I DO NOT OWN SONIC AND SEGA AND THE OCS I USE IN THIS STORY

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Tonight was the official night of the grand ball. That means Amy get to dance with the Prince of Et Smaragdus. Amy was rushing to put on the finishing touches of her ball dress that was fitted just for her. The dress was white and lavender color; the dress was split on the right side of her leg showing some of her thigh and the leg itself. It was frilly around her clavicle and ribbon laced on her bare back. The dress itself compliments Amy's body shape; just curvy in the right places, she thanked her mother for that.

"Well, I guess it's time…. Katelyn, may you bring my tiara over and the mask, please?"

Katelyn shocked up in joy and nodded her head; she happily complied with Amy's order. "Why, yes, Princess Amy!"

Amy gave Katelyn the look but shook her head. She reached for the items, placing the tiara on first gingerly so she wouldn't mess up her curls that also were a bun. After Amy placed the tiara on, she glances at the mirror for a quick second. Amy gave herself a smile but deep down she was a nervous wreck and she's going to leave an impression on her whole kingdom when she meets the prince.

"Katelyn… do you think I'm beautiful?" Amy sighed as she fiddled with her thumb and her head was down for a moment.

Katelyn looks at Amy with a gleaming smile and nodded her head with agreement. "Amy, you're l-like the most beautiful princess in the whole world! Why would l-like the most beautiful princess in the whole world! Why would you even ask yourself that?"

Katelyn crossed her arms and she looks at Amy then sighs. Katelyn is probably thinking that Amy was so nervous and anxious for the grand ball tonight. She couldn't blame Amy.

"I-I… am just so nervous and hoping I won't screw this up. I don't want to upset my mother and father." Amy sighed and smiles a little at Katelyn's compliment. "T-Thanks, Katelyn. I want to make sure that I look good enough for the prince. The way my parents described him… it was just something silly. I don't know."

Katelyn shook her head with a small giggled and then cleared her throat. "Amy, it's nothing to be worried about, okay? You always look good. Pft, trust me the first glance the prince is going to give you, he'll faint. Another thing is you're wearing a mask so of course the prince won't know what'll hit him when you reveal the mask at last."

Amy softly laughs about what she said, but was grateful for her advice. Amy placed a hand on her waist and shook her head. "Wow, Katelyn, I'm not that good looking…. Even with a mask on. Oh well, thanks Katelyn. You're simply the best."

After Amy said that, she gave Katelyn a hug and sighed with content. Katelyn's eyes widened and she hugged back.

"You're welcome, Amy. I'm just telling the facts." she giggled.

"Yeah, but thanks for helping get ready for tonight."

"No problem, I always want to make sure you're ready to go!"

Amy nodded her head and released the hug from Katelyn. They glanced at each other, grinned, and sighed with content. The two girls were happy because it was Amy's time to shine and it was the perfect night. They couldn't help but to complement each other while they were at it.

Amy fixed her tiara once more and pushed the strand of quill behind her ear. She reassured herself mentally that nothing happen to her for tonight, she sighed. Her heart was pacing really rapidly, she could feel her palms sweating underneath the silky, white gloves she was wearing. She shook her head to clear some thoughts and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

Everything is going to be fine, Amy! Just don't be a nervous wreck when you meet the prince! Katelyn gave me advice and she made you feel good, right? So, you got this! Just have fun, make your parents happy and everything will go right tonight.

Amy grinned at herself –confidence and nodded her head sternly. She was going ace this tonight. Finally, she made a mental check-list to make sure she has everything for tonight. Katelyn gave the mask and helped her to put it on. Amy thanked her and Katelyn ginned.

"You got this, Amy! Have fun… especially with the prince." Katelyn gave her a smug grin and winked.

Amy smacked her arm playfully and small tint of pink was on her cheeks. "Katelyn, I'm not like that!"

"Who knows? There's drinking at the grand ball."

"I don't even drink."

"You're missing out then!"

Amy faces palms and shook her head with grief, but couldn't help but chuckle at Katelyn's antics. "Whatever, I'm just going to introduce myself and dance with the prince. So, I'm good."

Katelyn sighed, "Okay, Amy. It's just like that then."

"Yep, I guess so."

The girls giggled and sighed with content. They gave each other one last hug right before Amy had to get ready for the grand ball. The two made silly jokes here and there then finally got serious when the clock struck at eight. It was time.

"So, you're ready to go, Amy?"

Amy nodded her head with confidence, "Yes."

They gave one more look and finally walked out the room. The two went down the halls to head for the ballroom.

"Ohohoho, by golly Sonic, you're going to be stunning with the princess for sure!" Axel chuckled heartily and sighed. He had a long conversation with the Prince of Et Smaragdus and they both loved it!

"Yeah, well, you know! Although, I must say that the ballroom is set up quite astonishing!" Sonic chuckled and he fixed the strap of his black and grey mask. The white tipped, black feather was sticking from the side and it complimented well with his azure quills.

"Ah! The ballroom was set up professionally well! My wife did an excellent job picking out the people to set it up." Axel took a sip from his champagne and sighed throughout his nose. The conversation he was having with Sonic was well!

Sonic nodded his head and took a sip of the champagne as well. He enjoy the crisp, fizzy taste of it. He ran his hand through his quills. He was patiently waiting or the princess to come by and he didn't mind. Although, he was getting his self to keep his cockiness to the side so he wouldn't leave a bad impression on the princess. He thought it was silly but mentally shook his head about it.

When Sonic was walking to the grand ball, a lot of girls fainted and he flashed them all a smile with his signature thumbs up. He made a lot of other partners screaming with jealousy, he didn't care. Sonic knew he was good looking and he had no problem at all. Sonic swaggering his way into the room and was happily greeted by the king and queen. He sighed as he remembered that short memory.

"I'm so good…." he mumbles into his glass. Sonic fixed his bowtie that was slightly crooked on the left side and fixed it until it was straight. He fixed it. Sonic looked down at his suit and was happy how it turned out.

Sonics' tuxedo was black, all black except for his red bowtie. His masquerade mask was black and white, although the feathers were a green, a forest color and it was tipped black with white spots all over. The mask covered up his face quite well, the only thing was revealed was his deep, emerald colored pupils. That was the feature that made the girls faint. He chuckled about it and sighed with content. He couldn't help but to chuckle again.

As Sonic was looking around the ballroom he was taking in all the beautiful scenery that was before him. It was really breathtaking, but in all means he knows that the princess is going to be more breathtaking. Speaking of about the princess, trumpets and music went off for her.

The ballroom gotten dead silent, Sonics' eyes widened and he immediately stopped fooling around with his self. He cleared his throat, settled his glass down, and fixed his bowtie once more. His attention was just on the speaker of the ballroom.

"Excuse me, for this announcement, but it's obviously important! May we present the Princess of Surgens! She shall be enjoying this wonderful evening with the Prince of Et Smaragdus! Please welcome, Princess Amy Rose!"

The whole crowd from below on the dance floor was cheering loudly, whistling off, and smiling with glee for the princess. Everyone had respect for her, they were happy for Amy.

Princess Amy was elegantly walking down from the marble steps; she was taking each step gingerly and held her dress up so it wouldn't drag along. She defiantly did not want to trip and embarrass herself. As she was going down, flashes of lights were going left and right. Others take pictures of the princess so it would go platinum in the magazines and newspapers. It was going well for the young princess. The most proud people in the whole room were parents. They were grinning, clapping, and cheering for their daughter.

As Sonic had his eyes on the princess, he swore he fainted. Surprisingly, he didn't. He mentally shook his head and cleared his throat. His emerald eyes couldn't but to wander all over the princess' body. It was just perfect for the prince. He knows he's going to leave the princess breathless.

"Well, Sonic, it's time to do your best and make it good."

Sonic swaggered his way down the stairs to make his way on the center of the ballroom. The crowd cleared out to the sides so they can see the first dance of the couple. The maestro cued the orchestra to play the music. When Sonic was watching Amy walking it seems that each step was making his heart race. She was that beautiful to him. Sonic kept his cool though. He is not going to embarrass his self, especially to a beaut like Amy.

As Amy was finishing up the walk, she took a deep breath and sighed through her nose. Her heart couldn't stop beating loudly against her chest. She smiled and waved at everyone when she was walking down the steps. She couldn't help but to feel flustered and her cheeks were a deep red color. Thanks to the mask it covered her features well.

Sonic straightened his back, he stood up straight and finally gestured his arm out to the princess. He flashed the princess a bright, white, shiny smile. He cleared his throat so could introduce his self professionally in manner way.

"Why, hello, Princess Amy. I'm the Prince of Et Smaragdus. It's an honor to enjoy this evening dance with you. Isn't it?" Sonics' voice was laced with a hint of lust and it was smooth. His words were almost a drug and it made Amy even more nervous. Mentally, she kept reminding herself that this was just a onetime thing. Amy cleared her throat so it wouldn't sound raspy, especially unattractive.

"Hello back to you, Prince Sonic. It is an honor as well to dance with you on this fine evening."

Amy glanced at his face and the first thing that caught her attention was his emerald eyes. They were just outstanding and it made her heart even paced faster. Her mother was right about Sonic, he was handsome. Just looking into his eyes makes her hormones go into frenzy but she'll remain calm. Any mentally sighed and closed her eyes for moment to recollect herself real quickly.

C'mon, Amy! Don't screw this up… just reach for his hand and dance with him. Introduction is over so now dance with him!

Amy sighed and smiles back at the azure prince. Finally telling herself that in her head, she gracefully reached for Sonics' hand. She was quite disappointed because their hands were gloved but she was still content. Just taking a hold of his was marvelous and Amy's heart was beating faster and faster. Amy wasn't afraid that she'll mess up the dance because she knows herself is an excellent dancer. She sighed and was brought in closer towards Sonics' chest. The first thing she felt was his strong, stern body frame; his chest was what got her riled up. He was quite daring when he took the first step to dance. Amy took small breaths and resumed to step and dance along with her. She was really impress by the way he can dance.

"Wow, you are quite a dancer, Princess Amy. I never danced with a well dancer like you before, honest. I'm so impressed." Sonics' voice was lacing all over her neck since they were so close in each other's space. Amy couldn't help but to blush at his compliment.

"Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. You too, are an excellent dancer as well." Amy bowed her head down and without even trying, her feet was swept across in rhythm with the music. She couldn't help but to grin at the azure prince. He was such a gentleman and it made her feel much better. Amy's parents were probably right and had a good taste of princes when they were meeting with him.

On the top floor upstairs, Amy's parents were having a conversation and watching their daughter dance with the prince. They were obviously ecstatic with the progress and it made them so happy. Axel was happily drinking, but Ania was keeping her eyes on how her husband drinks. She scowled at him and Axel shrugged it off.

"Aren't our Amy enjoying the dance with the young gentleman, isn't she, honey?"

"Yes, I know for sure she's having the time of her life right now dancing with the most handsome hedgehog in land."

Axel nodded his head in agreement and took a sip of his red, velvet wine. He sighed with content and smiled at his wife that was sitting in her throne next to him. The king placed his glass down and smacks his teeth with his tongue to enjoy more of the taste from the wine. He glanced at his wife with a grin and Ania does the same too.

"Amy is dancing so well, too. She didn't miss one single step or move with the prince. Our daughter is quite a dancer, Axel." Ania boasted as she too took a sip from her white wine. She grinned and chuckled, she knows that Amy is going to fall fast for the prince. Ania was just so happy for her daughter.

"Mmm… yep, she's a dancer alright. She looks so flawless and the dress is swaying along too."

The two leaders nodded their heads in agreement and resumed to enjoy the rest of watching the dance.

With Sonic and Amy, they still were dancing in rhythm, not stepping over each other's foot once. They enjoy each other's company. Although, after dancing for quite a while, Amy's foot started to ache because of the shoes she was wearing wasn't comfortable for her taste. She told Sonic if they could rest for a while, but they did it in a manner able way. They bowed to crowds and got their cheers and claps. The couple grinned and walked off the dance floor. As for that, the crowd began to go on the dance floor.

"Thank you for the most beautiful dance, Princess Amy. I enjoyed it and it was so delicate. I'm sorry if your feet were aching." Sonic took a deep breath and sighed. He didn't notice he was sweating because of the masquerade mask but it didn't bother him one bit.

Amy stood up straight but her mask was slightly crooked to the side and she fixed it right away. She wanted everything on her perfect. Although she did frowned because her feet gave up on her and she still wanted the dance to last longer. Dancing for ten minutes with no mistakes was quite a workout for the young princess.

"You're welcome, Prince Sonic," she paused for a moment to think of the right words, "It's not your fault. It's just the lack of performance that my shoes gave me." Amy gave the azure prince a reassuring smile. He nodded his head and sighed with content. He looks at her and takes in the features, sadly for him; he wanted to know the true beauty behind that mask of hers.

He ran his hand through his blue quills and smiled back. "Do you want a drink? I can get us some if you like." That charming smile of his was what got Amy's heart into frenzy again. She nodded her head slowly because she wasn't sure but she obliged.

"Thank you, Prince Sonic. I appreciate it."

"No problem." Sonic winked his eye at her and gave her his signature thumbs up.

When Amy saw that she gasped in a dreamily manner and clutched on the side of her dress so tightly that her knuckles probably turned white. "He's so per-." She cut herself short for saying that because she wasn't sure about him. Just leaving a good first impression on her wasn't good enough. Although she didn't want to think about him like that, she was getting an impression that it was "perfect". Amy shook her head and threw her head back so it could lie on the stone marble wall. She was panting for a bit, but it wasn't from the dancing, it was Sonic.

"Whew, I think I need to sit down for a moment." she mumbles to herself as she took a seat that was near.

Amy glanced outside the wide window and appreciated how the moon's glow so well against the garden. It casted a shadow and it was beautiful. She resumed looking outside the window to admire all of it. She wished she went dancing outside on the grass and barefooted too. She sighed in a dreamy matter and went off daydreaming. She must thank her mother and father because of Sonic, if it wasn't for them she would probably be dancing with an idiot. She sighed and mentally shook her head, though she did wondered what it was taking Sonic forever to get the drinks. She shrugged it off and thought of something else to keep her busy. Amy rather daydream, at least she wasn't bored.

From the shadows, a figure was behind a marble pillar and was dead silent. The figure seems to be a manly figure too and he took a small step so he wouldn't be in people's way. He stood his back against the pillar and had his hands stuck in his pockets, looking rather coolly and relaxed. The figure had his eyes on the princess for some time, especially when she was dancing with the prince. He wasn't jealous at all, but it did bothered him like a gnat would annoy you. His enemy was Sonic, but he wouldn't deal with now, especially at a grand ball. He doesn't want to leave a bad impression against his own kingdom.

Fixing his mask, he glanced to the side to only the princess, she was wide open. It can be his chance to talk to her for a moment. He remembered those pink quills and the rose she gave him when they were younger. The figure couldn't help but to smirk about it. Sighing, he pushed his self-off of the pillar and fixing his mask once more. He straightened his back and fixed his bowtie.

The figure was dressed in all black. Everything he was wearing was all black even the masquerade mask. The only thing that was piercing was his deep, crimson quills and his pupils through the mask. One flaw you could see bright as day was the scar on his right eye. He hated that scar but he wouldn't let it bother him now.

Glancing at the princess once more, he finally made the move to walk to her. His posture was straight and his arms were to the side, not even swaying once more. Sighing through his nose, he closed his eyes for a moment and opened them up. The figure was making his way towards the princess now and nothing was going to stop him.

As he gotten closer to the princess, he cleared his throat softly and tapped her shoulder gingerly. Amy's shoulder immediately tensed up quickly and her eyes widened. She turned around quickly and was hoping it was Sonic. She was dead wrong. It was a dark hedgehog and she was so afraid but she'll keep her distance.

"E-Excuse me, um, w-who are you? And why'd you snuck up on me like that?" she questioned with authority tone. She stood up slowly and stares at the hedgehog with a hard glare. She didn't mean to but she didn't know who he was and it bother her.

The figure gave her a hard look and his ruby eyes widened with astonishment, but it didn't get to him though. He cleared his throat and stood up even straighter. He might as well answer the princess since she asked and it sounded like she wasn't kidding.

"Excuse me, Princess Amy; I'm Shadow… the Prince of Infernus Kingdom." Shadow stared at her with a nonchalant glance, he simply answered her question.

Amy's eyes widened and she was staring into his ruby eyes, it seems like she could be hypnotized by them. They were more startling than Sonics' emerald gaze. She gasped a little and mentally shook her head. By just looking at him made her want to question more, she felt familiar around the stranger but she wasn't even sure to call him a stranger! Amy stared hard at Shadow and it rang a bell in her head. She wanted to know if this is even the Shadow she met a long time ago. She wasn't sure still. Amy did wanted to ask a lot of questions, especially how he even got in the grand ball. It struck her because she didn't remember seeing his name on the invite list. Amy still had a hard glance on Shadow but really didn't know what to say.

"How did you even past the guards?"

"It's called 'sneaking' in. The guards don't even know what's going on outside."

"Hmph, how did you even know what the theme of the party is?"

"The magazines and I rely on my servants to tell me everything that they know."

Amy was quite impressed but was a little spooked out that he remembers the way to her kingdom. Sighing, she shook her head but wanted to ask more questions but held them off. She crossed her arms and resumed glaring at the hedgehog. Her gaze was wandering all over his body and face but too bad it was covered up with a mask. What caught her attention was a bright scar that was slashed on his right eye. She stared at it for long and realized that it was him. Her eyes widened with surprise, but mentally she was frowning because of the scar.

"So, you do know everything, I assume?"

Shadow gave her a questioning look and raised a brow underneath his mask. "Hmm, I do not know everything. I just get information and I do what I want with the information. So, why not meet and old friend, Amy." Shadow smirked and he gave her a teasing glare but was still serious. He didn't want to cause a scene.

Amy gasped and she put her hands on her hips. "You still remember my name don't you?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"I somewhat remember you because of the scar. I even gave you a rose before you and your brother left."

Shadow narrowed his eyes at her as she was trying to recall everything from the day they met each other. He bared his white fang at her but didn't let it last long. He only did that because his deceased brother was mentioned. Taking a deep breath, the prince sighed and mentally reminds his self that he's in a public setting.

"Hn. So you remember everything… isn't you good, princess?" he teased.

Amy shook her head in disbelief and sighed. "Well, I guess my memory is good."

Shadow nodded in agreement and shrugged his shoulders coolly. "If you say so, princess….."

Amy and Shadow stare at each other in silence and the chattering in the distance was nonsense to the both of them. Amy crossed her arms, her jade pupils staring back at ruby. It seems that she wanted to stare even deeper in his eyes and get lost in them. She wouldn't admit to the fact that he was ravishingly handsome. Heck, she even thought that Sonics' good looks and charms couldn't top Shadow's!

Shadow narrowed his eyes at her and sighed. He really doesn't know what to say, but in the distance, he heard a certain voice and his eyes widened. Sonic was coming back and he needed a certain voice and his eyes widened. Sonic was coming back and he needed to go quickly. Clearing his throat, he glanced at Amy and sighed. He was kind of annoyed that she wouldn't stop staring at him but didn't say anything about it.

"Well, your prince is coming. I need to be on my way, now. I shall meet you again, Princess Amy."

With that said, Shadow quickly goes back where he came from and watches Amy. Amy didn't even had a chance to say anything before he left, he was quick. Amy shook her head and mumbled something inaudible but sighed it off. She was confused by what he meant "again"? She rubbed her temples and thought about it later. She has to get to Sonic since he's near.

"So… what took you so long with the drinks?"

And with that chapter, I'm done! Wow, this is probably the longest chapter I written so far! Anyway, please leave a review, thanks!