Tikal braced against the stone wall. She could barely hold on the urine soaked sheet that covered her body. Her other hand cupped her vagina. Her insides felt torn, as if she was forced open. She looked like she was in the fight of her life and lost. The staircase seemed to go down forever. Her feet would slip on the steps. She had no more tears left. The sun felt upon her face through a small window. She paused for a moment. Her swollen eyes accepted the light. It was a new day. She made it through the night, maybe she could hold on just a little longer.

"Move it whore!" Her grandfather's deep voice rumbled through the hall.

Once again Tikal began her journey down the stairway. She always heard about this part of the Palace but she never saw it for herself. It was called The Pit. It is where prisoners were held before public execution.

The metal bars clanked as the door open. The environment in The Pit was humid and was getting hotter as the sun continued its' track in the sky. The chief stared at the prisoner. Sonska was curled on his side breathing lightly on the stone floor.

" What is his condition?" The chief asked

Nazel crossed his arms, " He's alive."

"Wake him up."

Nazel promptly picked up a stick and started to jab the hedgehog. Sonska was quickly startled into awake. As he sat up he hunched over, holding onto his right side. The pain from the wound seized him.

"You… I let you into my home! And you do this!"

Sonska looked up at the Chief. The hedgehog's eyes swiftly focused on who was standing behind him.

"Ti..ka..l" weakly broke from the hedgehog's mouth.

"You have ruined the Princess and this Kingdom!"

Sonska grabbed the bars, " Ti..kal" he moaned again. She seemed to not be able to respond.

The Chief noticed he did not have the hedgehog's attention. Suddenly, rage engulfed Grandfather reached behind and grabbed the back of Tikal's head. With one smooth motion he pushed her to the ground and rammed her face into the bars, directly in the visage of Sonska. She hardly made a sound.

"What the hell are you doing!!?" screamed Sonska. His hands immediately and carefully moved her face off the bars. Blood trickled out of her nose.

" Why don't you kiss the prostitute." Hissed Tikal's grandfather. Then he pushed down harder on her head.

Sonska yelled ," Stop your hurting her!"

"Hurting her? How much has she hurt me?... and you! My trusted High Royal General! You know our laws. And get her pregnant her too!"

" Pregnant! Tikal you're pregnant." Sonska pause in surprise. He gently felt her face. She did not respond.

In the Chief's gruff voice, " Yes she is… hopefully not for long. Right now Doctor Kitol is gathering the ingredients to remedy that situation."

"Tikal say something!" Sonska urged her to speak. Her body went limper.

"Tikal!" screamed the hedgehog.

"Tikal!" he started to shake her.

"Tikal!" he screamed with his raw and broken voice. Tears rushed down his face.

The Chief ripped her up from the ground.

" You" Tikal's grandfather narrowed his vision on the blue one, " I will remedy your situation immediately."

The Chief turned to Nazel. "General ready the town square for an execution."

" Yes sir!"

" Say good by to your precious hedgehog Tikal." The Chief crudely said.

Her lips only trembled. No sound came out of her. The chief left practically dragging his granddaughter behind him. Sonska shook the bars like an animal screaming her name. Nazel took out the key to unlock the prisoner's cell.

***

The shopkeeper's daughter rested her chin in her palm. She huffed staring out the jewelry store's window. Another day she would attend the store. Handsome echidna males would come in and buy gifts for their girlfriends and wives. She has seen this for years and still no one has come into give her a gift.

"Good Morning Jelea" Her father spoke as he gave her a kiss on the head. She smiled back. Then Jelea turn her attention back to the window. She saw a couple people walking down the street. Then more came. Soon she noticed that all of the people outside were walking in the same direction very fast.

"Daddy I think something is going on outside."

The old shopkeeper reached for his lens. He looked out the window and saw hundreds of people marching towards the town square.

He said, "Lock up the store sweetheart, lets see what this is about."

Jelea quickly took care of the store. Then holding her elderly father's hand they began to navigate the crowds. They could not see what was before them. The people were crushing into each other. Jelea knew if she kept trying, she could get in front to see what was happening. She pushed hard and squeezed between other echidnas. She held fast to her father's hand. Soon she arrived at the bottom of a wooden platform. There in the middle of the stage was an old beaten post. Chained to the post was Sonska the Hedgehog. His weaken body was collapsed on the floor. Jelea's heart knew this could not be real. How could our High General be up on a platform used to execute like the worst criminals? The crowd becomes louder demanding to know what was going on. From behind the hedgehog surface The Chief and the New High Royal General Nazel.

The Chief cleared his voice, "Good citizens of Echidnaopolis do not weep for this traitor! He has deceived us all. He has murdered innocent guardsmen and raped our Princess! His crimes are worst than treason! He must die."

Sonska could hear the horrified cries of a young girls. His tears streaked down his cheeks.

The hedgehog gathered strength inside of himself , " That is not true!" His raw voice wasn't auditable over the angry crowd.

The Chief drew his sword. He turned to Sonska, "You must die."

Nazel paused as the masses of echidna quieted down to watch the execution.

"But—" the Chief continued, " I will have mercy. You did serve this kingdom and saved my life. I will spare yours. That does not mean you will not be punished."

Nazel's left eyebrow lifted.

Tikal's grandfather continued, "I have the perfect punishment! The land of your greatest accomplishment will be your graveyard. I sentence you to the wastelands of Sandopolis. May you rot there."

The Chief quickly left the staged. Nazel followed him. Two guards jerked Sonska to his feet and rushed him off the platform.

***