"Amy! Hurry up - we're going to be late for the show!"
Yelling at the top of her voice, Princess Viola Violet streaked through the palace, looking for her youngest sister. Dressed magnificently in jewelry and cloths of splendor, her older sister Penelope Peony waited downstairs, but grew impatient on her two siblings.
"Come on Viola! We can just leave her and she'll notice that we left her behind…again."
Viola opened the door opposite her room and opened it. There she found a 12 year old pink hedgehog, standing on the balcony.
Amy Rose stared into the night sky, concentrated on the stars in the sky. Her memory of what happened 8 years ago stood so vividly, but she could not will herself to forget about it. Was it because of her that the baby was a stillborn? Surely she prayed it wouldn't happen, but it didn't seem that hope was on their side that time.
Maybe she was destined to be a Queen. Yet the country, the whole kingdom of Flora, isn't ready for a female heir to rule over them. They might plan to overthrow her and she would have to risk getting an abdication and being exiled out of the country. She doesn't want to face that, especially for a father that depends on every single action that she does.
Her thoughts dissipated from the sound of her sister's airy voice, beckoning her to hurry.
"Oh my- I'm coming, Viola! Wait up for me!" She grabbed her bag and rushed out of her room after her sister.
Her sister sighed dejectedly to herself. "I'll doubt if you'll ever pay attention to reality these days…" she muttered.
Soon, all three sisters walked out of the palace, rushing to their coach in heels matching their outfits. One by one they climbed in and took their seats, prepared for the night's events. The two elder sisters sat together, with Amy sitting by herself.
See, they figured Amy was a misfit, being too independent and outspoken for herself; they distanced themselves far away from her like a disease. They hoped that Amy's blessed spirit and kindness wouldn't taint their reputation as the kingdom's most eligible, attractive and, most importantly, well-mannered ladies in the country. It wouldn't hit them that they needed to get real and see that they are just two pompous princesses who needed to get their pretty noses and heart shaped heads out of the air before it gets blown off by the wind of reality. At least, that's what Amy thought.
Penelope shook her head in shame. "Amy, Amy. You need to know that punctuality is the essential thing to being a good Queen. What you just did was not acceptable of the Flora court. Very impolite, especially if your company was a handsome, charming, time devoted man."
"You are quite right, Penelope. Amy, will you never learn to be a traditional lady of the courts?" Viola said.
Amy looked back with innocence. "And can you learn to not broaden your bosoms out every time a duke or knight passes by? From what I can recall, that's an action of a countrywoman, not of a gentlewoman."
Viola scowled at Amy, blushing furiously, and then covered her revealing cleavage with her silver shawl.
"Can you two stop bickering already? We're almost there." Penelope said.
Sure enough, they arrived at their destination. A festival was taking place at the town square, with people having a grand old time as if it was the last day of their lives.
Laughter, children running around, games, singing, dancing - this was the kind of atmosphere that always caught the pink princess's interest all the time. It's the life of carefree people, who don't have to worry about the anxious future of being a ruler of the opposite sex. She was happy that they were joyful today, colors everywhere and smiles on every face. Amy hoped that they will feel the same when she becomes Queen…
Penelope came out first. Everyone stopped their activities and stared at the oldest princess. Viola came out second, as gracefully as she could muster. Lastly, Amy came out. That was when her subjects, old and young, bowed down at her sight.
'I hate when they do this… it makes me nervous,' Amy thought. Behind her sisters, she walked toward the theater, where the play was to take place. As they entered, their parents were seated side by side in the section for the royal court, waiting for their daughters to come.
"Hello, Mother. Hello, Father." The girls greeted their parents with a kiss, and took their seats.
The show began with a good beginning, and lasted for a good two hours. Amy enjoyed herself completely, laughing along with the audience. Obviously, her sisters were too busy courting with the gentlemen to even pay attention to the show. When it was almost midnight, the imperial family left from the festival to the castle. The two sisters were bragging about their suitors for tonight and arguing about which one was cuter.
After getting out of the coach, she walked to her father with a plaguing question in her head.
"I know it has been such a long time, but I want to ask Father - who was that little black hedgehog 8 years ago? What kingdom is he from?"
King Aster, flabbergasted at a question forbidden to be asked, told her, "Don't worry. It's no one you would want to know about. Their kingdom is cruel and horrible, so I don't want to find you over there. Understand?"
With that, he went inside with his robe trailing behind him.
Amy was still confused about what she remembered. Who was that young black hedgehog? And what kingdom was her father hesitant to talk about? And, most importantly, does the little black hedgehog have something to do with her future as Queen?
She glanced out at the horizon in the west, at the rolling hills blanketed by the sunset's original paintwork in the sky. Sometimes, she wondered if there was anything out there that she wants to explore…more adventures to discover…