It all started with joyful news.

"Sire! Sir Galahad has returned." The messager shout. Percival didn't believe her ears first but the joyful look on the guard's face spotted hopes that she was always fearful to keep.

'He has come back!' Percival grasp, her heart racing, and the overwhelming happiness flooded her mind and thought.

"Who's Galahad?" King Sonic wonders.

"Sir Galahad is one of the Round Table, sire. The white knight of the Holy Grail!" Sir Gawain proudly said.

"The holy Gail?" The king's eyes brown raise. Gawain immediately frozen and shot a panic look to Sir Lancelot, the ultimate knight who has been standing silently the whole time merely grunted, ruby eyes stared intently at the Grand door.

"Erm, my apologies sir. A story for another time". The red knight trail off into guilty silence. Sonic looking at all of them in obvious confusion, clearly wanted to know more. Percival works her mouth, trying to simplify for their blue king, but the dreadful past took over her mind leaving her wordless.

Sonic noticed how uneasy all his knights were decided to switch the topic." Eh, let see what a fella he is."

The grand door is busted by the guards and the White Knight walks. Percival sucks in a hard breathe upon the condition her best pal was in. He looks terrible, his once long and silk white quills now shaggy and dirty, the silver armor he prides on was cracked and muggle with a Brown cloak he wore when he departed now ragged and stained, all the fresh that peek out seem to be okay. His step toward the Thorne was staggering and his heavy breathing can be heard. It took all her will to stop herself from running to him and the other seems to be so too.

"My king," Sir Galahad speaks, one knee on the ground and head low. His voice dry and weak."Im Galahad knight of the Holy Gail. It is my deepest regret that we meet like this but there is something you must see my king, all of the courts of Camelot must see!" He announced, his eyes solemnly in the King's wide own.

"I- we will, but you alright dude?" Sonic stood up, alarmed by the knight state.

"No--! Please hear me first my king, before it too late!" The White knight begged. And knowing his doppelganger's stubbornness, Sonic agreed.

"Alright dude, but you gotta have a check-up after this." The blue hedgehog warned.

Relief fills the kneeling knight, he takes in a hard breathe before hashing stand up.

"Please summon the Round Table, my king." Galahad asked."This is a matter of realm, all of us need to be there."

The old Castle was ruined, collapsed by the overwhelming power of The Dark Queen. the Round Table was, fortunately, un harm during the havoc and have then been moved to the current Castle they staying in while waiting for repairs of the king's Castle.

Sonic sits on his king's chair and the other follows suit, sir Lamorak has also joined them after getting the urged summon. Galahad stood motionless beside the grand Table, gazing at the grant table and sadly realizing how many remain.

"Aren't you gonna sit down dude? No offense but you look like you need it." Sonic advice, Galahad wordless nodded but didn't move. The blue hedgehog is about to say it again but pauses when he sees 2 guards carrying a strange chair in and Galahad finally settled upon it.

"Ah, Siege Perilous," The great sword who was grumpy about how Sonic has snagged him away from his comfy scabbard open his eyes. "So the lad has returned."

"You know him?" Sonic whispers to his sword.

"Indeed, King Arthur has done him wrong," Excalibur sigh." Treat him fairly, Sonic and you may earn the Lord's favor." The sword smile mysteriously.

"What?" Sonic was dumbfounded.

"My king and my fellow knights." Galahad spoke, taking out a black orb from his cloak, and let it flows into the middle of the Table."This is the orb of darkness, the thing inside has no shape or form. I was able to catch by my power and seal it into this orb."

"An orb of darkness?" Lamorak question.

"Yes, on my journey across the realm I have run into a secret cult that worships an evil spirit. I and the lord of 000000 and his men have busted them in the middle of some kind of ritual to open the gate of darkness, this is what has been let out." The White knight explained, his teal symbol glows weakly as he recalls the ord back to his hand.

"Gah those Pagan, Bring nothing but troubled!" Gawain sneered, slammed his hand down the Table. Galahad waits for him to calm down before continuing.

"After I sealed it into this, we have been attacked by the cult's members. They come in waves and unexpected time, I have to part with the lord in fear of bringing them great danger." The white knight sigh." I do not know how to banish it back, I have hope the great wizard Merlina can..." He said. Golden eyes, hidden behind the helmet met Sonic's emerald own." My king, will you permit me to stay?"

Everyone's eyes were on him, their face stays serious and void of emotions but Sonic can see the pleading in their eyes. The King smirked as he stands up.

"I accepted." Sonic grinned." But you seriously need a rest after this dude".

"Indeed, rest sir Galahad for tomorrow there will be a lot to be done. Hand me the orb." Lancelot finally speaks, Galahad hesitated but let the orb flow to the ebony knight's hand. The youngest knight's body slacked and falls back to his seat, hand press onto his mouth trying to suppress a harsh coughing fit.

Percival was at his side instantly, patting his back to smooth the coughing asking him alright. The remain of the Court hurry to the pair, keeping space for the wheezing knight.

"He needs medical attention!" Sonic shouts, unconsciously using modern terms.

"At peace my king," it was Merlina, the kingdom's wizard stepping into the scene.

"Please move aside sir knight." The great wizard said and in her hands raise her magical scepter. Purple stream of magic flowing out and into the painting knight, slowly but surely his breath easy and his stiffed body relaxes. When the violet wizard deed it was enough, she set down the staff.

"I have seen everything from my reflecting pool. Sir Lancelot, please be careful the beast inside that sphere can absorb any magic that it comes close." She warned sad blue eyes reflex on the now sleeping form of Galahad." To think he has endured it into now truly is remarkable. Don't fear my lord, the boy merely faint from exhaustion." All were relieved by the news. Sir Lamorak step up and with the help of Percival, carrying Galahad to the infirmary.

"Hand me the sphere, I shall see what I can do with this." Merlina order and the orb was transferred to her, still faintly glowing Galahad's teal psychic. The great wizard disappears in a flash, returned to her study chamber.

"We will need to have a meeting after this." Lancelot proposes. And the blue hedgehog shakes his head, his brow frowned and his muzzle switched.

"Hell yeah, Alarm the guards! Nobody entering this castle without my saying!"

When all the cleaning and treatment were done, Percival sits on his bed's side soaking in the sight of her dearest pal.

He is thinner, so thin like he was just a skeleton don on skin suit, new scars on his face and body, some tiny across his muzzle and a few on his back and hip, the dark circles under his eyes now even dark it look like he hasn't slept in days. Percival's heart was crying for him, the dreadful thought of how he has starved and didn't have any moment of rest that leaving him in such stage. Anger and darkly thought creeping into her of what she shall do to his attacker if they ever dare to show up again, Percival quickly shakes herself from those thoughts.

Not now, later.

Deep breaths, The feline easy her emotions as the tingling of flame die out. Determine gold eyes sweep back to Galahad, her hand gently strokes his cheek. Her heart yearns for his touch, his voice, his smile, his everything.

But not now. Percival reminds herself. Her duty as the grand knight, protector of Camelot and its people always comes first. So she kisses his forehead and prays for his recovery to be smooth and shortly.

Percival met Lamorak at the door of the great hall. he nodded at her, his dark emerald green eyes filled with understanding as he opened the door for them both.

"How is he?"

"He...Well, he going to need a lot of rest before joining back." Percival hummed. " and a lot of food too."

The green hawk laugh." good luck at making him laying down, that lad is just like his father!"

"I can handle him" Percival smiles.

Their conversation was short-lived as the two grand knights join the table.

"Galahad have warned about attackers." Lancelot said." We need to double up our watches and guards."

"Do you think they dare to attack us? Now at Camelot?." Gawain Confidentiality chuckle. "Ay! Let so those Pagan who they fooling with!"

"Ya betcha!" Sonic smirked. all the knights nodded, looking at their king ready to act upon his commands.

Sonic makes a face, awkwardly glancing back between Gawain and Lancelot.

"Erm...how to...Right! Hear me, mine knights! Our kingdom is in great danger!" Sonic dramatically shouts startled everyone in the room. Lamorak uncertainly glaring at the ebony hedgehog for translation while Gawain cracking up and Percival remains passive.

"Speak normally will you!" Lancelot hiss.

"Jeez, you ruining the moment!" Sonic pout. "Alright, serious time."

"We going to double up the guard and the watch routine, anybody looking suspicions ain't walking around this place!" Sonic declared, proudly green eyes starting back at the deadpan Ruby.

"Sending letters to all the lords, keep high alerts, keep all intruders alive, they might tell us a thing or two. " Lancelot said darkly. "This battle going to be a long one, they might try to revenge on us if Merlina banished that dark beast".

"Oh yeah, that too." Sonic gasped.

"Gawain and I will be on the first watch, then Percival and Lamorak. Maintains tropes to guard every towers at every moment."

"What about me?" Sonic asked, generally clueless about how to manage a big operation.

"You are more than welcome to join us, my king. However, you should continue on your routine of study and meeting as usual," Lancelot was fast to nip that in the bud. Sonic let out a quiet 'tsk' for losing his excuses to escape those ' royalty lesson'.

"Ugh...Fine." The king huffed with his back against the chair, Excalibur rolled his eyes at their king childishly.

"Are there anything on your mind, my liege?" Challenging ruby eyes sweep to Sonic who immediately grinned.

"Nope! everyone dismiss!" The king calls and disappears in a blur of blue.

The knights get up and executing their mission. Lancelot walks up to the flames knight.

"How is he?" He asked, referring to Galahad.

Percival was delighted by the oldest openly concerned.

"He is fine, Lancelot. He going need more of that to knock him out." Percival smiled.

Lancelot merely nodded then joining back to Gawain who pat his back.

"I'm going go back to my chamber for my much-needed rest," Lamorak suddenly announced beside her. "I resumed that you going to him?" He teased.

"Indeed, I wish to be there for him once he wakes up" Percival answers honestly, golden gaze pointly look at the green hawk.

"Lovely," Lamorak started to walk away. Decided to not playing with fire. "Call me when our watch starts." He waves his hand.

Percival watches him left before heading to the infirmary, her steady step soon turns running. She pushes the doors open and hurries to the white knight's side, hand gently push the curtain out of way. the white hedgehog now curling up with his back against the window in his private corner, Percival carefully steps to his bed and softly sits by his side.

All the curtains surrounding ensured that their private love is hidden. Percival takes out her hand's armor them slowly reaches for Galahad's. feeling the warmth of his did The knight of flame can truly breathe a sigh of relief, all the sight of her nightmare far away.

Of Galahad dying so far away, Miles upon miles away from her, from Camelot.

Percival's head gentle rest on Galahad's shoulder, she purrs, a gesture that she would never let anyone but him hear.

"I miss you." Percival whisper.

"Rest well dear Galahad," Percival kiss his forehead.