Chapter 4: A Prince and a Peasant
The sun dipped low on the horizon, streaming brilliant streaks of salmon across the mauve sky with only the rolling fluffy clouds breaking the deep oranges and purples. Timid eyes glanced side to side before the small fawn bounded across the leaf-strewn floor and began happily munching on the delicious magnolias. The deer wasn't alone, as it thought. Unbeknownst to it, careful eyes were trained on its spot, studying the fawn.
Short, blonde fur blew back in the evening breeze to reveal a pale, calculating and youthful face. A tongue slipped out of the hunter's thin-lipped scowl in concentration as he slowly readied his bow. Ignoring the itch that crept across a mark fire had left below his chin, the hunter focused. Ray might have been young – very young – but he wanted to prove to others that he could fend for himself. He wanted to prove it to himself, but he wanted to stick it in his older sister Amy's face more.
Two hours Ray had spent combing the open woodland, watching out for foxes, chamois, deer, or anything he could hunt. His trusty wooden bow, normally strung over his left shoulder, was pulled to the ready. Ray's calloused fingers gripped the taught string, and he closed one eye to concentrate on his prey. He'd been following this particular fawn, quiet and careful. Finally, it let its guard down and Ray was ready.
As the speckled light danced between the curvy branches and doused the fawn, Ray flexed his fingers. An arrow flew from the bow, soaring through the air and striking the fawn right in the heart. A muffled scream split through the forest, overwhelming the cacophony of croaking frogs before it fell silent and dropped to the detritus blanketing the forest floor, now stained in dark crimson.
"Yes!" Ray cried out loudly, jumping for joy as he bounded over to study the body and bask in his endeavours. He punched the air in victory and bent down to retrieve the red-tipped arrow. Wiping off the blood with the hem of his shirt, Ray put the arrow back in his quiver – he didn't have many left. Then he froze.
A rustling bush and snapping branch was all that alerted him before the angry, wild boar sped out from the shadows, tusks pointed squarely at Ray. In a split second Ray managed to roll out of the way as the boar sped past him, slamming loudly into the trunk of an oak tree. It shook off the blow and turned to glare at Ray, fury in its wild eyes. Steam billowed from its snout, and with a snort it charged again.
Ray froze with fear, overwhelmed by surprise and covered his head with his hands, shutting his eyes tight and tensing his body for impact… but none came. Ray dared to peer through his fingers only to see the wild boar sprawled out on the ground, back leg twitching as the life drained from its haggard eyes. A long arrow grew from its spongy stomach. Ray was confused. Who's arrow was that?
"You've gotta be more careful, kid," a brash voice sounded from behind him. Ray span on his heels as Knuckles swaggered over to the young boy. "That thing almost got you."
"Knuckles?" Ray questioned. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Knuckles raised his eyebrow in judgement and Ray flushed red. He knew he'd been caught.
"Don't tell mum and dad I was out hunting alone. Please," Ray clasped his hands together and begged. "They still don't think I can fend for myself."
"You're only a child, Ray! No ten year old can fend for themselves. It's normal."
"But I'm not normal. At least, that's what Amy always say," Ray said.
"That does sound like her. Speaking of Amy, where is she? Shouldn't she be here with you? I was looking for her and your parents said she took you out here foraging."
"That was just her excuse to get out of Ashorus. She ditched me to go spar with Sonic hours ago. Not like I wanted her to hunt with me anyway," Ray shrugged as he spat the ground. Ray noticed something cross Knuckles' face; an expression he didn't quite understand, but had seen him wear often.
"Of course she's with him," Knuckles rolled his eyes. "I'm guessing you have no idea where they went?" Ray shook his head, and Knuckles sighed. "Alright, c'mon then, we should get you home."
"And you promise you won't tell my parents I was out here alone?"
"I don't know, what's in it for me if I don't?"
"Amy won't get mad at you," Ray countered.
"Why would she get mad at me?"
"Because if you tell on me then they'll know she left me all alone and they'll blame her, and that means she'll blame you." A cheeky smirk crossed Ray's knowing face as Knuckles frowned.
"Okay, you got me there buddy," Knuckles ruffled Ray's unkempt hair, and he swatted Knuckles' hand away. "I won't tell, but only if you come back with me now. I don't want you out here alone anymore."
"Fine," Ray whined. "Shouldn't we go find Amy, though?"
"She'll be fine. She is with Sonic, isn't she?" Knuckles' voice was laced with another feeling Ray couldn't quite place. It was something negative, that much he knew. He didn't understand why Knuckles seemed so upset. Sonic was his brother, and knowing they were safer together was a good thing, wasn't it? Ray shrugged and jogged to catch up to Knuckles who had already ploughed ahead.
"Hey, wait, aren't you going to get your arrow?"
"No, why?" Knuckles asked back without turning around. Ray paused for a moment before he sprinted back to remove the longer, stronger arrow and shoved it in his quiver with his other, hastily crafted ones before hastening to join back up with Knuckles.
A flash of sparks flew from Shadow's blade as it clashed against Sonic's. However, he'd surprised the boy with speed and taken him off guard. Shadow noticed him stumble backwards against the weight and thrust his blade forward again, pushing Sonic backwards further. Digging in his heels, Sonic tried to hold back against the prince but he was outmatched in both strength and speed. Ducking his head, Sonic managed to push off against Shadow and side-step around him, reconstituting his balance and shaking off his surprise. He was going to be easily felled.
Shadow narrowed his eyes, twisted his grip and swiped his sword at Sonic again. Dodging left and right, Sonic managed to avoid the first barrage of Shadow's attacks, successfully blocking the stronger and more accurate ones. He knew he couldn't overwhelm Shadow with strength – the prince had had far more practice and training than he had, and Sonic guessed he was probably trained by the best soldiers Deyfros had – but he thought he might be able to outlast him. What Sonic lacked in strength he made up for in stamina, or at least that's what he thought. Amy would often disagree.
But this wasn't the time to think about Amy or her taunts. Sonic had to focus. Blocking another one of Shadow's swipes, Sonic shook his head free of pervasive thoughts and focused only on the prince in front of him, letting his anger and frustration will him onward. Shadow readied another blow, but this time Sonic didn't block it. Instead, he rolled backwards and ran away.
Shadow stood frozen for a second. Never in his training had an opponent fled from him. It angered him, and he voiced his frustrations. "Get back here!"
"Catch me if you can," Sonic taunted as he ran to the other side of the glade, opposite the forest creature and its hut. Aldar was studying the fight, but its grotesque face hid its emotions well.
Shadow let out a shriek of frustration, much like an annoyed toddler, and took off after Sonic. As Shadow closed the distance, Sonic took a sharp left and ran back around the firepit that acted as the clearing's centrepiece. He paused on the opposite side, matching Shadow's glare with a sneer. As Shadow dashed left to catch him, Sonic ran right around the fire, and as Shadow turned right, Sonic parroted back around counter clockwise.
"Stop this childishness and fight me," Shadow grumbled. Sonic didn't dignify the prince with a verbal response. Instead, he stuck out his tongue. Shadow's blood began to boil, and his face faded a shade redder, as he let out a shriek. He was sick of playing cat and mouse. He needed to take away his obstacles.
Thinking quick, Shadow swung his leg back and kicked up a bunch of dirt and thick mud that carpeted the forest floor. The flickering flames choked on the layer of moist soil and fettered out, falling to a low simmer that allowed Shadow to easily step over it. A smile inched across his face as Sonic gulped, raising his sword again in defence. Without a second thought, Shadow charged again, slamming his blade against Sonic's, but this time instead of pushing to overwhelm him with strength alone Shadow twisted his blade slightly so the hilt of his sword latched against Sonic's. Raising his boot, he delivered a heavy kick to Sonic's torso while simultaneously heaving his own sword backwards. As Sonic floundered backwards, slamming down onto the mud, his blade was wrenched free from his grasp and flew over Shadow's head. A gasp from Tails rang out through the clearing as Sonic's sword sailed mere inches over his head as he was crouched on the ground scanning the mud below him.
"Don't be an idiot and focus!" Amy chastised the distracted boy as she seized Tails' collar and wrenched him back up onto his feet. "C'mon, we need to help –"
"Not so fast," Shadow interrupted her, holding up his hand, sword still pointed at Sonic lying beneath him with mud caking his dirty face. "This kid wanted to face me one on one, so you can't interrupt."
"I'm not just some kid," Sonic muttered under his breath, frustrations building within him. He was frustrated at Shadow for being everything he hated, the epitome of the privileged upper-class royal that sat back in luxury while those that toiled away in his towns and villages struggled. More importantly, though, Sonic was frustrated at himself. He'd trained for this, and taken more beatings from Amy than he could count. He should have been ready, but he was too weak.
Sonic ignored Amy's grumbles as she tried to argue with Shadow. He knew she wouldn't interfere unless Shadow was going to kill him. Sonic had challenged the prince, and he wouldn't forgive her if she interfered. He clenched his teeth, crawling backwards a little as Shadow closed the gap between him, a glint in his eye and smile on his face. Sonic's back hit the side of Aldar's make-shift hut. There was nowhere left to run.
Sonic's eyes scanned the glade, meeting Tails' worried ones and Amy's determined one. Don't give up. Sonic could see her mouthing encouragement, even now, when his odds of winning seemed insurmountable. He was flailing on the ground, weapon-less and covered in mud. There was nothing he could do. He just needed something to defend himself. Maybe a stick or branch had fallen from the rustling trees above? It was all Sonic could ask for, so he felt through the grass and mud on hands and knees with his fingers, feeling for anything he could use.
"Now this is pathetic," Shadow chortled as he stood back to watch Sonic struggle. If he wanted to he could have ended the fight then and there, but he was having too much fun. Sonic looked up, glaring daggers at the prince who taunted him. Sonic knew his words had gotten to Shadow, and this was the sick retribution Shadow needed. His fragile ego was broken. At least I did some damage to him, Sonic thought. That's when he froze. His hand had hit something lying in the mud. Calloused and wrinkled fingers traced solid outlines of what felt like – the emerald!
A smirk twisted its way onto Sonic's face as he clamped his fingers around the muddy emerald he'd previously dropped in surprise before when Shadow first charged at him to initiate the fight. He'd completely forgotten about it in the chaos.
"What are you smiling at?" Shadow asked, his face contorted in confusion.
Sonic could feel the strange energy flow through him; the power surging through his veins and up his body. It was like a drug, and Sonic liked it. He could feel his muscles swell, and his stamina replenish. Red encapsulated his green pupils. Slowly, he rose to his feet, ignoring Shadow's demands for him to stay down.
Frustrated, Shadow reeled back and swung his sword at Sonic, and Tails' cries of worry echoed through the glade, but the steel missed its mark – by a lot. In a flash Sonic had ducked down and rolled out of the way, jumping to his feet a few meters to Shadow's left. Shadow spun around in confusion, swinging blindly again, but just as easily Sonic ducked below the blade. His reflexes were enhanced, his muscles imbued with new strength, and his tiredness completely expelled. It felt like he'd woken up fresh from a long nap, replenished and ready.
Then he wobbled slightly.
A rush of nausea buffeted his head, but was quickly quelled with a brief shake. Sonic didn't know what had come over him. It was like he lost control of his muscles for a second, overcome with this power. He didn't have time to contemplate as Shadow let out a growl and attacked again.
"Sonic, catch!" Amy called out, tossing the sword she'd scrambled to retrieve from the mud after it had been tossed aside. Sonic shot out his outstretched arm and caught the hilt of the blade with ease – his reflexes enhanced by the emerald – but almost crushed the hilt between his enlarged fingers. The power was overwhelming, but he had little control over his body. Still, he hadn't time to think, as he quickly raised his own blade to block another of Shadow's swipes. Shakes reverberated through Shadow as if he'd struck a stone wall, but Sonic stood firm. The blow barely affected him. Shadow shook them off quickly and tried again, and again, but it was an exercise in futility as Sonic easily blocked all of Shadow's swings. Shadow stumbled backwards slightly, his breath rapid and heavy.
Sonic could see Shadow was beginning to tire, and he took his opportunity to take the offensive. Imbued with the powerful energy swirling through his veins, Sonic grit his teeth and swung his smaller sword at Shadow's waist, but the prince easily swept his blade away, and in the process almost dislodged the hilt from Sonic's grip. It would have if not for Sonic's inhuman grip. Sonic might have been stronger, but his increased strength was foreign to his muscles, and although his blows had heft behind them, he struggled to keep balance. Having renewed stamina did little to help if Sonic couldn't properly tap into the overflowing well within him.
His body shook with power. Sonic had to think – he couldn't allow Shadow to use his newfound strength against him. Instead, he changed tactics and began stabbing at Shadow in quick jabs, wielding his sword as a spear. Shadow struggled to block the blows, and found himself retreating back slightly. A smirk crossed Sonic's face. He didn't need to overwhelm Shadow with power, he could use the emerald's magic to enhance the strategy he was already employing: Winning through stamina. Within himself, Sonic continued to tap into that refilling well, and focused less on his strength. It helped steady him, and helped him focus. Sonic could feel his strength lessen a little bit. He wasn't drawing on it as much, and so the emerald supplied it less. Sonic was finally starting to understand, and in doing so overwhelmed Shadow. The prince retreated further and further, worry flooding his face. He couldn't keep this up, and Sonic knew it, and so he pushed on relentlessly.
A rustle of bushes and snapping of twigs alerted Sonic to the arrival of more people – a tall, built bat and a nervous looking darkling with attributes not unlike Tails. It was clear the prince wasn't alone.
"Shadow, are you alright?" Eclipse bellowed in worry, but Rouge didn't bother with words as her arm immediately flew to her waist and she unsheathed her mighty blade that one would say resembled a club more than a sword due to its heft, weight and size.
"Don't just stand there, help me!" Shadow commanded as he did all he could to parry Sonic's stabs.
"Hey, that's not fair, you said no interfering!" Amy yelled, but Shadow ignored her chastising as he side-stepped another blow and allowed Rouge to jump in front of him, knocking another one of Sonic's blows out of the way. Sonic felt her swipe reverberate through his arm. He narrowed his eyes. She was tougher. Inside him, he pushed into the emerald, tapping more heavily into the well that contained strength, allowing it to flow stronger through him. His shirt began to rip slightly at the ill-sewn seems as his muscles bulged with the sudden increase.
"Hold on Sonic, we're…" Amy trailed off when Eclipse finally snapped to action, jumping into the fray and blocking her access to Sonic as he fought back against both Rouge and Shadow's blows.
"Not so fast!" Eclipse said, wielding a shiny, silver blade. "If you wanna get to him you'll need to go through me." Grunting, Amy prayed for Sonic to just be able to hold on long enough as she swung her sword at Eclipse.
As their weapons clashed together, Amy glanced back at Tails, noticing that he was back on his hands and knees, mumbling something to himself as he searched through the mud. She shook her head. He was useless as always. She knew he wasn't a fighter, but this was ridiculous. She didn't have time to worry about chastising him – though she would later – she had more pressing issues to worry about.
"You're quite the swordsman," Rouge acknowledged as she continued to swipe at him, surprised at how seemingly easy it was for him to block her strikes. Even the strongest of her soldiers she sparred with struggled to block her gargantuan blade.
Sonic didn't reply. Instead, he pushed further, tapping again into the never-ending supply of strength and stamina that he found at his fingertips, and allowed the crimson to swell through him. As he blocked another of Rouge's blows, he twirled on his heels, particles of mud peppering the air. Dancing around her, Sonic took her by surprise and delivered a mighty kick to her back, sending her sprawling to the floor.
Mud decorated her face as she bit her lip and swallowed the embarrassment. She hadn't expected such a young, thin boy to put up such a fight. She could feel him readying his blade behind her and summersaulted forward, her heels barely avoiding the point of Sonic's sword. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Rouge jumped back to her feet, retrieved her sword and readied to defend. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Rouge," Shadow called from behind Sonic, stabbing at him. Sonic easily dodged his strike with lightning reflexes. "It's the red emerald – that's where he's getting his strength!"
Rouge and Shadow locked eyes, and shared a knowing nod as Shadow threw a barrage of strikes to distract Sonic as Rouge closed the gap between them and raised her blade. Quickly, Sonic pushed off Shadow, spun around and blocked her sword inches from his face. With a grunt, Rouge pushed with all her strength, trying to overwhelm Sonic. She knew he could only use one hand to block, and his arm was twisted in an awkward position to defend himself. She knew if she could push hard enough his arm wouldn't be able to take it.
Sonic's eyes grew dark as they remained locked in an intense stare with Rouge. It was only when he felt himself give another inch, and saw the smirk creep onto Rouge's face, that he knew he was in trouble. He couldn't best a swordsman with such craft with only one hand, despite his increased strength.
"Now!" Rouge screamed as she dug her heels in and pushed against Sonic with all her strength, her muscles bulging. Sonic could think of nothing else except focusing the power he'd been gifted into his arm to defend himself, and had little time to react as Shadow jumped at him.
Sonic let out a yelp as Shadow's nails dug into his arm and he pried his curled fingers off the emerald. Even distracted, Sonic still had enough strength to keep a grip on the emerald, but Shadow wasn't giving up. He raised his elbow and brought the point of it down on Sonic's forearm, and with instinct his palm shot open and Shadow swiped the emerald.
Like a switch being flipped, Sonic felt all the strength surge out of him. It drained like a river through his body and flowed back into the emerald from the point of his palm where it was previously held. The electricity was out, the well was tapped, and Sonic felt a sudden tidal wave of exhaustion buffet him. His vision swam in dizziness, and before he knew what was happening, the ground had come up to meet his face.
He had lost.