Author's Note: Wow, I got a lot of reviews this last chapter. I'm certainly happy with hearing all your feedback! Thank you Ella Belle The Writer, MissMJS, Aliciathrwolf45, JessicaShadow, Sunny, Aqua9597, and Yolandah-da-Hedgehoggu for your reviews! Like I've said a million times, I love hearing your insight, predictions, and concerns.

As for the comments left from Lilly and SamStars: I'm really happy to hear that you guys like my other story "The Hybrid" but like I said quite a few times in the last chapters of that story, I wanted to take a break and focus on another story. I have every intention of doing a sequel for The Hybrid, but not anytime soon. I want to finish this story first.

•~•

On a cold night, an elderly pig couple watched in horror, as their home was set ablaze before them. "Burn it all," a male voice declared.

A royal guard appeared behind the couple with an ignited torch in hand. "Yes, your majesty," he answered before walking over to their farm.

"No please!" the husband exclaimed.

"You demand nothing of the king," the guard spat before throwing the torch into the farm stall.

The wife wept on her husband's shoulder as their home burned away in the night. There was nothing they could do to stop them.

•~•

The next morning at the Mobius castle, Amy and Shadow were preparing for another day as they got dressed in silence. "It seems my entire day will be devoted to business as usual," Shadow announced coming from around a corner. He finished buttoning up his shirt as his eyes set on Amy brushing through her own quills.

"Let me know if you need any help," Amy replied not taking her sight off her reflection in the mirror at her vanity.

"No need, I should be able to handle it myself. Enjoy the day with your ladies," he smiled walking over towards the window.

Amy slowly turned in her seat to face him, looking blank with her expression. "Shadow, I don't want to have to play a part with you. I don't want to have to pretend I'm happy when I'm not."

Shadow's smile faded by her words. "Amy…"

"—I know that I insisted you tell me what was wrong, but it was harsh to hear just the same," she spoke softly. He nodded in silence understanding how brash he had come across the night before. Amy's eyes looked at the floor sadly. "I didn't realize how disappointed you were with me for not giving you a child." Shadow remained speechless; unsure of how to respond to her for his false accusations. Amy took his silence as his final response and rose from her seat. "I'm glad that you were honest with me because that's what we need the most from each other."

He fumbled with his hands. "Amy, I'm sorry…"

Her expression remained stony, still hurt and devastated by his harsh truths. "Give me time, and I'll come to terms with it," was her final response before exiting the room. Shadow watched her leave the room and sighed.

•~•

Meanwhile, in Isabelle's room, the royal monarch was preparing for a day travel out of the city. "Make sure the kitchen has a nice basket put together for the carriage. I may get peckish halfway through," she ordered to one of her female servants.

"At once, your grace," the female servant curtsied.

A knock on the door drew her attention away. "Yes, come in!" Isabelle called. The door opened and Amy sauntered inside. "Ah, Amy. Whatever it is, it must wait till tomorrow. I'm off to put on an appearance at a festival in Metropolis," she explained walking over towards her.

"Why exactly?" Amy questioned.

"It always softens up the nobles when a queen makes an appearance," she chuckled as she walked over to her vanity.

Amy watched for a moment before a thought came to mind. "Why don't I come with you, then?" she inquired curiously.

Thankfully, Isabelle's back was turned; otherwise, Amy would have seen the indication that she had no interest in sharing a journey. Quickly, she put on her best façade and turned around with a feigned smile. "My dear, it will be a terrible bore, and the ride will take hours!"

Amy placed her hands together and smiled, sensing the disdain from Isabelle with the idea of her accompanying her. "It'll be good for me to get out of the castle. It's fresh air, time to think," she listed.

The blue monarch crossed her arms over her chest looking rather piqued. "Then why don't you just take a nice long walk?" she suggested.

Amy chuckled by her apparent annoyance. "If one queen impresses the nobles imagine two queens?"

Isabelle grew a deadpan expression. It was apparent there would be no stopping Amy from joining her. "Hmm. Yes, but of course…"

•~•

After an hour into the journey, Amy peeked out from behind the curtains in the carriage and spotted something troubling. "We need to turn around, something's wrong – we're riding in the wrong direction!" Isabelle looked up from her book, not looking too concerned. Amy still looked panicked. "We're still heading east, not south!

Isabelle rolled her eyes and went back to her reading. "I may have told a small white lie about where we were going."

"What?" Amy furrowed her brows together. "Turn this carriage around, right now!"

She shrugged carelessly. "Amy, what difference does it make? You said you wanted some fresh air." Amy swallowed the lump in her throat, catching Isabelle's attention. "…Is there some reason you wanted to go to Metropolis?

"O-Of course not, but where are we really going?"

"Central City to meet with my admirers, the peasants!"

Amy raised a brow. "Your what, now?"

"I may have helped rebuild a few homes here and there after the plague, and now they are throwing a party in my name," she answered rather dignified.

"Since when have you ever cared about peasants?" she questioned skeptically.

"I've always cared about them," she argued.

Suddenly, the carriage pulled to a harsh stop. "Whoa!" the rider said from the outside.

"Why are we stopped?" Isabelle questioned loudly enough for the rider to hear.

"There are people gathering in the road ahead!" The rider answered.

Outside, male villagers came storming towards the carriage and royal guards with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons. They shouted and grumbled as they made their way up to the royals. The guards on horses kept the villagers from getting too close. "Clear the road!"

Back inside the carriage, Amy seemed upset from the anger of the villagers. She went to look out the window but Isabelle stopped her. "No, don't, they're angry."

"Perhaps we could talk to them?" she wagered.

"—Kill the royals!" a voice from outside shouted, making Amy cringe in response.

"Perhaps, not right now," Isabelle smirked seeing she was correct. The chatter and uproar started to worsen and Isabelle sensed danger nearing. "Come," she spoke grabbing Amy's hand. "We must escape."

"Where exactly? We're trapped inside a carriage!"

Isabelle leaned over and opened a trap door that dropped down underneath the carriage. "All my carriages have them. One never knows…now come!" With that said, Isabelle crawled out of the escape hatch with Amy following her lead.

Outside, the guards were already outnumbered and in the middle of a brawl with the angry villagers as they fought them off. Luckily, because they were so distracted, it gave Amy and Isabelle the perfect chance to escape undetected. The two queens made their way down a slope further into the forest as the heard the bloodshed of their guards. "We have to keep moving!" Isabelle quietly exclaimed.

Amy remained calm as she took off her cloak. "Take off your jewelry and flip your cloak inside out. It'll make us look less like royals." The two monarchs took off their crowns, rings, and expensive necklaces and tucked them away into any pockets they had on them. "It's a long way back to the castle," Amy droned.

Isabelle groaned. "Better get started, then." Quickly, the two queens began their trek through the rough terrain and made their way around the tall trees and bushes.

•~•

Back at the castle, Rouge lounged by her window reading through the sex journal again. Her eyes caught sight of Cream making her way out onto her balcony. "Re-reading some old passages?" she questioned.

"Perhaps…"

Cream giggled. "Did you ever manage to find your mystery, journal lover?"

"Actually, yes."

Cream's ears perked with interest and she took a seat by her side. "Who is it then?"

Rouge's ears faltered. "Ugh, it's Finitevus."

"Oh, dear, he's the sublime lover? What are you going to do? I've heard the stories about him from many besides Amy. He's definitely somebody you don't want to get involved with."

Rouge shut the journal and rested it in her lap. "That's just it. I don't know what to do. The writing about him really intrigued me, but I don't think Amy would approve."

"Well, whatever you do. Please remain safe," Cream advised. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

Rouge smiled towards her. "Thank you, Cream."

•~•

Back with Amy and Isabelle, the two continued to make their journey back to the castle. "How could you possibly not see that hole back there?" Amy said in annoyance as she helped Isabelle walk. The matriarch kept an arm around Amy's shoulder for support as they limped through the woods together.

"You know my eyesight isn't what it use to be," Isabelle exclaimed. "We've been stumbling along for hours… Do you have any idea where we're going?"

"No, but eventually we'll…wait," she stopped, squinting her eyes as she looked up ahead. "I see a village!"

Isabelle's eyes followed. "Thank Chaos!" She licked her lips as she began to limp away from Amy. "Dinner!"

Amy watched her trek towards the village. "But we don't have any money…"

She laughed, not bothering to look back. "We're queens, it'll be sorted."

Amy stormed over, placing a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "We can't tell them who we really are. Even if they believed us, what if they hate royals, too?"

Isabelle shot her a glare. "Amy, dear, understand something for me, will you..? I shall have my dinner, one way or another!" she growled in determination.

•~•

Back in Mobius, Rouge sat in the dining hall eating her lunch by herself until she spotted a hand come into view and pull a chair out across from her. She put down her glass of wine as she spotted Lord Finitevus slither his way into the seat across from her. "Afternoon," he smiled.

"I don't believe I gave permission for you to sit with me," she said rather passively.

"Perhaps not, but you look like you could use the company," he noted.

She looked away. "I was perfectly content with my peaceful lunch before you came."

"How about this then, I'll leave you be if you join me for some afternoon tea later on? Does that sound fair?" he bargained.

"Just tea?" she asked rather skeptically on his invitation.

He nodded. "What else do you expect?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Well, you must be curious. Come join me and find out," he spoke as he stood from his seat. Rouge watched as he made his way out of the dining room. "I'll see you for tea then, Lady Rouge." Rouge watched as he sauntered out of the dining hall, curious by his proposal. Whether she wanted to or not, he was an intriguing one and she couldn't help but feel like a moth drawn to a flame when she was around him. Perhaps she would take up his offer.

•~•

With much effort, Amy and Isabelle finally made it into the village. The two found an inn and entered cautiously. The place was fairly busy with mostly male commoners as customers, but none of them seemed phased by their entrance. Isabelle snapped her fingers. "Innkeeper!" she called.

An old beagle behind one of the counters pouring a glass of bourbon looked in their direction. "Yes, mum?"

The two queens made their way over to the counter. "We require your best capon; freshly killed, well-baked, seasoned with basil, and a dash of rosemary. Oh, and a bottle of whatever passes for wine," she finished eyeing his alcohol with scrutiny.

The beagle chuckled by her tall order. "Let's see the shine of your coin first."

She blinked a few times, stunned by his demand. "Are you trying to insult me?"

"I know my customers, I don't know you," he pointed. "No money, no service."

"Wait!" Amy interjected. "We're ladies maids and friends of the lord of this region," she began.

The innkeeper shot her a funny look. "Friends with the duke?"

"Yes, the duke," she lied boldly.

"She's right, this here is my daughter," Isabelle lied skillfully, playing along.

Amy forced a fake smile. "Yes, and you see, my mother has hurt her foot," she gestured to Isabelle's ankle. "We will work for food and a place to stay if that's all right?"

Isabelle shot her a glare. "We'll what?" she hissed quietly.

Amy ignored Isabelle's discontent. "We can wash dishes, milk cows, or serve if need be."

The innkeeper looked rather pleased by the offer of payment. He stroked his chin in contemplation. "I can make more money with a girl serving drinks…"

Amy smiled, clapping her hands together. "Done!"

"Alright then!" He placed two beers down in front of her. "These go to the back table with them two mates." Amy obliged and picked up the two drinks and made her way over to the back.

Isabelle, on the other hand, took a seat at a nearby empty table. "Alas me poor foot," she said sarcastically. "My daughter will have to work for the both of us," she noted with a smirk.

•~•

Meanwhile back at the castle, Prince Sonic, and Prince Cordovan caught up with Shadow while he was in the middle of a conversation with some of his nobles. "Shadow!" Sonic shouted.

"Excuse me," Shadow excused coming to a halt. The nobles nodded and continued to walk off while Shadow met with the two in the hall. "What is it?"

Sonic whispered something into his ear, which greatly disturbed him. Shadow pulled away and looked to anyone that was in the hall at the moment. "Queen Amy and Isabelle are missing!" he announced. The guests standing in the halls all gasped in concern. "Their carriage was attacked. We must search for them immediately," Shadow declared. "I want every guard and every nobleman who can join us."

"My men and I are at your disposal," Cordovan replied before hurrying off to gather them. More guards hurried to join.

"I'm coming with you, too," Shadow replied quickly catching up with him.

"I should go in your place, brother," Sonic spoke as he kept up with his pace.

"No, I need you to stay here. I'm naming you temporary regent while I'm gone," he explained. "I need someone here who I can trust." Sonic slowed to a halt and watched as his brother left.

•~•

Back in the village, Amy and Isabelle chowed down on their dinner after rightfully working for it. "Well, it seems that we're stuck here until Shadow finds us," Isabelle noted while eating away at her chicken thigh.

"At least there's no hostility here," Amy replied looking around the tavern. "I haven't heard any hatred towards the crown while working, but we still can't tell them of our true titles."

Isabelle chucked a chicken bone onto her plate. "Fine, if we must remain here we might as well entertain each other." She filled up her goblet of wine. "Perhaps, start with why you really wanted to get to Metropolis so badly?" she hinted. Amy put her cup down, looking hesitant on revealing the truth. Isabelle picked up on her reluctance and sighed in annoyance. "Oh, come on now!"

Amy sighed in defeat. "There's a male physician…in Metropolis who is celebrated for his knowledge of female problems," she started.

Isabelle quickly eyed her up and down. "I assume you mean fertility, because other than that, no male has an inkling about female problems." She took a sip of her own drink. "You know, I spent a decade suffering the same uncertainty…"

"And yet you torment me," Amy replied dryly.

"All in good fun," she replied rather dismissively. "But is Shadow pressuring you?"

Her ears lowered sadly. "He's admitted that it bothers him, and he's become distant," she admitted. "He doesn't share his problems with me like he used to and I wonder if this goes on, what will our marriage become?"

"Normal," Isabelle replied simply. "Especially for a royal since the crown changes everything. After all, Phillip was the same way."

Amy seemed rather insulted by the idea. "…Shadow is nothing like his father."

Isabelle finished downing her drink and placed her cup down in front of her. "Amy," she began, suddenly becoming serious. "I know you think that I belittle your marriage by comparing it to mine, but that is not why I talk to you the way I do. I walked this road first, that's all. I learned that if you hold on to foolish romantic expectations, it'll make it that much harder. You know that as a queen, you have to put on an act. If Shadow isn't sharing his heart with you, pretend you don't see it because you'll withhold your own secrets soon enough," she hinted.

Amy looked disheartened by her words of advice. Was her marriage really to become like Isabelle's and Phillips? She couldn't bear to imagine so, and instead pushed the thoughts away. "I-I don't understand how you could say that."

She shook her head in frustration. "I'm sorry but you must accept the distance between you. If you need solace…find it elsewhere. And if you find that the crown weighs too heavily, then line it with velvet, that's what I do," she whispered bluntly.

Before Amy could interject any more comments, a voice boomed from outside. "Make way for the crown!" a royal guard exclaimed.

Amy and Isabelle's heads shot towards the door. "Thank Chaos, Shadow must have found us," Isabelle mumbled in relief. Everyone in the tavern made their way outside to greet the royals, including Amy and Isabelle. But when they made their way outside, their stomachs dropped by the second announcement. "Make way for the king and queen of Mercia!" a guard announced. A rosy pink hedgehog stepped outside of the royal carriage wearing a beautiful red gown and gold crown. The mock queen waved to her adoring subjects while the fake king of Mobius, a black and blue hedgehog, stepped out behind her doing the same.

"Your majesty!" the crowd cheered in excitement.

Isabelle couldn't believe her eyes as she looked to Amy. "They're imposters!" she whispered.

•~•

Back in the tavern, the fake king and queen of Mobius stood before their people proudly. The faux king walked back and fourth gracefully among his subjects trying to play up the regal aspect of his role. "The plague has left us in a lot of debt and we need money. Give whatever you can and help aid your kingdom," he spoke empathically. "Do it out of the kindness of your heart!"

Amy and Isabelle eyed each other wearily by his act. Once he walked out of earshot, Amy and Isabelle kept near a corner of the building. "They believe him," Amy whispered.

Isabelle watched as the fake monarch collected coins from the fooled subjects. "Well, most of the nation has no idea what you or Shadow look like. Which makes it easy for clever people to take advantage," Isabelle noted.

Amy stared at the coloring of the guards uniform. Instead of it being a dark navy blue and gold; the uniform consisted of red and white coloring. "They're not even using the proper color of our nation," she replied quietly.

"I realize that, but clearly, your subjects don't," she countered.

•~•

A few minutes later, the king and queen held a Q & A for their people inside the tavern. Many of the commoners questioned them on rumors they had heard or just asked basic questions. "Is it true you have your own private lake, your majesty?" one of the female subjects questioned.

"Yes, there's a pond filled with goats milk for the ladies of the court to bathe in," the fake queen answered gleefully. The crowd gasped in astonishment and intrigue at the glamorous idea. Unbeknownst to her, the faux king narrowed his eyes at his queen's white lie. Amy noticed his glare sensing an annoyance by his demeanor.

"…But then wouldn't passerbyers be able to see the ladies, well naked?" another male questioned with doubt.

The rosy pink hedgehog smiled charmingly. "Yes, that is why all must turn their faces away at such time," she lied. "Otherwise, the punishment is, well, death."

A male villager stood from his seat. "Wait a second, I've been to the castle with my cart, and there's no pond of milk," he leered accusingly. The crowd began to chatter amongst themselves as they watched the queen look deceptive. The king eyed the people before whispering something to one of his guards making Amy become very concerned for the female imposter.

Quickly, she stood up from the back of the room. "You must have ridden by the south keep. Everyone knows it's the north keep that has the milk pond, it's common knowledge," she clarified, playing along with the imposter's lie.

The female imposter smiled and took a sip of her wine. "Exactly!" she smiled pointing towards her. With that said, the crowd continued to buy into the act and Amy slowly took her seat next to Isabelle. The king eyed Amy suspicious and blinked a few times then looked towards his queen allowing his planned punishment to pass.

"Why did you do that?" Isabelle whispered.

"She may be a fraud, but she doesn't deserve to die for it," she answered quietly. "Besides, I have a plan."

•~•

AN: Remember to leave a review!