Chapter 12:
A Hot Spring and a Cool Night
Prince Shadow snuck out of his room and up to the tallest tower of the palace. He climbed the stairs swiftly, his bare feet silent on the carpet. He held his skates in one hand as he climbed, his heart beating a tattoo against his ribs. His mind churned with thoughts of Sonic, remembering her kiss and wondering about the glow around her. Tails had seen that glow, and if even a newcomer to the kingdom could see that glow, how could anyone else fail to see it? He would ask the fairies to teach Tails their ways as well.
As he reached a hand up to open the trap door in the ceiling, he wondered if Carter and Clarice hadn't already been subtly teaching Tails, just like Sonic was being taught. Sonic wasn't new to the kingdom though, or was she? He had been researching the merchant Silver and found out he had moved with Sonic and his wife to this kingdom when Sonic was a newborn. Did that classify as new? He thought of the fair folk and scoffed at himself. Of course she was new. The fair folk measured time way differently than regular folk. They lived forever, or near enough it didn't matter.
Shadow climbed out onto the platform at the top of the tower. A railing ran along the square area, with weapons built into it. Shadow hated it. He loved weapons, but he hated war. His father did nothing but war against other kingdoms. At least he had the sense to stop if he was losing profit. Shadow leaned against the railing and waited, enjoying the cool night air on his skin.
Five points of light flew toward them, finally resolving themselves into large fairies. They glowed brightly and the gems and leaves and fur that floated in their depths meant they were of high ranking. The three smaller fairies landed a little way down from Shadow, resting on the railing. The two largest fairies flew right up to him and peered at him intently.
"So you have heard our call, then," said the fiery blue fairy. "It is good you have come. We have much to tell you."
"Thank you for…" Shadow paused as he tried to come up with the right words. "Thank you for showing yourselves to me and for going out of your way to bring me news. Please speak and I will listen."
"We have shown ourselves to the girl known as Sonic," said the moonlight colored fairy with the emerald flecks. "We have been feeding her, as I'm sure you're aware by now and we have let her hear a taste of our music. She has seen the smaller fey, the spriggans, pixies and willow the wisps. These three with us are known as nature fey. It is them who have brought Sonic to our attention."
"So what happened?" Shadow asked. "They've been watching her and then… They told you and you fed her?"
"Not quite," said the fiery fairy. "They fed her, which I'll admit made us rather angry, but once we saw her for ourselves we knew at once we needed to aid her. After watching you for a while, we noticed her connection to you. We thought long and hard on this and decided you and her would bring about an age rarely seen in this kingdom."
"A new age?" asked Shadow, a little confused. "What kind of age? I hope to bring about peace and prosperity if that's what you mean."
"Almost exactly," The moonlight fairy said. "There will be many trials and hardships to come, but also many wonderful and beautiful moments. Cherish the love and kindness Shadow the hedgehog. Cherish the friends and family you have. We hope you will be strong enough for this."
The fairies then lifted into the air and flew away, leaving Shadow confused and stunned. He wasn't sure what it all meant. Before they left, the three nature fey looked at him meaningfully and Shadow nodded. He would be watching out for them.
"I suppose you're the go between," he said to himself. "Thank you for taking care of Sonic."
"So who's this Sonic you speak of?" said a voice from behind him
Shadow yelped in an undignified manner and spun around with wide eyes. His mother stood there, gazing at him calmly. Shadow tried to calm down, but his left foot twitched slightly, betraying his want to get out of there.
"What are you doing my dear?" asked his mother.
"Watching the stars," Shadow said automatically.
"So fairies are stars now?" asked his mother. "That's a new one. Now, why don't you tell me about this Sonic girl, or should I help you along?"
Shadow blinked in befuddlement as his mother pulled out a black and white photograph of Shadow leaving the castle in his commoner's garb. Shadow glanced at it sidelong and almost swore.
"Where did you get that mother?" he asked.
"The guards know a lot," she said. "They thought they should bring this to my attention. So, you dress like a commoner for what purpose?"
"She doesn't know who I am," said Shadow. "I like it better that way. From what I can gather, her father is Silver the merchant, but he's been missing for over four years, six if I recall rightly."
"Silver the merchant?" asked his mother. "Isn't he rather new to this kingdom?"
"I don't know for sure," said Shadow. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. Her step mother and step sisters are treating Sonic very badly and I want to get her out of there. I can't though until the ball in two years."
"Your special ball?" his mother asked. "It's that serious then. What's your secret name Shadow?"
"Lancelot," said Shadow.
"Like the Lancelot from 100 years ago?" asked Debbie.
"Yes," Shadow admitted.
Queen Debbie ruffled her son's hair and he grumbled. She hugged him and he grudgingly hugged her back. It wasn't that he didn't like hugs. He just wasn't much of a touchy feely person when he was stressed.
"I can see you are worried and stressed," said Debbie. "Why don't you go see Sonic?"
"In the middle of the night?" asked Shadow incredulously. "I'm not sure that would be wise. I mean… I'd love to see her but…"
"You have my blessing," said his mother. "I have it on good authority that her step sisters are sleeping over at a friend's house and her step mother is passed out drunk."
"How do you know this?" asked Shadow.
"You're not the only one with fairies, my son," said his mother. "Your father can't be trusted anymore, so they came to me, giving me crucial advice on running the kingdom."
"They do?" asked Shadow in confusion.
"your father is not the man he once was," said Debbie. "Run along now. The night won't last forever."
Shadow pecked his mother on the cheek and ran down the tower stairs. He stepped down a small set of stairs which led to the back entrance of the kitchen and knocked. The door was opened by a sleepy-eyed maid with a broom in her hand.
"Yes my prince?" she asked with a bow.
"I need a picnic basket for two please," Shadow said quietly. "Be sure to add a few slices of apple pie."
The maid nodded and retreated into the kitchen. After a few minutes, she handed shadow a large basket and closed the door. Shadow took off his skates and ran silently to the abandoned storage closet where he kept his common garb. He dressed quietly then left, ducking nimbly around the guards who pretended not to notice him.
"How long do you think this will last?" asked a grizzled old sergeant.
"Quiet," hissed the lieutenant who was stationed at the main gate. "Some of the guards are still loyal to Gerald."
The sergeant fell silent and resumed his pacing around the castle grounds. He was getting too old for this. Near the small gate Shadow had left, a guard with no insignia listened and pondered the actions of the guards. He was starting to wonder if he was on the right side or not. Things could go ass over tea kettle any time and he didn't want to be in the middle of it.
Shadow ran to Sonic's house and peered through a window. Sonic's step mother lay on the couch, her mouth hanging open and her blouse stained with wine. Shadow made a disgusted face and walked around the back of the house. How was he going to get into the basement? It was underground. A slight zapping touch was felt on his arm and he looked around, ready to berate or squash whatever it was.
"We can get you in," said the fairy with the rainbow orb inside it's body. "It would be better if we wake her though."
"Please do," said Shadow."
The fairy melted through the wall and was gone. Shadow ran to the front of the house, feeling the stones of the path through his thin shoes. Sonic came out of the house yawning hugely. He smiled at her and she was instantly awake. She gasped and Lancelot laughed softly.
"Lancelot?" she asked in a whisper. "What are you doing here? I could get in trouble!"
"I came to ask you if you want to go on a picnic," Lancelot said simply. "So do you want to?"
"I have to get up in three hours!" said Sonic. "I don't have time!"
"Don't worry," said Lancelot. "I'll bring you back home in time."
Sonic frowned, but then agreed and Lancelot led her away from the house. They walked for a while until the smell of sulfur filled the air. Sonic wrinkled her nose and Lancelot placed the basket down on a rock. A few feet in front of them was a large hot spring which disappeared into a tunnel at the bace of a cliff. "That's a lot of water," said Sonic.
"I brought you a bathing suit if you'd like to swim," said Lancelot.
"Um…" said Sonic warily. "I'm scared of water."
"It's not that deep," Lancelot assured her. "It's only about chest deep on you."
"Okay," said Sonic shyly. "I'll try it."
Sonic took the light blue bathing suit from Lancelot and walked behind a tree. She quickly changed and hung her clothes over a branch, then walked back into the moonlight. Goosebumps pebbled her skin as Lancelot stared at her. She coughed slightly and smiled shyly as she edged toward the water.
She took a deep breath as her toes incountered the edge of the hot water. It was just hot enough for a very good soak, which Sonic hadn't had in years. She stepped farther in until the water covered her knees, then looked back at Lancelot. He smiled reassuringly at her and Sonic moved toward a ledge to sit down. The water covered her chest and shoulders and she sighed in bliss as she rested there.
"It is actually quite nice," she said in wonder.
"Of course it is," said Lancelot as he splashed in near her. "I come here all the time. There's a cave through that tunnel. The water runs through and drops off to trickle through a sort of trough in the middle of the floor."
"You've swam through that tunnel?" asked Sonic in shock, her hands clasped over her wildly beating heart.
"Don't worry," said Lancelot, "I only had to hold my breath for a few seconds. It slopes down and then you drop out into the trough and jump to the side before you get swept away."
"What possessed you to do such a thing?" Sonic asked, her hands over her face now as though she didn't want to see what she was imagining.
"I was curious," said Lancelot. "Margarete also dared me to. Of course I dared her to do the same thing."
Lancelot grinned and they sat in silence for a time. When Sonic's hands were all wrinkly as though she had been doing dishes for a long time, she climbed out and began examining the picnic basket. She stuffed a sandwich into her mouth and spread out the cloth one handed as she gobbled it down.
"Well someone's eager," said Lancelot. "Don't worry, there's lots of food."
Sonic nodded and the two of them shared a late night picnic lunch. Sonic threw grapes at Lancelot and in return he threw strawberries. They then gorged themselves on apple pie and Lancelot saw Sonic to her front door. The fairy with the fur in her body grasped Sonic's arm and melted through the wall with her. Lancelot waved before walking back to the castle.