A Medieval Sonic Story: Chapter 4 - The Stakes Are Raised

Two years go by, and despite his best efforts, King Maximilian Acorn was unable to defeat King Sebastian Rose at the annual tournament. Sonic, now 21 years old, was rewarded handsomely, and his legend had spread far and wide.

After his third straight victory, King Rose took his daughter aside and sat down on a chair. "Amy, you are now 18 years old and are able to choose a husband if you wish. But remember, you must choose by your 23rd birthday."

Amy nodded. "I am aware, and I have an idea who it will be."

Meanwhile, Sonic's workshop was full to the roof beams with orders from all the craftsmen he had. Jacob Hedgehog came by after Sonic had shut down for the night and gave the blue hedgehog a cold ale.

Sonic downed it in one go and sighed. "Thank you, I needed that. Any news from the castle?"

Jacob nodded. "There is. Do you remember that I mentioned some whispers were circulating about Queen Sabina?"

Sonic frowned. "Vaguely. That was years ago now."

Jacob looked out the window. "It was, but they haven't dissipated. The queen has been unable to bear a male heir for the king, and her standing as queen is… tenuous at best…"

In the castle, try as she might, the white hedgehog queen was unable to even conceive a second child. Sabina was consulting with her handmaid, a rabbit named Vanilla, mother of Cream. She too had only borne a single daughter, but for Sabina the expectations were much higher.

She sighed as she talked to the female rabbit. "I don't know what else to do, Vanilla. My husband isn't denying me, but I fear he's losing interest."

Vanilla sympathized with the hedgehog queen. "I'm sorry you feel this way Your Highness, but I too have only a daughter. I was forbidden by nature to have another child. Have you considered this might be your fate as well?"

The queen frowned at her. "Impossible. I'm still within childbearing age, but maybe what I need is a younger male. One who's more fertile than my husband."

Vanilla shook her head. "Forgive me Milady, but that doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Your husband the king has been wonderful to you, and you would treat him this way?"

Queen Sabina sighed again. "You're a mother too, but you don't have the pressure on you to bear a male heir. If I can't, I may be deposed in favor of a younger spouse."

Vanilla frowned. "My queen, King Sebastian loves you dearly despite the lack of a male heir. You've been married these twenty years already, and I believe your position is safe."

The white hedgehog looks at the rabbit. "Thank you Vanilla, but I believe I may want to consider my options."

Vanilla sighed in resignation and nodded. "Very well Your Highness. If you wish, I do know of a hedgehog who has no mate. He lives in the Neutral Lands."

Sabina nodded. "The blacksmith known as Sonic. I know of him. He's the champion knife thrower three years in a row, and he looks very strong."

Vanilla nods. "That, and he holds high favor with your husband. You would see him?"

Sabina thinks for a second. "I would, but should he come here, or should I go to him?"

Vanilla thought a bit. "Well, if you go to him without a reason, the king may be suspicious. If he comes here, you still need a reason."

Sabina suddenly sat up straight. "I have an idea. I'll summon him here with the notion that I wish to know more about him for Amy's sake."

Vanilla shakes her head. "As you wish Your Highness. I disagree with this, but I'm only your handmaiden."

The white hedgehog queen scribbled a letter of summons and gave it to her squire. "Take this to Sonic the Hedgehog at his workshop please. I need to know more about my daughter's potential future husband. Have him bring Miles as well."

The squire bows and sets off on his journey. As she waited, the queen mingled with the commoners and the nobility alike, secretly looking at her potential options. A few days later the squire reached the shop and knocked on the door.

Tails answered it. "Yes?"

The squire nods to him. "The queen has summoned Sonic to the castle. Here is the letter."

Tails took the letter, thanked the squire, and shut the door. The orange fox headed down to the forge, where Sonic was hammering away on a new sword for Jacob Hedgehog. "Sonic? You have a letter."

Sonic looks up from his work. "From who?"

Tails gave the cobalt blacksmith the letter. "From Her Highness Queen Sabina Rose."

Sonic frowned and read the letter. "Master Hedgehog, you are hereby asked to come to Rose Castle, for I wish to know more about you if you are to become Princess Amy's husband."

Sonic shook his head and looked at Tails. "An odd request, but we have to go. Looks like she wants you there too."

Tails shrugs. "Alright then. Besides, we've been hard at work for more than two straight years."

The fox and hedgehog finish their work and begin the journey to the castle. Three days later, the blacksmith and bowyer approached the castle. Made of red bricks, the building was every bit as large and expansive as Acorn Castle. The vineyard was fed by a river that itself was fed by glacial meltwater.

Sonic looked around. "This place is massive Tails. It's way different than Acorn Castle, but I like it."

Tails nodded. "These people look happy despite the restriction on interspecies breeding."

As they approached the main gate, Cream was in the princess' chambers mending some sheets. The rabbit looked out a window and suddenly dashed to the balcony. "Is that?"

She squinted as Sonic gave the summons to one of the guards. "It is! Miles!"

Tails' keen hearing heard his name called, and he looked up. "Cream?"

She waved to him, and after being granted passage, Tails whirled his… well, tails, and flew up to the balcony, landing near the doors. "Hello Cream. It's nice-?!"

He got no further because Cream grabbed him and kissed him. She quickly came to her senses, blushing darkly. "Sorry. It's just been so long since I last saw you."

Tails was blushing. "I don't recall the last time I was welcomed so warmly."

Princess Amy came in, and upon seeing Tails, peered over the balcony. Down below she saw Sonic, and her heart leapt in her chest. "Sonic?"

Sonic looked up, saw the pink hedgehog, and proceeded to run up the wall, bowing to her upon reaching the balcony. "Milady."

Amy pulled him to her and nuzzled him. "Hello Sonic. I have missed you since we last saw each other."

Sonic smiled. "Thank you. I have been hoping to see you again too."

Amy's tail was wagging at a furious pace, and she blushed. "Thank you. Why are you here?"

Sonic showed her the queen's missive. "Your mother asked to see me."

Amy frowned. "Be careful Sonic. She's been looking for a way to be unfaithful to my father, but at the same time, keep her position as queen by bearing a male child."

Sonic sighed. "I had heard rumors of such things, and it saddens me to know that they're true."

Amy's jade green eyes looked into Sonic's emerald green eyes. "I think I'll follow you so I can see what she wants with you. There's no way she just wants to know more about you."

Sonic nods. "Well, best not keep her waiting."

Sonic heads to the queen's chambers and knocks on the door, intrigued by the lack of guards. "Your Highness? I have received your summons."

The deep voice echoed a bit, then there was a purring response from inside. "Come in Sonic. I have been expecting you."

Sonic opens the door, and his eyes shoot wide open in shock. There on the bed, the snow-white queen was laying in all her natural glory. Sonic immediately averted his gaze. "Your Highness, what is this about?"

Sabina got up and walked to him, swaying her hips. "This is about me getting to know you better. I know Amy likes you, and I can see why she does. But I need to know for myself if you'll be able to carry on our line."

Sonic kept his gaze elsewhere. "I can see where Amy gets her looks from, but I cannot and will not do this. You are married, and I won't risk your husband's fury."

The queen began circling him, looking him over. "My position as queen is in danger, and my husband is away on a hunt. He won't know."

Sonic shook his head. "I can't. He'll smell me, and he'll absolutely know what happened if we mated."

Down the hall, Amy, Tails, and Cream were listening, and Amy was furious to put it lightly. "How dare she… That lying, conniving, deceitful whore."

Cream was shocked. "Milady please, she's your mother."

Amy glares at her. "She's trying to seduce MY crush, and she's also trying to get herself imprisoned at the VERY least. My mother yes, but she never mentioned she wanted to mate with him."

The queen's chamber door suddenly slammed shut, and Sonic came walking down the hallway. Amy ran to him and took his hands. "Sonic… I didn't know."

The door opened again and out came an angry but dressed Queen Sabina. Sonic glared at her. "You wished to know my answer to your proposal. Here it is."

He then pulled Amy to him and kissed her in front of God and everyone in that hallway. Amy's eyes widened, but then she remembered her mother was watching. In response to Sonic's kiss, Amy took handfuls of his quills and deepened the kiss, wrapping a leg around his waist. The queen clenched her fists, and after the kiss breaks, Amy looks at her mother, grinning from ear to ear.

Sabina growled. "I'll have you punished for this Sonic!"

The blue hedgehog laughed. "Why? Because I refused your advances? That's a silly reason."

He looked at Amy. "Miles and I have to get back to work Milady. I hope to see you again soon."

They kissed again, and Sonic bolted out of the castle. Tails kissed Cream and flew after the blue blur, leaving her blushing madly. Sabina approached Amy. "How dare you flaunt yourself like that?"

Amy frowned. "I'm not the one trying to mate with a male that isn't my husband, nor am I the one who lied about the reason for his visit."

The queen tried to slap Amy, but she ducked and Sabina hit the wall instead. Yelping in pain, she glared at her daughter. "If I have to, I can go and see him in private to get what I want."

Amy crossed her arms. "What you need to do is apologize to the king when he returns for your attempted unfaithfulness."

Amy leaves and takes Cream with her. The light brown rabbit was gushing about Tails and posed the question about how marrying him would work. Amy smiled. "Since you both are commoners, I don't see a problem with it, but Sonic… A marriage to him has problems. With him being a blacksmith, and me being a princess, King Sebastian may not allow it."

Cream chuckles. "He's a fair king Milady, and I don't think he'll deny you your choice."

Amy sighs. "I agree, but now I also have to worry about my own mother mate-poaching Sonic from me."

Cream shook her head. "Based on his actions today, his heart belongs to you, even though he hasn't said so."

Amy blushes, her tail wagging. "I'm in love with a blacksmith… His heart is mine, and my heart is his…"

The two females return to Amy's chambers, anxiously awaiting a chance to go see Sonic and Tails again.