AN: Thank you, Shadrougeforever, aliciathewolf45, risingzero2001, MissMJS, and CrimsonDestroyer for the reviews you left on my last chapter! This chapter is a bit shorter than normal, but I hope you guys will enjoy it!

•~•

To clear his mind, Shadow got dressed for the dinner banquet and joined his guests downstairs. As he made his way through the crowd, greeting guests, he caught a sight that concerned him. He turned away from a conversation with a group of nobles as he spotted Rouge wandering aimlessly around the room trying to grab at an invisible object. "Excuse me," he pardoned. As he got closer to the white bat, he realized it looked like she was trying to grab at the reflective lights coming from the chandeliers.

Cordovan, who had been trying to keep up with the Rouge, all night, halted in his tracks and hid behind a pillar when he spotted the black and red monarch. Luckily, Shadow's back was turned to him, so he hadn't spotted him.

Gently, Shadow grabbed Rouge by the forearm, whisking her to one side. "How drunk are you?" he whispered.

She giggled; unaware of how foolish she had looked. "Have you ever noticed how many shimmering soft things there are in the world?" She reached out and began to touch at his crown. "—Like shiny gold crowns." Shadow gave an uneasy smile before gently brushing her hand away from his crown.

"Please stop doing that," he smiled sheepishly.

She clasped her hands together. "It's nice that you're here. You're such a good person."

"I'm not a good person, at least I wasn't tonight."

She placed her hand on his shoulder, running it down the soft fur pelt lining his royal robe. "But you are."

He shook his head with a grin and chuckle. "Let's get you out of here," he said taking her by the hand. Once Cordovan spotted Shadow and Rouge, he himself made his discreet exit before he was noticed.

•~•

In Amy's chambers, a female servant opened the door allowing Queen Catherine inside. When the queen spotted Amy standing there in wait for her, her features grew worried. The door closed behind her, allowing the two females privacy. "What's wrong?"

"I asked you here to tell you that there will be no heir, at least not for a while, maybe not ever." Catharine looked annoyed and even disappointed by the reveal.

"You're being ridiculous. Couples fight. It doesn't mean anything."

"I was raped," she blurted bluntly. Catherine froze in place by the confession. "It happened when the radicals attacked the castle, that is why Shadow and I have separate bedrooms. There is more to it of course."

"So…are you worried you're pregnant with your rapist's child?"

Amy crossed her arms over her chest, beyond pissed with her mother's lack of sympathy. "You still have only one goal; a child to secure power, as your child increased yours. I just told you that I was raped and your first thought was to ask how long you have to wait to be sure I am not giving birth to a rapist's child!"

"Well…are you past it?"

"Yes, I am past that fear, but I face others."

"Darling, I am sorry, but the male who violated you should not succeed in damaging your aspirations."

"You mean, your aspirations, not mine," she corrected before turning away. "What am I to you? Certainly not a daughter, as you have never been a mother to me. You see me as a weapon, a bargaining chip, a vessel for your dreams of greatness."

Her ears lowered, hearing the disappointment in her voice. "You are more than that…"

"Yes, you're right. I am. I am more than a marker to hold an alliance or a breeder for the next generation. I am my own person. A girl grown—and tonight I realize that I am completely and utterly alone, but when I look at you, I feel that I am better for it."

•~•

At that same time, in another part of the castle, Shadow was busy escorting Rouge to her chambers from the party. "Come, Rouge, it's just a bit further," Shadow spoke as he tugged her along. Rouge seemed completely out of it as she dragged her feet along. Sighing, he stopped allowing her to catch up. She laughed and smiled up at him.

"I love your crown, it's so kingly," she admired.

"Yes, well, that should be the point of one," he chuckled softly.

"Sometimes, when I look at you, I don't see a king at all. I see the young male you once were before you were crowned. Extremely handsome, adventurous, daring, mysterious," she listed.

"I still wonder if I was ever truly meant to be king," he admitted dubiously.

Suddenly, a female servant came around the corner. "Your highness," she curtsied.

"Ah, perfect," he said in relief seeing the servant. "Lady Rouge is not feeling so well."

"—Oh, but I am!" Rouge whined.

"Please keep her in her chambers and stay with her through the night."

The servant smiled and nodded. "Yes, your majesty." Graciously, she walked over and gently took Rouge by the arm. Reluctantly, Rouge walked off in the servant's care. "Goodnight, Shadow!" she waved, still stoned out of her mind.

He smiled weakly and waved at her retreating figure. "Goodnight, Lady Rouge."

•~•

After her disastrous night, Amy took a breather in the courtyard. She wore her long cloak to keep warm in the cold night as she collected her thoughts. But before she could get too deep into her thoughts, Cordovan approached her. Amy turned and gave him a weak smile by his arrival. "I didn't expect to see you away from the party."

"I wasn't really in the partying mood," he laughed lightly before sensing her dour expression. "Oh, what's wrong?"

She looked away briefly. "Nothing…"

"I saw Shadow at the party after Rouge said he wouldn't be there. That's kind of why I left in the first place. She said he'd be with you," he noted. "In fact, the whole castle knew of your plans for tonight. Why didn't he stay with you?" he inquired curiously.

"Because it was a failure…I froze, it pained him, and-"

"—I'm so sorry, Amy," he apologized sincerely. Her eyes were watering and he could only imagine the frustration she must have been feeling. "Please, be patient with yourself, you can always try again," he assured.

She wiped away some tears beginning to form in her eyes. "There's no point anymore, Cordovan, Shadow knows of our feelings and has forbidden our union."

His eyes widened. "Our feelings?" he repeated a little startled. "Wait a second, are you saying that…"

"—That I care for you? Of course, I do, you know it's true. Why else would your declaration frighten me so much?" She closed her eyes. "I can promise you nothing, given who I am and what I've been through."

"It's all right, I understand," he spoke sincerely. "But was Shadow harsh with you?"

She shook her head. "No, not half as harsh as my mother was. She has been pressing me mercilessly for an heir, even after knowing what I've endured."

"…Speaking of your mother, has she been acting herself?"

She raised a brow. "Why do you ask?"

"At the party, Rouge was well…fairly levitating after she had something to drink of your mothers."

"My mother's?" she repeated.

"Yes, there was clearly some powerful narcotic in it," he explained.

Amy placed a hand on her chest. "Oh my, is Rouge all right?"

He chuckled lightly. "She was in better spirits than I've ever seen, much like others who have ingested opiates or other herbs."

"My mother did try to give me a miraculous new medicine she'd found," Amy remembered.

"The miracle is that Catherine can still walk straight, much less give you counsel."

•~•

In the hall, a door opened and Rouge snuck out before closing the door behind her. She looked around the hall until she caught a familiar sight. Walking away from her was Lord Finitevus, oblivious to her current state. Rouge smirked seductively before chasing after him, heels clicking in the echoing hall. The servant tending to her came out of Rouge's room looking all over her. "My lady, come back!" she called before hurrying after her.

Finitevus stopped in his tracks when he heard the commotion and turned to see Rouge smiling coyly at him. "Lady Rouge?"

"I have one question," she spoke as she sauntered up to him, swaying her hips back and forth enticingly.

He eyed her, taking in her curvaceous and alluring figure. "And what's that?"

She came up to him, inches away from kissing him as she placed her hands on his chest. "Could sex with you be simple, not scary? Or is there something unimaginably dirty or odd involved?" She leaned forward and kissed him, and gently tugged at his lower lip. Finitevus gently pulled away, looking well enough turned on by her move. "I'm ready to find out," she smirked as she lowered her eyelids suggestively.

"Rouge," he purred with a grin. "I can tell that you're not in your right mind at the moment."

"Oooh," she whined. "Not you, too!"

"Even though you are heart-breakingly tempting, if we were to come together, I would want the real you." He looked over her shoulder at the female servant waiting patiently off to the side and snapped his fingers. The servant hustled over. "Escort Lady Rouge to her chambers," he instructed. "Watch over her for the night."

"Of course, my lord."

Out of defeat, Rouge was escorted away by the servant's side. "He didn't even offer me a bath," she groaned, making Finitevus smirk to himself.

•~•

The next morning, Amy met her mother in the guest room where she was staying. "What are these herbs you've been taking, Mother?" she inquired curiously. "Some kind of opiate?" Catherine looked at a loss of words for her answer, only making Amy grow more suspicious. "You nearly poisoned my friend yesterday."

"My dear, I am sorry—I have been such an inadequate mother…"

"Answer the question," Amy demanded. "What are you doing to dull your ache for power? Do you really miss sitting on my throne that much?"

She shot her a simple smile. "The truth is, I am dying and I'm leaving you alone to a terribly uncertain future."

Amy suddenly deflated. "But you look…"

"—The physicians say it originated in my lungs. I've been taking tinctures in increasing amounts. I can't go without them for even a day, or the pain is unbearable."

Suddenly feeling guilty, Amy tried to think of anything she could do to help. "You will stay here then, we will take care of you, and our doctors-"

"—My darling, we are past that. Listen to me. I must go back. Your brother is weak, and I must help him with the nobles for as long as I am able to." She let out a shaky exhale. "I wanted the world for you. I wanted Mobius and the Dragon kingdom to fall at your feet."

Her ears lowered and she frowned. "What will I do without you?"

"You've done well for yourself without me…but you need to have an heir."

"I promise you, mother, I will let no one, not Storm, not any usurper take my kingdom from me. Since I was a babe I have been a queen," she spoke with grace. "Since a child, I have been alone on foreign soil. I know how to keep my life, my crown, and I will."

"I have the utmost faith in you, my dear."

•~•

In his study, Isabelle met with Shadow to catch up on last night's events. Shadow sat at his desk with his face resting in his hand, while Isabelle stood beside him as she observed his tired nature. "I was going to ask how your evening went with Amy, but I think I know."

"It's over," he answered simply. "There's no chance of us having an heir. If that makes Amy a less attractive rival for the Dragon throne, so be it. I'll find a way to navigate the politics, on her behalf and ours."

Isabelle walked over to his window and looked out, seeing something that caught her eye. After her prolonged silence, Shadow turned to see what she was doing, catching her smiling at a sight. "Shadow, I'm not surprised that Amy is still incapable of being intimate, and it's true, you may never recover what you had. For Amy's sake, I hope that you do, but if not, you need to find something that makes you happy."

He raised a brow. "What exactly are you implying..?"

"I have the deepest compassion for Amy, but you wear the crown. Without joy or happiness in this life, its weight will crush your spirit into dust."

He closed his eyes and placed his fingertips together seeing exactly where this conversation was going. "Amy has released me to take anyone I wish. I haven't even entertained the possibility. Not yet."

She walked back over towards him. "Well, whatever you decide. I support you, but if someone here at court should bring you joy, let yourself have it." She patted him on the shoulder before making her departure.

Shadow stood from his seat to wander over to the window where Isabelle had been looking. Hearing a familiar giggle coming from outside, he opened the window to get a better look. Standing out in the courtyard below, he spotted Rouge and Cream building a snowman together. The two girls laughed as they threw snowballs at each other, chasing each other around their snowman. Oddly enough, Shadow felt his mouth pull into a smile at the sight, something he hadn't found himself doing very often in passing months.

Suddenly Rouge turned around and caught sight of the ebony hedgehog smiling down at her. "Oh, Shadow," she gasped in surprise.

"Hello, your highness," Cream waved with a pleasant smile.

"Hello, Lady Cream," he chuckled.

"About last night, I am mortified and so sorry," Rouge apologized profusely.

"I'm surprised you even remember," he laughed.

"Unfortunately, every granular detail!"

"I heard the stories," Cream giggled.

"It's all right, Rouge. Some of the things you said were nice to hear. Some of the other things you did were quite humorous if I'm honest," he chuckled.

"I'm glad to hear I entertained you last night," she laughed. "I'll come up and talk to you more about it later." Shadow nodded and closed the window behind him, before realizing how he had just felt in that moment. Was he starting to fancy Rouge? He dismissed the thought immediately; it was too soon to be looking for love in another. At least, that's how he felt.

•~•

Meanwhile, outside the castle wall, Amy and Cordovan met to discuss her mother's secret. "The herbs are used to soften the pain because my mother is dying."

Cordovan shot her an empathic look. "Oh, Amy…is there any hope for recovery?"

"No," she spoke solemnly. "And if I am to secure my rule in her absence, I must take drastic action."

"What do you plan to do?"

"I'm going to return to Mercia to rule in person, to remind my people that I am their queen."

His mouth gaped at the response. "You're leaving permanently? And Shadow agrees with this?"

Amy shook her head. "No, he is unaware," she answered.

"Whatever you need, I will help you."

"There is more," she began. "I am done being a vessel for other people's wishes and fears. I will not wait for a child, or anyone, to secure my life and future. I am seizing it, and in that light, what I want is so clear–I want you," she spoke.

Cordovan looked at her in awe and disbelief by her confession. Was he dreaming or had she said what he had been hoping for? "I want you at my side as you have been these many months. I know it is a huge request, and I urge you to think about it, because if you say yes, you could be risking your life."

•~•

Returning back inside the castle, Cordovan stood in the courtyard dazed and in a lucid state as he processed what Amy had just requested of him. She wanted him and no one else at this moment. It was everything he had dreamed of, but now that it was possible of becoming a reality, consequences started to race through his mind. Was this a safe idea to go through with? Would they live happily ever after, or would there always be a giant target on their backs? Cordovan came out of his thoughts when he felt a firm grip grab his shoulder. He craned his neck only to see his brother standing behind him. "Oh, Antoine, what are you doing here?"

His brother's face lit up with content. "I'm here to tell you the exciting news!"

He blinked in puzzlement. "And what exactly is that?"

"I am pleased for you, brother because I've had a message from the Dragon kingdom. As you know, Conquering Storm wants a stronghold in Mobius, an alliance with a powerful noble with a famous name," he began. "And guess what, she wants you!" he said pointing a finger at his chest. The color practically drained from Cordovan's face by the news. Antoine tilted his head, by his lack of enthusiasm. "Do you hear me? Conquering Storm wants you."

The prince shook his head in disbelief. "No, i-it can't be…y-you're lying," he stuttered.

"No lies today, brother. Conquering Storm is inviting you to court her—To see if you will be her king."

Cordovan's ears fell in submission. "I can't…"

Antoine's brows furrowed by his denial. "Why? Because you want Amy?" he hissed. "Because you're waiting to be beheaded at the first mention of adultery? You could be ruling by Storm's side," he encouraged. "Storm is your future," he assured. "And I won't hear no for an answer."