"Seems my advisor was correct when he suspected you two having a relationship. But judging by how you carry yourself, I doubt it was a sexual relationship." King Nigel said.
"Sir, a relationship was not established until a few minutes ago. Everything your advisor said about us before today was false." Isaac defended.
"It doesn't matter now. But you being with my daughter is something I wish to discuss." Nigel said.
"Yes, sir." Isaac replied.
"Ground rules. Firstly, stay away from her chambers after 8. The only guards allowed near there are the ones that guard her door. Escorting her there is a different story. Now, you can hang out in her chambers with her before then, but I expect you to behave yourself. Secondly, traveling with her means you sleep in a separate room. She will be using a card to pay for rooms. If I find a purchase of one room is used when you are traveling with her, there will be hell to pay. And finally, breaking up with her is NOT an option. Only she can. Do I make myself clear?" Nigel explained.
Isaac bowed, confirming he understands.
"Good. Now, you can head upstairs. And Isaac… Merry Christmas." Nigel said, opening the door and exiting the room.
After waiting a few seconds, Isaac extinguished the forge. After putting away his equipment, he grabbed the framed photograph of his parents and left the room, heading upstairs. After climbing the flights of stairs, Isaac made his way to the Common Room. As he walked, Isaac felt the pain in his ribs weren't as prominent as they were earlier that day. Almost as if they had mended since he felt them shift during the rescue mission. After reaching the door to the Common Room, he opened it, seeing the others reading from thin booklets. Seeing the music notes on it, Isaac deduced them to be a thin book of Christmas carols. Amy looked up from hers, smiling upon seeing Isaac.
"Isaac! You're just in time! Here, this one's for you. We're going through Christmas songs to sing tomorrow." Amy explained, handing Isaac a booklet.
Sitting down next to Lily, he looked through the booklet, not knowing a few songs. But after reaching some of the later pages, he found songs his father used to sing. While in English, Isaac knew the songs to heart.
"Lily, I have something for you." Isaac said, producing the framed photograph.
Handing it to Lily, she took it, studying it. While she was too young to remember them, she remembered Isaac's descriptions of them, recognizing them almost immediately.
"Mother and father! Where did you find this?" She exclaimed, holding onto it tightly.
"Thank Sally. She was the one that found it." Isaac informed.
Leaping from her seat, she quickly hugged Sally, still holding onto the picture frame. Sally was quick to embrace her as well.
"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!" Lily exclaimed, tears running from her face.
Lily couldn't see it but Sally herself had tears welling up in her eyes.
"You're welcome, Lily. And I have something to share with you, as well." Sally said, leaning to her ear.
Sally whispered something to Lily, which only made Lily's smile grow wider. She quickly leaped from Sally's arms, practically jumping around the room!
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew he liked you!" Lily exclaimed, prancing around the room like a deer.
Isaac could only smile, haven't seeing Lily so happy before in a long time.
"Is it safe to assume you're talking about Sally and Isaac?" Espio asked.
"Alright, pay up!" Sonic exclaimed, holding out his hand.
Knuckles and Vector fished out a handful of rings from their pockets, handing them to Sonic. Sonic cleared his throat, staring at Shadow. Shadow, after furrowing his eyebrows, begrudgingly handed Sonic a handful of rings as well.
"Wait, did you bet on me and Sally getting together?" Isaac asked.
"Well, we knew it was going to happen sooner or later. The bet was when it would happen. I had for before Christmas Eve." Sonic said.
"I had Christmas Day." Knuckles admitted.
"New Year's Eve." Vector added.
"I had New Year's Day, midnight. I was sure the kiss would've done it." Shadow said.
As Sonic was counting them, Amy nudged him with her elbow. Sonic rolled his eyes and gave her half of the winnings.
"You, too?" Isaac asked, surprised.
"If there's one thing I know, it's love. Also, I'm the one that told Sonic that you'd both get together before Christmas Eve." Amy said.
"Alright, now if we're done gloating about winnings, can we please start with what songs we'll be singing tomorrow?" Silver asked, frustrated.
"Okay, sheesh! How about 'Jingle Bells'? Everyone knows that one!" Charmy offered.
"Yeah, and everyone is sick of hearing it! Next!" Vector interrupted.
"Okay… 'White Christmas'?" Blaze asked.
"That's more for one person than a group. But we'll keep that on the backburner." Amy said.
"Ooh, how about 'Sleigh Ride'? That's a good one!" Cream offered.
"Alright, we'll put that on the list. Any other suggestions?" Amy asked.
"Isaac, you should give us one!" Lily exclaimed.
Isaac shook his head, looking nervous.
"I can't sing. I'd rather you guys choose." Isaac said.
"What? Brother, do not be so modest! You have a beautiful singing voice! Come on, sing us something!" Lily said, not looking away from Isaac.
"No, thank you." Isaac said.
"Ah, come on Isaac. A little song won't hurt." Knuckles goaded.
"More than you think." Isaac responded.
"Please, Isaac?" Sally asked.
Isaac opened his mouth to say something to the contrary, but something in Sally's eyes… he didn't know why, but the look in her eyes was the same when he first met her. It wasn't a look Isaac could ignore.
"Hmm… fine. I'll sing. But no laughing." Isaac said, standing up.
"This should be good." Rouge commented.
Isaac stretched out his chest and cleared his throat.
"This song is called 'Jesus Refulsit Omnium'. My father would sing it in the later hours of the day. It's in Latin, and I do not believe a translation would do it justice." Isaac explained, before clearing his throat once more.
"Jesus refulsit omnium/ Pius redemptor gentium/ Totum genus fidelium/ Laudes celebret dramatum" Isaac began, singing as a Tenor. "Quem stella natum fulgida/ Monstrat micans per authera/ Magosque duxit praevia/ Ipsuis ad cunabula." Isaac continued, singing more confidently. "Illi cadentes parvulum/ Pannis adorant obsitum/ Verum fatentur ut Deum/ Munus ferendo mysticum." Isaac finished.
As soon as he finished, everyone quickly applauded, including Shadow, but he was doing a slow, silent clap.
"That was beautiful! How come you don't sing more often?" Amy asked.
Isaac wiped a tear from his left eye, the singing stirring up old memories.
"My memories of childhood are vivid… and my singing doesn't do it justice." Isaac explained.
"Well, you should more often! That was great!" Charmy exclaimed.
After a few hours, almost everyone eventually left to their rooms for the night. Sticks was hanging out in the Common Room, keeping herself warm next to the fire. After the close call from hypothermia earlier that day, she wasn't taking any chances. Dante was reading a book, his feet rested on an ottoman.
"Sticks, wouldn't you rather go to your room? You'd probably be happier in a nice, warm bed." Sally asked.
"Nah, I'll probably stay up for a few more hours. I'll get to my room later." Sticks responded.
"How about you, Dante?" Isaac asked.
"I need to catch up on my reading. Otherwise, my mind won't let me sleep." Dante replied, going back to reading.
"Alright, but don't stay up too late, you two. We've got plans tomorrow. When we wake you up, don't be too cranky." Sally warned, leaving the Common Room.
Isaac followed, proceeding to escort Sally to her chambers for the night. As they walked, Isaac pondered on their new relationship. To his own surprise, Isaac didn't feel much different. Isaac could only think that perhaps he always felt this way about her. Or perhaps this is how it's supposed to be like when one is in love. But Isaac himself had no experience when it came to love. Perhaps things change with time. Isaac guesses only time will truly tell.
"Well, I guess this is it for tonight. So… will I see you waiting for me outside of my door?" Sally asked, climbing the staircase to her chambers.
"Of course. All because we are together does not mean I will not uphold my service. I will be here, on time." Isaac answered.
Eventually, they made it to her door, the guards arriving to maintain their night shift. Yurani opened the door for Sally, patiently waiting for Sally to retire for the night.
"Good night, Isaac." Sally said, holding Isaac's hands.
"Good night… my love." Isaac replied, surprising Sally. She quickly gave him a kiss, before walking into her chambers.
Yurani let the door close, leaving Isaac alone. Isaac sighed, feeling as if his stomach was floating.
"Yurani, is it normal for my stomach to feel as if it is soaring?" Isaac asked.
"Considering that you and the Princess are in love, it's quite normal." Yurani answered.
"Good night, Harold. And Merry Christmas." Isaac said, before heading back to his quarters.
"And a Merry Christmas to you as well, Isaac." Harold said.
After heading downstairs to his quarters, as Isaac went to walk down the hall to his room, he heard talking from the holding cells. Isaac slowly walked to the door of the cells, creaking it open. He saw one of the guards giving food to the prisoners, but instead of standard prison fare, it was prime rib and an assortment of vegetables. Much more extravagant than normal.
"Here you are, William. I saved the largest piece just for you." The guard said, handing him his plate.
After William took it, the guard walked back to the serving cart. As he began moving things around, William spoke up.
"Are you sure King Nigel doesn't know about your allegiance? It would serve us better if he didn't know that you were one of us." William asked.
"Of course he doesn't. Ever since his injury from Eggman's attack, he has been very manipulatable. Of course, his recovery guarantees he won't be for too long. But should be long enough to get you all out of here." The guard explained.
Isaac could feel himself tightening his grip on his sword.
"And what of the demon-spawn? Can you verify his status?" William asked.
"So far, no. Besides pyrokinesis, there is no evidence of being demon-descent. I would recommend myself being employed longer as a guard to keep tabs. The Order may have their information wrong." The guard said.
"Impossible. He was there when we burned their lodging to the ground. I was only an acolyte when it happened, but I know it's him!" William responded.
"Perhaps. Like I said, I will be employed here longer until I can fully verify. But I must warn you, the king has already been informed of The Order's existence. Other countries may follow closely. We may need to go underground once more." The Guard explained.
"Edward, you were chosen for this detail because of your experience! And you are telling us that we will have to go into hiding again?!" William asked, angry.
"We can't risk being discovered! We have to resign ourselves to being a rumor for the foreseeable future. Our strongholds are not equipped to withstand armed forces from the United Federation! If they declare us as a terrorist threat, than we will not survive! We have to remain hidden!" Edward explained, firing back.
"You really should learn to whisper." Isaac commented, opening the door, and revealing himself.
Edward froze, looking at Isaac. He dropped the serving fork, the only thing making noise in the room.
"Abaddon! Look, this is just a big misunderstanding! You have to believe me!" He exclaimed, before Isaac's hand found his way around his throat.
"How's this for a misunderstanding?" Isaac asked, before unlocking Peter's cell and throwing Edward in.
Isaac quickly locked it, greeted by Edward grabbing the bars.
"You bastard! I've only been trying to protect everyone! Do not lock me in here!" Edward demanded.
"I'll leave a note for the next guard. I'll be sure you do not leave this cell." Isaac said, before leaving the holding cells.