Chapter forty-eight

Shadow wondered out into the breaks area outside to get some air and looked around. It wasn't like a normal playground for little ones but similar to those a high school would have. There was an area that had tables with benches to sit on and a couple of vending machines to the side of the tables filled with snacks and bottled blood. There was also a basketball court on the opposite side to the table area and further along a tennis court within a tall wired fence. Beyond the tennis court were high metal pole like fencing, with the flat poles separated by a couple of inches and attached together at the top, to separate the school grounds with a small forest of trees and other plant life.

"Nicholas will definitely love it here, there is so much to occupy him with." Shadow thought as he faintly smiled.

Suddenly a ringing bell filled the area to signal morning break and Shadow knew this outside area was going to be filling up with the students here. He made a conscious decision to move away from the double doors and stood up against the wall next to them so he wouldn't be blocking the children coming out. As he thought kids soon came walking out while chatting to friends, with some going over to the tables and others grouping together to have a quick game of basketball.

"Not all the students are out here, maybe morning break is a choice or something." Shadow thought as he only counted about half the student population out here.

Shadow watched the group over at the basketball court and grinned, deciding to walk over and watch from a closer view. He stopped at the side lines next to one of the hoops and lent against the long pole with arms crossed.

"You can't stand there it isn't very safe for you!" One of the ten year olds called over to Shadow, making all in the group look over to their future ruler.

"No? Well I guess that is my problem then isn't it!" Shadow called back and looking very amused as they all started to walk over to him.

"You have to move or we cannot play, the rules state that no one is to start a game until all those who are not playing are at a safe distance. So move." A human boy seriously said and pointed to a space off the court to his left.

"Really now and exactly how are you going to make me move huh?" Shadow said in a challenging manner and smirked at the kid talking to him.

"I'll push you off the court." The kid replied with a deep unhappy look and took a couple of steps towards Shadow so he was right in front of him.

"So you will push me off the court knowing those action could get you arrested? You are one brave kid but have you ever thought to ask nicely for me to move?" Shadow said with his smirk growing fangy and keeping his tone nice and calm.

"Can you please move away from the hoop so we can start our game Master Shadow?" A different kid asked as he looked at Shadow.

"Yes I would gladly move aside…see having manners wont kill you and being polite to those who are older than you is priceless, doesn't cost you a thing. Now enjoy your game and no rough play, don't want to break those safety rules do you." Shadow said with his smirk in place and kept to his calm tone then casually walked away towards the entrance doors.

"JERK!" The boy shouted as he glared at Shadow leaving.

Shadow was half way to the doors when that was called. He stopped walking and turned around then began to walk back to the group, mainly the rude child that clearly seemed to lack respect.

"Now look what you have done Carlo, he's coming back." One whispered as all watched with some fear, well Carlo just kept glaring at Shadow as Shadow got closer and closer until he stopped right in front of Carlo.

"A jerk am I? I have been called many things in my life but this is a new one to add to the list. You young man lack respect and if you were my son I would be ashamed of your behaviour, especially towards someone who will be ruling over you one day. Luckily for you I do not hold grudges and I am very forgiving so long as others do not keep repeating their mistakes. I'm going to pretend you didn't call me that and go about this visit like nothing happened. Now think before you open that mouth of yours when addressing me and remember we may meet again one day and that day you will be addressing me as Lord Shadow not Master Shadow. I'll leave you to your thoughts and please have a nice break." Shadow calmly said with a semi serious look in his eyes then once again walked away with nothing called back to him.

Shadow walked into the school with a cheerful smile and soon bumped into his father and Mrs Harley. He smiled politely and began to follow them to the staff room area.

Back at the palace, an hour later…

"What do you think uncle Sonic?" Nicholas asked as the two of them were back in the entertainment room.

Nicholas wanted to make thank you cards, one for his uncle Shadow and one for his grandpa Collin. Right now he had finished making Shadows thank you card and was handing it over for Sonic to check it out.

"Hey you got your uncles likeness, very well drawn." Sonic said with a smile as he looked at the front cover first, it being a picture of Nicholas and Shadow hugging and a speech bubble coming out of Nicholas' mouth stating thank you.

Sonic opened it up and smiled wider as there was another picture on one side of the card of Shadow and Nicholas holding hands while walking up to the schools main entrance together with big happy smiles.

"To uncle Shadow, thank you so, so much for helping me to get the opportunity to retake that entry test. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be getting a second chance at going to a school I know I will really love. Lots of love, hugs and kisses from Nicholas…Aw that is so sweet Nicholas, your uncle Shadow will love this." Sonic read out the message and felt a warm feeling from the child's words, a soft smile was on his muzzle.

"I hope so, now to make a start on grandpa Collins card." Nicholas said with a smile then grabbed what he needed.

"Oh believe me he is going to love this." Sonic said with a light chuckle as he folded the card back up and placed it on the coffee table.

"Hello boys, oh you making cards?" Emily said as she entered then noticed the finished card on the table, picking it up and opening it up.

Emily read the message and began to warmly smile at her grandsons words for Shadow.

"Aw this is so sweet and is this you and uncle Shadow walking to school together?" Emily softly said as she looked at the picture inside the handmade card.

"Yep, I am going to ask him to take me to school on my first day there." Nicholas said brightly as he looked up at his grandmother with a confident smile that he will pass this time and his uncle will take him on his first day.

"Uncle Shadow will definitely be all up for that." Sonic said with a grin, knowing Shadow will jump at the chance to do that.

"Yes he will love to take you on your first day. Ok it is time to take a break for it is time to have lunch." Emily said as she placed the card back onto the coffee table.

At Little Willows…

"Finally lunchtime is close which means this visit is coming to an end." Shadow thought as he and his father walked with Mrs Harley out of one last classroom they had just spent ten minutes in talking to some of the children and the tutor.

Lets just say that ten minutes dragged for Shadow as that kid from the basketball court was in there and giving Shadow some dirty unimpressed looks. Shadow of course pretended he didn't notice but he did and it was starting to get to him. Luckily for the kid it was time for Shadow to leave by the time his patience was icy thin and was planning to go over to find out what that kids problem was.

"Just a few more minutes and this visit will be all over with then I can have breakfast in bed tomorrow morning and dad will have to serve me it too." Shadow thought as he kept that thought in his mind as they walked down the hallway.

"Just one last place to go then we can close this visit." Mrs Harley cheerfully announced as they approached the room she was leading the royals to.

They walked in and Shadow smiled warmly at the eleven five year olds sitting at desks writing in there exercise books while the tutor went around checking their work as they wrote.

"I thought I would show you where the little ones are and how their lessons are a little more constructed than the other students. First years have a routine scheduled day and only have free choice time once a week on a Friday. During this year they are constantly being assessed on their work and what they are excelling at so when they move up they will have more free choice on what they wish to learn more of. Near the end of the year each child will have an interview with their tutor and talk about what they want to do when they return after the five week school break. A schedule would be planned out for the students that they will have to follow but it is more scheduled with their chosen subjects to learn. Of course all years learn the basics but on a more advance level and it is done in more detail than say what a regular first year high school student would learn." Mrs Harley said with a soft tone so not to disturb the children working hard.

"Right does the tutor set homework at this age?" Shadow asked as he looked around at the, in his opinion, adorable five year olds working away.

"Oh yes they are set three pieces of homework a week that has to be handed in at the end of the following week. We set projects for them to do during school breaks that has to be completed and handed in on the first day back to school." Mrs Harley said as she looked over at Shadow with a smile, still keeping to her quiet tone.

"Wow that is less than what Nicholas is getting at the moment, that should give him more free time to do what children are supposed to do." Shadow thought as he smiled back and nodded in satisfaction to the answer he got.

"Aright children finish off your sentences and pack up, it is almost time for lunch." The tutor announced after glancing at the clock above the smart-board.

"Well this visit has been very educational and a treat. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to escort us both around." Shadow politely said with a smile as he and his father followed Mrs Harley out of the classroom and towards the main entrance of the school, eager to get out and start spending the rest of the day with his father alone.

"Oh that to me sounds too eager to leave." Collin thought as he smiled at the headmistress with a nod in agreement to his sons words.

"Oh it was an absolute pleasure and this afternoon I will get straight to organising that entry test for Nicholas. I will contact Tanya as soon as it is ready to be taken." Mrs Harley said with a cheerful tone then all stopped in the front reception area.

"Thank you again Mrs Harley and we hope to visit again soon, have a good afternoon wont you." Collin said with a gentle tone.

After more good byes both royals walked out side by side at a respectable pace.

"Man a select few of those kids there are right snobs and so rude too, don't even know basic manners." Shadow complained in a mumbled voice after the front doors closed shut behind them both.

"You do know that is a complaint and we are still on the schools grounds. I do believe you have lost our bet son." Collin chuckled as he gave his son a side glance, smirking in victory.

"But we are leaving and the visit is over, I won this bet and you are the one that has lost." Shadow argued back as he turned his head and looked up at his father with a small frown.

"You also sounded very eager to leave a moment ago so I win and you are playing servant boy this evening." Collin said with a devious look back at his son as both stopped at the end of the pathway.

"But…" Shadow started to argue some more then soon began to grin.

"If I do this then dad doesn't have to go into the kitchens tomorrow morning and find out about the head chefs cat, which I am sure he has yet to be told about." Shadow thought and it was that thought that made him grin.

"Alright I admit I was eager to end the visit so you do win. I will happily except defeat against you and take my temp place as servant boy this evening. Do I have to wear the uniform?" Shadow said with a hint of mischief in his red eyes.

"No but if you want to you can." Collin said with amusement.

"And can I return the uniform in the morning?" Shadow asked next as he watched his father make a portal for the two of them to walk through.

"Planning a little role play with Sonic later huh?" Collin chuckled as he dropped his hand and glanced at his son.

"I think after all that has happened we deserve a little fun." Shadow smirked back with a wink at his father.

"Then yes you can return the uniform in the morning, just drop it off in the laundry room to be washed and ironed before you both make your way to breakfast. Come on lets go get some lunch together then I will take you to the prison." Collin grinned then placed a hand on his sons back and guided the way into the portal.

Back at the palace…

"I wonder how the visit went?" Sonic asked as he, Emily, Tanya and Nicholas were half way through with lunch.

"I am sure it went very well and I do hope nothing was said about those handcuffs on them both." Emily said with a sigh at the end.

"When is grandpa Collin going to take them off?" Nicholas asked with a look of wonder at his grandmother.

"I think he plans to take them off tonight before bedtime sweetheart." Emily answered as she was sure her husband was going to keep those cuffs on until past eight o'clock tonight.

"Oh good, I don't thing dad would want to go back to the bridal store and once again have more awkward moments with those cuffs on when Shadow has to try on his wedding clothes for measuring up." Tanya said with relief as she imagined tomorrow would be filled with arguments if those handcuffs were sill on.

"Oh yeah I forgot about tomorrow, so what is the colour theme for our wedding clothes or do I have to wait and see?" Sonic said with a cheerful tone while looking over at Tanya slightly opposite him, an excited smile was on his muzzle at getting to go into the city here with Shadow.

"Me and Max have decided on a peach and white theme so the suits are mostly white with peach under coats, a pale peachy white shirt and a peach rose on the white jacket. The trousers are white, so is the bowtie and the shoes will be black. We might need to do shoe shopping too while we are out for you both." Tanya said with a dreamy sigh at the end, very much looking forward to this trip and seeing her brother and his mate in the wedding clothes.

"Sounds really cool, I can't wait to see what me and Shadow will look like. Speaking of Shadow, how is he going to get the top half of the clothes on?" Sonic asked with a puzzled frown as he had watched Shadow demonstrate to him that he simply couldn't get comfortable in shirts, t-shirts, jumpers and jackets, some even just didn't go on unless it was a few sizes too big and even then it looked wrong.

"Oh don't you worry Shadow has something a little different than all the other boys but the colours are the same. He and dad are the only exception to look different because of their wings being so big." Tanya winked with a grin at Sonic.

"See now I'm even more looking forward to tomorrow, just to see Shadow in something smart. I've only ever seen him in casual clothes, actually I think he has only ever seen me in casual clothes too." Sonic said with a grin back.

"Can I come too mama? I want to see them both in their new wedding clothes." Nicholas asked with a pleading look up at his mother.

"Well I don't know sweetie, it is a school day and your tutor will be back tomorrow. Saying that I could ring him up later and ask him to come in, in the afternoon. Ok then you can come too." Tanya said as she thought about it then decided to allow this.

"Yay." Nicholas cheered out with happiness, smiling brightly that he got that yes.

"Awesome tomorrow is going to be so epic." Sonic said with a cheerful voice then ate the last of his lunch.

"Make sure you take a few pictures Tanya, I want to see my boys looking very smart." Emily said with a bright smile over at her daughter, who nodded in agreement to that request.

(Thanks for reading and I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next one will be out soon so until then...)