After their evenly matched duel in the castle courtyard earlier that week, Blaze found herself thinking of more ways they could settle the score. Since neither could overpower the other through combat, she had another challenge in mind...

"Hot Pot?" Shadow raised a brow, observing the quaint establishment as they approached. Nestled on the fringes of the castle town, the restaurant named "Simmer Down - Hot Pot Haven" exuded a charming, punny aura.

Blaze's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Not just any Hot Pot, Shadow - Spicy Hot Pot. Think you can match me bite for bite?" She winked.

Shadow, never one to back down from a challenge, replied nonchalantly, "Lead the way."

Upon entering, the staff immediately recognized the royal feline and bowed. "Princess Blaze! And you've brought a guest. The usual for you I presume. And for him?"

"Make it two," Blaze replied confidently.

The waiter, a bit startled, glanced at Shadow, then whispered to Blaze, "Are you sure?"

Without hesitation, she nodded. "Very. He can handle it."

How fiery could this possibly be? Shadow looked between Blaze and the waiter. He gave the waiter a dark glare, causing him to regret doubting him.

The pair were led to a secluded table by the window. The ambient chatter intensified as the patrons whispered, likely speculating about the princess dining with the enigmatic hedgehog.

Confirming the order, the nervous waiter asked, "Two Sichuan Suicides, correct?" He seemed to hope they'd reconsider.

Blaze affirmed with a grin, "Exactly."

The waiter soon returned with a large cauldron emanating a fiery red broth, surrounded by plates of thin meats, vegetables, and fish balls. Shadow eyed the broth warily, noting its vibrant color and the floating array of peppers.

Blaze daintily dipped a fish ball, then a slice of meat, cooking them swiftly. She savored each bite, her cheeks flushed with delight. "Bon Appetit!" she teased.

Summoning his pride, Shadow followed her lead, albeit with trepidation. As he brought the meat closer, the pungent aroma hit him, causing him to recoil. But he persevered, taking a bite. The intense heat of the spices overwhelmed him, making him reach for his water glass in haste.

Blaze, clearly enjoying the spectacle, smirked. "Whats wrong? Is it too spicy for you, Shadow?" She audaciously sipped the broth straight from her spoon.

Shadow, his face now rivaling the color of his signature streaks, managed to reply, "Not at all," his voice betraying a hint of defiance.

The regal cat sneered and gingerly sprinkled more chili flakes into her half of the bowl. Shadow was convinced at this point the princess had senses of steel. She was definitely taunting him.

With sheer determination, Shadow matched Blaze's every bite, battling the relentless assault of spice that threatened to overpower him. Before Blaze or the watching waiter could react, Shadow had cleared half his portion, albeit with frequent desperate gulps of water.

Blaze, completely composed, regarded him with amusement. "I must admit, I'm both astonished and impressed," she said, giving him a playful salute. "It seems we're evenly matched yet again."

However, Shadow's only response was to continue downing water, his eyes slightly glazed from the fiery onslaught. Observing this, Blaze motioned to the waiter for some ice cream, mainly as a respite for Shadow.

The waiter, sensing the urgency, swiftly set down two bowls of ice cream. Shadow gratefully spooned the cold dessert, the relief evident in his every bite. Once assured he had somewhat recovered, Blaze, feeling a bit shy, stirred her ice cream and ventured, "So... when the ultimate lifeform isn't on a mission or training, what does he do?"

Caught off-guard by the casual query, Shadow paused, pondering. "I'm... still exploring that. But I do have a penchant for reading."

Blaze's tail flicked happily. "I indulge in that pastime as well. It's quite soothing."

Shadow only nodded, fixated on getting as much of a cooling effect from his ice cream as possible. Blaze shifted awkwardly in her chair, feeling the silence creep in on them. Before she could dive into her bowl any further, Shadow cleared his throat.

"At the courtyard. Were you really training?"

Blaze was surprised by his bluntness and absentmindedly picked at her treat, thinking back on the start of their friendly duel. She had rushed out into the courtyard, her form almost engulfed in flames, angrily trying to find the training dummies so she could burn them to a crisp.

She had been fed up. So fed up with the royal court constantly comparing her to her late parents. She was never good enough.

Even thinking back on how she felt at that moment, she felt herself slowly losing control of her fire yet again.

Shadow sighed, taking a big spoonful of his ice cream. "You're not going to hurl another fireball at me, are you?"

Blaze suddenly extinguished her rising flames, feeling embarrassed. Of course, that day when she had obliterated the dummies with her rageful wave, Shadow had happened to be there. His presence startled her and she attacked him, starting their initial fight.

"No, no. I do apologize for that, for what it's worth."

Shadow rolled his eyes. "I answered your question. Now answer mine."

Blaze sighed, seeing he wasn't going to let up. "I...didn't go out there with the intent of training. If I am being honest with you, Shadow, I was pissed."

Shadow put down his spoon, matching her gaze with interest, not expecting such a truthful answer or such forwardness from the usually refined princess. "And why was that?"

The cat took a deep breath, also putting her spoon down. "My advisor...Perhaps you saw him in the castle. Leo. He's an elderly lion that served my mother and father, the late king and queen. He means well, but..."

Blaze felt her fists clench yet again, causing tiny sparks to form around her knuckles. "Nothing that I do...can ever measure up to what they could do, and he and everyone else in that castle makes sure I remember that. Constantly."

Blaze let out another breath, willing herself to calm down yet again. "I just can't win."

"That doesn't seem to stop you from trying." Shadow scoffed, pointing to her completely empty bowl.

Blaze stared at her bowl, then back to the hedgehog, almost in complete shock. Was Shadow...joking with her? She was silent at first, but then felt herself laugh. He had taken her completely serious moment and flipped it upside down, seemingly miffed at how hard it was for him to keep up with her.

Shadow narrowed his eyes at her and looked away, his face still pink from the heat of the meal. "What's so funny?"

Blaze simply smiled back in mischief and sprinkled some chili flakes onto her ice cream. Shadow's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Blaze, how can you even...?" He gestured incredulously at her chili-topped dessert.

She looked down, grinning sheepishly. "Ah, I probably should've mentioned... due to my pyrokinetic abilities, my internal temperature is naturally high. That soup? Barely a tickle." She looked at his aghast expression and added, "In fact, it takes constant effort for me to make sure I'm not burning everyone that is close to me."

Shadow stared at her, dumbfounded. He'd been at a disadvantage from the start. "Well played, Blaze," he conceded with a smirk.

Although Shadow's throat, mouth, and stomach were on fire, he had no regrets about the meal he shared with the princess. While he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was unsure if the unease in his stomach was all from the spice alone.

"You think this was spicy? Wait until we check out 'Dip Happens'!"

Shadow internally cringed. There was no way he was ordering the same dish as Blaze if they ever ended up at that place.

The evening, however, was fleeting. Blaze glanced at the wall clock as they settled the bill. "We should probably head back. The others might be wondering where we've been, and Leo... well, he won't be pleased."

Shadow echoed her sigh and nodded, following the feline out of the restaurant.

--

The walk back to the castle was enveloped in a comfortable silence. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, but both would quickly look away, a subtle blush evident on their faces. Upon reaching the guest chambers, Blaze cleared her throat, "I'll head back to my room then...Thank you, for indulging me."

Shadow attempted to reply but ended up offering a somewhat awkward smile. "We're still even." He winced, was that really the best thing he could say???

Blaze's eyes twinkled. "Oh, trust me, we'll break this tie. Soon." With a playful grin, she bid him goodnight.

Shadow face palmed himself and continued walking to his room, unsure of what was wrong with him. As he neared sweet rest, the last thing he could have wanted happened. Sonic pulled up next to his door, a devilish look in his eye with a wide smile to boot. Shadow groaned, not ready to deal with him.

"What is it, faker?"

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the man of the hour..."

"Would really love to get some sleep..."

"So. How was your date?"

"...Date?!" Shadow guffawed, giving Sonic an incredulous look. "We weren't on a date, hedgehog."

Sonic chuckled and approached him. "Were you two alone?"

"Yes, but-"

"Was anyone else invited?"

"Well no, not that I know of-"

"Did you spend the evening getting to know each other better and smile...a lot?"

Shadow hesitated, caught off-guard.

"Well, that's all I needed to know." Sonic snickered, walking away and leaving a very much in-denial Shadow behind. "Next time, come to me first. I'll give ya some advice."

Shadow grumbled, entering his room and shutting the door with a bit more force than necessary. Stupid hedgehog. That wasn't a date. The cat thought she was better than him and he needed to show her she was wrong. That was all. It was for his pride. So what if they laughed a lot? And that he continued to think of her smile...

"Shit..." He forcefully shut his eyes and turned over, refusing to think on this more. But there was one thing he did know for sure, and that was that he was literally, impossibly, royally screwed.

——

The next morning, Shadow headed down to the breakfast hall of the castle, hoping to shake his restless night with some normal, non-spicey breakfast staples. While in the buffet line he grabbed a few basics - bread, juice, some jam and eggs - and headed to an empty table.

Rouge soon joined him, looking as radiant and well rested as ever, much to Shadow's jealousy. "Good morning, handsome!" She taunted, taking a long sip of her smoothie. "Rest well?"

"Adequate." Shadow replied in his signature monotone voice. The two entered into easy conversation, discussing their mission and plans to search for the traces of chaos energy in Blaze's dimension.

As Rouge was about to ask Shadow more questions, the infamous blue blur joined them, causing Shadow to tense. He wasn't going to mention...that, was he?

"Good morning Rouge! Looking dazzling as always." Sonic started, causing Rouge to fake a modest look. "So. Did Shadow tell you he went on a date last night?"

Of course he mentioned it...

Rouge nearly spit her drink, turning to Shadow wide-eyed. "Oh!! He did not!! Do tell!" She leaned in, waggling her eyebrows.

Shadow glared at the hedgehog and turned his attention back to his plate. "Not a date. We've been over this."

"Date!? Thats soooo cute!!" Amy, seeming to have popped out of nowhere, came to join them, her eyes wistfully starting at Shadow. "With who???"

Sonic stifled a laugh "Our own fiery princess, Blaze."

Rouge gasped, sharing the wistful stare of Amy "Ah the tall, dark, brooding hedgehog, persistently pursuing the elusive princess. How romantic indeed."

Shadow's face flared at Rouge's theatrics, but before he could retort, Knuckles sat beside Rouge, giving Shadow a stern look.

"Shadow", he started seriously "Stay away from women. They're nothing but trouble."

"Excuse me!?" Rouge nearly stood, glaring at Knuckles. He looked at her nervously, realizing he messed up "Uhh, well, not all of them..." He tried to back track, his eyes warily searching Rouge's for some trace of mercy.

Shadow threw his arms up exasperatedly. "What did I do to deserve this?!" He seemed to be asking no one in particular, though a part of him deep, deep inside was grateful for his friend's interest in his life. Maybe.

Tails finally joined the group, giving them all a disapproving look. "Hey guys, let's leave Shadow alone." Shadow almost looked grateful, when Tails pulled out a small tablet. "By the way, Shadow! I researched that a great second date could be a carnival nearby. There's plenty of games, so it's especially attractive for competitive couples."

Shadow groaned, feeling outnumbered. "Not you too, fox..." He finished his breakfast quickly before Sonic chimed in once more.

"You know...date or not, Tails does have a pretty sick idea. Carnival might be just what we need to recharge and rest before some potentially life altering mission."

Shadow mulled it over a bit, thinking back to what Tails mentioned about the various competitive carnival games he could challenge Blaze to.

Sensing his interest, Sonic chuckled, standing. "Wellp. I'm gonna go find Blaze and ask her to join us." Before Shadow could stop him, the hedgehog was gone, leaving him with their friends who continued to be ever interested in his personal life.

--

In the midst of a pivotal political meeting, Blaze sat at the head of a long, ornate table, listening intently to her advisors. The room was filled with the hum of discussions, each advisor presenting their perspectives on various matters concerning the kingdom.

Suddenly, the doors swung open, revealing Sonic, who looked somewhat out of place amidst the regal decor and formal attire of the attendees. The room fell silent, all eyes on the blue hedgehog.

Clearing his throat, Sonic began, "Apologies for the intrusion, Princess Blaze. I just wanted to extend an invitation for a brief reprieve this afternoon. We're planning to visit a carnival nearby. Thought it might be a good way to relax and recharge."

Blaze's eyes lit up, a stark contrast to the stern faces of her advisors. "A carnival?" she mused, her voice laced with excitement. "It sounds delightful."

Leo leaned in, his voice low and concerned. "Princess, considering our ongoing discussions and the weight of the matters at hand, would it be wise to partake in such frivolities?"

Blaze met his gaze, understanding his concerns. "I appreciate your caution, Leo," she replied gently. "However, a short break might do us all some good. I assure you, I'll return with a clear head, ready to tackle our kingdom's challenges."

Leo hesitated, clearly not convinced. "But, Princess—"

Blaze raised a hand, her decision firm. "I've made up my mind, Leo. I'll join them."

Sonic shot her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Princess. We'll be sure to have you back in no time."

As Sonic left the room, Blaze turned her attention back to her advisors, the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

After the meeting room cleared out, Blaze let out a discreet sigh of relief. With the morning's formalities behind her, she was eagerly anticipating spending time doing absolutely anything but duties. Making her way to a nearby chamber with a large ornate mirror, she began to adjust her attire and check her appearance.

She found herself meticulously fixing her fur, ensuring every strand was in place. She played with different hairstyles, letting her normally tight ponytail relax a bit. While she wouldn't admit it out loud, she hoped to impress a certain dark-furred hedgehog. She growled at her antics, "Why do I care so much about how I look for him!?" Yet, her hands didn't stop their work.

As she was lost in her preparations, Leo's silhouette appeared at the entrance. He took a moment, observing her actions with a thoughtful gaze before speaking. "Princess, is there a special occasion I'm unaware of?"

NO! Blaze jumped. Realizing she had been caught off guard she quickly straightened up. "Oh, erm, Leo," she replied with feigned nonchalance, "I just felt like freshening up before heading out. You know, a change of scenery after all these meetings."

Leo studied her for a moment, his eyes sharp. "Very well," he replied, though his tone hinted he wasn't entirely convinced. "Remember to return in a timely manner; there's still much work to be done."

Blaze nodded, her face a mask of calm. "Of course, Leo. It's just a brief outing."

As she made her exit, Leo lingered for a moment, his gaze fixed on the spot where she'd been standing. He had an inkling that there was more to her sudden interest in her appearance, but chose to hold his tongue... for now.

The sun hung brightly in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the carnival grounds. The sound of laughter, music, and the distant roar of rides filled the air. As Blaze approached the carnival's entrance, the vibrant colors and lively atmosphere immediately lifted her spirits.

Sonic was the first to spot her, waving enthusiastically. "Blaze! Over here!" he called out. She made her way over, greeted by the familiar faces of her friends. Their combined energy was infectious, and Blaze found herself swept up in the excitement of the day.

However, what caught her attention was the most intense ring tossing competition she had ever seen. Sonic and Shadow stood side by side, fiercely focused on the array of bottles before them. Each toss was calculated, the rings flying with precision. Shadow's eyes were narrowed, every muscle tense, while Sonic had a playful smirk, clearly enjoying the challenge. The two were side-stepping at blur-like speed to get as many rings tossed as possible, causing the carnival owner to stare in terror.

Blaze, amused by the sight, turned to Tails, who stood beside her watching the spectacle. "They really take this seriously, don't they?"

Tails chuckled, adjusting his goggles. "Oh, absolutely. Everything's a competition to them, especially when they're up against each other."

"You're finished, hedgehog!!"

"Shadow, it's a ring toss."

The black hedgehog sneered, continuing to toss as many rings as possible "So take it easy then..."

Sonic sharpened his eyes and kept tossing.

A short distance away, Rouge was on a mission of her own. With Knuckles in tow, she hopped from one game booth to the next. At each stop, she'd bat her eyelashes at him, pointing to the large stuffed toys hanging overhead. Knuckles, albeit a bit begrudgingly, would then take his turn, winning each and every single toy for her, much to the attendant's shock and dismay. His determination, combined with Rouge's delighted squeals each time he succeeded, drew amused glances from other carnival-goers.

Blaze smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. It was moments like these, surrounded by friends and laughter, that made her truly appreciate the bonds they all shared.

As the ring tossing competition reached its peak, with both Sonic and Shadow having an equal number of successful tosses, the anticipation in the air was thick. However, just as the crowd was expecting a tie-breaker, Sonic threw his hands up in mock defeat. "Alright, Shadow, I'll call it a draw... for now," he said with a wink. "Come on, Tails, let's see if your DDR skills have improved!" Sonic pulled Tails by the arm towards the Dance Dance Revolution machine, leaving Shadow and Blaze standing awkwardly beside the ring toss booth.

The sudden silence between them was palpable, only broken by the distant sounds of carnival music and laughter. Blaze shifted on her feet, looking for a way to break the tension. She spotted a nearby booth where people were throwing sandbags at a series of targets. "How about a game of sandbag toss?" she suggested, trying to sound casual.

Shadow looked at the booth, then back at Blaze. "Sure," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

They approached the booth, Blaze took her turn first. With a focused expression, she aimed and threw each sandbag with precision, hitting the target more times than not. As she finished her round, she looked at Shadow confidently, challenging him to do better.

Shadow stepped up, preparing to throw. But just as he was about to release the first sandbag, his eyes glowed with a familiar red hue. In a split second, he used Chaos Control, subtly manipulating the trajectory of each sandbag to ensure it hit the target dead center. By the end of his turn, he had a perfect score.

Blaze raised an eyebrow, clearly not amused. "Really, Shadow? Chaos Control for a carnival game?"

Shadow looked a bit sheepish. "It's... a force of habit," he admitted. But then, to Blaze's surprise, he handed her the large stuffed toy he had won. An overly chubby penguin. "Here," he said, looking away, a hint of red coloring his cheeks.

Blaze, taken aback, felt her own cheeks warm up. She accepted the toy, her heart fluttering. "T-thank you," she stammered, her eyes shining with a mix of amusement and appreciation.

After the sandbag toss, Blaze clutched her new stuffed toy close, a constant reminder of the unexpected soft side of Shadow. The group's attention was soon diverted to the Test of Strength, where Sonic and Shadow were already sizing up the competition. With wide grins, they each took turns slamming the mallet onto the platform, sending the marker shooting up to ring the bell. The crowd cheered as the numbers on the scoreboard skyrocketed with each hit.

Rouge, not one to be left out, fluttered her eyelashes at Knuckles. "Oh, Knux, I've always wanted one of those stuffed toys from the Test of Strength booth too," she cooed, pointing to a plush prize hanging overhead.

Knuckles rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his soft spot for the bat. "Alright, alright," he muttered, making his way to the platform.

Sonic and Shadow watched, smirking confidently, convinced that their scores couldn't be beaten. But as Knuckles gripped the mallet and brought it down with a force that shook the ground, the marker didn't just hit the bell – it went through it, causing a cacophonous clang that echoed throughout the carnival.

The crowd went silent for a moment, before erupting into a mixture of shock and awe. Sonic and Shadow stood frozen, their jaws dropped, as Knuckles nonchalantly handed the mallet back to the booth operator, who could only stare in terror.

"Prize, please," he said simply, as the operator handed over the largest stuffed toy – a giant red echidna, fittingly – to a beaming Rouge.

As the echidna and bat duo sauntered off, Blaze couldn't contain her laughter. Pointing at the stunned expressions of Sonic and Shadow, she giggled, "You two looked as if you've seen a ghost!!!"

Sonic and Shadow exchanged glances, their competitive egos slightly bruised.

As the evening sun cast a golden hue over the castle, the group began making their way back, their laughter and banter echoing through the air. The carnival had been a perfect retreat from their usual high-stakes adventures, and each of them carried memories – and prizes – that they would cherish.

Blaze clutched her penguin toy tightly, its silly expression mirroring her own giddy mood. Every time she looked at it, she was reminded of Shadow's unexpected gesture. Technically their little competitive streak was over, since Shadow had won. But really she didn't care. She smiled, giving the penguin's belly a little squeeze.

As they approached the castle gates, one by one, the group began to bid their farewells. Sonic, with a wink towards Blaze, bid his goodbye, "Thanks for a day full of surprises, princess. See you tomorrow!"

Rouge fluttered beside Knuckles, her arms full of stuffed toys. "Thanks for being such a sport, Knuxie," she teased, planting a quick peck on his cheek, leaving the echidna blushing.

Tails waved to Amy, rushing over to her as they approached. "Amy!! You missed out..."

Shadow lingered, his gaze meeting Blaze's. "Today was...ok," he began, searching for the right words. "Good game."

Blaze smiled softly, her eyes shining. "Thank you... for the penguin."

Before saying anything more she lowered her voice to a whisper "You are all banned from going back there by the way..."

Shadow looked back at her, but soon couldn't stop himself from smiling. "Makes sense."

They stared back at each other, feeling a strange spark. Something had changed between them, though it was clear neither of them knew what to do about it.

Their moment was interrupted by a clearing throat. Leo, looking as stone faced as ever, approached. "Princess Blaze," he began, eyeing the stuffed toy and then Shadow with suspicion. "I trust you had...fun?"

Blaze, sensing his disapproval, straightened up. "It was a nice team bonding exercise, Leo," she responded, doing her best to sound nonchalant.

Leo's eyes narrowed, but he chose not to press further. "Very well. I trust you'll be ready for the council meeting tomorrow?"

Blaze nodded, "Of course."

As Leo retreated, Blaze let out a sigh of relief. She knew she'd have to tread carefully with Leo around, but for now, she simply wanted to relish the memories of the day.

The castle corridors were dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns creating dancing shadows on the walls. Each member of the team made their way to their respective chambers, the fatigue from the day's activities weighing on them.

Rouge playfully nudged Knuckles as they passed each other in the hallway. "Sleep tight, tough guy," she teased, her voice a sultry whisper. Knuckles, still flustered from earlier, mumbled a goodnight and continued on his way.

Shadow, lost in thought, barely noticed the soft patter of his boots on the stone floor. His mind kept replaying the day's events, especially those involving Blaze. Shaking his head, he tried to dismiss the growing fondness he felt for the princess.

Blaze, meanwhile, was in her room, admiring the silly penguin that now occupied a special place on her bed. Holding it close, she buried her face in its plushness, her heart skipping beats once more, remembering how Shadow had gifted it to her.

Before she could divulge any more details to her new stuffed friend, she felt a soft tap at her door. She froze, looking at her penguin. "Who could that be?" She asked the toy sincerely, not really one to have any members of the staff need her at this hour.

Reluctantly, she peeled herself off her bed and carefully opened the door. She stepped back, a bit surprised to see the very hedgehog that was stopping her from getting a night's rest.

"Oh. Hey..."

"Hey..."

Blaze shifted, trying to shield Shadow from seeing the penguin resting on her bed. He however wasn't even looking at her, his gaze seemed to stare off into nowhere.

"Did you...need something?" She looked up at him, screaming internally at herself to stop shaking.

Shadow gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, seemingly trying to steel his nerves. "I actually do."

The princess had endured years of combat training, pyrokinetic meditation, and preparation for duties of the court, but absolutely nothing could have prepared her for this moment. With little warning, Shadow suddenly leaned into her, his lips quickly capturing hers in a soft kiss. Even more surprising to her, she reached out to cup his face and pull him even closer, as if she had been waiting for him to do that all day. She closed her eyes, eventually wrapping her arms around his neck.

Before she could deepen their kiss any further, Shadow pulled away, giving her one last mischievous look. "You can't win." he hummed playfully, echoing her earlier words.

She stared back, dumbfounded, yet allowed herself to fill with the same low chuckle. She pulled the surprised hedgehog into her room, swiftly closing the door behind him. She purred, running a playful finger down his chest.

"We'll see about that."

—-