Seventeen years pass, and we find ourselves in Rose Castle. King and Queen Rose are in their chambers, talking with Princess Amy Rose. King Rose had finally warmed up to Amy being his daughter, but he was still distant toward her.
This time, he couldn't be distant, because this was one of the most important conversations of her life. "Amy, you're of the age where you'll need to get a mate."
Amy frowns. "Why are you forcing this on me?"
The king sighs. "With Evil King Eggman getting more dangerous each year, you'll need someone to protect you when the guards aren't around."
The queen frowns. "Dear, why not let her choose on her own? She'll be much happier that way."
The king sighs again. "Fine. I don't think it'll work, but I won't argue. I'll just make sport of you when it fails."
Princess Amy shakes her head. "My whole life you've controlled everything. I don't care what you think now. I'm picking my own mate, whether you like him or not."
She stomps to her chambers and slams the door shut, collapsing and crying on her bed. Queen Rose shakes her head. "Why do you have to be so controlling dear? She's headstrong like you are, and she's going to make her own decisions now."
King Rose growls. "She's too naïve to pick a good mate to take the throne with her after we're gone."
The queen frowns. "I'm surprised you've been king this long."
She walks away, leaving the king to fume by himself.
-Princess Amy's Chambers-
The sakura hedgehog princess is sobbing on her bed, which is covered with pink sheets made of silk. She's venting to her seamstress, Cream. She was a rabbit who was brought in after King Rose had the previous seamstress exiled in a fit of rage.
Princess Amy had her head in her hands. "Oh Cream, I wish my father wasn't so stone-hearted. I don't understand why he's so mean to me."
Cream smiles. "He cares about you Your Highness. You know he means well, but I guess he's not showing it in the best way."
Amy nods and walks out to her balcony. "I wish I had an idea about who to take as my mate."
Cream chuckles. "I think you'll know when you see him."
The pink princess' jade eyes shine in the sunlight. "I hope so Cream. I did tell my father I'd pick my own mate whether or not he liked him."
The rabbit nodded. "Rumor has it that Acorn Castle may have a couple of suitors."
Amy turns to her. "Really? How many?"
Cream smiles. "Two. An orange fox and a blue hedgehog."
Amy's eyes light up. "A blue hedgehog? Wow. I've only seen my father's red fur and my mother's white fur, but blue? I must see him."
The rabbit seamstress giggles. "If you like, I can arrange a meeting for you."
Amy nods. "Please Cream?"
Cream nods. "I'll let you know when I've gotten it arranged."
Amy nods and goes back to daydreaming about this blue male hedgehog. 'I wonder what he's like… I hope he's a lot nicer than my father.' Cream smiles at the rose-pink princess. 'I think you'll like him Your Highness.' The rabbit then goes back to her seamstress work.
-Acorn Castle-
Princess Sally Acorn is seen walking in the lower levels of the lavish castle, headed to a heavy wooden door. On the other side of this door was the blacksmith forge where Sonic and Tails were busy making weaponry and various other metal objects.
Slowly pushing the massive door open, the squirrel princess smiles. "Break time you two."
The orange fox and cobalt hedgehog give a courteous bow to the princess. Sally smiles. "My father has a luncheon prepared for us in the dining chamber."
Tails bows again. "Thank you Your Highness."
The fox washes his orange fur in a nearby basin, then goes to the luncheon. Sonic does the same, then feels a hand entwine in his. Looking down, Sonic blushes. "Um, Sally, you've got my hand."
The squirrel princess smiles. "I know, Sonic. My father knows I like you this way, and my mating ceremony is coming soon."
Sonic's deep voice makes Sally shiver a little. "Are you saying you want me to be your mate?"
Sally's sapphire blue eyes look into Sonic's emerald green eyes. "Yes. Now, you have the option to say no, which will mean I'll have to keep looking. I want to be with you forever Sonic."
The royal blue hedgehog blushes hard. "W-Well… I-I don't know what to say Sally. I care about you too, but I don't know if it's on the level that you care about me."
Sally sighs. "What I feel about you is called love, Sonic. It happens when someone you know gives you funny feelings inside. I have those feelings whenever I'm around you."
Sonic smiles, making Sally smile again. "I-I kind of feel the same thing around you, Sally."
The squirrel princess feels her heart flutter. "So you'll be my mate?"
Sonic nods. "Yes."
Sally hugs Sonic as tight as she can. "I'm so happy to hear you say that, Sonic. Now let's go to the luncheon."
Sonic escorts Sally to the luncheon, thinking to himself. 'What have I just done? Sure Sally loves me, but do I love her?'
-The Dining Chamber-
The hedgehog and ground squirrel enter the dining chamber, much to the relief of Tails. "There you two are. I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to get a search party for you."
Sonic sits beside him. "Don't worry little brother. I know my way around this place pretty well."
King and Queen Acorn enter the room, and everyone but Sally bows to them. They sit and begin eating, which prompts everyone else to start eating.
Queen Acorn eventually notices Sally's extra perkiness, so she asks her daughter about it. "You seem a little more happy than usual, Sally."
The squirrel princess nods, her blue eyes shining as they look at Sonic. "It's because Sonic has accepted my request to be my mate."
Tails gives Sonic a shocked look while King and Queen Acorn smile at him. The blue hedgehog just looks down at his food, a blush on his cheeks. "It's true."
Everyone starts applauding, and Sonic just blushes more. The king summons the squire. "Squire, write this down. The knave Sonic the Hedgehog has accepted Princess Sally Acorn's request to be her mate. Send this message throughout the land. Everyone is invited."
The squire nods and leaves to do the king's bidding. Turning back to the blue hedgehog, King Acorn smiles. "You know what this means, right? You will be known as Prince Sonic, and you'll rule with Sally once me and my queen retire."
This news shocks Sonic. "Your Majesty, I'm not ready to rule yet. Besides, I don't know how."
The king nods. "Which is why Sally will teach you how."
Sally beams at Sonic, who smiles back. The eating resumes, and afterward Sonic and Tails return to their forge.
-The blacksmith forge-
Sonic and Tails enter and close the massive door behind them. The orange fox smiles at his cerulean older brother. "I think you made a good decision today Sonic."
Sonic shakes his head. "I don't. I feel like Sally's my sister, not a lover."
Tails frowns. "Why is that?"
Sonic sighs. "I think it's because I've been around her for so long. I know her very well, but that's part of the problem. I need someone else. But then again, I feel that this might work out. I just don't know."
Tails nods. "With time, you'll find who you really want. If Sally doesn't work out, then I'm sure someone else will be available."
Sonic nods, and the two males resume their blacksmithing for the rest of the day. Tails eventually goes to his chambers, and Sonic goes to his.
-Sonic's chambers-
Sonic enters his chambers, and Sally meets him when he comes in. "Since we'll be together, this is the first step towards our lives being as one."
Sonic frowns slightly, but doesn't argue as they change into their nightwear. Sonic climbs into bed, and Sally snuggles up to him. She's asleep in a few minutes, but Sonic remains awake, thinking about the decision he made.
