Before the Final Rose Petal Falls

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or Beauty and the Beast

A/N: Twelve reviews for the last chapter! -happy tears- You guys really like me! (sorta) Thank you!


Chapter 12: A New Chapter Begins

If one looked out a window within the castle, the would notice how dreary the weather was. The clouds had gathered into a vastness of gray, and the winds blew as a rain fell steadily. Yet to three couples whom were very much in love, the weather was anything but dreary. Even without the assistance of sunlight, the grass appeared to be a brilliant emerald while the flowers shone with the vibrancy of the rainbow itself. The wind was like music, a legato, piano waltz; the rain was just plain old fun to dance in.

Amy was laughing as she and Sonic whirled around and around. "This is so much fun, Sonic! I could do this all day long!"

Sonic laughed with her, leaning in to murmur in her ear. "As long as you're in my arms, I don't mind doing this all day long either." He grinned as he watched her blush, stammering a 'thank-you'. He calmed her down by kissing her softly and sweetly.

Near the two hedgies danced Knuckles and Rouge. The echidna rolled his eyes as he watched his best friend make Amy blush before kissing her. "Uh, Rouge? Can you remember a time when Sonic acted like such a Casanova?"

"Better a Casanova than a Romeo," Rouge quipped. "Be happy for him, Knuckie," She coaxed. "It seems like Amy was the best thing that has ever happened to Sonic. Actually, the best thing for all of us."

Knuckles nodded. "That's true. We wouldn't be dancing like this if it wasn't for Amy coming to the castle. She's brought life back to this place." He dipped Rouge before spinning her out and pulling her close to his side.

Quietly swaying from side to side, holding each other with a close distance was Silver and Blaze. Still not quite used to being a couple, both dancers had a raspberry blush accentuating their muzzles. "This is…nice," Blaze began, a shy grin creeping along her face.

"It's very nice," Silver softly agreed. "You are quite lovely when you smile Blaze." He grinned as he listened to her giggle, it was like music to the hedgehog. "Did I mention when you blush it seems to brighten your eyes?" Blushing harder, the violet cat buried her flaming face into the crook of Silver's neck who wasted no time in wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"I thought you were supposed to be the sweet, stumbling, naïve one," She grumbled against his pale silver fur.

He chuckled. "I guess love makes people more confident…do crazy things, it all depends on the situation."

Blaze lifted her head away from his neck. "What do you mean, 'crazy things'?"

Silver smiled crookedly and pulled her in for a sweet, gentle kiss, laughing against her lips as he felt her sway in his arms.


Indeed a pair of ocean eyes were watching the romantic scene beneath them. They were watching one couple in particular. Sonic and Amy. The two hedgehogs, prince and princess. Beauty and the Beast. Tails let out a long sigh. It wasn't that he wasn't happy that his sister found love. She was happy, truly happy and it wasn't in thanks to her paper dreams. He just wasn't so sure about Sonic. Yes, the cobalt hedgehog had swept Amy off her feet more so when the spell had been lifted in comparison to when he was a werehog. But Sonic was still himself on the inside, when he had tossed Tails into the cell, it was his every enchantment, not some side effect of the spell. He had to wonder, would Sonic wind up becoming cold and callous once again, breaking Amy's heart in the process?

He wouldn't stand for that.

"Tails?"

The golden-furred kitsune was startled out of his reverie as he jumped and whirled around, coming face to face with the castle's resident gardener, Cosmo. Her wide pale blue eyes studied him inquisitively. "Is everything alright?"

He bit his lip. What was he supposed to say? 'Oh, sure everything's fine. Wonderful, even. There's just one, tiny little problem. I'm having a hard time trusting your Prince, my sister's fiancé.' Something told him, that wouldn't sit so well with the pretty girl standing before him.

"I-I'm fine, Cosmo," Tails began. "I-it's just…" He sighed, he was never very good at speaking his mind without Amy who was so good at reading his emotions, prompting the topic.

Cosmo smiled lightly as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever is bothering you Tails, you can tell me. Perhaps if we work together, we can come up with a solution."

Letting out a sigh, Tails figured it wouldn't hurt to tell Cosmo. Perhaps she'd have some words of wisdom for him about Sonic. "Well, you see, i-i-it's about Sonic."

Cosmo's smile turned into a frown of confusion. "What about Prince Sonic?"

Tails looked away, staring at Cosmo directly in the eye made things too hard. "I…don't know if I can trust him."

"You are referring to the time he placed you in the tower dungeon, correct?" The young inventor whipped his head forward, eyes wide.

"How'd you know? I heard you were outside, living in the gardens."

The Seedrian giggled. "Word does travel around the castle, Tails. My friends did come outside and visit me." Her gaze softened. "Listen, has anyone told you why we were placed under the enchantment in the first place?"

"No," Tails admitted. "I only heard from Amy how much Sonic had changed."

"Well, about five years ago, we lost our king and queen."

"King Julius and Queen Elena," Tails supplied.

Cosmo nodded. "The loss of both our rulers was truly devastating. Yet no one suffered more than Prince Sonic. After all, they were his mother and father. The poor boy was inconsolable, not even those of us who were closest to him could make him smile. All he could do was lament and self-loathe.

We were quite lucky your sister was able to coax himself out of the darkness he had created. You see, the behavior Prince Sonic was exhibiting as the werehog was more anger and anguish, only this time out of shame due to the result of his previous comportment. I believe that now his wounds are fully healed. He has apologized to everyone in the castle, I think you are next in line."

It was Tails' turn to frown. "What do you mean?"

"Hey, Tails?"

The boy spun around to see Sonic lingering in the doorway, looking nervous, despite holding Amy's hand, a new source of calm for him. "Can we talk?"

Feeling Cosmo gently squeeze his hand and give him a nod, Tails went over to Sonic's side. "Sure."

Smiling half-way, Sonic reluctantly let go of Amy's hand to lead Tails into the library. He raked a hand through his quills, unsure of why he was so nervous. His other talks with his friends had gone fine, yet this one seemed harder to initiate. Perhaps it was the fact that Tails was Amy's brother and he wanted the boy's approval as much as he would have wanted her father's. Perhaps it was also because of the fact that Tails had no idea what his past was about.

"I forgive you."

Sonic's eyes snapped open, yet he refused to look at the boy. "You do? So easily?"

"Cosmo explained everything."

The hedgehog prince grinned tightly. "Ah, of course. I should thank her later. Still, it was wrong of me to throw you into the tower and treat you so callously."

"You saved my sister's life," Tails replied. "And I'm beginning to see why she loves you. You're not as cold as you thought you were. Stop beating yourself up, Sonic. It's not healthy." His voice became teasing. "Besides, do you want to go through that whole werehog bit again?"

"Chaos, no," Sonic shuddered. "Anything but that. Ames may say she loves me no matter what, but I'd still like to keep my speed thanks very much." He finally turned around to look at Tails. "So you really forgive me?"

Tails nodded.

Sonic stuck out his hand. "What do you say? Pals?"

Tails grinned, shaking his hand. "Pals."


The next time it rained there were four couples whirling around, waltzing across their grassy emerald ballroom and at the edge of the storm clouds was a hint of pure turquoise sky. It was the hint of a promise, the turning of a page. The start of a brand new story, one that they could all live, with the guarantee of a happy ending.


Well, that's it folks. This is done. Just a few things to say.

*That thirteenth chapter is actually two poems I had written ages ago that go along with this story.

*I had planned another scene for this chapter, but it didn't seem to fit, so it'll most likely wind up as a Snapshot, just noted as a "deleted scene".

* Ninety reviews so far! Yay! Whoever is reviewer number 100 will be able to choose the plot of an upcoming Snapshot. Just tell me what you want and I'll write it.

* I'm not sure what I want to title my new story, so I'll list out the options and you guys can submit your votes in your reviews. Your input will mean so much!

-Proving Yourself

-The Lady Knight

-Ruthless the Maiden