***
Tikal ran down the hall of the palace trying not to rip another priceless dress. It fit a little tight but she still looked fabulous in it. She stopped in front of two large doors. *Inhale, Exhale, Inhale, Exhale, Relax! Relax! Relax!*
One of the two guard outside the doors smiled and spoke, " Princess! You must try to be on time for breakfast!"
She giggled, " One day I'll prove to you that I can be prompt!"
The other guard sneaked, "Are you ready Tikal?"
"Wait before I go in what's the temperature like?"
"Cold, The Chief's grumpy."
"Ok."
As the doors came apart she saw her grandfather and grandmother waiting for her.
"You finally arrived." grumbled the Chief.
"I'm sorry." The princess said as she sat down in her seat.
The small breakfast table she sat at with her family always made her unconformable. She loved her grandma and wanted the most distance from her grandfather. The Chief began to eat while grandmother said a small blessing to the Ancient Walkers for providing the food. Tikal waited until she was finished with the prayer. The Chief glanced up from his plate. He looked over to the serving girl who was about to leave the room and said, "Remove half the food off the Princess's plate."
"WHAT?" Grandmother shrieked, "She is thin enough already."
"I don't want her to get any bigger." he responded.
Tikal patiently put down her fork and folded her hands in her lap, while the maid fixed her plate. The princess looked down at her fingers trying to stay silent.
"I want you to look your best tonight for the Showing!"
Tikal barely looked up at him, " What 'Showing' Grandfather?"
"At the Celebration their were many princes and dukes from all over the echidna Kingdom here. Hell, some were on vacation on Mobius and decided to take the Gliders back. They saw you and were mesmerized by your beauty despite your poor behavior! They want to court you. How exciting! This is a great opportunity for me to align myself with the strongest of my kingdom. Whoever I see fit to marry you tonight will have you warming their bed by tomorrow's sunset. They almost killed to see you when I told them you were a virgin! So I'm throwing an impromptu ball and you're the main guest."
Tikal felt her insides instantly crushed. She gulped knowing it was better to show no reaction.
" I will not let my granddaughter me married to he highest bidder!" yelled Grandmother.
" You may recall that you have no say in this crazy hag!" barked the Chief.
" No!" Tikal said breathlessly, " I refuse to participate."
" See! Look at the ideas you put in her head," grunted the Chief at the grandmother. He turned to the princess, " Tikal you are my heritage, I want to secure the kingdom for the future. This is your duty as a princess."
Tikal sat quietly letting his words sink in. She tried to make some sense of them. Then she stood up from the table.
"You have not been excused." stated her grandfather.
"I am no longer hungry, may I go?"
"Good choice, I don't want you to gain any weight before to night; you may leave."
Tikal limbs felt like tons. It was hard for her to move, but she made it out the doors.
"Princess, are you okay dear?" softy spoke one to the guards.
Tikal could not get her mouth to move. So she walked back to her room letting the tears run off her cheeks and down the front of her dress.
***
"Hurry up old man and open up the store!" demanded Sonska.
The old echidna hobbled up to the door. Slowly, his hand was shaking as he reached into his pocket. Sonska shrieked on the inside and soon started to tap his foot.
"Now let's see here…" pondered the jewelry store keeper.
"If you go any faster it will be midnight!" announced the hedgehog.
"Young man, please… patience… Wait-Wait I have the key."
"GREAT!"
The elderly echidna made small baby steps forward and presented the key to the door lock. Several times he tried to put it in.
"I guess my old eyes ain't way they used to be. Let's see where is my magnifying lens…It has to be somewhere in this bag."
Next the shopkeeper started rummaging through the large bag on his shoulder. The veins in Sonska's eyes started to swell. Sonska grabbed his head and pulled down hard on his quills. He felt his jaw tighten.
" I cannot see well without my lens." The echidna continued, " Oh! here it is!"
Sonska let go of his head and his hands rested at his sides. Then the old echidna began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" questioned Sonska.
"No wonder it was not going into the keyhole! It's the wrong key."
Instantly, the hedgehog's teeth grind fiercely. The shopkeeper started to go through the bag again. The hedgehog began to walk a grove into the sidewalk. Five minuets later Sonska felt his last bits of sanity evaporating.
"I must have forgotten my keys this morning," realized the echidna, "Jelea, Jelea! Open up the door please! I forgot my key."
Then the window above the store door unfastened. A portly echidna girl stuck her head out. "Daddy did you forget the key again!"
"Yes dear, I have a customer here so hurry up please.
The blue one's incisors flashed. "I COULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED 15 MINEUTS AGO!" His right eyebrow twitched spastically.
"Young man, no one is hurt—no reason to be angry."
*ME? ANGRY!!!!!! Wait… stay cool Sonska.* the hedgehog thought to himself.
The shopkeeper's daughter took some time to open the door. It looked as if she tried to put on some makeup. Without noticing her efforts to impress him, Sonska quickly purchase the necklace and was on his way home.
***
Sonska ripped off his clothing elated to finally be home. * I hate wearing this stuff it's sooo uncomfortable* The hedgehog small apartment was a messy hell. Yet to the owner of this chaos it was 'just right'. * I don't know what so important about clothing. On Mobius I didn't have to wear anything. It was totally optional. Echidnas must have some extreme body issues to want to be covered up all the time.*
yawn Sonska dig through the piles of stuff and found his bed. Once he pushed enough garments on the floor he snuggled in for some rest.*Ti is gonna love that necklace… I just know it.* As he drifted off to sleep he heard some funny noises.
***
*I'm about to hurl!* Nazel grimaced as he choked back vomit. The smell of the commoners was getting to him. He finally made it to Sonska's downtown apartment. He gazed through the window. *Looks clear. Dam-it he could be anywhere. Hum. Well better investigate ….I could find something. * Next the General jimmied the lock and slipped inside. *It smells like a garbage heap!* The General took in the condition of the room. *All of a sudden I don't think this assignment is worth it. … I think I'll leave*
"Hey!"
Nazel leaped in his skin when the naked blue hedgehog materialized before him.
"Ah you're naked!"
"So what?" Sonska said tiredly.
*You're gorgeous.* Nazel admired his body.
" What are you doing here? How did you get in here?" yawned Sonska.
The blue one rubbed his eyes. Nazel lustful stares center on the hedgehog's stomach. Hard abdomen. Strong build. Lean but not thin. He almost strained to see the size of his cock only to realize it was a lost endeavor, due to Sonska's thick fur. * I must stop looking at heathen flesh.*
Sonska finally stopped rubbing his eyes. " I asked what are you doing here!"
" Oh….. yes… ah Yes! I just wanted too… congratulate you… High General and all, personally, I didn't get a chance to do it at the party," Nazel nervously giggled, "you are the youngest ever at sixteen."
Sonska inquiringly said, "Thanks. You came across the city just to say that?"
"Er—No…The…the ah Chief ah sent me to …ah…Remember on the Battle field I said hum… you would be rewarded?"
"Yeah."
"So hum you know you hold the highest military position in the Echidna Army!"
"Yeah, I kinda guessed that since the title has 'High' in it."
"But there's more! So I'm here to tell you about the perks of this position."
"Wha'?"
"Yes! The Chief is throwing a "Showing" tonight. Well, I think that's the wrong word for it, but he wants to marry off Tikal tomorrow. So at 7pm he is giving a ball for all the princes that are still in town to come and meet her. Whoever the Chief sees fit will have her. Their will be free food as well, High General. Anyway, the Chief wants your presents for security reasons…Okay? So you are coming right?"
The hedgehog's eyes froze. "Yes I'll be there." he said staggered.
"Good see you at 7 then."
Nazel quick left the apartment.
Sonska crossed his arms against his chest. A very discussed, "Shit." forced its' way out of his mouth.* I knew this was going to happen. We should have been gone a long time ago. She so thick headed! And now this…we must leave tonight!* He paused looking at the box with the necklace in it. He lifted the top off the box and warmly gazed at the object. He felt the blue heart. * I breaks me to leave her each morning…to leave her there. With that grandfather of hers'. How does she stand it? * He placed the top back on reflectively. *Keeping us a secret is no way to live… on Mobius we can be together and Ti can be free to be herself…I know it. I just have to get Ti to understand it.*
***