Author's Note: Thank you, Aliciathewolf45, MissMJS, JessicaShadow, and Sad Little Demon for the reviews left! I really appreciated it.

Oh, and to the Guest asking when the sequel to The Hybrid will come out? Don't expect anytime soon. I'm currently working on this story as it's my own focus. I needed a break to work on other projects! Enjoy this story, if you liked The Hybrid, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one.

•~•

Several nights later, Shadow and Amy slept in bed together after a long day at court. It had been a busy couple of weeks now that the plague had gone, but the lack of food in the kingdom was becoming serious. Shadow had gotten Finitevus to agree to share some of his grain, but the shipment was taking longer than expected, causing more stress.

Because of this, Shadow had been having a difficult time sleeping, and tonight was no different. The young king tossed and turned in bed troubled by a night terror. In his nightmare, his father's voice resonated boldly. "Betraying someone you love blackens your soul. It's a weight you carry all of your days…"

Flashbacks of the day he murdered his own father flashed into his mind. When he stabbed his father in the eye at the jousting competition, when he impersonated as the knight Lord Montgomery, his father on his deathbed, and finally hearing his father confess to murdering his older brother. Even though he had revealed to Amy that he was responsible for killing Phillip, guilt was still creeping its way into his life.

Suddenly his father appeared from the darkness in his dream and walked slowly towards him. "There will be a reckoning."

Right then, the dream ended and Shadow woke up in a cold sweat. He shot upright, panting and feeling panicked from the evocative dream. His heart raced as he looked around his room, believing he'd see his father standing there in the flesh, but instead saw nothing. Not only had he woken himself up, but Amy had also roused after feeling his sudden movement in bed. Still exhausted, she rolled over to face him and propped herself up rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Mm, Shadow? What's wrong?"

Shadow leveled his breathing to calm himself. "Nuh-nothing, go back to sleep, my love."

Too tired to argue with him, Amy obliged and slunk back under the sheets and fell asleep. Shadow, on the other hand, continued to sit up in bed and grazed a hand over his sweat-covered face. What was happening to him?

•~•

Later that morning, Shadow and Amy walked out of the dining hall after having their breakfast together. While they walked together, Amy observed as Shadow placed a hand to his mouth to yawn tiredly. "What was going on last night, Shadow? Did you have a bad dream?"

"Yes, I guess you could say so."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Shadow contemplated the thought for a moment but ultimately didn't want to burden her with his demons. Instead, he decided to keep them to himself. "No, it's alright. I think it's just been from all the stress as of late," he quickly dismissed. Amy couldn't help but feel like he was hiding something from her, but decided not to press him too hard on the topic. When he was ready, surely he would tell her.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shadow spotted a young, brown, female lynx with dark black hair talking to a distressed female servant. Shadow watched as the lynx consoled the girl, patting her on the shoulder. "Who is that girl?" he asked, continuing to stare.

Amy followed his eyes, looking at the two females. "Oh, her? They brought her in to bring solace to those who lost loved ones to a plague."

"What is her specialty exactly?"

"Apparently, she's able to communicate with the dead," she answered.

Shadow seemed intrigued by her alleged gift, only causing Amy to tilt her head at Shadow's prolonged stare. She stifled a small laugh after a moment. "Have a spirit you need to communicate with," she joked with a light laugh.

He looked away. "...No, of course not," he lied.

Amy was about to call him out on his peculiarity until someone else interrupted. "—There you are!" It was Isabelle marching her way towards the two. "What the hell is going on with the grain shipment?"

"Finitevus has assured us that it'll be here any day now," Shadow retorted.

"It better be," Isabelle replied passively. "He owns 90% of the grain in this region, so what could possibly be taking so long?"

Amy, on the other hand, wasn't feeling as comfortable with Finitevus' promise. "I don't know, Shadow. If you ask me, Lord Finitevus has delivered nothing but excuses."

"Perhaps he would have been more corporative if you hadn't murdered his son," Isabelle said pointedly.

Amy did all but roll her eyes. "…For the last time, I'm not going to keep explaining this."

"Enough, both of you," Shadow quickly intervened. "Isabelle, Amy knows her place and understands to not interfere until my coronation."

"Understands, does she?" Isabelle asked skeptically.

"She was the one that came up with the plan to trick Finitevus in the first place," he praised while placing an arm around her. "So I think she's certain in her role for now," Amy smiled warmly towards her husband for defending her up.

However, Isabelle wasn't as moved by his comments. "And what are we going to do if Finitevus never comes through with his grains?"

"I have another plan. I'm currently in the process of negotiating a deal with another noble from a further region."

Isabelle blinked in surprise. "My, my, you've been busy…Finitevus won't' like it."

"What better way to show the other nobles and leaders attending our coronation that I can find other ways to feed our people?" With that, Shadow extended his hand to Amy. "Amy?" Amy smiled and placed her hand in his, allowing him to escort their exit. The two made their way outside, where they spotted Lord Finitevus talking to some female castle servants.

"Perfect timing," Shadow noted quietly. "Follow my lead," he whispered releasing her hand. "Lord Finitevus, a word?" he called.

Finitevus looked away from his conversation before closing it. "Go." The two servants curtsied and left, allowing Finitevus to proceed towards Shadow and Amy. "Such a lovely morning, isn't it, your highness?" he said facetiously.

Unfortunately, Shadow wasn't feeling his sarcasm at the moment. "What is the situation with the grain shipment?" he asked rather pointedly.

"Oh, it's coming," he answered nonchalantly.

Shadow raised a brow by his dispassionate response. "Can you give me an exact date?"

"Soon," Finitevus smirked coyly, enjoying the option to toy with them. "Now if you excuse me…" He stepped back and bowed. "Your majesties," he said before departing.

Once he had left earshot, Amy looked to Shadow, barely unable to repress her anger a second longer. "How dare him. This is how he's getting his revenge? Meanwhile, innocent people are starving of hunger."

"You're right. Withholding grain is how he's getting his justice. Once Lord Jules arrives, I'll do everything in my power to negotiate a deal for his own grain. That way, we won't need Finitevus any longer."

•~•

Later that evening, a party was held for the guest arriving in days ahead the coronation. The royal couple entered the ballroom where most of the guests were already waiting, eating, dancing, or talking with other people. Cream and Tails were already on the dance floor together, enjoying the upbeat music as they danced together. While Rouge sulked by the sidelines with a glass of wine in hand, still not completely over Knuckle's death despite it being a few weeks now.

Cordovan navigated through the crowds, making small talk with other nobles until he saw the crestfallen white bat standing alone. He watched as Rouge sluggishly made her way through the crowd, practically bumping into almost everyone carelessly like a zombie. "It's a sad sight, huh?" another voice said beside him.

Cordovan looked to his left, where Sonic stood. "Why is she so melancholy?"

"Her fiancé perished from plague. She's been in a rut like this for weeks."

"Really? To whom was she engaged to?" he queried.

"One of Shadow's knights," Sonic answered. "It's a shame, he was a great guy and a perfect fit for her."

"How unfortunate," Cordovan replied.

"Quite." Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Shadow and Amy enter the party. "Pardon me," Sonic excused as he left Cordovan's side. Sonic strutted up to Shadow and Amy. "Shad, Jules is here and has been waiting for your arrival."

"Lead the way," Shadow ordered.

Sonic nodded and steered them towards the back of the room where Lord Jules, his wife, and son waited. As Amy and Shadow were guided towards the noble family, they gracefully approached the royals. "Your majesties," Jules bowed.

"Lord Jules," Shadow acknowledged.

"Allow me to introduce my family," the gray cat smiled back. "This is my wife Monique," he said gesturing towards a beautiful female black cat to his left. "And this is my son, Jeremy," he finished pointing to a dark gray kitten standing between them.

"It's lovely to meet you," Amy said, smiling warmly at the family. "How old are you, Jeremy?"

"I'm six, mum," he smiled.

"You mean, your highness," Monique promptly corrected.

Amy chuckled, not in the least bit offended by his mistake. "It's perfectly fine."

"So, Jules, is your supply ready for shipment?" Shadow inquired, not losing track of business.

"Yes, all prepared," he nodded confidently until his eyes caught another's across the room. Quickly, he pulled his contact away from them. "But…"

Shadow sensed some hesitancy in his voice. "What's wrong?"

"It's just…there is a reason other nobles make excuses when asked for their grain."

Amy and Shadow's eyes shifted to their left, where they spotted Lord Finitevus in the distance sipping away at a goblet of merlot. His eyes met theirs briefly as he watched their interaction. Shadow and Amy redirected their attention towards Jules and his family in awareness. "I see."

"I am recently titled and I'm afraid of his reach," Jules elucidated. "There's no hiding that he's brought down far more powerful men than me."

"You have nothing to fear from Finitevus or anyone else," Shadow assured. "I promise."

Jules blew out a small sigh of relief. "In that case, the deal is settled then."

•~•

After their conversation, Shadow split up from Amy to hold a private exchange with Sonic. The two brothers stood side by side by the refreshment table. "Did you find out what I requested?" Shadow asked quietly.

Sonic nodded. "Someone helped Lord Montgomery flee town after the accident, but I found out that he is staying just outside of Mobius in one of the southern regions."

Shadow kept his eyes straight ahead as he absorbed the information. "Very good. Thank you for returning the information to me."

Sonic stared at his brother strangely. "Why did you ask me to look into this in the first place? What's going on, Shad?"

"I asked you to handle this because I trust you, and I trust you not to ask questions I can't answer." Shadow's eyes moved to another corner, and he held back a gasp as he spotted his father standing by some female guests. His father locked eye contact with him before another guest passed in front of him only to reveal him gone once he was out of the way.

Sonic noticed Shadow's eerie expression and looked towards the direction he was staring at but saw nothing there. "…Shadow?"

His father's quote from his nightmare rang through his mind. "Betraying someone you love blackens your soul. It's a weight you carry all of your days…"

Shadow shook his head coming out of his daze. "I'm sorry, there's something I have to tend to," he excused before walking off. Sonic watched as Shadow retreated the room in a hurry. What was going on with him?

Meanwhile in another section of the room, another high-class guest made their way through the crowd, watching as Shadow fled from the party. Their yellow eyes looked among the crowd until they spotted Amy standing by herself to watch her guests dance. Slowly the figure started to navigate his way towards the queen, eager to engage in conversation.

Feeling a presence looming behind her, Amy turned only to see a large and tall green crocodile standing behind her. "Your majesty," he bowed.

She smiled sheepishly out of sheer intimidation by his large stance. She had forgotten how tall he was. "Duke Vector, I'm glad to have you here. I know you're a long way from home."

"I am."

"How were your travels?" she inquired.

"Good."

Amy blinked, baffled by his short answers and obvious tension between them. "Uh, I know there's been a bit of bad blood between Mobius and Westpolis, but give us a chance to make it up to you tonight."

"Here's your chance then," he began, crossing his arms over his chest. "You hold prisoners, imprisoned by King Phillip from the gulf war," he explained. "As you know, your kingdom won that war, while many of my men were killed in the process."

Amy seemed completely flummoxed by his story. "Yes, I recall that time."

"Seeing as how we're on somewhat better terms, I want them released. After all, what better way to start a new era?" Amy held her reservations at first. Shadow had told her to not make decisions without him present, but Shadow was nowhere in sight. Unbeknownst to her, Vector saw her inner conflict flash across her face. "I know Mobius is in famine, but I come from a land rich in grain. If you release those prisoners, I will supply you with all the grain you desire," he bargained.

It was a deal that could not be passed over. "I'll consult with my husband and get back to you on that offer."

"Very well, but know that offer expires in two days," the duke warned.

•~•

Outside on one of the balconies, Isabelle enjoyed some fresh air to get away from the party, that is, until Finitevus joined her.

"It must be a strange feeling to have been once relevant and now irrelevant. Kind of like a beautiful vase that's lost it's vibrant color."

Isabelle played it cool as she turned around to face him. "There's a new day coming and you are on the wrong side," she smiled proudly.

"Oh?"

"Shadow and Amy see the world differently. They care about the people more than they care about money, power, or men like you," she stated.

He scoffed in denial. "Time will teach Shadow to think like his father," Finitevus proposed. He took a sip of his wine. "I know if I was his father, I could teach him how to rule properly."

"Why are you really here?"

"Shadow double deals behind my back; reaching out to other Mobian nobles for grain, despite the long term relationship I have with the Crown."

"Oh, is that the relationship where you promise vital grains that never arrive?" she quipped.

"Well, they might've arrived faster if someone hadn't killed my son," he said rather passive aggressively.

"Oh, please, you have all the money you need, but this is about wanting power and revenge," she whispered. "But then again, what do I know? I'm irrelevant," she leered. Queen Isabelle headed back towards the party, leaving Finitevus without the last word. He scoffed as he leaned his arms over the railing of the balcony, staring into the starry night sky.

His hearing perked when he heard the sound of heels making their way up behind them. He didn't bother to turn to address the person believing he knew who it was. "Come back for another clever quip?" he mocked.

"Pardon me?" an unfamiliar female voice responded.

Finitevus turned only to see Rouge standing to his right. His eyes studied her in intrigue, examining her curvy and voluptuous body. She was absolutely beautiful, and he couldn't fathom why he hadn't seen her before until now. "My apologies, I thought you were someone else…"

"Nope," she sighed rather dejectedly. "I'm nobody special."

"Surely that's not true." He discreetly inched a little closer to her and offered his hand. "Lord Finitevus."

Rouge stared down at his hand in reluctance before placing hers in his. "Lady Rouge," she introduced half-heartedly.

"You're one of Queen Amy's ladies in waiting, then?"

She smiled weakly. "You guessed correctly."

He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it gently, lingering his lips on the back of her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he smiled seductively.

•~•

Meanwhile on the dance floor, Amy and Shadow shared a dance among their guests. Shadow led as they swayed to a slow song. "I spoke to the Duke from Westpolis about our grain situation."

Shadow looked weary of his mention. "That traitor?"

Amy raised a brow, hearing the detest in his voice. "Traitor?"

"He's a supporter of Conquering Storm to claim the Dragon kingdom," he clarified.

"So? I've already made it clear that I have no intention of going after her throne," she argued.

"So, it means we can't trust him. What if he's apart of some ploy to dethrone you," he countered.

"He's here for our coronation, Shadow," she replied, denying his paranoia. "He also has grain and he's offered us a very good deal," she spoke optimistically.

"What's his deal?" Shadow inquired curiously as they continued to dance.

"The prisoners your father jailed," she commenced. "He offers grain in return for their freedom." Shadow twirled her, a bit dubious on the idea. Amy saw the mistrust in his expression. "It's a good deal, Shadow, and one that we're in dire need of."

Shadow chuckled lightly. "Asking you to know your place is like asking the sun to not shine," he cracked.

Amy smiled at his playful quip. "Well, what do you think?"

"It's a good solution to form more problems," he countered. "Vector is a known supporter for Conquering Storm and many of the Mobian nobles are behind you for claiming the throne. If we are to accept his deal, it could anger the other nobles." He sighed shaking his head with the dilemma. "I don't think this is the week for that, Amy."

Amy's ears lowered. "But…"

"—Lord Jules' grain will put an end to that," he assured. "I promise."

•~•

Late that night, Lord Jules stormed to Finitevus' chambers after a troubling discovery. Finitevus opened his door after hearing the frantic pounding on his bedroom door. When he opened it, the gray cat flooded into the room. "Where is he? Where is my son?" he said, vexation in his voice.

"...Papa?" his son said from the balcony. Jules' eyes flew over Finitevus' shoulder only to see him sitting on the edge of the balcony railing along with one of Finitevus' men.

"I found him playing in one of the castle's corridors," Finitevus' smirked. "But don't worry, he's safe with me." Jules' felt his stomach drop as he stared at his son sitting dangerously close the edge. Jules tried to move past the echidna to reach him, but Finitevus placed a firm hand against his chest, preventing him from going anywhere. "I know what it's like to lose a son."

Jules searched his eyes, terrified at the thought. Finitevus was threatening him indirectly, and he knew exactly what it was over. "You wouldn't…"

"Would you like to try me?" he encouraged.

Jules remained quiet, horrified at the thought. "No…"

"I think you know what I'm going to ask you to do." He lifted his fingers and snapped them. From the signal, his guard lifted young Jeremy off from the ledge and set him down on the floor. Finitevus kept his serious gaze on the nobleman. "Trust me, you don't want to know what it's like to lose a son," he threatened.

With that said, Jeremy was allowed to run towards his father and into his arms. Jules knelt down to his level holding his son protectively. "I'll do whatever you want," he spoke as he held his son protectively.

Finitevus smiled with evil mirth. "That's just the answer I wanted to hear."

•~•

AN: Remember to leave a review! :)