Author's Note: Thank you to all that finally voted in my latest poll. It looks like The Hybrid Part II has won by a landslide. (No surprise there, lol.) It'll be the next story I'll be working on this month and hopefully have completed by the time this story is done. Quick thanks to those that left reviews: Aliciathewolf45, CrimsonDestroyer, MissMJS, xXAmberAddilynRoseXx, and Guest. I'm super happy you guys are enjoying the story!

TRIGGER WARNING: Just a formal warning, this chapter contains explicit description of sexual assault that may distress some readers.

•~•

After a long ride, Shadow and Sonic successfully followed Drago to the location where Finitevus was holding Montgomery. As the white wolf made his way through the tall grass towards a small cottage, a figure leaped out from behind and tackled him to the ground. Sonic held him from behind, trying to wrestle him, but the wolf managed to break free of his grasp and elbow him in the face. Sonic yelped and flew back, just as Drago brandished his sword and got to his feet. But before he could attack, Shadow hopped up from under the tall grass, and stabbed him from behind, killing him.

Once Drago was out of the way, the two brothers broke into the cottage where they found Lord Montgomery strung up by the arms with chains. "Lord Montgomery?" Shadow addressed.

The knight lifted his head in surprise. "My king, are y-you here to free me?"

"It's not your freedom I'm here for, it's for my own," he answered. With that, Shadow stabbed his sword into his chest, killing him. Sonic stood nearby, cringing from the sight; it was hard to watch his brother feed his brutality as king, but by killing the only witness, it would ensure his freedom from blackmail.

•~•

Back at the castle, Prince Cordovan walked down one of the empty halls along with one of the servants after leaving the party. "I'm leaving tonight along with my things." He handed an envelope to the servant as they walked together. "Give this to Queen Amy, but not until tomorrow, understand?" he instructed.

The servant's eyes fell on the envelope curiously. "It isn't urgent, my lord?"

"No, not urgent at all…" His eyes diverted to the floor as they walked. "But it is urgent that I get some distance from her…"

•~•

In another section of the castle, the party had ended and most of the guests had left for the night. Jet and a large group of his men, now wearing stolen guards uniforms, successfully infiltrated the castle without any suspicion under the real guards. "Find the king and bring him to me," Jet ordered. The flock of fake guards split up into groups heading up and down the halls in search of the king and queen.

•~•

Meanwhile, Amy had already retired to her chambers for the night, oblivious to the siege underway. But as she slept, her peaceful slumber was awoken when her doors violently flew open and three guards stormed her room. Amy sat up in bed, alerted and confused by their grand entrance. "Guards, what's happening, what's wrong?"

Jet walked towards her, keeping up his act. "An intruder was seen outside the portcullis," he answered looking around her room. We're just checking in on you, your majesty."

Amy looked over to her bedroom door, where the other two other 'guards' Storm and Jeffrey stood, blocking the entrance. After eying them for a few moments, Amy realized something was not right. With her gut instincts, Amy made a mad dash to escape, but Jeffrey swiftly grabbed her before she could make it anywhere near the door. Amy opened her mouth to scream for help, but the skunk kept a hand over her mouth to keep her silenced. She cried out a muffled scream but he held a knife to her face, daring her to continue.

Amy eyed the knife fearfully and held onto the hand cupping her mouth. "Call for help and I will slit your throat. Do you understand?" he said sternly by her ear. She nodded, complying with their demands.

"Your guards are dead," Jet said by the doors. "Now, where is your husband?"

Jeffrey removed his hand from her mouth to allow her to answer, but kept the knife by her throat, while his other hand gripped her shoulder. "I-I don't know where he is," she answered.

"There are many of us and few places he spends his evenings," Jet spoke. "Don't scream and you might just live long enough to watch him die." Amy gulped, fearing for her own life and for Shadow's.

•~•

At that same time in another part of the castle, Rouge made her way back to her chambers until she heard running feet coming behind her. She stopped and craned her neck to see what all the commotion was about and saw three male guards running straight towards her. The three eventually huddled around the confused female bat as they eyed her with scrutiny. "Um, is something wrong?" she asked, eying them warily. For some reason, Rouge was getting a strange vibe from these guards. Not only had she never seen them before, but they also looked at her differently, making her feel uncomfortable.

One of the guards, a yellow mongoose with black hair, gripped her by the throat abruptly and shoved up against the wall. She gasped in surprise. "Where is your king?" he asked.

Rouge grabbed onto the hand wrapped around her throat, looking on fearfully. "I-I don't know, I think he left the castle," she answered. "Who are you?"

Just at that moment, Lord Finitevus was walking towards Rouge's location from another hall. As he was just about to round the corner, his ears picked up on the sound of a confrontation. Quietly, he slowed his steps and stayed by the corner and peered around. Startled to see Lady Rouge forced against the wall by one of the three guards surrounding her, his eyes widened, "Rouge…" he muttered under his breath.

"Where did the king go? Tell us, girl!" the mongoose barked quietly with urgency.

"I-I really d-don't know," she stammered. "Please, don't hurt me," Rouge pleaded to the three.

At that moment, Finitevus realized the castle was under siege. Quietly, he withdrew his sword plastered on his hip and leaped out from around the corner, revealing his hiding position. "Take your hands off her!" he roared.

The three faux guards looked in his direction and shot piqued expressions. The yellow mongoose released his hold on Rouge and brandished his own sword, holding it out in front of Rouge's neck. "Men, take him down. Make it a nice quiet kill before we alert the real guards," he ordered.

The other two guards charged towards the white echidna, drawing their own weapons. The first guard, a brown bear, swung his sword down in a diagonal direction, but Finitevus leaped out of the way and kicked the other oncoming guard, a brown rat, in the chest. Rouge watched on anxiously as Finitevus fought off the two guards in a sword fight. "Finitevus!"

"Shut up, wench!" the mongoose scolded.

Finitevus slayed the brown bear first, slashing his sword at his neck. The bear staggered forward, clutching as his bleeding neck before collapsing. "Samuel!" the brown rat cried, before gasping in agony. He looked down and noticed a sword sticking out of his gut. He looked back and noticed Finitevus holding the sword plunged inside him before ripping it out violently.

"Bellends!" the yellow mongoose cursed. While he had his eyes off Rouge, he grunted, feeling a powerful knee to his groin. As he was temporarily stunned, he looked back at the bat only to be met with a fist. Rouge had slugged him right in the face making him fall back.

Finitevus rushed over to Rouge with his outstretched arms. "Lady Rouge, are you alright!?" Rouge hopped over his body and ran towards the echidna, leaping into his arms. He embraced her, feeling her shaking in his arms. "It's alright, my dear, you're safe now."

More running feet made their way towards the two, and Finitevus got back into fighting stance believing them to be more imposters. Luckily, it was the actual real castle guards coming towards him. "My lord, are you okay?" the head guard asked.

"We're fine now, but you're men need to do a sweep of the entire castle. Find the king and evacuate he and the queen from court. The castle is under siege by faux guards. I repeat. The castle is under attack!"

•~•

After properly disposing Montgomery's body, Shadow and Sonic walked through the fields back to where their horses were tied. "You can tell Amy the truth now," Sonic noted. "Finitevus has nothing to hold against you now."

"It's a relief," Shadow conceded. "I once thought this nightmare would never end."

"Well, it has," Sonic smiled. "Tonight you can go home to your wife and rekindle your love for one another."

"Thank you, Sonic. You have no idea how much you've helped me."

He cracked a grin. "That's what brothers are for, right?"

•~•

Back at the castle, Amy was still being held hostage by Jet and his men. Jet and Storm stood by the doors waiting for Shadow's arrival, while Jeffery stood behind Amy, keeping watch. "It's taking too long. Your men may have been caught," Amy spoke, breaking the silence. Jet and Storm eyed her as they considered her theory. "They could be coming for you right now without warning."

"Shut up," Jeffrey snapped.

"If you have as many men as you say you do, the halls should be filled with the sounds of battle," she continued.

"Your husband is coming any second," Jet said optimistically. "I just know it."

Her brows furrowed, frustrated that they did not believe her. "Shadow is not here!" She looked to Jeffrey standing behind her. "If you leave now, even if you are caught, I will spare your lives," she assured.

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened and one of Jet's men, a brown warthog, came in. "One of the guests we interrogated said they saw the king leave earlier before the party."

"He could be lying," Jet theorized.

"I'm telling you, we've looked as long as we dare. Three of our own have been killed, and the real guards are catching on. We need to leave, NOW."

"And what are we to do with her?" Storm asked, pointing towards the queen.

The warthog looked in her direction. "We killed all the other witnesses we crossed. Kill her before she can scream." With that, he left the room.

"I'll do it," Jeffrey spoke taking a step closer to Amy.

Amy backed up with her right hand outward. "Don't! No wrong against your people will be remedied tonight." Without another word, Jeffrey backhanded her hard across the face, making a loud slap and sending her flying towards the floor. Amy yelped and landed on her stomach with a thud. She recoiled from the painful strike.

"Don't speak to me of the wrongs done…you murdered his wife!" Jeffrey snapped pointing over to Jet. The green hawk stood by the door, looking conflicted on Jeffrey's anger placed on her, but even though he didn't entirely agree with it, he still wanted retribution for his murdered wife. "You hung her on a wall like something evil," Jeffrey continued, as he got closer towards her.

She remained still, not wanting to make any sudden moves. "Wave was your wife?" Amy gasped, still reeling from the fall. "Are y-you Jet?" she asked looking over her shoulder towards the hawk.

"Yes…" Jet spoke from across the room. "Why did you execute my wife? Prince Cordovan assured me no harm would come to her."

"We didn't kill your wife," she spoke exasperated. "Someone broke into the castle, kidnapped and killed her. We believe it was one of your own people that did it to turn your people against the Crown. Please, you must believe me," she begged. Jeffrey scowled at her assumption. How had she figured it out? Now it would only be a matter of time before Jet put the pieces together and realized that he was the one behind the murder of his wife.

Jet stepped closer towards the queen, but Jeffrey moved an arm blocking his path. "Don't believe her, sir! She's a liar trying to scrounge for her life."

"Jeffrey, I don't think we should kill her," he pleaded.

"Well, we can't let her get away without punishment for all those that perished from the edict," he argued.

Jet furrowed his brows towards him. "And what exactly do you plan to do in order to punish her?" Jeffrey looked back at Amy still lying still on the floor on her stomach and looking rather vulnerable in her current position. His expression turned dark as a lewd idea came to mind.

Jet instantly read his sinister expression and shook his head in disapproval. "Jeffrey, no, you can't, she's a queen…"

He smirked balefully. "She doesn't look much like a queen at this moment, now does she?" He bent over and grabbed her by the ankles, dragging her towards him. Amy cried out and dug her nails into the carpet as she was dragged in his direction.

"Please don't!" she begged, as he flipped her over onto her back.

"You deserve this!" he growled trying to grab at her wrists. Both Jet and Storm looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

She felt tears stream down her face as she tried to push him off. "Please don't do this, I beg of you!"

He grabbed at her hands trying to pry him off of her but grew frustrated with her resistance. He slapped her again, causing her to yelp and stun her momentarily, giving him enough time to reach for his erect member from under his armor. "I think you should know what desecration feels like, my queen," he spoke ominously. With his free hand, he lifted the sides of her nightgown, exposing her bare lower half.

Amy began to struggle under his assault, but it was too late, he had already forced himself inside her. Amy began to scream but he cupped a hand over her mouth. Her screams were muffled as she felt him propel himself in and out of her.

Jet watched on, horrified by Jeffrey's actions. "Stop it, stop it now!" he bellowed.

Jeffrey shot him an irritated glare as he continued his plunder on the queen. "Shut him up, will you?!" he ordered to the albatross.

Storm obliged and punched Jet in the gut, winding him. The green hawk buckled to his knees as he held his injured abdomen. He desperately tried to catch his breath, while helplessly watching from the sidelines in despair. This is not what he wanted.

Amy groaned as Jeffrey continued his assault. It hurt and she shuddered hearing him grunt in satisfaction with every thrust. Tears streamed down her face, so she turned her head to the side, keeping her eyes focused on the crackling fire in the fireplace, hoping to block out this torture. His hand reached out and gripped her throat tightly, forcing her to look at him. He continued to pump in and out of her as he panted, thoroughly enjoying every moment of his violation. "Now, now, your highness. Don't cry," he mocked maliciously.

He released his hold on her throat, allowing her to breathe. She gasped for air before he flipped her over onto her stomach, to continue his violation from behind. He forced himself back inside her. "Yes, that's it," he moaned, feeling content in finding his stride.

Amy kept her eyes closed, as she tried to block out everything around her. She felt one of his hands, slide towards the front of her chest, roughly pawing at her breasts. "Stop it," she begged, still crying.

"Don't worry, I'm almost finished." He quickened his pace and finally came, finishing inside her. It felt like an eternity and Amy trembled by his climax, feeling his warm seed penetrate her. He pulled out as she laid on her side shaking from the traumatic event. He laughed and stood to adjust his pants as he stared down at his victim. "Well worth it."

Jet gained his bearings and stood, glaring hard at him. "You disgusting lowlife, how can you live with yourself with the act you just committed?" he questioned, scorn-laced in his voice.

Jeffrey revealed a cocky grin. "You act so holier than thou, yet you did nothing to stop me," he countered with a shrug. Jet sagged from his comment, knowing it was true. He had been a coward in the moment, but when the castle bells began to echo through court, the three looked around in alert.

"What is that?" Jet questioned.

"The alarms," Jeffrey stated. "They know we're here. We need to get moving."

"I want a go at her, though," Storm spoke up, looking towards Amy.

"Have at it then, my friend, just make sure you finish quickly," Jeffrey advised.

Jeffrey and Jet quickly made their exit while Storm walked over to Amy to have his turn.

He knelt down in front of her and began to turn her over, but with quick acting, Amy kicked Storm in the chest, toppling him over. With her chance to escape, Amy made a dash out of her bedroom for help. Storm got to his feet and began to run after her, but stopped and decided to book for the exit instead.

•~•

In one of the empty corridors, Amy ran for her life not bothering to look back. Bells tolled in the distance, signaling that intruders had invaded the castle. But as she got closer to the other end, she could hear her own guards shouting to one another. "They're in the north keep!"

Amy halted in her tracks when she saw none other than Queen Isabelle and her guards make their way around the corner. Isabelle looked concerned when she spotted Amy's frazzled figure lingering in the hall alone. "Stop," she commanded her guards.

"Oh thank, heavens. It's the queen," one of her guards spoke in relief.

Isabelle's eyes never left the pink hedgehog as she got closer, feeling something was wrong. "Get back to your posts," she ordered her guards. "The queen will be safe with me in my chambers."

Isabelle led Amy into her own bedroom as guards stood outside her room for protection. "Where is Shadow?" she asked directly.

Amy wandered further into the room, rubbing at her left wrist anxiously. "Uh, they said that he wasn't in the castle, that he wasn't here at all, and when they realized they had failed, that's when they…" Amy's voice trailed off as she looked towards the floor.

Isabelle's stomach dropped. "Oh, my dear child…" She started to step closer, but Amy stepped back in response.

"No! Don't!"

Isabelle obliged, remaining back and looking her over. She could see red marks all along her neck and chest beginning to form. "What did they do to you?"

"The radicals came looking for Shadow, and they were going to kill him," she recounted. "I fought them off, but one of them…" She stopped, unable to utter what had truly taken place.

It was obvious what had happened, but Isabelle needed to hear it from Amy to be entirely certain. "I'm only going to ask you this once, so we are both clear on what you've endured tonight…were you raped?"

Amy refrained from crying; doing her best to hold back her tears, but it was no use. Slowly, she sank to the floor by Isabelle's desk as tears streaked down her face. Isabelle's heart broke for her in that moment. Slowly, she knelt down a few feet away, making sure to keep her distance. "I know you don't want to be touched and that's all right, but you're safe now," she assured calmly. "I don't know how you managed to escape, but you did." Amy placed her hands on her face, feeling humiliated and at fault for this. "You are alive and you will survive this, Amy."

"H-how do you know," she said through sobs.

"Because a long time ago this also happened to me, and I survived." Amy looked towards Isabelle, shocked by the reveal. "They tried to destroy you by taking your pride and your strength, but those things cannot be taken. Not from you, not ever," she made explicitly.

Amy wiped her tears on the back of her nightgown sleeve. "I-I can still feel his hands on me."

"That's why we're going to change your clothes, fix your hair, and erase any mark of their hands on your body," she instructed.

She shook her head, still feeling ashamed. "Please, just leave me be."

Isabelle remained stern. "We are going to do this for you, for Shadow, for Mercia, and for Mobius. They tried to diminish a king tonight by degrading a queen, and they will not succeed. The world will never know what they did to you."

"That's not possible," she wept.

"It is because you will walk out of here and you will face your court as if this never happened."

"No, I can't, I can't!" she croaked becoming more panicked at the thought.

"Yes, you can because you have to. Amy, your guards saw you. You must put any rumors to rest, immediately. These next moments of your life will either define you as a victim, or a powerful queen untouched by a failed assassination attempt. They will define who you are perceived to be; your place in history." Amy shook her head. "Do not let them win," Isabelle pleaded.

She sniffed. "I don't want to do this alone…"

Isabelle extended her hand out towards her, urging her to take it. "Trust me and I'll help you. I promise that I will get you through this." Amy looked down at Isabelle's lent hand, and with reluctance, reached out and placed her hand in hers.

•~•

Later, in the throne room, the entire castle staff, guards, and nobles stayed in the throne room waiting for the arrival of their queen. The guards had successfully captured a few of the radicals, as well as run off any remaining ones. One of those waiting in the throne room was Lord Finitevus. A messenger came over and stopped by his side. "Still no word from Drago?" Finitevus commented.

"None yet, my lord."

Finitevus looked around the room. "And where is the king?"

"In a secure location, the guards are saying. They must have moved him the second the alarms sounded," the messenger deduced.

"They say it was marked radicals wearing stolen uniforms of the guards."

"Well, it seems they killed anyone who saw them as they moved through the castle. You and Lady Rouge were lucky to get away."

"Hm, at least the engagement will surely be off," he mumbled referencing to Rouge and Cordovan. "I just wonder why these fools thought they could succeed in this attempt."

"Perhaps it's because they felt they had nothing to lose, my lord." Finitevus processed that thought and really began to think. Was he to blame for this attack if he had not pushed for such punishment against the branded?

A fanfare commenced, and everyone turned towards the entrance of the throne room. A set of guards led the way as they escorted both Amy and Isabelle into the room. Amy was now wearing one of her royal gowns and was done up with both hair and makeup thanks to Isabelle. Her dress concealed much of her neck and wrists that were evident to abuse that was made from the attack. The two ladies walked to their thrones and Amy remained composed as she sat down in her seat, while Isabelle stood by her side for support. Amy looked out to her people, looking stern and unperturbed.

"My loyal subjects…I reassure you that your king and your queen remain untouched." The crowd murmured gasps of relief from the good news. "These murderous traitors who invaded the castle tonight have achieved nothing, have altered nothing, and will die for nothing."

Her subjects clapped in content by the news. "Long may you reign!"

•~•

After the announcement, Finitevus visited Rouge in her chambers. As he stepped inside, he saw Rouge sitting at her vanity in her robe. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, but you were right about the imminent attack coming. You saved my life, Finitevus…"

He took a few steps closer. "I take no pleasure in being right," he replied. "Especially as I may have been wrong about other issues. What happened tonight was reckless. It was the act of people who felt they had nothing to lose and I suspect it may have been my doing…"

"Through your pressure on Shadow?" she confirmed.

"I fear this nation is burning and I am the one who lit the match," he spoke as he stared out her open window.

"You controlled a king, I'd say you're being accurate."

He looked back at her. "You betrayed me, and yet, when there was danger tonight, I worried for you," he admitted. "I think about you…"

Rouge looked away, feeling a blush creep onto her face. "I'm engaged to Prince Cordovan, Fintevus. Nothing can happen between us," she reminded.

"I realize that, which is why I need some time away to think about my wrongdoings." He rummaged in his vest pocket and pulled out a scroll and handed it over to her. "Take this. This is where I'll be staying in case you want to get a hold of me, or perhaps change your mind on your engagement," he insinuated.

•~•

In Isabelle's room, Amy laid down on her sofa to get some rest. "I want to sleep but I can't stop shaking," Amy mumbled.

Isabelle draped a blanket over her shaking form and patted her to comfort her. "It's the shock of the night's events."

Suddenly, her door flew open and Shadow walked in. He looked relieved when he saw Amy lying on the sofa in Isabelle's presence. "It's true. You're all right," he smiled as he closed the door behind him.

Isabelle approached him, placing a hand on his chest to stop him from getting too close. He looked puzzled by her gesture. "Slowly, Shadow," she warned. "Just give her time, space, and most importantly, listen." Isabelle looked over her shoulder at Amy, now sat up on the couch with the blanket wrapped around her. "Shall I go?" Amy nodded and Isabelle obliged leaving the two alone to talk.

Shadow took a few steps closer, standing before her. "They said that the guards outside our chambers were killed, but the assassins never made it in, and you were untouched," he recounted.

Her eye contact averted towards the carpet as her ears fell. "I lied, so no one would know," she confessed. Shadow stared at her, feeling a sickness overcome him. What had happened then? With his feared look, Amy knew she had to tell him the truth. "I…I was raped." He went to take another step closer, but she flinched and moved back. "Please don't come any closer!" she beseeched. "I can hardly bear to have you look at me."

Shadow had never felt so broken, helpless, and guilty. His eyes welled up with tears, imagining the terror she had just endured hours ago. Why had he not been there to protect her? "Amy…you are my life and I love you," he said softly. "This is all my fault."

She shook her head. "No, Shadow, it's not," she spoke feeling her eyes tear up again by his hurt expression.

He crumpled to his knees, feeling defeated. "What can I do? I want to help you…"

She clutched the blanket around her form. "…Find them, Shadow. Find the ones who did this to me and kill them."

•~•

AN: Yikes, this was a tough chapter to write but it does escalate the story in an interesting direction. I have no joy in writing rape scenes and believe they should be written if they are necessary to the plot, which sadly, it is. Anyway, to get off this grim topic, I'm looking forward to reading your reviews to see what your thoughts are. Peace, ThePurplePyroHedgie.