One Without the Other

"Where's Sir Sonic?" Asked Tails as Inferna entered the throne room. Already, moonshine poured across the floor and wind played through the room from the open windows. "Shouldn't he be back by now?"

Inferna grinned, her bird eyes glowing with success. "Your precious knight is outside the castle gates with his troops."

"What?!" Tails growled, jumping off his throne. "Call him back! I want him here in the castle!" He kept back the words "with me" to avoid suspicion.

"He's under imperial decree, Your Majesty," Inferna informed him. "He can't come back, even if he wanted to."

"Imperial decree?" Tails snapped, beginning to pace wildly. "I didn't decree any…hold up." He stopped pacing and turned to face her. The bright blue eyes turned dark and sinister within minutes. "Did you…?"

The older phoenix chuckled as Tails advanced on her until they were nose to nose. "You're not the only one who can order an imperial decree, my lord."

Tails turned from her, shaking. Tears fell from his eyes as he struggled to keep his voice level. "How…how could you, Inferna?" He sniffled. "Why did you send my boy-bodyguard," he corrected himself, "away?!"

The older phoenix flew over to where he stood and wrapped her arms around him. "It's what's best for you, my dear prince. I could see in his eyes that he had…unpleasant plans for you." She stroked him gently. "And, as your future queen, I can't let that happen."

"Future…queen?" Tails pulled back and stared questioningly at her.

Inferna smiled and nodded. "The memory wipe was so clear that you forget. Yes, I am to one day be your queen."

Tails pulled out of her grasp and shook his head, his eyes filled to the brim with fear. "No! That can't be true!" And, his eyes once again flooded with tears. "It can't!"

The phoenix frowned. "My father and yours discussed and agreed upon it a very long time ago, Miles."

Tails, his ears now curled against his head, shook it rapidly and ran away to the stables, crying his eyes out. As he jumped on his white horse bareback, he said to her: "Seine! Find Radovan!"

The white and pink mare neighed in response and understanding and galloped off through the dark night.

~ST~ST~ST~

Both Aero and Ryo stared in horror at the naked creatures standing before them. The female liger licked a paw delicately and the male sat at her feet, staring at the boys.

"Hoo-who are you?" Ryo quizzed, his voice shaking with fright.

"My name is Gretta and this is my brother Garse." The female indicated first to herself and then to the male on the floor before her. "I specialize in spells and poisons, while Garse specializes in memory loss. We were quite the heavy hitters of Xzero's pack."

"Xzero? Pack?" Aero dared to question, pushing his black shades further up onto his head. "There were more of you bastards lying around?!"

Garse growled threateningly, his dark eyes glowing. Gretta, however, hushed him, and continued. "Of course, you fool." Her voice was soft and tempting. "Garse and I just came back for a visit. There were others, too. We all scattered after his death. Are you the other's pack members?"

"We don't know what you're talking about," Ryo answered quickly, beginning to sweat. "In fact, we were just about to leave, weren't we, Aero?"

The light blue one waved the chocolate one off. "In a second. You hated him and you came to visit?!"

"Yes." Gretta smiled. "Is there anything wrong with gloating?"

"Guessnotlet'sgo!" Ryo tugged at the other male's sleeve, noting that the male on the floor was paying careful attention to the two's movements…and his especially.

Gretta laughed, a hearty bell-like sound, which rang throughout the room like a thousand tinkling of bells. Aero's eyes grew wide, now partially under her accidental spell. "Hmmm, your friend catches on quick. But, chocolate one," her voice soothed even fearful Ryo. "We are not the most dangerous things out there. Be on the lookout for…any suspicious happenings."

"Oh-kay," Ryo breathed.

Gretta arose and took Garse's hand. "We'll go now. Just remember, boys," and her head poked out from behind the door. "Garse and I were not the only members of Xzero's pack to survive." She giggled. "See you later!" And with that, the door clicked closed, leaving the two stunned hedgies frozen where they stood.

~ST~ST~ST~

"Please!" Cried Tails, tears still falling from his eyes as he passed his soldiers, pushing his horse on. "I need to speak with Sir Sonic! Let me through! I need to see him!"

A kindly soldier pointed the way to Sonic's tent and Tails raced onward, dismounting at a fast pace Sonic would've been proud of. He burst through the tent flaps, sobbing, and collided with damp fur.

"Tails," Sonic's voice was shaky, his body wracked with tremors from his sobs. So, he'd been crying, too. "You came." And he hugged the other body closer to his own.

Yellow hands wrapped around the sobbing hedgehog. "Of course I came," Tails whispered shakily. "I can't stay away from you."

Sonic blushed and pulled the fox's butt closer to his genitals. The fox groaned lustfully and knew he was having a boner. "Sonic, we can't," he moaned. "The soldiers are right outside."

"And, they'll be busy as soon as I tell them to be," Sonic answered slyly, his eyes glowing mischievously in the darkness. "They respect me for following orders above all else."

Tails buried his face deeper into cobalt fur. "They found out?"

"They guessed."

"And?"

Sonic sucked on Tails' neck. "They don't care. It's our sin, as they see it."

Tails shivered, his heart beating ever faster. "So…" He mused as his tails wrapped around Sonic's body and pulled him closer. "Will you tell them to get busy already? I can't live another second without you in me."

Sonic's cool hands traced down the fox's body until they rested on his hips. Grinning, he replied: "I'll be back before you know it."

Presently, a great stomping of hooves occurred, accompanied by neighs of all sorts. "Go tend to the horses quickly and then return to your tents! I'll take the first watch!" Sonic shouted before reappearing, his fingers already removing the belt and quickly working on the cape. "Now then," he swayed his hips seductively as he pressed Tails against the soft bottom of the tent. "Where were we?"

Tails groaned as Sonic began to lick his neck and play with his balls. "Don't torture me, Sonicccc," he moaned. "Just do it!"

"As you wish, my prince," And, Sonic was very quick to comply.