Chapter 14: Sonic's Reaction

"Oh hell no." I shook my head and backed away from the wizard. "My home is with Tails, and Knuckles, Amy, Shadow... all my friends. That's where I belong."

"Arthur, I know this can be a lot to take in..." Merlin said.

"I'm not Arthur."

"...but Camelot needs thee to take thine rightful place as king."

I looked around at everyone as Lancelot and Galahad dropped to one knee and bowed their heads down. Antoine was looking at me in shock, and Merlin had a simple smile on his face.

"Your Royal Highness, forgive my treatment of you thus far," Lancelot's voice drew my attention back to him. "If I had but known-"

"Stop bowing."

"But, thou art the long lost prince. It is only proper-"

I turned and ran, quickly going at a speed I knew they wouldn't be able to follow. When I said it would be interesting to see this time, I meant goofing off. Not being some long-lost heir to the throne of a kingdom that accepted slavery. I hadn't even meant to become a slave, and look what had happened. Shaking my head, I looked around and slowed to a stop. The trees opened onto a cliff overlooking the sea, the sound of crashing waves the only thing I really heard.

I couldn't be Arthur. Merlin had me mistaken with some other person. And even if I was, I had no interest in taking the throne. I like my life exciting and free, not boring and stuck in a castle. They'd have to find someone else. Sure, I could abolish the whole slavery deal if I just accepted it, but was it really worth it? Years of being stuck in a castle, unable to do my own thing because of a title I didn't even want? And what about Tails? He'd never see me again, and with no explanation what happened to me. I couldn't do that to him. To them. I know they could handle Eggman, especially with Shadow... Tears started blocking my vision as I thought about it and I didn't bother trying to get rid of them. After all the stuff I've been through here, I deserve to be sad for a bit. Not every day you're told you can't see your friends ever again because of something you had no clue about. It's all I've wanted since I got here- well that and my usual need to help- and Merlin apparently refused to help.

"So this is where thee got off to."

I ignored him, turning away from the direction his voice had come in. Letting him see me cry would be the same as letting Shadow see it.

"Thou truly wish to abandon thine people?"

"They aren't my people. I'm not even from this place," I said,

"I am aware." I heard him sit beside me, but still refused to turn toward him. "It is thine friends, is it not?"

"I can't just leave them. They're my life... even Amy's too important to just leave. Arthur or not, that's where I belong."

Lancelot sighed. "I can understand where thou art coming from. Leaving a beloved is never easy..."

"No no no," I interrupted. "Amy's just a friend. I don't even like..." Biting my lip, I left the rest of that sentence unsaid. That was territory I wasn't sure I should get into with Lancelot. It would only lead somewhere I still wasn't sure about.

"You do not like her?"

"Not the way she wants. I just... never really thought of females... I don't want to talk about this with you."

I could feel my face heating up.

"Why not? If I can be of assistance," Lancelot offered.

"It's complicated." I could barely explain it to myself, much less him. "And could you treat me like Sonic?"

"I mustn't. If the others were to see me treating thee as such-"

"I'll tell them I wanted you to."

"Thou art no longer a slave. I cannot treat you as such."

I turned to look at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. "You haven't been treating me like a slave the past few days. Time to fess up and-"

I was cut off by his lips pressing into mine. It lasted only a few seconds, but those seconds were enough to set my heart racing and my mind into confusion. When, how, and why came to mind first, but I was too shocked to speak as he pulled back and raised a brow. Shaking my head, I felt a smirk come onto my face.

"Well, well... Falling for your male slave? Isn't that generally frowned upon?"

"Acting upon it us frowned upon, not the falling itself." Lancelot looked away from me, toward the trees. "Moreso now that thou art the prince."

"Then don't think of me as the prince- I don't want you to anyway." Lancelot looked back at me in shock. Before he could protest, I spoke again. "I don't want to be treated like someone I'm not. Just treat me the way you'd treat anyone you're in love with."

There was a silence between us for what must have been one of the longest minutes of my life. But it was never a good idea to rush someone when they were thinking, so I kept my mouth shut and waited. Finally, he sighed.

"Very well then." Lancelot stood and looked down at me. "The others are awaiting our return by the sword. Let's be off."

I smiled and got to my feet as well. "Sure thing Master."

I didn't wait to see his reaction, hurrying off into the trees and away from the cliff's edge. I could hear his footsteps quickly catching up behind me and soon he was at my side again. Looking over, I laughed when I saw his frown.

"You needn't call me Master any longer," he said.

"Maybe I want to." I was technically free now; I could do whatever I wanted. Lancelot huffed and I couldn't help but notice the faint flush on his cheeks. That definitely wasn't from running.

"Art thou going to take up the sword, even if thou doest not wish for the crown?"

Sure, change the subject.

I sighed. "If it's necessary." I really didn't want the throne but I couldn't just abandon an entire kingdom when they needed my help. If the prophecy was to be believed, anyway. "But even if I do take the sword, there's no way I'm becoming your king. Got that?"

"If that is thy wish. No one can force thee to take the throne."

"Let's hope Merlin agrees."

I had the feeling the wizard would be against the idea. He was the one who told me I couldn't go back home because I'm supposedly Arthur. Even if I did take the throne, I doubt I could change much. A law being passed couldn't get rid of something like slavery just like that. Not to mention all the people that would be against the idea... I shook my head. There were more important things to be thinking about. No use thinking about it if the kingdom got destroyed before then. I could worry about political nonsense after Camelot was saved from whatever evil the prophecy was talking about.

"Thy art finally back." Galahad's voice interrupted my thoughts and I looked around.

It hadn't taken long to get back to the clearing. Everyone was still there, each doing their own thing. Galahad was waving for us to come over, his sword laying on the ground in front of him. Merlin looked like he was casting some kind of spell, and Antoine was examining the sword.

"Since you are now back, I shall take my leave." Antoine gave a small bow. "There are things I must be getting to here. If you are in need of ze ship, just ask my crew. They can bring you back before returning here for me."

The coyote walked off and I looked at Merlin. "So... what's this evil threatening Camelot?"