The sorcerer Eggman suspected that the prophesied relationship would occur between persons of forbidden contact, the one couple that would change the history of the Flora and Umbra kingdoms forever.

Of course it was made 400 years ago, the exact third year since the two kingdoms severed ties from each other and became severe enemies, but no one knew when or who it would happen to. The least expectant thing is King Opaque's Prince Shadow and King Aster's Princess Amy Rose to get together; it looked…impossible to happen!

However, what scared Eggman the most is if the relationship got too close, the Umbrian Emerald and the 7 Flora Emeralds would get closer also and generate an almighty influence that, if revealed to a subject, can turn that person into an unstoppable being called 'The Mystique One'. This exact power is the essential thing Eggman needs for his plan for world domination.

"Key is", he thought aloud, "I have to figure out which one is going to trigger that energy before it is set on someone else.

"Now that Shadow and Amy are in love, it's going to be harder to get what I want. Those stupid teenagers can make it difficult if they fall any deeper in love with each other, and the jewels would be tighter in transcendental ways."

Eggman rammed his fist on the table. "They can't be near each other! I have no time to waste; I have to hurry up and snatch the princess to carry out my scheme."

Except…he remembered the horrible position his poor concocted Eaglion had been in, which Shadow destroyed when it laid eyes on his pretty girl.

"Still" he pondered, "I know Shadow can't give in to love that easily; his parents practically turned his heart to impenetrable ice! How he would go out with the enemy's young princess is beyond me. Perplexing, yes, but no one ever knows what goes on in that guy's mind.

"Hmmm," Eggman pondered, rubbing his chin, "Does he still have a warm spot somewhere in that unprecedented soul of his? That hidden ability, perhaps, that evolved from his past liaison with my deceased cousin….?"

Knuckles, polishing his spears and knifes, stared at Shadow with a confused look in his eyes; the prince repeatedly had the ratio of hit-misses in his archery sense. Something's amiss in his mind.

He minded to ask him what was wrong, but Princess Blaze cut him short.

Concern in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around the prince, hoping that his knowledge of his future wife being close to him when in need of company would loosen him up a little bit. She laid her head on his shoulder and kissed his neck softly, finally catching his attention. His fur bristled at her touch.

"Hello? Nobody knows that I'm here, do they?" The red echidna complained, annoyed to see the feisty Blaze pampering Shadow in public.

"Hello, Blaze", Shadow responded in a monotone. Can't he have a moment's peace for once without her appearing every single moment?

"Shadow, sweetie, I noticed you're not doing so well with your archery. Is there something that's bothering you so?" Blaze said confidently yet sweetly. No answer.

"Maybe…cold feet perhaps?"

Shadow turned around to face her with an earnest look. "Since when do you see me with cold feet in any situation? Blaze, I thought you knew me better than that."

Blaze grew worried, scared that he would question her knowledge in an awkward situation. She had a reputation to uphold: being the future wife of one of the planet's most powerful and wealthiest rulers. That's an opportunity she can't pass, even for her own sake. The respect and reverence she would hold in her own being after marrying him drove her will of ambition. Also, she knew if anything ever happened to the prince, the fortune would go directly to her, which had made her absolutely giddy. So any wrong move would make her day in the worst possible way.

"Why…of-of course I knew that! I was only funning with you." She said happily, but her voice wavered a little. Knuckles just sat there, watching the whole thing.

"You probably also didn't know that Shadow doesn't like purple little brats sticking to him like glue everyday."

Knuckles guffawed at his little joke, but sooner shut up when he saw in the princess's irises turning into hot pink flames. Shadow stepped back a little from the enraged girl when he saw that happen. Everybody was well aware about Princess Blaze's capabilities, so they stood their guard.

"Blaze, why don't you just go back in the castle? I'm sure they are finished sewing your wedding dress…" Shadow reminded her with a threatening tone, hoping that she would go away very much before trouble will really start between them. Nobody's going to lose a temper on his home ground.

Her fiery eyes were gone, replaced with glances of remembrance. "Oh! Yes, my dress should be finished today! See you inside, honey."

Blaze looked back, blew a kiss and winked towards the prince, and ran off to the entrance. When she was long gone – after making sure she wasn't looking - Shadow shuddered at the thought of his marriage with a girl like that.

"Whew! Thanks for saving my butt back there; I would've been toast by now." Knuckles graciously harried.

"Yeah…just make sure you don't do that again." Shadow sternly warned. He resumed to his arrows without hesitation.

Knuckles looked back at Blaze's departing figure. He looked at the top of her flaming tiara, to gazing at the slightly protruding posterior that goes side to side in prominence and pride.

"Hey, she's a good-looking fox but you have to be careful; she can turn out to be a nag hag. Also, I think she's a gold-digger."

Shadow nodded, missing the last shot he made.

"Just not your day is it?" Knuckles asked.

Shadow put away his equipment when he heard footprints nearing the two acquaintances. A familiar shapely girl approached with a suspecting expression.

"And speak of the devil…" Knuckles spoke out as soon he saw who it was. His reply was a glare of despise from Rouge, who was not focused on him at the moment.

"Hey Shadow, you got a minute? I wanted to ask you about something." she asked with a smile.

"And that something is, Rouge?" Shadow responded, without looking up.

"Oh, I don't know; something that I saw that included a certain so-called dark prince and a certain forbidden person."

His arrow struck the bulls-eye of the target, but Shadow's eyes widened and his attention too distracted at the words Rouge's lips said.

After the angry friends departed, Amy slammed the door behind her and stood there. So much anger and hurt overflowed her in succession, despite her attempts to calm herself down. She ran out to the balcony and yelled out loud, hoping that the accursed demons of ire and depression would be exorcised that way.

Out of tears and voices to break away from, Amy dropped to the floor and collected her thoughts.

Why would Sonic say such things? By now he would get the picture that me and Shadow acknowledged each other and had let Mother Nature take its full course. But no, he always has to be the stubborn one. He won't let me have a meaningful relationship with a person who can understand me better than him. I'll bet he can't stand the fact that there is someone else that cares about me and is willing to protect me besides him. Why, he doesn't know what love is at all…

Amy gazed at the sunset, her tear streaks visible in the light. She took back that last thought out of the burden of guilt weighing upon her conscious.

Wait…he probably does know what love is. I mean, why would he break his back and neck to be my knight? Plus, my selfish feeling doesn't help the situation get better. Didn't I feel like he did right now when Sonic was in love with Lady Sally Acorn 4 years ago? Most certainly, all this wasn't his fault. Maybe he can forgive me…

Amy urged a little smile in herself, assuring herself that he probably didn't mean any harm. Sonic just looked out for her after all. It was his job.

She walked back to her room and arranged the misaligned objects shaken from Sonic's hysterical voice. When she got to her dresser, she turned surprised at what she found.

It was a parchment, a pure snow white rose companion to it.

Sonic…

Amy picked up the letter and read:

Cream wanted to know if you were okay, so I gave her note that you would speak to her soon. The rose is on my personal cause, since I know that you have always been by my side and had your thoughts on me in your every waking moment. In response, the flower is in lieu of.

Sonic

Amy's eyes sparkled at this touching speech and her heart melted at the words written in ink. Her emerald eyes glistened at the thought of Sonic saying this….and then thought of Shadow declaring this to her in person.

In an abrupt change of events, Amy's expression turned from admiration to an upset, once again furious mood.

"How could he, try to confuse me at a time like this! Sonic is so…oh! That hedgehog is becoming so arrogant and selfish that I don't want to look at him. Exactly what does he take me for, I wonder?" Amy savagely uttered under her breath, but in her mind a rampage of fury was stirring.

Amy picked up Sonic's beautiful gift, stared at it for a moment, and threw it out of the window before yelling out, "Pathetic!"