Damn it, she's the oldest – why did the throne have to go to HER?
Time and time again this internal argument crept into her head until her mind and soul glowered with indignation. As the Eldest Floran Princess, she would know how to rule a kingdom and steer it in the right direction – Amy's still a little hedgehog. But instead, she gets the position of–
"The Royal Family Adviser to the Queen," Penelope Peony mimicked the king, brushing her hair faster and harder as the image of the crown landing on Amy's head made her blood boil.
"Penelope dear, your temper is rising again," Viola Violet said in sing song. Penelope spun around in her chair and glared at her younger sister. Viola raised her eyebrows, gave off a faux surprised look and resumed braiding her hair.
"Then you realize just how unfair this is. Think about it for a moment –I, the Eldest Princess, has to take a seat behind the BABY and play the adviser to her. Hah, she probably thinks it's like a game to her. Me, bowing down to her –yeah, she'd like that. Well, she'll have to remember that I'm older and therefore smarter and better than her in every way possible – looks, talent, manners, even knowledge. Makes me wonder what goes through my father's head these days," she fumed. She put down the brush in a slam and strode to her wardrobe. Viola looked on while her sister violently flung clothes into the air. Oh, the same old charade every night.
"Penelope, it's no use to convince Daddy – what he says is law. Besides, we've known about this ever since Amy was born. So as much as I feel put out about our youngest sister being in charge in the future, you should at least feel grateful that he gave you a role for the Royal Family," Viola replied, turning over on her back and playing with her stuffed teddy bear.
"It isn't enough, don't you understand?" Penelope ranted, throwing her earrings across the room. Crossing her arms, she stood in front of her large vanity mirror and stared herself right in the eye. It was painful enough to think her own family does not trust her with the responsibility of being the head monarch. Does her father think her incompetent? Is she not special enough?
"Look, what I was trying to say was that at least you have a role important enough to STAY with the family," Viola said forlornly, looking into the same mirror her sister stared at in abhorrence.
It did not dawn upon Penelope until she realized her sister's predicament. Stupid girl, she told herself, how can I say these things when my own sister had troubles of her own? Then she saw her sister's shoulders slouch over, her hands cover her face and the muffled sobs struck her heart terribly. Penelope sat next to her sister, rubbed her back soothingly and buried her face into her hair, muttering comforting words and apologies.
"Viola…I am so sorry. I've been so consumed into my own problems that I've forgotten about yours! I'm such a terrible sister," Penelope lamented. Viola smiled a little.
"It's alright…of course you forgot because it isn't really important. Isn't that obvious? It is inevitable that I'm going to marry off to some rich person and live with him, but then who else in my position can avoid that? You fret about being the oldest and it being unfair… "
Viola stood up and walked over to her sister's nightstand. A portrait of the Royal Family laid there and she picked it up for a closer look. A teardrop splashed onto the portrait glass, the spot where the young Princess Viola stood.
"…I only worry about being the middle child and discovering you have absolutely no value in the family except for being someone else's wife." She turned to Penelope with reddened damp eyes, tears streaming freely down her cheeks.
Penelope could only look on with such a sad gleam in her eyes and shake her head. How could their own parents force these futures upon them? They deserved better than this – Amy cannot be the only one to get something good out of her birthright. That's just spoilage to the highest degree in her mind - especially in Viola's situation. The poor thing. Penelope may have believed that being secondhand to her youngest sister could be a bad reflection on her part, but there could be no worse fate than to be separated from your family and to be just thrown away as though you were nothing. No, she won't stand for it! And Viola should not stand for it either.
…But Viola had no choice in the matter. It was beyond her hands, beyond her control. And that was the saddest factor of it all.
Penelope followed Viola and embraced her from behind, catching her younger sister by surprise. Then she said something that completely put not only Viola, but Penelope herself in shock.
"Viola…I'm going to speak to Father about this. I'm going to speak with him about letting you stay in our family even when you do get married."
"No!" Viola cried, whipping around to face her sister, "Are you insane? What Father says, goes. And you know how tough it is to get him to change his mind! Remember what he said, Penelope. He said this was all for the harmony and happiness of the kingdom according to the gods and –,"
"I could not give a damn what the gods say!" Penelope shouted. Viola closed her mouth in contempt and waited for her sister's words. Her oldest sister stomped closer to her and the younger hedgehog princess could feel the ire burning inside her sister. Just like always, the Penelope she's always admired.
"Whatever the cost, he WILL have to hear what I say. Whatever the result, I am NOT going to let him cast my little sister away," Penelope vowed in a low yet dangerous voice.
With her signature 'Hmph!' she cast her nose upwards, picked up her dress and stormed out the room with such monarchical force and an aura of determination that left Viola shuddering both in awe and intimidation.
Lightning struck a light show in the dark halls of the palace and the thunderclouds darkened the night sky. It poured down heavily and threatened to dampen Princess Penelope's best evening dress. Nevertheless, she walked on with her rain shawl covering her head. Her heart beat every second with the wish of change. The thunder's roar coincided with the rage brewing in her mind and her teeth bore in desperation of the thought of every minute of growing older, she wasted valuable time.
The wind whipped against her gown as she turned the corner where the garden door was.
Strange, normally the gardener kept the door closed. The fool, he must've forgotten to close it – any wild animal could come in here like it was welcome! Fuming, she went to close the door, but she immediately stopped.
The thunder may be a loud nuisance, but she could've sworn…she leaned her ear against the wall and strained to hear that voice again.
She was right. It was Princess Amy's voice, right outside the door.
Penelope swiftly hid herself right in the corner well enough to be shrouded in the darkness. There was a good opportunity to scold her for being out in the late hours of the night, but what also caught her attention was a male voice responding to Amy. Could this be Sonic? Could he be Amy's mysterious suitor? Eagerness washed over her previous anger.
…but it did not sound like the Sonic the Royal Family knew. She listened closely:
"…so you'll be alright in this rain, my love?" Amy inquired.
"Yes," the unknown voice replied, "just as long as you don't get in trouble for being outside in the first place. Now go inside, or you'll catch a cold."
Amy chuckled softly. "You know…I had so much fun today. Nothing could replace the joy I shared with you."
There was silence in between the two. Suddenly a loud noise made Penelope jumped and she looked toward the door. It was only the thunder. Phew…
"…those eyes…they're so green, yet they warm my heart every moment I gaze upon them," he purred.
"I see…but I'll miss those arms of yours tonight. I can't stand the fact that I have to sleep alone – it's so unfair. I just want to hear your voice…your words…we can talk about anything, as long as I got to hear your voice over and over again!"
"But you seem to forget the purpose of memories: as long as your heart yearned for my voice, it will always come, no matter where I am or how you feel. It'll always be there, my love."
Such powerful and beautiful words…Penelope felt her growing hot and red in the face and looked down in such embarrassment and with a heavy feeling in her chest. She had never experienced a moment like this with her old suitors…it felt so precious and deep. This was nothing compared to her imagination of what a husband would be like. The thought of someone doting over her baby sister like this made her curiosity all the more strong.
She resolved to take a small glimpse of Amy's boyfriend. She crouched down, crept quietly under the door and lifted herself up to the middle glass pane. The rain made the image blurry but she could make somewhat of a good outline of her sister in the rain. Now she will figure out just who this person was.
"Sweetheart…" Amy sighed.
She glimpsed Princess Amy's small frame lean in and her lips kissed…
…Prince Shadow the Hedgehog!
With her eyes wide in horror and with her hand over her mouth, Penelope quickly backed up against the wall and breathed short and quick. Then she shuddered at the image replaying in her head over and over again.
This was Amy's secret. She's in love with that Umbrian prince. She is going to be the next monarch of the kingdom, the next protector, the next Queen, with everything going on about Viola being second in charge and Penelope being sent away from the family to be married– and that irresponsible twit is putting the ENTIRE kingdom in danger by flirting with a mad and deadly hedgehog. Suddenly, that warm feeling she felt before broke away for a new rage clawing at her insides. That terrible resentment, which she held in for so long, had finally felt justified in its peak, never mind the fact that it's at her sister's expense.
Penelope stumbled to her feet and walked quickly back to her room. Tonight isn't the night to confront her parents. That would be for a day appropriate for it. But now she held a new inquiry to tell her father and to hold against Princess Amy if the situation begged for it.
All was dark in the palace halls, but with the infrequent flashes of lightning, Penelope's haughty grin flashed in the darkness.
Because, as they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
A/N: Oops! I know I did not put this is the rest of my edited chapters (I forgot), but I disclaim all of the Sega characters I'm using! Except for the Floran Royal Family and the Umbrian Royal Family! Also, if there are any mishaps in the newly edited chapters, please let me know and I'll fix it!