AN: Everyone calm down! Y'all think I'm going to do you dirty? No, just no. Anyway, enjoy the chapter I believe you'll be pleased. Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter, despite the bitching, lol.

•~•

Out in the Mystic Ruins, Cordovan's men enjoyed a night of fun as a group of whores accompanied the soldiers at camp. Females dragged their clients into unoccupied tents, while others made out by the campfires. Standing in front of his own tent, Prince Cordovan and Amy watched the soldiers and whores walk about drunkenly. "Ugly business," Cordovan muttered in disgust, "But I can't begrudge my men their whores. Many of them might be dead by tomorrow."

Amy's ears lowered sadly. "They're not the only ones," she mumbled as she headed back inside his tent despairingly.

Hearing her dispirited tone, Cordovan followed after her. As he walked back inside, Amy stood in the center with her back facing him. "Amy, you're safe now. You made the right decision coming to me," he assured.

"Did I?" she asked, still uncertain, as she turned around to face him.

He nodded with a sincere smile and reached out and placed his arms around her lovingly. "I will protect you and our child," he pledged. "We will survive this."

"This coup, you mean?"

His smile dwindled. "I know there's little joy even in that, as it means Shadow must die."

"Don't count Shadow out so quickly," she countered.

He released his hold on her. "His men at the castle are outnumbered and we have him surrounded." Amy placed a hand over her mouth, causing Cordovan to look at her strangely. It was obvious she was withholding information from him. "What is it, Amy? Tell me."

She lowered her hand from her mouth. "It's just…Shadow has cannons now."

"Cannons," he repeated, a bit alarmed by the reveal.

She nodded. "They arrived two days ago under the cover of night," she explained. Cordovan walked around her over to his table where his maps were. Amy watched him intently. "I feel as though I am betraying everyone I know and love in the castle…Can we please just leave here?"

Cordovan leaned his hands on the table. "I've gone too far to turn back now, Amy. It's Shadow who must accept defeat and the people you love will be spared." With that, Cordovan walked past her and out of his tent. He looked around until spotting the person he was looking for. "Captain," he beckoned.

The purple male minx walked over and stopped in front of him. "Yes, sir?"

"Bring forward our siege guns," he commanded.

"But my lord, they're at the rear of the column. It would delay our attack by hours, perhaps more," he speculated.

Cordovan remained stern and certain on his demand. "Bring them."

"Yes, my lord," he replied bowing his head.

After finishing his command, Cordovan re-entered the tent. "This changes nothing, if Shadow does not offer up his life, I will attack. And by tomorrow night, either he or I will be dead."

•~•

Later that night, news that Amy had fled the castle had broken among the royals. In the throne room, Isabelle and Shadow discussed the news in private. "Amy has gone to Cordovan," Isabelle spoke.

Shadow kept a hand on his head, feeling some of the side effects of the narcotics still leaving his system. "I tried to stop her but she drugged me."

"I knew my medicine cabinet had been tampered with!" The queen mother narrowed her eyes angrily towards the ebony hedgehog. "It's clear that she's abandoned us in order to side with the enemy!"

Shadow mulled over the thought, it did look pretty bad, but there was something that was keeping him from jumping to conclusions. Amy's last words resonated in his mind. "You're going to have to trust me, Shadow."

Shadow sighed. "As bad as it sounds, for the first time, I think Amy has her own set of plans she's trying to enact."

"I doubt it," Isabelle denied. "You told her about his offer to protect her if you gave up the crown, once again she has betrayed you," she spat.

He shook his head. "No, I don't believe it. There has to be another reason."

"Her selfishness, her betrayals, you have looked past them all," she listed. "Even when the stress of it has nearly killed you."

Shadow looked out one of his throne windows. "Amy," he thought in his mind. "Please let me be right about what you're doing…"

•~•

The next morning, at the campsite, Amy and Cordovan shared a bed together in his tent. Amy rested her head on his chest as he began to stir from his sleep. He yawned but kept an arm around her as he woke up and opened his eyes and looked down at her slumbering form cuddled up next to him. She was so beautiful and he felt his mouth tug into a genuine smile. Things were finally starting to go his way for once.

He held power and by the end of the day, he would have Shadow killed, Mobius taken, and be crowned the new king all while having Amy by his side. Suddenly, his captain came into his tent with urgent news. The purple minx spotted Amy still soundly asleep by his side and remained quiet. "My lord," he said in a hushed voice. "You must come with me. Something terrible has happened to some of our soldiers," he informed.

Alerted by this news, Cordovan nodded. "I'll be with you in two minutes," he replied quietly. With that, the minx bowed his head then left. Quietly, Cordovan removed himself from underneath Amy, and gently placed the blankets over her, to keep her warm while he attended this important matter.

While he had his back to her and got redressed, he heard her shift under the covers. "Cordovan?" she mumbled tiredly.

He looked over his shoulder, only to find Amy propped up slightly and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "It's okay, darling, you can go back to sleep," he smiled as he buttoned up his shirt. "I just have to tend to something, but I'll be back in a bit."

Amy nodded slowly, before laying her head back down on the pillow. "Okay." He walked over and made sure she was comfortable before he left.

"Be back in a bit," he said giving her a peck on the forehead. The young prince walked out of his tent, leaving Amy alone. Once he was gone, Amy opened her eyes and immediately started getting redressed to continue her plan.

•~•

In a medical tent, a few tents away from his own, Cordovan knelt down by a cot, as a black gorilla lay in bed in agonizing pain. "When did this happen?" Cordovan questioned his soldier.

"Last night, my lord," the gorilla croaked weakly. "I had a bit of wine and some fun with them whores. Then I woke up in my own blood and vomit."

"Get some rest." Cordovan rose from his kneeling position. As he looked around, there were at least thirty of his own men, laid in bed from the same mystery illness and symptoms. Feeling worried by his men growing sicker by the minute, Cordovan knew he needed to find reinforcements. "Captain?" he called.

"My lord?" the minx replied walking over.

"Tell me my cannons are near?" he questioned quietly. "We need to attack before this spreads."

"Field guns and mortars are minutes away, Majesty."

"Okay, let's begin to form lines for-"

"—Plague!" a female cried from outside. Screams erupted and from the commotion, and Cordovan and his captain left the medical tent to find out what was happening. As they peered out, they spotted the whores that had accompanied them the night before frantically running around the campsite in a tizzy. "It's the plague! Soldiers gave me the plague!" another female screeched.

The claim was starting a panic, causing soldiers and whores to run for their lives. Some were even departing on their horses out of fear of catching the illness. Cordovan walked further into his camp as he examined the destruction of his plans to attack the castle. His fists clenched by his side in fury. "Fall in! Report to your units," he commanded loudly, trying to regain control.

"Plague, plague!" a female bunny cried.

Cordovan rushed over and grabbed her by the arms. "Stop screaming," he bellowed. "You're causing a panic!" he said through gritted teeth. The female stopped her cries, staring in terror at the frustrated prince. He noticed her blackened fingers, one of the signs of the disease, and grabbed her hands to examine it. The "blackened" fingers were only black from soot. "Ashes? There is no plague. This was a hoax?" he concluded.

Suddenly, Cordovan looked to his right where he saw Amy witnessing the chaotic outburst around her. The troubling thing was, she didn't seem to be too alarmed by it as she watched on with a blank expression. His mind came to a conclusion as he stared at her: Did she have some part in this hoax? Their eyes met momentarily before she gasped and slipped back inside his tent. He narrowed his eyes at her retreating figure observing her guilty demeanor. Quickly he ran inside to confront her of his theory. "You're responsible for this, aren't you?" he asked, tone rising.

With her back turned on him, he grabbed her by the shoulder to spin her around, but in a quick flash, her hand aimed for his stomach and he grunted in response. Stunned by her gesture, he stared her in the eyes as he felt his body tremble. Slowly, he looked down to where her hand remained, gripping the handle to the dagger. Blood oozed out from around the sides of his wound, and when he looked back up, her eyes were watering. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled.

She ripped the dagger out and he dropped to his knees in agony. "GAH!"

As he kneeled, he stared up at her feeling his own eyes tear up from her betrayal. "Those whores…you made them come up with the imaginary plague, didn't you?" he questioned in pain.

"I hired them, yes," she answered.

"You planned this all to scatter my men?" he grumbled, as he pressed his hand on his bleeding wound.

"I had to, Cordovan."

"Shadow doesn't have cannons, does he?" She shook her head. "And our baby, are you truly pregnant?"

She shut her eyes tight as tears streaked down her face. Despite everything, it was hard to lie and betray him. "No, I'm not pregnant. I lied."

Crushed by her deception, his head lowered tears running down his face. "Amy…this wasn't supposed to happen."

She knelt down a few feet away from him. "Cordovan, I never wanted to hurt you, but I had to stop you." Cordovan's eyes lowered tiredly, and he collapsed on his side beside her. Amy gasped and stared down at him in pity and remorse. This was not how she had wanted things to end, but she could not let Cordovan go through with his plans.

•~•

Back at the castle, news of Cordovan's army chaos hit court. Sonic led Shadow out to the courtyard as he updated him on the news. "What's going on?" Shadow asked, keeping up with his brother's pace.

"I don't know but I thought you should see for yourself," Sonic answered. "Cordovan's men are running everywhere. It's chaos out there!"

"Are they forming up for attack?" Shadow asked as he followed his brother up the stairs.

"There's no formation, they're just scattering." The two reached the top of the north castle wall and peered over it. "They're screaming. Do you hear it?" In the distance, they could see men riding away in all different directions on horseback, while others ran on foot. "I think there may be more to Amy's departure than we know," he deduced.

It looked like Amy hadn't truly fled to be with Cordovan after all. Maybe she had left to work her own plans into deconstruction Cordovan's army all by herself. "Now is the time to attack."

"Attack?" Sonic repeated. "Even if half his army runs, Cordovan still outnumbers us. Our men will balk!"

"Which is why I'm going to lead the charge," Shadow smiled confidently.

•~•

The fanfare played and Shadow led his rebellion towards Cordovan's camp. Leading the way on horseback, Shadow raced on his steed looking ready for battle in his armor. Once they emerged into the campsite, panic was still erupting from the false plague claims, but once the men saw the Mobian soldiers, even more, fear was instilled in them. Shadow's men fought with the remainder of soldiers left. Swords clashed left and right, as men were taken down with ease.

Shadow looked around the camp, desperately looking for Amy. He dismounted his horse and while no one was looking, decided to use his powers. "Chaos control!" Suddenly, he reappeared in another section of the camp, hoping to shorten his search by teleporting. He repeated this action a few more times until he came across a tent that caught his attention. Something internally was tugging him towards it.

Quickly, he rushed over and pushed open the tent flaps, becoming relieved and startled by the sight he found. Inside, he found Amy on the ground with Cordovan lying unconscious on his side. Amy's hands were bloodied and a knife laid a foot away from her. "Amy, did you do this?" he said, gesturing to Cordovan's body.

Her ears remained lowered in guilt. "Yes, but I don't know if he'll live."

He slowly approached her. "When you left last night, you had all this in mind, didn't you?" he questioned. "The plague hoax, the whores, deceiving Cordovan," he listed.

"One of you was going to die and I couldn't let it be you," she replied, wiping away some tears in her eyes.

"Why not?" he asked flabbergasted. "His armies were stronger. You could have had everything you wanted: Cordovan, your freedom, and your crown."

Amy sniffed. "Shadow, don't you get it? It's you who I truly love!" she said exasperatedly.

He wanted to believe her words, but doubt held him back. "Amy, we're alone. There's no need to say that."

She rose to her feet and approached him. "No, Shadow. You might not think I'm being honest, but I've always loved you. Always." Unexpectedly, she embraced him holding onto him for dear life.

Reluctantly, Shadow returned the embrace. "Oh, Amy…" Carefully, he lifted her up into his arms. "Let's go home."

•~•

A few hours later, Shadow and his men returned to the castle once they had killed or scared off most of Cordovan's men. Amy had been returned to court and waited for his arrival in the throne room. The royal fanfare played and one of the guards announced Shadow's arrival. "His Majesty, King Shadow!" The nobles waiting in the throne along with Amy burst into applause and cheered as their noble and brave king entered the room.

"Long live King Shadow!" another noble cheered.

Amy smiled at his return as he made eye contact and smiled seeing her. "It's been a long time since I've seen you smile so big," Amy noted as he approached her.

"Well, I've never gotten so close to losing everything and then gotten almost all of it back," he replied, guiding her to a more secluded area of the throne room to talk.

"Almost all," she repeated curiously as she followed him.

He stopped by their throne chairs to continue their conversation, but unbeknownst to them, Isabelle lurked in the background, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. "I can't help wondering when you rode off to Cordovan's camp…how did you get him to trust you?"

Amy wrapped her arms around herself. "I took advantage of his love for me," she answered simply.

"That must have been difficult for you," Shadow surmised.

Amy started to open her mouth to answer, but Isabelle slithered her way over to break up their conversation. "—Time to chop off that traitorous prince's head," Isabelle sang almost too delightful.

Amy and Shadow exchanged uneasy looks in silence, making Isabelle grow troubled. "Amy, would you excuse me for a moment?" Shadow politely asked.

"Of course," she responded before walking off to chat with another group of nobles. Once again, though, Shadow and Isabelle were not alone in their privacy. A little bit away, Finitevus stood with a group of nobles in conversation, but was not focused on that conversation, but instead Shadow's.

Shadow sighed as he looked to Isabelle. "Cordovan may indeed one day lose his head, but not for this. I've made my decision."

Isabelle shook her head, seeing exactly where this was headed. "Shadow, no…"

"I-I want vengeance as much as you do, Isabelle, but Cordovan is worth more to this kingdom in one piece," he explained. "We can offer him to his brother in exchange for a formal agreement that he will surrender his family's claim to this throne forever."

"You spare a usurper, you embolden others," Isabelle argued. "You make yourself look weak in appearances and in fact!" Finitevus watched the two, during their disagreement, only growing more intrigued.

"Am I stronger by taking Cordovan's head and making him a martyr?" he countered, trying to keep his voice down. "His memory would rally branded Mobians all over this kingdom, against us, rather than a few hundred mercenaries paid for by Storm. His death would enrage his already vengeful brother, the king of Knothole; the male with the most potent claim to my throne."

Isabelle narrowed her eyes at him. "Shadow, how many times will you pay the price for ignoring my counsel?"

"I have already sent Sonic off to retrieve Lady Rouge," he informed. "I am ending this struggle with diplomacy, not war."

"I believe you are making a terrible mistake, Shadow," she said shaking her head before she departed. In the background, Finitevus watched as Isabelle stormed out of the throne room, before slipping out himself.

•~•

Once they returned to court, Amy visited Cordovan in the dungeon after his wound was stitched up. The battered and weak prince sat on the ground of his dirty cell, cuffed by the wrists to the wall. "You will sign away your claim, then?" Amy asked.

"Yes," he grunted. "I didn't want to be king, at least, not at first." He tried to move his position, but groaned in pain, making Amy cringe in response. "I tried to leave Mobius," he gasped.

"Cordovan, please rest," she begged, not wanting to see him hurt himself further.

"When Shadow had me captured, it was Storm who saved me. She would only continue to protect me if I made my claim on the crown," he explained. "It's funny…I came to want it—to believe a new ruler for Mobius would be better." His eyes looked up at her jade ones. "And I wanted you, Amy."

"I know, Cordovan."

"Want to know the crazy part about all this? You stabbed me and I still want you. Is that madness or what?" he laughed weakly.

"Cordovan, I did love you, I did," she assured.

"—But when it came to Shadow and me, you saved him. Not because he's your king, but because your love for him is…deeper, stronger."

She looked away sadly. "I wish you hadn't made me choose…"

He bowed his head. "You'll never know how sorry I am."

•~•

Meanwhile, in his chambers, Shadow was given some terrible news. A young messenger stood before him. "Your majesty, there is news about your brother and Lady Rouge," the messenger informed.

"What happened?"

"Cordovan's men intercepted her carriage while your brother escorted her back to the castle. The prince and Lady Rouge did not make it, I'm sad to inform."

Shadow felt his eyes tear up from the news. It felt as if his world had shattered yet again.

•~•

Moments later, Shadow stormed down to the dungeon where Cordovan was being held. He threw open the cell door, startling Amy and Cordovan in the midsts of their conversation. The two watched as he marched towards them. "You murdered my brother and Lady Rouge?" he growled, angrily, tears streaking down his face.

Amy looked at Shadow, bewildered by his accusation. "Shadow, what are you talking about?"

"This disgusting traitor had Lady Rouge and my brother killed if the coup failed," he shouted, pointing to the brown hedgehog.

"What?" Cordovan gawked before shaking his head. Anxiously, he looked to Amy for defense. "No, I didn't!"

"He discovered that Rouge had become a close friend of mine and knew it would hurt me if anything happened to her," Shadow continued. "Sonic just happened to be collateral damage."

"Shadow, Rouge was my friend, too," Cordovan interrupted. "I would never-"

"Now I've lost two precious people in my life!" he bellowed. "So do not lie to me! One of your men came forward and confessed to everything."

Amy felt her heart sink. Was Cordovan really responsible for such a horrid deed? "Cordovan, you didn't?" she asked feeling tears well up in her own eyes. "Please tell me you didn't do this?"

"Please Amy," he begged, seeing she was buying into this lie. "You must believe me, I swear I did no harm to Rouge or Sonic!"

Shadow brandished his sword as his rage took hold. "I should have killed you a long time ago," he said through clenched teeth. He raised his arm with his sword, ready to strike, but Amy intervened.

"Shadow don't!" Amy exclaimed standing in front of Cordovan, shielding him from harm.

Shadow stopped his strike, just before hitting her. "Get out of the way, Amy!" he barked, blinded by rage.

Cordovan peeked around her side, eyes wide in horror. "Please, Shadow, you must believe me!"

"—Shadow, stop!" another voice called. Shadow and Amy turned only to spot Lord Finitevus standing in the doorway. The echidna walked into the room with composure. "Lady Rouge and Prince Sonic are still alive."

"How do you know?" Amy asked.

"It's just a feeling I have, now, I know you two don't trust me, but I care for Rouge deeply. Please, let me find them for you."

Shadow wiped at his eyes with the back of his arm, trying to reduce his disheveled appearance. "What do you need, men?"

"Yes," he nodded. "But more importantly, I think someone inside the castle was responsible for this false rumor, but it was not him," he said gesturing to the prince. "The kidnappers knew the route that Rouge's carriage had taken. No one else knew of that information other than a few of us."

"Do you know who it is," Amy questioned, stepping forward.

"I have my suspicions, but to say anything further might endanger Rouge and Sonic. Give me a day, but no one outside this room must know that I've left. Understood?"

Shadow and Amy nodded to one another before looking to Cordovan. The prince nodded quickly, understanding the consequences, especially with his life now at stake. "Take whomever you need," Amy ordered. "And bring them back."