Our New Life Together
Chapter 1: Knighthood
What's this? The spin-off is out already? AH! Greetings to all you lovely people. Welcome to my next story. Now, first thing's first, if you haven't read Be One World, Be The Light, I strongly recommend doing so. This is a spin-off that takes place after that story. Here we are going to be following Blaze and Silver in their new lives together in the Sol Dimension.
So, this story is going to be less focused on action and more focused on character development instead. There may be sensitive subjects such as PTSD and trauma, but nothing too graphic. Also, don't expect this story to be a weekly thing just yet. As well as this story, I am also working on the main sequel to Be One World, Be The Light as well. That one will more than likely be released sometime in early 2023.
Anyway, that is enough of me rambling for one day. Please read the first chapter and I would love to know your thoughts. Enjoy!
Dawn brought a sunlight crown, smiling upward at black heavens, feeling how the passing night welcomed her more with each minute and hour. The first rays of sunlight cast a rosy hue across the morning sky, giving brilliant color to what was hidden even under the passing starlit night. Standing tall at the top of the empire was the kingdom's castle, its very presence casting a large presence over the smaller buildings below.
Within the castle grounds, Princess Blaze the Cat stood at the center of her throne room, fingers nervously drumming against her thigh with anticipation. Her best friend lit up with surprise at the recent question. Only one week passed since their reunion within the Chaos Dimension. Their new life together within the Sol Dimension flowed quite nicely, their bond stronger than ever. Though emotional scars remained from the one responsible for separating them in their old lives, nothing could keep them apart any longer.
She patiently waited for a response. Silver's face twisted adorably as he thought long and hard. The cogs in his head could practically be seen twisting. The silence that followed created a sense of awkwardness that seemed to fill the air. After what felt like an eternity, the former time traveler finally responded.
Silver tilted his head with curiosity. "You want to make me a knight?"
Blaze nodded. "Yes. I've been thinking about it for some time now. Silver, while I am more than happy for you to stay in my home, there are others who… Might not quite understand our situation."
Surprised by the comment, his ears briefly shifted, a hint of sadness washing over his expression. "Oh, I get it. You don't want others to think we're a-"
Blushing at the haste comment, Blaze suddenly cupped one hand over his mouth before he continued. "No, Silver! That's not what I mean!"
His eyes widened once more but he made no attempt to push her back.
She gently moved her hand away, composing herself and speaking to her friend with reassurance. "Silver, I am not embarrassed by you being here at all. You have to understand there will be visitors from other nations coming to the castle. Some of them can get a bit jumpy, especially if they see someone they don't recognise."
Beginning to understand her reasoning, Silver slowly nodded. Compared to the rest of the Sol Dimension's residence, as far as he was aware, there were no other hedgehogs in this world, especially ones who wielded psychokinesis. He never considered how his powers could unnerve others. Silver spent the first few days entertaining others in the town with his unique gifts. While the local residents enjoyed his display, the same could not be said for visitors from across the seas.
Blaze continued her explanation. "That's why I have made my decision. If you are an official member of the Sol Empire, they will simply dismiss you as being one of my knights and nothing more. It works well for everyone, but I will only feel comfortable doing so if you are willing to accept this title, Silver."
Silver shrugged, unsure about the proposal. One hand brushed through his quills, tugging at them nervously as he tended to do when feeling anxious. "Are you sure, Blaze? Isn't being a knight a real big deal?"
"Knighthood is the highest honor I can bestow upon another," Blaze explained. "And it's not a title I would simply give to anyone. Silver, I could have easily given you a job as one of my guards. I am offering you knighthood as a thank you for everything you've done for me."
The hedgehog stepped back, surprised by that last comment. If anything, Blaze was the one who had given him everything. Friendship, a home, food, clothes and so much more. How she could bestow so much generosity and still feel obligated to give more left him flabbergasted. Blaze noted the look of perplexity plastered on the hedgehog's face. She gently took his hand within both of her own, forcing their gaze to meet. Their golden eyes entwined into each other, faces merely inches apart.
Now that she had his full attention, Blaze continued. "You saved my life more times than I can count. When I had my doubts, it was you who brought me out of that darkness and into the light. Without you, I wouldn't be standing here today. Silver, you have more than earned the right of being a knight."
Grateful and heart-warmed by her kind words, Silver couldn't bring himself to decline the offer any longer. With newfound confidence, he eagerly nodded away. "Let's do it, Blaze! Let's make me a knight!"
"Excellent," Blaze smiled. "But we will need an audience. Gardon!"
As if he were waiting for his cue, her personal guard raced into the throne room. "Yes, Princess Blaze?"
"Gardon, we will be preparing a ceremony for Silver," Blaze explained. "And we require an audience to do so. Do you bear witness to the Knighthood of Silver the Hedgehog?"
The koala paused, a hint of surprise filling across his usual calm demeanor. His gaze briefly shifted towards the future hedgehog, studying him intently, suspicious this was a hidden test. Upon realizing the ceremony was real, he hastily shook away the declaration, resuming his proud stance. "I do, Princess Blaze."
"Hey, I want to watch too!"
The trio's gaze shifted towards the opposite end of the throne room, the new voice capturing their attention. Marine hopped over towards the group. While Silver greeted her with a friendly smile, Blaze frowned and crossed both arms.
"Marine!" Blaze exclaimed, glaring daggers towards her younger friend. "I thought we had an agreement on eavesdropping. It's not polite."
"I wasn't eavesdropping!" Marine protested, a wide smile casted over her face. "I just happened to be passing by and heard the news! Nice doing, Silver!"
She flashed the hedgehog a supportive thumbs up. He waved in return, but upon noticing Blaze's unamused expression, quickly retracted his hand.
Gardon scowled at the unexpected arrival. "Princess Blaze, would you like me to escort Miss Marine outside?"
"Aww, what?!" Marine whined. "Aww, come on! I'll be quiet, I swear!"
Before the feline answered, Silver spoke up in the raccoon's defense. "Let her stay, Blaze. You said it yourself that we need an audience. Aren't two better than one?"
Blaze's eyes darted between the hedgehog and the raccoon, trying her best to remain unbiased. There were rumors amongst her people she used her position to give her friends special privileges, rumors she swiftly dismissed. Despite this, Silver's hopeful expression, combined with Marine's innocent smile, quickly overshadowed her doubts.
With a small exhale, Blaze made her decision. "Marine, you can watch. But you are to be absolutely silent until the ceremony is over. One word and you will be escorted out. Are we clear?"
Marine dragged her hand over her mouth. "Crystal."
"Very well," Blaze said. "Let us begin."
Now that there was an audience, Blaze approached the royal throne, retrieving a knightly sword mounted on the wall. She marched forward, the blade held close to her chest while she tucked her other arm behind her back. Silver couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by the way she carried herself, a complete parallel to her usual persona. Her posture strengthened, shoulders becoming tense and a familiar stoic expression spreading across her face. A part of him was impressed by the way she switched her stances, almost morphing into a completely different person.
Blaze stood before him, holding a formal stance. "Get down on one knee."
Her stern voice came across as more of a demand than a request. Nevertheless, Silver complied and hunched down, one knee pressed tightly into the floor with his hands resting on the other. Gardon and Marine watched on, sharing different reactions. The koala, in his years of service to the throne, never witnessed Princess Blaze award someone the right of knighthood. Marveled by the rare opportunity, he refused to show any hint of incompetence. Marine, on the other hand, beamed with excitement, forcing herself to stay silent while her hands shook with anticipation.
The princess rested the flat end of the blade over his shoulder. Silver briefly winced at the cold metal sending chills down his arm, quills tensing up. But he didn't move, trusting Blaze with his life. Never in a million years did he imagine he would be reunited with his best friend and reside in her castle. Now he was about to be bestowed with a rare privilege.
She spoke firmly, carrying an aura of authority. "Silver the Hedgehog, are you prepared to uphold the principles of the Sol Empire and all that for which we stand?"
With a shy smile, Silver nodded enthusiastically. "Okay!"
Blaze rolled her eyes, briefly allowing her normal tone to slip through. "You're supposed to say, 'I do', Silver."
"Oh," Silver said, quickly correcting himself. "I mean, I do! I absolutely do!"
Satisfied he understood, Blaze strengthened her voice once more and continued the ceremony. "Do you swear to never share our secrets?"
"I do."
"And if necessary, do you swear to lay down your life to defend the kingdom and its people?"
"Absolutely, I do!"
While the ceremony didn't quite go as smooth as the scenario in her head, Blaze gently moved the sword to his other shoulder, tapping it with delicacy. "I hereby dub thee Sir Silver the Hedgehog of the Sol Empire. You may rise."
Silver stood up to full height, a fresh smile now carried over his face. Blaze finally allowed her proud stance to drop, her shoulders slouching, legs spreading and a familiar caring expression returning like it was never gone. She returned the sword to its original position. Having not wielded the weapon in the longest time, Blaze was surprised how quickly her royal training kicked in. As a young child, the ceremonial ritual had been drilled into her until it became second nature. In her years of ruling the Sol Empire, this was her first time performing the ceremony.
"Nice one, Silver!" Marine cheered with enthusiasm, clapping her hands non-stop.
Gardon briefly shot her a glare, unamused by her lack of manners. He continued holding his stance in respect to his ruler, awaiting for the order to be dismissed. Meanwhile, Silver beamed with excitement, wondering what was to come next with his new title. After placing the sword gently on the mount, Blaze promptly returned to his side.
"Now what?" Silver inquired, excited to experience his new position.
"That is all," Blaze assured. "You are now officially a proud Knight of the Sol Empire. If you will excuse me, I have a meeting with my advisors soon. As you were… Sir Silver."
He noted a playful tone sneaking its way into her voice at that last comment. She resumed her gaze towards the audience. "You may leave."
Gardon dropped his stance at last while Marine raced over, jumping into the hedgehog's arms with excitement. Initially caught off guard by her surprise attack, Silver caught his footing and returned the hug, his psychokinesis allowing him to regain balance. Blaze watched on as she left, partially amused by the interaction. Since Silver's arrival only a few days prior, he and Marine bonded fast, their childlike natures over the simplest things in life strengthening their friendship.
"Nice work, mate!" Marine praised, leaping out of Silver's arms. "What's say we get you all dressed up in fancy armor? Ooh, maybe we should build you your own water bike!"
She snapped her fingers excitedly and raced out of the throne room before he could get an answer in, all the while ignoring Gardon's yells about running in the hallways. The two of them were now left alone in the throne room, an opportunity arising for Gardon to converse with the hedgehog in private. He briefly glanced around, checking for other royal guards and castle staff, before he continued.
"Sir Silver," Gardon began. "I hope you realize how serious your new title is. It is a rare honor reserved for only a few. You are the first knight since Princess Blaze took the throne. Do not take your position lightly. Now, if you will excuse me."
The hedgehog fell silent, watching with wide eyes as the koala left his presence. The way he spoke to Silver in that firm yet fair tone left quite the impact. In a weird way, it felt like a father passing down wisdom to his son, wanting to make sure he grew up to become a fine gentleman. Silver never knew his own father, having grown up all alone. In his original lifetime, his father had been killed by Iblis during the early days of his childhood. He had no idea on what came of his father in the current timeline. He didn't think much about him either way.
Silver stood in the center of the throne room, one hand resting under his chin, the other supporting his arm. Gardon's words continued to linger within, inspiring the hedgehog to respect his newfound position. Blaze had given so much to him in the past few days, while he did nothing to return the favor. He longed to return the kindness, to let her know he wasn't a spoiled child who sponged off their parents' wealth.
With newfound determination, he excitedly bounced into the air, surrounding himself in a blanket of cyan energy. "Gardon's right! I'm going to become the best knight ever! Just you wait!"
He raced out of the throne room into the nearest hallway, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a few of the royal guards, who hastily moved out of the way. They had since grown accustomed to Silver's antics, though couldn't avoid expressing their annoyance. Undeterred by their glares, Silver set course towards the far wing of the castle, arriving at his own personal bedroom. As he reached his destination, a familiar face was there to greet him.
Naomi the Otter, the personal handmaiden of Princess Blaze and Head of the Castle's Maids, greeted the hedgehog with a warm smile, all the while she gently dusted one of the several portraits hanging on the walls. She was covered in brown fur with hints of white. For attire, she wore a white shirt, a blue skirt reaching down to her ankles, long white stockings and black low-heeled shoes. "Good morning, Mr. Silver."
"Hey, Naomi, you'll never believe this!" Silver exclaimed excitedly. "I've just been made a knight!"
Joyed with his enthusiasm, Naomi paused in her work to take a respectful bow. "That is excellent news. Congratulations on your knighthood, Sir Silver."
Silver returned the smile. Out of the castle's staff, Naomi always carried a warm aura of energy, never allowing her mood to shift. She was quite young, only a couple of years older than Blaze, yet carried herself with incredible maturity. Her kindness assured Silver he could come to her for help if there was a problem outside of Blaze's control. Next to Gardon, she was perhaps the longest member to serve the throne.
His hand stopped just short of grabbing the door handle, realization hitting like a tidal wave. In his haste to undertake this self-proclaimed mission, he never stopped to consider how he would go about becoming the perfect knight.
Before he retreated inside, Silver paused, taking the opportunity to seek advice with the otter while they were away from prying eyes. "Naomi, do you have any idea how I can become better?"
She tilted her head with curiosity. "I'm sorry, I don't quite understand."
"I don't really know all that much about what a knight is supposed to do," Silver sheepishly admitted, rubbing one hand over his arms anxiously. "But I really want to impress Blaze and prove to her that making a knight wasn't a mistake. I just… Don't really know how to go about it."
Naomi's expression softened. Silver's honesty was sweeter than it needed to be. No pride or ego, just pure faithfulness. In their few days together, she quickly recognized his kind-hearted nature and compassion for others. Princess Blaze would never have invited anyone to their castle, only someone she deeply trusted with her life. She gently placed down the duster, one knuckle supporting her chin.
"Well," Naomi began. "I am quite unfamiliar with knighthood myself, but they say knowledge is power. Sir Silver, I suggest starting with the castle's library. There are thousands of books that have the answers you seek."
Intrigued, Silver's quills spiked up. "I can learn everything there?"
Naomi nodded. "I believe so. If I may ask, do you have any experience using a blade?"
"I used a knife this morning to make toast," Silver innocently replied.
Fighting the urge to chuckle at the comment, Naomi clarified. "A blade as in a sword. We are quite proud to have the most proficient swordsmen within the Sol Empire. Your powers will definitely give you a huge advantage in battle, but have you considered learning to use a sword? A true knight is said to be a mastery of all weaponry."
Silver took note of her advice, eager to put it to great use. He enjoyed reading, having no problem learning new things. The bigger challenge lay in learning to wield a sword. Blaze's expert handling of her knightly weapon remained vivid in his memory, a testament to years of experience. He dared not to put himself in her enemy's shoes should they try to challenge her.
With renewed vigor, Silver grasped the door handle, gratitude lacing his expression. "Thank you so much for the help, Naomi."
Naomi returned her smile once more. "You are most welcome, Sir Silver. Good luck in your training."
The knighted hedgehog quickly entered his bedroom, locking the door behind him for privacy. With so much to do in little time, he hastily planned the days ahead. Between studying, training and making time to spend with Blaze & Marine, his schedule was going to be busy. He dropped down into the small chair aligned with his desk, using his psychokinesis to call a pen and paper into his hands. Before he knew it, dozens of scattered notes littered around his room, all in preparation in his journey to greatness.
Four days later…
Blaze held her composure well, a lifetime of isolation allowing her to lock herself away in a hardened shell. But even she couldn't avoid expressing her resentment over recent events. Between meetings with her advisors, reunions with other nation leaders and filling out essential paperwork, she swore the universe wanted to punish her for something. Pushing aside her annoyance, she powered through as usual. A day of peace finally greeted her, giving the princess some breathing space.
During her busy schedule, Blaze noted Silver had been unusually absent from her presence. Even when her day was packed, the two of them usually made time to see each other, even if it was just for an hour or so. But noticeable, he hadn't been seen. At first, she feared something happened and he ran away. She dismissed these thoughts as simple paranoia. A hedgehog who wielded psychic energy didn't exactly blend in with the rest of the kingdom. Anyone would have noticed him leaving. But if he was still within the castle grounds, for what reason would he be avoiding her?
As far as Blaze was aware, the two of them didn't break into an argument or upset the other. Even if they did, Silver would probably have been the first to apologize, even if he were in the right. He was too pure to harbor negative feelings. The more Blaze thought about it, the more desire she had to track down the psychic hedgehog and find out why he had been so elusive the past few days. She wandered down the vast hallways of her castle, passing several of her servants along the way. While turning the next corner, she passed by a royal guard stationed outside one of several rooms.
The aforementioned royal guard greeted her with a small nod. "Good afternoon, Your Highness."
"Good afternoon, Mical," Blaze replied warmly. Before continuing her journey to no particular location, she pivoted on her heels without warning, returning to the same guard. "Mical, have you seen Sir Silver today?"
The bandicoot softly nodded again. "I passed Sir Silver not ten minutes ago. I believe he was heading to the training grounds."
Curiosity etched itself onto Blaze's face. "The training grounds?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Mical confirmed. "Is there something I can help with?"
"No need," Blaze quickly reassured, wanting to investigate the manner herself. "As you were, Mical."
She quietly slipped away, allowing her relief to engrave itself onto her face once she was out of the guard's view. Now that she knew Silver was unharmed, the next step was to find out the reasoning for his absence. The training grounds were located just outside of the castle, a personal area for her guards to train and store their weaponry. During her childhood, Blaze had trained there herself before ascending to the throne. Learning to fight at a young age gave her the discipline to help keep her pyrokinesis powers under control.
Blaze arrived at the outskirts of training grounds in no time, only traveling a short trek to reach the area. Several of the off duty royal guards lingered around the area, some conversing with each other. Upon seeing their ruler arrive, they quickly stood to attention, hastily grabbing their weapons and holding position. Her mere presence carried authority, yet sometimes Blaze wished her guards didn't feel so obligated to act as perfect soldiers. Their loyalty to the Sol Empire was enough.
"As you were," Blaze commanded.
The royal guards obliged, no hesitation. Her hands found themselves resting on her hips, eyes scanning around the area for the one she sought. Nowhere in sight. She approached the nearest guard, who subconsciously stood to attention once more. "Nico, I am searching for Sir Silver. I was told he was here."
"He is training with Captain Barkar, Your Highness," Nico informed, politely gesturing his arm towards the far back of the training grounds.
Blaze folded her arms, arching a curious eyebrow. "Training? Whatever for?"
The dingo slowly answered with uncertainty. "I am not quite sure, Your Highness. Would you like me to find him?"
"No need," Blaze kindly reassured, holding out one hand. "You're off duty. Continue enjoying your break."
She entered the training grounds, pushing through the large building until she reached the other side. At last, the one she searched so long for came to her sight. In the middle of the curricular grounds surrounded by fences on all sides, Silver clashed blades with Captain Barkar. The large polar bear dressed in a similar outfit to the rest of the royal guards. He wrote a matching red two piece uniform, consisting of a hat with a rim and a vest with a yellow collar and latches. The captain's insignia rested against his collar, making his authority well-known.
Instead of interfering right away, Blaze watched the events play out from afar. She leaned softly against one of the building's support beams, watching the duo train. The two of them wore protective gear over their faces and torso to avoid injuring the other by accident. Even with the distance between them, Blaze could see how outmatched Silver was. The polar bear's raw strength allowed him to push the hedgehog back with aggressive swings. Silver relied on his smaller size to avoid the blade while mentally fighting the urge to call on his psychokinesis. As well as being physically stronger, the captain carried years of experience from countless battles.
As their blades clashed once more, Barkar spoke up. "You're leaving your lower guard too open, Sir Silver. Strengthen your defense."
Before the hedgehog could get a word in, Barkar swiped under his feet. Silver narrowly avoided the strike by jumping, only to leave himself vulnerable for the captain to strike his free arm forward. Silver reacted to the surprise attack, using the added momentum to twirl around mid-air and land a kick off his own into Barkar's arm. While the attack did nothing against the polar bear's incredible durability, Barkar smiled underneath his mask, pleased to see the improvements of the new knight.
Silver landed on the ground, readily raising his sword for their next match. A purple figure caught the corner of his eye, forcing him to turn around and lower his guard. His expression visibly dropped, not expecting to see his closest friend standing only a small distance away. "Blaze?"
This distraction proved to be a mistake. With Silver's grip on the hilt easing, this allowed Barkar to swiftly disarm the hedgehog of his weapon, followed by a small kick to his midsection. Despite holding back his true strength, the kick carried enough weight to knock the hedgehog down on his back. Before he made a move to recover, Barkar placed his enormous foot on his chest, followed by resting the tip of his weapon against Silver's neck. Forced to yield, Silver could do nothing in this position, conceding defeat.
Barkar removed his mask, a disappointed sigh escaping his breath. "You can't allow any distractions, Sir Silver. One mistake could cost…"
He followed Silver's gaze, spotting their ruler walking towards them. Barkar quickly stood to attention, stepping away, sheathing his sword and bowing his head in one simultaneous movement. "Good day, Princess Blaze. I didn't expect to see you here today."
Silver hastily jumped to his feet, swiftly removing his own mask. "Hey, Blaze."
The princess rested one hand on her hip, eyes studying her friend with curiosity. "So, this is where you've been hiding the past few days."
"Guess you caught me, huh?" Silver chuckled nervously, one hand brushing over his arm to dust away the dirt smearing his fur.
"Silver, why are you in the training grounds?" Blaze inquired.
"I, uh, wanted to surprise you, but guess now is as good a time as any," Silver said, spreading his arms for dramatic effect. "I've been learning how to fence!"
"So I see," Blaze noted, her eyes searching his own with suspicion. "Silver, did Gardon put you up to this?"
"No, no, this was something I wanted to do myself," Silver quickly explained, leaning down to pick up the sword. With some awkwardness, he fumbled to place the weapon in the sheath attached to his belt. "When you made me one of your knights, I wanted to make an impression and show you I could handle myself in a fight. I came here and Captain Barkar offered to help me train."
"His determination is quite commendable if I may say so, Princess Blaze," Barkar agreed. "Sir Silver is a keen learner."
Blaze paused momentarily, thinking over the new revelations with mixed reactions. While she admired Silver's courage and resolve, a part of her struggled to understand his reasoning. She noted the heavy black bags under his eyes and how his quills were slouched backwards compared to their usual upright position. Lack of sleep filled his expression. Any closer and she would have smelt the taste of coffee in his breath.
"That's very good of you, Silver, but I don't want you to feel obligated to make yourself into this perfect warrior," Blaze explained, stepping slightly closer to further study his exhausted state. "Have you slept properly in the past few days?"
"Kind of…" Silver trailed off, forcing his gaze to avert hers.
"Silver," Blaze spoke in a tone that demanded honesty. "The truth."
Dishonestly was not in Silver's forte. He slowly resumed his gaze with his best friend, refusing to lie to her. "I spend the day training and then I study at night. I… Just wanted to make you proud."
Blaze's demeanor relaxed, though now she questioned whether or not to put an end to this. In spite of her position, she didn't intend to force Silver into stopping. As a soft exhalation escaped her lips, her voice took on a kinder cadence than it had moments before. "Silver, how could you think I'm not already proud of you? You being here by my side is more than anything I could ever ask for."
"But you've given me so much," Silver argued. "And I haven't given you nothing in return. This was my way of making it up to you."
"We're friends, Silver," Blaze replied. "Friends don't give each other things and expect favors in return. Friends give each other things because they want to. I'm more than happy to share my kingdom with you. All I ask is that you be yourself and be kind to others."
The knighted hedgehog opened his mouth to protest further, but no words escaped. In this self-proposed mission to strive to greater heights, he neglected to take care of his own health. He struggled for answers, finding himself tongue-tied. "I… Maybe I did take it a little far… But I've put in all this work. I can't just throw it away now."
If he were one of our guards, Blaze would simply allow them to go along with their desires, but she didn't share a close bond with her people as much as she did with Silver. Best friends since childhood. In both their old and new lives, Blaze knew once Silver set his mind on something, there was little she could do to persuade him otherwise. She briefly glanced away, as if searching for the right words within the sky.
While she held the power to remove all royal privileges from Silver, Blaze could never bring herself to abuse her position for personal gain, especially to a close friend. Nevertheless, a compromise was needed. She softly exhaled with concern and returned her gaze. "Silver, do you seriously want to continue training?"
Without blinking, the hedgehog nodded. "I do. I really do."
"Very well," Blaze agreed with a small nod. A familiar stern tone strengthened her voice once more, carrying great authority. "But I want you to start taking it easy. Only train and study for a couple of hours at a time. I don't want you pushing yourself into the early hours of the morning anymore. Do you understand?"
With a relieved smile, Silver nodded. "I understand."
"Good," Blaze replied, a familiar caring smile forming across her muzzle once more. She stretched her hand towards the other person in their presence. "Captain Barkar, may I have your sword?"
Without hesitation, the polar bear gently knelt down and presented his sword for the taking. Blaze wrapped her fingers gently around the hilt, taking a moment to study its weight. She shifted her attention towards the hedgehog, who returned the gaze with a look of curiosity.
Blaze held the blade close to her front, one arm tucked behind her back while her feet pressed tightly into the ground. A familiar teasing grin formed across her face once more, her eyes challenging the opponent before her. "Let's see how well your training has paid off. On your guard, Sir Silver."
While initially caught by surprise, Silver smiled and unsheathed his sword, holding it forward with both hands clasped tightly around the hilt. "Ready when you are."
The two friends held their respective stances, preparing for their duel. Barkar discreetly moved away to one side to avoid getting in the way. However, he stayed close, wanting to witness the duel. From his position, the difference in Blaze and Silver's postures was quite clear. Her stance was balanced with an aura of confidence, self-assured in the way she wielded her weapon in one hand. As for Silver, his feet and arms were much too spread, clutching both hands tightly around his sword like his life depended on it.
Silver made the first move, unleashing repeated thrusts of his weapon towards the princess. She gracefully dodged each strike, barely moving from her position. As she parried each of his strikes with little effort, she waited patiently for their blades to clash before striking her leg forward, sending him backwards. Silver barely caught his footing, narrowly avoiding a swipe towards chest. He parried her next strike, attempting to counter by swinging the flat end of his sword towards her head.
Without blinking, Blaze dropped, performing the splits as she sunk to the ground and tapped the end of her sword against Silver's leg. He backed away with a small whelp, awkwardly stumbling backwards. As she nimbly jumped to her feet, the two of them danced around each other's advances. Silver used the opportunity to try and learn more about Blaze's style. It was clear she had incorporated her ballerina martial arts with her royal training. This allowed Blaze to move delicately on her feet while carrying the strength of a dangerous warrior.
Their friendly spar attracted a small crowd. Several of the off duty royal guards surrounded the area with anticipation, eager to see their ruler in action. Never did they get to witness the princess fight with a blade, a rare sight to behold for all. Silver's eyes scanned her from top to bottom, eagerly searching for a weakness to exploit. There was none. He was no fool, knowing they were far from evenly matched. If Blaze wanted to end this now, all she needed was a few seconds. She was fast, swift, patient and carried years of experience. Silver was an amateur; sloppy and barely able to keep his composure under extensive pressure.
As Silver swung his blade forward once more, Blaze stepped out of the range, anticipating where he would strike before he himself knew. In one fluid motion, Blaze tapped her sword against his wrist, the impact forcing Silver to instinctively let go of his weapon. Now disarmed, Blaze threw herself down and swiped one leg under both his own, tripping him. She stood up straight before he even hit the ground, a confident grin still lacing her muzzle.
Silver hit the ground with a small thud, the impact eliciting a yelp from the startled hedgehog. It often slipped his mind just how fast she could move when necessary, moving at speeds that rivaled the likes of Sonic and Shadow. Before he could even register the outcome of their fight, Blaze towered over him, her heeled shoe pressed softly against this chest. The tip of her sword stopped just short of his chin. He searched Blaze's expression, but found not the slightest tinge of anger. Delight filled her gaze, as if she enjoyed their friendly spar like children on a playground.
"Do you yield defeat?" Blaze asked, a teasing lilt entering her tone.
His heart continued racing with anticipation, though he failed to conceal the growing smirk that lifted the edges of his mouth. "I'm not defeated!"
Blaze brows drawn together in confusion, before a startled yelp escaped into the air. While her eyes were drawn to the hedgehog, he feigned defeat and used the opportunity to hurl some dust forward. As she instinctively threw up her arm to shield her eyes, Silver took the opportunity to kick her other leg out from under her, bringing the princess to his level. His hands grabbed at her wrists, twisting her around and pinning her against the ground, swapping positions.
"I win!" Silver proclaimed proudly.
Her eyes were fierce, but still reflected joy. With a softened smile, Blaze narrowed her eyes. "Fighting unfairly? I never expected this type of behavior from you."
Silver nervously chuckled in return, failing to mask his growing concern. While he relished in their fun, he hoped his actions didn't provoke Blaze and ignite her mighty temper. Silver knew all too well her strength was leagues above his own. Even as his own hands pinned her wrists, Blaze could easily get out of this position if she intended to do so.
"Well, nobody remembers how the victor won, just that they did," Silver responded, obviously trying to recite something he read.
Blaze chuckled in return. "Well played."
She caught several figures within her peripheral vision, turning her head to be greeted by several sets of eyes honing towards them. The royal guards, amazed by their ruler's display of swordsmanship, contemplated whether or not to leave. Realizing her position, she veiled her golden eyes forward. Delicately, but with considerable intent, she pushed Silver away and sprung to her feet in no time.
Blaze steeled her expression, offering a stern nod to the guards. "As you were."
Unwilling to challenge their ruler, the royal guards quickly scattered, some returning to their positions while others continued with their off duty time. Relieved to be out of prying eyes, Blaze took Silver's hand and helped him to stand.
While he dusted himself clean, she picked up the sword and returned it to its rightful owner. "Thank you, Captain Barker."
The polar bear bowed his head. "My pleasure, Princess Blaze," his eyes shifted towards the knighted hedgehog, offering him an approved nod. "Well played, Sir Silver."
With one more polite bow, the captain excused himself and returned to his duties, leaving the best friends alone. Silver fumbled with the sword once more, placing it under the protection of the sheath.
Blaze glanced down at her wristwatch, noting the hand reaching the noon mark. "I have to meet with Gardon soon. I trust you'll be okay on your own?"
"Don't worry about me," Silver reassured. "I'll be safe."
"And Silver-"
"No more late night studying, I know. Cross my heart."
With a relieved smile, Blaze bid her best friend farewell. "Then continue as you were… Sir Silver."
As she stridden away, Silver caught onto that same playful tone igniting her voice once more. His eyes watched her leave, a relieved chuckle eliciting from his voice. Moments like today reminded me why he needed Blaze. She was more than just his friend. Blaze's wisdom and judgment helped steer him in the right direction. Even after remembering their old lives, he noted the way she carried herself in her voice. While she had grown far more comfortable with expressing herself, Blaze still carried her loyal lineage proudly. Her time as a princess further strengthened the great sagacity she carried.
In his facial expression came a tiredness, a need for nurture and a chance to rest. This self-proclaimed mission truly drained him of energy, desiring much needed sleep. Without another thought, Silver slowly departed from the training grounds, silently grateful to have Blaze back in his life once more.
Just what would he do without her?
And that concludes chapter 1! Thank you for reading. So, I thought I'd give a little context to the new original characters. The idea behind Naomi is she is supposed to serve as a mother figure to Blaze and Silver. Whereas Gardon is the stern father, Naomi is the kind mother. As for Captain Barkar, he won't play too much of a role, but we can expect to see him here and there. He did make an appearance during the first chapter of Be One World, Be The Light, but he wasn't named at the time.
So, yeah. Hope everyone enjoyed the prologue. Please review if you can spare a moment and I will see everyone in chapter 2. See you guys soon!
