Amy

Just two more hours! Oh I hope this works! Then I can be with Sonic and not worry about anything! I suddenly felt eyes upon me, so I looked around the room trying to locate the pair of eyes. Then I saw the eyes that had been looking at me… him…

The King was looking down upon me, scanning over my body making me feel uncomfortable. As it was a ball I had to dress nicely so the King had a dress made especially for me, and I have to admit that it's beautiful. It was a dark green long-sleeved backless dress; with silver ribbons at the front crossing over each other like the strings on a corset. The only thing about it that I hate is that it's backless… it means that all my scars are on show, showing everyone I belong to the King, and I can't wear a corset. I guess that's why he designed the dress to look like a corset from the front; it's his favourite thing to remove.

I looked back at him and he smiled, running his fingers through my quills. I tried hard not to shudder.

Then the blue cat who he had been talking to stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the king wasn't listening. "And who is this, may I ask? New wife?"

I nearly gagged at his question! Wife! Ha, he must be joking!

"No you may not ask! And she is certainly not my wife! She's younger then Sally for goodness sake!" King Acorn snapped angrily.

'So you do know how old I am!' I thought bitterly 'still didn't stop you from taking my innocence though did it?!' Sally was twenty, two years older than me.

"I was only asking dear brother, you don't need to be so offended. Take it a compliment that I believe you could get such a beautiful creature to marry you" the cat said, looking down at me with kind eyes.

I blushed at his compliment and tried hard not to giggle at King Acorn's expression "Thank you" I said curtsying to him. King Acorn would probably be planning on beating me for talking to the cat, but I'm not going to be here!

"You're quite welcome my dear!" He smiled again, he opened his mouth to say something else but the King interrupted.

"What do you mean by that?! I could easily get a pretty woman to marry me!"

"I never said you couldn't dear brother" the cat said slyly, he then turned back to me "what's your name then dear child?"

"Amelia, but I prefer Amy" I said quietly trying to look scared for the beating I would have been getting tonight.

"Such a pretty name… it suits you" the cat complimented once again.

"Anyway brother" the King cut in again "back to the discussion we were having…" he said trying to stop the cat from speaking to me.

"Well you weren't very interested in that, and became more interested in this little beauty" he gestured towards me "not that I can blame you."

"So you also can't blame me from wanting to keep this little beauty all to myself…?" the king said through gritted teeth; the threat obvious behind his words.

Seeing the tension between the two, I asked King Acorn if I could go to the rest rooms, he allowed me too, knowing the cat would question him if he didn't.

Sally

The queen was talking to me, something about how I and Blaze could be the best of friends! 'Ha! Best friends indeed! Just look at her! She's all over him!' I thought angrily, as I looked upon Blaze who was giggling at something Sonic had said while he held her close in a dance. A little too close!

Why can't she find her own man?! I looked at Sonic again and tried hard not to sigh! He was so handsome! Especially in his formal wear, why doesn't he ever hold me that close! Or smile at me! Or look at me lovingly! Or speak to me in that soft, comforting voice… like… like he does with… Amy…

Ugh! Why would he choose her?! Out of everyone in this whole kingdom it has to be her! It wouldn't hurt as bad if it wasn't her!

Sonic's words replayed in my mind "All you do is whine, whine, and whine! You're a little whore Sally and you always will be! You hate Amy because she's prettier than you, she's nicer than you!"

Tears pricked my eyes! I know that! She's prettier and nicer! In everyway she is! It's not fair! No matter what I do, no matter what I say, she's always come first! Father always keeps his attention on Amy! Whether it is telling her off, beating her, or trying to be affectionate, she's always on his mind! I've always been in second place to him!

I tried being sweet and innocent like Amy, trying to make my father at least look at me! But that didn't work!

So I tried being mean and cruel to people, and that got him to look at me in an improving manner, like a father should always look when he looks upon his daughter.

But I wanted, needed, more of his attention! So I tried being attractive and pretty, like Amy! I wanted him to look at me with adoring eyes, not exactly the same eyes as he has with Amy, but the eyes I see when other men look upon their children. Proud eyes… it made him smile seeing that many men were looking at me with lust.

It shouldn't have been that way though! He should have glared at them, warning them to stay away from his daughter! But he didn't, he smiled, as if saying 'go ahead take her! As long as you don't look at Amy in the same way, she's mine!' Ugh, I can just hear him say that! But they did anyway! As soon as they laid eyes on Amy, it was as if I had melted away into nothing!

But it made him smile! I wanted him to smile; I needed to know I was making him happy! So I dressed… differently. But if I was going to dress like that, I needed to act like it too… so I did…

And now not only does she take the attention I should get from my father away… she takes the attention I long from Sonic as well. That's why I hate her! She'll always be better! Always be the one that everyone wants and likes better than me!

I tried hard not to cry, but I knew soon I wouldn't be able to hold the sob rising in my throat, so I quickly excused myself and went to the rest rooms.

As soon as I entered, the sob that I had be desperately trying to hold back, escaped. Then the tear leaked from my eyes and on to my cheeks. Before I could reach for a tissue, one was already in front of my face.

I took the tissue willingly and wiped my eyes so I could see...

And I wish I hadn't… the person staring back at me, arm still extended was the person who had created my tears… and she didn't even know it...

Normal

"So how much longer do we have?" Sonic asked Blaze, anxious to get Amy out.

"Two more hours, and my feet are starting to hurt, I'm going to get a drink, would you like one?" Blaze asked politely.

"No, thank you."

Without another word from either one, Blaze made her way over to the drinks and food.

Tails then came over to talk to me. I was thankful for that; I needed to get my mind off this plan.

"Vector we'll be leaving in two hours… you must go get our cases in the carriage now" Vanilla informed him.

"Oh yes…" He sighed; he wanted to spend more time with Vanilla. He turned to leave and find Espio and Charmy, who were to help him with the bags; but then decided to be daring, turning swiftly on his heal he turned back to face Vanilla and gave her a soft, gentle peck on the cheek "I'll see you at King and Queen Cat's kingdom" he said with a wink, and then walked away.

Vanilla was frozen in place for a moment before raising her left hand to her cheek where the spot Vector had kissed.

She smiled to herself and went to find Cream… she had something very important to discuss with her.

Tails had left Sonic after Blaze had come back. He was now with his girlfriend, Cosmo.

Tails look nervously at Cosmo. "Don't worry Tails, I'll be fine, you'll see me in four days" she reassured him with that tone that always managed to make him calm down and smile. Tails, along with most of the males were going to King and Queen Cat's kingdom a few days later, as their weren't enough carriages for everyone.

"I know but that's such a long time" he wined. Cosmo giggled at him before giving him a hug that he returned immediately.

"It was nice meeting you Charmy."

"You too!" Charmy shouted above the chatting crowd and music as Vector pulled him away.

Cream giggled at the sight, then sighed and went to find her mother.