It was dark within the large, fortified, stone walls of castle Acorn, a large medieval-esque fortress in the city of Mobotropolis, a bustling cityscape known for its mix of modern, high rising towers that could scrape the very clouds themselves and rustic, archaic houses on the city outskirts. The entirety of the city beig surrounded by a gargantuan wall.
Life in this city was usually very quiet, where people lived their lives, day in and day out not having to worry about the dangers of the outside world.
It had been like this ever since Mobius's most famed hero Sonic The Hedgehog had first arrived. He was their saviour, always their saviour. Be it from the villainous Dr Ivo Robotnik, the small time bounty hunters known as The Hooligans, or from his inferior robotic copy.
But there was a problem… it didn't come in the form of some malicious evil genius, a genocidal alien race or anything like that; the problem came from within.
King Elias Acorn had only been the ruler of the kingdom for a matter of months, taking the place of his older senile father and he had already been forced into dealing with issues that would have overwhelmed even the most experienced rulers.
Yet he pulled through… he pulled through multiple disastrous events such as the horde of Metal Sonics who rampaged through Knothole which had very recently been destroyed by Robotnik, killing and destroying all in their way, there was also the battle for the Source Of All against the villains Mammoth Mogul and Ixis Naugus.
In fact the first of his royal duties that he considered pleasant, was arranging the marriage of his friends Antoine D'Coolette and Bunnie Rabbot and that was only 6 weeks ago!
Although people such as Sonic, Antoine, Bunnie, his sister Sally and of course his wife Megan would pin this down to competence and inspiring leadership, deep down Elias knew that it was purely luck that allowed the kingdom to survive under his rule and he wasn't the only one who knew it.
Earlier in the day, somebody who he used to think he could trust…turned on him. Amadeus Prower, the former general of the Royal Army and father of Elias's close friend Miles "Tails" Prower had organised a riot to force him to abdicate the throne in order to make place for a Democratic government.
Understandably Elias ordered him to be arrested almost immediately and be thrown into prison, yet when Elias himself arrived to ask, no demand answers as to why he organised such a riot… Amadeus's answer shocked him…
"In the last three generations, the House Of Acorns has led us into The Great War, ushered in Dr Robotnik and lost both Old Mobotropolis and Knothole! The most progress happened when a group of children formed the Knothole council BEFORE the return of your father! The hardships of the previous king have left him in no condition to lead, and with all due respect SIRE…You have had no experience with running a nation… My time on Argentum showed me the power of a government run by it's people. I only want my fellow Mobians to be properly led and protected…Will that be all sir?"
That small speech kept on echoing in the young king's mind,
"No experience with running a nation…"
When those words had left the former general's mouth, Elias could feel his self doubt creep up in his heart, like a bunch of malicious ensnaring vines… Amadeus was right and he knew it… but he couldn't give up! He and his family had worked so hard to protect this Kingdom and it's people…he couldn't just let all of that work, all of that bloodshed be for nothing.
Elias's train of thought was interrupted as he heard a soft, female voice ask him,
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
He turned to see his wife Megan, gently cradling his Step-Daughter Alexis in her arms, a look of concern on her face as she turned her gaze from her daughter to her husband.
"No, but it's all I can think of right now. I don't think Amadeus will be unreasonable." He replied with a serious tone as he stood up from his bed, wrapping his royal blue and red great coat around his body.
He then heard Megan speak again, this time in a more sarcastic and sultry tone,
"Oh sure, that's why you're locking us in a secure room. Be careful Elias, or I'll be the one coming after you."
The young king chuckled and turned back to his wife, planting a small kiss on her forehead, no matter how dark things got he would always have her,
"Neo-Walkers forbid. Go on to the nursery now…for my sake." He said gently to her, guiding her away from him and to a door leading away from him.
He then turned to a female holo-lynx and spoke in a more firm, serious tone,
"No matter what happens, make sure Meg and Alexis are kept safe. And above all else… DO NOT wake my father."
Nicole looked at Elias, a look of worry on her holographic features, she could only stutter out,
"All-All right…" before she disappeared in a short blue fizzle of light.
Then Elias took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he heard the door to his chamber be flung wide open, crashing against the wall with a thunderous crash that echoed off of the walls.
Then there was that voice, a deep, serious and stoic voice called out to him,
"All of this is unnecessary…sire."
He opened his eyes and slowly turned to face the head of today's insurrection… Amadeus Prower.
He had a tall, muscular frame, fitting of a military commander with grizzled dark brown fur and a single cold, uncaring, sapphire blue eye that seemed to bore through him. The other eye was hidden, concealed behind a large black eyepatch that wrapped around the experienced generals head.
But yet…despite his rebellion against both him and the Acorn Royal family, he still wore the proud blue and red of the Royal Guard, albeit with the coat of arms removed. And on the generals hip lay a long, one handed sabre which rested within it's red and gold scabbard. A single one of his hands resting on the swords gold embroidered grip.
And behind Amadeus was a vixen, looking a few years younger than Amadeus who was wearing a lavender purple gown, with a ring of golden pearls around her neck, she shared her husband's blue eyes which much like Amadeus's were staring directly into his own, anger and irritation in showing in those sapphire blue orbs.
"Your guards are absent and all the locks are undone. You obviously wanted us here."
Elias reluctantly turned to face them, a small shiver running down his spine, but he kept a stoic and serious expression on his face to mask his dread.
"Nicole informed me of your escape and I knew you'd come straight here. You said your piece back in the Detention Centre, now I will say mine."
He stepped forward and shook his fists as he spoke with all of the passion and emotion in his heart.
"My father has nearly lost his life three times over to preserve this kingdom, and he struggles from a life time of suffering and violence. There are dozens of heroes in this city who gave their childhoods fighting to protect the Acorn title. I cannot and WILL NOT belittle all they have given for my family and my kingdom.
Almost immediately after he had finished his sentence, Rosemary Prower stepped forth, pointing an accusing finger at him, she exclaimed,
"And what about the rally this morning?! The so called "riot", will you ignore those people?"
Elias could feel himself growing more and more frustrated by the second, he was struggling to find methods of defending his family,
"You can't just dissolve the kingdom and hand it to the masses! That makes no sense!"
Amadeus's brow furrowed in anger and he stepped forward, his cold, stoic voice asking him in an extremely intimidating voice that could unnerve even the likes of Shadow,
"So you would risk a civil war to preserve a faulty monarchy?!"
The general stepped forward, his face hardening to an aggressive snarl, he knew what was coming and he would be prepared.
Elias however after giving his heartfelt speech on his family felt himself begin to rally, just a little bit. Perhaps…he could do this, at least until his sister or Sonic could intervene and find a peaceful resolution to all of this.
"I would preserve order over submitting to your anarchy!" he yelled, stepping forward, his hand reaching towards the grip of his sabre.
Amadeus's face softened only momentarily, before he shook his head sadly and fully unsheathed his sabre with a loud whistle.
He brandished it, taking up a duelling position. The blade of his sabre glinting in the light, as if it was thirsty to taste the young king's blood.
"Then…it has come to this? For my people I will see you dethroned…"
Elias seeing a small opening, quickly unsheathed his sword and darted forward, hoping to take Amadeus by surprise. The Mobian he was charging was in his forties, surely he could beat him…right?
He leapt at the general, his blade a mere grey blur of razor sharp steel,
"For my people, I will see you defeated!"
And the fight was off, Amadeus smirked at Elias's brash and risky manoeuvre and easily blocked his overhead swing.
He pushed forward, with his locked blade, utilising a strength behind his push that shocked Elias, he broke the blade lock. Elias stumbled backwards, just barely keeping on his feet, just how on Mobius did Amadeus do that?
He then once again tried to go on the offensive and thrusted forward with his sabre, but the blow was parried to the side almost instantly.
Amadeus seeing how Elias's blade had been directed away from him saw an opening arise. As Elias's hand leered away following his sabre, the former general stepped forward and delivered a knee to the young king's gut, causing Elias to gasp in pain, the wind knocked out of his lungs.
Oh but Amadeus wasn't done, as Elias grasped his stomach and winced. Amadeus grabbed his arm with an iron grip and threw him against the wall of the chamber, the sound from the collision echoing through the castle.
Elias collapsed to his knees momentarily, rapidly panting to catch his breath before he used his sword to get to his feet again.
He looked up towards Amadeus, a twinge of regret and even fear in his eyes as he saw the blank, hard, emotionless face of the general as he approached him. Elias tried his best to then attempt at a wild swing towards, Amadeus's neck but all that the older Mobian needed to do to avoid it was simply take a step back.
He tried again, but this time harder…no success, seeing Amadeus's emotionless face as he easily dodged and parried his blows gave light to just how talented of a duellist the former Royal General was.
Elias then began to momentarily panic as he realised something… he couldn't beat him… Amadeus was wiping the floor with him and he hadn't even broken a sweat yet, he was merely toying with him and that angered Elias.
With a cry of anger he lunged at Elias and began to rapidly swing, there was no poise, there was no elegance, just the hope that he hopefully…hopefully overwhelm him.
His blows contacted with Amadeus's sabre, loud clangs echoing off of the walls of the castle, he cried out in rage and hatred for Amadeus, sweat rolling down his cheeks. But Amadeus didn't seem to even flinch, the same, cold and calculating look was on his face as he parried, blocked and dodged Elias's blows with ease.
Seeing the general's emotionless approach to combat, Elias whimpered under his breath,
"Where are you Sonic?!"
…...
Meanwhile in a different area of the castle, an older chipmunk was stirring. He was male much like Elias, with old, withered features and a frail body that required a wheelchair to move around, he knew perfectly well what was going on.
Maximillian Acorn's face had hardened when he first heard the sounds of steel on steel, the loud clanging bringing him back to the early days of his rule. His brow furrowed in frustration, why hadn't his son just executed Amadeus on the spot? He was an insurrectionist and in the aftermath of the disasters that had befallen the kingdom, the Acorns needed to show strength.
But it seemed that lesson was yet to reach his son apparently, and that angered Maximillian greatly, he supposed that if Elias would not deal with these traitors, then he would do it for him.
He rolled his wheelchair over to a small drawer and opened it, a dry grin stretched across the former ruler's face as he saw what was inside… it was a handgun and 7 bullets…
…...
And that is where I will leave it for now! If you like it and want to see more feel free to express your thoughts in the reviews…
