My Stand is Here

Regardless of betrayal by the only one I truly love with all my heart,

I am a knight.

I don't have a choice anymore.

I will fight for my kingdom, in hopes that my true love

Will someday come to love me again.

"Prince Tails! Prince Tails!" a frantic page on a sand-colored pony rode through the castle walls and into the throne room.

Furious, Tails threw the rapist Inferna off his body and slipped his robe and crown back on, using his twin tails to hover into the throne room on the downstairs level. The castle was so quiet, now that Sonic didn't come to visit anymore. "What is it?" Tails gasped, sitting in his throne wearily. Inferna used her magic to appear beside him, but Tails made it clear he hated the royal magician.

"The knights are under attack, sire," bowed the page, still in his saddle. "Sir Sonic sent me, m'lord. Told me to tell you what was going on."

Sonic. Tails thought on his lover's injured face before he left that day. It seemed like days, when it had really only been a few hours.

"No, you don't. Goodbye."

Those were the last words he'd said. Tails couldn't help but tear up again. "Well?" He demanded, impatient. He was frustrated he could not keep back his tears. "Report!"

The page did not have good news. It seemed that Eggman had found out about the ancient kingdom and had decided he needed to possess it for himself. His armies were making the push towards the castle. Sir Sonic and his men had been fending off the push for several hours now. And they were all getting tired.

"Saddle Seine up for me." Tails commanded the stable boys. "I have to help Sir Sonic and his men!" Tails hopped off his throne, when Inferna materialized in front of him.

"Your majesty."

"Inferna." Tails snarled.

"You can't go to help them."

"And why not?" Tails demanded. "I am a prince! I can do whatever I please!"

"Within reason."

"What in hell do you mean?!" The raping had been enough. Now Inferna was going to keep him from fighting to the death for his one and only love?! It didn't matter if she didn't know the truth. Nothing was going to stand in Tails' way, not now.

Inferna sighed and pulled Tails close in a hug. The fox struggled in her arms, but listened to her words. "My prince, there must be someone alive to care for this kingdom, to produce heirs. That must be you. Unless you pass the crown to another, you are the sole prince of this kingdom. I cannot let you die for…" She hissed herself. "…a commoner."

"I told you before!" Tails growled, pushing Inferna so hard, she flew into the wall. "Sonic is much more than a 'commoner' to me! He is my friend, brother, and until you took him away from me, my lover! I don't need this kingdom! I don't need anything! I just need him!"

"Sire?" A stable boy approached him.

"Yes, what is it?" Tails tried very hard not to snap at the stable boy. After all, he was but an innocent bystander to all of this. Inferna was the one really at fault.

"Seine is sick. We have saddled another horse up for you, however."

"Will this one find Radovan?" Tails demanded.

"Yes, sire."

"Very well. Take me to him." And Tails turned his back on the magical phoenix…forever.

~ST~ST~ST~

Sonic! The soldiers are falling back! They are tired! We've lost this position! Fall back!

Sonic fought furiously, swinging his sword through the men fighting for Eggman. Tears swelled in his eyes the more he thought of Tails. And rage filled his mind when he thought of Inferna. How dare she, how dare she take him away from me! I'll kill her! That bitch! He slashed through another dozen enemies, working his way to where Eggman sat in his chair, watching with amusement Sonic's soldiers falling back.

You are injured, Master! Please, I beg of you! Retreat! Radovan hastened. For the sake of the one you love! Retreat!

Injured?! Sonic mocked. Love?! I don't care if I'm injured! I don't care about Tails! Sonic choked back a sob at these words. He did care about Tails. Oh, the ache in his heart, how it told him so! Care for him he did! He had even planned to marry Tails! Indeed, for the diamond ring sat in his dresser drawer at home, amongst pristine white gloves and socks! But there was sadly no need for it now. He's made his decision, and that was to leave me behind. Sonic sniffled, and broke down into sobs. The robot fighters slashed and beat him, but he didn't care. He only continued to sob. Strikes that would have killed him did not, for a far deadlier poison lay buried in his breast. And its curse was to keep him alive until it had fully drained his energy. And it didn't have all of his energy left. His love for the fox made him nearly undefeatable. At least…for now. There was no telling how much longer Sonic would survive the heartache drowning him, pulling him down into despair. I won't take him from his love! I can't!

What if I told you it was all a misunderstanding? That he loves you, and wants you, and only you.

I would never believe you. Sonic thought on the image of Tails, having sex with Inferna. It made him feel very sick to his core; especially after the words Tails had spoken to him.

"I love you, and only you. I swear to it, and I also swear that I will never leave you for anyone, male or female."

"You liar!" Sonic shrieked aloud in rage, breaking through the mound of bodies covering him. Tears fell down his face as he slashed through the guarding forces, all the way to Eggman's massive chair. In one bound, he had Eggman with his back to the ground, his silvery sword flickering above where the fat man's heart should be. He barely heard Eggy's foolish pleas for mercy, for life. He only felt the blue blade dagger rising from its place in his heart. Yes, for his own dagger was the poison, draining his energy bit by bit. And Sonic could feel it; that this was his final breath.

Tails rode up just then, and saw what was going on. "Sonic!" He sobbed, jumping off his horse.

Sonic looked up at his name, only to see twin sapphire eyes. They were too painful…filled with love. He turned away, directing his neck words at Eggman. He could barely speak without gasping, but he tried very hard to say these words, those he knew to be his last.

"For the kingdom of Prince Tails, to whom I am passionately devoted," his voice choked as Eggman looked strangely at him, the sword raised high in his trembling hands. Sonic swallowed thickly. "For all its people, for the love of my life, I smite thee!" And before he could take a step backwards, he stabbed Eggman.

The body fluttered with its last seconds of life, and died. But, just as blood sperted from Eggman's chest, so blood did stain Sonic's beautiful tan fur. The dagger, fully evident in his heart, had done its job well.

Sonic swayed dizzily, his head growing heavy and hot. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily against his sword.

"Sonic."

He heard his name one last time before his ears went, and felt furry arms wrap around his middle. He wearily moved his arms to hug the fox he could smell, even if Tails didn't want him anymore, he was still his little brother, and then closed his eyes forever.

Sonic was dead.

The robots had fallen all around him, the soldiers came near…

And found their prince, sobbing only the only death that mattered to him in the whole world.

"No." Tails sobbed, burying his face in his love's bloody coat. "No!" His voice was hoarse from crying, but he didn't care. He continued to cry. "Why him?! Why?! It's not fair! Oh, it's not fair!" And he hugged the limp body close to him, wrenching the dagger from his love's heart.

A silence broken only by Tails' tears fell over the battlefield.

Inferna, watching through her crystal ball, knew she had done a great wrong. She opened her window, jumped out, and took flight.

Tails looked up next to see Inferna, towering over the massive wound in Sonic's heart. Protectively, he snarled like a mad dog in warning. But…Inferna was crying, too. And those tears were healing Sonic's wound.

"The tears of a phoenix, my lord," she whispered, knealing to hug Tails. And this time, since it was only for comfort, Tails let her. "The tears of a phoenix have many magical powers. They can heal all wounds."

Tails sobbed, holding Sonic's cold hand firmly in his own, the dead fingers wrapped around his hand.

*Sniff!* That was soooooo sad! :'( I cried while writing it!

But, never fear! The end is near! And, I said the ending would surprise you!