SuperSonicSpeed: Made my deadline just in time! Hopefully this doesn't seem rushed! I apologize if I'm moving too fast!
Shadow: Fast? You're slower than...
Sonic: A cheetah?
Shadow: I think you're missing the point of the insult.
SuperSonicSpeed: Why must you be so you sometimes? TT-TT Start!
"Let me warn you, don't push the kit too hard to reach your expectations."
'Was he trying to insult my capabilities as a father?' He looked at Sonic who stared at the butterflies that flew around up above, 'Or was he saying I'm already pushing him?'
A cute squeaky sneeze brought Lancelot out of his worries. He smiled when Sonic looked at him and pointed at one of the butterflies.
"Are you sure you rather walk Lancelot?" Percival asked from the horse.
"Positive."
"Yaga!"
Lancelot looked down at Sonic who pointed at a squirrel on the tree.
"He's already trying to talk!" Percival spoke excitedly. She got off the horse and stood right next to him, "Can you say something else?"
Sonic shied away in his fathers shoulder.
Percival gave a dumbfounded look, but quickly smiled, "Oops. Guess I was a little over excited."
Lancelot smirked and looked at Sonic, "We'll be home soon." He covered him with the blanket and began rocking him as they walked.
At The Castle Gate
"I already said I won't go through the front gate." Lancelot turned and began walking away.
Gawain grabbed his shoulder, "You said you would if the kit was asleep." Percival opened the gate, "Now get going."
Gawain pushed Lancelot forward and accidentally woke Sonic. The whole village noticed the entering knights, each one gathering around the path to the castle.
'Great...' Lancelot could already hear the gossip that always got under his skin.
Sonic peeked through the crack of the blanket and thought he saw a shadow behind all the surrounding people. As the crack closed, he saw a pair of yellow gold eyes staring at him.
Lancelot and the others entered the castle and headed straight to the king's throne room.
"You're all back." The king smiled, "And I see the kit is safe."
Lancelot detected relief in the king's voice, 'Why would he worry so much? Shouldn't I be the only one whose worry should be great?'
The knight's bowed, "Our mission was a success your highness. We have gained an ally to help us in times of need in exchange for our protection."
The king smiled, "Excellent! May we feast tonight in celebration of such grand news. You may take your leave now."
The knights stood up and progressed towards their rooms. Each one eager to get a good rest.
Lancelot bathed and changed both Sonic and himself, "Feels good to be clean doesn't it?" Laughter erupted from the kit from being tickled. Shadow saw Sonic's cheeks turning rosy and decided to start rocking him instead.
"Time for bed now." He lightly kissed Sonic's forehead, "Have sweet dreams my little one."
Sonic's eye lids drooped, but he still fought the sleep that was trying to take him. Shadow began humming a lullaby and occasionally sing a verse or two to see if that would help. Sonic was out cold in a few minutes. He gently lied him down and took his spot next to him.
'Those creatures... What were they? I don't recall ever reading about them or hearing any mention of them.' He rolled over and looked at his son, 'If they're a new enemy, we have to train hard in order to protect this kingdom and it's people.'
His eyelids grew heavy as he once again remembered those words, "Let me warn you, don't push the kit too hard to reach your expectations."
'These are not my expectations, they're the principles that he'll be trained in as soon as he can pick up a book and read.' Satisfied with his answer, he fell asleep.
7 Months Later
Percival held Sonic back from the sparring area where Gawain and Lancelot usually practiced.
"Gawain never gives up," Percival looked down, "Does he Sonic?"
Sonic laughed, "Dada!"
Lancelot's ear twitched and a wide grin appeared on his face, "Time to finish this Gawain."
Before Gawain even blinked, his swords flew out of his hand and a sword was place next to his neck.
Gawain grunted, "Next time Lancelot."
"DADA!"
Lancelot turned and saw his son running towards him, 'He's not stumbling!' He spread out his arms and felt his little one run into him and hug him tightly.
"You did it." He smiled, "How about we see if there's any cake from last night's dinner?"
"CAKE!" Sonic's excitement caught the attention of other knights.
Lancelot heard whispers, "He's to be a great knight?" one said, "He barely seems disciplined in these arts." One growled, "He's only to be a great knight because his father is friends with the king."
"That's enough," The knights realized Lancelot was standing right in front of them, "How he's raised and what status he will be in is none of your concern."
"That's right," Percival interjected, "He's only a child and has every right to act like one."
"Knights like you shame us all." Gawain ended.
Sonic only looked up at the adults, confused of why they had such angry expressions. A shiver crawled up his spine as he realized someone was watching, 'Yellow eyes?' They glinted behind the bush they were hidden behind. The figure slowly rose causing Sonic to hold onto his dad, 'He look like daddy?'
Sonic looked back at Lancelot, "Dada?" Lancelot looked down at his spooked son, "We go now?"
"Of course." Lancelot picked him up and put him over his shoulder. When Sonic looked over at the bush again, he saw the figure wave at him and disappear. He hid his face and shivered.
"Are you ok son?"
Sonic held on, "I think."
Lancelot detected uncertainty, 'I wonder if he heard those knights in training...' Lancelot tried to make him feel better, "How about we play with your toys together later? I'm sure Percival and Gawain can cover for me." Sonic's ears perked up.
"WHAT!? But we-" Sonic's ears fell flat. Percival punched Gawain's shoulder and made him look at the kit's saddened expression, "I mean... Sure! You can play with your daddy all day today."
"Yay!" Sonic cheered and slowly began to forget about the stranger.
Lancelot entered the kitchen and took out a slice for Sonic. The cake didn't stand a chance against the hyperactive kit.
"More pwease!"
Lancelot chuckled, "Not until after dinner."
"When that?"
Lancelot picked up the plate, "If I told you, then you would only pester me on the time."
"Pester?"
Lancelot paused and thought, "You wouldn't stop asking." He ruffled his son's growing quills.
"AW!" Sonic pouted and folded his arms.
"We'll have none of that." Lancelot picked him up, "Now for your toys."
As he walked through the corridors, he saw the king stepping out of a room near his.
"My king." He did a slight bow.
"Lancelot, just in time."
"In time?"
"Please, step into the room."
Lancelot nodded and progressed inside. He paused when he looked around, "A... room?"
Furniture was placed all over, small bed and all. A window allowed the breeze to come in and everything a child could want in their era was there.
"Yes, for your son. I figured eventually, Sonic will need his own room. It's doesn't need to be used right away, just when you think the time is right."
"Thank you." He set Sonic down and allowed him to explore the area.
"Anything for a friend and loyal knight."
Sonic ran up to the king and hugged him, "Tank you!"
Lancelot almost face palmed at the etiquette of his child, then again, he was still too young to know what proper even meant.
The king tosseled Sonic's quills, "You are welcome." He looked at Lancelot, "I'll leave you be now."
Lancelot walked over to the toy chest and began playing Knights and rogues with his son.
"Got you dada!"
Lancelot chuckled as Sonic took the pose he normally did when he beat Gawain.
"So a kit can defeat you and I can't?" Gawain chuckled and spoke playfully, "Maybe I underestimated the little one."
Sonic pointed at him, "Another rogue!" He ran around the room and ran into Percival. He pointed at Gawain, "Auntie, a rogue!"
Percival giggled and lowered herself to his height, "He doesn't seem too strong, I bet you can take him."
They all laughed as Gawain tickled Sonic but eventually surrendered when Sonic took out his wooden sword.
A maiden walked in and bowed, "Dinner is ready my knights."
Fun time was over and they walked towards the dining room. When everyone was seated, the king rose and did his usual speech. Sonic only looked at the desserts that were place on the table. He was about to lean for one when he caught a glare coming from his dad. He knew what would happen if he ate dessert first.
The speech ended and everyone dug in.
Lancelot had done his best to teach his son table manners, but there was the occasional slip up. Lancelot noticed Sonic blowing bubbles into the cup as he took a sip. He did a slight cough and Sonic stopped immediately. Sonic noticed everyone had a red drink instead of plain water like he had. He saw his father's cup but couldn't quite reach it. Lancelot was talking to Gawain, too distracted to notice anything. He pulled the table cloth slowly and success!
"The kit has wine!" Someone yelled.
Lancelot turned and saw Sonic about to take a sip. He rolled his eyes and took it before any of it went into his son's system.
"You're still young for this," Lancelot spoke quietly, "If you a eat just a bit more off your plate, you can have dessert."
Sonic smiled, but just as he was about to eat his meal, that shiver came back. He looked around and noticed yellow eyes staring at him from the window.
"Dada look."
Lancelot turned and barely caught a glimpse of a shadow. He stood up and ran to the window, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
"What is it Lancelot?" Percival looked down the window as well.
"I caught a small glimpse of a shadow."
"Could've been a bird." Gawain suggested.
Lancelot looked at Sonic, "What did you see son?"
Sonic hesitated, "Yellow eyes. Look like you."
'Looks like me? I don't follow.' Lancelot pondered.
"Eyes? Looks like you?" Someone on the table asked, "I think you're imagining things."
Lancelot looked at the person, "I doubt something that makes a kit shiver that bad is fake."
"Calm down Lancelot." Percival interjected.
"Let's just continue our feast and move on from this."
Lancelot looked at Sonic and sighed, "Fine."
The dinner went on with the interrupted conversations. Sonic couldn't shake the feeling though. Lancelot noticed and cut up an apple. Then poured just enough honey to make the kit happy.
He whispered, "Maybe a little sugar will calm you down." He continued talking as Sonic bit into the apple with a crunch.
'Please believe me daddy.'
SuperSonicSpeed: That ends this one! So did I manage to slow down a bit? Or was this still a bit fast? Let me know what you thought about this chapter and if there's something you really would like to see happen in this story. :) Longer Chapters?
Shadow: More Action!
Sonic: AND swords!
SuperSonicSpeed: -.- Sonic, you're still a toddler!
Sonic: Shadow and Mephilis aren't!
SuperSonicSpeed: O.o ... Til Next Time!