A/N: For those of you still reading or waiting for more, thank you for being patient. I think it's been a year? Too long, that's for sure. I don't want to make excuses, but life happens and priorities change. Thank you for those who were understanding and didn't heckle me to write. Every chance I had to write, I was only able to check on my account and then log off before being consumed by adulthood.
I will work to get the last few chapters in this soon. I've conquered a lot last year, from a death in the family to a wedding, a family reunion, another wedding, and the fall semester of college. I've had a busy summer, and an even busier fall semester, and the spring semester that just started will be my last before I graduate. Then, life will smother me as I try to move out on my own. I hope to settle down and get this story wrapped up as I should have a long time ago.
I still want to write my stories for those of you still interested, and I want you to know that there is a poll on my account that you guys can vote on. It asks which of my stories that you guys want to read next, giving descriptions of each story and whatnot. I hope that the descriptions are detailed enough to pique your interest. I will write the one with the highest interest first, but only after someone shows interest. I will dedicate my free time to making these stories happen and create as many chapters as possible. But one thing I've learned is that you can't rush good story writing, no matter how bad you want it.
Anyway, onward!
In third person
Italics = thoughts/ emphases
"Italics with quotations" = mind speaking/telepathy
Chapter 9: Return, Flame of the White Rose
Chaos.
As the surge of power left her the moment the rose released the staff and left it in her mother's grasp, she felt light headed. Her mother stepped forward, gripping her staff and pointing it at the prince. A chaotic echo of cries and stomping shook the fortress and Amy found her feet in enough time to see the prince jump from the balcony.
As her ears perked, she tried to focus and take in everything that occurred in that moment.
The moment the prince launched himself over the balcony, her brother growled, charging after him, blood dripping from his arm, but King Amelius stopped him, grabbing his shoulder. Queen Argentina's hair pulsed with power as she walked over to the edge, standing to address her son.
"You are not destined to take his life, Argentine. Do not be so hasty."
Amy's ears perked up as her mind seemed to clear. Using the fortress wall to stabilize herself, she looked to her right to see Shadow, looking over the edge. From the profile of his face, she could see the hard glare directed to the ground and how tight his fists gripped the stone wall guard. With uneasy steps, she began to walk toward them.
"I know, mother, but at least let me join my men and follow Riven and his men out beyond our borders. I cannot stand still until I know that he is clear of our country."
As Amy got closer, Shadow looked to the queen, a stern gaze held between his red gems.
"I will follow him, if that puts your mind at ease, your highness. I will watch his back."
Hesitantly, the queen looked at her son and then ebony. The queen held her breath and nodded. A sharp call came from Riven's mouth as he waited a moment and the ebony prepared a knee to jump. Before the rose could protest, both her brother and the ebony jumped from her reach.
"Argentine! Shadow!"
She tripped to the edge of the balcony, gripping the guard and looking straight down into the chaotic ruin of howling men on horses.
Like ants storming from a destroyed anthill, Riven's soldiers, some mounted on horses, others on foot, fled from the fortress. They came from the main doors and any other exits they could find, seeming to come from around the fortress and stretched across the land as far as the eye could see. With the Aumorian skies dyed pink and the dust from their flee kicking up dust storm into the city, Amy looked below her, but Shadow and Argentine had already disappeared into the fray.
"Amelia!"
Her mother reached for her, holding her shoulders, keeping her from jumping.
"Please, my child, let your brother go."
"But he just jumped from a balcony! Even if they both made the fall, they'd be trampled in moments! I have to go help them," she explained in distress, looking into her mother's emerald gaze. But she relaxed, seeing how calm she was. King Amelius sheathed his sword and stood next to the queen, looking at his daughter with a steady gaze.
"Amelia, your brother has called for his horse and the dark one is fine. See for yourself."
The king directed a hand to a horse and a black dot, sifting a clear path through the fray in the distance. With the noise of war cry in her ears, she watched as Argentine and Shadow made chase and disappeared between two stone homes as they made their way through the city.
"We must purge the fortress and replace the Omni-Protectant. There is no time to waste."
King Amelius touched Amy's back as he said this, drawing her eyes and smiling reassuringly.
"The day has been won, Amelia, and everything will be as it should be soon. Let us see the people and grant them comfort once again."
With a hesitant nod, the queen grabbed her daughter's hand, pulling her down the steps, the king on their trail.
~aAa~
"Take this!"
The clank of falling armor echoed through the final chamber as Knuckles made his round through the fortress. After watching the purple soul retreat from the knight's armor, he kicked the lifeless body to the side and ran down the hall.
The end of the hall opened to the main foyer where Knuckles found that he was alone. He'd beat the team to their final destination. That or the king and queen were not successful and he was the only survivor.
Knuckles glanced around, feeling anxious in the silence. He could feel the ground rumble below him and the muffled shouts outside of the fortress, but he was alone behind its walls, a prisoner to its uncertainty.
A creak drew his attention as he turned in a stance of defense to the throne room.
A yellow dot surfaced from behind the expanse of solid wood, struggling to press against the grand doors. Knuckles relaxed and ran over to help his friend with the door.
"Tails! I thought I was about to face off with the prince alone. Where is everyone?"
Tails backed up, looking like he was reaching behind himself for something, and came forward with a limping rabbit. She was heaving and looked at the echidna with a small, weakened smile.
"Cream? What happened?"
Knuckles helped Tails lift Cream to the nearest staircase, allowing her to sit. The moment they had her down, Tails bent over, reaching into his utility pouch and pulling out some quaze. He began to bandage her ankle to keep it in place.
"Cream went head on with the prince in our pursuit. Have you seen Sally, Sonic and Rouge?" Tails explained quickly, trying to soothe the rabbit. She took deep breaths and smiled at her boyfriend, whispering that she was fine.
"Not sure. It's too quiet in here. After I cleared out everything in the dungeon and the first floor, I figured everyone else would have beaten me here. It's possible the prince took out the king and queen." Knuckles asked, looking around the foyer, standing in between the young ones and the fortress doors, expecting an ambush.
"We'll see soon enough. We last saw prince Riven when we left him off with Sonic. He didn't look like he was in good shape and Cream stabbed him, so I'm sure they were able to get him to the balcony and take him down. Let's just be patient."
Knuckles grumbled a bit, but looked up when a loud crash echoed through the halls above them and to the opposite staircase. Knuckles positioned himself between the two and the threat, but Tails hopped up and grabbed his weapon, standing in defense beside him, looking up.
Glass fell from the top-most corridor as Knuckles shielded his eyes and Tails bent over to cover Cream from the shards that pelted them as they hit the ground. When Knuckles moved his arm away, he narrowly avoided being pelted by several bodies of armor that came crashing after the glass.
"Ha!"
As the chaos ceased, the three looked up in panic to see Rouge falling gracefully from where the armor had come, using her wings to glide at the last moment, slowing her descent and allowing a gentle perch as she caught her breath.
"Rouge!"
Knuckles ran up to her, grabbing her shoulders and lifting her head to his. She looked into his eyes with a sly smirk.
"Worried about me, Knucklehead?"
He sighed, looking at her bruises and areas where her uniform was torn, but she was still intact. She grabbed his hands and moved away from him and walked toward the young couple. Knuckles followed.
"The east tower and corridors are clear of Riven's bitches. How is everyone?" She whispered the last part as she leaned over Cream, seeing the pain in her eyes that she worked to hide.
"I'm okay, Rouge." Cream muttered.
"Her ankle is sprained, if not broken. The prince got too close to her and I could only do so much to stop him."
Rouge looked around the room, disappearing into the throne room. Knuckles looked at her, skeptical, but did not follow her as a flash of blue, red and a gust of wind blocked him in the moment.
"West tower and all other south halls and corridors have been scrubbed clean," Sonic declared as he sat Sally down next to Cream.
"Since you are here, Knuckles, I assume that they were able to release the king and queen?" Sally asked.
Knuckles nodded.
"Yeah, but I haven't seen Amy, Shadow, the prince or the king and queen come down yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed right now."
"Well the fortress is cleared, and I noticed some of the guards retreating. Even if that weird prince tries a counter attack, we can force him out, post up here, guard the fortress and prepare to fight back. We've got Amy's brother's army on our side, too," Sonic confirmed, determined.
Rouge returned, walking to Cream and now Sally, with a drink in her hands.
"Cream, drink the first half and give the rest to Sally. This should help."
Tails began to walk around the foyer, looking for signs of the prince, when rushing footsteps echoed along the walls. The group clustered together, waiting.
The king, queen and Amy appeared in a rush from the staircase hidden from view. Amy didn't take a moment to catch her breath and ran straight up to her companions.
"Guys, are you okay?" she asked as she stopped in front of Rouge, looking over to Cream and Sally. Sonic walked up to her, patting her shoulder.
"We're alright, Ames. Where's Shadow and your brother?"
"The dark one and Prince Argentine went after Prince Riven. They are ensuring that he and his men are clear of our borders before night falls completely," the king announced, addressing the group, proceeding to turn to the fortress doors.
"Sonic. Shadow went to protect my brother, but I have a feeling that they're both in danger. Please," Amy pleaded with fearful emerald eyes.
Sonic nodded, looking over to Tails and Knuckles.
"We should go after Shadow and make sure he has back up. Which direction did they go?" Sonic directed his last question to Amy, but the queen responded.
"They are headed away from the resting of the day. That is where the Kingdom of Adrelis is. I'm sure they have reached the Brignally Forest by now. Please, if you wish to follow, hurry to them."
As the queen said this, she brought her staff between her palms and took in a breath, closing her eyes. An ethereal gust lifted her locks and with a flash of her eyes, the fortress was briefly encased in white. As the gust subsided, everyone within the foyer cleared their vision and gazed at the queen. She huffed, her eyes quivering as she composed herself, bracing herself on her staff for a moment. King Amelius came to her side.
Amy looked around her as she stepped away from her friends. The fortress seemed to brighten at her mother's request. The glass mural where the two creatures embraced each other seemed to sparkle and smiles graced their muzzles. Below the mural, right before the doors of the throne room, a banner fell, white with red rims, with a silver rose embroidered at the center. Above, the floating candles were no more, and blue spheres of spiritual light took their place.
"There. The remnants of Riven's rule have been shunned from the fortress at least. We will have to do it for the rest of our kingdom by our own hands," the queen breathed. The king touched her face, asking if she was all right.
"Woah," Sonic muttered, staring at a space on the ground.
"What?" Knuckles asked.
The blue blur pointed at the ground and the group stood in awe as they noticed the armor of the soldiers they'd piled in the foyer was gone. The stones of the floor were pearly and flawless.
The fortress shook as stomping and shouts rang beyond the stones of their refuge.
As the queen straightened and turned to regard the group of heroes, the king gripped her waist with a firm look of determination.
"Love, we should divide our forces here. The sooner we have the Omni-Protectant, the sooner we can begin to purify the land," the queen suggested, breathing normally.
"You are right. My stallion, please, my love."
She smiled, lifting her staff and drawing it across the tiles north of the throne doors. Materializing from the path of her staff, a brown horse with three black, soulless eyes and a frayed tail, huffed and tapped his feet, innately impatient.
He nodded, looking toward the group.
"We need to divide ourselves here to secure our borders. I beseech you, young heroes, to aid us, if it is in your power to do so," the king announced.
The queen closed her eyes.
"I understand that you are not from this land and you all are desperate to return. If you do not wish to aid us, we will not hold any ill will against you," the queen stated.
Sonic, standing at the forefront of the group looked to each side of him, making eye contact with his team. He smirked.
"We're here until the end, your majesty. We won't let you fight alone. We are Freedom Fighters and we won't leave until we see you sitting peacefully on the throne."
The queen smiled wholeheartedly.
"Thank you."
The king mounted his stallion with grace, as if he'd done it thousands of times. He turned his perch toward the group, his horse seemingly unsettled and ready to rush through the fortress doors.
"I require someone to ride to the eight midpoint towers to notify the soldiers of our return and light the beacons. Preferably, I request someone who can ride on horseback."
Sally, standing on her own, stepped forward. She staggered a bit, but after realizing her wounds were not as critical, she found that she could walk normally without any pain. She bowed gracefully, in the way of her kingdom.
"I will go, your majesty. I am a seasoned rider and I am trained in political discourse."
The king nodded, gesturing to the queen. Queen Argentina clasped her hands together and after a moment, white crystals materialized around her enclosed palms. She released her palms and between them, a set of eight scrolls stretched from the light surrounding her hands. As they solidified, the queen handed the scrolls to Sally. The scrolls were held together by silver seals shaped like roses. The edges of the seals were etched in the shape of a flame surrounding the rose.
"These are personalized messages for each midpoint tower general. They are distinguished by the red tassels on the hilts of their swords and the intricate rose design on the right side of their helmets. Please, give one to each. Each has the seal, the Flame of the White Rose, to let them know that this decree is legitimate, so you should not have any trouble," the queen explained before gripping her staff, aiming it toward the ground and moving it in a circular pattern.
Another horse came from the ground, summoned from the white enchantment of the queen. It was white, with a mane and tail of blue and red flames. Its eyes were a fierce crystal blue and along its saddle rested a carrying pouch.
"I grant you permission to use my horse. She will take you directly to each tower. With haste, young Freedom Fighter. When you have completed your task, she will bring you to us safely."
"Yes, your majesty," Sally said regally, as she walked toward the horse, slowly, petting her head to gain her trust.
The queen turned to the rest.
"If you young men are going to my son's aid, then I should request the rest of you to do me a favor."
Sonic, Knuckles and Tails stood to the side, ready to go, while Amy, Cream and Rouge stepped up to walk to the queen, battered and worn, but determined nonetheless. Cream stood, ready to walk in a way that would not harm her ankle, as Tails came to her, helping her to sit back down.
"Cream, you should stay here."
Cream looked down at her ankle as she held onto the kitsune. As he gingerly pushed her to sit, she pushed against him and took a moment to stand on her injured ankle. Her head jutted up to make eye contact with the kit as she realized that she could no longer feel any pain.
"Tails, my ankle is healed," she muttered to him excitedly.
"What?"
The kitsune looked at her ankle as he let go of her, allowing her to stand on her own. As Cream beamed at him, he looked at Rouge, who looked behind her, winking at the kit, before turning back to the waiting queen. Cream hugged Tails, before jogged up beside Rouge. Amy, who stood by watching the couple, smiled and joined them.
Tails shook from his stupor and made a mental note to ask Rouge about the drink she'd given to Cream and Sally.
"What can we do for you, your majesty?" Cream asked.
"I need the two of you young ladies to go into the city and bring rest to my frightened people in my absence, just for a moment."
The queen looked between Rouge and Cream as they bowed.
"How do you want us to go about that, your majesty?" Rouge asked.
"I need you to find Namekeep. He has been in charge of citizenship here for a while and he is trusted by many, if not all, of my people. Tell him of our return and give him this. From there, help him to get all of my citizens to the city center, separate the wounded from the well, and begin taking names. I want to make sure all of my people are accounted for," she explained.
The queen handed Rouge another scroll materialized from her enchantment.
"Name Keep is a scrawny man with grey hair. He lives close to the inner edge of the city in a large cream cottage. Please, make haste."
Cream and Rouge nodded and headed to the fortress doors. Amy walked forward as if to follow them, but the Queen blocked her path with her staff. Amy looked up to her.
"Amelia, you will come with me."
Amy looked at her mother with concern.
"To put up the barrier? But how can I help?"
The queen smiled.
"You will help in your own way, my child. Do not worry how."
The queen took a deep breath and from the ground she opened a portal. As Amy looked inside with wonder, she noticed the portal seemed to lead right into the ground. A passage lined with dirt seemed to stretch beneath.
"Come my child. It will be faster to the border this way."
Amy nodded, taking a careful step into the portal. Queen Argentina looked back as her husband trotted up to her.
"Where will you go, husband? To the city? Maybe help with the midpoints?"
"I will return to the city along with you, but first I must release my most trusted men from the prisons trapped underneath the frozen catacombs. I'm sure Prince Riven did not treat them well in my absence and I want to be sure they are the first to reclaim freedom. I will not be long, my love."
And with that, the queen made her way through the portal, closing it behind her.
King Amelius directed his stallion to the double doors where Sally waited on horseback and the others waited for the king to open the doors.
"Thank you all for your aid. I wished you all protection. When you have completed your tasks, we will regroup at the city center."
With a thrust of his hand, the doors of the fortress flew open and every member scattered from the opening, off to their destinations.
~aAa~
They could not tell if the weather thrust their clothes and hair about or if the sheer chaos of the retreating soldiers brought the gust that lifted the soil, causing the city to darken with floating hazy specks.
Cream coughed, running to keep up with Rouge as she glided low to the ground, following the stone path running along the heart of the city.
A little fox girl and her mother were huddled behind a house. Her mother held her close as she crouched low, quivering as the men on horseback darted in frenzy. Cream stopped, staring at the two, before she started to jog in their direction. Rouge noticed the lack of her presence beside her and landed on the ground mid-flight.
"Cream, what are you doing?"
As Cream approached the frightened townspeople, she fell to her knees, touching both of them and shouting to them over the noise.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
The mother looked at the rabbit as her child clung to her skirt. She nodded.
"We do not know where to go! There are soldiers running in every direction! We do not wish to get trampled!" the mother screamed, squinting her eyes at the rabbit through the haze.
"I've been given direct orders to get all the citizens to the city center. I think you will be safe there. I think I can fly you and your daughter over the soldiers," Cream explained.
"Are you sure?"
At that moment, Rouge landed beside Cream, looking at the frightened child and mother with concern.
"Rouge, can you help me fly them to the city center?" Cream asked quickly.
Rouge simply nodded, asking the women to let go of her child a moment.
Cream, tapping the frightened fox girl's shoulder, crouched low and smiled. She was met with the green eyes of fear as the child shook like a leaf.
"I'm going to take you somewhere safe. May I hold you?" she asked sweetly, outstretching her arms.
The little fox girl looked back at her mother to get permission, but Rouge already had her in the air, lifting her carefully by the arms as she looked down to the stones with worry.
The fox child quickly jumped into Creams arms and she lifted them off into the air.
As the flying freedom fighters flew inches above the chaos toward the city center, they saw Riven's soldiers collecting in a dark patch in the distance, headed toward Adrelis. As the horizon darkened, they seemed to become one with the darkness.
"Cream, we need to prioritize finding Name Keep after we're done here. We can help get citizens to the city center after," Rouge shouted over the noise, as they landed in the city center. The empty stage sat upright and the large center was clear of Riven's soldiers. Only a few lingering townspeople ran about, fearful and uncertain. The mother turned to Rouge as she set her down.
"Name Keep? If you are looking for him, he is hiding away with his daughter and a few other citizens in the underground keep just down that street. My daughter and I were headed there when the storm of men became too much for us to navigate," she explained.
As Cream made her perch on the stones, the fox child ran into her mother's skirt once again. Cream looked in the direction the mother pointed, looking down a dusty street devoid of life.
"Thank you. You should be safe here. We'll direct more people to the city center once we talk to Name Keep," Rouge explained, turning to glide across the center to the lonely street.
"Wait!"
Cream and Rouge looked back at the mother.
"A-are… are you the prophesied white bat and yellow rabbit? The ones that were destined to help the lost princess save the king and queen?"
Cream and Rouge eyed each other before smiling and nodding to her.
"At your service," Cream beamed.
The mother gave a wet sigh of relief, sniffing a bit and composing herself.
"Is there any way I can help you?"
Cream looked around as Rouge hummed.
"If you can, get any townspeople to the city center and tell them that the king and queen are on their way. We're reddening the city of Riven's men and making sure everyone is in one place, so if you can get everyone to stay calm, that would be very helpful," Rouge huffed, taking to the air to the street.
Cream started to follow, but called to the mother over her shoulder.
"And if you can, please light the square and make a place for those that are wounded. We'll return soon."
The mother nodded, hiding her child behind a pillar on the stage and running off in another direction.
As Cream caught up to the bat, turning the corner of a large stone building, she stopped abruptly to keep from running into Rouge's backside. Before she could ask the bat why she'd stopped, she spoke.
"I hear… voices."
The bat's ears twitch.
"Below us…" she muttered, looking down at the stones.
Cream stepped in front of the bat, a thought came to her.
"They're probably in a tunnel near by! Just like the tunnel I went through that led me here where I let the boys into the fortress."
Cream took hesitant steps forward, before her feet came in contact with an uneven part in the stones. She got on her hands and knees and knocked on the stones. Suddenly, the stones shifted and faded, revealing a circular door.
Rouge came to her side and together they lifted the heavy door.
In the darkness, several pairs of frightened, glittering eyes looked back at them. Cream blinked, but smiled.
"We don't want to hurt you. We want to know if there is a man called Name Keep down there."
The eyes vanished and then a singular pair looked at them warily.
"I am Namekeep. What is it you want of me?"
"The queen set us to find you. We need your help to gather all of the citizens to the square," Rouge mentioned.
"The q-queen?"
His eyes grew as his eyes shifted. Cream and Rouge backed away as he lifted himself out of the hole to address them. He was just as the queen described, a scrawny cat man with grey locks tied loosely behind his head. Although his voice was clear and youthful, his features suggested otherwise. His bones showed through his fur and he held a cane in his hand, using it for support.
"This is from the queen. She wants you to prepare for her return and gather everyone to the city center."
As Rouge handed him the scroll, secured by the official seal, Namekeep's eyes brightened. Before he could open the scroll, the Flame of the White rose seal began to glow and then shattered as his hand hovered over it, resonating like shattered glass.
"I see," Namekeep muttered as he quickly glanced at the scroll. Before the two could ask what it said, Namekeep tossed the opened piece of parchment at his feet, the wind picking up and circling around him.
Cream and Rouge blinked profusely, covering their eyes as Namekeep's eyes began to glow, his locks lifting as he drew an invisible power to his outstretched hand.
"Return to me, Omni Speech of the Flaming White Rose."
As the wind stopped abruptly and the two freedom fighters cleared there eyes, they seemed to be looking at another person.
Where Name Keep stood, a silver cat with locks so long, they seemed to float before they could touch the ground, stood in a billowing white cloak, a wizard staff in place of the used stick he used to keep himself upright. With his eyes closed, he placed the staff in both hands and began to breathe.
"What's he do-," Rouge stopped as her brain seemed to tingle.
"Citizens of Aumoris, please. I beseech you."
Cream blinked, looking around and then to Rouge.
"D-did you hear that or was that in my head?" Cream whispered, but Rouge wasn't looking at her. Cream simply followed Rouge's finger and looked upon the silver wizard in front of them, once old, now filled with a seemingly endless youth.
"For your safety, I ask that every able bodied person come to the square for protection. Bring your families and help the sick and the wounded. It will not be long before our enemies are purged from our land and our freedom restored to us. Please, let us account for all and light the square so that our king and queen might find us and bless us."
After, the tingling dissipated and the calm voice of Namekeep receded from Rouge and Creams minds, they stood in awe of the man, as the dust began to clear, and the chaos began to fade to one point in the distance.
"If the queen has sent you, then she must trust you. Will you help me gather the disabled and the edlerly?"
Cream and Rouge nodded, following the wizard around the city.
~aAa~
"Almost there."
As the lavender landscape darkened before her and the first tower stretched high, Sally pressed on.
Just as she was within a yard of the tower, a stone path opened to her and small, blue creatures began to glow and float around her, lighting the forest. Right as she reached the door, her horse stopped abruptly and she used her momentum dismount, knocking on the thick wooden door the moment her boots hit the stones.
"Hello? Please, I have an urgent message from the King Amelius and Queen Argentina. They request your aid in securing the border and notifying the soldiers of the remaining towers."
Sally stepped back from the door, waiting for a response. Feeling anxious, she was ready to knock again when the door was pulled open robotically and a knight looked down to her as if it had no soul, quiet and demeaning. He said nothing with one hand on the hilt of his sword, as if daring Sally to repeat herself.
Sally swallowed, but stood tall, reaching to grab a scroll and hand it off to the knight.
"The king and queen have returned. Please, read this decree. The king would have… you and your men-" Sally slowed her speech as she felt something wasn't right.
As she looked over the knight, looking for the special markers the queen had mentioned, the knight drew his sword and went for her.
Without hesitating, Sally dodged the sword, feeling the power of the cut on the back of her neck as she crouched low. Using her momentum to roll forward on her hands, she used her airborne feet to kick the knight back into the tower wall.
"There must still be knights of Prince's Riven's guard here," Sally muttered, on her feet in a defensive stance, waiting for the knight to stand and face her once again.
As the knight's cluttered armor readjusted itself, as if enchanted, and stood, bringing its sword up to attack, Sally felt the horse dash from her flank, headed for her attacker.
Clank!
With a powerful lift of her front legs, the horse came down on the knight with a fierce neigh, her eyes glowing like that of a demon's. The knight's sword clattered to the ground as its armor folded in on itself.
Sally looked over the horse, surprised by her sudden action. More soldiers from the tower began to assemble by the door, swords drawn as Sally saw the purple soul of the crushed knight rise in her peripheral vision.
"Who are you. State your name and business and I will consider mercy."
Sally stood tall, making eye contact, as much as she could through the concealed armor of the knight standing before her across the walkway to the tower. Still holding the scroll, she looked over the knight wearily, looking at the five other knights flanking him.
"My name is Princess Sally Acorn. I was sent by Queen Argentina to ask for your aid," Sally stated.
"The queen?"
The knight leaned forward as if to apprehend her, but froze when the horse moved into his vision and he found himself speechless.
"T-the queen's horse!"
As the horse huffed in approval and trotted over to Sally, the chipmunk noticed the intricate design on the knights armor and the red colored tassel. She released the tension from her shoulders and gave the scroll to the knight.
Taking the scroll and breaking the seal that shattered like glass, he read the decree in silence, before abruptly turning to the soldiers behind him, sheathing his sword and motioning toward the tower.
"Light the beacon! You, retrieve my horse. And you, ride to the border separating Aumoris from Kelaton. Show the general at the gate this decree so they know that the true king and queen have returned. I'm sure their ruler will want to know. Three of you will stay and guard the tower. Let the others in the tower know I want them to mount up and follow me."
As the knights moved, Sally moved to the crushed dark knight, crouching to examine it.
"Riven has a dark knight of his own at each midpoint tower. They watch us, waiting to see if we'll lead a rebellion. They are difficult to kill. If you are going to the other midpoint towers, you'll want to take someone with you."
Sally grabbed the deceased knight's sword, standing and lifting the blade to her face. With a quick flick of her arm, she swiped the air twice, before bringing the sword to rest at her side. She smirked, looking at the silent knight.
"I think I can manage. Though, it will save some time if we could split your forces to get to the other towers. I'm sure they'll want to be liberated as soon as possible."
As Sally took the crushed knight's belt and strapped it to her waist, she mounted the white mare that bowed down to let her on.
"I can take some scrolls to the others. I trust my men, but the weight of this task is too great to burden them with alone. You will have to split the burden with me instead," the knight explained as his horse appeared behind him, along with the twenty knights that inhabited the tower.
"I understand. Please, return to the city when you are finished."
Sally placed the sword in the sheathe, giving the knight three scrolls. As she turned to ride off, she regarded the knight with a respectful gaze. He bowed to her, before mounting his horse and shouting orders to his men.
Sally's ride took that as the signal to leave, dashing back through the brush as the flame burning at the top of the tower rose behind her, lighting the hope that grew in the coming darkness.
~aAa~
The dark prince raced through the forest path, using the last of his strength to hold on with his good arm. Crushing his eyes together as he rode bareback through the Brignally forest, he concentrated on giving mental instructions to the last of his knights guarding the midpoint towers.
As his stallion made several leaps through a patch of tight brambles, he opened his eyes to see where they were. Trees and branches flashed across his sight, as the rest of his men followed around him, headed away from Aumoris in the growing darkness. Something didn't feel right.
He closed his eyes, allowing his stallion to lead the escape, trying to keep his connection with the other dark knights. There was one at each tower, but he could only detect seven of the eight in that moment.
I won't give up my control of Aumoris! If I can just reach that other knight, I can at least secure the midpoint towers and hold hostages, but if I can't reach this last scoundrel of a knight, then it's possible that they already have been notified of the return and are acting on it!
Just as he felt his connection waning, the dark prince sensed something coming for him and opened his eyes, jerking his horse so quickly to the right that he nearly dismounted.
Heading in the perpendicular to the horde of retreating soldiers, he rode straight through the trees, zigzagging, trying to shake his tracker. The moment the sound of charging horses began to fade, he felt the projectile fly past his ear, hitting a tree.
Looking behind his mount, breathing heavily, he saw nothing.
And then another projectile, aimed at his horses feet, hit the ground.
"Hgn!"
Dismounted from his horse and sprawled out on the ground, the dark prince coughed, struggling to his feet as the soil stained him. The tree that had been hit came tumbling down a few feet away from him, nearly crushing his feet.
"RIVEN!"
Charging to meet the downed prince, Argentine jumped from his mount, brandishing his sword and circling the prince slowly. As his mount ran away and Riven's wounded mount limped away in fright, the pearly white prince grasped his sword tightly, keeping his defensive stance as he waited for the dark prince to move.
"I know that you are still planning to corrupt Aumoris. Tell me what you intend to do or I will smite you where you stand."
Prince Riven stood, huffing and growling, crouching low and looking like a wounded animal that had just given to insanity. With an arm missing, the other limp, he smirked at the young, white prince.
"Surely, there is nothing left for me to do here, princeling. My men are retreating and if I do not clear the border soon, I will be struck down by your magic infested mother. What more could I be trying to do, but escape to save myself? You obviously want something from me, dear prince. Or maybe, you're just looking for a fight that you can't finish!"
Argentine growled, a savage look that did not suit him began to grow on his face, as he prepared to jump the dark prince, but was stopped by a voice.
"Seems to me like you're all talk," Shadow's voice echoed around them.
The dark prince looked around frantically, looking for him.
"Where are you, you worthless black rat!" Riven spat.
Argentine still stood in a defensive stance, but began to relax as he noticed that Prince Riven's voice was laced with a bit of fear. A sharp colored projectile shot out once more, directed at Prince Riven. The dark prince dodged the shot by a hair, looking back to see that the blast had decimated an entire tree.
Shadow emerged from the brush, walking with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. When he stopped to stand next to the Argentine, his lids flashed open, revealing the ruby orbs that seethed with power and intimidation. Riven looked back to see him and seethed.
"You demon!"
Without hesitation, Prince Riven threw out his only arm, electricity crackling around his fingertips as he aimed for the two of them. As Shadow's hair stood on end, he only had a moment to dash to the left and push the prince down with him.
As the unadulterated strike of lightning stuck where they once stood and Prince Riven tried to regain his strength through ragged breaths, Shadow got up from the ground, helping the stunned prince up as well.
"Sorry for the rough handling, your majesty," Shadow apologized, his eyes never leaving Riven.
"Thank you. You saved my life," Argentine muttered, his hand on his heart.
"Grab your sword. If we're going to end this here, I suggest we apprehend him before he musters enough strength to try that lightning trick again," Shadow suggested, readying himself to charge.
"Right," Argentine affirmed, grasping his sword once more.
"YOU WANT A FIGHT, PEASANTS?! I'LL GIVE YOU ONE!"
Shadow charged first, a chaos spear readied in his hand. As he approached the dark prince, he threw the spear to the ground, dust and debris littering the air and giving the two of them some cover.
"Haa!"
Shadow backed off and let the Argentine strike out with his sword, but the prince simply cut at the dirty air. They both stopped and as the dust settled. Another lightning strike struck out.
"Hng!"
"No!"
Argentine ran to Shadow who lay collapsed on the ground smoke rising from his form. Before the white prince could reach him, Prince Riven reappeared and charged the prince, kicking him aside.
"Sorry, princeling. Only true rulers can take part in the delicacy that is fried black rat! Might I suggest death for dinner this evening?!"
Argentine shouted and charged once again, slicing with ease, but striking nothing as the dark prince dodged his every move. With a smirk, the dark prince dislodged the sword after Argentine's last failed slice and grabbed the white prince by his scalp, lifting him up.
"Ack!"
"CRY, LITTLE PRINCE! CRY FOR MERCY!"
Prince Riven threw Argentine into a tree, watching as his form went limp.
"I am not convinced that you are dead quite yet, little prince. Maybe I should fry you too!"
Preparing to strike again, lightning crackled between his fingertips as he directed his aim to the tree where Argentine would meet his end.
CRACK!
As the dark prince began to laugh and a fire lit the tree, he lowered his hand to realize the white prince was no longer at the base of the tree.
"C'mon, that's no way to fry someone. Look if you're going to be a cannibal, at least do it right! Cook him slowly or at least marinate the body. Helps retain the flavor!"
The dark prince turned to the new voice and growled, facing his new blue challenger that stood, holding the white prince on his back.
"Another RAT!"
Sonic sped behind a tree as Riven struck out with more vicious strikes. As he ran around the dark prince to keep him from frying them, Prince Argentine tried to open his eyes.
"Thank you, blue one."
"Don't worry, princey, the calvary is here!"
A Sonic dashed from behind a bush, he dashed right by the dark prince, who turned to follow him, but the moment he turned around, the tree that Shadow had stuck down earlier came flying at his face.
"What!"
Hitting its target dead on, the dark prince went flying, smashing through other trees.
"Alright, Knuckles! Who knew you were strong enough to pick up trees," Sonic said, putting the prince down and looking over at Knuckles, who turned to knock down another tree for ammunition.
As the tree started to come down, the echidna grabbed it from its torn base, swinging it around to rest on his shoulder.
Last but not least, Tails came flying from above, landing beside Sonic as the white prince gathered his sword and turned to his reinforcements.
"I appreciate the assistance, but he will not be down for long. Prepare yourselves."
As they grouped up, the sound of horses stomping their hooves into the soil continued to fade as silence became the tension that encased the heroes. Tails loaded his gun, the sound of the blast charging ringing through the trees that rested heavy above them.
"RAA!"
Branches flew in every direction, pelting the team and stabbing the tree trunks around them. As a purple eminence began to rise, the dark prince encased in this presence stalked toward them, livid.
"HA!"
Charging without touching the ground, the Prince had his first target in sight. As he reached him, he lashed out, his fingers now sharp, metal claws.
"Hgn!"
Argentine parried his attacks with his sword, each slice nearly tearing at his muzzle as the prince gave ground to him. After the seventh parry, the prince quickly stabbed forward, just barely grazing the dark prince's battered torso.
The dark prince backed away, momentarily stunned as the white prince took his chance and advanced, swiping eagerly at the dark one.
Riven managed to dodge, but after every few strikes, one managed to get him on his side. He was slowing down.
In a desperate attempt at survival, Riven dodged another strike and slashed out with his claw, only for Argentine to dodge and roll out of the way and a clump of leaves to come rushing in his view.
"Raa!"
Using the tree like an extra large baseball bat, Knuckles swung, knocking the prince back into another subset of trees.
Not taking any chances, the four of them followed.
When they reached where the prince was, they circled him, waiting for him to stand. The moment the dark prince began to stir from his wooden grave, they struck again.
"Give him all you've got!"
Tails blasted at the prince's silhouette, as Knuckles used his knee to break the tree in half, throwing each separately with the splintered edges facing the dark prince. As the trees made contact, Sonic dashed to the dark prince, circling him and causing a tornado of tree limbs and leaves to lift the prince.
A Sonic back away and the dark prince came crashing down to earth, the team waited for the debris to settle, wondering if the prince would get up after such an attack.
Before the debris could settle, purple waves blasted around them and they all found that they could not move.
"No! This… you can't," Prince Argentine struggled to get out, as the purple waves encased them and took control of his limbs, making him drop his sword.
Prince Argentine, bruised, tattered, but not yet dead, stalked up to the young prince from the dust, glaring like the undertaker himself, dark blood dripping from his being.
"Nice try, little prince, but you haven't killed me yet."
"CHAOS BLAST!"
Prince Riven covered his face with his arm, as a powerful blast aimed for his body. He could feel his flesh deteriorating as light surrounded his body. He refused to surrender his body and with the last of his will, he reached out for something with his remaining arm.
The light dissipated and the team was released from Riven's hold. As silence encased them and darkness descended around them, they all gathered their breathes and looked around. Sonic was the first to rest his eyes on Shadow, his arm outstretched toward the now deceased prince, his other arm strapped around his bleeding torso as he gasped for air.
"Huh. Thought you were dead," Sonic muttered, smirking.
Shadow took a knee, allowing his adrenaline to settle.
"As if I'd die without taking you out first, faker. If I could die, that is."
Sonic chuckled as Knuckles and Tails walked to Shadow, reaching to help him up. Sonic walked over to Argentine, who sheathed his sword, shaking from the intensity of the fight and the immensity of the blast Shadow had just relinquished.
"That blast. It was incredible. How did you know that enchantment would kill the dark prince?" Argentine asked, allowing Sonic to help him stand.
Shadow stood, limping in the direction of the castle, looking away from the prince and the Freedom Fighters that followed him.
"I didn't. And unfortunately, my instincts tell me he somehow managed to get away."
As Tails began to fly back and Argentine limped along with Sonic as his crutch, they began to make the trek in the darkness.
"Well, if he is alive, I doubt that he'll want to risk running into you again, dark one. That alone should keep him away."
Blue, fluorescent bugs began to creep from the leaves and lit the path as they broke away from the trees, seeing the outline of the city in the distance.
~aAa~
"Come, child. We're almost there."
Amy followed her mother through the dirt tunnel as close as she could, following the light of her staff when she fell too far behind. When her mother came to a stop, the rose watched as the queen opened the soil from above her and climbed out. Amy followed, struggling to make the climb.
As she surfaced, she looked around to see they were in the middle of a vast field, the lavender grass growing up to her waist and the wind taking her hair as the grass tickled her.
Tucking her hair behind her neck to see, she looked behind her and found the city, so small, all she could see were tiny specks of fire lighting the place. The city's building clumped together so closely that the fortress and city combined simply looked like a large mound in the distance. In between the city and their position was simply miles and miles of lavender vegetation, speckled with stones and strange flowers.
Shaken from her trance by the intensity of the wind, Amy looked in front of her to find her mother a yard away, looking up to the sky that darkened slowly, dress and hair billowing as she stood, grounded.
"She looks like a goddess…" Amy muttered as she walked to her, standing at her flank, not sure what to do to help. Her mother's eyes were closed, as if she were simply basking in the wind.
"I am far from one, my child."
Startled, Amy looked at her mother, who pointed east of their position.
"There. Riven's men have almost crossed the border. There are many of them."
Amy followed her arm, looking to her right to see a forest in the distance, so small the trees looked like shrubs. Amy's gaze trailed north where the forest ended to see dust and dark figures moving away from the trees, rushing like a frightened pack of animals. The landscape in the distance Amy figured they were retreating to was mountainous and loomed in the distance, covered by strange clouds.
"I see them."
Argentina turned to Amy, using her free hand to ask for her daughter's hand.
"This is how you'll help me, child. Give me your hand."
As Amy swallowed and placed her hand in the queen's palm, the gust of wind turned around them, swirling and lifting their clothing. Amy felt like the wind was going to lift her up and take her away. Looking into her mother's eyes, she tried to calm her heart beat, watching as the queen did not move at all, allowing her clothing to wisk about her form as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.
"Return to me, oh gift of protection. Grant me permission to restore the barrier that once graced my people."
Amy's chest began to burn as a maroon glow began to grow in front of her. As her mother's gift returned, Amy clutched her chest, tensing at the strange feeling.
"Ugh."
Amy collapsed, crouching as she closed her eyes, wishing for the burning rage in her chest to subside.
When she felt a cooling sensation replace the fire in her heart, she began to gasp for air. She looked up when she heard what sounded like broken fine china putting itself back together.
Stilled by the magic wrapping around her and her mother, Amy watched as the barrier, a translucent gradient of lavender to pink, gloss over the sky, crystalizing together, a bubble of eternal protection. Amy looked to the east and watched as the last of Riven's men trailed away from the forest just as the barrier closed in, sealing them out and separating them from the Brignally forest and the rest of their kingdom.
"It is… done."
Amy watched as her mother crouched to the ground, coughing and catching her breath, as her shoulders shuddered. In alarm, Amy crawled to her mother, rubbing her back and asking her if she was all right.
"I'm fine, Amelia. Come. We must return to the city and grant the people solace. I am sure your father is anxiously awaiting our return," the queen explained, smiling and caressing her cheek.
After a moment, they collected themselves and began the trek back to the city.
~aAa~
"This should help you, child."
Namekeep, with a bottle of glowing blue elixir, hunched over a mother, dirtied and bruised from the recent events, and her child cradled in her arms. He gently poured the elixir in a small bottle and gave it to the mother to feed her infant.
"This will grant him sleep and allow his body to preserve itself, but worry not. When the queen arrives, she will wake and heal your child."
"Thank you, Namekeep."
Namekeep rose from his perch, capping the elixir and turning to see the square full of citizens, mirroring that of a refugee camp. Torches and lamps lit the square; blankets and people littered the stones of the center as families crouched in circles around their own as more citizens poured into the space. The atmosphere was somber, but whispers of hope laced around him. He understood their apprehension, for none of them had seen the royal family for themselves quite yet, but the help of the rabbit and the bat has awoken the conversations about the prophecy.
Namekeep shifted between the people, holding a scroll and checking off names, accounting for everyone, alive and deceased. The list was the last from before the king and queen were trapped by Riven's enchantment. With a bit of research, Namekeep decided he would give the list to the queen to update her on the state off her people since her disappearance. If the queen returned.
A darkness descended upon the square, thudding steps echoed just outside the city, increasing in volume as men on horseback emerged from the darkness. Namekeep turned as the people around him tensed and shouted, unsure of the intruders on horseback that rushed into the square, pouring in and riding the perimeter and surround the citizens. As the citizens bundled closer together and held on to their startled young, Namekeep stood in a defensive stance in font of the gap where the men came from, waiting for their leader to emerge, holding his staff at attention.
The soldiers on horseback wore armor and since the king's original men and Riven's men were merged as one for the longest, Namekeep could not tell them apart. For all they knew, Riven was issuing a counter attack.
As the thudding came to a stop and the last of the soldiers poured in, silence encased the square as the men on horseback watched the citizens and they looked back in fear. Namekeep released the breathe he didn't realize he was holding when the last soldier on horseback arrived.
"Your majesty."
Immediately, Namekeep fell to his knees, placing his staff on the stones in front of him, bowing his head in reverence.
"Please, Namekeep. There is no need to bow," King Amelius muttered with a warm smile growing across his muzzle.
As the King dismounted, the square erupted with cries, the shouts of joy and relief vibrating the very stones of the city. Namekeep stood and walked to the side of the king, keeping watch as the citizens rushed toward the king. The first woman took the king's hand and kissed it, giving him blessings with tears in her eyes. All the while, the king thanked them for their patience and soothed those that came to him with sobs of relief.
The soldiers around the perimeter dismounted, pulling off their helmets and standing near their mounts. The noise skyrocketed, as men, women, and children ran to the recovered soldiers of the deep dungeons, having been enclosed in cells located miles outside of the city limits.
In that moment, more hooves to stone sounded from the distance and all went quiet as more soldiers on horseback emerged. As the new soldiers rode in and scattered across the vacant spaces of the square, Sally emerged from the fray with another soldier riding alongside her. Her mount trotted toward the king and proceeded to bow its neck, allowing her to dismount.
"All eight midpoint towers have been secured, your majesty," Sally, covered in bruises and scratches, declared with a bow.
"Thank you, Princess of Acorn. Your help was crucial in securing our borders. I am sure your friends will arrive soon as well," the king spoke as Sally nodded, stepping away from the king and horse so that the soldier that followed her could address the king with a bow.
As Sally sifted through the crowd, two figures flew from a dark crevice between two buildings and landed. Sally perked up and trotted to them, recognizing Rouge's bat wings in the little light of the torch nearest to them.
Cream placed the coughing boy in the arms of another woman, who thanked her and took the child to a blanket on the stones surrounded by bottles and gauze. Rouge bent down as two older men took the teenager she was carrying over her shoulder. Just as Sally approached, she could hear the men muttering their hushed gratitude to them as they nodded.
"That looks like that's everyone. The town seemed pretty empty after the last two runs we made," Cream mention to Rouge.
"It seems like everything is coming to a close."
At Sally's approach, Rouge's ears perked in her direction, before they both turned to the princess.
"It seems so. I see the king has arrived," Rouge addressed Sally.
"Have you seen the guys, Sally? What about Amy?" Cream asked, alarmed.
Sally shook her head.
"No, but I'm sure-" Sally began, but was interrupted by the ground rumbling below them.
As all three jumped out of the way, the stones near them shifted and fell through, pulsing blue. Out of the small gap, the queen climbed out, turning to help Amy from the chasm.
"Amy!"
Cream jogged to Amy and the queen, Sally and Rouge following her.
As the queen closed up the hole, the whole of the kingdom turned to them.
"The queen and the princess have returned!"
As shouts of joy rang once more, the queen turned to her citizens, smiling and opening her arms.
The citizens closest to them rushed the queen, smothering her in warm hugs, some bending bowing at her feet with unshakable feelings of shuddering relief. Blessings and kisses floated around the queen as she consoled her shaken citizens.
The excitement was dulled for a moment as the crowd made way for King Amelius and Namekeep. The king kissed his wife's forehead and they stood side by side to address their people together. Amy waited in their shadow, quiet. Cream, Rouge, and Sally waited beside her, looking around for the rest of their comrades.
"Citizens of Aumoris, despair and tyranny bind you no longer. Our borders have been secured and Prince Riven and his men have been chased from our borders just as I replaced the protecting light of the Omniprotectant. Fear no longer, for we have returned, as per the prophecy," the queen spoken with eloquence.
The king nodded, stepping forward.
"It has been a treacherous fight, but we cannot thank you enough for believing in the power of the prophecy. We want to thank you for having faith in us," the king projected his voice, reaching his people with a humble breath.
"Tonight, we will heal the injured and the sick, and tomorrow, we will heal and cleanse the land. Your queen will restore what property has been lost, your king will ensure you protection, and together, we will make new decrees and rekindle lost relations with our neighboring countries for the sake of trade and travel. We will ensure your safety if you'll lend us you trust and courage. It will take all of your strength and persistence to rebuild what once was a glorious Aumorian city, but it can and will be done," the king announced.
As mumbles of agreement rippled through the crowd and the queen stepped forward with her staff placed at attention.
"I ask that you bring the sick and injured forward so I may rid them of their ailments," the queen declared.
As a line formed, the queen reached her hand out and closed her eyes as a blue glow of her hand hovered over a mother that presented her child to her. As the freedom fighters moved to watch the display, Rouge jolted and turned to the east as her keen hearing picked up shuffling just outside of the square.
"Amy."
As Amy made eye contact with Rouge, the bat tipped her head to the area across the square between a house and shop. Just as Sally and Cream noticed their attention was shifted, Prince Argentine, using Sonic as a crutch, Tails, Knuckles, and a limping Shadow appeared from the brush, beaten, but alive.
"Tails!" Cream shouted, lifting herself above the crowd to glide to her boyfriend.
The others moved to do the same, but the crowd was shifting to make room for the prince and the freedom fighters to come forward and reach the king. They waited for them to approach as Cream flew with Tails, asking him a million questions.
"The prince has returned and he is hurt."
As they neared, the king turned to the heroes as the citizens made room for the royals and the newcomers to speak.
"Thank you, Fighters of Freedom, for aiding my son."
Sonic smirked, giving the king a thumbs up.
"No sweat, your majesty!"
Sally appeared next to Sonic as Prince Argentine released himself from his hold, limping to greet his father alone. Sally shook her head at the blue blur.
"Really?'No sweat?' Can't you be more polite when talking to royalty, especially those from another planet?" Sally huffed.
"I like to keep it casual, Sal," he muttered as she sighed with a small smile.
Behind Sonic and Sally, Knuckles stood, looking back at Shadow limping to catch up, asking him if he needed some help.
"I'm fine," he muttered as a shadow floated above his head and landed next to the echidna.
The moment the white bat touched the ground, she had her hands on the echidna's chest, looking for injuries.
"Rouge, I'm okay."
"You better be."
He smiled, grabbing her hands, allowing them to sink into his bigger ones. With a huff, he smirked as she chuckled.
As Shadow neared the rest of the group, his ears picked up feet shuffling to him slowly. He looked to his left and he stopped, holding his injured arm and leaning to one side to keep weight off of his bad leg.
"Rose…"
Amy had stopped, looking him directly in the eye. She breathed a happy sob, smiling as her eyes grew moist.
She walked up to him, closing the space as she placed a gentle hand on his chest fur, looking him in the eye.
"You're injuries look pretty bad. My mother can heal you."
"You know how quickly I heal, rose. That's not necessary," he murmured.
She sighed, reaching over his shoulder to help him walk forward.
As they approached the king, standing beside the other Freedom Fighters, they could hear Argentine explaining the encounter with Prince Riven.
"... Riven was destroyed by the dark one's magic! I saw it with my own eyes. I watched the dark prince ripped to pieces in the Brignally forest. Yet, the dark one senses the Prince Riven managed to escape with a sliver of his life, maybe with the aid of the lingering spirits of the Core Seven."
The king rubbed his chin and closed his eyes.
"I see. If Riven still lives, so be it. It sounds like he was injured beyond repair and, if he returns, he will not survive long enough to escape again. Unless, the Core Seven reassemble and grant him aid. Then, another war could ensue."
Prince Argentine nodded as the queen reached them.
"My son, let me heal you."
Prince Argentine bowed his head as he allowed his mother to restore him.
As this happened, the king stepped forward to address his renewed people.
"Citizens of Aumoris, I beseech you. I ask that you allow to step forward those who worked in the ranks of my original council. Members of the Rose council, please step forward."
At the king's request, several citizens pulled from the crowd and stood in front of the king. As Queen Argentina finished blessing her son, she turned to join her husband, nodding as familiar faces began to appear in an assembled line before them.
Of these members, Amy recognized the purple maid girl who'd taken her to her room and Rouge recognized Ovaria, stepping forward. Ovaria caught Rouge's eye and smiled.
Some of the soldiers, standing with their families on the perimeter, took off their helmets and came forward as well. Each face was somewhat different from each other, but many wore ragged clothing and harbored bruises and dust from the day's events.
"Thank you, dear friends. It has been too long. The prophecy kept us from one another for years and you have done as I asked. Many of you protected my son, taught him well, and others went into hiding, to keep vital information from Prince Riven at the time he invaded and took the throne. For your patience, bravery and loyalty to the crown, I hereby restore your titles to you. Ovaria, Keeper of Justice; Regalia, Rider of the Dying Flame; Namekeep, Holder of Names; Ranenkai, Demigod of War; Audenshaw…"
As the king went on, Amy zoned out, counting the members closests to her family. They all looked very humble and kind. Suddenly, her name was called.
"Amelia, will you come forward and restore the gifts to our most trusted residence of our fortress?"
As Amy came to, she found all eyes on her, a spotlight that she wasn't expecting. Her neck grew hot and confusion flooded her face.
"I'm sorry?"
Prince Argentine, stepping up to mutter to the king, leaned over to address him.
"Father, it seems that some, if not most, of Amelia's memories prior to her disappearance have fled her."
The king displayed a look of confusion before the queen stepped in front of them and took Amy's shoulder.
"Come, child. The dark one will be alright while you take a moment to restore the gifts bestowed upon our ranks."
The rose let go of Shadow as Knuckles took her place.
Now at the center of the assembly, her face hot, Amy stood nervously, her mother's hands on her shoulders as she stood behind her.
"I.. I don't know what to do," Amy muttered.
"Just breathe, my child. Close your eyes and release what does not belong to you. Look into their eyes and you will know what it is you keep from them," her mother's voice echoed in her ears.
As her mother stepped back, Amy froze, stiffening up as the expectant eyes of the citizens and the assembly bore down on her, waiting. She began to shake like a leaf, but before it overwhelmed her, she closed her eyes, and released a deep breath.
What am I doing? What gifts do I have that aren't mine?
As she started to think, hushed whispers floated through the crowd.
"What's wrong with the princess?"
"Does she not know of her own gift? How will the council members and the soldiers get their powers back?"
"What will happen if new gifts cannot be bestowed upon them?"
The rose felt her body grow hot. She couldn't blame the citizens for doubting her. Who was she, anyway? Even if she was their princess by blood, she could belong in a place where she had no memory. She couldn't help these people.
A icy-hot warmth lit up in her pocket. With a small jolt, the rose cracked her eyes open just a bit to look down as she grabbed the heart shaped relic. It began to glow, a deep, sultry red, but it was so small, she was sure only she could see it in her palm.
Give what is not mine.
Closing her eyes once more, she brought her palms together as if to pray, the heart burning between them. Shutting her eyes, she concentrated on what was not hers.
In the past, I could run nearly as fast as Sonic, could execute homing attacks like him as well. My hammer… it's gone now, but… maybe the strength I use to wield it… is not mine at all, is it? My above-average stamina, durability, strength, agility, speed … I don't ever remember conditioning myself into those things. I just… had them. Maybe, these aren't mine either.
A gust began to circle the rose, lifting her clothing in a white and red afterglow.
The whirlwinds I created at the drop of a dime, the shockwaves I could send through the ground, the tracking skills I used to find Sonic, the remnant mystic powers I relied on to curse and tell the future as an adolescent girl obsessed with Sonic's whereabouts and tarot cards, and anything I came up with to protect myself…. these gifts were never mine to begin with.
The sound of glass breaking echoed off the walls of square as the wind and glow shot off the rose and released toward the members of the royal council.
The rose felt strange as she opened her eyes. She didn't feel drained or tired, just… empty. Blinking, she examined the assembly to find every one of the royal council doused in shining armor and royal dress, some with large weapons and others with staffs and other special objects. Standing next to one another, they all seemed to have this natural glow about them, as if blessed by a god.
As Amy's quills fell across her shoulders and body, she felt small and exposed, as if layers of her person had been ripped from her, leaving the core, a raw center without experiences, skills, or specialties. Dare she say it, she felt… normal.
Ovaria, holding a spear, walked up to Amy with a genuine smile.
"Thank you, princess. I have long awaited to feel tracking gift I need to find and eliminate my foes. With it, I will be sure to keep you safe now that I am among you ranks once more."
Queen Argentina proceeded to Amy's flank as she nodded to Ovaria.
"Ovaria was your caretaker, Amelia. She is both your guardian and second mother, I should say. Do you really not remember your life here on Aumoris?"
Amy looked at her mother with a sullen look, trying for a small smile. She tried to hide how she was feeling as a void took hold of her stomach.
"I'm sorry. I must have amnesia or something. Maybe when you sent me away, I hit my head during my travels. I don't remember much from this place, just … light flashes of Argentine and … some other fuzzy things," Amy muttered.
The queen rubbed her shoulders.
"That's okay, darling. I will examine your memory momentarily, but for now, let us return to the fortress."
As the queen brought Amy away from the assembly that watched her humbly, the king stepped forward, standing strong and just.
"My citizens of Aumoris, we part ways for the night. I ask that you all find shelter and rest for the night. I leave Namekeep and Audenshaw to keep watch over you through the night. If there are any that are without shelter, address them, and I will give them the resources to give you safe covering."
As the king declared the meeting over, the citizens began to murmur and shuffle, as the soldiers around them began to gather their families.
"At dawn, your king and queen will join you in rebuilding the city, and together, we will begin to heal the land so that Aumoris may prosper once again. Until them, let the moons guide you through the night until morning light."
With that, the king called for his horse, proceeding to mount it and lead the way back to the fortress. Members of his council were silent, and began to march behind the king.
"Your highness, we must be going," Ovaria whispered to the queen.
"Right."
The queen looked at her rosette daughter with concern.
"Will you be okay, Amelia? You seem cold and shaken."
Amy nodded, with a slight smile.
"Of course. I'm just exhausted, that's all."
The queen hummed as she let go of her daughter and mounted her horse and reached out for her.
"Would you like to ride with me, my dear?"
Amy rubbed her arms.
"Actually, I think I want to walk."
"As you wish."
As the queen followed behind her husband, Amy saw Argentine mount his ride and Ovaria walked between the two of them as they made way for the fortress doors.
As the square began to empty, Amy stood, holding herself, unsure of what she wanted. Comfort, belonging, or maybe just to fill the emptiness that exposed her, a snail without a shell. She watched her alleged family leave her as she felt gravity pull her in.
"Amy?"
Her friends surrounded her in that moment, but it was Sonic who muttered her name. Sh looked into his eyes as he smirked and gave her a thumbs up.
"You did great, Ames. Let's go get the royal treatment. I think you earned it."
With her friends by her side, she walked the path to the fortress, the click of heels on the stones echoing in her vacant mind.
A/N: So, I lied to you. I added a lot more than I should have to this chapter and I am forced to split it in half to keep it from becoming 50+ pages of story. So, the next chapter will have the mushy romance you (and secretly, I) have been waiting for. As the story comes to a conclusion, I hope that you enjoy how I build for the sequel, The Uncounted. Forgive the typos. I'll correct the entire story when I finally complete it.