Chapter 11:

"Death of a King"

Part 2 of 3

June 20th, 1416…9:20pm

*coughing*

An elder greyish male blue hedgehog was standing outside his backyard in his pyjamas just getting some fresh air, clearing his mind.

"Jules are you alright, my dear?" A dark blue/grey elderly female hedgehog coming up to his side.

"Mhm?" He cleared his throat, putting his arm around his wife. "Oh, yes, my love, just a little tickle in the throat is all."

Aleena sighed, as she looked up at the clear night sky above them, and the sound of crickets around them being heard in the background.

"I can't believe that in a few days, our grandson will be celebrating his 16th birthday, time flies doesn't it?"

"Ah! It sure does. It seems like yesterday that I was helping Jules II help Sonic take his first steps. Oh those were the days." I can remember the day that he was born. Best day for all of us, especially me. I needed someone to look after and take over my place, and decided it would be best to give it to him.

Jules sighed. "I just hope I can make his day worth it, without making a fuss of my condition, I feel like it gets worse each day."

"Well, try not to not think about it so much, we don't how much time is left."

"Yes, your right. I'm trying to stay positive not just for us, but for Sonic too. His birthday is coming shortly and would like to make it the best one he has so far."

"Well I'm sure that the gifts you have for him will make him happy" Aleena said as they both started to walk back in the castle

"Very happy indeed"

3 days later…June 23rd, 1416…1:15pm

"Jules! Are you coming? They should be here soon" Aleena was at the outside the front for the arrival of the other royal family.

Jules came out with a small chalice cup with steam coming out of it. "Relax dear, I'm here now."

"Oh good, Sebastian got you your tea ready"

"Don't worry, I told him to save you some for later, and its your favourite."

"Oh dear, you know me so well"

The sound of galloping came closer from the left side of them. A golden/brown carriage just approaching them.

A young male greyish/blue hedgehog resembling a little like Jules came out first, followed by a navy blue hedgehog woman, who the other Jules helped her come out by lending out his hand to her, she grabbed it and took her time coming out front the carriage.

"Thank you as always my love" Bernadette said to her husband.

"Anytime dear. Let's get a move on Sonic!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming, just give me a minute"

"Alright, alright, don't be long though"

"I won't"

Jules II and Bernadette walked up to greet the elderly royals, they exchanged greetings and hellos.

"Ah, Jules it's good to see you as always my dear son, and of course Bernadette my lovely daughter in law" Elder Jules said.

Bernadette blushed at the comment. "Oh Jules, your too kind as always, and I see that your doing a little better than before."

"Eh, well I have my good and bad days but I'd say I'm doing slightly better overall" He said.

"Well, I'm glad your maintaining and watching your health Father, considering that you only had a few months to live according to the doctor."

Jules sighed. "Yes, well, let's not mention this right now as it is a special day today and don't want to bring this up in conversation." He said.

Jules II slightly bowed. "Yes, of course, father"

"Speaking of which, where is that dashing grandson of ours?" Aleena asked, wondering what was keeping Sonic a little bit behind.

Everyone felt the same way, especially the young royals.

Meanwhile in the carriage, Sonic was quickly fixing himself in the small mirror that was there.

'Alright Sonic, you've got this, today's the day your finally becoming a man, your no longer a child, time to get serious and have fun out there today.'

Meanwhile…

"He said he'd be a minute, I know he's probably a little nervous for today but he shouldn't be this long" Bernadette getting a little antsy.

"Give him another minute to prep himself, he does want to make a good day out of today" Jules II said.

Just then, Sonic emerged from the carriage. As soon as he stepped out, a bee came flying by, buzzing around him.

He started making swatting gestures at it. "Ugh! Get away from me you little freak!" He started dashing back and forth but still no prevail as it was still there flying every time he moved.

"Ugh! Oh c'mon!"

"Ahem" Sonic stopped for a brief moment to notice his king of a grandfather approach him.

"Sonic, remember what I said what to when the bees are being like that?"

Sonic sighed and stopped, he stood still. Shortly after, the bee slowly flew away into another direction.

"Oh thank god" Sonic said, relieved. "Why do these things even exist exactly?"

"Well my dear boy, put it this way, they are very annoying creatures yes, but with out them, we would not survive, they are the ones that pollinate certain things on this planet, they're responsible for giving us the food and resources that we have today, they're the ones that keep this planet alive."

"Yeah I get it now"

Jules pulled something from his back, it was a small white present box with red ribbon tied around along with a red bow on top, he then gave it to Sonic.

"Here, will this make you feel better?" He asked.

A smile lit up Sonic's face with the the small box in his hands.

"Huh, well would you look at that, I feel better already."

They then walked back over to the other royals who were waiting for them. "Happy Birthday Sonic, we have a lot planned today and I guarantee it that your going to love it."

"Oh definitely"

In the present time…

"Wow looks like Sonic was really happy that day" Alice said.

"He was indeed, but that's what they say usually, all you need is the company of friends and family for those occasions to cherish the memories really" Bianca said.

"I wonder what he got that day? I'm sure he must've gotten a lot" Adeline asked.

"Oh he did, indeed, one of them being a book his grandfather gave to him"

My heart suddenly skipped a beat when I heard. I turned to Vanessa who was giving me that 'I know what she's talking about' look.

'Wait so, the book I got at the book store and own now was actually Sonic's?'

'I don't believe this'

"But unfortunately…"

I looked back at Bianca who continued on with the story. 'I wanna hear more of this'

"Tragedy struck just days after…"

July 23rd, 1416…sometime in the afternoon

Jules was laying in his bed, looking a little pale and weak than usual. Aleena was there sitting by her husband along with Jules II and Bernadette around them with the village's doctor examining him.

"How's he looking Thomas?" Jules II asked, getting concerned.

Thomas was examining his heart with his stethoscope, and by the looks of it, it didn't look great.

He sighed with sorrow. "I-I'm afraid he doesn't have that much time my lord, his heart is very weak at the moment. Those remedies that I recommended would've lasted him for a good while."

Jules II went up to him and put a hand on his shoulder for re-encouragement.

"Don't worry Thomas, you've done well in aiding him this past couple months, and that he's managed to come this far." Jules looked at his father with a fallen look.

"Well, o-one of us is gonna have to get Sonic for this, he has to say last his words to him, and probably say his goodbyes to him too." Bernadette said, looking down, knowing Sonic's not going to be happy about this. "I'll go get him"

She turned to leave the room but to see Sonic already standing there.

"Sonic, we told you specifically to wait out side the room until we called you to come in" Knowing her son, that he gets impatient quickly and that he doesn't like to wait long.

"I, couldn't wait any longer and the tension was getting to me, your not the only one who's concerned here."

She hesitated, knowing he did have a point, and was going to tell him eventually. She sighed.

"Bernadette…" Jules came up to her and put his arm around her.

"Let's just give him some space since he's here now."

She nodded.

"Sonic, would you like to see him? I'm sure he'd like that."

He nodded then went past by him to where his now dying grandfather laid.

Aleena who was there beside him, moved over so Sonic can see his grandfather and spend whatever time was left of him.

Sonic, now looking at him, seeing as how pale and weak he looks, it hurt him a lot, seeing him in this state.

Jules slowly looked towards his grandson, who was showing a concerned but confused look.

"Sonic, I didn't want to tell you this because I knew it would trouble you so we kept it hidden, I didn't want you to worry."

Sonic was somewhat bothered, and troublesome with this but understood what he was saying.

"It started off with a little cold but got much worse later on, I thought I would turn out a lot better, I guess not."

Jules put a hand on Sonic's shoulder, he did the same.

"Just promise me that you'll look after this place for me? I trust you"

Sonic smiled sadly. "Of course I will"

"Your going to be a great ruler one day, I just know it."

Sonic watched tearfully as his eyes shut slowly as Jules took his last breath.

Tears wounded up in his eyes. The man he admired and looked up to his whole life, was gone.

He turned his head. "I…I think need some air" He made a quick run out the door, tears still staining his eyes, making it hard to see a little. He couldn't bare with it any longer.

Aleena, Bernadette, and Jules II saw this, and honestly just made them look regretful and guilty. Aleena was about to go after him, but Jules II stopped her with his arm out.

"Just, leave him be Mother, give him his space"

She hesitated but nodded. Looking back towards her now deceased husband, she couldn't handle the pain like the others, including Sonic.

A week has gone by since Jules, today was the most painful/hardest part of it, his funeral.

Everyone in village including the royals were there. Everyone had paid their respects and gave condolences. It was the end of the ceremony and people were putting roses onto the wooden brown casket that held the late King.

Sonic, heavy with grief, was the last one there, his friends and family just meters away from him, giving him some space to say his final goodbye.

He was in front of the casket, holding the rose in his hand.

"I will do my best to protect this place, this village and its people, I promise."