Okay, so I know I did the whole 'assassin' thing on the theme 'Crafty', but this one is different. While that one was present day, with agents, spies and technology, this one is in an alternate universe. I didn't end it very well, but I kinda wanted it to remain mysterious. Whereas the Theme Crafty will have a Part 2 coming sometime.

In this one shot, I decided to try a new way of writing dialog. I often tend to over detail and drag out stories sometimes, so I experimented with this one. Instead of constantly saying things such as "he said", "she exclaimed," or "they exasperated", I kept it mostly in a sentence of action. So I would write a sentence like ... She frowned and tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

See what I did there? If anyone has constructive criticism, tell me what you think of it, but be nice about it please. Flames hurt. Anyways...moving on...

I wanted to give a shout out to one of my GUEST reviewers who pointed out a missing detail in my story REFORMING. Yes! Espio is missing! You're the first one to notice that and I am so glad you did! I would like to say that it is actually intentional that he is gone, and starting next chapter, you'll see why our ninja friend disappeared. Wait and see!

Another thing, I recently had a request that a fan-character make an appearance, and I am afraid I will have to decline. At the moment, I have about five one shots half written, and about ten others already plotted out in my head. I simply don't have anywhere to put an OC. Sorry!

Thanks everyone for the compliments and such. I hope I don't disappoint too much. This one was very experimental.

I don't own SEGA characters..

Protective

The chaos buzzed around her in a swirl of surreal images. Guards were beckoning her one way, her maids pulling on her wrists to comply to their demands, but she remained rooted to where she stood.

Golden eyes were in a trance from overwhelming shock, glued to the sight of the King, her father, lying in his own bloody umbrae. Dull blue eyes were still wide open, painting the scene of his surprise from the assassination in his sleep. Three knives protruded from his chest, the shaft inches deep in flesh and royal garbs.

"Princess! Please come! We must hide you! The killer is still in the castle, he could be after you next!" Gardon, her personal guard called, gripping her shoulders to lead her away from the gruesome sight.

Blaze shook her head in her daze, clearing foggy thoughts and breaking free of her spell. "My father….he's…dead."

Gardon's eyes softened, as he continued to lead her out of the gran bedroom, "I'm sorry our guards didn't react in time. The assassin killed a gap into our security grounds and came through the window. Now hurry!"

However, the violet princess shook his grasp away, and ran the opposite direction. The safety of her own person was the least of her concerns as she ran towards her own room and burst through the door. Hustling about with swift movements, she shredded her nightgown away and pulled on her tight battle suit, strapping her belt tautly around her narrow waist and slipping on her boots.

Gardon burst in after chasing for her in pursuit to get her to the secret passage way, jade eyes widening at the sight of the princess sheathing her knives in place and preparing for any battle she may face.

"No no no! Princess, you cannot pursue the assassin! We need to get you to safety! Let the guards and knights catch the killer." The panther waved his arms frantically in panicked gestures, his words falling on deaf ears of the determined stone princess.

"I can protect myself just fine Gardon. Get yourself and your wife and daughter to the passageway in case he targets others."

Before any other protests arose from the elder guard, Blaze took off out of the room and ran at high speeds to the sector of the castle filled with sounds of battle.

Just as she turned down another marble corridor, the maroon engraved doors breached open in a loud conundrum at the end of the court. Knights in battered silver armor tripping across the threshold, fumbling with their swords in hand and expressions of alarm. A veil of golden light flashed from behind the hinged doorways the guards were running out, the intensity of the explosion rippling a quake in the grounds that sent some guards off balance.

"Do not let him escape!" A higher status knight pivoted on his heel to face the oncoming barrage of the assassin, waving his sword in sworn victory of holding a faithful oath. Other lesser knights heard the call of duty and fought for equity of their feet, clenching the handle of their wobbly grip of their weapons.

Blaze had screeched to a halt at the far end of the marble hall and watched as the scene folded into a desperate attempt to stop the enemy that was advancing.

Her amber eyes widened in anticipation as her entire company was wiped off their feet in another blast from the other side of the wall, maroon doors splinting and falling pathetically of their hinges. Flying debris rendered the entire party unconscious to the sides of the flooring, some hitting the wall hard on impact and slinking down in a daze state.

With echoing steps, a cloaked figure emerged from the maelstrom, the black material that draped from his broad shoulders cascaded around his air like shadows bending to his will. A hood hid his facial features, and in his gloved hand rested easily on the handle of his sheathed sword.

A snarl curled on Blaze's lips, as she readied her stance stiffly. "You!"

The black cloaked crinkled as the slayer turned his head to the sound of her voice. In a blink of an eye, his form disappeared and reappeared closer to her, causing the princess to flinch at the hidden display of powers.

"Your Highness," he bowed, hand clenched over his chest as his body bent towards her in respect and straightened.

Anger splurged through her veins at the strange show of respect towards her. "Get out of my castle!" She narrowed her eyes and lashed her long tail.

The mysterious cloaked killer didn't respond, until after a few long seconds moved his hands upward and pulled the hood down from his head to reveal his face.

Her eyes drank in his every inch, knowing that his face would forever be etched within her memory. He was a hedgehog, with ink black fur and blood red streaks on his upturned quills; his muzzle was tan, and a splatter of thick crimson liquid on his cheek.

The most intriguing feature was his glowing red eyes. They seemed to glow vibrantly in contrast to his dark fur and the dense black night that surrounded.

"I mean you no harm personally, Princess. I came here for one purpose only, and am on my way out." His face was blank, no mocking malicious sneer, nor out of place friendly smile. To accent proof of his words, he held out his hands, leaving his sword's sharp edge encased of its cover.

Blaze frowned. She detected no lie in his words, but remained wary of the killer's intentions. "You killed my father. Was that your 'one purpose' you speak of?" Her ears flattened in disdain.

The cloaked figure's posture seemed to stiffen at the mention of the King. "My intentions are good, I promise you Princess. He needed to be rid of. His rule was not well for this kingdom."

"He was my father!" Her voice rose in volume, though she forced her face to remain impassive just as her opponent.

The assassin's fists tightened at his sides, narrowing ruby eyes. "A foul one. Tell me Princess, has anyone ever asked how you required those bruises beneath your fur?"

Emotions flared in Blaze, his words prodding at sensitive flesh as her hands ignited in flames. "How do you know about that?!" He spoke of a secret that she held close to her. No one ever noticed, no one knew of the pain her father rendered on his daughter for many long years.

The cloaked hedgehog stepped closer, almost in a gesture of comfort. "He swore to rule the throne with dignity, instead he fell to drinking, toxins poisoning his brain and hindering his decisions. I killed him in cold blood, yet you show no signs of loss nor grief." He pointed out what should've been obvious to anyone. She shed no tears, only became dazed in the presence of her father's battered and bloody body, and held no remorse for his passing.

Her strength was waning from his words, as the ebony figure clawed at subjects that were fragile to her conscience. The fire in her palms dimmed to dissipation, as her tail drooped in defeat. Amber eyes dropped the weight of his red gaze and her arms hung limp at her sides.

She pinched her eyes shut to rid of the images that painted vividly in her mind, behind her eyelids played the scenes of iron fists contacting with her flesh, heavy boots kicking her ribs, internally bruising and damaging her body in the dead of night. None of her advisers, guards, knights…no one ever knew. He threatened her, and despite her strong will and stone face, the durable Princess feared her own father.

Now here she stood, confronting the facts of conflict she had avoided for many years.

Abruptly, she felt his presence grow closer, and she opened her eyes to see his arms gently pull her against his chest, ignoring her tense position.

Her breath caught in her throat, her body stilling to a statue. "Are you going to kill me?" Her words were soft, hesitant. There was a slightest touch of trembling.

Once again, his actions surprised her, as her pulled his shoulders back enough to see her face fully. His red eyes were empty, but held a promise with his words. "I'm going to protect you."

His hand clasped her limp one, and with a quick kiss to her knuckles, the killer disappeared in a flash of gold, leaving the Princess alone in the crumbled marble room, with pillars that stood strong to hold the ceilings frame.

In the passing years of the Kingdom to come, his promise kept.