening caught her attention opening her eyes once more. She sat up quick to see the window closed, but her guard looking out the window suspisciously.

Espio heared the noise of the window being shut, but how could it when it locked tight with a key? Alicia made her way out of bed grabbing a felt black robe from the chair and throwing it around her body, "Espio...?" she spoke quietly.

The chameleon guard had his back to her still trying to figure out what happened, "Something happened, but for some reason, it looked like it didn't happen." he told her while looking back and forth outside seeing if anyone is out there.

"I know...I heard the window being shut, but it's locked." she said tying the sash around her waist.

"Maybe it was our immagination..." Espio suggested leaning back and scratching his head.

The door of her room knocked having the princess flinch. She hugged herself backing away to let Espio walk up to the door. Inside, she couldn't help, but feel scared like something was wrong and he shouldn't open it. Espio stopped at the door, but grabbed the knob before opening, "Who's out there? You can not come in this late." Espio spoke.

No response. Curiosity got the better of him having to open the door wide to see the guards that were stationed outside standing in front of him, "What is the meaning of-!" he was quickly silenced when the two suddenly fell forward onto the carepet dripping with crimson with two daggers deep into their heads.

Alicia covered her mouth with her eyes widened in fear while Espio's was the same, but his was complete shock. Before she could let out a blood curdling scream, a sudden shadowy figure fell from the ceiling to the ground behind her. The sound of feet connecting to the floor brought her attention quick enough to turn her body to see a terrifying face.

"Good morning, princess." Scourge flirted sweeping an arm around her waist pulling the poor girl towards him making her shriek.

Alicia's cry got Espio to turn and see the intruder who everyone was looking for, with his grimy hands on her, "Princess!" he shouted taking out his sword ready to attack him.

Scourge was quick to swipe out his sword and placing it under Alicia's chin close to her neck, "Come forward and she will be dead." he threatened.

Stopping his thoughts on attacking, Espio could only stare at him with pure rage in his eyes. Alicia's were filled with fear than before. She tried her best to stay calm, but having a kidnapper holding her hostage and a blade to her throat wasn't helping her calm down.

"Let her go!" Espio shouted in anger with his fangs bared menacingly.

Scourge's smirk grew hearing the anger in his voice, "I apologize, but she is in my custody from now on." he told him as he began to back away to the closed window.

"Why do you need her? Why do you need all the princesses?!"

"That, I'm not telling you. You should figure that out on your own." the lime green devil said only putting more fule onto the fire.

Alicia felt his grip becoming tighter squeezing her almost to death, "E-Espio..!" she cried out wanting desperately to be out of this guy's arms and away from danger, "H-He-Help...!"

Espio was most ready to stab the sword into his face cutting off his smirk, no less, "You wont get away with this!".

Scourge cackled quietly before he spoke up clearly, "After I am done collecting these low life princesses...I will finally see her again!".

The guard only stared at him confused, "W-What are you talking about?" he asked.

His ears twitched hearing flapping outside. That was his que. Scourge only gave a one last nod before turning around and immediately dash right into the window breaking it into millions of tiny shattered pieces. Espio finally ran after he was broken from a struggling halt up to the window. He grabbed the ledge looking out only to see a large dragon flying up towards him with Scourge on his back and in his arms was the terrified angel princess.

"Thank you for taking care of her! I'll be off to find more soon! In the meantime, sayonara, you fools!" Scourge shouted out loud with a wave from his hand and a kick start having the dragon start to fly off away from the castle.

Espio watched helplessly seeing the dragon, Scourge, and his precious person started to get smaller and smaller hearing the shrill cries from her. He banged his hand hard on the wall of the broken window having small peices fall off from the vibration, then let out an angered cry of anger, and failure.

"NOOO!"