Musicalocelot: Yes, this should be interesting... Thank you!

Random Person: Long time, no see! It's alright, life is just like...blehh. XD Happy Thanksgiving to you too. I kind felt bad for putting Sonic in that kind of situation also, but at the same time it was kind of funny. But you just gave me an idea with Amy and all. I think the dance lessons have been fulfilled in this chapter. I'm really glad you reviewed and I hope this chapter meets your expectations! Oh, you don't like Amy either! Well, it's not that I completely hate her...well, it is but, it's just because of her character and personality. If she wasn't so whiny and her voice wasn't so high I think she would be okay. I mean, there are some really good stories about Amy and then when I watch Sonic X or something I'm just like...why?

Disclaimer: All Sonic characters belong to Sega. All OCs belong to me.

Chapter 16: The Day Before

Tyrone bit his lip in order to keep from laughing. A few heavy breathes of air left his nostrils as his icy blue eyes eddied with unmistakable joy. When a deep voice cursed lowly the verdant boy couldn't help but snort. When his ebony friend sent a chilly glare his way Tyrone put his hands up in apology. He looked towards his mother who smiled encouragingly but one could see the woman trying to hide her giggles behind the hand in front of her mouth.

Elizabeth sighed in frustration. For the past hour she had been practicing how to formally dance. Her father, Lancelot, offered to be the one she practiced with. It was supposed to be from the goodness of his heart but she knew he just didn't want her practicing with Tyrone. But now, she was quite okay with the fact she wasn't. Every thirty seconds it seemed that the ebon teen would step on her father's feet or clumsily fall against him. Tyrone's mother, who submitted herself to be her coach, even had a hard time coaching. As previously mentioned, she wasn't the best dancer out there and now it seemed she wouldn't be.

Lancelot cursed, this time unable to keep it low. Mrs. Hedgehog scolded him for his language and all the knight did was mumble an apology. Tyrone laughed out. Lancelot would never say it straight to his daughter's face, but he kind of wished she danced with Tyrone now. If it weren't for his jealousy and protectiveness maybe he wouldn't be in this situation. And if it weren't for her heels this would be a lot less painful.

"Okay. Let's continue," Mrs. Hedgehog said, "Remember sweetie, keep the rhythm in your head. It'll be easier to keep track of your movements."

The girl timidly nodded, eyes a light violet, whispering an apology to her father. Out of pure embarrassment, little dots of tears welded up in her lids only noticeable to Lancelot. The crimson stained hedgehog shook his head and said for her ears alone, "My dear, do not get so worked up. It is alright." Elizabeth nodded softly sniffing. She shook her head riding herself of the tears and smiled back to the reassuring smirk father gave her.

"Now begin," the kind woman instructed looking towards her son. Tyrone, catching the signal, activated the recorder and the soft music played.

Elizabeth kept her gaze locked with Lancelot's as the soft strings of the violin played. Her father nodded and they began. "Just do what you feel is natural," he whispered.

"1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3," Mrs. Hedgehog started.

As the moved, back and forth, back and forth, Elizabeth paid close attention to the counts the jade hedgehog said. She concentrated, a frown plastering her features. Out of spite she looked at her feet, even when she was told not to, and the moment she did Elizabeth stomped on Lancelot's toe. She winced as he bit his lip and grimaced. She mouthed "sorry" and he just tried to smile, failing in the process.

So concentration didn't work. The counting and stuff made her think too hard and then she would lose track and then everything would fall apart. She tried Mrs. Hedgehog's advice, but now it was time for her fathers. Taking a soothing breath Elizabeth cleared her mind. She locked her eyes on her father's ruby orbs, refusing to look down.

Do what feels natural. Do what feels natural. Do what feels natural. She repeated in her mind. With a breath Elizabeth just listened to the music. She was just alone with her father and the mixed sounds of the violin and piano. Her mind zeroed in on the light steps she took and the pattern Lancelot took. She sometimes paced over his toes but it became less frequent as time went on. She swayed her head forming a rhythm of the pattern and started to follow it. Her eyes closed as a smile teased her lips. The sounds were soothing and calming.

Without even knowing, Elizabeth started to dance. Really dance.

Her eyes opened, the most vibrant shade of purple Lancelot had ever seen, smiling. He too couldn't help put smirk at his daughter's happiness. The dance was smoother, still bits and pieces of imperfections here and there, but that didn't matter. As the piano keys hit their climax, the two du Lac's glided around the living room, both radiating happiness. When the music ended they both stopped staring at each other. Mrs. Hedgehog's giddy claps and Tyrone's shouts of congratulations only led their smiles to grow twice in size. Lancelot didn't hesitate to pick Elizabeth up, twirling her in the process. He wasn't one to show affection publically, but her squeals of delight brought him too much happiness to care.

It was moments like these Lancelot had no regrets being a father.

"I did it! I did it!" the girl shouted hugging her father. Lancelot returned the embrace. "Yes you did."

"That was-wow!" Tyrone exclaimed happily amazed.

"Splendid! Splendid! Well done Elizabeth. That was such an improvement. Would you like to try again?" Mrs. Hedgehog grinned.

Elizabeth nodded with hesitation. "Oh yes, yes, yes! But this time can Tyrone dance with me?"

"Of course. Get up there honey."

Tyrone looked at his mother. "What, I don't get a say in this?" he joked.

His mother sent him a funny glare and he chuckled, "Okay, okay fine. I'm going."

Once he got up to his friend he met Lancelot's gaze and couldn't help but tilt his head when the crimson eyed gave him a funny look. He shrugged it off as he stepped back and preceded the position. He firmly paced his hand on the curve of Elizabeth's hip, she placing her hand on his shoulder and both having their other hand in each other's. Before the music was about to start Lancelot sternly said, "Hand higher hedgehog." Tyrone only gaze Elizabeth a weird look and she rolled her eyes at her father. He raised his hand to her waist, the perfect spot but unfortunately not in Lancelot's eyes. "Lower it," he lowly spoke. Elizabeth glared at Lancelot and he only grunted, crossing his arms.

Not wanting to cause any trouble, Tyrone went to move his hand but was surprised when Elizabeth put her hand over his. "Let it stay there. It's perfect the way it is," she pointed to her father. He didn't quite catch the knight's grumble but he didn't really care.

"Alright," the green lady giggled, "Let's begin." She started the music and the two danced. It went alright until Tyrone almost cried out in pain. He hunched over a bit still moving. "Sorry," Elizabeth looked to the woman. The continued and she brought her lips to his cheek. "That bruised toe was for the comment earlier," she dangerously said only for his ears. Tyrone exhaled loudly giving her the look. The girl just shrugged her shoulders and smiled innocently.

"Oh boy," he mumbled.

After a moment they straightened up and continued smoothly. While they danced somehow they had gotten closer. Elizabeth gazed into his eyes and smiled bashfully as Tyrone, absent-mindedly, placed both hands on her hips. She took the chance to place her other hand on his shoulder and inch by inch the two teens moved closer, captivated by the other's eyes. They smiled, cheerfully as their torsos touched and immediate warmth spread through their bodies. The classical music was muffled out as they danced. They were in world where only the two of them existed.

Lancelot growled, recognizing the look they were giving each other. "Okay you two-" he began to shout but was surprised when a hand was brought to his mouth. Tyrone's mother forcefully muffled his yells of protests and somehow had the strength to silence and hold down the knight. She sighed dreamily at the two hedgehogs.

Tyrone couldn't help but to blush as Elizabeth rested her head on his chest. He was about to say something, realizing her father was there but a head shake from his mother silenced him. He then wrapped his arms around the girl's back and rested his chin on her head, smiling as if he had just found the key to life.

But in a way, he kind of did in his own mind. The key: Elizabeth.

(0…)

The red echidna watched, amused, as the sable knight gruffly crossed his arms and grunted angrily. Gawain chuckled when Lancelot glared at him, sparingly and huffed, "What?"

He just shook his head. "Nothing, it's just funny to see you so worked up. Elizabeth was right. You do make the funniest faces when you're upset."

Lancelot snorted, partly wandering what his daughter has been saying about him to others. "What faces?"

Sir Gawain took imitated a pose. He crossed his arms and pouted his lips and looked at his nose. His eyebrows were scrunched together to get that he was angry. Lancelot shook his head. "That is not how I look when I'm upset. I do not go cross-eyed," he stubbornly said turning away.

"Yes you do," Gawain laughed, "Unless you've seen yourself angry then my word is over yours." He only laughed harder as Lancelot cursed wildly under his breath.

"Why are you so upset about Bessie and that green kid anyway? It was bound to happen anyway." The crimson male crossed his arms behind his head, leaning against the wall. He looked towards the training field seeing two men practice. Their swords clanked.

"You knew about this?" Lancelot narrowed his eyes.

A look of surprise came upon the other's face. He lifted the armor showing his confused violet orbs. "Well, it was quite obvious. It wasn't that hard to see the attraction between the two. Even I haven't seen the boy with my own eyes but the way she talks about him only proves it." He raised a brow. "Did you just find out Lancelot?"

The dark knight's paused for a brief moment before scoffing. He crossed his arms. "Of course not. I'm not blind Gawain. It's just hard as a father to see your only child- daughter no less -have some sort of….attraction towards another person if you understand me."

Gawain shrugged. "I kind of get it but to understand completely I need to experience it first but this is how is see it. In order to marry you need to like someone and in order to replace the ones gone you need to have children. It's all just one big cycle that everyone is a part of. Just think of it this way: if you didn't like Lenora so much you wouldn't have had Bessie, so in a way it is partly your fault that you feel this way and-hey! Where are you going!?"

Lancelot was walking away, hands balled fists. He shouted, "Somewhere far from you so I don't have to be tried for murder!" He grumbled unpleasant thoughts and walked on breathing heavily to calm his uprising anger.

The echidna scratched the back of his head in wonder. "What did I even say?"

(0…)

King Arthur scratched his head and looked, well, uncomfortable.

"Maroon or khaki?" the raccoon cheerfully asked.

Here the azure hedgehog was, having to choose between two colors he didn't even know existed for a ball he didn't want to go to. "Umm….khaki?" he said uncertainly.

Unfortunately that was the wrong answer as the servant girl frowned. "But your majesty, that's such an ugly color!"

"Uh...maroon?" he said.

The frown was replaced with a happy smile faster than he could ever be and the girl said, "Great choice your highness."

Why did she ask him if he couldn't really pick to begin with? This was giving him a large headache and it was only the night before. Why did he have to do this again? Oh yeah. Arthur raised his finger in the air and with highest voice he could muster imitated Vanilla. "It is abnormal for a king to not have a spouse at your age. You need an heir to the throne anyway!" He sighed heavily. How come she was more worried about this then he was?

The entire day was filled with questions about decorations, food-although he didn't mind that part-and invitations. In all the land, girls who were fifteen years of age and over were invited to the ball. Vanilla had asked him why he wouldn't invite girls starting from the age of twelve, the appropriate age a girl is supposed to marry, but he shut the idea down right away. Although it was a custom, he didn't feel right wedding a girl who hadn't past through the stages of puberty. He already felt bad enough starting from the age of fifteen. Arthur was so worked up, it took all his self-control to not just throw a table and call the whole thing off. It would feel really good but it wasn't right. Sometimes being king had its disadvantages.

"Hello your majesty!" a light voice said.

"Hello King Arth-wow Cream you're fast," a voice deeper, but still feminine, said.

The cerulean hedgehog turned around to see two girls fly past him. He recognized the two to be Elizabeth and Cream. The girls ran through the crowd of servants, seeming to be in a hurry, more the rabbit then the hedgehog. The purple streaked teen looked back at Arthur and waved before disappearing through the multitude. His hand went up in a small wave and a small smile was brought on his lips. For once, during this entire day, Arthur did not feel his throbbing headache. He just felt…..well something he didn't really recognize, but the two small greetings were the light of his day.

He didn't understand why though.

So...what do you think?

To be honest, I really enjoyed writing the part where Lancelot gets his toes stepped on. I actually smiled a bit. Anyway as you can see it's the day before the ball and everyone's preparing. And this only means the next chapter will be during the ball.

About the part during the whole Lancelot and Gawain talk, I don't know why but I feel that when Shadow/Lancelot gets mad or thinks to hard I just picture him cross eyed and all cute looking.

Not much to say. Remember, feedback, feedback and more feedback!

Thank you. R&R

~God Bless You~