AN: Thank you, Sonamy4Eva2000, aliciathewolf45, shadrougeforever, MysterySecret, Sunny, risingzero2001, and Sad Little Demon for the reviews you left! Also, sorry the chapter is a little late and shorter than normal. I had some stuff come up.

•~•

After falling ill, the next morning, Shadow remained unconscious in bed, while servants tended to him, making sure he was comfortable. Isabelle and a male kangaroo physician watched as one of the servants wiped away the blood oozing from his ears with a wet rag. "Why won't he stop bleeding?" Isabelle asked quietly.

"It's the infection," the doctor answered. "Until his body overcomes the disease, it will keep pushing blood into the ear."

"What if he can't overcome it? Will he never stop bleeding?" She turned to look at the male marsupial, as he remained hesitant on giving her his prognosis. "Will he ever wake up, doctor?"

His eyes lowered towards the floor sadly. "Um…"

She took a step closer, studying his features. "Tell me the truth," she demanded calmly.

"Well, if his fever doesn't break soon, the king will die," he said sternly. Isabelle turned to look at Shadow as her heart sank. How long did Shadow have? Would he ever recover from this illness?

•~•

Meanwhile, at Cordovan's estate, the two lovers laid in bed together as they basked in last night's mating session. Amy rested her head on Cordovan's chest while he kept his arm wrapped around her protectively. As he stared up at the ceiling, he sighed, catching Amy's attention. She lifted her head to look at him curiously. "What is it?"

"It's just…I can't believe I'm really here with you." He said with a small smirk. "You know, that you're mine?"

She giggled lightly. "I am."

"So…" he stretched, moving his arms out and above his head. "Any regrets?"

"No regrets," she replied. "You helped me find myself again—Part of myself I thought I'd lost. I didn't think I could feel comfortable enough to make love again, to anyone really."

He grinned playfully. "Heh, do you really appreciate me that much?"

She ran her fingers through his tuff of gray hair on his chest. "Don't be silly, Cordovan. You risked your life and your future for me time and time again. You turned down Storm, and the chance to be a king, all for me," she smiled appreciatively.

"The sooner we get back to the castle, the sooner we can leave for Mercia." He leaned over and closed the gap between them. Amy smiled through the kiss; finally becoming her old self again.

After fifteen minutes, the two got re-dressed and prepared their journey back to the castle. Amy and Cordovan's stepped outside together but were startled to see Rouge making her way towards them. "Rouge, what are you doing here?" Amy asked, perplexed by her arrival.

Rouge cupped her hands together looking rather crestfallen. "It's Shadow…he fell terribly ill last night."

Amy's expression grew freighted by the news. "How? Tell me everything."

"Apparently, he collapsed late last night. He was burning up and fell into unconsciousness. He hasn't woken up since" she elucidated.

"Is it an infection?" she inquired. "Are they worried he has some kind of brain fever."

Rouge shook her head, unsure herself. "I don't know, but everyone is very worried. You need to get back there, Amy."

"And I will." Amy turned to look at Cordovan standing in the doorway behind her after having listened to the entire conversation. He may not have liked Shadow, but he knew Amy was needed now more than ever.

He gave her a simple determined nod. "Let's go."

•~•

Once returning to the castle, Amy found Isabelle sat by Shadow's bedside, as he lay there unconscious. The physician stood off to the side jotting down some medical notes. Just by the sight of Shadow's state, Amy felt her heart sink. She may not have been on the best terms with Shadow in her marriage, but she still loved and cared for him. "Can he hear us?" Amy asked.

"No," the doctor replied.

Isabelle turned and gave a signal with her head for the doctor to leave. Obliging by her demand, he left. Slowly, Isabelle approached Amy, as she remained feet away from his bedside. "The physician was asking how the king seemed before he collapsed. He said it could help him treat Shadow."

Amy felt uneasy just by the question. "Oh, well…"

"—Was he eating, did he seem weak?" she questioned. "How was he sleeping?" Amy remained silent, confirming Isabelle's suspicion. Her sincere look turned angered. "You don't know the answers, do you?" she asked with vexation.

"Sadly, I don't," she replied as her eyes fell to the floor.

"Knowing your husband's health—that's a wife's job. And you have chosen not to be a wife to Shadow."

"Isabelle," Amy pleaded, backing up slightly.

She stormed up to her. "Where were you last night, Amy? Where were you when the king collapsed?" she interrogated.

"I-I was away from the castle t-to…"

"—I know about you and Cordovan," she growled irately. "Do you know what told me about your infidelity." Amy shook her head. "The look of pain on Shadow's face when he lied to me for you," she pointed accusingly. "To protect the girl that he loved more than anything."

Amy cringed in response, suddenly feeling very guilty for all of this. "Shadow and I had come to an agreement," she defended.

"I doubt that agreement included you abandoning your marriage and running off to Mercia with your new male consort," she spat venomously. Amy felt her ears lower in shame. "Yes, that's right, Amy. I know about that, too. Shadow knows as well."

Her eyes widened. "When did he find out?"

"The truth of your betrayal was the last thing he heard before he passed out."

Amy felt her lower lip start to quiver. Isabelle saw how distressed she looked from hearing the news but continued not to sympathize with her. "This is on your head, Amy. I never thought I would say this, but I'm glad you never ended up marrying my son. If this is what you would have ended up doing to Sonic, then I'm glad he avoided this travesty." With her final words, Isabelle stormed out of the room, leaving Amy alone to her thoughts.

Slowly, Amy made her way over to Shadow's bedside and looked down at him. His ears were still bleeding and he looked very pale and sickly. The sight made her feel worse than ever. Was this truly her fault? Was she responsible for this like Isabelle had implied? She wiped away some tears that began to fall from her eyes at the thought. "I know that you can't hear me, but wherever you are, I am so sorry for the pain we've caused each other. I want you to live." She reached out and laid her hand on top of his. "Please, please, live," she begged.

•~•

In another part of the realm, Sonic finally woke up after hours of being asleep. Groggily, he sat up and noticed he was lying on a fur fleece rug. As he rubbed his tired eyes, he looked around and spotted Tikal standing at a kitchen table with herbs, and other concoctions. She was in the middle of grinding some herbs in a bowl as she hummed cheerfully to herself. "…Tikal," he grumbled. "What happened to me?"

Seeing that he was finally awake, she wandered over to him and knelt to his level. "I healed you last night, just as you asked me to do," she replied sweetly.

Sonic allowed the words to process momentarily, as he had flashbacks of last night's events. He had remembered when Tikal had placed her hands on his wound and felt a strong energy around him. He even remembered the pain finally subsiding, giving him peace. To confirm if she had truly done what she had said, he clawed at his bandages, unraveling them to see the wound. When they were finally off, he was stunned to see his wound was completely gone without even a scar left behind. "I saw my wound last night. I should have died. How did you-"

"—I told you, Sonic," she smiled. "I am a healer and a sear," she answered calmly.

He tilted his head towards her. "Which means…you're a witch."

"Not all of us are bad people, Sonic."

"Yes…I can see that now, it's just, all my life I've been told that your kind was dangerous and not to be trusted," he explained. "Yet, last night, you saved my life without anything in return. Why?"

She smiled warmly at him. "If someone needs my help, I help them. My gift was given to me for a reason, so I must utilize it where I can."

He smiled at her response, feeling it was genuine. "You're a kind and selfless person, Tikal. It's refreshing to come across people like you," he complimented.

She placed her hands over his, looking at him appreciatively. "Thank you for your kind words, Sonic. I too can feel that you have a good heart."

He rose to his feet, and Tikal assisted him as he stood. "I need to get back to the castle, I'm sure my family is worried sick about me."

"I should come with you and make sure you return safely," she encouraged.

"Sounds like a plan to me," he smiled. "Besides, I'm sure my brother would love to meet the girl who saved my life."

•~•

Later that morning, at the castle, Amy roamed the halls now in a new outfit for the day but was stopped when Isabelle pulled her over to the side. "Amy, a word?"

Amy sighed. "Look, if you're going to scold me more. I don't want to-"

Isabelle shook her head. "No, no, I think I said my peace, this is about something else—something I need your help with."

Amy blinked in curiosity. Why would Isabelle want her help after she had just yelled at her hours ago? "Fair enough, let's hear it then."

The two walked alongside each other as they continued their conversation. "It's as I feared, rumors of the king's health have started to spread through the castle. If news of his condition should fall into the wrong hands…"

"—The throne room is full of potential threats—lords, diplomats, all waiting for Shadow," Amy spoke, cutting her off.

"Yes, exactly, and I'm afraid I can't hide the truth from my face," Isabelle confessed. "That's why I was hoping you could address the room in my place?"

"We may never know what caused Shadow's illness, but if I am as responsible as you say I am, I will never forgive myself. I will talk to the advisors," she insisted.

She bowed her head. "Thank you, Amy."

Amy smiled weakly before another thought crossed her mind. "Um, does Sonic know of his brother's state?" she asked quietly.

Isabelle shook her head. "He's still out on duty."

"I see," she noted. Well, in the meantime, you go back to Shadow. When he wakes up, he would probably rather see your face than mine."

Isabelle nodded and turned away, while Amy sighed and turned around to continue her path to the throne room, just when she heard her name called out. "Amy!"

She spotted Cream running towards her. The rabbit embraced Amy unexpectedly, and Amy reciprocated the action. "I'm so sorry," Cream said sadly as she pulled away from her embrace.

"Thank you, Cream," she smiled weakly. "But please keep this hushed."

"Of course," she assured. "But is he going to be alright?" she inquired curiously.

"I'm not sure, right now I have to deal with his advisors and the nobles, if you'll excuse me," she spoke. The young rabbit watched as her queen gracefully made her way to the throne room, only wondering what she was going through at the moment.

•~•

In the throne room, diplomats and nobles waited to hear of the rumors spreading through the castle. As Amy entered the room, she put on a gracious fake smile to carry her through her lie. "Gentlemen," she began. "I am so sorry you've been kept waiting." The nobles all turned to face her as she took the stage. One of the nobles waiting there was Lord Finitevus who was already aware of the truth going on with Shadow's health.

"What's going on?" one of the nobles barked.

"I fear you've been misinformed to our king's situation. It seems a rather magnificent stag did not check the royal calendar, so our king and his hunting companions have been met on a chase through the woods," she fibbed. "In the meantime, I will be handling any urgent matters until his return."

"So he's not ill then?" another noble questioned suspiciously.

Amy shook her head. "Not at all. He's just on a rather busy chase through the woods at the moment," she reiterated. "He should be back in a matter of hours."

"Thank you, your highness," all the nobles muttered in unison.

"Well, I will let you know when the king is back," she smiled. After her dismissal, the nobles all began to wander out of the throne room, muttering to themselves. One of the nobles who had just listened to her falsehood was Lord Finitevus himself. The white echidna remained behind before slowly approaching the queen.

"That was a fine performance," he commended quietly. "I don't doubt your concern for your husband is real. Pity I can't say the same for your lover," he seethed.

Amy refrained from giving him a reaction and held her stern expression. "What are you insinuating now, Lord Finitevus?"

"If Shadow dies, Cordovan could marry you and he could become the new king of Mercia and Mobius." Amy's brows furrowed by his comment and he chuckled seeing he had wound her up. "But I'm sure that' the furthest thing from your mind," he finished sarcastically as he departed from the room.

Amy's narrowed eyes followed his retreating figure. Finitevus was a sly one, and to be digging in jabs at her in this moment made her feel disgusted.

•~•

After her meeting with the nobles, Amy met Cordovan in Shadow's study to vent her frustrations. The troubled queen paced back and forth in front of the young prince as she verbalized her issues. "I just wanted my own life back. I wanted a chance to feel my heart again. Is that too much to ask?"

Cordovan gave her a compassionate look as he watched her walk back and forth around the room in a tizzy. "I understand, Amy, but don't beat yourself up too much over this."

Eventually, she stopped her pacing and sagged. "Cordovan, do you think that my betrayal has done this to Shadow?" she questioned nervously. "Am I the reason he's so ill?"

"He's saddened as any male would be, but sadness doesn't make people bleed, Amy," he said as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Amy graciously swept his hand off her body. "Thank you, but it doesn't feel right to take comfort in your touch right now."

He bowed his head and retracted his hand. "My apologies."

A few seconds later, the doors opened and an older brown chimp strode towards the two with an envelope in hand. "Admiral Sinet?" Amy addressed as she met with him in the center.

He bowed his head respectfully. "Queen Amelia, I am sorry to arrive unannounced, but there's urgent news regarding Mercia."

Her ears perked in alert. "Well, what's happened?"

"Conquering Storm is mobilizing for a military offensive," he answered.

"Chaos…" Amy mumbled in surprise.

"We expect that all regions and lords loyal to you are in imminent danger," he urged. "I regret to inform you, but the killings have already begun."

"How many men are we talking about?" Cordovan questioned.

"Our intelligence indicates that at least a thousand are gathering for the attack," he answered.

"And my brother James?" Amy probed. "How is he handling this?"

"He explains in his dispatch," he started as he handed Amy the envelope. "He's worked hard in your name, but James can't hold back the tide any longer. He needs some show of strength to deter your enemies and to persuade your friends that they can win."

Amy clutched the envelope in her hands, feeling the pressure amount. "I will bring this to the King's attention as soon as he returns," she spoke calmly. Admiral Sinet nodded and bowed as he left. Amy turned to look at Cordovan once he was gone. "Cordovan, what do I do? If I don't act now, then my allies will be slaughtered and my kingdom will be lost."

Cordovan rubbed his chin in thought. "Maybe we should leave now. Your people will rally when they see their queen," he opined.

"We'd be sailing straight into a civil war," she countered. "Besides, I don't have enough men to get me there. I would need at least a thousand soldiers! And the only person who can command a sizable force like that is the king." Cordovan stared at her for a moment until something dawned on him. Amy raised a brow by his optimistic expression. "What is it?"

"Amy…You do realize that with Shadow in his current position—right now, the king is you." Amy gasped in realization. It was true, at this very moment, she held true power.

•~•